Ch 1 Three Questions English
NCERT Solutions for
Class 7th: Ch 1 Three Questions Honeycomb
Leo Tolstoy
Page No: 10
Comprehension Check
1. Why did the king want to
know answers to three questions?
Answer
The king wanted to know answers to three questions because of the thought came
to his mind that he would never fail if he knew answers to these three
questions.
2. Messengers were sent
throughout the kingdom
(i) to fetch wise
men.
(ii) to find
answers to the questions.
(iii) to look for
the wise hermit.
(iv) to announce a
reward for those who could answer the questions.
Mark your choice:
Answer
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Page No: 14
Comprehension Check
Complete the following
sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.
1. Many wise men answered the
king’s questions ,.............................
2. Someone suggested that there
should be a council of wise men ...............................
3. Someone else suggested that
the king should have a timetable ..................................
4. The king requested the
hermit .....................................
5. The king washed and dressed
the bearded man’s wound, ............................
• but the bleeding would not stop.
• to answer three questions.
• but their answers were so
varied that the king was not satisfied.
• and follow it strictly.
• to help the king act at the
right time.
Answer
1. Many
wise men answered the king’s questions, but their answers were so
varied that the king was not satisfied.
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men to help
the king act at the right time.
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and
follow it strictly.
4. The king requested the hermit to answer three questions.
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound, but the
bleeding would not stop.
Working with the text
Answer the following questions.
1. Why was the king advised to
go to magicians?
Answer
In answer to
the first question, in order to decide the right time for doing something
urgent one must have to look into the future. Since only magician could do
that, the king was advised to go to magicians.
2. In answer to the second
question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?
Answer
In answers to
the second question, some said that the people most necessary to the king were
his councillors, others said, the priests. A few others chose the doctors. And
yet others said that soldiers were the most necessary.
3. What suggestions were made
in answer to the third question?
Answer
In answer to
the third question, some said science will be most important. Others
suggested fighting, and some said religious worship.
4. Did the wise men win the
reward? If not, why not?
Answer
No, the wise
men did not win the reward. The king got different for all the three questions
he asked. He was not satisfied with any of them.
Page No: 15
5. How did the king and the
hermit help the wounded man?
Answer
The king and
the hermit helped the wounded man by providing him the shelter and protected
from the army. The king washed and covered the wound of the man with his
handkerchief, but the blood
would not stop flowing. The king re-dressed the wound until it stopped
bleeding. They took him to hut for taking rest and king also gave him fresh
water after being relaxed.
6. (i) Who was the bearded man?
(ii) Why did he
ask for the king’s forgiveness?
Answer
(i) Bearded man was the enemy of the king who swore to revenge him for seizing
of his property and putting his brother to death.
(ii) He asked for the king's forgiveness as the king had saved his life.
He came there for taking revenge from the king but instead the king helped him
to get better.
7. The king forgave the bearded
man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Answer
The king showed his forgiveness by sending his servants and his own doctor to
look after him, and he promised to give back the wounded man his property.
8. What were the hermit’s
answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answer do
you like most, and why?
Answer
In answer to king's first question, the hermit said that there is only one
important time 'Now'. It is the only time when you have power to act.
In answer to king's second question, the hermit said that the most important
person is the one with whom we are at the present.
In response to king's second question, the hermit answered that the most
important thing to do is to
do that person good.
I like the answer of the first question the most because time has the supreme
power. It can take you to height if you do something good and can also make you
fall on ground if you won;t act in presence. One should live and act according
to present.
Working with language
1. Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.
fainted: lost consciousness
A
B
(i) wounded
got up from sleep
(ii) awoke
give back
(iii) forgive
small patches of ground for plants
(iv) faithful
severely injured
(v) pity
pardon
(vi) beds
loyal
(vii) return
feel sorry for
Use any three of the above
words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of the word.
Answer
(i) wounded : severely injured
(ii) awoke : got up from sleep
(iii) forgive : pardon
(iv) faithful : loyal
(v) pity : feel sorry for
(vi) beds : small patches of ground for plants
(vii) return : give back
I will ask my parents to forgive for my bad behaviour.
Dog is faithful animal of man.
I am feeling pity for my shameful act.
2. Each of the following
sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word
given in brackets.
He has ........... to help me.
Do you think he will remember his ............. ? (promise)
He has promised to
help me. Do you think he will remember his promise?
(i) The .............. said that only fresh evidence would make him change his
.................. .(judge)
(ii) I didn’t notice any
serious .................. of opinion among the debaters, although they
.............. from one another over small points. (differ)
(iii) It’s a fairly simple
question to ................. ,but will you accept my .............. as final?
(answer)
(iv) It isn’t
.................. that .................. should always be the mother of
invention. (necessary)
(v) Hermits are
................ men. How they acquire their ................. no one can tell.
(wise)
(vi) The committee has
................. to make Jagdish captain of the team. The ................ is
likely to please everyone (decide)
(vii) Asking for
................... is as noble as willingness to .................. .
(forgive)
Answer
(i) The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him
change his judgement.
(ii) I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among
the debaters, although they differed from one another over
small points.
(iii) It’s a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept
my answer as final?
(iv) It isn’t necessary that necessity should
always be the mother of invention.
(v) Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no
one can tell.
(vi) The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the
team. The decision is likely to please everyone.
(vii) Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness
to forgive.
Ch 2 A Gift of
Chappals Honeycomb
Vasantha Surya
Page No: 22
Comprehension Check
1. What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the
backyard?
Answer
Meena shared the secret of having a kitten in the backyard
inside a torn football lined with
sacking and filled with sand. They found him outside the gate in the morning.
2. How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Answer
For getting milk for the kitten, Ravi told Paati that he is
hungry when she saw him with glass of milk. Paati got suspicious so
Ravi had to drink most of the milk and told Paati that he will wash the
tumbler by himself. After that, Ravi ran and pour the milk into coconut shell
and then ran back to wash the tumbler before Paati got really suspicious.
3. Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?
Answer
He said the kitten’s ancestors was the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat,
which was the emblem of the Pallava dynasty and the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat was
descendants of the cat-goddess of Egypt.
No, I don't believe him.
4. Ravi has a lot to say about M.P.Poonai. This shows that
(i) he is merely trying to impress Mridu.
(ii) his knowledge of history is sound.
(iii) he has a rich imagination.
(iv) he is an intelligent child.
Which of these statements do you agree/disagree to?
Answer
I agree to these statements.
(ii) his knowledge of history is sound.
(iii) he has a rich imagination.
5. What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened
Mahendran?
Answer
The sound of kreeching startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran.
It was the sound of Violin that Lalli was learning to play.
Page No: 28
Comprehension Check
1. The music master is making lovely music. Read aloud the
sentence in the text that expresses this idea.
Answer
"The music-master’s notes seemed to float up and settle
perfectly into the invisible tracks of the melody. It was like the wheels of a
train fitting smoothly into the rails and whizzing along"
This sentence in the text that expresses the idea that the music
master is making lovely music .
2. Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time?
Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
No, the beggar had not come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first
time because Paati said to Tapi that he had been coming in their house every
day for the past week, and it’s time to found him another house to beg from!
3. “A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows.” What
does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni’s mood?
Answer
V-shaped eyebrow is formed only when people are in anger. This
suggest that Rukku Manni was very angry in mood when she came to know about the
missing chappals of the music teacher.
Page No: 29
Working with the Text
1. Complete the following sentences.
(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to
....................................................................
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran
..........................................................
(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli
...........................................................
(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household
............................................................
(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if
............................................................
Answer
(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to derailing
of the train going completely off track.
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies,
Mahendran tipped a few chillies over himself.
(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and
Lalli stumbled behind him on her violin, which looked quite
helpless and unhappy in her hands.
(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household kept
his body and soul together on their
generosity for a whole week. He couldn't believe that they would
turn him away.
(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli
if she had seen his chappals.
2. Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window.
Answer
As seen from the window, music teacher had the bony figure. He
had a mostly bald head with a fringe of oiled black hair falling around his
ears and an old-fashioned tuft. A gold chain gleamed
around his leathery neck, and a diamond ring glittered on his hand as it glided
up and down the
stem of the violin. A large foot stuck out from beneath his gold-bordered
veshti edge, and he was beating time on the floor with the scrawny big toe.
3. (i) What makes Mridu
conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
(ii) What does
she suggest to show her concern?
Answer
(i) Mridu conclude that the beggar had no money to buy chappals because his
feet were blistered.
(ii) She suggested Mridu and Ravi about the pair of old slippers so that they
could give it to the beggar.
4. “Have you children...” she
began, and then, seeing they were curiously quiet, went on more slowly, “seen
anyone lurking around the verandah?”
(i) What do you think Rukku
Manni really wanted to ask?
(ii) Why did she change her
question?
(iii) What did she think had
happened?
Answer
(i) Rukku Manni actually wanted to ask the children if they had seen the
music master's slippers.
(ii) She changed her question because children were curiously quiet and she
suspected that children must have done something with chappals.
(iii) She thought that the children have given the music-master’s chappals to
that old beggar.
5. On getting Gopu Mama’s
chappals, the music teacher tried not to look too happy. Why?
Answer
The music teacher tried not to look happy because he did not wanted to reveal
his happiness of getting new chappals of Gopu Mama to others. He wanted to show
that his own chappals were more expensive and branded one. Actually, he was
very happy after getting Gopu Mama’s chappals.
6. On getting a gift of
chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?
Answer
On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute because he did
not wanted to lose the gift of those chappals. His feet were blistered and he
couldn't have got anything better from that house.
Page No: 30
7. Walking towards the kitchen
with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?
Answer
Gopu Mama always in such a hurry to throw off his shoes and socks and get into
his chappals as soon as he comes home. Rukku Manni began to laugh while
thinking about the reaction of her husband after hearing this incident and when
he came to know about that they had given his new chappals to the music
teacher.
Working with Language
1. Read the following
sentences.
(a) If she knows
we have a cat, Paati will leave the house.
(b) She won’t be
so upset if she knows about the poor beggar with sores on his feet.
(c) If the
chappals do fit, will you really not mind?
Notice that each sentence
consists of two parts. The first part begins with ‘if . It is known as if
clause.
Rewrite each of the following
pairs of sentences as a single sentence. Use ‘if’ at the beginning of the
sentence.
(a) Walk fast. You’ll catch the
bus.
If you
walk fast, you’ll catch the bus.
(b) Don’t spit on the road.
You’ll be fined.
If you
spit on the road, you’ll be fined.
(i) Don’t tire yourself now. You won’t be able to work in the evening.
(ii) Study regularly. You’ll do
well in the examination.
(iii) Work hard. You’ll pass
the examination in the first division.
(iv) Be polite to people.
They’ll also be polite to you.
Answer
(i) If you tire yourself now, you won't be able to work in the evening.
(ii) If you study regularly, you'll do well in the examination.
(iii) If you work hard, you'll pass the examination in the first division.
(iv) If you are polite to people, they'll also be polite to you.
(v) If you tease the dog, it'll bite you.
2. Fill in the blanks in the following paragraph.
Today is Sunday. I’m wondering whether I should stay at home or go
out. If I ................ (go) out, I
......................... (miss) the lovely Sunday lunch at home.
If I ...................... (stay) for lunch, I .................(miss) the
Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I’ll go out and see the film,
only to avoid getting too fat.
Answer
Today is Sunday. I'm wondering whether I should stay at home or
go out. If I go out, I will miss the
lovely Sunday lunch at home. If I stay for lunch, I will
miss the Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I'll go out
and see the film, only to avoid getting too fat.
3. Complete each sentence below by appropriately using any one of
the following:
if you want to/if you don’t want to/if you want him to
(i) Don’t go to the theatre
.......................................
(ii) He’ll post your letter
..........................................
(iii) Please use my pen ......................................
(iv) He’ll lend you his umbrella ..............................
(v) My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor
.................................
(vi) Don’t eat it .............................
Answer
(i) Don't go to the theatre if you don't want to.
(ii) He'll post your letter if you want him to.
(iii) Please use my pen if you want to.
(iv) He'll lend you his umbrella if you want him to.
(v) My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor if you want him
to.
(vi) Don't eat it if you don't want to.
Ch 3 Gopal and the
Hilsa-fish Honeycomb
Page No: 42
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
1. Why did the king want no more talk about the hilsa-fish?
Answer
The king was fed of the talks of Hilsa-fish. It was season of
Hilsa-fish and everyone was busy in talking of it. More-ever, he did not want
his courtier to waste the time on these talks.
2. What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Answer
The king asked Gopal to buy a hilsa-fish and bring it to the
palace without anyone asking anything about the fish throughout the way to
prove that he was clever.
3. What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his
hilsa-fish?
Answer
Gopal half-shaved his beard, smeared himself with ash, and wore
disgraceful rags before he went to buy his hilsa-fish.
4. How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he
had bought the fish?
Answer
When Gopal asked the guards to let him meet the king, they
refused. Therfore, he began to dance and sing loudly. On hearing his loud
song, the king sent his messenger to call him in the court.
5. Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the
hilsa-fish which Gopal had bought.
Answer
Gopal funny appearance attracted the attention of people much
more than the hilsa-fish. At that time, no one was caring about the hilsa-fish
he was carrying. Everyone was busy in talking about his mad appearance, half
shaved face and rags.
6. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following
sentences.
(i) The king lost his temper easily.
(ii) Gopal was a madman.
(iii) Gopal was a clever man.
(iv) Gopal was too poor to afford decent clothes.
(v) The king got angry when he was shown to be wrong.
Answer
(i) True
(ii) False
(iii) True
(iv) False
(v) False
Working with Language
1. Notice how in a comic book, there are no speech marks when
characters talk. Instead what they say is put in a speech ‘bubble’. However, if
we wish to repeat or ‘report’ what they say, we must put it into reported
speech.
Change the following sentences in the story to reported speech.
The first one has been done for you.
(i) How much did you pay for that hilsa?
The woman asked the man how much he had paid for that hilsa.
(ii) Why is your face half-shaven?
Gopal’s wife asked him ...............................
(iii) I accept the challenge, Your Majesty.
Gopal told the king ...................................
(iv) I want to see the king.
Gopal told the guards ......................................
(v) Bring the man to me at once.
The king ordered the guard ..............................
Answer
(ii)Why is your face half-shaven?
Gopal's wife asked him why was his face half-shaven.
(iii)I accept the challenge, Your Majesty.
Gopal told the king that he accepted his challenge.
(iv)I want to see the king.
Gopal told the guards that he wanted to see the king.
(v)Bring the man to me at once.
The king ordered the guard to bring the man to him at once.
Page No: 43
2. Find out the meaning of the following words by
looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your
own.
(i) challenge (ii) mystic
(iii) comical (iv)
courtier (v) smearing
Answer
(i) challenge - ask to contest, dare
The boss challenged Rahul to finish his work before the time.
(ii) mystic - believing in spiritual power
Some people do believe in the mystic forces.
(iii) comical - funny
I liked the comical act of the joker the most.
(iv) courtier - officials of the king's court
Birbal was one of the clever courtier present in Akbar's court.
(v) smearing - to apply coat or mark
He smeares his face with ashes.
Page No: 46
2. Now ask your partner questions about each picture.
(i) Where is the stag?
(ii) What is he doing?
(iii) Does he like his antlers (horns)?
(iv) Does he like his legs?
(v) Why is the stag running?
(vi) Is he able to hide in the bushes?
(vii) Where are the hunters now?
(viii) Are they closing in on the stag?
(ix) Is the stag free?
(x) What does the stag say about his horns and his legs?
Answer
(i) Stag is by the side of the pond.
(ii) He is looking at the reflection of his horns and legs in
the water.
(iii) Yes, he liked his antlers.
(iv) No, he did't liked his legs.
(v) The stag is running to save his life from the hunters.
(vi) No, he is not able to hide himself in the bushes.
(vii) The hunters are now beside to him.
(viii) Yes, they closing in on the stag.
(ix) Yes, the stag is free.
(x) The stag said that he was proud of his horns which could
have caused his death and was ashamed of his legs which saved him.
3. Now write the story in your own words. Give it a
title.
Answer
The suitable title for this story will be "All that
glitters is not gold".
A stag was once drinking water at a pond. He saw his own
reflection in water. He admired his beautiful horns, but he did not like his
thin and ugly legs. Suddenly he saw a group of hunters running towards him. He
ran into the jungle to save himself. His legs soon carried him far from
the hunters. He then tried to hide himself in the bushes but his horns were
caught into the bush. With his best efforts, he was able to free himself. Now
he realised that his ugly legs helped him in saving his life, but his beautiful
horns could have caused his death.
Page No: 47
4. Complete the following word ladder with the help of the clues
given below.
Clues
1. Mother will be very .............. if you don’t go to school.
2. As soon as he caught .................. of the teacher, Mohan
started writing.
3. How do you like my .................... kitchen garden? Big
enough for you, is it?
4. My youngest sister is now a ................. old.
5. Standing on the ................. , he saw children playing on
the road.
6. Don’t make such a ..................... . Nothing will happen.
7. Don’t cross the .................... till the green light comes
on.
Answer
Ch 4 The Ashes That
Made Trees Bloom Honeycomb
William Elliot Griffis
Page No: 60
Comprehension Check
1. Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
Answer
The neighbours when heard about the good luck brought by the dog
to the couple coaxed the dog into their garden in hope that he would find
treasure for them. They dragged him out of doors and the dog scratched and
pawed the ground under a pine tree. When on digging the ground, they
saw that there was nothing but a dead kitten, they became furious at the dog.
They beat him to death and then flung him into the hole.
2. Mark the right item.
(i) The old farmer and his wife
loved the dog
(a) because it helped them in
their day-to-day work.
(b) as if it was their own
baby.
(c) as they were kind to all
living beings.
(ii) When the old couple became rich, they
(a) gave the dog better food.
(b) invited their greedy
neighbours to a feast.
(c) lived comfortably and were
generous towards their poor neighbours.
(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to
make
(a) rice pastry and bean sauce.
(b) magic ash to win rewards.
(c) a pile of gold.
Answer
(i) - (b) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog as if it was
their own baby.
(ii) - (c) When the old couple became rich, they lived
comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
(iii) - (c) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar
to make a pile of gold.
Page No: 63
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
1. The old farmer is a kind person. What evidence of his kindness
do you find in the first two paragraphs.
Answer
The old farmer was a kind person. He and his wife had a pet dog
named Muko, as his baby. Having no children, they loved it as though it
were a baby.They fed him fish from their own chopsticks and all the boiled rice
he wanted. He was patient and kind to everything that had life and often turned
up a sod on purpose to give food to the birds.
2. What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold?
Answer
The dog came running to the farmer and kept on whining and
running to and fro till the farmer followed him. The dog began a lively
scratching. Thinking it was possibly a buried bone or fish, the farmer struck
his hoe in the earth and found the hidden gold.
3. (i) How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?
(ii) How did it help him next?
Answer
(i) The spirit of the dog asked the farmer in his dream to cut
down the pine tree over his grave and make a mortar for rice pastry and a mill
for bean sauce.
(ii) The spirit of the dog informed the farmer in his dream that
his wicked neighbours had burnt the hand-mill. He advised him to take the ashes
of the mill and sprinkle them on the withered trees and they would bloom again.
Page No: 64
4. Why did the daimio reward
the farmer but punish his neighbour for the same act?
Answer
The farmer had the magical ashes. He made the old withered cherry tree
blossom once again by sprinkling the ashes. So, the daimio rewarded the farmer
for this.When his greedy neighbour heard about it, he took the ashes and when
daimio was passing on the highway, he threw a handful of ashes over the tree.
The tree did not blossom and wind blew the fine dust in the noses and eyes of
the daimio and his wife. That is why his neighbour punished for the same act.
Working with language
1. Read the following
conversation.
RAVI : What are you doing?
MRIDU : I’m reading a book.
RAVI : Who wrote it?
MRIDU : Ruskin Bond.
RAVI : Where did you find it?
MRIDU : In the library.
Notice that ‘what’, ‘who’, ‘where’, are question words. Questions that require
information begin with question words. Some other question words are ‘when’,
‘why’, ‘where’, ‘which’ and ‘how’.
Remember that
• What asks about actions, things, etc.
• Who asks about people.
• Which asks about people or
things.
• Where asks about place.
• When asks about time.
• Why asks about reason or
purpose.
• How asks about means, manner
or degree.
• Whose asks about possessions.
Read the following paragraph
and frame questions on the italicised phrases.
Anil is in school. I am in school too. Anil is sitting in
the left row. He is reading a book. Anil’s friend is
sitting in the second row. He is sharpening his pencil. The
teacher is writing on the blackboard. Children are writing in their
copybooks. Some children are looking out of the window.
Answer
(i) Where is Anil?
(ii) Where is Anil sitting?
(iii) What is he doing?
(iv) Where is Anil's friend sitting?
(v) Who is writing on the blackboard?
(vi) What are some children doing?
Page No: 65
2. Write appropriate question words in the blank spaces in the
following dialogue.
NEHA : ............... did you get this book?
SHEELA : Yesterday morning.
NEHA : .................. is your sister crying?
SHEELA : Because she has lost her doll.
NEHA : ................. room is this, yours or hers?
SHEELA : It’s ours.
NEHA : ....................... do you go to school?
SHEELA : We walk to school. It is near by.
Answer
NEHA : When did you get this book?
SHEELA : Yesterday morning.
NEHA : Why is your sister crying?
SHEELA : Because she has lost her doll.
NEHA : Whose room is this, yours or hers?
SHEELA : It’s ours.
NEHA : How do you go to school?
SHEELA : We walk to school. It is near by.
3. Fill in the blanks with the
words given in the box.
how
what
when
where
which
(i) My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know ................. to
do and .................. to look for it.
(ii) There are so many toys in
the shops. Neena can’t decide ...................... one to buy.
(iii) You don’t know the way to
my school. Ask the policeman ...................... to get there.
(iv) You should decide soon
...................... to start building your house.
(v) Do you know
...................... to ride a bicycle? I don’t remember and I
learnt it.
(vi) “You should know
................... to talk and .................. to keep your mouth shut,”
the teacher advised Anil.
Answer
(i) My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn't know what to
do and where to look for it.
(ii) There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can't decide which one
to buy.
(iii) You don't know the way to my school. Ask the policeman how to
get there.
(iv) You should decide soon where to start building your
house.
(v) Do you know how to ride a bicycle? I don't remember when
and where I learnt it.
(vi) "You should know when to talk and when to
keep your mouth shut," the teacher advised Anil.
Page No: 66
4. Add im- or in- to each of the following words and use them in
place of the italicised words in the sentences given below.
patient
proper
possible
sensitive
competent
(i) The project appears very difficult at first sight
but it can be completed if we work very hard.
(ii) He lacks competence. That’s why he can’t
keep any job for more than a year.
(iii) “Don’t lose patience. Your letter will come
one day,” the postman told me.
(iv) That’s not a proper remark to make under the
circumstances.
(v) He appears to be without sensitivity. In
fact, he is very emotional.
Answer
(i) The project appears impossible at
first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
(ii) He is incompetent. That's why he can't keep any job for
more than a year.
(iii) "Don't be impatient. Your letter will come one
day," the postman told me.
(iv) That's an improper remark to make under the
circumstances.
(v) He appears to be insensitive. In fact, he is very
emotional.
5. Read the following sentences.
It was a cold
morning and stars still glowed in the sky. An old
man was walking along the road.
The words in italics are articles. ‘A’ and ‘an’ are indefinite
articles and ‘the’ is the definite article. ‘A’ is used before a singular
countable noun. ‘An’ is used before a word that begins with a vowel.
• a boy
• an actor
• a mango
• an apple
• a university • an hour
Use a, an or the in the blanks.
There was once ............. play which became very successful.
............. famous actor was acting in it. In ........... play his role was
that of .............. aristocrat who had been imprisoned in ........... castle
for twenty years. In ............ last act of ............... play someone
would come on ............ stage with letter which he would hand over to
............. prisoner. Even though ............ aristocrat was not expected to
read ................ letter at each performance, he always insisted that
............ letter be written out from beginning to end.
Answer
There was once a play which became very
successful. A famous actor was acting in it. In the play
his role was that of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned
in a castle for twenty years. In the last act
of the play someone would come on the stage with a letter which he would hand
over to the prisoner. Even though the aristocrat
was not expected to read the letter at each performance, he
always insisted that the letter be written out from beginning
to end.
6. Encircle the correct article.
Nina was looking for (a /the) job. After many
interviews she got (a/the) job she was looking for.
A : Would you like (a/an/the) apple or (a/an/the) banana?
B : I'd like (a/an/the) apple, please.
A : Take (a/an/the) red one in (a/an/the) fruit bowl. You may take (a/an/the)
orange also, if you like.
B : Which one?
A : (a/an/the) one beside (a/an/the) banana.
Answer
A : Would you like an apple
or a banana?
B : I'd like an apple, please.
A : Take the red one in the fruit bowl.
You may take an orange also, if you like.
B : Which one?
A : The one beside the banana.
Ch 5 Quality
Honeycomb
John Galsworthy
Page No: 78
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
1. What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as
a bootmaker?
Answer
According to the author, Mr. Gessler was the best shoemaker in
the city. He made only what was ordered and what he made never failed to fit.
The boot made by him yet seems mysterious and wonderful. He was the
perfect artist in this job.
2. Why did the author
visit the shop so infrequently?
Answer
The boots made by Mr. Gessler lasted terribly lasts longer than the usual like
having something beyond temporary.. Therefore, the author visit the shop
so infrequently.
3. What was the effect on Mr Gessler of the author’s remark about
a certain pair of boots?
Answer
When author’s remark about a certain pair of boots,
Mr Gessler surprisingly looked at him for a time to withdrew or qualify
his statement. After that, he asked the author to get the pair back and if
he could do nothing of them then he would take them off his bill.
4. What was Mr Gessler’s
complaint against “big firms”?
Answer
Mr Gessler’s complaint against “big firms” that they didn't have self respect.
They got their business by advertisement not by work. Every year, the sell of
Mr Gessler is getting less because of them and soon he will left with no job.
5. Why did the author order so
many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?
