Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Q1: ‘Appearances are deceptive.’ Cite examples from the poem, ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’, to corroborate this statement.

Ans: The poem "How to Tell Wild Animals" humorously supports the idea that "appearances are deceptive." Several examples from the poem show how outward appearances of animals can lead to unexpected or dangerous outcomes.For instance, the Asian Lion’s appearance is not what initially gives it away—it’s the sound of its roar that the person will hear while they are likely in great danger. Similarly, encountering a Bengal Tiger with black stripes on a yellow background might seem striking, but the danger lies in being eaten. The Leopard, with its spotted skin, is deceptive in that roaring in pain won’t help when it attacks, as it will continue to "lep and lep" without mercy.The bear, which might offer a seemingly harmless hug, actually poses a deadly threat. Even the hyena and crocodile are deceptive in their appearances—the hyena "smiles" while the crocodile "weeps," adding to the confusion. Lastly, the chameleon, often mistaken for nothing, blends in so well with its surroundings that it appears invisible on a tree, further showing how appearances can deceive.

Q2: Every animal is unique and has some special characteristics. What tricks does the poet adopt in distinguishing various wild animals?

Ans: No doubt, every animal is unique. Every wild animal has his own special trait, colour, size and characteristics. The Asian Lion is found in the jungles of the eastern regions. It is a huge and mighty creature with brownish hide. His roar is enough to terrorise a person to death. The Bengal Tiger is a ‘noble’ and impressive wild animals. He has yellowish hide and black stripes all over it. The Leopard has dark spots all over his body. He is very agile. The moment he sees its prey, he pounces upon it without showing any mercy.The bear is known by his strong and tight hug. It becomes rather difficult for a novice to distinguish among wild animals. However, hyenas and crocodiles can be easily recognised. Hyenas come smiling merrily while crocodiles appear to be weeping. The chameleon is a small creature like a lizard. He has no ears and doesn’t have even a single wing. You can find him sitting on a tree.

Q3: Carolyn Wells takes liberties with language and employs humour to describe the wild animals. Give some examples of humorous descriptions in the poem.

Ans: The poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells is filled with humorous descriptions of animals, using playful language to explain how to recognize them. The humor in the poem is light and amusing.For instance, the poet humorously suggests that if an animal kills you while roaring, it must be a Bengal Tiger. If an animal with yellow skin and black spots eats you, then it’s a Leopard. If an animal hugs you tightly enough to kill you, it’s a bear.The poet adds more humor by distinguishing a hyena from a crocodile, saying that while the hyena smiles, the crocodile appears to be crying. Finally, she jokes about the chameleon, noting that if you see nothing on a tree, it could be a chameleon, as they blend into their surroundings by changing color. This playful description adds a fun twist to the way animals are recognized.

Q4: The poet has successfully used humour to be able to ‘tell’ or identify ‘Wild Animals’. How do you think we need lots of it in our daily life?

Ans: Humour is the fuel of life. Without it, it would become difficult to continue living. Today, the life of the common man is typically mired in stress, tension, problems and sadness. It is amazing how the smallest problems may take on epic proportions for a common person. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to have a little humour in life. It gives us the much-needed respite from our monotonous routine and helps us face life more positively. Thus, the poetess’ successful use of humour helps living our minds and brings a smile on our faces.