CBSE 10 English Chapter 6 – Mijbil the Otter Additional Questions and Answers

Content structure

  • A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
    • Part – I
    • Part – II
    • Part – III
    • Part – IV
  • B. Fill in the blanks
  • C. True or False
  • D. Short questions & answers
    • Part – I
    • Part – II
    • Part – III
    • Part – IV
  • E. Long questions & answers

A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

Part – I

1. When did the author travel to Southern Iraq?
(a) In summer 1955
(b) In early 1956
(c) At the end of 1956
(d) In early 1957

Ans: (b) In early 1956

2. In the Tigris marshes, otters were as common as:
(a) Camels
(b) Mosquitoes
(c) Trees
(d) Fish

Ans: (b) Mosquitoes

3. What pet did the author want to keep instead of a dog?
(a) A cat
(b) A monkey
(c) An otter
(d) A rabbit

Ans: (c) An otter

4. Why did the author and his friend go to Basra?
(a) To meet a doctor
(b) To buy food
(c) To collect mail from Europe
(d) To see the zoo

Ans: (c) To collect mail from Europe

5. How much time passed before the author made a phone call?
(a) 1 hour
(b) 1 day
(c) 3 hours
(d) 3 days

Ans: (d) 3 days

6. What did the author do first when his mail didn’t come?
(a) Called his friend
(b) Went shopping
(c) Sent a cable to England
(d) Went to sleep

Ans: (c) Sent a cable to England

7. What did the note from his friend say?
(a) “Sorry, no otter.”
(b) “Wait a little longer.”
(c) “Here is your otter…”
(d) “Come home soon.”

Ans: (c) “Here is your otter…”

Part – II

1. What kind of animal was Mijbil?
(a) Juggles
(b) Objects
(c) Small
(d) Otter

Ans: (d) Otter

2. What habit of otters did the author notice?
(a) Overflows
(b) Characteristic
(c) Water
(d) Sploshed

Ans: (b) Characteristic

3. How did Mijbil feel when the tap didn’t work?
(a) Tap
(b) Irritation
(c) Disappearing
(d) Joy

Ans: (b) Irritation

4. What kind of ball did Mijbil love to play with?
(a) Glass
(b) Cotton
(c) Plastic
(d) Rubber

Ans: (d) Rubber

5. Mijbil threw the ball using a powerful flick of his _________________
(a) Leg
(b) Tail
(c) Neck
(d) Paw

Ans: (c) Neck

6. What were Mijbil’s favourite toys?
(a) Game
(b) Treat
(c) Toys
(d) Marbles

Ans: (d) Marbles

7. What did Mij look like when he first came out of the sack?
(a) Dinosaur
(b) Cat
(c) Dragon
(d) Dog

Ans: (c) Dragon

8. What covered Mijbil’s body when he came out of the sack?
(a) Hair
(b) Paws
(c) Scales
(d) Spikes

Ans: (c) Scales

9. How long did it take to clean all the mud from Mij’s body?
(a) Week
(b) Day
(c) Month
(d) Hour

Ans: (c) Month

10. Who officially gave Mij’s species a name?
(a) Biologists
(b) Scientists
(c) Zoologists
(d) Teachers

Ans: (c) Zoologists

11. Where on the author’s body did Mij sleep?
(a) Knees
(b) Arms
(c) Back
(d) Feet

Ans: (a) Knees

12. Where did Mij enjoy himself the most?
(a) Garden
(b) Water
(c) Kitchen
(d) Bed

Ans: (b) Water

13. Which large animal is Mij’s splashing compared to?
(a) Whale
(b) Hippo
(c) Dog
(d) Seal

Ans: (b) Hippo

14. Where did Mij swim up and down excitedly?
(a) Bathtub
(b) Pool
(c) Pond
(d) River

Ans: (a) Bathtub

15. Which direction did Mij turn the tap to get water flowing?
(a) Left
(b) Wrong
(c) Right
(d) Fast

Ans: (c) Right

Part – III

1. How far was the airport from the author’s location?
(a) 10 miles
(b) 5 miles
(c) 2 miles
(d) 8 miles

Ans: (b) 5 miles

2. What word did the author use to describe the sight of the torn box and blood?
(a) Strange
(b) Appalling
(c) Interesting
(d) Unusual

Ans: (b) Appalling

3. Where was Mij kept while travelling?
(a) A small cage
(b) A soft bag
(c) A basket
(d) A box

Ans: (d) A box

4. How much time was left until the flight when the author finished fixing the box?
(a) 30 minutes
(b) 1 hour
(c) 10 minutes
(d) 5 minutes

Ans: (c) 10 minutes

5. How did the driver drive to the airport?
(a) Slowly and calmly
(b) Like a ricochetting bullet
(c) With many stops
(d) Lost in traffic

Ans: (b) Like a ricochetting bullet

6. What did the author place on the floor near his feet?
(a) A towel
(b) A cloth
(c) Newspapers
(d) A rug

Ans: (c) Newspapers

7. What happened when the author tried to catch Mij?
(a) He slipped
(b) He caught him quickly
(c) He fell asleep
(d) He got curry on his face

