The Study L’école Internationale

REVISION 1 QUESTION BANK

SUBJECT : ENGLISH CLASS X D

Unit 6 Mijbil the Otter – Gavin Maxwell

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that fol-
low :
1.Early in the New Year of 1956 I travelled to Southern Iraq. By then it had
crossed my mind that I should like to keep an otter instead of a dog, and
that Camusfearna, ringed by water a stone’s throw from its door, would be
an eminently suitable spot for this experiment.
(a) What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable
for ?
(b) Why was it a suitable spot for his experiment ?
(c) Write the meaning of the phrase, ‘crossed my mind’.
(d) When did the author travel ?
Answer:
(a) Maxwell thought to keep an otter as a pet instead of a dog as Camus-
fearna would be suitable for it.
(b) It was a suitable place for his experiment because that place was
ringed by water.
(c) ‘a thought came into my (narrator’s) mind’.
(d) The author travelled in the New Year of 1956.

2.The creature that emerged from this sack on to the spacious tiled floor
of the consulate bedroom resembled most of all a very small, medievally-
conceived, dragon. From the head to the tip of the tail he was coated with
symmetrical pointed scales of mud armour, between whose tips was vis-
ible a soft velvet fur like that of a chocolate-brown mole.
(a) What creature is the author talking about ?
(b) What was the creature coated with ?
(c) Find from the passage a word that means the same as ‘came out of’.
(d) Which figure of speech is used in the passage.
Answer:
(a) The creature, that the author is talking about, is his pet otter, named
as Mijbil.
(b) The creature was covered with symmetrical pointed scales of mud ar-
mour from head to the tip of the tail.
(c) Emerged.
(d) Simile

3.Very soon Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I
called his name. He spent most of his time in play. He spent hours
shuffling a rubber ball round the room like a four-footed soccer player
using all four feet to dribble the ball, and he could also throw it, with a
powerful flick of the neck, to a surprising height and distance.
(a) Who does Y stand for ?
(b) How did the otter spend most of his time ?
(c) Find a word from the passage that means the same as ‘trickle’ ?
(d) How would Mij follow the author ?
Answer:
(a) ‘I’ stands for ‘Gavin Maxwell’, the author of the story.
(b) The otter spent most of his time in playing. He spent hours shuffling a
rubber ball round the room like a four-footed soccer player, using all four
feet to dribble the ball and he could also throw it to a surprising height
and distance.
(c) Dribble.
(d) Mij would follow the author without a lead.

4.When I returned, there was an appalling spectacle. There was complete

silence from the box, but from its airholes and chinks around the lid, blood
had trickled and dried. I whipped off the lock and tore open the lid, and
Mij, exhausted and blood-spattered, whimpered and caught at my leg. He
had torn the lining of the box to shreds; when I removed the last of it so
that there were no cutting edges left, it was just ten minutes until the time
of the flight, and the airport was five miles distant. I put the miserable Mij
back into the box, holding down the lid with my hand. I sat in the back of
the car with the box beside me as the driver tore through the streets of
Basra like a ricocheting bullet.
Q1) Choose the speaker that uses the phrase ‘appalling spectacle’
correctly.
Speaker 1 – We got back home to see that our pet dog had eaten kheer
my mother had kept out of the fridge. Indeed, an appalling spectacle.
Speaking 2 – We got back home and witnessed that our cousin had
dressed our pet dog in his t-shirt. Have to admit that it was an appalling
spectacle.
Speaker 3 – We got back home to see our pet dog sitting with a mangled
rat. It was an appalling spectacle.
Speaking 4 – We got back home from the airport and observed our pet
dog sound asleep on the rug. What an appalling spectacle!
a) Speaker 1
b) Speaker 2
c) Speaker 3
d) Speaker 4
Correct Answer: Option (c)
Q2) Choose the option that is closest in resemblance to the box’s
condition in which Mij was kept.

a) Option (1)
b) Option (2)
c) Option (3)
d) Option (4)

Q3) Select the option that DOES NOT state the possible reason for
Maxwell’s cutting the box edges off.
a) Mij could have injured himself further.
b) It could have made the place untidy.
c) Mij could have accidentally swallowed the torn pieces
d) It could have obstructed the shutting of the lid.

Q4) “whipped off” is an example of a phrasal verb, i.e. a combination of a

verb and a preposition. Choose the option that DOES NOT fit the given
definition.

