Class 9 NCERT English Chapter 4: In the Kingdom of Fools — MCQs & Answers
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Added: 16.01.2026 at 11:21
Summary:
MCQ przewodnik do „In the Kingdom of Fools” (kl.9): streszczenie, postacie, motywy, typy pytań, strategie, przykłady i plan nauki. 📝
In the Kingdom of Fools — MCQs with Answers (NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 4)
"In the Kingdom of Fools" is an engaging folktale retold in the *Moments* supplementary reader prescribed for Class 9 CBSE students. Set in a peculiar land ruled by a whimsical king and his equally foolish minister, the story unfolds through the eyes of a visiting guru and his inquisitive disciple. The ridiculous laws and their comical consequences offer both entertainment and subtle lessons on the dangers of senseless authority.
In the present educational landscape, students frequently encounter Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in their internal assessments and board exams. These questions, ranging from factual recall to deeper inference, are a staple in CBSE tests. This essay will explore why MCQ practice is essential for mastering "In the Kingdom of Fools", the types of questions one is likely to face, proven strategies to ace them, and provide sample questions with answers. Through this guide, students can approach English MCQs both confidently and intelligently.
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Chapter Overview: Plot, Characters, and Setting
At its core, "In the Kingdom of Fools" follows a wandering guru and his disciple as they stumble upon a kingdom where day and night are reversed and food is suspiciously cheap. Their curiosity leads them to discover the bizarre workings of this upside-down society, including a farcical justice system where blame is endlessly shifted, and commonsense is a rarity. When a series of accidents leads to a comical chain of blame, it is ultimately the guru’s wisdom that extricates his disciple from peril. The tale wraps up with the righteous replacing the foolish, suggesting the triumph of prudence over madness.Key characters: - The King: A ruler more concerned with inventing odd laws than governing wisely. - The Minister: Loyal but equally lacking in sense. - The Guru (Teacher): Wise, discerning, and quick-thinking; represents the voice of reason. - The Disciple: Curious and naïve, he learns a lasting lesson from his master’s example. - Townspeople/Market folk: Caught up in the king’s eccentric decrees and their ripple effects.
Important settings and motifs: - A bizarre marketplace where time and economy are turned on their heads. - Edicts that dictate every facet of life for comedic, yet telling, effect. - The notion of shifting blame, highlighting collective folly. - Wisdom standing in stark contrast to mass compliance.
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Themes and Ideas Likely Tested in MCQs
- Abuse and Folly of Absolute Authority: The ruinous results of arbitrary commands by those in power. - Satirical Critique of Leadership: Humour and irony as tools to expose the flaws in blind governance. - Wisdom versus Foolishness: The guru’s resourcefulness highlighting how intelligence can outwit brute power. - Cause-and-Effect Blame Game: The domino effect of foolish decrees leading to ever more ridiculous situations. - Moral Lessons: The story’s ultimate endorsement of reason, wisdom, and the perils of mindless obedience._Task-oriented tips: MCQs often test recognition (e.g. “What is the main lesson?”), application (“Which incident best reflects the theme?”), and intuition about what the author or narrator truly intends._
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Types of MCQs You Can Expect
- Factual Recall: Identify who did what, in what sequence, where, and when. - Inference and Interpretation: Uncover unstated ideas, sarcasm, or the author’s intention behind events. - Vocabulary-in-Context: Assess knowledge of word meanings specific to the passage. - Reasoning/Application: Predict logical outcomes or choose statements that follow the events/scenes. - Character Motivation: Questions probing why a character acted in a certain manner. - Recognition of Satire and Irony: Detecting subtle humour and criticism.*Example*: *“Why did the disciple decide to stay in the kingdom?”* (tests factual recall and underlying logic)
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How MCQ Options Are Crafted to Trick You
- Extreme Language: Options using absolutes (“always”, “never”) are often incorrect unless textually supported. - Half-Truths: Distractors are partly based on fact but miss or twist essential details. - Close Paraphrase with a Twist: Options that look similar but subtly change the original meaning. - Commonsense but Inaccurate: Statements that sound right in a general folklore context, but defy the specifics of the story.How to Cope: - Return to the relevant part of the text—match sentences exactly. - Avoid selecting an answer simply because it seems familiar from another tale. - Prefer the answer that fits both the literal moment and its larger context.
