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Question Now here are some more words. Complete them with ei or ie. Consult a dictionary if necessary.
(There is a popular rule of spelling: ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’. Check if this rule is true by looking at the words above.)
believe; receive; weird; leisure; seize; weight; reign; feign; grief; pierce This rule is applicable only in the case of ‘believe’ ‘grief’ and ‘pierce’ words. The other words have ei instead of ie.
Overview: The Bond of Love
Kenneth Anderson narrates how his wife adopted a sloth bear cub (Bruno, later called Baba) after Anderson accidentally shot its mother. Bruno became a beloved pet — eating everything, surviving two poisoning incidents, playing with dogs. When he grew too large, he was sent to Mysore Zoo, but both he and Anderson's wife were miserable. She visited, and Bruno hugged her, refusing to let go. She arranged to bring him home, where a special enclosure was built.
Key Points
- Bruno is a sloth bear cub adopted after his mother was shot
- Named Bruno, later affectionately called Baba
- Survived barium carbonate poisoning (rat poison)
- Survived engine oil poisoning
- Grew large — sent to Mysore Zoo for safety
- Both Bruno and the author's wife were miserable during separation
- At the zoo, Bruno immediately recognised her and hugged her
- She arranged to bring him home — special island enclosure built
- Theme: Human-animal bonds can be as deep as human bonds
- Raises ethical questions about keeping wild animals as pets
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the author's wife come to adopt Bruno?
During a hunt, Kenneth Anderson shot a bear. A baby bear cub was riding on the mother's back. The cub was brought home and the author's wife adopted it, naming it Bruno. She raised it with love and affection.
Why was Bruno sent to the zoo and what happened?
Bruno grew too large to keep at home safely. He was sent to Mysore Zoo. But both he and the author's wife were heartbroken. When she visited, Bruno recognised her instantly, hugged her, and wouldn't let go. She eventually brought him back home.
Common Mistakes
- Not reading the text carefully before attempting questions.
- Giving vague answers without specific textual references.
- Confusing characters, events, or themes from different chapters.
- Writing too much for short-answer questions (should be 30-40 words).
Scoring Tips
- For extract-based MCQs: read the passage carefully; eliminate wrong options systematically.
- For short answers: be concise (30-40 words), use key vocabulary from the text.
- For long answers: structure with introduction, body, conclusion. Quote from the text.
- Always identify the chapter/poem name and author when answering.