The Tiger King Question Answers Lesson 2 – Extract Based Questions

Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct

option for each question by carefully reading the passage.

A. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

“The child will grow up to become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions.

But… they bit their lips and swallow hard. When compelled to continue, the astrologers came out with

it. “This is a secret which should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced to speak out. The child

born under this star will one day have to meet its death.”

1. Name the chapter.

A Evans Tries an O Level

B Memories of Childhood

C The Tiger King

D The Third Level

Ans C The Tiger King

2. Who is the author of this chapter?

A Tishani Doshi

B Kalki

C Pearl S Buck

D William Saroyan

Ans B Kalki

3. Who has been referred to as a child in this extract?

A Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur

B Khiledar Major

C The Tiger King

D All of these

Ans D All of these

4. What does the narrator mean by the phrase ‘They bit their lips’?

A They hesitated

B They spoke confidently

C They replied angrily

D They replied happily

Ans A They hesitated

B. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction. They looked wildly at each other and blinked. “O wise

prophets! It was I who spoke.” This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was the infant born just

ten days ago who had enunciated the words so clearly. The chief astrologer took off his spectacles

and gazed intently at the baby. “All those who are born will one day have to die. We don’t need your

predictions to know that. There would be some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that

death” the royal infant uttered these words in his little squeaky voice.

1. Who is ‘I’ in the above lines?

A The Tiger King

B Kalki

C Astrologer

D The Tiger King’s Wife

Ans A The Tiger King

2. Who spoke at the age of 10?

A The Tiger King

B Dr. Sadao

C Jack

D Evans

Ans A The Tiger King

3. What did the royal infant want to know?

A The exact manner of his marriage

B The exact manner of his death

C The exact manner of his sitting on his throne

D The exact manner of his life

Ans B The exact manner of his death

4. Find out the synonym of ‘Utter’ from the following:

A To speak

B To Express

C To Let out

D All of these

Ans D All of these

C. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. No other miracle marked his

childhood days apart from the event already described. The boy drank the milk of an English cow,

was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an Englishman, saw nothing but English

films exactly as the crown princes of all the other Indian states did. When he came of age at twenty,

the State, which had been with the Court of Wards until then, came into his hands.
1. How was the tiger king brought up?

A By royalty

B In penury

C Beggarly

D None of these

Ans A By royalty

2. Who is a nanny?

A Nurse

B Nursemaid

C Custodian of a child

D None of these

Ans C Custodian of a child

3. At what age was he handed in the throne?

A 10 Years

B 15 Years

C 20 Years

D 25 Years

Ans C 20 Years

4. What is the court of wards?

A. A legal body created by East India Company

B An illegal body created by East India Company

C A neutral body created by East India Company

D None of these

Ans A. A legal body created by East India Company

D. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

The British officer’s secretary sent word to the Maharaja through the dewan that the Durai himself did

not have to kill the tiger. The Maharaja could do the actual killing. What was important to the durai

was a photograph of himself holding the gun and standing over the tiger’s carcass. But the Maharaja

would not agree even to this proposal. If he relented now, what would he do if other British officers

turned up for tiger hunts?

1. What does the British officer want to do?

A He wanted to kill a tiger

B He wanted to kill the tiger king

C He wanted to click the tiger king’s picture with the dead tiger

D None of these

Ans A He wanted to kill a tiger

2. What is a carcass?

A Dead body of an animal

B Dead body of a human

C Dead body of a demon

D None of these

Ans A Dead body of an animal

3. Why did the Maharaja not want to relent?

A. For other Britishers could turn up for hunting tigers

B For other Britishers could turn up for hunting him

C For other Britishers could turn up for clicking his picture

D All of these

Ans A For other Britishers could turn up for hunting tigers

4. What was the final decision made by the tiger king?

A. He refused Durai

B He accepted his proposal

C He denied Durai being photographed with the tiger

D Both A and C

Ans D Both A and C

E. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

The Maharaja and the dewan held deliberations over this issue. As a result, a telegram was

dispatched forthwith to a famous British company of jewellers in Calcutta. Send samples of expensive

diamond rings of different designs. Some fifty rings arrived. The Maharaja sent the whole lot to the

British officer’s good lady. The king and the minister expected the Duraisani to choose one or two

rings and send the rest back. Within no time at all the Duraisani sent her reply: “Thank you very much

for your gifts.” In two days a bill for three lakh of rupees came from the British jewellers. The Maharaja

was happy that though he had lost three lakh of rupees, he had managed to retain his kingdom.

1. Who has been referred to as ‘Good Lady”?.

A Durai

B Duraisani

C British officer

D The Tiger King

Ans B Duraisani

2. How much did the Maharaja have to pay for fifty rings?

A 3 lacs

B 4 lacs

C 5 lacs
D 2 lacs

Ans A 3 lacs

3. How many rings had the Maharaja expected Duraisani to keep?

A One or two

B two or three

C three or four

D four or five

Ans A One or two

4. Name the chapter.

A Evans Tries an O Level

B The Enemy

C Going Places

D The Tiger King

Ans D The Tiger King

F. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

The dewan followed his orders. He found the right girl from a state which possessed a large number

of tigers. Maharaja Jung Jung Bahadur killed five or six tigers each time he visited his father-in-law. In

this manner, ninety-nine tiger skins adorned the walls of the reception hall in the Pratibandapuram

palace.

1. Why did the Maharaja get married?

A For begetting children

B For encroaching the estate of his father-in-law

C For going to honeymoon

D For killing rest of the tigers

Ans D For killing rest of the tigers

2. What was Maharaja’s preference for marrying a girl?

A She must be tall

B She must have blond hair

C She must have tigers in her estate

D She must have been poor

Ans C She must have tigers in her estate

3. Which literary device has been used in the last line?

A Transferred epithet

B Oxymoron

C Pun

D Alliteration

Ans D Alliteration

4. What does the narrator mean by ‘Ninety-nine tiger skins adorned the wall’?

A. The Maharaja had bought ninety nine tiger skins

B The Maharaja had killed ninety nine tigers

C The Maharaja had decorated his palace walls with ninety nine tiger skins

D None of these

Ans C The Maharaja had decorated his palace walls with ninety nine tiger skins
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1 Identify the literary device in “like quills all over it”.

A Metaphor

B Simile

C Alliteration

D Personification

Ans B Simile

Q2 The wooden tiger was carved by

A. A master craftsman

B An unskilled carpenter

C The shopkeeper himself

D A British carpenter

Ans B An unskilled carpenter

Q3 The original cost of the present was ____________.

A 2 annas and a quarter

B 2 annas and a half

C One and a half annas

D 3 annas

Ans A 2 annas and a quarter

Q4 How old was the King’s son?

A One year old

B Three years old

C Five years old

D Seven years old

Ans B Three years old

Q5 The 100th tiger had __________.

A been shot dead

B fainted

C disappeared

D been set free

Ans B fainted

Q6 A senior British officer yearned to go on __________.

A a tiger hunting expedition

B to the jungle

C and investigate the decrease in tiger population

D and remove the Tiger King

Ans A a tiger hunting expedition

Q7 The astrologer stated that he would ________ if the king killed the 100th tiger.

A leave the state

B kill himself

C cut his hair

D denounce the world

Ans C cut his hair

Q8 As the prince says the words, “Let tigers Beware”, a certain aspect of his personality is

revealed. What is it?

A Humility

B Arrogance

C Pride
D Will-power

Ans B Arrogance

Q9 When the Prince made fun of the astrologer, how old was he?

A 10 days

B 10 weeks

C 10 months

D 10 years

Ans A 10 days

Q10 What in the story illustrates the king’s inflated ego and arrogance?

A His killing of tigers and disregard for the environment

B his desire to marry

C his orders from time to time

D None

Ans A His killing of tigers and disregard for the environment

Q11 What literary device has been used in the story “The Tiger King”?

A metaphorical expressions

B Irony

C sarcasm

D All of these

Ans B Irony

Q12 What kind of birthday present did the Maharaja give to his three-year-old son?

A a toy

B gold coins

C forests

D a toy tiger

Ans D a toy tiger

Q13 Why did the king present jewellery to the wife of the British official?

