Mijbil the Otter
Q.1. What experiment did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Ans: Maxwell wanted to keep an otter as a pet instead of a dog. He thought Camusfearna, surrounded by water and close to a lake, was an ideal place for this experiment.
Q.2. Why did he go to Basra? How long did he wait there, and why?
Ans: He went to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect his mail from Europe. Due to delays and communication problems, he had to wait there for five days until his mail arrived.
Q.3. How did he get the otter? Did he like it?
Ans: Maxwell received the otter from his friend, who sent it through two Arabs along with a note. He liked the otter very much, as shown by his strong attachment and interest in it, which he described as an “otter fixation.”
Q.4. Why was the otter named “Maxwell’s otter”?
Ans: The otter belonged to a species previously unknown to science. It was later named Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli in honour of Gavin Maxwell, and thus came to be known as “Maxwell’s otter.”
Q.5. Tick the correct answer: In the beginning, the otter was —
Ans: Aloof and indifferent
Q.6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days later?
Ans: When taken to the bathroom, Mijbil became very excited and played joyfully in the water, jumping and rolling in the bathtub. Two days later, it learned to open the tap on its own and went to the bathroom to play in the water.
Q.7. How was Mij to be transported to England?
Ans: The airline instructed Maxwell to carry Mijbil in a box. Since British airlines did not allow pets in the cabin, he arranged a flight via Paris using another airline.
Q.8. What did Mij do to the box?
Ans: Mijbil tried to escape from the box by scratching and tearing at it. In doing so, it damaged the box and injured itself.
Q.9. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How did he feel?
Ans: Maxwell had no option but to put Mij back in the box for the journey to London. He felt very sad, worried, and guilty seeing the otter hurt itself.
Q.10. Why does Maxwell call the air hostess “the very queen of her kind”?
Ans: The air hostess showed great kindness and understanding. She allowed Maxwell to take Mij out of the box during the flight. Because of her compassionate nature, Maxwell called her “the very queen of her kind.”
Q.11. What happened when the box was opened?
Ans: When the box was opened, Mijbil ran out and moved around the aircraft, creating confusion and surprising the passengers.
Q.12. What game had Mij invented?
Ans: Mij invented a game using a ping-pong ball and a sloping suitcase. It would place the ball on one end and run to catch it as it rolled down.
Q.13. What are compulsive habits? What were the compulsive habits of (i) school children and (ii) Mij?
Ans: Compulsive habits are repeated actions done without clear reason.
(i) School children: Walking only on the middle of paving blocks, touching every few railings, or passing certain lamp posts in a fixed pattern.
(ii) Mij: It would pull Maxwell towards a wall, climb onto it, and run along its length repeatedly.
Q.14. Which group of animals do otters belong to?
Ans: Otters belong to the Musteline group, which includes animals like badgers, weasels, mink, and stoats.
Q.15. What guesses did the Londoners make about Mij?
Ans: People in London thought Mij was a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a beaver, a bear cub, or even a leopard.
Q.16. What shows that Mij was intelligent, friendly, and fun-loving?
Ans: Mij showed intelligence by inventing games and learning to open taps. It loved playing in water and formed a strong bond with Maxwell, showing affection and friendliness.
Q.17. What do we learn about otters from the text?
Ans: Otters belong to a small animal group called Mustelines. They are usually found in marshy areas. They can be tamed and kept as pets, as seen in Arab regions.
Q.18. Why is Mij’s species known as “Maxwell’s otter”?
Ans: Mij belonged to a species that was not previously known to science. It was later named after Maxwell, so it became known as “Maxwell’s otter.”