CBSE Class 10 English How to Tell Wild Animals Important Questions Set 02

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. 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)?
Answer: A bearhug is when the bear clasps his prey tightly with both paws to press him to death. There are similar expressions in our language as in English, for example: ‘Hathi ke daant dikhane ke aur, khane ke aur’, ‘Kolhu ka bail’ and ‘Girgit ki tarah rang badalna’.

Question 2. Look at the line “A novice might nonplus”. How would you write this ‘correctly’? Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better in the poem?
Answer: The line ‘A novice might nonplus’ would be written correctly as ‘A novice might be nonplussed’. The poet’s line is better because ‘nonplus’ rhymes with ‘thus’ in the next line.

Question 3. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language(s)?
Answer: Yes, poets sometimes take liberties with language (poetic licence) to keep the rhyme or rhythm, for example ‘lep’ and ‘lept’ in this poem, ‘realio, trulio’ in ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ and ‘winda’ for ‘window’ in the same poem.

Question 4. Much of the humour in the poem arises from the way language is used, although the ideas are funny as well. If there are particular lines in the poem that you especially like, share these lines with the class, speaking briefly about what it is about the ideas or the language that you like or find funny.
Answer: The poet has written the poem with a good sense of humour arising both from ideas and language. The line that appears very humorous is ‘Just notice if he eats you’. The very idea of noticing the tiger at the time when he is about to eat you is very funny. The language in the line ‘He’ll only lep and lep again’ is also very humorous. The word ‘lep’, made from the word ‘leopard’, generates humour.

Question 5. How does the poet distinguish the hyena from the crocodile?
Answer: The poet tells us how to distinguish a hyena from a crocodile. A hyena is an animal that seems to laugh. The poet says that if a creature greets a person while smiling merrily, then that creature is a hyena. If a creature sheds tears while swallowing a person, then it is a crocodile.

Question 6. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger?
Answer: The poet suggests that if a large and tawny beast comes towards us, then it is an Asian lion. We can identify it when it roars at us while we are dying with fear. When, while roaming, we come across a wild beast that is yellow in colour with black stripes, it is the Bengal tiger. We can identify it when it eats us.

Question 7. Hyperbole is a literary device used when the poet exaggerates an image to make it comical. State two instances from the poem "How to Tell Wild Animals" where the literary device is used.
Answer: The poet has used hyperbole at many instances like “Just notice if he eats you” and "Who hugs you very, very hard”. The advice that noticing whether a tiger eats you or not will help you identify it as a Bengal Tiger is a humorous exaggeration. Also, the trait of the Asian Lion roaring at someone as they're dying is an exaggerated image.

Question 8. “All knowledge is useful. But not all knowledge is worth the cost.” Justify the quote in the context of the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”.
Answer: 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 them. However, no person in the world would be ready to learn or get such knowledge about identifying the beasts at the cost of their lives.

Question 9. What is the significance of a Bear hugging someone "very, very hard" in the poem?
Answer: The line about a bear hugging someone "very, very hard" in the poem is meant to show how strong and powerful bears are. It's a way of saying that if a bear grabs hold of you, it can be very dangerous because of its strength. The line adds a bit of humor to the poem while reminding us to be careful around wild animals.

Question 10. “If he roars at you as you’re dyin' you’ll know it is the Asian Lion…" Comment on the irony of the quote from the poem "How to Tell Wild Animals”.
Answer: According to the poet, the best way a person can identify an asian lion is by seeing whether the Lion roars at a person while he/she dies as the lion attacks him/her. The irony in this line is that no person would want to identify a beast like this, costing one's life.

Question 11. What genre does "How to Tell Wild Animals" belong to, and what evidence from the poem supports this classification?
Answer: The most appropriate genre for the poem "How to Tell Wild Animals" is humour or comedy. The poem uses funny descriptions and exaggerations to entertain readers. For instance, it humorously suggests identifying a Bengal tiger by noticing if it eats you. This comic style makes the poem enjoyable for readers.

Question 12. Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelled correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
Answer: The words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ are not spelled correctly. The poet has spelled them like this in order to maintain the rhythm of the poem. The correct spelling of the words, ‘lept’ is leapt and ‘lep’ is leap. Both words are used to describe the quick movements of the Leopard which adds to the playful and comical tone of the poem. The poet has intentionally spelled them incorrectly to create a sense of humour.

Question 13. What is the poet’s purpose in using behavioral cues like roaring, smiling, or weeping in the poem 'How to Tell Wild Animals'? (CBSE Practice Set - 2, 2023)
Answer: The purpose is to educate the reader humorously and playfully about identifying wild animals based on their behaviours. By associating specific behaviours with certain animals, the poet makes the information more memorable and engaging. The use of these cues adds an entertaining element to the educational content, making it accessible and enjoyable for readers and creating a memorable and lighthearted exploration of the animal kingdom.

Question 14. How can you identify an Asian Lion and a Bengal tiger? (CBSE 2015)
Answer: The poet advises that you can identify an Asian Lion when it roars at you, especially when you're in a dangerous situation. You can identify a Bengal Tiger if it has leapt on you. It silently kills its prey.

