Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Poem Questions and Answers & MCQs
Read the extracts given below and the following questions:
Question 1.
“We must find him or the train can’t start”
a. Where is the above line taken from? Name the poet and the book from which it is taken?
b. Who is “him” referred to?Who is “are “referred to?
c. What train can’t start? When was it about to start? Why can’t it not start?
d. How are all the people present ther reacting, due to the absence of’ him?” Where was “him” found at last?
Answer:
a. The above line has been taken from “Skimbleshanks- The Railway Cat.” The name of the poet is T. S. Eliot. It is taken from the book “OLD POSSDUM”S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS”
b. ’’Him “is referred to skimbleshanks the railway cat. “We” is referred to the guards, driver, passengers, stationmaster’s daughters and all the other people who are present in the railway station.
c. The Night Mail train can’t start, It is about to start at 11:42. It is in charge of Skimbleshanks. Unless the cat comes and says that the signal is all clear, the train will not be able to leave the station.
d. A whisper could be heard down the line at 11:39, when the Night Mail train is ready to depart. Skimbleshanks is in-charge of this train. It is under his supervision, the train departs from the station. He is the manager, who looks to every small details of the train.
So since Skimbleshanks is not present, so the people are discussing about him as to where is he, whether he has gone to hunt the thimble. The guard, the porters and the stationmaster’s daughtersare all searching him everywhere in the station. Skimbleshanks is lastly found strolling to the rear. He has been busy in the luggage van.
Question 2.
“He will supervise them all, more or less”
a. Who is “he” referred to and who is “them all” referred to?
b. What does “he” does all after this? Mention at least two things that he does?
c. How is the atmosphere described in the last of this stanza from where the above line is taken?Why do you think to be the atmosphere like that?
d. Describe in short, what do you think of this “he” in the above line?
Answer:
a. “He” in the above line refers to Skimbleshanks the railway cat who is in-charge of the Night Mail train. “Them all” is referred to the driver, the guards and the bagmen.
b. Skimbleshanks moves down the corridor of the train and examines the faces of all the travellers in the first and the third class compartments .Then he establishes contol by regular patrolling and he is so keen that he knows if anything has occurred.
c. All the passengers are quiet and calm. Skimbleshanks watches the passengers so minutely that he is able to see or say what the passengers are thinking. He never approves of any riot or even amusements. So it is quite obvious that the passengers will remain silent and calm and therefore nothing can go wrong in the Night Mail train.
d. Skimbleshanks is a railway cat. He is in-charge of the Night Mail train. He supervises and manages everything related to the train. The train can’t start unless Skimbleshanks gives green signal to it. He is dutiful, meticulous and perfect in his work.
He supervises the guard, the porters and the driver. He looks after each and every details of the passengers. He is diligent. He is also strict as he does not approve any riot and so nothing goes wrong and one can’t play pranks on him.
Question 3.
“Oh,its very pleasant when you have found your little den”
a. What does the word “little den” mean?
b. Why do you think its very pleasant when you have found your little den?
c. What else do they find on their little den? Explain all the things found there in details?
Answer:
a. “Little den” is referred to the cabin of the Night Mail train where the passengers stay and sleep at night while travelling.
b. When the passengers find their names written up on the door, they find it very pleasant as they don’t have to search for their names everywhere.
c. When the passengers come in the cabin, they find their berths to be neat and clean, with newly folded covers. The floor of the cabin is also very neat with no speck of dust. There are lights of every sorts that can be adjusted. They can be made dark and bright The fans there are with handles that can be turned for breeze. There are also basins for the passengers to wash their faces.
If the passengers get cold, they can shut the windows with the help of a handle. Again in the morning the passengers get preferences of having strong or weak tea as the guard comes and asks them politely. Skimbleshanks stands behind the guard to see to it. The passengers also don’t get bothered by mice which are caught by Skimbleshanks.
Question 4.
“Then the guard looks in politely and will ask youn very brightly”
a. What does the guard ask and to whom?
b. Who stands behind the guard and why?
c. What else does he do in the end of the stanza?
d. How does he remain fresh and bright even at night?
Answer:
a. The guard asks the passengers their preference of tea whether they will have strong or weak tea.
b. Skimbleshanks is seen standing behind the guard as if to remind the guard of his duty to be performed correctly. Skimbleshanks is present in the cabin, so nothing can go wrong. When the passengers creep into “their cosy berths and pull up their covers, there is Skimbleshanks present to see that they don’t get disturbed by mice. So everything can be left on the Railway Cat, Skimbleshanks.
c. It is the duty of the railwar cat Skimbleshanks to keep a watch on the train at night.When the train reaches different stations, the cat is found awake while the passengers asleep. To keep himself awake at night and also to keep him fresh and bright he has a cup of tea mixed with a drop of scotch whisky, every now and then. Therefore he can keep vigilance strong at night.
