Here is a comprehensive study guide for the SEBA Class 10 English Supplementary Reader chapter, “The Book That Saved the Earth,” by Claire Boiko. This guide includes a summary, complete textual question answers, previous years’ HSLC questions, and a list of most important questions in both English and Assamese.
Chapter: “The Book That Saved the Earth” by Claire Boiko
Summary Note (পাঠটোৰ সাৰাংশ)
In English: “The Book That Saved the Earth” is a humorous play set in the 25th century. The story is told by a Historian who shows the audience how a dusty old book of nursery rhymes stopped a Martian invasion in the year 2040.
The play centers on the ruler of Mars, the Great and Mighty Think-Tank, who is arrogant and considers himself the most intelligent being in the universe. He plans to invade Earth. He sends a crew—Captain Omega, Lieutenant Iota, and Sergeant Oop—to Earth to gather information. The crew lands in a library, which they mistake for a crude refreshment stand or a storage barn.
Think-Tank, communicating with them from Mars, misinterprets everything. He identifies the books as “sandwiches,” the main diet of Earthlings. He orders his crew to eat one, but they find it dry and tasteless. His clever apprentice, Noodle, gently suggests that they are not for eating but for communication. Think-Tank steals this idea and claims them as “communication sandwiches.” He then orders the crew to “listen” to them, and when that fails, to “watch” them.
Finally, Noodle suggests that the squiggles inside are a kind of code that needs to be deciphered. Think-Tank again takes credit for this idea. He orders the crew to take intelligence vitamins and read the rhymes from a book of nursery rhymes called Mother Goose. However, Think-Tank’s literal and foolish interpretation of the rhymes leads to disaster. He misinterprets “Mistress Mary” as evidence that Earthlings can grow high explosives. He sees “Hey diddle diddle” as proof that Earthlings have taught their animals space techniques and are planning an interplanetary attack.
The final straw is the rhyme about “Humpty Dumpty.” Seeing the picture of Humpty, who has a large, egg-shaped head, Think-Tank believes it is a picture of himself and that the Earthlings are planning to capture him. Terrified, he aborts the invasion, orders his crew to evacuate Earth immediately, and flees to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away. Thus, a simple book of nursery rhymes, misinterpreted by a foolish leader, saves the Earth from a Martian invasion.
In Assamese: “The Book That Saved the Earth” হৈছে ২৫ শতিকাত স্থাপন কৰা এখন হাস্যৰসাত্মক নাটক। কাহিনীটো এজন ইতিহাসবিদে বৰ্ণনা কৰিছে, যিয়ে দৰ্শকক দেখুৱায় যে কেনেকৈ এখন পুৰণি শিশু-কবিতাৰ কিতাপে ২০৪০ চনত মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ আক্ৰমণ ৰোধ কৰিছিল।
নাটকখনৰ কেন্দ্ৰবিন্দু হৈছে মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ শাসক, মহান আৰু শক্তিশালী থিংক-টেংক, যি অহংকাৰী আৰু নিজকে ব্ৰহ্মাণ্ডৰ আটাইতকৈ বুদ্ধিমান জীৱ বুলি ভাবে। তেওঁ পৃথিৱী আক্ৰমণ কৰাৰ পৰিকল্পনা কৰে। তেওঁ তথ্য সংগ্ৰহ কৰিবলৈ কেপ্টেইন ওমেগা, লেফটেনেণ্ট আয়’টা আৰু ছাৰ্জেণ্ট উওপক লৈ এটা দল পৃথিৱীলৈ পঠায়। দলটো এখন পুথিভঁৰালত অৱতৰণ কৰে, যাক তেওঁলোকে ভুলতে এটা সাধাৰণ refreshment stand বা ভঁৰাল ঘৰ বুলি ভাবে।
মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ পৰা তেওঁলোকৰ সৈতে যোগাযোগ কৰি থকা থিংক-টেংকে সকলো কথা ভুলকৈ বুজে। তেওঁ কিতাপবোৰক “ছেণ্ডউইচ” বুলি চিনাক্ত কৰে, যিটো পৃথিৱীবাসীৰ মূল খাদ্য। তেওঁ তেওঁৰ দলক এটা খাবলৈ আদেশ দিয়ে, কিন্তু তেওঁলোকে ইয়াক শুকান আৰু সোৱাদহীন বুলি পায়। তেওঁৰ চতুৰ সহায়ক, নুডলে লাহেকৈ পৰামৰ্শ দিয়ে যে সেইবোৰ খোৱাৰ বাবে নহয়, বৰঞ্চ যোগাযোগৰ বাবেহে। থিংক-টেংকে এই ধাৰণাটো চুৰি কৰি সেইবোৰক “যোগাযোগ ছেণ্ডউইচ” বুলি দাবী কৰে। তাৰ পিছত তেওঁ দলটোক সেইবোৰ “শুনিবলৈ” আদেশ দিয়ে, আৰু যেতিয়া সেয়া বিফল হয়, তেওঁলোকক “চাবলৈ” কয়।
অৱশেষত, নুডলে পৰামৰ্শ দিয়ে যে ভিতৰৰ আঁক-বাঁকবোৰ এক প্ৰকাৰৰ কোড যাক বুজিব লাগিব। থিংক-টেংকে পুনৰ এই ধাৰণাটোৰ কৃতিত্ব লয়। তেওঁ দলটোক বুদ্ধিমত্তাৰ ভিটামিন খাবলৈ আৰু Mother Goose নামৰ এখন শিশু-কবিতাৰ কিতাপৰ পৰা কবিতাবোৰ পঢ়িবলৈ আদেশ দিয়ে। কিন্তু, থিংক-টেংকৰ আক্ষৰিক আৰু মুৰ্খতাপূৰ্ণ ব্যাখ্যাই বিপদ মাতি আনে। তেওঁ “Mistress Mary” কবিতাটোক পৃথিৱীবাসীয়ে উচ্চ বিস্ফোৰক খেতি কৰিব পাৰে বুলি ভুলকৈ বুজে। তেওঁ “Hey diddle diddle” কবিতাটোক পৃথিৱীবাসীয়ে তেওঁলোকৰ জন্তুবোৰক মহাকাশ কৌশল শিকাইছে আৰু এক আন্তঃগ্ৰহীয় আক্ৰমণৰ পৰিকল্পনা কৰিছে বুলি ভাবে।
শেষত, “Humpty Dumpty” ৰ কবিতাটোৱে সকলো শেষ কৰি দিয়ে। হাম্পটিৰ ছবিখন দেখি, যাৰ এটা ডাঙৰ, কণীৰ আকৃতিৰ মুৰ আছে, থিংক-টেংকে ভাবে যে সেয়া তেওঁৰেই ছবি আৰু পৃথিৱীবাসীয়ে তেওঁক ধৰাৰ পৰিকল্পনা কৰিছে। ভয়ত, তেওঁ আক্ৰমণ বাতিল কৰে, তেওঁৰ দলক তৎক্ষণাৎ পৃথিৱী ত্যাগ কৰিবলৈ আদেশ দিয়ে, আৰু নিজে এশ মিলিয়ন মাইল দূৰৰ আলফা চেণ্টাৰীলৈ পলাই যায়। এইদৰে, এখন সাধাৰণ শিশু-কবিতাৰ কিতাপে, এজন মুৰ্খ নেতাৰ ভুল ব্যাখ্যাৰ বাবে, পৃথিৱীক মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ আক্ৰমণৰ পৰা ৰক্ষা কৰে।
Textual Question Answers (পাঠ্যপুথিৰ প্ৰশ্নোত্তৰ)
Read and Find Out (পঢ়া আৰু বিচাৰি উলিওৱা)
1. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
(বিংশ শতিকাক কিয় ‘কিতাপৰ যুগ’ বুলি কোৱা হৈছিল?)
Answer: The twentieth century was called the ‘Era of the Book’ because in those days, there were books about everything, from anteaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, when to, where to, and why to do things. They illustrated, educated, punctuated, and even decorated.
2. Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
(একবিংশ শতিকাত কোনে পৃথিৱী আক্ৰমণ কৰিবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিছিল?)
Answer: The Martians, led by the Great and Mighty Think-Tank, tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century (though the actual attempt was in 2040, which is in the 21st century).
3. What guesses are made by Think-Tank about the books found on earth?
(পৃথিৱীত পোৱা কিতাপবোৰৰ বিষয়ে থিংক-টেংকে কি কি অনুমান কৰিছিল?)
Answer: Think-Tank first guesses that the library is a crude refreshment stand and the books are sandwiches. Later, after Noodle’s suggestion, he guesses that they are some sort of communication device.
Think about it (ভাবি চোৱা)
1. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
(নুডলে থিংক-টেংকক অসন্তুষ্ট নকৰাকৈ তেওঁৰ ভুলবোৰ শুধৰায়। তেওঁ কেনেকৈ সেয়া কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হয়?)
Answer: Noodle manages this very cleverly. He always praises Think-Tank’s intelligence first. Then, he presents his own correct ideas in the form of a gentle suggestion or by saying that “an insignificant bit of data floated into my mind.” This allows the arrogant Think-Tank to take credit for Noodle’s ideas, thus correcting the mistake without hurting his ego.
