NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Supplementary Reader Chapter 8
NCERT solutions for Class 9 English Chapter A House Is Not a Home – complete answers & explanations
This blog provides NCERT solutions for Class 9 English Chapter A House Is Not a Home. This chapter reflects the challenges of being a teenager and the emotional struggles of growing up. It shows how the author deals with loneliness, loss, and insecurity after his house catches fire. The chapter teaches important lessons about resilience, gratitude, friendship, and emotional strength. Below are the complete NCERT solutions strictly based on the provided worksheet content and arranged in the exact order.
What this NCERT chapter covers?
1. The emotional challenges of starting high school and feeling isolated.
2. The experience of loss after a house fire.
3. The deep bond between the author and his cat.
4. Feelings of embarrassment, insecurity, and loneliness.
5. The kindness of friends and how it brings emotional healing.
6. The idea that a home is built with love, support, and relationships.
How to use these NCERT solutions?
1. Carefully read the chapter before attempting the questions.
2. Try answering each question on your own.
3. Use these NCERT solutions to check your answers.
4. Follow the exact order of questions as given in the worksheet.
5. Discuss the emotional themes with parents or teachers for deeper understanding.
Important tips & tricks for students
1. Focus on the author’s feelings and emotional journey.
2. Use exact events and words from the chapter in your answers.
3. Do not include unnecessary details.
4. Pay attention to phrases that show fear, insecurity, and relief.
5. For open-ended questions, express your ideas clearly and honestly.
NCERT solutions – complete answer key
1. What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
One Sunday afternoon, the author noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling. The smoke began to fill the room quickly. His mother ran out of the house carrying a small metal box full of important documents. She dropped the case on the lawn and, in a crazed state, ran back into the house to save his father’s pictures and letters.
2. Why does he break down in tears after the fire?
He breaks down in tears because he realises that his cat is nowhere to be found. Along with the loss of his house and the new school difficulties, the disappearance of his cat makes him feel overwhelmed with loss.
3. Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?
The author is deeply embarrassed because he is wearing the dress he had worn to church, has borrowed tennis shoes, and has no books or homework since his backpack was destroyed in the fire. The words that show his fear and insecurity are: “Was I destined to be an outcast and a geek all my life?” and “I didn’t want to grow up, change or have to handle life if it was going to be this way. I just wanted to curl up and die.”
4. The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?
The cat was never far from the author. She lay on his papers, purred loudly, and followed him around. He had rescued her when she was a kitten, and she would climb up his robe and crawl into his pocket to fall asleep. After the fire, the cat ran over a mile away because she was frightened. A woman found her, took her in, and worked hard to find out whose cat it was. She brought the cat back to the author.
5. What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?
The schoolmates took up a collection and bought him school supplies, notebooks, and clothes. They introduced themselves and invited him to their houses. Their genuine outpouring of concern touched him deeply. His loneliness vanished as he made friends and realised that things were going to be okay. He began opening up and participating in life.
6. What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?
The sentence means that just as his cat returned, he also felt emotionally restored. He had not gone anywhere physically, but he had felt lost, insecure, and overwhelmed by tragedy. With the return of his cat and the support of his new friends, he felt like himself again.
Talk about it
Have any of your classmates/schoolmates had an experience like the one described in the story where they needed help? Describe how they were helped.
Answers may vary.
Suggested reading
Her Story So Far: Tales of the Girl Child in India edited by Monica Das
Modern Hindi Stories edited by Indu Jain
Malgudi Days by R.K. Narayan
Why NCERT solutions help students?
NCERT solutions help students prepare effectively for exams by providing clear and accurate answers based on the chapter. They improve understanding of themes, character emotions, and important events. For Class 9 English students, these solutions build confidence and ensure answers are aligned with NCERT expectations.
Help your child build strong English fundamentals with accurate and exam-ready NCERT solutions.