Question Answers Class 8 Chapter 4.1 Balbharati English Maharashtra Board

The Vet

English Workshop

1. What is the Rhyme scheme of stanzas 1 to 3 and the last two stanzas? How does it differ in the remaining stanzas, 4 to 7?

Answer:

Stanzas 1 to 3 and the last two stanzas (8 and 9): The rhyme scheme is ABABCC.

• Example from Stanza 1:
  • “To be a successful and competent vet,” (A)
  • “Needs knowledge exceedingly wide,” (B)
  • “For each of the patients he’s likely to get” (A)
  • “Possesses a different inside.” (B)
  • “He must know why the cat is refusing her milk,” (C)
  • “Why the dog is not eating his bone,” (C)
• The first four lines follow an ABAB pattern, and the last two lines rhyme with each other (CC). This pattern is consistent in stanzas 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9.

Stanzas 4 to 7: The rhyme scheme changes to AABBCC.

• Example from Stanza 4:
  • “If the lion’s caught a cold,” (A)
  • “If the zebra’s getting old,” (A)
  • “If the centipede has trouble with his feet,” (B)
  • “If the hippo’s feeling ill,” (C)
  • “If the bison’s got a chill,” (C)
  • “If the Arctic fox is suffering from heat,” (B)
• Here, the lines are paired into rhyming couplets (AA, BB, CC), differing from the ABABCC structure of the other stanzas.

2. Write any five illnesses of the animals in the poem that you find most amusing / laughable.

Answer:

(a) “If the centipede has trouble with his feet” – The idea of a centipede, with so many legs, struggling with its feet is funny.

(b) “If the cobra eats her sons” – A cobra eating its own children is darkly humorous and absurd.

(c) “If the panther has a wife who chews his ears” – The image of a panther dealing with a nagging spouse is comical.

(d) “If the elephant eats paper-bags and chokes” – An elephant choking on something as trivial as paper bags is amusingly unexpected.

(e) “If hyenas will not laugh at keepers’ jokes” – Hyenas, known for their laughter-like sounds, refusing to laugh is an ironic and funny twist.

3. (A) Out of all names of birds and animals given in the poem, pick out 4 names that are similar in English as well as in Hindi / Marathi or your mother tongue.

Answer:

Assuming Hindi as the mother tongue (common in India), here are four examples:

1. Lion – English: Lion, Hindi: शेर (Sher) – Similar in meaning, though pronounced differently.
2. Bear – English: Bear, Hindi: भालू (Bhalu) – Recognizable in both languages.
3. Monkey – English: Monkey, Hindi: बंदर (Bandar) – Commonly understood in both.
4. Elephant – English: Elephant, Hindi: हाथी (Hathi) – A well-known term in both languages.

(B) Write four reasons why animals in a zoo suffer more than those who live free in the wild.

Answer:

(i) Limited Space: Zoo animals are confined to small enclosures, restricting their natural movement, unlike wild animals who roam freely in vast habitats.

(ii) Lack of Natural Diet: Zoo animals are fed controlled diets, which may not fully replicate the variety they hunt or forage in the wild, leading to health issues.

(iii) Stress from Captivity: Constant human observation and unnatural surroundings cause stress and boredom, unlike the freedom wild animals experience.

(iv) Reduced Social Interaction: Zoo animals may lack the complex social structures or mating opportunities available to their wild counterparts, affecting their well-being.

4. Think deeply and write. Is the poet really discouraging the youth from becoming vets? Explain your response.

Answer: No, the poet is not genuinely discouraging the youth from becoming veterinarians; rather, the poem uses humor and exaggeration to highlight the challenges of the profession. The tone is lighthearted and satirical, as seen in the exaggerated list of animal ailments and the playful rhyme scheme. The final stanza advises the son to become a human doctor instead, calling it an “easier way,” but this seems more like a tongue-in-cheek comment than a serious suggestion. The poet expresses admiration for the vet’s vast knowledge (“omniscient, the vet”) and pities the difficulty of the job, suggesting respect rather than disdain. The discouragement is likely a poetic device to emphasize the complexity and breadth of veterinary work, not a literal warning.

5. Find out from a vet or from a website, what precautions a vet has to take, when he / she is called to treat wild, dangerous animals? Make point-wise notes of the same.

Answer:

Based on general knowledge and reliable sources (e.g., veterinary websites):

Use of Protective Gear: Vets wear gloves, masks, and sometimes body armor to shield against bites, scratches, or infectious diseases.

Sedation or Anesthesia: Dangerous animals are often sedated with tranquilizers to minimize risk during examination or treatment.

Team Assistance: Vets work with trained handlers or zookeepers to restrain the animal safely and avoid direct confrontation.

Knowledge of Behavior: Understanding the animal’s species-specific behavior helps predict reactions and avoid triggering aggression.

Emergency Protocols: Vets prepare escape routes and have antidotes or medical kits ready in case of attacks or venom exposure.

6. Select any four zoo animals mentioned in the poem. Imagine that they are able to talk in English. Compose a dialogue among the four animals discussing their discomfort and illnesses.

Answer:

Selected Animals: Lion, Elephant, Panther, Hyena

Dialogue: Lion: “Roar! I’ve caught a dreadful cold, and my mane looks like a soggy mop. How’s everyone else holding up?”

Elephant: “Oh, don’t get me started! I ate a paper bag the keeper left lying around, and now my trunk’s all clogged. I can barely trumpet!”

Panther: “You think that’s bad? My wife’s been chewing my ears nonstop because I growled at her last night. They’re sore, and I can’t hear the zookeepers anymore!”

Hyena: “Heh, well, I’ve got the worst of it. The keepers keep telling these awful jokes, and I just can’t laugh anymore. My throat’s hoarse from trying!”

Lion: “This zoo life is unbearable. In the wild, I’d be chasing antelopes, not sneezing in a cage.”

Elephant: “True. I’d be munching fresh leaves, not choking on trash. We need that vet to sort us out!”

Panther: “If he can stop my wife’s nagging, I’ll be impressed. Maybe he’s got earplugs for me.”

Hyena: “And if he can make me laugh again, I’ll call him a genius. Let’s hope he shows up soon!”