NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 9 The Accidental Tourist
Think About It
Question 1. Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily confused.” What examples has he given to justify this?
Answer
Bill Bryson claimed that he was easily confused. Many times he went looking for the lavatory in a cinema and ended up standing in an alley on the wrong side of a self-locking door. He said that his specialty was returning to hotel desks two or three times a day and asking what his room number was. That is why he said that he was easily confused.
Question 2. What happens when the zip on his carry-on bag gives way?
Answer
His fingers get hurt by the zip. He is bleeding profusely. All belongings in his bag are flying across the floor of the waiting hall of the airport. He seems to be making a mockery of himself and of civilized way of behaving at a particular place.
Question 3. Why is his finger bleeding? What is his wife’s reaction?
Answer
His finger is hurt by getting stuck in the zip of his bag. His wife is astonished by the way he has created a mess all around himself.
Question 4. How does Bill Bryson end up in a “crash position” in the aircraft?
Answer
Once on board a flight, Bryson leaned over to tie his shoelaces. At the same moment, someone in the seat in front of him threw his seat back into full recline and Bryson was pinned helplessly in the crash position.
Question 5. Why are his teeth and gums navy blue?
Answer
On one occasion while on a plane, Bryson was writing some notes in his notebook and kept sucking on the end of his pen. The pen had leaked and his gums, teeth, tongue and chin were all coloured with navy blue ink.
Question 6. Bill Bryson “ached to be suave”. Is he successful in his mission? List his ‘unsuave’ ways.
Answer
No, he is not successful in his mission. He would love just once in his life to rise from a dinner table without looking as if he had experienced an extremely localised seismic event, get in a car and close the door without leaving 14 inches of coat outside, wear light-coloured trousers without discovering at the end of the day that he had at various times sat on chewing gum, ice cream, cough syrup and motor oil.
Question 7. Why do you think Bill Bryson’s wife says to the children, “Take the lids off the food for Daddy”?
Answer
Bill Bryson’s wife asked the children to take the lids off the food for Bill because if Bill had tried to do that himself, then he might have taken it off in such a manner that the lid would be flying away to some part of the plane and the food might spill all over the place.
Question 8. What is the significance of the title?
Answer
The title is significant because it is about a man who travels and lot and is always confused. He gets into trouble because of his acts which are not deliberate. The story depicts humorous travel experiences – like being pinned in a crashed position, spilling drink on a co-passenger, his gums and teeth covered in ink, etc. – when the author accidently gets into trouble. Thus, the title is apt for this story.
