NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: An Alien Hand English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: An Alien Hand An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

Jayant Narlikar

Page No: 69

Comprehension Check

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

Answer

When Tilloo’s father was enjoying a siesta at home, he managed to get hold of his security card and by evading his watchful mother’s eye, Tilloo made his way to the forbidden passage.

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

Answer

Tilloohoped toseethesun or the stars once heemerged from his underground home.

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

Answer

 Tilloo’s father advise him not to try to reach the surface of the planet because an ordinary person cannot survive there. The air is too thin to breathe and temperature is so low that one can freeze to death.

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

Answer

The sun which had provided the sustenance  turned hostile. It changed only slightly but the change was sufficient to upset the balance of nature which forced people to live in underground homes. Fish, birds and animals couldn’t bear it and became extinct.

Page No:  71

Comprehension Check

1. Why was everyone in the Control Room greatly excited?

Answer

Everyone in the Control Room was greatly excited because the big TV Screen showed a dot in clear background which was heading towards the planet.

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

Answer

The spacecraft was unmanned because number one reported to the president that they do not contain living beings, they only have instruments.

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

Answer

Number One suggested that they should wait for the spacecraft to land and then render it ineffective anytime it is required. But Number Two suggested that we should not interfere and observe passively and not to reveal their existence by rendering the spacecraft ineffective.

Page No: 71

Comprehension Check

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

Answer

The mechanical hand was trying to collect the sample of the soil from the planet for the examination.

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

Answer

The damage was that the mechanical hand from the spacecraft ceased to work.

2. Where had the spacecraft come from?

Answer

The spacecraft had come from the Earth.

3. On which planet do Tilloo and his parents live?

Answer

Tilloo and his parents live onmars.

Page No: 73

Exercises

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. If you had to live in a home like Tilloo’s, what parts of life would you find most difficult? What compensations might there be?

Answer

The part of life I found most difficult is the freedom and open space. It will be like living in a cell far away from open space. There were no sightseeing, social life and interactions with the nature. The compensation can be peace, harmony, safety and security. As all of us were living in the same undergrounded buildings, the people must collaborated with each other nicely.

2. What, if anything, might drive mankind to make their homes underground?

Answer

Global warming may cause the depletion of the atmosphere and changes in the behavior of the climate which will destroy the life on the surface of the Earth and drive mankind to make their homes underground.

3. Do you think there is life on other planets? Can you guess what kind of people there may be on them? In what ways are they likely to be different from us?

Answer

This question should be done by the students themselves. This question is based on using their own ideas, skills and imagination.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: A Tiger in the House English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: A Tiger in the House An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

Ruskin Bond

Page No: 60

Comprehension Check

1. "He had the distinction of being the only member of the party to have bagged any game..."

The phrase in italics means
(i) Grandfather was the most distinguished member of the party.
(ii) Grandfather was the only sportsperson in the party.
(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.

Mark the right answer.

Answer

The phrase in italics means (iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.

2. Complete the following sentences.

(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when ——————————————————————

(ii) ——————————————————————— ,I became one of the tiger’s favourites.

(iii) Timothy had clean habits, ————————————————————————————

Answer

(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when Timothy lost his temper.

(ii) One of Timothy's favourite amusements was to stalk anyone who would play with him, and so, when I came to live with Grandfather, I became one of the tiger's favourites.

(iii) Timothy had clean habits, and would scrub his face with his paws exactly like a cat.

Page No: 64

Comprehension Check

1. Grandmother’s prophecy was that the tiger

(i) would prefer Mahmoud’s bed to sleep in.
(ii) and the cook would disappear together from the house.
(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.

Mark the right answer.

Answer

Grandmother’s prophecy was that the tiger (iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.

2. When Timothy was about six months old, a change came over him.

The phrase in italics means that

(i) Timothy had grown to his full size.

(ii) Timothy grew more friendly.

(iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous

Answer

The phrase in italics means that (iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.

3. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.

(i) Timothy and Grandfather went to Lucknow in a special compartment.

(ii) The compartment in which Grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other passenger.

(iii) Timothy and Grandfather travelled in a first class compartment.

(iv) All passengers in the compartment thought that Timothy was a well-fed and civilised tiger.

Answer

(i) False
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) False

4. Grandfather suggested that Timothy should be put in another cage.

The reason was that

(i) the tiger had become very bad tempered.

(ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.

(iii) the cage was too small for a full grown tiger.

Answer

The reason was that (ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.

5. The tiger was still licking his arm, with increasing relish. The phrase in italics suggests that Timothy

(i) was good natured.

(ii) recognised an old friend.

(iii) smelt fresh food.

Answer

The phrase in italics suggests that Timothy (iii) smelt fresh food.

Page No: 65

Exercises

Answer the following questions.

