The Tale of Custard the Dragon Class 10 MCQ Quiz – Test Your Knowledge

“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”

The extract mentions ‘irons’ in dungeons. According to this extract, ‘irons’ is a reference to

“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”

‘He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm. Why has this comparison been used here? Just like the robin catches the worm,

What does the poem suggest about the nature of courage?

What tone is conveyed by the poet's use of words like "belly" and "custard" to describe the dragon?

“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”

Which option lists the quotes that support the ideas in the extract?

1. Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
2. If you’re brave enough to start, you’re strong enough to finish.
3. Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.
4. You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
5. Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong.

What lesson does the poem teach about judging others based on appearances?

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.

A hyperbole is a literary device where the poet/writer/speaker purposely and obviously exaggerates to an extreme.

Choose the option that includes an example of hyperbole, from the extract.

What inference can be made about the poet's attitude towards traditional notions of heroism?

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.

What can you infer from the repetition ‘suddenly, suddenly’ in the above extract?

What does Custard's reaction to the pirate reveal about his character?

“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”

What is the poet’s purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the extract?

Belinda's character represents:

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.

Why has the poet used the word ‘weeck’ to signify the giggling of the mouse?

The poet

“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”

Pick an option that best fits the usage of the word’ trickled’ as used in the extract.

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.

Pick the option with the correct matches for columns A and B.