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Extract from the Story
Towards the end of the rainy season new leaves appeared on the tree. Then a woman cutting grass
scrambled
down the hillside, her
scythe
swishing through the heavy monsoon
foliage
. She did not try to avoid the tree: one sweep, and the cherry tree was cut in two.
When Grandfather saw what had happened, he went after the woman and scolded her; but the damage could not be repaired.
‘Maybe it will die now,’ said Rakesh.
‘Maybe,’ said Grandfather.
But the cherry tree had no intention of dying.
By the time summer came round again, it had sent out several new shoots with tender green leaves.
When Grandfather saw what had happened, he went after the woman and scolded her; but the damage could not be repaired.
‘Maybe it will die now,’ said Rakesh.
‘Maybe,’ said Grandfather.
But the cherry tree had no intention of dying.
By the time summer came round again, it had sent out several new shoots with tender green leaves.
Summary in Bullet Points
- The second setback is worse than the first. The tree is physically cut in two.
- Rakesh thinks it may die. Grandfather cannot promise that it will survive.
- The narrator gives the tree almost a will of its own: “the cherry tree had no intention of dying.”
- By the next summer, new shoots appear. Survival becomes one of the strongest patterns in the story.
NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Let us Think and Reflect
Let us Think and Reflect
What can be inferred about the cherry tree’s toughness from the line, ‘The cherry tree bent low with the weight of snow’?
How to answer:
Choose the option that shows resilience.
View Answer
The line shows that the tree could withstand harsh weather . Therefore, the correct answer is B .
Reason: It bent under the snow but survived.
Board Pattern
Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Short Answer
2 marks
Why is the line “the cherry tree had no intention of dying” effective?
2 Marks
How to answer:
Give the key point and one relevant detail from this section.
View Answer
Answer: It personifies the tree as if it has determination. The line makes its recovery feel active and courageous rather than accidental.
Longer Short Answer
3 marks
How do the goat and scythe incidents develop the theme of resilience?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain the idea and connect it with the story’s development.
View Answer
Answer: Both incidents seriously damage the young tree, yet it continues to grow. Repeated recovery shows that life can endure setbacks when conditions and care allow it to recover.
