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

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8 Mijbil the Otter offer simple and clear explanations to help students understand Gavin Maxwell’s story and his special bond with his pet otter. These solutions cover all important Mijbil the Otter questions and answers in an easy way. Students learn about the otter’s playful nature and its journey from Iraq to London. Written in student-friendly language, the answers improve comprehension, help in exam preparation, and make learning the chapter interesting and effective.

Check Out: CBSE Class 10 Books

Class 10 English Chapter 8 Mijbil the Otter Question Answer

NCERT Solutions Class 10 Mijbil the Otter Question Answer can help in exams by providing clear, concise explanations of key events and themes, making it easier to answer long and short questions.

It highlights important character traits, incidents, and lessons, ensuring accurate and structured answers.

Question 1: What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

Answer:

Maxwell thought it would be interesting to have an otter as a pet instead of a dog. He had visited Southern Iraq in 1956 and got fascinated with the idea during his travels. When he saw that Camusfearna was surrounded by water, he felt it would be a perfect place for this unique experiment.

Question 2: Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?

Answer:

Maxwell traveled to Basra's Consulate-General to pick up his mail from Europe. Although his friend's mail had arrived, his hadn't. He sent a cable to England and even made a phone call three days later, which needed to be booked 24 hours in advance. However, he faced several setbacks: the line was down on the first day, the exchange was closed for a religious holiday on the second, and there was another breakdown on the third. Consequently, his friend left, and they arranged to meet in a week. Maxwell's mail finally arrived after five days of waiting.

Read More: NCERT Solutions of Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 1

Question 3: How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

Answer:

When the writer's mail finally arrived, he took it to his bedroom to read. There, he found two Arabs sitting on the floor with a sack that moved occasionally. They handed him a note from his friend, mentioning that he had sent him an otter. Maxwell was fond of the idea. He expressed this by saying "An otter fixation," which described his strong attachment to otters, much like any other otter owner might feel.

Question 4: Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

Answer:

An otter is typically known to zoologists as "Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli," but for short, it was referred to as Maxwell's otter.

Question 5:

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

Answer:

In the beginning, the otter was distant and uninterested.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2

Question 6: What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

Answer:

When Maxwell initially introduced Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter exhibited sheer delight, frolicking in the water for nearly half an hour. With exuberance, he darted and tumbled, traversing the length of the bathtub with such fervor that it echoed the exuberance of a hippopotamus. Two days later, to Maxwell's surprise, Mijbil ventured away from his bedroom and made his way to the bathroom. There, he perched himself at the edge of the bathtub, attempting to manipulate the chrome taps with his paws. Maxwell observed in astonishment as the otter skillfully adjusted the tap, initially producing a mere trickle of water, which gradually escalated to a steady flow.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 108-109)

Question 1: How was Mij to be transported to England?

Answer:

Maxwell made arrangements for his journey to Paris, with subsequent travel to England. However, the British airline policies didn't permit pets on board. Consequently, Maxwell had to comply with the airline's regulations, which required Mijbil to be placed in a compact eighteen-inch square box, positioned near Maxwell's feet during the flight. With little time left, Maxwell hastily arranged for the creation of the box an hour before their departure. He gently placed Mijbil inside, allowing him time to acclimate to the enclosure, before quickly attending to his own meal arrangements.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3

Question 2: What did Mij do to the box?

Answer:

The box Maxwell had prepared for Mijbil's journey was lined with a metal sheet. However, Mijbil became distressed inside the box and attempted to escape. In his struggle, he tore into the metal lining, injuring himself and causing bleeding.

Question 3: Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?

Answer:

Maxwell realised that he had no alternative but to place Mijbil back into the box for their journey to London. He felt anxious and remorseful seeing the otter's condition, knowing that Mijbil had injured himself while attempting to escape from the box.

Question 4: Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?

Answer:

The air hostess displayed kindness and understanding towards Maxwell upon hearing about the incident with the box. She respected his emotions and allowed him to take the otter out of the box and hold his pet on his knee during the flight. Maxwell was deeply impressed by her compassion and referred to her as "the very queen of her kind."

Question 5: What happened when the box was opened?

Answer:

Mijbil's escape from the box caused chaos in the aeroplane, startling the passengers. He ran around, creating commotion, and even scared a woman who stood up on her seat. Despite Maxwell's efforts to catch him, Mijbil eluded him. However, the air hostess promised to assist Maxwell in finding the otter. Eventually, Mijbil returned to Maxwell, clinging to his knee and showing affection by nuzzling his face and neck.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 4

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 110)

Question 1: What game had Mij invented?

Answer:

Mijbil invented a game involving a ping-pong ball and one of Maxwell's damaged suitcases, which had a sloped lid. Mijbil would place the ball at the high end of the sloping lid and then chase after it as it rolled down towards the lower end. This playful activity amused Mijbil and provided entertainment during their journey.

Question 2: What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of (i) school children (ii) Mij?

Answer:

(i) In the story, Maxwell exhibits compulsive habits similar to those of children who feel compelled to perform certain rituals on their way to and from school. For instance, Maxwell feels the need to place his feet squarely on the centre of each paving block, touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post. (ii) Similarly, Mijbil the otter also displays compulsive behavior. On his way home, he jumps over the boundary wall railing and gallops the full length of its thirty yards. This behavior causes distraction to both pupils and staff within the vicinity.

