CBSE Class 10 English Animals Worksheet

Question. The poet refers ‘complaint’ to____in the context.
(a) whine
(b) sweat
(c) dissatisfied
(d) placid
Answer. B

Question. In the poem Animals what is the attitude the poet indicates of the animals towards their sins.
(a) They do not mourn
(b) They feel sad
(c) They keep calm
(d) They repent
Answer. A

Question. What is the attitude of animals towards their sins?
(a) Calm and self-confident
(b) Confused and stressful
(c) Sad and regretful
(d) They do not care
Answer. A

Question. Why do humans lie awake in the dark?
(a) They pray to God.
(b) They do not feel sleepy.
(c) They weep for their sins.
(d) They feel lonely.
Answer. C

Question. What is the attitude of the animals toward their sins?
(a) They do not weep.
(b) They feel sad.
(c) They keep calm.
(d) None of these
Answer. A

Question. What do humans do that animal don’t?
(a) Greed
(b) Jealous
(c) Restless
(d) All of these
Answer. D

Question. The poet prefers animals to humans because__________.
(a) humans are selfish and animals are less selfish.
(b) humans are always fighting and animals fight less.
(c) humans are greedy and never satisfied while animals are self-reliant.
(d) humans and animals are self-reliant.
Answer. C

Question. Identify one negative attitude that humans have and animals don’t that keep them happy.
(a) happiness
(b) greatness
(c) dissatisfied
(d) satisfaction
Answer. C

Question. In the poem Animals, which word indicates ‘the desire to own things has been called madness’ by the poet.
(a) Dissatisfied
(b) Placid
(c) Mania
(d) Contained
Answer. C

Question. In the poem Animals, what does ‘Not one is dissatisfied, indicate?
(a) Suppression
(b) Aggression
(c) Satisfaction
(d) Opposition
Answer. C

Question. What are the qualities that makes the poet opt for animals over humans?
(a) They whine about their condition.
(b) They are satisfied and happy.
(c) They fight over wealth.
(d) They are never happy.
Answer. B

Question. Whom does the phrase that lived thousand years ago refer to in the poem Animals?
(a) Primitive Men
(b) Human Ancestors
(c) Extinct Animals
(d) Hunter Gatherers
Answer. B

Question. What is the attitude of humans about those who lived thousands of years ago?
(a) They kneel
(b) They stand
(c) They fly
(d) None of these
Answer. A

Question. According to the poem, Animals, the animals are never____.
(a) unhappy
(b) overconfident
(c) independent
(d) immoral
Answer. A

Question. “They bring me tokens of myself" - What does this line mean?
(a) Animals show qualities of love and affection of to the poet.
(b) Animals show human love and affection to other animals.
(c) Animals reflect human qualities as the poet possess.
(d) Humans reflect animal qualities.
Answer. C

Question. What does the word ‘tokens' mean in the poem Animals?
(a) Coupons
(b) Material
(c) Human virtues
(d) Souvenir
Answer. C

Question. What is the difference in the possession of the animals and that of the humans according to the poem Animals?
(a) Animals possess human virtues, whereas humans are dropping them.
(b) Humans possess animal qualities, whereas, animals run after food.
(c) Animals do not possess any quality, whereas humans possess all the moral virtues.
(d) There is hardly any difference between the possession of animals and humAnswer.
Answer. A

Question. Which word in the poem is the antonym of conceal?
(a) Evince
(b) Demented
(c) Sins
(d) Placid
Answer. A

Question. Name the literary device used in “They bring me tokens of myself”.
(a) Anaphora
(b) Assonance
(c) Metaphor
(d) Alliteration
Answer. C

Question. The animals evidently show that the tokens were:
(a) near the others
(b) away from them
(c) in their possession
(d) in the pockets
Answer. C

Question. They evince them is what the poet says in the poem Animals, the synonym of evince here is:
(a) discern
(b) distract
(c) demonstrate
(d) deteriorate
Answer. C

Question. In the poem Animals ‘tokens’ indicate:
(a) virtues
(b) difficulty
(c) morals
(d) contentment
Answer. A

Question. I wonder where they get those tokens. Identify the poem and “they" in this line.
(a) The poem is Animals, “they” refers to the humAnswer.
(b) The poem is The Tale of Custard the Dragon, “they" refers to Belinda's pet animals.
(c) The poem is Animals, “they" refers to the animals.
(d) The poem is Animals, “they" refers to both humans and animals.
Answer. C

Question. Did I pass that way ____ and negligently drop them?”
Fill in the blank with the correct option as given in the poem.
(a) huge times ago
(b) once upon a time
(c) long time ago
(d) many years ago
Answer. A

