NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 Mijbil the Otter
Here, we have provided NCERT Solutions of Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8. Students can view these NNCERT Solutions of Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 before exams for better understanding of the chapter.
Ananya Gupta16 May, 2024
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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8, "Mijbil the Otter," help you understand the story about a young otter named Mijbil and his special friendship with the author, Gavin Maxwell. It takes place in the marshlands of southern Iraq and shows the bond between humans and nature.
These solutions explain the story in a simple way, making it easier for you to understand the characters, plot, and themes. By using these solutions, students can become better at understanding stories, answering questions, and learning new things.NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 PDF
You can find the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 in the provided PDF link. These solutions provide a comprehensive understanding of the chapter "Mijbil the Otter." They provide detailed explanations of the text, including character analysis, summaries, and thematic discussions. With these solutions, you can enhance your comprehension of the story and improve your English language skills.NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 PDF
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 Mijbil the Otter
Question 1:
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?Answer:
Maxwell thought it would be interesting to have an otter as a pet instead of a dog. He had visited Southern Iraq in 1956 and got fascinated with the idea during his travels. When he saw that Camusfearna was surrounded by water, he felt it would be a perfect place for this unique experiment.Question 2:
Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?Answer:
Maxwell traveled to Basra's Consulate-General to pick up his mail from Europe. Although his friend's mail had arrived, his hadn't. He sent a cable to England and even made a phone call three days later, which needed to be booked 24 hours in advance. However, he faced several setbacks: the line was down on the first day, the exchange was closed for a religious holiday on the second, and there was another breakdown on the third. Consequently, his friend left, and they arranged to meet in a week. Maxwell's mail finally arrived after five days of waiting.Question 3:
How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.Answer:
When the writer's mail finally arrived, he took it to his bedroom to read. There, he found two Arabs sitting on the floor with a sack that moved occasionally. They handed him a note from his friend, mentioning that he had sent him an otter. Maxwell was fond of the idea. He expressed this by saying "An otter fixation," which described his strong attachment to otters, much like any other otter owner might feel.Question 4:
Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?Answer:
An otter is typically known to zoologists as "Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli," but for short, it was referred to as Maxwell's otter.Question 5:
Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was • aloof and indifferent • friendly • hostileAnswer:
In the beginning, the otter was distant and uninterested.Question 6:
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?Answer:
When Maxwell initially introduced Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter exhibited sheer delight, frolicking in the water for nearly half an hour. With exuberance, he darted and tumbled, traversing the length of the bathtub with such fervor that it echoed the exuberance of a hippopotamus. Two days later, to Maxwell's surprise, Mijbil ventured away from his bedroom and made his way to the bathroom. There, he perched himself at the edge of the bathtub, attempting to manipulate the chrome taps with his paws. Maxwell observed in astonishment as the otter skillfully adjusted the tap, initially producing a mere trickle of water, which gradually escalated to a steady flow.Oral Comprehension Check (Page 108-109)
Question 1:
How was Mij to be transported to England?Answer:
Maxwell made arrangements for his journey to Paris, with subsequent travel to England. However, the British airline policies didn't permit pets on board. Consequently, Maxwell had to comply with the airline's regulations, which required Mijbil to be placed in a compact eighteen-inch square box, positioned near Maxwell's feet during the flight. With little time left, Maxwell hastily arranged for the creation of the box an hour before their departure. He gently placed Mijbil inside, allowing him time to acclimate to the enclosure, before quickly attending to his own meal arrangements.Question 2:
What did Mij do to the box?Answer:
The box Maxwell had prepared for Mijbil's journey was lined with a metal sheet. However, Mijbil became distressed inside the box and attempted to escape. In his struggle, he tore into the metal lining, injuring himself and causing bleeding.Question 3:
Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?Answer:
Maxwell realized that he had no alternative but to place Mijbil back into the box for their journey to London. He felt anxious and remorseful seeing the otter's condition, knowing that Mijbil had injured himself while attempting to escape from the box.Question 4:
Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?Answer:
