This article covers the complete question-answer solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 9 – “The Bond of Love” by Kenneth Anderson, prepared for students of ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education). The chapter is a heartwarming true account of the author’s family and their extraordinary pet sloth bear, Bruno, narrating the deep emotional bond that develops between the bear and the author’s wife. All textbook exercises — Oral Comprehension Check, Thinking about the Text, and Thinking about Language — are covered below, along with additional questions and MCQs for exam preparation.
Summary of The Bond of Love
The story is a personal narrative by Kenneth Anderson about a sloth bear cub his family acquired by accident. While passing through sugarcane fields on the outskirts of Mysore, the author’s companions shot a sloth bear. A tiny cub was clinging to the mother bear’s back and was captured. The author brought the cub home and his wife, who had always wanted a bear, was delighted.
The bear cub, named Bruno (later called Baba), was given everything — milk from a bottle, porridge, rice, fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and even beer and cigarettes on occasion. Bruno grew rapidly and became a great favourite with everyone in the home. He played with the author’s Alsatian dogs and caused much mischief and amusement. He was given the freedom to roam about the house and garden.
One day, Bruno accidentally consumed some barium carbonate that had been set out to poison rats. He was seized with violent convulsions and could not walk. The author gave him two injections of antidote. Bruno recovered, but some time later he ate some opium that had also been put out for pests. Although he appeared drunk and drowsy, he recovered from this episode as well.
As Bruno grew larger and stronger, the author’s friends and relatives began to feel it was no longer safe to keep a full-grown bear in the house. They advised that Bruno be donated to a zoo. Reluctantly, the family agreed and Bruno was sent to the Mysore zoo. However, the author’s wife missed Bruno terribly. She wrote to the curator of the zoo asking about Bruno’s welfare and even sent him food parcels and fruits. She wept frequently, thinking about the bear.
After three months, the author’s wife could bear the separation no longer. The author took her to Mysore to visit Bruno. When they reached the zoo, Bruno recognised his mistress instantly — he ran to her, licked her, stood on his hind legs, and cried with joy. The author’s wife wept too. The zoo authorities and other visitors were moved by the scene. The woman spent the whole day with the bear, feeding him and playing with him. She refused to return home without him.
The author eventually persuaded the zoo authorities to let them have Bruno back. A special island was constructed for Bruno at the author’s estate — surrounded by a moat (a deep trench filled with water) — so that the bear could live safely without being a danger to visitors. Bruno, now called Baba (meaning “small boy” in Hindustani), was brought back, and the reunion was joyful. The story ends on a warm note, with Baba living happily on his island, fed and loved by the author’s wife, who visits him every day.
Oral Comprehension Check
Page 120
Q1. Where was the author’s son when he first saw Bruno?
Answer: The author’s son was not mentioned as being present at the first encounter with Bruno. It was the author and his companions who were driving through the sugarcane fields when they came upon the mother sloth bear being shot. The tiny cub that was clinging to the mother’s back was picked up by one of the author’s companions. The author’s son was at home when the cub was brought back.
Q2. How did the author’s wife react when she first saw the bear cub?
Answer: The author’s wife was thrilled when she first saw the tiny bear cub. She had always wanted a bear, and she immediately took to the cub with great affection. She took charge of the baby bear, named it Bruno, and began caring for it as if it were her own child. She fed it milk from a bottle and showered it with love and attention.
Q3. What did Bruno eat and drink?
Answer: Bruno ate and drank a wide variety of things. He was given milk from a bottle when he was a cub. As he grew, he consumed rice, porridge, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and meat. He also ate eggs. Occasionally, he was given beer, and he appeared to enjoy it. He also once accidentally consumed some cigarettes. He was not fussy and seemed to eat and drink almost anything that was offered to him.
Page 122
Q1. Was Bruno looked after well at the zoo?
Answer: Yes, Bruno was looked after reasonably well at the Mysore zoo. The zoo staff took care of his feeding and basic needs. The author’s wife even sent him food parcels and fruits to supplement his diet. However, despite the physical care, Bruno missed his family — especially the author’s wife — and was unhappy in captivity. He became listless and dejected. So while his physical needs were met, his emotional well-being suffered at the zoo.
Q2. Why was Bruno sent to the zoo? Why was he unhappy there?
Answer: Bruno was sent to the zoo because he had grown into a big, strong bear, and the author’s friends and relatives felt it was unsafe to keep such a large animal in the house. They were concerned about the safety of the family and visitors. Bruno was unhappy at the zoo because he had been raised in a home environment with love and freedom. He was used to the affection of the author’s wife and family, the company of the dogs, and the freedom to roam about. Confined to a zoo enclosure, separated from people he loved, he became depressed and sad.
Page 123
Q1. How did Bruno react when he saw the narrator’s wife at the zoo?
Answer: Bruno’s reaction was one of overwhelming joy and recognition. The moment he saw the author’s wife, he ran to her excitedly, stood on his hind legs, placed his paws on her shoulders, and licked her face. He whimpered, cried, and showed every sign of happiness and relief at seeing her again. The emotional reunion moved the zoo staff, the curator, and other visitors present. It was clear that Bruno had not forgotten the woman who had raised him and loved him.
