CBSE Class 10 English How to Tell Wild Animals Assignment

How to Tell Wild Animals

INTRODUCTION—
The poem revolves around the dangerous ways to identify wild animals. The poet tries to distinguish one animal from the other in a humorous way. The poem is, thus, very educative and informative which tells us about various features of wild animals.

SUMMARY—
It is a humorous poem. The poet suggests some dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. The suggested ways create humour. He says if you ever visit the jungles in the east and you happen to encounter a lion, a tiger or a leopard, you’ll be able to identify them by the way they attack upon you. The idea of ‘Identifying while dying’ makes you laugh.
He also tells you to identify a bear from its friendly, hard bear-hug, a hyena from its laugh and a crocodile from its weeping while swallowing its victim. If you see nothing on the tree, then there is a chameleon as it has the quality to change its colour according to its surroundings.

Explanation of the Poem

1. If ever you should go by chance
To jungles in the east;
And if there should to you advance
A large and tawny beast.
If he roars at you as you’re dyin,
You’ll know it is the Asian Lion.

Explanation: The poet here says if by chance you happen to go to any forest in the east, you are likely to encounter a huge and terrible animal moving towards you. You will notice that a large beast roars loudly at you and you feel that you are going to die due to fear, then you will come to know that it is the Asian Lion.

2. Or if some time when roaming round
A noble wild beast greets you,
with black stripes on a yellow ground
just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal Tiger to discern.

Explanation: The poet says that it is very likely that while roaming in the forest, you are greeted by a wild beast. His majestic body is covered with black stripes on a yellow hide. The poet cautions if you notice this beast and if he eats you, then this simple rule will teach you that it is a ‘Bengal Tiger’.

3. If strolling forth, a beast you view,
Whose hide with spots is peppered,
As soon as he has leapt on you,
You’ll know it is the Leopard.
He will do no good to roar with pain,
He’ll only lep and lep again

Explanation: The poet here helps the readers to identify a Leopard. He says if you happen to walk in the forest, you might encounter a beast with spots on his skin. When this wild beast will jump at you, you will understand that it is a Leopard as he will keep jumping on you and will tear you apart. Moreover, it will be of no use then to shout or cry with pain because he will continue pouncing on you. So you should be careful. 

4. If when you’re walking round your yard
You meet a creature there,
Who hugs you very, very hard
Be sure it is a bear.
If you have any doubt, I guess
He will give you just one more caress.

Explanation: The poet says that while you are walking in your yard, you may encounter a creature there.When this creature hugs you very very tightly, then believe that it is a Bear. The poet further says that in case of any doubt, you will find that the Bear will embrace you once again till death.

5. Though to distinguish beasts of prey
A novice might nonplus,
The Crocodiles you always may
Tell from the Hyenas thus;
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.

Explanation: The poet, here, helps to differentiate the Crocodile from the Hyena. He says that a Hyena always laughs as it swallows its victim. A laughing Hyena’s voice resembles human’s laughing sound. A crocodile on the other hand, is said to shed tears while eating its prey.

6. The true Chameleon is small,
A lizard sort of thing;
He has not any ears at all,
And not a single wing.
If there is nothing on the tree,
This the Chameleon you see.

Explanation: The poet describes a chameleon in this stanza. He says a chameleon is a small garden lizard.It doesn’t have ears or wings. The poet, further, says if you are unable to see a thing on the tree, then chances are that a chameleon is sitting there.

Extract Based Questions 

Read the following extracts and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow :

1. If strolling forth, a beast you view, 
Whose hide with spots is peppered ?
As soon as he has leapt on you
You’ll know it is the leopard.
He will do no good to roar with pain,
He’ll only leap and leap again

Question. What is the hide peppered with ?
(i) stripes
(ii) lines
(iii) circles
(iv) spots
Answer.(iv) spots

Question. What does the leopard do ?
(i) jumps
(ii) runs
(iii) leaps
(iv) walks
Answer. (iii) leaps

Question. Which word in the stanza refers to ‘animal’ ?
(i) hide
(ii) beast
(iii) peppered
(iv) leapt
Answer.(ii) beast

Question. Give the rhyming word in the peppered.
(i) view
(ii) you
(iii) pain
(iv) leopard
Answer. (iv) leopard
 

2. Though to distinguish beasts of prey 
A novice might nonplus,
The Crocodiles you always may
Tell from the Hyenas thus;
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.

