How to Tell Wild Animals- Passages for Comprehension

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How to Tell Wild Animals

By– Carolyn Wells

COMPREHENSION OF STANZAS

Read the following stanzas and answer the questions that follow :

STANZA 1

If ever you should go by chance

To jungles in the east ;

And if there should to you advance

A large and tawny beast.

If he roars at you as you’re dyin’

You’ll know it is the Asian Lion…

Questions :

(a) Where should you go by chance?

(b) How does the described animal look?

(c) How will you know that it is an Asian lion

(d) What do you mean by ‘the east’?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) You should go to jungles in the east.

(b) The described animal looks large and yellow-coloured.

(d) ‘The cast’ means the countries in the eastern part of the world.

(e) Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals.

Poet: Carolyn Wells.

STANZA 2

Or if sometimes when roaming around,

A noble wild beast greets you,

With black stripes on a yellow ground,

Just notice if he eats you.

This simple rule may help you learn

The Bengal Tiger to discern.

Questions :

(a) Who is the noble wild beast?

(b) Describe its appearance.

(c) Where will you encounter the Bengal Tiger?

(d) What are the rhyming words in this stanza?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) The noble wild beast is the Bengal Tiger.

(b) He has black stripes on a yellow background.

(d) The rhyming words are :

round – ground

you-you

learn – discern

(e) Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals.

Poet: Carolyn Wells.

STANZA 3

If strolling forth, a beast you view,

Whose hide with spots is peppered,

As soon as he has lept on you,

You’ll know it is the Leopard.

‘Twill do no good to roar with pain,

He’ll only lep and lep again.

Questions :

(a) How is the leopard’s skin?

(b) How does a leopard behave when he meets a person?

(c) Will roar with pain help a person when the leopard has attacked him?

(d) Which are the rhyming words in this stanza?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) The leopard has spots on his skin.

(b) When he meets a person he leaps on him at once.

(d) Thy rhyming words in this stanza are :

view – you

Peppered- Leopard

pain – again

(e) Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals.

Poet: Carolyn Wells.

STANZA 4

If when you’re walking around your yard

You meet a creature there,

Who hugs you very, very hard,

Be sure it is a Bear.

Questions :

(a) From which poem have these lines been taken?

(b) Where can you meet the bear?

(c) What does the bear do on meeting a person?

(d) What is the rhyming scheme of this stanza?

(e) Who is the poet of this poem?

Answers :

(a) These lines have been taken from the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’.

(b) We can meet around our yard.

(d) The rhyme scheme of this stanza is `abab’.

(e) The poet of this poem is Carolyn Wells.

STANZA 5

If you have any doubts, I guess

He’ll give you just one more caress.

Though to distinguish beasts of prey

A novice might nonplus,

Questions :

(a) From which poem have these lines been taken?

(b) Who is ‘he’ in the second line?

(c) How will ‘he’ react to the human being?

(d) About what may we have a doubt?

(e) What can nonplus a victim?

Answers :

(a) These lines have been taken from the How to Tell Wild Animals’.

(b) Here ‘he’ is a bear.

(d) We may have doubt about the strength of a bear.

(e) Distinguishing beasts of prey can nonplus a victim.

STANZA 6

The Crocodile you always may

Tell from the Hyena thus :

Hyenas come with merry smiles ;

But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.

Questions :

(a) From which poem have these lines been taken?

(b) Hoi do the hyenas come?

(c) What is so distinct about crocodiles?

(d) How can you differentiate a crocodile from a hyena?

(e) Select the rhyming words in this stanza.

Answers::

(a) These lines have been taken from the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’.

(b) The hyenas come with merry smiles.

(d) A crocodile is always weeping while a hyena looks always smiling.

(e) The rhyming words are: smiles-crocodiles

STANZA 7

The true Chameleon is small,

A lizard sort of thing ;

He hasn’t any ears at all,

And not a single wing.

If there is nothing on the tree,

‘Tis the chameleon you see.

Questions :

(a) How does a chameleon look?

(b) What two things does a chameleon not have?

(c) Where is the chameleon generally found?

(d) Why can’t we see the chameleon on the trees?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) A chameleon looks like a lizard.

(b) A chameleon does not have ears and wings.

(d) We can’t see a chameleon on the trees because it can change its body colour

according to its surrounding.

(e) Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals.

Poet: Carolyn Wells.

Stanza-8: (Page 43)

Or if sometimes when roaming around,

A noble wild beast greets you,

With black stripes on a yellow ground,

Just notice if he eats you.

This simple rule may help you learn

The Bengal Tiger to discern.

Word-Meaning: Roaming round- wandering, Noble— (here) grand, impressive, Wild— not domestic, Beast – wild animal, Greets – welcomes, Stripes- lines, Node— to see validly, Discern— recognise,

Paraphrase

If by chance you are roaming around the jungle and an impressive beast encounters you, and whose yellow coloured skin has black stripes over it, and he pounces on you to eat you the moment he sees you, then a simple rule will help you to understand that you are seeing the Bengal Tiger.

Questions:

(a) What kind of beast is the Bengal Tiger?

(b) What is the colour of his skin and stripes?

(c) What will he do if he sees you?

(d) How will the simple rule help you?

Answers:

(a) The Bengal Tiger is a grand and impressive beast.

