CBSE Class 10 First Flight Book Poem 3 A Tiger in the Zoo Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
A Tiger in the Zoo Previous Year Questions with Answers – Question Answers from Previous years Board Exam Question papers provide valuable insights into how chapters are typically presented in exams. They are essential for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams, serving as a valuable resource.They can reveal the types of questions commonly asked and highlight the key concepts that require more attention. In this post, we have shared Previous Year Questions for Class 10 English Poem 3, “A Tiger in the Zoo”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water pole
Where plump deer pass.
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village! [2024]
(i) State any one point of contrast between the tiger in the zoo and in its natural habitat.
Ans. He is restricted in the zoo which he enjoys freedom when he is in the jungle.
(ii) When the speaker suggests that the tiger should be “Snarling around houses at the jungle’s edge”, What does he insinuate about the tiger’s natural behaviour and habitat?
Ans. Naturally, the tiger is ferocious, he roars and scares the people living in villages at the edge of the jungle.
(iii) The poet’s skillful use of imagery effectively depicts the confinement and frustration of the tiger. Elaborate in about 40 words.
Ans. The poet describes the cell in the zoo where the tiger is locked and walks in the limited area. It does not roar, neither does it create any sound with the paws which are soft like velvet fabric.
(iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘quiet rage’ in the given sentence from the extract?
The few steps of his cage on pads of velvet quiet in his ‘quiet rage.’
Ans. Unexpressed anger
Q2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage [2024]
(i) Explain the contrast created by the words, ‘stalks’ and ‘few steps of his cage’.
Ans. The word ‘stalks’ indicates to walk majestically which shows the natural grace and power of the tiger. In opposition, ‘the few steps of the cage’ show confinement and limitation to the tiger’s freedom.
(ii) Which of the following best describes the tiger’s feelings in the context ?
(A) anger (B) conflicted
(C) pessimism (D) apprehension
Ans. (D)
(iii) Comment in about 40 words on the poet’s use of imagery in the above extract.
Ans. The poet uses descriptive words when he describes the bright colours of the tiger. The tiger is restricted in the small cell, he walks in the restricted area. The tiger cannot roar and show its ferociousness. It walks quietly as the soft paws with a velvety texture are similar to the quietness of the tiger.
(iv) Which word in the stanza means the same as ‘clear and bright’ ?
Ans. The word in the stanza that means ‘clear and bright’ is “vivid,” which describes the tiger’s stripes.
Q3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
(A Tiger in the Zoo) [2024]
(i) Why is the tiger ‘stalking the length of his cage’?
Ans. The tiger is ‘stalking the length of his cage’ likely due to a natural instinct to move and a restless spirit, which is not satisfied with the confines of the cage.
(ii) What is the significance of the use of the word ‘locked’ to describe the concrete cell where the tiger is kept and how does it contrast with the tiger’s presence in its natural habitat? Answer in about 40 words.
Ans. The use of the word ‘locked’ emphasizes captivity and the lack of freedom. It contrasts sharply with the tiger’s natural habitat, where it would roam freely and be the master of its own domain. In its natural habitat, the tiger would not be confined or controlled, unlike the restrictive and unnatural concrete cell.
(iii) Complete the sentence with the appropriate option :
The lines from the poem tell us that the tiger is ________ .
(A) enjoying his time in the cell
(B) being indifferent to visitors because it is a daily routine for him
(C) not as strong as his counterpart in the jungle
(D) wanting to be free from the cage
Ans. (D)
(iv) Identify the type of literary device used in the line:
‘But he’s locked in a concrete cell’
Ans. The literary device used in the line ‘But he’s locked in a concrete cell’ is a metaphor. The phrase compares the tiger’s cell to a prison, highlighting the confinement and the unnatural state of living for a wild animal.
Q4. The poem, “A Tiger in the Zoo” moves from the zoo to the jungle; and back again to the zoo. What effect does the poet want to bring out with this? Elaborate. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. The poet in “A Tiger in the Zoo” contrasts the tiger’s natural habitat in the jungle with its captivity in a zoo. This movement underscores the confinement and loss of freedom experienced by the tiger, highlighting the contrast between its wild, predatory nature and its subdued, restricted existence in captivity. It evokes a sense of pity for the tiger and raises awareness about the impact of human intervention on wild animals.
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage
He should be lurking in shadow
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass. [2023]
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The vivid stripes refer to the _________.
