CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 3: CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 3 cover How to Tell Wild Animals and The Ball Poem, helping students grasp key themes, literary devices, and important exam questions.
How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells humorously describes different wild animals using poetic devices like alliteration and irony, making it both engaging and educational. On the other hand, The Ball Poem by John Berryman explores the themes of loss and growing up, teaching a valuable life lesson.
Solving these important questions will enhance students’ understanding, improve their analytical skills, and prepare them effectively for board exams.
Chapter 3 of the First Flight textbook includes two poems: How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells and The Ball Poem by John Berryman.
This humorous poem describes different wild animals in a lighthearted and engaging way. The poet uses exaggeration and irony to depict how one can identify animals like the Asian lion, Bengal tiger, leopard, and others. The poem employs a playful tone, making learning about these animals enjoyable. It also makes use of poetic devices such as alliteration and rhyme to enhance its rhythm.
Unlike the first poem, The Ball Poem conveys a deep emotional message about loss and responsibility. The poet describes a boy losing his ball, symbolizing the inevitable losses in life. Through this simple event, the poem highlights the process of growing up and learning to cope with grief. The poet uses imagery and symbolism to convey how life moves on despite personal losses.
To help students prepare effectively for their exams, we have compiled chapter-wise important questions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 3, How to Tell Wild Animals and The Ball Poem.
These questions focus on key themes, literary devices, and critical analysis, ensuring a thorough understanding of the poem. By practicing these questions, students can improve their answer-writing skills and boost their confidence for the CBSE board exams.
CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 3 PDF
How to Tell Wild Animals
1. Or if some time 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.
(a) How can you recognise a Tiger?
Ans: A tiger can be recognised by the black stripes on its yellow hide.
(b) Why does the poet call him a noble animal?
Ans: The poet calls him a noble animal as he is very impressive in size and does not roar loudly.
(c) How is the Bengal Tiger different from the other animals?
Ans: The Bengal Tiger is different from other animals as he is quiet and roams silently.
(d) What does the word ‘ground’ mean here?
Ans: It means the hide or the background, which is the skin of the Tiger.
2. Though to distinguish beasts of prey
A novice might nonplus,
The crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus:
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.
(a) Between which animals would it be difficult to differentiate?
Ans: It would be difficult to differentiate between a Crocodile and a Hyena.
(b) How does a Hyena differ from a Crocodile?
Ans: A Hyena laughs as it swallows its victim, while a Crocodile weeps as it swallows its prey.
(c) Quote a saying famous for Crocodile.
Ans: “Crocodile tears” is a famous saying for Crocodile.
(d) Where does a novice get confused?
Ans: A novice may get confused in differentiating between a Hyena and a Crocodile.
3. The true Chameleon is small,
A lizard sort of thing;
He hasn’t any ears at all,
And not a single wing.
If there is nothing on the tree,
‘Tis the Chameleon you see.
(a) What does a Chameleon look like?
Ans: A Chameleon looks like a lizard.
(b) Describe any two characteristics of a Chameleon.
Ans: A Chameleon does not have ears and wings.
(c) Give an antonym of ‘small’.
Ans: The antonym of ‘small’ is ‘big’.
(d) Where can a chameleon be found?
Ans: A chameleon can be found on trees.
4. How can you identify the Asian lion and the Bengal Tiger?
Ans: The Asian Lion has a large body and a brownish-yellow coat. It roars loudly when it attacks its prey. On the other hand, the Bengal Tiger has black stripes on its yellow coat. It silently attacks its prey.
5. How can you distinguish between a Tiger and a Leopard?
Ans: A Tiger has black stripes on its yellow coat. A Leopard, on the other hand, does not have any stripes. It has spots peppered on its body. Moreover, a Tiger kills only when it is hungry, while a Leopard can kill for the pleasure of killing by pouncing continuously on its prey.
6. How does a Leopard behave when he sees someone?
Ans: A Leopard has black spots all over its body. As soon as it sees someone, it leaps over them at once. It keeps pouncing continuously on its victim, attacking and then eating it.
