Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle — Class 7 English Poorvi Questions and Answers

Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle questions and answers for Class 7 Poorvi explain the humorous story, Polynesia’s teaching and the language exercises. Check the corrected hidden-animal answers, listening details and sample notice with your textbook.

Class: 7 Subject: English Book: Poorvi Unit: 2 – Wit and Humour Type: Story (Hugh Lofting) Source copy: Reprint 2026–27

Source: NCERT Poorvi, Grade 7, Unit 2, printed pages 43–58 (listening transcript 88); supplied reprint 2026–27. Open-ended and personal responses are examples to adapt. These explanations are study support, not an official NCERT answer key.

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About the chapter

“Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle” is a delightful, humorous story from Unit 2, ‘Wit and Humour’. It is an extract from Hugh Lofting’s famous book about Doctor John Dolittle, a kind people’s doctor who lives in the little town of Puddleby. On the advice of the Cat’s-food-Man and his clever parrot, Polynesia, the doctor learns that animals have their own language. Polynesia teaches him bird and animal speech, and he gives up treating people to become an animal doctor instead. From a plough horse who needs green spectacles to harvest mice waiting in a tunnel, all creatures soon flock to his garden, and Dr. Dolittle becomes famous among animals all over the world.

About the author

NCERT credits this fictional extract to Hugh Lofting. John Dolittle learns animal languages from Polynesia and becomes an animal doctor. The story uses fantasy and humour to encourage attention and kindness towards animals.

Doctor Dolittle fitting green spectacles to a brown horse, with Polynesia the parrot and Jip the dog nearby
Original imagined scene from the humorous fantasy. The green spectacles follow the story and are not advice for treating real animals.

Green spectacles and instant communication are features of the fantasy. The story is not a guide to treating a real horse’s eye problem.

Summary

Doctor Dolittle was sitting in his kitchen one rainy day, talking to the Cat’s-food-Man, who had come with a stomach-ache. The man suggested that the doctor should give up treating people and become an animal doctor instead, because Dolittle understood animals far better than the local vets did. After the man left, the doctor’s parrot, Polynesia, encouraged the same idea. She surprised the doctor by revealing that animals can talk – parrots in both people’s language and bird language – and even taught him that animals speak with their ears, feet and tails, not only their mouths.

Excited by this discovery, the doctor fetched a book and pencil and wrote down the ‘Birds’ A.B.C.’ as Polynesia patiently dictated bird words all afternoon. With her help he soon learned animal language so well that he could talk to creatures himself and understand everything they said. He then gave up being a people’s doctor altogether.

Once word spread, old ladies brought their over-fed pugs and poodles, and farmers came from miles away with sick cows and sheep. A plough horse explained that he was going blind in one eye and simply needed green spectacles – something the stupid vet over the hill had never understood. The doctor fitted him with green glasses, and soon farm animals wearing spectacles became a common sight around Puddleby. Because he could speak their language, treating animals became easy, and they told their friends. Soon his garden was always crowded, so he made separate doors for horses, cows and sheep, and even a tiny tunnel for the mice. In a few years, every living thing for miles knew of John Dolittle, M.D., and the migrating birds carried his fame to foreign lands. He became famous among animals all over the world, and he was very happy with his life.

Theme & message

The central theme is the power of understanding, communication and compassion towards animals. By taking the time to truly ‘listen’ to animals – even in their silent body language – Dr. Dolittle is able to heal them where others fail. The story, told with gentle humour, also shows the value of listening to different viewpoints (the Cat’s-food-Man’s and Polynesia’s advice) and of treating every living being with kindness and respect. Its light, witty tone reminds us that real skill comes not just from knowledge, but from patience, empathy and a willingness to understand others.

