Chapter 6 – Mijbil the Otter Solutions

Content structure

• 1. About the Author – Gavin Maxwell
• 2. Theme of the Mijbil the Otter
• 3. Summary of the Mijbil the Otter
  • Part – I
  • Part – II
  • Part – III
  • Part – IV
• 4. Word Meanings
• 5. Oral Comprehension Check
  • Part – II
  • Part – III
  • Part – IV
• 6. Exercise questions and answers (NCERT)
  • Thinking about the text
  • Thinking about language
  • Writing

1. About the Author – Gavin Maxwell

Gavin Maxwell was a Scottish naturalist and writer who became famous for his books about animals. He was born on 15th July 1914. His most famous book, Ring of Bright Water, tells the story of his life with an otter in a quiet part of Scotland. Maxwell loved animals and nature very much. He wrote with care and used clear, detailed words. His books still help people enjoy wildlife and understand the importance of protecting nature. He died on 7th September 1969.

2. Theme of the Mijbil the Otter

• In the story, readers learn about the author’s strong love for his pet otter, Mijbil. This shows how deeply he cares for animals and how special their bond is.
• The author shares his journey with Mijbil, from bringing him home to watching him grow and explore the world around him. This teaches us that even wild animals, when treated with love and care, can become close friends.
• He shares many funny and joyful moments with Mijbil. He loves playing in water, inventing games, and surprising everyone with his clever tricks.

Through this story, the author shows that animals are not just pets but living beings with feelings, habits, and smart minds. It teaches us to be kind, patient, and understanding towards animals.

3. Summary of the Mijbil the Otter

Part – I

In early 1956, Gavin Maxwell travelled to southern Iraq because he wanted to keep an otter as a pet instead of a dog. His home in Camusfearna was surrounded by water so he thought it would be the perfect place for an otter to live. A friend had told him that otters could be found in the Tigris marshes, where local people sometimes kept them as pets. Maxwell and his friend followed this advice and went to Basra to collect their mail hoping the otter had been sent but when they got there they found that only a letter from his friend had arrived. Maxwell wanted to contact England to ask about the otter but due to phone problems and public holidays he couldn’t get through. As a result everything was delayed and he had no idea when or if the otter would arrive. A few days later, when he finally received more mail he went to his room to read it. He was surprised to see two Arabs sitting there with a sack that was moving. They handed him a note from his friend that said, “Here’s your otter…”

Part – II

Gavin Maxwell felt that a new chapter in his life had begun the moment he opened the sack. It was a chapter filled with love for otters. The otter named Mijbil looked like a tiny dragon covered in muddy scales. It took weeks for him to clean himself properly and only then could his soft, brown fur be seen. Mij turned out to be a new kind of otter, which scientists later named Maxwell’s otter. At first, Mij was shy and stayed away but soon he became friendly, playful, and close to Maxwell. Mij loved water and often made a huge mess in the bathtub while playing happily and he even learned how to turn on the tap by himself whenever he wanted to play. He enjoyed playing with rubber balls, marbles and would lie on his belly for long stretches of time. Mij became not just a clever and joyful companion but also a loving friend who brought fun and happiness into Maxwell’s life as the days went by.

Part – III

Gavin Maxwell was worried about his pet otter Mijbil as he prepared to travel from Basra to England. He wondered how he would take Mij with him knowing that British airlines did not allow animals. So he booked a flight to Paris first and then to London. Since animals were not allowed on British airlines he decided to keep the otter in a small box for the journey. Maxwell placed Mij inside the box before going out for a quick meal but on returning he was shocked to find that Mij had injured himself while trying to escape.There was blood in the box; Mij looked weak, frightened, and helpless so Maxwell quickly repaired the box and rushed to the airport as time was running out. On the plane, a kind air hostess helped him by placing the box in a cool area she even suggested that he could hold Mij on his lap. However as soon as the box was opened Mij escaped and ran through the plane. Some passengers screamed thinking he was a rat but Mij soon came back to Maxwell looking happy and calm.

