Question

Q.1 Read the given passage carefully: (5 marks)

My next pet was a pigeon, the most revolting bird to look at, with his feathers pushing through the

wrinkled scarlet skin, mixed with the horrible yellow down that covers baby pigeons and makes them look

as though they have been peroxiding their hair. Because of his repulsive and obese appearance, we called

him Quasimodo.

Since he had an unorthodox upbringing, without parents to teach him, Quasimodo became convinced that

he was not a bird at all, and refused to fly. He walked everywhere. He was always eager to join us in

anything we did. He would even try to come for walks with us. So you had to either carry him on your

shoulder, which was risking an accident to your clothes, or else you let him walk behind. If you let him

walk, then you had to slow down your own pace to suit his, for should you get too far ahead you would

hear the most frantic and imploring coos and turn around to find Quasimodo running desperately after

you.

Gerald Durrell: Adapted from My Family and other animals












Q1. Read the questions given below and write the option you consider the most appropriate in your

answer sheet.

1. The narrator describes the pigeon as a ‘revolting bird’ because

a) he could not fly

b) he had to be carried everywhere

c) he had wrinkled skin covered with yellow feathers

d) he was fat

2. Quasimodo got his name because

a) he was a fat and ugly

b) he was attractive

c) he could not fly

d) he love behaving like human beings


3. We know that Quasimodo was always eager to go on walks because

a) he walked everywhere

b) he did not know how to fly

c) he complained loudly if he was not taken along

d) he always copied whatever humans did

4. Quasimodo protested when he was

a) left at home

b) lifted on human shoulders

c) taken for a walk

d) left behind during walks

5. The phrase ‘risking an accident to your clothes’ means

a) the bird pecked at their clothes

b) there was a chance of the bird soiling their clothes

c) the bird risked a fall

d) the bird did not like their clothes

Answer 1

Given below are the correct answers based on the passage above.

Explanation:

1. At the beginning of the passage the pigeon is described as revolting due to its scarlet-colored wrinkled skin and yellow feathers. The correct option is (c).
2. In the next line of the passage, it is given that due to the pigeon's repulsive and obese appearance he was named Quasimodo. The correct option is (a).
3. Further in the passage is said that Quasimodo did not consider himself a bird but a human hence, he was always eager to walk just like humans do. The correct option is (d).
4. Whenever Quasimodo was left behind during walks he would frantically start cooing and running towards the one walking with him. The correct option is (d).
5. The "accident to your clothes" here means Quasimodo soiling our clothes when lifted on the shoulders. The correct option is (b).

Answer 2

The answer to the given questions is as follow:

1. The narrator describes the pigeon as a ‘revolting bird’ because he had wrinkled skin covered with yellow feathers.

2. Quasimodo got his name because he was fat and ugly.

3. We know that Quasimodo was always eager to go on walks because he always copied whatever humans did.

4. Quasimodo protested when he was left behind during walk.

5. The phrase ‘risking an accident to your clothes’ means there was a chance of the bird soiling their clothes.