Question. Who would be confused to differentiate between the crocodile and hyena ?
(i) novice
(ii) peppered
(iii) tawny
(iv) beast
Answer.(i) novice

Question. The crocodiles in the forest are identified by their ........................... .
(i) colour
(ii) shape
(iii) tears
(iv) skin
Answer.(iii) tears

Question. Whose smile is delightful ?
(i) Lioness
(ii) Tigress
(iii) Hyena
(iv) Fox
Answer.(iii) Hyena

Question. Find out the word from the passage which means the same as ‘puzzled or confused’.
(i) nonplus
(ii) novice
(iii) caress
(iv) merry
Answer.(i) nonplus

3. Though to distinguish beasts of prey
A novice might nonplus,
The Crocodiles you always may
Tell from the Hyenas thus :
Hyenas come with merry smiles
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.

Question. How can a hyena be recognized ? By
(i) its colour
(ii) its appearance
(iii) it size
(iv) its smile
Answer.(iv) its smile

Question. Hyenas and crocodiles are ........................... in nature.
(i) somewhat different
(ii) same
(iii) somewhat same
(iv) different
Answer.(iv) different

Question. Who weeps according to the poet ?
(i) crocodile
(ii) alligator
(iii) tiger
(iv) lion
Answer.(i) crocodile

Question. What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza ?
(i) ababcc
(ii) aaabcc
(iii) ababbc
(iv) aabbcc
Answer.(i) ababcc

4. The true Chameleon is small, 
A lizard sort of thing;
He has not any ears at all,
And not a single wing.
If there is nothing on the tree,
This the Chameleon you see.

Question. With whom is chameleon compared with ?
(i) Frog
(ii) Lizard
(iii) Mongoose
(iv) Snake
Answer.(ii) lizard

Question. Which creature is focussed in this stanza ?
(i) lizard
(ii) mongoose
(iii) snake
(iv) chameleon
Answer.(iv) chameleon

Question. He has not any ....................... at all.
(i) tail
(ii) wings
(iii) eyes
(iv) ears
Answer.(iv) ears

Question. Which other reptile is spoken about ?
(i) lizard
(ii) frog
(iii) snake
(iv) crocodile
Answer.(i) lizard

Short Answer Type Questions 

Question. What is the brief summary of the poem ?
Answer. The poet tries to distinguish different animals in a humorous manner. He is also educating the reader by describing the various features of wild animals. He is introducing all the animals of East one by one in a very practical way.

Question. What features of a bear are described in the poem ?
Answer. The bear hugs tightly when he sees him. It clasps its prey tightly with both its forepaws and brings him to death.It again holds it tightly finally killing him.

Question. Name the different animals and birds found in the jungles of the east. 
Answer. The different animals are Bengal Tiger, Asian Lion, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile, Hyena, Chameleon and Lizard.There is no mention of any bird in the poem.

Question. How can you differentiate between a tiger and a leopard ?
Answer. A tiger has black stripes on its yellow coloured coat, but a leopard has spots on its body. A tiger kills its prey to satisfy its hunger, whereas a leopard can even kill for pleasure.

Long Answer Type Question 

Question. State in your own words the humour which lies in the poem.
Answer. The poet ‘Carolyn Wells’ creates humour by describing different wild animals. The poet explains the different characteristics of different animals in a very funny and interesting manner. The poet’s language refreshes the reader’s mood and makes him happy. Humour in the poem is the best medicine for every ailment in life. Humour increases our energy and decreases our pain. The poem suggests some dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. The suggested ways create humour. Thus, the poem is a vitalizer. The poem is thus very educative and informative which tells us about various features of all wild animals.