A Tiger in the Zoo – Class 10 English Chapter 6 Complete Question Answers and Solutions | ASSEB / SEBA
Class 10 English Chapter 6 – A Tiger in the Zoo (Poem) Complete Question Answers and Exam Solutions (ASSEB / SEBA Assam)
The sixth chapter of the Class 10 English ‘First Flight’ textbook, the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ written by Leslie Norris, is a highly important chapter. For the upcoming HSLC 2027 examination, the complete question answers for this poem have been prepared based on the new ASSEB (Assam State School Education Board) syllabus and the latest National Education Policy (NEP) blueprint. This special collection includes Very Short Answers (VSA / MCQ), Short Questions, Long Answers, and literary device analysis, along with a detailed solution of Previous Years’ Board Exam Questions (PYQ). At Ospin Academy, these solutions are provided in a simple, accurate, and completely exam-oriented manner.
This poem beautifully contrasts a tiger in its natural habitat (the jungle) with a tiger imprisoned in a zoo. It captures the agony, helplessness, and quiet rage of a majestic animal deprived of its freedom. It is essential for HSLC candidates to understand the core theme, poetic devices, and significance of this poem. Our Question Bank covers not only the textbook exercises but also includes extra probable board questions and answers to ensure 100% preparation for the students.
What you will learn and get from this chapter:
- Detailed analysis of the poem’s theme, the contrast between captivity and freedom, and the tiger’s emotional state.
- Word meanings, perfect answers for 1-mark objective (VSA), rhyme scheme questions, and 2-3 marks short questions.
- Easy and standard solutions for descriptive questions explaining the deeper meaning of the stanzas.
- Identification and explanation of poetic devices (like personification, metaphor, and imagery).
- Pattern analysis of frequently asked board questions and solutions to the latest MCQ models.
Special Features by Ospin Academy for HSLC 2027 Exam:
- Complete Question Bank prepared based on the latest ASSEB blueprint for HSLC 2027.
- Detailed solutions for the Previous 10 Years’ Questions (PYQ) and 27 Districts Pre-Board Exam Papers (2026).
- 100% accurate, high-quality notes written in simple English for easy memorization.
- Specially designed PDF format for last-minute quick revision before the exams.
- A curated list of 100% common board suggestions and expected questions from this poem.
Ospin Academy offers this specialized course keeping in mind the academic growth of the students. Start your HSLC 2027 preparation now and step towards securing the highest marks in the English subject.
Class 10 English Question Bank ASSEB HSLC 2027 | Complete Chapter-wise Solutions PDF
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Class 10th English
A Tiger in the Zoo
HSLC Board Previous Year MCQs with Answers
1. “The main contrasting idea suggested in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ is that of {2026}
(A) strength and weakness
(B) nature and culture
(C) beasts and mortals
(D) confinement and freedom”
Answer: D
2. “The tiger has velvet like ___ as described in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo.’ {2026}
(A) skin
(B) hair
(C) paws
(D) nose”
Answer: C
3. “From your understanding of the poem, “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris, choose the correct answer from the following options: {2026}
Assertion (A): Some animals that are on the verge of extinction, are becoming endangered.
Reason (R) : Zoo is a place to save and protect such endangered species.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are false.
(B) (A) is false and (R) is true.
(C) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(D) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).”
Answer: C
4. According to the poet Leslie Norris where should the tiger ideally be? [Hint: A Tiger in the Zoo] {2025}
(A) quietly walking in a cage in the zoo.
(B) sleeping in a concrete cell in the zoo.
(C) snarling around the houses at the jungle’s edge.
(D) resting under the sun outside the cage.
Answer: C
5. Read the following statements with reference to A Tiger in the Zoo and choose the correct op-tion. {2025}
Statement 1: Ferocious animals like tigers are a threat to the natural and human world.
Statement 2: Zoo animals become quite placid inside their cage.
(A) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true.