Question 3: What group of animals do otters belong to?

Answer:

Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines. Other animals in this group include badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, minks, and more.

Question 4: What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?

Answer:

According to Maxwell, Londoners don't easily recognize otters because they're not common in England. As a result, they made wild guesses about Mijbil's identity. Some guessed he was a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard, a hippo, or even a brontosaurus.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5

Thinking about the Text (Page 110-111)

Question 1: What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?

Answer:

Mijbil showed his intelligence in various ways. He invented his own game with a ping-pong ball on Maxwell's worn-out suitcase, displaying his creativity and adaptability. Another example of his intelligence was when he opened the tap in the bathroom and played with water, showing problem-solving skills. Although initially distant from Maxwell, he gradually became friendly and affectionate, as seen when he clung to Maxwell's feet during the flight. Over time, he formed a strong bond with the author and demonstrated his playful nature by creating games and developing certain habitual behaviours during walks in London.

Question 2: What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?

Answer:

Otters are part of a small animal group called Mustellines, which includes badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, and minks. They are often found in marshy areas and are sometimes kept as pets by Arabs. Otters enjoy playing in water and splashing around. Maxwell's otter, although of an unknown race to science, was named Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli by zoologists, also known as Maxwell's otter for short. Otters are known for their intelligence and playful nature, often inventing their own games. They are also friendly towards humans.

Question 3: Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?

Answer:

Maxwell's otter, initially unknown to science, was later identified and named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. As a result, it is often referred to as Maxwell's otter in short.

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.

What Mij does	How Mij feels or thinks
Plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash
Screws the tap in the wrong way
Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane

Answer:

What Mij does	How Mij feels or thinks
plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash	Went wild with joy
Screws the tap in the wrong way	Irritated and disappointed at the tap’s failure to cooperate
Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane	A distressed chitter of recognition and welcome

Question 5: Read the story and find the sentences where Maxwell describes his pet otter. Then choose and arrange your sentences to illustrate those statements below that you think are true. Maxwell’s description
(i) makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy.
(ii) shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does.
(iii) shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does.
(iv) of Mij’s antics is comical.
(v) shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully.
(vi) shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter. (vii) shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual.

Answer:

1. True. The statement – “He spent most of his time in play.”
2. False
3. True. The statement – “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.”
4. True. The statement – “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.
5. True. The statement – “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.”
6. False
7. True. The statement – “It is not, I suppose, in any way strange that the average Londoner should not recognise an otter, but the variety of guesses as to what kind of animal this might be came as a surprise to me.”

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6

Thinking about Language (Page 111-114)

Question I:

Describing a Repeated Action in the Past

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

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

Answer:

1. Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings.
2. Every evening we would take long walks on the beach.
3. Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars.
4. Till the 1980s, Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.
5. My uncle used to spend his holidays by the sea.
6. My uncle used to be fond of musical evenings.
7. My uncle would take long walks on the beach.

Question II:

Noun Modifiers

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

Answer:

1. Noun
2. Noun
3. Proper Noun
4. Proper Noun
5. Adjective plus noun
6. Adjective plus noun

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

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

 

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

Answer:

1.	Temple	White temple, Stone temple
2.	Gifts	Ordinary gift, birthday gift.
3.	Time	First time, family time, college time, rough time
4.	Crossing	Railroad crossing, first crossing
5.	Physique	Plump physique, ordinary physique
6.	Girls	Plump girls, college girls
7.	Thoughts	Uncomfortable thoughts, ridiculous thoughts, ordinary thoughts, good thoughts, invigorating thoughts, heartbreaking
8.	Scream	Loud scream, heartbreaking scream
9.	Subject	Ordinary subject, college subject
10.	Flight	First flight, ordinary flight, rough flight, uncomfortable flight
11.	Coffee	Black coffee, ordinary coffee, invigorating coffee
12.	Farewell	College farewell, heartbreaking farewell
13.	Landscape	Rough landscape, bare landscape
14.	Chatterbox	Incorrigible chatterbox, ridiculous chatterbox
15.	View	Panoramic view, ordinary view, tremendous view
16.	Dresses	Ordinary dresses, birthday dresses, marriage dresses, hundred dresses
17.	Handkerchief	White handkerchief, clean handkerchief, ordinary handkerchief
18.	Profession	Family profession, first profession, ordinary profession
19.	Celebration	Birthday celebration, tremendous celebration, family celebration
20.	Roar	Loud roar, tremendous roar

Question III:

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

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

Answer:

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

2. Use a bit of/a piece of/a bunch of/a cloud of/a lump of with the italicised nouns in the following sentences. The first has been done for you as an example. (i) My teacher gave me some advice . My teacher gave me a bit of advice. (ii) Can you give me some clay , please. ________________________________ (iii) The information you gave was very useful. ________________________________ (iv) Because of these factories smoke hangs over the city. ___________________________ (v) Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks of fire. ___________________________ (vi) He gave me some flowers on my birthday. ________________________________

Answer:

1. My teacher gave me a bit of advice.
2. Can you give me a lump of clay please?
3. The piece of information you gave was very useful.
4. Because of these factories, a cloud of smoke hangs over the city.
5. Two pieces of stone rubbed together can produce sparks of fire.
6. He gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.

