1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

Keeping an otter as a pet; Camusfearna is ringed by water.

ऊदबिलाव पालने का प्रयोग; कैमस्फेर्ना चारों ओर पानी से घिरा था।

2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?

To collect mail at the Consulate-General; he waited about five days due to telegraph/telephone delays, a holiday and breakdowns.

डाक लेने; लगभग पाँच दिन—टेलीग्राम/टेलीफोन विलंब, अवकाश, खराबी।

3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

Two Arabs brought a sack with a note, “Here is your otter.” He admired it—phrases like “soft velvet fur”, “very small… dragon”; he soon named it Mijbil.

दो अरब बोरे में ऊदबिलाव लाए; “soft velvet fur”, “छोटा-सा ड्रैगन” जैसे शब्द आकर्षण दिखाते हैं; नाम रखा मिज्बिल।

4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

Zoologists identified a new subspecies: Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli (Maxwell’s otter).

नई उपप्रजाति के रूप में पहचाना गया: Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli।

5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was • aloof and indifferent • friendly • hostile

aloof and indifferent

aloof and indifferent

6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

He went wild with joy in water (diving, rolling, splashing). Two days later he turned the tap himself to get water flowing.

वह पानी में आनंद से उछला-कूदा; दो दिन बाद उसने खुद नल खोलना सीख लिया।

1. How was Mij to be transported to England?

In an airline-approved box not more than 18 inches square at his feet.

एयरलाइन के अनुसार 18-इंच का बॉक्स, पैरों के पास।

2. What did Mij do to the box?

He tore the lining to shreds; blood trickled; he was exhausted and frightened.

उसने अस्तर चिथड़े कर दिए; खून रिसा; वह थक और डर गया।

3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?

The flight was imminent; with sharp edges removed, he had to travel. He felt miserable/helpless but had no choice.

उड़ान निकट थी; नुकीले किनारे हटाकर रखना पड़ा—उसे बहुत बुरा/लाचार लगा, पर विकल्प नहीं था।

4. Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?

She was calm, kind, efficient; even suggested keeping the pet on his knee—exceptional professionalism.

वह सहृदय, धैर्यवान और कुशल थी; गोद में रखने का सुझाव दिया—असाधारण पेशेवराना।

5. What happened when the box was opened?

Mij shot out, chaos followed (“A rat! A rat!”); later he returned and nuzzled Maxwell.

मिज तेज़ी से बाहर निकला; अफरा-तफरी हुई; फिर लौटकर मैक्सवेल से लिपट गया।

1. What game had Mij invented?

Rolling a ping-pong ball down a sloped suitcase and ambushing it at the other end.

सूटकेस की ढलान पर बॉल लुढ़काकर दूसरी ओर घात लगाकर पकड़ना।

2. What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of (i) school children (ii) Mij?

Compulsive habits: irresistible repetitive routines.
(i) Children: step on centre of paving blocks, touch every 7th railing, etc.
(ii) Mij: on the way home, tug to the low wall and run its full length.

Compulsive habits: बार-बार करने की अनिवार्य-सी आदतें।
(i) बच्चे: पाविंग ब्लॉक्स के केंद्र पर चलना, हर 7वीं रेलिंग को छूना, आदि।
(ii) मिज: लौटते समय नीची दीवार पर पूरी लंबाई दौड़ना।

3. What group of animals do otters belong to?

Mustellines (weasel, badger, mink, stoat etc.).

मस्टेलाइन समूह (नीवला, बिज्जू, मिंक, आदि)।

4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?

“Baby seal”, “squirrel”, “walrus”, “hippo”, beaver, bear cub, leopard (changed its spots), “brontosaur”—anything but an otter!

“सील का बच्चा”, “गिलहरी”, “वालरस”, “हिप्पो”, बीवर, भालू-शावक, “धब्बे बदला तेंदुआ”, “ब्रोंटोसौर”—पर ऊदबिलाव नहीं!

1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?

Opens taps; follows when called; invents games (suitcase–ping-pong); juggles marbles; nuzzles Maxwell—shows intelligence, playfulness, affection, and need for bonding.

नल खोलना; बुलाने पर आना; खेल ईजाद करना (सूटकेस–पिंग पोंग); कंचे उछालना; मैक्सवेल से लिपटना—बुद्धिमत्ता, खेलप्रियता, स्नेह और लगाव की ज़रूरत दर्शाते हैं।

2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?

They are water-loving, curious, highly playful; need enrichment and water access; can be trained; belong to the Mustelline group; some subspecies are rare.

वे जलप्रिय, जिज्ञासु और बहुत चंचल होते हैं; समृद्ध वातावरण और पानी चाहिए; प्रशिक्षण सम्भव; मस्टेलाइन समूह के सदस्य; कुछ उपप्रजातियाँ दुर्लभ।

3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?

Zoologists described it as a new subspecies and named it Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli—hence “Maxwell’s otter”.

