Main Idea:-
The story “The Cat” presents a humorous and realistic description of a domestic cat’s life. The author tries to show that people often misunderstand cats and think they are lazy, unintelligent animals that only eat mice and drink milk.
In reality, the cat is much more active and intelligent. During the day, it appears calm and relaxed, lying around the house or watching a mouse-hole. But the cat is actually very alert and energetic. It enjoys observing everything and carefully planning its actions.
When evening comes, the cat becomes more active. It goes outside and behaves like a true hunter. It moves quickly, quietly, and skillfully, almost like a wild animal. The cat is also shown as playful, clever, and sometimes selfish when it wants food from humans.
The story also shows how the cat interacts with people. When the family sits for meals, the cat comes to get food and behaves sweetly, but it is actually clever enough to get what it wants.
Important Word Meaning :-
- Unintelligent → বোকা → foolish, stupid
- Fond of → অনুরাগী → loving, liking
- Ease → আরাম → comfort, relaxation
- Character → স্বভাব → nature, personality
- Satisfaction → তৃপ্তি → pleasure, happiness
- Athlete → ক্রীড়াবিদ → player, sportsperson
- Acrobat → কসরতবাজ → gymnast, performer
- Grim → কঠোর → serious, stern
- Fighter → যোদ্ধা → warrior, combatant
- Loafs about → অলসভাবে ঘোরা → idles, lounges
- Pestered → বিরক্ত → annoyed, bothered
- Attentions → মনোযোগ → care, notice
- Mouse-hole → গর্ত → burrow, tunnel
- Boredom → একঘেয়েমি → dullness, monotony
- Shades of evening → সন্ধ্যা → dusk, twilight
- Really is → আসলে → actually, truly
- Puts in an appearance → উপস্থিত হয় → appears, arrives
- Share → অংশ → portion, part
- Purrs noisily → গরগর শব্দ করে → murmurs
- Rubs against → গা ঘষে → brushes, presses
- Particularly → বিশেষভাবে → especially, specifically
- Civil → ভদ্র → polite, courteous
- Likely → সম্ভাব্য → probable, expected
- Offered → দেওয়া হয়েছে → presented, given
- Stoops down → নিচু হয় → bends, crouches
- Strokes → আদর করে → pets, caresses
- Poor pussy → বেচারা বিড়াল → helpless cat
- Tires of → বিরক্ত হয় → gets bored, weary
- Claw → নখর → talon, nail
- Quietly → শান্তভাবে → silently, calmly
- Firmly → দৃঢ়ভাবে → strongly, steadily
- Rakes → আঁচড়ায় → scratches, scrapes
- Stuck → ঢুকিয়ে দেয় → pierced, pushed
- Delighted → আনন্দিত → happy, pleased
- Remarks → মন্তব্য → comments
- Intelligent → বুদ্ধিমান → clever, smart
- Dares → সাহস করে → ventures, risks
- Tears of rage → রাগের অশ্রু → fury, anger
- Affects → ভান করে → pretends, feigns
- Amused → আনন্দিত → entertained, pleased
- Sorts out → আলাদা করে → selects, picks
- Gingerly → সাবধানে → cautiously, carefully
- Receives → গ্রহণ করে → accepts, takes
- Retires → সরে যায় → withdraws, moves away
- Safe distance → নিরাপদ দূরত্ব → secure range
- Boot → জুতো → shoe, footwear
- Casually → স্বাভাবিকভাবে → normally
- Saunters → ধীরে হাঁটে → strolls
- Springs → লাফ দেয় → jumps
- Lightly → হালকাভাবে → softly
- Trots → দ্রুত হাঁটে → runs lightly
- Shed → চালাঘর → hut
- Lithe → চটপটে → flexible, active
- Pantherlike → বাঘের মতো → agile, catlike
- Keenly → সতর্কভাবে → sharply
- Noiselessly → শব্দহীনভাবে → silently
- Enemies → শত্রু → foes
- Arches → বাঁকায় → bends
- Claws → নখর → nails
- Bark → ছাল → skin
- Stretches → টান দেয় → extends
- Muscle → পেশী → body strength
- Drooping → ঝুলে পড়া → hanging
- Paws → থাবা → feet
- Kindred → নিজের জাত → relatives
- Gliding → মসৃণভাবে চলা → sliding
- Graceful → সুন্দর ভঙ্গির → elegant
- Shadows → ছায়া → darkness
- Meek → শান্ত → gentle
- Creatures → প্রাণী → animals
- Grim → ভয়ংকর → fierce
- Fighters → যোদ্ধা → warriors
- Suburban → শহরতলির → outer-city
- Dull → বিরক্তিকর → boring
- Hunting grounds → শিকারের জায়গা → field
- Gallant → সাহসী → brave
- Adventure → রোমাঞ্চ → excitement
- Reproach → দোষারোপ → blame
- Naturally → স্বাভাবিকভাবে → of course
- Landmark → চিহ্নিত স্থান → marker
- Exiled → তাড়িয়ে দেওয়া → banished
- Geography → স্থান পরিচয় → area study
- Attach → যুক্ত হওয়া → connect
- Tenants → ভাড়াটিয়া → renters
- Privilege → বিশেষ সুবিধা → right
- Boarding → থাকা-খাওয়ার ব্যবস্থা → lodging
MCQ Answers :-
1. Most people think that the cat is:
✔ B. Unintelligent
2. The cat cares little for anything but mice and:
✔ D. Milk
3. One can see the cat as he really is in the:
✔ D. Evening
4. The cat rubs himself against the legs of the family members and noisily:
✔ A. Purrs
5. With tears of rage and pain in his eyes, the guest affects to be very much:
✔ A. Amused
6. The guest hands down the cat a bit of:
✔ C. Fish
7. The cat saunters down his own:
✔ C. Backyard
