Author name: Prasanna

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Comet 1 NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 9

The Comet 1 NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Comet 1 Comprehension check – I

Question 1.
Why does Indrani Debi dislike Duttada s “hobnobbing ” with Dibya?
Answer:
Indrani Debi dislikes Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya because she is not happy that her husband spends so much time with his telescope, or in her words, his dibya-chakshu. He spent all his spare hours observing the sky with the telescope.

Question 2.
She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling?
Answer:
She is smiling because she knows that her husband was absent-minded about the practical things in life such as wearing a sweater when it’s cold out there.

Question 3.
i. What was Duttada’s secret ambition?
Answer:
Duttada’s secret ambition was to discover a new comet.

ii. What did he do to achieve it?
Answer:
He got an eight-inch telescope installed at the roof of his home, and used his life savings to do so.

Question 4.
What is the difference between a planet and a comet, as given in the story?
Answer:
Like planets, comets also orbit round the Sun but their orbits are highly eccentric. So once in a while a comet comes close to the Sun; it has a longish tail that is lit brilliantly by the sunlight and then it recedes into darkness not to be seen again for years, or for centuries.

Question 5.
Why was Duttada hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon?
Answer:
Duttada was hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon because he knew that the professionals with their pre-assigned programmes would be looking at faint stars and nebulous galaxies. They might miss such an insignificant thing as a comet which they were not expecting to see anyway.

Question 6.
Why does Duttada say— “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet. ”?
Answer:
He says so because the discovery of the comet by him brought him unwelcome publicity. He was an introvert, and suddenly, there were numerous receptions and functions to attend.

Question 7.
Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?
Answer:
His wife is unhappy about the discovery because she believes that comets bring ill-luck, and did not want her husband to be associated with one.

The Comet 1 Comprehension check – II

Question 1.
How did Sir John get hold of James original manuscript?
Answer:
Sir John got hold of James’ original manuscript through his friend Taylor, who is the editor of Nature, the magazine that was going to publish James’ article.

Question 2.
What is the important point the paper makes?
Answer:
The important point the paper makes is that Comet Dutta will collide with the Earth, barring some rare circumstances.

Question 3.
Why does Sir John say that James ’paper should not be published?
Answer:
Sir John says that James’ paper will create a huge panic among the people of the world.

Question 4.
What do the two men finally decide to do?
Answer:
The two men finally decide to organize an international conference in secret to discuss and come up with counter-measures to stop Comet Dutta from colliding with the Earth.

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English

Three Questions NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1

Three Questions NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Three Questions Comprehension check-I

Question 1.
Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
Answer:
The king wanted to know answers to three questions because he thought that he would never fail if he knew the answers to these questions.

Question 2.
Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom
i. to fetch wise men.
ii. to find answers to the questions.
iii. to look for the wise hermit.
iv. to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Mark your choice.
iv. to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.

Three Questions Comprehension check-II

Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.
1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions, ……………..
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men ………….
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable ………………
4. The king requested the hermit ……………..
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man s wound ……………….
Answers

1. but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
2. to answer three questions.
3. and follow it strictly.
4. to help the king act at the right time.
5. but the bleeding would not stop.

Three Questions Working with the text
Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Why was the king advised to go to magicians?
Answer:
The king was advised to go to magicians so that he could look into the future, and decide the right time for every action.

Question 2.
In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?
Answer:
In answer to the second question, some said that the people most important to the king were his councillors; others said it were the priests. A few others chose the doctors. And yet others said that his soldiers were the most important.

Question 3.
What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Answer:
In answer to the third question, some said that the king should pay the most attention to science, while some others said it should be religious worship. However, some others cliamed that fighting was the most important thing to do for the king.

Question 4.
Did the wise men win the reward? If not, then why?
Answer:
No, the wise men did not win the reward because their answers were too varied from each other and failed to satisfy the king.

Question 5.
How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Answer:
Upon seeing the wounded man faint on the ground, the king and the hermit removed his clothing to find the wound. Then, the king washed and covered it with his handkerchief to stop the blood from flowing. The king re-dressed the wound until at last the bleeding stopped. The man felt better and asked for something to drink. The king brought fresh water and gave it to him. Later, the king with the hermit’s help carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed.

Question 6.
i. Who was the bearded man?
ii. Why did he ask for the king s forgiveness?
Answer:
i. The bearded man was a sworn enemy of the king. He was the brother of a man who the king had punished and executed. The king had also taken away his property.
ii. He asked for the king’s forgiveness because he had come with the intention of killing the king to revenge his brother’s death. But it was the king who saved his life. He felt ashamed of himself and asked for forgiveness from the king.

Question 7.
The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Answer:
The king said to the man that he would send his servants and his own doctor to look after him, and he promised to give the man his property back.

Question 8.
What were the hermit s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answer do you like most, and why?
Answer:
The hermit’s answered all three questions of the king as follows:
He told the king that there is only one time that is important and that time is ‘Now’. It is the most important time because it is the only time we have any power to act.

According to him, the most important person is the person you are with at a particular moment, for no one knows what will happen in the future and whether we will meet anyone else. The most important business, the hermit said, is to do that person good, because we were sent into this world for that purpose alone. (Encourage the students to come up with individual answers.)

Sample answer: The hermit’s answer that I like the best is that the most important business is to help others. Who doesn’t need help? The world works well only because human beings help and support others in their time of need. It also makes one feel good about life and oneself. And no one knows when they themselves would need help. So, it is important to understand this belief.

Three Questions Working with language

Question 1.
i. wounded: severely injured
ii. awoke: got up from sleep
iii. forgive: pardon
iv. faithful: loyal
v. pity: feel sorry for
vi. beds: small patches of ground for plants
(Encourage the students to make three sentences using the words above.)

