How to Tell Wild Animals Class 10 Questions and Answers
Textbook Questions
Thinking about the Poem :
Question 1.
Does ‘dyin’ really rhyme with ‘lion”? Can you say it in such a way that it does?
क्या ‘dyin’ की सचमुच ‘lion’ से लय मिलती है? क्या आप इसे इस प्रकार से कह सकते हैं कि यह (लय) मिले।
Answer:
If we speak the full word ‘dying, then it does not rhyme with lion, but if g of dying is silent as the poet has done in the poem it does rhyme with lion.
Question 2.
How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to her ?
कवि आपको शेर तथा चीते को पहचानने के लिए क्या सुझाव देता है? क्रवि के अनुसार आप ऐसा (पहचानना) कब कर सकते हैं?
Answer:
The poet suggests that if in a forest you see a large brown beast roaring at you while you are dying, then it is an Asian lion. While wandering in the forest if you come across a noble beast with black stripes on yellow skin, notice if he eats you, then he is a Bengal tiger. According to the poet, in both the cases you can identify the beasts when you are dying.
Question 3.
Do you think the words ‘lept’ and ‘lep’ in the third stanza are spelt correctly? Why does the poet spell them like this?
आपके विचार में तीसरे अनुच्छेद में ‘lept’ तथा ‘lep’ के स्पैलिंग सही हैं? कवि उनके स्पेलिंग इस प्रकार क्यों लिखता है?
Answer:
No, the spelling of ‘lept’ (correct – leapt) and ‘lep’ (correct-leap) are not correct. The poet has spelt these words incorrectly for poetic effect.
Question 4.
Look at the line ‘A novice might nonplus’. How would you write it ‘correctly? Why is the poet’s ‘incorrect’ line better in the poem?
‘A novice might nonplus’ पंक्ति देखिए। आप इसे सही करके कैसे लिखेंगे? कवि की अशुद्धि वाली पंक्ति कविता में ज्यादा सही क्यों लगती है?
Answer:
The correct form is-‘A novice might get nonplussed’. In the poem, the incorrect line seems better because it helps in maintaining the rhythm of the poem. Look at the following lines :
A novice might nonplus, The crocodile you always may Tell from the Hyena thus… Here ‘plus’ rhymes with ‘thus’.
Additional questions
Short answer type questions
Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words :
Question 1.
Peppered spots, tawny beast and noble wild beast live in the jungles along with some others. Name them.
Answer:
The leopard, the lion and the Bengal Tiger live alongwith the bear, hyenas, crocodiles and chameleons.
Question 2.
How does one identify a chameleon?
Answer:
A chameleon resembles a lizard and is a small, wing less, earless creature. The poet says that when there is nothing visible on the tree, there is the chameleon caumoflaged with the tree.
Question 3.
What is the famous saying associated with crocodiles and what does it mean?
Answer:
The famous saying associated with crocodiles is that of shedding crocodile tears’. It actually means tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere, and are said to be so named from a belief that crocodiles wept while devouring their prey.
Question 4.
What is the theme of the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?
Answer:
The theme of the poem is to create humour. The poet creates humour by suggesting dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. You can identify most of the beasts while they are attacking you. Instead of shouting for help or trying to protect yourself, you are busy in identifying the attackerthe idea creates humour.
Question 5.
Name the different animals and birds found in the jungles of the east.
Answer:
Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Hyena, Crocodiles and Chameleons.
Long answer type questions
Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words :
Question 1.
‘If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
You’ll know it is the Asiatic Lion..
If there is nothing on the tree,
“Tis the chameleon you see.’ “Many animals can be identified according to the poets’ suggestion. Name the animals. Which ones would you like to identify ? Are there any lessons for us in this poem ?
Answer:
The poet has listed down the ways of identifying seven animals in the poem, viz., the lion, the Bengal Tiger, the leopard, the bear, the hyena, the crocodile and the chameleon. As for me, I would like to identify the bear, the Bengal Tiger and the leopard.
However, putting my life on the line just to identify the tiger and the leopard doesn’t seem worth the risk ! So if I see a noble beast with black stripes on yellow, I’ll know the tiger, and the peppered spots will reveal the leopard. The bear hug, I wouldn’t mind! The poetess, using humour, seems to warn readers against – venturing too close to these animals.
Question 2.
‘Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal Tiger to discern…
“Twill do no good to roar with pain.
He’ll only lep and lep again.’ The poet has successfully used humour to be able to tell’ or identify “Wild Animals’. How do you think we need lots of it in our daily life?
