Mijbil the Otter
Oral Comprehension Check – I
1. What “experiment” did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Answer: After the death of his pet dog, Maxwell wanted to keep an otter as a pet. He thought Camusfearna would be an ideal place because it was surrounded by water and offered the kind of environment an otter would enjoy.
2. Why did Maxwell go to Basra? How long did he wait there, and why?
Answer: Maxwell went to Basra to visit the Consulate-General and collect his mail from Europe.
He had to wait for five days because his mail was delayed and did not arrive on time.
3. How did Maxwell get the otter? Did he like it?
Answer: Maxwell’s friend arranged for an otter to be sent to him. Two Arabs brought the animal to the place where Maxwell was staying.
Maxwell became deeply attached to the otter. His strong liking for it is clear from the expression “otter fixation.”
4. Why was the otter called “Maxwell’s otter”?
Answer: Mijbil belonged to a type of otter that was not previously known to science.
Later, the species was scientifically associated with Maxwell’s name, so it came to be popularly known as “Maxwell’s otter.”
5. In the beginning, how did the otter behave?
Answer: In the beginning, Mijbil was aloof and indifferent.
6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did Mij do two days later?
Answer: When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter became extremely excited. It jumped into the water, rolled, splashed and played happily in the bathtub.
Two days later, Mij went to the bathroom on his own and even learned to turn the tap so that water could flow.
Oral Comprehension Check – II
7. How was Mijbil to be transported to England?
Answer: Mijbil was to be transported by air in a specially prepared box.
Since the airline did not allow the otter to travel freely in the cabin, Maxwell had to place him inside the box for the journey.
8. What did Mijbil do to the box?
Answer: Mijbil tried desperately to escape. He tore the inner lining of the box and injured himself while struggling inside it.
9. Why did Maxwell put Mijbil back into the box? How did he feel?
Answer: Maxwell had to put Mij back into the box because the airline required him to transport the animal that way.
He felt deeply worried and unhappy because Mij had hurt himself while trying to escape.
10. Why does Maxwell call the air hostess “the very queen of her kind”?
Answer: Maxwell calls the air hostess “the very queen of her kind” because she was extremely kind, understanding and helpful.
After hearing about Mij’s condition, she allowed Maxwell to take the otter out of the box and showed great patience during the journey.
11. What happened when the box was opened?
Answer: As soon as the box was opened, Mijbil jumped out and moved quickly around the aircraft, creating confusion among the passengers.
Eventually, he came back close to Maxwell.
Oral Comprehension Check – III
12. What game had Mijbil invented?
Answer: Mijbil invented a game with a ping-pong ball and a sloping suitcase lid.
He would place the ball at the higher end and then run after it as it rolled down.
13. What are compulsive habits? What compulsive habits of schoolchildren and Mij does Maxwell describe?
Answer: Compulsive habits are repeated actions that a person or animal feels driven to perform, often without any practical reason.
Schoolchildren: They may walk only on the middle of paving stones, touch selected railings or follow a fixed pattern while passing lamp posts.
Mijbil: He would pull Maxwell towards a particular wall, jump onto it and run along its length repeatedly.
14. Which group of animals do otters belong to?
Answer: Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustelids.
15. What guesses did Londoners make about Mijbil?
Answer: Londoners made many strange and amusing guesses about Mijbil.
Some thought he was a baby seal, squirrel, walrus, beaver, bear cub, leopard, or even some completely unfamiliar creature.
Thinking About the Text
16. What shows that Mijbil was intelligent, friendly and fun-loving?
Answer: Mijbil showed intelligence by learning how to turn on a tap and by inventing games with toys such as a ping-pong ball.
He was fun-loving because he enjoyed playing in water for long periods and playing with different objects.
He was also friendly and affectionate because he formed a close bond with Maxwell and often stayed close to him.
17. What do we learn about otters from the text?
Answer: The text tells us that otters are water-loving animals commonly found in marshy areas.
They are intelligent, playful, curious and capable of becoming affectionate pets. They need plenty of water and stimulation, and they can develop strong bonds with human beings.
18. Why is Mijbil’s species known as “Maxwell’s otter”?
Answer: Mijbil belonged to a species that was not previously well known to science.
Because Maxwell brought attention to it and described it in detail, the species became associated with his name and came to be known as Maxwell’s otter.
19. What do Mijbil’s actions tell us about his feelings?
(i) He plunges and rolls in water and splashes around.
Answer: He feels delighted, energetic and completely at home in water.
(ii) He turns the tap the wrong way.
Answer: He becomes irritated and disappointed because the water does not flow as expected.
(iii) He nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane.
Answer: He feels safe, affectionate and comforted by Maxwell’s presence.
