Class 10 English - First Flight - Chapter Mijbil the Otter NCERT Solutions | How was Mij to be transported to England

What game had Mij invented?

What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?

How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?

What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

 Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

 Read the story and find the sentences where Maxwell describes his pet otter. Then choose and arrange your sentences to illustrate those statements below that you think are true.

Maxwell’s description

(i) makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy.
(ii) shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does.
(iii) shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does.
(iv) of Mij’s antics is comical.
(v) shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully.
(vi) shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter.
(vii) shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual.

What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of

(i) school children
(ii) Mij?

Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?

Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why?
 

What was Valli’s favourite pastime?

What did Lencho hope for?

When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?

Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?

What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.

Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?

Do you keep a diary? Given below under ‘A’ are some terms we use to describe a written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their descriptions under ‘B’? (You may
look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)
                       A                                                                                                                            B

      (i) Journal                                                                                     – A book with a separate space or page for each day, in which you write down your and                                                                                                                      feelings or what has happened on that day 

      (ii) Diary                                                                                       – A full record of a journey, a period of time, or  an event, written every day
      (iii) Log                                                                                         – A record of a person’s own life and experiences (usually, a famous person)
      (iv) Memoir(s)                                                                               – A written record of events with times and dates, usually official         

Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
 

What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?

Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?

“They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?

Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
 

Study the sentences given below.

(a) They looked like black mountains.

(b) Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black.

(c) In the black clouds near me, I saw another aeroplane.

(d) The strange black aeroplane was there.

The word ‘black’ in sentences (a) and (c) refers to the very darkest colour. But in (b) and (d) (here) it means without light/with no light.

‘Black’ has a variety of meanings in different contexts. For example:

(a) ‘I prefer black tea’ means ‘I prefer tea without milk’.

(b) ‘With increasing pollution the future of the world is black’ means With increasing pollution the future of the world is very depressing/without hope’.

Now, try to guess the meanings of the word ‘black’ in the sentences given below. Check the meanings in the dictionary and find out whether you have guessed right.

Questions.

1. Go and have a bath, your hands and face are absolutely black____ .

2. The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green____.

3. The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity____.

4. Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy____.

5. Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods____.

6. Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue____.

Have you made a journey that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorable?

What did the military generals do ? How did their attitude change and why?

Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.

When and why do Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda’s absence?
 

“I’ll take the risk”. What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?

Did Wanda have a hundred dresses? Why do you think she said she did?