Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 4 How to Tell Wild Animals

Thinking about the Poem

Question 1.
Does Dyin really rhyme with lion ? Can you say it in such a way that it does?

Answer:
No, Dyin does not rhyme with lion. If we change the pronunciation of lion by speaking it as lying then it may rhyme with the word dyin

Question 2.
How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so according to him?

Answer:
A lion is a large and tawny beast. A Bengal Tiger has black stripes on its yellow coat. A lion roars when it falls upon its prey, while a tiger attacks silently. We can identify the two while roaming in the jungle

Question 3.
Do you think the words lept and lep in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?

Answer:
The words lept and lep are not spelt correctly. The poet has spelt them like this in order to maintain the rhythm of the poem. The correct spelling of the words, lept is leapt and lep is leap. The poet has intentionally spelt them incorrectly to create a sense of humour

Question 4.
Do you know what a bearhug is? It a friendly and strong hug-such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, hyenas are thought to laugh and crocodiles to weep (crocodile tears) as they swallow their victims. Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language (s)?

Answer:
A bearhug is when the bear hugs his prey tightly with both hands and presses him to death. There are indeed similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in every language. For example, in Hindi, we say Magarmach ke aansu aaana (Crocodile tears) Haathi ke daant dikhane ke aur, khane ke aur, Ab pachtaye hot kya jab chidiya chug gai khet, Girgit ke tarah rang badalna

Question 5.
Look at the line A novice might nonplus." How would you write this correctly? Why is the poet incorrect line better in the poem?

Answer:
The line "A novice might nonplus" can be written correctly as "A novice might be nonplussed". However, the poet incorrect line is better in the poem as it maintains the rhyme scheme of the poem. By writing it incorrectly, nonplus rhymes with thus

Question 6.
Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language (s)?

Answer:
One can find plenty of examples in poetry where poets take liberties with language. This is called poetic licence. Poets take such liberties in order to create proper rhyming and rhythm. For example, in the following lines the word prest is used instead of pressed so that it may rhyme with breast. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth sweat flowing breast

Question 7.
Much of the humour in the poem arisesfrom the way language is used. Although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these lines with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny?

Answer:
The way the poet has used language and ideas in the poem is indeed humourous. The lines from the poem that appears to be funny are "A noble wild beast greets you". The idea that a wild beast is going to welcome you is quite funny. The language in the line, "Hell only lep and lep again" is also very humorous. The concept of lep from the word leopard generates humour

Important Question

NCERT CBSE for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 4 How to Tell Wild Animals Important Question

How to Tell Wild Animals Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
How can you identify the Asian Lion?
Year of Question:(2003)

Answer:
The poet in the humorous way says that if a person goes to the jungles in the east and if a large and brownish wild animal roars while killing him, the dying jnan can know that it is the Asian Lion.

Question 2.
How can you identify the Bengal Tiger?
Year of Question:(2005)

Answer:
A person can identify the Bengal Tiger when a beast with black stripes on yellow body meets and eats him. This is how he can make out that it is the Bengal Tiger.

Question 3.
How can a man know that the beast is leopard?
OR
Describe some features of the leopard.
Year of Question:(2007)

Answer:
Leopard has spots on its body. It is a dangerous and powerful animal. It has the quality of leaping again and again. It leaps over its prey at once. It eats its prey.

Question 4.
How does the poet tell us to identify a bear?
Year of Question:(2009)

Answer:
The poet says that if, while walking round the courtyard of his house, a person meets there a creature who hugs him very, very hard, then he be can be sure that it is a bear.

Question 5.
How does the poet distinguish the hyena from crocodile?
Year of Question:(2002)

Answer:
The poet tells us how to distinguish a hyena from crocodile. A hyena is an animals who can laugh. The poet says that if a creature greets a person while smiling merrily, then that creature is hyena. If a creature sheds tears while swallowing a person, then it is a crocodile.

Question 6.
What does the poet tell us about a chameleon?
Year of Question:(2004)

Answer:
The poet tells us that a chameleon is found on a tree. It is a creature which can change its colour according to its surrounding. It is very difficult to see a chameleon on the tree because it changes its colour according to the colour of the tree.

Question 7.
The poet has used some special qualities to describe the animals and create humour in the poem. Each of us also has some special qualities which make us quite different from others. Do you agree with this statement? Comment with reference to the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’.
Year of Question:(2006)

Answer:
The poet has used the selected words and expressions to describe the animals and to create humour. For example she says, "A noble beast greets you’ for "The Bengal Tiger", "A bear - hugs you" "Crocodiles weep" and ‘Hyena smiles’. Like these animals, each of us has some special qualities which make us quite different from others. For example, we face many people in a day, but even then we can easily recognize them only through their voice or through their special habits. These distinctive qualities give them a unique identification. This, statement is absolutely right.