Part – IV

Gavin Maxwell and his pet otter Mijbil stayed in London for almost a month where Mij enjoyed playing with toys like marbles, rubber fruit, and especially ping-pong balls. He even invented his own game using a sloped suitcase, where he would roll the ball down and catch it with great excitement. Maxwell often walked with Mijbil just like someone would walk a pet dog and during these walks Mij developed some funny habits. One of them was running along a school wall every time they returned home which made the children and the teacher laugh. Since most people in London had never seen an otter before they made all kinds of guesses about what he was. Some thought it might be a baby seal, a walrus, a bear cub, or even a dinosaur. The funniest moment came when a confused worker looked at Mij and asked angrily “Here, Mister, what is that supposed to be?”

4. Word Meanings

Word	Meanings
Crossed my mind	I thought of it
A stone’s throw	Very near
Cabled	Sent a message
Squirmed	Wiggled uncomfortably
Thraldom	No freedom
Fixation	Stuck on one thought
Medievally – conceived	Old-fashioned idea
Christened	Named
Hostile	Very unfriendly
Aloof and indifferent	Doesn’t care
Apathy	Absence of interest
So to speak	In other words
Provoking	Making someone angry
Fumbling	Clumsy trying
Flick	A quick, light movement
Dreaded the prospect	Scared of it
An appalling spectacle	A shocking scene
Whipped off	Quickly took off
Ricochetting bullet	A bullet which changes direction after hitting a surface
Infuriated	Very angry
Took her into my confidence	Shared with her my experiences or secrets
Portly	Stout
Bounded on to	Climbed up quickly
puzzle	Rub softly
Terrapin shell	Turtle shell
Engrossed	Fully focused
Ambush	Surprise attack
Compulsive habits	Hard-to-stop habits
Upright	Standing straight
Barrage of conjectural questions	Lots of guessing questions
Squatting	Sitting low
Plunging	Falling quickly
Overturned	Upside down
Dribble	Drop slowly
Crouching	Bending your knees and staying low, like hiding

5. Oral Comprehension Check

Part – II

1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Ans: Maxwell thinks Camusfearna would be a better place to keep the otter as a pet instead of a dog.

2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
Ans: Maxwell went to basra to get an otter as a pet. He had waited there for five days because of network issues, so he did not connect with friends and did not find any flight tickets.

3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Ans: Maxwell got the otter when his friend brought it to him in a sack.
Yes, he liked it very much. Words like “otter fixation,” “I loved it,” and “my experiment had succeeded” show how much he liked and cared for the otter.

4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
Ans: The otter was called ‘Maxwell’s otter’ because it was a new kind of otter. Maxwell was the first person to take care of it and tell others about it, so people started calling it by his name.

5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was
• aloof and indifferent
• friendly
• hostile
Ans: aloof and indifferent

6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
Ans: Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, and the otter became very happy and excited. He jumped into the bathtub and started splashing water everywhere. He had so much fun that he didn’t want to stop playing. Just two days later, Mijbil learned how to turn on the tap by himself and began enjoying the running water whenever he liked.

Part – III

1. How was Mij to be transported to England?
Ans: Mij was going to be taken to England by plane. Maxwell had to put him in a metal box so he could travel safely on the flight.

2. What did Mij do to the box?
Ans: Mij didn’t like being locked inside the box. He became scared and uncomfortable, so he tried to get out. While doing this, he tore the inner lining of the box and hurt himself on the sharp edges.

3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
Ans: Maxwell put Mij back in the box because that was the only way animals were allowed on the plane. He felt sad and upset because Mij had already been hurt inside the box.

4. Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?
Ans: Maxwell said this because the airhostess was very kind and helpful. She let him keep Mij on his lap during the flight instead of inside the box.