Speaking (Page 114)

Question 1: You have seen how Maxwell describes Mij the otter’s feelings and thoughts by watching him. Play the game of dumb charades. Take turns to express a feeling or thought silently, through gestures. Let the class speak out their guesses about the feelings or thoughts you are trying to express.

Answer:

Activity to be done by yourself.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 7

Writing (Page 114)

Question 1:

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

Answer:

Activity to be done by yourself.

Understanding the Story - mijbil the otter question answers class 10th

Gavin Maxwell lived in a place called Camusfearna. After his dog died, he felt very lonely and wanted a new pet. He didn't want a dog again. Instead, he thought of an "experiment" to keep an otter. He believed Camusfearna was a great spot for an otter because it was surrounded by water. He went to Basra to get his mail and finally got a sack with a small otter inside from his friend.

He named the otter Mijbil. At first, Mijbil was quiet and stayed away. But soon, he became very friendly. He loved playing with water in the bathtub. He even learned to turn on the tap! When it was time to go to London, Maxwell had to put Mijbil in a box. This was very hard because British Airlines didn't allow animals. He had to fly to Paris first. Inside the box, Mijbil got hurt and there was blood. Maxwell felt very sad for him. On the plane, Mijbil escaped and scared people, but a kind air hostess helped them.

mijbil the otter question answers ncert - Textbook Solutions

Q1: What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

Maxwell thought he would keep an otter as a pet instead of a dog. He felt Camusfearna was perfect for this because it had water all around it, very close to the front door.

Q2: Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?

He went to Basra to collect his mail from Europe. He had to wait five days. His mail was late, and there were problems with phone lines and religious holidays.

Q3: How does he get the otter?

Maxwell's friend sent him the otter. Two Arabs brought a sack to his room. When he opened the sack, he found the otter inside. He liked it immediately and called the feeling "otter fixation."

Q4: Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

The otter belonged to a race that scientists did not know about yet. Later, zoologists named the species Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli after Maxwell.

Q5: What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom?

Mijbil went wild with joy! He plunged and rolled in the water for half an hour. He made enough splashes for a hippo. Two days later, he even learned to open the tap by himself to get the water flowing.

Check out: CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers

Mijbil the Otter Question Answers Extra Important Practice Questions

Q1: What were the "compulsive habits" of Mijbil in London?

Mijbil had a habit of jumping onto the low wall of a primary school. He would gallop along the whole thirty yards of the wall. This distracted students and faculty inside.

Q2: What games did Mijbil invent?

Mijbil was very smart. He played with a ping-pong ball on a broken suitcase. He would put the ball on the high end and run to catch it at the low end. He also loved juggling marbles on his belly while lying on his back.

Q3: How did people in London react to Mijbil?

Most Londoners had never seen otters. They made funny guesses. Some thought he was a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, or even a hippo. One worker even asked, "What is that supposed to be?"

Q4: Why did Maxwell call the stewardess "the queen of her kind"?

The air hostess was very kind and understood Maxwell’s concern. She allowed him to keep Mijbil on his knees instead of in the box. Her help made the difficult journey much easier.

Check out: CBSE Class 10th Question Banks

Study Notes for Students

If you want to save these mijbil the otter question answers, we suggest taking notes on how Mijbil looked. He looked like a small dragon from the middle ages. He was covered in mud that looked like scales. Under the mud, he had soft chocolate-brown fur.

Students should remember that otters belong to a group of animals called Mustellines. This group also includes animals like the mongoose and weasel. In the story, the bond between Maxwell and Mijbil shows us that animals need love and patience. We don't just own pets; we become their friends. When you download a mijbil the otter question answers the pdf, make sure it includes these details about his intelligence and his love for moving water.

Life in London with an Otter

In London, Mijbil stayed busy for hours. He played with rubber fruit, terrapin shells, and his favorite marbles. Maxwell took him for walks on a lead, just like a dog. Mijbil was a source of wonder for everyone who saw him. Even though it was difficult to travel with him, the friendship they shared was worth all the trouble.

Fun Facts from the Chapter

• Otters love water to be "on the move." They hate still water.

• Mijbil could turn a tap to full flow in less than a minute.

• He slept in the crook of Maxwell's knees on the second night.

• He could dribble a ball like a footballer using all four feet.

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Check out: CBSE Class 10th Previous Year Papers

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 FAQs

1. Who wrote the story of Mijbil the Otter?

Gavin Maxwell is the author. He wrote about his real life with his pet otter.

2. Is Mijbil a real animal?

Yes, he was an otter from the Tigris marshes in Iraq. Scientists named the species after the author.

3. Why did Mijbil get hurt in the box?

Mijbil did not like being locked up. He tried to tear the metal lining to get out and cut himself.

4. Why did the woman on the plane scream?

She thought Mijbil was a rat when he escaped the box and ran under the seats.