MP Board 10th English First Flight Prose: Mijbil the Otter : “MP Board 10th English First Flight Prose Mijbil the Otter” चैप्टर लेखक Gavin Maxwell और उनके पालतू ऊदबिलाव (otter), मिजबिल की एक दिल छू लेने वाली कहानी है। अपने कुत्ते की मौत के बाद, लेखक एक otter पालने का फैसला करते हैं। यह कहानी इराक (Iraq) के दलदली इलाकों से एक ऊदबिलाव को लाने, उसे मिजबिल (Mijbil) नाम देने और फिर उसे लंदन (London) ले जाने के रोमांचक (adventurous) सफर को बताती है। यह चैप्टर लेखक और मिजबिल के बीच गहरे बंधन (bond), उनकी शरारतों और उन मजेदार पलों को दिखाता है जब लंदन के लोग इस अनोखे जानवर को देखकर हैरान हो जाते हैं।
MP Board 10th English First Flight Prose Mijbil the Otter
About the Author (लेखक के बारे में)
इस चैप्टर “Mijbil the Otter” के लेखक Gavin Maxwell (गेविन मैक्सवेल) हैं। वह एक स्कॉटिश (Scottish) प्रकृतिवादी (naturalist) और लेखक थे। उन्हें जानवरों, खासकर otters पर किए गए उनके काम के लिए जाना जाता है। यह कहानी उनकी सबसे प्रसिद्ध पुस्तक (famous book) “Ring of Bright Water” का एक अंश है, जो उनके पालतू ऊदबिलाव, मिजबिल के साथ उनके जीवन पर आधारित है।
Difficult Words Meaning (कठिन शब्दों के अर्थ)
- Eminently (एमिनेंटली): अत्यंत, बहुत ज़्यादा
- Marshes (मार्शेस): दलदल
- Tamed (टेम्ड): पालतू बनाया हुआ
- Consulate-General (कॉन्सुलेट-जनरल): वाणिज्य दूतावास
- Squatting (स्क्वैटिंग): उकड़ू बैठना
- Squirmed (स्क्वर्म्ड): तड़पना, छटपटाना
- Thraldom (थ्रल्डम): दासता, बंधन
- Medievally (मिडीवली): मध्ययुगीन ढंग से
- Aloof (അലൂഫ്): अलग-थलग, उदासीन
- Apathy (अपैथी): उदासीनता
- Fumbling (फम्बलिंग): टटोलना
- Appalling spectacle (अपॉलिंग स्पेक्टेकल): भयावह दृश्य
- Whimpered (व्हिम्पर्ड): धीरे-धीरे रोना, सिसकना
- Infuriated (इनफ्यूरिएटेड): बहुत ज़्यादा क्रोधित
- Compulsive habits (कम्पल्सिव हैबिट्स): बाध्यकारी आदतें, जो बार-बार की जाएँ
- Conjectural (कन्जेक्चरल): अनुमान पर आधारित
Summary of the Chapter (पाठ का सारांश)
यह कहानी लेखक Gavin Maxwell द्वारा सुनाई गई है। अपने कुत्ते जॉनी की मौत के बाद, लेखक बहुत अकेले हो जाते हैं और एक ऊदबिलाव (otter) पालने का फैसला करते हैं। उनका घर, Camusfearna, जो स्कॉटलैंड में है, पानी से घिरा हुआ था और एक otter के लिए perfect जगह थी।
Part 1: मिजबिल का आगमन : 1956 में, लेखक दक्षिणी इराक (Southern Iraq) की यात्रा करते हैं। उनका एक दोस्त उन्हें बताता है कि बसरा (Basra) के पास टाइग्रिस नदी के दलदल (Tigris marshes) में otters बहुत आम हैं। जब लेखक बसरा में अपना मेल (mail) लेने जाते हैं, तो उनका मेल नहीं आता। कई दिनों की देरी के बाद, जब उनका मेल आता है, तो वह अपने कमरे में दो अरब लोगों को पाते हैं जिनके पास एक बोरी (sack) थी जो हिल रही थी। उनके दोस्त ने एक नोट के साथ उनके लिए एक otter भेजा था।
Part 2: मिजबिल के साथ शुरुआती दिन : बोरी से निकला जीव कीचड़ से सना हुआ था और एक छोटे मध्ययुगीन ड्रैगन (medieval dragon) जैसा दिखता था। लेखक ने उसका नाम मिजबिल (Mijbil) रखा। शुरू में, मिजबिल उदासीन (indifferent) और अलग-थलग रहता था, लेकिन दूसरी रात वह लेखक के बिस्तर पर आकर सो गया। जल्द ही, वह घुलमिल गया। मिजबिल को पानी में खेलना बहुत पसंद था। वह बाथरूम में टब में घंटों मजे करता और उसने पानी का नल (tap) खोलना भी सीख लिया था। उसे कंचों (marbles) से खेलना भी बहुत पसंद था। बाद में वैज्ञानिकों को पता चला कि मिजबिल एक ऐसी प्रजाति का था जिसके बारे में पहले कोई नहीं जानता था, इसलिए इसका नाम Maxwell’s otter रखा गया।
Part 3: लंदन का सफर : मिजबिल को बसरा से लंदन ले जाना एक बड़ी चुनौती (challenge) थी। ब्रिटिश एयरलाइन जानवरों को ले जाने की अनुमति नहीं देती थी, इसलिए लेखक ने पेरिस (Paris) के लिए दूसरी फ्लाइट बुक की। एयरलाइन ने जोर देकर कहा कि मिजबिल को 18-इंच के एक बॉक्स में रखना होगा। उड़ान से ठीक पहले, मिजबिल ने बॉक्स से बाहर निकलने की कोशिश में खुद को घायल (injured) कर लिया। हवाई जहाज में, एक बहुत दयालु एयर होस्टेस (air hostess) ने लेखक को मिजबिल को अपनी गोद में रखने की अनुमति दी। लेकिन जैसे ही बॉक्स खुला, मिजबिल बाहर भागा और प्लेन में अफरा-तफरी मच गई। एक महिला उसे चूहा (rat) समझकर चिल्लाने लगी। आखिरकार, एयर होस्टेस ने मिजबिल को ढूंढा और वह वापस लेखक के पास आ गया।
