Important Questions: A Tiger in The House | English An Alien Hand Class 7 PDF Download

Q1: Why did Grandfather name the tiger-cub "Timothy"?
Ans: Grandmother named the tiger-cub Timothy after Grandfather brought him home from the Terai jungle near Dehra.

Q2: Describe Timothy's diet as he grew up. Why did his diet change over time?
Ans: Timothy's diet started with milk but changed to raw mutton and cod-liver oil, and later to a more tempting diet of pigeons and rabbits. The change was due to the milk being too rich for him.

Q3: Who were Timothy's two companions, and how did he interact with them?
Ans: Timothy's companions were Toto, the monkey, and a small mongrel puppy. Initially, Timothy was afraid of the puppy but later allowed it to crawl on his back.

Q4: Explain Timothy's behavior when taken for walks. Why did people give them a wide berth?
Ans: Timothy, when taken for walks, would pull hard on his chain, making it difficult to keep up. People gave them a wide berth because of Timothy's size, resembling a full-grown retriever.

Q5: How did Timothy exhibit clean habits similar to a cat?
Ans: Timothy would scrub his face with his paws like a cat, demonstrating clean habits.

Q6: Why did Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to a zoo?
Ans: Timothy grew less friendly and showed signs of stalking other animals, including pets and poultry. Grandfather decided it was time to transfer him to a zoo for safety.

Q7: Describe the reunion between Grandfather and Timothy at the zoo. What surprising revelation did the zookeeper make?
Ans: Grandfather stroked and interacted with Timothy, thinking it was the same tiger he had gifted to the zoo. The surprising revelation was that Timothy had died two months ago, and the tiger in front of him was a recently trapped and dangerous tiger.

Q8: What was Timothy's reaction when Grandfather interacted with him at the zoo?
Ans: Timothy licked Grandfather's hands and behaved affectionately, despite a nearby leopard snarling at him.

Q9: Why did Grandfather suggest transferring Timothy to another cage away from the leopard?
Ans: The leopard frightened Timothy, causing him distress. Grandfather suggested moving him to another cage to alleviate the fear.

Q10: How did Grandfather react when he learned that Timothy had died two months ago?
Ans: Grandfather was shocked and speechless upon learning of Timothy's death. He withdrew his hand from the cage, realizing he had been interacting with a different, dangerous tiger.

Q11: Explain Timothy's behavior towards Grandfather before and after the revelation of his death.
Ans: Initially, Timothy behaved affectionately, licking Grandfather's hands. After the revelation, Grandfather withdrew, realizing the tiger was not Timothy.

Q12: Why did Grandfather give the keeper a scornful look before leaving the zoo?
Ans: Grandfather gave the keeper a scornful look because he felt the keeper should have corrected him earlier about Timothy's death and the identity of the current tiger.

Q13: What emotions do you think Grandfather might have felt during and after the encounter with the tiger at the zoo?
Ans: Possible emotions include shock, disbelief, confusion, and perhaps a mix of nostalgia and sadness for the loss of the original Timothy.

Q14: How did Timothy's behavior change as he grew older, leading to the decision to transfer him to the zoo?
Ans: Timothy grew less friendly, started stalking other animals, and showed signs of aggression, especially towards Grandfather's cook, Mahmoud, prompting the decision to transfer him to the zoo.

Q15: What might be the symbolic significance of Timothy's behavior and identity mix-up in the story?
Ans: The mix-up in identity and Timothy's changed behavior could symbolize the fleeting nature of relationships and the unpredictable nature of wild animals. It may also highlight the theme of the human tendency to anthropomorphize animals, projecting human qualities onto them.