Answer
The author got shocked and Filled with sorrow when he knew about the death of
Mr Gessler’s elder brother. In order to help him, he ordered so many pairs of
boots. No, he did't really need them.
Working with Language
I. Study the following phrases
and their meanings. Use them appropriately to complete the sentences that
follow.
look after: take care of
look down on: disapprove or
regard as inferior
look in (on someone): make a short visit
look into: investigate
look out: be careful
look up: improve
look up to: admire
(i) After a very long spell of heat, the weather is ...................... at
last.
(ii) We have no right to
................... people who do small jobs.
(iii) Nitin has always
................ his uncle, who is a self-made man.
(iv) The police are
.................... the matter thoroughly.
(v) If you want to go out, I
will .......................... the children for you.
(vi) I promise to
......................... on your brother when I visit Lucknow next.
(vi) .................. when
you are crossing the main road.
Answer
(i) After a very long spell of heat, the weather is looking up at
last.
(ii) We have no right to look down on people who do small
jobs.
(iii) Nitin has always looked up to his uncle, who is a
self-made man.
(iv) The police are looking into the matter thoroughly.
(v) If you want to go out, I will look after the children for
you.
(vi) I promise to look in on your brother when I visit Lucknow
next.
(vii) Look out when you are crossing the main road.
Page No: 79
3. Each of the following words contains the sound ‘sh’ (as in
shine) in the beginning or in the middle or at the end. First speak out all the
words clearly. Then arrange the words in three groups in the table on page 80.
sheep trash
marsh
fashion
anxious shriek
shore
fish
portion ashes
sure
nation
shoe pushing
polish
moustache
Answer
Initial
Medial
Final
Sheep
fashion
trash
shriek
portion
marsh
shore
ashes
anxious
sure
nation
fish
shoe
pushing
polish
moushtache
Page No: 80
4. In each of the following words ‘ch’ represents the same
consonant sound as in ‘chair’. The words on the left have this sound initially.
Those on the right have it finally. Speak each word clearly.
choose
bench
child
march
cheese
peach
chair
wretch
charming research
Underline the letters representing this sound in each of the
following words.
(i) feature
(iv) reaching
(vii) riches
(ii) archery
(v) nature
(viii) batch
(iii) picture
(vi) matches
(ix) church
Answer
(i) Feature
(ii) Archery
(iii) Picture
(iv) Reaching
(v) Nature
(vi) Matches
(vii) Riches
(viii) Batch
(ix) Church
Ch 6 Expert
Detectives Honeycomb
Sharada Dwivedi
Page No: 89
Comprehension Check
1. What did Nishad give Mr
Nath? Why?
Answer
Nishad gave a bar of chocolate to Mr. Naphtha because he thought that Mr. Nath
was poor and starving.
2. What is “strange” about Mr Nath’s Sundays?
Answer
On every Sunday, Mr. Nath was with a tall, fair, stout
man wearing spectacles in his room who used to talk a lot unlike Mr. Nath.
3. Why did Nishad and Maya get a holiday?
Answer
The monsoon broke and flooded the streets with a
heavy downpour. Therefore, no traffic could move through the flooded
roads so Nishad and Maya got an unexpected holiday.
Page No: 93
Working with the Text
1. What does Nishad find out about Mr Nath from Ramesh?
Arrange the information as suggested below.
• What he eats
• When he eats
• What he drinks, and when
• How he pays
Answer
Nishad finds out from Ramesh that Mr. Nath took two
meals in a day every morning and evening. He was not particular about what
he eats, it's always the same food - two chapattis, some dal and a
vegetable. He drank two cups of tea, one in the morning and one in the
afternoon. He pays cash and tips well.
Page No: 94
2. Why does Maya think Mr Nath is a crook? Who does she say the
Sunday visitor is?
Answer
Maya thought that Mr. Nath was a crook because of his strange
appearence and he did not work. He never talked to anyone at Shankar House
though he had been living there for more than a year. He had scars on his face
which according to Maya, must have been the burn scars which would have got
when police had set his house on fire. Moreover, he didn't receive any letters
and had only one visitor to visit him.
She said that the Sunday visitor must be his accomplice in crime
and he came every now and then to give part of it to his partner.
3. Does Nishad agree with Maya about Mr Nath? How does he feel
about him?
Answer
No, Nishad didn't agree with Maya about Mr. Nath. He felt that
he must be so lonely and wanted to have friends. He said that he
was not a criminal because he was so thin and looked poor and starving.
He argued with Maya that he can't be a bad man if he gave
Ramesh such generous tips.
Working with Language
1. The word ‘tip’ has only three letters but many meanings.
Match the word with its meanings below.
(i) finger tips
– be about to say
something
(ii) the tip of your nose –
make the boat overturn
(iii) tip the water out of –
the ends of one’s fingers the bucket
(iv) have something on –
give a rupee to him, the tip of your tongue to thank him
(v) tip the boat over –
empty a bucket by tilting it
(vi) tip him a rupee –
the pointed end of your nose
(vii) the tip of the bat –
if you take this advice
(viii) the police were –
the bat lightly touched tipped off the ball
(ix) if you take my tip –
the end of the bat
(x) the bat tipped the ball –
the police were told, or warned
Answer
(i) finger tips - the end of one's fingers
(ii) the tip of your nose - the pointed end of your nose
(iii) tip the water out of the bucket - empty a bucket tilting
(iv) have something on the tip of your tongue - be about to say
something
(v) tip the bot over - make the boat overturn
(vi) tip him a rupee - give a rupee to him, to thank him
(vii) the tip of the bat - the end of the bat
(viii) the police were tipped of - the police were told, or warned
(ix) if you take my tip - if you take this advice
(x) the bat tipped the ball - the bat lightly touched the ball
2. The words helper, companion, partner and accomplice have very
similar meanings, but each word is typically used in certain phrases. Can you
fill in the blanks below with the most commonly used words? A dictionary may
help you.
(i) business ...............
(ii) my ................ on the journey
(iii) I’m mother’s little ....................... .
(iv) a faithful ..................... such as a dog
(v) the thief’s .......................
(vi) find a good ......................
(vii) tennis/ golf / bridge ...................
(viii) his .................... in his criminal
activities
Answer
(i) business partner
(ii) my companion on the journey
(iii) I'm mother's little helper
(iv) a faithful companion such as a dog
(v) the thief's accomplice
(vi) find a good helper
(vii) tennis/golf/bridge partner
(viii) his accomplice in his criminal activities
3. Now let us look at the uses of the word break. Match the word
with its meanings below. Try to find at least three other ways in which to use
the word.
(i) The storm broke
– could not speak; was too sad to speak
(ii) daybreak
– this kind of
weather ended
(iii) His voice is beginning –
it began or burst to break into activity
(iv) Her voice broke and –
the beginning of daylight she cried
(v) The heat wave broke –
changing as he grows up
(vi) broke the bad news –
end it by making the workers submit
(vii) break a strike
– gently told someone the bad news
Answer
(i) The storm broke – it began or burst into activity
(ii) daybreak – the beginning of daylight
(iii) His voice is beginning to break – changing as he grows
up
(iv) Her voice broke and she cried – could not speak; was too
sad to speak
(v) The heat wave broke – this kind of weather
ended
(vi) broke the bad news – gently told someone the bad news
(vii) break a strike – end it by making the workers submit
Chapter 7 – The Invention of Vita-Wonk
Share with:
Comprehension check :
Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 101
Q1 : Choose the right
answer.
(i) Mr Willy Wonka is (a) a cook, (b)
an inventor, (c) a manager.
(ii) Wonka-Vite makes people (a)
older, (b) younger.
(iii) Mr Wonka wants to invent a new
thing which will make people (a) younger, (b) older.
Answer :
(i)Mr Willy Wonka
is an inventor.
(ii)Wonka-Vite makes
people younger.
(iii)Mr Wonka wants to
invent a new thing which will make people older.
Q2 : Can anyone’s age
be a minus number? What does “minus 87” mean?
Answer :
No, no one’s age can be a minus number. Here, “minus 87” means that the person
had to wait eighty seven years before he could come back. He had taken a strong
dose of Wonka-Vite and had therefore, disappeared.
Q3 : Mr Wonka begins
by asking himself two questions. What are they?
(i) What is
……………………..?
(ii) What lives
………………..?
Answer :
(i)What is the
oldest living thing in the world?
(ii)What lives longer
than anything else?
Working with the text
: Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 102
Q1 :
(i) What trees does Mr Wonka mention?
Which tree does he say lives the longest?
(ii) How long does this tree live?
Where can you find it?
Answer :
(i)The trees that Mr Wonka mentioned are the Douglas fir, the
oak, and the cedar. He said that a tree called Bristlecone pine lives the
longest.
(ii)This tree lives for over 4000 years. It can be found upon
the slopes of Wheeler Peak in Nevada, U.S.A.
Q2 : How many of the
oldest living things can you remember from Mr Wonka’s list? (Don’t look back at
the story!) Do you think all these things really exist, or are some of them
purely imaginary?
Answer :
With the exception of the 4000-year-old Bristlecone pine, the things mentioned
in Mr Wonka’s list (e.g., the toe-nail clipping from a 168-year-old Russian
farmer, the tail of a 51-year-old horse) are purely imaginary.
Q3 : Why does Mr
Wonka collect items from the oldest things? Do you think this is the right way
to begin his invention?
Answer :
Mr Wonka collected items from the oldest things because he wanted to invent a
something that would make people older. It was probably the right way to begin
his invention as he wanted to make people older and therefore, the use of old
things seems appropriate.
Q4 : What happens to
the volunteer who swallows four drops of the new invention? What is the name of
the invention?
Answer :
The moment the twenty-year-old volunteer swallowed four drops of the new
invention, he began wrinkling and shriveling up all over. His hair started
dropping off and his teeth started falling out. Before Mr Wonka knew it, the
volunteer had suddenly become an old man of seventy-five. The name of the
invention was Vita-Wonk.
Working with language
: Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 103
Q1 : Fill in the
blanks in the recipe given below with words from the box.
|
shred |
cooker |
times |
tomatoes |
half |
onion |
oil |
EasyPalak-Dal
INGREDIENTS
Ӣ One ________________
Ӣ One cup dal
Ӣ Two thin green chillies
Ӣ __________________a teaspoon red
chilli powder
Ӣ Eight small bunches of palak
Ӣ Two ___________________
Ӣ Salt to taste
Wash and cut the vegetables;
______________the palak. Put everything in a pressure _________________. Let
the cooker whistle three _____________, then switch it off. Fry a few cumin
seeds in __________________ and add to the palak-dal.
Answer :
EasyPalak–Dal
INGREDIENTS
• One onion
• One cup dal
• Two thin green chillies
• Half a teaspoon red chilli powder
• Eight small bunches of palak
• Two tomatoes
• Salt to taste
Wash and cut the vegetables; shred the palak. Put
everything in a pressure cooker. Let the cooker whistle three times,
then switch it off. Fry a few cumin seeds in oil and add to
the palak–dal.
Ch 8 Fire : Friend
and Foe Honeycomb
Page No: 118
Comprehension Check
1. Mark the correct answer in each of the following.
(i) Early man was frightened of
(a) lightning and
volcanoes.
(b) the damage
caused by them.
(c) fire.
(ii) (a) Fire is energy.
(b) Fire
is heat and light.
(c) Fire
is the result of a chemical reaction.
Answer
(i) (c) fire.
(ii) (c) Fire is the result of a chemical reaction.
2. From the boxes given below choose the one with the correct
order of the following sentences.
(i) That is fire.
(ii) A chemical reaction takes place.
(iii) Energy in the form of heat and light is released.
(iv) Oxygen combines with carbon and hydrogen.
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
(ii) (iii) (i) (iv)
(iv) (iii) (ii) (i)
(iv) (ii) (iii) (i)
Answer
(iv) (ii) (iii) (i)
Page No: 119
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
1. What do you understand by the ‘flash point’ of a fuel?
Answer
The particular temperature at which the fuel begins to burn is
called the 'flash point' of a fuel.
2. (i) What are some common uses of fire?
(ii) In what sense is it a “bad master”?
Answer
(i) The common uses of fire are to cook food, warm our
homes in winter, to generate electricity and many more.
(ii) Fire is “bad master” when it gets out of control. It can be
dangerous and burn our houses, shops, vast forest areas and many more. It also
kills and injures hundreds of people every year and causes destruction of huge
properties.
3. Match items in Column A with those in Column B.
A
B
(i) fuel
– lighted matchstick
(ii) oxygen – air
(iii) heat
– coal
– burning coal
– wood
– smouldering paper
– cooking gas
Answer
a. fuel - coal, wood, cooking
gas
b. oxygen - air
c. heat - lighted match stick, burning coal,
smouldering
4. What are the three main ways in which a fire can be controlled
or put out?
Answer
The three main ways in which a fire can be controlled or put out are :
(i) By taking away the fuel. If the fire has no fuel to feed on, no
burning can take place.
(ii) By preventing oxygen from reaching it
(iii) By bringing back the temperature below 'flash point' of the the fuel
5. Match the items in Box A with those in Box B
A
(i) To burn paper or a piece of wood,
(ii) Small fires can be put out
(iii) When water is spread on fire,
(iv) A carbon dioxide extinguisher is the best thing
(v) Space left between buildings
B
• it absorbs heat from the burning material and
• lowers the temperature.
