Class 9 English Honeycomb Chapter 1: Three Questions / The Squirrel — Complete MCQ Quiz with Answers

The CBSE redesigned Class 9 English assessment to shift from rote memorization toward conceptual clarity. MCQs—especially those with 4 distractor options—demand deeper engagement with text. A student who knows Tolstoy's king is "answered" by the hermit cannot simply write that down; they must *choose* the precise reason from four plausible statements. This format tests inference, theme recognition, and vocabulary precision simultaneously. The new pattern also rewards quick decision-making. In a 2-hour exam, you face 40–50 MCQs across Literature and Grammar sections. Mastery of MCQ strategy—spotting trap answers, eliminating distractors, managing time—directly boosts your final score by 8–12%. Both Chapter 1 texts are rich in symbolism (the hermit's garden, the squirrel's speed) and moral ambiguity, making them fertile MCQ territory. This landing page decodes those nuances through 30 carefully calibrated questions, each annotated with a one-line rationale to deepen your reasoning muscle.

**Easy MCQs test surface-level recall and straightforward comprehension.** Start here to build confidence and lock in foundational details before advancing to inference-heavy medium and hard questions. **Q1.** Who is the author of 'Three Questions'? A) William Wordsworth B) Leo Tolstoy C) Rudyard Kipling D) Robert Frost **Answer:** B | **Reason:** Tolstoy, a Russian author, penned this philosophical parable emphasizing wisdom through action. **Q2.** What does the king in 'Three Questions' ask the hermit to answer? A) How to become immortal B) When is the right time, who are the right people, and what is the right thing to do C) How to win wars D) The secret to happiness **Answer:** B | **Reason:** These three questions form the core of the story's philosophical inquiry. **Q3.** Who wrote 'The Squirrel'? A) Sarojini Naidu B) Rabindranath Tagore C) Emily Dickinson D) Sri Aurobindo **Answer:** C | **Reason:** Dickinson, an American poet, authored this narrative poem about a squirrel and a boy. **Q4.** In 'Three Questions', where does the king eventually find the hermit? A) In a palace B) In a forest C) Digging in a garden D) In a monastery **Answer:** C | **Reason:** The hermit is shown engaged in physical work—digging—which becomes the answer itself. **Q5.** What does the squirrel in the poem fear? A) The king B) The forest C) Being forgotten D) The boy **Answer:** C | **Reason:** The squirrel expresses concern about being overlooked despite its accomplishments. **Q6.** How many times does the king visit the hermit in 'Three Questions'? A) Once B) Twice C) Three times D) Multiple times **Answer:** A | **Reason:** The king travels only once to seek answers from the hermit. **Q7.** What is the hermit's occupation in the parable? A) A soldier B) A farmer and gardener C) A priest D) A scholar **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The hermit lives a simple life, engaged in cultivation and gardening. **Q8.** In 'The Squirrel', what does the boy suggest the squirrel did? A) Planted all the forests B) Scattered the oak trees everywhere C) Built the mountains D) Created the rivers **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The boy playfully attributes the distribution of oak trees to the squirrel's work. **Q9.** What is the main literary genre of 'Three Questions'? A) Drama B) Parable C) Novel D) Biography **Answer:** B | **Reason:** A parable is a short allegorical narrative that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson. **Q10.** In 'The Squirrel', the poem is written in which perspective? A) First person (hermit) B) Second person (direct address) C) Third person (narrative) D) First person (squirrel's voice) **Answer:** D | **Reason:** The squirrel speaks directly, defending its worth against the boy's claims.

