Class 10 English First Flight

A Tiger in the Zoo

Extra Questions and Answers
(All the given answers are just for your idea. Develop your own answers.)
Short Answer Type
Question 1.
How does the tiger feel in the zoo?
Answer:
The poet describes the feelings of the tiger in the zoo. He keeps on moving from one comer to
another. “He stalks in his vivid stripes moving the few steps of his cage”. He is not happy. He
expresses his silent anger.

Question 2.
How does the tiger walk in the cage?
Answer:
In the cage, the tiger walks stately and furiously.

Question 3.
What message do you get from this poem?
Answer:
From this poem, we come to know that animals like to live freely in the forest. The animals do not
want to live in the zoo. Their life is pitiable in it.

Question 4.
How does the tiger act in the cage?
Answer:
The tiger is in the cage. He is powerless and helpless. He longs for freedom. His velvet pads do not
make ‘ any noise. He is in the silent anger roaring and ignoring the visitors.

Question 5.
What would the tiger do in a forest?
Answer:
In the forest, the tiger can enjoy complete freedom. He would walk around freely without any fear. He
would terrorize the villagers by growling. He would show his teeth and claws.

Question 6.
What does the poet want to convey through this poem?
Answer:
The poet wants to convey that like human beings, animals also like freedom. They do not want to be
caged, they cannot live a miserable life. If their habitat is destroyed by human beings, these animals
cannot survive.
Question 7.
What would the tiger do in a forest?
Answer:
In the forest, the tiger can enjoy complete freedom. He would walk around freely without any fear. He
would terrorize the villagers by growling. He would show his teeth and claws.

Question 8.
“Freedom is a birth right. It is the most beautiful gift of god. It is valuable for all human beings as well
as for creatures,” Discuss with reference to the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo.”.
Answer:
Freedom is the most beautiful gift of god. Freedom is a birthright, without freedom all is in vain. Since
the man has come on his earth, he tries to enslave the weaker sections for his own selfishness. If a
bird lives in a golden cage, it cannot become happy. It loves to fly freely in an open sky. In the same
way, if ‘ a man lives in a prison and gets everything, he cannot feel happiness. But if a man lives
freely, he will be happy even in poor conditions. In this poem, we find the descriptions of two tigers,
one is in a cage and second in an open field/forest. There is a great contrast between their
behaviours.

Question 9.
Tigers are becoming extinct due to deforestation and poaching. How can people be sensitized about
the need of tiger.
Answer: Tigers are considered as an endangered species. People are killing tigers for their skins,
bones, claws and teeth. Due to this, the population of tigers has declined. We should not encroach on
their habitat. As we all need sheltered home, tigers also need natural surroundings. Forests should
not be cut down. They (Tigers) must be given more space to move freely around.

Question 10.
‘Freedom’ is a life for both humans and animals. Elaborate.
Answer:
The poet describes the feelings of the tiger in the zoo. He keeps on moving from one comer to
another. “He stalks in his vivid stripes moving the few steps of his cage”. He is not happy. He
expresses his silent anger.

Question 11.
Those who deny freedom to others, do not deserve it for themselves. Comment.
Answer:
The poet describes the feelings of the tiger in the zoo. He keeps on moving from one comer to
another. “He stalks in his vivid stripes moving the few steps of his cage”. He is not happy. He
expresses his silent anger.

Question 12.
Read the poem again, and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild.
Arrange them in two columns.
(ii) Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.
Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations
Answer:
 Movements and actions of Tiger in the cages Movements and actions of the Tiger in the wild

Lurking
Stalking
His movement in the cage is restricting Sliding His movement in the wild is
Ignoring
and he is unhappy at the places in the Snarling liberating and he is happy prowling
Storing
cage. Baring in his natural surroundings.
Hearing
Terrorising

Places in the Cage Places in the wild

Pads of velvet quiet shadow

Concrete cell grass

behind bars water hole jungle’s edge

Question 13.
Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these —
(i) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.

(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes

At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
Answer:
(i) The word ‘quiet’ has been repeated in these lines. The repetition of the words expresses the
intensity of the Tiger’ action.
(ii) ‘Brilliant’ word has been repeated in these lines. It expresses both the anger and brightness in the
eyes of the tiger. It creates an effect of intensity of the action.

Question 14.
Read the following two poems—one about a tiger and other about a panther.
Then discuss:
Are zoos necessary for protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for
educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?
See Textbook Pages 30-31
Answer:
The zoo is necessary place for some animals to stay safe as they could be hunted down, poisoned by
sotne wild food; or could drown in water in the forest. They also create awareness among the public
about the nature of animals and make people friendly with animals. However, a zoo is not the correct
substitute for a forest. In a zoo, an animal would feel restricted’ and it is for this reason that wildlife
sanctuaries are better places for national endangered species.

