NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 8 A House is Not A Home

Class 9 English Moments Chapter 8 A House is Not A Home

1. What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
See AnswerOne Sunday afternoon, the author noticed a strange smell. Suddenly he saw smoke coming in through the ceiling and occupying the room very quickly. The vision became hazy and they could hardly see anything. By the time they ran out into the front yard, the roof was already in flames and was fire was spreading very quickly. His mother runs back into the house to bring a small metal box full of important documents. She wanted to bring out important things from the house one by one. She was in a ‘crazed state’.

2. Why does he break down in tears after the fire?
See AnswerThe feeling of suffering a major loss broke him down into tears. He soon realized that his cat was not to be seen anywhere. Then he had flashback of everything at once − the new school, the fire, and his cat. That was when he broke down and cried.

3. Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?
See Answer The author is deeply embarrassed the next day in school because he was still wearing the same dress that he wore to church in the morning and he had no shoes as he had lost them in the fire. He had to borrow some tennis shoes from his. The clothes he was wearing looked weird, he had no books or homework, and even his backpack was gone. Words used in the lesson that show his fear and insecurity are “outcast and geek”, “like a zombie.”, “wanted to curl up and die”, “Everything felt surreal”, “All the security…had all been ripped away”.

4. The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?
See AnswerThe author had great affection towards his cat. He cried inconsolably when he couldn’t find his cat after the fire. He would regularly go to the site of his house in the hope of finding the cat. He remembered how the cat would crawl into his pocket and fall asleep and missed her terribly. The cat was so freaked by the fire and ran a mile away from the house. One woman found her and took her in. She located the author’s number on the cat’s collar. However, she couldn’t reach them as the phone had been disconnected because of the fire. The woman then made personal efforts to find the author and returned back the cat.

5. What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?
See AnswerThe schoolmates were genuinely concerned for the author in spite of not knowing him well. They helped him by collecting supplies, books and clothes. He started making new friends and also went to their houses. He realized that people around him were good and supportive. He was overwhelmed by their love and cooperation. The feeling of fear and insecurity disappeared and confidence took over. Everything seemed alright now.

6. What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?
See Answer Here the author wants to point out that his ideology of life has gone a complete change. His schoolmates have helped him with their open hearts. They have extended invitations for their houses. Their genuine concern makes the author touch his heart so much that he breathes a sigh of relief. He feels that the things will be okay very soon. After a month woman came with a cat. The narrator grabbed and hugged her. His friends were hugging the narrator. This overwhelming feelings of loss and tragedy seemed to diminish. He was deeply obliged to the stranger who had brought his cat. He could not help say that he was back to his original self. In reality he had gone nowhere but had become exhausted with life due to colossal lose. He felt that he had returned to his original self like the cat who came to his house.

Zan Gaudioso Shared the story of his graduation. When he turned senior and shifted to his school his close friends left him for the other school. It was tough for him to adjust to the new school which was way bigger than the previous ones. He was missing his friend that much that he wanted to visit them. But they tried to make him understand. The practicality of life and how he should take part in activities. Socialize there to know people and make friends. At some point, he understood all that they were saying but still, it was difficult.

One day when he was at home sitting with his pet cat. Who was adopted as a kitten and gave her the new life of comfort was purring on his work papers. His mother was setting up the fire in the home to make the home warmer and more comfortable.

He started to sniff something burning. He saw suddenly that the flames reaching as high as the roof and about the engulf the roof. He rushed to the neighbors to call the fire departments and to make them alert too. He never thought that one cold morning when it was all cozy inside could suddenly turn into this. When he came back, he saw his mother was running inside to hold on to some important documents. Off course those documents are important but suddenly he witnessed her mother was gathering some old picture witnesses. He understood that she wants to save the memories of his father who he lost at such young age.

He could do nothing but scream to stop her. He couldn’t follow her into the blazing home. Because the fire department arrived on time and held him. Because they knew he was about the follow his mother and wrapped him into a blanket to keep him warm. Fireman held her and took her out. Giving her the oxygen mask and said she will be alright. All the thoughts of hating her and arguments vaporized with the thought of losing her.

Authorities put them into the car and asked them to leave the place. They were prohibited to enter the place it was all too dangerous. Suddenly, the thought of losing the cat was too difficult to process. All the things that were going on in his life. Like a change of school, losing friends, losing the home, and now losing the cat made him cry. Briefly they took refuge in his grandparents’ home.

The next day, He had to go to school but when the fire broke, he was doing his school work. He had lost his shoes because he was there in a church outfit and his books and bag which was his dearest at that moment. He was feeling outcast in the class and everything was feeling unreal. When He walked into the house, He saw everything was destroyed. Not only because of fire but also because of the chemicals they used to extinguish it. Only some of the photographs and important documents left to save that his mother saved by jumping into the fire.

Everyone in school knew about the accident that happened. They used to look at him as if he was responsible for it. Zan used to visit the rubble that was being cleared from there every day but on that day. His mother took him shopping. As he has to buy some clothes to wear in school. All the cash and cards were destroyed in a fire, so they had to borrow from their grandparents. While looking in the rubble. He was hoping to find the cat he was missing her terribly as he loved her so much but there was nothing left. He was remembering all the moments he had with the kitten and how it comes to him.

Everything was weird in the school. As people are coming to him and trying to push him to go to the gym. Soon as he was already trying to get ready for the gym. But once he arrived there, he was shocked to see the table was full of jeans and clothes of all kind. Books, bag, and supplies and people were being nice to him. Suddenly he started to receive all kind of invitation for visiting their house. They showed interest in him. Initiated a conversation with him. That felt like early Christmas to him and overwhelming emotion that made him more silent.

Finding new friends helped him a lot. This time he was watching building his house with new school friends made him realize. That it took fire to bring him back to his new self. Suddenly, someone came from behind and asked him if this cat belongs to him. The lady found the cat a mile away. But the phone number on the collar of the cat helped her find the address, and she came to return it. It made Zan’s world complete again.