1. Where was the tiger cub hiding when Grandfather found him?

Answer

Grandfather found the tiger cub was hiding among the intricate roots of a banyan tree.

2. (i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy?
    (ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?

Answer

(i) Toto teased and pull Timothy by the tail to entertain him.

(ii) Toto climbed up the curtains when Timothy lost his temper.

3. "I became one of the tiger’s favourites". Who is 'I' in the statement? Why did he think so?

Answer

In the statement ‘I’ refers to the narrator of the story, Ruskin Bond. He think so because the tiger with a crafty look in his glittering eyes and crouching his body creep closer and closer to the author. Suddenly making a dash for his feet, rolling over on his back and kicking with delight, and pretending to bite his ankles.

4. Where was Timothy most comfortable during the day? Where was he during the night?

Answer

Timothy was most comfortable on the long sofa in the drawing room during the day which was his favourite place in the house. He slept at night in the cook’s quarters.

5. What was Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook? Did it come true?

Answer

Grandmother's prophecy about the cook was that one day Timothy sitting on cook's bed would make a meal of cook with his clothes and shoes left behind. However it didn't come true because the tiger had begun to stalk Mahmoud about the house with a villainous intent.

6. What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?

Answer

When Timothy was about six months old, he grew less friendly. When out for a walk with the author, he would try to steal away to stalk a cat or someone’s pet dog. Sometimes at night they heard frenzied cackling from the poultry house, and in the morning, feathers were lying all over the verandah. And finally, when he began to stalk Mahmoud about the house with what looked like villainous intent, Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo.

7. Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in another enclosure?

Answer

A leopard in the next cage snarled at Timothy. Every time, the leopard would rush at the bars and Timothy had to slink back to his corner. So, Grandfather wanted Timothy to be put in another enclosure.

8. What shocked Grandfather in the end?

Answer

Grandfather visited the zoo after six months to see Timothy and went to the cage where he was put in straightly. When Grandfather asked the keeper to transfer Timothy to another cage, he said that the tiger in the cage was not Timothy. He was informed by the zoo keeper that his tiger Timothy had died two months ago, which shocked him in the end. 

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. Shoot animals with a camera, not with a gun.

2. Keeping pets helps us become more loving and tolerant. It also helps us respect life in any form. Do you agree?

3. Have you heard of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)? What do they do?

Answer

Students need to do these questions by themselves to enhance their knowledge and speaking power.

   

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Bear Story English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Bear Story An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

Axel Munthe

Page No: 57

Exercises

Answer the following questions.

1. Where did the lady find the bear cub? How did she bring it up?

Answer

The lady found the bear cub in the forest. It was brought up on the bottle because it was half dead of hunger and was so small and helpless.

2. The bear grew up but "he was a most amiable bear". Give three examples to prove this.

Answer

Three examples to prove that the bear grew up but "he was a most amiable bear" :

(i) He did not dream of harming anybody, man or beast.

(ii) He look with his small intelligent eyes most amicably at the cattle grazing in the field near by.

(iii) The children used to ride on his back and he didn't harm them.

3. What did the bear eat? There were two things he was not allowed to do. What were they?

Answer

He ate the same food as the dogs and often out of the same plate like bread, porridge, potato, cabbage, turnip. He likes fruit the best. Two things he was not allowed to do were to climb trees and touch the beehives.

4. When was the bear tied up with a chain? Why?

Answer

He was tied up with chain whenever he done mischief. He was also put in chain during nights and on Sundays when his mistress went to spend the afternoon with her married sister. It was done because it was not supposed to be good for him to wander about in the forest with all its temptations; it was better to and be on the safe side.

5. What happened one Sunday when the lady was going to her sister’s house? What did the lady do? What was the bear’s reaction?

Answer

One Sunday when the lady was going to her sister’s house, a bear was coming to her in the forest at full speed. Thinking that it was her bear, she scolded him and told him to go back as she didn't want him to came with her. She became very angry when she saw that bear lost his new collar and hit him on his nose with her parasol. The bear opened his mouth several times as if he wanted to say something and looked at her with his cunning eyes. After that, it turned around and went on its way.

6. Why was the bear looking sorry for himself in the evening? Why did the cook get angry with her mistress?

Answer

The bear was looking sorry for himself in the evening because he had been chained for the whole Sunday afternoon and was looking for his mistress without doing anything. The cook got angry with her mistress because she scolding the bear without any mistake who had been sitting there quite still on his haunches as meek as an angel, looking the whole time towards the gate for the mistress to come back.

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. Most people keep dogs and cats as pets. Can you think of some unusual pets that people keep?

Answer

Students need to do this by themselves.