Question 15. Which creatures would it be most challenging to distinguish between? (CBSE 2011)
Answer: In the poem "How to Tell Wild Animals," it is implied that differentiating between a crocodile and a hyena might be difficult. The poem humorously mentions that Hyenas come with "merry smiles," while Crocodiles may "weep," making it tricky to distinguish them based on their facial expressions alone.

Question 16. Why does the poet use the terms ‘noble’ and ‘wild’ for the tiger? (CBSE 2020)
Answer: The poet has used the terms ‘noble’ and ‘wild’ for the tiger to bring humour and paradox to the poem. The term ‘noble’ is used as the tiger is a ‘royal’ animal of Bengal and also ironically as it won’t treat any of its prey humbly. It is truly a ‘wild’ animal.

Question 17. Why are the hyena and the crocodile so peculiar? (CBSE 2014)
Answer: Both the hyena and the crocodile show their natural instincts while devouring their prey. Hyenas laugh or smile while eating their prey, whereas crocodiles shed tears while swallowing their prey. The hyena’s laughter is famous as it resembles that of a man. It seems like a hyena is laughing, but it isn't. In the same way, crocodile tears are also famous, but in reality, it doesn’t cry out of emotion. Its tears are a part of the process of swallowing its prey.

Question 18. How does the use of humorous elements in the poem contribute to its genre?
Answer: The poem pretends to be a guide for identifying wild animals, but its rules are absurd: you know the tiger if it eats you and the lion if it roars as you die. Exaggeration, irony and playful misspellings like ‘lep’ and ‘dyin’’ make it a humorous poem rather than a serious one.

Question 19. How does the poet use vivid imagery and metaphorical language in How to tell wild the poem to describe each animal?
Answer: The poet gives vivid descriptions: the lion is a ‘large and tawny beast’, the tiger has ‘black stripes on a yellow ground’ and the leopard’s hide is ‘peppered’ with spots. Playful images like the bear’s ‘hug’, the hyena’s ‘merry smiles’ and the crocodile’s tears give each animal a distinct and humorous identity.

Question 20. How does the poem challenge the notion that identifying wild animals is a straightforward task?
Answer: The poem shows that identifying wild animals is not simple. The clues it gives work only when the animal attacks you, and some animals, like the chameleon, cannot be seen at all. So, identifying wild animals can be risky and confusing.

Question 21. What are the distinctive features of the Asian lion?
Answer: The Asian lion is described as a large and brownish-yellow beast. It roars loudly when it attacks its prey. The sound it makes is terrifying. It can make one die of fear. It is found in the forests in the eastern countries in Asia. That is why it is called the Asian Lion.

Question 22. How does the Bengal Tiger look? What is so distinct about him?
Answer: The Bengal Tiger roams freely in the jungle. It looks majestic and noble. The Bengal Tiger has black stripes on the yellow background of its body. When the tiger sees someone it tries to eat him. It attacks its prey very silently and grabs it with its shining and terrifying teeth.

Question 23. How does a leopard behave when it sees someone?
Answer: The poet says that if, while roaming around a forest, one comes across an animal with peppery black spots all over its body, it is none other than the leopard. As soon as it sees someone, it leaps on him at once. It keeps pouncing and attacking its prey and starts eating it.

Question 24. How does the poet describe the bear?
Answer: The poet says that if one is walking around one’s yard and gets a tight hug, he should immediately understand that he has been greeted by a bear. The hug is so tight that it can nearly kill the victim. Somebody may think that it is a loving caress, a hug. But actually it is a bear’s tight clasp which can squeeze its prey to death. And if the victim is still alive after the first hug, the bear will instantly give him a second one.

Question 25. How can one distinguish between a hyena and a crocodile?
Answer: The hyena and the crocodile are both famous for their distinctive features and behavioural traits, and these traits help in distinguishing them. A hyena’s laugh closely resembles a human laughing sound while a crocodile sheds tears. Both approach their victims and deceive them.

Question 26. Describe a chameleon as discussed in the poem.
Answer: A chameleon is a small garden lizard and its expertise is camouflage. It changes colour according to its surroundings. Its ability to camouflage helps it from falling prey to its predators. It does not have ears or wings. If you see nothing on a tree, there can still be a chameleon camouflaged in the tree’s colour.

Question 27. How does the poet create humour in the poem?
Answer: The poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ is essentially a humorous one. The poet describes different and dangerous ways to identify wild animals. Through her use of words and expressions the poet tries to distinguish one animal from another by stating their distinctive features and highlighting their quintessential qualities. The poem tells about various different features of wild animals.

Question 28. Why does the poet use the term ‘noble‘ and ‘wild‘ for the tiger? (How to Tell Wild Animals)
Answer: The poet calls the tiger ‘noble’ and ‘wild’ because it hunts only when it is hungry and not like leopard who kills for mere pleasure.

Question 29. What does a bear do when it attacks?
Answer: A bear catches hold of its victim and crushes it really hard. If the prey is still struggling then it gives another ‘hug’ to crush its prey. This description by the poet is based on the common phrase ‘a bear hug’.

