A Tiger in the Zoo — Class 10 NCERT MCQs with Answers (Solved)
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Added: 16.01.2026 at 18:29
Summary:
Praktyczne MCQ do wiersza 'A Tiger in the Zoo': zrozumienie motywów (więzienie vs wolność), słownictwo, środki poetyckie, ćwiczenia i plan powtórek.
A Tiger in the Zoo: MCQs with Answers — Smart Preparation for NCERT Class 10 English (First Flight Poem 3)
"A Tiger in the Zoo", penned by Leslie Norris, is an evocative poem included in the Class 10 English NCERT textbook "First Flight". The poem invites us to reflect on themes of captivity, freedom, and the dignity of living beings, using the powerful image of a caged tiger as its central figure. Given its place in the CBSE syllabus, it becomes essential for students to not just understand the poem but to master the art of answering Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) based on it. MCQs test a wide range of comprehension—from simple facts to deep inferences—and form an integral part of board exam preparation. This essay explores how focused MCQ practice can sharpen students' understanding, discusses the nature of typical questions, provides practical strategies for tackling them, and offers a sample bank and revision plan, all tailored to the Indian education context.
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Context: Understanding the Poem and Syllabus Demands
"A Tiger in the Zoo" throws light on the contrast between animal majesty in the wild and its stifling existence in captivity. The poem’s imagery—of "vivid stripes", "brilliant eyes", and "pads of velvet quiet"—beautifully but painfully captures the tiger’s confinement behind "concrete cell" walls. Key themes like loss of identity, longing for freedom, and nature-vs-civilisation are common grounds for exam questions.CBSE and NCERT typically frame their comprehension section to draw out various abilities: recalling facts, identifying poetic devices, deducing inferred meanings, and responding to value-based queries. With the growing weightage for objective questions in board patterns, MCQ proficiency becomes a high-priority skill, both for scoring quickly and for managing time efficiently during exams.
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Types of MCQs that Typically Appear
Factual Recall QuestionsOften, questions focus on facts explicitly mentioned in the poem or its introduction. Examples include: - "Who wrote ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’?" - "Where is the tiger kept?" - "How does the poet describe the tiger’s eyes?"
For such questions, it is effective to memorise author details, stanza structure, and literal descriptions.
Vocabulary-in-Context and Word Meaning
Questions might quiz the precise sense of words as used in the poem: - “What does ‘pads of velvet quiet’ mean?” - “Find the synonym for ‘vivid’ as used in the text.”
Maintaining a personal glossary with meanings, synonyms, and example lines greatly helps.
Poetic Devices and Sound Patterns
The poem is rich in literary devices—students may be asked: - “Identify the stanza with alliteration.” - “Which line demonstrates personification?”
Recognising devices in short segments rather than entire stanzas speeds up identification.
Inferential/Interpretive Questions
Such MCQs require reading between the lines: - “What emotion does the tiger convey through its eyes?” - “What does the cage symbolise?”
Supporting inferences with part of a relevant line strengthens answers.
Theme and Tone
Typical MCQs examine understanding of the poem’s central idea or mood changes: - “Which theme is best reflected in the poem?” - “How does the tone shift from stanza one to the conclusion?”
Quick summaries in one’s own words work as useful mental anchors.
Application and Scenario-Based
Students could be asked to apply motifs from the poem to new contexts: - “How might the tiger react if released into the wild?”
Such questions test adaptability and depth of understanding.
Visual/Diagram Interpretive
Though rare, questions may present images to be matched to moods or situations from the poem.
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How to Read the Poem for MCQs: Stepwise Approach
First Reading: Skim through the poem to get the overall story. Who is in the poem? Where does it take place?Second Reading: Underline or circle keywords and strong images, like “caged”, “brilliant eyes”, and “water hole”.
Third Reading: Focus on identifying poetic devices—mark alliteration (‘pads of velvet’), personification, metaphors, and repetitions.
Fourth Reading: Summarise each stanza in your own words (e.g., "Describes cage", "Tiger dreams of forest"). Write a single-sentence summary of the core message.
Note-taking Tip: Use one-word cues in margins. Example: "desires", "anger", "nature"—these paraphrase stanzas quickly.
Practice After Reading: Create your own MCQs after each reading session to reinforce your learning and identify knowledge gaps.
