What is “the master call”? Why is it the most important signal for an elephant to learn?
Master call is a strange hissing and houling sound like a snake and a tiger fight with each other. It is the most important signal or a call for an elephant whenever the master was in trouble, one master call can being the elephant near to him and help him to drag out of danger.
Kari was like a baby. What are the main points of comparison?
Did Kari enjoy his morning bath in the river? Give a reason for your answer.
Why did Kari push his friend into the stream?
Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time. Why?
Kari helped himself to all the bananas in the house without anyone noticing it. How did he do it?
Kari learnt the commands to sit and to walk. What were the instructions for each command?
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?
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.
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?”
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?
Why did Chandni hate the rope round her neck?
Describe the stranger who came to the pet shop. What did he want?
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.
“...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?
1. (i) What problems are you likely to face if you keep ants as pets?
(ii) When a group of bees finds nectar, it informs other bees of its location, quantity, etc. through dancing. Can you guess what ants communicate to their fellow ants by touching one another’s feelers?
2. Complete the following poem with words from the box below. Then recite the poem.
Soldiers live in barracks
And birds in ———————,
Much like a snake that rests
In a ———————. No horse is able
To sleep except in a ———————.
And a dog lives well,
Mind you, only in a ———————.
To say ‘hi’ to an ant, if you will,
You may have to climb an ———————.
hole kennel nests anthill stable
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.
Who helped Golu on the bank of the river?
What did the bear eat? There were two things he was not allowed to do. What were they?
How long does it take for a grub to become a complete ant?