(B) Both Statement 1 and 2 are false.
(C) Statement 1 is true and Statement 2 is false.
(D) Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true.
Answer: D
6. “He stalks in his vivid stripes.” {2024}
Choose the word which is same as the under-lined word.
(A) Bright
(B) Dull
(C) Fades
(D) Vague
Answer: A
7. The captured tiger is stalking in {2023}
(A) the stable
(B) the cage
(C) the zoo
(D) the night street
Answer: B
Common Pre-Board MCQs (2025–26) with Answers
1. Which of the following is false about the tiger in the jungle? {Bajali}
(i) The tiger in the jungle hunts its own
(ii) The tiger in the jungle is not a predator
(iii) The wilderness of the tiger in the jungle is not curtailed
(iv) The tiger in the jungle longs for confinement
(A) (i) and (ii)
(B) (ii) and (iv)
(C) (i) and (iii)
(D) (iii) and (iv)
Answer: B
2. “In his quiet rage” – what does the phrase ‘quiet rage’ symbolise? {Bajali}
(A) Depressed wilderness
(B) Depressed behaviour
(C) Suppressed emotions
(D) Suppressed hunger
Answer: C
3. In the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’, what is the poet trying to say by ‘ignoring visitors’? {Baksa}
(A) Tiger knows his power is restricted.
(B) There is no use of showing rage.
(C) He is less terrifying because of the cage.
(D) All of the above.
Answer: D
4. How does the tiger show his presence to the villagers as described in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’? {Baksa}
(A) By growling
(B) By sitting quietly
(C) By baring teeth and claws
(D) Both (A) and (C)
Answer: D
5. The phrase – “He should be lurking in shadow” conveys which of the following about the Tiger’s natural state? {Barpeta}
(A) His desire for privacy.
(B) His stealth and predatory instincts.
(C) His fear of human beings.
(D) His need for rest.
Answer: B
6. Why is the use of the oxymoron ‘quiet rage’ an effective literacy device in the poem “A tiger in the Zoo”? {Barpeta}
(A) It creates a sense of peacefulness and calm within the zoo.
(B) It shows that the tiger is not truly angry, but rather sad.
(C) It highlights the tiger’s position in captivity and in wild state.
(D) It makes the tiger seem more threatening to the readers.
Answer: C
7. Read the following statements with reference to “A Tiger in the Zoo” and choose the correct option: {Bongaigaon}
Statement I: The Tiger is naturally a proud and strong animal.
Statement II: Its pride and strength are irrelevant in captivity, where movement is limited.
(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are true.
(B) Both Statement I and Statement II are false.
(C) Statement I is true and Statement II is false.
(D) Statement I is false and Statement II is true.
Answer: A
8. Read the following lines and choose the correct option: {Bongaigaon}
“He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.”
Which option explains best why the tiger is described as moving “on pads of velvet quiet, in his quiet rage”?
(A) The tiger is happily playing in the zoo and does not want to disturb the visitors.
(B) The tiger is naturally silent while walking and is satisfied with his life in the cage.
(C) The tiger’s walk is soft and soundless, but inside he is angry and restless because his freedom is taken away.
(D) The tiger is planning to attack the visitors, so he walks quietly to hide his presence.
Answer: C
9. In the poem, “A Tiger in the Zoo” the words’ stalks and ‘sliding’ refer to— {Cachar}
(A) movement of the tiger
(B) emotion of the tiger
(C) helplessness of the tiger
(D) anger of the tiger.
