Class 10 › English › First Flight Mijbil the Otter Class 10 English · First Flight · Chapter 6
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View all First Flight: what 34 board papers asked 9 prose pieces, each summarised 10 poems with their poetic devices Common traps to avoid Long-answer pairs the board has set 10 marks each: grammar and writing formats 12-question final test with answers And dozens more key concepts and facts Only 7 pages · Page 1 free
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~46 days left · Pre-boards · school dates varyPreview 12 PDFs in this packCBSE Class 10 Computer Applications 2027 — Visual Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Social Science: Economics — Understanding Economic Development Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 English — First Flight Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 English — Footprints without Feet Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Social Science: Geography — Contemporary India – II Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Hindi A — Kshitij 2 + Kritika 2 Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Hindi B — Sparsh 2 + Sanchayan 2 Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Social Science: History — India and the Contemporary World – II Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Mathematics (Standard and Basic) — Mathematics Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Social Science: Political Science — Democratic Politics – II Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Sanskrit — Shemushi 2 + Vyakaranavithi + Abhyaswaan Bhav Revision Kit CBSE Class 10 Science — Science Revision Kit Marks booster Your kit Page 1 · Free Page 2 Page 2 Included in kit Page 3 Page 3 Included in kit Page 5 Page 5 Included in kit Page 6 Page 6 Included in kit Page 7 Page 7 Included in kit Tap the envelope to open your kit Preview 12 PDFs in this pack Kit cover
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View all 15 amazing Marks Booster kits → Written by Gavin Maxwell, this is the true and affectionate account of the author’s experience of keeping an otter as a pet. While in southern Iraq, Maxwell decides to keep an otter instead of a dog and acquires one he names Mijbil, of a species so rare it is later named after him — Maxwell’s otter. Mijbil is playful and intelligent, inventing his own games, such as juggling marbles and splashing in water, and growing deeply attached to the author. The chapter humorously describes the difficulties of transporting Mijbil from Iraq to England by air, including the airline’s rules, packing him in a box, and the chaos he causes on the flight. People in London are astonished and curious about the strange creature, mistaking it for many different animals. The story beautifully captures the bond between humans and animals, the otter’s endearing nature, and the responsibilities and joys of caring for a wild pet.
1 In Iraq, Maxwell gets an otter named Mijbil instead of keeping a dog. 2 At first Mijbil seems dull, but soon he becomes playful, clever, and very attached to Maxwell. 3 Mijbil loves water and games, especially with marbles, and he learns the flat quickly. 4 When Maxwell must return to England, he struggles with airline rules and prepares a box for Mijbil. 5 Mijbil escapes from the box before the flight, creates confusion, and later travels with Maxwell on the plane. 6 In London, people stare at Mijbil and guess many wrong animals, while Maxwell enjoys his unusual pet. G Gavin Maxwell The author who keeps an otter as a pet and narrates the story.
M Mijbil The playful otter of a rare species named after Maxwell.
M Maxwell’s otter The new species name given to Mijbil’s kind of otter.
C Camusfeàrna Maxwell’s home in the Scottish Highlands where he raised the otter.
H Human–animal bond The affectionate relationship between Maxwell and Mijbil.
T The airline journey The difficult, comic transport of Mijbil to England.
compulsive habits
hard-to-control repeated actions
disengage
free or separate
quintessentially
in the truest way
labyrinth
a confusing passage system
chittering
making quick sharp sounds
squirmed
twisted with quick movements
infernal
very annoying or terrible
frightened life out of
made extremely scared
Q1 Why did the author decide to keep an otter as a pet? Answer Q2 How did Mijbil amuse himself? Answer Q3 Describe the difficulties in transporting Mijbil to England. Answer Q4 How did people in London react to Mijbil? Answer Q5 How did the author come to own Mijbil? Answer Q6 To what species did Mijbil belong? Answer Q7 How did Mijbil behave around water? Answer Q8 Why did transporting Mijbil to England prove difficult? Answer Q9 How did the air hostess help during the flight? Answer Q10 What does the story show about keeping a wild animal as a pet? Answer Q1 1. Do you have a pet? If you do, you perhaps know that a pet is a serious responsibility. Read in the box below what the SPCA — the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — has to say about how to care for a pet. Answer Q2 2. Imagine someone has gifted you a pet. With your partner's help, make a list of the things you need to know about the pet in order to take good care of it. One has been done for you.
