A Tiger in the Zoo Long Answer Type Question | Assumption, Creativity & Critical Thinking Based | Class 10  First Flight

This page offers A Tiger in the Zoo  long answer type question for Class 10  from the book First Flight.  We’ve put together a bunch of long answer type question based on assumption, creativity, extrapolation and critical thinking. These types of questions are introduced after 2024 in CBSE Board. So, practice to understand A Tiger in the Zoo  long answer type question

A Tiger in the Zoo Long Answer Type Question

By- Leslie Norris

1. Imagine the tiger’s life before it was captured and brought to the zoo. Describe a day in its life in the wild.

Answer: Before the tiger came to the zoo, it lived in the jungle. Each day, it woke up to the warm touch of the sun’s rays on its fur. The jungle was its big playground, where it roamed freely, running without any boundaries to hold it back. The tiger was a skilled hunter, chasing after deer with its powerful legs and sharp claws, in the thrill of the chase.

When it caught its prey, it felt a sense of pride and strength. Sometimes, the tiger would take a break from hunting and rest under the shade of towering trees, or it would cool off by taking a refreshing dip in the nearby river.

At night, as darkness covered the jungle, the tiger would gaze up at the stars, feeling a sense of connection to the vast and open world surrounding it. Life in the forest was filled with adventures waiting to be discovered and the freedom to roam wherever it pleased.

2. What can the feelings of the tiger in the poem teach us about our own lives? Reflect on how the tiger’s situation might relate to human experiences of feeling trapped.

Answer: The tiger’s feelings in the poem can teach us a lot about our own lives. It shows how feeling trapped or restricted can affect us. Just like the tiger paces in its small cage, humans can feel stuck too.

This could be because of jobs, relationships, or what society expects from us. Feeling trapped like this can stop us from doing what comes naturally, making us feel frustrated and unhappy.

When the poem talks about the tiger looking at the stars, it might remind us of times when we’ve felt stuck but wanted something more. It shows us how important it is to seek freedom in our lives. This could mean changing things that hold us back, trying new things, or finding ways to be ourselves.

Thinking about the tiger’s situation helps us see how important it is to have control over our lives. We need to create spaces where we can grow and be happy, both for ourselves and for others. 

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3. Freedom is such an essential virtue that is valued not only by human beings but also by animals alike. Justify the statement with reference to Leslie Norris’s poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’.

Freedom is very important for everyone, including animals. Animals from the forest, like tigers, feel free only in their natural homes. Locking powerful animals like tigers in cages is unfair because they belong in the wild.

In the jungle, a tiger freely hunts its food when hungry, skillfully hiding in the grass to catch its favorite deer, and sometimes scaring people who live near the forest, but only attacks if provoked.

However, when a tiger is caged in a zoo, it becomes very sad. It paces back and forth in its cage quietly but angrily. It ignores people who come to see it and feels powerless. Locked up, the tiger stares at the stars, sadly reminded of the freedom it has lost, which makes it even sadder.

4. If the tiger in the zoo could talk, what would it say about its feelings towards the visitors staring at it?

Answer: If the tiger could talk, it might say it feels sad and confused when people stare at it every day. It might feel like a toy or a picture instead of a living creature. The tiger could say it misses its freedom and feels frustrated in such a small space. It might wonder why visitors find it enjoyable but don’t see its sadness.

The tiger would probably wish people knew it belongs in the wild, where it can run, hunt, and live freely, not in a cage. It might feel trapped and long for the days when it roamed the jungle, chasing prey and basking in the warmth of the sun.

The tiger could express its desire for understanding and compassion from those who come to see it, hoping they would see beyond its stripes and into its heart.

5. Compare and contrast the tiger’s life in the zoo with that of a pet dog at home. Consider their levels of freedom, interaction with humans, and daily routines.

Answer: The tiger in the zoo and a pet dog at home live very different lives. While both are animals living with humans nearby, their experiences are not the same. The tiger in the zoo has very little freedom; it lives in a small space and can’t choose what to do or where to go.

It might feel lonely and bored, missing the wide-open spaces of the wild. On the other hand, a pet dog at home usually has more freedom to move around, especially if it has a yard to play in. It interacts closely with its human family, who give it attention, love, and care.

