What is the poem or essay 'The Cat' about in Class 10 English?

The Cat is an insightful prose piece that challenges common misconceptions about cats, revealing their complex and multifaceted nature. The text argues that most people underestimate cats, viewing them as unintelligent animals interested only in ease, mice, and milk. However, the author contends that cats possess more character than most human beings and lead double lives - appearing docile and lazy during the day while transforming into agile, fierce hunters at night. The piece explores the cat's independence, intelligence, athleticism, and self-sufficiency, ultimately presenting cats as misunderstood creatures of remarkable capability and dignity.

What does the author say about people's perception of cats?

The author states that most people think the cat is an unintelligent animal, fond of ease and caring little for anything but mice and milk. This common perception views cats as lazy, simple creatures with limited interests and capabilities. However, the author challenges this misconception, arguing that this view is fundamentally wrong and fails to recognize the cat's true nature. The text suggests that people judge cats superficially based on their daytime behavior without understanding the complexity beneath the surface, missing the intelligence, character, and remarkable abilities that cats actually possess.

According to the text, does the cat really have more character than human beings?

Yes, the author boldly claims that the cat really has more character than most human beings. This provocative statement suggests that cats possess qualities of independence, self-reliance, dignity, and authenticity that many humans lack. Cats don't pretend to be what they're not; they maintain their true nature regardless of circumstances. They don't seek approval or modify their behavior to please others. Their self-sufficiency, courage (as fighters), skill (as athletes and acrobats), and ability to live contentedly alone demonstrate a strength of character that the author finds admirable and perhaps superior to human nature with its social dependencies and pretenses.

What dual life does the cat lead according to the text?

The cat leads a remarkable dual existence, behaving very differently during day and night. All day long, the cat appears domesticated, lazy, and submissive - lounging about the house, taking things easy, and allowing itself to be pestered by human attention. The cat tolerates being handled, fed, and fussed over like a passive pet. However, when evening comes, the cat's true nature emerges. It transforms into an agile athlete, skilled acrobat, and fierce fighter - hunting, exploring, and asserting its wild instincts. This duality reveals the cat's intelligence in managing human relationships while maintaining its independent, predatory nature.

How does the cat behave during the day?

During daylight hours, the cat presents itself as the picture of domestic contentment and indolence. It loafs about the house, takes things easy, and allows itself to be pestered by the attentions of the people in the house. The cat endures being handled, stroked, and coddled, appearing to tolerate or even enjoy human company. It may watch a mouse-hole with seeming patience, rub against family members' legs, purr noisily, and generally play the role of a docile, affectionate pet. This daytime behavior creates the impression of a lazy, ease-loving creature completely dependent on human care and comfort.

What happens to the cat in the evening?

As evening approaches, the cat undergoes a complete transformation, revealing its true identity. One can see the cat as it really is during these twilight and night hours. The formerly lazy house cat becomes alert, active, and purposeful. Its athletic abilities emerge as it prowls, jumps, and hunts with grace and precision. The cat demonstrates its skills as an acrobat, moving with extraordinary agility and balance. It also shows its nature as a grim fighter, ready to defend territory or compete with rivals. This evening transformation reveals that the cat's daytime docility is merely a performance, with the real cat emerging when darkness falls.

What does the text say about the cat being an athlete and acrobat?

The author emphasizes that the cat is not merely a lazy pet but actually an impressive athlete and acrobat with remarkable physical capabilities. As an athlete, the cat possesses strength, speed, and endurance for hunting and territorial activities. As an acrobat, it demonstrates extraordinary balance, flexibility, and coordination - able to land on its feet, climb vertical surfaces, leap great distances, and navigate narrow ledges with perfect precision. These abilities, hidden during the cat's daytime laziness, become evident in evening and nighttime activities. This athletic prowess contradicts the common perception of cats as merely ease-loving creatures, revealing their sophisticated physical capabilities.

Why is the cat described as a 'grim fighter'?

The cat is called a grim fighter because of its fierce, determined nature in conflicts with other cats or threats. 'Grim' suggests serious, relentless combat without playfulness or mercy. Cats fight over territory, mates, and dominance with impressive ferocity, using claws, teeth, and quick reflexes as weapons. Despite their small size and domestic appearance, cats are formidable opponents when challenged. This fighting ability reflects their predatory ancestry and survival instincts. The description emphasizes that beneath the purring pet exterior lies a capable, dangerous animal when circumstances require it - another aspect of the cat's complex, multifaceted character that casual observers miss.

How does the cat interact with family members according to the text?

