Category: English

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English – Chapter 10: An Alien Hand

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English – Chapter 10: An Alien Hand – An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader

Comprehension Check (Page 69)

Question 1:
How does Tilloo manage to find his way to the ‘forbidden passage’?

Question 2:
What did Tilloo hope to see once he emerged from his underground home?

Question 3:
Why did Tilloo’s father advise him not to try to reach the surface of the planet?

Question 4:
What changes had occurred, which forced people to live in underground homes?

Answers:

1. One day Tilloo’s daddy was asleep. The boy picked up daddy’s I-card. Then he walked towards the forbidden secret passage. The card helped him open the door and enter the passage.
2. Tilloo hoped to see the sun or the stars after getting out of his underground home.
3. Tilloo’s father told him not to try to go to the surface of the planet because he won’t be able to breathe in the thin air or withstand the low temperature there.
4. The changing heat of the sun created conditions that killed all animals and birds. The air became thin and human beings could freeze to death.

Comprehension Check (Page-71)

Question 1:
Why was everyone in the Control Room greatly excited?

Question 2:
Was the spacecraft manned or unmanned? How do you know it?

Question 3:
What did Number One and Number Two suggest should be done about the alien spacecraft?

Answers:

1. Everyone in the Control Room was greatly excited because they had seen two space­crafts coming towards their planet.
2. The spacecraft that landed on the surface was unmanned. It contained only in­struments. A mechanical hand tried to collect samples of soil.
3. The Number One was in charge of defence. He suggested that they should wait till the craft landed on the surface. Then they could easily make it ineffective. Number Two also suggested that they should wait and watch. It would be unwise to reveal their existence by attacking the spacecraft.

Comprehension Check (Page-73)

Question 1:
What do you think the mechanical hand was trying to do?

Question 2:
Tilloo pressed the red button and “the damage was done”. What was the damage?

Question 3:
Where had the spacecraft come from?

Question 4:
On which planet do Tilloo and his parents live?

Answers:

1. The mechanical hand that emerged from the alien spacecraft, was trying to collect samples of soil from the surface of Mars. The purpose was to study if there was life on it.
2. Tilloo pressed the red button. It is dad who made it neutral again. But the damage was done. The mechanical hand stopped working. It became inactive.
3. The spacecraft had come from the planet Earth. It was sent by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, America).
4. Tilloo and his parents live on a planet with thin air, freezing cold and no animals on surface.

Exercises (Page-73)

Discuss the following topics in groups.

Question 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:
Living underground in artificial conditions without the light/warmth of the stars and the sun, must be very troublesome and dull. The only compensation of such a home is safety and security, controlled light and heat.

Question 2:
What, if anything, might drive mankind to make their homes underground?
Answer:
If the Sun grows cold, life on earth would be in danger of extinction. The temperature will go below freezing point. People will be forced to live underground with assured supply of oxygen, light and heat.

Question 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:
Scientists are trying hard to find out if there is any form of life on planets around the sun. So far they have sent spacecrafts to the moon and Mars, collected samples of soil and taken snapshots. But they have not found definite proof of life on them.
The kind of people, if they exist at all on any other planet, would be quite different from us. They must have adjusted themselves to strange and unfriendly environment there.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
What do you know about the Viking Mission to Mars?
Answer:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administrator’s (NASA) Viking Mission to Mars was composed of two spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2. Viking 1 was launched, on 20 August 1975 and arrived at Mars on 19 June 1976. Viking 2 was launched on 9 September 1975. It entered Mar’s orbit on 7 August 1976 Both consisted of an orbiter and a lander.

Question 2:
What were the primary objectives of the NASA Viking Mission to Mars?
Answer:
The primary objectives of the NASA Viking Mission to Mars were-
(i) To obtain images and samples of the Martian surface and soil,
(ii) To search for any possible signs of life there,
(iii) To search the presence of living microorganisms in the soil near the landing sites.

Question 3:
What do you know about ‘That way*?
Answer:
That way’ was an underground passage. Tilloo’s father went for work and returned from there along that passage. The people were curious to know what lay at the end of that forbidden route. Only select few persons were permitted to go that way. Tilloo’s father was one of them.

Question 4:
What was the metal door’s function? How did it open?
Answer:
The metal door’s function was to bar the entry to the underground passage. Tilloo slipped his father’s security ( magic ) card into a slot. The door opened noiselessfy.

Question 5:
Why was Tilloo escorted back home?
Answer:
Tilloo had slipped his father’s security card into the slot. It came out of another slot. The invisible mechanical devices detected and photographed Tilloo. His picture was sent to the Central Bureau. The security persons caught him and escorted him back home.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
How did Tilloo’s father manage the ugly situation when Tilloo was caught impersonating?
Answer:
Tilloo was caught using his father’s security card. The security guards took Tilloo home. His mother got enraged and started scolding him. Tilloo’s father came to his rescue. He told Tilloo’s mother that Tilloo should be briefed properly and sensibly. Then he would never repeat this grave offence. He warned Tilloo that an ordinary person could not survive on the surface where he worked. The air was too thin to breathe there. One would freeze to death due to quite low temperature.

Question 2:
How did Tilloo’s father manage to survive on the surface of the planet?
Answer:
Tilloo longed to know how his daddy managed to survive on the surface where he worked. His daddy told him that he went there well equipped in a special suit. He took a reservior of oxygen with him which enabled him to keep warm. His boots were also specially designed. It eased his walking on the surface. Above all, he had sought training to work and survive on the surface.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 1 Three Questions

Comprehension Check

Question 1:
Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
Solution:
The king wanted to know answers of his three questions because he wanted to be a successful ruler.

Question 2:
Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom

1. to fetch wise men.
2. to find answers to the questions.
3. to look for the wise hermit.
4. to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.

Solution:
2.to find answers to the questions.

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 beared man’s wound  ……………….
   

Solution:

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.
Question 1:
Why was the king advised to go to the magicians?
Solution:
Some of the wise men thought that in order to decide right time for doing something, one must look into the future and only magicians were able to do that. So, they advised the king to go to the magicians.

Question 2:
In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?
Solution:
In answer to the second question some people, suggested to seek advice of councillors, the priest or the doctors or the soldiers.

Question 3:
What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Solution:
For the third question some people said science was the most important business while there were others who believed it was fighting and then there were those who believed religious worship should take the first place.

Question 4:
Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?
Solution:
No, the wise men didn’t win the reward because their answers were so different from each other and king was not satisfied with their answers.

Question 5:
How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Solution:
The king washed the wound and covered the wound of the man with his handkerchief and kept on dressing it until the bleeding stopped completely.
The king also offered the wounded man water to drink. The hermit helped the king to bring the wounded man inside his hut and allowed the man to spend his night in the hut.

Question 6:

1. Who was the bearded man?
2. Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?

Solution:

1. The bearded man was an enemy of the king. He wanted to take revenge of his brother’s death by killing the king and taking away all his property.
2. The bearded man asked for the king’s forgiveness because he wanted to kill the king but the king has saved his life. He was grateful to the king now.

Question 7:
The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Solution:
The king showed his forgiveness by promising the man that he will send his doctor and servants to look after him and also promised to return him all his property.

Question 8:
What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answers do you like the most and why?
Solution:
The most important time, the hermit said, is our present because it is the only moment when we have the power to act. The most important person at a moment is we ourselves because the future is unknown and we don’t know whether we will meet anyone in the future or not.
So, we should listen to ourselves.
The most important business is to be kind and good to others because we have been sent in this world to serve this noble cause.
I liked the third answer the most because helping someone in need is like serving God. It makes us a good person and brings a sense of satisfaction and contentment.

Working with Language
Question 1:
Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.
fainted: lost consciousness

Use any three of the given words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of the word.
Solution:

Question 2:
Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in the 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?

1. The  ………………. said that only fresh evidence would make him change his  ………………. (judge)
2. I didn’t notice any serious of  ……………….  opinion among the debaters, although they ……………….  from one another over small points.(differ)
3. It’s fairly simple question to ……………….  but will accept my  ………………. as final? (answer)
4. It isn’t ……………….  that  ………………. should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
5. Hermits are ……………….  men. How they acquire their  ………………. no one can tell. (wise)
6. The committee has ……………….  to make
   Jagdish captain of the team. The  ………………. is likely to please everyone. (decide)
7. Asking for ………………. . is as noble as willingness to  ………………. (forgive)

Solution:

1. judge, judgement
2. difference, differed
3. answer, answer
4. necessary, necessity
5. wise, wisdom
6. has decided, decision
7. forgiveness, forgive

Speaking and Writing
Question 1:
Imagine you are the king. Narrate the incident of your meeting with the hermit. Begin like this: The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit….
Solution:
I knew the hermit used to help only ordinary men, so I left behind my servants and bodyguards. I went to meet him wearing simple clothes. The hermit was an old man and used to live in a hut amidst the woods. He was digging the ground in front of his hut when I arrived there. He greeted me and continued his work. I informed him the purpose of my visit, but still he continued digging the ground. He looked tired so I offered my help. He agreed, so I took the spade from him and started digging the ground.
After digging for many hours I again repeated my questions, but the hermit did not answer.
Evening was approaching and now I thought of returning. Suddenly, the hermit showed me a bearded man who was running towards us.

Question 2:
Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king. Begin like this:
One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king….
Solution:
but still pretended to be unaware of his identity. He told me that he has come to me to get answers for his three questions.
I greeted him and continued digging the ground. I was tired digging the ground; the king noticed this and offered his help. I agreed and gave my spade to him.
After digging two beds in the ground the king repeated his questions, I ignored him again and rather asked him if he was tired and would like me to dig the ground. But he refused to do so and continued the task.
Evening was approaching and it seemed that he was ready to leave, at that very moment we saw a man running towards us.

Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1:
Why did the king send two messengers throughout his kingdom?
Solution:
The king sent his messengers to look for wise people.

Question 2:
How did the king promise to reward the person who would answer his questions correctly?
Solution:
The king promised to reward the person with a huge sum of money.

Question 3:
Whose advice did the king finally think of seeking?
Solution:
The king finally thought of seeking the hermit’s advice who lived in a distant jungle.

Question 4:
Who did go alongwith the king to meet the hermit?
Solution:
No one went alongwith the king.

Question 5:
During which time of the day would the hermit would leave the forest and go out?
Solution:
The hermit never used to go out of the forest.

Question 6:
Why did the bearded man press his stomach with his hand?
Solution:
The bearded man pressed his stomach because he was wounded and wanted to stop blood flowing out from his wound.

Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1:
Why was the king advised to listen to his soldiers?
Solution:
Some wise men thought that it were soldiers who used to fight wars for the king and help him extend his territory and power. So, according to them they thought soldiers were the most important people whom the king should follow.

Question 2:
Why did the king refuse to give reward to anyone?
Solution:
The king was not satisfied with the answers of the wise men.
They all had given different answers to the same questions because of which he was unable to come to a conclusion, so he refused giving the reward to anyone.

Question 3:
Why the king changed his clothes and left behind his bodyguards and horse before meeting the hermit?
Solution:
The king was aware that the hermit would meet only simple people.
So, he dressed up like an ordinary man, left behind his horse and bodyguards and went to meet the hermit in his hut in the woods all alone.

Question 4:
Describe the hermit in one or two sentences.
Solution:
The hermit was a weak old man and used to live amidst the woods which he would never leave. He was digging the ground in front of his hut for sowing seeds when the king arrived and the tedious task had made him tired.

Question 5:
“Here comes someone running”. Who has been referred to in this sentence?
Solution:
The bearded man is being referred to in these lines. He had planned to attack the king, but was instead attacked by the king’s bodyguards, as they had recognised him. He had received a wound in his stomach. He was rushing towards the hermit’s hut for help.

Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1:
What were the replies the king received for his first question?
Solution:
In reply to his first question, the king was advised to follow a timetable by some men. There were some people who were of the opinion that it was impossible to decide the right time in advance. The king was suggested to keep a note of all the happenings around him, avoid indulging in excessive pleasure and do everything that seemed important at any particular time. Along with this he should have a team of intelligent people to guide to him to the right thing at the right time.

Question 2:
Describe the king in your own words.
Solution:
The king wanted to be a good ruler. He was seeking answers for the three questions which he thought would help him in his mission. The king was kindhearted, when he found the old man tired of digging the ground, he offered him his help. He kept on bandaging the bearded man’s wound until blood stopped coming out from it. He was down to earth, he dressed up like a common man and spent the night sleeping on floor at the hermit’s hut.

Question 3:
Describe the bearded man in your own words.
Solution:
The bearded man was courageous. He wanted to avenge his brother’s death killing the king. He lacked patience because when the king didn’t return by evening, he became anxious and left his hiding place. He was thankful and obliged by the king’s act.
He repented for his act and asked for forgiveness. He returned the favour by promising the king faithfulness of his entire family for the kingdom.

Question 4:
The king had done right things at the right time. Explain giving three examples.
Solution:
The king had known the hermit’s nature of meeting only ordinary men. So, he gave up his king’s attire, left behind his soldiers and the horse and went alone to meet him.
He offered the hermit his help in digging the ground. He did this till evening. This helped him avoid the attack planned by the bearded man.
He helped the bearded man bandaging his wound and offered him water. He saved his life. This helped him made friends with his enemy.

Value Based Questions
Question 1:
Do you think we should help people in need? Why so?
Solution:
We should always help people in need. We have been sent to this world to do good to others. If we are good and kind towards other, people will respect us for our kindness. Being kind and helpful keeps us happy from within. We feel happiness when we bring smile on the face of others. We earn their good wishes and blessings in return. It makes us a good human being. To help others is the greatest motto of humanity and we should adhere to it.

Question 2:
The king helped the hermit in digging the beds. He even slept on the floor of the hut and lived like a simple man in the hermit’s hut. What lesson we learn from this?
Solution:
The king found the old hermit tired digging the beds so he offered his help to the man. He was accustomed of comfort and lavishness in his palace still at hermit’s home he slept on the floor. At our homes we get all the luxuries but if one day there comes a situation where we have to live without them we should be prepared for that.
In life we might become very rich and affluent one day still we should be simple from heart and must not be ashamed of embracing it at any moment

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NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 2 A Gift of Chappals

Question 1:
What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?
Solution:
Meena shares the secret of the kitten that they have found in front of their house and have kept in their backyard.

Question 2:
How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Solution:
Ravi brings milk from the kitchen saying that he was feeling hungry. He even drinks most of it to prove Paati that he was indeed hungry.
He then brings the tumbler in the backyard and empties it in the coconut shell.

Question 3:
Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?
Solution:
Ravi said that the kitten’s ancestors were the lion of the Pallava kings, the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat which has the emblem of the Pallava dynasty. No I don’t believe his story.