वैज्ञानिकों ने इसे नई उपप्रजाति मानकर Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli नाम दिया—इसीलिए “मैक्सवेल का ऊदबिलाव”।

4. Maxwell in the story speaks for the otter, Mij. He tells us what the otter feels and thinks on different occasions. Given below are some things the otter does. Complete the column on the right to say what Maxwell says about what Mij feels and thinks.

तालिका (HI): पानी में कूदना–लोटना = अपार आनंद/पानी को गतिमान रखना; नल गलत घुमाना = झुंझलाहट; विमान में लिपटना = पहचान/स्नेह/सुकून।

5. Read the story and find the sentences where Maxwell describes his pet otter. Then choose and arrange your sentences to illustrate those statements below that you think are true. (i) makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy. (ii) shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does. (iii) shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does. (iv) of Mij’s antics is comical. (v) shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully. (vi) shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter. (vii) shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual.

Fits: (i) human-like: “lies on his back rolling marbles…”; (iii) surprised: “I watched, amazed… turned the tap”; (iv) comical: “four-footed soccer player”; (v) careful observer: detailed notes on tap/ball/wall; (vii) very unusual: new subspecies. Not true: (vi). (ii) only occasional mess, tone remains fond.

उपयुक्त: (i), (iii), (iv), (v), (vii) — उदाहरण ऊपर; (vi) ग़लत; (ii) हल्की झुंझलाहट, पर समग्र भाव स्नेहपूर्ण।

I. Describing a Repeated Action in the Past To talk about something that happened regularly in the past, but does not happen any longer, we use would or used to… (text as in book) From the table below, make as many correct sentences as you can using would and/or used to…

Actions (would/used to): Every evening we would take long walks on the beach. • My uncle would spend his holidays by the sea.
States (only used to): Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings. • Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars. • Till the 1980s, Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.

क्रिया (would/used to): हम शाम को would टहलते थे; चाचा would समुद्र-तट पर छुट्टियाँ बिताते थे।
स्थिति (सिर्फ used to): अकबर संगीत-आसक्त used to be; पहले बहुत कम लोग कार used to own; शंघाई used to have गंदी सड़कें।

II. Noun Modifiers 1. Look at these examples from the text, and say whether the modifiers are nouns, proper nouns, or adjective plus noun: (i) An otter fixation (ii) The iron railings (iii) The Tigris marshes (iv) The London streets (v) soft velvet fur (vi) A four-footed soccer player

(i) noun+noun • (ii) noun(material)+noun • (iii) proper+noun • (iv) proper+noun • (v) adj+noun+noun • (vi) compound-adj+noun.

(i) संज्ञा+संज्ञा • (ii) वस्तु-संज्ञा + संज्ञा • (iii) विशेष नाम + संज्ञा • (iv) विशेष नाम + संज्ञा • (v) विशेषण + संज्ञा + संज्ञा • (vi) संयुक्त विशेषण + संज्ञा।

2. Given below are some nouns, and a set of modifiers (in the box). Combine… (book task)

Samples: invigorating coffee • panoramic landscape view • plump physique • first college farewell • ordinary temple gifts • ridiculous slang term • white handkerchief • rough stone crossing • incorrigible chatterbox boys • heartbreaking family celebration.

उदाहरण: स्फूर्तिदायक कॉफी • विस्तृत भू-दृश्य दृश्य • भरा-पूरा शरीर • पहला कॉलेज फेयरवेल • साधारण मंदिर भेंट • मूर्खतापूर्ण स्लैंग पद • सफेद रूमाल • ऊबड़-खाबड़ पत्थर पार • नासमझ बकबकिया लड़के • हृदयविदारक पारिवारिक उत्सव।

III. Read this sentence… (Partitives) 1. Match the words on the left with a word on the right: (i) a portion of (ii) a pool of (iii) flakes of (iv) a huge heap of (v) a gust of (vi) little drops of (vii) a piece of (viii) a pot of — blood / cotton / stones / gold / fried fish / snow / water / wind

Match: (i) portion–gold • (ii) pool–water • (iii) flakes–snow • (iv) huge heap–stones • (v) gust–wind • (vi) little drops–blood • (vii) piece–fried fish/cotton • (viii) pot–gold (idiom)/tea.

मेल: (i) सोना • (ii) पानी • (iii) हिमकण • (iv) पत्थरों का ढेर • (v) हवा का झोंका • (vi) रक्त की बूँदें • (vii) मछली/कॉटन का टुकड़ा • (viii) सोने/चाय का बर्तन।

2. Use a bit of / a piece of / a bunch of / a cloud of / a lump of with the italicised nouns…

(i) a bit of advice ✔️ • (ii) a lump of clay • (iii) a piece of information • (iv) a cloud of smoke • (v) a shower of sparks (or) sparks of fire • (vi) a bunch of flowers.

(i) a bit of advice • (ii) a lump of clay • (iii) a piece of information • (iv) a cloud of smoke • (v) a shower of sparks • (vi) a bunch of flowers.