Word meanings

WordEnglish meaningHindi meaning
scholara learned personविद्वान / पंडित
crackera thin, dry biscuit usually eaten with cheeseएक पतला, सूखा बिस्कुट
vet (veterinarian)a doctor who treats animalsपशु चिकित्सक
porridgea soft food made by boiling oats in water or milkदलिया / लपसी
countrysiderural area away from townsग्रामीण इलाका / देहात
cellara room below ground level often used for storageतहखाना / भू-गृह
spectaclesa pair of glasses worn to help one seeचश्मा / ऌंक
plough horsea strong horse used to pull a ploughहल खींचने वाला घोड़ा
twitchingmaking small, sudden movementsफड़कना / सिकुड़ना
badgersburrowing wild animals with black-and-white striped headsबिज्जू (एक जंगली जीव)
harvest micetiny field mice found among cropsखेत में पाए जाने वाले छोटे चूहे
flowerpotscontainers in which plants are grownगमले / फूलदान
windowsillthe ledge at the bottom of a windowखिड़की की देहली
famousknown about by many peopleप्रसिद्ध / मशहूर
excitedvery enthusiastic and eagerउत्साहित / रोमांचित
crumbsvery small pieces of bread or biscuitमुलायम / चूरा
foreign landscountries other than one’s ownविदेशी / पराये देश

Let us discuss

Part I – Let us discuss

I. Complete the following sentence by selecting a suitable reason.The Cat’s-food-Man suggests to Doctor Dolittle that he should become an animal doctor because he believes that Dolittle ______. (1. earns less fee by treating human patients / 2. enjoys the company of animals as they speak less / 3. dislikes spending time with human patients / 4. knows more about animals than the local veterinarians)

ANSWER4. knows more about animals than the local veterinarians. The Cat’s-food-Man tells the doctor, “you know all about animals—much more than what these vets here do,” and praises his wonderful book about cats. This is why he urges Dolittle to treat animals.

II. Fill in the blanks by choosing the suitable option given in the brackets.Doctor Dolittle reacts to Polynesia’s information about animal languages with both excitement and ______ (certainty/curiosity). He rushes to ______ (write/memorise) the bird words she provides and is interested in learning more.

ANSWERDoctor Dolittle reacts to Polynesia’s information with both excitement and curiosity. He rushes to write the bird words she provides and is interested in learning more.

III. Do you think Doctor Dolittle would be famous as an animal doctor? If yes, why? If not, why not?

ANSWERYes, Doctor Dolittle would certainly become famous as an animal doctor. Unlike other vets, he could actually understand animal language, so the animals could tell him exactly where the pain was and how they felt. This made diagnosing and curing them quick and accurate. Such a rare and kind gift would soon make him beloved and well-known among all creatures, near and far.

Part II – Let us discuss

I. What became a common sight in Puddleby after Doctor Dolittle started treating animals?1. Humans talking to farm animals / 2. Farm animals wearing glasses / 3. Farm animals learning bird language / 4. Birds riding atop farm animals

ANSWER2. Farm animals wearing glasses. After the plough horse was given green spectacles, “it became a common sight to see farm animals wearing glasses in the countryside, round Puddleby; and a blind horse was a thing unknown.”

II. What challenges do you think Doctor Dolittle might face if more and more animals come to him for help?1. How might he overcome these challenges to ensure that he provides good treatment?

ANSWER As more and more animals arrived, Doctor Dolittle would face a heavy rush of patients crowding his garden, a shortage of time and space, and the difficulty of treating many different kinds of creatures – from huge horses to tiny harvest mice – all at once. There could also be a strain on his supplies of medicines and spectacles. How he might overcome them: He could organise the animals properly, just as he did by making separate doors for horses, cows and sheep and a tiny tunnel for the mice, so each kind waits in turn. He might fix appointment days (like asking the horse to ‘come in again Tuesday’), train helpers or kind animals like Polynesia to assist him, and keep his medicines and spectacles ready in stock so that every animal still gets careful, individual attention.

III. Arrange the following events in correct order according to the story. (Two have been done for you: (i) = event 3 and (ii) = event 6.)

ANSWER – correct order 1. (Event 3) A man with a stomach-ache visits Doctor Dolittle and suggests he should treat animals instead of people. 2. (Event 6) The parrot, Polynesia, encourages Doctor Dolittle to become an animal doctor, revealing that animals can talk. 3. (Event 4) Polynesia teaches Doctor Dolittle animal languages, and he starts understanding and communicating with animals. 4. (Event 1) Doctor Dolittle decides to stop being a doctor for people and becomes a doctor for animals. 5. (Event 10) Word spreads, and people start bringing their sick pets and farm animals to Doctor Dolittle for treatment. 6. (Event 5) A plough horse with vision problems visits Doctor Dolittle, who prescribes green spectacles, to improve the horse’s eyesight. 7. (Event 8) Doctor Dolittle’s ability to communicate with animals helps him diagnose and treat their illnesses effectively. 8. (Event 2) Animals from near and far come to Doctor Dolittle for help, crowding his garden. 9. (Event 7) Doctor Dolittle installs special doors for different animals to enter his house for treatment. 10. (Event 9) Doctor Dolittle gains fame among animals worldwide, and they come to him from various places for his help. So the order is: 3 → 6 → 4 → 1 → 10 → 5 → 8 → 2 → 7 → 9.