Question 4:
Ravi has a lot to say about MP Poonai. This shows that

1. he is merely trying to impress Mridu.
2. his knowledge of history is sound.
3. he has a rich imagination.
4. he is an intelligent child.

Which of these statements do you agree/ disagree to?
Solution:
Ravi has a lot to say about MP Poonai.
This shows that his knowledge of history is sound, he has a rich imagination and he is an intelligent child.

Question 5:
What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?
Solution:
It was the sound coming out of Lalli’s violin that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran.

Check

Question 1:
The music master is making lovely music.
Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses the idea.
Solution:
The music-master’s notes seemed to float up and settle perfectly into the visible tracks of the melody.

Question 2:
Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.
Solution:
No, the beggar has been coming to Rukku Manni’s house for last one week. The beggar himself confirms this saying that he has survived for a week because of Rukku Manni’s kindness.

Question 3:
“A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows.” What does it suggests to you about Rukku Manni’s mood?
Solution:
The V-shaped line suggests that Rukku Manni was very angry and was about to lose her temper on the children.

Working with the Text

Question 1:
Complete the following sentences.

1. Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to …………….
2. Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran ………………..
3. The teacher played a few notes on his violin and Lalli ………………
4. The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household ………………
5. After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if ………………….

Solution:

1. derailing of a train going off track
2. tipped a few chillies over himself
3. stumbled behind him on her violin
4. have been very generous and helped him survive for a week
5. she had seen his chappals

Question 2:
Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window.
Solution:
The music teacher was a bony figure. He was sitting in front of Lalli with his back towards the window. He was a bald headed man with fringe of oiled hair falling around his ears. He had an old fashioned tuft.
He had a shinning gold chain in his neck and a diamond ring in his hand. He was wearing a golden-bordered dhoti. His large foot was stuck on the floor and he was beating the floor with his scrawny toe.

Question 3:

1. What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
2. What does she suggest to show her concern?

Solution:

1. The beggar showed his feet to the children. There were pink blisters on his bare feet which made Mridu conclude that he didn’t have the money to buy chappals.
2. Mridu was concerned about the beggar. She suggested giving an old pair of chappals to the beggar.

Question 4:
“Have you children….” She began and then, seeing they were curiously quiet, went on more slowly, “seen anyone lurking around the verandah?”

1. What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?
2. Why did she change her question?
3. What did she think had happened?

Solution:

1. Rukku Manni wanted to ask the children what they have done with the chappals.
2. She changed the question finding the children serious and quiet. She became sure that the children had something to do with the chappals.
3. She thought that the children would have hidden the chappals somewhere.

Question 5:
On getting Gopu Mama’s chappals, the music teacher tried not to look too happy. Why?
Solution:
Music teacher’s chappals were old, but he lied to Lalli saying that they were brand new. Gopu Mama had hardly used his new chappals.
The music teacher was happy getting them, but was trying to hide those feelings. He tried to show that he was upset with the children and with his loss.

Question 6:
On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?
Solution:
The beggar was in a hurry to leave after getting the chappals because he knew that the children have got them for him without seeking the permission of the elders. He feared they might be taken back from him, so he left in a hurry.

Question 7:
Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?
Solution:
Rukku Manni was laughing imagining Gopu Mama without his chappals. He had the habit of taking out his shoes immediately after coming home and putting on those chappals.
She laughed wondering what excuse would she give to him and what would be his reaction.

Working with Language

Question 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.

1. Don’t tire yourself now. You won’t be able to work in the evening.
2. Study regularly. You’ll do well in the examination.
3. Work hard. You’ll pass the examination in first division.
4. Be polite to people. They’ll also be polite to you.
5. Don’t tease the dog. It’ll bite you.

Solution:

1. If you tire yourself now, you won’t be able to work in the evening.
2. If you study regularly, you’ll do well in the examination.
3. If you work hard, you’ll pass the examination in first division.
4. If you are polite to people, they’ll be polite to you.
5. If you tease the dog, it’ll bite you.

Question 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.
Solution:
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.

Question 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

1. Don’t go to the theatre …………………..
2. He’ll post your letter …………………….
3. Please use my pen …………………………..
4. He’ll lend his umbrella …………………….
5. My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor ……………………….
6. Don’t eat it …………………………..

Solution:

1. if you don’t want to
2. if you want him to
3. if you want to
4. if you want him to
5. will take you to the doctor if you want him to
6. if you don’t want to

Speaking and Writing

Question 1:
Discuss in small groups
• If you want to give away something of your own to the needy, would it be better to ask your elders first?
Solution:
(a) If there is something that belongs to us we can give it to anyone without seeking the advice of the elders.
(b) Yes, we should ask the permission of our elders before doing anything. Everything we have has been given to us by our parents.
(c) It depends on the purpose and the value of the item that we are giving away to someone. We should decide it based on the situation we are in.
• Is there someone of your age in the family who is very talkative? Do you find/her/him interesting and impressive or otherwise?
Share your ideas with others in the group.
Solution:
(a) I have a cousin sister of 10 years of age. She talks a lot.
(b) I don’t have anyone in my family who talks a lot.
(c) My mami ji talks a lot. But I like the way she  talks and I am very fond of her.
Solution:
(a) I also like my cousin sister the most. She gets close to everyone very easily and it is fun to be with her.
(b) I don’t like people who talk a lot.
(c) My mamiji talks a lot.
• Has Rukku Manni done exactly the same as the children? In your opinion, then, is it right for one party to blame the other?
Solution:
(a) Rukku Manni was wrong, she must have been more strict with the children. She should not have scolded Ravi when she herself was laughing at the incident after a while.
(b) Rukku Manni had been put in an embarrassing situation by the children. The music teacher’s chappals have gone missing from their home. She had to compensate for their act by giving the Gopu Mama’s chappals to the teacher. It was right on her part to be upset.
(c) Children and Rukku Manni were both doing the same so it was not right for either of them to blame each other.

Question 2:
Read the following.

• A group of children in your class are going to live in a hostel.
• They have been asked to choose a person in the group to share a room with.
• They are asking each other questions to decide who they would like to share a room with.

Ask one another questions about likes/ dislikes/preferences/hobbies/personal characteristics. Use the following questions and sentence openings.

1. What do you enjoy doing after school?
   I enjoy ………………
2. What do you like in general?
   I like ……………..
3. Do you play any game?
   I don’t like ………………
4. Would you mind if I listened to music after dinner?
   I wouldn’t ………………..
5. Will it be all right if I  ……………….?
   It’s fine with me …………….
6. Is there anything you dislike, particularly?
   Well, I can’t share ………………
7. Do you like to attend parties?
   Oh, I ……………….
8. Would you say you are ……………….?
   I think ………………

Solution:

1. watching TV
2. playing video games in general
3. playing outdoor games. I play indoor games like ludo and carom.
4. because I love music
5. switch on the light, you can switch on the light whenever you want
6. my pillow with anyone
7. love going to parties
8. a creative person, yes, I am creative

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Who is Mridu and with whom Mridu went to Rukku Manni’s place?
Solution:
Mridu is a young girl Mridu went to Rukku Manni’s place alongwith her Tapi.

Question 2:
Why was Ravi dragging Mridu towards the backyard?
Solution:
Ravi was dragging Mridu to the backyard to show her the newly found cat.

Question 3:
Why were the red chilli kept in the backyard?
Solution:
Kama from Mahabharata used to give away everything he had which even included his gold earnings.

Question 4:
The beggar was leaning against what in Ravi’s garden?
Solution:
The beggar was leaning against the trunk of the neem tree in Ravi’s garden.

Question 5:
Mridu had noticed in front of Meena’s house a pair of chappals. Whom did they belong to?
Solution:
The pair of chappals that Mridu had seen in front of Ravi’s house belonged to the music teacher.

Question 6:
Who used to give away everything he had, which even included his gold earrings?
Solution:
Red chillies were kept in the backyard for drying.

Question 7:
With whom did the music teacher compared Ravi with?
Solution:
The music teacher compared Ravi with the lord Hanuman and called him a Hanuman incarnate.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What was in the cat’s name that pleased Mridu?
Solution:
Ravi had named the kitten Mahendravarma Pallava Poonai, MP Poonai in short. They were calling him Mahendran. Mridu liked the name because it sounded real to her and was different from the usual cute names kept for cats in general.

Question 2:
How did Ravi link his cat with the Pallava kings?
Solution:
Ravi felt that his cat was a descendant of the Rishi Cat of Mahabalipuram. He claimed that during his class trip to Mahabalipuram, he had seen statue of a cat there which he believed was an ancestor of this cat. He felt that the lion in the emblem of the Pallava king was a close relative of his cat.

Question 3:
What made Ravi feel that Lalli will never learn to play the violin?
Solution:
Ravi felt that Lalli will never learn to play violin. The music teacher used to play the perfect notes, but she kept on going off tracks.
It was like her train getting derailed again and again while the teacher’s was running smoothly on the track.

Question 4:
Why Rukku Manni asked Ravi to send away the-beggar?
Solution:
Rukku Manni was fed up with the beggar coming to her place daily for over a week now. She was tired giving him food and other items. She wanted him to find another house and stop coming to their place. So she asked Ravi to send him away.

Question 5:
What did the beggar feel about the ladies of the household?
Solution:
The beggar felt that the ladies of the household were very kind. They have enabled him survive for a week by giving him food to eat. He called them generous and found it hard to believe that they wanted to send him away.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Describe Ravi’s character in the story.
Solution:
Ravi was an intelligent child. He had good observation skills and possessed sound knowledge of history. He was playful, but had a good sense of humour. He managed to get milk for the kitten in front of Paati’s eyes. He also applied his intelligence and gave music teacher’s chappals to the beggar. He was kind and generous and remembered the story of Kama which Rukku Manni had told him.

Question 2:
Compare how the music teacher played the violin with that of Lalli’s.
Solution:
The music teacher played the violin smoothly. His notes seemed to float up and then settled down perfectly into the invisible tracks of the melody. His hand moved the violin’s stem effortlessly and produced a melodious music. Lalli on the other hand seemed to struggle with the violin. The instrument appeared unhappy and helpless in her hands. She kept on missing the tracks and produced a kind of noise which even scared Mahendran.

Question 3:
Why was Ravi upset with the elders?
Solution:
Ravi was upset with the elders because he had always been told by them to be kind towards animals, but whenever he had tried to do so he had received screaming in return.
He had found the same elders calling these animals’ dirty creatures. Rukku Manni had told her about Kama who would give away everything he had to help others. Ravi had tried to help the beggar by giving away the music teacher’s chappals to him, but still Rukku Manni was angry with him.

Value Based Questions

Question 1:
What is the moral of the story, elaborate it.
Solution:
The moral of this story is to help people in need. The beggar was in need of the slippers. He had blisters in his feet. They did the right thing Gopu Mama can buy another pair of slippers but the beggar didn’t have the money to buy them. We should help people in need. There is no harm in giving away a bit of those things that are surplus to us. We should give food, dresses and sweaters ‘ to poor. For us that might not have much value, but it can save someone else’s life.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English Gopal and the Hilsa Fish (Prose)

Working with the Text

Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
Why did the king want no more talk about the Hilsa fish?
Solution:
Everyone around the king was talking about Hilsa fish. This had infuriated the king so he didn’t want anyone to talk about the Hilsa fish.

Question 2:
What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Solution:
The king asked Gopal to buy a huge Hilsa fish from the market and to ensure that no one should talk to him about the fish on the entire way from the market to the palace.

Question 3:
What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his Hilsa fish?
Solution:
Gopal half-shaved his face. Smeared ash on his body himself and wore rugs before going out to buy Hilsa fish.

Question 4:
How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?
Solution:
Gopal started singing and dancing in front of the palace at a loud voice. The king heard the noise and asked the man to be brought inside.

Question 5:
Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the Hilsa fish which Gopal had bought.
Solution:
No one was interested about the Hilsa fish. Gopal had bought because of Gopal’s condition. He was wearing rugs, his face was half-shaven and ash was smeared over his body. People were more interested in his appearance than the fish.

Question 6:
Write True or False against each of the following sentences.

1. The king lost his temper easily
2. Gopal was a madman
3. Gopal was a clever man
4. Gopal was too poor to afford decent clothes
5. The king got angry when he was shown to be wrong

Solution:

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. False

Working with Language

Question 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.

1. How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
2. Why is your face half-shaven?
   Gopal’s wife asked him……………….
3.  I accept the challenge, Your Majesty.
   Gopal told the king ………………..
4. I want to see the king.
   Gopal told the guards ………………….
5. Bring the man to me at once.
   The king ordered the guard ………………….

Solution:

1. The woman asked the man how much did he pay for that Hilsa.
2. Gopal’s wife asked him why his face was half-shaven.
3. Gopal told the king that he accepted the challenge.
4. Gopal told the guards that he wanted to see the king.
5. The king ordered the guard to bring the man to him at once.

Question 2:
Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.

Solution:
Challenge: A call to take part in a contest or competition.
Vikram accepted the challenge of his teacher and won prize in the annual day celebrations.
Mystic: Spiritual, occult
The sufi saints like Salim Chishti were mystic.
Comical: Funny
Mr Bean is one of the most famous comical characters on television.
Courtier: A person, who attends a royal court as a companion or advisor to the king or queen.
Birbal was one of the most important courtiers in Akbar’s court.
Smearing: Coat or mark carelessly with grease or oil.
Before the game, Rakesh smeared his body with oil.

Picture Reading

Question 1:
Look at the picture and read the text aloud.

1. Now ask your partner questions about each picture.
   (a) Where is the stag?
   (b) What is he doing?
   (c) Does he like his antlers (horns)?
   (d) Does he like his legs?
   (e) Why is the stag running?
   (f) Is he able to hide in the bushes?
   (g) Where are the hunters now?
   (h) Are they closing in on the stag?
   (i) Is the stag free?
   (j) What does the stag say about his horns and his legs?
2. Now write the story in your own words. Give it a title.

Solution:

1. (a) The stag is standing by the side of a pond.
   (b) The stag is about to drink water when he saw his reflection in the pond.
   (c) Yes, he finds them beautiful.
   (d) No, the stag finds his legs to be thin and ugly..
   (e) The stag is running because he has been chased by the hunters.
   (f) No, he is not able to hide in the bushes because his horns got stuck in them.
   (g) The hunters are just behind the stag.
   (h) Yes, they are closing in on the stag.
   (i) The stag was able to run fast because of his legs and is free now.
   (j) The stag says that he was proud of his horns, but he would have been killed because of them. He was ashamed of his legs, but they saved his life.
2. There was a stag, he lived in a jungle. One day he went to drink water in a pond. He saw his reflection in the pond. He felt proud of his beautiful antlers. Then he saw his legs, he was upset because they were thin and ugly. Suddenly, there were hunters behind him. The stag ran to save his life. He wanted to hide in the bushes, but couldn’t as his antlers were stuck in them. He found the hunters just behind him. He ran for his life and was finally saved.
   At the end he realised that he was feeling proud of his antlers, but he would have been killed because of them. He felt ashamed of his legs, but was able to save his life ultimately because of them. The title is The Stag and his Beautiful Horns’.