• Is Mira awake yet? She needs to go to the zumba class.
• One needs to forgive others easily to live peacefully.
• There’s no need to pity her. She is doing well in life.

Question 2.
Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in brackets. With answers.
i. The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgement.
ii. I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differ from one another over small points.
iii. It’s a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept my answer as final?
iv. It isn’t necessary that necessity’ should always be the mother of invention.
v. Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no one can tell.
vi. The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to please everyone.
vii. Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive.

Three Questions Speaking and writing

Question 1.
Imagine you are the king. Narrate the incident of your meeting the hermit. Begin like this: The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit…
Answer:
The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit. I had heard a lot about how wise he was. I wore ordinary clothes as the hermit only meets simple people. When I reached near his hut, I saw an old man digging the ground. This was the hermit. We greeted each other first, and then the hermit continued to dig the ground unheedingly. I approached him and told him that I had come to seek answers to my three questions.

But he did not pay me any attention and continued to dig the ground. Seeing that he was old and weak, I offered my help in digging the ground. He accepted, and I began to dig the ground. I again repeated my questions. But instead of answering my questions, the hermit asked me to rest and let him work.

But I wasn’t tired; I just wanted answers to my questions. They were bothering me. And the hermit also did not seem interested in answering them. At last, after digging the ground for almost two hours, I gave up and stuck the spade on the ground. I told him that I could return if he did not have the answers to my questions.

But just at that moment, we saw a wounded man coming towards the hut. We both helped the wounded man by stopping his bleeding and taking him inside the hut. He slept off. I was also quite tired because of all the work. So, I lay down on the floor and only awoke the next day.

Question 2.
Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king.
Begin like this:
One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king…
Answer:
One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king, but I chose not to reveal this fact. I know that he had come to find the answers to his three questions. I knew that in due time, he would find them by himself. I only wanted to help him find them, and did not want to serve the answers to him on a silver platter.So, instead of paying him much attention, I just greeted him and returned to my digging.

After a while, he spoke about his three questions, the answers to which I already knew. However, I did not want him to get to the answers easily. I am sure he is used to that.

So, I did not speak at all. When he saw that I was breathing heavily due to the digging, he asked me if he could help. I accepted without a protest. I was going to teach him his first lesson so that he understood the answers better. He kept on digging and stopped after a while to ask his three questions again. However, I had a plan he did not know. I told him to stop digging and give me the spade. But he continued to dig for two hours at least.

I could tell he was tired. So, after some time, he struck the spade on the ground and asked me if I had any intention of answering the questions. Or else, he would return to his home. Just then, I saw a wounded man coming in our direction.

In this article, we have created the most comprehensive NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 3 The Midnight Visitor.

The Midnight Visitor NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 3

The Midnight Visitor NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Midnight Visitor Read and Find out

Question 1.
How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
Answer:
Ausable, a secret agent, is different from other secret agents as he is very fat. ‘He lives in a room where there is no environment of romantic and thrilling adventure.

Question 2.
Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?
Answer:
Fowler is a reporter who was very young and romantic. His first authentic thrill was to see a man with a pistol inside Ausable’s room.

Question 3.
How has Max got in?
Answer:
Max managed to get entry in Ausable’s room by using a passkey.

Question 4.
How does Ausable say he got in?
Answer:
Ausable says that Max had come in the room through the balcony.

The Midnight Visitor Think About It

Question 1.
Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read. What do secret agents in books and films look like in your opinion? Discuss in groups or in class some stories or movies featuring spies, detectives and secret agents and compare their appearance with that of Ausable in this story.
Answer:
Fowler is not impressed by the personality of Ausable as a secret agent. He thinks that Ausable ‘ would be a smart and active secret agent but he turns out to be a fat and bald person. Normally, in films and stories the secret agents are with a gun or pistol and a very interesting and fast lifestyle, whereas Ausable was a humorous and simple person.

Question 2.
How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room? Look back at his detailed description of it. What makes it a convincing story?
Answer:
Ausable had realised that Max had no idea about the balcony in his house. He quickly thought of a plan. When the bearer came to the room and knocked at the door, Ausable fabricated a story to convince Max about the balcony. The moment Max realised the danger, he jumped onto the balcony and his act proved fatal. The way Ausable complained about the existence of the balcony which had created a nuisance earlier also, Max could not think it to be wrong and willingly jumped to his death.

Question 3.
Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought of his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in detail right from the beginning? Or did he make up a plan taking advantage of events as they happened?
Answer:
Ausable was a very intelligent and smart person. When he came in the room, he was shocked to see Max with a pistol in his hand, inside the room. Before he could plan to get rid of Max, there was a knock at the door. His sharp mind immediately made up a plan. He convinced Max that there was a balcony through which he could save himself as the police had arrived for a routine check. His response was spontaneous not fabricated.

The Midnight Visitor Extra Questions and Answers

The Midnight Visitor Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Why did Fowler want to meet Ausable? Why was he disappointed?
Answer:
Fowler was a young romantic writer. He loved adventure and thrill. He was always interested in knowing the lives of secret agents. He wanted to meet Ausable who was on a secret assignment. He was a little disappointed when he found nothing mysterious and romantic in Ausable. Ausable, in fact, was a fat, ordinary person.

Question 2.
Who was Henry? What role did he play in Ausable’s plans?
Answer:
Henry was a waiter at the French hotel where Ausable had a room. He played a vital role in helping Ausable’s plan as it was Henry’s knock at the door which frightened Max as he mistook it to be a policeman at the door. This confusion forced Max to jump from the window assuming it to be a balcony and hence helping Ausable’s plan to get rid of Max.

Question 3.
What was someone expected to bring to Ausable’s room?
Answer:
Ausable expected to get a very important report about missiles, which was to be delivered to him after midnight.

