CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 9 The Book That Saved The Earth: Important Questions with Answers, Download PDF

CBSE class 10 board exams are scheduled from February 17, 2026, which means there is little time to revise subjects now that the exams are going to start soon. For a quick revision of the English literature part, here we have shared important questions from Chapter 9, The Book That Saved The Earth, from Footprints without Feet. The extensive study material is prepared by subject matter experts and follows the CBSE 2025-26 pattern. The questions range from MCQs to long answer questions and analytical textual excerpts. 

Students can find questions that replicate the question paper while also helping you understand the chapter with a short summary of the chapter. This will help you gain a better understanding of the details of the chapter which will help students prepare well for the exams.  

Also check: CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter-Wise Important Questions with Answers, Download PDF

CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet: Key Highlights

CBSE Class 10English Chapter 9, The Book That Saved The Earth: Summary

This humorous science fiction play "The Book That Saved the Earth," takes place in the twenty-fifth century. In the story the historian describes how a simple book of nursery rhymes prevented a Martian invasion of Earth in the year 2040. 

The plot revolves around Think-Tank, the egotistical Martian emperor who dismisses Earth as a "primitive ball of mud" and believes he is the most intelligent creature in the world. 

While being in a public library, his space crew, Captain Omega, Lieutenant Iota, and Sergeant Oop, become confused by the books. They mistake them for 'sandwiches' and then for "communication devices." Their humorous ignorance draws attention to the play's main satire, which is that even a highly developed species can appear ignorant due to pride and a lack of real knowledge.

In a turning point the group takes "intelligence vitamins" and starts reading Mother Goose. A book of children's rhymes that they interpret as disastrous literalism. Think-Tank believes that humans on Earth have perfected advanced agriculture (producing silver bells) and that their cows have taken over space. However, the rhyme of Humpty Dumpty guarantees Earth's safety; when Think-Tank sees a depiction of the egg-shaped character, he mistakes it for a mockery of himself and fears that Earthlings are plotting to "shatter" his authority. Terrified by this imagined military supremacy, he abandons the invasion and retreats to Alpha Centauri. To show that a simple book can be a more effective shield than any weapon.

Also Check: CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 1, A Triumph Of Surgery

CBSE Class 10 English The Book That Saved The Earth: Important Questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

1.Which century is named the “Era of the Book”, according to the Historian?

A) twentieth century

B) twenty-first century

C) twenty-second century

D) none of the above

2.Who is the captain of the crew?

A) Oop

B) Omega

C) Iota

D) Think Tank

3. Which “ridiculous little planet” is being talked about?

A) Mars

B) Earth

C) Jupiter

D) Saturn

4. What was a sandwich according to Think Tank?

A) hat

B) book

C) sandwich

D) none of the above

Short Answer Type Questions

5. How does Think-Tank describe the people on the earth? Why does he command Noodle to contact the Space probe?

Answer: Think-Tank thought Earthlings were weak, ignorant, uncivilized persons and hence planned to invade the earth. He sent his commander Noodle to make contact with the crew of the manned space probe, now on Earth to seek more information about the Earth.

6.What does Noodle suggest to Think-Tank about the books?

Answer: Noodle tells Think-Tank that the Earthlings did not listen to the sandwiches, they; opened and watched them. Think-Tank had thought that the books were sandwiches. He told hint that they use these books as a device of communication.

7.Why did Think-Tank decide to evacuate the Mars?

Answer: Think-Tank misinterpreted the rhymes and thought the earthlings were a threat to him as well as to Mars. He got scared and called back Probe One, dropped the idea of invading and escaped to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away from Mars.

8. Mention any two striking qualities of Noodle.

Answer. The apprentice of Think-Tank, Noodle, emerges as an intriguing character in the story. He is courteous and intelligent. He humbly corrects his ruler’s errors by making indirect suggestions. He is also very wise and well-informed.

9.The 20th century was referred to as the ‘Era of the Book’. Comment briefly.(CBSE QB,2021)

Answer. The twentieth century was dubbed the “Era of the Book” because there were books on everything from anteaters to Zulus at the time. Books taught them how, when, where, and why to do things. They drew, taught, punctuated, and even decorated.

10.How does Think-Tank describe the people on Earth? Why does he command Noodles to contact the Space probe?

Answer: Think-Tank thought Earthlings were weak, ignorant, uncivilized persons and hence planned to invade Earth. He sent his commander Noodles to make contact with the crew of the manned space probe, now on Earth to seek more information about the Earth.

11.Who was Omega? Why did he try to oat the book?

Answer: Omega was the captain of the space control Probe One, on Earth. Think-Tank asked him to pick up the most colourful sandwich (book) and report him about his observation on it.

Check also: CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 8 Bholi

Long Answer Type Questions

13. ’Pride has a fall’. Justify this statement giving relevant points from how Think-Tank reacted to the readings from Mother Goose.

Answer: Martians invaded the earth and reached in a library. Think-Tank was their boss. He was very proud of his wisdom, as he was having a big balloon-like head. He thought that he was the wisest person on Mars. Nobody could disobey him, or even dare to speak against him. He claimed that he had a quick mind. He had no respect for anyone and regarded other views as trifling. He was also fickle-minded.

He misinterpreted the rhymes in a complete verbal manner. The rhyme mistress Mar made him ponder over the discovery of the earth. From the poem diddle-diddle he was more alarmed and from the poem Humpty-Dumpty, he was so frightened that he decided to leave his kingdom and run away to Alpha Centauri. Thus his great wisdom was defeated and had a great fall.

14.Attempt a character-sketch of Noodle highlighting the values projected by him.

Answer: Noodle is one of the crew members of the invasion team that came to invade earth. He is known as Apprentice Noodle. He is the co-coordinator between Think-Tank and the invasion team. He echoes Think-Tank in every manner. He is a very clever creature. He knows that Think-Tank being the commander-in-chief has to be obeyed. So he keeps on praising Think-Tank and also passing sarcastic remarks. It is only Noodles who think practically and differently about the books which were considered as sandwiches to eat. But Think-Tank took over the idea as his own. But Noodle is not sad at all. He is a blind and true follower of Think-Tank.

15.Justify the title of the play ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’.

Answer: A good title should reflect the theme, idea or the traits of a character. It should revolve around any of the above. The story or the play should be woven around any one of them.

In the play — ‘The Book that Saved The Earth’, a book of nursery rhymes of ‘Mother Goose’ is responsible for stopping the Martian invasion of Earth. Think-Tank, the ruler of Mars plans to invade Earth before lunch and sends Probe One to get more information about the Earthlings. They enter a library but can’t figure out what items books are. They take vitamins, increase their intelligence then read the rhymes from ‘Mother Goose’. Think-Tank misinterprets the rhymes, takes them as threats to him and Mars. Scared, he calls back Probe One, drops the idea of invading and escapes with his subjects to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away from Mars.

Thus, the book ‘Mother Goose’ was responsible for stopping the Martian invasion of Earth. The title The Book That Saved the Earth’, reflects the theme of the play, so it is an apt (appropriate) title.

CBSE Class 10 English The Book That Saved The Earth: Important Questions with Answers, Download PDF

Shared here is a PDF that contains important questions from CBSE Class 10 English from the Footprints Without Feet, Chapter 9- The Book That Saved The Earth. Download and save it for a quick revision to this chapter. 

Recommended: CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Chapter-Wise Important Questions with Answers, Download PDF