Chapter 1 – How the Camel got his hump

Content Structure

  • 1. About the author – (Rudyard Kipling)
  • 2. Theme
  • 3. Summary
  • 4. Unit wise explanation
    • Unit – I
    • Unit – II
  • 5. Word meanings
  • 6. Comprehension Check
    • Unit – I
    • Unit – II
  • 7. Exercise questions & answers
  • 8. Additional questions & answers
    • Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
      • Unit – I
      • Unit – II
    • Fill in the blanks
    • True or false
    • Match the following
    • Short-type questions & answers
      • Unit – I
      • Unit – II
    • Long-type questions & answers

1. About the author – (Rudyard Kipling)

Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865 but later went to England to study. He was known as a famous writer and poet. His stories were about animals, different kinds of adventures, and life in India. Many of his stories came from his imagination. His most famous book was The Jungle Book, which tells the story of a boy named Mowgli. Some of his other well-known books were Kim, Just So Stories, and Captains Courageous. His stories were turned into movies and cartoons that many people enjoy watching. He became the first English writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.

2. Theme

  • Firstly, the story teaches us the difference between hard work and laziness.
  • Secondly, the story shows the importance of sharing and teamwork. When everyone works together the work becomes easier.
  • Thirdly, the poet shows that the camel was a lazy animal who didn’t like to work hard or store food.
  • Lastly, the poet teaches us that every problem has a solution and also explains the importance of the camel’s hump.

3. Summary

In the story, the camel is shown as a lazy animal who did not like to work or help others. Long ago, when the world had just begun, all the animals worked hard and helped one another. The horse, dog, and ox worked together, but the camel lived alone in the howling desert and did not help anyone. When the animals asked him to work, he only said, “Humph!” The animals got upset and told the Djinn about the camel. After hearing everything, the Djinn fixed a meeting with all the animals near the desert. To teach the camel a lesson, the Djinn gave him a big hump that could store food so he could work for three days without eating. But even after this, the camel still did not want to work. The Djinn told him to help other animals, but the camel kept complaining about his hump and stayed lazy because he did not want to change his behavior.

Moral of the Story: Lazy people can not fix things even when the way to do it is simple.

4. Unit wise explanation

Unit – I

At the beginning, when the world was new, all the animals started working, but the camel was lazy and lived alone in the howling desert. He did not work and only ate sticks and thorns. Whenever someone spoke to him, he just said, “Humph!” On Monday, the horse, the dog, and the ox went to the camel and asked for help. The horse was carrying people and heavy things, so he wanted help with the load. The dog was collecting sticks and guarding the house, so he asked the camel to help carry the sticks. The ox was ploughing the field and needed help with the farming work. All three animals were tired and wanted the camel to do his share. But the camel just said, “Humph!” and did nothing. The three animals became angry and told the Djinn about the lazy camel. The Djinn said they would have to work extra because the camel refused to help. After hearing this, the animals became very angry so the Djinn decided to call a meeting near the desert to discuss what to do. In the meeting, all the animals complained about the camel, but the camel just laughed and said, “Humph!” again. The Djinn decided to teach the camel a lesson. He gave the camel a big hump that could store food for three days. Now, the camel could work long hours without eating, so he had to work like the other animals.

Unit – II

After getting the hump, the lazy camel looked at himself in the water. Meanwhile, the Djinn and the other animals were searching for him. After some time, the Djinn found the camel near the river and asked, “Why are you not working like the other animals?” The lazy camel only said, “Humph.” The Djinn angrily said, “Do not say that again.” But the camel still said, “Humph.” The Djinn said, “Now, you must go and work like the other animals.” But the camel complained that he had a big hump and could not work. Then, the Djinn explained that the hump helped store food for three days, so he could work long hours without eating. The camel said he had his hump for a long time, but he never worked to make up for the three days because he was lazy and never changed his behavior.

5. Word meanings

WordMeaning
Pricklessharp points on plants
SaddleA seat of a horse
TrotA way a horse moves
FetchBring something back
YokeA wooden piece put on oxen’s necks to help them pull heavy things.
DjinnA magic spirit
StrokeA single move like brushing
Dust-cloakA coat to block dust
Puffing upGetting bigger
AbleCan do something

6. Comprehension Check

Unit – I

1. What tasks, do you think, were assigned to the dog and the ox?
Ans: The dog came to the camel with a stick in his mouth and asked him to help carry sticks. The ox came with a yoke on his neck and asked the camel to help him plough the field.

2. Why did the camel live in the middle of the desert?
Ans: The camel lived in the middle of the desert because he was very lazy. He didn’t want to work or help the other animals, so he stayed alone in the desert.

3. What made the dog, the horse, and the ox very angry?
Ans: The dog, the horse, and the ox were very angry because the lazy camel refused to help them with their work. They were working hard for humans, while the camel did nothing and only said, “Humph!” This made them upset and angry.

4. How did the Djinn know the horse was complaining against the camel?
Ans: The Djinn knew the horse was complaining because the horse explained that the camel had refused to help with the work. Rather than doing his share, the camel only said, ‘Humph!’