Let us think and reflect

I.1. Extract – “If I say, ‘Polly wants a cracker’, you understand me. But hear this: Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee?” … “What would have been the good?” said Polynesia, dusting some cracker crumbs off her left wing. “You wouldn’t have understood me if I had.”

ANSWER (i) In the line “Good Gracious!” cried the Doctor, the expression ‘Good Gracious’ can be replaced by B. gosh! (It expresses surprise.) (ii) Polynesia had never used bird language with the Doctor earlier because, as she herself says, he would not have understood her if she had – until now he did not know that birds had a language of their own, so it would have been of no use. (iii) True. Polynesia had been munching on a food item while talking – she is described ‘dusting some cracker crumbs off her left wing’, which shows she had been eating crackers. (iv) According to the extract, Doctor Dolittle felt B. surprised. He exclaims “Good Gracious!” and “My! You don’t say so!”, showing his amazement at what Polynesia revealed.

I.2. Extract – “I would like a pair like yours,” said the horse—“only green…” … “it takes a much cleverer man to be a really good animal doctor than it does to be a good people’s doctor.”

ANSWER (i) The word from the extract that completes the analogy “digging : flower bed :: ______ : field” is ploughing. (Just as one digs a flower bed, one ploughs a field – the horse mentions ‘while I’m ploughing the field’.) (ii) Doctor Dolittle’s attitude in the extract is C. understanding. He understands the horse’s need and agrees to provide the requested green spectacles. (iii) Based on the extract, we can conclude that doctors take animals for granted because the animals cannot complain in human language about their pain, so people wrongly assume that anyone can treat them and that their suffering does not matter. (iv) Yes, I agree with the concluding sentence of the extract. I agree that veterinary work demands careful observation because animals cannot describe symptoms in human words. However, both human and animal medicine require specialised skill; the horse’s humorous comparison is not a proven ranking of professions. The doctor must observe carefully, understand their behaviour and feelings, and diagnose without being told – which is far harder than treating a person who can explain exactly what is wrong.

II. Answer the following questions.

ANSWER 1. How can we say that Polynesia was a good trainer of animal language? Polynesia was patient, clear and encouraging. She first proved that birds have a real language, then sat on the kitchen table all afternoon ‘giving him bird words to put down in the book’, going slowly when the Doctor asked. She also explained that animals talk with their ears, feet and tails, not only their mouths – teaching him to ‘read’ their body language. Thanks to her good training, he soon learned the language so well that he could talk to animals himself. 2. Explain how Doctor Dolittle gave equal and individual attention to each animal who came to him for treatment. Doctor Dolittle treated every creature with the same care, big or small. He gave the plough horse exactly the green spectacles he wanted, and he listened to each animal tell him where the pain was. When his garden became crowded, he made separate doors for horses, cows and sheep, and even a tiny tunnel for the mice, who ‘waited patiently in rows’ for him to come round to them. This shows he never ignored the smaller animals but attended to each one individually. 3. How does Doctor Dolittle’s readiness to follow the parrot’s advice highlight the importance of listening to different viewpoints? The doctor did not dismiss the parrot simply because she was a bird; he listened with an open mind, grew excited and even wrote down what she taught. This humility and readiness to learn from another’s viewpoint completely changed his life for the better and made him famous. It shows that wisdom and good ideas can come from anyone – even those we might overlook – and that listening to different perspectives helps us grow. 4. Which qualities of Doctor Dolittle made him famous among the animals? Explain with evidence from the text. His kindness, patience, curiosity and skill made him famous. He was eager to learn animal language, rushing for a book and pencil to write down bird words. He was respectful and attentive, fitting the horse with green glasses and curing every animal that came. Because he understood their language, ‘it was easy for him to cure them’, and the animals told their friends. Even migrating birds carried his fame to foreign lands, so he became famous among animals all over the world. 5. What changes do you think would happen in the world if people suddenly gained the ability like Doctor Dolittle, to understand and communicate with animals? (Sample) If people could understand animals, the world would become far kinder and more caring. We could know when animals were hungry, hurt or frightened and help them at once, so cruelty and neglect would reduce. Veterinary treatment would become quick and accurate. People might respect wildlife more, protect endangered species, and live in greater harmony with nature. However, it would also bring responsibility – we would have to listen to animals’ needs and treat them as fellow living beings, not just use them.