Q5) Choose the option that correctly states Maxwell’s likely feelings in the
situation below.
“… I put the miserable Mij back into the box, holding down the lid with my
hand.”
(1) anxious
(2) disappointed
(3) terrified
(4) guilty
(5) insulted
a) 1 and 5
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 4
d) 3 and 5

ANSWER
Correct Answer: Option (c)
Correct Answer: Option (d)
Correct Answer: Option (b)
Correct Answer: Option (2)
Correct Answer: Option (c)

SHORT ANSWERS

1.What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom ? What

did Mijbil do two days after that ?
Answer:
In bathroom, Mijbil fumbled with the taps and went mad with joy on
seeing full flow of water. It played, splashed and thoroughly enjoyed
like a hippo in water. Aloof at first, he started answering to his name,
played for hours with rubber belli and juggled with small objects, in
two days after that.

2.What special characteristic of Mijbil did Maxwell leam after he took

him to the bathroom ?
Answer:
After taking Mijbil to the bathroom, Maxwell witnessed Mijbil being
almost mad with excitement, plunging and rolling in water, splashing
water all around. It shows his love for water as marshes and wetlands
are others’ natural habitat.

3.Give an example from the text to show that Mijbil is an intelligent

animal.
Answer:
Mijbil’s behaviour and reactions to the circumstances throw light on
the trait of intelligence in the otters in general. They have basic con-
geniality. And it is portrayed in his behaviour that it took him mere a
day to shed his inhibitions and familiarize himself with the surround-
ings. Mijbil’s intelligence and sense of logic is reflected in his turning
on the tap to get a flow of water.

4.What game had Mijbil invented ?

Answer:
Mijbil enjoyed playing with marbles while lying on its back. He
would lie and roll two or more of them up and down his wide, flat
belly.

5.Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box ? How do you think
he felt when he did this?

Answer:
Maxwell put the otter in the box because he was shifting from Basra
to England and he wanted the otter to get used to it. He felt sad on
putting it back because the otter did not like it and so, he was trying to
get out of it.

Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words )

Question 1.
The way Maxwell was worried about Mijbil when he had to take him
to London shows that he was very concerned about him. Do you
think, owning a pet is a life-time commitment ? Elucidate. [Value
Based Question]
Answer:
Maxwell was very concerned about his pet, Mijbil when he had to un-
dertake the plane journey. He wanted him to get used to the box in
which he had to travel. When Mijbil was injured in his attempt to
come out of the box, the author was really concerned about his well
being. He took his food on the flight. The lesson definitely shows that
when we decide to keep a pet, it is a commitment of lifetime. This is
so because we are responsible for the well-being of that life and in
fact, keeping a pet at home is like bringing up and nurturing a child.

Question 2.
Should one own a pet to keep up with their status symbol ? [Value
Based Question]
Answer:
Owning a pet is a lifetime commitment, involving considerable re-
sponsibility. The decision to acquire one, therefore, should be made
by the whole family; otherwise it would end up, being unwanted. In
this story, Gavin Maxwell has very intelligently shown us that how a
pet has to be taken care of, loved and made a part of the family. Max-
well, who brought home an otter, tried to find out its feelings and
thoughts and tried to provide an environment suitable for its exist-
ence.

UNIT 7 MADAM RIDES THE BUS - VALLIKKANNAN

I.ANSWER WITH REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT

Question 1.
But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as
any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street
gave her many new unusual experiences.
(a) Why did Valli kept on standing at the doorway?
(b) How did Valli feel while standing at the doorway?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘not very common’.
(d) How was valli different from children of her age?
Answer:
(a) Valli kept on standing at the doorway to watch the happenings on
the street outside.
(b) Watching the street gave Valli many new experiences. She felt
joyous standing at the doorway.
(c) ‘Unusual’ from the extract means ‘not very common’.
(d) Valli was different from children of her age as she was not inter-
ested in playing any elaborate games.

Question 2.
The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between
her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each
hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the
bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of un-
ending joy for Valli.
(a) How many times did the bus pass?
(b) What was the source of unending joy for Valli?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘never ending’.
(d) What was the most fascinating thing for Valli?
Answer:
(a) The bus passed through Valli’s street once in an hour.
(b) The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers,
was a source of unending joy for Valli.

(c) ‘Unending’ from the extract means ‘never ending’.

(d) The most fascinating thing for Valli was watching the bus that
travelled between her village and the nearest town.

Question 3.
The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise
one way “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed
man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one
month to the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-
five minutes.
(a) How much was the fare of the bus?
(b) How long would it take to complete her journey to reach back
home?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘luck’.
(d) What has been called ‘fortune’ for Valli?
Answer:
(a) The fare of the bus was thirty paise for one side.
(b) It would take one hour thirty minutes for Valli to complete her
journey.
(c) ‘Fortune’ from the extract means ‘luck’.
(d) The bus fare which was thirty paise only a sum considered so
small, has been called ‘fortune’ for Valli.