Question. What qualities have the humans given up?
(a) Innocence
(b) Kindness
(c) Truthfulness
(d) All of these
Answer. D

Question. identify the word in the poem that means the same as carelessly?
(a) Placid
(b) Demented
(c) Negligently
(d) Evince
Answer. C

Question. How can you say that the poet loves animals?
(a) He hates humans, therefore loves animals.
(b) He stands and looks at the animals for long.
(c) He is an animal lover.
(d) Animals love poet the same way as he loves them.
Answer. B

Question. From which work of the poet is the poem Animals taken from?
(a) ‘Song of Myself’ in Leaves of Grass.
(b) ‘Going Somewhere’ in Leaves of Grass.
(c) ‘A Farm Picture’ in Leaves of Grass.
(d) ‘A Song of Joy’ in Leaves of Grass.
Answer. A

Question. What type of poem is Animals?
(a) Dramatic Monologue
(b) Free Verse
(c) Ballad
(d) Sonnet
Answer. B

Question. Walt Whitman is a/an ___ author.
(a) Danish
(b) Irish
(c) American
(d) British
Answer. C

Question. Identify the option that aptly describes the animals.
(a) Envious and placid
(b) Placid and jealous
(c) Calm and undisturbed
(d) Never satisfied
Answer. C

Question. Human’s behaviour as compared with the animals makes the poet _____________.
(a) irritated
(b) happy
(c) elevated
(d) proud
Answer. A

Question. In the poem Animals the poet praises the animals for possessing______that humans lack.
(a) interest in material things
(b) qualities
(c) dominance
(d) worldly things
Answer. B

Question. The poet in the poem Animals desires to compare humans with animals highlight the ______of their nature.
(a) strength
(b) shortcomings
(c) advantages
(d) upcoming
Answer. B

Question. Identify the option that aptly does not describe human quality.
(a) Greedy
(b) Innocent
(c) Whine
(d) Sinful
Answer. B  

I. I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
So placid and self-contain’d ,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition

Question. What does the poet mean by referring the line “I think I could turn and live with animals” ?
(a) The poet wants to change into an animal and live with them.
(b) The poet doesn't want to live with the humans but animals.
(c) The poet does not want to turn away from humans and live with animals.
(d) The poet wants to turn to the side of the animals and live with them in the animal world.
Answer. B

Question. Why does the poet feel the animals are better than humans?
1. Because animals are always self-satisfied and treat each other equally.
2. Because animals do not have lust of owning things.
3. Because the poet hates the human world.
4. Because humans neglect their values and virtues.
(a) (1) and (2)
(b) (3) and (4)
(c) (1), (2), (4)
(d) (1), (2), (3), (4)
Answer. C

Question. Why do you think has the poet used the word ‘long’ twice in the above extract?
(a) To emphasise the word long.
(b) To rhyme the word.
(c) To signify the duration of time.
(d) To use it as a poetic device.
Answer. C

Question. The phrase "sweat and whine" means____. Choose the most appropriate option.
(a) to sweat and cry
(b) to feel frustrated and helpless
(c) to cry and complain
(d) to feel uneasy and therefore cry
Answer. C

Question. The animals do not weep for their ___.
(a) failures
(b) sins
(c) condition
(d) ancestors
Answer. C

II. “They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.”

Question. Why do you think they are always happy?
(a) Because they do not have the desire to possess worldly things.
(b) Because they are insane.
(c) Because they do not have emotions.
(d) Because they cannot weep.
Answer. A

Question. What does “discussing their duty to God” mean in this context?
(a) To show off the duties to God.
(b) Meaningless rituals.
(c) To ask God to fulfil their desires in return of their duties.
(d) To serve God honestly
Answer. C

Question. Do animals discuss their duty to God? Why? Choose the correct option:
1. No, because they live a simple and peaceful life.
2. No, because animals do not have human gods.
3. No, because they live with equality, without worrying.
4. No, because they never commit a sin.
(a) (1), (3), (4)
(b) (2) only
(c) (1) and (3)
(d) (2) and (4)
Answer. A

Question. For whom does ‘they’ refer to?
(a) Humans
(b) Animals
(c) Children
(d) Humans and animals
Answer. B

Question. What does the above extract tell about animals nature?
(a) They are rational
(b) They are more intelligent
(c) They are self satisfied
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer. D

 

III. Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with
the mania of owning things
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that
lived thousands of years ago.