Answer: A
10. In the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ what are your feelings for the tiger in the poem? {Cachar}
(A) Sympathetic
(B) Indifferent
(C) Pitiful
(D) Neglect
Answer: A
11. “He stalks in his vivid stripes… In his quiet rage.” Which word from the extract is the opposite of ‘loud’? {Darrang}
(A) Vivid
(B) rage
(C) velvet
(D) quiet
Answer: D
12. “He stalks in his vivid stripes… In his quiet rage”. Identify the figure of speech used in the phrase ‘quiet rage’ {Darrang}
(A) Oxymoron
(B) Alliteration
(C) Metaphor
(D) Onomatopoeia
Answer: A
13. “In his quiet rage.” The poetic device used here is – {Dhubri}
(A) Smile
(B) Metaphor
(C) Oxymoron
(D) Hyperbole
Answer: C
14. In the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo” Leslie Norris wants freedom for wild animals. Which of the following lines proves this? {Dhubri}
(A) He stalks on his vivid stripes.
(B) He should be snarling around houses.
(C) He hears the last voice at night.
(D) His strength behind bars.
Answer: B
15. Choose the correct rhyming words of the following: cage, grass, cars, edge {Golaghat}
(A) Gaze, brass, years, judge
(B) Chase, last, masters, large
(C) Rage, pass, stars, village
(D) Rage, choose, Mars, Merge
Answer: C
16. What does the poet of ‘The Ball Poem’ mean by “Money is external”? {Golaghat}
(A) Money can buy peace and prosperity.
(B) Money can buy all human emotions.
(C) Money can buy only materialistic things.
(D) Money can buy all the happiness.
Answer: C
17. What does the speaker’s reaction to the boy’s loss of the ball reveal about human nature? {Golaghat}
(A) Humans are resilient and can easily overcome loss.
(B) Humans are indifferent to loss and move on quickly.
(C) Humans are deeply affected by loss and struggle to cope.
(D) Humans are selfish and only care about their own losses.
Answer: C
18. The small boy in ‘The Ball Poem’ is experiencing (Fill in the blanks) {Golaghat}
(A) joy
(B) realization
(C) elation
(D) gladness
Answer: B
19. If the tiger could speak which contain would he likely to express.{Hailakandi}
(A) gratitude
(B) Fear
(C) Loneliness and Frustration
(D) excitment
Answer: C
20. What does the poet mainly want to convey by contrasting the tiger’s life in the zoo with its life in the forest? {Hailakandi}
(A) Captivity takes away the tiger’s freedom and natural instincts
(B) The tiger enjoys human attention in the zoo
(C) The forest is more dangerous than the zoo
(D) The tiger is safer in the zoo than in the forest
Answer: A
21. What describes “a tiger in its natural habitat?”{Hojai}
(A) He is locked in a concrete cell.
(B) His strength behind bars.
(C) Ignoring visitors.
(D) Baring his white fangs, his claws, terrorizing the villagers.
Answer: D
22. What does the tiger do at night?{Hojai}
(A) Listens to the sounds of the patrolling cars.
(B) Stares at the bright stars with his bright eyes.
(C) Both “A” and “B”.
(D) Only “B”
Answer: C
23. What does the phrase “quiet rage” in the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo” suggest about the tiger? {Jorhat}
(A) He is calm and sleepy
(B) He is angry but helpless.
(C) He is friendly.
(D) He is unaware of his condition.
Answer: B
24. Choose the correct rhyming words for the following: Cage, grass, cars, edge {Jorhat}
(A) Rage, loose, Mars, urge
(B) Rage, pass, stars, village
(C) Chase, last, scars, village
(D) Gaze, brass, lockers, pass
Answer: B
25. According to the poet, where should the tiger ideally be? {Kamrup R}
(A) quietly walking in a cage in the zoo.
(B) sleeping in a concrete cell in the zoo.
(C) snarling around the houses at the jungle’s edge.
(D) resting under the sun outside the cage.
