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Shrikanwartara Public Higher Secondary School, Mandleshwar, English Worksheet Class X , Poem: The Tale of Custard the Dragon, Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract. , (A), “Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,, And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed., But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,, Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,, With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,, He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”, i. Which option lists the quotes that support the ideas in the extract?, 1) Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends., 2) If you’re brave enough to start, you’re strong enough to finish., 3) Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you., 4) You get in life what you have the courage to ask for, 5) Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong., a) 1 and 5, b) 2, 3 and 4, c) 2 and 3, d) 1,3 and 5, ii. What is the poet’s purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the extract? , e) It is to emphasize on the might and boldness of Custard., f) It is to introduce the character Custard to the readers. , g) It is to impress upon the readers that Custard was ready., h) It is to make Custard bold enough to face the situation., iii. Pick an option that best fits the usage of the word’ trickled’ as used in the extract., e) The water trickled down the tap and filled the trough., f) Students trickled into the classroom as the teacher entered., g) Tears trickled down her cheeks as she heard the sad news., h) His enthusiasm for the task slowly trickled away., iv. Select the option that fits with the reaction of the characters in the context of the extract., Ink: terrified : : Blink : i) __________________, Pirate: ii) ______________:: Custard: undaunted, i) i) shocked ii) displeased, j) i) petrified ii) wondered, k) i) upset ii) dazed , l) i) petrified ii) shocked, v. ‘He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm. Why has this comparison been used here? , Just like the robin catches the worm,, m) Custard attacked the pirate after careful observation., n) Custard attacked the pirate without delay., o) Custard attacked the pirate valourously. , p) Custard attacked the pirate stealthily., vi. Pick the option that does not display a simile from the extract., a) Clashed his tail like irons…, b) …at the pirate like a robin at a worm., c) …Custard, snorting like an engine…, d) …trickled down to the bottom…, vii. The extract mentions ‘irons’ in dungeons. According to this extract, ‘irons’ is a reference to , a) iron racks for scared books., b) iron cases housing treasures., c) iron chains holding the prisoners captive., d) iron coffins for burying the royal dead., (B), 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., i. What can you infer from the repetition ‘suddenly, suddenly’ in the above extract?, e) There was an immediate change in the scene., f) It focuses on the hasty attack and the loud noise., g) It emphasises that an unexpected noise was heard., h) It draws our attention to the loud cry that occurred., ii. A cage means captivity. Why is Custard inclined to remain in a cage despite what it symbolises? This is so because he viewed it as a, 1) sanctuary, 2) guardhouse, 3) cubicle, 4) refuge, 5) booth, a) 1, 2 & 5, b) 1 & 4, c) 3, 4 & 5, d) 3 & 5, iii. Why has the poet used the word ‘weeck’ to signify the giggling of the mouse?, The poet , a) uses it to add suspense in the poem., b) has imagined how the mouse would sound in this mood., c) has mocked at the mouse for giggling at Custard., d) uses it to create a scary effect for readers., iv. Pick the option with the correct matches for columns A and B., a) 1- D, 2-A, 3-C, b) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, c) 1-B, 2-D, 3-C, d) 1-A, 2-C, 3-D, v.Which belief about dragons is in contrast to Custard’s behaviour in the extract., i) Dragons are brave and feared., j) Dragons can grant wishes., k) Dragons can become invisible at will., l) Dragons are soft-hearted and kind., vi. A hyperbole is a literary device where the poet/writer/speaker purposely and obviously exaggerates to an extreme., Choose the option that includes an example of hyperbole, from the extract., a) And Mustard growled, and they all looked around, b) Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,, c) Belinda giggled till she shook the house,, d) When Custard cried for a nice safe cage., Answer in 20-30 words , i. Custard humbly accepts that other animals are braver than him. Give a reason to support your stance that humility is a virtue worth possessing., ii. The usage of words like ‘realio trulio’ creates a wonderful poetic effect. How?, iii. Why is it fair to say that Custard could be the ‘poster-boy’ for the belief that the real nature of a person is revealed at times of the greatest difficulty?, iv. State the reason you think the