What happened when the box was opened?
As soon as the box was opened by Maxwell, Mij ran out and jumped here and there in the flight which scared the passengers. Due to all this, chaos was created in the flight.
What game had Mij invented?
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
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?
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?
What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots”, who had gone before him ?
Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
What did Lencho hope for?
Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?
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?
What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
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?
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious human achievement” he speaks of at the end?