Question 4.
Why was Ausable angry with the hotel’s management?
Answer:
Ausable pretended to be angry with the hotel management because they had not paid any attention to the balcony that was a safety threat for him. In fact, he fabricated a story about the non-existent balcony to trap Max.

Question 5.
How did Max enter the room? Why did he do so?
Answer:
Max entered Ausable’s room through the main door, using a pass key. He wanted to take the important report from Ausable. Therefore, he decided to give a shock to Ausable. He thought it would be easy to overpower Ausable by giving him a shock.

Question 6.
Was there a balcony outside the window? Give instances from the text in support of your answer.
Answer:
There was no balcony outside the window. The following lines show that there was no balcony:
“And then as he dropped, he screamed once shrilly.”
“But what about the man on the balcony?” Fowler asked
“No” said Ausable, “he won’t ever return.”
Thus, we know that the man had died after jumping from the 6th floor.

Question 7.
Did Fowler find this episode thrilling or disappointing? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
Fowler found this episode quite thrilling. In the beginning, he was not impressed by the personality of Ausable who did not fit as a secret agent. As he had read about the mysterious figures, the crack of pistols and drugs in wine, the fat Ausable did not impress him much. But he was not able to believe the quick answer and smartness of Ausable. The whole episode appeared to be quite unbelievable.

Question 8.
Why did Ausable ask Fowler to cheer up?
Answer:
Ausable knew that Fowler wanted to see something mysterious and romantic. Ausable asked him to cheer up as he was going to receive an important report concerning some new missiles. Many people had risked their lives. Therefore, there could be some drama in his room.

Question 9.
What story did Ausable fabricate about the balcony?
Answer:
He told Fowler that the balcony in his room had become a nuisance for him. He told him that his room used to be the part of a large unit and through the balcony any one could come to his room as the adjoining room was empty.

Question 10.
How do you know that Ausable was a clever secret agent?
Answer:
Ausable was really a clever secret agent as is evident from the story. He told a false story about the existence of a non-existent balcony. Knowing very well that the waiter was knocking at the door, he told him about the police.

The Midnight Visitor Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Ausable has the ability to think quickly, act calmly and wisely in a situation of danger and surprise. These are some values and skills that save us from danger. How did Ausable use the above skills in the story, ‘The Midnight visitor’?
Answer:
Ausable wins over a very critical situation by his sheer presence of mind without using any physical force. He was a quick witted secret agent. He made Max believe that he was scared on finding him inside his room with a pistol in his hand. He befooled him about the balcony, knowing very well that there was no balcony in that room.

He fabricated a story about the arrival of the report and the police. When there was a knock at the door, he convinced Max that it was police. Max got scared and jumped into the non-existent balcony to death. This is how Ausable proved that presence of mind is more powerful than physical force. Ausable had the qualities of being calm, quiet and wise in a dangerous situation. These are the values that one can practise in adversity. Ausable overpowered Max because of these qualities.

Question 2.
What is superior, physical strength or intelligence in a difficult situation? Which one of these qualities and skills would you stress upon? Why? Elaborate with reference to the story, ‘The Midnight Visitor’.
Answer:
Physical strength and intelligence both have their own importance. These are complementary to each other. Intelligence without physical ability is useless and vice versa. But out of the two intelligence is superior. Use of physical strength may lead to violence and bloodshed but use of intelligence saves one without any bloodshed or violence. In the story ‘The Midnight Visitor’ Ausable wins over a very

critical situation by his presence of mind without using physical force. He got rid of another secret agent Max with his intelligence. He proved that presence of mind is more powerful than physical force. I would stress upon more on intelligence but will not ignore physical strength at the same time.

Question 3.
How did Ausable get rid of Max? Would you call the act of Ausable a violent act? Do you support violence in prevention of crime?
Answer:
Max was in Ausable’s room with a pistol in his hand. When there was a knock at the door Ausable convinced Max that it was police. He excited him to hide himself on the non-existent balcony. Max, in terror, jumped from the sixth floor and met his end. No, it cannot be called non-violence. Ausable saved himself but led Max to death. He made him jump from the eighth floor.

He concocted the story of a non-existent balcony and convinced him to hide there. He trusted him and jumped to death. Violence should never be supported but in prevention of crime it is inevitable. We cannot tackle the criminals without the use of weapons and violence is inevitable.

Question 4.
Give a brief character sketch of Fowler?
Answer:
Fowler is a young romantic writer, who loves reading mysterious stories. He has a fantasy to meet a secret agent or to see mysterious figures in the night, the crack of guns, drugs in wine, etc. He is not much interested in meeting dull people. He gets easily bored and disappointed.
Though he is a writer, he is very timid by heart.

He easily loses his cool and gets nervous. The moment he enters Ausable’s room and his eyes meet Max with an automatic pistol in his hand, he is thrilled. He is scared, the moment he realises that it is a waiter and not the police who has knocked at the door. He wants to know about the man in the balcony. He has a horrible experience with Ausable tackling risky situations so calmly.

Question 5.
How does Ausable convince Max that there is a balcony in his room? How does his intelligence and presence of mind help him?
Answer:
Ausable had realised that Max had no idea about the balcony in his house. He quickly thought of a plan. When the bearer came to the room and knocked at the door, Ausable fabricated a story to convince Max about the balcony. The moment Max realised the danger, he jumped on to the balcony; which turned out to be fatal.

The way Ausable complained about the existence of the balcony which had created a nuisance earlier also, Max could not think it to be wrong and willingly jumped to his death. Ausable was an intelligent secret agent. He could think quickly. He knew that Max was scared and he used his ignorance and foolishness in his own favour. His intelligence and presence of mind helped him in a dangerous and critical situation.

