Category: English

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

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

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.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English – Chapter 8: The Bear Story

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English – Chapter 8: The Bear Story – An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader

Exercise (Page 57)

Answer the following questions:

Question 1:
Where did the lady find the bear cub? How did she bring it up?
Answer:
The lady found the bear cub in the forest near her house. She fed him with bottle milk. Her cook helped her in this task.

Question 2:
The bear grew up but “he was a most amiable bear”. Give three examples to prove this.
Answer:
The friendly bear was harmless. He watched amicably at the cattle grazing in the field. The children used to ride his back safely. The three dogs loved to play all sorts of games with him, pull his ears and his stump of a tail and tease him in every way.

Question 3:
What did the bear eat? There were two things he was not allowed to do. What were they?
Answer:
The bear ate the same food as the dogs. He was given bread, porridge, potatoes, cabbages and turnips. He was a vegetarian. He liked the apple most.
He was not allowed to pluck apples from the tree and attack the beehive.

Question 4:
When was the bear tied up with a chain? Why?
Answer:
The bear was usually tied up with a chain only at night and on Sundays when the lady visited her sister for lunch.

Question 5:
What happened one Sunday when the lady was going to her sister’s house? What did the lady do? What was the bear’s reaction?
Answer:
One Sunday while the lady was on way to her sister’s house, she heard the cracking of the branches behind her. She saw the bear following her. She punished him by hitting him on his nose with her umbrella. The bear turned round and went back.

Question 6:
Why was the bear looking sorry for himself in the evening? Why did the cook get angry with her mistress?
Answer:
The bear looked sad when the lady came back home in the evening. The poor creature had been in chains all day. He was kept waiting for the mistress to come and set him free.
The mistress scolded the bear for following her in the forest. The cook got angry. She told her mistress that the bear had been sitting gently all day and he didn’t to be treated harshly any more.

Discuss the following topics in groups.

Question 1:
Most people keep dogs and cats as pets. Can you think of some unusual pets that people keep?
Question 2:
The second bear did not attack the lady because he was afraid of her. Do you agree?
Answers
1. The unusual pets that people often keep are wolves, bears and tigers, snakes and even crocodiles.
2. The lady while crossing found a raw bear. It seemed he was taken aback to see the self-confidence of the lady. Her fearless behaviour frightened him.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
In what ways did the bear become the lady’s pet animals?
Answer:
The lady gave milk to the half-dead bear and brought him up. The bear was friendly towards the dogs, children and other cattle grazing in the field. In this way he became the lady’s pet animal.

Question 2:
How did the bear grow up a vegetarian ?
Answer:
The bear cub was brought up on milk bottle. He was kept on bread, vegetables and fruit. He never tasted meat. So, he grew up a vegetarian.

Question 3:
Why did the bear climb up a tree and ate the apples ?
Answer:
The bear was fond of apples. He saw the apple trees in the orchard. He could not resist the temptation and climbed up the tree and ate the apples.

Question 4:
How was the bear punished when he attacked a beehive ?
Answer:
(i) The bear was hit on the nose, which bled.
(ii) He was put in chains for two days.

Question 5:
Why did the lady chain the bear on Sundays?
Answer:
The lady used to go to her sister’s house on Sundays. She chained the bear lest he should wander in the forest in her absence. She also feared that he would turn into a wild bear.

Question 6:
The cook loved the bear like her own son. Justify.
Answer:
The cook had brought up the baby bear on bittle milk. The lady wanted to punish the bear by chaining him for two days. The cook told the lady that the bear had not gone anywhere. She saved the bear from punishment. It shows that the cook loved the bear like her own son.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
Give the character sketch of the bear in The Bear Story’.
Answer:
The baby bear was brought up on milk. He ate only vegetarian food. He never tasted meat. He liked apples and honey. He never attacked the animals. He entered the stables of mountain ponies in a friendly manner. The dogs played with him and pulled his ears and tails. The children enjoyed a ride on his back. He was quite friendly with children and other animals. He was a gentle animal. He was the favourite of both the lady and the cook.