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MCQ Answering Techniques for the Exam Hall
- Read the Question Carefully: Determine if it tests a fact, inference, or device. - Elimination Method: Rule out clearly wrong choices to boost your odds. - Keyword Matching: Look for precise word matches or close synonyms from the poem. - Beware of Absolutes: Options like ‘always’ or ‘never’ are usually not the answer—poems are nuanced! - Time Management: Stick to a time per question (about 45 seconds) to avoid rushing at the end. - Intelligent Guesswork: If CBSE allows, don’t leave blanks—make educated guesses where uncertain. - Context Clues: For word meanings, reinsert the word into the poem and check which option fits best.---
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
1. Speaker Confusion: Don’t mix the poet’s commentary with the tiger’s own ‘voice’. 2. Misreading Metaphors: If a line sounds unrealistic, consider if it is symbolic. 3. Overlooking Changes in Tone: Tone often shifts across stanzas—map these to avoid misinterpretation. 4. Poetic Device Mix-ups: Revise definitions: Alliteration (consonant repeats), Personification (human traits to non-human). 5. Rushing: Overconfidence leads to errors—take time, especially on tricky distractors.---
Effective Two-Week Revision Plan
Week 1: Understanding - Day 1-2: Read poem multiple times; write stanza-wise summaries. - Day 3-4: List important words; find meanings and make sample sentences. - Day 5: Identify all poetic devices in the poem. - Day 6: Write 30 MCQs (mix of all types) and attempt them. - Day 7: Analyse your mistakes and update notes.Week 2: Practice - Day 8-9: Attempt timed MCQs (20–30 per sitting). - Day 10: Take a full-length MCQ practice test. - Day 11: Participate in peer quizzes. - Day 12: Focus on weaker areas (e.g., inference, poetic devices). - Day 13: Revise with flashcards / revision notes. - Day 14: Light revision, brief self-test, and rest.
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Resources to Strengthen Preparation
- Textbook: Start with the NCERT "First Flight" poem and notes. - Sample Papers: CBSE sample papers and previous 3 years’ MCQs. - Flashcards: Use for vocabulary and poetic devices. - Online Quizzes: Only from school-approved or reputable sources. - Study Groups: Exchange and solve each other’s MCQs for holistic learning.---
Teacher and Parent Support
- Set short daily MCQ quizzes. - Discuss not just correct answers but why the other options are incorrect. - Pair up students with different abilities for collaborative explanation. - Organise small quiz contests to make revision interactive.---
How to Construct Good MCQs Yourself
1. Focus each question on a specific learning outcome. 2. The stem should be brief and clear. 3. Only one correct answer, with three plausible options based on likely errors. 4. Avoid negative phrasing unless testing that specifically. 5. Write a rationale for each correct answer citing poem lines. 6. Exchange with peers for question clarity.---
Sample Practice MCQs (Original Stems)
1. Vocabulary: “In the poem, what does the word ‘stalking’ suggest about the tiger’s movement?” A. Slow and lazy B. Purposeful and alert C. Careless and random D. Fast and aggressive Answer: B *Rationale:* "Stalking" implies alert, purposeful movement, as predators do.2. Poetic Device: “Which poetic device is present in the phrase ‘pads of velvet quiet’?” A. Simile B. Alliteration C. Personification D. Onomatopoeia Answer: B *Rationale:* The repetition of 'v' sounds in "velvet" and "quiet" is alliteration.
3. Inference: “How does the poet portray the tiger’s feelings inside the cage?” A. Satisfied B. Angry and helpless C. Playful D. Afraid of visitors Answer: B *Rationale:* Descriptions like 'ignores visitors' and 'stalking the length of the cage’ reflect anger and helplessness.
4. Theme: “What central idea runs through the poem?” A. Man’s power over nature B. Freedom versus captivity C. Importance of zoos D. Tiger’s diet Answer: B *Rationale:* The entire poem contrasts the tiger’s wild nature with its caged reality.
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Marking Schemes and Exam-Day Reminders
CBSE typically allots one mark per MCQ in literature sections, with no negative marking. Always read every option, shade OMR bubbles accurately, and save last minutes for reviewing skipped questions or clearing doubts.---
Benefits Beyond Board Exams
Practising MCQs strengthens close reading, sharpens interpretive skills, and instils speed—all vital for future competitive exams like CUET or undergraduate entrances. It also prompts appreciation for poetry beyond exam halls.---
Conclusion
MCQs on "A Tiger in the Zoo" challenge us to dig deeper—from factual details to the beating heart of the poem. Strategic reading, rigorous self-testing, and systematic revision are keys not only to scoring well but to building a lasting connection with literature. Cultivate the habit of daily, focused practice—15 minutes every day is enough to change your exam outcome. Remember, mastery is achieved through consistency, curiosity, and careful attention to the smallest details.---
Appendix
Quick MCQ Checklist: - Read question stem twice - Underline keywords in options - Eliminate obviously wrong answers - Mark final choice after re-checkingRevision Sheet Sample: - *Stanza-wise key points* - *Three metaphors or images* - *List of tough words with meanings* - *Two self-written sample MCQs per stanza*
Daily Practice Routine: - 10 min reading + note-taking - 10 min MCQ solving
Final Note: Track all CBSE guidelines, use textual evidence for every answer, and most importantly, let the poem speak to you—not just your answer sheet.
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