In the CBSE Class 10 English syllabus, How to Tell Wild Animals stands out because it does not behave like a typical serious poem. Instead, it plays with humour to describe wild animals in a very unusual way.
In exams, most questions from this poem are based on understanding these clues, explaining the humour, and identifying the correct animal from the description. For this, Physics Wallah provides important questions from this poem that are focused on these exam areas.
PW CBSE Class 10 questions for this poem are built around interpretation, humour, and recognition of animals from descriptive hints.
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?
(b) Why does the poet call him a noble animal?
(c) How is the Bengal Tiger different from the other animals?
(d) What does the word ‘ground’ mean here?
Ans:
(a) A tiger can be recognised by the black stripes on his yellow hide.
(b) The poet calls him a noble animal as he is very impressive in size and does not roar loudly.
(c) The Bengal Tiger is different from other animals as he is quiet and roams silently.
(d) It means the hide or the background, that 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?
(b) How does a hyena differ from a crocodile?
(c) Quote a saying famous for crocodile.
(d) Where might a novice get confused?
Ans:
(a) It would be difficult to differentiate between a crocodile and a hyena.
(b) A hyena laughs as it swallows its victim, while a crocodile weeps as it swallows its prey.
(c) “Crocodile tears” is a famous saying for crocodiles.
(d) 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?
(b) Describe any two characteristics of a chameleon.
(c) Give an antonym of ‘small’.
(d) Where can a chameleon be found?
Ans:
(a) A chameleon looks like a lizard.
(b) A chameleon does not have ears and wings.
(c) The antonym of ‘small’ is ‘big’.
(d) A chameleon can be found on a tree.
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 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: As the leopard has black spots all over its body, as soon as it sees someone, it leaps over him at once. It keeps on pouncing continuously on its victim, attacks him, and starts eating him.
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 behaviour. For example, a laughing hyena’s voice resembles a human's laughing sound. 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 the wildlife very vividly and in a lively manner. While reading the poem, the readers enjoy the poet’s work and it leaves them refreshed and happy.
Physics Wallah offers an exam-oriented PDF for How to Tell Wild Animals, which brings together a set of practice questions based on extracts, animal identification, and humour-based interpretation.
The questions are arranged in a way that helps you connect clues with meaning, which is especially useful for unseen passages in exams.
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