NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Poem 8 Meadow surprises

STANZAS FOR COMPREHENSION

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct option :
Question 1.
Meadows have surprises,
You can find them if you look ;
Walk softly through the velvet grass,
And listen by the brook.
(Page 123)
Word-Notes : Meadows-a limited relatively flat area of grass and low vegetation/ pasture, चारागाह। Surprises-wonders, आश्चर्य। Look-look for, तलाश करना। Softly-gently, दबे पाँव। velvet-silken, मखमली। Listen-hear attentively, ध्यान से सुनो। By the brook-close to the stream of water, जलधारा के निकट।

हिन्दी अनुवाद : चारागाहों में विस्मय भरे हैं। तुम पाओगे अगर तलाशोगे ; हौले-हौले चलो मखमली घास पर, और कान लगाओ जल-धारा के पास।

Paraphrase : If you know how to explore the wonderful things that a meadow has in store, you will notice that the grass is as cosy and silky as the velvet is. You are also advised to walk softly and listen quietly to the sounds when you are close to the stream of water.

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
A meadow reveals
(a) the mystery of nature
(b) animals and their habitats
(c) wonderful things
(d) the brooks
Answer.
(c) wonderful things

Question 2.
To have a glimpse of the surprises one should
(a) walk softly and be alert
(b) wear glasses
(c) travel in a car
(d) bring a telescope
Answer.
(a) walk softly and be alert

Question 3.
When we are by the side of a brook, we should
(a) try to listen
(b) sit on a stone
(c) not carry snacks
(d) not push
Answer.
(a) try to listen

Question 2.
You may see a butterfly
Rest upon a buttercup
And unfold its drinking straws
To sip the nectar up…
(Page 123)
Word-Notes : Rest-perching, बैठे हुए। Buttercup-a wild plant with bright yellow cup shaped flowers, बटरकप नाम का जंगली पौधा जिसमें प्याले के आकार के पीले फूल लगते हैं। Unfold-open up, खोलना। Drinking straws-the pipe to drink a liquid, पीने के लिए छोटा-पतला पाइप/स्ट्रा। Sip-take a draught, पूँट भरना। Nectar-पराग।

हिन्दी अनुवाद : तुम्हें शायद कोई तितली दीखे बटरकप के फूल पर लेटे और पेय स्रोत लगाये पराग का पूँट भरते हुए।

Paraphrase : The meadow has surprises. We will find a butterfly’settled on a buttercup. It opens up the drinking straws to take a sip of the nectar contained in it.

Questions.

1.  Where does a butterfly rest ?
2.  What does it drink ?
3.  Name the poem from which the above passage has been taken.

Answers.

1.  A butterfly rests upon flowers.
2.  It drinks the nectar of the flowers.
3.  The passage has been taken from the poem “Meadow Surprises’.

Question 3.
You may scare a rabbit
Who is sitting very still ;
Though at first you may not see him,
When he hops you will.
(Page 123)
Word-Notes : Scare-frighten, डराना। Still-quiet, शांत। Hops-jumps and runs away, फुदकता है।

हिन्दी अनुवाद : शायद तुम किसी खरगोश को डरा दो जो बैठा हो बिलकुल शांत ! हालाँकि पहले तुम्हारी नजर उस पर न पड़ी हो, उसके फुदकने पर तुम उसे देख लोगे।

Paraphrase : A person who walks through the meadows may frighten a rabbit who is sitting very still. One should be alert and walk softly. The rabbit was not easily visible ; but it was seen only when it jumped and ran away.

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
You observe the rabbit only when he
(a) runs
(b) hops
(c) sits
(d) crawls
Answer.
(b) hops

Question 2.
Your presence will ……
(a) delight the rabbit
(b) enliven the environment
(c) scare a rabbit
(d) sustain nature
Answer.
(c) scare a rabbit

Question 3.
A rabbit sits ……
(a) on its paws
(b) very still
(c) on its hind legs
(d) in a beautiful style
Answer.
(b) very still

Question 4.
A dandelion whose fuzzy head
Was golden days ago
Has turned to airy parachutes
That flutter when you blow.
(Page 123)
Word-Notes : Dandelion-a wild plant with bright yellow flowers and leaves with notched edges, डैंडिलिअन नाम का एक जंगली पौधा जिसमें चमकदार पीले फूल और दांतेदार पत्तियाँ लगती हैं। Fuzzy-soft and fluffy, रूओनदार कागजी। Days ago-a few days before, कुछ दिन पहले। Turned to-changed into, बदल गया। Airy-moving with the air, हवा में लहराते। Parachutes-(here) umbrella like, छतरी जैसे। Flutter-move in the air like a bird fluttering its wings, Blow-exhale with force, फूँक मारना।

हिन्दी अनुवाद : कोई डैडीलिअन जिसका रूओंभरा सिर कुछ दिन पहले सुनहरा था (अब) बदल गया है हवाई छतरियों में, तुम्हारे फूँक मारते ही जो फड़फड़ाती हैं।

Paraphrase : ‘Meadow surprises’ also reveal wild flower plants like the dandelion. It has a soft and a fuzzy texture with the shape of an umbrella. A few days ago, it had a yellow golden hue. But with one’s forceful exhaling, it starts moving in the air like a parachute. When we blow on the dandelion, the sound produced is, as if, a bird were fluttering its wings.

