CBSE Class 10 English A Tiger in the Zoo Worksheet

A TIGER IN THE ZOO – LESLIE NORRIS

GIST – Poem at a glance

- The poet has depicted the tiger both in the cage and in its natural habitat.
- The poet conveys that the tiger is best suited to roam the wild rather than be caged in a zoo
- Animals are more majestic when seen in their natural habitat than enclosed in an artificial setting.
- The tiger is aware of the sights and sounds around the him
- The tiger’s body and strength are locked up behind the bars of the cage.
- He strides proudly inside the cage suppressing his anger, while ignoring the visitors

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

1. He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass

Question. The tiger is passing through ............................ .
(i) grass
(ii) trees
(iii) mountains
(iv) river
Answer.(i) grass

Question. For whom is tiger waiting near the water hole ?
(i) Fat elephant
(ii) Fat hare
(iii) Fat deer
(iv) Fat ox
Answer.(iii) fat deer

Question. Find the word from the passage which means same as ‘fat’.
(i) lurking
(ii) sliding
(iii) rage
(iv) plump
Answer.(iv) plump

Question. Who is ‘he’ here ?
(i) The Lion
(ii) The Tiger
(iii) The Camel
(iv) The Giraffe
Answer.(ii) The Tiger

2. He should be snarling around houses 
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village !

Question. Who is ‘he’ in the above extract ?
(i) Tiger
(ii) Lion
(iii) Hippopotamus
(iv) Dragon
Answer.(i) Tiger

Question. ‘White fangs’ shows the ................. of the animal.
(i) white pointed teeth
(ii) white stripes
(iii) white tail
(iv) white legs
Answer.(i) white pointed teeth

Question. Find the word from the passage which means same as “showing the teeth and making fearful sound”.
(i) claws
(ii) fangs
(iii) terrorising
(iv) snarling
Answer.(iv) snarling

Question. Where is the tiger snarling ?
(i) zoo corner
(ii) jungle’s edge
(iii) mountains
(iv) on the tree
Answer.(ii) jungle’s edge

3. He hears the last voice at night, 
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.

Question. Who hears the last voice at night ?
(i) Tiger
(ii) Horse
(iii) Wolf
(iv) Rabbit
Answer.(i) Tiger

Question. The last voice that he hears is that of ......................
(i) trucks
(ii) aeroplanes
(iii) patrolling cars
(iv) trains
Answer.(iii) patrolling cars

Question. At what does he stared with his brilliant eyes ?
(i) sky
(ii) sun
(iii) moon
(iv) stars
Answer.(iv) stars

Question. Which word means the same as ‘sparkling’ in the passage ?
(i) patrolling
(ii) stares
(iii) brilliant
(iv) concrete
Answer.(iii) brilliant

Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
(A Tiger in the Zoo)

Question. In the subsequent stanza, ____ terrorizes ____. Fill in the blanks with appropriate choices.
(a) the lion, the villagers
(b) the lion, zoo spectators
(c) the tiger, the villagers
(d) the tiger, the city men
Answer. (c) the tiger, the villagers

Question. How does the tiger prepare to attack the deer,according to the extract?
(1) Hides in the shadows.
(2) Moves across the long grass.
(3) Looks at its prey hiding in the meadows.
(4) Walks gently by the ocean.
(5) Attentively takes its position near the water hole.
(a) (1), (2) and (5)
(b) (2) and (4)
(c) Only (1)
(d) (3) and (5)
Answer. (a) (1), (2) and (5)

Question. Which word from the extract is synonymous to ‘sneaking’?
(a) Plump
(b) Sliding
(c) Lurking
(d) Shadow
Answer. (c) Lurking

Question. Why is the tiger lurking in the shadow?
(a) To avoid being seen by the prey.
(b) To attack the prey at the right time.
(c) To avoid being seen by the hunters.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer. (d) Both (a) and (b)

Question. The extract depicts the tiger of the ______.
(a) Zoo
(b) Animal Sanctuary
(c) Circus
(d) Jungle
Answer. (d) Jungle

Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

Question. In the subsequent stanza, ‘The tiger hears the ______at ______of _______ cars.’ Fill in the blanks with appropriate choices.
(a) last noise, evening, raging
(b) first noise, morning, speeding
(c) last voice, night, patrolling
(d) first voice, daytime, screeching
Answer. (c) last voice, night, patrolling