A to save his state and to please The British

B to invite them for hunting

C to invite them for a feast

D to find more tigers

Ans A to save his state and to please The British

Q14 The Maharaja was very eager to kill the 100th tiger, but why?

A to protect him and to refute the forecast

B to prove his hunting skills

C to prove his power

D none

Ans A to protect him and to refute the forecast

Q15 Why was the chief astrologer wondering?

A The king would die because of a tiger

B A 10-day-old baby was speaking

C His prediction was being challenged

D He was afraid of being executed by the royalty

Ans. B A 10-day-old baby was speaking

Q16 Identify the meaning of ‘sliver’ as used in tiny slivers of wood stood up like quills all over

it.

A. parts

B. pieces

C. objects

D. None of these

Ans. B. pieces
Q17. ‘Harakiri’ is practised in _________

A. India

B. Japan

C. China

D. All over the world

Ans. B. Japan

Q18. Why did the Tiger king refuse the durai from hunting tigers?

A. He wanted to save the tigers

B. He wanted to himself hunt them

C. He was under pressure from Wildlife Protection Authorities

D. All of these

Ans. B. He wanted to himself hunt them

Q19. Which figure of speech has been used in – ‘from that day onwards it was celebration time

for all the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram’

A. Smile

B. Irony

C. Metaphor

D. All of these

Ans. B. Irony

Q20. After refusing the British official from hunting the tiger, what did the Tiger King do to

save his throne?

A. He apologised to the official

B. He went away in hiding

C. He tried to please him by sending expensive clothes

D. He sent diamond rings as gift to the British official’s wife.

Ans. D. He sent diamond rings as gift to the British official’s wife.

Q1 What various titles were bestowed upon the Pratibandapuram King?

Ans The Pratibandapuram ruler was referred to by a variety of names. His Highness Jamedar-

General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, and Maharajdhiraj Visva are possible titles for him.

Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, Bhuvana Samrat, M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K.

Q2 How did the Tiger King get the name he had? (CBSE 2009)

Ans As it had been predicted that the 100th tiger would kill the king of Pratibandapuram, he was

known as the Tiger King. As a result, he made the decision to kill 100 tigers before engaging in any

other activities. He was renowned as the Tiger King because he killed so many tigers.

Q3 The future of the Tiger King was foreseen when he was only 10 days old. What about it was

ironic?

Ans Astrologers foretold that the Tiger King would have to die one day when he was a little child.

They added that the death would be caused by the 100th tiger. The one hundredth tiger did cause the

death of the Tiger King. Ironically, however, the tiger wasn’t the real one. It was a wooden toy tiger.

Q4 The Maharaja’s choice to marry was motivated by what? (CBSE 2014)

Ans Throughout his realm, the Maharaja had exterminated every tigress. Yet, only 70 tigers were

really slain. To fulfil his commitment, he still had thirty more tigers to kill. As a result, he made the

choice to wed a princess from a kingdom with a sizable tiger population.

Q5 When did the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom?

Ans In the realm of the Tiger King, a British officer desired to go tiger hunting. But the king forbade

him from doing so. The officer just wanted to stand on the tiger’s carcass and be photographed, the

officer sent news that the king could kill the animal himself. But, the king even turned against doing it.

The monarch was in risk of losing his throne as a result.

Q6 How did the Tiger King manage to retain his kingdom?

Ans A renowned jeweller fulfilled the king’s order for fifty diamond rings. He mailed all of the rings to

the officer’s wife. He believed that she would keep one or two rings and return the rest. Yet, she
preserved all fifty rings. The cost to the monarch was three lac rupees, yet he was happy because he

was able to save his country.

Q7 Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting in his state? (CBSE 2014)

Ans The Maharaja had to keep his promise to slay 100 tigers. Hence, everyone other than the

Maharaja was prohibited hunting tigers. A declaration was made stating that all of a person’s riches

and possessions would be confiscated if they ventured to throw even a stone at a tiger.

Q8 What sort of hunt did the Maharaja offer to organise for the high-ranking British officer?

What trait of the officer does it reveal? (CBSE 2014)

Ans The Maharaja offered to organise a boar hunt, a mouse hunt, even a mosquito hunt for him but

not a tiger hunt. However, the officer sent word that he only wanted to stand on the carcass of the

tiger and be photographed. But the king even refused to do that. This shows the vanity and

shallowness of the officer.

Q9 How was the royal baby raised?

OR

How did the royal child develop?

Ans The royal infant drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny tutored in

English by an Englishman, saw nothing but English films. His life was exactly like the other crown

princes of the other Indian states.

Q10 Why did a hunter shoot the one hundredth tiger?

Ans The hunters approached the tiger and discovered that it was still alive because the bullet had

missed it. They came to the conclusion that the king must not be made aware of his failure to hit his

mark. They anticipated losing their jobs. As a result, one of the hunters took a shot at the tiger from a

foot away.

Q11 What happened to the tiger that the dewan provided?

Ans The tiger provided by the dewan was very old. The dewan left it in the forest where the king was

hunting. The tiger wandered into the presence of the king. The king took a careful aim and shot at
him. The tiger fell in a crumpled heap and everyone thought it was dead. However, it had missed the

shot and had fainted due to the loud sound of the gun.

Q12 What gift did the monarch bring for his third birthday for his son? What did he spend on

it?

Ans On his son’s third birthday, the monarch brought a wooden tiger. The shopkeeper stated that it

would cost 300 rupees. Nevertheless, the monarch refused to give him any money and instead took

the tiger with him, declaring that it would be the shopkeeper’s gift to the crown prince.

Q13 What manner of passing did the Tiger King have?

Ans On his son’s birthday, the king brought a wooden tiger. It was constructed by an untrained

carpenter. The king’s hand was punctured by one of the creature’s bodily fragments. The virus spread

quickly. The king’s hand underwent surgery by three surgeons. The king, however, was helpless.

Q14 Why, after having slain 70 tigers, was the Maharaja still in a depressed state?

Ans In ten years, the Maharaja was able to slay 70 tigers. As a result, there were no more tigers in

his domain. The Maharaja became depressed over this since he believed he would not be able to kill

100 tigers as planned, putting his life in peril.

Q15 Do you think an author who includes several instances of satire in a story faces the risk

of being too cynical? Explain. (CBSE QUESTION BANK)

Ans The plot is unmistakably a satire on the arrogance of individuals in positions of power. The king

was regarded from the start as being incredibly pompous. At the age of ten days, he spoke out of the

blue, “Let the tiger beware,” challenging the astrologer’s forecast.

Q16 Comment on any one aspect of the writing style of the author, Kalki in The Tiger King.

(CBSE SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER 2022-23)

Ans In his story The Tiger King, Kalki employs a straightforward, conversational style of writing. It is

written with a comic and satirical undertone as a satire on individuals in positions of authority. He

captures the irony of how society idolises those in positions of power and makes fun of it using

hyperbole.
Q1 How did the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom? How was he able to avoid

the danger? Explain.

Ans. In the realm of the Tiger King, a British officer desired to go tiger hunting. But the king forbade

him from doing so. Then the commander informed the monarch that he could kill the animal himself;

all he wanted to do was stand on its carcass and take pictures. But, the king even turned against

doing it. The monarch was in risk of losing his throne as a result.

A renowned jeweler fulfilled the king’s order for fifty diamond rings. He mailed the officer’s wife all of

the rings. He sent her all fifty rings, assuming the lady would only keep one or two of them. However,

she sent a note of thanks for the gift and kept all of them. The king had to bear the expense of three

lac rupees for it, but he managed to save his kingdom.

Q2 What rumour was rife in Pratibandapuram about the crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur?

Ans Astrologers predicted that the Tiger King would eventually have to pass away when he was born.

There was a significant miracle. Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur uttered an amazing sentence. All people

who are born will eventually have to pass away, he stated. If you could tell us how that person died, it

would make some sense.

The chief astrologer then stated that the prince was born during the Bull’s hour. Because the Tiger

and the Bull are rivals, the Tiger would be the one to cause his death. “Let tigers beware!” the crown

prince roared in response. In Pratibandapuram, this rumour was fairly widespread.

