Unlock your full potential with our comprehensive guide to Chapter 8 – Mijbil the Otter for Class 10. This post covers everything you need to ace your board exams, including a detailed summary, important questions with answers, extract-based MCQs, vocabulary, and even a paragraph-writing sample. Whether you’re revising or diving into the story for the first time, this guide will help you master the chapter with ease!
- Summary of “Mijbil the Otter” by Gavin Maxwell
- Word Meaning of Mijbil the Otter
- Oral Comprehension Check-I (Q&A of Mijbil the Otter)
- Oral Comprehension Check-II (Q&A of Mijbil the Otter)
- Oral Comprehension Check-III (Q&A)
- Thinking about the Text (Q&A Mijbil the Otter)
- Extract Based MCQs from Mijbil the Otter
- Thinking about Language
- II. Noun Modifiers
- Speaking
- Writing
Summary of “Mijbil the Otter” by Gavin Maxwell
In Mijbil the Otter, Gavin Maxwell shares his experience of bringing an otter from the marshes of Iraq to his home in Scotland. Maxwell, feeling lonely after the death of his dog, decides to adopt an otter, hoping it will fill the gap left by his pet. His friend in Basra helps him acquire one, which Maxwell names “Mijbil.” At first, Mij is reserved, but he soon becomes affectionate and lively, showing an immense curiosity for his surroundings, especially anything related to water. Mij’s playful antics, from splashing around in the bathtub to his fascination with toys, create moments of joy and frustration. Eventually, Maxwell faces challenges transporting Mij back to England, leading to a humorous yet chaotic scene on an aeroplane. In London, Mij captures attention on the streets, with people trying to guess what kind of animal he is. Maxwell’s account beautifully captures the joy and companionship an unusual pet can bring, along with the patience needed to adapt to such a unique creature.
Word Meaning of Mijbil the Otter
| Word/Phrase from Mijbil the Otter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| crossed my mind | (a thought) came into my mind |
| a stone’s throw | a very short distance |
| cabled | sent a message by telegraph |
| squirmed | twisted about |
| thraldom (old fashioned) | being under the control of |
| fixation | a very strong attachment or feeling |
| medievally-conceived | an imagination of the Middle Ages |
| christened | named |
| hostile | unfriendly |
| aloof and indifferent | keeping a distance |
| apathy | absence of interest |
| so to speak | as it were (one could say this) |
| provoking | causing anger or some other reaction |
| fumbling | trying to do something in a clumsy manner |
| flick | a quick, light movement |
| dreaded the prospect | was in great fear of something that would happen in the future |
| an appalling spectacle | a shocking scene |
| whipped off | quickly took off |
| ricochetting bullet | a bullet which changes direction after hitting a surface |
| infuriated | very angry |
| took her into my confidence | here, shared with her my experiences or secrets |
| portly | stout |
| bounded on to | climbed up quickly |
| nuzzle | to rub gently with the nose |
| terrapin shell | the shell of a small turtle found in North America |
| engrossed | completely interested in |
| ambush | to attack suddenly from a hidden position |
| compulsive habits | habits impossible to control |
| upright | (here) post or rod placed straight up |
| distraction | something that takes away one’s attention from what one is doing |
| barrage of conjectural questions | a stream of questions filled with guesses |
Oral Comprehension Check-I (Q&A of Mijbil the Otter)
1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Very Short Answer:
Maxwell thought Camusfearna would be ideal for keeping an otter as a pet.
2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
Short Answer:
Maxwell goes to Basra to collect his mail from England, hoping for some letters. He waits for five days because of delays in mail delivery, cable issues, and a closed telephone exchange due to a holiday.
3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Long Answer:
Maxwell receives the otter as a gift from his friend in Basra, who arranges for two Arabs to bring it to him. He seems enchanted with the otter, describing it as a “small medievally-conceived dragon” with “soft velvet fur,” showing that he finds it fascinating and appealing.
4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
Very Short Answer:
Mij was of an unknown species, later classified as “Maxwell’s otter” in honour of the writer.
5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was
Answer:
- ✅ aloof and indifferent
6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
Short Answer:
In the bathroom, Mij was thrilled and splashed about energetically in the water. Two days later, he managed to turn on the tap by himself, showing his love for water play.
Oral Comprehension Check-II (Q&A of Mijbil the Otter)
1. How was Mij to be transported to England? (Mijbil the Otter)
Very Short Answer:
Mij was transported in a box kept on the floor of an aeroplane.
2. What did Mij do to the box? (Mijbil the Otter)
Very Short Answer:
Mij tore the lining of the box, injuring himself in the process.