Question. How is the tiger’s dismay depicted according to the extract?
(1) He is caged in an animal hospital.
(2) He is caged in a cell at the zoo.
(3) He’s roaring at the spectators.
(4) He ignores the visitors and walks in his cage.
(5) He is attacking the villagers in the jungle.
(a) (1), (2) and (5)
(b) (2) and (4)
(c) Only (1)
(d) (3) and (5)
Answer. (b) (2) and (4)

Question. Which word from the extract is synonymous to ‘striding’?
(a) Ignoring
(b) Locked
(c) Stalking
(d) Length
Answer. (c) Stalking

Question. According to the extract, where have ‘the visitors’ come?
(a) An Animal Sanctuary
(b) A Tiger Reserve
(c) A Zoo
(d) A Wildlife Safari
Answer. (c) A Zoo

Question. Mention the poetic device used in the preceding extract : “Baring his white fangs, his claws”.
(a) Alliteration
(b) Simile
(c) Consonance
(d) Oxymoron
Answer. (c) Consonance

Read the extracts below and answer the questions that follow:

 He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!

Questions:

Question. If the tiger would have been free, he would have snarled around the:
(i) cage
(ii) forest
(iii) houses
(iv) None of these
Answer. C

Question. The tiger would terrorise people with his:
(i) sharp teeth
(ii) claws
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer. C

Question. If he were free, he would:
(i) create fear among the people.
(ii) create fear among other animals in the forest.
(iii) amuse the villagers.
(iv) All of these.
Answer. A

Question. What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?
(i) ab ab
(ii) ab cb
(iii) ab bc
(iv) aa bb
Answer. B

Question. The tiger never tries to terrorise the villagers because he is:
(i) confined in the zoo.
(ii) confined in the cage.
(iii) confined in the forest.
(iv) too weak to terrorise anyone.
Answer. B

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. ‘He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorizing the village!

Question. What does ‘Baring his white fangs’ mean in line 3?
Answer.‘Baring his white fangs’ means showing his sharp teeth in an attempt to frighten the villagers

Question. Who is ‘He’ in these lines?
Answer.‘He’ is the Tiger.

Question. Name the poem and the poet?
Answer.The poem is A Tiger in the Zoo and the poet is Leslie Norris

Question. Where does the poet say ‘he’ should be is in these lines?
Answer.The poet says that ‘he’ should be in the jungle/forest/in his natural habitat

2. ‘He stalks in the his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet
In his quite rage’

Question. What is the poetic device used in line 3?
Answer.The poetic device used is ‘metaphor’

Question. Where is ‘he’ in these lines?
Answer.‘He’ is in a cage in the zoo

Question. Who is ‘He’ in these lines?
Answer.‘He’ is the Tiger

Question. What is ‘his’ mood in the poem? Why is it so?
Answer.‘He’ is in an angry mood, as he has been caged, and cannot move around.

Choose the correct answer.

Question. In the poem, the tiger is angry because:
(i) he is not given care.
(ii) he is hungry.
(iii) he is not free.
(iv) None of these.
Answer. C

Question. According to Leslie Norris, the tiger tries to control his anger by:
(i) sitting in the cage.
(ii) closing his eyes.
(iii) looking at the spectators.
(iv) quietly walking in the cage.
Answer. D

Question. The tiger in Leslie’s poem is just able to:
(i) terrorise the visitors.
(ii) attack the visitors.
(iii) stalk the visitors.
(iv) love the visitors.
Answer. C

Question. How do the eyes of the tiger look?
(i) Sad
(ii) Brilliant
(iii) Dark
(iv) Light
Answer. B

Short Answer Questions :

Question. Explain why the Tiger ignores the visitors at the zoo?
Answer.The Tiger is caged it has no freedom to roam the vast jungles. He is constrained by the space available in the cage. He is angry and restless. He suppresses his anger by proudly walking the length of his cage and ignoring the visitors who have come to see him.

Question. What does the poet mean when he says that the Tiger’s strength is behind the bars?
Answer.The poet means that since the Tiger is locked in the cage, he has no freedom and therefore he cannot use his strength. He is angry and restless but proudly walks the length of his cage. 