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Answering Strategies for MCQs: Step-by-Step
1. Before Viewing Choices: - Read the question and recall what part of the chapter it concerns.2. On Seeing Options: - Eliminate obviously wrong or exaggerated answers. - Highlight options matching the story’s tone and facts. - Be wary of those that are “too broad” or “just sound good”.
3. Time Management: - Quick MCQs: Aim for under 1 minute. - Tricky ones: Don’t exceed 2–3 minutes; mark and revisit.
4. Process of Elimination (POE): - Strike off impossible choices first; compare remaining ones point by point.
5. Vocabulary Focus: - Mentally insert each option into the sentence to see which fits the tone and context.
6. When Stuck Between Two: - Prefer the response more directly stated in the given passage—precision wins. - Check for tense, subject, or logic mismatches.
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Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Assuming Folk Tales are All Alike: Stick to the *NCERT* version. - Falling for Generic Morals: Only select the moral drawn directly from the story’s events. - Trusting Intuition Over Evidence: Crosscheck every choice with the text. - Ignoring Negative Forms: Words like “not”, “never” can flip the answer. - Misjudging Humour: Choose the answer most literally validated by the author’s satire.---
Study Plan: Mastering the Chapter in Two Weeks
Day 1–2: Read *In the Kingdom of Fools* once for gist; again for details. Highlight character actions, odd laws, and key quotes. Day 3–5: Draft your own factual MCQs (“Who arrives first?”, “What law shocked the guru?”). Attempt to answer without notes. Day 6–8: Focus on vocabulary and inference. Jot down unfamiliar words; test yourself on meaning-in-context. Day 9–10: Take two short, timed practice MCQ quizzes (15–20 questions each). Day 11–12: Check errors. For every wrong answer, write a one-sentence justification for the right one. Day 13: Simulate an exam—full-length mock MCQ test under timed conditions. Day 14: Light revision: review difficult questions and unwind for confidence.For ongoing improvement: - Attempt weekly MCQ reviews across chapters. - Once a month, do a comprehensive chapter revision test.
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Building a Question Bank and Self-Testing
- Drafting MCQs: Extract 10–15 factual points and 5–8 inferential items. For vocabulary, pick tricky terms and set one correct plus three plausible but incorrect options. - Peer Practice: Swap questions with classmates and defend your answers. - Tracking Progress: Maintain an error log—note why each wrong answer happened and what you’ve done to learn from it.---
Model MCQ Set: Original Questions with Explanations
Attempt each question, choosing the best answer. Each explanation reveals why that choice is correct.1. The guru noticed something unusual about the market because: A) The shops were all closed B) Everything was priced the same C) The roads were empty D) The king was watching - Answer: B - *Explanation*: The uniform prices signalled a strange economic order.
2. The foolishness of the king is reflected mainly in: A) His extravagant dress B) The arbitrary rules he creates C) His generosity D) His quiet nature - Answer: B - *Explanation*: The heart of the story is the king's nonsensical decrees.
3. The disciple initially liked the kingdom because: A) It was very quiet B) He felt powerful C) Food was cheap and plentiful D) The people praised him - Answer: C - *Explanation*: The low-cost food attracted him, against his guru’s advice.
4. When a crime occurred, townspeople: A) Confessed honestly B) Ignored it C) Tried to pin the blame on someone else D) Asked for help from the guru - Answer: C - *Explanation*: The pattern is of constantly shifting responsibility.
5. The overall tone of the story is: A) Tragic B) Satirical and light-hearted C) Solemn D) Sentimental - Answer: B - *Explanation*: Satire and humour dominate.
6. The guru left the kingdom mainly because: A) He found it boring B) He sensed danger in staying among fools C) He was not allowed to preach D) He disliked the weather - Answer: B - *Explanation*: His wisdom urged him to avoid undue risk.
