CBSE Class 9 English The Pot Maker MCQs Set 01

English Objective Questions and Answers: Chapter 02 The Pot Maker

Review structured MCQ sets for Class 9 English Chapter 02 The Pot Maker. Built according to official CBSE guidelines, these downloadable questions support daily revision and core concept reinforcement.

Download Chapter 02 The Pot Maker MCQs with Answers

Access the complete set of multiple-choice questions for Chapter 02 The Pot Maker below. This focused format allows students to isolate specific topics for thorough review and uninterrupted practice alongside official CBSE textbooks.

Question: What tool did Arenla use to teach Sentila how to dig clay at the riverbank?
A. A dao
B. A spatula
C. A kiln
D. A carrying basket
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) A dao

Explanation:
The dao was the digging implement Arenla showed Sentila how to use before the clay was loaded into the basket and soaked. The spatula came later for shaping, and the kiln was only used for firing the finished pots.

Question: When Arenla complains that pot making brought her 'only a pittance', what is she saying about her earnings?
A. They were a very small, insignificant amount
B. They were a large and comfortable sum
C. They arrived as a fixed monthly salary
D. They came mainly as bonuses for extra work
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) They were a very small, insignificant amount

Explanation:
Pittance means a tiny, almost negligible sum of money, which is exactly Arenla's complaint about the meagre returns from months of tiring labour.

Question: Which event took place right before Onula stepped in to secretly guide Sentila in shaping a pot?
A. Onula watched Sentila make a tense, clumsy attempt to shape the clay alone
B. Sentila overheard her mother complaining about pottery's hardships
C. The village elders summoned Mesoba for an explanation
D. Sentila matched her mother's full tally of pots in one sitting
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) Onula watched Sentila make a tense, clumsy attempt to shape the clay alone

Explanation:
Onula only decided to help after quietly observing Sentila fail at the craft because she was too nervous, which caused the clay to refuse to take shape properly.

Question: Why was Onula in a particularly good position to help Sentila learn pottery without her parents knowing?
A. She supervised the girls' dormitory and already knew of the tension at home
B. She was a trained potter who had once taught Arenla the craft
C. She lived in the same house as Sentila's family
D. The village council had specifically assigned her to train Sentila
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) She supervised the girls' dormitory and already knew of the tension at home

Explanation:
As the caretaker of the dormitory where Sentila stayed for a few nights, Onula had heard about the family's disagreement over pottery and chose to quietly step in and help.
• She had access to Sentila during unsupervised evenings
• Her sympathy came from knowing the family's discord
• No one else in the story had both motive and opportunity

Question: What is the main point the village elders make when instructing Mesoba about pottery skills?
A. Such skills belong to the whole community and must be shared with any willing learner
B. Such skills should only be passed from mother to daughter
C. Only naturally gifted children deserve to learn such skills
D. Skills like weaving matter more since they earn more money
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) Such skills belong to the whole community and must be shared with any willing learner

Explanation:
The elders remind Mesoba that crafts tied to tradition and history are not private property; experts are duty-bound to teach anyone who wishes to learn, not just their own children.

Question: Why might the writer have chosen to place Arenla's death immediately after Sentila's joyful burst of pot-making?
A. To heighten the emotional impact by contrasting triumph with sudden loss
B. To show that pot making is a physically dangerous trade
C. To imply Arenla was being punished for hiding her skill
D. To suggest Sentila's effort somehow caused her mother's death
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) To heighten the emotional impact by contrasting triumph with sudden loss

Explanation:
The juxtaposition of Sentila finally mastering the craft with her mother's abrupt death creates a bittersweet climax, making the achievement feel both hard-won and tragic at once.

Question: In the line 'she intuitively sensed that something momentous had happened,' what does 'momentous' mean?
A. Of great significance
B. Extremely amusing
C. Deeply confusing
D. Financially rewarding
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) Of great significance

Explanation:
Onula felt that whatever had occurred between Sentila and her mother was of deep, lasting importance, not a trivial matter.

Question: How does Mr Gessler answer the narrator's question about whether boot-making is difficult?
A. "It is an art"
B. "It takes great patience"
C. "It is a family tradition"
D. "It is simply practice"
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) "It is an art"

Explanation:
With a smile from behind his beard, Gessler calls his work 'an art,' revealing how deeply he takes pride in his craft rather than treating it as mere labour.

Question: What does Gessler's cold, pointed remark 'Dose big virms 'ave no self-respect' reveal about his attitude to mass-produced boots?
A. He believes factory-made boots lack the care and pride he puts into his own work
B. He thinks large firms actually make more comfortable boots than he does
C. He is indifferent to how other companies make their products
D. He admires big firms for their efficient advertising methods
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) He believes factory-made boots lack the care and pride he puts into his own work

Explanation:
Gessler is offended that the narrator wore boots from a large company; his comment about 'no self-respect' shows he sees mass production as careless compared to his own devoted craftsmanship.