Long Answer Question :

Question. Explain how the poet contrasts the Tiger in the cage to the Tiger in the jungle?
Answer. The poet says that since the Tiger is caged it has no freedom to roam the vast jungles. He is constrained by the space available in the cage. He is angry and restless but proudly walks the length of his cage, ignoring the visitors who have come to see him. All he can do is stare at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes.
The poet contrasts this with the Tiger in the jungle, who is free, to roam the wild, sliding through long grass, and enjoying his liberty. He goes near water holes and where he can find deer. He snarls around houses at the edge of the jungle frightening the villagers by baring his fangs and his claws.

Unseen Passage Class 10 English

1. Read the passage carefully.

WATER MANAGEMENT

1. Needless to say that water will perhaps be the scarcest commodity of the 21st century. On global scale it is assessed that over the next two decades, water use by human beings will increase by 40% and that 17% more water will be needed to grow more food for the increasing population. Water if finite in nature and the quantum of water cannot be increased. The World Water Vision Commission drew attention to the ‘gloomy arithmetic of water’, as water demand will outstrip its availability. As such State of Art and innovative technologies have to be developed for reducing wastage of water and recycling waste water. There is need for a Water Secure World and to achieve this objective 5000 experts had gathered in Hague in March 2000 to prepare a policy document on this subject. And they have indeed provided very useful guidelines.

2. The scenario of water in India is equally gloomy. Against our requirement of about 2788 billion cu. metres of water annually by 2050, availability of water will only be about 2300 billion cu. metres including that from the ground water sources. The problem is further compounded by the fact that only 15-16% of water resources have been developed thus leaving a very large gap thereby emphasizing the need for conservation and preservation of water.

3. As regards the drinking water scenario although it is claimed that 83% of urban population and 90% of rural population is covered, the sustainable availability, coverage and quality of water carry a big question mark.

4. The situation on the sanitation front is far worse, so much so that even Metro cities have not been fully covered with underground sewerage. My visit to several cities and towns as a consultant to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revealed that even though the water supply and sanitation facilities are available, these are either not working or operating at very low efficiency. The main reason being lack of skills and shortage of funds. This has resulted in untreated wastewater flowing into drains and rivers and other water bodies. We have before us a really grim scenario of polluted rivers and water bodies. The problem is further compounded due to discharge of untreated wastewater from industries and dumping of solid waste. These issues need to be addressed more effectively and at the earliest.

5. The Government of India and State Governments are addressing these serious problems. The World Bank, ADB and other funding agencies are also supporting several schemes in the fields of agriculture and water supply and sanitation to cities and towns. But the magnitude of funds required for outstrips the funds available. In the Ninth Five Year Plan alone, there was a gap to the tune of about Rs. 39,000 crores in this field. A time has come when the private sector should start playing an active role. There is a need to induct private investment and management in the sector and to improve the efficiency.

There is a huge scope for such private involvement in the water industry. Privatisation is not the panacea of all ills but this could be a way for change end improvement. As a safeguard against any abuse and misuse there is a need to build necessary checks and balances.

– P.P. Gurnani: The Hindustan Times

1.1 Fill in the blanks using one word only as given in the example. Write answers in your answer sheets.

Water management will be a major problem in the 21st century. The (a) ……………… for water is likely to increase but supply is finite. The wide gap between the two (b) ……………… the need for conservation and preservation of water. Rivers are (c) ……………… because untreated wastewater from industries is (d) ……………… into them.

1.2 Based on your understanding of the extract, complete the following with words/ phrases. Write answers only in your answer sheets against correct blank numbers.

(a) The main reason for water scarcity in future is ……………………………..
(b) Since water demand will outstrip its availability, we need technologies for …………………………….
(c) The main reason for inefficient working of sanitation facilities in many metros is ……………………..
(d) The two factors responsible for water pollution are : (i) …………………. (ii) ………………………….
(e) Various agencies are funding schemes for supply of water for ………………… and ……………..…...
(f) Private involvement is advocated for ……………………………..

1.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following. Write only the answers in your answer sheets.

(a) amount that is requires/desired (para 1) …………………………….
(b) become larger (para 1) ……………………………….
(c) Imagined sequence of future events (para 3) ……………………….
(d) Depressing unpleasant events (para 4) ……………………………..