2. The second bear did not attack the lady because he was afraid of her. Do you agree?

Answer

No, i don't agree that second bear did not attack the lady because he was afraid of her. I think, the second bear was also amiable and want to befriend with someone. Even when she lost her appetite and scolded him and hit the bear with her parasol, he didn't attacked her. Although, bears are able to kill a person easily. He  opened his mouth several times as if he wanted to say something and looked at her with his cunning eyes which seems that he was not afraid of her at all but wanted to be loved by her. He had come stopping now and then look at the lady till at last she lost sight of him which shows the affection of him with the lady.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Chandni English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Chandni An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

Zakir Husain

Page No: 45

Comprehension Check

1. Why did Abbu Khan’s goats want to run away? What happened to them in the hills?

Answer

Abbu Khan’s goats wanted to run away because goats in hilly regions hate being tied to trees or poles. They love their freedom and his goats were of the best hill breed. In the hills, they get killed by an old wolf who lived in the hills.

2. Abbu Khan said, “No more goats in my house ever again.” Then he changed his mind. Why?

Answer

Abbu Khan changed his mind because he was terribly lonely and simply couldn’t live without his pets. He needs company.

3. Why did he buy a young goat?

Answer

He thought that a young goat will stay with him much longer. She will soon begin to love him as well as the food served by him and will never want to go to the hills.

Page No: 49

Comprehension Check

1. Why did Chandni hate the rope round her neck?

Answer

Chandni hated the rope round her neck because whenever she ran towards the hills, the rope round her neck wouldn’t let her go any further and stops her with a jerk. She wanted to run across those green fields and the hills.

2. “Now Abbu Khan understood Chandni’s problem...” What was Chandni’s problem?

Answer

Chandni’s problem was that she was a mountain goat and loved her freedom. She wanted to go to the hills and hated to live with the rope around her neck.

3. Abbu Khan pushed Chandni into a small hut. This shows that he

(i) was cruel.

(ii) loved her and wanted to save her life.

(iii) was selfish.

Answer

This shows that he (ii) loved her and wanted to save her life.

Page No: 51

Comprehension Check

1. Why did Chandni refuse to join the group of wild goats?

Answer

Chandni refused to join the group of wild goats because she wanted to enjoy her new freedom all by herself.

2. Chandni fought the wolf because she

(i) was stronger than the wolf.

(ii) hated the wolf.

(iii) had to retain her freedom at all costs.

Answer

Chandni fought the wolf because she (iii) had to retain her freedom at all costs.

Exercises

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. Why did the wise old bird say, “Chandni is the winner”?

Answer

The wise old bird said that Chandni is the winner because even being weak and small in front of the wolf, she didn't give up. She gathered all her courage and done a brave fight. She didn't leave the battlefield like a coward and fought for her freedom. She said to herself that death in an open field is far better than life in a small hut. She stood firm on her legs, head slightly bent and horns jutting out. She was a picture of courage. She looked like a brave soldier ready to fight a treacherous enemy. She died brave in the morning completely soaked in blood.

2. “Death in an open field is better than life in a small hut,” Chandni said to herself. Was it the right decision? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer

I think it was the right decision because no one can imagine life in someone's captivity. Freedom is more valuable thing than life. Chandni could have gone back to her small hut of Abbu and saved her life but she chooses to fight with the wolf instead to gain her freedom. She didn't died coward. She fought with courage show the picture of bravery to attain freedom of her life. She might have lived longer in the captivity but she died everyday in the imprisonment. She fought with the wolf and told herself that success or failure is a matter of luck or chance. So, she took the right decision afterall.

3. Freedom is life. Discuss this with reference to ‘Chandni’ and ‘I Want Something in a Cage’.

Answer

Students need to do this by themselves. They can write article on the topic by taking example from the two chapters.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: I Want Something in a Cage English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: I Want Something in a Cage An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

L.E. Greeve

Page No: 38

Comprehension Check

1. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of following statements.

(i) Mr Purcell sold birds, cats, dogs and monkeys.
(ii) He was very concerned about the well-being of the birds and animals in his shop.
(iii) He was impressed by the customer who bought the two doves.
(iv) He was a successful shopowner, though insensitive and cold as a person.

Answer

(i) True
(ii) False
(iii) False
(iv) False

2. Why is Mr Purcell compared to an owl?

Answer

Mr Purcell compared to an owl because large glasses magnified his eyes which gives him the appearance of a wise and genial owl.

3. From the third paragraph pick out

(i) words associated with cries of birds,

(ii) words associated with noise,

(iii) words suggestive of confusion and fear.

Answer

(i) whispered twitters, cheeps, squeaks

(ii) Rustling, squeals, squeaks

(iii) frantic, frightened, bewildered, blindly seeking.

Page No: 39

4. "...Mr Purcell heard it no more than he would have heard the monotonous ticking of a familiar clock." (Read para beginning with "It was a rough day...")

