You are here
Extract from the Story
He looked at the tree every morning but it did not seem to be growing very fast, so he stopped looking at it except quickly, out of the corner of his eye. And, after a week or two, when he allowed himself to look at it properly, he found that it had grown—at least an inch!
That year the monsoon rains came early and Rakesh plodded to and from school in raincoat and chappals. Ferns sprang from the trunks of trees, strange-looking lilies came up in the long grass, and even when it wasn’t raining the trees dripped and mist came curling up the valley. The cherry tree grew quickly in this season.
It was about two feet high when a goat entered the garden and ate all the leaves. Only the main stem and two thin branches remained.
‘Never mind,’ said Grandfather, seeing that Rakesh was upset. ‘It will grow again, cherry trees are tough.’
That year the monsoon rains came early and Rakesh plodded to and from school in raincoat and chappals. Ferns sprang from the trunks of trees, strange-looking lilies came up in the long grass, and even when it wasn’t raining the trees dripped and mist came curling up the valley. The cherry tree grew quickly in this season.
It was about two feet high when a goat entered the garden and ate all the leaves. Only the main stem and two thin branches remained.
‘Never mind,’ said Grandfather, seeing that Rakesh was upset. ‘It will grow again, cherry trees are tough.’
Summary in Bullet Points
- The monsoon transforms the landscape. Ferns, lilies, dripping trees and mist show how strongly rain changes the hills.
- The cherry tree responds quickly to favourable conditions.
- Then the first major setback comes. A goat eats all the leaves, leaving only the stem and two thin branches.
- Grandfather’s response is calm: cherry trees are tough and can grow again.
NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Let us Discuss
Let us Discuss
Do you think the cherry tree would survive? Why do you think so?
How to answer:
Make a prediction using evidence available at this point in the story.
View Answer
Yes. The tree has already shown signs of growth, and Grandfather says that cherry trees are tough. His calm confidence suggests that the damaged plant may recover.
Board Pattern
Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Short Answer
2 marks
What contrast is created between the monsoon growth and the goat incident?
2 Marks
How to answer:
Give the key point and one relevant detail from this section.
View Answer
Answer: The tree grows rapidly because of the rain, but just as it becomes stronger, a goat strips away its leaves. The sudden setback shows that growth can face unexpected damage.
Longer Short Answer
3 marks
How does Grandfather’s reaction help Rakesh?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain the idea and connect it with the story’s development.
View Answer
Answer: Grandfather does not treat the damage as the end. By reminding Rakesh that cherry trees are tough, he teaches patience and confidence in the tree’s ability to recover.