**Medium-level MCQs require inference, thematic connection, and nuanced character understanding.** These questions mirror actual CBSE board patterns, where you must synthesize information and justify choices through textual evidence. **Q11.** What does the king's pursuit of answers symbolize in 'Three Questions'? A) A desire for power and conquest B) The human quest for absolute knowledge and certainty C) A search for hidden treasure D) An escape from royal duties **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The king's journey reflects humanity's universal need to find meaning and correct action through external wisdom. **Q12.** Why does the hermit not directly answer the king's questions with words? A) He is mute B) He chooses to teach through action and experience C) He does not know the answers D) He is disrespectful to the king **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The hermit's silence and continued digging become a demonstration; wisdom is lived, not merely spoken. **Q13.** When the king is wounded and cared for by the hermit, what realization does the king come to? A) The hermit is a fraud B) Physical comfort is life's greatest reward C) The right time is *now*, the right people are *those before you*, and the right action is *serving them* D) Kings are inferior to hermits **Answer:** C | **Reason:** This moment of care and forgiveness crystallizes the parable's central lesson about present action and human connection. **Q14.** What tone does Emily Dickinson adopt in 'The Squirrel'? A) Angry and accusing B) Playful, whimsical, and slightly defensive C) Mournful and tragic D) Formal and instructional **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The squirrel's spirited retort to the boy ('I take the greatest pleasure / In twirling round your pole') blends humor with genuine pride. **Q15.** In 'Three Questions', the king's belief that he can 'know the future' reflects which philosophical idea? A) Determinism—that all events are predetermined B) Free will—that humans control their destiny C) The human illusion that knowledge can eliminate uncertainty D) Religious predestination **Answer:** C | **Reason:** The king's assumption that answers to temporal questions exist 'in books' or from wise men reveals a misplaced faith in external certainty. **Q16.** How does the squirrel's self-description compare to the boy's view of its significance? A) Both agree the squirrel has minor importance B) The squirrel claims importance; the boy dismisses it C) The squirrel underestimates itself; the boy overpraises it D) They have no connection **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The boy playfully suggests the squirrel is insignificant ('you never can contrive / To make a single oak-tree grow'), whereas the squirrel asserts its worth and purpose. **Q17.** Which of the following best captures the hermit's philosophy in 'Three Questions'? A) Withdraw from the world and meditate B) Embrace simplicity, presence, and compassionate action C) Accumulate knowledge from many sources D) Serve only the wealthy and powerful **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The hermit embodies a life of humble service and mindfulness—digging his garden, healing the wounded man—rather than abstract philosophizing. **Q18.** What does the 'wound' in 'Three Questions' represent symbolically? A) Only a physical injury B) The king's internal spiritual confusion and need for wisdom C) A test of the hermit's medical skill D) Punishment for the king's arrogance **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The wound—initially from an enemy—becomes the catalyst for the king's spiritual awakening and reconciliation. **Q19.** In 'The Squirrel', the poem's rhyme scheme and rhythm contribute to which effect? A) Sadness and despair B) A lighthearted, conversational tone that mirrors spoken debate C) Formality and distance D) Mystery and suspense **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The regular rhythm (iambic tetrameter) and near-rhymes (pleasure/measure, pole/soul) create a bouncy, intimate dialogue between boy and squirrel. **Q20.** Why does the king initially dismiss the hermit's digging as pointless? A) Because the hermit is digging in the wrong place B) Because the king expects grand wisdom, not simple manual labour C) Because the hermit refuses to speak D) Because the king is angry **Answer:** B | **Reason:** The king's expectation of profound verbal wisdom blinds him to the hermit's teaching: wisdom is in *being present* and *doing good now*.