Answer: C
26. “He should be lurking in shadow” Here ‘shadow’ refers to the shadow of _____. {Kamrup R}
(A) the tiger
(B) long grass
(C) water hole
(D) plump deer
Answer: B
27. “On pads of velvet quiet In his quiet rage” Choose the correct synonym for the underlined word (rage). {Kamrup R}
(A) cage
(B) bright
(C) punish
(D) anger
Answer: D
28. What is the last ‘voice’ the tiger hears at night? {Kamrup R}
(A) sound of ambulance
(B) sound of fighter planes
(C) sound of patrolling cars
(D) voice of the visitors
Answer: C
29. The main contrasting idea suggested in the poem, “A Tiger in the Zoo” is that of {Kamrup M}
(A) strength and weakness.
(B) nature and culture.
(C) beasts and human beings.
(D) confinement and freedom.
Answer: D
30. Identify the poetic device- “plump deer pass”. (A Tiger in the Zoo).
{Kamrup M}
(A) Alliteration
(B) Personification
(C) Metaphor
(D) Symbolism
Answer: A
31. ‘He stalks in his vivid stripes’ – here ‘vivid stripes’ refer to the -{Kokrajhar}
(A) The poet’s striped wearing
(B) The concrete cell
(C) The tiger with bright stripes
(D) The shadow of the tiger
Answer: C
32. ‘On pads of velvet quiet’ -here ‘pads of velvet’ refer to the- {Kokrajhar}
(A) Skin of the tiger
(B) Paws of the tiger
(C) Tail of the tiger
(D) Neck of the tiger
Answer: B
33. ‘He should be lurking in shadow’ -the tiger was lurking in shadow -{Kokrajhar}
(A) To hide itself from the hunter
(B) To hide its anger
(C) To catch its prey
(D) To take rest
Answer: C
34. Identify the poetic device used in the phrase ‘quiet rage’ in the poem ‘A Tiger in the zoo’. {Lakhimpur}
(A) Metaphor
(B) Simile
(C) Oxymoron
(D) Alliteration
Answer: C
35. What is the poet’s perspective on keeping animals in the zoo as described in the poem ‘A Tiger in the zoo’ by Leslie Norris: {Lakhimpur}
(A) It is beneficial for animals
(B) It is necessary for conservation
(C) It is a form of exploitation
(D) It is a form of entertainment.
Answer: C
36. Statement 1: The tiger shouldn’t be lurking in shadow. {Udalguri}
Statement 2: The tiger shouldn’t be snarling around houses.
Choose the correct option based on A Tiger in the Zoo
(A) Statement 1 is true and Statement 2 is false
(B) Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true
(C) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true
(D) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are false
Answer: C
37. The tiger stares with his brilliant eyes at ______. {Tamulpur}
(A) The sky
(B) The brilliant stars
(C) The moon
(D) The street light.
Answer: B
38. What described “Tiger in a jungle”? (Ref:- “A Tiger in the Zoo”) {SSM}
(A) Locked in concrete cell
(B) His strength behind bars
(C) Baring his white fangs
(D) ignoring visitors.
Answer: C
39. The poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ emphasizes ____ {Sribhumi}
(A) Significance of zoos
(B) Importance of humans
(C) Importance of freedom
(D) Importance of Tigers
Answer: C
40. Choose the correct match {Sonitpur}
i) Rage
ii) Lurking
iii) Plump
iv) Fangs
a) teeth
b) healthy
c) violent anger
d) conceal
(A) i(a), ii(c), iii(d), iv(b)
(B) i(c), ii(d), iii(b), iv(a)
(C) i(c), ii(b), iii(a), iv(d)
(D) i(d), ii(b), iii(c), iv(i)
Answer: B
41. The liteary device used in the sentence “In his quite rage” is {Sonitpur}
(A) alliteration
(B) Oxymoron
(C) Metaphor
(D) Personification
Answer: B
42. “His strength behind bars”
What poetic device is used in the above phrase extracted from “A Tiger in the Zoo”? {Sibsagar}
(A) Assonance.
(B) Consonance.
(C) Repetition.
(D) Alliteration.