Question 6.
Max was a cunning spy but his carelessness and foolishness proved fatal for him. Do you agree? How do casual carelessness and foolishness spoil our life?
Answer:
Max was no doubt a careless and foolish person who could be termed as a blot on the image of a secret agent. Max was on an important mission to procure a vital report regarding some new missiles. So it becomes obvious that the person assigned such task should be witty and a perfect planner but Max did not take any pain to inspect the hotel or Ausable’s room in advance. Max fell into the trap of false story and jumped onto a non-existent balcony, which eventually cost him his life.

No doubt Max was also equally clever but he had a flaw in his personality. He trusted his rival without the application of his mind. He fell victim to his carelessness and foolishness. Yes, our carelessness and foolishness may prove fatal.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Summit Within NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5

The Summit Within NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Summit Within Comprehension check

Question 1.
Standing on Everest, the writer was
i. overjoyed.
ii. very sad.
iii. jubilant and sad.
Choose the right item.
iii. jubilant and sad.

Question 2.
The emotion that gripped him was one of
i. victory over hurdles.
ii. humility and a sense of smallness.
iii. greatness and self-importance.
iv. joy of discovery.
Choose the right item.
ii. humility and a sense of smallness.

Question 3.
“The summit of the mind” refers to
i. great intellectual achievements.
ii. the process of maturing mentally and spiritually.
iii. overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.
iv. living in the world of thought and imagination.
v. the triumph of mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause.
vi. a fuller knowledge of oneself.
Mark the item(s) not relevant.
vi. a fuller knowledge of oneself.

The Summit Within Working with the text
1. Answer the following questions.

i. What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?
Answer:
The three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb were endurance, persistence and will power.

ii. Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
Answer:
Adventure is pleasurable because man takes delight in overcoming obstacles. It is a symbol of overpowering one’s weaknesses.

iii. What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
Answer:
Mount Everest is the highest, the mightiest and has defied many previous attempts. It takes the last ounce of one’s energy. Climbing the summit would bring immense joy and exhilaration to the writer. When the summit is climbed, there is the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won. There is a feeling of victory and of happiness. It is this that the author found irresistible.

iv. One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
Answer:
Climbing a mountain is followed by a sense of fulfilment. There is the satisfaction of a deep urge to rise above one’s surroundings. It is the eternal love for adventure in man. The experience is not merely physical. It is emotional and spiritual.

v. “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe. ” This awareness defines an emotion mentioned in the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?
Answer:
This awareness refers to the humility one feels on climbing a mountain. One realizes the small position that one occupies in such a vast universe.

vi. What were the “symbols of reverence ” left by members of the team on Everest?
Answer:
The writer left a picture of Guru Nanak on Everest. His teammate Rawat left a picture of Goddess Durga. Phu Dorji left a relic of the Buddha. Edmund Hillary had buried a cross under a cairn (a heap of rocks and stones) in the snow. These are all symbols of reverence.

vii. What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?
Answer:
According to the writer, his experience as an Everester has provided him with the inspiration to face life’s ordeals resolutely.

Question 2.
Write a sentence against each of the following statements. Your sentence should explain the statement. You can pick out sentences from the text and rewrite them. The first one has been done for you.

i. The experience changes you completely.
Answer:
One who has been to the mountains is never the same again.

ii. Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles.
Answer:
Overcoming obstacles bring happiness to man because everyone likes challenges.

iii. Mountains are nature at its best.
Answer:
Mountains are like a communion with nature.

iv. The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying.
Answer:
The journey was not an easy one, but what it offered is beyond words.

v. The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience.
Answer:
Climbing a mountain peak is in reality a spiritual experience.

The Summit Within Working with language

Question 1.
Fill in the blanks in the following dialogues choosing suitable phrases from those given in the box.
Solved
i. Teacher. You were away from school without permission. Go to the principal at once and submit your explanation.
Pupil: Yes, Madam. But would you help me write it first?

ii. Arun: Are you unwell?
Ila: No, not at all. Why do you ask?
Arun: If you were unwell, I would send you to my uncle. He is a doctor.

iii. Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love at first sight.
David: Is that what makes them so popular in foreign countries?

iv. Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits at a low ebb today?
(Use such in the phrase)
Ashok: I have to write ten sentences using words that I never heard before.

v. Shieba: Your big moment is close at hand.
Jyoti: How should I welcome it?
Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.

Question 2.
Write the noun forms of the following words adding -ance or -ence to each. Solved
Answer:
i. endure – endurance
ii. persist – persistence
iii. signify – significance
iv. confide – confidence
v. maintain – maintainence
vi. abhor – abhorrence

Question 3.
Match words under A with their meanings under B.
Solved
i. remote: far away from means method(s) dominant: most prominent formidable: difficult to overcome overwhelmed: be overcome/overpowered
ii. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with appropriate words from under A. Solved

• There were formidable obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.
• We have no means of finding out what happened there.
• Why he lives in a house remote from any town or village is more than I can tell.
• Overwhelmed by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice.
• The old castle stands in a dominant position above the sleepy town.

The Summit Within Speaking and writing

Write a composition describing a visit to the hills, or any place which you found beautiful and inspiring.
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers.)

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

Mijbil the Otter NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8

Mijbil the Otter NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Mijbil the Otter Oral Comprehension Check

Question 1.
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Answer:
Maxwell thought that Camusfearna with water at a stone’s throw would be suitable for keeping an otter as a pet.

Question 2.
Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
Answer:
He went to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect and answer mail from Europe as his mail had not arrived, he waited for 5 days due to various reasons.

Question 3.
How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Answer:
The author got the otter from Arabs who brought it in a sack. From the very beginning, he liked the otter as is evident from words like ‘thraldom to otters’ and ‘otter fixation.’

Question 4.
Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
Answer:
The otter was named “Maxwell’s otter” as it belonged to a race previously unknown to science and hence the zoologists named it after its founder—Maxwell’s otter.

