1. What experiment did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Answer: Maxwell thought Camusfearna would be suitable for keeping an otter as a pet instead of a dog. Since the place was surrounded by water, it seemed ideal for an otter, which is an aquatic animal.
2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why? How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Why he goes to Basra:
He goes to Basra to collect mail from the Consulate-General.
How long he waits:
He waits for about five days because there were delays — the line was out of order, there was a holiday, and then another breakdown.
How he gets the otter:
He receives the otter in a sack, delivered by two Arabs with a note from his friend that said:
- "Here is your otter..."
-
Does he like the otter?
Yes! He becomes deeply attached to the otter.
Words that show this are:
- “With the opening of that sack began a phase of my life that has not yet ended…”
- “It is, in effect, a thraldom to otters, an otter fixation...”
3. Why was the otter named Maxwell’s otter?
Answer: Because it belonged to a previously unknown species, and it was later named by zoologists as:
Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, or Maxwell’s otter — named after the author.
4. Tick the right answer: In the beginning, the otter was…
✅ aloof and indifferent
(Not hostile, not friendly — just kept to itself, sleeping far away.)
5. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
In the bathroom:
Mijbil played joyfully in the water, rolling, plunging, and splashing like crazy. Maxwell noted it made enough splashes “for a hippo” — showing how much otters love water.
Mijbil escaped from the bedroom and went straight to the bathroom, where he tried to turn on the water tap by himself. He was successful in turning it on once and later showed frustration when he couldn’t get it to work.
1. What experiment did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Answer:Maxwell thought Camusfearna would be suitable for the experiment of keeping an otter as a pet. Since the place was surrounded by water, it was an ideal environment for an otter.
2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why? How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Answer:He went to Basra to collect his mail from the Consulate-General. He waited there for about five days because of several delays—first the telephone line was out of order, then there was a religious holiday, and finally another technical problem. He received the otter in a sack from two Arabs, along with a note from his friend saying, “Here is your otter.”
Yes, he liked the otter very much. Words that show this are:
“With the opening of that sack began a phase of my life that has not yet ended…” and
“It is, in effect, a thraldom to otters, an otter fixation…”
3. Why was the otter named Maxwell’s otter?
Answer: The otter was named Maxwell’s otter because it belonged to a previously unknown species, which was later named by zoologists as Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, in honour of Gavin Maxwell.
4. Tick the right answer: In the beginning, the otter was—
✅ aloof and indifferent
Answer: In the beginning, the otter was aloof and indifferent. It did not show any friendliness or hostility and chose to sleep far from Maxwell’s bed.
5. 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, the otter played joyfully in the water, plunging, rolling, and splashing around excitedly.
Two days later, Mijbil escaped from the bedroom and went to the bathroom by himself. There, he tried to turn on the water tap using his paws and was successful in producing a trickle of water. Later, he even managed to get the full flow of water.
1. How was Mij to be transported to England?
Answer: Mij was to be transported to England by airplane. Since the British airline did not fly animals, Maxwell booked a flight to Paris, and from there, to London. The airline required Mij to be packed into a box not more than 18 inches square, which would be carried at Maxwell's feet on the floor of the plane.
2. What did Mij do to the box?
Answer: Mij tore the lining of the box to shreds. When Maxwell returned, he found that blood had trickled from the box, and Mij was exhausted, blood-spattered, and whimpered when he caught hold of Maxwell’s leg.
3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
Answer:Maxwell put Mij back in the box because there was no time left before the flight, and the airport was five miles away. He likely felt distressed and upset, as Mij had already suffered in the box, and it was difficult to place him back in there. The situation was probably very emotionally taxing for Maxwell.
4. Why does Maxwell say the air hostess was the very queen of her kind?
Answer: Maxwell says the air hostess was the queen of her kind because of her kindness and professionalism. She suggested that Maxwell could have Mij on his knee during the flight, which was a huge relief for him after the chaotic events of the past few minutes.
5. What happened when the box was opened?
Answer:When the box was opened, Mij immediately escaped and ran down the aisle of the aircraft at high speed. There was a commotion, with passengers screaming and a woman yelling, "A rat! A rat!" Maxwell tried to catch him but ended up covered in curry. Finally, Mij returned to Maxwell’s knee, where he nuzzled his face and neck, expressing happiness and recognition.
Here are the answers to the Oral Comprehension Check and additional questions:
1. What game had Mij invented?
Answer: Mij invented a game involving a ping-pong ball and a suitcase. He would place the ball on the high end of the suitcase, and it would roll down. Mij would run to the other end, hide, and then ambush the ball as it arrived, creating a playful game of chasing and catching the ball.
2. What are compulsive habits? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of (1) school children and (2) Mij?
Answer:Compulsive habits are repetitive actions or rituals that a person or animal feels compelled to do, often without thinking.