Answer: D
43. “He stalks in his vivid stripes”
This extract is from the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo”. The antonyms of the word ‘vivid’ are. {Sibsagar}
i. Vague.
ii. Bright.
iii. Glaring.
iv. Murky
(A) i and ii
(B) ii and iii
(C) i and iv
(D) ii and iv
Answer: C
44. The poet of the poem, ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’, describes the tiger’s appearance while in the jungle as – {Nalbari}
(A) Playful and friendly
(B) Weak and frightened
(C) Lazy and dull
(D) Proud and majestic
Answer: D
45. “He should be snarling around houses At the jungle’s edge,” The rhyming word for the underlined word (“edge”) is : {Nalbari}
(A) Stars
(B) bars
(C) cars
(D) village
Answer: D
46. The contrast between the tiger’s life in the zoo and in the forest highlights : {Nalbari}
(A) Superiority of human control
(B) The safety of captivity
(C) Loss of natural dignity and freedom
(D) Danger of wildlife
Answer: C
47. Name the poetic device used in the line :- ‘Where plump deer pass..’ {Morigaon}
(A) Simile
(B) Metaphor
(C) Alliteration
(D) Oxymoron
Answer: C
48. Identify the literary device used in this line:
“Snarling around houses at the jungles edge.” {Majuli}
(A) Onomatopoeia
(B) Personification
(C) Consonance
(D) Metaphor
Answer: B
49. What does the tiger hear at night? (Hint: A Tiger in the Zoo) {Majuli}
(A) Other animals roaring
(B) The patrolling cars of zoo guards
(C) Visitor talking
(D) People cheering
Answer: B
50 Most Important Model MCQs for HSLC 2027
1. What does the phrase “few steps of his cage” emphasize about the tiger’s current condition?
(A) His laziness and refusal to walk
(B) His majestic and slow walking style
(C) The severe spatial restriction of his captivity
(D) The small size of the tiger himself
Answer: C
2. Why is the tiger’s walk described as being on “pads of velvet quiet”?
(A) He is walking on a luxurious velvet carpet placed in the zoo.
(B) His soft, cushion-like paws allow him to move soundlessly.
(C) He is sneaking up to attack a zoo visitor.
(D) He is wearing artificial pads to protect his feet from the concrete.
Answer: B
3. What does the word “shadow” in the line “He should be lurking in shadow” suggest?
(A) The dark, gloomy atmosphere of his concrete cell
(B) A natural concealment spot used for an ambush
(C) The shadow cast by the patrolling cars
(D) A cool place for the tiger to sleep during the day
Answer: B
4. What kind of environment does the term “concrete cell” evoke in the poem?
(A) A warm and protective sanctuary
(B) An artificial, cold, and prison-like confinement
(C) A spacious and modern zoo facility
(D) A natural rocky cave in the jungle
Answer: B
5. “Baring his white fangs, his claws” Here the word ‘fangs’ means-
(A) Nails
(B) Long, sharp teeth
(C) Spike
(D) Horn
Answer: B
6. Choose the correct options as the most likely reason for the tiger to ignore visitors, in the poem, ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’.
(A) He is scared of their constant stares.
(B) The visitors don’t provide him with any food.
(C) He knows that none would help him out of captivity (from the cage)
(D) The visitors don’t speak to him kindly.
Answer: C
7. He should be snarling around houses. The mean-ing of snarling is.
(A) Watching Closely
(B) Running
(C) Making an angry warming sound
(D) prey
Answer: C
8. What does the tiger do at night?
(A) Listens to the sounds of the patrolling cars.
(B) Stares at the bright star with his bright eyes.
(C) Both (A) and (B)
(D) None of the above
Answer: C
9. Baring his white fangs, his claws-Here the word ‘fangs’ means
(A) Nails
(B) long, sharp teeth
(C) Spike
(D) horn
Answer: B
10. The poem” A Tiger in the Zoo.” Draws a contrast between _____ and _____.
(A) Animals, human beings.
(B) A tiger in a Zoo, A tiger in a forest.
