HOW TO TELL WILD ANIMALS –SUMMARY AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR BOARD EXAMINATION ( CBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH)

HOW TO TELL WILD ANIMALS –SUMMARY AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR BOARD EXAMINATION ( CBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH)

Detailed Summary

The humorous poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” by Carolyn Wells describes different wild animals in a funny and imaginative way. Instead of giving scientific information, the poet explains how someone might recognize animals if they accidentally meet them in the jungle.

The poem begins with the poet imagining that a person is walking through the forests of Asia. Suddenly, a large and dangerous animal appears. The poet jokingly says that if the animal hugs you very tightly and kills you, then you can be sure it was an Asian Lion.

Next, the poet talks about the Bengal Tiger, a powerful animal that lives in India and other parts of Asia. The tiger is described as a yellow animal with black stripes. The poet humorously says that if the tiger eats you immediately, then you will understand that it was a Bengal Tiger.

The poet then moves on to the Leopard. If you see a leopard, it will jump at you repeatedly. Even if you cry or shout for help, it will not stop attacking you. In this funny explanation, the poet suggests that if the animal keeps jumping on you again and again, it is probably a leopard.

After that, the poem talks about the Bear. The poet says that if you think you are seeing a bear but are not sure, you should look carefully. If the animal hugs you very hard, it may indeed be a bear. The description again uses humor because the person would not survive to confirm the identity.

Finally, the poet describes animals like the Hyena and the Crocodile. The hyena is known for its strange laughter. If an animal looks like it is laughing while attacking you, then it must be a hyena. The crocodile, on the other hand, is famous for shedding “crocodile tears.” The poet jokes that if the animal cries while eating you, it must be a crocodile.

Overall, the poem is not meant to give real survival tips. Instead, it is written in a playful and humorous tone. The poet uses irony and exaggeration to make readers laugh while describing wild animals. The poem also reminds us that wild animals are dangerous and that humans should stay away from them.

A. SHORT QUESTION ANSWERS

1. Who wrote the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”?

Ans: The poem “How to Tell Wild Animals” was written by Carolyn Wells. She was an American poet and writer who often wrote humorous poems and stories. In this poem, she uses comedy and imagination to describe dangerous animals. Instead of giving real facts, she explains in a funny way how someone might recognize animals in the jungle.

2. What is the poem mainly about?

Ans: The poem talks about different wild animals and how a person might recognize them if they suddenly meet them in the jungle. However, the poet describes the animals in a humorous and exaggerated way. The poem is not meant to teach real survival skills but to entertain readers through funny descriptions.

3. How can a person identify the Asian Lion according to the poem?

Ans: According to the poet, the Asian Lion can be recognized if it attacks a person and hugs them tightly before killing them. This description is humorous because the person would not survive the attack to identify the lion. The poet uses this exaggeration to make the poem funny.

4. How does the poet describe the Bengal Tiger?

Ans: The Bengal Tiger is described as a yellow animal with black stripes. The poet humorously says that if the tiger sees you, it will eat you quickly. By the time you realize what happened, it will already be too late. This funny description highlights the tiger’s dangerous nature.

5. What does the poet say about the Leopard?

Ans: The poet explains that the leopard will keep jumping on its victim again and again. Even if the person screams or cries loudly, the leopard will not stop attacking. Through this exaggerated description, the poet humorously explains how someone might identify a leopard.

6. How can someone recognize a Bear?

Ans: According to the poem, a bear can be recognized by its strong and tight hug. If the animal hugs a person very firmly, it may be a bear. The poet again uses humor because such a hug would be dangerous and the person would not survive to confirm the animal.

7. Why is the Hyena mentioned in the poem?

Ans: The hyena is mentioned because it is known for its strange laughing sound. The poet says that if an animal seems to be laughing while attacking you, it is probably a hyena. This description adds humor to the poem and makes the situation sound ironic.

8. What are “crocodile tears”?

Ans: “Crocodile tears” refers to fake or false tears. In the poem, the poet says that if an animal is crying while eating you, it must be a crocodile. The phrase is used humorously and also shows the ironic nature of the poem.

9. What tone does the poet use in the poem?

Ans: The poet uses a humorous and playful tone throughout the poem. Even though the poem talks about dangerous animals, the descriptions are exaggerated and funny. This tone makes the poem entertaining rather than frightening.

