Maharashtra State Board Textbook Solutions
Standard VI – English
Chapter 4.6 – The Phantom Tollbooth (A Book Review)
Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| admitted | accepted or confessed |
| intrigued | aroused curiosity |
| genuine | truly what it is said to be |
| precautionary | something done in advance to prevent danger |
| cartographers | experts in map drawing |
| depict | represent in words or pictures |
| regulations | rules for control |
| destination | the place where one is going |
| territory | an area or region |
| expectations | things we believe are likely to happen |
| reuse | to use something again |
| mission | an important task |
| in a new light | in a new perspective leading to better understanding |
Pointers
1. Read the passage and answer the following:
(a) Which book is introduced in the passage?
Ans: The novel The Phantom Tollbooth is introduced in the passage.
(b) Where does the story take place?
Ans: The story takes place in San Francisco in the United States.
(c) Who is the main character in the story?
Ans: Milo, a young boy who lives in San Francisco in the United States, is the main character in the story
(d) Why is the tollbooth called a ‘phantom’ tollbooth?
Ans: The tollbooth is called a ‘phantom’ tollbooth because it disappears after Milo passes through it, just like a ghost.
(e) When was the book written?
Ans: The book was written more than fifty years ago.
(f) Who has written the book?
Ans: The book has been written by Norman Juster.
2. List the various people and places mentioned in the passage.
The places Milo visits and the people he meets have unusual names. Write the meanings of those names.
Ans: Places Milo visits
(i) Land of Expectations
Meaning – A place where people go with high hopes of achieving something.
(ii) Kingdom of Wisdom
Meaning – A place where people are wise and value knowledge.
(iii) The Doldrums
Meaning – A place where everyone feels bored, lazy, or depressed.(iv) Castles of Air
Meaning – Imaginary or unrealistic ideas and dreams.
People Milo meets
(i) Rhyme
Meaning – Words that end with the same sound.
(ii) Reason
Meaning – The cause or explanation for something.
(iii) Lethargarians
Meaning – People who are extremely lazy and inactive.
3. List the various things that the Lethargarians do or want to do.
Can you sum up all of it in one word or phrase?
Ans: The Lethargarians spend their time doing the following things: daydreaming, taking naps, dawdling, delaying work, biding their time, lingering and loitering, putting off for tomorrow what they could do today, loafing and lounging, dilly-dallying, and complaining.
They also like to brood, lag, plod, and procrastinate.
All these activities can be summed up in one phrase: “the epitome of laziness.”
4. In the novel, the Lethargarians give a whole day’s time table of their activities.
Can you guess what it would be like? Use your own ideas and prepare their time table.
Ans: Based on the book review, the Lethargarians’ timetable might look like this:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:15 am – 8:15 am | Daydreaming |
| 8:15 am – 9:15 am | Taking naps |
| 9:15 am – 10:15 am | Dawdling and delaying |
| 10:15 am – 11:15 am | Biding their time |
| 11:15 am – 1:15 pm | Lingering and loitering |
| 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm | Putting off today’s work for tomorrow |
| 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm | Loafing and lounging |
| 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm | Dilly-dallying |
| 4:15 pm – 8:15 pm | Complaining about their busy schedule |
| 8:15 pm – 10:15 pm | Complaining that there is no time for brooding, lagging, plodding, or procrastinating |
| 10:15 pm | Retire for the day |
5. Try to write interesting time tables for imaginary people or creatures.
Ans: Timetable of “Team Determination”
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:15 am – 8:15 am | Getting up and making a few resolutions |
| 8:15 am – 9:15 am | Exercise |
| 9:15 am – 10:15 am | Eating a healthy breakfast |
| 10:15 am – 11:15 am | Planning the day’s tasks |
| 11:15 am – 1:00 pm | Working on important tasks |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch break |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Afternoon rest |
| 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Tea break |
| 4:00 pm – 8:15 pm | Continuing work |
| 8:15 pm – 9:00 pm | Reviewing the day’s work |
| 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Dinner |
| 10:00 pm | Retire for the day |
6. Activity
Start a collection of new and interesting words. Write the words in coloured ink on cards of equal size and arrange them in alphabetical order. Try to use the words in your writing or conversation from time to time.
Ans: Students should do this activity on their own.
7. Discuss what makes the following sentences funny.
(i) Your wasted time will be refunded.
Ans: We all know that once time is lost, it can never be returned. This sentence is funny because it promises that the wasted time will be refunded if the person is not satisfied. Since it is impossible to return lost time, the statement becomes humorous.
(ii) There was no highway attached to the booth.
Ans: Usually, a tollbooth is placed on a highway where vehicles pass and pay tolls. In the story, Milo sets up a tollbooth in his room, but there is no highway connected to it. This unusual situation creates humour and makes the reader laugh.
8. The following boxes represent a word or phrase through a special arrangement of letters. Guess the words.
Ans:
- Cornerstone
- I STAND ALONE
- FALL DOWN
- Reading between the lines
- Falling Star
- Back to Back
Try to represent the following words or phrases using such special graphic arrangements.
- fair and square
- side by side
- round table
- breaking news
- an ice cube
- once upon a time
- hurry up
- cool down
- as big as
Ans:
9. Write a review of your favourite book. Use the following points:
Title of the book
Ans: If I Never Forever Endeavor
Author / Authors
Ans: Holly Meade
The central idea or story
Ans:
This book is about a small bird that has not yet learned how to fly. The bird wonders whether it should try to fly or stay safely in its nest. It thinks that if it never tries, it will never learn. The bird is afraid that it might fail or get lost, but it also dreams about the possibility of success.
The important characters
Ans:
The main character in the story is the little bird who is learning how to fly.
Some special features of the book
Ans:
One special feature of the book is the beautiful message it gives about courage and learning from mistakes. The story also encourages readers to try new things and not be afraid of failure.
Why it is your favourite book
Ans:
This is my favourite book because it teaches that trying new things can be scary, but it can also bring happiness and success. The book also shows that making mistakes is a part of learning.
Children between the ages of three and eight would especially enjoy this book because it teaches an important lesson about courage and learning new things.