NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6
NCERT solutions for Class 10 English Chapter Mijbil the Otter – complete answers & explanations
This blog provides complete NCERT solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 6: *Mijbil the Otter*. In this chapter, students read a beautiful story about Maxwell and his pet otter, Mijbil. The chapter explores the unique relationship between the author and his pet, as well as the emotions involved in taking care of an unconventional pet. The story brings to light themes of love, care, and the surprising nature of animals, providing valuable insights for young learners. In this blog, we offer complete, NCERT-aligned solutions strictly based on the worksheet provided.
What this NCERT chapter covers?
This chapter focuses on the following
key concepts:
1. Understanding the emotional bond between humans and animals – The story emphasizes how Maxwell forms a connection with Mijbil, his otter, and the challenges they face together.
2. Language skills – Students develop skills in understanding descriptive language and literary devices like metaphors, visual imagery, and personification.
3. Themes – Themes of companionship, responsibility, and the nature of pets are explored.
4. Grammar – The chapter includes exercises on past habitual actions (using "would" and "used to"), noun modifiers, and more.
5. Exam preparation – The chapter helps students prepare for both written exams and oral comprehension.
The chapter enhances students' understanding of the natural world and animals in a literary context, which is important for language learning and real-life empathy.
How to use these NCERT solutions?
1. Attempt questions first: Students should attempt the questions on their own, applying what they've learned from the chapter.
2. Use answers for checking: After completing the questions, use the answers provided here to check your work and make sure all concepts are understood.
3. Guidance for parents/teachers: Parents and teachers can use these answers to guide students, ensuring they understand the material and how to approach the different types of questions.
4. Strict adherence to worksheet order: The solutions follow the worksheet's exact order, ensuring students don’t miss any questions and follow the flow as intended.
Important tips & tricks for students
1. Avoid common mistakes:
- Always read the questions carefully before answering.
- Ensure that the answers are written according to the question format (i.e., descriptive answers for open-ended questions).
2. Understanding NCERT expectations:
- NCERT expects concise, precise, and relevant answers.
- For descriptive questions, provide specific examples or explanations from the chapter.
3. How to score full marks:
- Focus on the key points outlined in the answers.
- Make sure to complete all questions, including activities and speaking tasks, with attention to detail.
4. Approach activities and speaking tasks carefully:
- Activities may require reflection or creativity. Follow the instructions carefully and think about the emotional and thematic content of the story.
NCERT solutions – complete answer key
Before you read
1. Owning a pet is a lifetime of commitment:
Owning a pet involves a lot of responsibility, and the decision should be made by the whole family. Pets need proper care, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and healthcare.
2. Imagine someone has gifted you a pet:
- The food it eats.
- The space it needs.
- The type of exercise it requires.
- Its grooming needs.
- Its vaccinations and healthcare requirements.
3. Otters are found in large numbers in the marshes near Basra:
You would need to find a place with lots of water, consider the temperature differences between Iraq and London, and ensure that the otter is safe and comfortable during the journey.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Maxwell thought that Camusfearna would be a suitable place for keeping an otter as a pet.
2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
Maxwell goes to Basra to collect his mail. He waits for five days because his mail was delayed.
3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
The otter is brought to him by two Arabs. Maxwell describes the otter as a fixation, showing a strong attachment to it.
4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
The otter was named after Maxwell because it was a new species discovered by him and named by zoologists as Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli.
5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was:
- Aloof and indifferent
6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
Mijbil went wild with joy, playing in the water. Two days later, it started playing with rubber balls.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. How was Mij to be transported to England?
Mij was to be transported in a small box, not more than eighteen inches square, on the floor at Maxwell's feet during the flight.
2. What did Mij do to the box?
Mij tore the lining of the box to shreds, causing blood to trickle out from the air holes.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. Mij invented a game where he placed a ping-pong ball on the high end of a damaged suitcase and chased it as it rolled down.
2. School children’s compulsive habits
School children often place their feet on every paving block or touch every seventh railing.
3. Mij’s compulsive habits
Mij developed the habit of jumping on a wall and galloping along it.
4. Otters belong to the Mustellines group
Otters belong to the Mustellines group, which also includes badgers, weasels, and minks.
5. The Londoners guessed that Mij could be a rat, baby seal, squirrel, walrus, or even a hippo.
6. Mij’s actions show that he is intelligent and affectionate**:
Mij shows intelligence through his playful actions, like playing with balls and marbles, and affection by nuzzling Maxwell's face.
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?
Mij plays with toys, interacts with Maxwell, and shows affection.
2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
Otters are playful, intelligent animals who enjoy water and have a tendency to interact actively with their environment.
3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?
Mij’s species is named Maxwell’s otter because it was discovered by Maxwell and named by zoologists in his honor.
Thinking about language
1. Describing a repeated action in the past:
- Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called his name.
- He would play for hours with a selection of toys.
- On his way home… Mij would tug me to this wall.
2. Noun modifiers:
- An otter fixation (noun modifier)
- The iron railings (adjective modifier)
- The Tigris marshes (proper noun modifier)
3. Given below are some nouns, and a set of modifiers (in the box):
Temple girls
Triangle dresses
Boys' thoughts
Scream gifts
Farewell expression
Landscape time
Thinking about the poem
1. What does Sandburg think the fog is like?
Sandburg thinks the fog is like a cat, quiet and stealthy, moving in silently and then leaving just as quietly.
2. How does the fog come?
The fog comes quietly, like a cat, without any noise, and it sits down to look around before moving on.
3. What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to?
‘It’ refers to the fog.
4. Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat?
No, the poet does not explicitly say that the fog is like a cat, but uses imagery that suggests this comparison.
Why NCERT solutions help students?
NCERT solutions provide students with a clear and structured approach to learning. These solutions help in exam readiness, build confidence, and offer a solid understanding of key concepts. By practicing NCERT-aligned answers, students gain conceptual clarity, which is essential for performing well in exams.
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