(Poem) The Tale of Custard the Dragon English class 10 in English Medium ncert book solutions Extra Important Questions

Chapter 7. (Poem) The Tale of Custard the Dragon

This section contains important exam-oriented questions based on Chapter 7 (Poem) The Tale of Custard the Dragon. These questions are prepared according to the latest CBSE examination pattern and help students strengthen their conceptual understanding, improve answer-writing skills, and prepare confidently for examinations.

Extra Important Questions

Practice the following important questions to revise the poem thoroughly and understand its humour, irony, characters, and message about true courage.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Who wrote The Tale of Custard the Dragon?

(a) Robert Frost

(b) Ogden Nash

(c) Carl Sandburg

(d) Adrienne Rich

Answer: (b) Ogden Nash

2. Who was Belinda?

(a) A teacher

(b) A little girl

(c) A pirate

(d) A fairy

Answer: (b) A little girl

3. What was the name of Belinda's dragon?

(a) Blink

(b) Ink

(c) Custard

(d) Mustard

Answer: (c) Custard

4. What colour was Ink?

(a) White

(b) Black

(c) Brown

(d) Grey

Answer: (b) Black

5. Who was Blink?

(a) A kitten

(b) A mouse

(c) A dog

(d) A pirate

Answer: (b) A mouse

6. What kind of animal was Mustard?

(a) Cat

(b) Dog

(c) Horse

(d) Rabbit

Answer: (b) Dog

7. Why did everyone laugh at Custard?

(a) He was lazy.

(b) He always cried for a safe cage.

(c) He could not fly.

(d) He was very small.

Answer: (b) He always cried for a safe cage.

8. Who entered Belinda's house suddenly?

(a) A tiger

(b) A pirate

(c) A thief

(d) A soldier

Answer: (b) A pirate

9. What did the pirate carry?

(a) A stick

(b) Pistols and a sword

(c) A bow and arrows

(d) A spear

Answer: (b) Pistols and a sword.

10. What did Ink do when the pirate arrived?

(a) Fought bravely

(b) Climbed to the top of the house

(c) Barked loudly

(d) Slept quietly

Answer: (b) Climbed to the top of the house.

11. What did Blink do?

(a) Hid himself

(b) Attacked the pirate

(c) Ran outside

(d) Slept

Answer: (a) Hid himself.

12. What did Mustard do?

(a) Ran away

(b) Defeated the pirate

(c) Barked at Belinda

(d) Climbed a tree

Answer: (a) Ran away.

13. Who defeated the pirate?

(a) Belinda

(b) Mustard

(c) Custard

(d) Ink

Answer: (c) Custard.

14. What did Custard do to the pirate?

(a) Chased him away

(b) Swallowed him

(c) Locked him up

(d) Burnt him

Answer: (b) Swallowed him.

15. What happened after the pirate was defeated?

(a) Everyone thanked Custard.

(b) Everyone again started boasting.

(c) They left the house.

(d) They became silent forever.

Answer: (b) Everyone again started boasting.

16. Which quality best describes Custard?

(a) Proud

(b) Brave and humble

(c) Lazy

(d) Careless

Answer: (b) Brave and humble.

17. What is the poem mainly about?

(a) Adventure

(b) True courage

(c) Friendship

(d) Magic

Answer: (b) True courage.

18. Which poetic form is this poem?

(a) Sonnet

(b) Ballad

(c) Ode

(d) Lyric

Answer: (b) Ballad.

19. What is the central message of the poem?

(a) Never keep pets.

(b) True bravery is proved through actions.

(c) Dragons are dangerous.

(d) Pirates always lose.

Answer: (b) True bravery is proved through actions.

20. Why is the poem humorous?

(a) Because the characters speak funny words.

(b) Because the so-called brave characters become cowards, while the coward becomes the hero.

(c) Because the pirate laughs.

(d) Because the dragon cannot fly.

Answer: (b) Because the so-called brave characters become cowards, while the coward becomes the hero.

Very Short Answer Questions

1. Who wrote The Tale of Custard the Dragon?

Answer: Ogden Nash.

2. What was the name of Belinda's dragon?

Answer: Custard.

3. Why was Custard called a coward?

Answer: Because he always asked for a nice safe cage.

4. Who entered Belinda's house?

Answer: A pirate.

5. Who defeated the pirate?

Answer: Custard.

6. What did Custard do to the pirate?

Answer: He swallowed him.

7. What kind of poem is this?

Answer: A humorous ballad.

8. What does the poem teach?

Answer: True courage is shown through actions.

9. Who was Mustard?

Answer: Belinda's yellow dog.

10. What quality makes Custard a hero?

Answer: His courage.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did everyone laugh at Custard?

Answer: Everyone believed Custard was a coward because he always wanted a safe cage. They judged him by his words instead of his actions.

2. How did Custard prove his bravery?

Answer: When the pirate entered the house, Custard fearlessly attacked him and swallowed him, saving Belinda and all the other pets.

3. Describe the behaviour of Ink, Blink, and Mustard during danger.

Answer: Ink climbed to the top of the house, Blink hid himself, and Mustard ran away. None of them showed the bravery they had always boasted about.

4. Why is the poem humorous?

Answer: The poem is humorous because the characters who claim to be brave become frightened during danger, while the so-called coward turns out to be the real hero.

5. What kind of dragon was Custard?

Answer: Custard was gentle, humble, loyal, and truly courageous despite appearing timid.

6. Why is the title of the poem appropriate?

Answer: The poem revolves around Custard's unexpected bravery, making him the central character of the story.

7. What message does the poet convey?

Answer: The poet teaches that courage is proved by actions, not by boasting or appearances.

8. What is the role of the pirate in the poem?

Answer: The pirate creates the situation that reveals the true nature and courage of each character.

9. How does irony make the poem interesting?

Answer: The irony lies in the fact that the cowardly dragon becomes the bravest hero, while the boastful pets become frightened.

10. What qualities of Custard do you admire?

Answer: I admire Custard's courage, humility, loyalty, patience, and willingness to protect others without seeking praise.

Long Answer Questions

1. Describe the character of Custard the Dragon.

Answer: Custard appears timid because he always asks for a safe cage, and everyone laughs at him. However, when real danger arrives in the form of a pirate, he fearlessly attacks and swallows the pirate, saving Belinda and her pets. His actions prove that he is brave, loyal, humble, and responsible. The poem shows that true courage is revealed through actions rather than words.

2. Explain how irony is used in the poem.

Answer: The poem is based on irony. Ink, Blink, Mustard, and even Belinda boast about their bravery, but when the pirate appears, they all become frightened and try to save themselves. Custard, who is always mocked as a coward, becomes the only one who faces the danger and defeats the pirate. This contrast creates humour and strengthens the poem's message.

3. How does Ogden Nash make the poem humorous?

Answer: The poet uses funny descriptions, playful language, exaggeration, and irony to create humour. The behaviour of the boastful pets, the sudden arrival of the pirate, and Custard's unexpected heroism make the poem entertaining while also conveying an important lesson.

4. What lesson do you learn from The Tale of Custard the Dragon?

Answer: The poem teaches that people should never be judged by appearances or words. True bravery is demonstrated through actions during difficult situations. Humility and courage are more valuable than pride and empty boasting.

5. Why is The Tale of Custard the Dragon considered a humorous ballad?

Answer: The poem tells a complete story in simple language with a regular rhyme and rhythm, which makes it a ballad. Its humorous situations, exaggerated descriptions, and ironic ending make it entertaining while conveying the meaningful message that real heroes are known by their deeds.

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