(C) Tiger in a circus tiger in a jungle.
(D) Tiger in a house, tiger in jail.
Answer: B
11. According to Leslie Norris a tiger in a zoo has eyes which are
(A) Ferocious
(B) Shining
(C) Brilliant
(D) Sharp
Answer: C
12. Choose the appropriate word that rhymes with the word ‘cage’
(A) Face
(B) Houses
(C) Rage
(D) Pale
Answer: C
13. He is locked in a concrete cell. How does the tiger behave in the concrete cell?
(A) He is afraid of the visitors.
(B) He is in quiet rage.
(C) He is in great terror.
(D) He terrorises the village.
Answer: B
14. What shifts in setting occur in the structure of the poem?
(A) Zoo → Jungle → Jungle → Zoo → Zoo
(B) Jungle → Zoo → Jungle → Zoo → Jungle
(C) Zoo → Zoo → Jungle → Jungle → Zoo
(D) Jungle → Jungle → Zoo → Zoo → Zoo
Answer: A
15. What does the tiger’s “quietness” in the cage primarily indicate?
(A) He has lost his ability to roar.
(B) He is naturally a very peaceful and silent animal.
(C) He realizes that roaring and showing anger are completely futile in a cage.
(D) He is trying to sleep.
Answer: C
16. “He hears the last voice at night” implies that:
(A) The tiger enjoys listening to human conversations.
(B) The tiger is denied peace and quiet even during the late hours of the night.
(C) The tiger is waiting for his zookeeper to say goodnight.
(D) The tiger is communicating with other animals.
Answer: B
17. What does the tiger do instead of roaring at the visitors?
(A) He begs them for food.
(B) He ignores them and paces the length of his cage.
(C) He tries to break the glass of his enclosure.
(D) He hides in the corner of his cell.
Answer: B
18. In the wild, the tiger’s “white fangs” and “claws” are symbols of:
(A) His old age
(B) His dominance and natural ferocity
(C) His need for dental care
(D) His playful nature
Answer: B
19. What physical barrier restricts the tiger from showing his true rage?
(A) The long grass
(B) The water hole
(C) The bars of his cage
(D) The darkness of the night
Answer: C
20. The “water hole” in the poem represents:
(A) A place where the tiger goes to bathe
(B) A natural gathering place in the jungle where hunting traditionally occurs
(C) A man-made pond inside the zoo
(D) A place where village cattle drink
Answer: B
21. The phrase “Vivid stripes” primarily appeals to which of the reader’s senses?
(A) Hearing
(B) Touch
(C) Smell
(D) Sight
Answer: D
22. How does the captive tiger measure the boundaries of his world?
(A) By looking at the stars
(B) By listening to the cars
(C) By pacing the few steps of his cage
(D) By counting the visitors
Answer: C
23. What does the phrase “jungle’s edge” signify?
(A) The center of the dense forest
(B) The boundary where the natural wilderness meets human settlement
(C) A cliff in the mountains
(D) The end of the world
Answer: B
24. In the poem, human beings are implicitly represented as:
(A) Protectors and friends of nature
(B) Captors and passive, insensitive spectators
(C) Prey for the tiger
(D) Guardians of the stars
Answer: B
25. The tiger’s “brilliant eyes” contrast sharply with:
(A) The bright stars
(B) His vivid stripes
(C) The dullness and despair of his concrete cell
(D) The white fangs
Answer: C
26. Why is the tiger ‘sliding’ rather than running rapidly through the grass?
(A) He is injured.
(B) He is trying to avoid detection by the deer.
(C) The grass is too slippery.
(D) He is too tired to run.
