4.1. The Vet - My English Book - Std 8 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board
- Jul 4
- 10 min read
Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय
Chapter: | Unit 4 — Chapter 4.1: The Vet |
Type: | Poetry |
Poet: | Not mentioned in the extract |
Textbook: | My English Book, Std 8, Maharashtra State Board |
Assessment: | School-level examination following MSBSHSE guidelines |
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ शालेय परीक्षेत येतो. हे पाठ्यपुस्तक इयत्ता ८ वी साठी आहे — MSBSHSE च्या मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार तयार केलेले.
About the Poet / कवी परिचय
This is a highly humorous and entertaining poem about the difficult life of a veterinarian, which is a doctor for animals and birds. The poet explains that a vet needs to have exceedingly wide knowledge because every single animal patient is completely different on the inside. At the end, the poet playfully advises the reader to become a doctor for human beings instead, as treating animals is a very tough job.
मराठी टीप: ही एक मजेशीर कविता आहे. यात कवीने प्राण्यांच्या डॉक्टरांचे (vet) काम किती कठीण असते हे सांगितले आहे. कवीच्या मते, माणसांचा डॉक्टर होणे अधिक सोपे आहे.
Exam Tip: The central idea of the poem—the challenges faced by a vet—is a very common question.
Full Text / पूर्ण कविता
Stanza 1
To be a successful and competent vet, Needs knowledge exceedingly wide, For each of the patients he's likely to get Possesses a different inside.
Stanza 2
He must know why the cat is refusing her milk, Why the dog is not eating his bone, Why the coat of the horse is not shining like silk, Why the parrot does nothing but groan;
Stanza 3
Why the ducks and the chickens are failing to lay, Why so faint the canary bird sings, And if he is called to the zoo he must say An incredible number of things.
Stanza 4
If the lion's caught a cold, If the zebra's getting old, If the centipede has trouble with his feet, If the hippo's feeling ill, If the bison's got a chill, If the Arctic fox is suffering from heat,
Stanza 5
If some virulent disease Has attacked the chimpanzees, If the tortoise hasn't stirred for several years, If the bear's too full of buns, If the cobra eats her sons, If the panther has a wife who chews his ears;
Stanza 6
If giraffes have had a tiff And their necks are feeling stiff If hyenas will not laugh at keepers' jokes, If the monkey's pinched his tail, If the rhino's looking pale, If the elephant eats paper-bags and chokes,
Stanza 7
If the camel-hurts his hump, If the kangaroo won't jump, If the crocodile turns cannibal and bites, They run away and get That omniscient, the vet And expect him to put everything to rights.
Stanza 8
Profoundly I pity the vet, who must learn Such a very great deal for his pay; My son, I advise you most strongly to earn Your living an easier way.
Stanza 9
Don't attempt to attend the zoological crowd; a far more advisable plan Is to call yourself 'Doctor', and so be allowed To treat the illnesses of man.
Stanza-wise Meaning / कडव्यांचा अर्थ
Stanza 1
To be a successful and competent vet, Needs knowledge exceedingly wide, For each of the patients he's likely to get Possesses a different inside.
English Meaning: To be a capable animal doctor, a person needs to have a huge amount of knowledge. This is because every animal patient is physically very different on the inside. मराठी अर्थ: एक यशस्वी प्राण्यांचा डॉक्टर होण्यासाठी खूप विस्तृत ज्ञानाची गरज असते. कारण प्रत्येक प्राण्याची शरीराची अंतर्गत रचना वेगळी असते. Exam Tip: The reason why a vet needs wide knowledge is a common 2-mark question.
Stanzas 2 & 3
He must know why the cat is refusing her milk... And if he is called to the zoo he must say An incredible number of things.
English Meaning: The vet has to figure out why cats won't drink milk, why dogs won't eat bones, or why birds won't sing properly. If called to a zoo, the vet has to know unbelievable amounts of information about many animals. मराठी अर्थ: मांजरी दूध का पीत नाहीत, कुत्रे हाड का खात नाहीत आणि पक्षी गाणी का गात नाहीत, हे डॉक्टरांना शोधावे लागते. प्राणीसंग्रहालयात त्यांना अनेक गोष्टींची माहिती द्यावी लागते. Exam Tip: Be ready to list the problems of domestic animals mentioned here.
