The Friendly Mongoose Class 6 Extra Questions and Answers Free PDF Download
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 6 English The Friendly Mongoose - 2025-26
1. Why did the farmer bring a baby mongoose into the house?
The farmer and his wife wanted a companion for their infant son. They believed that as their son grew, the mongoose would grow alongside him, becoming a loyal friend and playmate. The farmer brought the baby mongoose home with the hope that it would protect and provide company for their child throughout his life.
2. What is the most important lesson that the story 'The Friendly Mongoose' teaches students?
The most crucial lesson from this story is the danger of acting in haste without thinking. The farmer's wife, seeing blood on the mongoose, immediately jumped to the worst conclusion and killed the loyal animal. Her rash action led to immense regret. The story teaches us to analyse a situation carefully and not let our emotions, like anger or fear, lead to tragic mistakes.
3. How did the farmer's wife's reaction to the blood-stained mongoose reveal the story's central theme?
The farmer's wife's reaction is central to the story's theme. When she saw the mongoose with a bloody mouth and paws, her pre-existing distrust took over. Instead of investigating, she was blinded by rage and fear, assuming the mongoose had harmed her son. She immediately killed it with her heavy basket. This impulsive act, born from a hasty judgement, directly highlights the story's main theme: the devastating consequences of acting without knowing the full truth.
4. For the CBSE 2025-26 exams, what kind of short-answer questions are expected from this chapter?
For the 2025-26 exams, students can expect short-answer questions (typically for 2-3 marks) focusing on key plot points and character motivations. Important areas include:
- The reason the mongoose was brought home.
- The incident with the snake and how the mongoose saved the baby.
- The farmer's wife's feelings of regret and repentance at the end.
- The description of the mongoose as a fully grown animal.
5. Why was the farmer’s wife initially hesitant to leave her baby alone with the mongoose?
The farmer's wife was hesitant because, despite the mongoose being a friendly pet, she remembered that it was fundamentally a wild animal. She expressed her fear to her husband, stating, "You know, a mongoose is an animal after all." This shows her underlying worry that the animal's instincts might one day take over, posing a potential threat to her helpless baby. Her fear, while understandable, was ultimately misplaced.
6. Describe the fight between the mongoose and the snake. Why is this event the climax of the story?
While the farmer's wife was away, a black cobra entered the house, heading towards the sleeping baby. The mongoose, acting on its duty to protect the child, fiercely attacked the snake. After a violent and swift battle, the mongoose killed the cobra. This event is the climax because it is the ultimate test of the mongoose's loyalty and the pivotal event that is tragically misinterpreted by the farmer's wife, leading directly to the story's tragic conclusion.
7. How did the farmer's wife show her repentance after realising her mistake?
After finding her baby safe and seeing the dead snake, the farmer's wife realised her terrible mistake. She ran back outside to the mongoose, but it was too late. The story describes her crying and touching the mongoose, overcome with grief. Her weeping and staring long at the dead mongoose are expressions of her deep repentance and sorrow for her hasty, fatal action.
8. What might have happened differently if the farmer had returned home before his wife? Explain.
If the farmer had returned first, the story's outcome would have been completely different. Unlike his wife, the farmer had complete trust in the mongoose. He likely would have seen the dead snake and understood immediately that the mongoose had saved his son. He would have praised the mongoose's bravery. The tragic misunderstanding would have been avoided, and the mongoose would have been celebrated as a hero instead of being killed, reinforcing the family's bond with their loyal pet.