Question 2:
Complete the following word ladder with the help of the clues given below.

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.

Solution:

1. cross
2. sight
3. tiny
4. year
5. roof
6. fuss
7. street

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
How did the fishmongers lure the customers to buy Hilsa?
Solution:
The fishmongers lured the customers by saying that the price had been down that day.

Question 2:
Who was Gopal?
Solution:
Gopal was a courtier in the king’s court known for his wisdom and presence of mind.

Question 3:
What did Gopal’s wife think about him?
Solution:
Gopal’s wife thought that her husband had gone mad.

Question 4:
What were the remarks of two men on seeing Gopal in the market?
Solution:
On seeing Gopal a man said that he must be a madman while the other called him a mystic.

Question 5:
What was the king’s reaction when he came to know that he had lost the challenge?
Solution:
The king was happy about it and congratulated Gopal for winning the challenge.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What happened when the king hear his courtiers talking about Hilsa fish?
Solution:
When the king heard his courtiers talking about Hilsa fish, he lost his temper and warned them that they were courtiers and not fishermen. But the king soon felt guilty, looking at his nervous and humble courtier when he had rebuked. His tone changed and he said that it was the season of Hilsa and nobody could be stopped from talking about it.

Question 2:
Why did Gopal’s wife find his activities strange?
Solution:
Gopal had half-shaven his face. Smeared ash over himself. Had put on rags and was looking disgraceful. She asked Gopal the reason for such weird acts. She stopped him from going out like that but Gopal told her that he was going to buy Hilsa fish. At last she concluded that Gopal had gone mad.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Who was Gopal? What was the challenge given to him by the king? How he won it?
Solution:
Gopal was one of the wise men in the king’s court. When the king was fed up with ongoing talks about Hilsa fish he challenged Gopal.
Gopal happily accepted the challenge of buying a huge Hilsa fish from the market and to ensure on the way from the market to the palace no one should talk to him about the fish.
He was an intelligent man. He dressed up like a mad man and his appearance caught everyone’s attention. He reached the court without anyone talking about the fish as every one was drawn towards his appearance.

Question 2:
Why was Gopal barred entry to the palace?
How did Gopal manage to get in? What was the king’s reaction to Gopal’s deed?
Solution:
Gopal looked suspicious or rather mystic since he had dressed himself filthly. Moreover his beared was half-shaved and ash was smeared on it. Therefore the guards barred his entry to the palace. He started dancing and singing loudly so that the king might hear him and call him inside. The king ordered him to be taken inside but he could not recognise him.
When Gopal reminded him of his challenge and proved that he had fulfilled it the king was surprised and burst into laughter.

Value Based Question

Question 1:
We should not give up in any situation. If we try hard we can definitely find a solution. Why do you think so?
Solution:
Yes, we should not give up in any situation. We should find out a solution to come out of it. Sometimes, it might be tough to find the solution, but if we try hard, nothing is impossible. We learn from the efforts we make in life. If we won’t make efforts then our learning will stop.
It is OK to commit mistake but we should learn bur lesson from them and must not repeat them again. The world remember the great people because they did things differently and took up those risks in life.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Listen to me! Please, you can’t possibly go out in those disgraceful rags! What are you upto? How many times I must tell you, woman? 1 am out to buy a huge Hilsa fish.

Question 1:
‘Listen to me! Please, you’ Name the
speaker of these lines.
Solution:
Copal’s wife is speaking in these lines.

Question 2:
Who is going to buy Hilsa fish?
Solution:
Gopal is going to buy Hilsa fish.

Question 3:
Why the man is dressed up like that?
Solution:
Gopal dressed up like that to catch everyone’s attention so that people will talk about him and not about the Hilsa fish.

Question 4:
What does the woman think about the man finally?
(a) He is an intelligent man
(b) He has gone mad
(c) She doesn’t think anything
(d) None of the above
Solution:
(b) He has gone mad

Question 5.
Why does the man want to buy Hilsa fish?
(a) To win the challenge
(b) Because everyone was talking about the fish
(c) Price of the Hilsa fish has gone down
(d) Because to please his wife
Solution:
(a) To win the challenge

Question 6:
Find out one word from the above lines that means ‘shameful’.
(a) Rags
(b) Awkward
(c) Disgraceful
(d) None of these
Solution:
(c) Disgraceful

Extract 2

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Stop it!
Are you a courtier or a fisherman? I am sorry I lost my temper, it’s the season for Hilsa fish and no one

Question 1:
Who is the speaker of the above lines?
Solution:
The king is the speaker of the above lines.

Question 2:
Why is he feeling sorry?
Solution:
He is feeling sorry for being rude to his courtier.

Question 3:
What is the speaker asking to be stopped?
Solution:
He wants the talks about the Hilsa fish to be stopped for a while as everyone wanted to speak about ‘Hilsa fish’ only.

Question 4:
What did the speaker want?
(a) To eat Hilsa fish
(b) Someone to stop the talks about Hilsa fish for a while
(c) The season for the Hilsa fish to go
(d) He himself was not clear
Solution:
(b) Someone to stop the talks about Hilsa fish for a while.

Question 5:
What made the speaker upset?
(a) A fisherman entered his court.
(b) Gopal was not present in the court.
(c) Everyone including the courtiers were talking about Hilsa fish.
(d) He wanted to discuss serious matter.
Solution:
(c) Everyone including the countiers were talking about Hilsa fish.

Question 6:
Find a word from the above lines is synonym of ‘anger’.
(a) Rage
(b) Ire
(c) Frenzy
(d) Ill-temper
Solution:
(a) Rage

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English The Ashes that made Trees Bloom (Prose)

Comprehension Check

Question 1:
Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
Solution:
The neigbours killed the dog in anger. They have expected the dog to help them get a treasure, but the dog had rather taken them to a foul smelling dead kitten.

Question 2:
Mark the right item.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Solution:

1. (b) as if it was their own baby.
2. (c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
3. (c) a pile of gold.

Working with the Text

Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
The old farmer is a kind person. What evidence of his kindness do you find in the first two paragraphs.
Solution:
In the first paragraph it is written that the old farmer treated the dog like his own child. He will feed the dog small pieces of fish with their own chopsticks and offer boiled rice to him as much as he wanted. The second paragraph says that to provide food to the birds, the old farmer will often turn up the surface of the ground.
Both these instances proved that the old man was a kind person.

Question 2:
What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold?
Solution:
The dog came running towards the farmer. It kept his paws against his legs and with its head it kept on directing towards a spot behind him.
The old man initially ignored the dog, but it kept on whining and running to and from until the farmer followed it to the spot.

Question 3:

1. How did the spirit of the dog help the farmer first?
2. How did it help him next?

Solution:

1. The spirit of the dog came in the farmer’s dream and first asked him to chop the pine tree and make mortar and hand-mill out of it. With the mortar and mill it gave the farmer heaps of gold.
2. The dog’s spirit again came in the farmer’s dream for the second time and told the farmer to collect the ash of the mortar and the mill and sprinkle it on the withered trees and they will blossom.
   The farmer did this in front of the daimio (the landlord) and was awarded with lavish gifts.

Question 4:
Why did the daimio reward the farmer, but punish his neighbour for the same act?
Solution:
The farmer had sprinkled the ash over the withered cherry tree and it blossomed. Daimio was pleased seeing the miracle and he rewarded the farmer. His neighbour poured the ash over the cherry tree, but nothing happened to the tree.
Fine particles from the ash entered the eyes of the daimio and his wife. They began to sneeze and cough.
This spoiled the splendour of the procession and so the neighbour was punished by man of the landlord.

Working with Language

Question 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 acting, 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.
Solution:

1. Where is Anil?
2. Which row he is sitting in?
3. What is he doing?
4. Where is Anil’s friend sitting?
5. What is his friend doing?
6. Who is writing on the blackboard?
7. What are some children doing?

Question 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 the school. It is nearby.
Solution:
When, Why, Whose, How

Question 3:
Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box.

 

1. My friend lost his chemistry book. Now he doesn’t know …………… to do and ………….. to look for it.
2. There are so many toys in the shops. Neena can’t decide ……………….. one to buy.
3. You don’t know the way to my school. Ask the policeman ………………. to get there.
4. You should decide soon …………….. to start building your house.
5. Do you know …………….. to ride a bicycle? I don’t remember ……………… and …………….. I learnt it.
6. “You should know ………….. to talk and to ………………. keep your mouth shut,” the teacher advised Anil.

Solution:

1. what, where,
2. which
3. how
4. when
5. how, when, where
6. when, where

Question 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.

1. The project appears very difficult at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
2. He lacks competence. That’s why he can’t keep any job for more than a year.
3. “Don’t lose patience. Your letter will come one day,” the postman told me.
4. That’s not a proper remark to make under the circumstances.
5. He appears to be without sensitivity. In fact, he is very emotional.

Solution:

1. impossible
2. incompetent
3. impatient
4.  improper
5. insensitive

Question 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 italicised 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.

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.
Solution:
(i) a       (ii) A        (iii) the
(iv) an   (v) a         (vi) the
(vii) the(viii) the  (ix) a
(x) the   (xi) the    (xii) the
(xiii) the

Question 6:
Encircle the correct article.

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.
Solution:
(A) an, a (B) an (A) the, the, an (B) – (A) The, the

Speaking and Writing

Question 1:
Put each of the following in the correct order. Then use them appropriately to fill in the blanks in the paragraph that follows. Use correct punctuation marks.

• English and Hindi/both/in/he writes
• and only / a few short stories/many books in English/in Hindi
• Is/my Hindi / than my English/much better

Ravi Kant is a writer and ………….. Of course, he is much happier writing in English than in Hindi. He has written …………….. . I find his books a little hard to understand ………………… .
Solution:

1. he writes both in English and Hindi
2. many books in English and only few short stories in Hindi
3. My Hindi is much better than my English

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What did the kind farmer do with the money he made from the gold?
Solution:
The kind farmer bought a piece of land, hosted a feast for his friends and helped his poor neighbours.

Question 2:
How did the daimios reward the kind farmer?
Solution:
The daimio was pleased seeing the magic of the withered cherry tree bursting into a blossom. So he rewarded the kind farmer with many gifts.

Question 3:
What did the leader of the van do with the kind old man?
Solution:
The leader of the van allowed the old man to remain seated at the cherry tree considering him to be very old.

Question 4:
Why did the wicked couple drop their tools?
Solution:
The wicked couple found the foul smell of the dead kitten unbearable so they dropped their tools. *

Question 5:
How did the wicked couple behave with the dogs passing by their house?
Solution:
The wicked couple always used to kick and scold the dogs passing by their house.

Question 6:
What preparations did the kind old couple make for the New Year?
Solution:
For the New Year the old couple planned to make rice pastries and bean sauce.

Question 7:
How was the wicked farmer punished for his greed?
Solution:
The wicked farmer was killed brutally by the daimio’s men and was thus punished for his greed.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
How did the kind old couple treat their dog?
Solution:
The old couple treated the dog as their own child. The old farmer had created a cushion made of blue crepe for the dog. During the meals they used to feed the dog plenty of rice and tidbits of fish from their own chopstick.

Question 2:
Describe the change the cherry tree underwent after the kind old poured a pinch of ash over it.
Solution:
It was winter season and the cherry tree in the old couple’s garden didn’t have leaves. The old man sprinkled a pinch of the ashes and blossoms sprouted out of it. Pink flowers came on it and their fragrance filled the air.

Question 3:
How did the dog repay to his masters?
Solution:
The dog made his masters rich by giving them gold coins. His masters became prosperous with it and bought a piece of land.
He then asked them to collect the ashes which had the power to sprout blossoms of a withered tree. This magic was seen by the daimio and rewarded the old couple for this magic.

Question 4:
What happened when the wicked old farmer sprinkled ash over the cherry tree?
Solution:
When the wicked farmer sprinkled the ash over the cherry tree it didn’t bring in a change on it. The fine particles from the ash entered the eyes of daimio and his wife. They began to cough and sneeze. All the lavishness of the procession was spoiled.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Explain three ways in which the dog helped his master.
Solution:
The dog when he was alive guided his master to a heap of gold. After his death he asked his master to prepare a mortar and a mill from the woods of the pine tree.
While making the rice pastries and bean sauce during the New Year using the mortar and the mill, the kind old couple again found the dough to be turned into gold coins and gold dripping out from every drop of the sauce.
The dog then asked the master to collect the ashes of the mortar and mill and sprinkle over the withered trees. The withered trees sprouted into blossom immediately with the magic.

Question 2:
The wicked farmer wanted to be rich like his neighbour. What happened every time when he tried to do so?
Solution:
First time when the neighbour tried to be rich, all he got was a foul smelling dead kitten.
In their second attempt the old couple got heap of worms from the dough of rice pastry and the bean sauce. In the third attempt the old man failed to create magic with the ashes. He spoiled daimio’s procession and was killed by his men as a punishment.

Value Based Questions

Question 1:
Why do you think we should be kind towards animals?
Solution:
Animals are also living beings like us. They can’t speak like us but still can feel the love and emotions. Some animals like dog and horse are very faithful to human beings. We should be kind towards them.
It is good to offer our leftover food to the street dogs because they guard our homes. Chapattis should be offered to homeless cows. In winter we should keep bowls of water for the birds. Injured animals like pigeons, cats and dogs should be taken to veterinary doctors by us.

Question 2:
One should not be greedy. Why do you think so?
Solution:
We should feel contended about what we have. We should strive hard to earn things but not be greedy. Our greed makes us to do many things which are not good or ethical.
We should make just demands that can be fulfilled easily and must make our earnings in honest means. Our greed can turn us into corrupt and dishonest human beings and must restrain ourselves from becoming that. Our needs should be limited and our wishes should be in control.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Then they dragged him out of doors, taking a spade and hoe with them. No sooner had the dog got near a pine tree growing in the garden than he began to paw and scratch the ground, as if a mighty treasure lay beneath.

Question 1:
In the above lines who have been referred as ‘they’?
Solution:
The wicked old couple has been referred as ‘they’ in the above lines.

Question 2:
Whom did they drag out of doors?
Solution:
They dragged the good old couple’s dog from the doors.

