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Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Previous Year Questions 2025

Q1: Read the following extract and answer the questions:
"He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass"
(i) Identify and name any one figure of speech in the following extract:

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: Metaphor
The line “pads of velvet quiet” uses a metaphor. The poet compares the tiger’s soft paws to velvet to show that its movement is completely noiseless. This helps readers imagine the grace and quiet strength of the tiger even in captivity.t.

(ii) Fill in the blank with one word. The tiger's stalking on 'pads of velvet' suggests a movement that is ______.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: Silent
The correct answer is silent. This word highlights that the tiger moves quietly and gracefully inside the cage. It creates an image of calmness but also shows that the tiger’s natural roar and aggression are suppressed because of its captivity.

(iii) Based on the given lines from the poem, which words would best describe the feelings of the tiger?
(a) Calm and content
(b) Both subdued and angry
(c) Both frustrated and happy
(d) Both angry and famished 

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (B) Both subdued and angry
The phrase “quiet rage” shows that the tiger feels both angry and subdued at the same time. It is filled with suppressed anger, but it cannot express this rage freely. The tiger’s silence reflects its frustration at being locked up and its helplessness in captivity.

(iv) Select the option that applies the same rhyme scheme as the first four lines of the given extract.
(A) 
The people along the sand
All turn and look one way
They turn their back on the land 
They look at the sea all day
(B) 
Along the sand, the people 
All turn and look one way
They turn back on the sand
They look at the sea all day
(C) 
The people along the sand
Look one way and all turn
Their backs on the land
They look at the sea all day
(D) 
The people along the sand
They turn their back on the land
They look one way
At the sea all day. 

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (A)
Explanation:
Rhyme Scheme of Extract: The first four lines (“stripes,” “cage,” “quiet,” “rage”) follow an ABAB rhyme scheme (stripes/quiet, cage/rage).
(A): “Sand/land, way/day” follows ABAB.

Conclusion: Option (A) matches the ABAB rhyme scheme of the extract.


Q2: Why does the tiger in the zoo ignore the visitors?

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: The tiger ignores the visitors because it is frustrated and tired of its captivity. It does not roar or attack the bars of the cage but simply walks silently from one end to the other. This behavior shows its anger and helplessness, as it is unable to live like a free animal. Its quiet, indifferent attitude towards the visitors reflects its mental suffering and loss of interest in the outside world.


Q3: How does the poem show that the tiger had lost its natural instinct? 

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: The poem clearly shows that the tiger has lost its natural instincts due to being locked up in a cage. In the wild, a tiger would freely roam, hunt, and display its power, but here it only walks restlessly inside the limited space. It does not roar but expresses “quiet rage,” which means its anger is suppressed. The tiger does not attack the visitors or show territorial behavior; instead, it remains detached and defeated. All these actions reveal that captivity has taken away its natural hunting, roaring, and fighting instincts.


Q4: Draw a comparison between the tiger in the zoo and in the forest.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: The tiger in the zoo and the tiger in the forest are very different. In the zoo, the tiger is locked up in a small cage, and it spends its time restlessly walking from one end to the other. Its power and freedom are gone, and it expresses its anger silently. In contrast, the tiger in the forest is free and strong. It hides in the shadow of tall grass, attacks its prey suddenly, and roams proudly near the jungle’s waterholes. The tiger in the forest represents freedom, strength, and fearlessness, while the caged tiger represents helplessness and loss of dignity.


Q5: The tiger in the zoo is denied its natural habitat. Describe its behaviour and routine as a captive in the concrete cell.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: The captive tiger’s daily routine is monotonous and full of frustration. It walks silently in its cage, taking only a few steps again and again, which shows its restlessness. It does not react to the visitors and ignores them completely. At night, the tiger lies quietly and stares at the stars, which shows its sadness and longing for freedom. Its behavior reflects its anger at being imprisoned and its yearning to return to its natural home.


Q6: Explore the contrasting images of the tiger in 'A Tiger in the Zoo' and the tiger in 'How to Tell Wild Animals'.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: In A Tiger in the Zoo, the tiger is depicted as a caged, frustrated creature, pacing in “quiet rage,” stripped of its natural freedom. Conversely, in How to Tell Wild Animals, the tiger is portrayed as a fierce, wild predator, attacking with strength in its natural habitat. While the zoo tiger is subdued, symbolizing lost instincts, the wild tiger is vibrant and dangerous, embodying raw power. The contrast highlights captivity’s toll versus the tiger’s majestic, untamed nature.


Q7: The inherent instinct for freedom is a fundamental trait in all living creatures. Justify this statement with reference to 'Mijbil the Otter' and 'A Tiger in the Zoo'. 

