CBSE Class 10 First Flight Book Poem 9 The Tale of Custard the Dragon Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2025)
The Tale of Custard the Dragon 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 9, “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”.
Questions from the Chapter in 2025 Board Exams
Q1. Read the given extracts and answer the questions :
Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Weeck! Which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.
(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
I. What inference can be drawn from the repetition of ‘suddenly, suddenly’ in the above extract?
(A) The scene shook the house
(B) It highlights the swift assault
(C) It emphasises that an unexpected noise was heard
(D) It directs our notice to Mustard’s growling
Ans. (C) It emphasises that an unexpected noise was heard
II. Despite its symbolism of captivity, what leads Custard to have a preference for staying in a cage?
Ans. Custard preferred living in a cage which is in contrast to the perception that a cage snatches one’s freedom. This is so because Custard felt that a cage was safe for him. Custard’s this feeling made the other animals think that he was a coward who cried for a safe place to hide.
III. Select the option that applies the same rhyme scheme as the lines of the first four lines of the given extract:
(A) Through the telescope she saw a star
which she thought was very far
She stretched her hand
and felt the crumple of the sand.
(B) Through the telescope she saw a star
She stretched her hand
As it was very far
But felt the crumble of the sand.
(C) Through the telescope she saw a star
Which she thought was very far
Her hand she stretched
But felt the crumble of the sand.
(D) Through the telescope she saw a star
Which she thought was very far
Her hand she stretched afar
But felt the crumble of the sand.
Ans (A) Through the telescope she saw a star
which she thought was very far
She stretched her hand
and felt the crumple of the sand.
IV. In the given extract,
The difference between the other animals and Custard is
that Custard behaves like a ___________(coward/dragon).
Ans. coward
Q2. Describe the changing reactions of Ink, Blink and Mustard to Custard’s bravado. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon) [40-50 words]
Ans. Initially when Custard cried for a safe cage, All the other animals considered him a coward. However, when they were in danger, all of them disappeared into hiding and it was Custard who faced the pirate and swallowed it. Later, when the danger was over, they resumed the old mockery and again teased Custard.
Q3. Discuss how the writers use language to create humour in the poem The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ and the play “The Proposal”. [100-120 words]
Ans. We see the use of playful language and whimsical imagery in ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’. The poet Odgen Nash is famous for his humorous writing style. In this poem also he uses rhyme, irony and a poetic license to alter the words which is aimed to create lyrical effect and humour. Comparing Belinda’s bravery to a barrel full of bears is also humorous. The poet compares Custard’s attack on the pirate to that of a robin bird who attacks a worm. This is also amusing. The writer uses witty dialogue and situational irony in ‘The Proposal’. The play is a farce, a comic, dramatic work. The use of adjectives like ‘gypsies’, ‘land-grabber’, ‘pettifogger’, ‘guzzling gambler’ create humour. The extent of argument by both the parties over trivial matters, overlooking the matrimony creates drama.
Thus, in both the lessons the writers have used unique ways of writing to make the work humorous.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage. [2024]
(i) Comment upon the contrast that is reflected in the last two lines of the extract.
Ans. The contrast in the last two lines reflects the disparity between the purported bravery of Mustard, likened to a tiger in a rage, and the reality of Custard’s fear, expressing a wish for the safety of a cage. Despite Mustard’s aggressive comparison, it is Custard’s honest expression of fear that stands out.
(ii) Fill in the blank with one word.
While describing Ink and Blink, the speaker says that they could chase lions down the stairs. By saying so, he is revealing the ________ characteristic of their personality.
Ans. imaginary
(iii) Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines in about 40 words.
Ans. The poet’s use of language is playful and he exagerates things to make it humorous. He creates a musical effect by employing rhyme.
(iv) Which of the following best describes the theme of the poem?
(A) Bravery and heroism
(B) Humility leads to bravery
(C) Valour and diligence
(D) Crisis reveals character
Ans. (A)
Q2. What makes Custard, the dragon look fearsome? Explain. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. Custard has big sharp teeth, spikes on top and scales beneath, the mouth emits fire and the nose gives out smoke. The claws are like knives. All this gives Custard a fearful appearance.
Q3. Bring out the central idea of the poem. ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. The central idea of the poem is the contrast between bravery and cowardice. While Belinda and the other pets who bullied Custard turned out to be cowards when they were put in danger; it was the intimidated Custard who showed courage and gulped the pirate.
Q4. Orden Nash’s ‘The Tale of Custard The Dragon’ is a humorous ballad – a song on a poem that tells a story. Justify. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. The poem is lyrical and the use of rhyming words makes lends it a musical effect. The poem is a ballad which tells the story of Belinda and her pets. There is humour and suspense. The poem has many twists and turns which make it enjoyable and memorable.
Q5. Ogden Nash uses vivid imagery in ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ to appeal to the senses. Elaborate the imagery used for the Pirate. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. In “The Tale of Custard the Dragon,” Ogden Nash vividly describes the pirate as having a black beard, a wooden leg, and holding pistols and a bright cutlass in his teeth. Nash’s vivid descriptions create a clear mental picture of the menacing pirate climbing through Belinda’s window, adding suspense and humor to the poem.
Q6. Belinda and other animals have been described as brave. But on seeing the pirate they behaved in a cowardly way. How did they react? [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. Belinda turned pale with fear. She cried for help. Mustard ran barking fearfully. Ink went to the bottom of the house and hid in a hole.
