Chapter 3: A Tiger in the Zoo

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (8)

1. Q1Long answer6 marksAsked: 2026

   10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words : I. Examine the similarities and differences between the tiger in "A Tiger in the Zoo" and the dragon in "The Tale of Custard the Dragon". II. "The Sermon at Benaras" and "For Anne Gregory", deal with the themes of 'love' and 'life'. Discuss.

   

   Medha Ma’am

   AskMedha’s AI teacher

   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 110 s

   Model answer · Comparing tiger and Custard

   1. 1.Similarities: The tiger in "A Tiger in the Zoo" and Custard in "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" are both powerful wild creatures. In the jungle the tiger should be "lurking in shadow" near the water hole where "plump deer pass". Custard is a dragon, one of the mightiest beasts of story.1 mark
   2. 2.Both cause fear through their appearance. The tiger stalks "in his vivid stripes", "baring his white fangs, his claws". Custard has sharp teeth and spikes on his back.1 mark
   3. 3.Both are kept in spaces that are not their natural homes. The tiger is "locked in a concrete cell", far from the jungle. Custard lives as a pet in a little house, not in the wild.1 mark
   4. 4.Both are lonely and cut off from others, so readers feel sorry for them. The tiger paces his cage, "ignoring visitors", and stares "at the brilliant stars". Custard is laughed at by everyone in the house for being a coward.1 mark
   5. 5.Both also hide a strength that others do not see. The tiger's calm hides his "quiet rage", while Custard, thought to be a coward, proves the bravest when danger comes.1 mark
   6. 6.Difference: The tiger is forcibly confined; humans have caged him against his will and he longs for the jungle. Custard, however, chooses a safe cage for himself because he wants safety and comfort.1 mark

   • For the difference, write "The tiger is forcibly confined" and then "Custard, however, chooses a safe cage for himself".
   • Support each similarity with a short phrase from the poem, such as "locked in a concrete cell" or "ignoring visitors".
   • For the fourth similarity, write that both are lonely and that readers feel sorry for them.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Case-based5 marksAsked: 2026

   Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) or (b) : (a) But he’s locked in a concrete cell, His strength behind bars, Stalking the length of his cage, Ignoring visitors. (A Tiger in the Zoo) (i) Complete the sentence suitably : The tiger ignores the visitors because ________. (ii) The above lines juxtapose the tiger’s natural instincts with its caged existence. Justify. (iii) What mood is created by the poet in the above lines ? (A) sympathetic and thoughtful (B) angry and violent (C) cheerful and happy (D) exciting and fun (iv) Fill in the blank with the correct option from the brackets. The length of his cage highlights the ________ (vast space/limited space/free space) in which the tiger is confined. OR (b) The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches and then moves on. (Fog) (i) Examine the strategic use of imagery in the above lines. (ii) How does the poet portray the relationship between nature and the urban environment ? (iii) On the basis of the extract, select the correct option. The image of a cat moving “on little cat feet” evokes : (A) softness (B) roughness (C) wilderness (D) hardness (iv) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from the brackets : In the given extract, the tone of the poet is ________ (playful and mysterious/cold and rough/pessimistic and aggressive).

   

   Medha Ma’am

   AskMedha’s AI teacher

   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 170 s

   Model answer · A Tiger in the Zoo, extract

   1. 1.(i) The tiger ignores the visitors because he feels angry, helpless and frustrated at being locked in a concrete cell. Not reacting to their presence is his silent protest against being caged, because he only wants to be free.1 mark
   2. 2.(ii) The lines set the tiger's natural instincts against his caged life. In the wild he would be free, hunting the plump deer near the water hole. Here he is captive, "locked in a concrete cell" with "his strength behind bars". In the jungle he would be a feared animal, snarling and "terrorising the village". In the zoo he is only put on display for visitors. He should be roaming the open jungle, but he can only stalk "the length of his cage", a very limited space. These contrasts show how captivity crushes his wild nature.2 marks
   3. 3.(iii) (A) sympathetic and thoughtful. The poet makes us feel sorry for the helpless tiger and think about whether it is right to cage wild animals.1 mark
   4. 4.(iv) The length of his cage highlights the limited space in which the tiger is confined.1 mark

   • For (ii), write at least two clear pairs, such as free vs caged and open jungle vs limited space, and back each one with the poem's words.
   • For (iii), write both the option letter and its words: "(A) sympathetic and thoughtful".
   • For (i), connect ignoring the visitors to his "silent protest against being caged".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

3. Q3Short answer5 marksAsked: 2024

   Read the following extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the given two : (A) He stalks in his vivid stripes The few steps of his cage, On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage. He should be lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass Near the water pole Where plump deer pass. He should be snarling around houses At the jungle's edge, Baring his white fangs, his claws, Terrorising the village! (i) State any one point of contrast between the tiger in the zoo and in its natural habitat. (ii) When the speaker suggests that the tiger should be “Snarling around houses at the jungle's edge” ? What does he insinuate about the tiger's natural behaviour and habitat? (iii) The poet's skillful use of imagery effectively depicts the confinement and frustration of the tiger. Elaborate in about 40 words. (iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘quiet rage’ in the given sentence from the extract ? The few steps of his cage on pads of velvet quiet in his ‘quiet rage.’

   

   Medha Ma’am

   AskMedha’s AI teacher

   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 135 s

   Model answer · A Tiger in the Zoo extract

   1. 1.(i) In the zoo, the tiger can only stalk the few steps of his cage and is forced to be quiet. In his natural habitat, he would move freely wherever he wants, snarling around houses and terrorising the village.1 mark
   2. 2.(ii) By saying the tiger should be "snarling around houses at the jungle's edge", the speaker suggests that the tiger is naturally powerful, free and ferocious. His real home is the wild jungle, where he is feared, not a cage where people stare at him.1 mark
   3. 3.(iii) The poet uses imagery to show how trapped and frustrated the tiger is. "In his vivid stripes" shows his bright beauty and power, which is wasted because he can only stalk a few steps in a small cage. "On pads of velvet quiet" pictures his soft, silent paws pacing up and down with nowhere to go. "In his quiet rage" shows that he is angry about being locked up but cannot do anything about it, so his fury stays silent and helpless.2 marks
   4. 4.(iv) The phrase that correctly substitutes 'quiet rage' is "suppressed anger".1 mark

   • For (iii), quote at least two images, such as "vivid stripes" and "quiet rage", and explain how each one shows the tiger's confinement or frustration.
   • For (i), describe both places: the zoo, where he "stalk[s] the few steps of his cage", and the wild, where he is "snarling around houses and terrorising the village".
   • For (iv), write just the phrase "suppressed anger".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

4. Q4Short answer5 marksAsked: 2024

   7. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the given two : (A) He stalks in his vivid stripes The few steps of his cage, On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage. He should be lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass Near the water pole Where plump deer pass. He should be snarling around houses At the jungle's edge, Baring his white fangs, his claws, Terrorising the village! (i) State any one point of contrast between the tiger in the zoo and in its natural habitat. 1 (ii) When the speaker suggests that the tiger should be "Snarling around houses at the jungle's edge" ? What does he insinuate about the tiger's natural behaviour and habitat? 1 (iii) The poet's skillful use of imagery effectively depicts the confinement and frustration of the tiger. Elaborate in about 40 words. 2 (iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute 'quiet rage' in the given sentence from the extract ? The few steps of his cage on pads of velvet quiet in his 'quiet rage.' 1 OR (B) No use to say 'O there are other balls An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down All his young days into the harbour where his ball went. I would not intrude on him, A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now He senses first responsibility In a world of possessions. People will take Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy And no one buys a ball back. Money is external He is learning..... (i) Which of the following best describes the speaker's attitude towards the boy's reaction to losing his ball? 1 (A) Indifferent as the ball is inexpensive (B) Sympathetic, understanding the depth of the boy's loss (C) Mocking, finding the boy's reaction exaggerated and unnecessary. (D) Panicked, sharing the boy's distress over the lost ball. (ii) Comment on the use of metaphor in the above extract. 1 (iii) Explain the phrase 'all his young days into the harbour' with reference to the extract. 1 (iv) Briefly state in about 40 words the boy's journey from 'shaking grief' to 'he is learning' in the above extract. 2

