Read the extract: "If I say, 'Polly wants a cracker', you understand me. But hear this: Kaka 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."
Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option. In the line, "Good Gracious!" cried the Doctor, the expression 'Good Gracious' can be replaced by _____!
B. gosh
Why had Polynesia never used bird language with the Doctor earlier?
Polynesia had never used bird language with the Doctor earlier because he would not have understood her. She explains that there was no point in speaking bird language to someone who could not comprehend it, so she only communicated in human language.
Identify whether the following statement is true or false. Polynesia had been munching on a food item while talking to Doctor Dolittle.
True. Polynesia was eating a cracker while talking to Doctor Dolittle, as evidenced by her action of 'dusting some cracker crumbs off her left wing' during the conversation.
How did Doctor Dolittle feel according to the extract?
B. surprised
Explanation
((i)) 'Good Gracious' and 'gosh' are both expressions of surprise and amazement. When Dr. Dolittle hears Polynesia speak in bird language, he is astonished, making 'gosh' the appropriate replacement. 'Bravo' expresses approval, 'alas' expresses sorrow, and 'hurray' expresses joy—none fit the context of surprise. ((ii)) Polynesia clearly states, 'You wouldn't have understood me if I had.' She recognized that using bird language would be pointless until Dr. Dolittle was ready and willing to learn it. ((iii)) The text mentions Polynesia 'dusting some cracker crumbs off her left wing' while speaking, indicating she had been eating crackers. ((iv)) Dr. Dolittle's exclamations 'Good Gracious!' and 'My! You don't say so!' clearly indicate surprise and amazement at discovering that animals have their own language. He was not anxious, angry, or relaxed—he was genuinely astonished by Polynesia's revelation.