(b) His skin is yellowish and he has black stripes on it.

(d) The simple rule will help you to understand that you are seeing the Bengal Tiger.

Stanza-9: (Page 43)

If strolling forth, a beast you view,

Whose hide with spots is peppered,

As soon as he has lept on you,

You’ll know it is the Leopard.

‘Twill do no good to roar with pain,

He’ll only lep and lep again.

Word-Meaning: Strolling— walking leisurely, Forth— ahead, View— see, Hide— skin, Spots— marks, Peppered—scattered Lept— jumped, Leopard— a big cat of the tiger family, Twill do no good— will not be of any use, Pain—suffering, Lep and lep again – jump at you again,

Paraphrase

If you are strolling forth in the jungle and encounter a beast whose hide has spots scattered all over it, and he jumps at you the moment he sees you, then, you should know that beast is a leopard. If you start crying in pain on seeing him, it will be of no use, as he will leap and pounce upon you again and again.

Questions:

(a) Where can you see the dark spots on the beast?

(b) What will the animal do if he sees you?

(c) Will crying in pain be of any help?

(d) Name the animal being described in the given lines.

Answers:

(a) The (dark) spots are scattered all over the hide.

(b) He will jump at you, the moment he sees you.

(d) The leopard is being described in these lines.

Stanza-10: (Page 44)

If when you’re walking around your yard

You meet a creature there,

Who hugs you very, very hard,

Be sure it is a Bear.

If you have any doubts, I guess

He’ll give you just one more caress.

Word-Meaning: Your Yard- in your ground, Creature— (here) animal, Twill Hugs— embraces tightly, Very hard—holds tightly, Be sure—you must be sure, Doubts—suspects, guess—I make a guess One more caress— one more hug,

Paraphrase

If you are walking around your courtyard you may meet a creature there. If he hugs you very hard, it is sure that he is the bear. If you have any doubt about it, he will give you another loving touch.

Questions:

(a) What will you be doing in the courtyard?

(b) What will the animal do?

(c) What will happen if you have any doubt?

(d) What is the bear known for?

Answers:

(a) You will be walking around the courtyard.

(b) The animal will hug you hard.

(d) The bear is known for loving touch.

Stanza-11: (Page 44)

Though to distinguish beasts of prey A novice might nonplus, The Crocodile you always may Tell from the Hyena thus: Hyenas come with merry smiles; But if they weep their Crocodiles.

Word-Meaning: Though – although, Distinguish- to find the difference, Beasts of prey— animals which hunt other animals, novice— an inexperienced person, Nonplus- confuse, Crocodile- a large reptile with hard skin and big jaws, TeII– (here) distinguish Hyena— a wild animal like a dog, Thus— in this way, Merry – happy, If they weep- if the animals weep

Paraphrase

For a novice, it is not an easy job to distinguish among wild animals and beasts of prey. He may be easily confused. But it will always be quite easy for you to distinguish between a crocodile and a hyena. Hyenas always come smiling happily. If they come weeping, then surely they are crocodiles.

Questions:

(a) Is it easy for a novice to distinguish wild animals or beasts of prey?

(b) How can hyenas be recognised?

(c) How can crocodiles be recognised?

(d) Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

Answers:

(a) No, a novice may be easily confused while distinguishing the wild animals and beasts of prey.

(b) Hyenas come with their merry smiles.

(d) The poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ has been written by Carolyn Wells.

Stanza-12: (Page 44)

The true Chameleon is small,

A lizard sort of thing;

He hasn’t any ears at all,

And not a single wing.

If there is nothing on the tree,

‘Tis the chameleon you see.

Word-Meaning: Chameleon- a lizard-like small creature, Lizard- a small reptile

Paraphrase

A true Chameleon is a small creature like a lizard. He doesn’t have any ears at all. Nor does he have a single wing. If you don’t find any other creature except him, then you must be sure that you are seeing a lizard sitting on the tree.

Questions:

(a) Who is like a lizard?

(b) What does he lack?

(c) What can be said about the poet’s view of Chameleon?

(d) Is this creature very big?

Answers:

(a) A chameleon is like a lizard.

(b) He doesn’t have any ears and wings.

(d) No, the chameleon is a small creature.

Stanza-: 13 (Page 43)

If ever you should go by chance

To jungles in the east;

And if there should to you advance

A large and tawny beast,

If he roars at you as you’re dyin’

You’ll know it is the Asian Lion…

Word-Meaning: Ever— at any time, By chance— all of a sudden, In the east- – in the eastern regions, Advance—(here) coming towards, Large—huge, Tawny— brownish, Beast— animal,

Paraphrase

If you ever go to the jungles in the east, you may find a brown coloured huge animal coming towards you there. If it starts roaring at you, you will feel as if you were dying. If such a beast encounters you in the eastern jungles, you must be sure that he is the Asian Lion.

Questions:

(a) Where is the Asian Lion found?

(b) How does the Asian Lion look?

(c) How will you feel if he advances towards you roaring?

(d) What kind of an animal will you encounter in the jungles of the East?

Answers:

(a) The Asian Lion is found in the jungles of the east.

(b) The Asian Lion is a huge brownish beast.

(d) You will encounter an Asian Lion in the jungles of the East.