Important 3-Mark Questions - Chapter 10 - The Cherry Tree (Unit 4)

Answer: The seasons control both the pace of the narrative and the tree’s development. Winter pauses growth, spring reveals new life, monsoon speeds growth, and snow tests the tree’s toughness. Nature’s cycle therefore becomes the story’s timeline.

Answer: Small remarks such as Rakesh placing pebbles 'for privacy' and Grandfather warning him not to drown the plant create gentle humour. These exchanges show comfort and affection without making the story sentimental.

Answer: Rakesh’s parents farm on the lower mountain slopes, but their village has no school. He therefore lives with his grandfather in Mussoorie. The setting connects his education, family life and the natural world in which the cherry tree will grow.

Answer: It links growth with action and care. Rakesh does not receive a ready-made tree; he plants a tiny seed and later watches the result of that small action over several years.

Answer: Winter marks the passage of time and creates a pause before the surprise of spring. The bare garden makes the later appearance of the tiny green cherry shoot feel more striking.

Answer: It shows his childish imagination and affection. He treats the tiny tree almost like a living companion that deserves its own protected space and 'privacy'.

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.

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.

Answer: As the tree grows from a seedling into a taller plant, Rakesh also becomes older and stronger. Their growth is repeatedly compared, making the tree part of Rakesh’s own journey through childhood.

Answer: Insects begin visiting and feeding on or resting in the tree. The tree is no longer only Rakesh’s plant; it is becoming a small living space connected with other creatures.

Answer: Several seasons and years pass before the blossom appears. By showing long waiting, repeated damage and gradual recovery, the writer makes one flower represent patience, survival and successful growth.

Answer: It keeps the story realistic: growth does not instantly produce perfection. Grandfather’s response reinforces patience and the idea that living things continue improving over time.

Answer: At first it is only a forgotten seed. Later it becomes a living companion, habitat, source of blossoms and fruit, and finally a place of shade and rest for Rakesh and Grandfather.

Answer: He is filled with wonder that a tiny seed he planted has become a living tree. The question expresses awe at the power of growth and the joy of nurturing life, not a literal belief that he is God.