Question. What things do humans own?
(a) Materialistic things
(b) Moral virtues
(c) Car
(d) Money
Answer. A

Question. What do mania of owning things indicate ?
(a) Maddening desire of possessing materialistic things.
(b) Maddening desire of collecting things.
(c) Excessive desire of giving things.
(d) Lust.
Answer. A

Question. Which among the following is the antonym of the word demented?
(a) Insane
(b) Balanced
(c) Crazy
(d) Maniac
Answer. B

Question. What according to you should humans possess?
(a) Materialistic things
(b) Worldly possessions
(c) Equality
(d) Honesty
Answer. C

Question. What does the poet laments for?
(a) Loss of human values.
(b) Negligently dropping of human values.
(c) Degeneration of the society.
(d) Non-cooperation with the animal world.
Answer. B

 

IV. Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince them plainly in their possession

Question. What is the attitude of the animals towards their sins?
(a) Confused and peaceful
(b) Calm, peaceful and self confident
(c) Confused and sad
(d) Complaining
Answer. B

Question. What relations is the poet talking about?
(a) The animals show the poet their relation with him.
(b) The animals show the human virtues to the poet and he could relate to them.
(c) The animals show their relation with other animals to the poet.
(d) The animals show how well they are related to the poet.
Answer. B

Question. “So they show their relations to me and I accept them".
What does accepting the relations mean here?
1. It means that the poet agrees that animals have all the noble virtues that should be present in humAnswer.
2. It means that the poet has accepted that he and the animals have similar values.
3. It means that the poet has accepted the animal and human relation.
4. It means that the poet has accepted that animals are more rational than humAnswer.
(a) (1) and (2)
(b) (1) only
(c) (2) and (3)
(d) (4) only
Answer. A

Question. For whom does the phrase ‘not one’ refer to in the extract?
(a) Animals
(b) Human beings
(c) Animals and Human beings
(d) Nobody
Answer. A

Question. What is the tone and nature of the poem?
(a) Tone is critical and the nature is satirical.
(b) Tone is critical and the nature is didactic.
(c) Tone is soft and the nature is love.
(d) Tone is critical, nature is religious.
Answer. B

 

V. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:

Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince
them plainly in their possession
I wonder where they get those tokens,
Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop them?

Question. The poet says, “They bring me tokens of myself...” What does tokens mean here?
(a) Symbols
(a) Souvenir
(a) Values
(a) Gifts
Answer. C

Question. By the line, Not one is respectable or unhappy, the poet means ____
(a) all of them are equal, hence all are happy.
(b) they are always disrespectful and insulting.
(c) they lack good values.
(d) unlike humans, they are always happy.
Answer. C

Question. What does the poet negligently drops?
(a) Truthfulness
(b) Equality
(c) Self Confidence
(d) All of these
Answer. D

Question. Which word in the above extract means ‘reveal’?
(a) Wonder
(b) Tokens
(c) Evince
(d) Possession
Answer. C

Question. What does the poem convey according to the extract?
1. The poet is an animal lover.
2. Humans are disrespectful and complicated.
3. The poem shows a contrast between animals and humAnswer.
4. Animals are wiser and happier than humAnswer.
(a) (1) and (2)
(b) (2) only
(c) (3) and (4)
(d) (3) only
Answer. C

 

Question. Notice the use of the word ‘turn’ in the first line, “I think I could turn and live with animals…”. What is the poet turning from?
Answer. The poet wants to turn away from humAnswer. He wishes to live with the animals and nature. It may also be a reference to humans’ evolution from animals.

Question. Mention three things that humans do and animals don’t.
Answer. Animals don’t sweat and whine about their condition, they do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins and they do not discuss their duty to God.

Question. Which qualities of animals has the poet lost and now wants to regain? Answer with reference to the poem,‘Animals‘
Answer. The poet wants to regain the qualities of animals as in, animals are natural and do not adapt to material goods like human beings do. This natural aspect of animals has helped them maintain their values. Humans, in order to possess more and more, have forgotten their kindness and innocence. Animals do not complain about their situation, they are considered to be happier than humAnswer. Animals live in natural surroundings, they accept their natural lives. Humans, on the other hand, have never accepted nature, i.e.,they complain about it and try to change it, leading to an unhappy life. Animals are free from any possession and are also free from sins, worries and complaints. The poet desires to imbibe these selfless and natural qualities of animals.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Does Whitman believe that animals and humans are essentially similar?
Provide one reason to support your opinion.
Answer. According to the poet, animals and humans are not at all similar. He finds that human lacks many virtues that animals have. The animals are calm and contented whereas the men are not.

Question. How would you evaluate the poet’s opinion on religion?
Answer. The poet says that the humans do not have a clear conscience and weep over their sins throughout the night. Their sins and misdeeds don’t allow them to enjoy sound sleep. They simply pretend to be religious.