3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
Short Answer:
Maxwell put Mij back in the box to meet the flight’s timing. He likely felt distressed and guilty seeing Mij injured and exhausted but had no choice due to the situation.
4. Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?
Short Answer:
The air hostess was kind and understanding, offering to let Mij sit on Maxwell’s lap. Maxwell deeply appreciated her help and compassion.
5. What happened when the box was opened? (Mijbil the Otter)
Long Answer:
As soon as the box opened, Mij darted out and ran down the aisle, startling the passengers. The scene became chaotic, with one woman screaming, “A rat!” Eventually, Mij found his way back to Maxwell, much to his relief.
Oral Comprehension Check-III (Q&A)
1. What game had Mij invented?
Very Short Answer:
Mij invented a game of sliding a ping-pong ball down a sloped suitcase and catching it at the end.
2. What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of (i) school children (ii) Mij?
Short Answer:
Compulsive habits are actions done repeatedly and uncontrollably. Maxwell says schoolchildren often step on the centre of paving stones, while Mij would insist on running along a wall on his way home.
3. What group of animals do otters belong to?
Very Short Answer:
Otters belong to the Mustelline group.
4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
Long Answer:
Londoners were baffled by Mij’s appearance, with guesses ranging from a baby seal and beaver to a leopard and even a “brontosaur.” These wild guesses highlight how unfamiliar people were with otters as pets.
Thinking about the Text (Q&A Mijbil the Otter)
1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?
Long Answer:
Mij shows intelligence by learning to turn taps and inventing his own games. He is friendly, nuzzling Maxwell and following him without a leash. His playful nature appears in his antics with water and games with toys. All of these traits show his need for attention, companionship, and affection.
2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
Long Answer:
From the story, we learn that otters are highly intelligent, curious, and playful. They have a strong fascination with water, often splashing and playing in it. They enjoy games, as seen with Mij’s juggling skills, and they can be affectionate pets with a strong sense of loyalty.
3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?
Very Short Answer:
Mij’s species was newly identified by scientists and named in honour of Maxwell, who popularised it through his experiences with Mij.
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.
Answer:
| What Mij does | How Mij feels or thinks |
|---|---|
| Plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash | Mij feels pure joy and excitement while playing in the water. |
| Screws the tap in the wrong way | Mij is curious and wants to figure out how the tap works. |
| Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane | Mij feels affectionate and seeks comfort from Maxwell. |
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.
Here are selected sentences from the story that illustrate the given statements about Maxwell’s description of his pet otter, Mij:
(i) Makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy
- “He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball to and fro across the room like a small boy would.”
(ii) Shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does
- “When he turned on the tap in the wrong direction, flooding the bathroom, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and amusement.”
(iii) Shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does
- “To my astonishment, he screwed the tap round in a complete circle by himself.”
(iv) Of Mij’s antics is comical
- “His attempts to juggle the ping-pong ball made me laugh; he would toss it up, miss it, and look around as if wondering where it had gone.”
(v) Shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully
- “I watched him as he threw himself into the water, plunging and rolling, making the water splosh and splash.”
(vi) Shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter
- No specific sentence shows Maxwell thinking Mij is ordinary; instead, most sentences reflect Mij’s unique and lively personality.
(vii) Shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual
- “For the otter world, he was an extraordinary creature, with a charm and intelligence that were rare to find.”
Extract Based MCQs from Mijbil the Otter
Extract 1
“Early in the new year of 1956, I travelled to Southern Iraq. By then, it had crossed my mind that I should like to keep an otter instead of a dog, and that the best place to find one would be in the Tigris marshes. When I casually mentioned this to a friend, he immediately offered to get one for me.”
Questions
- What was the narrator’s initial choice for a pet?
a) A cat
b) A bird
c) A dog
d) An otter - Where did the narrator think was the best place to find an otter?
a) In the forests of India
b) In the Tigris marshes
c) In Southern Africa
d) Along the Nile River - Who offered to help the narrator get an otter?
a) A shopkeeper
b) His friend
c) A stranger
d) His neighbour
Extract 2
“In the beginning, Mij was neither hostile nor friendly; he was simply aloof and indifferent, choosing to sleep on the floor as far from my bed as possible.”
Questions
- How did Mij behave initially?
a) He was very friendly
b) He was hostile
c) He was indifferent
d) He was playful - What does the word aloof mean in the context?
a) Friendly
b) Reserved and distant
c) Curious
d) Fearful - Where did Mij prefer to sleep in the beginning?
a) On the narrator’s bed
b) Under the bed
c) Far from the narrator’s bed
d) In the kitchen
Extract 3
“Mij, bil, as I called the otter, spent most of his time in play. He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball on the floor with his forepaws.”