Q2. Why did the narrator’s wife refuse to come back without Bruno?
Answer: The narrator’s wife refused to come back without Bruno because she was deeply attached to him. Seeing Bruno’s joyful reaction on meeting her, and his obvious suffering at the zoo, she could not bring herself to leave him behind again. She had already been miserable during the three months of separation, weeping frequently and sending food parcels to the zoo. After witnessing the bear’s emotional reunion with her, she felt that Bruno needed to be with the family just as much as she needed him. Her love for Bruno was like that of a mother for her child, and she was unwilling to cause him further distress.
Thinking about the Text
Q1. On three occasions Bruno ate or drank something that made him very ill. What did he eat or drink each time? What happened to him on each occasion?
| Occasion | What Bruno ate/drank | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| First | Barium carbonate (rat poison) | Bruno was paralysed — he could not move his legs properly and had violent convulsions. The author gave him two injections of antidote and he slowly recovered. |
| Second | Opium (put out to poison rats and other pests) | Bruno appeared drunk and drowsy, and was barely able to walk. However, he recovered without needing any special treatment, though the family was very worried. |
Q2. Was the author’s wife sorry that she had kept a bear as a pet? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: No, the author’s wife was not at all sorry that she had kept a bear as a pet. She was deeply devoted to Bruno and treated him like her own child. Even after Bruno was sent to the zoo — a decision made for safety reasons by others — she continued to grieve over the separation. She wrote to the zoo curator, sent food parcels, and wept thinking about Bruno. When she visited the zoo and saw how much Bruno had missed her, she refused to leave without him. After Bruno was brought back and placed on the specially constructed island, she visited him daily and fed him lovingly. All these actions show that she cherished the bond with Bruno and had no regrets about having kept him as a pet.
Q3. Describe the way the author’s wife treated Bruno.
Answer: The author’s wife treated Bruno with extraordinary love and care, much as a mother treats her child. From the moment the tiny cub was brought home, she took complete charge of him. She fed him milk from a bottle, then graduated to more varied foods. She gave him the name Bruno and later called him Baba, meaning “small boy.” She let him sleep in her room, played with him, and allowed him to roam freely about the house and garden. When Bruno became ill after eating poison, she was frantic with worry. Even after Bruno was sent to the zoo, she remained emotionally attached — writing letters about his welfare, sending food parcels, and weeping at their separation. During her visit to the zoo, she spent the whole day with him, and upon his return home she visited him every day on his island, hand-feeding him. Her relationship with Bruno was one of deep maternal love.
Q4. What made the people realize that the narrator’s wife and the bear had a very special bond between them?
Answer: Several things made people realise that the narrator’s wife and Bruno had a very special bond. The most dramatic evidence came during the visit to the Mysore zoo. When Bruno saw the author’s wife approaching his cage, he ran towards her, crying and whimpering. He stood on his hind legs, placed his paws on her shoulders, and licked her face enthusiastically. The woman, in turn, cried openly. The zoo staff, the curator, and other visitors who witnessed this reunion were deeply moved by the display of mutual affection and recognition. It was clear to everyone present that these two had a relationship far deeper than that of a pet and its keeper — it resembled the bond between a mother and her child. This emotional scene convinced even the zoo authorities to agree to return Bruno to the author’s family.
Thinking about Language
I. A Note on Verbs of Reporting
Q1. Look at the following sentences and identify the verbs of reporting. Discuss what each verb implies.
(i) “He urged that the bear be kept in Mysore.”
Answer: The verb of reporting here is urged. It implies that the person was putting forward the suggestion strongly, with some force or insistence. It is stronger than “said” or “suggested.”
(ii) “She reminded him that the zoo was the best place for Bruno.”
Answer: The verb of reporting here is reminded. It implies that the speaker was recalling something already known to the listener and bringing it to their attention again.
(iii) “He told her that she was being silly.”
Answer: The verb of reporting here is told. It is a neutral verb, simply indicating that information or a statement was conveyed from one person to another.
(iv) “She replied that she would not come home without Bruno.”
Answer: The verb of reporting here is replied. It implies that the speaker was responding to something that had been said to her — it is an answer to a previous statement or question.
(v) “He agreed that she could keep the bear.”
Answer: The verb of reporting here is agreed. It implies that the speaker has accepted or consented to a proposal or request made by another person.
II. Reported Speech
Q1. Change the following sentences into reported speech (indirect speech).
(i) “I will bring Bruno back home,” she said.
Answer: She said that she would bring Bruno back home.
(ii) “Can you please build an island for Bruno?” she asked her husband.
Answer: She requested her husband if he could please build an island for Bruno.
(iii) “Bruno is very unhappy at the zoo,” she told the curator.
Answer: She told the curator that Bruno was very unhappy at the zoo.
(iv) “We have constructed a special island for him,” said the author.
Answer: The author said that they had constructed a special island for him.