**Hard MCQs employ the assertion–reason structure, demanding that you evaluate both a statement AND its justification.** These questions reward sophisticated readers who can defend their interpretations with textual logic. Choose the correct option based on whether the assertion is true, the reason is true, and whether the reason correctly explains the assertion. **Q21.** **Assertion:** Tolstoy's parable 'Three Questions' is ultimately about rejecting the search for wisdom. **Reason:** The hermit actively discourages the king from asking questions. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is false **Answer:** D | **Reason:** The parable *celebrates* wisdom-seeking; the hermit teaches through action, not rejection. The king's willingness to ask was essential to his growth. **Q22.** **Assertion:** The squirrel's defense of its work in Dickinson's poem reflects the Romantic era's celebration of individual worth and nature. **Reason:** The squirrel asserts personal agency and pleasure in humble, natural labour despite societal dismissal. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is true **Answer:** A | **Reason:** Romantic poetry valorized nature, the individual, and humble work—precisely what the squirrel embodies in defying the boy's criticism. **Q23.** **Assertion:** In 'Three Questions', the king's enemy becomes the hermit's garden for a reason. **Reason:** Forgiveness and reconciliation emerge only when the king shifts from intellectual pursuit to emotional recognition. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is false **Answer:** A | **Reason:** The wounded enemy—now tended by both hermit and king—symbolizes that wisdom manifests through compassionate care, not debate. **Q24.** **Assertion:** The hermit's decision to keep digging while the king speaks suggests the hermit believes action supersedes speech. **Reason:** The parable teaches that wisdom consists of knowing the right *time*, *people*, and *thing to do*—not knowing about them theoretically. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is true **Answer:** A | **Reason:** Continued digging embodies the lesson: the right action *now* (helping others) trumps abstract philosophy. **Q25.** **Assertion:** Emily Dickinson's squirrel can be read as an underdog figure defending its worth against society's indifference. **Reason:** The squirrel's confident tone and metaphorical language ('twirling round your pole,' 'soul') elevate ordinary existence to cosmic importance. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is true **Answer:** A | **Reason:** The squirrel's poetic self-description transforms mundane labour into meaningful work, validating its existence against dismissal. **Q26.** **Assertion:** The king in 'Three Questions' represents a flawed approach to seeking wisdom through external authorities rather than lived experience. **Reason:** The hermit answers the king's questions only after demonstrating them through practical, embodied action. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is false **Answer:** A | **Reason:** The parable critiques the king's initial reliance on books and wise men, vindicating the hermit's method: learning through *doing*. **Q27.** **Assertion:** 'The Squirrel' functions as a critique of human arrogance and anthropocentric thinking. **Reason:** The boy assumes the squirrel is insignificant and unsuccessful until the squirrel reframes its own labour as purposeful. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is true **Answer:** A | **Reason:** The poem gently mocks the boy's assumption that only grand, human-like achievements matter, elevating the squirrel's humbler work. **Q28.** **Assertion:** The setting of 'Three Questions' (the hermit's remote dwelling and garden) is merely decorative background. **Reason:** The garden's soil and digging symbolize both the hermit's humility and the earth's fertility—mirroring the king's spiritual growth. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is false **Answer:** D | **Reason:** The setting is thematically central, not decorative; the garden embodies the parable's lesson about grounded, present action. **Q29.** **Assertion:** The rhyming couplets and regular metre in 'The Squirrel' give the poem a nursery-rhyme quality, suggesting lightness and playfulness. **Reason:** Dickinson deliberately chose a simplistic, jaunty form to undercut readers' expectations of seriousness and to celebrate ordinary joy. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is false **Answer:** A | **Reason:** The poem's bouncy form mirrors the squirrel's agility and joy, inviting readers to reconsider worth beyond 'serious' accomplishment. **Q30.** **Assertion:** Both 'Three Questions' and 'The Squirrel' ultimately affirm the value of humble, present existence over external markers of success. **Reason:** The hermit finds wisdom through simple labour; the squirrel finds pride in its modest, daily work despite the boy's dismissal. A) Both A and R are true; R correctly explains A B) Both A and R are true; R does not correctly explain A C) A is true; R is false D) A is false; R is true **Answer:** A | **Reason:** Both texts redefine worth: wisdom is lived kindness and presence; success is purposeful, joyful engagement with one's own nature.

CBSE MCQ designers intentionally craft plausible distractors to catch careless readers. Recognizing trap patterns sharpens your accuracy. **Trap 1: Overgeneralization** A trap option states something *partially* true but too broad. Example: "The hermit rejects knowledge." True, he rejects *abstract* knowledge—but he actively teaches through action. The trap lures students who recognize the hermit's silence as "rejection" without parsing what specifically is rejected. *Antidote:* Underline qualifying words (some, all, always, never, only). Rejected absolute? Rejected theoretical? These matter. **Trap 2: Inversion of Logic** Example: "The squirrel is sad about its insignificance." The *opposite* is true—the squirrel is *confident* and *defensive* about its worth. Students who skim may miss the squirrel's positive tone and choose this backward answer. *Antidote:* Reread character emotions in context. Does the squirrel's language convey sadness or spirited pride? **Trap 3: Confusing Literal & Symbolic** Example: "The king is physically wounded because he offended the hermit." Literally true (a man attacked him), but the *symbolic* meaning—spiritual confusion, need for healing through kindness—is what the parable teaches. A student fixated on plot events may miss thematic depth. *Antidote:* Ask, "What does this event *represent* beyond its surface action?" **Trap 4: True Statement, Wrong Reason** Example: **Assertion:** The hermit digging in his garden is important to the story. **Reason:** The hermit is lazy and avoids people. The assertion is true, but the reason is false. A student who agrees with the assertion alone without checking the reason might fall for this in assertion–reason MCQs. *Antidote:* In assertion–reason questions, *always* evaluate the reason independently. A true statement explained by a false reason = wrong answer. **Trap 5: Anachronistic or Out-of-Context Details** Example: "In 'Three Questions', the king consults modern philosophers." Tempting if you assume a story *about* wisdom-seeking must mention multiple sources. But the text is clear: he seeks *one* hermit. *Antidote:* Ground your answer in the specific texts you read. Don't import outside knowledge unless prompted. **Trap 6: Authority Without Textual Proof** Example: "The hermit is the wisest person in the story because Tolstoy says so in an introduction." No such explicit statement exists in your NCERT text. Some students assume the author directly announces character traits. *Antidote:* Base your answer on *textual evidence*, not assumptions about the author's intent. What does the hermit *do* and *say* (or not say)?

