Mijbil the Otter Questions and Answers Class 10

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6 bring the heartwarming tale of “Mijbil the Otter” to life. These solutions provide detailed answers to the chapter’s questions, allowing students to explore the endearing bond between the author and the playful otter, Mijbil. Through the answers, students can understand the challenges of raising a wild animal as a pet and learn valuable lessons about compassion, responsibility, and the importance of wildlife conservation.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6 Mijbil the Otter Questions and Answers

Oral Comprehension Check
Page 84

Q1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

Ans: In 1956, the author traveled to Southern Iraq and developed an unusual preference. Instead of opting for a dog as a pet, he decided to keep an otter. Considering Camusfearna’s location, surrounded by water, it seemed like the perfect place for this intriguing endeavor.

Q2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?

Ans: The writer journeyed to Basra with the purpose of retrieving and responding to his mail from Europe. However, he encountered a delay of five days as his mail failed to arrive during that time.

Q3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

Ans: The writer’s friend purchased the otter on his behalf and arranged for it to be sent to his current location. The author developed a fondness for the otter, as evident in the following passages: “On the second night, Mijbil climbed onto my bed during the early hours and peacefully slept in the bend of my knees…” and “I crafted a body-belt for him…”

Q4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

Ans: Zoologists officially designated the otter with the scientific name Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. Consequently, it became commonly known as Maxwell’s otter as a shortened form.

Q5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was
1. aloof and indifferent
2. friendly
3. hostile

Ans: 1. In the beginning, aloof and indifferent

Q6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

Ans: Upon initially introducing Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter exhibited a burst of exhilaration in the water. It gleefully immersed itself, rolling and plunging with exuberance. It leaped up and down the length of the bathtub, creating an abundance of splashes and sloshes. Surprisingly, after two days, the otter disappeared momentarily, only to be discovered playing in the bathroom again, where it independently opened the tap to indulge in its watery delight.

Oral Comprehension Check
Page 86

Q1. How was Mij to be transported to England?

Ans: Maxwell made arrangements for his travel by booking a flight to Paris, with the intention of continuing his journey to England from there. However, due to British airlines’ policy of not allowing pets on board, the airline authorities required Mijbil, the otter, to be enclosed in a small box measuring eighteen inches square. This box was to be placed on the floor near Maxwell’s feet during the flight. To ensure Mijbil’s comfort and familiarity with the box, Maxwell had it prepared just an hour before their departure and gently placed Mijbil inside. Subsequently, Maxwell hurriedly attended to getting a meal before their journey commenced.

Q2. What did Mij do to the box?

Ans: The box was equipped with a metal lining, yet Mijbil, the otter, found it uncomfortable and made desperate attempts to free himself from its confines. In his fervent struggle, Mijbil unintentionally ripped through the metal lining, resulting in injury and causing him to bleed.

Q3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?

Ans: Recognizing that he had no alternative means to transport Mijbil to London, Maxwell reluctantly returned the otter to the box. He felt anxious and remorseful as he observed the otter’s condition, knowing that Mijbil had injured himself in the attempt to break free from the confinement of the box.

Q4. Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?

Ans: The air hostess displayed great warmth and empathy towards Maxwell upon hearing his account. Understanding his feelings and the distress caused by the incident with the box, she kindly granted him permission to remove the otter from its confinement and allowed him to keep his pet on his lap. This gesture deeply impressed the author, who held a profound admiration for the compassionate air hostess, referring to her as “the very queen of her kind.”

Q5. What happened when the box was opened?

Ans: The moment the box was opened, Mijbil swiftly darted out, causing a stir as it roamed freely throughout the cabin, startling the passengers. The otter’s antics created chaos, instilling fear in most of the individuals aboard the plane.

Oral Comprehension Check

Page 88

Q1. What game had Mij invented?

Ans: Mijbil devised a playful game involving a ping-pong ball. The author’s suitcase had suffered damage, resulting in a sloping lid. Mijbil would place the ball at the higher end of the inclined lid and eagerly chase after it as it rolled down towards the lower end, engaging in a delightful game of pursuit.

Q2. What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
i. school children
ii. Mij?

Ans: Compulsive habits typically pertain to peculiar actions that individuals repetitively engage in without a discernible rationale. For instance, a child might choose to leap over a fence instead of utilizing the conventional pathway. Often, such compulsive behaviors manifest in children, who, driven by their mischievous nature, express these idiosyncrasies.

1. According to this story, children are instructed to position their feet firmly in the center of each paving block, touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or move around the outer side of every second lamp post. These precise actions form part of a particular ritual or practice.
2. During its journey back home, Mijbil would energetically leap over the railing of the boundary wall and sprint at top speed along its entire length.

Q3. What group of animals do otters belong to?

Ans: Otters are part of a relatively small animal group known as Mustellines. Other members of this group include badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, minks, and various other creatures.

Q4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?

Ans: Since otters were not commonly found in England, the Londoners resorted to making the wildest and most imaginative guesses about Mij. Their speculations encompassed a wide range, from mistaking Mij for a baby seal, a squirrel, or even a hippo, to more outlandish suggestions such as a brontosaurus.