Dogs have routines that include playtime, walks, and companionship. While a pet dog might also face limitations compared to a wild animal, it often enjoys a more enriched and interactive life than the tiger in the zoo.

6. Do you think humans use animals for selfish reasons? What’s your view on animal exploitation? Give examples and possible solutions . Ref. A Tiger in the Zoo. 

Answer:  Yes, it’s true that humans often use animals for their own gains. Animals are hunted, captured for trade, and even placed in zoos where they live in small cages. This is not right. In the poem, we see a tiger that is trapped in a cage, feeling angry and longing for freedom. This kind of captivity is cruel.

Every day, many animals suffer because of human actions. Monkeys are forced to perform on streets, elephants are made to carry heavy loads, and other animals are kept in zoos just for entertainment, often in bad conditions. We need to treat animals better and respect nature more. After all, we share this Earth with these animals.

7. Write a letter from the perspective of the tiger to the zoo keeper, expressing its feelings and asking for changes in its living conditions.

Answer: 

Dear Zoo keeper,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to share my feelings and ask for some changes in my living conditions. Living here, behind bars, is very hard for me. I miss the wide-open spaces, the thrill of the hunt, and the freedom to roam. I understand that I can’t go back to the wild, but I wish for a life that’s a bit closer to what it was.

Could you please make my home here a bit more like the jungle? Maybe add some more plants, a larger area to roam, and a pond to cool off in. These changes would mean the world to me and make my days brighter.

Thank you for listening to my feelings.

Sincerely,

The Tiger

8. How do you think the tiger feels at night when the zoo is quiet and it stares at the stars? Reflect on its emotions and thoughts.

Answer: At night, when the zoo is quiet and the tiger looks up at the stars, feeling a mix of longing and sadness. The stars remind it of the jungle’s vast skies and it’s free past. These moments bring back memories of roaming freely, the wild scents, and the earth under its paws.

Night brings a calm, a break from the daytime’s noise and visitors, offering the tiger a brief peace and a chance to just be. However, this peace also brings a combination of hope and despair. The tiger dreams of freedom outside the cage.

He imagines a life of adventure. The tiger feels bound because its dreams of freedom are different from the reality of living in captivity. It misses its wild home a lot. This makes the tiger sad and peaceful at the same time.

9. Imagine if the tiger escaped from the zoo. What would its day be like in the city, and how would it feel about this new place?

Answer- If the tiger got out of the zoo, its day in the city would be exciting but also confusing. At first, it would feel happy to be free, running in the streets and enjoying the breeze. The tiger would be curious about all the new things it sees, hears, and smells in the city, which are very different from the zoo or the jungle.

But as the day goes on, the tiger might start to feel stressed by all the noise, the many people, and all the new things. The city, with its cars, buildings, and roads, would be hard for the tiger to handle since it’s never dealt with these things before.

It might start to miss the quiet of the forest or even the zoo it knows. The tiger would realise that being truly free means being in the right place, not just having more space.

10. Imagine the tiger has a dream about its life in the wild while sleeping in its zoo enclosure. Describe the dream and how the tiger feels upon waking up.

Answer: In its dream, the tiger is back in the wide, green jungle, its real home. It runs freely through large meadows and follows the movements of birds above. The ground under its paws feels right and natural.

In the dream, the tiger feels a great sense of joy and freedom. It is strong, wild, and free, just as it should be. But waking up in the zoo brings a sharp return to reality. The small cage, the hard concrete underfoot, and the absence of the jungle’s vibrant life make the tiger deeply sad.

It misses the dream, which reminds it of a better, freer life it once knew. This memory makes the tiger long even more to be free.

11. After reading about the tiger’s life in the zoo, a student decides to start a conservation awareness campaign. Describe the campaign’s goals and activities, and how the student hopes to make a difference.

Answer: A student starts a campaign to help people understand the importance of protecting wildlife and ensuring animals in zoos are treated well. This campaign involves fun and educational workshops in schools where kids can learn about the natural homes of different animals and the big problems these animals face because of human activities.

The student also organises community events, like art contests and storytelling sessions, to get everyone thinking and caring about wild animals.

Additionally, there’s a social media challenge where people are encouraged to come up with creative ideas on how zoos can be made to resemble natural habitats more closely.