2. If you were in Noodle’s place, how would you handle Think-Tank’s mistakes?
(যদি তুমি নুডলৰ ঠাইত আছিলাহেঁতেন, তেন্তে তুমি থিংক-টেংকৰ ভুলবোৰ কেনেকৈ চম্ভালিলহেঁতেন?)
Answer: If I were in Noodle’s place, I would handle the situation in the same polite and diplomatic way. It is the only way to deal with an arrogant and foolish leader like Think-Tank. I would praise him first and then offer my suggestions indirectly so that he could correct his mistakes without feeling offended.
3. Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?
(তুমি ভাবানে যে কিতাপৰ ঠাই ইলেক্ট্ৰনিক মাধ্যমে লৈছে? আমি কিতাপ সম্পূৰ্ণৰূপে বাদ দিব পাৰোনে?)
Answer: Yes, to a large extent, books are being replaced by electronic media like e-books, audiobooks, and online content. However, we cannot do away with books altogether. Books provide a focused, distraction-free reading experience that is unique. The feel and smell of a physical book offer a joy that electronic media cannot replicate.
4. Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion? Which is your favourite book and why?
(কিতাপক কিয় মানুহৰ শ্ৰেষ্ঠ সংগী বুলি কোৱা হয়? তোমাৰ প্ৰিয় কিতাপ কোনখন আৰু কিয়?)
Answer: Books are referred to as a man’s best companion because they are always there for us. They give us knowledge, inspire us, entertain us, and transport us to different worlds without ever leaving us. They are loyal friends that never desert us.
My favourite book is “Wings of Fire” by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. I like it because it is an inspiring autobiography that teaches us that with hard work, determination, and humility, one can overcome any obstacle in life.
Talk about it (কথা পতা)
1. In what ways does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as threats to the Martians?
(থিংক-টেংকে কেনেকৈ নিৰীহ শিশু-কবিতাবোৰক মঙ্গলবাসীৰ বাবে ভাবুকি বুলি ভুলকৈ ব্যাখ্যা কৰে?)
Answer: Think-Tank misinterprets the rhymes in the following ways:
- He interprets “pretty maids growing in a row” from “Mistress Mary” to mean that Earthlings have discovered how to grow rare metals and high explosives in their gardens.
- He interprets “The cow jumped over the moon” from “Hey diddle diddle” as proof that Earthlings have reached a high level of civilization and are planning an interplanetary attack with millions of cows.
- He interprets “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall” as a direct threat to himself, as he believes the picture of the egg-shaped Humpty is his own picture, and that Earthlings are planning to capture him.
2. The aliens in this play speak English. Do you think this is their language? What could be the language of the aliens?
(নাটকখনত বহিৰাগতসকলে ইংৰাজীত কথা কয়। তুমি ভাবানে যে এইটো তেওঁলোকৰ ভাষা? বহিৰাগতসকলৰ ভাষা কি হ’ব পাৰে?)
Answer: No, English is not likely their language. They speak English in the play for the convenience of the audience. The language of the aliens could be a series of complex sounds, symbols, or even telepathy, which would be difficult for humans to understand.
Previous Year HSLC Question Answers (বিগত বৰ্ষৰ HSLC প্ৰশ্নোত্তৰ)
1. Who was Think-Tank? (HSLC 2023)
(থিংক-টেংক কোন আছিল?)
Answer: Think-Tank was the Great and Mighty ruler of Mars and the Commander-in-Chief of the Martian army who planned to invade Earth.
2. What did Think-Tank mistake the books for? (HSLC 2023)
(থিংক-টেংকে কিতাপবোৰক কি বুলি ভুল কৰিছিল?)
Answer: Think-Tank first mistook the books for sandwiches, which he thought were the staple diet of Earthlings.
3. Who was the ruler of Mars in the twenty-first century? (HSLC 2022)
(একবিংশ শতিকাত মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ শাসক কোন আছিল?)
Answer: The ruler of Mars in the twenty-first century was the Great and Mighty Think-Tank.
4. What did Think-Tank’s mirror tell him? (HSLC 2022)
(থিংক-টেংকৰ আইনাই তেওঁক কি কৈছিল?)
Answer: Think-Tank’s mirror told him that he was the most fantastically intellectually gifted being in the land.
5. How did a book save the earth from Martian invasion? (HSLC 2020)
(এখন কিতাপে কেনেকৈ পৃথিৱীক মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ আক্ৰমণৰ পৰা ৰক্ষা কৰিছিল?)
Answer: A book of nursery rhymes, Mother Goose, saved the earth. The Martian ruler, Think-Tank, misinterpreted the rhymes as threats from Earthlings. Terrified by the rhymes about Humpty Dumpty, he aborted the invasion and fled from Mars.
6. Who was Noodle? (HSLC 2019)
(নুডল কোন আছিল?)