Q3 The astrologers predicted about the king. The child will grow up to become the warrior of

warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. Do you think this prediction was right?

Ans The astrologers predicted about the king that he would grow into warrior of warriors, hero of

heroes and champion of champions. However, this prediction was nothing but flattery. The monarch

would be killed by a tiger, according to the second portion of the prophecy. The king only killed tigers

during his life.

Killing defenseless creatures with a gun is not a heroic act. The king was actually a coward and not a

fighter. He didn’t give a damn about the environment, his people, or the interests of his Kingdom in
order to protect his life. Paradoxically, his life and death were identical. He did not pass away while

engaged in combat. Yet a wooden tiger ended up being the reason for his demise.

Q4 The astrologer’s prediction about the death of the Tiger King came true. Do you agree with

this statement?

OR

Did the prophecy of the astrologer come true at the end of the story? How? (CBSE SAMPLE

QUESTION PAPER 2018-19)

Ans To some extent, we can agree with the statement that the astrologer’s prediction about the death

of the Tiger King came true. The astrologer had predicted that the death of the Tiger King would

come from the hundredth tiger. The hunters, who discovered that the old tiger had not perished by the

king’s bullet but had just fainted by the bullet speeding by him, as opposed to the king himself, killed

the hundredth tiger.

The king gave his three-year-old son a wooden toy tiger as the hundredth tiger. It only took a piece of

wood sticking out of it piercing the king’s night hand to murder him. Pus began to form in the wound,

and it eventually covered the entire arm. The best doctors were unable to rescue the king, confirming

the astrologer’s prophecy that the Tiger King would die.

Q5 What values of life does the story “Tiger King” give us?

Ans This tale demonstrates the urgent necessity to protect the planet’s fauna. A hilarious ruler known

as the Tiger King serves as the story’s protagonist. He began murdering tigers throughout his

kingdom on the basis of a simple forecast. The tigers in his state eventually went extinct.Then he

began exterminating tigers in his father-in-domain, law’s where they also went extinct.

The author of the narrative aims to convey to us the importance of preserving the ecological balance

of the planet. Life cannot continue in the absence of this equilibrium. The author also exposes the

folly, cruelty and Heartlessness of h humans with regard to their attitude towards the wild animals.

Q6 How can you say that the dewan was a comical character?

Ans It is true that the dewan in this tale is a hilarious figure. He is a flatterer, sycophant, and
hypocrite. As tigers vanished from the Tiger King’s domain, the king made the decision to wed a

princess from a country with a sizable tiger population. The monarch summoned his dewan and

ordered him to shoot thirty more tigers while waving a rifle.

Dewan reported to the king that he was not a tiger after being alarmed. He figured the monarch might

be planning to have him killed. The king then declared his intention to wed. The gullible dewan

believed that perhaps the king desired to wed him. He replied, “Your Majesty, I have two wives

already.” Then the king told him, “What I want is a…” The foolish dewan before completing the king’s

statement said, “A Tiger King is more than enough for this state; it doesn’t need a Tiger Queen as

well.” All these statements of the dewan indicate that he was a comical character.

Q7 Who was the Tiger King? Why did he get that name?

Ans The King of Pratibandapuram was known as the Tiger King. When he was born, the astrologers

fore-told that his death would come from a Tiger. When the king came of age at twenty years, he

learnt about the prophecy. There were many forests in his state. The Maharaja started on a tiger

hunt. He was thrilled beyond measure when he killed his first tiger. He showed it to the state

astrologer. But the state astrologer replied. “Your majesty may kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly the

same manner. But you must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.”

The Maharaja made the decision to kill a hundred tigers before moving on with his plans. Everybody

save the Maharaja had a ban on killing tigers. It was declared that anyone who ventured to hurl even

a stone at a tiger would have all of his riches and possessions taken away. While hunting, Maharaja

encountered numerous threats, but he overcame them all. The ruler thereupon earned the title of

Tiger King.

Q8 The story is a satire on the content of those in power. How does the author employ the

literary device of dramatic irony in the story?

Ans On the surface, this tale seems to be a relatively straightforward tale about a grumpy king who

begins cruelly murdering tigers solely in accordance with a prophecy. This tale includes a hint of

humor as well as a hint of suspense. But on a deeper level, this tale is actually a satire on the
arrogance of individuals in positions of authority. Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur is in charge of a number of

duties as king. Yet he focuses all of his attention on the tiger slaying.

For his personal purposes he proclaims that anybody in his kingdom is not allowed even to throw a

stone at a tiger. All his activities are centered on tiger hunting. The astrologer has told him that his

death would come from the hundredth tiger. The king died but ironically the cause of his death is not

a real tiger but only a wooden king Thus, in this story, the writer satinised those in power by using the

device of irony.

Q9 What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the lawfulness of

human beings?

Ans The author highlights the cruelty of people towards wild creatures. The king begins murdering

tigers in his kingdom based on a prophecy. He slaughtered so many that tigers vanished from his

state. Afterwards, in his father-in-law’s state, he exterminated all the tigers. He was unable to find the

final tiger to fulfill his commitment after killing 99 of them.

A feeble and elderly tiger from Madras People’s Park was arranged by his dewan. Even nevertheless,

the king still pursues it with no mercy. Though the tiger couldn’t be killed by him a hunter later kills

him. In this story, we are also told about the cruelty and conceit of a British officer who is quite fond of

tiger hunting. Thus, in this story, the author exposes the cruelty and folly of human beings regarding

their behaviour towards the wild animals.

Q10 We need a new system for the age of ecology, a system which is embedded in the care of

all people and also in the care of the Earth and all life upon it. Discuss.

Ans Our current ecological system is seriously flawed. To keep the ideal balance between humans

and animals, nature has given us an ecosystem. The finest means of supporting our existence on

Earth is provided by this system. That is a superior system. But because of his selfishness, man has

harmed this ecology or cycle.

Wild animal species are going extinct as a result of human development activities such as

deforestation, poaching, and other. Forests are being replaced by concrete jungles. This poses a
serious threat to both ourselves and the generations to come. Thus, it is now necessary to develop a

new system that will aid in maintaining life on Earth.

Q11 Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.’ In light of this quote, examine

how knowing the future paved the way for the king’s end. (CBSE QUESTION BANK)

Ans Over-knowing the future is not a good thing. One will live in fear and waste their lives if the future

is unfavourable. While he can grow complacent and sluggish if the future is expected to be bright for

him. After learning of his fate, the king made every effort to avert it. In order to kill the 100 tigers he

needed to escape dying at the hands of a tiger, he proposed a ban on tiger killing in his state. The

king put a lot of effort into it and even wed a woman from a tiger-rich state. Also, he forbade a British

officer from hunting in his woodlands, putting his kingdom in grave danger.

He hunted for the 100th tiger after killing 99 of them but was unsuccessful. Upon observing this, his

diwan secretly released a frail and elderly tiger from the circus in the bush. The king shot the tiger and

believed he had killed it, but all that happened was that the tiger had fainted. The monarch became

exceedingly haughty and thought he could do no wrong after killing his 100th tiger. He then suffered a

cut from a tiger-shaped toy that had jagged edges. Later, the wound became infected, and the illness

caused his death. Thus, destiny was proved true.

Q12 The Maharaja justified his actions based on the maxim: ‘You may kill even a cow in self-

defence,’ so there would be no objection to killing tigers in self defence.’ Do you think it is

right to justify our actions in this way? Elaborate. (CBSE QUESTION BANK)

Ans Steadily, the crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and more powerful. Except for the

already mentioned event, no other miracle occurred during his formative years. The boy followed the

same routine as the crown princes of all the other Indian states, drinking the milk of an English cow,

being raised by an English nanny, receiving English tutoring from an Englishman, and seeing only

English movies.

The State, which up until that point had been in the Court of Wards, passed into his hands when he

turned twenty. Nonetheless, everyone in the kingdom was aware of the astrologer’s prophecy. The
topic was still being discussed by many. It gradually reached the Maharaja’s ears. The

Pratibandapuram State was covered in a vast number of forests. They contained tigers. The

Maharaja was aware of the proverb, “In self-defense, you may slaughter even a cow. There is

undoubtedly no problem with killing tigers for self-defense. The Maharaja set out to hunt tigers.