By doing all these activities, the student hopes to teach people to respect and care for wildlife. The goal is to encourage positive changes in how zoos operate and to promote efforts to conserve animals in their natural environments.

12. If the tiger had the ability to communicate with the zookeepers, what changes do you think it would request for its enclosure to make it feel more like home?

Answer- The tiger might have some requests to make the zoo feel more like the jungle. First, it might ask for more trees and bushes to climb and hide in. Tigers love to explore and play in dense vegetation, just like they would in the jungle. Second, the tiger could want a bigger area with grass and rocks, similar to the terrain it would roam in its natural habitat.

Having more space to move around would make the tiger feel less confined. Third, it might seek a quiet place away from people to relax and recharge. In the jungle, tigers often retreat to some particular areas for some peace.

Overall, the tiger would appreciate changes that make its environment more natural and reminiscent of the freedom it once enjoyed in the wild.

13. If the tiger could escape and return to the wild, how would it adapt to its new freedom after years in captivity?

Answer- At first, when the tiger goes back to the wild, it might feel confused and unsure. It’s because it’s been locked up for so long. The jungle is big and different from its cage. The tiger has to learn how to hunt again. In the zoo, it got food given to it. But in the wild, it has to chase and catch its own food.

This might take some time to get used to. The tiger also needs to deal with other animals in the jungle. It might meet other tigers or dangerous animals. It has to show its strength and mark its territory to survive. 

Emotionally, the tiger might feel all sorts of things. At first, it might be happy to be free. But it might also feel scared or alone. Over time, it will get used to living in the wild again. It might even feel confident and strong, like it used to. 

Overall, getting used to freedom after being in a cage for a long time is hard for the tiger. It needs to be brave and patient as it learns to live in the wild again.

14. Imagine if the tiger had a chance to meet its ancestors in a dream. What wisdom might the ancestors share about coping with life in captivity and keeping the spirit of the wild alive?

Answer- In a dream, if the tiger met its ancestors, they might share some wisdom about living in captivity. They could say to keep the spirit of the wild alive in your heart, even when you’re in a cage. They might tell the tiger to be patient and stay strong. The ancestors could remind the tiger to remember its instincts and skills, like hunting and exploring, even if it’s in a zoo.

They might say to find ways to stay active and engaged, like playing with toys or climbing trees. The ancestors could also encourage the tiger to stay connected to nature, even if it’s just by listening to the sounds of the jungle in its dreams.

Overall, they would remind the tiger to never give up hope and to always remember where it came from, no matter where it is.

15. How does imagining the feelings of the tiger in the zoo help us develop empathy for other living beings? Discuss how understanding another creature’s discomfort might change the way we treat animals.

Answer: Imagining how the tiger feels in the zoo helps us understand how other animals might feel too. When we think about the tiger being sad and stuck in a small place, we can imagine how other animals in captivity might feel the same way. It helps us realise that animals have feelings, just like us.

Understanding their discomfort makes us want to treat animals better. We might rethink visiting places like zoos or circuses, where animals are kept in cages. We might also support laws that protect animals and give them more space to live. Overall, imagining the tiger’s feelings changes how we see animals and makes us want to help them have better lives.

16. Why is freedom important to living beings, whether humans or animals? Explain how the poem’s depiction of the tiger’s limited movements within the cage highlights the value of freedom.

Answer: Freedom is very important for all living things because it lets them live naturally and do what they’re born to do. In the poem, the tiger shows us how important freedom is.

The tiger is stuck in a small cage. It is only able to move back and forth. This is a big difference from the wide-open spaces it would have in the wild. Being trapped like this shows us how being confined can stop animals from acting the way they naturally would.

The poem compares the tiger’s limited movements in the cage with what its life could be like in the wild—running, hunting, and living without restrictions. This shows us what the tiger is missing out on.

It helps us see that freedom isn’t just about having space, but also about being able to do what you want and act naturally. This teaches us that all living things, even people, are happier and healthier when they have freedom.

17. What responsibilities do humans have when it comes to the lives of animals in captivity? Consider how the poem describes the interaction between the zoo visitors and the tiger, and discuss the ethical implications of humans.

