Q. 1. What is the central idea of the ‘Dust of Snow’?
Ans : The poem expresses the significance of small things in changing one’s attitude. The poet appreciates the beauty of the snowflakes, which changed his mood and saved many precious moments from being wasted away. The crow shakes off the snow dust from the hemlock tree. The same way one can shake off the sadness from one’s heart.
Q. 2. What is the central idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
Ans : The poet has tried to bring the difference between the fire and the ice, which represent two different kinds of people. According to the poet, the world can perish by fire and also by ice. Thus it can perish twice- one by fire and then by ice. The poet feels that the ice of hatred is as powerful as the fire of desire to bring complete end of this world.
Q. 3. What is the central idea of the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo’?
Ans : In this poem, the poet is trying to contrast a tiger in the zoo with the tiger in its real natural habitat. In order to show the contradiction the poet shifts the scene from the jungle to the zoo. The poet wants to show the difference between the two environments.
Q. 4. Describe the movement and actions of the tiger in the cage.
Ans : The tiger paces up and down the length of his cage restlessly. He ignores the visitors as his strength is confined to the cage. At night, he hears the sound of patrolling cars. He stares at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes.
Q. 5. Describe the movement sand actions of the tiger in the jungle.
Ans : In the jungle, the tiger lies in the shade waiting for his prey. He moves quietly through long grass near the water hole where flesh deer come to drink water. Sometimes, he growls around the houses at the edge of the jungle and terrorizes the villages.
Q. 6. Contrast the tiger in the zoo with the tiger in its natural habitat.
Ans : Write Ans 4 and 5 together.
Q. 7. What is the central idea of the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?
Ans : The poet suggests some of the dangerous ways to identify the wild animals. The poem is full of humorous examples when the poet tries to distinguish one animal from the others. It is not safe to be close to the tigers and lions but the poet suggests very risky way to identify these animals. The poem is educative as it also tells us various features of wild animals.
Q. 8. Ho can you tell a lion from a Bengal tiger?
Ans : A lion has a large body. It has a tawny coat. A Bengal tiger has black stripes on its yellow coat. A lion roars when it falls upon its prey. A tiger attacks silently.
Q. 9. How can you distinguish between a tiger and a leopard?
Ans : A tiger has a yellow coat. It has black stripes on its body. A leopard doesn’t have any stripes. It has spots on its body. A tiger kills only when it is hungry. A leopard can kill for the pleasure of killing.