These places provide protection as well as natural surroundings to these species. They can roam
around freely in their habitat and safe too. The public can visit these parks and get educated about
the animals and their lifestyle. The parks and sanctuaries are run using a strict set of rules, the most
prominent being the ban on hunting. Since the animals are in the open, visitors are not allowed to
feed them and would not misbehave or try to play with them as they are under strict guidance. Such
incidents have been recorded in zoos where people irritate and tease the animals. Hence, a wild life
sanctuary is a good alternative for animals to be safe as well as to live freely in their natural
surroundings.

Question 15.
Take a point of view for or against zoos or even consider both points of view and write a couple of
paragraphs or speak about this topic for a couple of minutes in class.
Answer:
Zoos are both necessary and unnecessary for many reasons. But the reasons in favour are more
than its opposite idea. That is why the number of zoos is increasing throughout the world. Day by day
the number of many species is decreasing rapidly. So zoos are very necessary to protect and
conserve them. Many species of wild animals have already become extinct. Animals too are
important for this earth. There are many reasons to say that there are no alternatives of zoos.

Reference to Context
Read the Stanza and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.

(i) Name the poem and poet.

(ii) Who does ‘He’ refer to? Where is he kept?
(iii) Where is ‘He? Is he happy there?
(iv) Pick out the word from the extract that means the same as—‘bright’.
Answer:
(i) These lines have been taken from the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ composed by Leslie (ii) Norris.
‘He’ refers to the Tiger. He is kept in a cage.
(iii) He is in the cage in the zoo. No, the tiger is not happy in the zoo.
(iv) ‘vivid’.

Question 2.
He should be lurking in shadow
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.

(i) Who does ‘He’ refer to?

(ii) Where is the tiger at present?
(iii) Give a word opposite in meaning from these lines to ‘light’.
(iv) Pick out the word from the extract that means the same as—“wait in hiding”.
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ refers to the tiger.
(ii) Tiger is in its natural habitat at present.
(iii) Shadow
(iv) ‘Lurk’.

Question 3.
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!

(i) Who is ‘he’ in the stanza?

(ii) Why does he move around the houses?
(iii) How should he be terrorising the village?
(iv) Give noun form of‘terrorise’.
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ in the stanza stands for the tiger.
(ii) He moves around the houses in search of his prey.
(iii) He should be terrorising the village people with baring of his white fangs and with his claws.
(iv) Terror

Question 4.
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

(i) Where is he locked?

(ii) Where is he striding.
(iii) Whom does he ignore?
(iv) Pick out the word from the stanza that means the same as – “Walk stiffly’.
Answer:
(i) He is locked in a concrete cell behind the bars.
(ii) He is striding in his concrete cell.
(iii) He ignores the visitors.
(iv) “Stalk”.

Question 5.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.

(i) Who does “he’ refer to?

(ii) What does Tie’ do at night?
(iii) What are the cars doing?
(iv) Pick out the word from the stanza that means thapame as—‘gleaming’.
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ refers to the tiger.
(ii) The tiger watches the stars at night.
(iii) The cars are patrolling the area
(iv) ‘brilliant’

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Extract Based Questions [3 Marks each]

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
He stalks in his vivid stripes,
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
(a) Why the tiger could walk only a few steps?
(b) How does the tiger move in the cage?
(c) What are the two qualities of the animal under reference?
(d) Why is he in quiet rage? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
(a) The tiger could walk only a few steps because he was locked in a very small cage.
(b) The tiger moves very slowly and quietly in a threatening way.
(c) The tiger has vivid stripes on his body and soft velvet pads.
(d) He is in quiet rage as he is locked and his freedom has been curtailed. Thus, he is unable to show
his anger and ferocity.

Question 2.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass,
Near the water hole,
Where plump deer pass.
(a) Who is ‘He’ here?
(b) Where should he be lurking?
(c) Where should he be sliding?
(d) Who would pass through the water hole?
Answer:
(a) ‘He’ refers to the tiger.
(b) He should be lurking in the shadows in the forest.
(c) The tiger should be sliding through the long grass in the forest.
(d) A plump deer would pass through the water hole.
Question 3.
He should be snarling around houses At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
(a) What does the poet try to suggest through these lines?
(b) How does the tiger scare the people? [CBSE 2015]
(c) Why does ‘he’ snarl?
(d) How does ‘he’ show his presence? [CBSE 2011]
Answer:
(a) The poet is trying to suggest that the tiger should be allowed to live in his natural habitat.
(b) The tiger scares the people by growling at them and showing his teeth and claws.
(c) ‘He’ snarls to show his anger and helplessness.
(d) ‘He’ shows his presence by baring his white teeth and claws.

Question 4.
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
(a) What does the phrase ‘his strength behind the bar’ suggests?
(b) Why does the tiger ignore the visitors?
(c) What is the tiger doing in the cage?
(d) What does the expression ‘stalking the length of the cage’ imply? [CBSE 2012]
Answer:
(a) It means that he is helpless as he is locked in a cage.
(b) The tiger ignores the visitors because he considers them devoid of feelings as none of them tries
to help him out of the prison.
(c) The tiger is moving slowly and quietly along the length of the cage.
(d) It implies walking to and fro in helplessness.

