Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat – MCQs
- Who is Skimbleshanks?
a) A railway guard
b) A railway cat who lives and works on the Night Mail train
c) A passenger on the train
d) A stationmaster - At what time does the whisper down the line begin?
a) 11.30 pm
b) 11.35 pm
c) 11.39 pm
d) 11.42 pm - Why cannot the Night Mail depart without Skimbleshanks?
a) He is the driver of the train
b) He collects tickets from passengers
c) He is essential for the train's operation and supervision
d) He operates the signal light - What is Skimbleshanks doing when he is missing at 11.39?
a) Hunting mice
b) Playing with passengers
c) Busy in the luggage van
d) Sleeping in the cabin - Who are searching for Skimbleshanks?
a) Only the stationmaster
b) The guards, porters, and stationmaster's daughters
c) The passengers only
d) The police and stationmaster - What does "hunt the thimble" mean in the poem?
a) Skimbleshanks is looking for a sewing tool
b) A party game where a small object is hidden
c) Skimbleshanks is chasing a mouse
d) Searching for lost luggage - How does Skimbleshanks communicate that the train can depart?
a) By meowing loudly
b) By giving one flash of his glass-green eyes
c) By walking up and down the platform
d) By waving his tail - What does the signal say after Skimbleshanks' gesture?
a) "Wait"
b) "All Clear!"
c) "Stop"
d) "Caution" - Where is the train heading towards?
a) The southern part of Britain
b) The northern part of the Northern Hemisphere
c) Scotland only
d) London and surrounding areas - What is special about the passenger compartments on the Night Mail?
a) They have no windows
b) They are cold and uncomfortable
c) They are neat, clean, with lights, fans, washbasins and folded sheets
d) They are very crowded - How does Skimbleshanks ensure passenger comfort?
a) By collecting tickets
b) By ensuring compartments are clean, beds are neat, lights are adjusted and tea preferences are met
c) By driving the train
d) By selling food to passengers - What does the poem say about mice on the Night Mail?
a) There are many mice on the train
b) The mice help Skimbleshanks
c) Skimbleshanks keeps the train free of mice
d) Mice are not a problem on the train - Which stations are mentioned in the poem as stops on the journey?
a) London and Glasgow only
b) Crewe, Carlisle and Dumfries
c) Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow
d) Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow - What does Skimbleshanks do while passengers sleep?
a) He also sleeps
b) He remains alert, inspects stations, greets the stationmaster and inquires after policemen
c) He plays with the guards
d) He hides in the luggage van - When the train reaches Gallowgate, what does Skimbleshanks do?
a) He boards the next train immediately
b) He disappears from the train
c) He helps passengers get off and waves goodbye with his long brown tail
d) He continues sleeping - What do passengers promise to find on the Midnight Mail?
a) The stationmaster
b) The guards and porters
c) Skimbleshanks, the Cat of the Railway Train
d) Free tea and refreshments - How is Skimbleshanks portrayed as an authority figure?
a) Through his physical size
b) Through his aggressive behavior
c) Through his watchfulness, control over passengers' behavior and mysterious communication
d) Through his loud voice - What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
a) AABB
b) ABAB
c) ABCBDEFE
d) Free verse - What does the poem suggest about human dependence on Skimbleshanks?
a) He is merely a mascot
b) He is essential and nothing goes wrong when he is aboard
c) He is not important
d) He is only needed at certain times - What is the central theme of "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat"?
a) The dangers of train travel
b) The beauty of the British countryside
c) Duty, responsibility, authority and the importance of unseen labor in maintaining order and comfort
d) The life of a typical railway worker
Answers: 1-b, 2-c, 3-c, 4-c, 5-b, 6-b, 7-b, 8-b, 9-b, 10-c, 11-b, 12-c, 13-b, 14-b, 15-c, 16-c, 17-c, 18-c, 19-b, 20-c.