• reduces the risk of fire.
• with a damp blanket.
• we heat it before it catches fire.
• to put out an electrical fire.
Answer
(i) To burn paper or a piece of wood - we heat it before it
catches fire.
(ii) Small fire can be put out - with a damp blanket.
(iii) When water is spread on fire - it absorb the heat from the
burning material and lowers the
temperature.
(iv) A carbon dioxide extinguisher is the best thing - to put
out an electrical fire.
(v) Space left between buildings - reduces the risk of fire.
Page No: 120
6. Why does a burning candle go
out when you blow on it?
Answer
When we blow on candle, the hot air around the candle gets removed and it
brings down the temperature of candle below the flash point. Thus, a candle
goes out because no fuel can burn below its flash point.
7. Spraying water is not a good way of putting out an oil fire or
an electrical fire. Why not?
Answer
Spraying water is not a good way of putting out an oil fire or
an electrical fire. If water is sprayed onto an oil fire, the oil will float to
the top of the water and continue to burn. This can be very dangerous because
water can flow quickly carrying the burning oil with it and spreading the fire.
Similarly, The person spraying water on an electrical fire might receive an
electric shock and be killed.
8. What are some of the things you should do to prevent a fire at
home and in the school?
Answer
Some of the things we should do to prevent a fire at home and in
the school:
(i) Precaution is better than cure. We should be alert about the
use of inflammable substances and handle it with care.
(ii) There is always possibility of catching fire in old
buildings of home and school due to short circuits. Therefore, over loaded
wires should be replaced with new ones and Fuse should be checked at regular
interval.
(ii) By spreading the knowledge about the handling of fuel, its
flash point and about its protection after an accident.
(iv) Fire extinguisher should be installed and old wiring must
be replaced . Keeping the contact number of fire police on speed dial in case
if little accident may happen.
(v) Never taking the little accident of fire lightly as it may
lead to greater one and finding a way out so that it may not happen in future.
Not storing inflammable or combustible things like kerosene and petrol in our
homes and in the school.
Working with Language
1. Read the following sentences.
To burn paper or a piece of wood, we heat it
before it catches fire. We generally do it with a
lighted match. Every fuel has a particular temperature
at which it burns.
The verbs in italics are in the simple present tense.
When we use it, we are not thinking only about the present. We use it to say
that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in
general.
Find ten examples of verbs in the simple present tense in the text
‘Fire: Friend and Foe’ and write them down here. Do not include any passive
verbs.
Answer
Combines
Comes
Catches
Blow
Has
Absorbs
Means
Allow
Lowers
Stops
Cuts
Burns
2. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with words from the
box. You may use a word more than once.
carbon
cause
fire
smother
(i) Gandhiji’s life was devoted to the .........................
of justice and fair play.
(ii) Have you insured your house against ........................
?
(iii) Diamond is nothing but ......................... in its pure
form.
(iv) If you put too much coal on the fire at once you will
.......................... it.
(v) Smoking is said to be the main ........................... of
heart disease.
(vi) When asked by an ambitious writer whether he should put some
................... into his stories, Somerset Maugham murmured, “No, the other
way round”.
(vii) She is a .......................... copy of her mother.
(viii) It is often difficult to ................... a yawn when
you listen to a long speech on the value of time.
Answer
(i) Gandhiji's life was devoted to the cause of
justice and fair play.
(ii) Have you insured your house against fire?
(iii) Diamond is nothing but carbon in its pure from.
(iv) If you put to much coal on the fire at once you will smother it.
(v) Smoking is said to be the main cause of heart disease.
(vi) When asked by an ambitious writer whether he should put some fire into
his stories, Somerset Maugham
murmured, "No, the other way round".
(vii) She is a carbon copy of her mother.
(viii) It is often difficult to smother a yawn when you listen
to as long speech on the value of time.
Page No: 121
3. One word is italicised in each sentence. Find its opposite in
the box and fill in the blanks.
spending shut
destroy
subtract increase
(i) You were required to keep all the doors open,
not ..................
(ii) PUPIL : What mark did I get in yesterday’s Maths test?
TEACHER : You got what you get when you add five
and five and ..................... ten from the
total.
(iii) Run four kilometres a day to preserve your
health. Run a lot more to ..................... it.
(iv) If a doctor advises a lean and lanky patient to reduce his
weight further, be sure he is doing it to
...................... his income.
(v) The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and
................. we lay waste our powers.
– WORDSWORTH
Answer
(i) You were required to keep all the doors open, not shut.
(ii) Pupil : What mark did I get in yesterday's Maths test?
Teacher : You got what you get when you add
five and five and subtract ten from the total.
(iii) Run four kilometres a day to preserve your health Run a lot to destroy it.
(iv) If a doctor advises a lean and lanky patient to reduce his weight further,
be sure he is doing it to increase his
income.
(v) The world is too much with us; late and soon. Getting and spending we
lay waste our powers.
-WORDSWORTH
4. Use the words given in the box to fill in the blanks in
the sentences below.
across
along past
through
(i) The cat chased the mouse ........................... the lawn.
(ii) We were not allowed to cross the frontier. So we drove
................. it as far as we could and came back
happy.
(iii) The horse went ................... the winning post and had
to be stopped with difficulty.
(iv) It is not difficult to see .................... your plan.
Anyone can see your motive.
(v) Go ...................... the yellow line, then turn left. You
will reach the post office in five minutes.
Answer
(i) The cat chased the mouse across the lawn.
(ii) We were not allowed to cross the frontier. So we drove along it
as far we could an came back happy.
(iii) The horse went past the winning post and had to be
stopped with difficulty.
(iv) It is not difficult to see through your
plan. Any one can see your motive.
(v) Go along the yellow line, then turn left. You will reach
the post office in five minutes.
Ch 9 A Bicycle
in Good Repair Honeycomb
Jerome K. Jerome
Page No: 128
Comprehension Check
1. “I got up early, for me.” It implies that
(i) he was an early riser.
(ii) he was a late riser.
(iii) he got up late that
morning.
Mark the correct answer.
Answer
It implies that (ii) he was a late riser.
2. The bicycle “goes easily enough in the morning and a little
stiffly after lunch.” The remark is .
(i) humorous.
(ii) inaccurate.
(iii) sarcastic.
(iv) enjoyable.
(v) meaningless.
Mark your choice(s).
Answer
The remark is (i) humorous, (iii) sarcastic and (iv) enjoyable.
3. The friend shook the bicycle violently. Find two or three
sentences in the text which express the author’s disapproval of it.
Answer
(i) “Don’t do that; you’ll hurt it.”
(ii) I did not see why he should shake it; it had not done
anything to him.
(iii) I felt much as I should had he started whacking my
dog.
(iv) “It doesn’t if you don’t wobble it.”
(v) “Don’t you trouble about it any more; you will make yourself
tired. Let us put it back and get off.”
4. “...if not, it would make a serious difference to the machine.”
What does ‘it’ refer to?
Answer
'It' refers to the little balls bearing of the wheel that rolled
all over the path.
Page No: 132
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
1. Did the front wheel really wobble? What is your opinion? Give a
reason for your answer.
Answer
No, the front wheel really didn't wobble. As author himself said
that "It doesn’t if you don’t wobble it. It didn’t wobble, as a matter of
fact nothing worth calling a wobble." So, My opinion is wheel really
didn't wobble at all. It all started after the treatment by that man.
Page No: 133
2. In what condition did the
author find the bicycle when he returned from the tool shed?
Answer
When author returned from the tool shed, he that the front wheel of his bicycle
was between his legs.
He was playing with it, twiddling it round between his fingers and the remnant
of the machine
was lying on the gravel path beside him.
3. “Nothing is easier than
taking off the gear-case.” Comment on or continue this sentence in the light of
what actually happens.
Answer
This sentence was said in the sense that taking off the gear case was an easy
task. Actually, the author tried to dissuade him from taking off the gear-case
by telling him that his one of the friend said that if anything went wrong with
gear-case, he can sell the machine and buy a new one; it comes cheaper. But he
said that nothing is easier than taking off a gear-case and author's
friend didn't have knowledge about machine. In less than five minutes, he had
the gear-case in two pieces lying
on the path, and was grovelling for screws.
4. What special treatment
did the chain receive?
Answer
The lunatic man tightened the chain till it did not move and after that
he loosened it until it was twice as loose as it was before.
5. The friend has two qualities — he knows what he is doing and is
absolutely sure it is good. Find the two phrases in the text which mean the
same.
Answer
cheery confidence
inexplicable hopefulness
6. Describe ‘the fight’ between the man and the machine. Find the
relevant sentences in the text and write them.
Answer
One moment the bicycle would be on the gravel path, and he on
top of it. Next moment, the position would be reversed, he on the gravel path,
the bicycle on him. Now he would be standing flushed with victory, the bicycle
firmly fixed between his legs. But his triumph would be short-lived. After
being dirty and disheveled, cut and bleeding 'the fight between the man and the
machine was over. The bicycle looked as if it also had had enough of it.
Working with Language
I. Read the following sentences.
• We should go for a long bicycle ride.
• I ought to have been firm.
• We mustn’t lose any of them.
• I suggested that he should hold the fork, and that I should
handle the wheel.
The words in italics are modal auxiliaries. Modal auxiliaries are
used with verbs to express notions such as possibility, permission,
willingness, obligation, necessity, etc. ‘Should,’ ‘must’ and ‘ought to’
generally express moral obligation, necessity and desirability.
Look at the following.
• We should go on a holiday. (suggestion: It is a good idea for us
to go on a holiday.)
• He is not too well these days. He must see a doctor before he
becomes worse. (compulsion or necessity: It is absolutely essential or
necessary for him to see a doctor.)
• You ought to listen to me. I am well over a decade older than
you. (more emphatic than ‘should’: Since I am older than you, it is advisable
that you listen to me.)
Note: ‘Should’ and ‘ought to’ are often used interchangeably.
Page No: 134
Rewrite each of the following sentences using should/ought to/must
in place of the italicised words. Make other changes wherever necessary.
(i) You are obliged to do your duty
irrespective of consequences.
(ii) You will do well to study at least
for an hour every day.
(iii) The doctor says it is necessary for
her to sleep eight hours every night.
(iv) It is right that you show respect
towards elders and affection towards youngsters.
(v) If you want to stay healthy, exercise
regularly.
(vi) It is good for you to take a walk
every morning.
(vii) It is strongly advised that you
don’t stand on your head.
(viii) As he has a cold, it is better for
him to go to bed.
Answer
(i) You ought to do your duty irrespective of consequences.
(ii) You should study at least for an hour everyday.
(iii) The doctor says she must sleep eight hours every night.
(iv) You should show respect towards elders and affection
towards youngsters.
(v) You should exercise regularly to stay fit.
(vi) You should take a walk every morning.
(vii) You must not stand on your head.
(viii) As he has a cold, he should go to bed.
Page No: 135
2. Use should/must/ought to appropriately in the following
sentences.
(i) People who live in glass houses ................. not throw
stones.
(ii) You .................. wipe your feet before coming into the
house, especially during the rains.
(iii) You ..................... do what the teacher tells you.
(iv) The pupils were told that they ................... write more
neatly.
(v) Sign in front of a park: You ................... not walk on
the grass.
(vi) You ........................... be ashamed of yourself having
made such a remark.
(vii) He .......................... left home at 9 o’clock. He
be here any minute.
(viii) “Whatever happened to the chocolate cake?”
“How ......................... I know? I have just arrived.”
Answer
(i)People who live in glass houses should not
throw stones.
(ii)You ought to wipe your feet before coming into the house,
especially during the rains.
(iii)You should do what the teacher tells you.
(iv)The pupils were told that they should write more neatly.
(v)Sign in front of a park: You must not walk on the grass.
(vi)You should be ashamed of yourself having made such a
remark.
(vii)He left home at 9 o'clock. He should be here any minute.
(viii)“Whatever happened to the chocolate cake?”
“How should I know? I have just
arrived.”
3. Two or more single sentences can be combined to form a single
sentence.
Read the following.
I made an effort, and was pleased with myself.
This sentence is in fact a combination of two sentences.
• I made an effort.
• I was pleased with myself.
Now read this sentence.
I did not see why he should shake it.
This is also a combination of two sentences.
• I did not see (it).
• Why should he shake it?
Divide each of the following sentences into its parts. Write
meaningful parts. If necessary, supply a word or two to make each part
meaningful.
(i) I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. (3 parts)
(ii) When I came back he was sitting on the ground. (2 parts)
(iii) We may as well see what’s the matter with it, now it is out.
(3 parts)
(iv) He said he hoped we had got them all. (3 parts)
(v) I had to confess he was right. (2 parts)
Answer
(i) I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. (3 parts)
(a) I went to the tool shed.
(b) I went (there) to see.
(c) What I could find?
(ii) When I came back he was sitting on the ground. (2 parts)
(a) I came back.
(b) He was sitting on the ground.
(iii) We may as well see what’s the matter with it, now it is out. (3
parts)
(a) We may as well see (it).
(b) What (is) the matter with it?
(c) It is out now.
(iv) He said he hoped we had got them all. (3 parts)
(a) He said.
