What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
When Maxwell first took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter was plunging and rolling in it. He started jumping up and down the length of the bathtub and made enough slosh and splash for the hippo. After two days, the otter suddenly escaped from the bedroom and went to the bathroom to play in the water and itself opened the tap.
What game had Mij invented?
What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?
How was Mij to be transported to England?
What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
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.
What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
(i) school children
(ii) Mij?
Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why?
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
What did Lencho hope for?
When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
Do you keep a diary? Given below under ‘A’ are some terms we use to describe a written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their descriptions under ‘B’? (You may
look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)
A B
(i) Journal – A book with a separate space or page for each day, in which you write down your and feelings or what has happened on that day
(ii) Diary – A full record of a journey, a period of time, or an event, written every day
(iii) Log – A record of a person’s own life and experiences (usually, a famous person)
(iv) Memoir(s) – A written record of events with times and dates, usually official
Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Have you ever planned something entirely on your own, without taking grown- ups into your confidence? What did you plan, and how? Did you carry out your plan?
How does Wanda feel about the dresses game? Why does she say that she has a hundred dresses?
Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”