The Day

The
Quiz Show
Bulldozers Question and Answer

Came Samples and Techniques

Exercise 1: Complete the blanks in the
passage below about the poem The Day the
Bulldozers Came by David Orme. Use the
words given.

hide habitat machines destroyed

underground trees
The poem describes how a normal day in the
countryside was interrupted by the arrival of
bulldozers. These (1) ________________ came to
clear the (2) _____________ and prepare the land
for development. The natural (3) _____________of
the creatures described in the poem was to be
(4) ___________________. The frightened animals
had nowhere to (5) ______________. Even the fox
in his (6) _______________ den was not safe.
Exercise 2: Answer the following questions
on the poem The Day the Bulldozers Came by
David Orme.
Refer to stanza 1 of the poem.
a. What are rooks?
Rooks are birds which look like crows.
b. What do egg baskets refer to?
The egg baskets refer to the rooks nests.
c. What are oaks ?
They are a type of tree.
d. What does the word them in line 6 refer to?
It refers to the green flies.
e. What does the description cold-eyed tell us about the toad?

The toad is cruel / merciless / unfeeling.

Exercise 2: Answer the following questions
on the poem The Day the Bulldozers Came by
David Orme.
Refer to stanza 2 of the poem.

a. What does the expression scattering mean?

It means to run in all directions.
b. What is the connection between the squirrels behaviour
and the coming of the bulldozers?
The squirrels were in a panic because they
were frightened of the noisy big machines.

c. What does line 11 tell is about the trees ?

Line 11 tells us that the tree branches have
been cut off.
Exercise 2: Answer the following questions
on the poem The Day the Bulldozers Came by
David Orme.
Refer to stanza 3 of the poem.
a. What animal is described in stanza 3?
A fox is described.
b. What was the fox doing when the bulldozers came?
It was sleeping.
c. What does the word stirred in line 13 mean?
It means awoke.
d. What literary device is used in line 14?
Personification is used in line 14.
e. Why was the fox unafraid?
He thought he was safe from any danger
because he was deep underground.
Exercise 2: Answer the following questions
on the poem The Day the Bulldozers Came by
David Orme.
Refer to stanza 3 of the poem.

Do you think the fox would be safe from the

bulldozers? Give a reason for your answer.
No, I dont think the fox would be safe from
the bulldozers. After telling us that the fox
thought he was safe, the narrator begins
the next line with then. This means that
what the fox thought was no longer true.
Exercise 3: Answer the following questions
based on the poem.

a. Whose voice do we hear in this poem?

We hear the third person omniscient
narrators voice.
b.
TheWhat is theis
poem poem mainly
mainly about?how the coming of
about
the bulldozers affected the wildlife in the
countryside..

c. Give an example of sound imagery in the poem.

An example of sound imagery in the poem is
the word sizzled in line 14.
d. Do you think the fox would be safe from the
bulldozers? Give a reason for your answer.

I would use a lighthearted tone to read

the first stanza, because the poem starts
with a funny reference to the rooks
nests (crazy egg baskets). Then, I would
change to a serious and foreboding tone
from the end of this stanza onwards. The
cold-eyed toad waiting to catch
unsuspecting flies is an introduction of
further death and destruction.
e. Describe how you feel about protecting
wildlife after reading the poem.

After reading the poem, I realise

what happens to animals in the wild
when humans destroy their habitat
for development or logging
activities. They will lose their homes
and food supply. I feel that it is very
important to protect the creatures. If
we do not, animals will become
extinct.
PT3 EXAM
PRACTICES
Set 1: Read the poem The Day the Bulldozers
Came and answer the following questions.
a. What were the rooks making?
The rooks were making nests.
b. According to verse 2, what was happening to the trees?
The trees were being cut down.
c. What woke the fox up from his sleep?
The coming of the heavy bulldozers, which
made the earth shake, woke the fox up.
d. If you were one of the animals in the poem, how would
you feel when the bulldozers come? Give a reason for your
answer.
I would be very frightened because the
bulldozers are going to destroy the trees
and my home.
Set 2: Read the poem The Day the Bulldozers
Came and answer the following questions.

a. What was the toad waiting for?

The toad was waiting to catch the green flies
for food.

b. How were the squirrels behaving when the bulldozers

came? Why?
The squirrels were running about in panic.
They were afraid of the big machines which
were destroying their homes.
c. Why did the ground tremble ?
The ground was shaking because of the big
heavy bulldozers.

d. In your opinion, do you think the bulldozers should be

stopped? Give a reason for your answer.
Yes, the bulldozers should be stopped. They
were going to destroy the trees and homes
of the animals. The animals will die.