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 says, “I am, in short, easily confused.” He gives some examples to justify his said statement. He’d go to a movie theatre looking for the restroom and end himself in an alley on the wrong side of a self-locking door. He claims that one of his specialties was returning to hotel desks twice or three a day to ask about his room number.

Question:- 2. What happens when the zip on his carry-on bag gives way?

Answer:- In that situation, the author became extremely confused. When the zip on his carry-on bag broke, everything inside spilled out all over the place. Newspaper clippings, loose papers, tobacco packets, magazines, passports, English money, and film were scattered on the floor and his fingers began to bleed from a wound on the zip..

Question:- 3. Why is his finger bleeding? What is his wife’s reaction?

Answer:-  His finger is bleeding because he had gashed his finger on the zip. His wife did not show anger or frustration. Instead, she stared at him in amazement and said that she couldn’t believe he did it for a living.

Question:- 4. How does Bill Bryson end up in a “crash position” in the aircraft?

Answer:- The author once leaned over on a flight to tie his shoelace. At the same time, someone in the seat in front of him reclined his seat completely. As a result, the author was caught helplessly in the crash position. 

Question:- 5. Why are his teeth and gums navy blue?

Answer:- Once while writing he was sucking on the end of his pen.  While sucking thoughtfully he was lost in talking with an attractive lady and could not notice the leakage in the pen. This made his teeth and gums navy blue.

Question:- 6. Bill Bryson “ached to be suave”. Is he successful in his mission? List his ‘unsuave’ ways.

Answer:-  Bill Bryson clearly wished he could be suave.He is not successful in his mission.  He got into a car and shut the door without leaving 14 inches of coat outside, and he wore light-colored pants without realising at the end of the day that he had sat on chewing gum, ice cream, cough syrup, and motor oil at various times.

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 was well aware of the travelling habits of her husband. To avoid any awkward and embarrassing situation, she says, “Take the lids off the food for Daddy”.

Question:- 8. What is the significance of the title?

Answer:- The title is quite significant.  After reading the entire story, it is clear that Bill Bryson is The Accidental Tourist. There are other cases like these that prove the title’s accuracy. The title itself refers to the author’s several unusual and accidental experience.