Chapter 14
RIKKI TIKKI TAWI
1. What is the main idea of the lesson “Rikki Tikki Tawi”?
Answer: The main idea of the lesson is to show how a small and brave animal, a mongoose named Rikki Tikki Tawi, saves his human family from dangerous snakes. The story highlights bravery, loyalty and friendship between humans and animals.
2. What question is asked in the Warmer section?
Answer: The Warmer section asks about pet animals, how humans domesticate animals, and how animals are useful to humans. It prepares the reader to understand the bond between Teddy and Rikki Tikki.
3. Who was Teddy?
Answer: Teddy was a young boy of ten years who lived with his parents in a house with a garden. He became the owner and friend of the mongoose.
4. How did Teddy first see Rikki Tikki?
Answer: Teddy first saw Rikki Tikki lying wet and still on the grass after heavy rain. He thought the mongoose was dead.
5. Why did Teddy’s mother refuse to bury the mongoose?
Answer: Teddy’s mother noticed that the mongoose’s heart was beating faintly. She believed he might live and decided to take care of him.
6. How was Rikki Tikki saved?
Answer: Teddy’s father wrapped Rikki Tikki in an old woollen muffler and placed him near the fire to dry and warm him.
7. How did the family know Rikki Tikki was alive?
Answer: The mongoose sneezed after being placed near the fire. This made Teddy and his parents very happy.
8. What food was given to Rikki Tikki?
Answer: The family gave Rikki Tikki some meat first. Later Teddy also gave him a banana and a boiled egg.
9. What did Rikki Tikki do after drying himself?
Answer: He sat in the sun, shook his fur until it dried completely, and fluffed his tail until it looked like a bottle brush.
10. How did Rikki Tikki behave in the house?
Answer: Rikki Tikki followed Teddy everywhere, showed interest in the surroundings, and slept in Teddy’s room at night.
11. How did Rikki Tikki become Teddy’s friend?
Answer: By staying close to Teddy, following him around and sharing his room, Rikki Tikki slowly became Teddy’s close companion.
12. Why was the mongoose named Rikki Tikki Tawi?
Answer: The mongoose made a sound like “rikki-tikki-tikki-tikki” while running through the grass, which made Teddy laugh and name him Rikki Tikki Tawi.
13. Who were Nag and Nagin?
Answer: Nag was a big cobra and Nagin was his wife. They lived in the garden and were enemies of the mongoose.
14. Why are mongooses and cobras enemies?
Answer: Mongooses are natural enemies of snakes because their purpose in life is to fight and kill snakes.
15. How big was Nag?
Answer: Nag was a full-grown cobra measuring five feet from the tip of his tongue to the end of his tail.
16. Why did Rikki Tikki run away from Nag and Nagin?
Answer: Rikki Tikki was still a baby and knew it was dangerous to fight Nag and Nagin together, so he ran away wisely.
17. What did Rikki Tikki hear at night?
Answer: At night, Rikki Tikki heard a faint noise coming from the bathroom of Teddy’s parents.
18. What plan did Nagin make?
Answer: Nagin planned that Nag should bite and kill all three people in the house so that the mongoose would leave.
19. Where was Nag hiding?
Answer: Nag entered the bathroom through the drain and coiled himself like a rope, waiting for Teddy’s father.
20. Why was Nag waiting in the bathroom?
Answer: Nag knew Teddy’s father would come to the bathroom at midnight and planned to bite him.
21. Where was Rikki Tikki during this time?
Answer: Rikki Tikki was hiding behind the bathroom door and watching Nag carefully.
22. What did Rikki Tikki do when Nag was asleep?
Answer: Rikki Tikki jumped on Nag’s head and dug his teeth into the snake’s flesh.
23. How did Nag react to the attack?
Answer: Nag became furious and threw his head violently from side to side, smashing Rikki Tikki against the wall.
24. Was Rikki Tikki afraid?
Answer: Yes, Rikki Tikki was angry but also scared because Nag was very big and poisonous.
25. Why did Rikki Tikki not let go of Nag?
Answer: Despite being hurt and bleeding, Rikki Tikki held on bravely to protect Teddy and his family.
26. What caused a loud noise in the bathroom?
Answer: Nag’s tail knocked over the mug and soap dish, causing them to fall with a loud thud.
27. Who came to the bathroom on hearing the noise?
Answer: Teddy’s father came to the bathroom after hearing the loud sound.
28. How did Nag die?
Answer: Teddy’s father shot Nag with a gun, which ended the struggle.
29. What did Teddy’s father say about Rikki Tikki?
Answer: He said that although he shot the snake, it was Rikki Tikki who saved their lives.
30. How was Rikki Tikki treated after the fight?
Answer: Teddy’s mother cleaned his wounds with medicine and took care of him gently.
31. What reward did Rikki Tikki receive?
Answer: Teddy’s mother petted him, gave him toffees, and showed him love.
32. How did Rikki Tikki react after being treated?
Answer: Rikki Tikki was happy, fluffed his tail and ran back to Teddy’s room.
33. What qualities of Rikki Tikki are shown in the story?
Answer: Rikki Tikki shows bravery, loyalty, intelligence and a sense of duty.
34. Why is Rikki Tikki called a hero?
Answer: He risked his life to save Teddy and his parents from a deadly snake.
35. How does the story show friendship between humans and animals?
Answer: The family cared for Rikki Tikki and he repaid them by protecting their lives.
36. What lesson does the story teach about courage?
Answer: The story teaches that courage does not depend on size; even a small creature can be very brave.
37. What lesson does the story teach about kindness?
Answer: Kindness shown by the family saved Rikki Tikki, and that kindness returned as protection.
38. Why is this story interesting for children?
Answer: The story is exciting, adventurous and shows animals acting bravely like heroes.
39. What danger did the family face?
Answer: The family faced the danger of being bitten and killed by the cobra Nag.
40. What is the overall message of the lesson?
Answer: The lesson teaches that animals are our friends, bravery and loyalty are valuable qualities, and kindness is always rewarded.
Answer by Mrinmoee
