The true Chameleon is small
A lizard sort of thing;
He hasn't any ears at all,
And not a single wing,
If there is nothing on the tree,
'Tis the Chameleon you see.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:18 · grounding stimulus+chapter
Model Answer
(i) Camouflage
(ii) The speaker means that the Chameleon resembles a lizard in appearance — small, scaly, and reptilian — but is not exactly a lizard. The phrase is informal, suggesting it belongs to the lizard family.
(iii) (B) playful
(iv) The poet uses simple, conversational language with a touch of humour. The informal phrase "a lizard sort of thing" creates a light-hearted tone. The use of negatives — "no ears," "not a single wing" — humorously highlights what the Chameleon lacks. The rhyme scheme (small/all, thing/wing, tree/see) gives the stanza a sing-song quality, making it lively and enjoyable.
Source: How To Tell Wild Animals, stanza on the Chameleon
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Explanation
- (i) "Camouflage" is the one-word answer expected — the Chameleon blends with the tree so well it appears invisible.
- (ii) 1-mark answer needs one clear sentence explaining the simile/comparison.
- (iii) The overall tone of the poem is comic and light-hearted — "playful" is the best fit.
- (iv) For 2 marks, examiners look for: identification of language features (informal diction, negatives, rhyme/rhythm) + their effect. ~40 words is sufficient; do not over-write.