Question: According to the young shopkeeper who takes over Gessler's shop, what led to Gessler losing most of his customers?
A. He spent too long on each pair while refusing to advertise, and people would not wait
B. He suddenly raised his prices beyond what customers could afford
C. He gave up making boots entirely after his brother's death
D. He relocated his shop away from the fashionable street
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) He spent too long on each pair while refusing to advertise, and people would not wait

Explanation:
The shopkeeper explains that customers grew impatient with Gessler's slow, painstaking process, while rival firms won business through advertising rather than superior work.

Question: The narrator compares entering Gessler's shop to entering a church. What effect does this comparison create?
A. It creates a sense of reverence, as if boot-making were a sacred, serious craft
B. It shows the shop was cold and unwelcoming to customers
C. It suggests the shop was always crowded with noisy visitors
D. It highlights how fashionable and trendy the shop appeared
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) It creates a sense of reverence, as if boot-making were a sacred, serious craft

Explanation:
By likening the quiet shop to a place of worship, the narrator elevates ordinary boot-making into something almost spiritual, reflecting Gessler's total devotion to his work.

Question: In 'Gifts of Grace', the line describing each worker 'celebrating what belongs to them and to none else' mainly highlights what idea?
A. Every worker's skill and contribution is uniquely their own
B. Workers succeed only by refusing help from others
C. All vocations bring in the same amount of money
D. Workers are often envious of each other's crafts
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) Every worker's skill and contribution is uniquely their own

Explanation:
This line stresses individuality — each vocation, whether shoemaking, cooking, or masonry, carries its own distinct identity that cannot be claimed by anyone else.

Question: In the phrase describing artisans with lutes 'hailing varied emotions', what does 'hailing' most nearly mean?
A. Expressing or calling out
B. Criticising harshly
C. Ignoring completely
D. Measuring precisely
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) Expressing or calling out

Explanation:
Here the lute-playing artisans are shown as giving voice to different feelings through their music, so 'hailing' is used in the sense of expressing or announcing.

Question: What two items does Leerie the lamplighter carry as he moves through the street each evening in the poem?
A. A lantern and a ladder
B. A lamp and a rope
C. A candle and a broom
D. A torch and a bucket
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) A lantern and a ladder

Explanation:
The poem describes him 'posting up the street' with lantern and ladder in hand, ready to light each lamp along the way.

Question: What does the child's wish to grow up and 'go round at night and light the lamps' with Leerie, instead of becoming a driver or banker, suggest?
A. A humble, everyday job can seem more fascinating to a child than a wealthy profession
B. Children always aspire to follow their parents' careers
C. The speaker feels sorry for how hard Leerie's job must be
D. Wealth is presented as the most important factor in choosing a vocation
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (A) A humble, everyday job can seem more fascinating to a child than a wealthy profession

Explanation:
Even though the speaker's father is a rich banker, the child is drawn instead to the simple wonder of Leerie's nightly rounds, showing how ordinary work can capture a young imagination far more than status or money.

Question: While observing expert potters at work, what tool did Sentila notice being used in the right hand to shape the rotating lump of clay?
A. A dao
B. A spatula
C. A bamboo cylinder
D. A carrying basket
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) A spatula

Explanation:
The potters held a spatula in their right hand and tapped it against the clay to give the rotating lump its shape, which is what fascinated young Sentila as she watched.

Question: The text describes the potters as having rotated the clay lump 'deftly'. What does this word convey about their handling of the material?
A. They handled it carelessly
B. They handled it with great skill
C. They handled it slowly and hesitantly
D. They handled it with excessive force
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) They handled it with great skill

Explanation:
Deftly means skilfully. It captures how effortlessly and expertly the potters manipulated the clay while shaping it on the wheel.

Question: Right after Onula told Sentila that the mouth of her newly made pot was 'all wrong', what did Sentila go on to do?
A. She gave up pottery altogether
B. She confronted her mother about the mistake
C. She watched her mother closely during the next session to learn the correct technique
D. She asked the village elders for help
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) She watched her mother closely during the next session to learn the correct technique

Explanation:
Onula advised Sentila to observe her mother's hands carefully the next time they worked together, especially while shaping the mouth of the pot. Sentila followed this advice and paid close attention during the following session, which finally helped her master that last remaining step.

Question: When Sentila secretly tried to make a pot alone in the dormitory, why did the clay refuse to take the right shape?
A. The clay was of poor quality
B. She lacked the proper tools
C. She was too nervous and tense while working
D. It was too dark to see clearly
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) She was too nervous and tense while working

Explanation:
Onula noticed that Sentila's nervous, tense state affected her hands, and as a result the clay would not yield the shape she wanted.