Let us learn

I. Compound words – sorting the table

Complete the table correctly by choosing words from the box (sailor song, harvest mice, teatime, windowsill, plough horse, well-bred, check-in). Sort them into Hyphenated, Open Compound and Closed Compound words. (Example done: check-in = hyphenated.)

ANSWER Hyphenated Words: check-in (given), well-bred Open Compound Words: plough horse, sailor song, harvest mice Closed Compound Words: teatime, windowsill

II. Create compound words and complete the paragraph

Match Column A (fun, high, never, early, song, over, tree) with Column B (head, birds, flying, loving, tops, ending, risers) to form compound words, then complete the paragraph. (Example: A. fun-loving.)

ANSWER – compound words fun + loving → fun-loving  |  high + flying → high-flying  |  never + ending → never-ending early + risers → early-risers  |  song + birds → songbirds  |  over + head → overhead  |  tree + tops → treetops
ANSWER – completed paragraph After being treated by Doctor Dolittle, the A. fun-loving dolphins danced playfully in his sanctuary. The B. never-ending chatter of monkeys echoed through the C. treetops, their ailments cured. D. High-flying eagles soared gracefully E. overhead, their health restored. F. Songbirds among the G. early-risers chirped joyfully from the branches. All creatures were happy with Doctor Dolittle’s care.

III. Hidden animals in sentences — corrected key

1. GOAT: eating oatmeal.
2. ANT: began to.
3. HORSE: author sees — the letters h-o-r-s-e run across the words.
4. MICE: from ice.
5. CAMEL: came late.

Read letters continuously across a word boundary, ignoring the space. Answers 3 and 4 are horse and mice, not ewe and hare.

IV. Palindromes

A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backwards as forwards. Identify the palindrome words and sentences from the list.

ANSWER 1. Step on no pets. → The whole sentence is a palindrome. 2. Naman saw a race car at the show. → Palindrome words: Naman and race car (‘racecar’). 3. Nitin speaks in Malayalam. → Palindrome words: Nitin and Malayalam. 4. The engineer used a rotator to check the surface level. → Palindrome words: rotator and level. 5. The pilot relied on the radar to navigate safely. → Palindrome word: radar. 6. Eva can I see bees in a cave? → The whole sentence is a palindrome. Your own palindrome (sample): ‘Was it a rat I saw?’ or the word ‘civic’.

V. Verbs and tense (present continuous / simple present)

Underline the verbs and identify the tense form in the following sentences from the text.

ANSWER 1. He is asking you a question. → Present Continuous 2. Oh, there are plenty of animal doctors. → Simple Present 3. I am going blind in one eye. → Present Continuous 4. … the trouble is that anybody thinks he can doctor animals. → Simple Present

VI. Present perfect tense

Fill in the blanks using the correct form of verbs (present perfect) given within brackets.

ANSWER Since becoming an animal doctor, Doctor Dolittle 1. has learnt (learn) to communicate with all animals and birds. He 2. has treated (treat) countless farm animals and pets with care. The parrot, Polynesia, 3. has taught (teach) him bird-language, and he 4. has written (write) books about his adventures. Many people 5. have brought (bring) their sick animals to his door. Over the years, Dolittle 6. has become (become) renowned worldwide for his unique abilities.

Listening, speaking, writing and exploration

Let us listen — p. 55; transcript p. 88

I. False: the announcement does not offer free medicines.
II. 1. Woodstock; 2. Rose; 3. 9; 4. birds; 5. best care; 6. pets.

Woodstock is the town in this separate listening announcement; Puddleby is the town in the reading story.

Let us speak — pp. 55–56

Work through the textbook’s four doctor–patient cue cards: cough/cold, dry lips, sore throat and fatigue. Use greeting → problem → symptoms → questions → advice → next appointment → thanks. Sample language: “Good morning. What is troubling you?” / “I have felt tired recently.” / “Could you tell me more?” / “When should I come back?” This is language-role-play practice, not an individual medical diagnosis; use the printed cues for the classroom exercise.