Q13 The king was callous as a ruler and behaved whimsically. Thus, the people in his

kingdom suffered while he fulfilled his desire of killing a hundred tigers. Do you find leaders

or politicians in the world today being indifferent to the needs of the people and behaving in

the same way? Comment with relevant examples. (CBSE QUESTION BANK)

Ans The tiger king did indeed reign with callousness and exhibited irrational behaviour. As a result,

while he achieved his goal of eliminating a hundred tigers, people in his realm suffered. He made no

effort because of his obligations. He was just fixated on his own absurd goal of eliminating a hundred

tigers. He neglected all of his obligations to his son, wife, and the general populace in order to kill

tigers. He disregarded each of them out of self-interest. His pursuit of tigers affected every choice he

made. He also didn’t apply any wisdom or logic to the idea that, putting aside their own egos, leaders

and rulers should work for the environmental and social wellbeing of their subjects. The wellbeing of

his subjects and his family were neglected as the monarch lived only to fulfil his own ego. For his own

personal gain, he fired his officials and arbitrarily raised and decreased taxes. He purposefully took

advantage of both his subjects and nature.

A similar picture is also painted by our political system. Politicians and leaders in today’s society

appear to have little regard for the needs of the populace and act in an equally reckless manner to the

tiger king. They just take leadership roles to quench their own power needs. They mainly abuse their

positions of authority and prey on people’s pride.

But it’s past time for them to understand that using their position of power and authority for their own

personal gain is wrong. They should be aware of what democracy entails, which means that they

should always act in the interests of the general welfare. They ought to live simply and think critically.

A real leader must always have patriotic values.

The Tiger King (Vistas Chapter 2) Class 12 Important Questions and Answers

Q. No. 1) ‘Even the threat of a Stuka bomber will not throw me off track.’ This

sentence shows that the author has a/an

a. firm resolve to narrate the story.

b. humorous way of conveying an idea.

c. logical style of convincing the reader.

d. rhetorical manner of writing a story.

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 2) Read the extract and answer the questions given below:

In other words, the Tiger King is dead.

The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary interest. It can be

revealed only at the end of the tale. The most fantastic aspect of his demise

was that as soon as he was born, astrologers had foretold that one day the

Tiger King would actually have to die.

“The child will grow up to become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes,

champion of champions. But...” They bit their lips and swallowed hard. When

compelled to continue, the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret that

should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced to speak out. The child

born under this star will one day have to meet its death.”

(The Tiger King)

i. Complete the sentence appropriately.

The author’s purpose in using foreshadowing is to _____.

Ans. create a sense of approaching doom.

Or, use it as a tool to heighten the reader's curiosity and interest in the story.
ii. In the given extract, what emotion were the astrologers feeling when they

"bit their lips and swallowed hard"?

a. Humiliation

b. Disbelief

c. Grief

d. Unease

Ans. Option (d)

[The use of this physical gesture indicates a sense of discomfort or unease and implies

that the astrologers were reluctant to reveal the prophecy. Humiliation or grief would be

more strongly expressed in the text if they were the emotions being conveyed. Disbelief

is also not the correct answer, as there is no indication that the astrologers doubted their

prediction.]

iii. Which trait are the astrologers lauding when they say "warrior of warriors,

hero of heroes, champion of champions"?

Ans. bravery/heroism/leadership

[The astrologers are predicting that the child born under this star will be a great warrior

and a champion, implying that the child will display exceptional courage and bravery in

battle or in other challenges. This also suggests that the child will be a leader and will

inspire others with their bravery and heroism. The use of these superlative phrases

further emphasizes the astrologers' admiration for this trait and the importance they

place on it in predicting the child's future.]

iv. How is the line, "the most fantastic aspect of his demise", an example of

contrast?

Ans. This is so because the word "fantastic" is usually associated with something

positive or exciting, while the word "demise" suggests something negative or tragic.
[In this context, the use of "fantastic" to describe the Tiger King's death creates a

contrast between the positive connotation of the word and the negative reality of the

situation]

Q. No. 3) Read the extract and answer the questions given below:

From that day onwards it was celebration time for all the tigers inhabiting

Pratibandapuram. The state banned tiger hunting by anyone except the

Maharaja. A proclamation was issued to the effect that if anyone dared to fling

so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be

confiscated.

The Maharaja vowed he would attend to all other matters only after killing the

hundred tigers. Initially, the king seemed well set to realize his ambition.

Not that he faced no dangers. There were times when the bullet missed its

mark, the tiger leapt upon him and he fought the beast with his bare hands.

Each time it was the Maharaja who won.

i. The tone of the author when he says, ‘it was celebration time for all tigers’ is

a. solemn.

b. sarcastic.

c. sympathetic.

d. mocking.

Ans. Option (b)

ii. Pick the pair of TRUE statements based on the extract.

1. Tiger hunting was absolutely banned in the kingdom.

2. The Maharaja was extremely courageous and fearless.

3. The Maharaja paid no heed to matters related to his kingdom.

4. The Maharaja was able to fulfill his ambition, without any perils.

Options
a. 1 and 2

b. 2 and 4

c. 2 and 3

d. 1 and 4

Ans. Option (c)

iii. In which of the following options can the underlined words NOT be replaced

with ‘proclamation’?

a. The politician shared his manifesto during the election meeting.

b. All the citizens of the kingdom had to abide by the emperor’s edict.

c. The communique made by the official had a disastrous effect.

d. The decree of the state forbade cruelty against animals.

Ans. Option (c)

iv. On the basis of this passage, pick the option that enumerates the

characteristics of the king.

1. gullible

2. arrogant

3. wilful

4. aggressive

5. apathetic

6. scrupulous

Options

a. 1, 2 and 6

b. 3, 4 and 6

c. 3, 5 and 6

d. 2, 3 and 5

Ans. Option (d)

Q. No. 4) ‘The Maharaja’s anxiety reached a fever pitch…’ Which of these

sentences DOES NOT use the phrase ‘reached a fever pitch’ correctly?

a. When the bidding reached a fever pitch, one of the team’s absences was

notable.

b. The excitement of the audience reached a fever pitch when they saw the

star perform.

c. The scenic beauty of the place reached a fever pitch when it began to snow.

d. The climax of the film reached a fever pitch when the protagonist was

assassinated.

Ans. Option (c)

Q. No. 5) Read the extract and answer the questions given below:

At midnight when the town slept in peace, the dewan and his aged wife

dragged the tiger into the car and shoved it into the seat. The dewan himself

drove the car straight to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting. When

they reached the forest, the tiger launched its satyagraha and refused to get

out of the car. The dewan was thoroughly exhausted in his efforts to haul the

beast out of the car and push it down to the ground.

On the following day, the same old tiger wandered into the Maharaja’s

presence and stood as if in humble supplication, “Master, what do you

command of me?” It was with boundless joy that the Maharaja took careful aim

at the beast. The tiger fell in a crumpled heap.

i. Pick the option that uses the same figure of speech as ‘town slept in peace’.

a. His actions really flared up my temper, so I walked out.

b. She is going through a rollercoaster of emotions.

c. My alarm clock yells at me every morning until I get out of bed.

d. The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.

Ans. Option (c)

ii. Pick the option that best describes the dewan’s attitude.

1. desperate

2. submissive

3. servile

4. dishonorable

5. detestable

6. flattering

Options

a. 2, 3 and 6

b. 1, 4 and 5

c. 2, 4 and 6

d. 1, 3 and 5

Ans. Option (a)

iii. Which of the following is NOT an example of ‘satyagraha’?

a. People on a hunger strike as a mark of protest against a law.

b. People resort to violence to ensure their demands are accepted.

c. A few people block a roadway or passage peacefully.

d. People participating in a silent march to protest against injustice.