III. Working with Words
| Meaning | Word from the text |
|---|---|
| A deep feeling of fondness or loyalty | Attachment / affection |
| A trench around a fort or castle, usually filled with water | Moat |
| A small brown bear with long curved claws (found in India) | Sloth bear |
| Caused to go or come to a place | Transferred / sent |
| Moved quickly and excitedly | Scrambled / rushed |
| Moved from side to side with excitement (tail) | Wagging |
| Animal | Young one |
|---|---|
| Bear | Cub |
| Lion | Cub |
| Dog | Pup / Puppy |
| Cat | Kitten |
| Deer | Fawn |
| Horse | Foal / Colt (male) / Filly (female) |
| Cow | Calf |
| Sheep | Lamb |
| Elephant | Calf |
| Frog | Tadpole |
Additional Questions
Short Answer Questions
Q1. Who is the author of “The Bond of Love”?
Answer: The author of “The Bond of Love” is Kenneth Anderson. He was a well-known hunter and author who lived in South India. He wrote many books about his experiences in the jungles of India, and this story is a personal account from his own life.
Q2. How did the author’s family come to have Bruno?
Answer: The author’s family came to have Bruno quite by chance. While travelling through sugarcane fields on the outskirts of Mysore, the author and his companions encountered a sloth bear with her cub. The mother bear was shot. Her tiny cub, which had been clinging to her back, was captured and the author brought it home. His wife was very pleased and immediately adopted the cub.
Q3. What name was Bruno given later, and what does it mean?
Answer: Bruno was later given the pet name Baba by the author’s wife and son. “Baba” is a Hindustani word meaning “small boy” or “baby.” The name reflects the affectionate, child-like way in which the family regarded Bruno — not merely as a pet, but as a beloved member of the family.
Q4. What treatment was given to Bruno when he ate barium carbonate?
Answer: When Bruno accidentally ate barium carbonate (a rat poison), he developed severe symptoms — he was paralysed in his legs and had violent convulsions. The author immediately gave him two injections of the antidote. The treatment worked and Bruno slowly recovered over the following hours.
Q5. What is the significance of the reunion scene at the Mysore zoo?
Answer: The reunion scene at the Mysore zoo is the emotional climax of the story. It proves beyond doubt that the bond between Bruno and the author’s wife was real and mutual. Bruno’s immediate recognition of his mistress — after three months of separation — his joyful cries, his standing on hind legs to embrace her, and the woman’s tearful response all demonstrate that love between a human and an animal can be as deep and genuine as any human relationship.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who wrote “The Bond of Love”?
(a) Jim Corbett (b) Kenneth Anderson (c) R.K. Narayan (d) Ruskin Bond
Answer: (b) Kenneth Anderson
Q2. Where was the sloth bear cub found?
(a) In a forest reserve (b) Near a river bank (c) In sugarcane fields near Mysore (d) In a national park
Answer: (c) In sugarcane fields near Mysore
Q3. What did the author’s wife name the bear cub?
(a) Baloo (b) Bruno (c) Balu (d) Bhalu
Answer: (b) Bruno
Q4. What does the word “Baba” mean in Hindustani?
(a) Father (b) Elder brother (c) Small boy (d) Wild animal
Answer: (c) Small boy
Q5. What poison did Bruno accidentally eat the first time he fell ill?
(a) DDT (b) Barium carbonate (c) Arsenic (d) Cyanide
Answer: (b) Barium carbonate
Q6. Why was Bruno sent to the zoo?
(a) He was too expensive to feed (b) He had bitten someone (c) He had grown too big and was considered a safety risk (d) The author was moving to another city
Answer: (c) He had grown too big and was considered a safety risk
Q7. To which zoo was Bruno sent?
(a) Bangalore zoo (b) Chennai zoo (c) Delhi zoo (d) Mysore zoo
Answer: (d) Mysore zoo
Q8. How long did Bruno stay in the zoo before his mistress visited him?
(a) One month (b) Two months (c) Three months (d) Six months
Answer: (c) Three months
Q9. What special structure was built on the author’s estate for Bruno?
(a) A large cage (b) An island surrounded by a moat (c) A fenced enclosure (d) An underground den
Answer: (b) An island surrounded by a moat
Q10. What type of bear is Bruno?
(a) Grizzly bear (b) Polar bear (c) Sloth bear (d) Sun bear
Answer: (c) Sloth bear
Summary
“The Bond of Love” by Kenneth Anderson is a true and touching account of the deep emotional bond between the author’s wife and a sloth bear named Bruno (Baba). Found as a helpless cub in sugarcane fields near Mysore after his mother was shot, Bruno was raised in the author’s home with great love and care, especially by the author’s wife. Bruno grew up playing with the household dogs, eating a wide variety of foods, and becoming a beloved member of the family. He survived two dangerous poisoning incidents. When he grew too large to be kept safely at home, he was sent to the Mysore zoo, where he became unhappy and dejected. Unable to bear the separation, the author’s wife visited Bruno after three months — their reunion was an emotional, tear-filled scene that moved all who witnessed it. Bruno was eventually brought back and housed on a specially built island with a moat on the author’s estate. The story celebrates the power of love and the capacity of animals to form genuine emotional bonds with humans. It was published as part of the NCERT Beehive Class 9 English textbook and is relevant for ASSEB Class 9 examinations.