Class 7 English - An Alien Hand - Chapter The Desert NCERT Solutions | How do the smaller desert animals fulfil

A camel can do without water for days together. What is the reason given in the text?
 

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

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

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?

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

“Now Abbu Khan understood Chandni’s problem...” What was Chandni’s problem?
 

 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.
 

“...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?

Did Kari enjoy his morning bath in the river? Give a reason for your answer.
 

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.

(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?
 

Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time. Why?
 

Why is Mr Purcell compared to an owl?