Textbook Solutions: Rikki-tikki and nag | New English Ferry: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets - Class 5 PDF Download

A. Write T for true and F for false for these sentences. 

1. Rikki-tikki wanted to kill Chuchundra. _______
Ans: F
Rikki-tikki did not want to kill Chuchundra; he encountered him during his nightly walk.

2. Nag and Nagaina were whispering in Teddy’s bedroom. _______
Ans: F
Nag and Nagaina were whispering outside Teddy's mother's bathroom, not in Teddy's bedroom.

3. Nagaina had laid eggs in the cabbage patch. _______
Ans: F
There is no mention of Nagaina laying eggs in the cabbage patch; she talks about eggs in the melon bed.

4. Nag was coiled around the bath. _______
Ans: F
Nag was coiled around the water jar, not the bath.

5. Rikki-tikki bit Nag’s head. _______
Ans: T

6. The big man shot Nag. _______
Ans: T

B. Read these sentences and answer the questions that follow. 

1. ‘But are you sure that there is anything to be gained by killing the people?'
a. Who said these words and to whom?
Ans: Nag said these words to Nagaina.
b. What does the hesitation of the speaker to kill people tell us about the speaker? 
Ans: The hesitation suggests that the speaker is considering the consequences and benefits of killing people, showing a degree of thoughtfulness or calculation.

2. 'And if he fights—O Rikki!’
a. Who said these words?
Ans: Nagaina said these words.
b. Who is ‘he’?
Ans: 'He' refers to Rikki-tikki-tavi.
c. What does the speaker mean by ‘O Rikki!’?
Ans: The speaker is expressing concern or anticipation about Rikki-tikki's potential fight against Nag.

C. Answer these questions. 

1. What did Rikki-tikki hear when he was in the garden with Chuchundra? 
Ans: Rikki-tikki heard the faint scratch-scratch of a snake's scales on brickwork in the garden with Chuchundra.

2. What instruction did Nagaina give Nag about lulling the big man? 
Ans: Nagaina instructed Nag to first bite the big man when killing people.

3. Why did Nagaina want the house to be empty? 
Ans: Nagaina wanted the house to be empty so that she and Nag could be the king and queen of the garden once their eggs in the melon bed hatched, and their children needed room and quiet.

4. How did Rikki-tikki attack Nag? 
Ans: Rikki-tikki attacked Nag by biting down on Nag's head and holding on while bracing his back against the water jar.

5. Why did Rikki-tikki feel dizzy when he was fighting Nag? 
Ans: Rikki-tikki felt dizzy when fighting Nag because the big man fired both barrels of a shotgun into Nag, creating a loud noise and shockwave.

D. Think and answer.

1. Why do you think Nag was trying to avoid killing Rikki-tikki? 
Ans: Nag was trying to avoid killing Rikki-tikki because he knew Rikki-tikki was a formidable opponent and might pose a threat to him.

2. Who was more cunning, Nag or Nagaina? Why? 
Ans: Nagaina appears more cunning as she strategizes about making the bungalow empty, ensuring room and quiet for her future offspring, and planning to hunt for Rikki-tikki together with Nag.

3. Do you think Rikki-tikki was brave? Give evidence from tire story to support your answer.
Ans: Yes, Rikki-tikki was brave. Evidence includes his determination to protect Teddy and his family, his calculated attack on Nag despite the risks, and his resilience during the fight.