(i) What does 'it' refer to?

(ii) Why does Mr Purcell not hear 'it' clearly?

Answer

(i) 'It' refers to the chirping, squeaking and mewing of the birds and animals in the shop of Mr Purcell.

(ii) Mr Purcell not hear 'it' clearly because he heard it no more than he would have heard the monotonous ticking of a familiar clock.and pay no attention to it as it was a daily routine. 

Page No: 42

Comprehension Check

1. Do you think the atmosphere of Mr Purcell’s shop was cheerful or depressing? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer

The atmosphere of Mr Purcell’s shop was depressing because a constant stir of movement pervaded his shop and the animals and birds were making a lot of noise seems like they are not happy in their cages. 

2. Describe the stranger who came to the pet shop. What did he want?

Answer

The stranger was peculiar man who was wearing shiny shoes and cheap, ill-fitted but a new suit.He had a shuttling glance and close-cropped hair. He wanted something small in a cage with wings.

3. (i) The man insisted on buying the doves because he was fond of birds. Do you agree?

(ii) How had he earned the five dollars he had?

Answer

(i) No, the man didn't insisted on buying doves because he was fond of birds. He didn't asked for the birds directly instead he said that he wanted anything with wings in a cage. This shows that he had sympathy for the birds and wanted to see them flying.

(ii)  He earned those five dollars by doing hard labour in jail in his ten years of imprisonment.

4. Was the customer interested in the care and feeding of the doves he had bought? If not, why not?

Answer

The stranger was not interested in the care and feeding of the doves because he wanted to set them free.

Exercises

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. Why, in your opinion, did the man set the doves free?

Answer

In my opinion, I think that the man must had set the doves free because he himself had been in jail for ten years. He had sympathy for the birds and knew the pain of being imprisoned against the wishes. He wanted to see them flying and enjoy their freedom that is why he bought something with the wings. He wanted to smell the happiness of freedom from cages by setting the doves free.

2. Why did it make Mr Purcell feel “vaguely insulted”?

Answer

Mr Purcell feel “vaguely insulted” the man bought the doves from Purcell’s shop for five dollars and then went outside to set them free. It was Mr. Purcell who had kept these birds in cage and restricted their freedom and the man spent his ten years income only to give the doves freedom, so he felt more insulted.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Golu Grows a Nose English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Golu Grows a Nose An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

Rudyard Kipling

Page No: 34

Exercises

Answer the following questions.

1. Whom does Golu ask, "Why don’t you ever fly like other birds?"

Answer

Golu asked his tall aunt, the ostrich that "Why don’t you ever fly like other birds?"

2. Which uncle of Golu had red eyes?

Answer

Golu’s huge uncle, the hippopotamus had red eyes.

3. Golu’s relatives did not answer his questions because
(i) they were shy.
(ii) the questions were too difficult.
(iii) Golu was a naughty baby.

Answer

Golu’s relatives did not answer because (ii) the questions were too difficult.

Page No: 35

4. Who advised Golu to go to the Limpopo river?

Answer

The mynah bird advised Golu to go to the Limpopo river.

5. Why did Golu go to the river?

Answer

Golu went to the river to know what the crocodile had for his dinner.

6. The crocodile lay on the bank of the Limpopo river. Golu thought it was

(i) a living crocodile.

(ii) a dead crocodile.

(iii) a log of wood.

Answer

Golu thought it was (iii) a log of wood.

7. What did the crocodile do to show that it was a real crocodile?

Answer

Crocodile shed his crocodile tears to show that it was a real crocodile.

8. "Come here, little one, and I’ll whisper the answer to you."

The crocodile said this because

(i) he couldn’t stand up.

(ii) he wanted to eat Golu.

(iii) Golu was deaf.

Answer

The crocodile said this because (ii) he wanted to eat Golu.

9. Who helped Golu on the bank of the river?

Answer

The python helped Golu on the bank of the river.

10. Name two things the elephant can do with his trunk, and two he cannot.

Answer

The two things the elephant can do with his trunk are:
(i) pluck a large bundle of grass and stuff it into his mouth
(ii) scoop up some mud from the bank and slap it on his head.

The two things the elephant cannot do with his trunk are:

(i) cannot scratch himself with his trunk
(ii) cannot chew or eat food directly with his trunk.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Cop and The Anthem English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Cop and The Anthem An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

O. Henry

Page No: 29

Exercises

Answer the following questions.

1. What are some of the signs of approaching winter referred to in the text?

Answer

Some of the signs of approaching winter are birds begin to fly south, people want new warm coats and dead leaves falling.

2. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following.
(i) Soapy did not want to go to prison.
(ii) Soapy had been to prison several times.
(iii) It was not possible for Soapy to survive in the city through the winter.
(iv) Soapy hated to answer questions of a personal nature.