(b) He hoped.
(c) We had got them all.
(v) I had to confess he was right. (2 parts)
(a) I had to confess.
(b) He was right.
Page No: 136
4. ‘en’ acts as a prefix (put at the beginning) or as a suffix
(put at the end) to form new words.
en + courage = encourage
weak + en = weaken
‘en’ at the beginning or at the end of a word is not always a
prefix or a suffix. It is then an integral part of the word.
ending
barren
(i) Now arrange the words given in the box under the three
headings — prefix, suffix and part of the word.
encourage
dampen
listen
barren
endanger
soften
fasten
enclose
weaken
even
enable
enclave
Answer
en (prefix)
en (suffix)
en (part of word)
encourage
fasten
barren
endanger
dampen
even
enclose
soften
listen
enable
weaken
enclave
Ch 10 The Story of
Cricket Honeycomb
Ramachandra Guha
Page No: 143
Comprehension Check
1. Cricket is originally a/an
(i) Indian game.
(ii) British game.
(iii) international game.
Mark the right answer.
Answer
Cricket is originally a (ii) British game.
2. “There is a historical reason behind both these oddities.” In
the preceding two paragraphs, find two
words/phrases that mean the same as ‘oddities’.
Answer
peculiarities
curious characteristic.
3. How is a cricket bat different from a hockey stick?
Answer
In early days, cricket bat and hockey stick had very slight
difference. Now, hockey stick is made of single piece of wood and curved at
bottom while cricket bat is flat and straight and made up of two pieces, the
blade and the handle.
Page No: 146
Comprehension Check
Write True or False against each of the following sentences.
(i) India joined the world of Test cricket before Independence.
(ii) The colonisers did nothing to encourage the Parsis in playing
cricket.
(iii) Palwankar Baloo was India’s first Test captain.
(iv) Australia played its first Test against England as a
sovereign nation.
Answer
(i)True
(ii)True
(iii) False
(iv)False
Page No: 148
Comprehension Check
1. A ‘professional’ cricket player is one who makes a living by
playing cricket. Find the opposite of ‘professional’ in the last paragraph.
Answer
Amateur
2. In “the triumph of the
one-day game”, ‘triumph’ means the one-day game’s
(i) superiority to Test
cricket.
(ii) inferiority to Test
cricket.
(iii) achievement and success
over Test cricket.
(iv) popularity among viewers.
Mark the right answer.
Answer
(iv) popularity among viewers.
3. “...the men for whom the
world is a stage”.
(i) It refers to the famous
cricket fields in the world.
(ii) It means that there are
many cricket playing countries in the world.
(iii) It implies that
cricketers are like actors and every cricket ground is like a stage on which
the drama of cricket is enacted the world over.
Mark the right answer.
Answer
(iii) It implies that cricketers are like actors and every cricket ground is
like a stage on which the drama of cricket is enacted the world over.
Working with the Text
1. Name some stick-and-ball games that you have witnessed or heard
of.
Answer
Hockey, Cricket, Baseball, Polo, Billiards are the few games.
2. The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket.
Why?
Answer
The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket as
they were in close contact with the British because of their interest in trade
and the first Indian community to westernise.
3. The rivalry between the Parsis and the Bombay Gymkhana had a
happy ending for the former. What does ‘a happy ending’ refer to?
Answer
The 'happy ending' refers to the victory of a Parsis team over
the Bombay Gymkhana in a game of cricket in 1889, just four years after the
foundation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
4. Do you think cricket owes its present popularity to television?
Justify your answer.
Answer
Definitely, cricket owes its present popularity to
television. It helps in expansion of its audience as well as popularity to
different countries and even in small towns and villages by broadcasting
services. Matches played at one place can be viewed worldwide which resulted in
its popularity as well as finance.
5. Why has cricket a large viewership in India, not in China or
Russia?
Answer
Cricket is popular mostly in the colonial countries of British empire not the
sovereign countries. India was only the part of the British empire not the
China or Russia. Therefore, Cricket has large viewership in India, not in China
or Russia. Moreover, TV companies have created a global market for cricket
in India.
6. What do you understand by the game’s (cricket) ‘equipment’?
Answer
The things which are necessary for playing the game are game’s
(cricket) ‘equipment’. Like in cricket, ball, bat, wicket, helmets, gloves,
pads are the requires things to play the match.
Page No: 149
7. How is Test cricket a unique game in many ways?
Answer
Test Game is Unique in the sense that even though it is played
for five days, It ends in a draw. No other modern team sport takes even half as
much time to complete.
8. How is cricket different from other team games?
Answer
Cricket is different from other team games because it goes on
for a longer time than any other games. It also has different formats like Test
Cricket, One-day International and T-20 match and each game takes different
time to get completed. Another a strange feature of Cricket is the play
ground that it can be of any size, only the length of the pitch is specified
while in other games the dimensions of the playing area is specified.
9. How have advances in technology affected the game of cricket?
Answer
After the advancement of technology, players started wearing
more protective equipment. The invention of vulcanized rubber made possible the
use of pads. Satellites helped in increasing the popularity and audience of
cricket. One can now watch live matches while sitting at home. Technology also
helped in taking fair decisions while playing the game.
10. Explain how cricket changed with changing times and yet
remained unchanged in some ways.
Answer
With the change of time, technology get more advanced and
players started wearing protective equipment. Earlier the bat was made of one
piece, today it has a separate blade and handle. Decisions became more fair
with motion sensor cameras. But still, both bat and ball are handmade, not
industrially manufactured.
Working with Language
1. Wordsearch
• Twelve words associated with cricket are hidden in this grid.
• Six can be found horizontally and the remaining six vertically.
• Two words have been found for you.
Clues to the hidden words are given below.
Horizontal : six deliveries, four runs, attacked while out of
arena, no result, stumps, fielder to the off
side of the wicketkeeper
Vertical : stumps flying, back to the pavilion, a lofty one,
mid-air mishap, not even one out of six,
goes with
bat
Answer
Page No: 150
2. Add -ly to the italicised
word in each sentence. Rewrite the sentence using the new word. See the
examples first.
• He runs between wickets as if his legs were stiff.
He runs between wickets stiffly.
• Why did the batsman swing the bat in such a violent manner?
Why did the batsman swing the
bat so violently?
(i) It is obvious that the work has not been done in a proper way.
► It is obvious that the
work has not been done properly.
(ii) He made the statement in
a firm manner.
► He made the statement firmly.
(iii) The job can be completed
within a week in an easy way.
► The job can be completed
within a week easily.
(iv) You did not play in
a serious manner, or else you would have won the match.
► You did not play seriously, or else you
would have won the match.
(v) She recited the poem in
a cheerful manner.
► She recited the
poem cheerfully.
3. Use the following phrases appropriately in place of the
italicised words in the sentences given below.
|
as a matter of fact |
we had better |
|
|
see to it |
by accident |
as well |
(i) Actually, I didn't intend to come to your place. I reached here without
planning.
► Actually,
I didn't intend to come to your place. I reached here by accident.
(ii) Sunil, there's a letter
for you in today's post. There's one for me also.
► Sunil,
there's a letter for you in today's post. There's one for me as well.
(iii) Everybody thought I had
composed the poem. The truth is my younger sister did it.
► Everybody
thought I had composed the poem. As a matter of fact, my younger sister did it.
(iv) The doctor told the
patient to make sure that he took his pills on time.
► The
doctor told the patient to see
to it that he took his pills on time.
(v) It will be better for
us to plan our trip before setting out.
► We had better plan our trip before setting
out.
Class 7th: The
Squirrel (Poem) Honeycomb English
By Mildred Bowers Armstrong
Page No: 17
You may have seen a squirrel sitting on the ground eating a nut.
What did it look like?
Answer
The squirrel is a rodent. His colour is grey with brown strips
on its body. It looks like a baby rabbit as it is very small in size with fur
on ts body. He generally lives in trees and is very quick. Squirrel likes to
eat nuts. It has very bushy tail.It is an cute and naughty animal.
Working with the Poem
1. Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a question mark for
tail”? Draw a squirrel, or find a picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground.
How would you describe its tail ?
Answer
The poet said the squirrel “wore a question mark for tail” because the shape of
the tail of squirrel sitting on the ground looks very similar to question mark.
I would describe it as fur of clothes clutched together or bushy shaped.
2. Do we usually say that an
animal ‘wears’ a tail? What do we say? (Think: Does an animal wear a coat?
Consult a dictionary if you like, and find out how ‘wear’ is used in different
ways.)
Answer
No, we do not usually say that an animal ‘wears’ a tail. We usually
say that animal 'has' a tail.
3. “He liked to tease and play”. Who is teasing whom? How ?
Answer
The squirrel is teasing the poet and his friends. When poet and his friends ran
around the tree on which the squirrel is sitting, it went the other way teasing
and playing with them
Class 7th: The
Rebel (Poem) Honeycomb English
By D.J.
Enright
Page No: 34
Working with the Poem
1. Answer the following
questions.
(i) If someone doesn’t wear a
uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?
(ii) When everyone wants a
clear sky, what does the rebel want most?
(iii) If the rebel has a dog
for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?
(iv) Why is it good to have
rebels?
(v) Why is it not good to be a rebel oneself?
(vi) Would you like to be a rebel? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Answer
(i) The teacher will ask him/her about the reason for not being in
uniform and then takes action according to the reply.
(ii) When everyone wants a clear sky, the rebel wants rain the
most.
(iii) If the rebel has a dog for a pet, then everyone else is likely to have a
cat.
(iv) It is good to have rebels because very few people have the power to oppose
the decision of the majority. They think differently and fearlessly stand with
their choices which can be beneficial.
(v) It is not good to rebel oneself because no one will like you. It keeps you
apart from the people and they will be like enemy for you.
(vi) No, I would not like to be a rebel because i don't have the guts to
opposes the majority and moreover i can't hurt the feelings of the people. I
don't want to be a source of bitterness among the people.
Page No: 35
2. Find in the poem an antonym
(a word opposite in meaning) for each of the following words.
(i) long
(ii) grow
(iii) quietness
(iv) sober
(v) lost
Answer
(i)Short
(ii)Cut
(iii)Disturbance
(iv)Fantastic
(v)Find
3. Find in the poem lines that match the following. Read both one
after the other.
(i) The rebel refuses to cut his hair.
(ii) He says cats are better.
(iii) He recommends dogs.
(iv) He is unhappy because there is no sun.
(v) He is noisy on purpose.
Answer
(i)
The rebel lets his hair grow long.
(ii) The rebel expresses a preference for cats.
(iii) The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.
(iv) The rebel regrets the absence of sun.
(v) The rebel creates a disturbance.
Class 7th: The Shed
(Poem) Honeycomb English
By Frank Flynn
Page No: 49
Working with the Poem
1. Answer the following
questions.
(i) Who is the speaker in the poem?
(ii) Is she/he afraid or curious, or both?
(iii) What is she/he planning to do soon?
(iv) “But not just yet...” suggests doubt, fear, hesitation, laziness or
something else. Choose the word which seems right to you. Tell others why
you chose it.
Answer
(i) The speaker of the poem is poet Frank Flynn when he was a small boy.
(ii) She/He was curious not afraid as she/he always peep through that window
and ready to take a peek one day.
(iii) She/he is planning to go inside the shed soon.
(iv) “But not just yet...” suggests the hesitation of the poet from going
inside that shed. Though he was confident that there were no ghosts but still
he was hesitated to go inside and thought that soon he will go inside the shed
but not now.
2. Is there a room in your
house or a house in your neighbourhood/locality where you would rather not go
alone, and never at night? If there is such a place and a story to go with it,
let others hear all about it.
Answer
This question is supposed to be done by the students themselves. However if
further asked for answer to this question in future, we will put it. Thanks.
Class 7th: Chivvy
(Poem) Honeycomb English
By Michael Rosen
Page No: 70
Working with the Poem
1. Discuss these questions in
small groups before you answer them.
(i) When is a grown-up likely to say this?
Don’t talk
with your mouth full.
(ii) When are you likely to be told this?
Say thank
you.
(iii) When do you think an adult would say this?
No one thinks you are funny.
Answer
(i) A grown-up is likely to say this when children start talking in
between the meal with food in their mouth.
(ii) We are likely to be told to say thank you when someone helped us or given
us something.
(ii) When children act weird or do something funny to gain the attention then
adult would say no one thinks you are funny.
2. The last two lines of the
poem are not prohibitions or instructions. What is the adult now asking the child
to do? Do you think the poet is suggesting that this is unreasonable? Why?
Answer
In the last two lines, adult is now asking the child to make up their own mind
and take decision by themselves to be independent which is unreasonable because
earlier adults were not allowing the child to take any decision by themselves
and they were always taking decision for the child. But now, they are asking
them to take their own decision which is surely unreasonable.
3. Why do you think grown-ups
say the kind of things mentioned in the poem? Is it important that they teach
children good manners, and how to behave in public?
Answer
The grown-ups say such kind of things to their children in order to teach them
good manners. They want their children to be a responsible citizen and behave
good in public. Yes, it is important to teach the children all these things so
that they learn good manners and how to behave in the society, at home and with
their elders and youngsters. Our elders are our teachers and we can learn a lot
from their experience.
