Chapter 9: The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (9)

1. Q1Case-based5 marksAsked: 2025

   Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given : A. Belinda giggled till she shook the house, And Blink said Weeck! Which is giggling for a mouse, Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age, When Custard cried for a nice safe cage. Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound, And Mustard growled, and they all looked around. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon) I. What inference can be drawn from the repetition of ‘suddenly, suddenly’ in the above extract ? (A) The scene shook the house (B) It highlights the swift assault (C) It emphasises that an unexpected noise was heard (D) It directs our notice to Mustard’s growling II. Despite its symbolism of captivity, what leads Custard to have a preference for staying in a cage ? III. Select the option that applies the same rhyme scheme as the lines of the first four lines of the given extract : (A) Through the telescope she saw a star which she thought was very far She stretched her hand and felt the crumple of the sand. (B) Through the telescope she saw a star She stretched her hand As it was very far But felt the crumble of the sand. (C) Through the telescope she saw a star Which she thought was very far Her hand she stretched But felt the crumble of the sand. (D) Through the telescope she saw a star Which she thought was very far Her hand she stretched afar But felt the crumble of the sand. IV. In the given extract, The difference between the other animals and Custard is that Custard behaves like a ________ (coward / dragon). OR B. I sit inside, doors open to the veranda writing long letters in which I scarcely mention the departure of the forest from the house. The night is fresh, the whole moon shines in a sky still open ...... (The Trees) I. What atmosphere or mood is created by the language and imagery used in the above lines? (iv) In the given extract, The difference between the other animals and Custard is that Custard behaves like a _________ (coward / dragon). (i) I sit inside, doors open to the veranda writing long letters in which I scarcely mention the departure of the forest from the house. The night is fresh, the whole moon shines in a sky still open ...... (The Trees) What atmosphere or mood is created by the language and imagery used in the above lines? (iii) From the provided extract, what is conspicuously absent from the long letters the speaker is writing while they sit indoors with the doors open to the veranda?

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Model answer · Custard the Dragon extract

   1. 1.I. (C) It emphasises that an unexpected noise was heard. Repeating the word 'suddenly' stresses how sudden and surprising the nasty sound was. It broke into the laughing and teasing in the house.1 mark
   2. 2.II. Custard wants a cage because he was bullied by the other housemates. Belinda tickled him unmerciful. Ink, Blink and Mustard rudely called him Percival and rudely asked his age. They all sat laughing at the 'cowardly dragon'.2 marks
   3. 3.A nice safe cage gave him refuge, comfort and security. Inside it he could avoid confrontation, because everyone saw him as a coward. III. (A) Through the telescope she saw a star1 mark
   4. 4.which she thought was very far / She stretched her hand / and felt the crumple of the sand. These lines rhyme in pairs (star/far, hand/sand), just as the extract's lines do (house/mouse, age/cage). IV. Custard behaves like a coward.1 mark

   • For II, write both reasons: Custard was bullied by the other housemates, and the cage gave him refuge and security.
   • For III, write out all four lines of option (A) in full, from "Through the telescope she saw a star" to "and felt the crumple of the sand".
   • For IV, write the single word "coward".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Case-based5 marksAsked: 2025

   (a) Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs, Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage, But Custard cried for a nice safe cage. Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful, Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival (Tale of Custard the Dragon) (i) What poetic device is used in the first sentence ? (ii) What was ironical about Custard being referred to as Percival ? (iii) Complete the following suitably : The word 'unmerciful' in the given context implies that Belinda is ________. (iv) What image of Custard is created in the above lines ? OR (b) Don't bite your nails, Amanda ! Don't hunch your shoulders, Amanda ! Stop that slouching and sit up straight, Amanda ! ("There is a languid, emerald sea, where the sole inhabitant is me a mermaid, drifting blissfully.") (Amanda) (i) What image does the above extract create about Amanda's mother ? (ii) Why is the second verse written in brackets ? (iii) Amanda calls herself a mermaid because ________ (A) Mermaid is Amanda's favourite fantasy character. (B) Amanda loves watching a mermaid drifting in water. (C) Amanda longs to be free like a mermaid which sails effortlessly in the sea. (D) Amanda wants to sail with a mermaid in the deep-sea water. (iv) Amanda wants to be the sole inhabitant in the sea. Elucidate.

