The Tunnel Class 7 English Poorvi NCERT Solutions
Chapter 10 The Tunnel NCERT Solutions Class 7 English
Page No. 139
Let us do these activities before we read
I. What kind of an adventure activity would you like to be a part of?Now, choose the option(s) that best applies to you.
1. How would you like to spend your weekends?
(i) Trying new activities
(ii) Reading a book
(iii) Spending time with friends
(iv) Learning something new
Answer
(iii) Spending time with friends
I would like to enjoy company of my friends during weekend. We will chat and play together.
2. Which of these places would you prefer to explore?
(i) Dense forests and clear streams
(ii) Magical lands with fairies
(iii) Busy cities with interesting people
(iv) Quiet places to think and create
Answer
(i) Dense forests and clear streams
I love nature and would like to explore beauty of earth.
3. Which one of these activities would you prefer to do?
(i) Climbing a mountain or exploring a jungle
(ii) Finding a hidden treasure or discovering a secret world
(iii) Solving puzzles or guessing riddles with friends
(iv) Making something creative or building a model
Answer
(iii) Solving puzzles or guessing riddles with friends
Solving puzzles and riddles help me in keeping my mind active and also it gives me enjoyment.
4. What do you think about teamwork?
(i) I love leading the team.
(ii) I enjoy working with others.
(iii) I prefer sharing ideas with friends.
(iv) I like working alone.
Answer
(iii) I prefer sharing ideas with friends.
It helps in understanding the opinion of other people on my work.
Based on your choices, which of the following do you think applies the best to you? Discuss with your classmates.
• Bold Explorer
• Imaginative Dreamer
• Energetic Planner
• Thoughtful Creator
You may add to the list as per your choices.
Answer
Page No. 144
Let us discuss
1. Suraj compares the train to a magical creature. Pick the phrases that convey the meaning.
Answer
1. Green, black, and gold dragon
2. Beautiful monster
3. Showering sparks
4. Roared a challenge
2. Suraj knew that the train was close by because
Answer
He heard the shrill whistle of the engine and a sound like distant thunder from the tunnel.
3. What did Suraj see inside the tunnel?
Answer
Suraj saw damp and sticky walls, a bat flying past, and a lizard scuttling between the lines.
4. Select the correct option.
What does Sunder Singh convey about the tunnel?
He says that _______ (it is damp and sticky inside/he has lent it to the Government).
Answer
He has lent it to the Government.
5. The watchman has created a system through which he informs the locomotive driver about any danger in the tunnel. The following flow chart shows this system. Refer to the text and complete the flow chart.
Answer
Page No. 149
Let us discuss
1. Sunder Singh knew that the leopard was in the tunnel because ______.
Answer
He heard a rhythmic sawing sound, like someone cutting a branch, which was the leopard’s sound.
2. Why do you think Suraj was unable to do any shouting in the tunnel in the beginning?
(i) He was afraid of the leopard.
(ii) He didn’t want to disturb the leopard.
(iii) He was trying to listen for the leopard.
(iv) He didn’t really believe Sunder Singh.
Answer
(i) He was afraid of the leopard.
3. What made the leopard disappear into the darkness?
Answer
The leopard disappeared because Suraj and Sunder Singh shouted together, and their voices rang through the tunnel, scaring the leopard.
4. How did Suraj know Sunder Singh was at the tunnel?
Answer
Suraj saw the lamp lit by Sunder Singh near the tunnel, even though he couldn’t see Sunder Singh himself.
5. Why did Suraj’s father take him along to Delhi?
Answer
Suraj’s father took him to Delhi on a business trip to teach him about his business, as he didn’t know where Suraj went most of the time.
Page No. 149
Let us think and reflect
Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.
1. Suraj had to turn and look back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside. Ahead of him, the tunnel’s other opening was just a small round circle of light.
The tunnel was still full of smoke from the train, but it would be several hours before another train came through. Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again.
Suraj didn’t stop, because there was nothing to do in the tunnel and nothing to see. He had simply wanted to walk through, so that he would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like.
(i) Write whether the following statement is true or false.