Questions
- What was the name given to the otter?
a) Max
b) Mij
c) Bil
d) Mijbil - What was Mij’s favourite activity?
a) Swimming
b) Playing with a rubber ball
c) Climbing trees
d) Sleeping - What does the extract reveal about Mij’s personality?
a) He was lazy
b) He was playful
c) He was timid
d) He was hostile
Extract 4
“It is not, I suppose, in any way an exaggeration to say that Mij’s presence in the London flat, for about a month, transformed it into a chaotic experience.”
Questions
- How did Mij’s presence affect the narrator’s flat?
a) It made it peaceful
b) It became chaotic
c) It was transformed into a home for other pets
d) It became very quiet - For how long did Mij stay in the London flat?
a) One week
b) About a month
c) Three months
d) A year - What does the word chaotic suggest in this context?
a) Calm and peaceful
b) Full of excitement
c) Disordered and messy
d) Organised and clean
Extract 5
“He was a constant source of amazement to me: endlessly inquisitive, terribly fearless, and completely indefatigable.”
Questions
- Which of the following traits describes Mij accurately?
a) Lazy and timid
b) Fearless and curious
c) Indifferent and aloof
d) Reserved and fearful - What does indefatigable mean in this context?
a) Easily tired
b) Never giving up
c) Indifferent
d) Fearful - How did the narrator feel about Mij’s behaviour?
a) Annoyed
b) Frustrated
c) Amazed
d) Disappointed
Answer Key
Extract 1
- c) A dog
- b) In the Tigris marshes
- b) His friend
Extract 2
- c) He was indifferent
- b) Reserved and distant
- c) Far from the narrator’s bed
Extract 3
- d) Mijbil
- b) Playing with a rubber ball
- b) He was playful
Extract 4
- b) It became chaotic
- b) About a month
- c) Disordered and messy
Extract 5
- b) Fearless and curious
- b) Never giving up
- c) Amazed
Thinking about Language
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. Both would and used to can describe repeated actions in the past.
(a) Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called his name.
(b) He would play for hours with a selection of toys.
(c) On his way home… Mij would tug me to this wall.
(d) When I was five years old, I used to follow my brother all over the place.
(e) He used to tease me when Mother was not around.
To describe repeated states or situations in the past, however, we use only used to. (We cannot use would for states or situations in the past.)
So we do not use would with verbs like be, have, believe, etc. Look at the following sentences.)
(a) When we were young, we used to believe there were ghosts in school.
(Note: believe shows a state of mind.)
(b) Thirty years ago, more women used to be housewives than now.
(Note: be here describes a situation.
From the table attached as image, make as many correct sentences as you can using
would and/or used to, as appropriate. (Hint: First decide whether the words in italics show an action, or a state or situation, in the past.)
Then add two or three sentences of your own to it.
ANSWER:
- Emperor Akbar used to be fond of musical evenings.
(“Be” shows a state or situation, so we use “used to.”) - Every evening we would take long walks on the beach.
(“Take” shows a repeated action, so both “would” and “used to” are possible.) - Fifty years ago, very few people used to own cars.
(“Own” describes a state or situation, so we use “used to.”) - Till the 1980s, Shanghai used to have very dirty streets.
(“Have” describes a state or situation, so we use “used to.”) - My uncle would spend his holidays by the sea.
(“Spend” shows a repeated action, so both “would” and “used to” are possible.)
Additional Sentences
- When I was young, my grandparents used to live in a big house in the countryside.
- In the summers, we would go swimming in the river every afternoon.
- My mother used to work as a teacher before she retired.
- Every Sunday, my father would take us to the park for a picnic.
- People used to write letters before the internet became popular.
II. Noun Modifiers
1. Look at these examples from the text, and say whether the modifiers in italics) are nouns, proper nouns, or adjective plus noun.
ANSWER:
- An otter fixation – Noun
(“Otter” is a noun modifying “fixation.”) - The iron railings – Adjective plus noun
(“Iron” is an adjective modifying “railings.”) - The Tigris marshes – Proper noun
(“Tigris” is a proper noun modifying “marshes.”) - The London streets – Proper noun
(“London” is a proper noun modifying “streets.”) - soft velvet fur – Adjective plus noun
(“Soft” and “velvet” are adjectives modifying “fur.”) - A four-footed soccer player – Adjective plus noun
(“Four-footed” is an adjective modifying “soccer player.”)
