NCERT Class 10 Footprints without Feet Chapter “The Book That Saved the Earth” Extra Question Answers

Introduction to the Chapter:

“The Book That Saved the Earth” is a humorous and imaginative science-fiction story by Claire Boiko. The chapter describes an attempted invasion of Earth by Martians, led by the Great and Mighty Think-Tank. Mistakenly, the Martians interpret a book of rhymes, “Mother Goose,” as an advanced, dangerous text, believing it to be a source of Earth’s defense strategies. Their misconceptions about Earth’s culture and language lead them to abandon the invasion. This lighthearted tale reflects themes of arrogance, miscommunication, and the power of knowledge, showcasing how a simple book of nursery rhymes ends up saving Earth from alien conquest.

Here are some 3-mark and 6-mark questions with value points and answers:

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3-Marks Questions

1. Who is Think-Tank, and what role does he play in the story?
   • Value Points:
     • Think-Tank is the ruler of Mars and the leader of the invasion.
     • He is arrogant, considers himself superior to others, and overestimates his own intelligence.
     • Think-Tank’s mistaken interpretation of “Mother Goose” ultimately leads to the Martians’ retreat.
   Answer: Think-Tank is the ruler of Mars and the leader behind the planned invasion of Earth. He is arrogant and overconfident, considering himself superior in intelligence. His mistaken interpretation of the nursery rhyme book “Mother Goose” as a dangerous source of Earth’s defense knowledge ultimately results in the Martians abandoning their mission.
2. How did the Martians interpret the book “Mother Goose”?
   • Value Points:
     • The Martians believed “Mother Goose” was a powerful manual containing Earth’s defense strategies.
     • They took the nursery rhymes literally, misunderstanding them as advanced messages.
     • This misconception led them to fear Earth’s capabilities.
   Answer: The Martians misinterpreted the book “Mother Goose” as a powerful manual of Earth’s defense strategies. They took the nursery rhymes literally, seeing them as advanced codes or instructions, which led them to fear Earth’s military power and retreat.
3. What was Noodle’s role in the Martian invasion?
   • Value Points:
     • Noodle was a Martian lieutenant who often offered suggestions to Think-Tank.
     • He tried to point out flaws in Think-Tank’s conclusions subtly.
     • Noodle’s cautious insights often balanced Think-Tank’s arrogance.
   Answer: Noodle was a Martian lieutenant who offered cautious suggestions to Think-Tank, trying to point out flaws in his conclusions without offending him. His insights often served as a balance to Think-Tank’s arrogance, although they were frequently overlooked.
4. Why did Think-Tank decide to invade Earth?
   • Value Points:
     • Think-Tank believed Earth was an inferior planet and would be easy to conquer.
     • He underestimated Earth’s intelligence and thought it was technologically backward.
     • His arrogance and desire to expand his empire drove the decision.
   Answer: Think-Tank decided to invade Earth because he believed it was an inferior and technologically backward planet, assuming it would be easy to conquer. His arrogance and desire for power and expansion fueled this decision, leading him to plan the invasion.
5. What was the reaction of the Martians to the rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle”?
   • Value Points:
     • The Martians took the rhyme literally, interpreting it as Earth’s description of advanced weaponry.
     • They were alarmed, thinking the cow jumping over the moon was an example of Earth’s technological prowess.
     • The reaction added to their fear and decision to abandon the invasion.
   Answer: The Martians took the rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle” literally, believing it described advanced Earth weaponry. They thought that a cow jumping over the moon was an indication of Earth’s technological prowess, which alarmed them further and contributed to their decision to abandon the invasion.