10. What is the main message of the poem?

Ans: The poem mainly aims to entertain readers through humor and imagination. It also indirectly reminds us that wild animals are dangerous and should not be approached. The poet uses funny situations to make the descriptions interesting and memorable.

B. LONG QUESTION ANSWERS

1. Describe the humorous elements in the poem.

Ans:The poem is full of humor and exaggeration. Instead of giving scientific details about animals, the poet describes them in a playful and imaginative way. For example, the poet says that if an animal hugs you tightly and kills you, it must be a lion. Similarly, if a tiger sees you, it will eat you quickly before you even realize it. These descriptions are funny because they are exaggerated and unrealistic. The poet also uses irony, such as describing the laughing hyena and the crying crocodile. These humorous elements make the poem enjoyable and entertaining for readers.

2. How does the poet describe the Bengal Tiger?

Ans:The poet describes the Bengal Tiger as a large and powerful animal with a yellow body and black stripes. According to the poem, if someone meets a tiger in the jungle, the tiger will attack and eat the person quickly. The poet humorously says that by the time you understand what is happening, it will already be too late. This description shows the dangerous nature of the tiger but in a funny and exaggerated manner. Instead of frightening readers, the poet makes the situation humorous by presenting it in a light and playful tone.

3. Explain how the poet describes the Leopard and the Bear.

Ans:The poet describes the leopard as an animal that keeps jumping on its victim again and again. Even if the person cries or screams, the leopard will not stop attacking. This exaggerated description shows the aggressive nature of the leopard. The bear, on the other hand, is described as an animal that hugs its victim very tightly. If a person receives a strong and crushing hug, it is probably from a bear. These descriptions are humorous because they imagine impossible situations where the victim identifies the animal after being attacked.

4. What role do irony and exaggeration play in the poem?

Ans:Irony and exaggeration play an important role in making the poem funny and entertaining. The poet exaggerates the behavior of animals to create humorous situations. For example, the poet suggests that someone can identify a lion or tiger even after being attacked. This idea is clearly unrealistic and therefore humorous. Irony is also used in the descriptions of the hyena and the crocodile. The hyena appears to laugh while attacking, and the crocodile cries while eating its prey. These ironic and exaggerated descriptions make the poem lively and amusing.

5. What do we learn from the poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”?

Ans:Although the poem is humorous, it indirectly teaches an important lesson. It reminds readers that wild animals are dangerous and should be respected. The poet does not give real advice about identifying animals. Instead, she uses funny and exaggerated situations to entertain readers. Through these humorous descriptions, the poem shows that meeting wild animals in the jungle can be risky. At the same time, it encourages readers to enjoy poetry and imagination. The playful tone makes the poem memorable and enjoyable for students.

C. MCQs  

1. Who is the poet of “How to Tell Wild Animals”?

A. Robert Frost

B. Carolyn Wells

C. William Wordsworth

D. John Keats

Answer: B

2. Where might a person meet the Asian Lion in the poem?

A. Africa

B. America

C. Asia

D. Australia

Answer: C

3. How is the Bengal Tiger described?

A. Black with white spots

B. Yellow with black stripes

C. Brown with white spots

D. Grey with stripes

Answer: B

4. What does the leopard do according to the poem?

A. Sleeps all day

B. Jumps repeatedly on its prey

C. Runs away from humans

D. Climbs trees quietly

Answer: B

5. Which animal gives a tight hug?

A. Lion

B. Tiger

C. Bear

D. Crocodile

Answer: C

6. Which animal is known for laughing?

A. Hyena

B. Lion

C. Leopard

D. Tiger

Answer: A

7. What are “crocodile tears”?

A. Happy tears

B. Fake tears

C. Tears of fear

D. Tears of pain

Answer: B

8. What is the tone of the poem?

A. Sad

B. Serious

C. Humorous

D. Angry

Answer: C

9. Which literary device is mainly used in the poem?

A. Metaphor

B. Irony and exaggeration

C. Alliteration

D. Personification

Answer: B

10. What is the main purpose of the poem?

A. To teach animal science

B. To entertain readers

C. To explain jungle survival

D. To describe forests

Answer: B