poet named the animals Ink, Blink, Mustard and Custard? , v.The poet could have included a burglar or an intruder in the poem, but chose to include a pirate. Explain this choice., Answer in 40-50 words , i. Belinda shares a post on Instagram with the following hashtags , #Ink#Blink#Mustard#Bravehearts#My family#My world#, She doesn’t mention Custard in her post. , As a friend of Belinda, what would be your advice to her and why? , ii. The poem is a light-hearted ballad with a powerful message. If the poem was written in any other style, do you think it would have created the same effect on readers? Justify your response with reason(s)., iii. Imagine that Custard writes a blog on ‘Overcoming fears’. A part of the blog focuses on ways to overcome the fears within. As Custard, write this part of the blog., You may proceed like this:, While we agree that fear is like a big monster that resides within us. This monster shall continue to overpower us if we do not overpower it. To begin with, ……, iv. Blowing one’s trumpet is a well-known idiom. Disagree with a friend’s opinion in the context of this idiom., Friend: It’s important to recount your achievements whenever there’s an opportunity. People need to know about your qualities, accomplishments and awards. Always project yourself as superior., You: Gosh! I disagree. What’s the point blowing one’s own trumpet? You see, …………………………………………………………………………(continue)., Answer in 100-120 words (beyond text and across texts), i. Custard was discriminated against, bullied and made fun of. Such behaviour often has a disastrous impact on the victims and etches a permanent scar on their minds. , Write opinions of Wanda and Mandela on this issue. , Wanda: In my personal opinion, ……………………………….(continue), Nelson Mandela: I strongly believe that…………………….(continue), ii. Being impressed by Custard’s feat, the young seagull’s sister wrote a letter to Custard seeking advice on addressing the situation with her young brother. Write Custard’s response to this letter. Base the advice from his experiences. , You may begin like this:, Dear Ms. Seagull, Thank you for seeking me out. I’m humbled. Based on my limited experiences, I feel…, iii. Custard though mocked for his cowardice, displayed courage and was the one who saved the day in the end. , Pick a character from any of the units (lessons/poems) in First Flight, who displayed similar characteristics, like Custard and overcame a troubling issue? , What similarities and differences do you find between the character and Custard?, Comprehension Passage , Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink and the little grey mouse, we called him blink And the little yellow dog was sharp and Mustard. But the dragon was a coward, and she called him custard., a) Name the poem and the poet., b) Ink, Blink, Mustard and Custard are _____________, c) She is these lines is ________________., d) The rhyme scheme of the passage is __________., Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs. Mustard was as brave as tiger in a rage. But custard cried for a nice safe cage., a) Belindas' bravery is compared to ___________., b) "Ink and Blink chased lions ____________, c) Custard cried for ________, d) Pick the line which is an example of simile., Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right, And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright, His beard was black, one leg was wood,, It was clear that the pirate meant no good., a) Who does 'his refer to in the above lines?, b) He held a ________ in his mouth., c) His one leg was made of ___________., d) Mention the rhyme scheme of the passage., Clashed his tall like irons in a dungeon, With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm, He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm., a) Who clashed his tail ?, b) One word for 'underground prison cell' is _______, c) Custard attacked the pirate like a __________, d) Like a robin at a worm - Mention the figure of speech., (Simple / metaphor), , Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him, No one mourned for his pirate victim, Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate, Around the dragon that ate the pirate., a) The Belinda embraced _____________, b) The dragon gobbled the __________., c) One word for 'moving around someone in spiral/circle/happiness is ______., d) The custard is being licked by __________, Short Answer Questions , 1. Was everyone really brave as they claimed? Who was actually the bravest ?, 2. The poet has employed many poetic devices in this poem. Pick out examples of simile, metaphor and poetic license from the poem., 3. How can you call the poem 'The tale of custard the Dragon' to be a ballad?, 3. What message is being conveyed in this poem? (Refer to Belinda's and her pets' bravery and custard's cowardice), 4. "Custard tried for a nice safe cage." Does this line match his physical appearance? Give reasons., 5. How did custard prove that he was not a coward ?