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: In A Tiger in the Zoo, the tiger’s pacing and “quiet rage” reflect its yearning for freedom, stifled by captivity. In Mijbil the Otter, Mijbil’s playful, exploratory nature shows its need for a free environment. Both texts illustrate living creatures’ innate desire for freedom, suppressed by unnatural constraints, highlighting their struggle to express natural instincts.

Previous Year Questions 2024

Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:  [2024]

He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
 He should be lurking in the shadows,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water pole
Where plump deer pass.
 He should be snarling around houses.
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!

(i) State any one point of contrast between the tiger in the zoo and its natural habitat.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans.  He is confined in the zoo, whereas he experiences freedom in the jungle.

(ii) When the speaker suggests that the tiger should be “Snarling around houses at the jungle’s edge”, What does he insinuate about the tiger’s natural behaviour and habitat?

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans.  By nature, the tiger is fierce, roaring to frighten the villagers residing near the jungle's edge.

 (iii) The poet’s skilful use of imagery effectively depicts the confinement and frustration of the tiger. Elaborate in about 40 words.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans. The poet talks about the tiger in the zoo, locked in a small cage. It walks quietly in the tiny space and doesn’t roar. Its soft paws, like velvet, make no noise as it moves.

(iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘quiet rage’ in the given sentence from the extract?

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans. Suppressed angerClass 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Q2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: [2024]

He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage 

 (i) Explain the contrast created by the words, ‘stalks’ and ‘few steps of his cage’.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans. The word ‘stalks’ suggests walking with majesty, reflecting the tiger’s natural elegance and strength. In contrast, ‘the few steps of the cage’ highlight the tiger’s restricted movement and lack of freedom. 

 (ii) Which of the following best describes the tiger’s feelings in the context?

(A) anger (B) conflicted

(C) pessimism (D) apprehension

 (iii) Comment in about 40 words on the poet’s use of imagery in the above extract.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans. The poet describes the tiger’s bright stripes and its quiet movement in a small cage. Unable to roar or show its strength, the tiger walks silently on its soft, velvety paws, reflecting its sadness and helplessness in confinement.

 (iv) Which word in the stanza means the same as ‘clear and bright’?

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans. The word “vivid” in the stanza means ‘clear and bright’ and is used to describe the tiger’s stripes.

Previous Year Questions 2023

Q3: Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:    (2023)

He hears the last voice at night.
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
He stalks in his vivid stripes
A few steps of his cage. 

(i) Whose is the last voice heard by the tiger?
(a)
police jeep
(b) patrolling cars
(c) watchmen
(d) roar of lion

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (b)
The tiger hears the sound of patrolling cars at night, which is the last voice it hears before solitude takes over.

(ii) Complete the sentence appropriately
It is clear that 'Repetition' is the poetic device used for ’his brilliant eyes at the brilliant stars' because ___ (Clue: explain how repetition applies here)

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: because there is a repetition of word 'brilliant'.
The word "brilliant" is repeated to emphasize the contrast between the tiger’s vivid eyes and the distant stars.

(iii) The main contrasting ideas in this extract are
(a)
tiger and deer
(b) cruelty and sympathy
(c) confinement and freedom
(d) master and slave

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (c)
The extract contrasts the tiger's confinement within the cage with its yearning for freedom, symbolized by the stars.

(iv) The use of the word ‘stalks’ creates an image of
(a)
cowardice
(b) frustration
(c) lethargy
(d) purposefulness

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (b)

The word "stalks" suggests the tiger’s restless movement, indicating frustration due to its confinement.

(v) State whether the following statement is true or False
The poem uses ‘staring at the sky’ to symbolize the freedom ‘he’ yearns for.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: true
The act of staring at the stars symbolizes the tiger’s longing for freedom and a life beyond the bars of its cage.


Q4: Read the following extract given below and answer the questions that follow:     (2023)
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in the shadows,
Sliding through long grass Near the water hole Where plump deer pass.

(i) ‘Quiet rage’ refers to the tiger's ______.
(a)
helplessness
(b) has has not been able to hunt
(c) his prey has not come to the water hole
(d) he is not free

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (a)
"Quiet rage" indicates the tiger's frustration and helplessness due to its confinement, where it cannot express its anger openly.

(ii) He is lurking in shadows because____.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: he is waiting for his prey
The tiger is depicted as lurking in the shadows near a water hole, where it waits quietly for its prey, such as deer, to pass by.

(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately. It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for 'pads of velvet' because___ (clue - explain how metaphor applies here).