Stanzas 4, 5 & 6
If the lion's caught a cold... If the elephant eats paper-bags and chokes,
English Meaning: The poet lists funny problems of wild animals: a centipede with foot trouble, an Arctic fox feeling hot, a tortoise not moving for years, giraffes with stiff necks from fighting, and an elephant choking on paper bags. मराठी अर्थ: कवीने जंगली प्राण्यांच्या मजेशीर समस्या सांगितल्या आहेत. जसे की, शतपादाच्या (centipede) पायाला झालेली दुखापत, जिराफाची आखडलेली मान किंवा कागदी पिशवी खाल्ल्यामुळे अडकलेला हत्ती. Exam Tip: Questions matching the animal to its specific funny illness are very common.
Stanzas 7, 8 & 9
If the camel-hurts his hump... To treat the illnesses of man.
English Meaning: When dangerous animals like crocodiles bite, people immediately call the all-knowing vet to fix everything. The poet pities the vet for learning so much for his salary and advises the reader to become a human doctor instead, as it is a much easier way to earn a living. मराठी अर्थ: जेव्हा मगरीसारखे प्राणी हिंस्त्र होतात, तेव्हा लोक लगेच डॉक्टरांना बोलावतात. कवी वाचकांना प्राण्यांऐवजी माणसांचे डॉक्टर होण्याचा सोपा सल्ला देतो. Exam Tip: The poet's final advice to the reader is highly likely to be asked as a short answer.
Poetic Devices / काव्यात्मक उपकरणे
Device / उपकरण | Example from poem | Simple Effect | मराठी स्पष्टीकरण |
Rhyme (यमक) | vet / get, wide / inside | Creates a musical rhythm in the poem. | कवितेच्या ओळींच्या शेवटी येणारे समान उच्चारांचे शब्द. |
Repetition (पुनरावृत्ती) | "Why the..." and "If the..." | Emphasizes the many different problems a vet faces. | एकाच शब्दाची किंवा वाक्याची वारंवार पुनरावृत्ती. |
Alliteration (अनुप्रास) | "bear's too full of buns" | The repetition of the 'b' sound makes the line playful. | एकाच अक्षराच्या ध्वनीची (उदा. 'b') पुनरावृत्ती. |
Hyperbole (अतिशयोक्ती) | "tortoise hasn't stirred for several years" | Exaggerates the situation to make it sound funny. | एखादी गोष्ट खूप वाढवून सांगणे (मजेसाठी). |
मराठी टीप: या पाठातील अलंकार लक्षात ठेवा — परीक्षेत नाव आणि एक उदाहरण विचारले जाऊ शकते.
Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये
Theme Table / विषय सारणी
Theme / विषय | How it appears |
Challenges of a Vet's Life (पशुवैद्याच्या जीवनातील आव्हाने) | The poem highlights how difficult it is to diagnose illnesses in animals since they cannot speak and each species is completely different. |
Humor and Exaggeration (विनोद आणि अतिशयोक्ती) | The poet uses funny examples, like a panther whose wife chews his ears or giraffes having a tiff. |
Values / मूल्ये
Empathy (सहानुभूती): We must appreciate the hard work of veterinarians who treat voiceless animals.
Dedication (समर्पण): A vet must learn an incredible number of things and be omniscient to do their job properly.
Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश
The central message is that being a veterinarian is a highly demanding and difficult profession, possibly even harder than being a doctor for humans, because animals have diverse anatomies and unique, sometimes comical, problems.
मराठी टीप: माणसांच्या डॉक्टरांपेक्षा प्राण्यांचा डॉक्टर होणे अधिक कठीण असते, कारण प्रत्येक प्राण्याची रचना वेगळी असते आणि ते बोलून आपला आजार सांगू शकत नाहीत.
Practice Questions / सराव प्रश्न
The questions for Types 1 to 6 are based on Stanzas 1 to 3.
TYPE 1 — True/False (1M each)
State True or False: 'A competent vet needs to have very little knowledge.' Answer: False
State True or False: 'Every animal patient possesses a different inside.' Answer: True
State True or False: 'The vet must know why the dog refuses his milk.' Answer: False
State True or False: 'The parrot in the poem does nothing but groan.' Answer: True
State True or False: 'A vet is expected to say an incredible number of things at the zoo.' Answer: True
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील/कवितेतील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या. (उदा. मांजर दुधाला नकार देते, कुत्रा नाही.)