4. If you had to make some rules for grown-ups to follow, what
would you say? Make at least five such rules. Arrange the lines as in a poem.
Answer
I would make rules like:
Don't abuse anyone.
Respect the elders and youngsters also.
Time will be allowed for playing.
Keep the neighbour clean.
Don't smoke or spit.
Allow time for watching T.V.
No physical punishments.
Class 7th: Trees
(Poem) Honeycomb English
By Shirley Bauer
Page No: 84
Working with the Poem
1. What are the games or human
activities which use trees, or in which trees also ‘participate’?
Answer
The games or human activities which use trees are house making, playing hide
and seek, cool shades in summer, fire camp parties in winter, fruits and many
more.
2. (i) “Trees are to make no shade in winter.” What does this
mean? (Contrast this line with the line immediately before it.)
(ii)“Trees are for apples to grow on, or pears.” Do you agree that one purpose
of a tree is to have fruit on it? Or do you think this line is humorous?
Answer
(i) During winter time, we need sunlight not the cool shades of tree as it is
already cold. In summer time, we need protection from sunlight and trees
provide the cool shades.
(ii) Yes, one purpose of trees is to have fruits like apple or pears. This
line is not humorous as apple and pears are most common fruit so poet used
these two fruits name.
3. With the help of your
partner, try to rewrite some lines in the poem, or add new ones of your own as
in the following examples.
Trees are for birds to build nests in.
Trees are for people to sit under.
Now try to compose a similar
poem about water, or air.
Answer
Trees are for sweet fruits.
Tress take away our tiredness.
Trees are oxygen.
Drink water or bath with water,
You can never imagine life without water.
Pure water or impure water,
Save the every drop of water.
Class 7th: Mystery of
the Talking Fan (Poem) Honeycomb English
By Maude Rubin
Page No: 97
Working with the Poem
1. Fans don’t talk, but it is
possible to imagine that they do. What is it then, that sounds like the fan’s
chatter?
Answer
Yes, we can imagine that fans do talk as poet imagined in the poem but it is
not the reality. The chattering sound made by the fan is actually the
electrical fault in it because of friction due to not oiling.
Page No: 98
2. Complete the following sentences.
(i) The chatter is electrical because
.........................................................................
(ii) It is mysterious because
...........................................................................
Answer
(i) The chatter is electrical because it runs on electricity and fan don't talk
or chatter.
(ii) It is mysterious because the sound produced by the fan seems to say
something but the poet not able to understand it.
3. What do you think the
talking fan was demanding?
Answer
The talking fan was demanding for oiling its little whirling motor.
4. How does an electric fan
manage to throw so much air when it is switched on?
Answer
The electric fan manages to throw so much air when it is switched on as it gets
huge amount of power from electricity to rotate its whirling motor as well as
the metallic blade so fast.
5. Is there a ‘talking fan’ in
your house? Create a dialogue between the fan and a mechanic.
Answer
Yes, i have a metallic fan in my house.
Mechanic: How are you doing?
Fan: Not well, Suffering from the heat and friction. Can you do something?
Mechanic: I will try to help you. Let me check you first.
Fan: Yes, sure. Please do your best and help me.
Mechanic: I will. Please wait, let me finish my job.
Fan: Go ahead.
(After repairing)
Mechanic: Now, all okay?
Fan: Yes, Now i am feeling well. It feels so good.
Mechanic: That is great. Remember me when you are in trouble.
Fan: Yes, i will. Thanks for helping me.Greetings to you.
Mechanic: You are welcome. Bye. Take care.
Fan: Bye. You too take care.
Class 7th: Dad and
the Cat and the Tree (Poem) Honeycomb English
By Kit
Wright
Page No: 110
Working with the Poem
1. Why was Dad sure he wouldn’t fall?
Answer
Dad was sure he wouldn’t fall
because he thought himself as a climber and climbing on trees was a
child’s play for him.
2. Which phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s self-confidence best?
Answer
The phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s self-confidence best is 'Child’s play,
this is!'
3. Describe Plan A and its consequences.
Answer
Plan
A was to use the ladder in climbing the tree for bringing the cat down but it
slipped and Dad landed in the flower bed.
4. Plan C was a success. What went wrong then?
Answer
Plan
C was a success as Dad successfully jumped on the tree and landed flat right on
the cat. The cat gave a yell and sprang on the ground but poor old Dad struck
on the tree.
5. The cat was very happy to be on the ground. Pick out the phrase
used to express this idea.
Answer
The phrase used to express this idea is 'Pleased as Punch to
be'.
6. Describe the Cat and Dad situation in the beginning and at the
end of the poem.
Answer
The
cat was stuck on the tree and Dad was trying his plans to bring it down in the
begining but at the end of the poem the cat sprang to the ground safely but Dad
got stuck on the tree.
7. Why and when did Dad say each of the following?
(i) Fall?
(ii) Never mind
(iii) Funny joke
(iv) Rubbish
Answer
(i) Dad said 'Fall?' when Mum warned him about fall while
climbing the tree. He said so scornfully.
(ii) Dad said 'Never mind' when he fall from the ladder due to
slip for the first time. He said so to make clear that everything is alright.
(iii) Dad said 'Funny joke' when Mum warned him of falling
again. He said so because he was over confident of the success of the his Plan
B.
(iv) Dad said 'Rubbish' when Mum asked him to stop else he will
break his neck after his Plan B failed. He said so because he thought that his
Plan C will work and he will climb the tree easily.
8. Do you find the poem humorous? Read aloud lines which make you
laugh.
Answer
Yes, the poem is humorous. It draws funny situation of Dad while
climbing trees. Moreover, Dad over confidence of climbing tree added more
humour to the poem. The dialogue is written in more funny way.
Class 7th: Meadow
Surprises (Poem) Honeycomb English
By Lois Brandt Philips
Page No: 124
Working with the Poem
1. Read the lines in which the
following phrases occur. Then discuss with your partner the meaning of
each phrase in its context.
(i) velvet grass
(ii) drinking straws
(iii) meadow houses
(iv) amazing mound
(v) fuzzy head
Answer
(i) Velvet grass - the grass which is as soft as velvet.
(ii) drinking straws - The long narrow tube by which butterfly gets nectar from
the flower.
(iii) meadow houses - habitats or home of animals like burrows in the ground,
nests and ant’s mound.
(iv) fuzzy head - dandelion flowers which are covered by soft fibers like hair.
2. Which line in the poem
suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow? Read aloud
the stanza that contains this line.
Answer
The line in the poem suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy
a meadow
"Oh! Meadows have surprises
And many things to tell;
You may discover these yourself,
If you look and listen well."
3. Find pictures of the kinds
of birds, insects and scenes mentioned in the poem.
Answer
Students should do this by themselves. They can collect the pics of butterfly,
rabbit, ants, birds etc.
4. Watch a tree or a plant, or
walk across a field or park at the same time everyday for a week. Keep a diary
of what you see and hear. At the end of the week, write a short paragraph or a
poem about your experiences. Put your writing up on the class bulletin board.
Answer
Students should do this by themselves. However if further demanded by the
readers of this website, our team will look at it.
Class 7th: Garden
Snake (Poem) Honeycomb English
By Muriel L. Sonne
Page No: 137
Working with the Poem
1. Answer the following
questions.
(i) Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
(ii) Which line shows a
complete change of the child’s attitude towards snakes? Read it aloud.
(iii) "But mother says that kind is good..." What is
mother referring to?
Answer
(i) The line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes is
'I saw a snake and ran away...'
(ii) 'I’ll stand aside and watch him pass,
And tell myself, “There’s no mistake,
It’s just a harmless garden snake!”'
(iii) The mother is referring to the harmless garden snake.
Page No: 138
2. Find the word that refers to the snake’s movements in the
grass.
Answer
The word that refers to the snake’s movements in the grass is
'wiggles'.
3. There are four pairs of rhyming words in the poem. Say them
aloud.
Answer
(i) 'Away' - 'say'
(ii) 'Good' - 'food'
(iv) 'Grass' - 'pass'
(iv) 'Mistake' - 'snake'
4. A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast. Can you
guess how? Discuss in the group.
Answer
A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast as it slides
over the grass with the help of its scales.
5. Can you recall the word used
for a cobra’s long sharp teeth? Where did you come across this word
first?
Answer
Cobra's long sharp teeth are like two bows or forks that are ready to chase you
down. It makes me frightened. They are called fangs which is hollow tube
attached to a poisonous gland on one side. I came across these words as it
looks very dangerous and sharp like knife.
Class 7th: The Tiny Teacher
An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
Page No: 3
Comprehension Check
1. The story of an ant’s life
sounds almost untrue.
The italicised phrase means
(i) highly exaggerated.
(ii) too remarkable to be
true.
(iii) not based on facts.
Answer
(ii) too remarkable to be
true.
2. Complete the following
sentences.
(i) An ant is the smallest,
.................................................................................................................
(ii) We know a number of
facts about an ant’s life because
................................................................
Answer
(i) An ant is the smallest,
the commonest but the wisest insect.
(ii) We know a number of
facts about an ant’s life because people have kept ants as pets, and have
watched their daily behaviour closely.
3. In what ways is an ant’s
life peaceful?
Answer
An ant’s life is peaceful
because they do their own work and never fight with other ants of the same
group. They know sharing and contribution and do not interface in the other’s
work.
Page No: 5
Comprehension Check
1. How long does it take for
a grub to become a complete ant?
Answer
It takes five to six weeks
for a grub to become a complete ant.
2. Why do the worker ants
carry the grubs about?
Answer
The worker ants carry them about daily for
airing, exercise and sunshine.
3. What jobs are new ants
trained for?
Answer
The jobs which the new ants
are trained for are workers, soldiers, builders, cleaners, etc.
4. Name some other creatures
that live in anthills.
Answer
Some other creatures that
live in anthills are beetles, lesser breeds of ants, greenfly etc.
5. Mention three things we
can learn from the ‘tiny teacher’. Give reasons for choosing these items.
Answer
We can learn team work as
ants do their work by sharing and contribution without interface in the other’s work.
We can learn hard work as
ants spend their most of time in doing their respective jobs without
hesitation.
We can learn discipline as
ants live a disciplined life and always follow the rules of their group and
loyal towards it.
Exercise
Discuss the following topics
in groups.
1. (i) What problems are you
likely to face if you keep ants as pets?
(ii) When a group of bees
finds nectar, it informs other bees of its location, quantity, etc. through
dancing. Can you guess what ants communicate to their fellow ants by touching
one another’s feelers?
Answer
These questions are supposed
to be done in groups. Students have to do this by their own. If further
demanded, our team will provide the solution.
Page No: 6
2. Complete the following
poem with words from the box below. Then recite the poem.
Soldiers live in barracks
And birds in ———————,
Much like a snake that rests
In a ———————. No horse is
able
To sleep except in a ———————.
And a dog lives well,
Mind you, only in a ———————.
To say ‘hi’ to an ant, if you
will,
You may have to climb an
———————.
hole kennel nests anthill stable
Answer
Soldiers live in barracks
And bird in nests ,
Much like a snake that rests
In a hole. No horse is able
To sleep except in a stable.
And a dog lives well,
Mind you, only in a kennel.
To say 'hi' to an ant, if you
will,
You may have to climb an
anthill.
Class 7th: Bringing
Up Kari An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
By Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Page No: 14
Exercises
Answer the following questions.
1. The enclosure in which Kari lived had a thatched roof that lay
on thick tree stumps. Examine the illustration of Kari’s pavilion on page 8 and
say why it was built that way.
Answer
Kari’s pavilion was built of hatched roof that lay on thick tree
stumps because it was very high and would not fall when Kari
bump against the poles.
2. Did Kari enjoy his morning
bath in the river? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer
Yes, Kari enjoys his morning bath in the river as he lay
down on the sand bank and let his friend rub his back and also lie in the
river water for a long time. He squeal with pleasure when water is rubbed down
his back.
3. Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time. Why?
Answer
Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time because his friend
had to climb all kinds of trees to get the most delicate and tender twigs.
Also, if a twig is mutilated an elephant will not touch it. So, one had to be
very sharp hatchet to cut down these twigs which took half an hour to sharpen
it. It was not an easy job
4. Why did Kari push his friend into the stream?
Answer
Kari pushed his friend into the stream because a boy was lying flat on the
bottom of the river. Kari wanted his friend to save the life of that boy,
so he pushed his friend into the stream.
5. Kari was like a baby. What are the main points of comparison?
Answer
Kari was like a baby because he had to be trained to be good
just like a baby. He had to be taught when to sit down, when to walk, when
to go fast, and when to go slow. When he was naughty, he need to be scolded and
if not, he will do more mischief.
6. Kari helped himself to all the bananas in the house without
anyone noticing it. How did he do it?
Answer
Kari stole the bananas from the table near the window in the dining room. He
put his trunk through the window very much like a snake and disappeared with
all the bananas without any one noticing it.
7. Kari learnt the commands to sit and to walk. What were the
instructions for each command?
Answer
When his friend pulled his ear and say 'Dhat', Kari sit down and
when he pulled his trunk forward and say 'Mali', Kari walked.
8. What is “the master call”? Why is it the most important signal
for an elephant to learn?