20. Which statements about Maxwell’s description of Mij are true?
(i) Maxwell makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy.
Answer: True
(ii) Maxwell is often irritated by Mij.
Answer: False
(iii) Maxwell is often surprised by Mij’s actions.
Answer: True
(iv) Mij’s behaviour is sometimes comical.
Answer: True
(v) Maxwell observes Mij’s behaviour very carefully.
Answer: True
(vi) Maxwell thinks Mij is an ordinary otter.
Answer: False
(vii) Maxwell considers Mij unusual and special.
Answer: True
Additional Questions and Answers
21. Why can Mijbil be called an intelligent animal?
Answer: Mijbil was intelligent because he quickly learned how things worked.
He discovered how to turn a tap, invented games with toys and developed repeated playful habits of his own. These actions show curiosity, memory and problem-solving ability.
22. What happened to Mijbil while he was inside the box?
Answer: Mijbil became extremely restless inside the box and tried to escape.
He tore the lining and hurt himself in the process. When Maxwell opened the box, he found Mij exhausted and injured.
23. What did Maxwell’s friend advise him to do after the death of his dog?
Answer: Maxwell’s friend suggested that he should keep an otter as a pet because otters were found in the marshes around the Tigris region.
24. Explain Mijbil’s love for water.
Answer: Mijbil had a natural love for water.
When he was first taken to the bathroom, he became excited and spent a long time splashing, rolling and playing in the bathtub.
Later, he even learned to turn on the tap himself. His behaviour clearly showed that water was an essential source of pleasure for him.
25. Why did Londoners find Mijbil unusual?
Answer: Most Londoners had never seen an otter like Mijbil before.
Because they could not identify him correctly, they made many humorous guesses about what kind of animal he might be.
26. What kind of bond developed between Maxwell and Mijbil?
Answer: Maxwell and Mijbil developed a close and affectionate relationship.
Mij trusted Maxwell, stayed near him and showed affection, while Maxwell cared deeply for the otter and carefully observed its habits and personality.
27. What is the central theme of “Mijbil the Otter”?
Answer: The chapter mainly explores the affectionate relationship between a human being and an unusual pet.
It also highlights the intelligence, playfulness and individuality of animals and shows how patience and care can build a strong bond between humans and animals.
Long Answer Questions
28. Describe Mijbil’s personality.
Answer: Mijbil was an intelligent, playful, curious and affectionate otter.
He loved water and became extremely excited whenever he had access to it. He quickly learned how to turn on a tap and enjoyed splashing around in the bathroom.
He also invented games for himself, especially with a ping-pong ball and a suitcase lid. His playful nature made him entertaining, while his affectionate behaviour showed that he trusted and loved Maxwell.
Mij was also highly curious and energetic. These qualities made him a unique and memorable pet.
29. Describe Maxwell’s journey with Mijbil from Basra to England.
Answer: Transporting Mijbil to England was difficult because the airline required him to be carried in a box.
Mij hated being confined and tried to escape, tearing the lining and injuring himself. Maxwell became very anxious but had little choice except to place him back inside.
During the flight, a kind air hostess allowed Maxwell to take Mij out of the box. Once released, Mij ran around the aircraft and caused confusion.
In spite of these difficulties, Maxwell finally reached England with Mij safely. The journey showed both Maxwell’s concern for his pet and Mij’s dislike of confinement.
30. How does the chapter show that animals have individual personalities?
Answer: The chapter presents Mijbil not merely as an animal but as an individual with his own habits, preferences and emotions.
He loved water, disliked confinement, invented games, developed repeated habits and showed affection towards Maxwell.
His intelligence, curiosity and playful behaviour made him different from an ordinary image of an otter.
Through Mij, the chapter suggests that animals have distinct personalities and emotional needs.
Thinking About Language
I. “Used to” and “Would”
1. Emperor Akbar ______ be fond of musical evenings.
Answer: Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings.
2. Every evening we ______ take long walks on the beach.
Answer: Every evening we would / used to take long walks on the beach.
3. Fifty years ago, very few people ______ own cars.
Answer: Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars.
4. Until the 1980s, Shanghai ______ have very dirty streets.
Answer: Until the 1980s, Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.
5. My uncle ______ spend his holidays by the sea.
Answer: My uncle would / used to spend his holidays by the sea.
Additional Examples
- I used to go to school on foot.
- My grandfather used to carry an umbrella.
- They would play football after school.
II. Noun Modifiers
1. Identify the modifiers.
(i) An otter fixation
Answer: Noun modifier.
(ii) The iron railings
Answer: Noun modifier.
(iii) The Tigris marshes
Answer: Proper noun modifier.
(iv) The London streets
Answer: Proper noun modifier.
(v) Soft velvet fur
Answer: Adjective + noun modifier.