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6-Marks Questions

1. Discuss the irony in the story “The Book That Saved the Earth.”
   • Value Points:
     • The Martians, who see themselves as superior, are fooled by a simple book of nursery rhymes.
     • Think-Tank, the self-proclaimed “greatest intelligence,” misinterprets children’s rhymes as codes.
     • The very book that Martians believe is dangerous turns out to be a book of harmless poems for children.
     • The story reflects how arrogance and ignorance lead to humorous misunderstandings.
   Answer: The irony in “The Book That Saved the Earth” lies in how the supposedly advanced Martians misinterpret a children’s book as a dangerous source of Earth’s defense strategies. Think-Tank, who believes he is the greatest intelligence, takes simple nursery rhymes as advanced codes, showing his ignorance. The Martians’ belief that a harmless book of poems is a powerful weapon leads them to abandon their mission. This humorous irony highlights the consequences of arrogance and ignorance.
2. How does Think-Tank’s character affect the events of the story?
   • Value Points:
     • Think-Tank’s arrogance and overconfidence shape the Martians’ perspective of Earth.
     • He jumps to conclusions about the book, leading to a series of misinterpretations.
     • His inability to recognize his own ignorance ultimately saves Earth.
     • Think-Tank’s attitude toward Earth backfires, making him look foolish.
   Answer: Think-Tank’s character, marked by arrogance and overconfidence, drives the Martians’ misunderstandings about Earth. He hastily concludes that “Mother Goose” is a strategic text, leading to a chain of fearful misinterpretations. His inability to recognize his own ignorance ultimately results in the Martians retreating, unintentionally saving Earth. Think-Tank’s underestimation of Earth and disregard for advice from others highlight his foolishness, making him a source of comic relief in the story.
3. What message does the story “The Book That Saved the Earth” convey about knowledge and intelligence?
   • Value Points:
     • The story shows that intelligence is not solely about power but also understanding and humility.
     • The Martians’ lack of knowledge about Earth leads them to a comical failure.
     • Think-Tank’s arrogance and inability to understand Earth’s culture result in a disastrous misinterpretation.
     • True intelligence involves open-mindedness and a willingness to learn.
   Answer: “The Book That Saved the Earth” conveys that true intelligence involves not only power but also understanding, humility, and cultural awareness. The Martians’ ignorance about Earth leads to their comical failure, as they misinterpret simple rhymes as advanced messages. Think-Tank’s arrogance blinds him to understanding Earth’s culture, resulting in misguided fear. The story highlights that knowledge requires open-mindedness and that arrogance can lead to foolish mistakes.
4. How does the author use humor to present serious themes in “The Book That Saved the Earth”?
   • Value Points:
     • The story uses the Martians’ literal interpretation of rhymes to create humor.
     • Think-Tank’s inflated ego and his subsequent misunderstandings provide comic relief.
     • The humor serves to critique arrogance and the assumption of superiority.
     • Through humor, the author shows how ignorance can have serious consequences.
   Answer: The author uses humor in “The Book That Saved the Earth” by showcasing the Martians’ literal interpretation of nursery rhymes, which they see as complex military codes. Think-Tank’s inflated ego and his resulting misinterpretations create comic relief, yet serve to critique arrogance and the Martians’ assumption of superiority. The humor underscores the serious theme that ignorance and overconfidence can lead to misunderstandings with significant consequences.
5. Describe how “Mother Goose” becomes “The Book That Saved the Earth.”
   • Value Points:
     • The Martians mistakenly believe “Mother Goose” is a book of Earth’s defense strategies.
     • The nursery rhymes are misinterpreted as instructions and warnings.
     • Fearful of Earth’s “superior intelligence,” the Martians decide to abandon the invasion.
     • The book’s harmless content ironically becomes Earth’s savior.
   Answer: “Mother Goose” becomes “The Book That Saved the Earth” when the Martians, led by Think-Tank, misinterpret its simple nursery rhymes as Earth’s defense strategies. They view these rhymes as complex instructions and warnings, convincing them of Earth’s superior intelligence. Afraid of Earth’s supposed power, the Martians decide to abandon their invasion plan. Ironically, this harmless book of rhymes becomes Earth’s savior due to the Martians’ misunderstanding.