The cat engages in calculated, performance-like interactions with family members during the day. It rubs itself against the legs of family members and purrs noisily, creating an impression of affection and contentment. However, the text suggests this behavior may be strategic rather than genuinely emotional - the cat is managing its relationship with humans to secure food, shelter, and comfort. The cat allows itself to be pestered by human attentions, tolerating handling and petting as necessary social exchanges. This seemingly affectionate behavior is part of the cat's dual nature, maintaining good relations with humans while preserving its independence and true wild character.

What happens when a guest tries to interact with the cat?

The text describes a revealing scenario where a guest attempts to befriend the cat during a meal. The cat approaches the guest, making friendly gestures and purring. The guest responds by picking up the cat, who immediately digs its claws into the guest's leg - a painful act of rejection. Despite tears of rage and pain, the guest tries to maintain composure, pretending to be amused and concealing discomfort. The guest then offers the cat a bit of fish as appeasement or bribe. This incident illustrates the cat's unpredictability, its refusal to genuinely submit to human control, and the false social niceties people maintain even when hurt by the cat's authentic but antisocial behavior.

What does it mean that the cat 'allows himself to be pestered'?

The phrase 'allows himself to be pestered' is significant because it frames the cat as actively permitting rather than passively enduring human attention. 'Pestered' has negative connotations, suggesting the attentions are bothersome or annoying, yet the cat 'allows' them, implying conscious choice and control. This wording emphasizes the cat's agency - it's not a helpless victim of human affection but a strategic actor choosing to tolerate unwanted attention for practical benefits like food and shelter. The cat could resist or escape but doesn't, because the trade-off serves its interests. This demonstrates the cat's intelligence and pragmatic approach to human relationships.

Why does the cat watch a mouse-hole?

The cat watches a mouse-hole as part of its predatory nature and hunting instincts. Despite its well-fed domestic status, the cat retains the instincts of a hunter, finding satisfaction in stalking and catching prey. Watching a mouse-hole requires patience, focus, and strategic thinking - qualities that contradict the image of cats as merely lazy and unintelligent. This behavior reveals that the cat's interest in mice isn't just about food (as commonly assumed) but about engaging its natural hunting abilities. Even in comfortable domestic circumstances, the cat maintains its predatory skills and finds purpose in activities that express its essential nature as a carnivorous hunter.

What does the text suggest about the cat's intelligence?

The text argues forcefully against the common perception that cats are unintelligent. Instead, it presents cats as highly intelligent creatures capable of sophisticated behavior: living successful double lives (appearing docile while maintaining wild nature); strategically managing relationships with humans for mutual benefit; exhibiting patience and focus when hunting; demonstrating complex physical skills requiring spatial intelligence; and maintaining independence and self-sufficiency. The cat's ability to deceive humans about its true nature while securing advantages from them shows impressive social intelligence. Rather than being stupid, the cat is smart enough to appear simple, allowing humans to underestimate it while the cat pursues its own agenda.

What does 'caring little for anything but mice and milk' mean?

This phrase represents the stereotype that cats have simple, basic interests limited to food (mice and milk). It suggests cats are materialistic, shallow creatures without complex emotions, social bonds, or intellectual interests. However, the author presents this view ironically, as part of the misconception most people hold about cats. The reality revealed in the text is much more complex - cats care about independence, territorial control, hunting prowess, self-sufficiency, and maintaining their dignity. They care about freedom and authenticity. The 'mice and milk' stereotype reduces cats to mere appetites, missing the sophisticated character and capabilities the text seeks to reveal and celebrate.

How does the cat demonstrate self-sufficiency?

The cat exemplifies self-sufficiency in multiple ways throughout the text. It doesn't depend emotionally on humans, maintaining psychological independence even while accepting practical benefits like shelter and food. The cat is content in solitude, not requiring constant companionship or validation. It possesses skills for hunting and survival independent of human provision. The cat makes its own decisions about when to be social and when to be solitary, when to hunt and when to rest. It doesn't seek approval or modify its essential nature to please others. This self-sufficiency represents a form of character strength - the cat needs humans far less than humans might like to believe, maintaining its autonomy even in domestic circumstances.

Why do most people misunderstand cats according to the text?

People misunderstand cats because they judge them based on superficial daytime observations, missing the transformation that occurs in evening when cats reveal their true nature. Humans expect pets to be dependent, consistently affectionate, and transparent in their emotions - qualities cats don't possess. People project their own values and expectations onto cats rather than observing them objectively. The cat's independence and emotional reserve puzzle people accustomed to dogs' enthusiastic devotion. Additionally, people underestimate intelligence that doesn't manifest through obvious obedience or tricks. The cat's strategy of appearing simple while being complex succeeds in fooling most observers, who see what they expect rather than what truly exists.

