Class 7 English - An Alien Hand - Chapter The Desert NCERT Solutions | A camel can do without water for days to

How do the smaller desert animals fulfil their need for water?
 

The phrases on the left in the following box occur in the text. Match each of them with a phrase on the right.

(i) an endless stretch of sand    ---- fertile place with water and plants in a desert

(ii) waterless and without            ----not visible because the grass shelter is thick
(iii) an oasis                                ----nothing but sand as far as one can see

(iv) hidden by a cover of grass   ----no water and no shade

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?

In a desert the temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night. Why?

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?

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?”
 

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.
 

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?
 

What shocked Grandfather in the end?

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

What did the crocodile do to show that it was a real crocodile?
 

(i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy?
(ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?
 

What do you think the mechanical hand was trying to do?
 

Was the spacecraft manned or unmanned? How do you know it?
 

Which uncle of Golu had red eyes?
 

Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in another enclosure?
 

Why do the worker ants carry the grubs about?
 

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.