(Poem) How to Tell Wild Animals English class 10 in English Medium ncert book solutions NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers

Chapter 3. (Poem) How to Tell Wild Animals

This section contains the original NCERT textbook questions from the latest NCERT Class 10 English First Flight textbook. The questions are arranged in the same order as the NCERT book, while the answers are written in simple, accurate, and exam-oriented language to help students understand the poem effectively.

NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers

The following questions are based on the poem How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells. Read the questions carefully and understand how the poet uses humour and imagination to describe different wild animals.

Thinking About the Poem

Question 1. Does 'dying' really rhyme with 'lion'? Can you say it in such a way that it does?

Answer:

Normally, the words "dying" and "lion" do not rhyme in standard pronunciation. However, the poet deliberately changes the pronunciation of the word "lion" to sound like "li-on", making it rhyme with "dying". This playful use of pronunciation adds humour and rhythm to the poem.

Question 2. How does the poet suggest that you identify the lion and the tiger? When can you do so, according to the poet?

Answer:

According to the poet, an Asian Lion can be identified if a large, tawny animal suddenly jumps on you and kills you. A Bengal Tiger can be recognised if a striped animal attacks and eats you. The poet presents these situations humorously, suggesting that by the time you identify the animal, it is already too late.

Question 3. Do you think the words "lept" and "lep" in the third line mean the same thing? Deduce the meaning of "lep" from the context. Why does the poet use "lep" instead of "leapt"?

Answer:

Yes, both "lep" and "leapt" have the same meaning—they mean jumped. The poet uses the word "lep" as a poetic form of "leapt" to maintain the rhyme and rhythm of the poem. It also adds a playful tone to the humorous style of the poem.

Question 4. 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:

Yes. Many languages have similar expressions about animals. For example, in Hindi we say "मगरमच्छ के आँसू" (crocodile tears) for false sympathy, "शेर जैसा बहादुर" (as brave as a lion) for a courageous person, "लोमड़ी जैसी चालाक" (as clever as a fox) for a cunning person, and "हाथी जैसी याददाश्त" (an elephant's memory) for someone with a very good memory. Such expressions make language more interesting and meaningful.

Question 5. 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 grammatically correct form would be "A novice might be nonplussed." However, the poet intentionally writes "A novice might nonplus" to preserve the poem's rhythm, rhyme, and humorous style. This creative use of language makes the poem more lively and enjoyable.

Question 6. Can you find other examples of poets taking liberties with language, either in English or in your own language(s)? Can you find examples of humorous poems in your own language(s)?

Answer:

Yes. Poets often modify words, grammar, or pronunciation to maintain rhyme, rhythm, and poetic beauty. In Hindi poetry, poets sometimes shorten or change words to suit the metre and musical flow of the poem. Humorous poems are also common in many languages. Such poems entertain readers while conveying meaningful ideas through wit, imagination, and creative language.

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