Page 155: Let us do these activities before we read
Activity I
Description: Work in pairs. Answer questions about your own experience with plants and share them with the class.
1. Have you ever used a seed or a sapling to grow a plant?
Answer:
Yes, I have used a seed to grow a plant. I once planted a coriander seed in a small pot in my kitchen garden.
2. What kind of care did the plant need? Who helped you with it?
Answer:
The plant needed sunlight, water, and good soil. I had to water it gently every morning so the soil wouldn’t dry out. My mother helped me prepare the soil and showed me how much water to pour.
3. How did you feel when you saw the plant grow?
Answer:
I felt very happy and excited when I saw the first tiny green leaves come out of the soil. It felt like a little miracle to watch it grow bigger every day.
Activity II
Description: Discuss the types of trees planted in homes and their importance.
What kind of trees do people plant in their homes? Why is it important to plant trees?
Answer:
People often plant fruit trees like mango, guava, or lemon, and flowering trees like hibiscus or gulmohar in their homes. It is important to plant trees because they give us fresh air (oxygen), shade, fruits, and make our surroundings beautiful. They also provide homes for birds and insects.
Activity III
Description: Identify fruit trees in your region and their growth conditions.
Name some fruit trees that grow in your region. What type of conditions help these fruit trees to grow?
Answer:
Some fruit trees that grow in my region are Mango, Banana, and Papaya.
- Mango trees need hot summers and plenty of space to grow big.
- Bananas need a warm climate and lots of water.
- Papaya trees need warm weather and sunlight but not too much water standing in the soil.
Page 159: Let us discuss
Activity I
Description: Arrange the events in the correct order as they happened in the story.
Arrange the events in order of occurrence in the story.
Answer:
Here is the correct order of events:
- 7. Rakesh’s parents grew maize, rice, and barley in a village.
- 2. Rakesh was sent to live with his grandfather in Mussoorie.
- 5. Rakesh bought a bunch of cherries and ate most of them.
- 10. Rakesh kept rolling the last cherry seed in his mouth.
- 3. Rakesh pressed the cherry seed into the soft soil with his thumb.
- 1. Rakesh discovered that the small, well-rooted twig, had grown into a cherry tree.
- 8. Rakesh sprinkled water on the cherry tree and surrounded it with pebbles.
- 4. The cherry tree grew quickly after the rains arrived early.
- 6. A goat entered the garden and ate all the leaves of the young cherry tree.
- 9. Grandfather told Rakesh that cherry trees were tough.
Activity II
Description: Think about the story and predict the outcome.
Do you think the cherry tree would survive? Why do you think so?
Answer:
Yes, I think the cherry tree would survive. Even though a goat ate its leaves and it was damaged, the Grandfather said that cherry trees are “tough”. Also, the root was still safe in the ground, so it could grow new leaves again.
Page 164: Let us discuss
Activity I
Description: Complete the table to show the Cause and Effect relationships in Part II of the story.
Complete the table given below based on your understanding of Part II of the story.
Answer:
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1. A woman cut the cherry tree while cutting grass. | (i) Grandfather scolded the woman. |
| 2. That monsoon Rakesh went home to his village to help his parents. | (ii) Rakesh was thinner but stronger when he came back. |
| 3. A hairy caterpillar started eating the leaves of the cherry tree. | (iii) Rakesh removed it quickly and dropped it on a heap of dry leaves. |
| 4. There was a pale pink blossom at the end of a branch. | (iv) Rakesh and Grandfather gazed at the tree as though it was a miracle. |
| 5. Rakesh tasted one of the small cherries during summer. | (v) He spat it out and said it was too sour. |
Page 164-166: Let us think and reflect
I. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
Extract 1
“Have a cherry, Grandfather,” he said…
1. (i) Substitute the underlined phrase with a correct word from the extract.
The Kho-kho captain changed her strategy quickly and without delay when a new player came in from the opposing team.
Answer:
promptly
(ii) What does Rakesh’s action of rolling the cherry seed in his mouth most likely suggest about his mood at that moment?
A. He is feeling impatient and restless.
B. He is enjoying the taste and the moment.
C. He is bored and has nothing better to do.
D. He is thoughtful and feeling playful.
Answer:
B. He is enjoying the taste and the moment.
(iii) Complete the following sentence suitably with reference to Rakesh and his grandfather.
Rakesh’s decision to plant the seed shows that…
Answer:
…he respects and values his grandfather’s advice.
(iv) How does the grandfather’s advice reflect his view about luck and effort?
Answer:
Grandfather believes that luck doesn’t come from just keeping things; it comes from putting them to use. This means you have to make an effort to create your own luck.
Extract 2
Winter came early. The cherry tree bent low with the weight of snow…
2. (i) Complete the following sentence suitably.
The phrase ‘field-mice sought shelter in the roof of the cottage’ suggests that…
Answer:
…it was extremely cold outside and the animals needed a warm place to survive.
(ii) What can be inferred about the cherry tree’s toughness from the line, ‘The cherry tree bent low with the weight of snow’?
A. The weight of the tree was more than the snow.
B. The tree could withstand harsh weather.
C. The tree was growing close to the ground.
D. The snow gave support to the tree.
Answer:
B. The tree could withstand harsh weather.
(iii) How did the early winter affect Grandfather’s mood and storytelling?
Answer:
Because of the early winter, the road was blocked and no newspapers arrived, which made Grandfather grumpy. As a result, his stories began to have unhappy endings.
(iv) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option.
The comparison of Rakesh’s age to the cherry tree’s age symbolises…
Answer:
…the tree’s growth paralleling Rakesh’s own development.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Why did Rakesh’s parents send him to Mussoorie?
Answer:
Rakesh’s parents sent him to Mussoorie because there were no schools in their village. They wanted him to get a good education, so they sent him to stay with his grandfather in Mussoorie where he could go to school.
2. Why did Rakesh let the praying-mantis remain on the branch of the cherry tree?
Answer:
Rakesh let the praying-mantis remain because he did not want to disturb it. He felt that the mantis was the cherry tree’s first friend and visitor.
3. How is life in the Himalayan foothills described in the story?
Answer:
Life in the Himalayan foothills is described as difficult for plants. The soil is stony, and the dry cold winds stunt (stop) the growth of most plants. However, in sheltered areas, there are forests of oak and deodar.
4. What might Rakesh mean when he says, “Is this what it feels to be God?” at the end of the story?
Answer:
When Rakesh says this, he means he feels a sense of wonder and pride. He planted a small seed, cared for it, and watched it become a living tree. It makes him feel like a creator who has brought a new life into the world.
5. How does the writer describe the relationship between Rakesh and his grandfather?
Answer:
The writer describes their relationship as very warm and loving. They enjoy each other’s company, share stories, and sit together by the fire. Grandfather acts as a guide to Rakesh, teaching him how to plant the seed and care for it.
6. What can you infer about the connection between humans and nature based on the story?
Answer:
The story shows that when humans care for nature, they form a special bond with it. Rakesh and his grandfather feel happy and connected to the cherry tree because they helped it grow. It teaches us that nature responds to love and care.