About the Author:
Gerald Malcolm Durrell (1925- 1995) was an English zookeeper, conservationist and author. He founded what is now called the ‘Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’ and the ‘Jersey Zoo’ (now ‘Durrell Wildlife Park’) on the channel Island of Jersey, in 1958. He is perhaps best remembered for writing a number of books based on his life as an animal enthusiast.
Gerald Durrell was an English zookeeper and he devoted his whole life for the sake of animals. He founded his own zoo, ‘Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’ and the ‘Jersey Zoo’. So his experience related to the animals of the zoo must be different from a mere visitor’s experience.
About the Story:
The passage given in this lesson is an extract from ‘Menagerie Manor’ by Gerald Durrell, where the author talks about how he set up his own zoo in Jersey, helped by a team dedicated to the cause of the animals. ‘A Day in the Zoo‘ is a simple narration of the writer’s experience inside the zoo. This is something different. The extract describes a typical day in the zoo and the experience of the zoo- workers, and offers us an interesting insider’s view of the zoo.
Important suggestion:
Short Questions and Answers
1) How does the sky look as one is awakened by the birdsong?
Ans- As one is awakened by the birdsong the sky looks slightly tinged with yellow.
2) What do all the animals do at the start of a new day?
Ans- At the start of a new day, all the animals bustle about the cages.
3) At the light fades, where does the robin fly off to?
Ans- As the light fades, the robin flies off to roost in the mimosa tree.
4) How do the parrots and parakeets salute the people?
Ans- Parrots and parakeets salute the people with a cacophony of sounds.
5) What do the peahens do in the early morning?
Ans- on the velvet green lawns peahens search something in the dewy grass.
6) Who live in the two-storied granite house?
Ans- Monkeys and other mammals like gorillas, apes live in the two-storied granite house.
7) To whom are the elated gorillas compared?
Ans- The elated gorillas are compared to the children just out of school.
8) What does Stephen do?
Ans- Stephen stands guard over the apes with a broom in hand.
9) Who live in the upstairs of the granite house?
Ans- Parrots, parakeets, mongooses, touracos and armadillo live in the upstairs of the granite house.
10) What does the armadillo do?
Ans- The armadillo lies on its back, twitching it’s paws and nose.
Also read: “TOM LOSES A TOOTH” by Mark Twain | Short Questions and Answers (S.A.Q) Class – 9
11) What does Suku intended to say?
Ans- Suku intended to say that he is a very fine bird.
12) Why everyone has to be alert?
Ans- Everyone has to be alert to make sure that people do not hurt the animals.
13) What do the visitors do to make a sleeping animal move?
Ans- To make a sleeping animal move the visitors throw stones at it or prod it with sticks.
14) What does the white-faced owl do throughout the day?
Ans- Throughout the day the white-faced owl pretends to be a grey tree stump.
15) What work do Jeremy and Mike do in the gorilla’s cages?
Ans- Jeremy and Mike clean the cages of gorillas. They sweep up the mess on the floor of the cages. They then scatter fresh white sawdust.
16) What would one see and hear while lying in bed at night?
Ans- While lying in bed one can see through the windows the moon separating itself from the shadows of the trees. One can also hear lions cough.
17) What is the difference between a normal visitor of a zoo and one who lives in the zoo?
Ans- A normal visitor in a zoo observes the animals in visiting hours only. But one who lives in the zoo may observe them Amy time.
18) What is commonly seen in the zoo early in the morning?
Ans- In the early morning different types of activities start in the zoo. Birds and animals start to sing and cry. Zoo staff start their busy activities.
19) What is special about the parrots and parakeets?
Ans- The parrots and parakeets salute everyone with a cacophony of sounds. Suku, the grey parrot cries, ” I’m a very fine bird.”
20) What do some of the visitors try to do in a zoo?
Ans- Some of the visitors try to give the chimpanzees lighted cigarettes and razor blades. Thus they behave in an uncivilized way.
21) Name the birds mentioned in ‘A Day in the Zoo ‘ by Gerald Durrell.
Ans- The birds mentioned in ‘A Day in the Zoo’ are as follows: the robbin, the touracos, the blackbird, the white-headed thrush, the peahen, the peacock, the parrot, the parakeet, and the owl.
22) When evening comes what happens in the chimpanzee’s bedroom?
Ans- When evening comes there is a sudden chorus in the chimpanzee’s bedroom. They actually quarrel over who should have the straw.