5. What happened when the box was opened?
Ans: As soon as the box was opened, Mij jumped out and ran around the plane. The passengers were surprised, but the airhostess helped catch him and gave him back to Maxwell.

Part – IV

1. What game had Mij invented?
Ans: Mij invented a game where he would drop a rubber ball into the bathtub, then dive in to catch it before it floated away. He played this game again and again and really enjoyed it.

2. What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
(i) school children
(ii) Mij?
Ans: Compulsive habits are actions people or animals do again and again, often without thinking.

(i) School children: Maxwell says many school children have the habit of tapping their fingers on the table or playing with things while listening.
(ii) Mij: Mij’s habit was jumping on the bed and rolling around in the same way every time. He did it every day without missing.

3. What group of animals do otters belong to?
Ans: Otters belong to the musteline group of animals. This group also includes animals like weasels, badgers, and ferrets.

4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
Ans: The people in London did not know what Mij was. They guessed he might be a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a beaver, a bear cub, or even a leopard.

6. Exercise questions and answers (NCERT)

Thinking about the text

1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?
Ans: Mij shows he is intelligent by learning how to turn on the water tap by himself. He is friendly and loving because he follows Maxwell everywhere and enjoys being close to him. Mij is fun-loving because he plays happily in the water, jumps around, and makes funny movements.

2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
Ans: We learn that otters love water and enjoy playing in it. They are very active, curious, and playful. Otters can also be trained and become friendly pets. They are smart, fun-loving, and like to explore new things.

3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?
Ans: Mij belonged to a rare type of otter that was not known to scientists before. Since Maxwell was the first person to take care of it and write about it, the species was named after him and is now called “Maxwell’s otter.”

4. Maxwell in the story speaks for the otter, Mij. He tells us what the otter feels and thinks on different occasions. Given below are some things the otter does. Complete the column on the right to say what Maxwell says about what Mij feels and thinks.
Ans:

What Mij does	How Mij feels or thinks
plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash	He feels very happy and excited while playing in the water.
Screws the tap in the wrong way	He is trying to learn how the tap works, showing curiosity.
Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane	He feels safe and loving and wants to stay close to Maxwell.

5. 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.
Ans:

makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy.	True	“He spent most of his time in play, plunging and rolling in the water like a child.”
shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does.	True	“On one occasion, Mijbil had pulled the lining out of the suitcase and shredded it to pieces.”
shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does.	True	“A day or two later, Mijbil discovered that if he turned the tap slightly, water would trickle out.”
of Mij’s antics is comical.	True	“Mij would jump and roll, and play with a rubber ball or even Maxwell’s socks.”
shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully.	True	“I watched him figure out the water tap. He would sit and turn it again and again until water came out.”
shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter.	True	“Within days, he had learned how to turn the tap on his own.”
shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual.	True	“He nuzzled my face and neck in the aeroplane to show he felt safe and loved.”

Thinking about language

From the table below, make as many correct sentences as you can using would and/or used to, as appropriate. (Hint: First decide whether the words in italics show an action, or a state or situation, in the past.) Then add two or three sentences of your own to it.

Emperor Akbar		be fond of musical evenings.
Every evening we	Would	take long walks on the beach.
Fifty years ago, very few people		own cars.
Till the 1980s, Shanghai	Used to	have very dirty streets.
My uncle		spend his holidays by the sea.

Ans:
1. Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings.
2. Every evening, we would take long walks on the beach.
3. Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars.
4. Till the 1980s, Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.
5. My uncle would spend his holidays by the sea.
6. I used to play in the park every afternoon when I was a child.
7. My grandmother would tell us stories before bedtime.
8. People used to write letters instead of sending messages.