Let us write — p. 57

Draft blanks: Heading: Health Check-up; inform; Thursday and Friday; assembly hall; health card; queries; please contact.

Sample School — NOTICE

12 July 20XX
Annual Health Check-up

Students of Grades 6–8 are informed that the annual health check-up will be held on 27 and 28 July 20XX, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., in the assembly hall. Collect your health cards from your class teacher and bring them. For queries, contact the undersigned.

Asma
In-charge

The textbook supplies Thursday and Friday for its example dates. 20XX is a placeholder, so check weekdays when adapting to a real year. The sample notice body is about 50 words.

Let us explore — p. 58

I. Goshala combines go (cow) and śālā (shed/hall). During a teacher-led visit, ask about food, water, hygiene and veterinary care, then record actual observations.

II. With the teacher, identify real animal-welfare organisations in your area. Record each organisation’s name, purpose, official contact and source rather than inventing findings.

III. Suggested discussion: Food and water can meet immediate needs; a suitable shelter may help an injured or abandoned animal; responsible adoption can provide lasting care when an adult is willing and able to meet its needs. These choices depend on the animal and circumstances. Seek help from adults and trained carers instead of handling an unfamiliar animal alone.

Additional ClearStudy questions

This practice is separate from the printed textbook exercises.

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. Who was the Cat’s-food-Man and what did he suggest to Doctor Dolittle?

ANSWERThe Cat’s-food-Man was a man who had come to Doctor Dolittle with a stomach-ache. He suggested that the doctor should give up being a people’s doctor and become an animal doctor, because Dolittle knew far more about animals than the local vets.

2. What two languages did Polynesia say parrots could speak?

ANSWERPolynesia proudly said that parrots can talk in two languages – people’s language and bird language. She showed this by saying ‘Polly wants a cracker’ in people’s language and ‘Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee?’ (meaning ‘Is the porridge hot yet?’) in bird language.

3. How did Polynesia explain that animals talk in many ways?

ANSWERPolynesia explained that animals don’t always speak with their mouths. They talk with their ears, feet, tails – with everything. For example, when the dog Jip twitched one side of his nose, it meant he was asking, ‘Can’t you see it has stopped raining?’

4. What did the plough horse really need, and what was wrong with the other vet?

ANSWERThe plough horse was going blind in one eye and simply needed a pair of green spectacles. The vet over the hill had been treating him for six weeks with big pills, never even looking at his eyes, because he could not understand horse language.

5. Why did Doctor Dolittle have special doors made for his house?

ANSWERSo many animals came that he had separate doors made for different kinds. He wrote ‘HORSES’ over the front door, ‘COWS’ over the side door and ‘SHEEP’ on the kitchen door, and even made a tiny tunnel into the cellar for the mice.

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. Trace how Doctor Dolittle changed from a people’s doctor into a world-famous animal doctor.

ANSWEROne rainy day, the Cat’s-food-Man advised Doctor Dolittle to treat animals, since he understood them better than the vets. His parrot, Polynesia, agreed and revealed that animals can talk. Excited, the doctor wrote down bird words as Polynesia patiently taught him, and soon he could understand all animals. He gave up treating people. When a plough horse needing green spectacles was cured, farm animals wearing glasses became a common sight. Because he could speak their language, curing animals was easy, and they told their friends. His crowded garden led him to build special doors for each kind of animal. In a few years, even migrating birds spread his fame, and he became famous among animals all over the world.

7. How does the story use humour and gentle wit to make its point about animals?

ANSWERHugh Lofting fills the story with light, charming humour. The very idea of a doctor learning a ‘Birds’ A.B.C.’ and writing bird words in a book is funny, as is the parrot dusting cracker crumbs off her wing and raising her eyebrows. The plough horse asking for green spectacles ‘like yours, only green’ to keep the sun out while ploughing, and the horse’s remark that the silly vet kept giving him big pills, raise a smile. The mice waiting patiently in rows in their tunnel add to the fun. Through this gentle wit, the story makes a serious point sweetly – that animals have feelings and a ‘voice’, and deserve to be understood and treated with kindness.

ClearStudy MCQs and assertion–reason practice

1. Why had the Cat’s-food-Man come to see Doctor Dolittle?

(a) with a headache   (b) with a stomach-ache   (c) to buy medicine   (d) to sell cat food

ANSWER(b) with a stomach-ache.