Ans. Option (b)

iv. Pick the option that lists the display of ‘crumpled heap’.
a. Option i

b. Option ii

c. Option iii

d. Option iv

Ans. Option (c)

Q. No. 6) The dewan himself drove the car straight to the forest where the

Maharaja was hunting. When they reached the forest the tiger launched its

satyagraha and refused to get out of the car. The dewan was thoroughly

exhausted in his efforts to haul the beast out of the car and push it down to

the ground. On the following day, the same old tiger wandered into the

Maharaja’s presence and stood as if in humble supplication, “Master, what do

you command of me?’’ It was with boundless joy that the Maharaja took

careful aim at the beast. The tiger fell in a crumpled heap.

i. According to the extract, how is the author's portrayal of the tiger different

from real life?

Ans. The author shows the dewan dragging the tiger out of the car. He pushes it down

like a harmless being which is strikingly different from real life where tigers are

dangerous / the author treats the tiger as if it is human and portrays it to be submissive,

which is entirely the opposite of its ferocious nature / the author suggests that the tiger

is talking which is impossible in real life.

ii. Which of these best describes the Maharaja and the Dewan, based on the

extract?

a. Dewan: gullible; Maharaja: narcissistic

b. Dewan: conscientious; Maharaja: cruel

c. Dewan: submissive; Maharaja: perceptive

d. Dewan: unremarkable; Maharaja: unrealistic

Ans. Option (b)

iii. Which of these can be best used as a title for this extract?

a. The Big Cat

b. The Shrewd King

c. The Tiger's Legacy

d. The Perils of Kingship

Ans. Option (a)

iv. In one sentence, explain what the author means when he says that 'the

tiger launched its satyagraha'.

Ans. When he says that 'the tiger launched its satyagraha', the author means that the

tiger protested non-violently/passively.

Q. No. 7) The story conveys the idea of the transience of life and power. Pick

the pair of proverbs that DO NOT relate to this idea.

1. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

2. There is many a slip between a cup and a lip.

3. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

4. Don’t cross that bridge till you come to it.

Options

a. 1 and 4

b. 2 and 3

c. 2 and 4

d. 3 and 4

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 8) Pick the statement that is NOT an example of satire from the story.

a. The twist of fate when the toy tiger proved to be fatal for the king.

b. News of the king’s ailment got the attention of not one, but three surgeons.
c. King wilfully exploiting nature and subjects for his selfish interests.

d. The king celebrates his triumph but readers anticipate his doom.

Ans. Option (d)

Q. No. 9) The Maharaja justified his actions based on the maxim: ‘You may kill

even a cow in self-defense,’ so there would be no objection to killing tigers in

self-defense.’ Do you think it is right to justify our actions in this way?

Elaborate.

Ans. The Maharaja's justification for killing tigers in self-defense based on the maxim

"You may kill even a cow in self-defense" and the astrologer's prediction raises ethical

questions about the use of violence to protect oneself or others. While it may be

necessary to defend oneself or others in certain situations, it is important to consider the

context and consequences of such actions.

In the case of the Maharaja, his actions were motivated by fear and superstition rather

than a rational assessment of the threat posed by tigers. The astrologer's prediction that

he would be killed by a tiger created a sense of fear and urgency that led him to kill

hundreds of tigers, even when they posed no immediate threat.

Instead of relying on violence to solve conflicts, it is important to explore non-violent

approaches to conflict resolution and coexistence between humans and wildlife. This

may include measures such as habitat conservation, education, awareness campaigns,

and non-lethal methods of protecting livestock, such as fencing and guard animals.

Q. No. 10) ‘I shall cut my tuft, crop my hair short and become an insurance

agent'. Explain the context.

Ans.

 The astrologer had predicted that the hundredth tiger would be the cause of

Maharaja's death .
  The Maharaja challenged the astrologer that what if he killed the hundredth tiger

also.

 At this the astrologer promised to cut his hair, burn all his books and leave the

profession.

Q. No. 11) Comment on any one aspect of the writing style of the author, Kalki

in The Tiger King.

Ans. A satire on those in power – use of humor, exaggeration, and harmony to criticize

Conversational, narrative style.

Q. No. 12) Do you think an author who includes several instances of satire in a

story faces the risk of being too cynical? Explain.

Ans. Satire can be a powerful tool for social commentary and criticism, allowing authors

to shed light on issues and injustices in a way that is both entertaining and thought-

provoking. However, there is a risk that an author who uses satire extensively may be

perceived as being too cynical or negative. Satire often relies on exaggeration, irony,

and humor to highlight flaws and criticize social norms and institutions. However, if the

author uses too much satire, it can lead to a sense of detachment or apathy toward the

issues being addressed. Additionally, if the satire is too extreme or unrealistic, it can

undermine the author's credibility and effectiveness as a social commentator.

Q. No. 13) How did the Tiger King’s Diwan prove to be resourceful?

Ans.

 After the Tiger King killed 99 tigers, no more tigers are left.

 After some time there are indications of the presence of a tiger in the forests of a

village.

 He goes there but does not find the tiger.

 Then he asks the Chief Minister (Diwan) to find the tiger or he would remove him

from his job.

  The Diwan had hidden in his house an old tiger that had been brought from the

People’s Park in Madras.

 He takes that 100th tiger to the forest to be killed by the king.

Q. No. 14) The Tiger King's quest for tigers was full of hurdles and challenges.

Justify the statement.

Ans.

 The Tiger King fought tigers with his bare hands.

 His refusing permission to a high-ranking British officer to hunt tigers in

Pratibandhpuram or even be photographed with a dead tiger put his kingdom at

stake.

 Pacified the officer by sending some fifty expensive diamond rings to his wife for

which he emptied the royal treasury.

 The tiger population in Pratibandapuram had become extinct so he got married to

the daughter of the neighboring kingdom with the largest tiger population.

 The search for the 100th tiger proved difficult.

 Eventually, the Dewan had to procure an old tiger from the People’s Park.

 Even that tiger could not be killed. Instead, he fainted out of shock and had to be

later killed by the officers of the king.

Q. No. 15) Did the prophecy of the astrologer come true at the end of the

story? How?

Ans. Yes, the king was killed by the hundredth tiger, as prophesied by the astrologer.

The real hundredth tiger escaped the bullet of the king, so the wooden tiger became the

hundredth tiger and killed the king A sliver from the wooden tiger pierced into his arm,

caused infection, and ultimately killed him.

Q. No. 16) 'Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.’ In light of

this quote, examine how knowing the future paved the way for the king’s end.
Ans. The quote "Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing" is quite relevant

to the story of "The Tiger King" by Kalki, as it is clear that the Maharaja's downfall was

ultimately caused by his obsession with his own fate and his attempts to control it.

The Maharaja's fate was first foretold by an astrologer, who told him that he would be

killed by a tiger. This prediction caused the Maharaja to become paranoid and obsessed

with the idea of hunting and killing tigers, in order to prove his own superiority and avoid

his prophesied fate. He even went so far as to kill over 100 tigers, using a variety of

weapons and tactics, in an attempt to show that he was invincible and could not be killed

by a tiger.

However, the Maharaja's fate was ultimately sealed by his own actions. When he was

playing with his son with the wooden tiger, a sliver of wood got into his right hand and

developed into a suppurating sore and finally became the cause of his death.

This story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming too obsessed with

one's own fate and trying to control the future. It suggests that sometimes it is better to

simply accept what the future holds and live one's life to the fullest, rather than

becoming consumed by a desire for control and power.

Q. No. 17) Imagine you are an ardent environmentalist who is involved in the

Save the Tiger campaign. You have been asked to deliver a speech in a

seminar related to your campaign and the need for the youth to be involved in

such campaigns. Draft your speech.

Ans. Ladies and gentlemen,

I stand before you today as an ardent environmentalist and a passionate supporter of

the Save the Tiger campaign. We are all aware of the alarming rate at which our natural

habitats are being destroyed. Every day, countless animal species are on the brink of

extinction, and the tiger is no exception.

The tiger is not just a majestic creature; it is an essential component of our ecosystem.

The loss of the tiger will have far-reaching consequences, not just on the environment

but also on the economy and the well-being of our communities.

As young people, we have the power to make a difference. We have the energy, the

passion, and the creativity to effect change. We cannot afford to sit back and watch as

our planet deteriorates. It is our responsibility to take action and ensure that future

generations inherit a healthy planet.