School children’s compulsive habits: Maxwell compares them to children who feel the need to step on every paving block in the street, touch every seventh upright of a railing, or pass every second lamppost on their way to school.
Mij's compulsive habits: Mij had his own compulsive habit, such as tugging Maxwell to a wall on his way home from the street, jumping onto the wall, and running along its length.
3. What group of animals do otters belong to?
Answer: Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines, which also includes the badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink, and others.
4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
Answer: The Londoners made many guesses about what Mij was, including:
A baby seal
A squirrel
A walrus
A beaver
A bear cub
A leopard
A brontosaurus
Here are the answers to the Oral Comprehension Check and additional questions:
1. What game had Mij invented?
Answer:
Mij invented a game involving a ping-pong ball and a suitcase. He would place the ball on the high end of the suitcase, and it would roll down. Mij would run to the other end, hide, and then ambush the ball as it arrived, creating a playful game of chasing and catching the ball.
2. What are compulsive habits? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of (1) school children and (2) Mij?
Answer:
-
Compulsive habits are repetitive actions or rituals that a person or animal feels compelled to do, often without thinking.
-
School children’s compulsive habits: Maxwell compares them to children who feel the need to step on every paving block in the street, touch every seventh upright of a railing, or pass every second lamppost on their way to school.
-
Mij's compulsive habits: Mij had his own compulsive habit, such as tugging Maxwell to a wall on his way home from the street, jumping onto the wall, and running along its length.
3. What group of animals do otters belong to?
Answer:
Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines, which also includes the badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink, and others.
4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
Answer:
The Londoners made many guesses about what Mij was, including:
-
A baby seal
-
A squirrel
-
A walrus
-
A beaver
-
A bear cub
-
A leopard
-
A brontosaurus
Thinking about the Text:
1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly, and fascinating animal who needs love?
Answer:
-
Mij invented his own games, such as the ping-pong ball game with the suitcase.
-
He developed a bond with Maxwell, nuzzling him for affection, and responded positively to being called by name.
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Mij showed playfulness and curiosity about his environment, suggesting he was intelligent and engaging.
-
His need for interaction and play (such as playing with toys) shows his friendly nature and that he needed love and companionship.
2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
Answer:From this text, we learn that otters:
-
Belong to the Mustellines group of animals.
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Have a playful nature and are very curious and active.
-
Enjoy water and are highly skilled at playing in it.
-
Form close bonds with their owners and can be affectionate.
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Can be intelligent and inventive, as shown by Mij’s games and behaviors.
3. Why is Mij's species now known to the world as Maxwell's otter?
Answer:Mij’s species is now known as Maxwell's otter because Mij was a previously unknown species to science at the time. Maxwell had an important role in identifying and naming the species, which was later formally classified by zoologists as Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, or Maxwell's otter.
"Fog":
1. What does Sandburg think the fog is like?
Answer: In the poem, Sandburg compares the fog to a cat, describing how it moves silently and gently, almost unnoticed, like a cat walking on little feet. The fog is likened to a cat that sits quietly and watches, then moves on without making much noise.
2. How does the fog come?
Answer: The fog comes on little cat feet. It arrives silently, almost unnoticed, and then sits, watching over the harbour and city before it moves on. It is described as having a quiet, gentle presence, just like a cat.
3. What does “it” in the third line refer to?
Answer: In the third line, "it" refers to the fog. The poem personifies the fog, describing it as having the ability to sit and look over the city and harbour.
4. Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat?
Answer: No, the poet does not directly say that the fog is like a cat. Instead, the poet uses a metaphor to imply that the fog behaves like a cat, with its quiet, stealthy, and gentle movements. The comparison is made through phrases like "the fog comes on little cat feet" and how it sits and then moves on.
5. Find metaphors for the following words and complete the table below. Also, try to say how they are alike.
Answer:
| Word | Metaphor | How they are alike |
|---|---|---|
| Storm | "The storm is a roaring lion." | Both are powerful, loud, and full of energy. |
| Train | "The train is a silver snake." | Both move in a long, winding manner and have a sleek, continuous flow. |
| Fire | "The fire is a dancing flame." | Both have rapid, unpredictable movements and a sense of energy or heat. |
| School | "The school is a bustling hive." | Both are busy places full of activity and constant motion. |
| Home | "Home is a warm hug." | Both provide comfort, safety, and a sense of belonging. |
6. Write a poem about a storm comparing it with an animal.
Answer: "The Storm is a Lion"
The storm is a lion,
Roaring loud and fierce,
Its paws strike the earth,
A growl that none can pierce.
It leaps through the skies,
With claws of flashing light,
And then, with a final roar,
It vanishes into the night.
7. Does this poem have a rhyme scheme?
Answer: No, Carl Sandburg’s poem "Fog" does not have an obvious rhyme scheme. The poem is an example of free verse, meaning it doesn’t follow a specific pattern of rhyming or rhythm.
Thank You
Author-Rumi deka.
