The chapter “A Tiger in the House” by Ruskin Bond is a beautiful story of a tiger, Timothy. Timothy is found near the intricate roots of a banyan tree by their grandfather. Then on, he becomes a part of his grandfather’s family. The story progresses through Timothy’s journey from being a cub to becoming an adult tiger.
Comprehension Check
Question 1. “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.
Answer: (iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.
NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Supplementary Chapter 5 The Bear Story
Question 2. Complete the following sentences.
(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when ————————— ———————————————————————
(ii) ——————————————————————— ————————, I became one of the tiger’s favourites.
(iii) Timothy had clean habits, ————————————— ———————————————————————
Answer:
(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when Timothy lost his temper.
(ii) When I came to live with my grandfather, I became one of the tiger’s favourites.
(iii) Timothy had clean habits and would scrub his face with his paws exactly like a cat.
Comprehension Check
Question 1. Grandmother’s prophecy was that the tiger
(i) would prefer Mahmoud’s bed to sleep in.
(ii) and the cook would disappear together from the house.
(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
Mark the right answer.
Answer: (iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
Question 2. When Timothy was about six months old, a change came over him.
The phrase in italics means that
(i) Timothy had grown to his full size.
(ii) Timothy grew more friendly.
(iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous
Answer: (iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous
Question 3. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.
(i) Timothy and Grandfather went to Lucknow in a special compartment. ______
(ii) The compartment in which Grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other passenger. ______
(iii) Timothy and Grandfather travelled in a first-class compartment. ______
(vi) All passengers in the compartment thought that Timothy was a well-fed and civilized tiger. ______
Answer: (i) False
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) False
Question 4. Grandfather suggested that Timothy should be put in another cage.
The reason was that
(i) The tiger had become very bad-tempered.
(ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
(iii) the cage was too small for a full-grown tiger.
Answer: (ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
Question 5. The tiger was still licking his arm, with increasing relish. The phrase in italics suggests that Timothy
(i) was good-natured.
(ii) recognized an old friend.
(iii) smelt fresh food.
Answer: (ii) recognized an old friend.
Exercises
Answer the following questions.
Question 1. Where was the tiger cub hiding when Grandfather found him?
Answer: The tiger cub was hiding in the roots of a banyan tree in the Tarai jungle near Dehra when Grandfather found him.
Question 2. (i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy?
(ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?
Answer: (i) Toto would pull Timothy by the tail to entertain him.
(ii) He would climb up the curtain when Timothy lost his temper.
Question 3. “I became one of the tiger’s favourites”. Who is ‘I’ in the statement? Why did he think so?
Answer: In the statement, ‘I’ is the author. He thought so because Timothy would creep closer to the author. He would then dash the author’s feet and roll over on his back. He would kick with delight and pretend to bite the author’s ankles.
Question 4. Where was Timothy most comfortable during the day? Where was he during the night?
Answer: Timothy was most comfortable on the sofa during the day. In the night, he would sleep in the cook’s quarter.
Question 5. What was Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook? Did it come true?
Answer: Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook was that one day Timothy would eat him. No, it did not come true.
Question 6. What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?
Answer: Timothy had begun to be less friendly. He seemed to follow Mahmoud with wrong intentions. He would eat birds. This made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo.
Question 7. Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in another enclosure?
Answer: Grandfather wanted Timothy to be put in another enclosure because a leopard in the neighbouring cave was bothering and frightening him.
Question 8. What shocked Grandfather in the end?
Answer: Grandfather was shocked to hear from the keeper that Timothy was dead two months ago and the tiger he was caressing was very dangerous.
Discuss the following topics in groups.
Question 1. Shoot animals with a camera, not with a gun.
Answer: Poaching is a crime. Not all animals can certainly be made pets. But, that does not mean that wild animals should be killed or shot. All living beings balance the ecosystem. To kill animals for pleasure is cruel. Thus, shoot animals with a camera, know their life, but don’t shoot them with a gun.
Question 2. Keeping pets helps us become more loving and tolerant. It also helps us respect life in any form. Do you agree?
Answer: Yes, I do agree that keeping pets helps us become more loving and tolerant. When we have pets, we care for the animals and understand them better. It increases our tolerance of being around animals, as we are less fearful. It also helps us respect the various life forms. We learn that every living being should be cared for and loved.
Question 3. Have you heard of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)? What do they do?
Answer: Yes, I have heard of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). This is an organization that works towards the safeguarding of animals. It protects them from man’s cruel acts and poaching.
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