Answer: B
27. What does the term “cell” usually associate with, further emphasizing the tiger’s tragic condition?
(A) A biological organism
(B) A prison meant for criminals
(C) A honeycomb
(D) A luxurious hotel room
Answer: B
28. If the tiger were in the jungle, his attitude towards humans (the villagers) would be:
(A) Submissive and fearful
(B) Intimidating and commanding
(C) Friendly and curious
(D) Completely indifferent
Answer: B
29. The phrase “length of his cage” implies that the tiger:
(A) Is measuring the cage to escape
(B) Has plenty of room to run
(C) Is mechanically pacing out of sheer boredom and frustration
(D) Is showing off his size to the visitors
Answer: C
30. The overarching theme of the poem implies that zoos:
(A) Are the best places to protect endangered species
(B) Cruelly strip magnificent wild animals of their natural dignity and freedom
(C) Help animals become friendly with humans
(D) Are educational and fun for animals
Answer: B
31. The word ‘bare’ in “baring his white fangs” means:
(A) To cover up
(B) To paint white
(C) To uncover or expose as a threat
(D) To clean thoroughly
Answer: C
32. Which word in the poem specifically suggests a feeling of being hidden while waiting to ambush?
(A) Stalks
(B) Lurking
(C) Ignoring
(D) Patrolling
Answer: B
33. The ‘stars’ in the final stanza symbolically represent:
(A) The zookeepers watching him from above
(B) The flashlights of the visitors
(C) The unreachable, free, and infinite natural world
(D) The reflections of the tiger’s eyes on the glass
Answer: C
34. What is the rhyme scheme of the first stanza (stripes, cage, quiet, rage)?
(A) aabb
(B) abab
(C) abcb
(D) abba
Answer: C
35. The overarching mood of the stanzas set in the zoo is:
(A) Joyful and exciting
(B) Melancholic and claustrophobic
(C) Aggressive and violent
(D) Peaceful and sleepy
Answer: B
36. Assertion (A): The tiger completely ignores the visitors who come to the zoo.
Reason (R): He knows that displaying his ferocity behind the iron bars is useless and they will not set him free.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
37. Assertion (A): The tiger is pacing rapidly and violently crashing into the walls of the cage.
Reason (R): He is desperate to break the concrete cell and return to the jungle.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: D
38. Assertion (A): The tiger is described as having “brilliant eyes” in the final stanza.
Reason (R): He is temporarily blinded by the bright headlights of the patrolling cars.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: C
39. Assertion (A): In his natural habitat, the tiger hides in the long grass near a water hole.
Reason (R): He waits there patiently to ambush plump deer that come to drink water.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
40. Assertion (A): The tiger terrorizes the villagers by jumping over fences and attacking their domestic animals.
Reason (R): He bares his white fangs and his claws at the jungle’s edge to establish his dominance.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: D
41. Assertion (A): The tiger’s rage inside the cage is described as “quiet.”
Reason (R): The tiger is naturally a very calm, peaceful, and submissive animal.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: C
42. Assertion (A): The poet uses the phrase “concrete cell” to describe the tiger’s enclosure.
Reason (R): It highlights the unnatural, harsh, and prison-like environment forced upon the magnificent wild beast.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
43. Assertion (A): The tiger roars loudly at the patrolling cars to scare them away at night.
Reason (R): The sound of the patrolling cars is the last voice the captive tiger hears at night.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: D
44. Assertion (A): The poem continuously shifts its setting between the zoo and the jungle.
Reason (R): This structural shift creates a sharp, tragic contrast between the tiger’s current captivity and his rightful freedom.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
45. Assertion (A): The tiger’s immense strength is locked securely behind bars.
Reason (R): He cannot use his physical power to hunt, roam freely, or establish his territory.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
46. How does the poet use the transition from the first to the second stanza to evoke a deep sense of sympathy for the tiger?
(A) By showing how much happier the tiger is in the zoo compared to the dangerous forest.
(B) By immediately contrasting his current claustrophobic, restricted reality with his expansive, instinct-driven potential in the wild.
(C) By proving that tigers are too dangerous to be left in the jungle.
(D) By suggesting that the zoo provides better food than the jungle.