Unit – II

1. The camel was looking at its own reflection in the pool. What does it suggest to you about the camel?
Ans: The camel was looking at his reflection in the water after getting his hump. This shows that he was pleased with his hump and more focused on how it looked. However, he did not think about the need to work hard or help the other animals.

2. The camel said, “Humph” repeatedly. How did it affect him?
Ans: The camel kept saying ‘Humph’ over and over again, which made the animals and the Djinn very angry because it showed he did not care about working or helping others

3. What, according to the Djinn, was the use of the “humph”?
Ans: According to the Djinn, the hump was useful because it stored food for three days. This way the camel could work for long hours without eating. The hump helped the camel stay strong for work, making him different from the other animals.

4. “…he has never yet learned to behave.” In light of this, what is the writer’s opinion about the camel?
Ans: The writer thinks the camel is very lazy because, even though he got the hump, he didn’t change his lazy behavior. The camel never wanted to behave like the other animals, help others, or work hard.

7. Exercise questions & answers

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. Can this story be factually true?
Ans: No, this story is not factually true. It is a fictional tale that explains how the camel got its hump. While the story imagines that the hump stores food for the camel it also shows the camel as a lazy character who even after receiving the hump as a solution did not work hard or think about helping others. The story uses imagination to give the camel a reason for having a hump but this explanation is not based on real facts.

2. What, according to you, is the story about?
Consider the following:
(i) How the world began.
(ii) Why everyone should do his/her share of work seriously.
(iii) How animals are important to humans.
(iv) How the camel got his hump.
Ans:
(i) When the world began, all animals worked hard and helped each other.
(ii) Everyone worked together and shared their work because working together makes it easier.
(iii) The camel got his hump from the Djinn.

3. What did you do over the weekend? Were you generally active or idle? Please check your back before starting to discuss or answer the question.
Ans: Over the weekend, I did many things like playing, studying, resting, and helping at home. I was generally active because I did a lot of work. Before answering, I checked my back to make sure I had not grown a hump like the camel.

4. There are broadly two categories of workers — those who prefer to do today what they can do tomorrow and those who prefer to do tomorrow what they can do today. Where do you belong?
Ans: There are two types of workers. Some people like to finish their work today, while others wait and do it later. I belong to the first group because I like to finish my work on time.

8. Additional questions & answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

Unit – I

1. What did the camel eat?
(a) Fruits
(b) Bread
(c) Meat
(d) Sticks and thorns

Ans: (d) Sticks and thorns

2. Who came to the camel after the horse?
(a) Dog
(b) Cow
(c) Elephant
(d) Lion

Ans: (a) Dog

3. Which animal came to the camel first?
(a) Dog
(b) Ox
(c) Horse
(d) Cat

Ans: (c) Horse

4. What was the dog carrying in his mouth?
(a) A bone
(b) A stick
(c) A ball
(d) A fish

Ans: (b) A stick

5. Why did the camel live alone in the desert?
(a) He did not want to help others
(b) He did not want to work
(c) Both a & b
(d) None of these

Ans: (c) Both a & b

6. Who came rolling in a cloud of dust?
(a) The Djinn
(b) The Man
(c) The Lion
(d) The Bird

Ans: (a) The Djinn

7. Who asked the camel to fetch and carry?
(a) Horse
(b) Dog
(c) Ox
(d) Man

Ans: (b) Dog

8. What did the man tell the horse, dog, and ox?
(a) “Go and work”
(b) “Work double-time”
(c) “Take a rest”
(d) “Go and play”

Ans: (b) “Work double-time”

9. What did the horse ask the Djinn?
(a) “Is it right to be idle?”
(b) “Can you help us work?”
(c) “Where is the Camel?”
(d) “Can we take a break?”

Ans: (a) “Is it right to be idle?”

10. What does the word “idle” mean in the story?
(a) Working hard
(b) Not doing any work
(c) Running fast
(d) Playing with friends

Ans: (b) Not doing any work

Unit – II

1. What did the Djinn wear?
(a) A red hat
(b) A dust jacket
(c) A golden crown
(d) A dust-cloak

Ans: (d) A dust-cloak

2. What did the camel keep looking at?
(a) His food
(b) The Djinn
(c) His reflection in the water
(d) The other animals

Ans: (c) His reflection in the water

3. How did the Djinn sit down?
(a) With his arms crossed
(b) With his chin in his hand
(c) With his legs in the air
(d) With his hands on his knees

Ans: (b) With his chin in his hand

4. What is the lesson from the story?
(a) Laziness has consequences
(b) Camels are the fastest animals
(c) Djinns live in the forest
(d) Saying “Humph” is good

Ans: (a) Laziness has consequences

5. Why did the Djinn give the Camel a hump?
(a) To punish him
(b) To help him work without eating
(c) To make him look different
(d) To make him slow