Ans. lines on the tiger’s body
(ii) Which word from the extract is the opposite of ‘loud’?
Ans. quiet
(iii) The use of the phrase ‘pads of velvet’ means
(a) neck (b) tail
(c) skin (d) paws
Ans. (d)
(iv) State whether the following statement is True or False :
The confinement of the cramped space of the cage has restricted the tiger’s steps.
Ans. True
(v) The tiger was lurking in shadow ______ .
(a) to catch its prey (b) as the cage was dark
(c) as the velvet was quiet (d) as he was in a rage
Ans. (a)
Q2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He hears the last voice at night.
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
He stalks in his vivid stripes
A few steps of his cage. [2023]
(i) Whose is the last voice heard by the tiger?
(a) police jeep
(b) patrolling cars
(c) watchmen
(d) roar of lion
Ans. (b)
(ii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
It is clear that ‘Repetition’ is the poetic device used for ‘his brilliant eyes at the brilliant stars’ because ___________. (Clue : explain how repetition applies here)
Ans. Brilliant is repeated to create a similarity between the tiger’s eyes and the stars.
(iii) The main contrasting ideas in this extract are
(a) tiger and deer.
(b) cruelty and sympathy.
(c) confinement and freedom.
(d) master and slave.
Ans. (c)
(iv) The use of the word ‘stalks’ creates an image of
(a) cowardice.
(b) frustration.
(c) lethargy.
(d) purposefulness.
Ans. (a)
(v) State whether the following statement is True or False :
The poem uses ‘staring at the sky’ to symbolize the freedom ‘he’ yearns for.
Ans. True
Q3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass. [2023]
(i) ‘Quiet rage’ refers to the tigers …………..
(a) helplessness
(b) he has not been able to hunt
(c) his prey has not come to the water hole
(d) he is not free
Ans. (a)
(ii) He is lurking in shadows because ………..
Ans. He is lurking in shadows because he doesn’t want his prey to notice him, which might drive them away before he pounces on them.
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately :
It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’ because …………… (clue-explain how metaphor applies here).
Ans. It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’ because as an analogy between the softness of velvet and the way his pads contact the ground, his paw pads are being compared to velvet in this instance.
(iv) Find a word from the extract which means – to walk with measured, stiff or haughty strides :
(a) steps
(b) lurking
(c) pads
(d) stalk
Ans. (d)
(v) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
The tiger is stealthily waiting for the deer to come to the water hole.
Ans. TRUE
Q4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage
On pads of velvet quiet
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass. [2023]
(i) ‘He is in a rage because he is
(a) hungry (b) tied
(c) thirsty (d) in a cage
Ans. (d)
(ii) He is lurking in the shadow because ______.
Ans. He is lurking in the shadow because he wants to pounce upon his prey.
(iii) The above lines express the tiger’s _______.
(a) resignation (b) fear
(c) anger (d) acceptance
Ans. (c)
(iv) Complete the sentence appropriately :
It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’ — because _______. (Clue : explain how metaphor is applied here.)
Ans. The tiger’s paws are as smooth and soft as velvet, so when he walks, they do not create any sound.
(v) The contrast in the above extract is between life in the forest and life in the
(a) circus (b) national park
(c) cave (d) zoo
Ans. (d)
Q5. How would the tiger behave in the forest? [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. He would roam around, baring his teeth and scaring the villagers. He would hide behind tall grass, waiting for the prey to pass.
Q6. What does the tiger in the zoo do at night? [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. He hears the siren of the patrol car and looks at the bright stars.
Q7. State any three disadvantages that the tiger faces inside a cage. [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. He is locked, he cannot scare the visitors and he does not roar.
Questions that appeared in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars. [2020]
Questions :
(a) The poet who wrote these lines was
(i) Leslie Norris (ii) Robert Frost
(iii) Walt Whitman (iv) Robin Klein
Ans. (i)
(b) ‘The animal referred to in the extract is in______.
(i) the forest (ii) a zoo
(iii) a circus (iv) a wildlife sanctuary
Ans. (ii)
(c) To go around an area at regular times to check that it is safe is called _____.
Ans. patrolling
(d) The word in the extract opposite in meaning to the word, ‘dull’ is ___.
Ans. brilliant
Also See:
A Tiger in the Zoo Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
A Tiger in the Zoo Summary, Explanation
A Tiger in the Zoo Character Sketches