2. Given below are some nouns, and a set of modifiers (in the box). Combine the nouns and modifiers to make as many appropriate phrases as you can. (Hint: The nouns and modifiers are all from the texts in this book.)
ANSWER:
- college temple
- rough crossing
- hundred thoughts
- stone temple
- ordinary person
- love gifts
- uncomfortable flight
- railroad crossing
- tremendous roar
- invigorating coffee
- panoramic view
- plump physique
- heartbreaking farewell
- first flight
- slack handkerchief
- family celebration
- incorrigible chatterbox
- loud scream
- three boys
- ridiculous expression
- white dresses
- birthday celebration
- marriage celebration
- tremendous time
- ordinary view
ANSWER:
(i) A portion of – cotton, fried fish
(ii) A pool of – blood, water
(iii) Flakes of – snow
(iv) A huge heap of – stones, gold
(v) A gust of – wind
(vi) Little drops of – water
(vii) A piece of – cotton, gold
(viii) A pot of – water
2. Use a bit of/a piece of/a bunch of/a cloud of/a lump of with the italicised nouns in the following sentences. The first has been done for you as an example.
(i) My teacher gave me some advice: My teacher gave me a bit of advice.
(ii) Can you give me some clay, please.
(iii) The information you gave was very useful.
(iv) Because of these factories, smoke hangs over the city.
(v) Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks of fire.
(vi) He gave me some flowers on my birthday.
ANSWER:
(ii) Can you give me a lump of clay, please?
(iii) The information you gave was very useful: a piece of information.
(iv) Because of these factories, a cloud of smoke hangs over the city.
(v) Two stones rubbed together can produce a spark of fire.
(vi) He gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.
Speaking
You have seen how Maxwell describes Mij the otter’s feelings and thoughts by watching him. Play the game of dumb charades. Take turns to express a feeling or thought silently, through gestures. Let the class speak out their guesses about the feelings or thoughts you are trying to express.
ANSWER:
Sample for Dumb Charades Activity: Expressing Feelings and Thoughts
Here’s how you can conduct the activity based on Maxwell’s description of Mij:
- Preparation:
Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns performing and guessing. - Instructions:
One student from the performing group will silently act out a feeling or thought using only gestures and facial expressions, while the rest of the class guesses. - Feelings and Thoughts to Act Out:
- Excitement: Pretend to jump up and down, wave arms enthusiastically.
- Confusion: Scratch your head, look around as if searching for something.
- Fear: Step back with wide eyes, cover your face or mouth.
- Curiosity: Lean forward, place hands on chin, look closely at an imaginary object.
- Anger: Clench fists, stomp your foot, glare.
- Happiness: Smile widely, clap your hands.
- Sadness: Frown, pretend to wipe away tears.
- Surprise: Open eyes and mouth wide, place hands on cheeks.
- Class Participation:
After each performance, students from the class guess the feeling or thought. Encourage them to use full sentences, e.g., “You are feeling excited!” or “You are curious about something.” - Feedback and Fun:
Provide positive feedback for effort and creativity. Allow the class to discuss what gestures helped them guess correctly.
This activity will help students develop observation skills and enhance their understanding of how body language communicates feelings.
Writing
Write a description of a person or an animal (such as a pet) that you know very well and love very much. Questions (4) and (5) in ‘Thinking about the Text’ will have given you some idea about how to do this. Mention some things the person or animal does, what you think the person or animal feels, etc.
ANSWER:
Description of My Pet Cat, Whiskers
Whiskers is my adorable tabby cat, and she’s been a part of my life for the past three years. Her soft grey fur is marked with black stripes, and she has the most mesmerizing green eyes that seem to sparkle when she’s curious or playful. I love the way her little pink nose twitches when she’s sniffing around for treats.
Whiskers has a routine that she follows religiously. Every morning, she waits patiently by my bed, purring softly, until I wake up. As soon as I’m up, she stretches luxuriously, arching her back like a gymnast, and then trots off to the kitchen, expecting her breakfast to be served. She has a peculiar habit of dipping her paw into the water bowl and licking it, instead of drinking directly.
Whiskers has a playful side too. She loves to chase after strings and laser lights, leaping into the air with astonishing agility. When she catches her “prey,” she looks up at me triumphantly, as if saying, “Look what I’ve done!” She also has her quiet moments, curling up on my lap and purring contentedly while I read a book.
I believe Whiskers feels deeply connected to me. She always seems to know when I’m feeling down and will come and nuzzle her head against my hand, offering silent comfort. Her presence fills my home with warmth and joy, and I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s more than a pet; she’s family.
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