Question 5.
Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was
1. aloof and indifferent
2. friendly
3. hostile
Answer:
Aloof and indifferent

Question 6.
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
Answer:
When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, it went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub under water. Two days later, Mijbil escaped from the author’s bedroom and went to the bathroom on its own.

Question 7.
How was Mij to be transported to England?
Answer:
Mij was to be transported to England packed in a box of not more than 18 inches square.

Question 8.
What did Mij do to the box?
Answer:
Mij tore the linings of the box to shreds.

Question 9.
Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
Answer:
Maxwell had to put the otter in a box to take him to England. He must have felt helpless and unin- surable while putting his beloved pet in a closed box like an inanimate object. .

Question 10.
Why does Maxwell say the air hostess was ‘the very queen of her kind’?
Answer:
Maxwell calls the air hostess the very queen of her kind because she was kind and understanding and allowed the author to keep his pet on his knees.

Question 11.
What happened when the box was opened?
Answer:
When the box was opened, Mij was out in a splash and disappeared at high speed down the aircraft. There were squawks and shrieks and a lot of chaos in the plane.

Question 12.
What game had Mij invented?
Answer:
Mij had invented a game with a ball and a broken suitcase. He would place the ball on the high end of the suitcase and run to the other end to catch it.

Question 13.
What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
(i) school children
(ii) Mij?
Answer:
Compulsive habits are the habits which are impossible to control.
(i) School children place their feet squarely on the centre of each paving block; must touch every seventh upright of iron railings or pass to the outside of every second lamp post.
(ii) Mij would take the author to the two feet high wall of the primary school, jump on to it and gallop the full length of its thirty yards.

Question 14.
What group of animals do otter belong to?
Answer:
Otters belong to a small group of animals called mustellines.

Question 15.
What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
Answer:
Londoners made some really wild and funny guesses ranging from other mustellines to ‘a baby seal’, a squirrel, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard and a brontosaur.

Mijbil the Otter Thinking about the Text

Question 1.
What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun loving animal who needs love?
Answer:
Initially Mij was neither friendly nor hostile. Later, he displayed his characteristics. Very soon he began to take keen interest in his surroundings. He would follow without lead and went to the author when he called his name. He spent hours playing with ball. Marbles were Mij’s favourite toys. When the narrator was flying to Paris, he packed Mij in a box. But Mij was out of the box and disappeared at high speed. He could turn the tap to let flow the water. Thus, he was certainly intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needed love.

Question 2.
What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
Answer:
Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustelline comprising badger, mongoose weasel, stoat and mink, etc. They are found in large numbers in marshes near Basra, Iraq. They are rather small fun-loving and intelligent creatures who take a keen interest in their surroundings. They love playing with water and are friendly harmless animals.

Question 3.
Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?
Answer:
Mijbil belonged to a race of otters which was previously unknown to science. Since it was Gavin Maxwell who first befriended the animal and brought it to zoologists’ notice, it is now known as ‘Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli’ or ‘Maxwell’s otter’.

Question 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.

Answer:
(i) He went wild with joy.
(ii) Irritated and disappointed at the tap’s failure to cooperate.
(iii) happy and free.

Mijbil the Otter Extra Questions and Answers

Mijbil the Otter Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
We were going to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect and answer our mail from Europe. At the Consulate-General we found that my friend’s mail had arrived but that mine had not.

(a) The narrator and his friend were going to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect and
answer the ………. from Europe.
Answer:
mails

(b) At the Consulate-General he found that his friend’s mail had …………… but that his had not.
Answer:
arrived

(c) At the Consulate-General the narrator found that his mail had arrived. (True/False)
Answer:
False.

(d) Find the same meaning of the word ‘reached’ in the extract.
Answer:
arrived

Question 2.
I cabled to England, and when, three days later, nothing had happened, I tried to telephone. The call had to be booked twenty-four hours in advance. On the first day the line was out of order; on the second the exchange was closed for a religious holiday. On the third day there was another breakdown. My friend left, and I arranged to meet him in a week’s time. Five days later, my mail arrived.

(a) When the narrator did not receive his mail, he had to contact the …………. in England.
Answer:
authorities

(b) The narrator tried to telephone because his ……………. to England was not answered.
Answer:
cable

(c) The narrator received his mail a few days later. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the same meaning of the word “collapse” in the extract.
Answer:
breakdown

Question 3.
I carried it to my bedroom to read, and there, squatting on the floor, were two Arabs; beside them lay a sack that squirmed from time to time.

(a ) The narrator carried the to his bedroom to read.
Answer:
mail

(b) The narrator found two Arabs on the floor in his room.
Answer:
squatting

(c) The Arabs had a sack that contained on animal inside. (True – False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the same meaning of the phrase “sitting on heels with knees bent up.”
Answer:
squatting

Question 4.
With the opening of that sack began a phase of my life that has not yet ended, and may, for all I know, not end before I do. It is, in effect, a thraldom to otters, an otter fixation, that I have since found to be shared by most other people, who have ever owned one.

(a) The opening of the sack began a of the narrator’s life.
Answer:
phase

(b) It is, in effect, a to otters, an otter fixation,
Answer:
thraldom

(c) The narrator decided to keep the other as a pet. (True,False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the same meaning of the phrase “being under the control of’ in the extract.
Answer:
thraldom

Question 5.
The creature that emerged from this sack on to the spacious tiled floor of the Consulate bedroom resembled most of all a very small, medievally-conceived, dragon. From the head to the tip of the tail he was coated with symmetrical pointed scales of mud armour, between whose tips was visible a soft velvet fur like that of a chocolate-brown mole.