Suraj looked back at the opening of the tunnel to check if the train was coming.
Answer
False
Suraj didn’t look back at the tunnel opening to check for the train; he already knew it was coming from hearing its whistle and thunder-like sound, and he focused on moving forward without stopping.
(ii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence given below.
Suraj did not stop anywhere in the tunnel because
A. there was nothing to see in the tunnel
B. the tunnel was damp and sticky
C. he was in a hurry to get out of the tunnel
D. it was time for another train to come
Answer
A. there was nothing to see in the tunnel
Suraj didn’t stop anywhere in the tunnel because he saw only damp walls, a bat, and a lizard, implying there was nothing interesting to see, so he kept moving forward without pausing.
(iii) What does the sentence ‘Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again’ mean?
Answer
It means that after the train passed, the area around the tunnel became quiet and was taken over by the jungle’s natural sounds and animals until the next train came.
(iv) Suraj wanted to know the inside of the tunnel. What character trait of Suraj is highlighted here?
Answer
Curiosity
2.“The train will soon be here,” said Suraj.
“Yes, my friend. And if we don’t drive the leopard out of the tunnel, it will be run over and killed. I can’t let that happen.”
“But won’t it attack us if we try to drive it out?” asked Suraj, beginning to share the watchman’s concern.
“Not this leopard. It knows me well. We have seen each other many times. It has a weakness for goats and stray dogs, but it will not harm us. Even so, I’ll take my axe with me. You stay here, Suraj.”
(i) What was the watchman’s concern?
Answer
The watchman was concerned that the leopard in the tunnel would be run over and killed by the train.
(ii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.
Sunder Singh was sure that the leopard in the tunnel would not attack him and Suraj because
Answer
he knew the leopard well, as they had seen each other many times, and it only attacked goats and stray dogs.
(iii) Select the sentences that are true from those given below.
A. Suraj wants to see the leopards in the jungle.
B. Suraj is concerned about Sunder Singh’s safety.
C. The leopard in the tunnel attacks goats and stray dogs.
D. Sunder Singh wants to protect Suraj.
E. Sunder Singh knows all about the animals in the jungle.
Answer
C. The leopard in the tunnel attacks goats and stray dogs.
D. Sunder Singh wants to protect Suraj.
(iv) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
Sunder Singh decides to take his axe with him. This tells us that he was
A. violent
B. cautious
C. bold
D. afraid
Answer
B. cautious
II. Answer the following questions.
1. What does Sunder Singh convey by saying that he has lent his tunnel to the Government?
Answer
Sunder Singh means he takes care of the tunnel like it’s his own, but he allows the Government to use it for trains.
2. According to Sunder Singh, “It is safer in the forest than in the town”. What example does Sunder Singh give to support his opinion? What does this tell us about him?
Answer
He says he was almost run over by a bus in town. This shows he feels more comfortable and safe in the jungle than in busy towns.
3. Sunder Singh has become part of the jungle life. Support the view with a suitable reason.
Answer
He lives in a hut near the tunnel, knows the jungle sounds and animals like the leopard, and feels safe there, showing he is part of jungle life.
4. Sunder Singh and Suraj form an unlikely friendship. What draws them together?
Answer
Their shared interest in the tunnel and trains, and Suraj’s curiosity and Sunder Singh’s welcoming nature, bring them together.
5. Why is Sunder Singh referred to as a ‘firefly’?
Answer
Sunder Singh is called a firefly because his lamp lights up the darkness for trains and leopards, like a firefly’s light in the night.
6. Do you think Suraj is an adventure-loving boy? Give reasons.
Answer
Yes, Suraj loves adventure because he cycles to the jungle, walks through a dark tunnel, and joins Sunder Singh to scare a leopard, showing his curiosity and bravery.
Page No. 151
Let us learn
I. Complete the following sentences using the suitable phrases from the text given in the box below.
1. We could hear the __________ of the train long before it came into view at the station.
2. The street was completely dark but the little boy walked to his house guided by the __________ from the houses.
3. The ___________ from the carpenter’s workshop grew louder every hour.
4. From the balcony, she watched the __________ from her neighbour’s chimney float across the backyard.
Answer
1. We could hear the approaching engine of the train long before it came into view at the station.
2. The street was completely dark but the little boy walked to his house guided by the flickering lights from the houses.