We must work to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our natural

habitats. We must encourage our governments to take concrete actions to protect our

wildlife and their habitats. We must work to educate our communities on the importance

of conservation and sustainable living.

We must act now to save the tiger and other endangered species. Our future depends on

it. Let us join hands in this noble cause, and together we can make a difference.

Thank you.

Q. No. 18) You visited a wildlife sanctuary recently and were appalled at the

condition of the sanctuary and the plight of the animals there. Write an article

for an e-zine expressing your concern and the need to alleviate the facilities at

the sanctuary and provide the animals with a secure habitat.

Ans. The Plight of Animals in Our Wildlife Sanctuaries

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a wildlife sanctuary in my area. I had high hopes

of witnessing the animals in their natural habitats and enjoying the beauty of nature.

However, my visit left me appalled and deeply concerned for the welfare of the animals

in our sanctuaries.

The condition of the sanctuary was appalling, with inadequate facilities and limited space

for the animals. Many of them appeared malnourished, and their enclosures were poorly
maintained. The sanctuary's staff seemed overworked and understaffed, and they did

not seem to have the resources or knowledge to provide proper care for the animals.

It is disheartening to see such neglect of our wildlife. We must remember that these

animals are an integral part of our ecosystem and play a critical role in maintaining

ecological balance. It is our responsibility to ensure that they receive the necessary care

and protection.

We must urge the authorities to invest in our sanctuaries, provide adequate funding, and

hire trained professionals to take care of the animals. Additionally, we need to raise

awareness among the public about the importance of wildlife conservation and the need

to protect the animals and their habitats.

As responsible citizens, we have a duty to protect our natural heritage and the wildlife

that inhabits it. We must work towards providing secure habitats for the animals and

ensure that they receive the care they deserve. Let us pledge to take action and make a

difference in the lives of these voiceless creatures.

Q. No. 19) The king was callous as a ruler and behaved whimsically. Thus, the

people in his kingdom suffered while he fulfilled his desire of killing a hundred

tigers. Do you find leaders or politicians in the world today being indifferent to

the needs of the people and behaving in the same way? Comment with

relevant examples.

Ans. Unfortunately, there are many leaders and politicians in the world today who

behave in a callous and indifferent manner toward the needs of their people. Instead of

working towards the betterment of their citizens, they prioritize their own selfish desires

and personal agendas.

One relevant example is the government of North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un. The country

faces extreme poverty and malnourishment, yet the government continues to prioritize

its nuclear weapons program over the welfare of its people. The government's
propaganda machine has brainwashed the citizens into believing that their leader is a

god-like figure who can do no wrong.

Another example is the Brazilian government, led by President Jair Bolsonaro. His policies

have been criticized for exacerbating deforestation and environmental destruction in the

Amazon rainforest, which not only harms wildlife but also threatens the livelihoods of

indigenous communities. Despite widespread criticism, Bolsonaro has continued to

prioritize economic growth over environmental protection.

In both of these examples, the leaders have shown callousness towards the needs of

their people and the environment. It is important for citizens to hold their leaders

accountable and demand that they prioritize the welfare of their people and the planet.

Q. No. 20) Both the general (The Enemy) and the Maharaja (The Tiger King),

deal with death. They are powerful figures confronted by a similar fate.

You wish to include both of these characters in an upcoming play. As a part of

your research essay, compare and contrast their experiences and their

responses to these experiences in 120–150 words. [Clue: Include the

similarities and differences of their circumstances - their way of dealing with

things - their ultimate fate]

Ans.

 Both of them face death, one owing to old age and disease while the other was

destined to die at the hands of the hundredth tiger he came across.

 The general, weak yet hopeful, turned to a doctor to cure him of his illness.

Anticipating that he would die, he went to the extent of keeping Sadao in the

country instead of letting him go to the war front like others. The king challenged

death and decided to kill a hundred tigers to ensure his safety.

 In order to protect Sadao from possible arrest because this would leave him

without a doctor, the general offered his personal assassins to murder Tom. The
 king decided to marry a girl from a royal family whose kingdom had a healthy tiger

population. Thus, both of them took extreme measures for their safety, albeit

differently.

 The king was careless and so self-absorbed that he did not kill the 100th tiger

properly, which eventually led him to be killed by a toy tiger instead. The general

behaved similarly because he was so preoccupied with his illness that he forgot to

send the assassins.

 However, this carelessness cost the king his life while the general recovered.

CBSE SureShot Questions The Tiger King Class 12 English 2023

You will have the most frequently asked and answered questions from each chapter of

Vistas from class 12 English (core) for the upcoming final examination . The Tiger King

textual questions and the previous year’s CBSE and HBSE questions are critical for the

examination. The Tiger King was Kalki’s way of explaining how people treat wild animals

with little care.

The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the hero of this story. He may be identified as His

Highness Jamedar-General, “his name was Jung Jung Bahadur,” but he became famous

as the Tiger King. He killed ninety-nine tigers to save his own life due to a saying by a

purohit who declared that he would be killed by a tiger. Kalki explicitly explains the

orthodox nature of a king who kills ninety-nine tigers just to save his own life! Let us

discuss the questions in detail.

CBSE Most Important Short Questions: “The Tiger King”

Reading with Insight(Textual Questions)

Q.1. Who is the Tiger King? Why does he get that name? (SAT, JULY 2019, PRE-

BOARD 2020)

Answer: The Tiger King was the king of Pratibandapuram. His real name was Jang Jang

Bahadur. He got this name because he had killed so many innocent tigers in different

states. The author gave this name to the king to prove the feudal attitude of kings

toward wild animals. The astrologer declared that one day they would die. The small

child asked the chief astrologer to disclose the way the death would come. The

astrologer was surprised to hear this and replied that the death would come from a tiger.

The young prince growled and warned, “Let tigers be aware!” Therefore, he decided to

kill a hundred tigers and got the name “The Tiger King.”

Q.2. What did the royal infant grow up to be?

Answer: The chief astrologer declared that the infant would be a king one day and that

he would be the king of kings, champion of champions, and he would be called the tiger

king. He was brought up by an English nanny, and the prince was tutored by an

Englishman. He became the king at the age of twenty and started killing tigers for his

defense, as it was declared by his chief astrologer that the tiger would be the cause of

his death.

Q.3. What will the Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to kill?

Answer: He would hunt a hundred tigers, and to complete his target, he was ready to do

anything. He was able to kill seventy tigers in the first ten years. The tiger in his state

asked the dewan about the remaining thirty tigers. The Tiger King then decided to marry
a girl from his neighborhood state, where the tigers are in large numbers. The king got

married to a girl from his enemy’s state to have more tigers to hunt.

The king used to kill five or six tigers when he visited his father-in-law. This way, he got

his target completed and he killed ninety-nine tigers.

Q.4. What did the chief astrologer tell to be the cause of the Maharaja’s death?

(HBSE 2010)

Answer: The chief astrologer declared that the king had to die by the hundredth tiger. It

was just a simple satire that the king died due to infections created by a nail from the

wooden tiger. So, we can say that orthodox ideas can’t be supported blindly.

Q.5. When did the king come to know about the prediction of his death? (HBSE

2013)

Answer: Jang Jang Bahadur became a king at the age of twenty and remembered the

prophecy of the chief priest. Soon after becoming the king, he started his journey to kill

the tigers.

Q.6. How did the Maharaja feel when he killed his first tiger? What did the

chief astrologer say on that occasion? (HBSE 2010).

Answer: The tiger The king killed the first tiger and sent for the priest for his comment.

The king was very happy and wanted praise from him. The chief astrologer praised but

reminded the king about the hundredth tiger.

Q.7. What was an unforeseen hurdle that brought the Maharaja’s tiger hunt to

a halt? (HBSE 2019)

Answer: The tiger king killed many tigers in his state. With the extinction of tigers and

the pressure of British officers who wanted to kill tigers, The Maharaja didn’t allow

Britishers to shoot tigers in his state. His empire was in danger in this way, so he sent

some expensive rings to the lady to save it.