The air hostess displayed kindness and understanding towards Maxwell upon hearing about the incident with the box. She respected his emotions and allowed him to take the otter out of the box and hold his pet on his knee during the flight. Maxwell was deeply impressed by her compassion and referred to her as "the very queen of her kind."Question 5:
What happened when the box was opened?Answer:
Mijbil's escape from the box caused chaos in the airplane, startling the passengers. He ran around, creating commotion, and even scared a woman who stood up on her seat. Despite Maxwell's efforts to catch him, Mijbil eluded him. However, the air hostess promised to assist Maxwell in finding the otter. Eventually, Mijbil returned to Maxwell, clinging to his knee and showing affection by nuzzling his face and neck.Oral Comprehension Check (Page 110)
Question 1:
What game had Mij invented?Answer:
Mijbil invented a game involving a ping-pong ball and one of Maxwell's damaged suitcases, which had a sloped lid. Mijbil would place the ball at the high end of the sloping lid and then chase after it as it rolled down towards the lower end. This playful activity amused Mijbil and provided entertainment during their journey.Question 2:
What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of (i) school children (ii) Mij?Answer:
(i) In the story, Maxwell exhibits compulsive habits similar to those of children who feel compelled to perform certain rituals on their way to and from school. For instance, Maxwell feels the need to place his feet squarely on the centre of each paving block, touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post. (ii) Similarly, Mijbil the otter also displays compulsive behavior. On his way home, he jumps over the boundary wall railing and gallops the full length of its thirty yards. This behavior causes distraction to both pupils and staff within the vicinity.Question 3:
What group of animals do otters belong to?Answer:
Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines. Other animals in this group include badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, minks, and more.Question 4:
What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?Answer:
According to Maxwell, Londoners don't easily recognize otters because they're not common in England. As a result, they made wild guesses about Mijbil's identity. Some guessed he was a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard, a hippo, or even a brontosaurus.Thinking about the Text (Page 110-111)
Question 1:
What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?Answer:
Mijbil showed his intelligence in various ways. He invented his own game with a ping-pong ball on Maxwell's worn-out suitcase, displaying his creativity and adaptability. Another example of his intelligence was when he opened the tap in the bathroom and played with water, showing problem-solving skills. Although initially distant from Maxwell, he gradually became friendly and affectionate, as seen when he clung to Maxwell's feet during the flight. Over time, he formed a strong bond with the author and demonstrated his playful nature by creating games and developing certain habitual behaviors during walks in London.Question 2:
What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?Answer:
Otters are part of a small animal group called Mustellines, which includes badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, and minks. They are often found in marshy areas and are sometimes kept as pets by Arabs. Otters enjoy playing in water and splashing around. Maxwell's otter, although of an unknown race to science, was named Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli by zoologists, also known as Maxwell's otter for short. Otters are known for their intelligence and playful nature, often inventing their own games. They are also friendly towards humans.Question 3:
Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?Answer:
Maxwell's otter, initially unknown to science, was later identified and named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. As a result, it is often referred to as Maxwell's otter in short.Question 4:
Maxwell in the story speaks for the otter, Mij. He tells us what the otter feels and thinks on different occasions. Given below are some things the otter does. Complete the column on the right to say what Maxwell says about what Mij feels and thinks.| What Mij does | How Mij feels or thinks |
| Plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash | |
| Screws the tap in the wrong way | |
| Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane |
Answer:
| What Mij does | How Mij feels or thinks |
| plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash | Went wild with joy |
| Screws the tap in the wrong way | Irritated and disappointed at the tap’s failure to cooperate |
| Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane | A distressed chitter of recognition and welcome |
Question 5:
Read the story and find the sentences where Maxwell describes his pet otter. Then choose and arrange your sentences to illustrate those statements below that you think are true. Maxwell’s description (i) makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy. (ii) shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does. (iii) shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does. (iv) of Mij’s antics is comical. (v) shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully. (vi) shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter. (vii) shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual.Answer:
- True. The statement – “He spent most of his time in play.”
