CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8: Mijbil the Otter NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This chapter focuses on 'Mijbil the Otter', a narrative from CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight). The NCERT Solutions delve into the story of Gavin Maxwell and his pet otter, Mijbil. Students will find detailed answers to questions covering Maxwell's experiment with keeping an otter, his experiences in Basra waiting for his mail, how he acquired Mijbil, and the otter's unique personality and habits. The solutions explain Mijbil's behaviour, particularly its fascination with water and taps, and its eventual naming. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the story, understand character interactions, and prepare effectively for their exams by providing clear, step-by-step explanations.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 10
Subject	First Flight
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter 8

Chapter summary

Chapter 8 of 'First Flight' for Class 10 English, 'Mijbil the Otter', is explored through these NCERT Solutions. The solutions cover comprehension questions about the author's decision to keep an otter, his journey to Basra, the acquisition of Mijbil, and the otter's distinctive traits and actions, such as its love for water and interaction with taps. They provide clear explanations for the events and the significance of Mijbil's presence in the author's life.

Learning outcomes

Understand the narrative of Mijbil the Otter and Gavin Maxwell's experiences.
Analyze the author's motivations for keeping an otter.
Describe the events and challenges faced by Maxwell in Basra.
Identify and explain Mijbil's unique behaviors and personality traits.
Comprehend the significance of Mijbil's naming and its relationship with Maxwell.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Gavin Maxwell's experiment with an otter
Experiences in Basra
Acquiring Mijbil the Otter
Mijbil's personality and habits
Mijbil's interaction with water and taps
Scientific naming of the otter
Author's affection for otters

Important topics

The decision to keep an otter
Mijbil's unique behaviors
The significance of the otter's name
Maxwell's relationship with Mijbil

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Questions and Solutions

Oral Comprehension Check Pg-106

1. What 'experiment' did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

Solution: Maxwell decided to keep an otter as a pet following the death of his dog. He believed that his home, Camusfearna, which was surrounded by water and had the water's edge very close to the door, would be an ideal and suitable location for this unique experiment of living with and studying an otter.

2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there and why?

Solution: Maxwell traveled to Basra with the specific purpose of collecting and responding to his mail that was being sent to him from Europe. He had to wait in Basra for a total of five days because his mail did not arrive as scheduled. Initially, he sent a telegraph to England, but received no response for three days. Subsequently, he had to book an international phone call 24 hours in advance. On the first day he attempted to make the call, the line was not functioning correctly. The second day was a public holiday, and on the third day, there was another technical breakdown. Despite these frustrating delays and complications, his mail finally arrived after a tedious wait of five days.

3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

Solution: Maxwell acquired the otter when he went to his bedroom to read the mail that had finally arrived. There, he noticed two Arab men holding a sack. They presented him with a note from his friend, informing him that the friend had sent him an otter. Yes, Maxwell liked the otter very much. The text indicates his strong affection with the sentence: "It is, in effect, a thraldom to otters, an otter fixation, that I have since found to be shared by most other people, who have ever owned one." This phrase reveals the deep happiness and profound connection he felt towards otters, suggesting an 'obsession' or deep fondness.

4. Why was the otter named "Maxwell's Otter"?

Solution: The otter was named "Maxwell's Otter" because it belonged to a species that was previously unknown to the scientific community. Zoologists, upon studying it, eventually gave it the scientific name

Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli

, which translates to Maxwell's otter, thereby honoring Maxwell and acknowledging his connection to the discovery or study of this particular race of otter.

5. In the beginning, the otter was-

aloof and indifferent

friendly

hostile

Solution: In the beginning, the otter was

aloof and indifferent

. This initial behavior suggests that Mijbil was not immediately comfortable or outgoing with Maxwell, maintaining a reserved and detached demeanor.

6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

Solution: When Maxwell first took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter exhibited immense joy and energy. It was seen plunging and rolling enthusiastically in the bathtub, moving rapidly underwater from one end to the other, creating a significant amount of splashing and commotion, comparable to that of a much larger animal like a hippo. Two days after this initial introduction to the bathroom, Mijbil demonstrated remarkable intelligence and curiosity. It managed to escape from the bedroom and made its way back to the bathroom. Upon Maxwell's arrival, he found Mijbil attempting to operate the chromium taps with its paws. In less than a minute, the otter succeeded in turning the tap sufficiently to produce a flow of water, and after a short while, it managed to achieve a full stream.

Common mistakes

Confusing the author's initial intentions with his later feelings towards the otter.
Misinterpreting the reasons for the delay in receiving mail in Basra.
Overlooking the specific details that indicate the author's affection for Mijbil.

Revision tips

Read the chapter thoroughly to understand the sequence of events.
Focus on the descriptions of Mijbil's behavior to understand its character.
Pay attention to the author's feelings and reactions towards Mijbil.
Use the solutions to clarify any doubts about the plot or character development.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the primary reason Maxwell decided to keep an otter?

Q2. Why did Maxwell have to wait for five days in Basra?

Q3. How did Maxwell initially receive the otter?

Q4. Which phrase best describes Maxwell's feelings towards otters, as mentioned in the text?

Q5. What scientific name was given to Maxwell's otter?

Q6. What was Mijbil's most striking behavior in the bathroom?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 8 of CBSE Class 10 First Flight about?

Chapter 8, 'Mijbil the Otter', is about the author Gavin Maxwell's experiences keeping a pet otter named Mijbil. It details how he acquired the otter, its unique behaviors, and his growing affection for it.

Why did Maxwell go to Basra?

Maxwell went to Basra to collect his mail from Europe, which was being sent to the Consulate-General.

How did Maxwell get the otter Mijbil?

Maxwell received Mijbil as a gift from two Arabs in Basra, who brought it to him in a sack.

What was special about Mijbil's behavior?

Mijbil was very fond of water, playing extensively in the bathtub, and remarkably, learned to turn on the water taps by itself.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions in the chapter, helping students understand the story, characters, and events, which aids in exam preparation.

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