Question 3:
Why they did so?
Solution:
They did so to find way to the treasure.

Question 4:
What lay beneath the ground?
(a) Gold coins
(b) A vast treasure
(c) A dead kitten
(d) None of these
Solution:
(c) A dead kitten

Question 5:
Why did they carry spade and hoe with them?
(a) To kill the dog
(b) To dig the Earth
(c) To plough the field
(d) To chase the birds
Solution:
(b) To dig the Earth

Question 6:
What follows immediately after this?
(a) They begin to dig the ground
(b) They killed the dog
(c) They found a cast treasure
(d) They ran away with fear
Solution:
(b) They killed the dog

Extract 2

Directions (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
“Goody me!’ cried the old hag, as she saw each dripping of sauce turning into yellow gold, until in a few minutes the tub under the mill was full of shining mass of gold. So the old couple was rich again.

Question 1:
Who has been referred as ‘old hag’ in the above lines?
Solution:
The wicked old man’s wife has been referred as ‘old hag’ in the above lines.

Question 2:
From where was she watching the above incident?
Solution:
She was peeping from the window to watch the incident.

Question 3:
……each dripping of sauce which sauce has been referred here?
Solution:
Bean sauce has been referred in above lines.

Question 4:
At what time during the year the above incidence is taking place?
(a) Summer
(b) Winter
(c) New Year
(d) Both ‘b’ and ‘c’
Solution:
(d) Both ‘b’ and ‘c’

Question 5:
Find a word from the given lines that means ‘witch’
(a) Drip
(b) Hag
(c) Wicked
(d) None of these
Solution:
(b) Hag

Question 6:
What is the process that is taking place in the above lines?
(a) Baking of pastry
(b) Preparing of dough
(c) Boiling of rice
(d) Making of bean sauce
Solution:
(d) Making of bean sauce

Extract 3

Directions (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
He sprinkled a pinch of ashes on it, and lo! It sprouted blossoms until it became a cloud of pink blooms which perfumed the air. The news of this filled the village and everyone ran out to see the wonder. The covetous couple also heard the story and gathering up the ashes

Question 1:
Who has been referred as ‘he’ in the above lines?
Solution:
The kind old farmer has been referred in these lines as ‘he’.

Question 2:
‘It’ sprouted blossoms. What has been referred as ‘it’ in the given lines?
Solution:
The cherry tree has been referred as ‘it’ in the given lines.

Question 3:
What is the wonder that has been referred to in the given lines?
Solution:
The withered bare cherry tree has been transformed into a blossom with the ashes of mill and mortar sprinkled over it. This wonder has been referred in the given lines.

Question 4:
In the given lines what has been burnt down to form the ashes?
(a) The dog
(b) The pine tree
(c) The cherry tree
(d) The mortar and the mill
Solution:
(d) The mortar and the mill

Question 5:
Find synonym of ‘jealous’ from the given lines.
(a) Pinch       (b) Sprinkled
(c) Blooms    (d) Envious
Solution:
(d) Envious

Question 6:
Find a word from the given lines that means ‘flower’.
(a) Blossom     (b) Bloom
(c) Sprouted    (d) Sprinkled
Solution:
(b) Bloom

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 5 Quality

Working with the Text

Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a bootmaker?
Solution:
The author was very impressed with Mr Gessler. He liked the boots made only on order and those boots perfectly fitted the customers. Their boots had the best materials and lasted long. He found the work mysterious and wonderful.

Question 2:
Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?
Solution:
The author visited the shop so infrequently because the boots made by Gessler brothers lasted too long.

Question 3:
What was the effect on Mr Gessler of the author’s remark about a certain pair of boots?
Solution:
Mr (Sessler at first found the remark unbelievable. He argued that the author might have got them wet. He was shocked. He told the author that he will either repair them or adjust the money in his bills.

Question 4:
What was Mr Gessler’s complaint against ‘big farms’?
Solution:
Mr Gessler complained that the big firms didn’t value the money of the customers. They were capturing the markets from advertisements and not from the quality of their work. He was mostly out of work because of those firms and day by day the volume was getting reduced.

Question 5:
Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?
Solution:
The author felt bad for Mr Gessler who was really talented and made great boots. He ordered so many pairs to help the bootmaker. No, he didn’t really need them.

Working with Language

Question 1:
Study the following phrases and their
meanings. Use them appropriately to complete
the sentences that follow.
look after : take care of
look down : disapprove or regard as
on inferior
look in : make a short visit
(on someone)
look into : investigate
look out : be careful
look up : improve
look up to : admire

1. After a very long spell of heat, the weather is …………..  at last.
2. We have no right to …………. people who do small jobs.
3. Nitin has always ……………. his uncle, who is a self-made man.
4. The police are …………… the matter thoroughly.
5. If you want to go out, I will ………….. the children for you.
6. I promise to ………….. on your brother when I visit Lucknow next.
7. ……………. when you are crossing the main road.

Solution:

1. looking up
2. look down
3. looked up
4. looking into
5. look after
6. look in
7. Look out

Question 2:
Read the following sets of words loudly and clearly.
cot              –     coat
cost            –     coast
tossed        –     toast
got              –     goat
rot               –     rote
blot             –     bloat
knot            –     note
Solution:
Do it yourself.

Question 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.
sheep                 trash                  marsh                  fashion
anxious             shriek                 shore                    fish
portion             ashes                   sure                      nation
shoe                  pushing              polish                   moustache
Solution:
Initial                Medial                   Final
Sheep                Fashion                Trash
Shriek               Anxious                 Marsh
Shore                Portion                  Fish
Sure                   Ashes                    Polish
Shoe                   Nation                  Pushing
Moustache

Question 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.

1. feature
2. archery
3. picture
4. reaching
5. nature
6. matches
7. riches
8. batch
9. church

Solution:

1. Feature
2. Archery
3. Picture
4. Reaching
5. Nature
6. Matches
7. Riches
8. Batch
9. Church

Speaking

Question 1:
Do you think Mr Gessler was a failure as a bootmaker or as a competitive businessman?
Solution:
Mr Gessler was successful as a bootmaker because his customers were immensely satisfied with the boot he made.
This perfectly fit them and lasted long. Yes, he was a failure as a competitive businessman.
He didn’t have money like the big firms so couldn’t invest on advertisements. He lost his business to them. He took time in delivering the boots because he made them alone. He lost his customers because of the delay in delivery.
He worked hard, striving for long hours. Whatever, he earned went on paying the rent for his shop and for buying leathers. He spent days of great penury.

Question 2:
What is the significance of the title? To who or to what does it refer?
Solution:
The title refers to the great quality boots Mr Gessler made. It is an ideal title for the lesson. It refers to the business practices followed these days where no one cares about quality.
For Mr Gessler, quality was of optimum significance. He worked for long hours, didn’t allow anyone else to touch his boots. He lost on business, was spending days in poverty still the man didn’t compromise on quality.

Question 3:

• Notice the way Mr Gessler speaks English. His
  English is influenced by his mother tongue. He speaks English with an accent.
• When Mr Gessler speaks, p, t, k, sound like b,d,g. Can you say these words as Mr Gessler would say them?
  It comes and never stops. Does it bother me? Not at all. Ask my brother, please.

Solution:
Mr Gessler used to speak English with a German accent. His English sounded funny and a bit difficult to understand.
Mr Gessler would have spoken these lines as. Id comes and never sdobs. Does Id bodder me? Nod ad all. Ask my brodher blease.

Question 4:
Speak to five adults in your neighbourhood. Ask them the following questions (in any language they are comfortable in). Then come back and share your findings with the class.

1. Do they buy their provisions packed in plastic packets at a big store or loose, from a smaller store near their house?
2. Where do they buy their footwear? Do they buy branded footwear or footwear made locally? What reasons do they have for their preference?
3. Do they buy readymade clothes or buy cloth and get their clothes stitched by a tailor? Which do they think is better?

Solution:

1. Yes, they prefer buying their provisions loose from the smaller stores near their house.
2. They buy footwear for daily purpose from local shops. For office and part purpose they prefer buying it from branded shops.
   They don’t like spending too much on their regular footwear. So, they buy it from local shops.
   For office and party they want to look good and want the footwear to last long and comfortable. So, they are fine spending on it.
3. They do the both. At times they buy readymade clothes and at times get them stitched from the tailor. They find it easy to buy readymade clothes. They get the latest fashion and it saves time as well.

Question 5:
Look at the picture.

leaving the country. One student repeats Ajit’s statements. The other gives a reason for not agreeing with Ajit. The sentence openings given below should be used.

• If I leave this country, I’ll miss ………….
• There are some things which you can get only here, for example ………….
• There are some special days I’ll miss, particularly ………….
• Most of all I’ll miss ………………. because …………..
• I think it’s impossible for me to leave my country because …………..
• How can you leave your own country except when …………… ?
• Depends on one’s intention. I can’t leave for good because ……………..
• Maybe for a couple of years ……………..

Solution:
Ajit: I have decided to go abroad for higher studies
Anisa: Have you? I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I love my country.
If I leave this country, I’ll miss my friends and family. I will also miss the food.
There are some things which you can get only here, for example the food, snacks and the care and concern of people around.
There are some special days I’ll miss, particularly the festivals, birthdays and my parents anniversary.
Most of all I’ll miss my sister because we have been very close to each other and I share all my secrets with her. ‘
I think it’s impossible for me to leave my country because I love my country and family too much and can’t go too far from them.
How can you leave your own country except when there is an emergency?
Depends on one’s intention. I can’t leave for good because I want to celebrate all my special moments with my close ones.
May be for a couple of years I think it should be fine.

Writing

Question 1:
Based on the following points write a story.

•  Your aunt has gone to her mother’s house.
• Your uncle does his cooking.
• He is absent-minded.
• He puts vegetables on stove.
  
• He begins to clean his bicycle outside.
• The neighbour calls out saying something is burning.
• Your uncle rushes to the kitchen.
• To save vegetables, he puts some oil in them.
• Unfortunately, it’s machine oil, not cooking oil.
• What do you think happens to the vegetables?

Solution:
Begin like this Last month my aunt decided to visit her parents. They live in some other city. In absence of my aunt my uncle had to do all the cooking. He is very forgetful and absent-minded. One day he puts vegetable on stove for cooking and at the same time he goes out to clean his bicycle.
My uncle got involved in cleaning his bicycle so much that he completely forgot about the vegetables he had kept on the stove. One of his neighbour came to his place hurriedly telling about some burning smell coming from his kitchen. My uncle remembered about the vegetables he had kept on stove for cooking.
He rushed to the kitchen and to save them from getting burnt he poured some oil over them immediately. Only at the time of eating he realised it was not cooking oil but machine oil. The vegetables were completely spoiled, my uncle had to throw them away.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What proves that Mr Gessler was not an Englishman?
Solution:
Mr Gessler spoke English with an influence of his mother tongue which proved that his wasn’t an Englishman.

Question 2:
Where did Mr Gessler live?
Solution:
Mr Gessler lived in London in his shoe shop.

Question 3:
What distinction Mr Gessler’s shop had?
Solution:
Mr Gessler’s shop didn’t had any other signs except Gessler Brothers written on it.

Question 4:
How did Mr Gessler found that the boot was not comfortable for author?
Solution:
Mr Gessler pressed with his finger at a particular point and he could make it out that the left boot wasn’t giving comfort to the author.

Question 5:
What material Mr Gessler used to make the boots?
Solution:
Mr Gessler made boots from the finest quality leather.

Question 6:
How did Mr Gessler described his brother?
Solution:
Mr Gessler said that his brother was a good man. He made good boots.

Question 7:
Give one stance from the lesson that proves that Mr Gessler was getting older.
Solution:
Mr Gessler failed to recognise the author during his final days which proves that he had really grown old.

Question 8:
Why did the author went to the shoe shop for the last time?
Solution:
The author went to the shop for the last time to thank Mr Gessler for making the great boots.

Question 9:
Why was the name plate missing at Mr Gessler’s shop?
Solution:
Mr Gessler had died and the shop was taken over by another man so his name plate was not there anymore.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Why did author preferred boots made by Mr Gessler than that of big firms?
Solution:
The author preferred boots made by Mr Gessler than that of big firms because Mr Gessler’s boots were durable, were made from best leathers and they fitted perfectly well. The author was very attached to Mr Gessler.

Question 2:
The author felt sorry for complaining about his boots. What made him feel so?
Solution:
Mr Gessler was shocked at the complaint. He failed to believe it. He became silent and then started thinking deeply where he went wrong. This made the author regret making such a complaint.

Question 3:
Why the author called those boots bought from big firm ‘ill-omened’?
Solution:
Seeing those boots Mr Gessler for the first time informed the author about the hardships of his trade and the hard times he was going through. Finding Mr Gessler in pain, the author called those boots bought from big firm ‘ill-omened’ ones.

Question 4:
Describe the boots made by Mr Gessler.
Solution:
Mr Gessler made boots only on orders. His boots were perfect in size. They lasted long and wpre made from the best leathers.
For Mr Gessler bootmaking was an art which was exhibited perfectly in each pair carved by him.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Mr Gessler in his last wasn’t in good health. Give three examples to prove this.
Solution:
Author had mistaken Mr Gessler for his elder brother because he looked too old. There was very thin lining of hair left on the top portion of his head. During the last meeting with the author within a period of one year, Mr Gessler had grown older by around 10 years. He looked tired and exhausted.The hardships of the trade have taken a toll on his health. He even failed to recognise the author at first.

Question 2:
Mr Gessler was spending his days with great difficulty. Give suitable arguments in favour of this.
Solution:
Mr Gessler was having a tough time in his final years. He had lost his customers because of the delay in delivery of his orders.

Value Based Question

Question 1:
He used to work really hard to make each pair of shoe. But still everything he earned went on paying the rent of his shop and in buying leather. There wasn’t much money with him. He nearly killed himself working for hours at the shop without any food and rest.
Quality is an important aspect of business. Elaborate
Solution:
Quality plays an important role in business. Every customer looks for quality in the products they buy. Everyone wants to buy an item that has high quality. If we keep the quality of our products high then our customers will visit us again. Popularity of our products also increases in the market. But in other hand if, we sell products of low quality then people might buy them once but will feel being cheated. They will never lose our trust and we will lose them as customer forever.

Question 2:
Whom does ‘his’ refers to in the above lines?
Solution:
‘His’ in the above lines refers to Mr Gessler.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions: (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
I remember well my shy remarks,
1 day, while stretching out to him my youthfull foot. “Isn’t it
awfully hard to do, Mr Gessler?” And his answer
given with a sudden smile from out of the redness of
his beard: “id is an ardt!”

