Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle

Let us do these activities before we read

I. Do you have a pet or a domestic animal? If yes, why? If not, why not? How do people usually spend time with a pet or domestic animal? Share your thoughts with your classmates and the teacher.

Answer: Yes, I have a pet dog because it is friendly and loyal. People usually spend time with pets by playing with them, feeding them, taking them for walks, and talking to them.

II. You must have read stories where animals and birds talk. If you had a chance to communicate with an animal or a bird, who would it be, and why?

Answer: If I had a chance to communicate with an animal, I would choose a bird so I could ask what it feels like to fly high in the sky.

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.

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: Doctor Dolittle might face challenges like running out of space in his house, managing long queues of animals, and lacking enough time or medicine. He could overcome these by creating organized waiting areas, building separate entries for different animals, and getting assistance from animals like Polynesia.

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. "If I say, 'Polly wants a cracker', you understand me. But hear this: Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee?"

"Good Gracious!" cried the Doctor. "What does that mean?"

"That means, 'Is the porridge hot yet?'—in bird language."

"My! You don't say so!" said the Doctor. "You never talked that way to me before."

"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."

(i) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option.

In the line, "Good Gracious!" cried the Doctor, the expression 'Good Gracious' can be replaced by ________!

A. bravo.

B. gosh. ✔

C. alas.

D. hurray.

(ii) Why had Polynesia never used bird language with the Doctor earlier?

Answer: Polynesia had never used bird language earlier because she knew the Doctor would not have understood her.

(iii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.

Polynesia had been munching on a food item while talking to Doctor Dolittle.

Answer: True.

(iv) How did Doctor Dolittle feel according to the extract?

A. anxious.

B. surprised. ✔

C. angry.

D. relaxed.

2. "I would like a pair like yours," said the horse—"only green. They keep the Sun out of my eyes while I am ploughing the field."

"Certainly," said the Doctor. "Green ones you shall have."

(i) Choose a word from the extract to complete the analogy.

digging : flower bed :: ________ : field.

Answer: ploughing

(ii) Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

Doctor Dolittle's attitude in the extract is ________.

A. respectful.

B. sentimental.

C. understanding. ✔

D. careful.

(iii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.

Based on the extract, we can conclude that ordinary doctors take animals for granted because ________.

Answer: they cannot understand animal language and do not listen to what the animals actually need.

(iv) Do you agree with the concluding sentence of the extract that it takes a cleverer person to be a good animal doctor than a people's doctor? Why/why not?

Answer: Yes, because animals cannot speak human languages to explain their pain, so an animal doctor must be extra clever and observant to understand them.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. Why did the Cat's-food-Man suggest that Doctor Dolittle become an animal doctor?

Answer: The Cat's-food-Man suggested it because Doctor Dolittle knew more about animals than the local vets did and loved animals deeply.

2. Explain how Doctor Dolittle gave equal and individual attention to each animal who came to him for treatment.

Answer: He listened carefully to every animal, learned their specific language, and built separate doors and waiting spaces for different types of animals.

3. How does Doctor Dolittle's readiness to follow the parrot's advice highlight the importance of listening to different viewpoints?

Answer: It shows that good advice can come from anyone, even a pet, and being open to new perspectives can change one's life for the better.

Let us learn

1. Match the words in Column A with their compound partners in Column B.

Column A

2. fun

3. high

4. never

5. early

6. song

7. over

8. tree

Column B

(i) head

(ii) birds

(iii) flying

(iv) loving

(v) risers

(vi) tops

(vii) ending

Answer:

1 - (iv) fun-loving

2 - (iii) high-flying

3 - (vii) never-ending

4 - (v) early-risers

5 - (ii) songbirds

6 - (i) overhead

7 - (vi) treetops

2. Read the sentences below and identify the palindrome words and sentences.

a. Step on no pets.

Answer: Palindrome sentence

b. Naman saw a race car at the show.

Answer: Naman and race car are palindromes

c. Nitin speaks in Malayalam.

Answer: Nitin and Malayalam are palindromes

d. The engineer used a rotator to check the surface level.

Answer: rotator and level are palindromes

e. The pilot relied on the radar to navigate safely.

Answer: radar is a palindrome

f. Eva can I see bees in a cave?

Answer: Palindrome sentence

Let us listen

Complete the details given below with one or two exact words based on the listening passage.

1. The new clinic is located in the town of ________.

Answer: Woodstock

2. The address is 12, ________ Lane.

Answer: Rose

3. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from ________ a.m. to 5 p.m.

Answer: 9

4. Special timings for ________ are on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Answer: birds

5. Dr. Dolittle will ensure that animals get the ________.

Answer: best care

6. All animals—horses, cows, ________, wild animals, and others are welcome.

Answer: pets

Let us speak

Work in pairs. Doctor Dolittle is treating an animal patient. Act out the conversation between the Doctor and the animal.

Doctor: Hello, my friend. Where does it hurt today?

Animal: My right paw hurts whenever I try to walk on the hard ground.

Doctor: Let me take a look. Ah, I see a small thorn stuck here. Let me gently remove it for you.

Animal: Thank you, Doctor. It feels much better already!

Let us write

Draft a short notice inviting students to join the School Animal Welfare Club using the guidelines provided in the textbook.

NOTICE

ABC School

Animal Welfare Club Registration

Date: 10 October 2026

All students are invited to join the newly formed Animal Welfare Club. The club aims to care for stray animals, organize shelter visits, and promote kindness toward all living creatures. Interested students from Classes 6 to 8 can register their names with their class teacher by 15 October 2026.

Secretary, Animal Welfare Club

Let us explore

Find information about organizations working for animal welfare with the help of your teacher.

1. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India: Works to protect animal rights and prevent cruelty to animals across the country.

2. Blue Cross of India: Provides medical care, rescue services, and shelters for stray and injured animals.