Part 4: लंदन में जीवन : लंदन में, मिजबिल खिलौनों, खासकर पिंग-पोंग बॉल से घंटों खेलता था। उसने एक टूटे हुए सूटकेस (suitcase) के साथ अपना एक गेम भी बना लिया था। बाहर टहलते समय, उसने कुछ अजीब आदतें (compulsive habits) विकसित कर ली थीं, जैसे स्कूल की एक नीची दीवार पर दौड़ना। लंदन के लोग otter को नहीं पहचानते थे और वे उसे देखकर अजीब-अजीब अनुमान (guesses) लगाते थे—कोई उसे ‘बेबी सील’ कहता, तो कोई ‘गिलहरी’, ‘वालरस’ या ‘हिप्पो’। कहानी एक मजदूर के मजेदार सवाल के साथ खत्म होती है, जो पूछता है, “यहाँ, मिस्टर – यह क्या माना जाता है?”
Short and Easy Answers (सरल प्रश्न-उत्तर)
Oral Comprehension Check (Part I & II)
- What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
- Maxwell thought Camusfearna would be a suitable spot for the experiment of keeping an otter as a pet.
- Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
- He goes to Basra to collect and answer his mail from Europe. He waits there for five days because his mail did not arrive on time.
- How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
- His friend sends the otter to him in a sack with two Arabs. Yes, he likes it very much. The words “a thraldom to otters, an otter fixation” tell us this.
- Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
- The otter was named ‘Maxwell’s otter’ because it belonged to a species previously unknown to science, so zoologists named it after him.
- Tick the right answer.
- In the beginning, the otter was… The right answer is: aloof and indifferent.
- What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that? When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, it went wild with joy in the water. Two days later, it escaped from the bedroom and learned to turn the tap on by itself.
Oral Comprehension Check (Part III)
- How was Mij to be transported to England?
- Mij was to be transported in a box, not more than eighteen inches square, on a flight from Basra to Paris, and then to London.
- What did Mij do to the box?
- Mij had torn the lining of the box to shreds in an attempt to escape.
- Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this? Maxwell had to put the otter back in the box because it was the airline’s rule and his flight was just ten minutes away. He must have felt very sad and helpless.
- Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?
- He says this because she was extremely kind, understanding, and helpful. She suggested he could keep his pet on his knee.
- What happened when the box was opened?
- When the box was opened, Mijbil was out in a flash. He ran down the aircraft, causing panic and confusion among the passengers.
Oral Comprehension Check (Part IV & Thinking about the text)
- What game had Mij invented?
- Mij had invented a game with a ping-pong ball. He would place the ball on the high end of a damaged, sloping suitcase and then run to the other end to catch it.
- What are ‘compulsive habits’? What are the compulsive habits of school children and Mij? Compulsive habits are strange routines that a person or animal must do. School children’s habits include placing their feet on the center of each paving block. Mij’s habit was to run the full length of a low school wall on his way home.
- What group of animals do otters belong to?