Question 1:
Whom does T refer to in the above lines?
Solution:
In the above lines T refers to the author.

Question 2:
Why is he feeling awkward?
Solution:
Mr Gessler was many years elder than him, he felt awkward in stretching his feet before him and allowing him to touch them.

Question 3:
What is the art Mr Gessler refers to?
Solution:
Mr Gessler refers to the art of bootmaking.

Question 4:
Find a word from the above lines that means ‘introvert’.
(a) Awful
(b) Shy
(c) Redness
(d) Ardt
Solution:
(b) Shy

Question 5:
Mr Gessler smiled while replying the question because he
(a) agreed with the speaker
(b) felt proud of his work
(c) was pleased that someone had praised him
(d) None of the above
Solution:
(b) felt proud of his work.

Question 6:
Find out one word from the that means ‘terrible’.
(a) Shy
(b) Youthfull
(c) Awful
(d) Hard
Solution:
(c) Awful

Extract 2

Directions: (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
But his face and voice made so deep an impression that
during the next few minutes I ordered many pairs. They
lasted longer than ever. And I was not able to go to him
for nearly 2 years.
It was many months before my next visit to his shop.

Question 1:
Name the speaker in the above lines.
Solution:
The author of the lesson John Galsworthy is the speaker of the above lines.

Question 2:
Whom does ‘his’ refers to in the above lines?
Solution:
‘His’ in the above lines refers to Mr Gessler.

Question 3:
Why his voice and face made such an impact?
Solution:
The author was moved after realising the hard times Mr Gessler was going through. The truth about Mr Gessler’s hardship has made such an impact over the author.

Question 4:
What did the author placed the order for?
(a) Gloves
(b) Boots
(c) Socks
(d) None of these
Solution:
(b) Boots

Question 5:
What has caused such reaction from ‘him’?
(a) The author had bought shoes from a big firm
(b) The author’s shoe didn’t last long
(c) The fact that the Mr Gessler was losing on business and was having a difficult time
(d) The author had not visited Mr Gessler’s shop for long
Solution:
(c) The fact that the Mr Gessler was losing on business and was having a difficult time.

Question 6:
The above lines show that the author was
(a) a kind person
(b) careless about other’s emotions
(c) avoiding going to the shop
(d) a busy man
Solution:
(a) a kind person

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 6 Expert Detectives

Comprehension Check

Question 1:
What did Nishad gave Mr Nath? Why?
Solution:
Nishad gave Mr Nath a bar of chocolate because he concluded from Mr Nath’s lean thin appearance that he was starving.

Question 2:
What is ‘strange’ about Mr Nath’s Sundays?
Solution:
Every Sunday Mr Nath used to have the same visitor at this home and the two used to have lunch together.

Question 3:
Why did Nishad and Maya get a holiday?
Solution:
It was raining heavily and the streets were flooded with the downpour. The traffic was blocked and the children got a holiday because of all this.

Working with the Text

Question 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

Solution:

• Mr Nath used to eat two chapattis, some dal and a vegetable.
• He used to eats in the morning and evening.
• He used to drink tea in morning and afternoon.
• He used to pay in cash and also used to give tips to Ramesh.

Question 2:
Why does Maya think Mr Nath is a crook? Who does she say the Sunday visitor is?
Solution:
Maya thinks that Mr Nath is a crook because he doesn’t talk to anyone and has no friends. She believes that his scars are result of shoot-out with police.
He doesn’t work anywhere and sits at home all the day and there are no visitors at his place except the Sunday morning guest.
He is not bothered about his meals and pays the money in cash. She thinks that the Sunday visitor is his partner in the crime. He keeps the money from the loot and comes to give Mr Nath his share.

Question 3:
Does Nishad agree with Maya about Mr Nath? How does he feel about him?
Solution:
No, Nishad doesn’t agree with Maya about Mr Nath. He feels bad for Mr Nath because he thinks that he is a poor and lonely man.
He also feels that he is a generous man because he gives tips to Ramesh regularly. He is determined to find why he is so thin and lonely.

Working with Language

Question 1:
The word ‘tip’ has only three letters but many meanings.
Match the word with its meanings below.

1. finger tips – be about to say something
2. the tip of your nose – make the boat overturn
3. tip the water out of the bucket – the ends of one’s fingers
4. have something on the tip of your tongue – give a rupee to him, to thank him
5.  tip the boat over-empty a bucket by tilting it
6. tip him a rupee-the pointed end of your nose
7. the tip of the bat – if you take this advice
8. the police were tipped off – the bat lightly touched the ball
9. if you take my tip – the end of the bat
10. the bat tipped the ball – the police were told or warned

Solution:

1. Finger tips – the ends of one’s fingers
2. The tip of your nose – the pointed end of your nose
3. Tip the water out of the bucket – empty a bucket by tilting it
4. Have something on the tip of your tongue – be about to say something
5. Tip the boat over – make the boat overturn
6. Tip him a rupee – give a rupee to him to thank him
7. The tip of the bat – the end of the bat
8. The police were tipped off – the police were told or warned
9. If you take my tip – if you take my advice
10. The bat tipped the ball – the bat lightly touched the ball

Question 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.

1. business ……………
2. my ……………. on the journey.
3. I’m mother’s little ………………
4.  a faithful …………… such as dog.
5. the thief’s ……………
6. find a good …………..
7. tennis / golf / bridge …………….
8. his …………….. in his criminal activities.

Solution:

1. partner
2. companion
3. helper
4. companion
5. accomplice
6. helper
7. partner
8. accomplice

Question 3:
Now let us look at the uses of the word break. Match the word with its meanings below. Try to find out at least three other ways in which to use the word.

1. The storm broke – could not speak; was too sad to speak
2. Daybreak – this kind of weather ended
3. His voice is beginning to break – it began or burst into activity
4. Her voice broke and she cried – the beginning of daylight
5. The heat wave broke – changing as he grows up
6. Broke the bad news – end it by making the workers submit
7. Break a strike – gently told someone the bad news
8. (Find your own expression. Give its meaning here)

Solution:

1. The storm broke – this kind of weather ended
2. Daybreak – the beginning of daylight
3. His voice is beginning to break – changing as he grows up
4. Her voice broke and she cried – could not speak, was too sad to speak
5. The heat wave broke – it began or burst into activity
6. Broke the bad news – gently told someone the bad news
7. Break a strike – end it by making the workers submit
8. Breakdown – a machine failure

Writing

Question 1:
Who do you think Mr Nath is? Write a paragraph or two about him.
Solution:
Mr Nath is a lean and thin person. He might have met with some serious accident with fire which has resulted in many scars on his face. People are scared about him for those scars which give his face an ugly impression.
He realises the same and that is why he prefers living along and avoids going out. He talks less, but is a well-mannered person and is polite towards everyone.
He is regularly consulting Maya and Nishad’s mother, who is a doctor. May be he is not keeping well and that could be the reason behind his gaunt appearance.
He has a brother who visits him every Sunday to find out about his health. Mr Nishad is not much interested about nitty-gritty’s of life and prefer eating same simple food daily.

Question 2:
What else do you think Nishad and Maya will find out about him? How? Will they ever be friends? Think about these questions and write a paragraph or two to continue the story.
Solution:
Nishad and Maya would have found out that the Sunday visitor is Mr Nath’s brother.
Mr Nath used to work for a big private company and has left the job for while because he was not keeping well.
He is suffering from some liver ailment and will be undergoing a surgery soon.
Nishad succeeds in befriending him and goes to his house every evening to play with him. He finds Mr Nath a caring and loving person.
He becomes a frequent visitor to his place. Maya regrets about her earlier thoughts about Mr Nath.
She feels sorry about it. Nishad takes her along one day and the they all become friends.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Why Maya called Nishad Seven?
Solution:
Nishad’s name meant the seventh note on the musical scale, so Maya called him Seven.

Question 2:
Name the narrator in the lesson ‘Expert Detectives’.
Solution:
Maya is the narrator in the lesson ‘Expert Detectives.’

Question 3:
According to Maya what was the cause behind Mr Nath’s scars?
Solution:
According to Maya, Mr Nath would have got his scars in a shoot-out with the police.

Question 4:
What did Mr Nath thought Nishad had come to his place the second time for?
Solution:
Mr Nath thought Nishad had again come to his place in search of his marbles.

Question 5:
How was Nishad spending his unexpected holiday?
Solution:
Nishad was lying on his bed and reading a comic book on his unexpected holiday.

Question 6:
What was the condition on which Nishad said he will cooperate with Maya?
Solution:
Nishad said he will cooperate with Maya only if she will stop calling Mr Nath an escaped crook.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What made Nishad turn sympathetic towards Mr Nath?
Solution:
Nishad turned sympathetic towards Mr Nath seeing his gaunt appearance. His attitude changed further when he came to know that he used to give regular tips to Ramesh for bringing his food. Then he also remembered his mother’s words that Mr Nath was a polite man.

Question 2:
Give a brief description about Mr Nath’s visitor.
Solution:
Mr Nath used to have a visitor on every Sunday. He was a spectacled tall, fair and stout man. Ramesh found him talking a lot. He used to give company to Mr Nath for lunch during his visits.

Question 3:
What was Maya doing on her unexpected holiday?
Solution:
On her unexpected holiday, Maya assigned herself the task of solving the mystery ot Mr Nath. She was busy noting down all the available facts about Mr Nath. She then shared with his brother and asked for his opinion.

Question 4:
What did Maya think about Mr Nath’s visitor?
Solution:
Maya thought that Mr Nath’s visitor was his accomplice in his crimes. She believed that he kept all the loot with him and used to come now and then to give his partner his share so that he could manage his expenses.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Describe Nishad as a child.
Solution:
Nishad as a child was kind and considerate. He kept in mind all the good things his mother and Ramesh told him about Mr Nath and formed his opinion based on them. He was upset with Mr Nath being so lean and thin. He thought that the man might be starving so he went to his place and gave him a bar of chocolate.
He refused calling him a crook even after being insisted several times by his sister and decided to befriend him because he liked him.

Question 2:
What all facts Maya collected about Mr Nath?
Solution:
Maya collected the following facts
His name was Mr Nath and they must find out his first name. Other tenants at Shankar House called him mad, strange and unfriendly.
He didn’t speak with anyone and lacked manners. He never received any letters and has been living as tenant in Room No 10 in Shankar House. He didn’t use to work anywhere and was at his room the whole day. All the kids and some of the grown up people in Shankar House were scared of him.
He had no visitors except the same man on every Sunday. Ramesh used to get his food from the restaurant downstairs and Mr Nath was not much bothered about it. He used to pay him immediately and also used to give tips.

Value Based Questions

Question 1:
Nishad decides to trust Mr Nath. Do you think we should trust others, why so?
Solution:
We should trust others. We should not doubt people around us unless there is a strong reason for it. People might be behaving in a way which might appear strange to us, but they might be trying to hide their pains and grief though that.
We should not make judgement about people without properly knowing about them. Trust is the first step towards making any relation. We should have trust on our friends and family members.

Question 2:
We should be friendly towards our neighbours. Why so?
Solution:
Our neighbours live near our homes. We meet them daily. They come to our help during bad times and in good times. We share our joys with them. We become friends with our neighbours who are of our age. We play with them and share our things with them. We should be friendly with them and cooperative towards them.
It is the responsibility of every human being to be good towards society. We should be good towards our neighbours and must help them in time of their needs.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions; (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
“He can’t be poor if he’s a crook on the run,” I told
him. “He’s probably got millions of rupees stashed
away somewhere in that room.” ““Do you really think
he’s criminal, Maya?  He doesn’t look like one,”
Nishad looked doubtfully.
“Of course he’s one, Seven,” I said, “and he certainly
isn’t starving. Mr Mehta told us that Ramesh brings his
meal up from the restaurant downstairs”.

Question 1:
Name the speaker in the above tines.
Solution:
Maya is the speaker in the above lines.

Question 2:
Who is being referred as ‘crook’ in the above lines?
Solution:
Mr Nath has been referred as a crook in the above lines.

Question 3:
Where the speaker believed the person has got so much money from?
Solution:
Maya thought that Mr Nath would have earned a lot of money from his illegal activities.

Question 4:
Who has been referred as ‘Seven’ in the above lines?
(a) Maya
(b) Nishad
(c) Mr Nath
(d) Ramesh
Solution:
(b) Nishad

Question 5:
Why does the speaker think that the man is starving?
(a) He doesn’t have money
(b) He doesn’t go out of his house
(c) He is very lean and thin
(d) He only eats two times a day
Solution:
(c) He is very lean and thin.

Question 6:
Find a word from the above lines that is synonym of ‘hide’.
(a) Stash
(b) On Run
(c) Starving
(d) Secret
Solution:
(a) Stash

Extract 2

Directions (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
When they returned, Nishad told me he’d been to see
Mr Nath and I felt most annoyed that I hadn’t been
there. Seven had been quite upset about Mr Nath’s
gaunt appearance and was sure that he was starving.
He told me that he knocked loudly on Mr Nath’s
door that evening and said, “Open the door quickly,
Mr Nath.”

Question 1:
Who has been referred as ‘they’ in the above lines?
Solution:
Nishad and his mother have been referred as ‘they’ in the above lines.

Question 2:
Where ‘they’ have been?
Solution:
They have been to Nishad’s mother’s clinic.

Question 3:
Why Maya didn’t go there?
Solution:
Maya was spending her evening with a school friend so, she didn’t go there.

Question 4:
Why Nishad went to Mr Nath’s place for?
(a) To look for his marbles
(b) To look in to the trunk in his room
(c) To give him a bar of chocolate
(d) To befriend with him
Solution:
(c) To give him a bar of chocolate.

Question 5:
Find one word from the above lines which is antonym of ‘fat’.
(a) starved
(b) haggard
(c) gaunt
(d) lean
Solution:
Both ‘c’ and ‘d’

Question 6:
What was Nishad’s reaction after returning from Mr Nath’s place?
(a) He was pleased for being there
(b) He didn’t give any reaction
(c) He was disappointed for not being invited in
(d) He was thrilled for being able to look into the trunk
Solution:
(c) He was disappointed for not being invited in.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 8 Fire Friend and Foe

Comprehension Check

Question 1:
Mark the correct answer in each of the following.

1. Early mart was frightened of
   (a) lightening and volcanoes.
   (b) the damage caused by them.
   (c) fire.
2. (a) Fire is energy.
   (b) Fire is heat and light.
   (c) Fire is the result of chemical reaction.

Solution:

1. (c) fire
2. (c) Fire is the result of chemical reaction

Question 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)
(iii)  (iii) (ii) (i)                (iv)  (ii) (iii) (i)

Solution:
(iv) (ii) (iii) (i)

Working with the Text

Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
What do you understand by the ‘flash point’ of a fuel?
Solution:
Every fuel catches fire at a particular temperature. This temperature is called the ‘flash point’ of a fuel.