Answer:
Humour is the fuel of life. Without it, it would become difficult to continue living. Today, life of the common man is typically mired in stress, tension, problems and sadness. It is amazing how the smallest problems may take on epic proportions for a common person. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to have a little humour in life.
It gives us the much needed respite from our monotonous routine, and helps us face life more positively. Thus, the poetess’ successful use of humour helps to liven our minds, and brings a smile on our faces.
Summary :
It is a humorous poem. The poet suggests some dangerous ways of identifying wild animals. The suggested ways create humour. He says if ever you 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 you. ‘Identifying while dying-the idea 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.
यह एक हास्यप्रद कविता है। कवि जंगली जानवरों को पहचानने के कुछ विनोदप्रिय तरीके सुझाता है। उसके सुझाए तरीके हँसी विनोद उत्पन्न करते हैं। वह कहता है अगर कभी आप पूर्व के जंगलों में जाते हैं और आपका सामना एक शेर, चीते अथवा तेंदुए से हो जाता है, तो उनको आप अपने पर आक्रमण करने के तरीके से पहचान सकते हैं। ‘मरते हुए पहचानना’ यह विचार आपको हँसाता है।
वह (कवि) हमें यह भी बताता है कि भालू को पहचानो उसके मित्रतापूर्ण जोर से लिए आलिंगन से जो वह आक्रमण करते हुए देता है, लकड़बग्घे को उसकी हँसी से तथा मगरमच्छ को शिकार को निगलते समय जो वह आँसू बहाता है उससे पहचानो। अगर पेड़ पर कुछ न दिखाई दे तो समझो वहाँ गिरगिट है क्योंकि उसमें अपने इर्द-गिर्द के वातावरण के अनुसार रंग बदलने का गुण है।
Complete text with hindi translation and extract based short answer type questions :
Stanza – I
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…
Vocabulary :
- tawny (टॉनी) – brownish (भूरा)
- beast (बीस्ट) – wild animal (जंगली जानवर)
- roars (रोस) – sound of a lion (गर्जता है)
हिन्दी अनुवाद – अगर आपको कभी पूर्व के जंगलों में जाने का अवसर प्राप्त हो, और अगर आपकी ओर एक बड़ा भूरा जंगली जानवर बढ़े और आप पर गरजे जब आप मर रहे हों, तो आप जान जाएँगे कि वह एशिया का शेर है।
Question i.
Where and how do we find the Asiatic Lion, according to the poet?
Answer:
We can find the Asiatic Lion in jungles in the east. We can find them roaring and pouncing on us as we advance towards it.
Question ii.
How does the poet warn us about the lion?
Answer:
The poet says that the Asiatic Lion is a large, tawny beast. It will roar after attacking us as we lay dying.
Stanza – II
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.
Vocabulary :
- roaming (रोमिंग) – wandering aimlessly (आवारा घूमते हुए)
- noble (नोबल) – respectful (सज्जन)
- greets (ग्रीट्स) – welcomes (अभिवादन करता है)
- stripes (स्ट्राइप्स) – broad bands of equal breadth on a different coloured surface (धारियाँ)
- discern (डिसन) – to distinguishvidentify (फर्क पहचानना)।
हिन्दी अनुवाद – अथवा कभी आवारा घूमते हुए एक आदरणीय जंगली जानवर आपका अभिवादन करता है जिसकी पीली खाल पर काली धारियाँ हों तो ध्यान दो क्या वह आपको खाता है। इससे एक साधारण नियम सीखने में आपको सहायता मिलेगी, बंगाल के चीते को पहचानने में।
Question i.
What features of the Bengal tiger are described here?
Answer:
The Bengal tiger is a wild beast with black stripes in a yellow background. The cunningness of the tiger could be understood if he attacks us and eats us.
Question ii.
How cunning is the Bengal tiger as we understand from the above lines?
Answer:
The Bengal tiger is a ‘noble’ but wild beast. Its cunningness could be found when it greets us and then attacks us. Then only we will learn that it is a tiger.
Stanza – III
If strolling forth, a beast you view, Whose hide with spots is peppered, As soon as he has lept on you, You’ll know it is the Leopard, Twill do no good to roar with pain, He’ll only lep and lep again.
Vocabulary :
- strolling (स्ट्रोलिंग) – walking leisurely (चहलकदमी करते हुए)
- hide (हाइड) – skin of an animal (जानवर की खाल)
- peppered (पैपड) – round spots like pepper-an aromatic pungent spice (काली मिर्च जैसे गोलाकार धब्बे)
- lept (लैप्ट) – past tense of leap (उछला), correct spelling is leapt
- leopard (लैपड) – a kind of wild cat with big spots on the body (तेंदुआ)
हिन्दी अनुवाद – अगर चहलकदमी करते हुए एक जंगली जानवर आपको दिख जाए जिसकी खाल पर काली मिर्च के आकार के बड़े-बड़े धब्बे हों, जैसे ही वह आप पर उछले तो आपको मालूम पड़ जाएगा कि वह तेंदुआ है। दर्द के मारे गरजना करने से आपका कुछ भला नहीं होने ,वाला, वह आप पर और ज्यादा उछलेगा।
Question i.