Q7. ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a humorous ballad. How does Ogden Nash create humour and entertainment in the poem? [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. The poem is funny and entertaining. There is use of vivid description, rhyming names of the pets, light-hearted tone and imagination. The light hearted story becomes serious when a pirate enters the scene and then the truth of bravery versus cowardice is brought to light.
2023
Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth,
And spikes on top of him and scales underneath
Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose,
And realio, trulio daggers on his toes. [2023]
(i) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.
sharp : blunt : : above : ______
Ans. below
(ii) Which one of the following is not a feature of the Dragon?
(a) big sharp teeth
(b) spikes on the top
(c) brave as a lion
(d) could release fire from the mouth
Ans. (c)
(iii) What effect does the poet want to create by the simile ‘mouth like a fireplace’?
(a) emphasis
(b) compassion
(c) rhyme
(d) pathos
Ans. (a)
(iv) Complete the sentence appropriately.
It is clear that ‘Metaphor’ is the poetic device used for ‘chimney for a nose’ because ________. (Clue : explain how metaphor applies here)
Ans. The poet is comparing the dragon’s nose to a chimney. The nose also gives out gushes of air like a chimney. There is no use of ‘like’ or ‘as’ so this comparison is called a metaphor.
(v) State whether the following statement is True or False based on the given extract :
Custard’s formidable appearance was a true reflection of his courage.
Ans. True
Q2. How does the poem ‘The Tale of Custard The Dragon’ differ from the traditional ballad? [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. It is fictitious, and has a lesson so it is more of a fable than a ballad.
Q3. What did custard look like? [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth, spikes on his back, and scales all over. His mouth was like a fireplace, and his nose looked like a chimney. The toenails were sharp like daggers. Despite his fierce appearance, Custard was known for being timid and scared, preferring safety over bravery in dangerous situations.
Q4. How did the other pets celebrate Custard getting rid of the pirate? [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. Mustard licked Custard while Ink and Blink sang in happiness and danced around Custard.
Q5. Describe how Custard the dragon fights with the Pirate. [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. The other members of the family scrambled for safety when the pirate attacked, but Custard charged in to engage the intruder head on. The dragon snorted like an engine, charged at the pirate like a “robin at a worm,” and swallowed him whole while the pirate fired his pistol in an attempt to defend himself from the beast. Custard gobbled every bit of him.
Q6. What character trait is revealed of Custard when he accepts that the other animals are braver than him. [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. Even though he was braver and more courageous than other characters during the pirate attack episode, Custard the Dragon was revealed to be a character full of humility. Although Custard was known to be extremely timid and shy, the entire Belinda household witnessed his bravery and couldn’t believe their eyes.
Q7. Describe the pirate who comes through the window. [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. The pirate who planned to raid Belinda’s home held a shining cutlass between his teeth and held two pistols, one in each hand. He was dressed in all black, and one of his legs was a wooden stump.
2022
Q1. How did Custard prove ‘the cowardly dragon’ tag to be untrue? [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. The dragon, Custard, initially commanded no amount of respect from Belinda and the other pets, on account of his cowardice. However, when the home was invaded by an armed pirate and everyone else fled for safety, the dragon viciously fought the pirate and ate him up. As a result, the other animals recognised his value, disproving the label of “the cowardly dragon.”
Q2. Why did everyone laugh at the realio, trulio dragon? [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. Belinda, the little girl tickled the dragon quite cruelly to make it laugh. Seeing the dragon, reacting to the tickling, made all of them laugh.
Q3. How was Belinda’s behaviour with the dragon? [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. Custard, Belinda’s dragon, has the reputation of being a coward because he cried for not having a safe cage. He was brutally tickled by her. When Custard ate the pirate and saved everyone, Belinda’s attitude toward the dragon changed.
Q4. How would you describe Custard the Dragon? [2022, 30-40 words]
Or
Describe Custard the dragon. [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. Custard was Belinda’s pet dragon. He was called Custard satirically because of his timidity and laziness. His big sharp teeth pointed spikes and thick dry scales gave him a scary appearance. He also had a big fiery red mouth and a nose that gave out smoke like a chimney.
Q5. Describe the pirate in the ‘Tale of Custard the Dragon’. [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. The pirate gave off the impression of being a terrible and evil character who had come to hurt the animals. He had a wooden leg and a black beard. He had a little sword between his teeth and a handgun in his hand. He had a really menacing look on his face.
Q6. Why did the pirate ‘gape’ at Belinda’s dragon? [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. The dragon snorted loudly and raced towards the pirate as soon as he saw him. The dragon’s ferocious response surprised the pirate. He was unable to control his response and gaped in horror and astonishment as he peered at the dragon.
2020
Q1. How did Custard accept his cowardice and others’ bravery? [2020, 30-40 words]
Ans. Custard accepted his cowardice by crying for a nice safe cage. However, he showed bravery by attacking the pirate when everyone else ran away. After defeating the pirate, Mustard said he would be twice as brave and Ink and Blink said they would be thrice as brave. To this, Custard agreed that everyone was braver than him, even though he had shown bravery by defeating the pirate.
2019
Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink,
And the little gray mouse, she called him Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard. [2019]
(a) Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Odgen Nash.
(b) What is the colour of Belinda’s dog?
Ans. Yellow
(c) What were the kitten and the mouse called?
Ans. The kitten was called Ink and the mouse was called Blink.
(d) Which word in the stanza is the antonym of ‘dull’?
Ans. sharp
Also see:
The Tale of Custard the Dragon Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Tale of Custard the Dragon Summary, Explanation
The Tale of Custard the Dragon MCQs
The Tale of Custard the Dragon Character Sketches