Question 2:

1. What are some common uses of fire?
2. In what sense is it a ‘bad master’?

Solution:

1. Fire is used in cooking, to keep our homes warm during winter. Fire is also used to produce electricity.
2. If fire goes out of control, it can cause damage to our life, house and property. It is ‘bad master’ in this sense.

Question 3:
Match items in Column A with those in Column B.

Solution:

Question 4:
What are the three main ways in which a fire can be controlled or put out?
Solution:
Fire can be put out by taking away the fuel, stopping the supply of oxygen or by lowering down the temperature around the fuel, so that the fuel is not able to attain its flash point.

Question 5:

Solution:

Working with Language

Question 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.
Solution:

1. Fire is the result of a chemical reaction.
2. This is what we call fire.
3. To burn a piece of paper or wood, we heat it before it catches fire.
4. Oxygen comes from the air.
5. It is sometimes said that fire is a good servant, but a bad master.
6. The third way to putting out a fire is to remove heat.
7. We spend millions of rupees each year in fighting fire.
8. It absorbs heat from burning fuel.
9. It only means that fire is very useful.
   Fire is still worshipped in many parts of the world.

Question 2:
Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with words from the box. You may use a word more than once.

1. Gandhiji’s life was devoted to the ……………. of justice and fair play.
2. Have you inspired your house against …………..?
3. Diamond is nothing, but ………….. in its purest form.
4. If you put too much coal on the fire at once you will ………. it.
5. Smoking is said to be the main ………… of heart disease.
6. When asked by an ambitious writer whether he should put some ……….. into his stories. Somerset
   Maugham murmured, “No, the other way round”.
7. She is ……………. a copy of her mother.
8. It is often difficult to ……………. a yawn when you listen to a long speech on the value of time.

Solution:

1. cause
2. fire
3. carbon
4.  smother
5. cause
6. fire
7. carbon

Question 3:
One word is italicised in each sentence. Find its opposite in the box and fill in the blanks.

1. You were required to keep all the doors open, not ……………
2. Pupil: What mark did I get in yesterday’s Maths test?
   Teacher: You got what when you add five and ……………… five and ten from the total?
3. Run four kilometers a day to preserve your health. Run a lot more to ……………..  it.
4. If a doctor advises a lean and lanky patient to …………… reduce his weight further, be sure he is doing it to his income.
5. The world is too much with us; late and soon.
   Getting and ………….. we lay waste our powers.              -WORDSWORTH

Solution:

1. shut
2. subtract
3. destroy
4. increase
5. spending

Question 4:
Use the words given in the box to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

1. The cat chased the mouse …………… the lawn.
2. We were not allowed to cross the frontier.
   So, we drove …………. it as far as we could and came back happy.
3. The horse went ………..  the winning post and had to be stopped with difficulty.
4.  It is not difficult to see ………….. your plan. Anyone can see your motive.
5. Go ……………. the yellow line, then turn left. You will reach the post office in five minutes.

Solution:

1. across
2. along
3. past
4. through
5. along

Speaking and Writing

Question 1:
Look at the following three units. First re-order ( the items in each unit to make a meaningful sentence. Next, re-order the sentences to make a meaningful paragraph. Use correct punctuation marks in the paragraph.

1. and eighteen fire tenders struggled/the fire began on Monday/ to douse the blaze till morning
2. in a major fire/ over 25 shops/ were gutted
3. but property/was destroyed/worth several lakhs/no causalities were reported.

Solution:

1. The fire began on Monday and eighteen fire tenders struggled to douse the blaze till morning.
2. Over 25 shops were gutted in a major fire.
3. No causalities were reported, but properties worth several lakhs were destroyed.

Question 2:

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Why the early man was afraid of fire?
Solution:
The early man might have seen volcanoes or lightning before he started using fire and was hence knew it was dangerous and powerful. So, he was scared of fire.

Question 2:
Give some examples of fuel.
Solution:
Wood, coal, cooking gas and petrol are examples of fuel.

Question 3:
Why a newspaper or stick lying in the open does not catch fire on its own?
Solution:
A fuel in presence of oxygen alone can’t start burning. Heat is required for a fuel to catch fire. That is the reason why a newspaper or stick lying in the open doesn’t catches fire.

Question 4:
Why gaps are left between buildings during construction?
Solution:
Gaps are left-between building during construction to reduce the risk of fire.

Question 5:
How the discovery of fire has helped the mankind?
Solution:
Discovery of fire has helped the early man to cope with nature. It also helped them adopt a settle mode of life.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
How fire is a good servant?
Solution:
Fire is a good servant. When kept under control fire helps us do many things. In most of our home we cook our food on fire.
We use fire to keep us warm during extreme winter. It is also used in generating electricity.

Question 2:
Before fire brigades were set out, how people tried to put out fire.
Solution:
Before the fire brigade came into the picture people used to extinguish fire forming human chain. Everyone was a fireman in that scenario.
People used to pass buckets filled with water from a pond or well through each other and the person at the extreme end used to pour it over the flames.

Question 3:
How have we learnt to control fire?
Solution:
Every year we spend millions of rupees for fighting fires. We spend even large sum of money to find out ways to prevent fire from happening and going out of control. In the process we have learnt to control fire and use it for our betterment.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Explain with an example how can you put out fire by cutting the supply of oxygen.
Solution:
Oxygen is one of the three elements essential for causing fire. If we can disrupt the supply of oxygen then we can put of the fire.
This can be applied in case of small fires. If we throw a damp blanket or a sack over the fire, it cuts off the supply of oxygen and the fire is immediately put off.

Question 2:
Why we cannot use water to put out some fires?
Solution:
We cannot use water in case of oil and electric fires. Oil floats over water and thus oil fires cannot be extinguished using water.
Water flows on and it has the risk of spreading the fire along. In case of electric fires water cannot be used as an extinguisher. It being a good conductor of electricity, puts the life of the man spraying it in danger.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Some fire cannot be put out with water. 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.

Question 1:
What is oil fire?
Solution:
A fire caused because of inflammable oils like petroleum, kerosene, diesel etc is called oil fire.

Question 2:
Name two kinds of fire that cannot be extinguished using water.
Solution:
Oil fire and electric fire cannot be extinguished using water.

Question 3:
Why water cannot be used to put out on oil fire?
Solution:
Oil being lighter than water floats over it, so water cannot be used to extinguish oil fires. Moreover, as the water spreads it carries along the oil with which in turn extends the fire.

Question 4:
Water cannot extinguish oil fire, but
(a) controls it
(b) spreads it
(c) has not impact on it
(d) None of these
Solution:
(b) spreads it

Question 5:
Find one word from the given lines that is antonym of ‘slow’.
(a) Spray
(b) Dangerous
(c) Rapid
(d) Quick
Solution:
(d) Quick

Question 6:
What can be used to control oil fires?
(a) Carbon extinguishers
(b) Damp blanket
(c) Sand
(d) All of the above
Solution:
(d) All of the above

Extract 2

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
The second way of putting the ……………….. burning material. The third way of putting out a fire is to remove the heat.

Question 1:
How can small fires be put out?
Solution:
Small fires can be put out using a damp blanket or a sack, since it shops oxygen from reaching the burning material.

Question 2:
What prevents oxygen to reach the burning material?
(a) Nitrogen
(b) Carbon dioxide
(c) Water
(d) Heat
Solution:
(b) Carbon dioxide

Question 3:
What is the third way of putting out a fire?
Solution:
The third way of putting out a fire is to remove the heat.

Question 4:
What is the method of extinguishing fire mentioned in the above extract?
(a) Removing the heat
(b) Spraying water
(c) Removing the fuel
(d) Removing the supply of oxygen
Solution:
(d) Removing the supply of oxygen

Question 5:
Which word in the above extract means ‘stop burning’?
Solution:
Extinguish

Question 6:
Which word in the above extract is a synonym of ‘moist’?
Solution:
Damp

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 9 A Bicycle in Good Repair

Comprehension Check 

Question 1:
“I got up early, for me.” It implies that

1. he was an early riser.
2. he was a late riser.
3. he got up late that morning.

Solution:

3. he was a late riser.

Question 2:
The bicycle “goes easily enough in the morning and a little stiffly after lunch.” The remark is Mark your choice(s)

1. humorous
2. inaccurate
3. sarcastic
4. enjoyable
5. meaningless

Solution:

1. Humorous.

Question 3:
Find two or three sentences in the text which express the author’s disapproval of it.
Solution: 

1. “Don’t do that; you’ll hurt it.”
2.  “It doesn’t if you don’t wobble it.”
3. “Don’t you trouble about it any more; you will make yourself tired.”

Question 4:
“ …..if not, it would make a serious difference to the machine.” What does ‘if refer to?
Solution:
‘It’ refers to ball bearings.  Working with the Text

Working with the Text

Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
Did the front wheel really wobble? What is your opinion? Give a reason for your answer.
Solution:
The front wheel wobbled occasionally, but it didn’t require any attention. The bicycle was in good condition and the author was pleased with it.

 Question 2:
in what condition did the author find the bicycle when he returned from the tool shed?
Solution:
When the author returned from the tool shed his friend had taken out the front wheel of the bicycle. His friend was sitting on the ground with the wheel between his legs. He was playing with the wheel while the other part of the bicycle was lying on the gravel path beside him.

Question 3:
“Nothing is easier than taking off the gear-case.” Comment on or continue this sentence in the light of what actually happens.
Solution:
“Nothing is easier than taking off the gear-case but it is an impossible task to fix it back.” The author’s friend took out the gear-case easily, but he was having a nightmare in putting- it back to its place.

Question 4:
What special treatment did the chain receive?
Solution:
Author’s friend tightened it to an extent that it didn’t move at all. He then loosened it until it was twice as loose as it was before.

Question 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.
Solution: 

1. Cheery confidence
2. Inexplicable hopefulness

Question 6:
Describe ‘the fight’ between the man and the machine. Find the relevant sentences in the text and write them.
Solution:
The bicycle was in good condition, but the author’s friend unnecessarily disturbed it. He first took out front-wheel and then the gear-case, his next victim was the chain. He really had a tough time in fixing these parts back into their place.
Then he lost his temper and tried bullying the thing. The bicycle, I was glad to see, showed spirit and the subsequent proceedings degenerated into little else than a rough and tumble fight between them and the machine.One moment the bicycle would be on the gravel path and he on top of it; the next, 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. By a sudden, quick movement it would free itself and turning upon him, hit him sharply over the head with one of its handles.

Working with Language

Question 1:
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 no 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.
Rewrite each of the following sentences using should / ought to / must in place of the italicised words. Make other changes wherever necessary.

1. You are obliged to do your duty irrespective of consequences. ………………………..
2. You will do well to study at least for an hour every day. ……………………………….
3. The doctor says it is necessary for her to sleep eight hours every night. …………………………
4. It is right that you show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters. ………………………….
5. If you want to stay healthy, exercise regularly. ………………………….
6. It is good for you to take a walk, every morning. ……………………………
7. It is strongly advised that you don’t stand on your head. ……………………….
8. As he has a cold, it is better for him to go to bed. ……………………….

Solution:

1. You must do your duty irrespective of consequences
2. You should study at least for an hour every day.
3. The doctor says she must sleep eight hours every night.
4. You ought to show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters.
5. To stay healthy, you must exercise regularly.
6. You should take a walk, every morning.
7. You must not stand on your head.
8. As he has a cold, he should to go to bed.

Question 2:
Use should/must/ought to appropriately in the following sentences.

1. People who live in glass houses ……………….. not throw stones.
2. You …………………. wipe your feet before coming into the house, especially during the rains.
3. You ……………. do what the teacher tells you.
4. The pupils were told that they …………….. write more neatly.
5. Sign in front of a park; You …………….. not walk n the grass.
6. You ……………… be ashamed of yourself having made such a remark.
7. He left home at 9 o’clock. He ………………. be here any minute.
8. “Whatever happened to the chocolate cake?” “How ……………. I know? I have just arrived.”

Solution:

1. should
2. must
3. must
4. should
5. must
6. ought to
7. should
8. should

Question 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.

1. I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. (3 parts)
2. When I came back he was sitting on the ground. (2 parts)
3. We may as welt see what’s the matter with it, now it is out. (3 parts)
4. He said he hoped we had got them all. (3 parts)
5. I had to confess he was right. (2 parts)

Solution:

1. I went to the tool shed.
   I went to see
   What could I find?
2. I came back.
   He was sitting on the ground
3. We may as well see.
   What is the matter with it?
   Now, it is out.
4. He said.
   He hoped.
   We had got them all.
5. I had to confess.
   He was right.

Question 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.

Solution:

(ii) Find new words in your textbook and put them under the same headings
Solution:

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Where did the author planned to do alongwith his friend?
Solution:
The author and his friend planned to go for ride on his bicycle.

Question 2:
Who the author called the right person to shake the bicycle?
Solution:
The author called himself the right person to shake his bicycle.

Question 3:
Which was the toughest part of the bicycle that the author’s friend found the toughest to fix?
Solution:
It was the gear-case that gave the author’s friend the most trouble.

Question 4:
How the author and his friend spent the entire day?
Solution:
The author’s friend dismantled the bicycle parts one-by-one for the entire day and then he spent the entire day fixing them at their place.

Question 5:
Was it right for the author’s friend to dismantle the bicycle?
Solution:
The author’s bicycle was in a perfect state there was no use of dismantling its parts by his friend.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
How did the author said to encourage his friend to fix the gear-case?
Solution:
The author said that it was fascinating to observe his friend working on the bicycle. He called his confidence as cheery and the hopefulness as inexplicable. His friend found these words to be encouraging and started re-fixing the gear-case.

Question 2:
What happened to the ball bearings?
Solution:
Author’s friend unscrewed the ball bearings without informing him. They started rolling on the ground and then they might have lost some of it there. Then the author kept them in his hat which was later blown away by the wind because of which they again lost five of those bearings.

Question 3:
What was the state of the author’s friend at the last?
Solution:
The author’s friend was completely tired because of his struggle with the bicycle. He was soiled with oil and dirt. He found fixing the parts of the bicycle extremely tough and somehow got those parts in place. He called it quits finally claiming that this is enough.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
The author didn’t go for the bicycle ride he had planned with his friend why?
Solution:
The author and his friend had planned to go for a ride on the bicycle, but the two couldn’t make it. His friend dismantled all the parts of the bicycle one-by-one. He first took out the front wheel and then the ball bearing from it. The chain was his next victim before he finally moved on to the gear-case. It took his friend the entire day to fix these parts back into their place and then he finally left for his home.

