1. Why did the farmer bring a baby mongoose into the house?
Ans: The farmer had a small son. He wanted to have a pet to give company to his child. So he brought home a baby mongoose to play with the child.

2. Why didn’t the farmer’s wife want to leave the baby alone with the mongoose?
Ans:The farmer’s wife did not trust even her pet mongoose. She did n’t want to leave her son alone with an animal.

3. What was the farmer’s comment on his wife’s fears?
Ans: The farmer understood why his wife was afraid of leaving the baby alone with the mongoose. Therefore, he tried to remove her fear. He said that the mongoose was a friendly animal, as sweet and gentle as their own baby.

4. Why did the farmer’s wife strike the mongoose with her basket?
Ans: The farmer’s wife returned home with a heavy basket. She noticed blood on the face and paws of the mongoose. She had no doubt that the mongoose had killed her son. So in anger she hit the animal with the basket. The poor mongoose died on the spot.

5. Did she repent her hasty action? How does she show her repentance?
Ans: The farmer’s wife saw the snake tom into pieces. Her own son was safely asleep. She realised her mistake. She felt very sorry. She touched the mongoose and cried. She saw the painful result of her hasty action.

I.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.Why did the farmer think of having a pet?
Ans: The farmer loved his only son very much. He wanted the boy to have a companion when he grew up. So he decided to bring home a pet to give his son company.

2.What is in general, the relationship between a mongoose and a snake?
Ans: The two are sworn enemies.

3 .How did the mongoose prove his friendly nature?
Ans: The mongoose saved the life of the farmer’s son from a deadly cobra. He killed the snake. He sacrificed his life. He was killed by the farmer’s wife due to misunderstanding.

4.What was customary for the mongoose?
Ans: The mongoose used to ran to the door to welcome the farmer’s wife when she returned home. He sat outside the house waiting for her. It was customary.

5.What made the farmer’s wife blind with rage?
Ans: The sight of blood on the face and paws of the mongoose made the farmer’s wife mad with anger. She took for granted that the mongoose had killed her son.        .

6.What did the farmer’s wife regret?
Ans: She regretted and repented her hasty action. But it was all too late.

II.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How did the mongoose oblige its master? What was the reward of his ser­vice?
Ans: A farmer lived in a village with his wife and a small son. In order to give company to the child, the farmer brought with him a small mongoose. It became a good friend of the infant. One day the mother went to the market. The child was left in the company of the mongoose. A snake was going to bite the baby. But the mongoose killed it. The mother after she came back home saw blood on the animal’s face. In anger she killed the mongoose. Soon after she discovered how the mongoose had saved the child’s life. She wept bitterly.

2. What made the farmer’s wife first kill the mongoose and then repent soon after?
Ans:  The farmer’s wife had gone to the market. She left the baby to the care of her pet, the friendly mongoose. She came back home and saw blood on the face of the pet. Blind with anger, she killed the mongoose. Soon she discovered that . her baby was all right: the mongoose had killed a snake. And thus saved the baby’s life. She repented and wept. But it was too late.