- False
- True. The statement – “I watched, amazed; in less than a minute he had turned the tap far enough to produce a trickle of water, and after a moment or two achieved the full flow.”
- True. The statement – “Marbles were Mij’s favourite toys for this pastime: he would lie on his back rolling two or more of them up and down his wide, flat belly without ever dropping one to the floor.
- True. The statement – “A suitcase that I had taken to Iraq had become damaged on the journey home, so that the lid, when closed, remained at a slope from one end to the other. Mij discovered that if he placed the ball on the high end it would run down the length of the suitcase. He would dash around to the other end to ambush its arrival, hide from it, crouching, to spring up and take it by surprise, grab it and trot off with it to the high end once more.”
- False
- True. The statement – “It is not, I suppose, in any way strange that the average Londoner should not recognise an otter, but the variety of guesses as to what kind of animal this might be came as a surprise to me.”
Thinking about Language (Page 111-114)
Question I:
Describing a Repeated Action in the Past
From the table below, make as many correct sentences as you can using would and/or used to, as appropriate. (Hint: First decide whether the words in italics show an action, or a state or situation, in the past.) Then add two or three sentences of your own to it.| Emperor Akbar | wouldused to | be fond of musical evenings. |
| Every evening we | take long walks on the beach. | |
| Fifty years ago, very few people | own cars. | |
| Till the 1980s, Shanghai | have very dirty streets. | |
| My uncle | spend his holidays by the sea. |
Answer:
- Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings.
- Every evening we would take long walks on the beach.
- Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars.
- Till the 1980s, Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.
- My uncle used to spend his holidays by the sea.
- My uncle used to be fond of musical evenings.
- My uncle would take long walks on the beach.
Question II:
Noun Modifiers
1. Look at these examples from the text, and say whether the modifiers (in italics) are nouns, proper nouns, or adjective plus noun. (i) An otter fixation (iv) The London streets (ii) The iron railings (v) soft velvet fur (iii) The Tigris marshes (vi) A four-footed soccer playerAnswer:
- Noun
- Noun
- Proper Noun
- Proper Noun
- Adjective plus noun
- Adjective plus noun
| temple | girls | triangle | dresses |
| person | thoughts | boys | roar |
| gifts | scream | farewell | expression |
| time | subject | landscape | handkerchief |
| crossing | flight | chatterbox | profession |
| physique | coffee | view | celebration |
| college | rough | hundred | stone | ordinary |
| love | uncomfortable | white | slang | slack |
| bare | railroad | tremendous | family | marriage |
| plump | invigorating | panoramic | heartbreaking | birthday |
| incorrigible | ridiculous | loud | first | three |
Answer:
| 1. | Temple | White temple, Stone temple |
| 2. | Gifts | Ordinary gift, birthday gift. |
| 3. | Time | First time, family time, college time, rough time |
| 4. | Crossing | Railroad crossing, first crossing |
| 5. | Physique | Plump physique, ordinary physique |
| 6. | Girls | Plump girls, college girls |
| 7. | Thoughts | Uncomfortable thoughts, ridiculous thoughts, ordinary thoughts, good thoughts, invigorating thoughts, heartbreaking |
| 8. | Scream | Loud scream, heartbreaking scream |
| 9. | Subject | Ordinary subject, college subject |
| 10. | Flight | First flight, ordinary flight, rough flight, uncomfortable flight |
| 11. | Coffee | Black coffee, ordinary coffee, invigorating coffee |
| 12. | Farewell | College farewell, heartbreaking farewell |
| 13. | Landscape | Rough landscape, bare landscape |
| 14. | Chatterbox | Incorrigible chatterbox, ridiculous chatterbox |
| 15. | View | Panoramic view, ordinary view, tremendous view |
| 16. | Dresses | Ordinary dresses, birthday dresses, marriage dresses, hundred dresses |
| 17. | Handkerchief | White handkerchief, clean handkerchief, ordinary handkerchief |
| 18. | Profession | Family profession, first profession, ordinary profession |
| 19. | Celebration | Birthday celebration, tremendous celebration, family celebration |