Answer
The master call is a strange hissing, howling sound, as if a snake and a tiger
were fighting each other. It is the most important signal for an elephant
because whenever master is in trouble, one master call will bring the elephant
near him.
Class 7th: The Desert An
Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
Page No: 16
Comprehension Check
1. From the first paragraph
(i) pick out two phrases
which describe the desert as most people believe it is;
(ii) pick out two phrases
which describe the desert as specialists see it.
Which do you think is an apt
description, and why?
Answer
(i)Two phrases which describe
the desert as most people believe it is:
'dry, hot, waterless and
without shelter.'
'an endless stretch of sand
where no rain falls and, therefore, no vegetation grows.'
(ii)Two phrases which
describe the desert as specialists see it:
'a beautiful place'
'home of a variety of people,
animals and plants'
I think both the description
is an apt in their own way as most people describe it what they saw on
television or read over internet while specialists made the conclusion by their
interest and experience after living in desert.
Page No: 17
2. The phrases on the left in
the following box occur in the text.
Match each of them with a
phrase on the right.
(i) an endless stretch of sand
fertile place with water and
plants in a desert
(ii) waterless and without
shelter
not visible because the grass
is thick
(iii) an oasis
nothing but sand as far as
one can see
(iv) hidden by a cover of
grass
no water and no shade
Answer
(i) an endless stretch of sand
nothing but sand as far as
one can see
(ii) waterless and without shelter
no water and no shade
(iii) an oasis
fertile place with water and
plants in a desert
(iv) hidden by a cover of grass
not visible because the grass
is thick
Page No: 19
Comprehension Check
1. A camel can do without
water for days together. What is the reason given in the text?
Answer
A camel can do without water for days together
because they sweat very little. Camels can stand high body temperature. They
don’t need to sweat and therefore can retain the water they drink
for long periods of time.
2. How do the smaller desert
animals fulfill their need for water?
Answer
The smaller animals fulfill
their need for water by burrowing underground during the hot day and come out
at night to eat. Some of them eat other animals and get the water they need
from the moisture in the meat. Others eat plants and seeds and get the water
they need from plant juices.
3. In a desert the
temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night. Why?
Answer
In a desert the temperature
rises during the day and falls rapidly at night because of the absence of
moisture in desert lands. The moisture present in the air acts as a blanket and
protects the earth’s surface form the hot rays of the sun but the moisture in
air is absent in desert.Therefore, the land get heats up quickly during the day
due to the sun’s rays and cools down rapidly at night.
Exercises
Do the following activities
in groups.
1. Describe a desert in your
own way. Write a paragraph and read it aloud to your classmates.
Answer
A desert is generally without
water and vegetation but it as beautiful as a forest. A desert may be too hot or too cold but
plants and animals there have learned to survive in hot and dry and cold condition.
Deserts also have a different kind of vegetation.
2. Go to the library and
collect information about the lifestyle of people in desert areas— their food,
clothes, work, social customs, etc. Share this information with the group.
Answer
Students need to do this
question by themselves.
Class 7th: The Cop
and The Anthem An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
O. Henry
Page No: 29
Exercises
Answer the following questions.
1. What are some of the signs of approaching winter referred to in
the text?
Answer
Some of the signs of approaching winter are birds begin to fly
south, people want new warm coats and dead leaves falling.
2. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following.
(i) Soapy did not want to go to
prison.
(ii) Soapy had been to prison
several times.
(iii) It was not possible for
Soapy to survive in the city through the winter.
(iv) Soapy hated to answer
questions of a personal nature.
Answer
(i) False
(ii) True
(iii) False
(iv) True
3. What was Soapy’s first plan? Why did it not work?
Answer
Soapy’s first plan was to have dinner at some
fine restaurant and after that he would say that he had no money to
pay so that cop will arrest him and the judge would sentence him for three
months in the prison on Blackwell’s Island.
This plan did not work because the head waiter saw his broken old shoes and the
torn clothes that covered his legs. Strong and ready hands turned Soapy around
and moved him quietly and quickly outside the restaurant.
4. "But the cop’s mind would not consider Soapy". What
did the cop not consider, and why?
Answer
The cop's mind didn't consider Soapy because the men
who break windows do not stop there to talk to cops. They run away as
fast as they can. The cop saw a man further along the street, running and they
ran after him.
5. "We have orders to let them shout". What is the
policeman referring to?
Answer
The policeman referring to the orders that allowed college to
shout as they would not hurt anything. He said this to a man standing near him
when Soapy shouted as if he was drunk thinking that Soapy is a college
boy.
6. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following.
(i) Soapy stole a man’s umbrella.
(ii) The owner of the umbrella offered to give it to Soapy.
(iii) The man had stolen the umbrella that was now Soapy’s.
(iv) Soapy threw away the umbrella
Answer
(i) True
(ii) False
(iii) True
(iv) True
7. "There was a sudden and wonderful change in his
soul". What brought about the change in Soapy?
Answer
When Soapy came near his old home, he remembered his old days
and his childhood life. He saw his
worthless days, his wrong desires, his dead hopes, the lost
power of his mind.These made sudden and wonderful change in his soul. His
heart answered this change in his soul. He would fight to change his life, pull
himself up, out of the mud and make a man of himself again.
Discuss the following topics in groups.
1. Suppose no cop came at the end. What would Soapy’s life be like
through the winter?
Answer
If no cop came at the end, there would have been significant and
positive changes in his life. He would have looked for the man who had
offered him a job and able to live a respectable life in the society. The
changes brought in his soul may changed his whole life and he might have given
up his bad habits as he was determined. The story had an happy ending with
Soapy as a respectful man.
2. Retell an episode in the story which is a good example of irony
in a situation.
Answer
The ironic episode in the story is when Soapy came to his old
home. It's memory changed his mind and made him strong willing person who was
ready to brought positive changes in his life.
"Here was hisold childhood home. Through one window, he
could see a soft light shining. That had been his living room, where he had
spent many happy peaceful moments. Sweet music came to Soapy’s ears and seemed
to hold him there. The moon was above, peaceful and bright. There were
few people passing. He could hear birds high above him. And the
music that came from the room held Soapy there, for he had known it well long
ago. In those days, his life contained such things as mothers and flowers and
high hopes and friends and clean thoughts and clean clothes. There was a sudden
and wonderful change in his soul. He saw with sick fear how he had fallen. He
saw his worthless days, his wrong desires, his dead hopes, the lost power of
his mind. And also, in a moment, his heart answered this change in his soul. He
would fight to change his life. He would pull himself
up, out of the mud. He would make a man of himself again."
Class 7th: Golu Grows a Nose
An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
Rudyard Kipling
Page No: 34
Exercises
Answer the following
questions.
1. Whom does Golu ask,
"Why don’t you ever fly like other birds?"
Answer
Golu asked his tall aunt, the
ostrich that "Why don’t you ever fly like other birds?"
2. Which uncle of Golu had
red eyes?
Answer
Golu’s huge uncle, the
hippopotamus had red eyes.
3. Golu’s relatives did not
answer his questions because
(i) they were shy.
(ii) the questions were too
difficult.
(iii) Golu was a naughty
baby.
Answer
Golu’s relatives did not
answer because (ii) the questions were too difficult.
Page No: 35
4. Who advised Golu to go to
the Limpopo river?
Answer
The mynah bird advised Golu
to go to the Limpopo river.
5. Why did Golu go to the
river?
Answer
Golu went to the river to
know what the crocodile had for his dinner.
6. The crocodile lay on the
bank of the Limpopo river. Golu thought it was
(i) a living crocodile.
(ii) a dead crocodile.
(iii) a log of wood.
Answer
Golu thought it was (iii) a
log of wood.
7. What did the crocodile do
to show that it was a real crocodile?
Answer
Crocodile shed his crocodile
tears to show that it was a real crocodile.
8. "Come here, little
one, and I’ll whisper the answer to you."
The crocodile said this
because
(i) he couldn’t stand up.
(ii) he wanted to eat Golu.
(iii) Golu was deaf.
Answer
The crocodile said this
because (ii) he wanted to eat Golu.
9. Who helped Golu on the
bank of the river?
Answer
The python helped Golu on the
bank of the river.
10. Name two things the
elephant can do with his trunk, and two he cannot.
Answer
The two things the elephant
can do with his trunk are:
(i) pluck a large bundle of
grass and stuff it into his mouth
(ii) scoop up some mud from
the bank and slap it on his head.
The two things the elephant
cannot do with his trunk are:
(i) cannot scratch himself
with his trunk
(ii) cannot chew or eat food
directly with his trunk.
Class 7th: I Want Something
in a Cage An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
L.E. Greeve
Page No: 38
Comprehension Check
1. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’
against each of following statements.
(i) Mr Purcell sold birds,
cats, dogs and monkeys.
(ii) He was very concerned
about the well-being of the birds and animals in his shop.
(iii) He was impressed by the
customer who bought the two doves.
(iv) He was a successful
shopowner, though insensitive and cold as a person.
Answer
(i) True
(ii) False
(iii) False
(iv) False
2. Why is Mr Purcell compared
to an owl?
Answer
Mr Purcell compared to an owl
because large glasses magnified his eyes which gives him the appearance of a
wise and genial owl.
3. From the third paragraph
pick out
(i) words associated with
cries of birds,
(ii) words associated with
noise,
(iii) words suggestive of
confusion and fear.
Answer
(i) whispered twitters,
cheeps, squeaks
(ii) Rustling, squeals,
squeaks
(iii) frantic, frightened,
bewildered, blindly seeking.
Page No: 39
4. "...Mr Purcell heard
it no more than he would have heard the monotonous ticking of a familiar
clock." (Read para beginning with "It was a rough day...")
(i) What does 'it' refer to?
(ii) Why does Mr Purcell not
hear 'it' clearly?
Answer
(i) 'It' refers to the
chirping, squeaking and mewing of the birds and animals in the shop of Mr
Purcell.
(ii) Mr Purcell not hear 'it'
clearly because he heard it no more than he would have heard the monotonous
ticking of a familiar clock.and pay no attention to it as it was a daily
routine.
Page No: 42
Comprehension Check
1. Do you think the
atmosphere of Mr Purcell’s shop was cheerful or depressing? Give reasons for
your answer.
Answer
The atmosphere of Mr
Purcell’s shop was depressing because a constant stir of movement pervaded his
shop and the animals and birds were making a lot of noise seems like they are
not happy in their cages.
2. Describe the stranger who
came to the pet shop. What did he want?
Answer
The stranger was peculiar man
who was wearing shiny shoes and cheap, ill-fitted but a new suit.He had a
shuttling glance and close-cropped hair. He wanted something small in a cage
with wings.
3. (i) The man insisted on
buying the doves because he was fond of birds. Do you agree?
(ii) How had he earned the
five dollars he had?
Answer
(i) No, the man didn't
insisted on buying doves because he was fond of birds. He didn't asked for the
birds directly instead he said that he wanted anything with wings in a cage.
This shows that he had sympathy for the birds and wanted to see them flying.
(ii) He earned those five dollars by doing hard
labour in jail in his ten years of imprisonment.
4. Was the customer
interested in the care and feeding of the doves he had bought? If not, why not?
Answer
The stranger was not
interested in the care and feeding of the doves because he wanted to set them
free.
Exercises
Discuss the following topics
in groups.
1. Why, in your opinion, did
the man set the doves free?
Answer
In my opinion, I think that
the man must had set the doves free because he himself had been in jail for ten
years. He had sympathy for the birds and knew the pain of being imprisoned
against the wishes. He wanted to see them flying and enjoy their freedom that
is why he bought something with the wings. He wanted to smell the happiness of
freedom from cages by setting the doves free.
2. Why did it make Mr Purcell
feel “vaguely insulted”?
Answer
Mr Purcell feel “vaguely
insulted” the man bought the doves from Purcell’s shop for five dollars and
then went outside to set them free. It was Mr. Purcell who had kept these birds
in cage and restricted their freedom and the man spent his ten years income
only to give the doves freedom, so he felt more insulted.
Class 7th: Chandni An Alien
Hand Supplementary Reader English
Zakir Husain
Page No: 45
Comprehension Check
1. Why did Abbu Khan’s goats
want to run away? What happened to them in the hills?
Answer
Abbu Khan’s goats wanted to
run away because goats in hilly regions hate being tied to trees or poles. They
love their freedom and his goats were of the best hill breed. In the hills,
they get killed by an old wolf who lived in the hills.
2. Abbu Khan said, “No more
goats in my house ever again.” Then he changed his mind. Why?
Answer
Abbu Khan changed his mind
because he was terribly lonely and simply couldn’t live without his pets. He
needs company.
3. Why did he buy a young
goat?
Answer
He thought that a young goat
will stay with him much longer. She will soon begin to love him as well as the
food served by him and will never want to go to the hills.
Page No: 49
Comprehension Check
1. Why did Chandni hate the
rope round her neck?
Answer
Chandni hated the rope round
her neck because whenever she ran towards the hills, the rope round her neck
wouldn’t let her go any further and stops her with a jerk. She wanted to run
across those green fields and the hills.
2. “Now Abbu Khan understood
Chandni’s problem...” What was Chandni’s problem?