(a) The creature that emerged from the sack resembled a very small, medievally-conceived
Answer:
dragon

(b) From the head to the tip of the tail, the creature was coated with ……………. pointed scales of mud armour.
Answer:
symmetrical

(c) The creature looked like a chocolate brown mole. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the same meaning of the word ‘confined’.
Answer:
emerged

Question 6.
He shook himself, and I half expected a cloud of dust, but in fact it was not for another month that I managed to remove the last of the mud and see the otter, as it were, in his true colours.

(a) The narrator could see the otter in his true colours after ………….
Answer:
a month

(b) The narrator could not see the otter’s true colours for many days because it was ………….. mud.
Answer:
covered with

(c) The dust over the otter’s body revealed its true colour. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘quivered’ in the extract.
Answer:
‘Shook’.

Question 7.
Mijbil, as I called the otter, was, in fact, of a race previously unknown to science, and was at length christened by zoologists Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, or Maxwell’s otter. For the first twenty- four hours Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly; he was simply aloof and indifferent, choosing to sleep on the floor as far from my bed as possible.

(a) Mijbil was in fact, of a race previously unknown to
Answer:
Science

(b) For the first twenty-four hours Mijbil was neither nor friendly.
Answer:
hostile

(c) Mijbil was very friendly for the first twenty-four hours. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the phrase ‘at last’ from the extract.
Answer:
at length

Question 8.
The second night Mijbil came on to my bed in the small hours and remained asleep in the crook of my knees until the servant brought tea in the morning, and during the day he began to lose his apathy and take a keen, much too keen, interest in his surroundings.

(a) The second night Mijbil came on to the narrator’s bed and remained asleep in the crook of his knees.
Answer:
In the small hours

(b) During the day Mijbil took much interest in his
Answer:
surroundings

(c) Mijbil seemed to be always hostile and mischievous. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the phrase ‘very early in the morning’.
Answer:
in the small hours of night.

Question 9.
Two days later, Mijbil escaped from my bedroom as I entered it, and I turned to see his tail disappearing round the bend of the corridor that led to the bathroom. By the time I got there he was up on the end of the bathtub and fumbling at the chromium taps with his paws. I watched, amazed; in less than a minute he had turned the tap far enough to produce a trickle of water, and after a moment or two achieved the full flow.

(a) Two days later, Mijbil escaped from the narrator’s ……….. as he (the narrator) entered it.
Answer:
bedroom

(b) Mijbil opened the tap to have full
Answer:
flow of water

(c) Mijbil escaped from his bedroom to his bathroom. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning the word ‘very surprised’ from the extract. ‘
Answer:
amazed

Question 10.
Very soon Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called his name. He spent most of his time in play. He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball round the room like a four-footed soccer player using all four feet to dribble the ball, and he could also throw it, with a powerful flick of the neck, to a surprising height and distance.

(a) Very soon Mij followed the narrator without a …………. and come to him when he called his name.
Answer:
lead

(b) Mijbil spent most of his time, playing with a ………….
Answer:
rubber ball

(c) Sometimes Mij threw the rubber ball to a surprising height. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the phrase “a quick, light movement”.
Answer:
flick

Question 11.
But the real play of an otter is when he lies on his back and juggles with small objects between his paws. Marbles were Mij’s favourite toys for this pastime: he would lie on his back rolling two or more of them up and down his wide, flat belly without ever dropping one to the floor.

(a) The real play of an otter is when he lies on his back and ………. with small objects between his paws.
Answer:
juggles

(b) ……… were Mij’s favourite toys.
Answer:
marbles

(c) The real play of an otter is to play in the marsh. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the same meaning of the word, ‘hobby in the extract’.
Answer:
pastime

Question 12.
When I returned, there was an appalling spectacle. There was complete silence from the box, but from its airholes and chinks around the lid, blood had trickled and dried. I whipped off the lock and tore open the lid, and Mij, exhausted and blood-spattered, whimpered and caught at my leg.

(a) When the narrator returned, there was an ………. spectacle.
Answer:
appalling

(b) Mijbil exhausted himself by tearing the ………… to shreds.
Answer:
lining of the box

(c) Exhausted and blood-spattered, My whimpered and caught at his master’s leg. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the same meaning of the phrase ‘cried with pain’
Answer:
whimpered

Question 13.
He had torn the lining of the box to shreds; when I removed the last of it so that there were no cutting edges left, it was just ten minutes until the time of the flight, and the airport was five miles distant. I put the miserable Mij back into the box, holding down the lid with my hand.

(a) The narrator put the miserable Mij back into the box, the did with his hand.
Answer:
holding down

(b) The airport was distant.
Answer:
five miles

(c) The narrator cut the lining of the box because Mijbil tried to run away. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the same meaning of the words “‘pitiable condition” in the extract.
Answer:
miserable

Question 14.
I sat in the back of the car with the box beside me as the driver tore through the streets of Basra like a ricochetting bullet. The aircraft was waiting to take off; I was rushed through to it by infuriated officials. Luckily, the seat booked for me was at the extreme front. I covered the floor around my feet with newspapers, rang for the air hostess, and gave her a parcel of fish (for Mij) to keep in a cool place.

(a) The narrator sat in the back of the car with the …………… beside him.
Answer:
box

(b) The officials were ……………. because the author had been late.
Answer:
infuriated

(c) The seat in the aircraft booked for the narrator was at the extreme behind. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the words ‘extremely angry’.
Answer:
‘infuriated’

Question 15.
I took her into my confidence about the events of the last half hour. I have retained the most profound admiration for that air hostess; she was the very queen of her kind. She suggested that I might prefer to have my pet on my knee, and I could have kissed her hand in the depth of my gratitude. But, not knowing otters, I was quite unprepared for what followed.