Answer

(i) False
(ii) True
(iii) False
(iv) True

3. What was Soapy’s first plan? Why did it not work?

Answer

Soapy’s first plan was to have dinner at some fine restaurant and after that he would say that he had no money to pay so that cop will arrest him and the judge would sentence him for three months in the prison on Blackwell’s Island.
This plan did not work because the head waiter saw his broken old shoes and the torn clothes that covered his legs. Strong and ready hands turned Soapy around and moved him quietly and quickly outside the restaurant. 

4. "But the cop’s mind would not consider Soapy". What did the cop not consider, and why?

Answer

The cop's mind didn't consider Soapy because the men who break windows do not stop there to talk to cops. They run away as fast as they can. The cop saw a man further along the street, running and they ran after him.

5. "We have orders to let them shout". What is the policeman referring to?

Answer

The policeman referring to the orders that allowed college to shout as they would not hurt anything. He said this to a man standing near him when Soapy shouted as if he was drunk thinking that Soapy is a college boy.

6. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following.

(i) Soapy stole a man’s umbrella.

(ii) The owner of the umbrella offered to give it to Soapy.

(iii) The man had stolen the umbrella that was now Soapy’s.

(iv) Soapy threw away the umbrella

Answer

(i) True
(ii) False
(iii) True
(iv) True

7. "There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul". What brought about the change in Soapy?

Answer

When Soapy came near his old home, he remembered his old days and his childhood life. He saw his

worthless days, his wrong desires, his dead hopes, the lost power of his mind.These made sudden and wonderful change in his soul. His heart answered this change in his soul. He would fight to change his life, pull himself up, out of the mud and make a man of himself again.

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. Suppose no cop came at the end. What would Soapy’s life be like through the winter?

Answer

If no cop came at the end, there would have been significant and positive changes in his life. He would have looked for the man who had offered him a job and able to live a respectable life in the society. The changes brought in his soul may changed his whole life and he might have given up his bad habits as he was determined. The story had an happy ending with Soapy as a respectful man.

2. Retell an episode in the story which is a good example of irony in a situation.

Answer

The ironic episode in the story is when Soapy came to his old home. It's memory changed his mind and made him strong willing person who was ready to brought positive changes in his life.

"Here was hisold childhood home. Through one window, he could see a soft light shining. That had been his living room, where he had spent many happy peaceful moments. Sweet music came to Soapy’s ears and seemed to hold him there. The moon was above, peaceful and bright. There were

few people passing. He could hear birds high above him. And the music that came from the room held Soapy there, for he had known it well long ago. In those days, his life contained such things as mothers and flowers and high hopes and friends and clean thoughts and clean clothes. There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul. He saw with sick fear how he had fallen. He saw his worthless days, his wrong desires, his dead hopes, the lost power of his mind. And also, in a moment, his heart answered this change in his soul. He would fight to change his life. He would pull himself

up, out of the mud. He would make a man of himself again."

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Desert English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Desert An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

Page No: 16

Comprehension Check

1. From the first paragraph

(i) pick out two phrases which describe the desert as most people believe it is;

(ii) pick out two phrases which describe the desert as specialists see it.

Which do you think is an apt description, and why?

Answer

(i)Two phrases which describe the desert as most people believe it is:

'dry, hot, waterless and without shelter.'

'an endless stretch of sand where no rain falls and, therefore, no vegetation grows.'

(ii)Two phrases which describe the desert as specialists see it:
'a beautiful place'
'home of a variety of people, animals and plants'

I think both the description is an apt in their own way as most people describe it what they saw on television or read over internet while specialists made the conclusion by their interest and experience after living in desert.

Page No: 17

2. The phrases on the left in the following box occur in the text.

Match each of them with a phrase on the right.

(i)	an endless stretch of sand	fertile place with water and plants in a desert
(ii)	waterless and without shelter	not visible because the grass is thick
(iii)	an oasis	nothing but sand as far as one can see
(iv)	hidden by a cover of grass	no water and no shade

Answer

(i)	an endless stretch of sand	nothing but sand as far as one can see
(ii)	waterless and without shelter	no water and no shade
(iii)	an oasis	fertile place with water and plants in a desert
(iv)	hidden by a cover of grass	not visible because the grass is thick

Page No: 19

Comprehension Check

1. A camel can do without water for days together. What is the reason given in the text?

Answer

 A camel can do without water for days together because they sweat very little. Camels can stand high body temperature. They don’t need to sweat and therefore can retain the water they drink

for long periods of time.

2. How do the smaller desert animals fulfill their need for water?

Answer

The smaller animals fulfill their need for water by burrowing underground during the hot day and come out at night to eat. Some of them eat other animals and get the water they need from the moisture in the meat. Others eat plants and seeds and get the water they need from plant juices.