Question. A misanthrope is a person who dislikes humankind. Do you think the poet is a misanthrope? Provide a rationale to support your response.
Answer. Walt Whitman perfectly suits to be a misanthrope because he loves animals and feels that human are losing that essence of good values in the rapid process of civilization. He hates them and worries for them.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Whitman’s ode to animals is merely a yearning for a simpler life. Do you agree? Justify your answer.
Answer. There was a time when both humans and animals possessed noble virtues of love, peace, contentment and simplicity. With passage of time, humans gave up all such token of virtues. The road of noble virtues is still followed by animals. They remind the poet of those qualities and he yearns of a simpler life.

Question. The poet has an exaggerated and idealized perception of animal life. Do you agree? Why/Why not?
Answer. I don’t think that the poet has exaggerated and idealized the perception of animal life because all the points mentioned by him in the poem are true about the animals. He has not fabricated any of it. For example: The animals never sweat and whine about their condition. That is so true and real.

Question. In the debate between NATURE and NURTURE, on which side might you find the poet? Support your stance with evidence.
Answer. According to me, the poet might be found on the side of NATURE. Because he believed that initially, both animals and humans possessed noble qualities. These virtues were natural to them. But later, humans lacked the qualities of being respectable, happy contented and peace-loving which is still reflected in animals.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Your school is planning an event titled ‘Back to Nature’ for students, and you are part of the student organising committee.
Your teacher chooses ‘Animals’ by Walt Whitman as the underlying theme and inspiration for the event and asks you to plan two activities that reflect the essence of the poem.
Write your ideas and thoughts in two separate paragraphs, to present to your teacher. Justify your choice of activities with reference to the poem.
You may begin like this:
Back to Nature Activities
Inspired by -Animals by wait Whitman
Activity 1 :
Activity 2 :
Answer. Back to Nature Activities
Inspired by-Animals by Walt Whitman
Activity 1:
It has been a year now, when the whole humanity is in a threat of the pandemic Covid-19. A curious history has been created- one that is centered upon accounts of the renewal and healing of nature. Yes, Nature is healing. I am using nature here broadly to include the ‘return’ of nonhuman animals and birds as well as the cleaning of air and the reduction of pollution different species of animals are recorded to spaces other wise colonized or polluted by humans. When these innocent animals can come back then why can’t we humans do so. We have led astray and followed the wrong path of life. We will have to change sides and come back to nature like these animals.
Activity 2:
While on morning walk, you spotted an Australian parrot in the park. You were surprised to see that it easily befriended the group of Indian parrots and was enjoying. Make a diary entry expressing your feeling on the easy going behavior of animals.
Animals bring love, sympathy, contentment, honesty and innocence. These was a time when both animals and birds possessed these virtues. But then humans degraded themselves. While animals still continue leading to those noble qualities, humans follow dissatisfaction, unrest, the burden of Sins and misdeeds, greed over ambition and arrogance.

Question. How can you relate Baloo’s words — “They’ll ruin him. They’ll make a man out of him!”— to the poem ‘Animals’ by Walt Whitman?

Answer. Baloo’s word reflect the sheer dislike and hatred for humans as not only Baloo but also many other animals in the jungle had very bitter experiences with humans. The poem ‘ Animals’ by Walt Whitman too revolves around the theme of loss of humanity among humans. According to the poet, animals are better than humans. Humans commit sins, animals don’t, animals don’t care about worldly things while humans do, animals do not discriminate while humans do. Animals never discuss their duties to God while humans do. So the poet desires that humans should adopt the qualities of animals to become better humans. In fact, he wishes to live with animals and experience a life where no one complains. He doesn’t admire how good animals are, but compare humans with them in order to focus on the flaws of their natures.

Question. Imagine that Walt Whitman and Nelson Mandela are invited to engage in a discussion on the topic - ‘Man’s Journey - Vices, Virtues and Vision’. Based on your reading of ‘Animals’ and ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’, present the similarities and differences in their viewpoints and vision of human beings in the form of a conversation.
                                                                                     OR
Nelson Mandela is more hopeful about human kind than Walt Whitman. Do you agree? Support your opinion based on your reading of ‘Animals’ and ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’.
Answer. Nelson Mandela in ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ talked about value of freedom is better known to that human being who has not enjoyed it till he gets it. Think about a bird or animals which are caged, as it has the habit of living with full freedom. But in the cage, it is not free and its condition very pitiable. Similarly, life becomes hell if we are deprived of freedom. If a man is free to do his duties he can produce better results. He believed that oppressed and the oppressor both were equally to be blamed.
Similarily, Walt Whitman in ‘Animals’ says that humans being are not free. They are bound by many lice greed, dissatisfaction, over ambition and arrogance. Animals are far better than humans. Animals still continue walking on the path of nobility. Whitman compare humans with animals and keeps animals on a higher rank. They are contented, self sufficient, simple and free from confusions and burden of sins and misdeeds. So the poet wants to change sides and wants to be a part of the animals world.