Question 2:
Author’s friend had taken out the parts of the bicycle easily, but he really had tough time fixing them Explain this with suitable example.
Solution:
The author’s friend has taken out the ball bearings from the front wheel without any alarm. He then started fixing the front wheel only to realise latter that he had not put those bearings back into their place. He then moved to the chain.
He first tightened it to an extent that it wasn’t moving and loosened twice its earlier state. The gear-case was the most complicated one. He took it easily, but a tough time fixing it back.

Value Based Questions

Question 1:
We should not mess up with things that belong to others. Elaborate.
Solution:
We should treat things that belongs to others with utmostcare. We should treat them even more cautiously than we would have treated our things.
There are many things around us that we consider dear to us. Similarly people are also emotional about their things and we must respect their feelings.
Treating other’s thing’s callously will make them lose their trust on us and they might not lend their things to us again. We should take uttermost care while handling things belonging to others and must return them at once when our job is done.

Question 2:
Friendship is a great relation. We all must treasure our friends. Explain.
Solution:
It is great to have friends in life. They add colours to our life. There are many things which we cannot share with our family, but can share with our friends easily.
Our friends help us in our time of need and stand beside us during our thick and thin. We trust them and can rely on them in times of need. We must be helpful and understanding towards our friend and must always be available to render our help to them.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
“Catch ’em!” he shouted; “catch ’em! We mustn’t
lose any of them.” He was quite excited about them.
We groveled round for half an hour and found sixteen.
He said he hoped we had got them all, because, if
not, it would make a serious difference to the machine.
I had put them in safety in my hat. It
was not a sensible thing to do I admit.

Question 1:
Who has been referred as ‘he’ in the above lines?
Solution:
The author’s friend has been referred as ‘he’ in the above lines.

Question 2:
What were they looking for?
Solution:
They were looking for the ball bearings.

Question 3:
… it would make a serious difference to the machine. What has been referred to as ‘machine’ in these lines?
Solution:
Author’s bicycle has been referred as machine in the above lines.

Question 4:
“Catch ’em!” he shouted; “catch ‘em! Just before this the author’s friend
(a) had unscrewed the ball bearings.
(b) had tightened the chain.
(c) had taken out the gear-case.
(d) had taken out the front wheel.
Solution:
(a) had unscrewed the ball bearings.

Question 5:
Find one word from the given lines which is antonym of ‘bored’.
(a) Hopped
(b) Groveled
(c) Thrilled
(d) Excited
Solution:
(d) Excited

Question 6:
Why it wasn’t a sensible decision to keep it in the hat?
(a) The hat had holes.
(b) The author wanted to wear the hat.
(c) They got lost in the hat.
(d) The hat was blown away by the wind and some of ball bearings were lost.
Solution:
(d) The hat was blown away by the wind and some of ball bearings were lost.

Extract 2

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
He said, “This is dangerous; have you got a hammer?” I
ought to have been firm, but I thought that perhaps he
really did know something about the business. I went to
the tool shed to see what I could find. When I came back
he was sitting on the ground front wheel between his legs.

Question 1:
What has been referred to as dangerous in the given lines?
Solution:
The wobbling of the front wheel has been described as dangerous in the given lines.

Question 2:
Who has been referred as ‘he’ in the given lines?
Solution:
Author’s friend has been referred as ‘he’ in the given lines.

Question 3:
What the person intended to do with the hammer?
Solution:
He wanted to repair the wobbling of the front wheel with the hammer.

Question 4:
The author should have been firm about
(a) not allowing his friend to touch his bicycle
(b) not going to the tool shed
(c) going for the ride on bicycle
(d) the opinion of his friend about the bicycle
Solution:
(a) not allowing his friend to touch his bicycle.

Question 5:
Find out one word from the given lines that is synonym of the word ‘possibly’.
(a) Mostly       (b) Definitely
(c) Certainly   (d) Perhaps
Solution:
(d) Perhaps

Question 6:
What was the author’s friend doing with the front wheel?
(a) He was trying to check the problem in it
(b) He was trying to fix it in its positions
(c) He was playing with it
(d) He was taking a nap keeping the front wheel in that position.
Solution:
(c) He was playing with it.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 10 The Story of Cricket

Comprehension Checks

Question 1:
Cricket is originally a/an

1. Indian game.
2. British game.
3. International game.

Mark the right answer.
Solution:
2. a British game.

Question 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’.
Solution:

1. peculiarities
2. curious characteristic

Question 3:
How is a cricket bat different from a hockey stick?
Solution:
A cricket bat is thick and flat while a hockey stick is bent at the bottom.

Check

Question 1:
Write True or False against each of the following sentences.

1. India joined the world of Test cricket before independence.
2. The colonisers did nothing to encourage the Parsis in playing cricket.
3. Palwankar Baloo was India’s first Test captain.
4. Australia played its first Test against England as sovereign nation.

Solution:

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False

Check

Question 1:
A ‘professional’ cricket player is one who makes a living by playing cricket. Find the opposite of ‘professional’ in the last paragraph.
Solution:
Amateur

Question 2:
In “the triumph of the one-day game”, ‘triumph’ means the one-day game’s

1. superiority to Test cricket
2. inferiority to Test cricket.
3. achievement or success over Test cricket.
4. popularity among viewers.

Mark the right answer.
Solution:
4. Popularity among viewers

Question 3:
“ the men for whom the world is a stage”.

1. It refers to the famous cricket fields in the world.
2. It means that there are many cricket playing countries in the world.
3. 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.
Solution:
3. 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

Question 1:
Name some stick-and-ball games that you have witnessed or heard of.
Solution:
Hockey, Polo, squash, golf.

Question 2:
The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket. Why?
Solution:
Parsis were in the close contact with the British because of their interest in trade. They were the first Indian community to westernise and went up taking up the game of cricket.

Question 3:
The rivalry between the Parsis and the Bombay Gymkhana had a happy ending for the former. What does ‘a happy ending’ refer to?
Solution:
‘Happy ending’ refers to the defeat of the Bombay Gymkhana by the Parsi club in a cricket match held in 1889.

Question 4:
Do you think cricket owes its present popularity to television? Justify your answer.
Solution:
Yes, cricket owes its popularity to television. It has expanded the audience of the game by taking cricket to villages and small town.
Children from these places now had the chance to learn the game seeing the international games and imitating their favourite cricketers.

Question 5:
Why has cricket a large viewership in India, not in China or Russia?
Solution:
Cricket is not played in communist countries like China and Russia so it has less viewership there. India is one of the oldest cricket playing nation which further adds to its large viewership in the country.

Question 6:
What do you understand by the game’s (cricket) ‘equipment’?
Solution:
The accessories like bat, ball, stumps and bells are the equipment used in playing the game. Pads, helmets and gloves are protective equipment used while playing cricket.

Question 7:
How is Test cricket a unique game in many ways?
Solution:
Test cricket is unique because it can go on for five days and still can end with a draw. No other game requires even half of this time to finish. A football match is played for 90 minutes.
Even nine innings of a baseball match gets over less than what it takes to finish a one-day match.

Question 8:
How is cricket different from other team games?
Solution:
Cricket is different from other team games because in cricket, the length of the pitch is mentioned as 22 yards however, the shape of the ground could be oval or circular. There is no specific measurement for the size of the ground as well.
It is the only game played for five days and can end without a specific result. Unlike cricket, many other popular games like hockey or football follows certain specification for grounds

Question 9:
How have advances in technology affected the game of cricket?
Solution:
Advancement in technology has been used in manufacturing protective equipment in cricket. The newly invented vulcanised rubber was used in pads and gloves. The helmets are made up of metal and lightweight synthetic materials.

Working with Language

Question 1:

• Word search
• Twelve words associated with cricket are hidden in this grid.
• Six can be found horizontally and remaining six vertically.”
• Two words have been found for you.

Clues to the hidden words are given below.
Solution:
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.

Solution:
Horizontal Over, Wicket, Boundary, Slip, Stumped, Draw Vertical Six, Ball, Out, Maiden, Bowled, Caught

Question 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 hat in such a violent manner?
• Why did the batsman swing the bat so violently?

1. It is obvious that the work has not been done in a proper way.
2. He made the statement in a firm manner.
3. The job can be completed within a week in an easy way.
4. You did not play in a serious manner or else you would have won the match.
5. She recited the poem in a cheerful manner.

Solution:

1. properly
2. firmly
3. easily
4. seriously
5. cheerfully

Question 3:
Use the following phrases appropriately in place of the italicised words in the sentences given below.

1. Actually, I didn’t intend to come to your place. I reached here without planning.
2. Sunil, there’s a letter for you in today’s post. There’s one for me also.
3. Everybody thought I had composed the poem. The truth is my younger sister did it.
4. The doctor told the patient to make sure that he took his pills on time.
5. It will be better for us to plan our trip before setting out.

Solution:

1. by accident
2. as well
3. as a matter of fact
4. see to it
5. we had better

Speaking and Writing

Question 1:
Complete each of the following words using gh, ff or f.
Then say each word clearly after your teacher.
(i) e… …ort             (ii) …act
(iii) con… … ess    (iv) lau… … ing
(v) enou… …          (vi) hal…
(vii) scru… …         (viii) rou… …
(ix) sti… … ly         (x) di… …erence
(xi) sa… ety           (xii) …lush
Solution:
(i) effort           (vii) scruff
(ii) fact             (viii) rough
(iii) confess     (ix) stiffly
(iv) laughing   (x) difference
(v) enough      (xi) safety
(vi) half           (xii) flush

Question 2:
Write two paragraphs describing a bus ride to watch a cricket match in a village. Use the following points. Add some of your own.

• two hour journey by bus
• an old and crowded bus
• friendly passengers
• visit to a village fair where the match is to be played
• the match between two village teams
• makes shift stumps, rough pitch and a rubber ball.
• the match was enjoyable, but the trip was tiring.

Solution:
A cricket match was organised in Muzaffarnagar last week. I went to watch the match alongwith my friend. I live in Modinagar and Muzaffarnagar is two hours bus journey from my place. We caught a bus of Uttar Pradesh transportation from the bus depot near my place. It was an old and crowded bus. We didn’t get any seat and had to keep standing all through the journey. The passengers were mostly farmers from the nearby villages.
They were very simple and friendly. We were chatting with each other and cracking jokes. It was a long journey and the roads were very bad.
When we finally reached Muzaffarnagar, I felt relaxed. There was a large fair being organised at the place where the match was to be played. There was still time left for the match to begin so we decided to enjoy the fare. There were many stalls of food items and games at the fare and we had great fun.
The match started on its time. It was between two village teams. We were cheering for our team. There was a tough competition between both the teams and finally our village won the game.
The match was very exciting and enjoyable, but the long journey had made us tired. It was a very good day that left behind many sweet memories.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Name one cricket ground that is oval in shape.
Solution:
Adelaide Oval cricket ground is oval in shape.

Question 2:
Mention the year when the cricket rules were written for the first time
Solution:
Cricket rules were written for the first time in 1744.

Question 3:
State two changes that were seen in the game of cricket around 1780.
Solution:
By 1780, a Test match was played for average three days. It was also the period when the first six-seam cricket ball was created.

Question 4:
The game of cricket traces its origin from where?
Solution:
The game of cricket traces its origin from rural England.

Question 5:
Where and by which community cricket was initially played in India?
Solution:
Cricket was initially played in Bombay by the Parsi community.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What are the changes the cricket bat has undergone with time?
Solution:
Initially the cricket bat was similar to the shape of hockey bat because the ball was bowled underarm. The bowlers then began to pitch the ball through the air rather than rolling it on ground. The curved bats were then replaced by the straight ones. Initially the bat was made by a single piece of wood. These days it consists of two pieces. The blade is made of willow wood while the handle is of cane.

Question 2:
CK Nayudu name is recorded in the history of cricket. What are. the reasons that make him a legend?
Solution:
CK Nayudu is revered because he was an outstanding batsman. He was one of the few initial Indian cricketers who got to play the test match cricket. Nayudu created history by becoming the first captain of the Indian Test team.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
During the 1760 and 1770s, it became common to pitch the ball through the air.
What changes it brought in to the game of cricket?
Solution:
Following the above mentioned trend, one immediate change was the replacement of the curved bats by the straight ones. The bowlers got the options of length, deception through air and increased pace because of this. It opened new possibilities for spin and swing bowling. In response
to tricks applied by the bowlers, the batsmen had to improve their timings and shot selection.

Question 2:
Explain elaborately India’s dominance in the world cricket today.
Solution:
India has the largest viewership for the game of cricket among all the test playing nations. It is also the largest market in the cricketing world. It has made the centre of gravity to shift towards South Asia from the country it originated.
The ICC headquarters too were shifted from London to Dubai where it is tax-free. The Indian cricket players are the best paid in the international cricket. They are famous and have got millions of supporters.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions: (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Cricket does not. Ground can be oval like the
Adelaide Oval or nearby circular like Chepauk in
Chennai. A six at the Melbourne Cricket ground
need to clear much more ground than it does at
Feroze Shah Kotla in Delhi.

Question 1:
What does the sentence ‘Cricket does not’ refers to?
Solution:
It refers that there is no specification in cricket for the size and the shape of the ground.

Question 2:
Explain the phrase ‘nearby circular’.
Solution:
It means that the Chepauk stadium in Chennai is not completely, but almost like the shape of a circle.

Question 3:
What are two shapes that a cricket ground can be of?
Solution:
A cricket ground can be almost oval or circular.

Question 4:
A six at the Melbourne Cricket ground need to clear much more ground than it does at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. This means that
(a) Feroz Shah Kotla and Melbourne cricket ground are of same size.
(b) Melbourne cricket ground is larger than Feroz Shah Kotla
(c) Feroz Shah Kotla is larger than Melbourne cricket ground
(d) None of the above
Solution:
(b) Melbourne cricket ground is larger than Feroz Shah Kotla.

Question 5:
‘A six’ in the above lines mean
(a) a ball touching the boundary
(b) ball crossing the boundary without touching it
(c) four runs
(d) a boundary
Solution:
(b) ball crossing the boundary without touching it.

Question 6:
What is Chepauk?
(a) Cricket stadium
(b) Cricket ground
(c) An almost circular stadium
(d) All of the above
Solution:
(d) All of the above

Extract 2

Directions: (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
If you look at the game’s equipment, you can see
how cricket both changed with changing times and yet
fundamentally remained true to its origin in rural
England. Cricket’s most important tools are all made
up of natural, pre-industrial materials.