Answer: Noodle was the apprentice to the Great and Mighty Think-Tank. He was very intelligent and clever, and he corrected Think-Tank’s mistakes politely.
7. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’? (HSLC 2018)
(বিংশ শতিকাক কিয় ‘কিতাপৰ যুগ’ বুলি কোৱা হৈছিল?)
Answer: The twentieth century was called the ‘Era of the Book’ because books were a major part of people’s lives. There were books on every subject, and they were the primary source for education, instruction, illustration, and entertainment.
8. What does Noodle suggest to Think-Tank about the books? (HSLC 2017)
(নুডলে থিংক-টেংকক কিতাপবোৰৰ বিষয়ে কি পৰামৰ্শ দিয়ে?)
Answer: Noodle gently suggests that the books are not sandwiches for eating, but are some sort of communication device. Later, he suggests that they are for eye communication and that the crew needs to decipher the code within them.
Most Important 10 Questions and Answers (১০টা আটাইতকৈ গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ প্ৰশ্নোত্তৰ)
1. Who is the Historian and what is her role in the play?
(ইতিহাসবিদ কোন আৰু নাটকখনত তেওঁৰ ভূমিকা কি?)
Answer: The Historian is the narrator of the play, speaking from the 25th century. Her role is to introduce the story and explain to the audience how a simple book of nursery rhymes saved the Earth from a Martian invasion in 2040.
2. Describe the character of Think-Tank.
(থিংক-টেংকৰ চৰিত্ৰ বৰ্ণনা কৰা।)
Answer: Think-Tank is the arrogant, foolish, and cowardly ruler of Mars. He has a huge, egg-shaped head and considers himself the most intelligent person in the universe, but in reality, he is easily scared and misinterprets everything literally.
3. What did the Martian crew think the library was?
(মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ দলটোৱে পুথিভঁৰালটোক কি বুলি ভাবিছিল?)
Answer: The Martian crew was confused. Captain Omega thought it might be a storage barn. Sergeant Oop, seeing the books, guessed it might be a haberdashery and put a book on his head like a hat.
4. How did Noodle prove to be more intelligent than Think-Tank?
(নুডলে কেনেকৈ থিংক-টেংকতকৈ বেছি বুদ্ধিমান বুলি প্ৰমাণ কৰিলে?)
Answer: Noodle proved to be more intelligent by gently correcting all of Think-Tank’s mistakes. He correctly identified that the books were not sandwiches but communication devices and that they needed to be read, not listened to. He did this politely, allowing his foolish leader to take the credit.
5. Which three nursery rhymes were read by the Martian crew?
(মঙ্গল গ্ৰহৰ দলটোৱে পঢ়া তিনিটা শিশু-কবিতা কি কি আছিল?)
Answer: The three nursery rhymes were: “Mistress Mary, quite contrary,” “Hey diddle diddle,” and “Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.”
6. Why was Think-Tank alarmed by the “Mistress Mary” rhyme?
(“Mistress Mary” কবিতাটো শুনি থিংক-টেংক কিয় আতংকিত হৈছিল?)
Answer: He was alarmed because he misinterpreted the rhyme to mean that Earthlings had discovered how to combine agriculture and mining to grow rare metals like silver and high explosives like “cockle shells.”
7. What conclusion did Think-Tank draw from the “Humpty Dumpty” rhyme?
(“Humpty Dumpty” কবিতাটোৰ পৰা থিংক-টেংকে কি সিদ্ধান্ত লৈছিল?)
Answer: Seeing the picture of the egg-shaped Humpty Dumpty, Think-Tank concluded that it was a picture of himself and his “mighty balloon brain.” He believed the line “had a great fall” meant that the Earthlings were planning to capture him and Mars Central Control.
8. What did Think-Tank do in the end?
(শেষত থিংক-টেংকে কি কৰিলে?)
Answer: In the end, terrified by the Humpty Dumpty rhyme, Think-Tank aborted the invasion of Earth, ordered his crew to evacuate immediately, and fled with them to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away from Mars.
9. What is the significance of the title “The Book That Saved the Earth”?
(“The Book That Saved the Earth” শিৰোনামটোৰ তাৎপৰ্য কি?)
Answer: The title is highly significant and ironic. A simple, harmless book of children’s nursery rhymes, Mother Goose, becomes the unexpected weapon that saves the Earth. It does so not by its content, but by being misinterpreted by a foolish and arrogant alien leader.
10. What is the main message of the play?
(নাটকখনৰ মূল বাৰ্তা কি?)
Answer: The main message of the play is that half-fed knowledge is always dangerous. It also humorously shows that arrogance and pride can lead to one’s downfall, and that even the simplest things can have great power in unexpected ways.