Which animal is being described here and how?
Answer:
A leopard is being described here. The beast can be seen as we walk. It has a yellow skin with black spots.
Question ii.
What should not we do if we confront a leopard? Why?
Answer:
We should not roar with pain even if the leopard attacks because it will again and again leap on us.
Stanza – IV
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 doubts, I guess He’ll give you just one more caress.
Vocabulary :
- yard (यार्ड) – enclosed area adjoining a house (आँगन)
- hug (हग) – embrace (गले लगाना/बाहुपाश में लेना)
- caress (केयरेस – agentle loving touch (प्यार से आलिंगन करना/लाड़ करना)
हिन्दी अनुवाद – अगर आप अपने आँगन में चलते-चलते ऐसे प्राणी से मिलें जो आपको जबरदस्त आलिंगन में ले ले तो निश्चय ही वह भालू है। अगर आपको कोई सन्देह हो तो मेरा ख्याल है वह आपको एक और प्यार भरा आलिंगन देगा।
Question i.
Where and how do we identify a bear according to the poet?
Answer:
A bear can be found as we walk around our yard. If will hug us very tightly and thus we can be sure that it is a bear.
Question ii.
When and why does a bear caress us?
Answer:
When we doubt if the animal is really a bear, then it will hug and caress us once again to be doubly sure.
Stanza – V
Though to distinguish beasts of prey A novice might nonplus The Crocodile you always may Tell from the Hyena thus: Hyenas come with merry smiles; But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.
Vocabulary :
- beast of prey (बीस्ट ऑफ प्रे) – wild animals who kill other creatures for food (शिकारी जानवर)
- novice (नोविस) – someone new to a job (नौसिखिया)
- nonplus (नॉनप्लस) – confused/puzzled (हतप्रभ हतबुद्धि होना)
- crocodile (क्रोकोडाइल) – anamphibious animal (मगरमच्छ)
- hyena (हाइना) – acarnivorous animal (लकड़बग्घा)
- merry (मैरी) – happy (प्रसन्नता भरी)
हिन्दी अनुवाद – यद्यपि शिकारी जानवरों को पहचानना एक नौसिखिए को हतबुद्धि कर देगा। एक मगरमच्छ को लकड़बग्घे से आप इस प्रकार पहचान सकते हैं-लकड़बग्घे प्रसन्नता भरी मुस्कानों से भरे होते हैं परन्तु अगर वे रोते हैं तो वे मगरमच्छ हैं।।
Question i.
Explain ‘a novice might nonplus’.
Answer:
The expression means that a person who cannot distinguish between a beasts of prey and a normal one, will be confused between a hyena and a crocodile.
Question ii.
What characteristics of hyena and crocodile are described here?
Answer:
A hyena makes a sound which looks as if they are laughing. A crocodile’s tear glands get stimulated when it eats its prey. That looks as if it is crying.
Stanza – VI
The true chameleon is small, A lizard sort of thing; He hasn’t any ears at all, And not a single wing. It there is nothing on the tree, “Tis the chameleon you see.
Vocabulary :
- chameleon (केमिलियन) – a kind of long lizard that can change colour to match its surrounded (गिरगिट)
- lizard (लिज़र्ड) – akind of reptile (छिपकली)
हिन्दी अनुवाद – असली गिरगिट छोटा होता है–एक छिपकली की तरह। उसके कोई कान नहीं होते और एक भी पंख नहीं होता । अगर पेड़ पर कुछ नहीं है तब समझो आप गिरगिट को देख रहे हो । (क्योंकि गिरगिट जहाँ होता है वहीं के रंग में स्वयं को रंग लेता है।)
Question i.
How does a chameleon look? Where do we usually find it?
Answer:
A chameleon is a small reptile that looks like a lizard. It has no ears or wings. Chamesleons are found on trees.
Question ii.
Explain the irony in the lines ‘If there is nothing on the tree, Tis the chameleon you see
Answer:
The poet uses the irony to describe the camouflaging nature of chameleons. These creatures are found widely. They change the colour of their body according to their surrounding so as to escape from being attacked by their enemy. So even if they are on the tree, we cannot see them.