3. In a desert the temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night. Why?

Answer

In a desert the temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night because of the absence of moisture in desert lands. The moisture present in the air acts as a blanket and protects the earth’s surface form the hot rays of the sun but the moisture in air is absent in desert.Therefore, the land get heats up quickly during the day due to the sun’s rays and cools down rapidly at night.

Exercises

Do the following activities in groups.

1. Describe a desert in your own way. Write a paragraph and read it aloud to your classmates.

Answer

A desert is generally without water and vegetation but it as beautiful as a forest.  A desert may be too hot or too cold but plants and animals there have learned to survive in hot and dry and cold condition. Deserts also have a different kind of vegetation.

2. Go to the library and collect information about the lifestyle of people in desert areas— their food, clothes, work, social customs, etc. Share this information with the group.

Answer

Students need to do this question by themselves.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Bringing Up Kari English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Bringing Up Kari An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

By Dhan Gopal Mukerji

Page No: 14

Exercises

Answer the following questions.

1. The enclosure in which Kari lived had a thatched roof that lay on thick tree stumps. Examine the illustration of Kari’s pavilion on page 8 and say why it was built that way.

Answer

Kari’s pavilion was built of hatched roof that lay on thick tree stumps because it was very high and would not fall when Kari bump against the poles.

2. Did Kari enjoy his morning bath in the river? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer

Yes, Kari enjoys his morning bath in the river as he lay down on the sand bank and let his friend rub his back and also lie in the river water for a long time. He squeal with pleasure when water is rubbed down his back.

3. Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time. Why?

Answer

Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time because his friend had to climb all kinds of trees to get the most delicate and tender twigs. Also, if a twig is mutilated an elephant will not touch it. So, one had to be very sharp hatchet to cut down these twigs which took half an hour to sharpen it. It was not an easy job

4. Why did Kari push his friend into the stream?

Answer

Kari pushed his friend into the stream because a boy was lying flat on the bottom of the river. Kari wanted his friend to save the life of that boy, so he pushed his friend into the stream.

5. Kari was like a baby. What are the main points of comparison?

Answer

Kari was like a baby because he had to be trained to be good just like a baby. He had to be taught when to sit down, when to walk, when to go fast, and when to go slow. When he was naughty, he need to be scolded and if not, he will do more mischief.

6. Kari helped himself to all the bananas in the house without anyone noticing it. How did he do it?

Answer

Kari stole the bananas from the table near the window in the dining room. He put his trunk through the window very much like a snake and disappeared with all the bananas without any one noticing it.

7. Kari learnt the commands to sit and to walk. What were the instructions for each command?

Answer

When his friend pulled his ear and say 'Dhat', Kari sit down and when he pulled his trunk forward and say 'Mali', Kari walked.

8. What is “the master call”? Why is it the most important signal for an elephant to learn?

Answer

The master call is a strange hissing, howling sound, as if a snake and a tiger were fighting each other. It is the most important signal for an elephant because whenever master is in trouble, one master call will bring the elephant near him.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Tiny Teacher English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: The Tiny Teacher An Alien Hand Supplementary Reader English

Page No: 3

Comprehension Check

1. The story of an ant’s life sounds almost untrue.
The italicised phrase means

(i) highly exaggerated.
(ii) too remarkable to be true.
(iii) not based on facts.

Answer

(ii) too remarkable to be true.

2. Complete the following sentences.

(i) An ant is the smallest, .................................................................................................................

(ii) We know a number of facts about an ant’s life because ................................................................

Answer

(i) An ant is the smallest, the commonest but the wisest insect.

(ii) We know a number of facts about an ant’s life because people have kept ants as pets, and have watched their daily behaviour closely.

3. In what ways is an ant’s life peaceful?

Answer

An ant’s life is peaceful because they do their own work and never fight with other ants of the same group. They know sharing and contribution and do not interface in the other’s work.

Page No: 5

Comprehension Check

1. How long does it take for a grub to become a complete ant?

Answer

It takes five to six weeks for a grub to become a complete ant.

2. Why do the worker ants carry the grubs about?

Answer

 The worker ants carry them about daily for airing, exercise and sunshine.

3. What jobs are new ants trained for?

Answer

The jobs which the new ants are trained for are workers, soldiers, builders, cleaners, etc.

4. Name some other creatures that live in anthills.

Answer

Some other creatures that live in anthills are beetles, lesser breeds of ants, greenfly etc.

5. Mention three things we can learn from the ‘tiny teacher’. Give reasons for choosing these items.

Answer

We can learn team work as ants do their work by sharing and contribution without  interface in the other’s work.

We can learn hard work as ants spend their most of time in doing their respective jobs without hesitation.