Thinking about the Text
(Page 88)

Q1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?

Ans: Mij showcased his intelligence by inventing a game involving a ping-pong ball on Maxwell’s worn-out suitcase. Another display of his cleverness was witnessed when he skillfully turned on the tap in the bathroom, hopped into the tub, and engaged in playful water antics. Despite initially displaying aloofness and indifference towards Maxwell, Mij gradually revealed his friendly nature towards his owner. This was evident from his affectionate act of clinging to Maxwell’s feet during the flight. Over time, a deep bond formed between Mij and the author, and he proved to be a joyous companion by creating his own games and exhibiting certain habits during their walks in the streets of London.

Q2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?

Ans: Otters are part of a relatively small animal group known as Mustellines, which includes badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, minks, and other species. They are commonly found in significant numbers in marshes. Otters have been kept as pets and domesticated by Arab people. These playful creatures have a natural affinity for water, delighting in spreading and splashing it around. Maxwell’s otter belonged to a race previously unknown to the scientific community, eventually being named Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli by zoologists.

Q3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?

Ans: Maxwell’s otter belonged to an unrecognized species in the realm of scientific knowledge until it was finally bestowed the name Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli by zoologists. Consequently, it is commonly referred to as Maxwell’s otter for brevity and identification.

Q4. 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.

Ans:

Q5. 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.

Ans: i. True
ii. False
iii. True
iv. True
v. True
vi. False
vii. True

Thinking about Language (Page 89)

I. Describing a Repeated Action in the Past

To talk about something that happened regularly in the past, but does not happen any longer, we use would or used to. Both would and used to can describe repeated actions in the past.

(a) Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called his name.

(b) He would play for hours with a selection of toys. 

(c) On his way home… Mij would tug me to this wall.

(d) When I was five years old, I used to follow my brother all over the place.

(e) He used to tease me when Mother was not around.

To describe repeated states or situations in the past, however, we use only used to. (We cannot use would for states or situations in the past.) So we do not use would with verbs like be, have, believe, etc. Look at the following sentences.

(a) When we were young, we used to believe there were ghosts in school. (Note: believe shows a state of mind.)

(b) Thirty years ago, more women used to be housewives than now. (Note: be here describes a situation.)

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.

Ans:

1. Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings.
2. Every evening we would take long walks on the beach.
3. Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars.
4. Till the 1980s, Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.
5. My uncle used to spend his holidays by the sea.
6. My uncle used to be fond of musical evenings.
7. My uncle would take long walks on the beach.

II. Noun Modifiers

To describe or give more information about a noun (or to modify a noun), we use adjectives or adjectival phrases. Look at these examples from the text:

(a) An eminently suitable spot

(c) Symmetrical pointed scales

(b) His wide, flat belly

(d) A ricocheting bullet

Nouns can also be used as modifiers

(a) The dinner party

(b) A designer dress

(c) The car keys

We can use more than one noun as modifier. Proper nouns can also be used:

(a) The Christmas dinner party

(b) A silk designer dress

(c) The Marut! car keys

In the examples below, there is an adjectival phrase in front of a noun modifier:

(a) The lovely Christmas party

(b) A trendy silk designer dress

(c) The frightfully expensive golden Maruti car keys

I. 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

(ii) The iron railings

(iii) The Tigris marshes

(iv) The London streets

(v) soft velvet fur

(vi) A four-footed soccer player

Ans:

(i) Noun

(ii) Noun

(iii) Proper Noun

(iv) Proper Noun

(v) Adjective plus noun

(vi) Adjective plus noun

ii. Given below are some nouns, and a set of modifiers (in the box). Combine the nouns and modifiers to make as many appropriate phrases as you can. (Hint: The nouns and modifiers are all from the texts in this book.)

Ans:

III. Read this sentence:

He shook himself, and I half expected a cloud of dust.

The author uses a cloud of dust to give a picture of a large quantity of dust. Phrases like this indicate a particular quantity of something that is not usually countable. For example: a bit of land, a drop of blood, a pinch of salt. a piece of paper.

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.

Ans:

Q2. Use a bit of/a piece of/a bunch of/a cloud of/a lump of with the italicised nouns in the following sentences. The first has been done for you as an example.

(i) My teacher gave me some advice. My teacher gave me a bit of advice.

(ii) Can you give me some clay, please. ________________________________

(iii) The information you gave was very useful. ________________________________

(iv) Because of these factories smoke hangs over the city. ___________________________

(v) Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks of fire. ___________________________

(vi) He gave me some flowers on my birthday. ________________________________

Ans:

(i) My teacher gave me a bit of advice.

(ii) Can you give me a lump of clay please?

(iii) The piece of information you gave was very useful.

(iv) Because of these factories, a cloud of smoke hangs over the city.

(v) Two pieces of stone rubbed together can produce sparks of fire.

(vi) He gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.

Speaking (Page 92)

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.

Ans: Activity to be done by yourself.

Writing (Page 92)

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.

Ans: Activity to be done by yourself.