Q.8. How did the Tiger king meet his end? or How did the hundredth tiger take

its revenge upon the Tiger king? (HBSE 2019, 2020).

Answer: The King died from an infection caused by a nail in a wooden tiger, not the

tiger itself. The last line, it’s a clear satire on the willfulness of human beings who have

an indifferent attitude towards wild animals. This is the irony of the situation: a king died

not because of a wild animal but of a small nail. The rusty nail, not a tiger, is what kills

the Tiger King. This is a satirical situation that the author made up to show that we need

to respect wild animals or we will die from something small, not the wild animal.

Q.9. What miracle took place when the king was only ten days old? (HBSE

2014).

Answer: ‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are

enemies, therefore, death comes from the Tiger,’’ he explained. As soon as he heard it

pronounced, the crown prince gave a deep growl. Terrifying words emerged from his lips.

‘‘Let tigers beware!’’These were the words spoken by the child and he clearly warned

the tigers that he would kill them soon.

Q.10. What did the king decide to gift his son on his birthday? (HBSE 2014).

Answer: The king was very happy about killing the hundredth tiger, and fortunately, it

was his son’s birthday. So, he decided to gift a wooden tiger to his son on his birthday,

which later became the cause of his death.

Q.11. How did the maharaja manage to save his throne? (HBSE 2018).
Answer: The King was on his journey to kill a hundred tigers. A British officer reached

his kingdom, and he was fond of shooting tigers and getting photographed with the dead

tigers. So, he revealed his wish in front of the king, which was unacceptable to the king

as it might have hindered his plan to kill a hundred tigers. Therefore, the king discussed

the issue with his Dewan. The Maharaja arranged fifty costly diamonds for the officer’s

lady. She kept all the rings and didn’t return a single ring. She thanked the king for the

gifts. The Maharaja had to pay three lakh rupees for the present. Thus, he was able to

save his throne after paying such a heavy bribe to the officer’s wife. Taking and giving

bribes is an offense, but the things that are going on The Maharaja paid the bribe to save

his throne and succeeded in his plans.

Long Answer Word Limit: 125-150

Q. The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the author

employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?

Introductory Paragraph of the Long Answer Question

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

In The Tiger King, Kalki openly criticizes the wealthy for their indifference toward wild

animals. The entire story revolves around the tiger king, who is the main protagonist.

The title explains the author’s intention. The story is a satire on the arrogance of those in

power.

Main Paragraph of the Long Answer Question

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
How can a ten-day-old boy take on the tigers? The author explains the astrologer’s

flattery of His Highness, the Tiger King, who became king at the age of twenty. To save

his life, he begins killing tigers. He was killed not by the tiger but by a nail in a wooden

tiger, and he died from a severe infection. In the final paragraph, the author employs

dramatic irony.

Conclusion Paragraph of the Long Answer Question

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Tiger King is killed by a simple, rusted nail, not a tiger. This is a satirical situation

used by the author to demonstrate his point that we must respect wild animals or we will

be killed by something smaller than the wild animal itself. As a result, The Tiger King is a

satire on the arrogance of those in power, as powerful people will go to any length to

save their own lives.

CBSE Sure-Shot Long Answer Questions The Tiger King Class 12 English 2023

Q.1. The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the

author employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?/(HBSE 2010)

or

Explain the title of The Tiger king.

In The Tiger King, Kalki openly criticizes the wealthy for their indifference toward wild

animals. The entire story revolves around the tiger king, who is the main protagonist.

The title explains the author’s intention. The story is a satire on the arrogance of those in

power.

How can a ten-day-old boy take on the tigers? The author explains the astrologer’s

flattery of His Highness, the Tiger King, who became king at the age of twenty. To save
his life, he begins killing tigers. He was killed not by the tiger but by a nail in a wooden

tiger, and he died from a severe infection. In the final paragraph, the author employs

dramatic irony.

The Tiger King is killed by a simple, rusted nail, not a tiger. This is a satirical situation

used by the author to demonstrate his point that we must respect wild animals or we will

be killed by something smaller than the wild animal itself. As a result, The Tiger King is a

satire on the arrogance of those in power, as powerful people will go to any length to

save their own lives.

Q.2.

Being a wildlife lover, you read the story of “The Tiger King,” and you are

shocked at how rich people are indifferent to wild animals. Explain: What is the

author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness

of human beings? (HBSE 2010)

Kalki considers him the king of kings, “the warrior of warriors, the hero of heroes, the

champion of champions.” But he would die one day, which happens to all human beings

who are born to die, as death is the ultimate. You can’t save yourself even by killing 100

tigers. The Tiger King is a satire on human nature; he is least bothered about the lives of

wild animals and is so cruel as to kill 100 tigers to save his own life.

In The Tiger King, Kalki makes it clear that the rich are wrong for not caring about wild

animals. The main character of the story is the tiger king, who is at the center of the

plot. The title shows what the author wanted to say. The story is a joke about how

arrogant people in power are. How can a 10-day-old boy take on the tigers? To save

himself, he starts killing tigers. It was the king’s will to kill a hundred tigers for the sake

of his life. In the end, how did he die? He died from an infection caused by a nail in a
wooden tiger, not the tiger itself. The last line is a clear satire on the willfulness of

human beings who have an indifferent attitude toward wild animals.

This is the irony of the situation: a king died not because of a wild animal but because of

a small nail. The rusty nail, not a tiger, is what kills the Tiger King. This is a satirical

situation that the author made up to show that we need to respect wild animals or we

will die from something small, not the wild animal.

Q. 3. Why did the king take a vow to kill one hundred tigers? (HBSE 2014,

2020).

OR

Q.3.Give a brief account of the killing of ninety tigers by the king? (HBSE 2017;

HYT, SEPT.2019).

In The Tiger King, Kalki criticizes the rich people for being indifferent toward wild

animals. The whole story revolves around the tiger king, who is the chief protagonist of

the story. The title explains the intention of the author. The story is a satire on the

conceit of the people who are in power. How can a boy of ten days old challenge the

tigers?

The author explains the flattery of the astrologer in front of His Highness, the Tiger King,

who became the king at the age of twenty. He starts killing tigers to save his life. The

story is a joke about how arrogant people in power are. How can a 10-day-old boy take

on the tigers? To save himself, he starts killing tigers. It was the king’s will to kill a

hundred tigers for the sake of his life. In the end, how did he die? He died from an

infection caused by a nail in a wooden tiger, not the tiger itself.

He was not killed by the tiger but by a nail in a wooden tiger and got a heavy infection

and died. The author employs dramatic irony in the last. The Tiger King is killed not by a

tiger but by a simple rusted nail. This is a satirical situation that the author used to prove
his point that we must respect wild animals, otherwise our death will be by a small thing

and not by the wild animal itself.

Q.4.Giving a bribe is an evil practice. How did the Tiger king bribe the British

Officer to save his kingdom? How do you view this act of his? (HBSE 2019).

Taking and giving bribes is an offense, but the things that are going on are. The

Maharaja paid the bribe to save his throne and succeeded in his plans. The tigress The

King was on his way to slaughter a hundred tigers. A British officer arrived in his kingdom

and enjoyed shooting tigers and having his picture taken with dead tigers.

As a result, he revealed his wish to the king, which was unacceptable to the king

because it could have jeopardized his plan to kill a hundred tigers. As a result, the king

discussed the matter with his Dewan. The Maharaja arranged for the officer’s lady to

receive fifty expensive diamonds. She kept all of the rings and did not return even one.

She expressed her gratitude to the king for the gifts. The Maharaja was required to pay

three lakh rupees for the gift. After paying such a large bribe to the officer’s wife, he was

able to save his throne.

Thus, the bribe has become an inseparable part of our system, and we are not immune

to them. There are good people in our system, but they are not counted.

CBSE Sure-Shot Additional Short Questions The Tiger King Class 12 English

2023

Additional Short Answer Type Questions

Q.1. Who is the main protagonist of the story ‘The Tiger King’? What was his

famous name?

Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the main protagonist of this story.

He was known by many names as His Highness Jamedar-General, Khiledar-

Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana Samrat, and Sir

Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur. But he was most famous by the name The Tiger King.