3. The sawing sound from the carpenter’s workshop grew louder every hour.
4. From the balcony, she watched the drifting smoke from her neighbour’s chimney float across the backyard.
II. The text has many ‘sound words’. Some of these words are given in Column 1 and their meanings are given in Column 2. Match the words with their meanings. You can use a dictionary.
Answer
Now, complete the sentences given below by filling in the blanks with the correct form of the sound words given in Column 1.
1. The steam engine reached the station ___________ black smoke into the sky.
2. Suddenly, the snake raised its hood and made a ___________ noise.
3. When the wind blew, I heard the ___________ of the wooden roof.
4. He heard a ___________ of leaves behind him when he was walking in the woods.
5. I get disturbed by the continuous ___________ of the monkeys in the neighbourhood.
Answer
1. The steam engine reached the station puffing black smoke into the sky.
2. Suddenly, the snake raised its hood and made a hissing noise.
3. When the wind blew, I heard the creaking of the wooden roof.
4. He heard a rustle of leaves behind him when he was walking in the woods.
5. I get disturbed by the continuous chatter of the monkeys in the neighbourhood.
III. Read what the watchman Sunder Singh did regularly at the tunnel as part of his duty. Notice the use of ‘would’.
Every day, before the train came through, he would walk the length of the tunnel. If all was well, he would return to his hut and take a nap. If something was wrong, he would walk back up the line and wave a red flag and the engine driver would slow down. At night, the watchman lit an oil lamp and made a similar inspection of the tunnel.
1. Why is the word ‘would’ used here?
(i) to make a polite request
(ii) to express a desire
(iii) to talk about a habit in the past
Answer
(iii) to talk about a habit in the past
In these sentences, the word ‘would’ is used to speak about a past habit.
Would and used to both describe something that happened regularly in the past. However, ‘used to’ indicates a past action that doesn’t happen any longer.
- I used to paint when I was in Grade 4.
- Riya used to eat a lot of junk food, but she stopped last year.
2. Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets with the correct form of ‘used to’ or ‘would’.
When I was a child we used to live in a village near a forest. Back then, we (i) ______ (grow) vegetables in our back garden. Every day we (ii) ______ (get up) early and go for a walk. The weather in summer (iii) ______ (be) really nice. There was a lake near the house and we (iv) _____ (go) there every Sunday for a picnic. Winters (v) ______ (be) rather cold. In the evenings, my father(vi) ______ (tell) us incredible stories and we (vii) _____(listen) with admiration.
Answer
When I was a child we used to live in a village near a forest. Back then, we (i) would grow vegetables in our back garden. Every day we (ii) would get up early and go for a walk. The weather in summer (iii) used to be really nice. There was a lake near the house and we (iv) would go there every Sunday for a picnic. Winters (v) used to be rather cold. In the evenings, my father (vi) would tell us incredible stories and we (vii) would listen with admiration.
IV. We use punctuation marks to make our writing clear. You already know how to use full stops and commas. Let us look at three more punctuation marks—brackets, semicolon, and colon.
Colon (:) is used to introduce a list or an explanation.
- You need the following ingredients to make Ela Ada: ghee, coconut, jaggery, and rice flour.
- He has one goal: to win the championship.
Semicolon (;) is used to connect two clauses which are closely related without a conjunction.
- She loves reading; he prefers watching movies.
- Suraj followed close behind; but he found he was unable to do any shouting.
Now, use semicolons and colons to punctuate the following paragraph.
Answer
We explored the busy by-lanes of Charminar, the heart of Hyderabad; it was an exciting day. We wanted to do a few things: buy bangles, taste biryani, and purchase pearl earrings, which are special to this area. As we walked through the lanes, we saw stalls selling spices, clothes, and jewellery; the market was full of colours. We visited some famous spots: Charminar, Golconda Fort, Salar Jung Museum, and Chowmahalla Palace; each place was beautiful.