Answer: B
47. The juxtaposition of the “patrolling cars” and the “brilliant stars” in the final stanza primarily serves to highlight:
(A) The clash between the artificial, restrictive human world and the infinite, majestic natural world.
(B) The fact that the zoo is located in the middle of a busy city.
(C) The tiger’s fascination with human technology.
(D) The similarity between the headlights of a car and the stars in the sky.
Answer: A
48. Why does the poet intentionally use the word “stalks” both for the tiger pacing in the cage and the tiger hunting in the wild?
(A) Because the tiger is pretending to be in the jungle.
(B) To suggest that while his environment has drastically changed, his innate predatory nature remains fundamentally intact, though frustrated.
(C) Because the zoo cage is exactly the same size as his hunting ground.
(D) To show that the tiger is hunting the visitors.
Answer: B
49. The phrase “Baring his white fangs, his claws” relies on vivid visual imagery to establish what specific emotional response in the reader?
(A) Pity for his lack of food
(B) Amusement at his facial expressions
(C) A primal sense of fear and respect for his untamed, natural dominance
(D) Confusion about his dental health
Answer: C
50. If the poem were analyzed from the perspective of an ignorant zoo visitor, how would the tiger’s “quiet rage” most likely be misinterpreted?
(A) As him preparing to perform a circus trick.
(B) As mere laziness, docility, or submission, completely failing to recognize the intense psychological torment of captivity.
(C) As a sign of physical illness requiring veterinary care.
(D) As him trying to communicate with other animals in the zoo.
Answer: B
SEBA HSLC Previous Year Questions (1/2/3 Marks)
“He hear the last _______night.
The patrolling________.” (Hint: A Tiger in the Zoo)
2. Explain the expression ‘Quiet rage’ in the context of the poem ‘A tiger in the Zoo’. {2023}
3. Where should the tiger be snarling around and how should it be terrorising the villagers? {2022}
4. What is meant by ‘quiet rage’? {2022}
5. What would the tiger have done if he were in his natural habitat, the forest? {2020}
6. Choose the meaning of the underlined words from the alternatives given in the brackets: {2019}
(a) In his quiet rage. (noisy/silent/worst)
(b) At the jungle’s edge. (border/side/centre)
Common Pre-Board 2 Mark Questions (2025–26)
1. Explain the expression “quiet rage” in the context of the poem “A tiger in the Zoo.” {Barpeta}
2. Remember the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo” and fill in the blanks: {Bongaigaon}
“But he’s locked in a ________ / His strength behind ________.”
3. Why does the tiger express his rage quietly? {Cachar}
4. What does the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ reveal about the effects of captivity on wild animals? {Charaideo}
5. Why does the tiger express his anger quietly in the poem ‘The Tiger in the Zoo’? {Darrang}
6. How does a tiger behave when it is locked in a cage of a zoo? Explain with reference the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo.” {Dhubri}
7. How according to the poet of “A Tiger in the Zoo”, does the caged tiger react to the visitors? {Golaghat}
8. Explain how the poet contrasts the life of the tiger in the zoo with that of the tiger in the forest in the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris.{Hailakandi}
9. How does the tiger terrorise the village? {Kamrup R}
10. “He stalks in his vivid stripes / The few steps of his cage, / On pads of velvet quiet, / In his quiet rage.” Why is the tiger’s rage described as ‘quiet’? How does the poet show that the tiger’s anger is suppressed? {Lakhimpur}
11. According to the poet, where should the tiger be if he was not inside the cage? {Udalguri}
12. Why does the tiger ignore the visitors? {Tamulpur}
13. How does the tiger in the jungle terrorize the villagers? {SSM}
14. “On pads of velvet quiet In his quiet rage.” Explain the underlined phrase with reference to ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’. {Sribhumi}
15. What does the poet of the poem, ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ suggest about the tiger’s natural habitat? {Nalbari}
16. “And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars.” – explain. {Majuli}