(a) The narrator took the air hostess into his …………… because he wanted her to take care of Mijbil.
Answer:
confidence

(b) The air hostess suggested that he might to have his pet on his knees.
Answer:
prefer

(c) The narrator had kissed the air hostess’s hand in the depth of his gratitude. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the same meaning of the word, ‘great’ in the extract.
Answer:
profound

Question 16.
“Perhaps”, said the air hostess with the most charming smile, “it would be better if you resumed your seat, and I will find the animal and bring it to you.”

(a) The air hostess called the author to his seat because she wanted to help him find the Otter.
Answer:
resume

(b) Understanding the plight of the narrator the air hostess was ………..
Answer:
amused

(c) The air hostess was angry to see the plight of the narrator. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the phrase “went back to the seat”.
Answer:
resumed your seat

Question 17.
A suitcase that I had taken to Iraq had become damaged on the journey home, so that the lid, when closed, remained at a slope from one end to the other. Mij discovered that if he placed the ball on the high end it would run down the length of the suitcase. He would dash around to the other end to ambush its arrival, hide from it, crouching, to spring up and take it by surprise, grab it and trot off with it to the high end once more.

(a) A suitcase that the narrator had taken to …………. had become damaged on the journey home.
Answer:
Iraq

(b) Mij discovered that if he placed the ball on the high end, it would the length of the suitcase.
Answer:
run down

(c) The otter was an intelligent pet because he had invented the method of playing with ball in a suitcase. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the same meaning of the words ‘attack’ in the extract.
Answer:
ambush

Question 18.
Outside the house I exercised him on a lead, precisely as if he had been a dog. Mij quickly developed certain compulsive habits on these walks in the London streets, like the rituals of children who on their way to and from school must place their feet squarely on the centre of each paving block; must touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post.

(a) Outside the house the narrator Mijbil on a lead.
Answer:
exercised

(b) Mijbil has been compared with children who develop certain habits.
Answer:
compulsive

(c) Mij developed a habit of walking in the London streets like a school child. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the words ‘habitual’.
Answer:
rituals

Question 19.
“As I drew nearer I saw his expression of surprise and affront, as though he would have me know that he was not one upon whom to play jokes. I come abreast of him, he spat, glared, and then growled out, “Here Mister—What is that supposed to be?”

(a) The narrator saw a expression of surprise and affront.
Answer:
labourer’s

(b) The labourers asked the narrator with surprise
Answer:
“What it was supposed to be?”

(c) The labourer began to glare at Mij the Otter. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the phrase ‘make a harsh sound’.
Answer:
growl out

Mijbil the Otter Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
When did Gavin Maxwell decide to have an otter as a pet?
Answer:
When Gavin Maxwell was in southern Iraq, he thought that he should keep an otter as a pet instead – of a dog. The place where he was living was suitable for that experiment.

Question 2.
What are the exclusive features/habits of an otter?
Answer:
An otter is a fun loving animal. They are found in abundance near the fresh water. They love the flowing water. An otter is an intelligent animal and capable of inventing new games.

Question 3.
Why did Gavin Maxwell stay in Basra for five days?
Answer:
Gavin Maxwell went to Basra to the Consulate General to collect and answer his mail from Europe. His mail did not arrive in time. He cabled to England, and when three days later, no response was received, he tried to telephone. But the exchange was closed for a religious holiday. His mail arrived five days later. So, he had to wait for a few days.

Question 4.
How did Maxwell get an otter?
Answer:
Maxwell expressed his desire to his friend to have an otter as a pet. His friend sent two Arabs with an otter at Basra. This is how he got an otter in Basra.

Question 5.
How did the otter look for the first time?
Answer:
The author got an otter through two Arabs who were sent by his friend. Initially, it looked very dirty due to mud. On the first day, the otter did not respond to any action of the narrator. It remained shy and indifferent. It remained aloof for twenty-four hours. It was only after twenty-four hours that the otter came closer to the author.

Question 6.
When did Maxwell realise that the otter loved water?
Answer:
One day Maxwell took the otter in the bathroom. The otter jumped with joy into the bathtub. It remained there for a long time. Seeing the otter’s movement, Maxwell realised that the otter loved water.

Question 7.
What did Mijbil, the otter, do in the bathroom after two days of his arrival?
Answer:
Mijbil, the otter, was a fun-loving intelligent animal. He loved water. On the first day, he went wild with joy in the water. Next day, Mijbil escaped from the bedroom and entered the bathroom. He struggled with the tap till it had a full flow of water.

Question 8.
What did Mijbil do to pass his time?
Answer:
Mijbil spent most of his time in playing with a rubber ball with its feet. He dribbled and threw it. He was a fun-loving animal. He played with a plastic ball too. He had invented his own game.

Question 9.
Why was Mijbil put in a box by Maxwell? Why was there silence in the box?
Answer:
The author had to come back to London. The British Airways did not allow the author to fly with an animal. So he had to go by another airline. This airline insisted that Mij should be packed in a box. When the author came, he found that there was complete silence in the box. He got scared. He saw blood coming out of the box. When he opened the box, he found Mij badly wounded. Mij had tried to come out of the box.

Question 10.
Why was the author not allowed to take a flight of the British airline?
Answer:
The British Airways had a rule that the passengers could not fly with their pets. Mijbil was an otter. The author could not be allowed to fly with Mijbil as the rules did not permit it.

Question 11.
How did Mijbil pass his time in London?
Answer:
In London, Mij played for hours with his toys. He had a ping pong ball, marbles, rubber fruit and a terrapin shell to play with. With a ping pong ball, he had invented his own game. Mij was happy now.

Question 12.
What routine did Mij follow every day while on the walk in London?
Answer:
While on the walk in London, Mijbil had developed certain compulsive habits. In the street, it placed its feet squarely on the centre of each paving block. It used to touch every seventh upright of the iron railings.

