In this poem, the Mountain and the Squirrel quarrel. The Mountain calls the Squirrel a “little prig,” implying that the Squirrel is small and insignificant. The Squirrel, however, responds with a witty reply, defending its position. The Squirrel acknowledges the Mountain’s size and strength but points out that size alone does not determine importance. The Squirrel argues that both the Mountain and the Squirrel have their unique abilities and roles. The Mountain may be able to carry forests on its back, but it cannot crack a nut, something the Squirrel can do with ease. The Squirrel concludes by saying that every creature, big or small, has its purpose, and talents differ. The poem emphasizes the idea that all living beings have value, regardless of size or strength.

20 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers

Who called the Squirrel a “little prig”?
- a) The Squirrel
- b) The Mountain
- c) The Wind
- d) The Tree
- Answer: b) The Mountain
What did the Squirrel think of the Mountain’s size?
- a) The Squirrel was jealous of it
- b) The Squirrel acknowledged the Mountain’s size but defended its own importance
- c) The Squirrel disliked the Mountain’s size
- d) The Squirrel thought the Mountain was too small
- Answer: b) The Squirrel acknowledged the Mountain’s size but defended its own importance
What did the Squirrel compare itself to in terms of abilities?
- a) A bird
- b) A tree
- c) The Mountain
- d) A nutcracker
- Answer: d) A nutcracker
What is the message of the poem?
- a) Big things are always better than small things
- b) Size and strength are not the only qualities that matter
- c) Squirrels are smarter than mountains
- d) Mountains are more important than squirrels
- Answer: b) Size and strength are not the only qualities that matter
What does the Squirrel think of occupying its place?
- a) It thinks it is not important
- b) It is proud to occupy its place
- c) It wishes it could be bigger
- d) It wants to become a mountain
- Answer: b) It is proud to occupy its place
What does the Mountain say about the Squirrel?
- a) It calls the Squirrel “little prig”
- b) It praises the Squirrel for being smart
- c) It says the Squirrel is wise
- d) It tells the Squirrel it is important
- Answer: a) It calls the Squirrel “little prig”
Which of these does the Squirrel say it cannot do?
- a) Carry forests on its back
- b) Crack a nut
- c) Run fast
- d) Sing a song
- Answer: a) Carry forests on its back
What does the Squirrel claim to be able to do that the Mountain cannot?
- a) Carry forests
- b) Crack a nut
- c) Climb trees
- d) Sing songs
- Answer: b) Crack a nut
What does the Squirrel mean by “talents differ”?
- a) Not everyone can be the same
- b) Talents are fixed and do not change
- c) The Mountain is more talented than the Squirrel
- d) The Squirrel is better at everything
- Answer: a) Not everyone can be the same
What is the Squirrel’s view on its place in the world?
- a) It is insignificant
- b) It has an important place
- c) It wants to be bigger
- d) It dislikes being small
- Answer: b) It has an important place
How does the Squirrel describe the Mountain’s abilities?
- a) The Mountain is only good for cracking nuts
- b) The Mountain is very spry
- c) The Mountain is good at carrying forests
- d) The Mountain can crack nuts and carry forests
- Answer: c) The Mountain is good at carrying forests
What word does the Mountain use to describe the Squirrel?
- a) Tiny
- b) Little prig
- c) Spry
- d) Cute
- Answer: b) Little prig
What does the phrase “must be taken in together” refer to in the poem?
- a) The Squirrel and the Mountain’s abilities
- b) The Mountain and the Squirrel’s different talents
- c) The different aspects of nature
- d) The Squirrel’s size
- Answer: c) The different aspects of nature
Who is bigger, the Mountain or the Squirrel?
- a) The Mountain is bigger
- b) The Squirrel is bigger
- c) They are the same size
- d) The size does not matter
- Answer: a) The Mountain is bigger
What is the “pretty squirrel track” a reference to?
- a) The Squirrel’s tracks on the Mountain
- b) The Mountain’s ability to make tracks
- c) The Squirrel’s agility and energy
- d) The Squirrel’s size
- Answer: c) The Squirrel’s agility and energy
What does the Squirrel believe about the Mountain’s abilities?
- a) The Mountain is more important than the Squirrel
- b) The Mountain’s abilities are more useful
- c) The Mountain and the Squirrel have their own unique abilities
- d) The Mountain is useless
- Answer: c) The Mountain and the Squirrel have their own unique abilities
What does the poem suggest about differences in abilities?
- a) Differences are a sign of weakness
- b) Everyone has a unique purpose
- c) Small things are less important
- d) Big things are always better
- Answer: b) Everyone has a unique purpose
What does the word “sphere” refer to in the poem?
- a) A round shape
- b) The Squirrel’s home
- c) The world or universe
- d) The Mountain’s size
- Answer: c) The world or universe
What does the phrase “Neither can you crack a nut” imply?
- a) The Mountain is unable to perform small tasks
- b) The Squirrel cannot perform big tasks
- c) Both the Mountain and the Squirrel can crack nuts
- d) The Squirrel is better than the Mountain at cracking nuts
- Answer: a) The Mountain is unable to perform small tasks
What is the tone of the poem?
- a) Angry
- b) Humorous and witty
- c) Sad and serious
- d) Critical
- Answer: b) Humorous and witty

Reading Comprehension

A. Tick (v) the correct answer :

1. The quarrel between the mountain and the squirrel was about

(a) length

(b) size

(d) strength.

2. The mountain is able to :

(a) carry a forest

(b) crack a nut

(d) make up a year.

3. The squirrel is able to :

(a) make a sphere

(b) crack a nut

(d) carry forests.

Ans. 1. (b), 2. (a), 3. (b).

B. Answer the following questions:

1. Why does the mountain call the squirrel ‘lit- tle prig’ ?

Ans. The mountain calls the squirrel little prig because they had a quarrel.

2. What qualities of the mountain does the squirrel appreciate?

Ans. The squirrel appreciates the qualities of the mountain of making a pretty squirrel track and carry- ing a forest on its back.

3. What task is the mountain unable to perform?

Ans. The mountain is unable to crack a nut.

4. Do you like the squirrel’s reasoning? Why ?

Ans. Yes, I like the squirrel’s reasoning. The squirrel very cleverly after appreciating all the good things of the mountain makes it realise that in spite of being so big it cannot perform some small and easy tasks that can be easily done by squirrels.

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