(vi) A four-footed soccer player
Answer: Adjective + noun modifier.
III. Quantity Expressions
Match the phrases correctly:
- A portion of — fried fish
- A pool of — water / blood
- Flakes of — snow
- A huge heap of — stones / snow
- A gust of — wind
- Little drops of — water / blood
- A piece of — cotton / gold
- A pot of — water / gold
IV. Use Suitable Quantity Phrases
1. My teacher gave me some advice.
Answer: My teacher gave me a bit of advice.
2. Can you give me some clay, please?
Answer: Can you give me a lump of clay, please?
3. The information you gave me was useful.
Answer: The bit of information you gave me was useful.
4. Smoke hangs over the city.
Answer: A cloud of smoke hangs over the city.
5. Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks.
Answer: Two pieces of stone rubbed together can produce sparks.
6. He gave me some flowers on my birthday.
Answer: He gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.
Writing
Describe a pet or animal that you know and love.
My Pet Cat
I have a pet cat named Lily. She came to our house on a rainy day when she was very small and weak.
My family gave her food, warmth and proper care. Within a few days, she became healthy and active.
Lily is playful, curious and affectionate. She enjoys following us around the house and often sleeps near family members. She also loves playing with small balls and pieces of string.
She has now become an important part of our family. We all love her because she brings joy and companionship to our home.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Who is the author of “Mijbil the Otter”?
(a) Arup Kumar Dutta
(b) Gavin Maxwell
(c) Lucio Rodrigues
(d) Frederick Forsyth
Answer: (b) Gavin Maxwell
2. In which year did Maxwell travel to Iraq, according to the supplied material?
(a) 1952
(b) 1954
(c) 1955
(d) 1956
Answer: (d) 1956
3. What was the name given to the otter?
(a) Tony
(b) Mijbil
(c) Boss
(d) Billy
Answer: (b) Mijbil
4. In the beginning, Mijbil was—
(a) friendly
(b) hostile
(c) aloof and indifferent
(d) aggressive
Answer: (c) Aloof and indifferent
5. Mijbil’s species was initially—
(a) well known to science
(b) unknown to science
(c) extinct
(d) common in London
Answer: (b) Unknown to science
6. How many days did Maxwell wait for his mail?
(a) Two days
(b) Three days
(c) Four days
(d) Five days
Answer: (d) Five days
7. Where did Maxwell go to collect his mail?
(a) London
(b) Basra
(c) Paris
(d) Delhi
Answer: (b) Basra
8. How did the airline want Mijbil to be carried?
(a) On a seat
(b) In a cage
(c) In a box
(d) In Maxwell’s arms
Answer: (c) In a box
9. What leaked from the box after Mij struggled inside?
(a) Water
(b) Blood
(c) Food
(d) Milk
Answer: (b) Blood
10. Whom did Maxwell call “the very queen of her kind”?
(a) Mijbil
(b) His friend
(c) The air hostess
(d) A passenger
Answer: (c) The air hostess
11. What was one of Mijbil’s favourite toys?
(a) Ping-pong ball
(b) Marbles
(c) Rubber fruit
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these
12. What did Mijbil learn to operate?
(a) A radio
(b) A tap
(c) A door lock
(d) A window
Answer: (b) A tap
13. What game did Mij invent?
(a) Catching birds
(b) Rolling a ping-pong ball down a suitcase lid
(c) Hiding behind furniture
(d) Jumping through rings
Answer: (b) Rolling a ping-pong ball down a suitcase lid
14. Otters belong to which group?
(a) Felines
(b) Mustelids
(c) Reptiles
(d) Rodents
Answer: (b) Mustelids
15. What does “apathy” mean?
(a) Lack of interest
(b) Great excitement
(c) Fear
(d) Anger
Answer: (a) Lack of interest
16. What did Mij especially love?
(a) Climbing trees
(b) Water
(c) Sleeping all day
(d) Eating fruit
Answer: (b) Water
17. What did Londoners do when they saw Mij?
(a) They immediately identified him
(b) They made many strange guesses about him
(c) They ignored him
(d) They thought he was a dog
Answer: (b) They made many strange guesses about him
18. Where was Maxwell’s seat in the aircraft?
(a) At the back
(b) In the middle
(c) Near the door
(d) At the extreme front
Answer: (d) At the extreme front
19. What did Mij do when released on the aircraft?
(a) Slept immediately
(b) Ran around the cabin
(c) Refused to move
(d) Flew out of the window
Answer: (b) Ran around the cabin
20. Which quality best describes Mijbil?
(a) Dull and inactive
(b) Intelligent and playful
(c) Aggressive and unfriendly
(d) Lazy and silent
Answer: (b) Intelligent and playful
Teacher Generate Question Answer
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.”
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