Question 9
Substitute the underlined phrase
quickly and without delay
with a correct word from the extract.
How to answer:
Find a word in the extract with exactly the same meaning.
View Answer
The correct word is
promptly
.
Question 10
What does Rakesh’s action of rolling the cherry seed in his mouth most likely suggest about his mood at that moment?
A.
He is feeling impatient and restless.
B.
He is enjoying the taste and the moment.
C.
He is bored and has nothing better to do.
D.
He is thoughtful and feeling playful.
How to answer:
Choose the option best supported by the physical action described.
View Answer
Rakesh is
enjoying the taste and the moment
. Therefore, the correct answer is
B
.
Reason:
He keeps the seed in his mouth until all the sharp taste is gone.
Question 11
Complete suitably: Rakesh’s decision to plant the seed shows that ________.
How to answer:
Use the conversation immediately before the planting.
View Answer
Rakesh’s decision to plant the seed shows that
he respects and values his grandfather’s advice and is willing to learn from him
.
Question 12
How does the grandfather’s advice reflect his view about luck and effort?
How to answer:
Explain both ideas: luck and action.
View Answer
Grandfather believes that luck alone has no value unless a person acts. The seed becomes meaningful only when Rakesh plants it and gives it a chance to grow.
Question 13
Complete: The phrase ‘field-mice sought shelter in the roof of the cottage’ suggests that ________.
How to answer:
Infer the weather condition from the animals’ behaviour.
View Answer
It suggests that
the winter was very cold and harsh, so the mice searched for a warmer protected place
.
Question 14
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.
Question 15
How did the early winter affect Grandfather’s mood and storytelling?
How to answer:
Connect the missing newspaper with his mood and stories.
View Answer
The blocked road meant that no newspaper arrived for several days. Grandfather became grumpy, and even his stories began to have unhappy endings.
Question 16
Complete by choosing the correct option: The comparison of Rakesh’s age to the cherry tree’s age symbolises ________.
A.
the tree’s growth paralleling Rakesh’s own development
B.
the tree standing as a dear one on Rakesh’s birthday
How to answer:
Look at the repeated way the story compares the boy and tree.
View Answer
The comparison symbolises
the tree’s growth paralleling Rakesh’s own development
.
Question 17
Why did Rakesh’s parents send him to Mussoorie?
How to answer:
Answer in complete sentences and use specific incidents from the story.
View Answer
Rakesh’s village had no school. His parents wanted him to be educated, so when he reached school-going age they sent him to live with his grandfather in Mussoorie.
Question 18
Why did Rakesh let the praying-mantis remain on the branch of the cherry tree?
How to answer:
Answer in complete sentences and use specific incidents from the story.
View Answer
He saw the mantis as the tree’s first visitor and it was not harming the plant, so he allowed it to stay.
Question 19
How is life in the Himalayan foothills described in the story?
How to answer:
Answer in complete sentences and use specific incidents from the story.
View Answer
The story presents a landscape shaped by stony soil, cold dry winds, oak and deodar forests, monsoon rain and mist, winter snow, migrating birds, insects and mountain views. Human routines change with the seasons, so daily life is closely connected with nature.
Question 20
What might Rakesh mean when he says, “Is this what it feels to be God?” at the end?
How to answer:
Answer in complete sentences and use specific incidents from the story.
View Answer
Rakesh is overwhelmed by the transformation of one small seed into a full-grown tree. He experiences the wonder and responsibility of nurturing life and momentarily imagines the joy of creation.
Question 21
How does the writer describe the relationship between Rakesh and his grandfather?
How to answer:
Answer in complete sentences and use specific incidents from the story.
View Answer
Their relationship is warm, affectionate and mutually supportive. Grandfather guides Rakesh with practical advice and stories; Rakesh reads the newspaper to him, shares discoveries with him and later enjoys quiet moments beside him under the tree.
Question 22
What can you infer about the connection between humans and nature based on the story?
How to answer:
Answer in complete sentences and use specific incidents from the story.
View Answer
The story suggests that humans become deeply connected with nature when they observe, care for and live alongside it. The tree gives Rakesh joy and learning, while his care helps it survive; later the tree also supports insects, birds and people.
Question 23
Imagine Rakesh reflects on his wonderful experience of watching a seed being transformed into a full-grown cherry tree. Write how he must have felt.
How to answer:
Answer in complete sentences and use specific incidents from the story.
View Answer
Sample response:
I can hardly believe that the smooth tree above me began as the tiny seed I pushed into the soil with my thumb. I saw it damaged by a goat, cut by a scythe and bent by snow, yet it kept returning to life. Its first blossom made me feel as if I had witnessed a miracle. Now its shade, birds and leaves remind me that patient care can turn a small beginning into something beautiful.
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