Question 5.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares With his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
(a) What kind of voices does the tiger hear?
(b) Where does the tiger look at in the night?
(c) What do you mean by ‘patrolling’?
(d) What is the effect of the repeated use of the word ‘brilliant’?
Answer:
(a) The tiger hears the voice coming from the patrolling cars at night.
(b) The tiger looks at the brilliant stars shining in the sky at the night.
(c) ‘Patrolling’ means to go around an area at regular times to check that it is safe.
(d) The repeated use of brilliant shows the contrast. The brilliant stars are free while the brilliant eyes
are inside the cage.

Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
How does a tiger create terror for the villagers?
Answer:
The tiger creates terror for the villagers by snarling
around their houses as they are situated near the jungle. He frightens them by showing his white
fangs and claws.

Question 2.
Leslie Norris has described some of the activities of a tiger behind the bars of its cage. Write them.
Answer:
Some of the activities of the tiger behind the bars of its cage includes stalking along the length of the
cage, ignoring visitors, hearing patrolling cars and staring at the brilliant stars shining in the sky.

Question 3.
Describe the tiger in the cage.
Answer:
The tiger in the cage is just a diminished form of his original self. He paces up and down in the cage
restlessly. He is confined in the narrow cell and keeps staring the stars as if longing for freedom. He
is helpless and draws pity for his condition.

Question 4.
Describe the tiger in the wild.
Answer:
The tiger in the wild is majestic. He is free and lies under the shades and hunts for prey. He moves
near the water because food is in plenty there. Sometimes he growls and terrorises the villagers.

Question 5.
Why does the tiger express his rage quietly?
Answer:
The tiger expresses his rage quietly because
there is nothing he can do from behind the bars of his cage. He is helpless as his strength now lies
inside the cage. He is no longer free as he was in the jungle.

Question 6.
Where should the tiger have been according to the poet? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
The poet thinks that the tiger should have been in the jungle, lurking in the shadow of long grass to
prey on the deer near the water hole. He should also be on the outskirts of the jungle snarling around
houses and terrifying villagers.

Question 7.
How does the tiger make his presence felt in the village? [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
The tiger makes his presence felt by snarling around houses at the jungle’s edge and by showing his
white fangs and claws.

Question 8.
What does the tiger do in his cage?
Answer:
The tiger is locked in a concrete cell where he can hardly take a few steps along the length of the
cage. He doesn’t take any notice of the visitors who come there. With his shining eyes, he keeps
staring at the bright stars in the sky.

Question 9.
Why should the tiger snarl around houses at the edge of the forest?’. [CBSE 2012]
Answer:
The tiger should snarl around houses at the edge of the forest because of the following reasons.
Firstly the villagers will not disturb the peace of the forest. Secondly, they will not kill the animals for
money or just for fun.

Question 10.
What is the tiger doing? Why is he ignoring the visitors?
Answer:
The tiger is slowly and quietly moving along the length of the cage in a threatening manner. He is
ignoring the visitors because he considers them devoid of any feelings. None of them thinks of
releasing him from his prison. Thus, he stops taking any notice of them.

Question 11.
Why do you think the tiger looks at the stars?
Answer:
The tiger feels very helpless in the cage. He stares with hope at the brilliant stars shining in the sky.
He hopes for the day when he would be able to run free in the wild. The brilliant stars, thus, provides
him with some sort of comfort.

Question 12.
What does the poet convey through the poem?
Answer:
The poet tries to expose the miserable life led by the animals in the zoo. He compares the life of the
tiger in the zoo with its life at a natural habitat. The animals have the right to freedom and should not
be caged. They should be allowed to run free in the wild.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Love for freedom is the natural instinct of every living being. Comment. [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
It is rightly said that love for freedom is the natural instinct of every living being. Everyone loves
freedom and does not want to live in confinement. Similarly, the tiger also longed for freedom. He was
so fed up being caged that he even ignored the visitors. He took to and fro steps in the cage as if
trying to while away the time. The tiger wanted to escape this captivity.
God has made all living beings equally and thus, the animals too have the right to freedom. They
should not be caged. It is their right to enjoy their natural habitat i.e. the forest and run freely in the
wild. We should, thus, respect their freedom and should not put them in the zoo.

Question 2.
Is it right to confine wild animals into cages? Why or why not?
Answer:
Wild animals are meant to live in the wild. They are not meant to be caged and displayed in the zoos.
We all know that the majestic species of tiger is on the verge of extinction. There used to be a time
when they used to roam proudly and freely in the jungle. They are not meant to live a life in
confinement. They also have the right to freedom like all other living beings. Confinement leads to
depression and misery. Moreover, their offsprings lose the hunting capabilities as they are not trained
to hunt in the wild. As a result, they would not be able to feed themselves. Furthermore confining wild
animals disturbs the whole ecological balance. We should, thus, let the animals run free in the wild.
They beloijg to the forest and not to the cage.

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