Question 30. How can you distinguish a hyena from a crocodile as per the poem?
Answer: Hyenas are said to laugh merrily whereas the crocodile cries when he approaches us. This is a humorous identification for the hyena and the crocodile based on the common phrases—‘laughing hyenas’ and ‘crocodile tears’.

Question 31. How does the poet describe the chameleon?
Answer: The poet says that a true chameleon is like a small lizard. It has no ears or wings and if we can’t see it, it means a chameleon is there in its camouflage.

Question 32. How does the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ shows the insight of the poet into the wild life?
Answer: The Poet, Carolyn Wells, evidently has an in-depth knowledge of wild life. It is because of her knowledge of wild animals that she presents vivid images of these animals. She gives picturesque descriptions of their appearances and also indirectly shows their natural behaviour. The Asian Lion, the Bengal Tiger, a leopard and a bear are shown to be charging at their prey at a ferocious manner. The factual pictures of crocodiles, shedding tears and hyenas having a smiling face look real.

Question 33. How does the poet caution the reader regarding the danger of animals?
Answer: The poet indirectly cautions the readers against the dangers involved in going near wild animals. As most of the wild animals like lions, tigers, bears, crocodiles, hyenas and chameleons are all beasts of prey and are always on a look out for victims, it may be dangerous to go very near them

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. ‘Appearances are deceptive.’ Cite examples from the poem, ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’, to corroborate this statement.
Answer: Encountering the Asian Lion will be by hearing its roar while dying. Meeting an animal with black stripes on a yellow ground, one 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 hyena would emit a merry smile, while the crocodile would weep tears. Chameleons appear not as lizard-like creatures with no ears, but as nothing on a tree.

Question 2. How do you think the author wants readers to perceive the wild animals described in the poem? What clues from the poem support your interpretation?
Answer: The poem's author wants the readers to think of the wild animals as both absurdly exaggerated and dangerous. The author creates a clear picture of the behaviors of the Asian Lion, Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile, Hyena, and Chameleon through amusing and playful descriptions of these animals.
Clues from the poem, such as describing the bear's hug as "very, very hard" and the crocodile's tears as indicating its true nature, suggest a blend of caution and amusement in the author's intent. Lines like "He’ll only lep and lep again" when referring to the leopard's repeated leaping on its prey add a whimsical touch to the danger.

Question 3. Discuss the importance of being cautious and aware of wildlife when exploring nature with reference to the poem, 'How to Tell Wild Animals'.
Answer: In the poem "How to Tell Wild Animals," the poet employs humorous descriptions to teach us the importance of being cautious and aware of wildlife when exploring nature. While the poem playfully teaches how to recognise different animals, it also carefully reminds us of their untamed nature and potential dangers. By using exaggerated examples, like the Asiatic Lion roaring while someone is dying or the Leopard leaping again and again when its prey struggles, the poet highlights the unpredictable behaviour of wild creatures. This serves as a gentle warning for readers to maintain a safe distance and respect the natural habitats of these animals.

Question 4. ‘Appearances are deceptive.’ Cite examples from the poem, ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’, to corroborate this statement. (Delhi Gov. QB 2022)
Answer: In the poem, 'How to Tell Wild Animals', the poet gives us physical descriptions of the animals in the wild to better identify them. In the case of the chameleon, she says that if we do not see anything on the tree, there is probably a chameleon on it. By using such logic, she intends to highlight the ability of the chameleon to camouflage itself by changing the colour of its skin. She also means to say that appearances are deceptive because a chameleon would never look the same in two different situations. It would change colour depending on its surroundings.

Question 5. You have been asked to present an evaluation of the contrasting approach of the poets of the poems 'A Tiger in the Zoo' and 'How to Tell Wild Animals'. Write this presentation draft including your insights, in about 120 words. You may begin this way: In the poem 'A Tiger in the Zoo’ the animals are portrayed as ______
Answer: In the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ the animals are portrayed as majestic creatures that suffer in captivity. Leslie Norris uses a serious, sympathetic tone to show the tiger’s quiet rage and its longing for the jungle. The reader feels pity and is made to think about the rights of animals.
In ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’, Carolyn Wells takes a humorous approach. The animals are dangerous, but the poem jokes about identifying them only when they attack. Exaggeration and wordplay make it entertaining.
One poem appeals to our conscience and the other to our sense of humour. Yet both portray wild animals as powerful beings that belong in the wild and deserve our respect.

Question 6. Imagine yourself as an adventurous explorer who encounters various wild animals as described in the poem. If you were to write a diary entry about one particular animal, which one would you choose? Describe the scene in your diary and share your thoughts on the significance of this encounter in your journey through the jungles in the east.
Answer: 14 March 20XX, Tuesday 9 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today, deep in the jungles of the east, I came face to face with a Bengal Tiger. Its black stripes on a yellow coat glowed in the evening light. It stood still and stared at me, and I remembered the poem that said I would know the tiger only if it ate me! Luckily, my guide stayed calm, and after a few long seconds the tiger turned and walked silently into the grass.
This encounter taught me that the jungle belongs to these noble animals and we are only visitors. I felt both fear and respect. I will never forget those golden eyes.
Abc