A Tiger in the House
A Tiger in the House Comprehension check (Page 60)
Question 1.
“He had the distinction of being the only member of the party to have bagged any
game…” The phrase in italics means
(i) Grandfather was the most distinguished member of the party.
(ii) Grandfather was the only sportsperson in the party.
(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party. Mark the right
answer.
Answer:
(ü) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.
Complete the following sentences.
(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when …………..
(ii) ………………,I became one of the tiger’s favourites.
(iii) Timothy had clean habits, …..
Answer:
(i) the tiger cub lost his temper.
(ii) When I came to live with grandfather
(iii) and would scrub his face with his paws exactly like a cat.
A Tiger in the House Comprehension check (Page 64)
Question 1.
Grandmother’s prophecy was that the tiger .
(i) would prefer Mahmoud’s bed to sleep in.
(ii) and the cook would disappear together from the house.
(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud. Mark the right answer.
Answer:
(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
Question 2.
When Timothy was about six months old, a change came over him. The phrase in
italics means that
(i) Timothy had grown to his full size.
(ii) Timothy grew more friendly.
(iii) Timothygrew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.
Answer:
(iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.
Question 3.
Write True’ or ‘False against each of the following statements,
(i) Timothy and Grandfather went to Lucknow in a special compartment
(ii) The compartment in which grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other
pastenger.
(iii) Timothy and Grandfather travelled in a first class compartment
(iv) All passengers in the compartment thought that Timothy was a well-fed and
civilised tiger.
Answer:
(i) False
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) False.
Question 4.
Grandfather suggested that Timothy should be put in another cage. The reason was
that
(i) the tiger had become very ill-tempered.
(ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
(iii) the cage was too small for a full grown tiger.
Answer:
(ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
Question 5.
The tiger was still licking his arm, with increasing relish, The phrase in the italics
suggests that Timothy
(i) was good natured.
(ii) recognised an old friend.
(iii) smelt fresh food
Answer:
(iii) smelt fresh food.
A Tiger in the House Exercises Question and Answer
Answer the following questions.
Question 1.
Where was the tiger cub hiding when Grandfather found him ?
Answer:
The tiger cub was hiding in the intricate roots of a banyan tree when the Grandfather
had found him. Grandfather had picked him and brought hím home.
Question 2.
(i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy ?
(ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?
Answer:
(i) Toto pulled the tail of the young tiger.
(ii) When Timothy lost his temper, Toto would climb up the curtains,
Question 3.
“I became one of the tiger’s favourites”. Who is ‘l’ in the statement ? Why did he think
so ?
Answer:
‘l’ is the writer of the story. When I’or the writer came to live with Grandfather, the pet
tiger of his grandfather came quite closer to him. He (the tiger) would roll on his back
and kick with delight. That is why the writer thought that he became one of the
favourites of the tiger.
Question 4.
Where was Timothy most comfortable during the day? Where was he during the
night?
Answer:
The favourite place of Timothy during the day time was the drawing room. He would
make himself comfortable on the long sofa there. He would recline on the sofa with
great dignity. At night he slept in the cook’s quarters and was delighted to be let out
in the morning.
Question 5.
What was Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook ? Did it come true ?
Answer:
Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook was that one day that only the belongings
of the cook would be found. He won’t be seen anywhere because Timothy would eat
him up. But this did not prove true. Before Timothy could attack the cook, he was
transferred to the zoo.
Question 6.
What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo ? ·
Answer:
When Timothy was about six months old, he became less friendly. He would try to
steal away a cat or a dog. He began to look at the cook with villainous intent. This is
what
grandfather decided to transfer Timothy to the zoo.
Question 7.
Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in another enclosure ?
Answer:
He wanted that Timothy should be kept in another enclosure because the leopard
kept frighting the tiger.
Question 8.
What shocked Grandfather in the end ?
Answer:
Grandfather was shocked to know that the tiger whom he had been stroking was not
Timothy. Timothy had died two months back. He was another tiger trapped in the
hills.
That tiger was very dangerous.
Discuss the following topics in groups :
Question 1.
Shoot animals with a camera, not with a gun.
Answer:
It is very sad that still some people are poaching or killing animals for their own petty
benefits. Wild animals are very important creatures. They are the keepers of the
balance of nature and environment. Some species of animals are feared to be
extinct. Despite strict laws, the animals are still being killed. So, it is rightly said that
animals should be shot with a camera and not with a gun. Wildlife photography is
quite popular but it can be made more popular. Strict laws should be made against
those people who kill animals illegally.
Question 2.
Keeping pets helps us become more loving and tolerant. It also helps us respect life
in any from. Do you agree?
Answer:
Since times immemorial people have been keeping pets. Pets are lovely creatures.
They not only need our love and care but they return it to us also. Thus keeping pets
help us become more loving and tolerant. We also develop the quality of tolerance
when we keep pets. We also learn to respect life in any form. Pets also prove to be
very sincere and faithful companions. Thus we can learn a lot by keeping pets.
Question 3.
Have you heard of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) ? What
do they do ?
Answer:
The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an organisation which works for
the welfare of animals. They have worked a lot for the street dogs and pets. They
advocate that we should adapt at least one pet each. We can at least offer them left-
over food. This Society has also opened some bedded hospitals for the care of the
dogs. Operations and vaccinations of the diseased animals are carried out there.
Thus this society is essentially for the welfare and better care of the stray animals.
A Tiger in the House Introduction
The author’s grandfather finds a tiny tiger-cub in the forest. He brings him home and
grandmother calls him Timothy and brings him up. Timothy is very friendly and plays
with other pets and children. As Timothy grows up, he becomes somewhat
dangerous. So grandfather takes him to Lucknow Zoo. Six months later, grandfather
pays Timothy a visit. He strokes and tickles a tiger thinking him to be Timothy.
Grandfather is shocked to know that Timothy had died two months ago.