Ans: (d) He got curry on his face

8. What did the author give to the air hostess for Mij?
(a) A water bottle
(b) A parcel of fish
(c) A blanket
(d) A box of snacks

Ans: (b) A parcel of fish

Part – IV

1. How long did Mij and the author stay in London?
(a) One week
(b) Nearly a month
(c) Three days
(d) Two months

Ans: (b) Nearly a month

2. Where did the terrapin shell come from?
(a) A toy shop
(b) The sea
(c) The marshes
(d) A zoo

Ans: (c) The marshes

3. What animal was Mij walked like?
(a) A rabbit
(b) A cat
(c) A dog
(d) A bird

Ans: (c) A dog

4. How high was the school wall that Mij ran along?
(a) Two feet
(b) Ten feet
(c) One foot
(d) Four feet

Ans: (a) Two feet

5. Otters are part of which animal group?
(a) Felines
(b) Canines
(c) Mustellines
(d) Rodents

Ans: (c) Mustellines

6. How long was the wall Mij ran across?
(a) 10 yards
(b) 20 yards
(c) 30 yards
(d) 40 yards

Ans: (c) 30 yards

7. Which animal is not a Mustelline?
(a) Badger
(b) Mongoose
(c) Monkey
(d) Weasel

Ans: (c) Monkey

8. What fun game did Mij play with a ping-pong ball?
(a) Catch and roll
(b) Jump and bark
(c) Throw and hide
(d) Balance and drop

Ans: (a) Catch and roll

B. Fill in the blanks

1. The author was reduced to ____________ at some of the guesses. (giggles)
2. Mij liked to play with ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, and a ____________. (terrapin shell)
3. Mij placed the ball at the high end, and it would ____________ down. (run)
4. Mij developed some ________________ habits during his walks. (compulsive)
5. Mij would pass to the outside of every second __________ post. (lamp)
6. The pupils and staff became ___________________ when Mij ran on the wall.(distracted)
7. Otters belong to a small group of animals called ________________. (Mustellines)
8. The author laughed when someone asked if Mij was a __________________. (walrus)
9. The labourer put down his tool and placed his hands on his __________________. (hips)
10. The author said Mij would spring up and take the ball by _____________. (surprise)
11. The author described Mij’s habits as similar to those of _________________. (children)
12. Mij would gallop the full length of the wall with great ________________. (energy)
13. Children often step in the center of every _______________ block. (paving)
14. Mij’s playful behavior showed that animals can create their own forms of _____________. (entertainment)
15. Mij would _________________ behind the ball to surprise it. (crouch)

D. True or False

1. Mij did not enjoy playing with toys. (False)
S/S: No, Mij loved playing. He would play with balls, marbles, and even a terrapin shell for hours.

2. Mij ran to the low end of the suitcase to catch the ball. (True)
S/S: Yes, he put the ball at the top and quickly ran to the bottom to catch it.

3. Mij developed habits during walks, like touching lamp posts. (True)
S/S: He had funny habits while walking, like touching every lamp post, just like some kids do.

4. Mij liked to run on the wall both on the way out and back. (False)
S/S: He only ran on the wall when they were coming back, not when going out.

5. The children and teachers were distracted by Mij’s wall-running. (True)
S/S: When Mij ran on the wall, all the kids and teachers stopped and watched him with surprise.

6. Otters are part of the Mustelline group of animals. (True)
S/S: Otters belong to a small animal family that also includes weasels and badgers.

7. Mij used the same toy every time he played. (False)
S/S: No, Mij had many toys like ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, and even a terrapin shell.

8. Mij’s strange habits annoyed the author. (False)
S/S: The author enjoyed watching Mij’s funny and interesting behavior.

9. The suitcase was damaged during the trip back from Iraq. (True)
S/S: Yes, the author said the suitcase got damaged on the journey home from Iraq.

10. The Mustellines include animals like weasels and badgers. (True)
S/S: Animals like weasels, badgers, and mongooses belong to the same group as otters.

E. Short questions & answers

Part – I

1. When did the narrator travel to Southern Iraq?
Ans: The narrator traveled to Southern Iraq early in the New Year of 1956. During this trip, he first thought about keeping an otter as a pet instead of a dog.

2. Why did the narrator think Camusfearna was a good place for an otter?
Ans: The narrator thought Camusfearna was a good place for an otter because it had water all around it. Otters love to swim and play in water, so he felt his home was a perfect and comfortable place for an otter to live.

3. Why were the narrator and his friend going to Basra?
Ans: The narrator and his friend went to Basra to visit the Consulate-General. They went there to collect their mail that had come from Europe and also to reply to the letters they had received.

4. What problems did the narrator face while trying to call England?
Ans: The narrator had to book the call a day in advance, which made it slow. On the first day, the phone line didn’t work. On the second day, the telephone exchange was closed for a holiday, and on the third day, the line broke again.