Questions.

1.  What is being described in the passage ?
2.  Where is the dandelion found ?
3.  Where do we find the seeds of the dandelion ?

Answers.

1.  A dandelion flower is being described in the passage.
2.  The dandelion is found in a meadow.
3.  The seeds of the dandelion are found in its flower.

Question 5.
Explore the meadow houses,
The burrows in the ground,
A nest beneath tall grasses,
The ant’s amazing mound
(Page 124)
Word-Notes : Explore-travel through (a place) in order to learn about, गवेषणा करना। Burrows-holes in the ground made by animals such as rabbits to live in, खरगोश जैसे जानवरों द्वारा अपने रहने के लिए बनाये गये जमीन के अंदर छिद्र /बिल। Nest—the dwelling of bird, घोंसला। Amazing-wonderful, विस्मयकारी। Mound-a pile of earth, टीला।

हिन्दी अनुवाद : गवेषणा करो चारागाहों में बने घरों की, जमीन में बने हुए बिलों की, ऊँची घास के नीचे बने घोसलों की, चींटी के बनाये विस्मयकारी टीले की।

Paraphrase : The poet desires to explore the habitats made by different animals who live in the meadows. Some animals like rabbits make burrows in the ground. Birds make nests in tall grasses and trees. The ants make wonderful houses inside the mounds

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
The poet wants to explore
(a) the habitats of the animals
(b) hidden treasure
(c) the web of branches
(d) hidden life
Answer.
(a) the habitats of the animals

Question 2.
The rabbits make
(a) mounds
(b) burrows in the ground
(c) small caves
(d) shelters
Answer.
(b) burrows in the ground

Question 3.
The mounds are amazing as one finds
(a) wonderful houses inside the mound
(b) lot of treasure
(c) storage rooms
(d) conference rooms
Answer.
(a) wonderful houses inside the mound

Question 6.
Oh ! Meadows have surprises
And many things to tell ; You may discover these yourself, If you look and listen well.
(Page 124)
Word-Notes : Discover-find out, पता लगाना।

हिन्दी अनुवाद : ओह ! चारागाह हैं विस्मय भरे ; और उन पर बहुत कुछ कहने को, तुम स्वयं ही यह पता लगा लोगे, अगर ध्यान से देखो और सुनोगे।

Paraphrase : Meadows have hidden life and secrets to be explored and shared. It has strange wild plants, wild animals and habitats. One needs to be observant and sensitive to the sights and sounds, to enjoy ‘Meadow Surprises’.

Questions.

1.  Can the meadow surprise everyone ?
2.  What does a person need to enjoy a meadow ?
3.  Do you think that most persons enjoy a meadow ? Why? Why not?

Answers.

1.  No, the meadow cannot surprise everyone.
2.  A person needs to be a keen observer to enjoy a meadow.
3.  Most persons do not enjoy a meadow. It is so because they do not observe everything
   minutely.

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Poem Chapter 8 Meadow surprises , Study Learner

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

Working with the Poem

Question 1.
Read the lines in which the following phrases occur. Then discuss with your partner the meaning of each phrase in its context.

1.  velvet grass
2.  drinking straws
3.  meadow houses
4.  amazing mound
5.  fuzzy head

Answer.

1.  Velvet grass. It means the grass which is as soft and smooth as is the velvet.
2.  Drinking straws. These are very thin and small parts of a butterfly’s mouth which it uses like a straw to draw nectar from the flower.
3.  Meadow houses. These are the burrows or holes made by the animals like a rabbit in the ground.
4.  Amazing mound. The ants make their houses in the pile of soil which they gather to make a small mound. The poet rightly calls them amazing. These mounds concealed methodically made houses of the ants.
5.  Fuzzy head. The phrase refers to the dandelion flowers which are covered by soft fibres like hair. Hence the poet calls them fuzzy head.

Question 2.
Which line in the poem suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow ? Read aloud the stanza that contains this line.   (Imp.)
Answer.
The last line of the poem suggests that you need a keen eye and sharp ear to enjoy a meadow.
Note. Please read the last stanza of the poem aloud.

Question 3.
Find pictures of the kinds of birds, insects and scenes mentioned in the poem.
Answer.
Please try yourself.

Question 4.
Watch a tree or a plant, or walk across a field or park at the same time everyday for a week. Keep a diary of what you see and hear. At the end of the week, write a short paragraph or a poem about your experiences. Put your writing up on the class bulletin board.
Answer.
Please do as directed.

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Poem 8 Meadow surprises , Study Learner