2. What was the name of Doctor Dolittle’s parrot?

(a) Polly   (b) Theodosia   (c) Polynesia   (d) Jip

ANSWER(c) Polynesia.

3. What did ‘Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee?’ mean in bird language?

(a) Polly wants a cracker   (b) Is the porridge hot yet?   (c) Has it stopped raining?   (d) Good morning

ANSWER(b) Is the porridge hot yet?

4. According to Polynesia, animals also talk with their…

(a) only mouths   (b) eyes only   (c) ears, feet and tails   (d) wings only

ANSWER(c) ears, feet and tails.

5. What was the name of the dog who came in at teatime?

(a) Towzer   (b) Jip   (c) Polly   (d) Best

ANSWER(b) Jip.

6. What did the plough horse really need?

(a) big pills   (b) green spectacles   (c) a new vet   (d) rest in the stable

ANSWER(b) green spectacles.

7. In which town did Doctor Dolittle live?

(a) London   (b) Lanfield   (c) Puddleby   (d) Woodstock

ANSWER(c) Puddleby.

8. Why did Doctor Dolittle make a tiny tunnel into the cellar?

(a) for the cows   (b) for the mice   (c) for storage   (d) for the parrot

ANSWER(b) for the mice.

9. Who carried news of Doctor Dolittle to foreign lands?

(a) farmers   (b) the Cat’s-food-Man   (c) the birds who flew to other countries   (d) old ladies

ANSWER(c) the birds who flew to other countries.

10. Who is the author of ‘Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle’?

(a) Ruskin Bond   (b) Hugh Lofting   (c) Natalie Joan   (d) G.C. Thornley

ANSWER(b) Hugh Lofting.
MCQ Answer Key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(b), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Doctor Dolittle gave up being a people’s doctor and became an animal doctor.

Reason (R): With Polynesia’s help he learned animal language so well that he could talk to animals and understand them.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): Farm animals wearing glasses became a common sight around Puddleby.

Reason (R): The plough horse was given green spectacles and could see well again.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

3. Assertion (A): The vet over the hill could not cure the plough horse.

Reason (R): The vet could not understand horse language and kept giving the horse big pills.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

4. Assertion (A): Polynesia had often spoken to the Doctor in bird language before this day.

Reason (R): She said the Doctor would not have understood her if she had.

ANSWER(d) A is false (she had never spoken bird language to him before), while R is true.

5. Assertion (A): It takes a cleverer person to be a good animal doctor than a good people’s doctor.

Reason (R): Animals do not complain, so the doctor must understand their problems without being told in words.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

Exam tips & common mistakes

Exam tips

• Remember the order of events: stomach-ache man → Polynesia’s advice → learning bird words → quits human practice → plough horse → special doors → world fame. This sequence follows the story.
• Name the author where relevant (Hugh Lofting), the doctor (John Dolittle, M.D.), the parrot (Polynesia), the dog (Jip) and the town (Puddleby).
• For value questions, mention kindness to animals, listening to different viewpoints, and the power of communication.
• Quote the horse’s line about it taking ‘a much cleverer man’ to be a good animal doctor – explain it as the horse’s viewpoint within the fantasy.

Common mistakes

• The plough horse needed green spectacles, not pills – it was the wrong vet who gave pills.
• ‘Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee?’ means ‘Is the porridge hot yet?’, not ‘Polly wants a cracker’.
• Polynesia is a parrot, while Jip is the dog – do not mix them up.
• Do not say the doctor still treated people – he gave up being a people’s doctor altogether.

FAQs

Who wrote ‘Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle’?

NCERT credits the extract to Hugh Lofting. Doctor Dolittle is a fictional doctor who learns to communicate with animals.

How did Doctor Dolittle learn animal language?

His parrot, Polynesia, taught him. She revealed that animals can talk and patiently dictated bird words, which the doctor wrote down in a book until he could understand all animals.

Why did the plough horse visit Doctor Dolittle?

The horse was going blind in one eye and needed green spectacles. The other vet had failed to help him because he could not understand horse language.

What is the main message of the story?

The story teaches kindness towards animals, the importance of listening to and understanding others, and the value of communication and compassion in caring for all living beings.

Textbook-based exercises and additional ClearStudy practice are identified separately. Use your textbook alongside these explanations.

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