Question 2:
Give the character sketch of the lady in The Bear Story’.
Answer:
The lady is very kind. Once she finds a bear cub in the forest. She tames the baby bear. She brings him up like her own son. She feeds him on milk bottle.
She gives him an apple to eat everyday. She gives him vegetarian diet. Sometimes she punishes the bear for his bad behaviour. She pets him before chaining.
The lady is very bold. She crosses the forest alone fearlessly. She hits the wild bear hard when he chases her in the forest. She does not tolerate disobedience even on the part of her pet bear. She is fond of taming animals.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English – Chapter 7: Chandni

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

Comprehension Check (Page 45)

Question 1:
Why did Abbu Khan’s goats want to run away? What happened to them in the hills?
Answer:
Abbu Khan’s goats wanted to run away in order to enjoy freedom of movement and eat green grass. But they were killed and eaten up by a wolf in the hills.

Question 2:
Abbu Khan said, “No more goats in my house ever again”. Then he changed his mind. Why?
Answer:
Abbu Khan had a sad experience with his several pet goats. They all ran away to enjoy freedom. So he decided not to take any more pet. But he changed his mind because he felt very lonely.

Question 3:
Why did he buy a young goat?
Answer:
Abbu Khan bought a young goat thinking that it would stay with him much longer.

Comprehension Check (Page 49)

Question 1:
Why did Chandni hate the rope round her neck?
Answer:
Like other goats Chandni too missed the hills and longed for freedom. She was not afraid of the wolf. Abbu then put a rope round her neck and shut her in a small hut. Chandni could not help running towards the lovely hills. The rope pulled her back. So she hated it.

Question 2:
“Now Abbu Khan understood Chandni’s problem…” What was Chandni’s problem?
Answer:
Chandni’s problem was that she hated imprisonment. The hills called her. She was not frightened of the wild wolf. Abbu understood her problem, and her love for freedom.

Question 3:
Abbu Khan pushed Chandni into a small hut. This shows that he
(i) was cruel.
(ii) loved her and wanted to save her life.
(iii) was selfish.
Answer:
(ii) loved her and wanted to save her life.

Comprehension Check (Page 51)

Question 1:
Why did Chandni refuse to join the group of wild goats?
Answer:
Chandni rejected the offer because she wanted to enjoy her new freedom all by herself.

Question 2:
Chandni fought the wolf because she
(i) was stronger than the wolf.
(ii)hated the wolf.
(iii)had to retain her freedom at all costs.
Answer:
(ii) had to retain her freedom at all costs.

Exercises (Page 51)

Discuss the following topics in groups:

Question 1:
Why did the wise old bird say, “Chandni is the winner”?
Answer:
The wise old bird declared Chandni the winner because she struggled to her last breath to retain her freedom.

Question 2:
“Death in an open field is better than life in a small hut,” Chandni said to herself. Was it the right decision? Give reasons for your
Answer:
Chandni’s decision to enjoy free movement in the open fields rather than life in a small hut was right. No sacrifice is too great for winning freedom.

Question 3:
Freedom is life. Discuss this with reference to “Chandni” and “I want something in a Cage.”
Answer:
It is indeed very much true that slavery is a virtual death. Chandni, the goat, expressed her love for freedom by sacrificing her life. She fought a wolf boldly.
In the story I want something in a, cage, this love for freedom is expressed through ¹ a prisoner who spends all he had in order to buy freedom for a pair of birds. Both

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
Who was Abbu Khan?
Answer:
Abbu khan was an old man. He lived all alone in a little hut in Almora. He tamed a few goats. He grazed them during the day. At night, he would talk to them as if they were his children.

Question 2:
How can you say that Abbu Khan’s goats were of the best hill breed ?
Answer:
Goats in hilly regions hate being kept tied to trees or poles. They long for freedom. Abbu Khan’s goats too loved freedom. They broke loose their strings and disappeared in the hill. It shows they were of the best hill breed.

Question 3:
Why did Abbu Khan feel sad?
Answer:
Abbu Khan fed his goats on the juiciest grass and grains. He showered deep love on them as one showers on one’s children. Still they broke the ropes loose and ran straight into the jaws of death. It made Abbu Khan feel sad. Even the animals preferred death to slavery (bondage).

Question 4:
Why did Abbu Khan laugh with joy?
Answer:
The bigger goats did not stay for ever with Abbu Khan. They disappeared one after the other. So he bought a young goat. He thought that young goat will be grateful for his love and food. She would never think of the hills. It made him laugh with joy.

Question 5:
Why did Abbu Khan name his young goat as Chandni?
Answer:
The young goat was very pretty. She was white as snow. She had two little horns. She had gleaming red eyes. She had a friendly temperament. She was deeply interested in Abbu khan. Therefore, Abbu Khan named her as Chandni.

Question 6:
Why/when did Abbu Khan become unhappy?
Answer:
Abbu Khan learnt that Chandni desired to go to the hills. She had no temptation of eating tastier food or being tied with a longer rope. She did not heed to Abbu’s warning of being eaten up by an old wolf. She Answered back that she would fight the wolf. Her insistence to go to the hills made Abbu Khan unhappy.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
How did Chandni feel on reaching the hills?
Answer::
Chandni was hell-bent on going to the hills. She did not care the least for Abbu Khan’s loving words and warnings. Abbu Khan shut her in a small hat. However, she managed to make her passage through the window. She reached the hills. She thought that the hills were welcoming her. She felt that the tall grass longed to embrace her. The blooming flowers amused her. The wind also appeared pleasant to her. She considered herself lucky for seeking freedom from Abbu Khan’s prison house. She played joyfully for hours on the grassy slopes of the hills.

Question 2:
What misfortune came to Chandni after sunset?
Answer::
The sun disappeared behind the hills. Darkness prevailed every where on grass, flowers and trees. There was no wind. She heard a grunting sound of a dangerous wolf. She got scared and she thought of Abbu Khan but was not willing to return to him for safety. She considered death in open field far better than life in a small hut. The wolf came out of the bushes. He was sure that he would be able to eat the goat. The goat was also sure that she would be soon tom to pieces. But she did not lose courage. She stood firmly on her legs to face the wolf boldly. She got ready to put up a good fight. However, she was killed by the wolf.

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NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English – Chapter 6: I Want Something in a Cage

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 English – Chapter 6: I Want Something in a Cage – An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader

Comprehension Check (Page 38)

Question 1:
Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of following statements.
(i) Mr Purcell sold birds, cats, d^as and monkeys,________________
(ii) He was very concerned about the well-being of the birds and animals in his shop.
(iii) He was impressed by the customer who bought the two doves.__________________
(iv) He was a successful shop owner, though insensitive and cold as a person.______________
Answer:
(i) True (ii) False (iii) False (iv) True.

Question 2:
Why is Mr. Purcell compared to an owl?
Answer:
Purcell appeared like an owl when he looked through his glasses.

Question 3:
From the third paragraph pick out
(i) Words associated with cries of birds.
(ii) Words associated with noise.
(iii) Words suggestive of confusion and fear.
Answer:
(i) Whispered, twitter, squeal, cheeps.
(ii) Stir, rustling, scampered.
(iii) Bewildered, blindly seeking.

Question 4:
Mr. Purcell heard it no more than he would have heard the monotonous ticking of a familiar clock” (Read para beginning with. “It was a rough day……………………………………………………………… ”)
(i) What does it refer to?
(ii) Why does Mr Purcell not hear it clearly?
Answer:
(i) ‘It’ refers to the chirping, squealing and moving of birds all around him.
(ii) He has become so used to those noises that he does not mind them.

Comprehension Check (Page 42)

Question 1:
Do you think the atmosphere of Mr Purcell’s shop was cheerful or depressing? Give reasons for your
Answer:
The atmosphere in Mr Purcell’s shop was dull and cheerless. The shop was full of movements of noising birds and pet animals. Mr. Purcell had become used to that noise. But the customer wondered how the owner put up with that noise.