Ans: (b) To help him work without eating

6. What day was it when the Djinn talked to the Camel?
(a) Monday
(b) Tuesday
(c) Wednesday
(d) Thursday

Ans: (d) Thursday

7. How many days of work did the Camel miss?
(a) One day
(b) Two days
(c) Three days
(d) Four days

Ans: (c) Three days

Fill in the blanks

1. The story teaches us that being __________________ is not good. (lazy)
2. The Djinn told the Camel he could now work without __________. (eating)
3. The Djinn found the Camel looking at his own _____________ in the water. (reflection)
4. The Djinn was in charge of all __________. (desert animals)
5. The man told the three animals to work ___________. (double time)
6. The ox had a ____________ on his neck. (yoke)
7. The animals called a _____________ to talk about the camel. (panchayat)
8. The camel ate sticks, thorns, and _____________. (prickles)
9. The dog said to the camel ____________ and ____________ the sticks. (Fetch and carry)
10. The horse asked the camel to _____________ like the rest. (trot and work)

True or false

1. The camel liked to work hard. (False)

2. The dog carried meat in his mouth. (False)

3. The horse came to the camel on Monday morning. (True)

4. The camel got a hump as a solution to his laziness. (True)

5. The camel did not help the animals with his work. (True)

6. The Djinn came to the camel to give him the hump. (True)

7. The camel cried at the meeting. (False)

8. The camel worked for five days without eating. (False)

9. The camel lived in a desert alone. (True)

10. After getting the hump, the camel started working with other animals. (False)

Match the following

Column AColumn B
(i) Idlenessa) The way animals run
(ii) Saddleb) Magic desert spirit
(iii) Trotc) The end of something
(iv) Cud d) Complained
(v) Remonstratede) Food animals chew again
(vi) Edgef) Seat on an animal
(vii) Djing) Laziness

Ans:

Column AColumn B
(i) Idlenessg) Laziness
(ii) Saddlef) Seat on an animal
(iii) Trota) The way animals run
(iv) Cude) Food animals chew again
(v) Remonstratedd) Complained
(vi) Edgec) The end of something
(vii) Djinb) Magic desert spirit

Short-type questions & answers

Unit – I

1. Where did the camel live?
Ans: The camel lived alone in the middle of a vast, empty desert because he was too lazy and did not want to help the other animals.

2. When did the horse visit the camel? Why?
Ans: On Monday morning, the horse went to the camel and asked him to help with his work, just like the other animals. The horse wanted the camel to carry a load and work together with him. But the camel refused to help and only said, “Humph!”

3. Why did the ox visit the camel?
Ans: The ox went to the camel with a heavy wooden yoke on his neck. He asked the camel to help him plow the field because it was hard work. But the camel didn’t want to help and just said, “Humph.”

4. Describe the camel’s character.
Ans: The camel was very lazy. He lived alone in the desert and did not want to help anyone. He only ate sticks, thorns, and sharp plants.

5. Who was the Djinn? Why did he give the camel a hump?
Ans: The Djinn was a powerful spirit who ruled the desert. He wanted to teach the camel a lesson about working hard, just like the other animals. So, he gave the camel a hump to work and help others.

Unit – II

1. What did the camel do first after getting the hump?
Ans: After getting the hump, the camel went to the river to look at his reflection in the water because he was interested in his new hump and wanted to see it.

2. How many days did the camel not work?
Ans: The camel did not work for three days because he was too lazy. He refused to help the other animals and chose to stay idle instead of working.

3. What does the story teach us?
Ans: The story teaches us that being lazy is not good. It shows that if you are lazy you will always face problems even if there is a solution. The story also tells us that when we work together with others it makes our tasks easier and we can get things done faster.

4. How did the hump help the camel?
Ans: The hump helped the camel by storing food inside so he could work for three days without needing to eat.

5. Why didn’t the camel change his behavior?
Ans: After getting the hump, the camel did not change because he was still too lazy to work. He did not want to help others, even with the hump.

Long-type questions & answers

1. What lesson does the poet teach in the stories “How the Camel Got His Hump”?
Ans: The poet, Rudyard Kipling, teaches us the importance of hard work and working together in the story “How the Camel Got His Hump.” He shows that when everyone works together, the task becomes easier. In the story, the lazy camel did not want to help the other animals, so the Djinn gave him a hump to store food. This way, the camel could work without eating for three days but even after getting the hump, the camel stayed lazy. This teaches us that if someone is lazy, even a good solution won’t make them work because they do not want to change. The poet also shows that working alone is harder, but when we work together, the job gets done faster and easier.

2. Who was lazy in the story, and how did the Djinn try to help the camel?
Ans: The camel was a lazy animal. He lived alone in a big desert because he did not like to work or help others. The other animals were angry with him and went to the Djinn, the ruler of the desert to complain. The Djinn told them they would have to work harder because of the camel’s laziness which made the animals even angrier. To teach the camel a lesson the Djinn gave him a big hump. The hump stored food, helping the camel to work for long hours without eating. This was the solution for his laziness but even with the hump the camel still did not work better or change his behavior.

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