Question 13.
How did Mij invite the attention of the teachers and the students of a primary school in London?
Answer:
There was a primary school opposite to Maxwell’s house. It was a single storey building. It had a wall of thirty yards. It was only two feet in height. Mij used to jump and run over it with full speed. This always distracted the teachers and the students of the school.

Question 14.
What did the Londoners think about Mijbil the otter?
Answer:
Mijbil the otter was a new creature for the Londoners. They had never seen such a pet in their life. They guessed that it belonged to a small group of animals called mustellines. Some of them guessed it was a small walrus or a baby seal. Some called it a hippo and a brontosaur.

Mijbil the Otter Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
The narrator is a great lover of animals. He decided to have an otter, a unique animal, as a pet. Do you also have or want to keep a pet? There are many responsibilities towards the pet to keep them happy. How do you take a good care of your pet?
Answer:
For some people, life without a pet is lonely. The same happened with the narrator. When his pet dog died, he became extremely sad. To overcome his grief, he decided to have an otter as a pet. This shows his great love for all animals. I also have a pet dog, Bruno. I take great care of him and am aware of my responsibilities towards him. A pet must be treated as a member of the family.

It should be regularly vaccinated by a trained vet. A pet, like dog and cat, needs proper toilet training and must be taught to obey your instructions. A balanced diet is a must for a pet to keep it healthy. A pet should not be chained all the time. It can make it more aggressive. Remember a daily dose of exercise, affection and playful activities work wonders for a pet. And, more importantly, all the members of a family should be considerate towards it.

Question 2.
The narrator developed a special bond with Mijbil, the otter, and both became good companions. What qualities of the narrator, do you think, help him in taming an otter? How did compassion and empathy in him reveal?
Answer:
The narrator Maxwell and Mijbil share a unique relationship. Narrator’s considerate behaviour helped him in winning the trust of the otter, an otherwise wild animal. He provides freedom to the otter to do what he likes the most—playing and rolling about in water in the bathtub like a playful and naughty child. Mijbil was allowed to spend most of his time in play without caring for the room being dirty. It shows the narrator’s concern and empathy for the creature. He has compassion and empathy for him. He takes every care for his safety. He understands his needs and fulfils them.

Question 3.
How did the narrator feel when he saw blood trickling down the box in which Mijbil had been kept to transport to England? How would you feel if you were in such a situation? What traits of narrator’s character are reflected here?
Answer:
When Mij was to be transported to England, and to Camusfearna the narrator got tensed at the prospect. Mij was packed in a box with airholes in order to be taken by an airline. Just before leaving the home for airport, the narrator was shocked to see traces of blood all around the box. Mijbil in an attempt to be freed had fumbled with the box and had injured itself. The narrator removed the iron lining with its cutting edges and again put Mijbil back in.

During the flight, though Mijbil, caused a ruckus, the narrator resumed his journey with Mijbil on his knees. I would also feel in the same manner if I were in the narrator’s place. Seeing a pet in distress is the least wanted thing. The incident revealed the narrator’s extremely caring and compassionate nature. He was indeed a man with boundless kindness. We all must have the value of compassion and kindness for all the living creatures.

Question 4.
Throughout the story, Mij is shown having human qualities. How can you say that Mij is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs and understands love? What does this tell you about the relationship of a human being and an animal?
Answer:
There is an age-old relationship between man and animal. Both share a unique relationship. To bring out this fact, Mijbil is shown having human qualities throughout the story. Mijbil’s intelligence is clear from his attempts to turn on and off the tap in the bathtub. It can even dribble the ball and juggle the objects without even dropping them. He understands the narrator’s love for him and follows him everywhere. This is an example of man’s age-old relationship with animals. Early man tamed animals like cows, bulls, elephants and horses to fulfil his daily needs. Animals obey the orders of their master. It means they are capable of understanding human emotions.

Question 5.
What do you think is the purpose of the narrator to write in detail his relationship with his pet otter? What are the ethics to be observed with animals—either wild or pet?
Answer:
The narrator has revealed some interesting facts regarding his pet, Mijbil the otter. The main purpose behind this is to arouse feelings of empathy and concern for pets as well as wild animals. The text compels us to think about many other situations where animals are kept in captivity just for amusement without thinking of the animal’s welfare. For example, elephants, bears, lions and tigers are trained to work in a circus in the most inhumane manner.

Jugglers keep monkeys and snakes captive to earn a living. All these practices are illegal according to law. Any animal, either wild or pet, is useful to us in one way or the other. Pet animals protect our houses, carry loads for us, provide us with milk and meat, entertain us, etc. Wild animals in a forest form a food chain that is essential to maintain a balance in the ecosystem. So we all must adopt a positive approach while dealing with animals.

Question 6.
For smooth and effective working we have to follow certain rules and regulations. Sometimes basic human values don’t go together with rules. It is painful. But there are some people like the air hostess in the story ‘Mijbil the Otter’, who tried to act against the rules in the name of humanity. What qualities do we find in the air hostess? What would you have done if you were in her place?
Answer:
It is true that for smooth and effective working, we have to follow certain rules and regulations. Sometimes basic human values don’t go together with rules. It is painful. But there are some people like the air hostess in the story Mijbil the otter, who tried to act against the rules in the name of humanity. The air hostess was the embodiment of good qualities. When Gavin Maxwell told her about the otter, she listened to his story very peacefully. She was the queen of her kind.

Though it was against the rules to carry the animal in that way yet she decided to help him. She even suggested that he could keep the pet on his knee. She was always kind hearted and considerate. She handled the whole situation calmly. When Mij created trouble with squeaks and shrieks, she maintained her charming smile. She displayed basic human qualities while on her duty. Yes, I would have done the same. If there is no risk to the life or property of others, we may compromise with rules for the sake of humanity