Class 7 Lesson 7 Honeycomb NCERT English Questions and answers CBSE The Invention of Vita-Wonk, Dad and the cat and the tree Garden Snake.
Lesson 7 The Invention of Vita-Wonk
Comprehension Check
1. Choose the right answer.
(i) Mr Willy Wonka is (a) a cook, (b) an inventor, (c) a manager.
(ii) Wonka-Bite makes to people (a) older, (b) younger.
(iii) Mr Wonka wants to invent a new thing which will make people (a) younger, (b) older.
2. Can anyone’s age be a minus number? What does “minus 87” mean?
3. Mr Wonka begins by asking himself two questions. What are they?
(i) What is _______________________?
(ii) What lives _____________________?
Answer the following questions.
1. Choose the right answer:
(i) Mr. Willy Wonka is (b) an inventor.
(ii) Wonka-Vite makes people (b) younger.
(iii) Mr. Wonka wants to invent a new thing which will make people (b) older.
2. Can anyone’s age be a minus number? What does “minus 87” mean?
No, a person’s age cannot be a minus number in reality. In the story, “minus 87” means that the person’s age has become so young that they have gone back in time by 87 years. This means they have to wait 87 years before they can return to their original age.
3. Mr. Wonka begins by asking himself two questions. What are they?
(i) What is the oldest living thing in the world?
(ii) What lives longer than anything else?
Working with text
1. (i) What trees does Mr Wonka mention? Which tree does he say lives the longest?
(ii) How long does this tree live? Where can you find it?
2. How many of the oldest living things can you remember from Mr Wonka’s list? (Don’t look back at the story!) Do you think all these things really exist, or are some of them purely imaginary?
3. Why does Mr Wonka collect items trom the oldest things? Do you think this is the right way to begin his invention?
4. What happens to the volunteer who swallows four drops of the new invention? What is the name of the invention?
Answer the following questions.
Working with the Text
1. (i) What trees does Mr. Wonka mention? Which tree does he say lives the longest?
Mr. Wonka mentions several trees but specifically says the Bristlecone Pine lives the longest.
(ii) How long does this tree live? Where can you find it?
The Bristlecone Pine can live for over 4000 years. You can find it on Wheeler Peak in Nevada, U.S.A.
2. How many of the oldest living things can you remember from Mr. Wonka’s list?
Here are a few of the oldest living things from Mr. Wonka’s list:
- The sap from a 4000-year-old Bristlecone Pine.
- The toenail clippings from a 168-year-old Russian farmer.
- An egg laid by a 200-year-old tortoise.
- The tail of a 51-year-old horse.
- The whiskers of a 36-year-old cat.
Some of these things might exist (like the Bristlecone Pine and the tortoise), but others, such as a flea that lived for 36 years, seem purely imaginary and part of the fictional story.
3. Why does Mr. Wonka collect items from the oldest things? Do you think this is the right way to begin his invention?
Mr. Wonka collects items from the oldest living things because he believes they hold the key to creating a formula that will make people older. In the fictional world of the story, this might seem like a creative approach, but in reality, it doesn’t seem scientifically practical or logical.
4. What happens to the volunteer who swallows four drops of the new invention? What is the name of the invention?
The volunteer who swallows four drops of the new invention becomes old very quickly, aging dramatically. The name of the invention is Vita-Wonk.
Speaking
Using Do for Emphasis
Charlie asks, “What did happen?”
This is a way of asking the question “What happened?” with emphasis.
Given below are a few emphatic utterances. Say them to your partner. Let your partner repeat your utterance without the emphasis. Your partner may also add something to show she/he disagrees with you.
You : I did study.
Partner : You studied? I don’t believe you. Look at your marks!
You : I did go there.
Partner : You went there? Then……..
You : I do play games.
Partner : ……
You : He does read his books.
Partner : ……
You : You do say the most unbelievable things!
Partner : ……
You : The earth does spin around.
Partner : …..
You : We all do want you to come with us.
Partner : ……
You : Who does know how to cook?
Partner : …..
You : I do believe that man is a thief.
Partner : ……
Answer:
You: I did go there.
Partner: You went there? Then why didn’t you meet anyone?
You: I do play games.
Partner: You play games? But I’ve never seen you play!
You: He does read his books.
Partner: He reads his books? Then why is he always failing his exams?
You: You do say the most unbelievable things!
Partner: I say unbelievable things? Well, I don’t think they are!
You: The earth does spin around.
Partner: It spins around? Well, we can’t even feel it moving!
You: We all do want you to come with us.
Partner: You all want me to come? Then why didn’t anyone tell me earlier?
You: Who does know how to cook?
Partner: Who knows how to cook? I thought you did!
Writing
1. (i) Make a list of the trees Mr Wonka mentions. Where do these tress grow? Try to find out from an encyclopaedia. Write a short paragraph about two or three of these trees.
(ii) Name some larges trees commonly found in your area. Find out something about them (How old are they? Who planted them? Do birds eat their fruit?), and write two or three sentences about each one of them.
2. Find out something interesting about age, or growing old, and write a paragraph about it. Following are a few topics, suggested as examples.
The age profile of country’s population – does it have more young people than old people, or vice versa? What are the consequences of this?
How can we tell how old a tree. a horse, or a rock is? and various populations (how long can they reasonably expect to live)?
