Extracts From Poems ( First Flight) Class 10 English

📘 CLASS 10 ENGLISH – CBSE

REVISION MOCK TEST: POETRY

Poems: Dust of Snow, Fire and Ice, A Tiger in the Zoo, How to Tell Wild Animals, Amanda!

Total Extracts: 18

Marks: 18 × 5 = 90 Marks

SECTION A – EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS

EXTRACT 1 –

 Dust of Snow

Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Questions:

1.What fell on the poet? (1)

2.From which tree did it fall? (1)

3.What bird shook the snow down? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in “dust of snow”. (1)

5.What does the falling snow bring about in the poet? (1)

Extract 1

1.The dust of snow fell on the poet.

2.It fell from a hemlock tree.

3.A crow shook it down.

4.Metaphor – “dust of snow” compares the snowflakes to dust.

5.It changed the poet’s mood positively.

EXTRACT 2 – Dust of Snow

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued.

1.What changed the poet’s mood? (1)

2.What does “rued” mean? (1)

3.What did the poet’s experience save? (1)

4.Identify the rhyme scheme of the extract. (1)

5.What is the central idea of the poem? (1)

Extract 2

1.The falling snow changed the poet’s mood.

2.“Rued” means regretted.

3.It saved a part of his otherwise unhappy day.

4.ABAB.

5.The poem shows that a small incident in nature can bring happiness and transform a negative mood.

EXTRACT 3 – Dust of Snow

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

1.Name the poem and poet. (1)

2.Why are the crow and hemlock tree significant? (1)

3.What does “dust” refer to? (1)

4.Which poetic device is used through the repeated ‘o’ sound in “snow” and “crow”? (1)

5.What message does the poem convey? (1)

Extract 3

1.Dust of Snow by Robert Frost.

2.They are traditionally associated with unpleasantness, yet they bring a positive change to the poet.

3.It refers to the fine particles/flakes of snow.

4.Assonance.

5.Nature has the power to refresh our minds and turn sadness into happiness.

🔥 FIRE AND ICE

EXTRACT 4

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

1.What does “fire” symbolise? (1)

2.What does “ice” symbolise? (1)

3.Why does the poet favour fire? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in “Some say… Some say…”. (1)

5.Name the poet. (1)

Extract 4

1.Fire symbolises desire, greed and uncontrolled passion.

2.Ice symbolises hatred, coldness and indifference.

3.The poet has experienced desire and believes it can cause destruction.

4.Repetition.

5.Robert Frost.

EXTRACT 5

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

1.What does “desire” represent? (1)

2.Why does the poet associate desire with fire? (1)

3.What does “perish twice” mean? (1)

4.Which emotion is associated with ice? (1)

5.What is the rhyme scheme? (1)

Extract 5

1.Desire represents intense human passion and greed.

2.Desire is compared with fire because both can become powerful and destructive.

3.It means if the world were to be destroyed a second time.

4.Hatred is associated with ice.

5.ABAABCB.

EXTRACT 6

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

1.What does “ice” stand for? (1)

2.What is capable of causing destruction? (1)

3.What does “suffice” mean? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in “ice” and “suffice”. (1)

5.What warning does the poet give? (1)

Extract 6

1.Ice represents hatred and emotional coldness.

2.Both fire and ice can cause destruction.

3.“Suffice” means be enough.

4.Rhyme.

5.The poet warns that uncontrolled human emotions can destroy the world.

🐯 A TIGER IN THE ZOO

EXTRACT 7

He stalks in his vivid stripes

The few steps of his cage,

On pads of velvet quiet,

In his quiet rage.

1.Where is the tiger? (1)

2.What do “vivid stripes” refer to? (1)

3.Why does the tiger walk quietly? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in “pads of velvet”. (1)

5.What does “quiet rage” suggest? (1)

Extract 7

1.The tiger is in a zoo/cage.

2.They refer to the tiger’s bright, clearly visible stripes.

3.He moves silently because he is a stealthy wild animal and is trapped in the cage.

4.Metaphor – his paws are compared to velvet.

5.It suggests suppressed anger and frustration.

EXTRACT 8

He should be lurking in shadow,

Sliding through long grass

Near the water hole

Where plump deer pass.

1.Where should the tiger actually be? (1)

2.What should he be hunting? (1)

3.What does “lurking” mean? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in “plump deer”. (1)

5.What contrast is presented in the extract? (1)

Extract 8

1.He should be in the jungle, in his natural habitat.

2.He should be hunting deer.

3.“Lurking” means hiding and waiting secretly.

4.Alliteration – “plump” and “pass” have repeated initial sounds in the line sequence; the phrase also creates vivid imagery.

5.It contrasts the tiger’s natural life in the jungle with his imprisoned life in the zoo.

EXTRACT 9

But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,

Stalking the length of his cage,

Ignoring visitors.

1.What is the “concrete cell”? (1)

2.Where is the tiger’s strength? (1)

3.What does the tiger do inside the cage? (1)

4.What does “ignoring visitors” show? (1)

5.What is the poet’s attitude towards keeping wild animals in cages? (1)

Extract 9

1.The “concrete cell” refers to the tiger’s cage/enclosure.

2.His strength is trapped behind the bars.

3.He stalks the length of his cage.

4.It shows his indifference and frustration; he is not interested in the visitors.

5.The poet criticises the confinement of wild animals.

EXTRACT 10

He hears the last voice at night,

The patrolling cars,

And stares with brilliant eyes

At the brilliant stars.

