Please refer to below Exam Question for Class 10 English Chapter 7 The tale of custard the dragon. These questions and answers have been prepared by expert Class 10 English teachers based on the latest NCERT Book for Class 10 English and examination guidelines issued by CBSE, NCERT, and KVS. We have provided Class 10 English exam questions for all chapters in your textbooks. You will be able to easily learn problems and solutions which are expected to come in the upcoming class tests and exams for standard 10th.

Chapter 7 The tale of custard the dragon Class 10 English Exam Question

All questions and answers provided below for Exam Question Class 10 English Chapter 7 The tale of custard the dragon are very important and should be revised daily.

Exam Question Class 10 English Chapter 7 The tale of custard the dragon

Short Answer Type Questions :

Question. How did Custard prove that he was not a coward?
Ans. gobbling up the pirate — all were afraid.

Question. Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon.
Ans. In the third stanza, the poet describes the appearance of the dragon, Custard. Custard had big sharp teeth. He had spikes on the top of him. There were scales underneath. His mouth spat fire and looked like a fireplace. His long nose resembled a chimney. And he had ‘daggers’ on his toes.

Question. How did they react when they heard a nasty sound?
Ans. Suddenly, Belinda and her pets heard a nasty sound. They were highly surprised. Mustard growled and Ink mewed. Belinda, hereself gave a cry of disbelief. Actually, it was the sound of a pirate climbing through the window.

Question. Why did Belinda tickle Custard mercilessly? Why was he teased as ‘Percival’?
Ans. Belinda had a very poor opinion of Custard. She considered him a coward and always taunted and tickled him for being so. All other pets, Ink, Blink and Mustard mocked at Custard’s timidity and lack of courage. Tauntingly, they called him Percival, who was a brave knight of King Arthur.

Question. How did Belinda and her pets behave when the pirate was killed?
Ans. Belinda became so happy that she embraced Custard intimately. Her pets also celebrated the death of the pirate by dancing around Custard joyfully. However, they gave no credit to Custard for his heroic feat. On the other hand, they indulged in self-praise and self-patting.

Question. How did Belinda and her pets react on seeing the pirate?
Ans. Belinda and her pets were completely terrified on seeing the pirate. Belinda became pale with fear. She started crying for help. The dog Mustard fled with a terrified yelp. Ink hid himself and Blink saved himself by entering a hole.

Question. What were the names of Belinda’s pets? Do their names reflect their personalities?
Ans. Belinda has four pets. They are: a little black kitten, Ink, a little yellow dog, Mustard, a grey mouse named Blink and a dragon called Custard. Yes, their names reflect their colours and traits. The black kitten Ink is black like ink. Mustard, the dog is yellow like mustard flowers. The cowardly Custard has no strength of character like the dish, custard.

Question. How is the bravery of Belinda and her pets described in the poem? Do they really prove their courage and bravery?
Ans. Belinda and her pets are projected as very courageous and brave in the poem. Belinda is braver than a barrel of bears. Ink and Blink could chase even lions down the stairs. Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage. Only Custard, the dragon was considered to be timid and cowardly. Ironically, all proved cowards except Custard who fought against and swallowed the pirate.

Question. How did Custard face the pirate differently than Belinda and her pets?
Ans. While Belinda herself was terrified on seeing the pirate, her other pets also behaved quite cowardly. While they fled away in fear, Custard faced the pirate like a hero. He attacked the pirate with his tall tail. He pounced upon the pirate as a robin pounces upon an insect. He swallowed the pirate within no time.

Question. “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful…” WWhy?
Ans. Belinda didn’t have a good opinion of Custard, the dragon — thought to be a coward —always worried for his safety — Belinda — always mocked and tickled Custard — taunted him — cowardice — quite merciless in tickling, taunting and troubling him.

Question. This poem, in ballad form, tells a story. Have you come across any such modern song or lyric that tells a story? If you know one, tell it to the class. Collect such songs as a project.
Ans. Ballad — story told in verse or poetry — simply a narrative poem or song — Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Ballad of East and West’ — William Butler Yeats’ ‘The Ballad of Moll Magee’ — Ezra Pound’s ‘Ballads of the Goodly Fere’.

Question. Describe the outwardly appearance of Custard, the dragon. Why did he always cry for a nice safe cage?
Ans. Custard — picture of power and strength — teeth were big and sharp — spikes on top of him — mouth spat fire — a big nose that resembled a chimney — daggers on his toes — Custard — didn’t possess the strength of character — lacked courage — not courage of his real strength — always begged — nice safe cage — protection.

Question. Do you find ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ to be a serious or a light-hearted poem?
Give reasons to support your answer. 
Ans. Basically Ogden Nash’s, ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ has been written for children. It is a humorous poem. The poet tries to create a light-hearted atmosphere through the use of words and sounds which may tickle the young readers. All pet names Ink, Blink, Mustard and Custard are funny names.
However, the poet gives quite a serious message. The poem highlights that outwardly strength and power may not convince cowardly people like Custard that they are not cowards. Self-confidence and self-respect are the traits which Custard, the dragon lacks in him.

Question. Why did Belinda and her pets prove ungrateful to Custard who killed the pirate? Why did they again start calling him timid and cowardly?
Ans. Belinda and her pets — temporary appreciation of Custard’s heroic feat. Belinda — embraced other pets — danced around him — the end of it — again started indulging in self-patting and self-praise. They showed their ungratefulness by undermining and not acknowledging Custard’s heroic fight with the pirate.