   

   Medha Ma’am

   AskMedha’s AI teacher

   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 155 s

   Model answer · Custard the Dragon extract

   1. 1.(i) The poetic device used in the first sentence is a simile. In "Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears", the poet uses "as ... as" to compare Belinda's bravery with a barrel full of bears.1 mark
   2. 2.(ii) It was ironical because Percival is the name of a brave knight, but Custard was a coward who cried for a nice safe cage. Ink, Blink and Mustard rudely gave the timid dragon the name of a brave hero just to make fun of his cowardice.2 marks
   3. 3.(iii) The word 'unmerciful' in the given context implies that Belinda is cruel, heartless and insensitive. She keeps tickling Custard without any pity and enjoys teasing him.1 mark
   4. 4.(iv) These lines create the image of Custard as a coward. Although he is a dragon with big sharp teeth and spikes, he is timid and fearful. While the others are shown as brave, he cries for a nice safe cage and is laughed at as a "cowardly dragon".1 mark

   • For (i), name the device as a simile and quote "as brave as a barrel full of bears".
   • For (ii), write both halves of the irony: Percival was brave, but Custard was a coward.
   • For (iii) and (iv), use single clear words such as "cruel, heartless and insensitive" and "a coward".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

3. Q3Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

   What role does each of Belinda’s pets play in the narrative ? Select any two of her pets. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 55 s

   Model answer · Role of Belinda's pets

   1. 1.Belinda's pets add ridicule to the narrative by mocking Custard and laughing at his cowardice. Mustard, the little yellow dog, is shown as "as brave as a tiger in a rage". He ridicules and bullies Custard and rudely calls him Percival. Yet he runs away from the pirate "with a terrified yelp" and later boasts about his valour. Ink, the little black kitten, is a black cat, which suggests witchcraft and mystery. Ink also ridicules and bullies Custard by rudely asking his age, but hides when the pirate appears. This creates irony. Custard is a dragon, yet he is timid, meek and fearful. Still, he alone faces and kills the pirate and saves the household.3 marks

   • Begin with the role of all the pets: they "add ridicule to the narrative by mocking Custard and laughing at his cowardice".
   • For Ink, write that a black cat "suggests witchcraft and mystery". For Mustard, write that he "boasts about his valour".
   • End with the irony: the timid, meek Custard "alone faces and kills the pirate and saves the household".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

4. Q4Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

   What makes Custard, the dragon look fearsome? Explain.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Custard the dragon looks fearsome because of the way his body is described. He has big sharp teeth, with spikes on top of him and scales underneath, like a hard armour. His mouth is like a fireplace and he has a chimney…

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5. Q5Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

   Bring out the central idea of the poem, ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’.

   How the model answer begins

   1. The central idea of 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' is that appearances are deceptive, so we should not be judgmental about others. Belinda and her pets look brave, but Custard is mocked as a coward because he cries…

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6. Q6Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

   ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a humorous ballad. How does Ogden Nash create humour and entertainment in the poem ?

   How the model answer begins

   1. In this humorous ballad, Ogden Nash creates humour through non-standard language. He makes up words like "realio, trulio", changes "window" to "winda" so that it rhymes with Belinda, and says Blink "strategically…

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7. Q7Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

   What did custard look like ?

   How the model answer begins

   1. Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth in his mouth.

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8. Q8Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

   How did the other pets celebrate Custard getting rid of the pirate ?

   How the model answer begins

   1. Belinda, who had earlier hid and cried Help! Help! in fright when the pirate climbed in, now embraced Custard and hugged him. Although she used to boast of being as brave as a barrel full of bears while Custard was…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
9. Q9Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

   Describe how Custard the dragon fights with the Pirate. (The tale of Custard the Dragon)

   How the model answer begins

   1. Custard, who everyone calls a coward, fights the pirate bravely. When an armed pirate climbs in through the window, everyone gets scared and runs away. Only Custard stays to face him. He jumps up, snorting like an…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →

Objective questions with the board’s key (3)

1. 1. CBSE 2023

   What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is he to do ? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street and then Merrily over — there it is in the water ! No use to say ‘O there are other balls’ : (The Ball Poem) What does the expression ‘what, what is he to do’ denote ?

   • (A) loss of the ball
   • (B) ask the poet for another ball
   • (C) boy’s grief over the loss of the ball ✓
   • (D) go down the street

   Answer: (C)

2. 2. CBSE 2023

   What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is he to do ? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street and then Merrily over — there it is in the water ! No use to say ‘O there are other balls’ : (The Ball Poem) There is no use to say ‘O there are other balls’ indicates that the poet feels that it would be _________ to console the boy.

   • (A) helpful
   • (B) futile ✓
   • (C) easy
   • (D) shameful

   Answer: (B)

3. 3. CBSE 2023

   What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is he to do ? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street and then Merrily over — there it is in the water ! No use to say ‘O there are other balls’ : (The Ball Poem) ‘What is the boy now, who has lost his ball.’ Which feeling is expressed in this line ?

   • (A) regret
   • (B) cheer
   • (C) despair ✓
   • (D) thrill

   Answer: (C)

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 1 marks and about 0 questions a year; by marks it ranks 20 in English.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "The Tale of Custard the Dragon"?

The 9 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 9 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.