Question 8.
The poet uses humour in a perfect manner in her poem-‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ to bring smile on the face of readers. In our daily life also humour is the best medicine for every ailment. Do you agree? Comment.
OR
"Humour is the perfect medicine for all diseases". Discuss this statement by taking examples from the poem "How to Tell Wild Animals".
Year of Question:(2008)
Mahatma Gandhi UniversityAnswer:
The poet talks about wild animals in a funny manner. All the dangerous, wild animals like lions, tigers, leopards, bears, hyenas, crocodile, chameleon have been portrayed humorously. The poet describes their dangerous activities in such a manner that they produce laughter.

Question 9.
Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion’? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
Year of Question:(2010)

Answer:
No ‘dying does not rhyme with ‘lion’. It is for this reason that the poet has used ‘dyin’ so that when we pronounce it, it rhymes with ‘lion’.

Question 10.
How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to him?
Year of Question:(2012)

Answer:
The poet suggests that if a large and tawny beast comes towards us, then it is an Asian lion. We can identify it when it roars at us while, we are dying with fear. When while roaming, we come across a wild beast that is yellow in colour with black stripes, it is Bengal tiger. We can identify it when it eats us.

Question 11.
Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
Year of Question:(2014)

Answer:
No, the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are spelt incorrectly. The poet has spelled them like this in order to maintain the rhythm of the poem. When spelled this way, they rhyme with the first part of ‘leopard’, thus giving emphasis to ‘leopard’ in each line.

Question 12.
Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug-such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, hyenas are thought to laugh, and crocodiles to weep (‘crocodile tears’) as they swallow their victims. Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language(s) ;
Year of Question:(2003)

Answer:
A ‘bearhug’ is the bear’s tight embrace. Hyenas never laugh. But their faces look like that. Crocodiles do not weep but tears come when they swallow their victims.

Question 13.
Look at the line A novice might nonplus. How would you write this ‘correctly’? Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better in the poem?
Year of Question:(2016)

Answer:
The line Novice might nonplus can be correctly written as A novice might be nonplussed’. The poet’s incorrect line is better in the poem as it maintains the rhyme scheme of the poem. By writing it incorrectly, ‘nonplus’ rhymes with Thus’.

Question 14.
Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language (s)? Can you, find examples of humorous poems in your own languages(s)?
Year of Question:(2018)

Answer:
Yes, many poets take such liberties to create proper rhyming. These are for example - Kirk has Church’ to rhyme with ‘work’. Ken has used See to rhyme with ‘pen’.

Question 15.
Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used, although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.
Year of Question:(2012)

Answer:
Students must try to do it at their own level. From this poem the following lines may be pointed out where language and ideas arise humour in the poem.
If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
A noble wild beast greets you,
Just notice if he eats you.
Twill do not good to roar with pain,
Who hugs you very, very hard,
A novice might nonplus,
Hyenas come with merry smiles A true Chameleon is small,
In all these lines, the ideas are treated humorously. They are wild beasts. They can neither laugh, smile nor be gentle. They will kill the human beings at once as they get, the chance.

How to Tell Wild Animals Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Question 1.
If ever you should go by chance
TO jungles in the east;
And if there should to you advance
A large and tawny beast,
If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
You’ll know it is the Asian Lion.
Year of Question:(2011)

(i) Name the poem and the poet.
(ii) How does one identify the Asian Lion?
(iii) How does an Asian Lion react on seeing a man?
(iv) Pick out the word from the stanza that means the same as All of a sudden.
Answer:
(i) This stanza has been taken from the poem How to Tell Wild Animals composed by Carolyn Wells.
(ii) The Asian Lion is identified by its size, colour and roar, it is a large tawny beast.
(iii) When Asian Lion sees a man, it roars and takes no time in killing him.
(iv) ‘by Chance’.

Question 2.
Or if sometime when roaming round,
A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground,
Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal Tiger to discern.
Year of Question:(2013)

(i) Who is the ‘noble wild beast’ here?
(ii) How does this beast look?
(iii) Pick out the word from the stanza that means the same as ‘to recognise’.
(iv) Name the poem and poet.
Answer:
(i) The noble wild beast is Bengal Tiger here.
(ii) This beast looks like it is coloured with black stripes on a yellow ground.
(iii) ‘discern’.
(iv) ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ written by Carolyn Wells.