7. What is so weird about the Hyena and the Crocodile?
Ans: Some animals, such as the Hyena and the Crocodile, are famous for their weird behavior. A laughing Hyena’s voice resembles a human’s laughter. Moreover, a Hyena laughs while swallowing its prey, while a Crocodile sheds tears.
8. ‘Humour is the best medicine for every ailment in life’. Comment.
Ans: Humour is infectious. When humour is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness. Humour strengthens our immune system, boosts our energy, diminishes pain, and protects us from the damaging effects of stress. It is the priceless medicine for every ailment in life.
The poet, in the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’, creates humour by describing various beasts of prey. The way the poet explains things is very funny yet interesting. The poet has depicted wildlife vividly and in a lively manner. While reading the poem, the readers enjoy the poet’s work, leaving them refreshed and happy.
Ball Poem
1.What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do?
I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over – there it is in the water! No use to say – ‘O there are other balls’: [CBSE 2012]
(a) What has happened to the boy?
Ans. The boy was very sad as he had lost his ball.
(b) Why does the poet say ‘No use to say – ‘O there are other balls’?
Ans. The poet says so as the loss of the ball is of a major consequence to the boy.
(c) Which word means ‘happily’?
Ans. Merrily means happily.
(d) Where did the ball go?
Ans. The ball went to the water.
2.
……………Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
(a) What does the boy understand?
Ans. The boy learns to grow up and understands his first responsibility.
(b) What does the word ‘balls’ signify?
Ans. ‘Balls’ signify the boy’s innocence and happy young days.
(c) What is meant by the word ‘possessions’?
Ans. ‘Possessions’ means something that is owned or possessed.
(d) What does “In a world of possessions” mean?
Ans. It means that everybody loves to possess things or materials in their names.
3. What does John Berryman want to convey through this poem?
Ans. Poet John Berryman wants to convey the importance of loss and responsibility in life. We all should learn our responsibility and how to cope up with the loss.
4. Write the sum and substance of the poem “The Ball Poem”.
Ans. In The Ball Poem, Berryman tells us about how our childhood can quickly fly by, as quickly as a ball is lost and how we sometimes unsuspectingly must grow up and face hardships, like loss.
5. “Money is external.” What does the poet mean by this expression?
Ans. The poet makes the boy understand about his responsibility as the loss is immaterial. Money is external as it cannot buy memories, nor can it replace the things that we love, the things that really matter.
6. Why did the poet not offer the boy money to buy another ball?
Ans. The poet watched the boy who had plunged in grief at the loss of his ball. He did not offer the boy money to buy another ball. He felt that another ball could not console the boy. It seemed that the boy had the ball for a long time. The poet also wanted the boy to realise the epistemology of loss.
7. Why is it important for everyone to experience loss and to stand up after it?
Ans. It is important for everyone to experience loss and to stand up after it in order to be strong and to get on with life. One needs to stay strong no matter how much it hurts inside.
Staying strong is the only way to survive. Moreover, one needs to learn to accept and let go and not cling to something that they can never have. One should understand that the past is gone and it will never come back. Experiencing loss sometimes helps us to grow up and face hardships, like loss. This helps us in breaking all the boundaries into freedom.
Better Understanding of Themes – Practicing important questions helps students grasp the key themes of How to Tell Wild Animals and The Ball Poem, such as humor in poetry, identifying emotions, and life lessons.
Improved Literary Analysis – Students learn to analyze poetic devices like rhyme scheme, imagery, symbolism, and alliteration, which are essential for scoring well in exams.
Enhanced Writing Skills – Answering questions improves students’ ability to express their thoughts clearly, making their answers more structured and insightful.
Boosts Exam Preparation – Important questions cover frequently asked topics, helping students focus on what is most likely to appear in board exams.
Develops Critical Thinking – By solving different types of questions, students enhance their ability to interpret poetry from multiple perspectives.
Time Management Practice – Answering these questions under timed conditions prepares students for managing time effectively during exams.