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: softness of the velvet is used to describe the softness of tiger’s feet.
The term "pads of velvet" is a metaphor, comparing the softness of the tiger's paws to velvet, emphasizing their quiet and gentle touch.

(iv) Find a word from the extract that means - to walk with measured, stiff or haughty strides:
(a) 
steps
(b) lurking
(c) pads
(d) stalk

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (d)
"Stalk" means to walk in a controlled and calculated manner, often indicating a sense of purpose or restraint, as the tiger does in its cage.

(v) State whether the following statement is True or False: The tiger is stealthily waiting for the deer to come to the water hole. 

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: True
The extract describes the tiger as lurking in the shadows near a water hole, implying it is waiting stealthily for prey, such as deer, to approach.

Previous Year Questions 2021

Q5: Read the following extract given below and answer the questions that follow:     (Term I, 2021-22)
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in the shadows,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
I. How does the tiger show his helplessness?
(a) Through his beautiful stripes
(b) Through his brief walk
(c) Through his controlled anger
(d) By walking quietly

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (c)
The phrase "quiet rage" reflects the tiger's controlled anger, showing his helplessness as he cannot express his full power due to confinement.

II. Study the following statements :
(i) Even in the zoo the tiger has retained his majesty.
(ii) He is walking softly in the cage as he is looking for his prey.
Choose the correct option :
(a) (i) is right and (ii) is wrong.
(b) (ii) is right and (i) is wrong.
(c) (i) and (ii) are both right.
(d) (i) and (ii) are both wrong.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (a)
Statement (i) is correct because the tiger maintains his majestic appearance even in captivity, while statement (ii) is incorrect as the tiger is not looking for prey in the zoo.

III. Looking at the caged tiger we :
(a) admire his majestic looks.
(b) get scared of him.
(c) feel sympathetic towards him.
(d) feel safe that he is caged.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (c)
Observing the tiger’s confinement evokes sympathy for his loss of freedom and natural habitat.

IV. The tiger in the zoo does not have to hunt for his food :
(a) so he feels happy.
(b) yet he is angry.
(c) so he feels secure.
(d) yet he feels lonely.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (b)
Despite not needing to hunt, the tiger feels anger and frustration due to his restricted life in the cage.

V. He likes the water hole as :
(a) the deer visits it
(b) there is tall grass around it
(c) it is a shady place
(d) he can hide behind the grass.

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: (a)
The tiger is drawn to the water hole as it attracts deer, his natural prey, allowing him to wait in ambush in the wild.

Previous Year Questions 2015

Q6: How does the tiger create terror among the villagers? (CBSE 2015)

Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the ZooView Answer  Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

Ans: The tiger terrorises the villagers by baring his big white fangs and revealing his sharp claws. He makes terrifying snarls while moving around the houses of the villagers that are situated at the edge of the forest. His mighty presence and roars scare the villagers.

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FAQs on Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions - A Tiger in the Zoo

1. What is the main theme of the poem "A Tiger in the Zoo"?
Ans. The main theme of the poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" revolves around the contrast between the wild nature of the tiger and its captivity in the zoo. It highlights the loss of freedom and the impact of confinement on the tiger's spirit, showcasing the inherent conflict between the animal's wild instincts and the constraints imposed by human civilization.
2. How does the poet describe the tiger's behavior in the zoo?
Ans. The poet describes the tiger's behavior in the zoo as one of restlessness and frustration. The tiger moves in a limited space, pacing back and forth, exhibiting signs of boredom and sadness. This behavior reflects its longing for the freedom of the wild, contrasting sharply with the majestic, powerful creature it is meant to be.
3. What literary devices are used in "A Tiger in the Zoo"?
Ans. The poem employs various literary devices, including imagery, symbolism, and personification. Imagery is used to vividly depict the tiger's surroundings and emotions. Symbolism is present in the tiger representing wildness and freedom, while personification allows the tiger's feelings and thoughts to resonate with the readers, making its plight more relatable.
4. What message does the poet convey about nature and captivity in "A Tiger in the Zoo"?
Ans. The poet conveys a powerful message about the consequences of captivity on wild animals. It underscores the importance of preserving nature and respecting the freedom of animals. The poem serves as a critique of zoos and highlights the unnatural conditions that restrict the natural behaviors of animals, urging readers to reflect on the ethical implications of keeping wild creatures confined.
5. How does the poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" reflect on human actions towards wildlife?
Ans. The poem reflects on human actions towards wildlife by portraying the tiger's plight as a result of human interference. It critiques the tendency to capture and confine wild animals for entertainment, emphasizing the moral responsibility humans have to respect and protect wildlife. The sense of loss and despair experienced by the tiger serves as a reminder of the consequences of human greed and the exploitation of nature.
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