II. Noun Modifiers

1. Look at these examples from the text, and say whether the modifiers (in italics) are nouns, proper nouns, or adjective plus noun.
(i) An otter fixation
(ii) The iron railings
(iii) The Tigris marshes
(iv) The London streets
(v) Soft velvet fur
(vi) A four-footed soccer player
Ans:

Phrase	Modifier	Types of Modifier
(i) An otter fixation	Otter	Noun
(ii) The iron railings	Iron	Noun
(iii) The Tigris marshes	Tigris	Proper Noun
(iv) The London streets	London	Proper Noun
(v) Soft velvet fur	Soft velvet	Noun + Adjective
(vi) A four-footed soccer player	Four-footed	Noun + Adjective

2. Given below are some nouns, and a set of modifiers (in the box). Combine the nouns and modifiers to make as many appropriate phrases as you can. (Hint: The nouns and modifiers are all from the texts in this book.)

temple	girls	triangle	dresses
person	thoughts	boys	roar
gifts	scream	farewell	expression
time	subject	landscape	handkerchief
crossing	flight	chatterbox	profession
physique	coffee	view	celebration

college	rough	hundred	stone	ordinary
love	uncomfortable	white	slang	slack
bare	railroad	termendous	family	marriage
plump	invigorating	panoramic	heartbreaking	birthday
incorrigible	ridiculous	loud	first	three

Ans:

Modifier	Noun	Phrase
College	girls	college girls
rough	crossing	rough crossing
hundred	stone	hundred stone
ordinary	person	ordinary person
love	gifts	love gifts
uncomfortable	thoughts	uncomfortable thoughts
white	handkerchief	white handkerchief
slang	term	slang term
slack	subject	slack subject
bare	landscape	bare landscape
railroad	crossing	railroad crossing
tremendous	roar	tremendous roar
family	celebration	family celebration
marriage	gifts	marriage gifts
plump	physique	plump physique
invigorating	coffee	invigorating coffee
panoramic	view	panoramic view
heartbreaking	farewell	heartbreaking farewell
birthday	celebration	birthday celebration
incorrigible	chatterbox	incorrigible chatterbox
ridiculous	dresses	ridiculous dresses
loud	scream	loud scream
first	flight	first flight
three	boys	three boys
soft	handkerchief	soft handkerchief
family	profession	family profession
panoramic	landscape	panoramic landscape

1. Match the words on the left with a word on the right. Some words on the left can go with more than one word on the right.

(i) a portion of – blood
(ii) a pool of – cotton
(iii) flakes of – stones
(iv) a huge heap of – gold
(v) a gust of – fried fish
(vi) little drops of – snow
(vii) a piece of – water
(viii) a pot of – wind
Ans:

(i) a portion of	ied fish
(ii) a pool of	blood
(iii) flakes of	snow
(iv) a huge heap of	stone/cotton
(v) a gust of	wind
(vi) little drops of	water/blood
(vii) a piece of	gold/fried fish
(viii) a pot of	gold

2. Use a bit of/a piece of/a bunch of/a cloud of/a lump of with the italicised nouns in the following sentences. The first has been done for you as an example.

(i) My teacher gave me some My teacher gave me a bit of advice. advice.
(ii) Can you give me some clay, please.
(iii) The information you gave was very useful.
(iv) Because of these factories, smoke hangs over the city.
(v) Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks of fire.
(vi) He gave me some flowers on my birthday.

Ans:
(i) My teacher gave me some advice. My teacher gave me a bit of advice.
(ii) Can you give me some clay, please. Can you give me a lump of clay, please?
(iii) The information you gave was very useful. The piece of information you gave was very useful.
(iv) Because of these factories, smoke hangs over the city. Because of these factories, a cloud of smoke hangs over the city.
(v) Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks of fire. Two stones rubbed together can produce a bit of fire.
(vi) He gave me some flowers on my birthday. He gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.

Writing

Write a description of a person or an animal (such as a pet) that you know very well and love very much. Questions (4) and (5) in ‘Thinking about the Text’ will have given you some idea about how to do this. Mention some things the person or animal does, what you think the person or animal feels, etc.

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