Part – II

1. What did the otter look like when it came out of the sack?
Ans: The otter looked like a tiny dragon from old stories. Its body was covered in dried mud that looked like little scales, and beneath the mud was soft chocolate-brown fur, just like a mole’s.

2. What did zoologists name this new kind of otter?
Ans: The scientists named Mijbil Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, which means Maxwell’s otter. They chose this name to honour the narrator, who discovered this rare type of otter that had never been seen by science before.

3. What game did Mijbil play with a rubber ball?
Ans: Mijbil used to roll the rubber ball all around the room using his four feet, almost like he was playing football. He moved quickly and seemed to enjoy chasing and pushing the ball as part of his fun game.

4. How did Mijbil spend most of his time?
Ans: Mijbil spent most of his time playing. He loved running around, exploring new things, and having fun with his toys. He was full of energy and always curious about everything around him.

5. What was Mijbil’s favorite toy for juggling?
Ans: Mijbil’s favorite toy for juggling was marbles. He would lie on his back and roll them up and down his belly using his paws without dropping them.

Part – III

1. What travel plan did the narrator make for Mij?
Ans: The narrator found out that the British airline didn’t allow animals, so he booked a flight to Paris with a different airline. From there, he planned a trip to London, taking Mij with him in a small box during the flight.

2. What did the narrator give the air hostess?
Ans: The narrator gave the air hostess a packet of fish for Mij and asked her to keep it in a cool place. He also explained what had happened with the otter and how Mij had struggled inside the box before the flight.

3. What did the air hostess suggest?
Ans: The air hostess kindly suggested that the narrator could keep Mij on his lap during the flight instead of leaving him in the box.

Part – IV

1. What toys did Mij like to play with?
Ans: Mij loved playing with ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, and a terrapin shell. He spent hours having fun with these toys and especially enjoyed making up games with the ping-pong ball.

2. What kind of animals are otters related to?
Ans: Otters belong to a group of animals called Mustellines, which also includes badgers, weasels, stoats, mink, and mongooses.

3. Did Mij run on the wall on the way to the walk?
Ans: No, Mij never ran on the wall while going out for his walk. He only did this fun run on the way back home.

4. What funny habits did Mij develop during walks?
Ans: Mij developed some funny little habits while going on his daily walks. He liked to follow the same path in the same way, just like some children who enjoy stepping only on certain tiles or touching the same things every time.

F. Long questions & answers

1. Why was the narrator worried about traveling with Mij to England?
Ans: The narrator was worried because the airline he planned to use didn’t allow animals. So, he had to find another flight and arrange a special box for Mij. He was afraid the journey might be difficult and stressful, especially with a wild animal like an otter. Still, he wanted to make sure Mij was safe and could travel home with him.

2. How did Mij react to his first bath in the bathroom?
Ans: The narrator took Mij to the bathroom for his first bath, and Mij became very excited. He jumped into the bathtub, splashed water everywhere, and swam back and forth under the water. He rolled around happily, showing how much he loved it. The narrator was amazed to see his joy. Mij, just like most otters, didn’t enjoy still water and always wanted it to move, so if it didn’t, he would splash until it did.

3. How did the air hostess help the narrator?
Ans: The narrator told the air hostess everything that had happened with Mij, and she was really kind and understanding. He gave her a packet of fish to keep cool for Mij, and she kindly suggested that he could keep Mij on his lap during the flight. The narrator felt so thankful that he even said he felt like kissing her hand. Her kindness made him feel relaxed and showed how caring people can be when someone needs help.

4. What special kind of otter was Mijbil?
Ans: Mijbil turned out to be a rare kind of otter that scientists had never seen before. After learning more about him, they gave him a special name, Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, which means Maxwell’s otter otter named after the narrator. The narrator felt proud and happy to have discovered such a unique otter. Mijbil wasn’t just a smart and playful pet he also became an important discovery in the world of animals.

5. What happened when Mij was let out of the box on the plane?
Ans: Mij came out of the box full of energy and ran straight down the aisle of the plane, surprising everyone around him. Some people screamed, and one woman even shouted, thinking he was a rat. He ran under people’s legs and caused quite a bit of chaos. The narrator tried to catch him but couldn’t. It turned into a wild and funny moment that no one on the plane was likely to forget.

6. What did the otter look like when it came out of the sack?
Ans: The otter looked a bit like a tiny dragon from an old story when it first came out of the sack. Its body was covered in dry mud that looked like sharp little scales, but underneath was soft, brown fur. It took almost a month to clean off all the mud and see what the otter truly looked like. The narrator liked the otter a lot from the beginning.

7. What strange guesses did people make about Mij in London?
Ans: People in London didn’t know what kind of animal Mij was, so they made all sorts of funny guesses. Some thought he was a baby seal, a squirrel, a bear cub, or even a dinosaur. One man even asked if Mij was a walrus. The narrator found it really funny that no one guessed he was an otter. It showed that many people had probably never seen an otter before.

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