Chapter 9: The Book That Saved the Earth

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (4)

1. Q1Short answer6 marksAsked: 2026

   Answer any two of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words : (i) How does Noodle deal with Think Tank mistakes without openly contradicting him ? (The Book that Saved the Earth) (ii) Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school yet she knew that she was going to a better place than her home. Explain. (Bholi) (iii) Why was Dr. Herriot really worried about Tricki ? (A Triumph of Surgery)

   

   Medha Ma’am

   AskMedha’s AI teacher

   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 75 s

   Model answer · Noodle's tact; Bholi's school

   1. 1.(i) Noodle corrects Think-Tank's mistakes tactfully, so he never has to contradict him openly.2 marks
   2. 2.He agrees respectfully and uses flattery, such as "your Brilliance", to protect Think-Tank's ego. He suggests corrections indirectly and diplomatically, calling them "an insignificant bit of data". By avoiding open disagreement, he safeguards his position. This shows his intelligence, tact and political wisdom.2 marks
   3. 3.(ii) Bholi was afraid of school because of her stammer and past humiliation, and she feared being mocked there. Yet she knew school was a better place than home. At home she was neglected and treated as inferior, but for school she was bathed, her hair was oiled and she was given a clean dress to wear.2 marks

   • Answer only two of the three parts, and keep each one to about 40-50 words.
   • For Noodle, write that he "uses flattery" to protect Think-Tank's ego and "suggests corrections indirectly and diplomatically".
   • For Bholi, write both her fear of being mocked and that she "was bathed, her hair was oiled and she was given a clean dress to wear".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

   Today reading books is on the decline because of the prevalence of electronic media. Contrarily, earth is saved by a 'Book' in the chapter "The Book That Saved the Earth". Elaborate.

   

   Medha Ma’am

   AskMedha’s AI teacher

   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 55 s

   Model answer · Role of the book, Martian invasion

   1. 1.Although fewer people read books today because of electronic media, in the play a harmless book of nursery rhymes, Mother Goose, saved the Earth from the Martian invasion of 2040. The Martian space crew found the book on Earth and thought its words were a code. The Martians knew nothing about Earth's culture and language, so Think-Tank mistook the nursery rhymes for true accounts of life on Earth. He believed that Earthlings could grow crops of silver and high explosives, and that millions of cows might launch an interplanetary attack. Alarmed, he ordered the invasion fleet to hold. In this way, a simple book prevented the invasion.3 marks

   • Name the book, Mother Goose, and say that it is a book of nursery rhymes.
   • Write that the Martians knew nothing about Earth's culture and language, so they mistook the nursery rhymes for true accounts of life on Earth.
   • End by saying that the book prevented the Martian invasion of 2040.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

3. Q3Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

   A well known book of nursery rhymes saved the world from a Martian invasion. Comment with reference to ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’.

   

   Medha Ma’am

   AskMedha’s AI teacher

   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 50 s

   Model answer · Mother Goose saves Earth

   1. 1.Mother Goose, a well-known book of nursery rhymes, saved the Earth because the Martians misunderstood it. In 2040, the Martian crew found this old book on Earth and thought its words were a secret code. Think-Tank, the Martian commander, interpreted the rhymes in his own way and became frightened. From the rhyme about pretty maids growing in a garden, he concluded that Earthlings could grow crops of rare metals such as silver, and could grow high explosives too. Believing the Earthlings were more advanced and powerful than the Martians, he said, 'No invasion today', and called his crew members back.3 marks

   • Name the book, Mother Goose, and write that Think-Tank "interpreted the rhymes in his own way and became frightened".
   • Give two of Think-Tank's conclusions, such as "crops of rare metals such as silver" and "high explosives".
   • End with the result: he "called his crew members back".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

4. Q4Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

   How did Apprentice Noodle act smartly by suggesting something about the book without offending Think-Tank ?

   How the model answer begins

   1. Apprentice Noodle acted smartly by correcting Think-Tank politely, so the proud Think-Tank never felt insulted. He approached Think-Tank with respect, addressing him as "Great and Mighty Think-Tank", and sought…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "The Book That Saved the Earth" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 0 marks and about 0 questions a year; by marks it ranks 33 in English.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "The Book That Saved the Earth"?

The 4 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 4 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.