Question 1:
Mention one protective equipment used in the game of cricket.
Solution:
Helmet

Question 2:
Write one important tool used in the game of cricket.
Solution:
Bat

Question 3:
Name the materials through which the cricket’s important tools made up of.
Solution:
Cricket’s most important tools are made up of natural and pre-industrial materials.

Question 4:
What has its origin in rural England?
(a) Equipment used in the game of cricket
(b) Most important tool used in game of cricket
(c) Game of cricket
(d) None of the above
Solution:
(c) Game of cricket

Question 5:
Pre-industrial materials refer to
(a) synthetic materials
(b) natural products
(c) materials that have been in use before the industrial evolution
(d) vulcanised rubber
Solution:
(c) materials that have been in use before the industrial evolution

Question 6:
Find one word from the above lines that means ‘from beginning’
(a) Remained
(b) Pre-industrial
(c) Origin
(d) Rural
Solution:
(c) Origin

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th English Chapter 7 The Invention of Vita Wonk

Comprehension Check

Question 1:
Choose the right answer.

1. Mr Willy Wonka is
   (a) a cook     (b) an inventor
   (c) a manager
2. Wonka-Vite makes people
   (a) older      (b) younger
3. Mr Wonka wants to invent a new thing which will make people
   (a) younger    (b) older

Solution:

1. (b) an inventor
2. (b) younger
3. (b) older

Question 2:
Can anyone’s age be a minus number? What does ‘minus 87’ mean?
Solution:
No, age cannot be in minus because we all start growing up from the moment we are born. ‘Minus 87’ means the man is 87 years back to his actual age.

Question 3:
Mr Wonka begins by asking himself two questions. What are they?

1. What is ………….?
2. What lives ………….?

Solution:

1. What is the oldest thing in the world?
2. What lives longer than anything else?

Working with the Text

Question 1:

1. What trees does Mr Wonka mention? Which tree does he say lives the longest?
2. How long does this tree live? Where can you find it?

Solution:

1. Mr Wonka mentions fir, oak, cedar and Bristlecone pine trees lives the longest.
2. Bristlecone pine lives for over 4000 years and one can find them upon the slopes of Wheeler Peak in Nevada, USA.

Question 2:
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?
Solution:
Mr Wonka has mentioned some very oldest things.
He said he had collected a pint a pint of sap from a 4000 years Bristlecone pine tree, toe-nail clippings from a 168 years old Russian Farmer, an egg laid by a 200 years old tortoise, the tail of 51 years old horse, whiskers of a 36 years old cat called Crumpets, a flea that lived on Crumpets for 36 years, tail of a 207 years old rat, the black teeth of a 97 years old Grimalkin and knucklebones of a 700 years old Cattaloo.
Very few of these things would have really existed, a majority of them are purely imaginary.

Question 3:
Why does Mr Wonka collect items from the oldest things? Do you think this is the right way to begin his invention?
Solution:
Mr Wonka wanted to create an item that will make people older so he collected items from the oldest things. This is in fact a foolish way to begin an invention.

Question 4:
What happens to the volunteer who swallows four drops of the new invention? What is the name of the invention?
Solution:
The Oompa-Loompa volunteers was 20 years old before swallowing the drops, he became 75 years old after it. The invention is name Vita-Wonk.

Working with Language

Question 1:
What do you call these insects in your language?

Add to this list the names of some insects in common in your area.
Solution:
Please write there Hindi names yourself. Beetle, Honeybee, Spider, Bee, Butterfly and Moth are some of the insects found in our area.

Question 2:
Fill in the blanks in the recipe given below with words from the box.

Easy Palakn Dal
INGREDIENTS

•  One …………
  • One cup dal
  • Two thin green chillies
  • ………….. a teaspoon red chilli powder.
  • Eight small bunches of palak
• Two ………….
  • 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 palakn dal.
Solution:
INGREDIENTS

• One onion
• One cup dal
• Two thin green chillies
• Half a teaspoon red chilli powder
• Eight small bunch of palak
• Two tomatoes
• Salt to taste

Speaking

Question 1:
Using Do for Emphasis Charlie asks, “What did happen?”
This is a way of asking question “ What happened?” with emphasis.
Given below are a few emphatic utterances. Say them to your partner. Let your partner repeat your utterance without the emphasis. Your partner may also add something to show she/he disagrees with you.
YOU: I did study.
PARTNER: You studied I don’t believe Look at your MARKS!
YOU: I did go there.
PARTNER: You went there? Then……………..
YOU: I do play games.
PARTNER: …………..
YOU: He does read his books.
PARTNER: ………….
YOU: You do say the most unbelievable things!
PARTNER: …………..
YOU: The Earth does spin around.
PARTNER: ………….
YOU: We all do want you to come with us.
PARTNER: ………….
YOU: Who does know how to cook?
PARTNER: …………
YOU: I do believe that man is a theif.
PARTNER: ……………..
Solution:
YOU: I did study.
PARTNER: You studied I don’t believe you. Look at your marks!
YOU: I did go there.
PARTNER: You went there? Then how come I didn’t see you?
YOU: I do play games.
PARTNER: You play games? Then why don’t you take part in Sports Day?
YOU: He does reads his books.
PARTNER: I don’t think so, because he couldn’t answer my questions.
YOU: You do say the most unbelievable things!
PARTNER: What makes you think so?
YOU: The Earth does spin around.
PARTNER: It spins? Then why don’t I feel that?
YOU: We all do want you to come with us.
PARTNER: Is it? Then why no one invited me?
YOU: Who does know how to cook?
PARTNER: Not sure, but I don’t know.
YOU: I do believe that man is a theif.
PARTNER: It is hard to believe because he looks so innocent.

Writing

Question 1:

1. Make a list of the trees Mr Wonka
   mentions. Where do these trees grow? Try to find out from an encyclopaedia. Write a short paragraph about two or three of these trees.
2. Name some large trees commonly found in your area. Find out something about them (How old are they? Who planted them? Do birds eat their fruits), and write two or three sentences about each of them.

Solution:

1. Mr Wonka mentioned the name of the following trees
   (a) Douglas Fir   (b) Oak
   (c) Cedar              (d) Bristlecone Pine
   Douglas Fir is native tree of Western North America. Its scientific name is Pseudotsuga menziesii. It is also called Oregon pine or Douglas spruce. It is named in honour of David Douglas. He was a Scotish botanist and a collector and was the first one to report about the nature and potential of the species.
   Oak trees are native of Northern hemisphere and include deciduous and evergreen species.
   It is found in abundance in Northern America with over 90 species found in United States and 160 in Mexico. Oak wood has a wide application because of its resistance to fungal and insect attack.
   Cedar trees are found in abundance all across the world. Cedar woods have a wide application like used to make pencils. Australian red cedar is highly valued and is used for making furniture and shipbuilding.
   Bristlecone pine trees have some species that are more than 5000 year old and are the oldest known individuals of any species. The tree got its name from the prickles on the female cones. They are found in abundance in United States of America.
2. Some of the commonly found trees in our area include eucalyptus, mango, neem, pipal and banyan trees. Eucalyptus trees are very tall in structure. They have medicinal properties and are available in large number in our area.
   Mango trees are generally planted in houses for their use in religious purpose. It is also planted in large numbers for the fruit. Neem is found in houses as well as parks.
   They have medicinal properties and is widely scattered in all across sour area.
   Pipal and banyan trees are mostly found in temples. They are worshipped by Hindus. Some of these trees are over 100 years old.

Question 2:
Find out something interesting about age or growing old and write a paragraph about it. Following are a few topics as suggested as examples.

• The age profile of a country’s population- does it have more young people than old people or vice versa? What are the consequences of this?
• How can we tell how old a tree, a horse, or a rock is?
• What is the ‘life expectancy’ of various living things and various population (how long can they reasonably expect to live)?

Solution:
All living beings start ageing from the moment they are born. The best part with the process of growing old is that we are able to witness many changes. India is one of the most populous nations in the world. In India we have more of youth population than old people.
It increases the productivity and earning capacity in the society. We can guess the age of a tree by counting the rings in its trunk. The age of rock and horse can be identified by carbon dating process. Microorganisms have the shortest life cycle.
Insects too live a short life. Animals like elephant and tortoise live more than 100 years. Life expectancy of human is around 85 years.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
According to Charlie, what lives the longest.
Solution:
According to Charlie a tree lives the longest.

Question 2:
Bristlecone pine trees live the longest. Whom did Mr Wonka asked Charlie to confirm his fact with?
Solution:
Mr Wonka asked Charlie to confirm this fact with any dendrochronologist.

Question 3:
What was unique about the Great Glass Elevator?
Solution:
Mr Wonka used to travel across the world in the Great Glass Elevator. ‘

Question 4:
Whose knucklebones were collected by Willy Wonka?
Solution:
Mr Willy Wonka collected the knucklebones of a 700 years old Grimalkin that lived in a cave on Mount Popocatepetl.

Question 5:
Where did the old flea collected by Mr Wonka live?
Solution:
The old flea used to live on Crumpets that was a 36 years old cat.

Question 6:
What was special about the Arabian horse?
Solution:
The Arabian horse lived for 5 years which is quite unusual for any normal horse.

Question 7:
Mr Wonka collected whose toe-nail?
Solution:
Mr Wonka collected the toe-nail clipping of a 168 years old Russian farmer called Petrovitch Gregorovitch.

Question 8:
How did Mr Wonka collected all those ancient items?
Solution:
Mr Wonka went all across the world in his Great Glass Elevator to collect all those ancient things.

Question 9:
Where did Mr Wonka carry on his experiments?
Solution:
Mr Wonka carried on his experiments in his Inventing room.

Question 10:
On whom did Mr Wonka tested the oily black liquid?
Solution:
Mr Wonka tested the oily black liquid over an Oompa-Loompa volunteer.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What was the need for Mr Wonka to invent Vita-Wonk?
Solution:
Vita-Wonk had gone wrong. After taking it many people have grown younger to an extent that their ages have gone in minus. All such people have disappeared and will be back only after they spend all those minus years being invisible. To alter these changes Mr Wonka decided to invent a new drug which will help people to grow older.

Question 2:
Name five ancient things collected by Mr Wonka.
Solution:
Mr Wonka collected a pint of sap from a 4000 years old Bristlecone pine tree, whiskers of a 36 years old cat called Crumpets, an egg laid by a 200 years old tortoise that belonged to the King of Tonga.
He also collected tail of 207 years old rat from Tibet and tail of 51 years old horse in Arabia.

Question 3:
What happened to the Oompa-Loompa volunteer after taking the drops of Vita-Wonk?
Solution:
After taking drops of Vita-Wonk, the Oompa-Loompa volunteer began to wrinkle and shrivel. Its hair started falling.
Within no while the changes were visible and he became an old man who looked around 75 years old.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Describe Mr Wonka.
Solution:
Mr Willy Wonka was a strange man. He used to make all strange inventions. He had a subordinate called Charlie. There was Oompa- Loompa volunteers on whom he used to carry out the testing of his inventions.
He had an Inventing Room where he carried out all such mysterious works.
He had earlier invented Wonka-Vite that had made people younger to an extent that their ages have gone into minus and they have become invisible.
He then invented Vita-Wonk after collecting ancient items from across the world which could help people grow older.

Question 2:
Describe the process of invention of Vita-Wonk.
Solution:
Mr Willy Wonka travelled across the globe in his Great Glass Elevator to collect items for Vita-Wonk. He collected samples from some of the oldest living creatures in the world. He mixed these items, boiled and bubbled them several times in his inventing room and then invented a one tiny cupful of an oily black liquid. He tested this on a 20 years old Oompa-Loompa volunteer and within minutes it turned into a 75 years old creature. This was how Vita-Wonk was discovered.

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
“So once again I rolled up my sleeves and set to
work. Once again I squeezed my brain, searching
for the new recipe I had to create age… to make
people old….old…older, oldest…”Ha-ha!’ I cried for
now the ideas were beginning to come. ‘What is the
oldest living thing in the world? What lives longer
than anything else?”

Question 1:
Name the speaker in the above lines.
Solution:
Mr Willy Wonka is the speaker in the above lines.

Question 2:
Who is he talking to?
Solution:
He is talking to Charlie.

Question 3:
Why he needs to work?
Solution:
He needs to invent a new drug that could help people grow older and alter the changes done by Wonka-Vite.

Question 4:
What is the new recipe he is searching for?
(a) Recipe for Wonka-Vite
(b) Recipe for Vita-Wonk
(c) Recipe for chocolates
(d) None of the above
Solution:
(b) Recipe for Vita Wonk.

Question 5:
What is the oldest living thing in the world?
(a) Cedar                      (b) Oak
(c) Bristlecone Pine    (d) Fir
Solution:
(c) Bristlecone Pine

Question 6:
What lives longer than anything else?
(a) Cattaloo                                (b) Crumpets
(c) Petrovitch Gregorovitch    (d) Trees
Solution:
(d) Trees

Extract 2

Directions (Q. Nos. 7-12) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
“All over the world, Charlie,” Mr Wonka went on
“I tracked down very old and ancient animals and
took an important little bit of something from each
one of them—a hair or an eyebrow or sometimes it
was no more than an ounce or two of the jam scraped
from between its toes while it was sleeping. I tracked
down the whistle-pig, the Bobolink, the skrock, the
Pollyfrog, the Giant Curlicue, the Stinging Slug and
the Venomous Squerkle who can spit poison right
into your eye from fifty yards away. But there’s no
time to tell you about them all now, Charlie.

Question 1:
What is the quality of venomous squerkle that has been talked about in the passage?
Solution:
A venomous squerkle can spit poison right into on eye from 50 yards away.

Question 2:
What does Mr Wonka say that he has no time to tell about? To whom does he say this?
Solution:
Mr Wonka tells Charlie that he had observed and studied many of very old and ancient animals and collected some parts of their bodies. But he didn’t have time to tell in detail about his expedition.

Question 3:
How did he produce his magic liquid?
Solution:
He took some body parts of all very old animals and boiled them together. This is how he produced the magic liquid.

Question 4:
Where did Mr Wonka take the jam from?
(a) From the stings of venomous curlicue
(b) From the paws of whistle pig
(c) From between the toes of an animal when it was sleeping
(d) From the mouth of the animals when they were awaken.
Solution:
(c) From the between the toes of an animal when it was sleeping

Question 5:
Which parts of the animal body did Mr Wonka collect?
(a) Toes and fingers
(b)Tongue or sting
(c) A hair or an eyebrow
(d) An eye or an ear
Solution:
(b) Tongue or sting

Question 6:
Which of the following animals has not been mentioned by Mr Wonka?
(a) Giant curlicue
(b)A blue whale
(c) The bobolink
(d)The stinging slug
Solution:
(b) A blue whale

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