Answers:
1. (i) Trees Mentioned by Mr. Wonka and Their Locations:
Mr. Wonka mentions the following trees:
1. Bristlecone Pine – Grows on Wheeler Peak, Nevada, U.S.A.
2. Douglas Fir – Native to the western parts of North America.
3. Oak – Found across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
4. Cedar – Found in the mountains of the western Himalayas and the Mediterranean region.
Bristlecone Pine: Bristlecone Pines are some of the oldest living trees in the world, with certain individuals living for over 4,000 years. These trees grow in harsh conditions at high altitudes, and their twisted, weathered appearance gives them a distinct look. They are known for their incredible longevity and resilience, as they can survive in rocky, nutrient-poor soils.
Douglas Fir: This tree is a common sight in North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. It is not as old as the Bristlecone Pine, but some Douglas Firs can live for hundreds of years. They are widely used for timber and are a major component of commercial forestry.
1. (ii) Large Trees Commonly Found in My Area:
1. Neem Tree: The Neem tree is a large evergreen tree found in my area. It can live for over 200 years, and its leaves and bark are often used in traditional medicine. Birds like parakeets and crows often eat the small fruits of the tree.
2. Banyan Tree: The Banyan tree is another large tree in my locality. It can live for centuries and is known for its sprawling branches and hanging aerial roots. Many local birds nest in its branches, and it provides ample shade for people.
2. Something Interesting About Age and Growing Old:
One of the fascinating aspects of aging is the demographic profile of a country. For instance, countries like India have a relatively young population, with a large number of people under the age of 30. This “youth bulge” can lead to increased economic growth if the young population is well-educated and employed. However, countries like Japan have an aging population, with more elderly people than young. This can strain social services like healthcare and pensions, as fewer workers are available to support a growing retired population. Managing such demographic shifts is essential for sustainable development and social stability.
In nature, we can tell the age of trees by counting the rings in their trunks, known as dendrochronology. This method helps scientists determine how old a tree is and learn about the environmental conditions during its life. Rocks, on the other hand, can be dated using radiometric dating, which measures the decay of radioactive elements inside them to calculate their age, sometimes going back billions of years.
Part 2 Dad and the cat and the tree
Working with the poem
1. Why was Dad sure he wouldn’t fall?
2. Which phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s self-confidence best?
3. Describe Plan A and its consequences.
4. Plan C was a success. What went wrong them?
5. The cat was very happy to be on the ground. Pick out the phrase used to express this idea.
6. Describe the cat and Dad situation to the beginning and at the end of the poem.
7. Why and when did dad say each of the following?
(i) Fall?
(ii) Never mind
(iii) Funny joke
(Iv) Rubbish
8. Do you find the poem humorous? Read aloud lines which make you laugh.
Answer:
1. Why was Dad sure he wouldn’t fall?
Dad was confident that he wouldn’t fall because he considered himself an excellent climber. He believed that climbing a tree was an easy task for him.
2. Which phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s self-confidence best?
The phrase “Child’s play, this is! You wait and see.” expresses Dad’s self-confidence best.
3. Describe Plan A and its consequences.
In Plan A, Dad brought a ladder from the garden shed and tried to climb the tree. However, the ladder slipped, and he fell straight into the flower bed, getting covered in dirt.
4. Plan C was a success. What went wrong then?
In Plan C, Dad successfully climbed the garden wall and jumped onto the tree. But instead of rescuing the cat, he landed right on top of it, making the cat jump down to safety. However, Dad himself got stuck in the tree!
5. The cat was very happy to be on the ground. Pick out the phrase used to express this idea.
The phrase “Pleased as Punch to be safe and sound” expresses that the cat was very happy to be on the ground.
6. Describe the cat and Dad’s situation at the beginning and the end of the poem.
- At the beginning: The cat was stuck in the tree, and Dad was on the ground, feeling confident about rescuing it.
- At the end: The cat was safely on the ground, while Dad was stuck in the tree!
7. Why and when did Dad say each of the following?
(i) “Fall?” – Dad said this when Mum warned him not to fall. He was overconfident and scoffed at the idea of falling.
(ii) “Never mind” – He said this after falling into the flower bed while trying Plan A. He wanted to pretend it wasn’t a big deal.
(iii) “Funny joke” – He said this sarcastically when Mum reminded him not to fall again before trying Plan B.
(iv) “Rubbish” – He said this when Mum warned him that he might break his neck after he fell again. He refused to accept that he was failing.
8. Do you find the poem humorous? Read aloud lines which make you laugh.
Yes, the poem is very humorous! The funniest lines are:
- “The tree was wobbly, The tree was tall. Mum said, ‘For goodness’ sake don’t fall!’” (Because we already know Dad will fall!)
- “Then he swung himself up on a branch. It broke.” (This makes us laugh because he was too confident, but failed again.)
- “Guess what? He didn’t fall! He gave a great leap… Right on the cat!” (The unexpected twist is hilarious!)
Part 3 Garden Snake
Working with the poem
1. Answer the following questions.
(i) Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
(ii) Which line shows a complete change of the child’s attitude towards snakes? Read it aloud.
(iii) “But mother says that kind is good….” What is mother referring to?
2. Find the word that refers to the snake’s movements in the the grass.
3. There are four pairs rhyming words in the poem. Say them aloud.
4. A snake has no legs or feet. But it moves in the poem very fast. Can you guess how? Discuss in the group.
5. Can you recall the word used for a cobra’s long sharp teeth? Where did you come across this word first?
Answer:
(i) Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
👉 “I saw a snake and ran away…”
This line clearly shows that the child is afraid of snakes.
(ii) Which line shows a complete change of the child’s attitude towards snakes? Read it aloud.
👉 “It’s just a harmless garden snake!”
This line shows that the child is no longer afraid and has learned to appreciate the harmless snake.
(iii) “But mother says that kind is good…” What is mother referring to?
👉 Mother
Solution- All Chapters: English Grammar Exercises for Class 7 with Answers