TYPE 2 — Choose the Correct Alternative (1M each)
What kind of knowledge does a successful vet need? (A) very little (B) exceedingly wide (C) only about cats (D) only about dogs Answer: (B)
Why is the vet's job so difficult? (A) animals are angry (B) each patient possesses a different inside (C) the zoo is far away (D) animals eat paper bags Answer: (B)
What is wrong with the horse's coat in the poem? (A) it is too thick (B) it is falling out (C) it is not shining like silk (D) it is changing color Answer: (C)
What are the ducks and chickens failing to do? (A) jump (B) sing (C) lay (D) sleep Answer: (C)
The word 'groan' in the poem means... (A) jump highly (B) run fast (C) a sound of pain (D) eat food Answer: (C)
मराठी टीप: चुकीचे पर्याय ओळखून बरोबर उत्तरापर्यंत पोहोचा.
TYPE 3 — Answer in One Word/Phrase (1M each)
According to the poem, who needs exceedingly wide knowledge? Answer: A vet
According to the poem, what does each patient possess? Answer: A different inside
According to the poem, what is the cat refusing? Answer: Her milk
According to the poem, who sings very faintly? Answer: The canary bird
मराठी टीप: उत्तर एका शब्दात किंवा वाक्यांशात द्या.
TYPE 4 — Complete the Lines (1M each)
Complete the line: 'To be a successful and competent _____' Answer: vet
Complete the line: 'Needs knowledge exceedingly _____' Answer: wide
Complete the line: 'Why the dog is not eating his _____' Answer: bone
Complete the line: 'Why so faint the canary bird _____' Answer: sings
मराठी टीप: यमक जुळणारे शब्द आठवा (उदा. vet आणि get).
TYPE 5 — Answer in 2-3 Sentences (2M each)
Why is it so difficult to be a successful vet?
Answer: It is very difficult to be a successful vet because they treat many different types of animals. Each animal patient possesses a completely different inside, meaning their organs and bodies are unique. मराठी टीप: यशस्वी डॉक्टर होणे कठीण आहे कारण प्रत्येक प्राण्याची अंतर्गत रचना (different inside) पूर्णपणे वेगळी असते.
What domestic animal problems does the vet have to solve?
Answer: The vet has to figure out common pet problems, like why a cat refuses milk or a dog ignores his bone. He also needs to know why a parrot groans or a horse's coat stops shining. मराठी टीप: मांजरीने दूध न पिणे, कुत्र्याने हाड न खाणे किंवा घोड्याची त्वचा न चमकणे यांसारख्या समस्या सोडवाव्या लागतात.
What happens if the vet is called to the zoo?
Answer: If the vet is called to the zoo, he has to deal with many exotic wild animals. He is expected to know an incredible number of things to treat all their different illnesses. मराठी टीप: प्राणीसंग्रहालयात गेल्यावर त्यांना अनेक प्राण्यांबद्दल प्रचंड माहिती असावी लागते.
What is wrong with the farm birds in Stanza 3?
Answer: The farm birds are facing health issues in Stanza 3. The ducks and chickens are failing to lay eggs, and the canary bird is singing very faintly. मराठी टीप: बदक आणि कोंबड्या अंडी देत नाहीत, आणि कॅनरी पक्षी खूप हळू आवाजात गातो.
What does the phrase "a different inside" mean?
Answer: The phrase "a different inside" refers to the anatomy of the animals. It means that the organs and internal body structure of every animal species are completely different from one another. मराठी टीप: याचा अर्थ असा की प्रत्येक प्राण्याची शारीरिक आणि अंतर्गत रचना पूर्णपणे वेगळी असते.
TYPE 6 — Answer in 4-5 Sentences (3M each)
Explain why the poet thinks a vet's job requires 'exceedingly wide' knowledge. Answer: The poet believes a vet needs exceedingly wide knowledge because they do not treat just one type of body. A human doctor only treats humans, but a vet has to treat dogs, cats, birds, and even zoo animals. Each of these animals possesses a totally different inside, meaning their digestive, respiratory, and skeletal systems are unique. Therefore, the vet must learn an unbelievable amount of medical information to be competent.
