Chapter 4 : Animal Farm Questions and Answers ICSE Class 10

Question 1 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Most of this time Mr Jones had spent sitting in the taproom of the Red Line at Willingdon, complaining to anyone who would listen of the monstrous injustice he had suffered in being turned out of his property by a pack of good-for-nothing animals.

i) What is the ‘monstrous injustice’ that Jones is talking about?

Answer : Jones was the owner of the Manor Farm. However, he did not care for his animals and one day, the animals rebelled against him. He was thrown out of his own farm and then Animal Farm was established. This was the ‘monstrous injustice’ that Jones was talking about.

ii) How had the ‘monstrous injustice’ occurred?

Answer : Jones used to a good farmer once, but lately, he had fallen for ill ways. He did not care for his farm or the animals. The animals were starving. One day, he got too drunk and slept without feeding them. The animals wee unable to bear the hunger and in unison broke away from their sheds and chased away Jones from the farm.

iii) How did the other farmers react to the injustice done to Jones?

Answer : The other farmers sympathised in principle, but they did not at first give him much help. At heart, each of them was secretly wondering whether he could not somehow turn Jone’s misfortune to his own advantage.

iv) What were Snowball and Napoleon doing to spread the injustice?

Answer : Everyday Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms, tell them the story of the Rebellion, and teach them the tune of ‘Beasts of England.’

v) After this extract, two of the owners of the adjoining farms have been mentioned. Describe both of them in your own words.

Answer : The owner of Foxwood was Mr Pilkington, an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season. The other farm was called Pinchfield. It’s owner was Mr Frederick, a tough, shrewd man, perpetually invovled in lawsuits and with a name for driving hard bargains.

Question 2 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

This had long been expected, and all preparations had been made. Snowball, who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar’ campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse, was in charge of the defensive operations. He gave his orders quickly, and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post.

i) What had long been expected?

Answer : It had long been expected that Jones would attack the farm in the near future. Hence, Snowball was well prepared for it in advance.

ii) Who was Snowball?

Answer : Snowball was one of the cleverest pigs, who won the loyalty of the other animals by his decision for the betterment of the farm. He failed to see the sinister thoughts of Napoleon  who easily chased him away from the farm.

iii) What was the outcome of ‘this’?

Answer : The outcome of the attack by Jones and his men was that they were all beaten up and chased away from the farm. Although; the animals had won the battle they had lost one of the sheep.

iv) Which farm is being mentioned here? To whom did it belong?

Answer : The farm being mentioned here is the Animal Farm. Initially, it was named as the Manor Farm and had belonged to Jones. However, after he was overthrown, the farm was renamed to Animal Farm and was now owned by the animals.

v) Just after this extract, what was the first thing that Snowball does?

Answer : As the human beings approached the farm buildings, Snowball launched his first attack. All the pigeons, to the number of thirty-five, flew to and fro over the men’s heads and muted upon them from mid-air; and while the men were dealing with this, the geese, who had been hiding behind the hedge, rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1 : Describe in your own words ‘The Battle of the Cowshed’.

Answer : Early in October, Jones combined some forces and tried to recapture the farm. This had long been expected and all preparations had been made. Snowball had studied on old book of Julius Caesar and had a strategy in place.

Jones and all his men, with half a dozen others from Foxwood and Pinchfield, had entered the fivebarred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm. They were all carrying sticks, except Jones, who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. As the human beings approached the farm buildings, Snowball launched his first attack. All the pigeons, to the number of thirty-five , flew to and fro over the men’s heads and muted upon them from mid-air; and while the men were dealing with this, the geese, who had been hiding behind the hedge, rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. However, this was only a light skirmishing manoeuvre, intended to create a little disorder, and the men easily drive the geese off with their sticks. Snowball  now launched his second line of attack. Muriel, Benjamin, and all the sheep, with Snowball at the head of them, rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side, while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his small hoofs. But once again the men, with their sticks and their hobnailed boots, were too strong for them; and suddenly, at a squeal from Snowball, which was the signal of retreat, all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard.

Seeing the animals flee, the men rushed after them in a sort of a triumph failing to maintain order. This was just what Snowball had intended. As soon as they were well inside the yard, the three horses, the three cows, and the rest of the pigs, who had been lying in ambush in the cowshed, suddenly emerged in their rear, cutting them off. Snowball not gave the signal for the charge. He himself dashed straight for Jones, Jones saw him coming, raised his gun and fired. The pellets scored bloody streaks along Snowball’s back, and a sheep dropped dead. Without halting for an instant, Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jone’s legs. Jones was hurled into a pile of dung and his gun flew out of his hands. But the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer, rearing up on his hind legs and striking out with great iron-shod hoofs like a stallion. His very first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull and stretched him lifeless in the mind. At the sight, several men dropped their sticks and tried to run. Panic overtook them, and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard.

They were gored, kicked, bitten and trampled on. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman’s shoulders and sank her claws in his neck, at which he yelled horribly. At a moment when the opening was clear, the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bold for the main road.

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