Long Questions: The Friendly Mongoose - Class 6 PDF Download

Q1: Write a summary of the story “A Friendly Mongoose”.
Ans: "A friendly Mongoose" is about a farmer and his wife, who loved their newborn son very much. The farmer brought a baby mongoose that they will soon nurture with their son. In a few months, the mongoose grew into a lovely animal. One day, the farmer's wife decided to go to a market when her baby was asleep. She told her husband not to leave their son alone with the mongoose. He went to the fields to see his friends and did not return back for some time. His wife returned back with rations to find the mongoose with blood all over his paws and face. She thought that it had killed her son and in anger, she threw the basket on the mongoose and rushed inside to see what happened. Her son was sleeping in a peaceful manner and, on the floor, a snake was lying dead, filthy in blood. Immediately she ran back outside to find the mongoose dead.

Q2: Write the moral of the story “A Friendly Mongoose”.
Ans: The moral of the story “A friendly Mongoose” is that we should always “Look before we leap”. In the story, the farmer’s wife was always scared that the mongoose would harm the baby, and that is why when she returned from the market, she found the mongoose’s mouth and feet were covered in blood. To her thoughts, it was the situation that the mongoose killed their son. Although in fact, the mongoose had killed the snake that came to attack the son. On finding this she regrets her actions. Therefore, it is believed it is better to think and react than to react and think.

Q3: If you have to pet an animal, what would it be and why? Describe how you’d look after it.
Ans: If I had to pet an animal, I would choose a stray dog. I love dogs and when I see any dog on the road or visit a relative’s house, I play with them, give treats to them and get moments of happiness. I would name my pet Oreo and would look after him. I will play with him, give him a bath, take him for a walk and give him food on time and treats when he will be a good pet. I would also get a mini bed and blanket for him. And would ask my parents to take him to the veterinary doctor and get him vaccinated.

Q4: How did the farmer calm his wife when she was going to the market?
Ans: When his wife was going to the market after leaving their son to sleep, the wife stated her fear towards the mongoose and leaving their son lonely with it. To which her husband or the farmer stated that she does not need to fear as the mongoose is a very friendly animal and it grew with our son, he would not cause damage to him anyway, and in fact, would protect our child.

Q5: Did the wife feel guilty after she had killed the mongoose? Write the lines from the lesson where she expresses grief.
Ans: When she had killed the mongoose and noticed that the mongoose had actually killed a snake to rescue her baby. She broke down and began sobbing. The lines from the poem that convey her guilt are-
“Oh! You saved my child! You killed the snake! What have I done?” she cried touching the mongoose, which lay dead and still, unaware of her sobbing. The farmer’s wife, who had behaved rashly and hastily, watched long at the dead mongoose.