What is the main theme of 'The Cat' text?

The primary theme is the discrepancy between appearance and reality, particularly regarding character and capability. The text explores how we misjudge those who don't conform to expected behaviors, using cats as examples of beings with hidden depths and complex natures. Secondary themes include the value of independence and self-sufficiency versus social conformity; the intelligence of maintaining strategic relationships without surrendering autonomy; and the idea that strength of character sometimes involves strategic deception. The text ultimately argues for looking beyond surface behaviors to understand true nature, challenging readers to question their assumptions and recognize complexity in those they dismiss as simple.

How does the cat's behavior challenge human expectations?

The cat challenges human expectations by refusing to conform to the dependent, consistently affectionate pet model that people prefer. Unlike dogs who eagerly please their owners, cats maintain emotional independence, offering affection selectively and strategically. They don't seek constant approval or modify their nature for human comfort. The cat's dual life - docile by day, wild by night - reveals that domestication is superficial, not deeply internalized. When the guest experiences scratching despite friendly overtures, it demonstrates that cats don't respect human social contracts or expectations of reciprocity. This behavior frustrates people who expect gratitude and compliance from creatures they feed and shelter, challenging assumptions about relationships based on provision and dependency.

What literary techniques are used in 'The Cat' text?

The text employs several effective literary techniques: contrast (between day and night behavior, appearance and reality, common perception and actual nature); personification and anthropomorphization (describing the cat in human terms like having 'character'); irony (presenting common views the author clearly disagrees with); observational detail (specific behaviors that reveal character); and logical argument structure (thesis statement about misconceptions followed by evidence contradicting them). The author uses second person perspective ('you can see the cat as he really is') to engage readers directly. Vivid imagery and specific examples (rubbing against legs, watching mouse-holes, scratching guests) make abstract qualities concrete and persuasive.

Why is 'The Cat' important for Class 10 students?

The Cat is valuable for Class 10 students because it teaches critical thinking about assumptions and stereotypes - looking beyond surface appearances to understand true nature. The text models analytical writing, presenting and defending an argument about character and intelligence. Students learn to question popular opinions and develop independent perspectives based on observation rather than convention. The theme of maintaining authenticity while navigating social expectations resonates with adolescent experiences of peer pressure and identity formation. Additionally, the text encourages appreciation for independence and self-sufficiency as positive qualities, offering an alternative to cultural emphases on conformity and popularity. The writing demonstrates how to make sophisticated arguments through concrete examples and logical structure.

The Cat

Updated for Madhyamik 2027

Board Exam Preparation

62+ Practice Questions

31+ Study Notes

31 min read

62 MCQs31 Notes

1.Author & Text Context for WBBSE Class 10 Exam Preparation

Prose about cat's dual nature - domestic pet yet wild creature for Class 10
Explores cat character - "more character than most human beings" observation
People think cat "unintelligent animal, fond of ease" - common misconception
Cat actually "athlete, acrobat and grim fighter" - reality of feline nature
Text reveals true cat behavior in evening - key theme for WBBSE exam

2.Cat Behavior with Specific Details: Daytime vs Evening Nature

Daytime - cat "loafs about house, takes things easy" - lazy domestic appearance
Teatime - cat "rubs against legs, noisily purrs" for food - manipulative behavior
Guest interaction - cat "particularly civil" to guest, receives fish "gingerly"
Evening transformation - "saunters down his own backyard" to true life
Night activities - "vagrant gypsy life" on roofs, "wind like whetted knife" environment

3.Character Analysis: Domestic Cat vs Wild Cat for Exam

Domestic persona - allows "pestered by attentions of people" during day (pretense)
Wild nature - "one can see cat as he really is in evening" (true character)
Athletic abilities - "skips to roof of empty shed" showing agility
Hunting instincts - watches "mouse-hole" for hours with patience
Dual personality - perfectly balanced between civilization and wilderness (central trait)

4.Literary Themes & MCQ Topics: Independence, Duality, Nature

Independence theme - cat lives on own terms despite domestication (MCQ: cat's character)
Duality of nature - domestic comfort vs wild freedom balance (central message)
Misconception vs reality - people think cat unintelligent but actually clever (irony)
Grace and stealth - cat's movements show natural elegance (descriptive detail)
Self-sufficiency - cat needs no one, complete in itself (philosophical theme)

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Q. 1

When is the cat's real nature visible?