1.What does the tiger hear? (1)

2.What does the tiger stare at? (1)

3.Identify the poetic device in “brilliant eyes” and “brilliant stars”. (1)

4.What does the tiger’s staring at the stars suggest? (1)

5.What theme is highlighted here? (1)

Extract 10

1.He hears the last voice and the sounds of patrolling cars.

2.He stares at the brilliant stars.

3.Repetition of the word “brilliant”; it also creates emphasis.

4.It suggests his longing for freedom and the natural world.

5.The theme of captivity versus freedom.

🦁 HOW TO TELL WILD ANIMALS

EXTRACT 11

If ever you should go by chance

To jungles in the East;

And if there should to you advance

A large and tawny beast,

1.Where might you encounter the animal? (1)

2.What does “tawny” mean? (1)

3.What kind of animal is being described? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in “large and tawny beast”. (1)

5.What makes the poem humorous? (1)

Extract 11

1.In the jungles of the East.

2.“Tawny” means yellowish-brown in colour.

3.A large wild animal, specifically the Asian Lion in the following lines.

4.Alliteration in “large” and “tawny”/descriptive imagery.

5.The poet gives dangerous situations in a playful and exaggerated manner.

EXTRACT 12

If he roars at you as you’re dyin’,

You’ll know it is the Asian Lion.

1.Which animal is described here? (1)

2.What does “roars” suggest? (1)

3.Why is the situation humorous? (1)

4.Identify the rhyme in “dyin’” and “Lion”. (1)

5.Name the poet. (1)

Extract 12

1.The Asian Lion.

2.It suggests the lion’s powerful and frightening sound.

3.The advice comes only after the person is being attacked, making the situation absurdly funny.

4.End rhyme.

5.Carolyn Wells.

EXTRACT 13

Or if some time when roaming round,

A noble wild beast greets you,

With black stripes on a yellow ground,

Just notice what he’s about to do.

1.Which animal is described? (1)

2.What do the black stripes indicate? (1)

3.What should one notice? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in “noble wild beast”. (1)

5.What makes this advice comic? (1)

Extract 13

1.A tiger.

2.They identify the tiger by its characteristic striped coat.

3.One should notice what the animal is about to do.

4.Alliteration / humorous descriptive expression.

5.The reader is advised to identify the animal at the very moment it is about to attack.

EXTRACT 14

If strolling forth, a beast you see,

Whose hide with spots is peppered,

As soon as he has lept on thee,

You’ll know it is the Leopard.

1.Which animal is being described? (1)

2.What does “hide” mean? (1)

3.What does “lept” mean? (1)

4.What is humorous about the advice? (1)

5.Identify the rhyme scheme. (1)

Extract 14

1.The Leopard.

2.“Hide” means the animal’s skin/fur-covered body.

3.“Lept” means jumped.

4.The person identifies the leopard only after it has jumped on them.

5.ABAB.

👧 AMANDA!

EXTRACT 15

Amanda!

Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!

Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!

Stop slouching and sit up straight, Amanda!

1.Who is being addressed? (1)

2.Mention one thing Amanda is told not to do. (1)

3.What does “slouching” mean? (1)

4.Identify the poetic device in the repeated use of “Amanda”. (1)

5.What do these instructions reveal about Amanda’s life? (1)

Extract 15

1.Amanda is being addressed.

2.She is told not to bite her nails.

3.“Slouching” means sitting or standing in a lazy, bent posture.

4.Repetition / refrain.

5.They reveal that Amanda is constantly being instructed and corrected by an adult.

EXTRACT 16

(There is a languid, emerald sea,

where the sole inhabitant is me—

a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)

1.Who imagines herself as a mermaid? (1)

2.What does “languid” mean? (1)

3.What does the emerald sea symbolise? (1)

4.What does the mermaid represent for Amanda? (1)

5.Identify the poetic device in “emerald sea”. (1)

Extract 16

1.Amanda imagines herself as a mermaid.

2.“Languid” means calm, slow and relaxed.

3.It symbolises peace and freedom.

4.The mermaid represents her desire to escape into a peaceful world of her own.

5.Metaphor – the sea is described as emerald.

EXTRACT 17

I thought it’s fine to be alone

And never shout back at anyone.

1.What does Amanda wish for? (1)

2.Why does she want to be alone? (1)

3.What does “shout back” suggest? (1)

4.What does the extract reveal about Amanda’s nature? (1)

5.What is the central conflict in the poem? (1)

Extract 17

1.Amanda wishes to be alone and free from constant instructions.

2.She wants peace and freedom from criticism.

3.It suggests arguing or responding angrily to someone.

4.It reveals that she is quiet, sensitive and desirous of independence.

5.The conflict is between parental control and a child’s desire for freedom and independence.

EXTRACT 18

I am Rapunzel, I have not a care;

life in a tower is tranquil and rare;

I’ll certainly never let down my hair.

1.Who is Rapunzel? (1)

2.Why does Amanda imagine herself as Rapunzel? (1)

3.What does “tranquil” mean? (1)

4.What does the tower represent? (1)

5.What does Amanda’s fantasy reveal about her? (1)

✅ COMPLETE ANSWER KEY

Extract 18

1.Rapunzel is a fairy-tale character who lives in a tower.

2.Amanda imagines herself as .Rapunzel because she wants to escape from constant instructions and live peacefully.

3.“Tranquil” means peaceful and calm.

4.The tower represents isolation, escape and freedom from unwanted interference.

5.It reveals Amanda’s strong desire for privacy, peace and independence.