Q.2. What was the matter of extraordinary interest at the beginning of the

story?

Ans. The author disclosed the interesting part at the beginning of the story.

The King was a man of great strength. The astrologer declared in the

beginning when the prince was born. The astrologer declared that the king

would die one day.

Q.3. What was the extraordinary incident that happened and what was its

result?

Ans. The astrologer declared that the king would die one day. Then a miracle

happened. The small boy of ten days spoke some words ” O wise prophets!”

Everyone got stunned to hear those words.

1. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. 1*4=4

“The child will grow up to become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes, champion of

champions. But…” they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to continue,

the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret that should not be revealed at all. And

yet we are forced to speak out. The child born under this star will one day have to meet

its death.” At that very moment, a great miracle took place. An astonishing phrase

emerged from the lips of the ten-day old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!’’

Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction. They looked wildly at each other and blinked.

‘‘O wise prophets! It was I who spoke.’’ This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was

the infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words so clearly.

i. List the writer’s purpose for involving the astrologer(…) in this extract. 1
Answer: The author wants us to realize that the kings want to know about their future.

ii. Select the option that best describes Tiger King in the extract.

A. Warrior of warrior

B. hero of heroes

C. champion of champions

D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

iii. What did the chief astrologer say about the life of the king?

A.He Can’t be killed

B. He will die one day

C. Both A and B

D. All of the above

Answer: B. He will die one day

iv. What was the one significant thing that happened “O wise prophets!’’ “Everyone

stood transfixed in stupefaction.”

Answer: An astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day old Jilani Jung Jung

Bahadur, “O wise prophets!’’

2 Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. 1*4=4

The chief astrologer took his finger off his nose and fixed his eyes upon the little prince.

‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are enemies,

therefore, death comes from the Tiger,’’ he explained. What did the royal infant grow up

to be? You may think that crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur was thrown into a quake when

he heard the word ‘Tiger’.

That was exactly what did not happen. As soon as he heard it pronounced, the crown

prince gave a deep growl. Terrifying words emerged from his lips. ‘‘Let tigers beware!’’

i. What did the astrologer do?

Answer: The chief astrologer took his finger off his nose and fixed his eyes upon the

little prince.

ii. What did the astrologer say?

Answer: ‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are enemies,

therefore, death comes from the Tiger.”

iii. “As soon as he heard it pronounced, the crown prince gave a deep growl.” What does

the phrase “deep growl” mean?

A. Warrior of warrior

B. to utter a deep guttural sound of anger or hostility.

C. spoke peacefully

D. All of the above

Answer: B. to utter a deep guttural sound of anger or hostility.

iv. Terrifying words emerged from his lips…

A. ‘‘Let tigers beware!’’

B. He will not kill tigers

C. He will kill all the tigers

D. Both A and C

Answer: D. Both A and C

3 Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. 1*4=4

Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. No other miracle

marked his childhood days apart from the event already described. The boy drank the

milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an

Englishman, and saw nothing but English films — exactly as the crown princes of all the

other Indian states did. When he came of age at twenty, the State, which had been with

the Court of Wards until then, came into his hands

i. What was the real name of the king?

Answer: The real name of the king was Jung Jung Bahadur.

ii. When did he become a king?

Answer: The tiger king became a king at the age of 20.

iii. Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. Is there

anything happened to him?

A. No other miracle marked his childhood days

B. The boy drank the milk of an English cow

C. He killed the tigers in his childhood.

D. Both A and B

Answer: D. Both A and B

iv. What exactly the crown prince was doing during his childhood.

A. The boy drank the milk of an English cow

B. was brought up by an English nanny

C. tutored in English

D. All are true

Answer: D. All are true

4. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. 1*4=4

There were innumerable forests in the Pratibandapuram State. They had tigers in them.

The Maharaja knew the old saying, ‘You may kill even a cow in self-defense. There could

certainly be no objection to killing tigers in self-defense. The Maharaja started on a tiger

hunt. The Maharaja was thrilled beyond measure when he killed his first tiger. He sent

for the State astrologer and showed him the dead beast. ‘‘What do you say now?’’ he

demanded. ‘‘Your majesty may kill ninety-nine tigers in the same manner. But…’’ the

astrologer drawled. ‘‘But what? Speak without fear.’’ “But you must be very careful with

the hundredth tiger.’’

i. What was the name of the kingdom?

Answer: Jung Jung Bahadur was the king of the Pratibandapuram State.

ii. What was the old saying?

Answer: ‘You may kill even a cow in self-defense.

iii. There could certainly be no objection to killing tigers in self-defense. What did the

writer want to convey?

A. Kings have prerogative to kill the tigers

B. The Maharaja was thrilled beyond measure when he killed his first tiger.

C. He killed the tigers in his childhood.

D. Both A and B

Answer: D. Both A and B

iv. ‘‘Your majesty may kill ninety-nine tigers in the same manner. But…’’ What does it

mean?

A. The king must be very careful with the hundredth tiger

B. The kings will be killed by the hundredth tiger.

C. Both A and B

D. All are true

Answer: C. Both A and B

5. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. 1*4=4

Because he prevented a British officer from fulfilling his desire, the Maharaja stood in

danger of losing his kingdom itself. The Maharaja and the dewan held deliberations over

this issue. As a result, a telegram was dispatched forthwith to a famous British company

of jewelers in Calcutta. ‘Send samples of expensive diamond rings of different designs.’

Some fifty rings arrived. The Maharaja sent the whole lot to the British officer’s good

lady. The king and the minister expected the duraisani to choose one or two rings and

send the rest back. Within no time at all the duraisani sent her reply: ‘Thank you very

much for your gifts.’ In two days a bill for three lakh of rupees came from the British
jewellers. The Maharaja was happy that though he had lost three lakh of rupees, he had

managed to retain his kingdom

i. What did the king do with the British officer?

Answer: Jung Jung Bahadur prevented a British officer from tiger hunting.

ii. What was the result of not allowing the officer to hunt?

Answer: The Maharaja stood in danger of losing his kingdom.

iii.‘Send samples of expensive diamond rings of different designs.’ What did the writer

want to convey?

A. British officer wanted a huge bribe from the king

B. The King and dewans asked to send best jewelery for the wife of the officer

C. They wanted to keep the throne safe.

D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

iv. Why did The Maharaja send the whole lot to the British officer’s good lady?

A. The king wanted to save his kingdom by bribing the officer’s wife.

B. The King was afraid as he felt insecure from the tigers.

C. Both A and B

D. All are true

Answer: C. Both A and B

6 Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. 1*4=4

On that day father and son played with that tiny little wooden tiger. It had been carved

by an unskilled carpenter. Its surface was rough; tiny slivers of wood stood up like quills

all over it. One of those slivers pierced the Maharaja’s right hand. He pulled it out with

his left hand and continued to play with the prince. The next day, infection flared in the

Maharaja’s right hand. In four days, it developed into a suppurating sore which spread all

over the arm. Three famous surgeons were brought in from Madras. After holding a
consultation they decided to operate. The

operation took place. The three surgeons who performed it came out of the theatre and

announced, “The operation was successful. The Maharaja is dead.” In this manner the

hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.

i. What was the day when the king and the son were playing with the tiny little wooden

tiger?

Answer: It was his son’s birthday when the king and the son were playing with the tiny

little wooden tiger.

ii. What was the result of playing with the tiny little wooden tiger?

Answer: One of those slivers pierced the Maharaja’s right hand.

iii. ‘The next day, infection flared in the Maharaja’s right hand. ‘ What happened to the

king due to infection?

A. The king was treated and nothing happened.

B. The infection got spread and became the cause of the death of the king.

C. Three famous surgeons were brought in from Madras to operate and the operation

was successful.

D. Both A and B

Answer: D. Both A and B

iv. “The operation was successful. The Maharaja is dead.” Why did the author use this

phrase?

A. The author felt very bad that the king couldn’t be saved.

B. The author wanted to convey that it was a small toy that killed a powerful king!

C. Both A and B

D. All are true

Answer: B. The author wanted to convey that it was a small toy that killed a powerful

king!