7. The shifting blame amongst citizens is mainly due to: A) Their honesty B) Absurd laws and fear of punishment C) Community love D) Respect for tradition - Answer: B - *Explanation*: Irrational risks make self-preservation paramount.
8. The term “foolish” in this story best means: A) Lacking common sense B) Not educated C) Physically weak D) Very young - Answer: A - *Explanation*: The defining trait is lack of judgement.
9. The main message the story imparts is to: A) Follow every law B) Respect authority unconditionally C) Use common sense and question illogical rules D) Seek riches above wisdom - Answer: C - *Explanation*: The guru’s actions highlight reasoning and prudence.
10. When choosing a synonym for a difficult word in MCQ, you should: A) Pick the longest word B) Ensure meaning and tone match the passage C) Rely on guesswork D) Choose a word from another chapter - Answer: B - *Explanation*: Context is key; mere length or familiarity misleads.
11. Effective distractors in MCQs are often: A) Clearly false B) Approximately true but not quite accurate C) Always correct D) Repeats of the question - Answer: B - *Explanation*: The challenge is in options that are “almost” right.
12. A practical way to improve MCQ performance is to: A) Memorise the story word-for-word B) Write and solve original MCQs, reviewing errors C) Ignore explanations D) Only read sample answers - Answer: B - *Explanation*: Active practice and self-correction deepen learning.
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What These MCQs Teach You
- Recall: Items 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 - Inference/Interpretation: Items 5, 7, 9 - Vocabulary: Items 8, 10 - Reasoning and Application: Items 2, 11, 12Try making similar questions by changing the incident or focus, always ensuring at least one answer is defensible by a line or event from the story.
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Practice Marking and Self-Evaluation
Rule: 1 mark per correct answer. For mistakes: Note whether it was a factual slip, a hasty read, misunderstood nuance, or a vocabulary issue. Adjust approach: - Frequent vocabulary misses? Spend 5–10 minutes a day on word practice. - Inferential errors? Practice reading passages for hidden meaning, paraphrasing in your own words.---
India-Specific Study Resources
- Textbook First: All answers and MCQs must trace back to your *NCERT Moments* copy. - Teacher Notes & Class Handouts: These often contain model MCQs and key scene breakdowns. - Online Practice: Use CBSE-centric mock tests available on platforms like Toppr, Vedantu, or Meritnation. - YouTube Explanations: Watch walkthroughs from reputable Indian educators—these cover summary, MCQs, and exam tricks.---
Final Exam Preparation: A Practical Checklist
- The Night Before: Revise your highlights and error log; read over the chapter’s summary, character notes, and a selection of MCQs. - In the Exam: - Read instructions closely. - Tackle simple MCQs first to build momentum. - Mark uncertain questions and revisit with fresh concentration if time permits. - Double-check for negatives (“not”, “never”) in both questions and options.---
Conclusion
Systematic MCQ practice for "In the Kingdom of Fools" not only sharpens factual recall, but also strengthens inference, vocabulary, and the ability to detect literary irony. Every session with a fresh set of questions teaches you how to spot traps, resist half-true options, and return to the text for certainty. Most importantly, it helps you appreciate the wit and wisdom embedded in Indian classroom classics. Regular, timed exercises, learning from errors, and active collaboration with peers are your surest paths to strong scores and genuine understanding.---
Appendix: Rapid MCQ Practice Checklist
- Underline clues and keywords in every question. - Watch for negatives (“not”, “never”) in both stem and choices. - Double-check options that paraphrase but distort. - Stick to your time limit—mark and move on if stuck. - Maintain an error log and review before each revision cycle.Quick glossary (sample entries for students to complete): - Decree: An official order or law. - Disciple: A student or follower of a teacher. - Satire: Writing that uses humour to criticise. - Compliance: Obedience to rules or requests. - Blame-shifting: Passing responsibility to another.
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Tip for Class 9 students: Let your answers and arguments always point back to the textbook. Build your own MCQs for every new chapter, using teacher discussions and past test papers. Aim for steady, focused practice; it’s consistency that leads to mastery. All the best!
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