मराठी टीप: १) माणसांचा डॉक्टर फक्त माणसांवर उपचार करतो, पण पशुवैद्याला अनेक प्राण्यांवर उपचार करावे लागतात. २) प्रत्येक प्राण्याची शारीरिक रचना वेगळी असते. ३) त्यामुळे त्यांना खूप जास्त ज्ञान असावे लागते.
How does the poet use everyday pets to show the challenges of a vet?
Answer: In the second stanza, the poet uses common household pets like cats, dogs, horses, and parrots to show the vet's daily challenges. Even with these familiar animals, it is hard to know why a dog won't eat his bone or a cat refuses her milk because animals cannot speak to explain their symptoms. The vet has to guess the problem just by looking at a dull horse coat or listening to a parrot groan.
मराठी टीप: १) कवीने मांजर, कुत्रा, घोडा यांची उदाहरणे दिली आहेत. २) प्राणी स्वतःचा आजार सांगू शकत नाहीत. ३) त्यामुळे फक्त त्यांच्या वागणुकीवरून (उदा. दूध न पिणे) डॉक्टरांना आजार ओळखावा लागतो.
What is the tone of the poem in the first three stanzas?
Answer: The tone of the first three stanzas is highly appreciative but also very humorous. The poet genuinely admires the wide knowledge a competent vet must have to treat patients with a "different inside". However, the poet makes it light-hearted and funny by listing silly situations, like a parrot that does nothing but groan or chickens failing to lay eggs.
मराठी टीप: १) कवितेचा सूर कौतुकाचा आणि विनोदी आहे. २) कवी डॉक्टरांच्या ज्ञानाचे कौतुक करतो. ३) पण त्याच वेळी तो प्राण्यांच्या मजेशीर समस्या सांगून विनोद निर्माण करतो.
TYPE 7 — Word Meanings / Vocabulary in Context (1M each)
(Questions are based on the whole poem)
The word 'competent' means...
Answer: having very good knowledge and ability
मराठी अर्थ: सक्षम किंवा हुशार मराठी टीप: जो डॉक्टर आपल्या कामात अत्यंत हुशार आणि यशस्वी (successful) आहे.
The word 'omniscient' means...
Answer: one who knows all and everything
मराठी अर्थ: सर्वज्ञानी मराठी टीप: लोक डॉक्टरांना सर्वज्ञानी समजतात कारण त्यांना सर्व प्राण्यांचे आजार माहीत असतात.
The word 'virulent' means...
Answer: caused by virus मराठी अर्थ: भयंकर किंवा वेगाने पसरणारा (विषाणूजन्य) आजार मराठी टीप: चिम्पान्झींना झालेला भयंकर (virulent) आजार.
The word 'cannibal' means...
Answer: one who eats human flesh मराठी अर्थ: नरभक्षक मराठी टीप: जेव्हा मगर माणसांना खायला (cannibal) लागते.
The word 'tiff' means...
Answer: a quarrel मराठी अर्थ: भांडण मराठी टीप: दोन जिराफांमध्ये झालेले छोटेसे भांडण (tiff).
TYPE 8 — Personal Response (2M each)
(Questions are based on the whole poem)
Do you agree with the poet's advice to become a human doctor instead of a vet? Why?
Answer: No, I do not agree with the poet's advice. Even though treating animals is very difficult because they cannot speak, animals need kind and knowledgeable doctors just as much as humans do. Being a vet is a very noble and rewarding job. मराठी टीप: नाही, प्राण्यांनाही डॉक्टरांची खूप गरज असते आणि पशुवैद्य होणे हे एक अत्यंत सन्मानाचे काम आहे. (तुम्ही तुमचे स्वतःचे मत मांडू शकता).
Which animal's funny illness from the poem made you laugh the most?
Answer: The line "If the centipede has trouble with his feet" made me laugh the most. A centipede has a hundred legs, so I can only imagine how difficult and funny it would be for a vet to check each and every foot for an injury!
मराठी टीप: शतपादाच्या (centipede) पायाचे उदाहरण सर्वात मजेशीर आहे कारण त्याला खूप पाय असतात. (तुम्ही जिराफ किंवा हत्तीचे उदाहरणही देऊ शकता).
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