Answer
Chandni’s problem was that
she was a mountain goat and loved her freedom. She wanted to go to the hills
and hated to live with the rope around her neck.
3. Abbu Khan pushed Chandni
into a small hut. This shows that he
(i) was cruel.
(ii) loved her and wanted to
save her life.
(iii) was selfish.
Answer
This shows that he (ii) loved
her and wanted to save her life.
Page No: 51
Comprehension Check
1. Why did Chandni refuse to
join the group of wild goats?
Answer
Chandni refused to join the
group of wild goats because she wanted to enjoy her new freedom all by herself.
2. Chandni fought the wolf
because she
(i) was stronger than the
wolf.
(ii) hated the wolf.
(iii) had to retain her
freedom at all costs.
Answer
Chandni fought the wolf
because she (iii) had to retain her freedom at all costs.
Exercises
Discuss the following topics
in groups.
1. Why did the wise old bird
say, “Chandni is the winner”?
Answer
The wise old bird said that
Chandni is the winner because even being weak and small in front of the wolf,
she didn't give up. She gathered all her courage and done a brave fight. She
didn't leave the battlefield like a coward and fought for her freedom. She said
to herself that death in an open field is far better than life in a small hut.
She stood firm on her legs, head slightly bent and horns jutting out. She was a
picture of courage. She looked like a brave soldier ready to fight a
treacherous enemy. She died brave in the morning completely soaked in blood.
2. “Death in an open field is
better than life in a small hut,” Chandni said to herself. Was it the right
decision? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
I think it was the right
decision because no one can imagine life in someone's captivity. Freedom is
more valuable thing than life. Chandni could have gone back to her small hut of
Abbu and saved her life but she chooses to fight with the wolf instead to gain
her freedom. She didn't died coward. She fought with courage show the picture
of bravery to attain freedom of her life. She might have lived longer in the
captivity but she died everyday in the imprisonment. She fought with the wolf and
told herself that success or failure is a matter of luck or chance. So, she
took the right decision afterall.
3. Freedom is life. Discuss
this with reference to ‘Chandni’ and ‘I Want Something in a Cage’.
Answer
Students need to do this by
themselves. They can write article on the topic by taking example from the two
chapters.
Class 7th: The Bear Story An
Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
Axel Munthe
Page No: 57
Exercises
Answer the following
questions.
1. Where did the lady find
the bear cub? How did she bring it up?
Answer
The lady found the bear cub
in the forest. It was brought up on the bottle because it was half dead of
hunger and was so small and helpless.
2. The bear grew up but
"he was a most amiable bear". Give three examples to prove this.
Answer
Three examples to prove that
the bear grew up but "he was a most amiable bear" :
(i) He did not dream of
harming anybody, man or beast.
(ii) He look with his small
intelligent eyes most amicably at the cattle grazing in the field near by.
(iii) The children used to
ride on his back and he didn't harm them.
3. What did the bear eat?
There were two things he was not allowed to do. What were they?
Answer
He ate the same food as the
dogs and often out of the same plate like bread, porridge, potato, cabbage,
turnip. He likes fruit the best. Two things he was not allowed to do were to
climb trees and touch the beehives.
4. When was the bear tied up
with a chain? Why?
Answer
He was tied up with chain
whenever he done mischief. He was also put in chain during nights and on
Sundays when his mistress went to spend the afternoon with her married sister.
It was done because it was not supposed to be good for him to wander about in
the forest with all its temptations; it was better to and be on the safe side.
5. What happened one Sunday
when the lady was going to her sister’s house? What did the lady do? What was
the bear’s reaction?
Answer
One Sunday when the lady was
going to her sister’s house, a bear was coming to her in the forest at full speed.
Thinking that it was her bear, she scolded him and told him to go back as she
didn't want him to came with her. She became very angry when she saw that bear
lost his new collar and hit him on his nose with her parasol. The bear opened
his mouth several times as if he wanted to say something and looked at her with
his cunning eyes. After that, it turned around and went on its way.
6. Why was the bear looking
sorry for himself in the evening? Why did the cook get angry with her mistress?
Answer
The bear was looking sorry
for himself in the evening because he had been chained for the whole Sunday
afternoon and was looking for his mistress without doing anything. The cook got
angry with her mistress because she scolding the bear without any mistake who had
been sitting there quite still on his haunches as meek as an angel, looking the
whole time towards the gate for the mistress to come back.
Discuss the following topics
in groups.
1. Most people keep dogs and
cats as pets. Can you think of some unusual pets that people keep?
Answer
Students need to do this by
themselves.
2. The second bear did not
attack the lady because he was afraid of her. Do you agree?
Answer
No, i don't agree that second
bear did not attack the lady because he was afraid of her. I think, the second
bear was also amiable and want to befriend with someone. Even when she lost her
appetite and scolded him and hit the bear with her parasol, he didn't attacked
her. Although, bears are able to kill a person easily. He opened his mouth several times as if he
wanted to say something and looked at her with his cunning eyes which seems
that he was not afraid of her at all but wanted to be loved by her. He had come
stopping now and then look at the lady till at last she lost sight of him which
shows the affection of him with the lady.
Class 7th: A Tiger in the
House An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
Ruskin Bond
Page No: 60
Comprehension Check
1. "He had the
distinction of being the only member of the party to have bagged any game..."
The phrase in italics means
(i) Grandfather was the most
distinguished member of the party.
(ii) Grandfather was the only
sportsperson in the party.
(iii) Grandfather was the
only successful member of the hunting party.
Mark the right answer.
Answer
The phrase in italics means
(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.
2. Complete the following
sentences.
(i) Toto climbed up the
curtains when ——————————————————————
(ii) ———————————————————————
,I became one of the tiger’s favourites.
(iii) Timothy had clean
habits, ————————————————————————————
Answer
(i) Toto climbed up the
curtains when Timothy lost his temper.
(ii) One of Timothy's
favourite amusements was to stalk anyone who would play with him, and so, when
I came to live with Grandfather, I became one of the tiger's favourites.
(iii) Timothy had clean
habits, and would scrub his face with his paws exactly like a cat.
Page No: 64
Comprehension Check
1. Grandmother’s prophecy was
that the tiger
(i) would prefer Mahmoud’s
bed to sleep in.
(ii) and the cook would
disappear together from the house.
(iii) would one day make a
meal of Mahmoud.
Mark the right answer.
Answer
Grandmother’s prophecy was
that the tiger (iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
2. When Timothy was about six
months old, a change came over him.
The phrase in italics means
that
(i) Timothy had grown to his
full size.
(ii) Timothy grew more
friendly.
(iii) Timothy grew less
friendly, in fact more dangerous
Answer
The phrase in italics means
that (iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.
3. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’
against each of the following statements.
(i) Timothy and Grandfather
went to Lucknow in a special compartment.
(ii) The compartment in which
Grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other passenger.
(iii) Timothy and Grandfather
travelled in a first class compartment.
(iv) All passengers in the
compartment thought that Timothy was a well-fed and civilised tiger.
Answer
(i) False
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) False
4. Grandfather suggested that
Timothy should be put in another cage.
The reason was that
(i) the tiger had become very
bad tempered.
(ii) a leopard in the next
cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
(iii) the cage was too small
for a full grown tiger.
Answer
The reason was that (ii) a
leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
5. The tiger was still
licking his arm, with increasing relish. The phrase in italics suggests that
Timothy
(i) was good natured.
(ii) recognised an old friend.
(iii) smelt fresh food.
Answer
The phrase in italics
suggests that Timothy (iii) smelt fresh food.
Page No: 65
Exercises
Answer the following
questions.
1. Where was the tiger cub
hiding when Grandfather found him?
Answer
Grandfather found the tiger
cub was hiding among the intricate roots of a banyan tree.
2. (i) What did Toto do to
entertain Timothy?
(ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his
temper?
Answer
(i) Toto teased and pull
Timothy by the tail to entertain him.
(ii) Toto climbed up the
curtains when Timothy lost his temper.
3. "I became one of the
tiger’s favourites". Who is 'I' in the statement? Why did he think so?
Answer
In the statement ‘I’ refers
to the narrator of the story, Ruskin Bond. He think so because the tiger with a
crafty look in his glittering eyes and crouching his body creep closer and
closer to the author. Suddenly making a dash for his feet, rolling over on his
back and kicking with delight, and pretending to bite his ankles.
4. Where was Timothy most
comfortable during the day? Where was he during the night?
Answer
Timothy was most comfortable
on the long sofa in the drawing room during the day which was his favourite
place in the house. He slept at night in the cook’s quarters.
5. What was Grandmother’s prophecy
about the cook? Did it come true?
Answer
Grandmother's prophecy about
the cook was that one day Timothy sitting on cook's bed would make a meal of
cook with his clothes and shoes left behind. However it didn't come true
because the tiger had begun to stalk Mahmoud about the house with a villainous
intent.
6. What made Grandfather
decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?
Answer
When Timothy was about six
months old, he grew less friendly. When out for a walk with the author, he
would try to steal away to stalk a cat or someone’s pet dog. Sometimes at night
they heard frenzied cackling from the poultry house, and in the morning,
feathers were lying all over the verandah. And finally, when he began to stalk
Mahmoud about the house with what looked like villainous intent, Grandfather
decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo.
7. Why did Grandfather want
Timothy to be put in another enclosure?
Answer
A leopard in the next cage
snarled at Timothy. Every time, the leopard would rush at the bars and Timothy
had to slink back to his corner. So, Grandfather wanted Timothy to be put in
another enclosure.
8. What shocked Grandfather
in the end?
Answer
Grandfather visited the zoo
after six months to see Timothy and went to the cage where he was put in
straightly. When Grandfather asked the keeper to transfer Timothy to another
cage, he said that the tiger in the cage was not Timothy. He was informed by
the zoo keeper that his tiger Timothy had died two months ago, which shocked
him in the end.
Discuss the following topics
in groups.
1. Shoot animals with a
camera, not with a gun.
2. Keeping pets helps us
become more loving and tolerant. It also helps us respect life in any form. Do
you agree?
3. Have you heard of the
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)? What do they do?
Answer
Students need to do these
questions by themselves to enhance their knowledge and speaking power.
Class 7th: An Alien Hand An
Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English
Jayant Narlikar
Page No: 69
Comprehension Check
1. How does Tilloo manage to
find his way to the ‘forbidden passage’?
Answer
When Tilloo’s father was
enjoying a siesta at home, he managed to get hold of his security card and by
evading his watchful mother’s eye, Tilloo made his way to the forbidden passage.
2. What did Tilloo hope to
see once he emerged from his underground home?
Answer
Tilloo hoped to see the sun
or the stars once he emerged from his underground home.
3. Why did Tilloo’s father
advise him not to try to reach the surface of the planet?
Answer
Tilloo’s father advise him not to try to reach
the surface of the planet because an ordinary person cannot survive there. The
air is too thin to breathe and temperature is so low that one can freeze to
death.
4. What changes had occurred,
which forced people to live in underground homes?
Answer
The sun which had provided
the sustenance turned hostile. It
changed only slightly but the change was sufficient to upset the balance of
nature which forced people to live in underground homes. Fish, birds and
animals couldn’t bear it and became extinct.
Page No: 71
Comprehension Check
1. Why was everyone in the
Control Room greatly excited?
Answer
Everyone in the Control Room
was greatly excited because the big TV Screen showed a dot in clear background
which was heading towards the planet.
2. Was the spacecraft manned
or unmanned? How do you know it?
Answer
The spacecraft was unmanned
because number one reported to the president that they do not contain living
beings, they only have instruments.
3. What did Number One and
Number Two suggest should be done about the alien spacecraft?
Answer
Number One suggested that
they should wait for the spacecraft to land and then render it ineffective
anytime it is required. But Number Two suggested that we should not interfere
and observe passively and not to reveal their existence by rendering the
spacecraft ineffective.
Page No: 71
Comprehension Check
1. What do you think the
mechanical hand was trying to do?
Answer
The mechanical hand was trying
to collect the sample of the soil from the planet for the examination.
Tilloo pressed the red button
and “the damage was done”. What was the damage?
Answer
The damage was that the
mechanical hand from the spacecraft ceased to work.
2. Where had the spacecraft
come from?
Answer
The spacecraft had come from
the Earth.
3. On which planet do Tilloo
and his parents live?
Answer
Tilloo and his parents live
onmars.
Page No: 73
Exercises
Discuss the following topics
in groups.
1. If you had to live in a
home like Tilloo’s, what parts of life would you find most difficult? What
compensations might there be?
Answer
The part of life I found most
difficult is the freedom and open space. It will be like living in a cell far
away from open space. There were no sightseeing, social life and interactions
with the nature. The compensation can be peace, harmony, safety and security.
As all of us were living in the same undergrounded buildings, the people must
collaborated with each other nicely.
2. What, if anything, might
drive mankind to make their homes underground?
Answer
Global warming may cause the
depletion of the atmosphere and changes in the behavior of the climate which
will destroy the life on the surface of the Earth and drive mankind to make
their homes underground.
3. Do you think there is life
on other planets? Can you guess what kind of people there may be on them? In
what ways are they likely to be different from us?
Answer
This question should be done
by the students themselves. This question is based on using their own ideas,
skills and imagination.
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