Question 2:
Describe the stranger who came to the pet shop. What did he want?
Answer:
The stranger who came to Mr. Purcell’s shop had been released from jail after ten years of imprisonment. His suit though new looking was cheap and ill-fitting. He had close-cropped hair. His eyes moved all around in the shop. He wanted to purchase something in a case.

Question 3:
(i) The man insisted on buying the doves because he was fond of birds. Do you agree?
(ii) How had he earned the five dollars he had?
Answer:
(i) No, the man was neither fond of birds nor did he insist on buying the fair doves. He only wanted some birds in a cage.
(ii) The man had spent ten years in prison. He had to work hard. He was paid only half a dollar per year. He left the jail with just 5 dollars and a cheap suit.

Question 4:
Was the customer interested in the care and feeding of the doves he had bought? If not, why not?
Answer:
No, the man had no love or liking for the doves. He did not mean to keep them as pets. So he paid no attention to what Mr. Purcell said about the feed and care of birds. Soon after stepping out of the shop, he freed the birds and dropped the cage.

Exercise (Page 42)

Discuss the following topics in groups:

Question 1:
Why, in your opinion, did the man set the doves free?
Answer:
The man set the doves free because he had got already the better taste of imprison­ment. He knew the need and value of freedom. It was his love for freedom that he spent his hard-earned money on buying the doves and setting them free.

Question 2:
Why did it make Mr. Purcell feel” vaguely insulted”?
Answer:
Mr Purcell felt insulted because he had reduced the price of the doves and still made profit. He felt small to see ‘the customer’s love for freedom and his great sacrifice.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
What was Purcell’s source of earning?
Answer:
Mr. Purcell ran a pet shop. He sold cats, dogs, monkeys, and birds. He also sold fish food and bird seed. He also prescribed remedies for the sick animals. In this way, he earned his living.

Question 2:
Describe Mr Purcell’s daily routine at the shop.
Answer:
Mr Purcell opened his shop and sat on a high stool every morning. He unfolded the newspaper and read through it. He attended the customer if there was any. It was his daily routine.

Question 3:
What surprised Mr Purcell one day?
Answer:
Mr Purcell had hung a bell at the door of his shop. It began to ring on the arrival of a customer. That day it failed to ring. Mr Purcell was surprised. He felt that the customer appeared out of the air.

Question 4:
Why did the customer hate Mr. Purcell?
Answer:
The customer noticed that Mr. Purcell had imprisoned birds and animals to earn money. He had robbed them of their freedom. The customer loved freedom. So he hated Mr.Purcell.

Question 5:
Why did the customer free the imprisoned doves?
Answer:
The customer had suffered the pains of prison life. He was a jailbird a short while ago. So he tossed the doves into the air and freed them from their imprisonmant.

Question 6:
How did the customer feel after freeing the doves?
Answer:
The customer had freed two doves from their prison (cage). He had utilised his hard earned money. He longed to teach Mr.Purcell a good lesson. Therefore, he felt happy about his action.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
What type of a shopkeeper was Mr. Purcell ?
Answer:
Mr. Purcell sold pets at his shop. They included both animals and birds. He displayed his birds (pet) in golden and beautiful cages. He also sold fish food and bird seed. He prescribed medicines for them. He knew how to treat the sick birds and animals. He advised his customer what to feed the birds on and how to look after the animals. He appeared to know everthing about birds and animals. He was a wise man. His behaviour with the customers was like that of a professional. He never thought about the value and importance of freedom. He deprived the birds of their freedom to gain money.

Question 2:
Bring out a contrast between Mr. Purcell and the customer.
Answer:
Purcell did not give much importance to freedom. He sold pets in cages and earned money. He took pleasure in encaging birds and animals. He was crazy about gaining money. But the customer was built of different stuff. His prison life had made him realise the value and meaning of freedom. He bought a pair of doves with the money he had earned in the jail. He drew out the doves from the cages and tossed them into the air. He took pleasure in freeing the encaged birds. Thus, we can say that both Mr. Purcell and the customer were shortly different from each other.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishSanskritHindiRD Sharma