During the day

In the evening

At night

In the morning

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Q. 2

What do people mistakenly think about cats?

They only care about food

They are very playful

They are very loyal

They are very active

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Q. 3

What does the cat sometimes do to avoid boredom?

Watches a mouse-hole

Chases its tail

Searches for food

Climbs trees

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Q. 4

What does the guest do with his food when frustrated?

Eats it all

Throws it away

Sorts out a bit of fish and hands it down

Hides it

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Q. 5

Who are mentioned as the cat’s enemies?

Other cats

Dogs and small boys with stones

Birds and squirrels

Cars and bikes

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Q. 6

What does the cat do on top of the shed?

Meows at passersby

Sleeps

Arches his back and rakes his claws through the roof's bark

Scratches the shed

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Q. 7

How does the cat's behavior contrast with common belief?

It shows laziness

It shows aggression

It shows high intelligence and character

It shows indifference

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Q. 8

What reproach is often made against cats?

They are too aggressive

They are lazy

They are too noisy

They are more fond of their home than of the people in it

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Q. 9

How does the cat behave toward a guest at the table?

It runs away

It hides under the table

It ignores the guest

It is particularly civil

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Q. 10

After reaching the top of the fence, what does the cat do?

Scratches the fence

Drops lightly down to the other side

Stays on the fence

Drops heavily

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Q. 11

What is the overall message of the passage regarding cats?

Cats enjoy life more than we think

Cats are simple animals

Cats are unintelligent

Cats only love food

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Q. 12

Why is the cat civil to the guest?

Because the guest offers affection

Because the guest is older

Because the guest is likely to have the best food

Because the guest is kind

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Q. 13

What does the guest sometimes do instead of feeding the cat?

Yells at the cat

Offers water

Strokes the cat

Hugs the cat

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Q. 14

Which trait is NOT mentioned about cats in the passage?

Fast runner

Acrobat

Athlete

Grim fighter

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Q. 15

What activity does the cat use to pass the time?

Chasing dogs

Watching a mouse-hole

Climbing trees

Hiding

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Q. 16

What is one reason the guest might have the best food?

The guest is likely to offer the best food

The guest is respected

The guest is wealthy

The guest is the eldest

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Q. 17

What begins for the cat after the family gathers round the fire?

His naptime

His hunting time

His true life

His lazy afternoon

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Q. 18

When does the cat reveal its true nature?

As the evening falls

In the morning

At noon

At midnight

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Q. 19

How does the cat show its desire for food at tea?

It runs to the kitchen

It scratches the table

It purrs and rubs against legs

It meows loudly

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Q. 20

What does the cat do when the family sits down to tea?

It hides

It chases mice

It puts in an appearance

It sleeps

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Q. 21

How does the cat react when it tires of being stroked?

It rubs its face

It purrs happily

It puts up its claw and rakes the guest’s leg

It runs away

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Q. 22

What does the guest exclaim after being scratched by the cat?

"Help!"

"Ouch!"

"Stop!"

"Ow!"

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Q. 23

What overall theme is reflected in the passage?

Cats are merely lazy animals

Cats are unreliable pets

Cats are full of hidden wit and character

Cats are dangerous

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Q. 24

How is the cat’s movement on the shed described?

Clumsy and slow

Heavy and tired

Erratic and jerky

Lithe and pantherlike

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Q. 25

What does the cat's interaction with the guest reveal?

It reveals the cat’s hidden strength

It reveals the cat’s annoyance

It reveals the cat’s demand for food

It reveals the cat’s playful nature

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Q. 26

What privilege does the cat give to the new tenants?

To feed him free food

To keep him as a pet

To play with him

To board him while he enjoys life his own way

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Q. 27

What overall impression does the passage give about the cat?

The cat is fearful

The cat is lazy

The cat is clever and independent

The cat is annoying

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Q. 28

What does the cat do after stretching?

Starts to eat

Calls out to his kindred

Sleeps again

Hides from enemies

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Q. 29

What does the guest dare not do despite his frustration?

Ignore the cat

Kick the cat out of the window

Feed the cat

Hug the cat

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Q. 30

Where does the cat trot and skip after the fence?

To the neighbor's yard

Back to the house

Into the garden

To the roof of an empty shed

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Q. 31

How does the cat receive the fish from the guest?

It runs away with it

It eagerly grabs it

It gingerly receives it

It refuses it

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Q. 32

What does the cat do after receiving the fish?

Runs to the guest

Purrs and retires to a safe distance from the guest's boot

Eats it immediately

Calls for more food

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Q. 33

How does the cat spend its day at home?