Question 5.
“Only stopping here and there to catch a flea”
a. Who stops here and there and why?
b. What does he do in Crewe station?
c. What does he do in Carlisle and Dumfries?
d. Where does he bid goodbye to the passengers and how?
Answer:
a. Skimbleshanks the railway cat, stops here and there while wandering, to catch a flea.
b. In the Crewe station he walks up and down and only stops to catch a flea.
c. At Carlisle Skimbleshanks is found to be walking out and greeting the stationmaster. At Dumfries he talks to the police to ensure whether everything is alright.
d. Skimbleshanks bids goodbye to the passengers at Gallowgate station. He waves the passengers with his long brown tail saying that “I’ll see you again.”
Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Poem MCQs
Question 1.
When is there a whisper down the line? It is at …………
a. 11:42
b. 11:30
c. 11:39
d. 11:50
Answer:
b. 11:30
Question 2.
Skimbleshanks has been busy where?
a. in the rear.
b. in the station.
c. in the corridor.
d. in the luggage van.
Answer:
d. in the luggage van.
Question 3.
Skimbleshanks gives one of his …………
a. glass-green eyes.
b. glass-blue eyes.
c. glass-black eyes.
d. glass-brown eyes
Answer:
a. glass-green eyes.
Question 4.
The train was off for …………
a. the southern part of the Southern Hemisphere
b. southern part of the Northern Hemisphere
c. northern part of the Southern Hemisphere
d. northern part of the Northern Hemisphere
Answer:
d. northern part of the Northern Hemisphere
Question 5.
He will supervise them all, more or less …………
a. from the stationmaster to the guards
b. from the driver to the guards to the bagman
c. from the driver to the stationmaster
d. from the guards to the bagman
Answer:
b. from the driver to the guards to the bagman
Question 6.
SKimbleshanks the Railway Cat can be said …………
a. unstrict and oerfectionist
b. kind and strict
e. diligent and strict
d. strict, diligent and perfectionist
Answer:
d. strict, diligent and perfectionist
Question 7.
“Little den” in the poem refers to …………
a. The corridor of the train
b. The berth of the train
c. The cabin of the trains
d. The window of the train
Answer:
c. The cabin of the trains
Question 8.
‘Crank’ in the poem means …………
a. door
b. handle
c. window
d. seat
Answer:
b. handle
Question 9.
The two living creatures mentioned in the poem that could disturb the passengers in the train are ………
a. cociroach and flies
b. flies and ants
c. fleas and mice
d. ants and mice
Answer:
c. fleas and mice
Question 10.
Skimbleshanks is seen walking up and down the station of …………
a. Crewe
b. Gallowgate
c. Dumfries
d. Carlisle
Answer:
a. Crewe
Question 11.
Skimbleshanks walks dovn the corridor and examines the faces of the travellers in the ………..
a. second and the third class compartments
b. First and the second class compartments
c. First and the third class compartments
d. First, second and third class compartments
Answer:
c. First and the third class compartments
Question 12.
Skimbleshanks is seen greeting the stationmastcr in high spirit at ………..
a. Gallowgate
b. Dumfries
c. Crewe
d. Carlisle
Answer:
d. Carlisle
Question 13.
Skimbleshanks speaks to the police at the station of ………..
a. Carlisle
b. Dumfries
c. Gallowgate
d. Crewe
Answer:
d. Crewe
Question 14.
In the morning Skimble is seen to be standing ………..
a. behind the guard
b. beside the guard
c. in front of the guard
d. near the guard
Answer:
a. behind the guard
Question 15.
Whom are all searching for the train to depart?
a. the stationmaster
b. the porters
c. the bagmen
d. Skimbleshanks
Answer:
d. Skimbleshanks
Question 16.
Which word describes the cat the most?
a. unkind
b. careless
c. meticulous
d. none of the above
Answer:
c. meticulous
Question 17.
How doe Skimbleshanks establish control over the train?
a. by examining all the people thoroughly
b. by not allowing anyone to move out of their seat
c. by patrolling regularly in all the compartments
d. by searching the belongings of the passengers thoroughly
Answer:
c. by patrolling regularly in all the compartments
Question 18.
What does Skimble do in the Carlisle station?
a. he walks up and down the station
b. he catches the fleas
c. he summons the police
d. he greets the stationmaster
Answer:
d. he greets the stationmaster
Question 19.
In which station does Skimbleshanks bid goodbye?
a. Dumfries
b. Carlisle
c. Crewe
d. Gallowgate
Answer:
d. Gallowgate
Question 20.
Skimbleshanks bid goodbye by waving
a. his hands
b. his long bushy tail
c. his brown tail
d. his long brown tail
Answer:
d. his long brown tail