Class 7 English - An Alien Hand - Chapter I Want Something in a Cage NCERT Solutions | Why is Mr Purcell compared to an owl? &

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.
 

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

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.

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

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

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

(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?
 

“...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?

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

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

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.

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. ephant to learn?

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?

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

Whom does Golu ask, “Why don’t you ever fly like other birds?”
 

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

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

“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.
 

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Why did Golu go to the river?
 

 “We have orders to let them shout”. What is the policeman referring to?
 

What shocked Grandfather in the end?

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.
 

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