Question: When the village council questioned Mesoba about Arenla's reluctance to teach pottery to their daughter, what excuse did he offer?
A. He said Sentila had no interest in the craft
B. He said Arenla did not know pot making well enough
C. He said they wanted Sentila to first recover her strength after an illness
D. He said the family had decided to leave the village
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) He said they wanted Sentila to first recover her strength after an illness

Explanation:
Mesoba diplomatically told the elders that it was never Arenla's intention to withhold the skill, only that they had wanted Sentila to grow stronger following her illness before starting the demanding training.
• This shows Mesoba trying to protect his wife from blame
• It also buys the family time before the council presses further

Question: In the story 'Quality', how does Mr Gessler respond when the narrator complains that his last pair of boots creaked?
A. He argues that all boots creak eventually
B. He blames the narrator for wearing them incorrectly
C. He asks that the boots be returned so he can examine them
D. He refuses to accept any responsibility
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) He asks that the boots be returned so he can examine them

Explanation:
Rather than dismissing the complaint, Gessler pauses, reflects, and then quietly asks for the boots to be sent back so he can look into the matter himself, revealing his seriousness about his craft.

Question: The narrator describes Mr Gessler emerging with 'a guttural sound' and the 'tip-tap of his slippers', looking as if awakened 'from some dream of boots'. What impression does this create of him?
A. He is careless about his customers
B. He is completely absorbed in his craft
C. He is impatient with visitors
D. He is uninterested in his work
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) He is completely absorbed in his craft

Explanation:
This detail paints Gessler as someone so consumed by his craft that ordinary interruptions seem to pull him out of a trance-like devotion to boot-making, reinforcing the story's theme of dedication to quality work.

Question: In 'Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations', the poet writes as though carpenters, electricians, and boatmen are actively celebrating and singing at their tasks. Which literary technique does this best illustrate?
A. Simile
B. Personification
C. Alliteration
D. Repetition
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Personification

Explanation:
By giving human actions like celebrating, humming, and singing to entire groups of workers and their trades, the poet uses personification to bring warmth and life to descriptions of everyday labour.

Question: What mood does R.L. Stevenson create in 'The Lamplighter' through the child's excited anticipation of watching Leerie each evening?
A. Fearful and anxious
B. Bored and indifferent
C. Admiring and wonder-filled
D. Angry and resentful
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Admiring and wonder-filled

Explanation:
The child rushes to the window every evening just to catch sight of the lamplighter, and even dreams of doing the same job when grown up. This eagerness and admiration give the poem a warm, wonder-filled mood rather than any negative feeling.

Question: Onula is described as having witnessed a 'profound revelation' upon seeing the two identical rows of pots. What does 'profound' suggest here?
A. Something minor and easily explained
B. Something deeply significant and striking
C. Something amusing and light-hearted
D. Something confusing and unclear
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Something deeply significant and striking

Explanation:
Profound means deeply felt or of great significance. Onula's realisation about what had happened in the shed struck her as an intense, meaningful moment rather than an ordinary discovery.

Free study material for English

Chapter 02 The Pot Maker Objective Questions & Solutions for Class 9 English

Class 9 English Chapter 02 The Pot Maker Objective Test Questions

Explore reliable practice questions for Chapter 02 The Pot Maker tailored for Class 9 English learners. Use these multiple-choice formats to evaluate preparedness and strengthen problem-solving skills.

NCERT-Aligned Objective Questions and Solutions

Built using the official NCERT book for Class 9, these English objective sets provide reliable academic guidance. Pair your practice with our recommended NCERT solutions to master optimal problem-solving approaches.

Next Steps in Your Exam Preparation

Wrap up your chapter revision by testing your knowledge against standard question formats. Everything on our platform is provided free of charge.

FAQs

Where can I access latest CBSE Class 9 English The Pot Maker MCQs Set 01?

You can get most exhaustive CBSE Class 9 English The Pot Maker MCQs Set 01 for free on StudiesToday.com. These MCQs for Class 9 English are updated for the 2026-27 academic session as per CBSE examination standards.

Are Assertion-Reasoning and Case-Study MCQs included in the English Class 9 material?

Yes, our CBSE Class 9 English The Pot Maker MCQs Set 01 include the latest type of questions, such as Assertion-Reasoning and Case-based MCQs. 50% of the CBSE paper is now competency-based.

How do practicing English MCQs help in scoring full marks in Class 9 exams?

By solving our CBSE Class 9 English The Pot Maker MCQs Set 01, Class 9 students can improve their accuracy and speed which is important as objective questions provide a chance to secure 100% marks in the English.

Do you provide answers and explanations for CBSE Class 9 English The Pot Maker MCQs Set 01?

Yes, English MCQs for Class 9 have answer key and brief explanations to help students understand logic behind the correct option as its important for 2026 competency-focused CBSE exams.

Can I practice these English Class 9 MCQs online?

Yes, you can also access online interactive tests for CBSE Class 9 English The Pot Maker MCQs Set 01 on StudiesToday.com as they provide instant answers and score to help you track your progress in English.