Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Short Answer Questions

Q1: What is the famous saying associated with crocodiles and what does it mean?
Ans: The famous saying associated with crocodiles is that of ‘shedding crocodile tears’. It actually means tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere, and are said to be so named from a belief that crocodiles wept while devouring their prey.

Q2: What is the theme of the poem — ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?
Ans: The theme of the poem is to create humour. The poet creates humour by suggesting dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. You can identify most of the beasts while they are attacking you. Instead of shouting for help or trying to protect yourself, you are busy identifying the attacker—the idea creates humour.

Q3: Why does the poet say that a bear’s ‘hug’ may confuse a novice?
Ans:  It is the tendency of a bear to kill his victim by embracing him. He hugs the victim so tight that he usually dies. But a novice who does not know the ways of bears may misunderstand his hug. He may think that it is a loving embrace.

Q4: Can a novice distinguish among wild animals? How can hyenas be distinguished from crocodiles?
Ans:  It is very difficult for a novice to distinguish among wild animals. He can be easily confused. But it is very easy to distinguish between crocodiles and hyenas. Hyenas come with merry smiles. Crocodiles can be recognised by the tears in their eyes.

Q5: How can you identify the Asian lion and the Bengal Tiger?   [CBSE 2015]
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.

Q6: How can you distinguish between a tiger and a leopard?   [CBSE 2011]
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.

Q7: Describe a few characteristics of a chameleon.
Ans: A chameleon is a garden lizard and is an expert at camouflage. It changes its colour as per its surroundings. This ability of camouflage helps it in saving it from the hunters. A chameleon does not have – any ears or wings.

Q8: Do you know what a ‘bearhug’ is? It’s a friendly and strong hug-such as bears are thought to give, as they attack you! Again, hyenas are thought to laugh and crocodiles to weep (‘crocodile tears’) as they swallow their victims. Are there similar expressions and popular ideas about wild animals in your own language (s)?
Ans: A ‘bearhug’ is when the bear hugs his prey tightly with both hands and presses him to death. There are many similar ideas and expressions in every language. For example,
Crocodile tears means tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere.
“Hold your horses” means to slow down.
Butterflies in one’s stomach refers to nervous feelings.

Q9: How does the poet describe the bear?
Ans: The poet suggests that the bear can enter a human colony also. That is why you can encounter a bear even in your yard. As soon as the bear comes near a human being, he embraces him. This embrace appears loving. But in fact, it can be fatal.

Q10: “All knowledge is useful. But not all knowledge is worth the cost.” Elaborate on the quote in the context of the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”.
Ans: The above quote is very true in the case of the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’. In the poem, the poet tells the reader how to identify different beasts of the forest. However, in most of the descriptions, the reader is asked to get eaten by the ferocious beasts in order to identify it. However, no person in the world would be ready to learn or get such knowledge of identifying the beasts at the cost of their lives. But it definitely creates humour that keeps us engrossed throughout the poem along with the knowledge it imparts.

Long Answer Questions
Q11: Every animal is unique and has some special characteristics. What tricks does the poet adopt in distinguishing various wild animals?
Ans: Every animal is indeed unique. Every wild animal has its own special traits, colour, size and characteristics.
The Asian Lion is found in the jungles of the eastern region. It is a huge and mighty creature with a brownish hide. His roar is enough to terrorise a person to death. The Bengal Tiger is a ‘noble’ and impressive wild animal. He has a 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 for 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. One can find a chameleon sitting on a tree.

Q12: 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. Humour is infectious. Without it, it would become difficult to continue living. Today, the life of a 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 poet’s successful use of humour helps liven our minds and brings a smile on our faces. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used.

Q13: 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” is a humorous poem in which the poet tells how a person can recognise animals. The ‘humour’ used in the poem is suggestive and mild.
According to the poet, if an animal kills us while roaring, it is a Bengal Tiger. If an animal eating us has yellow skin and black spots on it, it is a Leopard. If an animal kills us by hugging tightly, it is a bear.
The poet further says that there is a difference between hyena and crocodile. While the former (hyena) has a smiling face, the crocodile has tears in its eyes. In the last stanza, she says that a chameleon is different from a lizard as the former has no wings or ears like the latter. Moreover if nothing is seen on a tree, there can be a chameleon as it can change its colours.

Q14:  ‘Appearances are deceptive.’ Cite examples from the poem, ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’, to corroborate this statement.
Ans: Encountering the Asian Lion will be by hearing its roar while dying. Meeting an animal with black stripes on a yellow ground he should ensure that he is not eaten, as he has encountered a Bengal Tiger. When a beast with skin peppered with spots leaps on the person that would be an encounter with a leopard. Roaring in pain is futile, because the animal will ‘lep and lep’. Similarly, a hug in the dark, would be a bear. When confused between a crocodile and a hyena, the former would emit a merry smile, while the latter would weep tears. Chameleons appear not like lizard-like creatures with no ears, but as nothing on a tree.

Q15: Imagine the poet meets Mijbil, the otter. Write a detailed account of the characteristics the poet could use for her poem, if she were to write about telling an otter.  
XYZ
USA
18 July XXXX
Dear Ms. Wells
I just read your poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” and enjoyed it thoroughly! ………………………. (continue)………………………….
Yours sincerely    (QB)
Ans:
 XYZ
USA
18 July XXXX
Dear Ms. Wells
 I just read your poem “How to Tell Wild Animals “and enjoyed it thoroughly! You have wonderfully described how to recognise the animals by their physical appearance and behavioural natural instincts. The poem is also rich in the use of poetic devices like irony and poetic licence. The poem has brief yet humorous descriptions and there is not even a single dull moment in it. But I would confess that I really didn’t like the mention of hyenas and crocodiles as it was quite rare and unfamiliar. The description of these animals gives a chill in one’s spinal code. But the description of the rest of the animals was quite hilarious.
 I would love it if you compose one such poem on elephants or snakes. Preferably elephants as I’m sure children will definitely like it as elephants are seen unharmed despite their dangerous outlook. I request you describe its virtue, how it is helpful to us. No doubt that all will be presented in a funny way as the poem ‘How to tell wild animals’.
Yours sincerely