| 20. | Roar | Loud roar, tremendous roar |
Question III:
1. Match the words on the left with a word on the right. Some words on the left can go with more than one word on the right.| (i) a portion of | – blood |
| (ii) a pool of | – cotton |
| (iii) flakes of | – stones |
| (iv) a huge heap of | – gold |
| (v) a gust of | – fried fish |
| (vi) little drops of | – snow |
| (vii) a piece of | – water |
| (viii) a pot of | – wind |
Answer:
| (i) a portion of | – fried fish |
| (ii) a pool of | – blood |
| (iii) flakes of | – snow |
| (iv) a huge heap of | – stones |
| (v) a gust of | – wind |
| (vi) little drops of | – water |
| (vii) a piece of | – cotton |
| (viii) a pot of | – gold |
Answer:
- My teacher gave me a bit of advice.
- Can you give me a lump of clay please?
- The piece of information you gave was very useful.
- Because of these factories, a cloud of smoke hangs over the city.
- Two pieces of stone rubbed together can produce sparks of fire.
- He gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.
Speaking (Page 114)
Question 1:
You have seen how Maxwell describes Mij the otter’s feelings and thoughts by watching him. Play the game of dumb charades. Take turns to express a feeling or thought silently, through gestures. Let the class speak out their guesses about the feelings or thoughts you are trying to express.Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.Writing (Page 114)
Question 1:
Write a description of a person or an animal (such as a pet) that you know very well and love very much. Questions (4) and (5) in ‘Thinking about the Text’ will have given you some idea about how to do this. Mention some things the person or animal does, what you think the person or animal feels, etc.Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8
- Comprehensive Coverage: The solutions cover all the topics and concepts included in the chapter, ensuring that students have a thorough understanding of the content.
- Clear Explanation: Each question is explained in a clear and concise manner, making it easier for students to understand the underlying concepts.
- Step-by-Step Solutions: The solutions provide step-by-step explanations for problem-solving questions, helping students understand the logical sequence of solving problems.
- Practice Material: NCERT Solutions include additional practice questions and exercises to help students reinforce their understanding of the chapter.
- Exam Preparation: By using these solutions, students can prepare effectively for exams, as they cover the entire syllabus and provide ample practice opportunities.
- Conceptual Clarity: The solutions focus on building conceptual clarity, ensuring that students not only memorize the answers but also understand the underlying principles.
- Self-Assessment: Students can use the solutions to assess their understanding of the chapter and identify areas where they need improvement.
NCERT Solutions of Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 FAQs
What is the main theme of the chapter "Mijbil the Otter"?
The main theme of the chapter revolves around the author's experiences with his pet otter named Mijbil. It explores the unique bond between humans and animals, as well as the intelligence and playful nature of otters.
Who is Mijbil and how does the author come to own him?
Mijbil is an otter that the author, Maxwell, receives as a gift from his friend. His friend sends Mijbil along with a note, introducing him as an otter and asking Maxwell to take care of him.
Describe Mijbil's behavior when he first arrives at Maxwell's home.
When Mijbil first arrives, he is aloof and indifferent. However, over time, he becomes more comfortable and exhibits his playful and intelligent nature.
Why does Maxwell face difficulties while traveling with Mijbil?
Maxwell faces difficulties while traveling with Mijbil because airlines do not allow pets on board. As a result, he has to pack Mijbil into a box, which causes distress to the otter.
How does Mijbil behave during the flight?
During the flight, Mijbil jumps out of the box and runs around the airplane, causing chaos among the passengers. However, he eventually returns to Maxwell and clings to him.
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