Chapter 11 of 20
Chapter 11: Mr. Nobody
The Mysterious Mischief Maker, Household Habits & Taking Blame | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem appreciation: 'I know a funny little man, as quiet as a mouse, who does the mischief that is done in everybody's house!'
- List of household mishaps: cracking plates, tearing book pages, leaving doors ajar, spilling ink, scattering pins.
- The psychological truth: 'Mr. Nobody' is an imaginary figure used by children to avoid admitting their own careless mistakes.
- Cultivating honesty, responsibility, and keeping home neat.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (15 Questions)
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Q1
Reading is Fun • Identity
Who is Mr. Nobody according to the poem?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Mr. Nobody is described as a funny little man, as quiet as a mouse, who causes all the mischief in everybody's house.
• Mr. Nobody is described as a funny little man, as quiet as a mouse, who causes all the mischief in everybody's house.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Funny little man
1 M
Quiet as a mouse
1 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • Has Anyone Seen Him?
Has anyone ever seen his face?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• No, no one has ever seen his face, yet everyone agrees that every cracked plate was broken by him!
• No, no one has ever seen his face, yet everyone agrees that every cracked plate was broken by him!
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
No one has ever seen him stated
1 M
Q3
Reading is Fun • List of Mischief
Name three mischievous things done by Mr. Nobody in the house.
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
1. Tearing pages from books.
2. Leaving doors ajar (half open).
3. Spilling ink and scattering buttons/pins on the carpet.
1. Tearing pages from books.
2. Leaving doors ajar (half open).
3. Spilling ink and scattering buttons/pins on the carpet.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Tearing books
1 M
Leaving doors ajar
1 M
Spilling ink / scattering pins
1 M
Q4
Vocabulary • Word Meaning
What does the word 'ajar' mean in the poem?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Ajar means slightly open / half open (a door that is not closed shut).
• Ajar means slightly open / half open (a door that is not closed shut).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Slightly open / half open defined
1 M
Q5
Simile in Poem
What simile is used to describe how quiet Mr. Nobody is? Complete: 'As quiet as a _______'.
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• 'As quiet as a mouse'.
• 'As quiet as a mouse'.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
mouse correct
1 M
Q6
Rhyming Words in Poem
Find words in the poem that rhyme with:
(a) Mouse — _______
(b) Face — _______
(c) See — _______
[3 Marks]
(a) Mouse — _______
(b) Face — _______
(c) See — _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Mouse — House
(b) Face — Place
(c) See — Agree / We / Me
(a) Mouse — House
(b) Face — Place
(c) See — Agree / We / Me
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) House
1 M
(b) Place
1 M
(c) Agree/Me
1 M
Q7
Moral Reasoning • Honesty
Why do children invent 'Mr. Nobody' when something breaks at home?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Explanation:
• Children fear being scolded or punished when they accidentally break or spill something.
• However, parents love children who speak the truth, and admitting mistakes with a sincere 'sorry' is the mark of good character.
• Children fear being scolded or punished when they accidentally break or spill something.
• However, parents love children who speak the truth, and admitting mistakes with a sincere 'sorry' is the mark of good character.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Fear of scolding explained
1 M
Honesty and sincere apologies valued
1 M
Q8
Opposites • Story Words
Write the opposite of:
(a) Quiet × _______
(b) Nobody × _______
(c) Agree × _______
[3 Marks]
(a) Quiet × _______
(b) Nobody × _______
(c) Agree × _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Quiet × Noisy / Loud
(b) Nobody × Everybody / Somebody
(c) Agree × Disagree
(a) Quiet × Noisy / Loud
(b) Nobody × Everybody / Somebody
(c) Agree × Disagree
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Noisy
1 M
(b) Everybody
1 M
(c) Disagree
1 M
Q9
Sentence Construction
Make a sentence using the word 'mischief'.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sample Sentence:
• The playful kitten got into mischief by tangling grandmother's wool yarn all over the rug.
• The playful kitten got into mischief by tangling grandmother's wool yarn all over the rug.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Meaningful sentence with 'mischief'
2 M
Q10
Grammar • Contractions
Write the full form of these contracted words:
(a) Don't = _______
(b) Isn't = _______
(c) That's = _______
[3 Marks]
(a) Don't = _______
(b) Isn't = _______
(c) That's = _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Don't = Do not
(b) Isn't = Is not
(c) That's = That is
(a) Don't = Do not
(b) Isn't = Is not
(c) That's = That is
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Do not
1 M
(b) Is not
1 M
(c) That is
1 M
Q11
Good Habits at Home
Name two ways you can keep your room tidy so 'Mr. Nobody' never causes trouble.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
1. Put storybooks back on the shelf after reading.
2. Close room doors and cupboard drawers gently after use.
1. Put storybooks back on the shelf after reading.
2. Close room doors and cupboard drawers gently after use.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Putting books back
1 M
Closing doors/cupboards
1 M
Q12
Spelling Check • Household Items
Fill in the missing letters: C U R T _ _ N (cloth hanging on window).
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• C U R T A I N = CURTAIN.
• C U R T A I N = CURTAIN.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
CURTAIN correct
1 M
Q13
Compound Words
Separate these compound words into two words:
(a) Everybody = _______ + _______
(b) Nobody = _______ + _______
[2 Marks]
(a) Everybody = _______ + _______
(b) Nobody = _______ + _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Everybody = Every + body
(b) Nobody = No + body
(a) Everybody = Every + body
(b) Nobody = No + body
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Every + body
1 M
(b) No + body
1 M
Q14
True or False
State True or False:
(a) Mr. Nobody is an actual ghost living behind the curtains.
(b) We should own up to our mistakes instead of blaming imaginary people.
[2 Marks]
(a) Mr. Nobody is an actual ghost living behind the curtains.
(b) We should own up to our mistakes instead of blaming imaginary people.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) False. Mr. Nobody is simply a poetic metaphor for careless mistakes.
(b) True. Honesty and responsibility are essential human virtues.
(a) False. Mr. Nobody is simply a poetic metaphor for careless mistakes.
(b) True. Honesty and responsibility are essential human virtues.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) False with reason
1 M
(b) True
1 M
Q15
Poem Reflection
What humorous truth about family life does 'Mr. Nobody' expose?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Summary:
• It delightfully highlights that in every household, whenever something gets broken or misplaced, no family member willingly admits fault — yet everyone knows who was careless!
• It delightfully highlights that in every household, whenever something gets broken or misplaced, no family member willingly admits fault — yet everyone knows who was careless!
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Humorous truth about blaming nobody explained
2 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
The Broken Glass Mystery in Kitchen
Mother walked into the kitchen and saw a broken water glass on the floor. When she asked who dropped it, both Bunty and Chintu shook their heads and whispered: 'Nobody!'. Mother smiled gently and recited lines from the poem 'Mr. Nobody'. Bunty lowered his head and confessed: 'I am sorry, Ma. I bumped the table while reaching for biscuits.'
Analytical Task: Who did the brothers blame initially? Who was Mr. Nobody in reality? Why did mother appreciate Bunty's confession?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
1. Initially, they blamed 'Nobody' (the imaginary Mr. Nobody).
2. In reality, Mr. Nobody was Bunty himself, who accidentally bumped the table.
3. Mother appreciated him because speaking the truth honestly and admitting mistakes takes courage and is far better than making false excuses.
2. In reality, Mr. Nobody was Bunty himself, who accidentally bumped the table.
3. Mother appreciated him because speaking the truth honestly and admitting mistakes takes courage and is far better than making false excuses.
Rubric: 1 M for 'Nobody' + 1 M for Bunty's real responsibility + 1 M for honesty and courage moral