Get the 60-Second Visual Storyline Roadmap, Maxwell-Mijbil bonding insights, and 12-Year CBSE Solved Question Bank (2015–2026).
Download free, complete, and accurate NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6: Mijbil the Otter by Gavin Maxwell, accompanied by full textbook solutions for the companion poem Fog by Carl Sandburg. Below are exhaustive solutions for every textbook question, followed by authentic CBSE Board Examination questions and marking schemes from 2015 to 2026.
1. Mijbil the Otter — Gavin Maxwell (Textbook Solutions)
Thinking about the Text
Q1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for? Why did he decide to keep an otter instead of a dog?
Answer:
Maxwell’s pet dog Jonnie had died, leaving him emotionally shattered and dreading the loneliness of a petless life. Camusfearna, his cottage in the West Highlands of Scotland, was ringed by water and situated within stones’ throw of the sea. Maxwell decided that keeping an otter as a pet rather than another dog would be an exciting and suitable experiment for that watery environment.
Q2. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’? What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom?
Answer:
The otter belonged to a race previously unknown to western science. Zoologists classified it as Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, commonly named ‘Maxwell’s otter’ by the London Zoological Society in honour of Gavin Maxwell who brought it from Iraq.
When taken to the bathroom, Mijbil went wild with joy in the bathtub, plunging, rolling, splashing, and shooting up and down the length of the tub. Two days later, Mij escaped into the bathroom alone and managed to turn the tap with his paws until water flowed freely, demonstrating remarkable problem-solving intelligence.
Q3. Describe the chaos caused by Mijbil inside the aeroplane. How did the air hostess handle it?
Answer:
British European Airways refused to carry animals, so Maxwell flew via Paris. Inside the plane, Maxwell opened the transport box. Mijbil flashed out in an instant, disappearing down the gangway beneath seats. High-pitched screams, squawks, and shouts erupted, with a woman standing on her seat shrieking “A rat! A rat!” Maxwell dove after Mijbil and covered his face with curry when he accidentally grabbed a passenger’s foot.
The sympathetic air hostess showed supreme professional composure. She kindly smiled and advised Maxwell to return to his seat while she located the otter. Moments later, Mijbil returned on his own, climbed onto Maxwell’s knee, and nuzzled his neck and face affectionately.
Q4. What were the funny guesses made by Londoners about Mijbil?
Answer:
Average Londoners had never seen an otter and made wildly hilarious guesses: a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard cub, a hippo, a mongoose, and even a prehistoric creature. The most bizarre comment came from a road ditch digger who dropped his tool, stared intently, and demanded: “Here, mister—what is that supposed to be?”
2. Companion Poem: Fog — Carl Sandburg (Textbook Solutions)
Q1. How does Carl Sandburg metaphorically compare the fog to a cat?
Answer:
Sandburg employs an extended metaphor across three distinct actions:
- Silent arrival: The fog creeps in on “little cat feet”, completely noiseless and stealthy.
- Quiet surveillance: It “sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches”, mirroring the crouching posture of a vigilant cat.
- Mysterious departure: Just as quietly as it arrived, it dissolves and “moves on” without warning.
3. CBSE Solved Board Questions (2015–2026)
Q. How did Mijbil prove that otters possess a keen sense of curiosity and playfulness?
Answer: Mijbil demonstrated extraordinary ingenuity by inventing games, such as rolling marbles on his belly and balancing a ping-pong ball along the sloping lid of a suitcase. His playful obsession with running water and learning how to open the bathroom tap independently proved his acute curiosity and cognitive intelligence.
Q. “Compassion and mutual respect form the foundation of true human-animal bonding.” Justify this statement with reference to Gavin Maxwell and Mijbil.
Answer: Gavin Maxwell did not treat Mijbil merely as an exotic captive, but as an affectionate companion deserving of patience and care. When Mij arrived aloof and hostile, Maxwell gave him time to adapt. When Mij tore the box and bled on the way to the airport, Maxwell was overwhelmed with guilt and distress. Inside the aircraft, Maxwell endured embarrassment and chaos to comfort his pet. In return, Mijbil reciprocated with fierce devotion, sleeping curled at Maxwell’s neck and following him without a leash. Their relationship highlights how empathetic understanding bridges species boundaries.