We can learn discipline as ants live a disciplined life and always follow the rules of their group and loyal towards it.

Exercise

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. (i) What problems are you likely to face if you keep ants as pets? 

(ii) When a group of bees finds nectar, it informs other bees of its location, quantity, etc. through dancing. Can you guess what ants communicate to their fellow ants by touching one another’s feelers?

Answer

These questions are supposed to be done in groups. Students have to do this by their own. If further demanded, our team will provide the solution.

Page No: 6

2. Complete the following poem with words from the box below. Then recite the poem.

Soldiers live in barracks

And birds in ———————,

Much like a snake that rests

In a ———————. No horse is able

To sleep except in a ———————.

And a dog lives well,

Mind you, only in a ———————.

To say ‘hi’ to an ant, if you will,

You may have to climb an ———————.

                              hole           kennel           nests         anthill          stable 

Answer

Soldiers live in barracks
And bird in nests ,
Much like a snake that rests
In a hole. No horse is able
To sleep except in a stable.
And a dog lives well,
Mind you, only in a kennel.
To say 'hi' to an ant, if you will,
You may have to climb an anthill.

Go to Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Garden Snake (Poem) English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Garden Snake (Poem) Honeycomb English

By Muriel L. Sonne

Page No: 137

Working with the Poem

1. Answer the following questions.

(i) Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
(ii) Which line shows a complete change of the child’s attitude towards snakes? Read it aloud.
(iii) "But mother says that kind is good..." What is mother referring to?

Answer

(i) The line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes is 'I saw a snake and ran away...'

(ii) 'I’ll stand aside and watch him pass,

      And tell myself, “There’s no mistake,

      It’s just a harmless garden snake!”'

(iii) The mother is referring to the harmless garden snake.

Page No: 138

2. Find the word that refers to the snake’s movements in the grass.

Answer

The word that refers to the snake’s movements in the grass is 'wiggles'.

3. There are four pairs of rhyming words in the poem. Say them aloud.

Answer

(i)  'Away' - 'say'

(ii) 'Good' - 'food'
(iv) 'Grass' - 'pass'
(iv) 'Mistake' - 'snake'

4. A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast. Can you guess how? Discuss in the group.

Answer

A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast as it slides over the grass with the help of its scales.

5. Can you recall the word used for a cobra’s long sharp teeth? Where did you come across this word first? 

Answer

Cobra's long sharp teeth are like two bows or forks that are ready to chase you down. It makes me frightened. They are called fangs which is hollow tube attached to a poisonous gland on one side. I came across these words as it looks very dangerous and sharp like knife.

Go To Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Meadow Surprises (Poem) English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Meadow Surprises (Poem) Honeycomb English

By Lois Brandt Philips

Page No: 124

Working with the Poem

1. Read the lines in which the following phrases occur. Then discuss with your partner the meaning of each phrase in its context.

(i) velvet grass
(ii) drinking straws
(iii) meadow houses
(iv) amazing mound
(v) fuzzy head

Answer

(i) Velvet grass - the grass which is as soft as velvet.

(ii) drinking straws - The long narrow tube by which butterfly gets nectar from the flower.

(iii) meadow houses - habitats or home of animals like burrows in the ground, nests and ant’s mound.

(iv) fuzzy head - dandelion flowers which are covered by soft fibers like hair.

2. Which line in the poem suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow? Read aloud the stanza that contains this line.

Answer

The line in the poem suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow

"Oh! Meadows have surprises
And many things to tell;
You may discover these yourself,
If you look and listen well."

3. Find pictures of the kinds of birds, insects and scenes mentioned in the poem.

Answer

Students should do this by themselves. They can collect the pics of butterfly, rabbit, ants, birds etc.

4. Watch a tree or a plant, or walk across a field or park at the same time everyday for a week. Keep a diary of what you see and hear. At the end of the week, write a short paragraph or a poem about your experiences. Put your writing up on the class bulletin board.

Answer

Students should do this by themselves. However if further demanded by the readers of this website, our team will look at it.

Go To Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Dad and the Cat and the Tree (Poem) English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Dad and the Cat and the Tree (Poem) Honeycomb English

By Kit Wright

Page No: 110


Working with the Poem

1. Why was Dad sure he wouldn’t fall?

Answer

Dad was sure he wouldn’t fall because he thought himself as a climber and climbing on trees was a child’s play for him.

2. Which phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s self-confidence best?

Answer

The phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s self-confidence best is 'Child’s play, this is!'

3. Describe Plan A and its consequences.

Answer

Plan A was to use the ladder in climbing the tree for bringing the cat down but it slipped and Dad landed in the flower bed.