Answer: 

Humans have big responsibilities towards animals kept in captivity. It’s important to make sure they’re both physically and mentally well. In the poem, the visitors don’t understand what the tiger’s going through. This raises questions about how zoos treat animals and how humans should respect them.

Humans need to make sure animals in captivity have environments like their natural homes. This means enough space to move around, things to do that are like what they’d do in the wild, and taking care of their health and food needs.

Also, teaching visitors about what these animals need and how they act naturally can help people respect them more. This is important for treating them well.

The visitors in the poem not caring about the tiger bring up a bigger question about morality: just because animals are in captivity for learning or conservation, it doesn’t mean we can treat them however we want. We have a duty to make sure their lives in captivity are good.

18. Based on the tiger’s unhappy reaction to being caged in the poem, what are better ways to house big animals like tigers? Talk about whether wildlife sanctuaries or protected reserves are better options than regular zoos.

Answer: The poem shows how unhappy the tiger is in the small, fake setting of the zoo. This makes us think about better ways to keep big animals like tigers. Wildlife sanctuaries and protected reserves let tigers move freely and act more naturally, unlike in zoos where space is tight and everything is man-made.

These places care more about the animals’ health and saving them, without using them for shows or too much human contact. Sanctuaries and reserves try to heal and save species in places that look like their natural homes.

Even though these options might need more land and resources, they follow better rules for how to treat animals right. By helping these efforts, we can make sure tigers and other big animals live in places that give them enough room, freedom, and a natural way of life, making it a kinder choice than regular zoos.

19. What does it mean when zoo visitors don’t care much about the animals and they enjoy the captivity of the tiger? Discuss how we can change this to help people feel a stronger connection and respect for wildlife.

Answer:  The poem shows that zoo visitors often don’t connect with nature. They see wild animals more as entertainment than as living creatures with needs and rights. This attitude can lead to harmful practices that ignore the well-being of animals.

To help people feel closer to and respect wildlife more, teaching them can be very effective. Zoos and wildlife groups can create programs that are more fun and full of facts. These programs can teach visitors about how animals naturally behave, where they live, and why we need to protect them.

Having interactive classes, tours with smart guides, and experiences that feel like being in the wild can make visitors see why saving animals and keeping them well is key.

Also, showing wildlife films and backing conservation efforts can make people value animals more, seeing them as they live in the wild, and support keeping them safe.

20. Many animals, like tigers, are at risk of extinction. What do you think is causing this? Should we try to stop their numbers from dropping? Why?

Answer- Tigers are becoming extinct mainly because of poaching and losing their natural habitats to human development. People hunt tigers for their skins, teeth, and bones, which are used in traditional medicines and sold as trophies.

Also, as human populations grow, forests are cut down to create farmland, reducing the places where tigers can live. This not only leaves tigers with less space but also fewer prey animals, making it hard for them to survive.

In the poem, the tiger’s captivity and visible distress reflect the broader issues tigers face in the wild. Since tigers play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems, it’s important to protect them and their habitats to preserve the natural order and biodiversity.

21. And stares with his brilliant eyes, At the brilliant stars.’ We can no longer do that. How do we feel about the ‘tigers in the zoo’? You can even imagine yourself in captivity. 

Or

When there is a natural habitat for tigers and other wild animals, is it justified for humans to shift them from there to other locations? Give a reasonable answer to justify it. 

Or

The tiger in the poem is feeling miserable in a concrete cell. Does it not amount to cruelty? Express your opinion about keeping wild animals in zoos. Are there any lessons for humans?  

Answer- The tiger in the poem is deeply unhappy in its cage, yearning for the freedom it lacks. Although it may be well-cared for in terms of physical needs, the poem makes it clear that true living requires freedom. Being confined equates to bondage, and such bondage is a form of cruelty.

While some might argue that captivity helps prevent extinction by protecting animals from being killed in the wild, taking away an animal’s freedom to merely keep it alive undermines its will to live. This is akin to humans opposing the chains of slavery and oppression; the desire for freedom is universal across all living beings.

Moreover, humans have significantly encroached on natural habitats, and confining animals to zoos as a solution is inhumane. We must learn to respect nature and its inhabitants more deeply because our existence is intertwined with the health of the natural world.

We thrive only if our ecosystems thrive, highlighting the need to treat wildlife with respect and dignity.