Loafs around the house

Hunts outside

Plays with toys

Sleeps all day

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Q. 34

When the family moves, what will the cat do if allowed?

Stay at the old house and attach to the new tenants

Hide and wait for his chance

Follow the family everywhere

Run away to a new place

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Q. 35

What does the passage suggest about the cat’s life compared to ours?

It is boring

It is just the same

It is more satisfying and adventurous

It is less exciting

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Q. 36

What idea do people have about a cat's life?

It is dangerous

It is adventurous

It is exciting

It is boring

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Q. 37

Why does the cat not like to leave his country?

He dislikes change

He is too lazy to travel

He loves the land where his friends and landmarks are

He fears new places

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Q. 38

Which phrase best describes the cat's character?

More character than most humans

Less character than animals

Indifferent

Overly aggressive

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Q. 39

How are suburban backyards described for the cats?

Dull and uninteresting

Hunting grounds for gallant adventures

Dangerous and noisy

Safe but boring

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Q. 40

For how long does the cat sometimes watch a mouse-hole?

One or two hours

Never

The whole day

A few minutes

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Q. 41

Where do older cats go for their sports?

To indoor arenas

To suburban backyards

To city parks

To the countryside

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Q. 42

How does the cat’s life compare to many people’s lives?

Less interesting

More satisfying

Ordinary

Lonely

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Q. 43

What do people believe cats care for?

Mice and milk

People and pets

Birds and fish

Toys and games

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Q. 44

Why does the cat stretch himself a few times?

To wake up

To attract attention

To check if every muscle is in full working order

To show off his body

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Q. 45

What common perception is held about cats?

They are playful

They are loyal

They are unintelligent

They are clever

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Q. 46

How does the cat observe his surroundings on the roof?

By sleeping

By looking keenly from side to side

By hiding behind boxes

By meowing loudly

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Q. 47

What does the cat do differently than people assume?

Shows more character and satisfaction

Always remains lazy

Only sleeps

Always hunts

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Q. 48

What is observed about the cat in the evening?

You see the cat as it really is

The cat sleeps

The cat hides

The cat becomes aggressive

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Q. 49

How do the cat’s kindred arrive?

Running chaotically

Gliding, graceful shadows

Shouting loudly

Crawling slowly

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Q. 50

What phrase does the guest use while stroking the cat?

"Come here"

"Hello kitty"

"Good boy"

"Poor pussy! Poor pussy!"

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Q. 51

How are the cat’s kindred described compared to before?

They are more aggressive

They are no longer meek and were once mewing for fish and milk

They are tired and weak

They remain meek creatures

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Q. 52

What does the cat's look convey when receiving the fish?

"Thank you very much"

"Another time, my friend, you won’t be so slow to understand"

"I want more"

"I love this food"

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Q. 53

What does the cat do when the family finishes tea and gathers round the fire?

Jumps on the table

Stays in the room

Casually goes out of the room

Sleeps immediately

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Q. 54

What does the cat get out of life?

More satisfaction

Less satisfaction

Equal satisfaction

No satisfaction

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Q. 55

What does the passage say about the cat's character?

It is deeper than most humans'

It is simple

It is shallow

It is mean

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Q. 56

What does the cat do at the fence?

Climbs it slowly

Springs to the top

Sits beside it

Scratches it

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Q. 57

How does the cat move in his own backyard?

Runs quickly

Saunters slowly

Stalks silently

Skips aimlessly

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Q. 58

How does the family react to the cat’s actions toward the guest?

They are delighted and remark on its sweetness

They scold the cat

They ignore it

They ask the guest to leave

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Q. 59

How does a cat compare to most human beings?

Is more aggressive

Is less interesting

Is similar

Has more character

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Q. 60

What do most people think about cats?

Aggressive animals

Very smart

Loyal companions

Unintelligent and lazy

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Q. 61

How does the guest express his frustration?

He acts amused with tears of rage and pain

He cries loudly

He laughs

He shouts

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Q. 62

What would the cat have to do if exiled to a new land?

Learn a new geography

Adapt his hunting skills

Fight for territory

Make new friends

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The Cat

Key Topics & Concepts

1.Author & Text Context for WBBSE Class 10 Exam Preparation

2.Cat Behavior with Specific Details: Daytime vs Evening Nature

3.Character Analysis: Domestic Cat vs Wild Cat for Exam

4.Literary Themes & MCQ Topics: Independence, Duality, Nature

Related Topics

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Fable

The Passing Away Of Bapu

My Own True Family

The Snail

The Ship Of The Desert

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