8. The cat skips to the roof of an empty:
✔ B. Shed
9. Exiled in a new land, the cat would have to learn new:
✔ D. Geography
10. At tea time the cat appears in order to:
✔ B. Get his share
11. The cat is civil to the:
✔ C. Family members
12. At the cat’s behaviour the family is:
✔ B. Delighted
13. The cat receives the offer of the guest:
✔ C. Gingerly
Fill in the Chart
| Question Part | Answer |
|---|---|
| (a) The guest calls the cat | “Poor pussy! poor pussy” |
| (b) Part of the guest’s body that the cat rakes | Leg |
| (c) The thing from which the cat stays at a safe distance | The guest’s boot |
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| (a) The cat has many enemies | The cat stretches himself a few times and becomes alert |
| (b) The cat stretches himself a few times | The cat becomes active and ready for action |
| (c) The cat knows his friends and every visitor/guest | The cat behaves differently with them and comes for his share (food/attention) |
Fill in the Blanks
- Cat has more character than → most human beings
- Cat watches → mouse-hole
- Cat is pestered by → people of the house
- Cat knows his friends and → visitors/guests
- Cat goes out casually when → family gathers
- Cat casually goes out when → family gathers round fire
True / False
-
- Cat is fond of ease → ❌ False
- Cat is an athlete and fighter → ✔ True
- Cat takes things easily → ✔ True
Split Sentences
| Sentence | Split Answer |
|---|---|
| They postponed their visit as programme was called off | Programme was called off. They postponed their visit. |
| Having fought the battle, he returned victorious | He had fought the battle. He returned victorious. |
| He poured water and drank it | He poured water. He drank it. |
| He was afraid lest he be proved guilty | He was afraid. He might be proved guilty. |
JOINING
| Pair | Answer |
|---|---|
| He is wise. He is brave. | He is wise and brave. |
| My grandfather lives in a big house. It is by river. | My grandfather lives in a big house by the river. |
| I got a new book. I felt happy. | When I got a new book, I felt happy. |
| Muskan is sick. She could not attend. | Being sick, Muskan could not attend. |
🐱 The Cat – Long Questions with Answers :-
1. Describe the real nature of the cat as shown in the poem.
The poem shows that the cat is not an unintelligent or lazy animal as many people think. In reality, it is very clever, active, and independent. During the day, it appears calm and lazy, but in the evening it becomes alert and energetic.
The cat moves silently, climbs fences, and behaves like a skilled hunter. It is also very cautious because it has many enemies. It knows how to protect itself and enjoy freedom. Thus, the poem presents the cat as a smart and mysterious animal with a double nature.
2. How does the cat behave when the family is together?
When the family gathers around the fire or at tea time, the cat comes out casually to get its share of food. It rubs itself against the legs of family members and purrs noisily.
If a guest is present, the cat behaves politely and tries to get food from him. It may even scratch the guest if it is annoyed. The cat is clever enough to understand human behavior and acts accordingly to get what it wants.
3. How is the cat’s life in the evening different from daytime?
During the day, the cat appears lazy and inactive. It often loafs around the house and behaves as if it is doing nothing important. People think it is only interested in food and comfort.
However, in the evening, its real life begins. It becomes active, adventurous, and alert. It moves silently, hunts, and enjoys freedom in the open space. This shows the contrast between its calm daytime behavior and its wild evening life.
4. Why does the cat prefer staying in its own environment?
The cat prefers its own home and surroundings because it knows every landmark and feels safe there. It does not like to be moved to a new place because it would have to learn a new “geography.”
It is attached to its territory and friends. Even if the family moves, the cat may stay behind and attach itself to new people. This shows its strong sense of independence and familiarity with its environment.
5. What message does the poem The Cat give us?
The poem gives the message that animals are often misunderstood by humans. People think cats are lazy and simple, but they are actually intelligent and independent creatures.
It also shows that every living being has its own way of life. The cat enjoys freedom and lives life on its own terms. The poem teaches us to observe nature carefully and respect the true character of animals.