4. Plan C was a success. What went wrong then?

Answer

Plan C was a success as Dad successfully jumped on the tree and landed flat right on the cat. The cat gave a yell and sprang on the ground but poor old Dad struck on the tree.

5. The cat was very happy to be on the ground. Pick out the phrase used to express this idea.

Answer

The phrase used to express this idea is 'Pleased as Punch to be'.

6. Describe the Cat and Dad situation in the beginning and at the end of the poem.

Answer

The cat was stuck on the tree and Dad was trying his plans to bring it down in the begining but at the end of the poem the cat sprang to the ground safely but Dad got stuck on the tree.

7. Why and when did Dad say each of the following?

(i) Fall?

(ii) Never mind

(iii) Funny joke

(iv) Rubbish

Answer

(i) Dad said 'Fall?' when Mum warned him about fall while climbing the tree. He said so scornfully.

(ii) Dad said 'Never mind' when he fall from the ladder due to slip for the first time. He said so to make clear that everything is alright.

(iii) Dad said 'Funny joke' when Mum warned him of falling again. He said so because he was over confident of the success of the his Plan B.

(iv) Dad said 'Rubbish' when Mum asked him to stop else he will break his neck after his Plan B failed. He said so because he thought that his Plan C will work and he will climb the tree easily.

8. Do you find the poem humorous? Read aloud lines which make you laugh.

Answer

Yes, the poem is humorous. It draws funny situation of Dad while climbing trees. Moreover, Dad over confidence of climbing tree added more humour to the poem. The dialogue is written in more funny way.

Go To Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Mystery of the Talking Fan (Poem) English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Mystery of the Talking Fan (Poem) Honeycomb English

By Maude Rubin

Page No: 97

Working with the Poem

1. Fans don’t talk, but it is possible to imagine that they do. What is it then, that sounds like the fan’s chatter?

Answer

Yes, we can imagine that fans do talk as poet imagined in the poem but it is not the reality. The chattering sound made by the fan is actually the electrical fault in it because of friction due to not oiling.

Page No: 98

2. Complete the following sentences.

(i) The chatter is electrical because .........................................................................
(ii) It is mysterious because ...........................................................................

Answer

(i) The chatter is electrical because it runs on electricity and fan don't talk or chatter.

(ii) It is mysterious because the sound produced by the fan seems to say something but the poet not able to understand it.

3. What do you think the talking fan was demanding?

Answer

The talking fan was demanding for oiling its little whirling motor.

4. How does an electric fan manage to throw so much air when it is switched on?

Answer

The electric fan manages to throw so much air when it is switched on as it gets huge amount of power from electricity to rotate its whirling motor as well as the metallic blade so fast.

5. Is there a ‘talking fan’ in your house? Create a dialogue between the fan and a mechanic.

Answer

Yes, i have a metallic fan in my house.

Mechanic: How are you doing?

Fan: Not well, Suffering from the heat and friction. Can you do something?

Mechanic: I will try to help you. Let me check you first.

Fan: Yes, sure. Please do your best and help me.

Mechanic: I will. Please wait, let me finish my job.

Fan: Go ahead.

(After repairing)

Mechanic: Now, all okay?

Fan: Yes, Now i am feeling well. It feels so good.

Mechanic: That is great. Remember me when you are in trouble.

Fan: Yes, i will. Thanks for helping me.Greetings to you.

Mechanic: You are welcome. Bye. Take care.

Fan: Bye. You too take care.

Go To Chapters

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Trees (Poem) English

NCERT Solutions for Class 7th: Trees (Poem) Honeycomb English

By Shirley Bauer

Page No: 84

Working with the Poem

1. What are the games or human activities which use trees, or in which trees also ‘participate’?

Answer

The games or human activities which use trees are house making, playing hide and seek, cool shades in summer, fire camp parties in winter, fruits and many more.

2. (i) “Trees are to make no shade in winter.” What does this mean? (Contrast this line with the line immediately before it.)

(ii)“Trees are for apples to grow on, or pears.” Do you agree that one purpose of a tree is to have fruit on it? Or do you think this line is humorous?

Answer

(i) During winter time, we need sunlight not the cool shades of tree as it is already cold. In summer time, we need protection from sunlight and trees provide the cool shades.

(ii) Yes, one purpose of trees is to have fruits like apple or pears. This line is not humorous as apple and pears are most common fruit so poet used these two fruits name.

3. With the help of your partner, try to rewrite some lines in the poem, or add new ones of your own as in the following examples.
                              Trees are for birds to build nests in.
                                 Trees are for people to sit under.
Now try to compose a similar poem about water, or air.

Answer

Trees are for sweet fruits.
Tress take away our tiredness.
Trees are oxygen.

Drink water or bath with water,
You can never imagine life without water.
Pure water or impure water,
Save the every drop of water.

Go To Chapters