- Otters belong to a group of animals called Mustellines.
- What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
- Londoners guessed that Mij was a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard, and even a brontosaur.
- What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly, and fun-loving animal? Mij is intelligent as he learns to open the tap. He is fun-loving as he invents games with balls and marbles. He is friendly as he sleeps with the author and nuzzles his face, showing affection.
- What do we come to know about otters from this text?
- We come to know that otters are playful and intelligent animals that love water. They can also form a deep and loving bond with humans.
- Why is Mij’s species now known as Maxwell’s otter?
- Mij’s species was previously unknown to science. Zoologists named it Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli in honour of Gavin Maxwell, who discovered it.
Informative MCQs with Answers
- Where did the author, Gavin Maxwell, live?
a) In London, England
b) In Basra, Iraq
c) In Camusfearna, Scotland
d) In Paris, France
Answer: c) In Camusfearna, Scotland - Why did Maxwell decide to keep an otter as a pet?
a) Because his friend suggested it
b) Because his dog had died and he was lonely
c) Because he was a zoologist
d) Because he found one in his house
Answer: b) Because his dog had died and he was lonely - From where did Maxwell get the otter?
a) The Tigris marshes, Iraq
b) The London Zoo
c) The Scottish Highlands
d) A pet shop in Paris
Answer: a) The Tigris marshes, Iraq - What did Mijbil look like when he first emerged from the sack?
a) Like a chocolate-brown mole
b) Like a very small, medievally-conceived dragon
c) Like a baby seal
d) Like a large rat
Answer: b) Like a very small, medievally-conceived dragon - What was Mijbil’s favourite toy for his juggling pastime?
a) Ping-pong balls
b) A rubber fruit
c) Marbles
d) A terrapin shell
Answer: c) Marbles - What is a key characteristic of otters that Maxwell learned?
a) They sleep for most of the day
b) They are afraid of humans
c) They must play with every drop of water
d) They only eat fish
Answer: c) They must play with every drop of water - How was Mijbil transported to London?
a) By ship in a large cage
b) By car across Europe
c) On a flight, in a small box
d) By train through the Channel Tunnel
Answer: c) On a flight, in a small box - On the flight to London, who did Maxwell call “the very queen of her kind”?
a) The woman who screamed
b) His mother
c) A fellow passenger
d) The air hostess
Answer: d) The air hostess - When Mijbil escaped on the plane, what did a woman mistake him for?
a) A cat
b) A rat
c) A squirrel
d) A rabbit
Answer: b) A rat - What was the game Mijbil invented in London?
a) Juggling marbles on his belly
b) Playing with a ball on a sloping suitcase lid
c) Splashing in the bathtub
d) Hiding behind the curtains
Answer: b) Playing with a ball on a sloping suitcase lid - Which of these animals is NOT in the same group (Mustellines) as otters?
a) Badger
b) Mongoose
c) Squirrel
d) Weasel
Answer: c) Squirrel - What was one of Mij’s “compulsive habits” on walks in London?
a) Chasing cars
b) Barking at dogs
c) Jumping on and galloping along a low school wall
d) Digging holes in parks
Answer: c) Jumping on and galloping along a low school wall - Which city did Maxwell and Mijbil fly to from Basra?
a) London
b) Amsterdam
c) Paris
d) Rome
Answer: c) Paris - What was the scientific name given to Mijbil’s species?
a) Otter maxwelli
b) Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli
c) Mustelline iraqi
d) Gavinus mijbil
Answer: b) Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli - How long did it take for Mijbil to become friendly with the author?
a) One week
b) Immediately
c) He was never friendly
d) On the second night
Answer: d) On the second night - How did the author receive the otter?
a) He bought it at a market
b) He caught it himself
c) His friend sent it in a sack
d) It was a gift from the Consulate-General
Answer: c) His friend sent it in a sack - What did the author have to clean off Mijbil for a month?
a) Dried blood
b) Mud
c) Fleas
d) Fish scales
Answer: b) Mud - Which of these was NOT a guess made by a Londoner about Mijbil?
a) A walrus
b) A hippo
c) A raccoon
d) A brontosaur
Answer: c) A raccoon - Where did Mijbil sleep on the second night?
a) In his box
b) On the floor far from the bed
c) In the crook of the author’s knees
d) In the bathroom
Answer: c) In the crook of the author’s knees - What did the labourer digging a hole in the street say to Maxwell?
a) “That’s a lovely pet, mister!”
b) “Is that a beaver?”
c) “Here, Mister — what is that supposed to be?”
d) “Be careful, it might bite!”
Answer: c) “Here, Mister — what is that supposed to be?”