(i) The food it eats.
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v) Answer Q3 3. Otters are found in large numbers in the marshes (i.e. wet areas near lakes, rivers or seas) near Basra, a town in Iraq. Imagine you wanted to bring an otter from Iraq to London, as a pet. What special arrangements would you need to make for your pet otter? You would need to find a place with lots of water, for example. What other points should you think about? The information about Iraq and London given below may help you. Answer Q1 1. What 'experiment' did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for? Answer Q2 2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why? Answer Q3 3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this. Answer Q4 4. Why was the otter named 'Maxwell's otter'? Answer Q5 5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was
• aloof and indifferent
• friendly
• hostile Answer Q6 6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that? Answer Q1 1. How was Mij to be transported to England? Answer Q2 2. What did Mij do to the box? Answer Q3 3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this? Answer Q4 4. Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was "the very queen of her kind"? Answer Q5 5. What happened when the box was opened? Answer Q1 1. What game had Mij invented? Answer Q2 2. What are 'compulsive habits'? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
(i) school children
(ii) Mij? Answer Q3 3. What group of animals do otters belong to? Answer Q4 4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was? Answer Q1 1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love? Answer Q2 2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text? Answer Q3 3. Why is Mij's species now known to the world as Maxwell's otter? Answer Q4 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. Answer Q5 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 Q1 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. Answer Q2 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
(ii) The iron railings
(iii) The Tigris marshes
(iv) The London streets
(v) soft velvet fur
(vi) A four-footed soccer player Answer Q3 II. Noun Modifiers
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.) Answer Q4 III. Read this sentence:
He shook himself, and I half expected a cloud of dust.
The author uses a cloud of dust to give a picture of a large quantity of dust. Phrases like this indicate a particular quantity of something that is not usually countable. For example: a bit of land, a drop of blood, a pinch of salt, a piece of paper.
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 Answer Q7 (iv) a huge heap of Answer Q9 (vi) little drops of Answer Q10 (vii) a piece of Answer Q12 III. 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. Answer Q13 (ii) Can you give me some clay, please. Answer Q14 (iii) The information you gave was very useful. Answer Q15 (iv) Because of these factories, smoke hangs over the city. Answer Q16 (v) Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks of fire. Answer Q17 (vi) He gave me some flowers on my birthday. Answer Q1 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 Q1 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 Q1 1. The events narrated in this text took place over half-a-century ago. Discuss with your class what changes have taken place over these years in
(i) what animals we can keep as pets (some species are protected under the laws for wildlife preservation)
(ii) the laws for exporting and importing or trading in animals
(iii) rules for transporting goods, pets, etc. on aircraft.
The class might wish to do their own research on these questions and report their findings in class. Answer Q2 2. Ask students if they know of other examples of unusual pets or of wild animals which are trained to work for or amuse humans (eg dancing bears, lions and tigers in a circus, elephants trained to work or take part in ceremonies). Then lead students into a discussion about the ethics of keeping wild animals as pets: What are the difficulties these may entail? According to the students, what will the animal miss most when it is taken away from its natural habitat? Do they think that it is 'cute' to see Mij the otter on a leash? Get them to look at the situation from all points of view. Answer Q3 3. Visit the website wwf.org.uk/core/wildlife to know more about otters and otter conservation projects. Answer Q1 1. (i) What does Sandburg think the fog is like? Answer Q2 (ii) How does the fog come? Answer Q3 (iii) What does 'it' in the third line refer to? Answer Q4 (iv) Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat? Find three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat. Answer Q5 2. You know that a metaphor compares two things by transferring a feature of one thing to the other (See Unit 1).
(i) Find metaphors for the following words and complete the table below. Also try to say how they are alike. The first is done for you.
Storm Answer Q10 (ii) Think about a storm. Try to visualise the force of the storm, hear the sound of the storm, feel the power of the storm and the sudden calm that happens afterwards. Write a poem about the storm comparing it with an animal. Answer Q11 3. Does this poem have a rhyme scheme? Poetry that does not have an obvious rhythm or rhyme is called 'free verse'. Answer
Who is the author and narrator of “Mijbil the Otter”?
A George Orwell B Gavin Maxwell C James Herriot D Ruskin Bond
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