   How the model answer begins

   1. (A)(i) In the zoo the tiger is confined and can only stalk the few steps of his cage in silent anger, whereas in his natural habitat he would move freely, lurking in the shadows and sliding through long grass near the…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
5. Q5Short answer5 marksAsked: 2024

   Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) or (b) : (a) [passage] (i) Why is the tiger 'stalking the length of his cage' ? (ii) What is the significance of the use of the word 'locked' to describe the concrete cell where the tiger is kept and how does it contrast with the tiger's presence in its natural habitat ? Answer in about 40 words. (iii) Complete the sentence with the appropriate option : The lines from the poem tell us that the tiger is __________. (A) enjoying his time in the cell (B) being indifferent to visitors because it is a daily routine for him (C) not as strong as his counterpart in the jungle (D) wanting to be free from the cage (iv) Identify the type of literary device used in the line : 'But he's locked in a concrete cell' OR (b) [passage] (i) Comment upon the contrast that is reflected in the last two lines of the extract. (ii) Fill in the blank with one word. While describing Ink and Blink, the speaker says that they could chase lions down the stairs. By saying so, he is revealing the __________ characteristic of their personality. (iii) Comment on the poet's use of language in these lines in about 40 words. (iv) Which of the following best describes the theme of the poem ? (A) Bravery and heroism (B) Humility leads to bravery (C) Valour and diligence (D) Crisis reveals character

   How the model answer begins

   1. (i) The tiger is 'stalking the length of his cage' because he has only the length of his cage to walk about. There is no room for him to run or enjoy himself, so he paces up and down, restless and full of quiet rage.

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
6. Q6Case-based5 marksAsked: 2024

   Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any ONE of the given two. (a) [passage] (i) Explain the contrast created by the words, 'stalks' and 'few steps of his cage'. (ii) Which of the following best describes the tiger's feelings in the context ? (A) anger (B) conflicted (C) pessimism (D) apprehension (iii) Comment in about 40 words on the poet's use of imagery in the above extract. (iv) Which word in the stanza means the same as 'clear and bright' ? OR (b) [passage] (i) When the poet says that "no one buys a ball back", what does he refer to in the context of the poem ? (ii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate option : The lines from the poem tell us that the boy is experiencing ______. (A) distress (B) terror (C) realisation (D) elation (iii) What is the significance of the term "desperate" used to describe the boy's eyes in the poem, and how does it contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem ? (iv) Identify and discuss the poet's use of metaphor in the poem "The Ball Poem".

   How the model answer begins

   1. (a) (i) The word 'stalks' shows the tiger as confident and powerful, walking like a proud hunter that belongs in the wild. The phrase 'few steps of his cage' shows how little space he has, so he is subdued and trapped.…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
7. Q7Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

   Draw a comparison between the tiger in the zoo and in the forest. (A Tiger in the Zoo)

   How the model answer begins

   1. The tiger in the zoo is a helpless prisoner, but the tiger in the forest is free and feared. In the zoo, he is locked in a concrete cell and can only stalk the few steps of his cage in his quiet rage. All his strength…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
8. Q8Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

   How would the tiger behave in the forest ? (A Tiger in the Zoo)

   How the model answer begins

   1. In the forest, the tiger would be lurking in the shadows and sliding silently through the long grass near the water hole.

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "A Tiger in the Zoo" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 2 marks and about 0 questions a year; by marks it ranks 15 in English.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "A Tiger in the Zoo"?

The 8 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 8 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.