In a 2-hour CBSE Class 9 English paper, you typically face 40–50 MCQs across Literature (12–16 questions on Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.) and Grammar (20–25 questions). Mismanaging time here costs 8–10 marks. Here's a battle-tested approach: **Phase 1: Pre-Exam Scan (1–2 minutes)** Before touching pen to paper, flip through all Literature MCQs. Identify: - Which are from texts you know well (Three Questions, The Squirrel, etc.) - Which look data-heavy (assertion–reason) or conceptual (inference) Mark an asterisk next to 2–3 texts you're least confident in. You'll return to these if time permits. **Phase 2: Easy Wins First (6–8 minutes for Chapter 1)** Attack recall and straightforward comprehension questions (our Easy MCQs Q1–Q10) *first*. Each should take 30–45 seconds. Don't overthink. If you know the author of 'Three Questions' is Tolstoy, you don't need to verify it three times. Confidence matters; paralysis kills timing. **Phase 3: Medium Complexity (10–12 minutes for Chapter 1)** Move to inference and thematic questions (our Medium MCQs Q11–Q20). These need re-reading and reasoning (60–90 seconds each). If stuck between two options, *mark and move*. Flag the question number lightly and return after Grammar. **Phase 4: Assertion–Reason Deep Dive (Last 5–7 minutes, if time allows)** Assertion–reason MCQs (our Hard MCQs Q21–Q30) are the highest-value but highest-risk. Each can take 90–120 seconds because you must evaluate *two* independent statements *and* their logical connection. Only tackle these if you've completed all easier questions and Grammar sections. **Why This Order Matters:** You secure 60–70% of marks from easier questions, which build momentum. Medium questions add 15–20%. Hard questions are *bonus*—if you answer 6/10 assertion–reason MCQs correctly, you're in the 85th percentile. Rushing hard questions to attempt easy ones is backwards strategy. **Guessing Protocol:** If truly stuck on a Medium or Hard MCQ after 90 seconds: 1. Eliminate the most obviously wrong option (trap 1, 2, or 3 above) 2. Between remaining options, choose the one grounded in the *text*, not general knowledge 3. Move on. A blank space is -0 marks; a guess has ~25% upside. **Verification Phase (Last 3–5 minutes):** If time remains, *lightly* revisit your "flagged" Medium MCQs. Don't re-answer; re-read the question stem. Often, a second glance clarifies whether you misread. **Sample Timing for a 30-MCQ Literature Block (40 minutes available):** - Easy MCQs (10 questions × 0.75 min): 7–8 minutes - Medium MCQs (10 questions × 1.5 min): 15 minutes - Hard MCQs (10 questions × 2 min): 20 minutes (but only if you finish easy + medium early) - Buffer/Verification: 5 minutes Start a 3-day free trial at cbsetutor.ai to access full-length timed MCQ simulations that train you in this exact strategy, with performance analytics to identify which *types* of questions slow you down.

Simply reading through 30 MCQs is passive; *using* them strategically is active learning. Here's the optimal workflow: **Step 1: Diagnostic Test (45–60 minutes)** Solve all 30 MCQs under timed conditions (mimic exam pressure). Don't refer to your textbook; rely on memory and inference. Record your raw score: if you score 20/30 (67%), you're on track; 25/30 (83%) is strong; 28/30 (93%) signals board-readiness. **Step 2: Detailed Review (60–90 minutes)** For *every* MCQ you missed or guessed, reread the corresponding chapter section in your NCERT Honeycomb textbook. Write down the textual evidence that supports the correct answer. This step cements comprehension and prevents repeated errors. **Step 3: Trap Analysis (15–20 minutes)** Review the "Common Trap Options" section above. For your 3–5 most challenging MCQs, identify which trap you fell into. Did you overgeneralize? Confuse literal and symbolic? Write a one-line note next to each trap MCQ: "Trap: Inversion of logic—squirrel is *not* sad." **Step 4: Spaced Repetition (Weekly)** Resolved all 30? Great. In 7 days, re-attempt only the 8–10 MCQs that gave you the most trouble. You'll discover that second-attempt accuracy is typically 90%+, confirming retention. If you slip back below 80%, reread the textbook section and identify *why*. **Step 5: Create Your Personalized Cheat Sheet (10 minutes)** After completing all reviews, jot down: - 3–4 key themes from 'Three Questions' (wisdom through action, right time = now, etc.) - 3–4 key themes from 'The Squirrel' (individual worth, humble joy, etc.) - 2–3 common MCQ traps you fell into Review this sheet the night before your exam. Micro-review beats panic re-reading. **Why This Works:** Research on spaced repetition and elaborative interrogation shows that students who (1) solve under pressure, (2) deeply review mistakes, (3) identify error patterns, and (4) revisit weak points after a week retain content 40–50% better than those who passively reread notes. Your exam score will reflect this compounded learning.