A Tiger in the Zoo —Leslie Norris

Reference to Context

But he’s locked in a concrete cell, His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage, Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night, The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars

Question. The fact that the tiger is ‘stalking the length of his cage’ tells us that he is
(a) restless
(b) reckless
(c) resilient
(d) reverent
Answer: (a)

Question. What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanzas?
(a) abcb; abcb
(b) abcb; abcd
(c) abcd; abcd
(d) abcd; abcb
Answer: (d)

Question. These stanzas bring out the contrast between
(a) zoos and cities
(b) strength and weakness
(c) freedom and captivity
(d) visitors and patrolling cars
Answer: (c)

Question. What is the caged tiger NOT likely to say to the visitors?
(a) “Stop staring”
(b) “Set me free”
(c) “Join me”
(d) “Go away”
Answer: (c)

Question. The tiger’s ‘brilliant eyes’ reveal that he
(a) hopes to be free and in the wild, someday
(b) is looked after well and is nourished and healthy
(c) enjoys staring at the bright stars each night
(d) is well-rested and hence, wide-awake
Answer: (a)

He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass,
Near the water hole,
Where plump deer pass.

Question. Why should he be lurking in shadow?
(a) out of fear
(b) out of anger
(c) to catch the deer
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (c)

Question. Name the poet of the poem.
(a) Robert Frost
(b) Leslie Norris
(c) William Wordsworth
(d) John Keats
Answer: (b)

Question. Give the antonym of the word ‘lurking’.
(a) hide
(b) sneak
(c) expose
(d) loiter
Answer: (c)

Question. How does a tiger feel in his natural habitat?
(a) Free
(b) Angry
(c) Ashamed
(d) Frustrated
Answer: (a)

Question. What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanza?
(a) aabc
(b) abcb
(c) abbc
(d) abac
Answer: (b)

But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

Question. What do you understand by ‘His strength behind bars’?
Answer: The tiger is caged. His power is limited, and he feels locked devoid of freedom. He feels unhappy, angry, restless and furious.

Question. Why do you think the tiger was stalking in the cage?
Answer: The tiger is a huge cat and was definitely not comfortable being confined in a small cage. He was frustrated as well as helpless. He was not happy being treated as a showpiece for human beings. His anger, fury and helplessness was making him stalk in the cage.

He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass

Question. How does a tiger behave in his natural surroundings?
Answer: A tiger is a free carnivore in his natural habitat – the jungle. He moves around in the long grass near a water hole. He hides in a shadow to hunt for a deer as his food.

Question. What is the theme of the poem?
Answer: The poet wants to convey that it is wrong to keep the wild animals in small enclosures of the zoo, away from their natural habitat. They feel angry, helpless and yearn for their life and environment in the forest.

He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.

Question. What does the tiger want to do at night?
Answer: The tiger hears the sound of the patrolling cars at night. Being locked in a cage, the tiger stares at the brilliant stars shining in the vast and open sky through his hopeful and shining eyes.

Question. Why are the eyes brilliant? What is common between the eyes and the stars?
Answer: The tiger’s eyes shine brightly in the darkness of night. The stars are also shining the sky. The common thing between the tiger’s eyes and the stars is that both are brilliant and shiny.

Short Answers Type Questions (30-40 words)

Question. What does the tiger do in the cage?
Answer: The tiger keeps pacing about in his cage. He pays no heed to the visitors and quietly walks around in his small cage.

Question. What could the tiger be doing if it were in the wild?
Answer: In the wild, the tiger would be hunting for his prey near the village, at the water hole or in the long grass. He would be prowling at the edge of the village terrorising the villagers.

Question. Give the tiger’s appearance based on the poem.
Answer: The tiger has sharp, clear stripes on his body. He looks majestic as he prowls around his cage. He has soft velvety padded paws and brilliantly shining eyes.

Question. How does the tiger terrify the villagers?
Answer: The tiger terrifies the villagers by snarling around their houses. Their house were situated near the jungle. He terrified them by showing his white fangs and long claws. They were greatly afraid of him due to it.

Question. How is the tiger in the cell? How does he react to the visitors?
Answer: The tiger is in the cell in the zoo which has a concrete floor. His strength now is behind the bars of iron. These bars can’t be broken. He walks his way in rage in his cage and ignores the visitors completely.

Question. What message does the poem give?
Answer: The poem gives out the message that the animals in the zoo do not live happily. They lead a miserable life in the cages. They want to be in their habitats. They can be free and happy only in their natural habitats. They should not be kept in zoos.

Archive Questions

He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
where plump deer pass.

Question. Who is ‘he’ referred to here?
Answer: 'He' refers to the tiger.

Question. Why is ‘he’ sliding through the long grass?
Answer: He is sliding through the long grass to lurk in the shadows near the water hole so that he can hunt the deer.