Class X – Mijbil The Otter (Important Questions)

Ans. Compulsive habits are habits that are impossible to control

School children on their way to and from school must place their feet squarely on the center of each paving block; must touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post.

Mij would tug the author to that wall, jump on to it, and gallop the full length of its thirty yards.

Ans. Maxwell took mijbil to the bathroom. For half an hour he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater, and making enough sloth and splash for a hippo. Maxwell learnt that Mijbil had immense love for water.

Ans. Mijbil the Otter had some ‘compulsive habits’. On his way home every day, Mij used to tug Maxwell to the low wall of a primary school opposite to his flat. Mij would jump to it gallop the full length of its thirty yards and cause a hopeless distraction to both pupils and staff within the primary school.

Ans. At first, the otter was not very friendly with the narrator as he has seen him for the first time. He was brought to a new place and new surroundings. He neither knew the narrator nor the place which made him stay away from the narrator. But, as soon as he started becoming comfortable with the surroundings, he became friendly and came close to the narrator.

This is very similar to the human nature. Even, the human beings first take time to understand others and then only become friendly with them. Unless they are comfortable in being with somebody, they try to stay away from that person.

Ans. the average Londoners were surprised to see such a unique animal. They made wild guesses about the otter. Some called him ‘a baby deal’, some as squirrel, a walrus. Others called him beaver, a bear cub and a leopard. The best remark came from a labourer on seeing Mijbil he asked “What is that supposed to be?

Ans. Maxwell removed every bit of the shredded inner lining so that Mij won’t hurt himself. He then kept the otter back in the box as they had to reach the flight on time. He must have felt pity and be worried about Mij.

Ans. When Maxwell boarded the flight, he took the air hostess into confidence about the latest incidents.

Being understanding, friendly and kind, she advised him to keep the box on his lap. Thus, the way she listened and helped him, led to an admiration that made the narrator say that she was “the very queen of her kind”.

Ans. Maxwell had travelled to Southern Iraq early in the year of 1956. There he thought of keeping an otter as a pet. He thought so because of Camusfearna surrounded by water, could be a suitable place for this purpose.

Mijbil’s behavior and reactions to the circumstances throw light on the trait of intelligence in the otters in general. It is portrayed in his behavior that it took him mere a day to shed his inhibitions and familiarize himself with the surroundings. Mijbil’s intelligence is reflect in his turning on the tap to get a flow of water.

Ans. Mijbil resembled like a very small imaginary dragon of the Middle Ages. Its body was coated with pointed scales. Between them a soft velvet fur was visible. It was like a chocolate brown mole. On the contrary custard was a huge ferocious looking dragon. Mijbil would have behaved as friendly as he was with the narrator. Initially Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly with the narrator. He was aloof and indifferent. He slept on the floor for away from Maxwell’s bed. However, a change came in Mijbil afterwards. He started taking keen interest in his surroundings. He went to Maxwell’s bed on the second day and remained asleep in it.

b) Otters are friendly looking creatures. However, they can bite and fight with their nails if provoked.

So, on seeing the pirate Mijbil would have joined Custard in gobbling every bit of him.

Ans. The narrator called his pet Mijbil. The otter, in fact, belonged to a race unknown to science so far. It was christened at length by zoologists Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli or Maxwell’s otter.. It was christened after the name of his master.

Ans. It was a difficult job for Maxwell to be transported from Basra to London. The British airline wouldn’t fly animals. He booked a flight to Paris on another airline. Mijbil was put into a small box an hour before so that he would become accustomed to it.

Ans. The moment the box was open Mij was out of it in a flash. He soon disappeared down the aircraft. There were squawks and shrieks. A woman stood up crying for “A rat! A rat!” Mijbil was found beneath the legs of a turbaned Indian. Maxwell dived for him but found his face covered in curry. In the end, Mijbil himself came and sat on Maxwell’s knee.

Ans. Mij invented his own game with a ping-pong ball. He used to keep the basilica lid of the damaged suitcase which when closed, remained at a slope from one end. He too plays in the water and also like to jump and gallop the full length of the 30-yard school well.

Ans. Maxwell and the otter Mijbil shared a lovely relationship. Maxwell treated Mij like his own son.

He took very good care of him. He gave him many toys including marbles, rubber bans, rubber fruits and a terrapin shell to play with. He took him to the bathtub to play in the water knowing the fascination of otters with water. He noticed his habits and traits. Mijbil hesitated on the first day but then became very friendly. Maxwell encouraged Mijbil to do whatever he like to do. He took him out for exercise every day. When Maxwell saw blood on the box in which Mij was packed, he was horrified. When Mij came out of the box he jumped all over but then came and sat on Maxwell’s knees quietly.

Ans. There is no doubt that Mij was an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal. When the author received it, for the first twenty-four hours it remained aloof and indifferent but later on  he took interest in his surroundings. He became friendly to the author. He enjoyed his bath. One day he disappeared from the bedroom and entered the bathroom where he tried to open the tap. His intelligence is further revealed when he invented a game of his own of ping-pong ball. Mij discovered that if the ball was placed on the high end of the suitcase, it would rather run down the length of the suitcase. He enjoyed playing with ball and marbles. Mij had developed certain compulsive habits like school children. He used to gallop at full speed on the thirty yards wall of a primary school. It was a quick learner as he easily learns to turn on the tap for a bath. He is fond of having fun and doesn’t miss a chance for anything which could give joy.

Ans. In today’s world, it is getting difficult to find people who show their care and support. Rather than helping others, they start giving excuses and quote rules and regulations. Earlier, people used to think about the situation faced by others and helped them in all possible ways.

This is changing because of the change in the values of the people. People give first priority to their own safety and security. They care for themselves first and then think about others. The airhostess was friendly, and she allowed the narrator to place the otter on his lap. She could relate and empathise with the situation faced by the narrator. This shows that apart from being professional, she was a caring lady. She not only wanted to do her job but was also responsible as she helped the narrator in finding the otter back. She did all that she could do for Maxwell and the otter. She was hard working and was ready to help as she did not say ‘no’ to help the narrator.