In the fight between the snake and the mongoose which of these hurled themselves at the cobra?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The correct option is 1: The crow and the myna.

This question refers to the famous story of the fight between the mongoose and the cobra, typically found in the chapter "The Banyan Tree." The correct answer, "the crow and the myna," is accurate because these two birds were active and highly agitated spectators who tried to interfere in the battle. The narrative describes their desperate attempt to participate in the fight, which was motivated by their deep-seated animosity toward the snake. As the cobra struck at the mongoose, both the crow and the myna saw an opportunity and "hurled themselves at him." Their reckless interference, however, resulted in a mid-air collision, which temporarily halted their involvement. Crucially, their action of "hurling themselves" at the cobra is a key plot point demonstrating their role as interfering, though ultimately ineffective, participants in the fight, confirming that Option 1 correctly identifies both birds. The attempt of both birds to engage the cobra simultaneously distinguishes this option as the most comprehensive and factually accurate description of the event as presented in the source text.

The incorrect option is 2: The squirrel.
The squirrel was an observer of the fight, much like the boy narrating the story, but it did not physically intervene or hurl itself at the cobra. Its role was primarily that of a witness who remained safe in the trees, occasionally encouraging the mongoose, but not directly attacking the snake.

The incorrect option is 3: Only the crow.
While the crow was definitely involved in the attack, it was not the sole bird to hurl itself at the cobra. The text clearly states that the myna also launched an attack at the exact same moment, resulting in their collision. Therefore, stating that only the crow hurled itself at the cobra is incomplete and factually incorrect based on the sequence of events.

The incorrect option is 4: Only the myna.
Similar to the previous incorrect option, the myna was involved in the aerial attack, but it did not act alone. The action was shared by the crow, leading to their mutual collision. Although the myna was the wiser of the two birds after their near-fatal intervention, the initial action of "hurling" was done in tandem with the crow, making this option incorrect.