Question 3.
If strolling forth, a beast you view,
Whose hide with spots is peppered,
As soon as he has lept on you,
You’ll know it is the Leopard.
Twill do no good to roar with pain,
He’ll only lep and lep again.
Year of Question:(2015)

(i) How can you recognise the Leopard?
(ii) How is it different from the Bengal Tiger?
(iii) Pick out the word from the stanza that means the same as-‘a large animal of the cat family
(iv) Name the poem and poet.
Answer:
(i) The leopard can be recognised by its spots on the skin.
(ii) Bengal Tiger has black stripes on a yellow ground while the Leopard has round black spots on the body.
(iii) ‘Leopard’.
(iv) ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ and poem composed by Carolyn Wells.

Question 4.
If when you’re walking round your yard
You meet a creature there,
Who hugs you very, very hard,
Be sure it is a Bear.
If you have any doubts, I guess
He’ll give you just one more caress.
Year of Question:(2017)

(i) Whom can you meet in the yard?
(ii) How can one recognise that he is meeting a bear?
(iii) Pick out the word from the stanza that means the same as-‘loving touch’ or ‘gentle touch’.
(iv) How does it treat the Man?
or
Name the poem and poet.
Answer:
(i) In your yard, you can meet a bear.
(ii) One can recognise that he is meeting a bear by its hard hug.
(iii) caress’.
(iv) When a bear meets a man, it hugs him very hard.

Important Questions and Answers from How to Tell Wild Animals

Question1.
How does the poet describe the Asian Lion?
Answer:
  • The Asian Lion is described as a large and tawny (yellowish-brown) beast
  • You can identify it if it roars at you, especially as youre about to die
  • The poem humorously says that if you are in the jungles of the east and you hear a loud roar, its likely the Asian Lion
Question2.
What is the poets method for identifying the Bengal Tiger?
Answer:
  • The Bengal Tiger has black stripes on a yellow background
  • The poet humorously suggests that if it eats you, youll know its the Bengal Tiger
  • The simple rule to remember is that the Bengal Tiger attacks quickly, and thats how you can identify it
Question3.
How can you recognize a Leopard according to the poet?
Answer:
  • The Leopard has a hide peppered with spots
  • The poet humorously warns that if the leopard leaps on you, you will know its a Leopard
  • The Leopard will keep leaping even if you scream in pain, making it unmistakable
Question4.
What humorous advice does the poet give about recognizing a Bear?
Answer:
  • If a creature hugs you very hard, you can be sure its a Bear
  • The poet adds a funny line, saying if you have any doubts, the bear will give you another hug or caress to confirm it
Question5.
How does the poet differentiate between a Crocodile and a Hyena?
Answer:
  • Hyenas are said to have merry smiles, while Crocodiles are known for their tears (crocodile tears)
  • The poet humorously suggests that if the animal is weeping, its a Crocodile, and if its smiling, its a Hyena.
Question6.
Describe the Chameleon as per the poet?
Answer:
  • The Chameleon is a small lizard-like creature
  • It has no ears and no wings
  • The poet jokes that if you see nothing on the tree, its because the Chameleon is there, as it blends into its surroundings
Question7.
Why does the poet use spellings like lept and lep instead of the correct spellings leapt and leap?
Answer:
  • The poet uses incorrect spellings like lept and lep for humorous effect
  • These spellings match the rhythm of the poem and make the verses sound more light-hearted and funny
Question8.
What is the meaning of a bearhug, and why is it mentioned in the poem?
Answer:
  • A bearhug is a strong, tight, and sometimes friendly hug
  • In the poem, it refers to the strong hug a bear might give, but in reality, its a dangerous act of attack
  • The poet adds humor by suggesting that a bears hug could confirm its identity
Question9.
Why do you think the poet included humor in describing these wild animals?
Answer:
  • Humor is used to make the dangerous wild animals seem less frightening
  • It helps readers, especially young ones, to enjoy learning about animals through funny descriptions and silly situations
  • The humor also lies in the contrast between what the animals actually do (attack) and how lightly the poet describes it
Question10.
What makes the poem How to Tell Wild Animals humorous?
Answer:
  • The poet uses funny language and humorous situations to describe serious and dangerous animals
  • Words like dyin rhyme with lion, and spelling mistakes like lept add to the light-hearted nature of the poem
  • The contrast between the dangerous actions of animals (attacking, eating, hugging) and the light tone of the poet makes the poem amusing

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