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Quiz about Old Possums Book of Practical Cats

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats Quiz

The following questions are all related to a series of poems written by T. S. Eliott. They were published in the 1930s under Eliott's assumed name of Old Possum.

A multiple-choice quiz by Spontini. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Spontini

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
381,560

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
177

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the name of 'the old Gumbie cat'? Hint

Grizabella

Bombularina

Demeter

Jennyanydots

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which cat lived on a barge, terrorising the inhabitants who lived along the bank of the river Thames? Hint

Victoria

Growltiger

Macavity

Rum Tum Tugger

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which curious cat was very hard to please? "If you offer him pheasant he would rather have grouse. If you put him in a house he would much prefer a flat".... Hint

Rum Tum Tugger

Bombularina

Munkustrap

Mr. Mistoffelees

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which cats are notorious mischief makers and petty thieves? Hint

Victoria and Gus

Growltiger and Munkustrap

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Grizabella and Demeter

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Question 5 of 10

5. How would Old Deuteronomy be described? Hint

A biblical scholar

A foolish cat

A teacher at the cat school

An ancient, wise cat

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which cat is known for performing feats of magic? Hint

Skimbleshanks

Mungojerrie

Mr. Mistoffelees

Old Deuteronomy

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which cat is known as "The Hidden Paw", and baffles Scotland Yard? Hint

Rum Tum Tugger

Grizabella

Gus

Macavity

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Question 8 of 10

8. Gus, the theatre cat, used to be an actor, but now suffers from what illness which makes his paws shake? Hint

Nerves

Feline Leukaemia

Diabetes

Palsy

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Question 9 of 10

9. Bustopher Jones, the cat about town, belongs to eight or nine clubs in which London Street? Hint

Mayfair

Pall Mall

St. James Street

Oxford Street

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Question 10 of 10

10. Skimbleshanks is known by what nickname? Hint

The Jellicle Cat

The Cat about town

The Mystery Cat

The Railway Cat

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the name of 'the old Gumbie cat'?

Answer: Jennyanydots

She doesn't do much except sit around during the day. Her family think she's lazy, but in fact she teaches mice music, crocheting and tatting at night.

2. Which cat lived on a barge, terrorising the inhabitants who lived along the bank of the river Thames?

Answer: Growltiger

The barge apparently travelled the river from Oxford to Gravesend, and Growltiger would terrorise humans living along the river and also any birds such as geese and chickens that he came across, not to mention the Bandicoot who could be found on foreign ships.

3. Which curious cat was very hard to please? "If you offer him pheasant he would rather have grouse. If you put him in a house he would much prefer a flat"....

Answer: Rum Tum Tugger

Rum Tum Tugger always chose the unexpected option in an effort to be different to any other cat.

4. Which cats are notorious mischief makers and petty thieves?

Answer: Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Ming vases were not safe from being knocked over, according to the original poem, and their owners would often find things missing.

5. How would Old Deuteronomy be described?

Answer: An ancient, wise cat

Deuteronomy is said to have lived several lives, and all cats look up to him.

6. Which cat is known for performing feats of magic?

Answer: Mr. Mistoffelees

He is described by T. S. Eliott as the "Original Conjuring Cat".

7. Which cat is known as "The Hidden Paw", and baffles Scotland Yard?

Answer: Macavity

Macavity is described as a master criminal who is never there when Scotland Yard get to the scene of the crime.

8. Gus, the theatre cat, used to be an actor, but now suffers from what illness which makes his paws shake?

Answer: Palsy

Gus is actually a shortened version of his full name which is Asparagus. The poem says:-
"His coat's very shabby, he's thin as a rake,
And he suffers from palsy that makes his paw shake".

9. Bustopher Jones, the cat about town, belongs to eight or nine clubs in which London Street?

Answer: St. James Street

"Bustopher Jones is not skin and bones-
In fact, he's remarkably fat.
He doesn't haunt pubs-he has eight or nine clubs,
For he's the St. James's Street Cat!"

Several fictional clubs are mentioned in the poem about Bustopher. One of them, called Drones, is also used by the character Bertie Wooster created by author P. G. Wodehouse in his "Jeeves" stories.

10. Skimbleshanks is known by what nickname?

Answer: The Railway Cat

Skimbleshanks works on the West Coast night mail train between London and Glasgow. He is responsible for giving the signal for the train to start and for looking after the passengers on board. The Mystery Cat is Macavity. Jellicle cats are a group of nocturnal cats led by Old Deuteronomy. The Cat about Town is Bustopher Jones.

Source: Author Spontini

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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