NCERT Solutions
Working with the Poem (NCERT Page 17)
1.Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a question mark for tail”? Draw a squirrel, or find a picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground. How would you describe its tail?
Ans. The poet said that the squirrel “wore a question mark for a tail” because its tail is twisted appearing
like a question mark.
2.Do we usually say that an animal ‘wears’ a tail? What do we say? (Think: Does an animal wear a coat? Consult a dictionary if you like, and find out how ‘wear’ is used in different ways.)
Ans. We usually say that an animal ‘has’ a set of given characteristics rather than saying wear’, The poet, however, uses the word ‘wear’ to indicate the external characteristics of the squirrel.
The dictionary meaning of ‘wear’ suggests something of an outer covering, for instance clothes.
3.”He liked to tease and play”. Who is teasing whom? How?
Ans. The poet liked to tease and play with the squirrel. Whenever the poet went a little close to the squirrel, the squirrel would run away in the other direction.