Question 4.
“Okay, okay, but first you must get on the bus,” said the conductor,
and he stretched out a hand to help her up. “Never mind,” she said, “I
can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”
(a) Why did the conductor gave Valli a hand of help?
(b) How did Valli reacted to the conductor?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘extended’.
(d) What trait of Valli’s character has been shown in the extract?
Answer:
(a) The conductor gave a helping hand to Valli so that she can climb
the bus.
(b) Valli refused taking help from the conductor and said that she
would get on the bus by herself.
(c) ‘Stretched’ from the extract means ‘extended’.
(d) The extract shows Valli as a self-dependent girl who didn’t seek
anybody’s help.

SHORT ANSWERS
1.How did Valli save money to travel by bus?
Answer:
Valli had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way. She
resisted every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and ride
on the merry-go-round at the village fair to save money for her bus
journey.

2. How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road? [CBSE
2014]
Answer:
Valli was filled with sadness. She thought what had been a lovable,
beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its
charm and its life and looked so horrible and frightening.
3.How was the view outside the bus when it went through the canal?
Answer:
On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland,
distant mountains, and the sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and
then acres and acres of green fields.

4.Why was the conductor of the bus amused while talking to Valli?
Answer: The conductor of the bus was a jolly person who was fond of
joking. Quote two instances to amused while talking to Valli who
pretended to be a grown person.

5. How did Valli manage to leave the house?

Answer: Valli knew that after lunch her mother would nap for about
one to four or so. It was Valli’s habit to engage these hours for her
excursions and move outside the village.

6.What dampened Valli’s enthusiasm during the return journey?

Answer: During her return journey, Valli saw a young cow lying dead
by the side of the road. She was the same lovable and beautiful cow
that she saw only a little while ago. Now, it looked so horrible and
frightening as it lay there. There was a fixed stare in her lifeless eyes
and she was smeared with blood. The sight dampened her enthusiasm
and she stopped looking outside.

7.Why did Valli smile to herself? Did her mother and aunt had any
chance of knowing the secret of her smile?

Answer: Valli agreed with her mother that many things were
happening outside in the world without their knowledge. Ironically,
the two ladies didn’t know anything about Valli’s bus-journey. They
didn’t know that `just a chit of a girl’ had done such a great feat. Valli
smiled to herself. There was no chance of her secret being exposed.

LONG ANSWERS
1.In such a fast moving world when we hear so many incidents
happening with people, do you think Valli did right by not telling her
mother about the bus journey? [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
No, I don’t think that Valli did the right thing in travelling alone to the
town without informing her mother. By doing this, she put herself in a
vulnerable position as she could have easily been a victim of child
abuse had she come in contact with wrong people. In fact, she was
lucky to return home safelty.
Children should always travel along with their parents or elders as
they are easy targets for criminals. We hear a lot of instances of crime
committed against children these days like kidnapping, child abuse,
molestation, rape etc. Valli could have expressed her desire of
travelling in the bus to her mother. I am sure that her mother would
have fulfilled her wish by talking her on a bus ride.

2.Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and

great. Which characteristics of Valli help her achieve the wonder of
visiting the town at such a tender age? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
In today’s era, age is no more a barrier. Children are doing wonders at
a very young age. Same goes with Valli. At an age of 8 years, Valli
was able to pursue her dream all alone by travelling in the bus to
town. She was no different from others, except that she had certain
characteristics that made her fulfil her dreams. Valli was a very
confident and a bold girl. She had a knowledge of proper planning
and execution. She controlled her wishes to save money for the bus
ride. Also, she was a very good observer and learner. All these
qualities made her realise the dream of visiting the town. Hence, one
should always remember that there is no age to learn and experience
new things.

Write a character sketch of Valli.

Answer: Valli was an eight-year-old girl born in a small village.

However, she was a very curious girl. She spent her time standing in
the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the
street outside. Watching the street gave her many new and unusual
experiences. Her curiosity about travelling on the bus to the town
urged her on to plan her trip. She was very meticulous in planning for
the trip. She calculated the distance between her home and the town,
the time it took for a trip up and down by bus etc. Valli also proved to
be bold by deciding to ride on the bus. Her childish innocence veiled
by her smart and bold outlook amused the conductor who offered her
a seat in the bus.

Valli thoroughly enjoyed her ride to the town, and laughed and
clapped when the young cow ran in the middle of the road in front of
the bus. But her enjoyable bus ride became a nightmare on her return
journey. She saw the same cow lying dead on the road. This sight
haunted her, dampened her spirits, and saddened her. This is typical
of the tendency of a matured person. She refused to look out of the
window thereafter. Valli, on the whole, can be described as a curious,
joyful, disciplined, smart and a bold girl