Question. Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they mean. 
Can you trace some images used in the poem?
Ans. Writers, particularly poets, use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they mean. Some words that give such images are in the poem:
(i) realio, trulio, little pet dragon
(ii) Custard the dragon
(iii) chimney for a nose
(iv) daggers on toes

Question. What lesson or the message does the poet seem to give to the readers?
Ans. The poet gives a definite message. Merely outer appearances and physical strength don’t make a person brave. One should have the strength of mind and self-confidence to be really great. The dragon, Custard had a lot of physical strength and he swallowed the pirate. In spite of that, he was bullied and mocked at for his timidity and cowardly behaviour.

Question. Describe the dreadful appearance of the pirate.
Ans. Pirate — looked quite dreadful and dominating — carried a pistol in his left as well as in right hand — a shining dagger in his mouth — beard black — one of his legs was of wood — intentions — terrible.

Question. Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called the ‘‘cowardly dragon’’?
Ans. Custard, the dragon was not conscious of his strength. He was constantly worried about his safety. He always cried and begged for a nice safe cage in case he was in danger.
Outwardly, the dragon had big sharp teeth. He had spikes on the top and scales underneath. He spat fire and his mouth looked like a fireplace. He looked very ferocious and strong. Unfortunately, he was not conscious of his power and strength. He swallowed the pirate but couldn’t convince himself that he was not a coward.

Long Answer Type Questions :

Question. In spite of being so powerful and displaying rare bravery of killing and swallowing the pirate, why does the dragon Custard taunted as being a coward always asking for a nice
safe cage? 
Ans. No doubt, Custard has a lot of physical strength. Even his exterior was quite formidable. He had big sharp teeth. There were spikes on his top. There were scales underneath. His mouth was like a fireplace always spitting fire. He proved his strength and bravery when he encountered the terrible pirate. The pirate had two pistols and a dagger but failed to hurt or overpower Custard. The dragon fought valiantly and swallowed the pirate within no time.
Custard is constantly ridiculed and taunted by the weaker and more cowardly pets of Belinda. The reason was simple. Custard had no self-respect. Nor was he aware of his great strength. He had a very low opinion of himself. He always asked for a nice safe cage for his protection. This was the reason that he was always taunted and ridiculed as a coward.

Question. The poet has employed many poetic devices in the poem. For example: “Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon”—the poetic device here is asimile. Can you, with your partner, list some more poetic devices used in the poem?
Ans. 

Question. Evaluate Ogden Nash’s ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ as a ballad. What message does the poet give to the readers in this poem?
Ans. Ballads — stories told in verse. Tales of adventures and heroism — the poet — present — the encounter of Custard and the pirate — typical spirit of a ballad — four-line stanzas — rhyme scheme: aa, bb throughout the poem.
Ogden Nash — a subtle message to the readers — the fate of Custard, the dragon — world of deceit, self -confidence, self-dependence — self-respect — essentials — earn your rightful place — your peers — presence of physical strength — not enough — more important point — you must be conscious of your strength — must be fully aware — fact that many others — inferior in strength and power — no right to taunt and ridicule you.

Question. Who are the characters in the poem? List them with their pet names.
Ans. There are six characters described in the poem.
(i) There is a girl and her name is Belinda.
(ii) There is a black kitten. His pet name is Ink.
(iii) There is a little grey mouse. His pet name is Blink.
(iv) There is a little yellow dog and his pet name is Mustard.
(e) There is a pet dragon. He is called Custard.
(f) There is a pirate who is killed and swallowed by the dragon.

Extract Based Questions :

1. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

Belinda lived in a little white house
With a little black kitten and a little grey mouse,
and a little yellow dog and a little red wagon,
And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.
Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink
and the little grey mouse, she called him Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.

Question. Where did Belinda live?
Ans. Belinda lived with her four pets in a little white house.

Question. Why did the poet coin the two words?
Ans. He coined the two words in order to enhance the comical effect of the poem.

Question. Name her four pets.
Ans. Belinda had a kitten, a mouse, a dog and a dragon as pets.

Question. What did the poet mean by radio and trulis?
Ans. The poet has coined these words. By, ‘realio’ he means, ‘really’ and by ‘trulio’ he means ‘truly’.

Question. What were the colors of her pets.
Ans. The kitten was black, the little mouse was grey and the little dog was yellow in color.

2. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”

Question. Pick one simile from the given passage.
Ans. Any one of the following:-
(a) snorting like an engine,
(b) clashed his tail like irons.
(c) went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.

Question. Why has the poet used the work ‘trickled’?
Ans. The poet has used the word ‘trickled’ because ink is liquid and flows, Ink’s running away has this been called ‘tricling’.

Question. What did the poet mean when he said ‘‘Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household’’?
Ans. He meant that Ink was so frightened on seeing the pirate that he ran and hid in the leasement of the house.

Question. What did custard do to the pirate?
Ans. He gobbled up the pirate like a robin would gobble a worm.

Question. Why did custard snort and jump like an engine?
Ans. Custard snorted and jumped like an engine because he was angry at the sight of the pirate.

3. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth,
And spikes on top of him and scales underneath,
Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose,
And realio, trulio, daggers on his toes.
Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

Question. How brave was Belinda?
Ans. Belinda was a brave as a banel full of bears.

Question. Were Ink and Blink brave?
Ans. Yes, Ink and Blink were as brave as a tiger in a rage.

Question. Describe Custard the pet dragon.
Ans. Custard had sharp teeth, spikes on his back with dry scales, a big fiery red mouth, a long sharp nose and claw’s as sharp as dagger.

Question. Which figure of speech is used in the line ‘Belinda was as brave as a bravel full of bears.’’?
Ans. The poet has used allteration where he has used the ‘b’ round repeadly.

Question. How did the poet describe Mustard’s bravery?
Ans. Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage.