Let us discuss
Page No. 125
Complete the table given below based on Shaana’s postcards. An example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.
| Places Visited | Interesting Descriptions and Activities |
|---|---|
| 1. Thajiwas glacier, Kashmir | white and blue glaciers; throwing snowballs |
| 2. Himachal Pradesh | quiet with many mountains; hearing birds chirping, Appa snoring |
| 3. Arunachal Pradesh | walking through a thick forest to reach the tree house |
| 4. Gujarat | hot, dry desert with sand everywhere; colorful clothes |
| 5. The Narmada River | wild and scary rafting; Appa got scared and won’t raft again |
| 6. Chennai | learning to surf, rough waves, brown water; Amma and Appa splashed water |
| 7. Olaikaadu beach | floating and looking at the fish; Appa and Amma went for a dive |
Let us think and reflect
Page No. 126
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Amma tells me that places like the Sundarbans are called wetlands. I never knew such a place existed, and that it was possible for trees called mangroves to grow in seawater! But Amma is sad about how much this place floods today.
We also saw crocodiles and a lonely snake while boating. I hope they don’t follow us home.
How is everyone? Are you missing me yet?
(i) What feeling does Shaana most likely experience when she says, “I never knew such a place existed…”?
A. pride B. hope C. relief D. wonder
Answer: D. wonder
(ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason. Amma is sad about the frequent flooding in Sundarbans because ________.
Answer: Amma is sad about the frequent flooding in Sundarbans because it indicates environmental changes that might be harming the ecosystem.
The postcard mentions Amma’s sadness about the flooding, which suggests concern for the area’s natural state, likely due to ecological damage or climate change.
(iii) Select the evidence from the text that reflects a feeling of the speaker’s slight nervousness.
Answer: “I hope they don’t follow us home.”
Shaana’s comment about the crocodiles and snake following them home shows a slight nervousness about the wildlife they encountered.
(iv) Select the option that applies to both the Assertion and the Reason.
Assertion: The speaker is missing her friends.
Reason : The speaker wishes to know the well-being of her friends.
A. Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion.
B. Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason does not correctly explain the assertion.
C. The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
D. Both the assertion and the reason are false.
Answer: B. Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason does not correctly explain the assertion.
2. Amma and Appa are fast asleep, and I should be sleeping too, but I just love looking out of the window. I think we’re in the southwest part of the country, in Goa, and you won’t believe how nice the plateaus look. There are so many hills here, and beaches too.
There are also a lot of tunnels that the train goes through. I used to be afraid of tunnels, but I’m not any more. Someday, I wish we could all go on a tour of the plateaus.
(i) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.
The speaker chooses to stay awake because _________.
Answer: The speaker chooses to stay awake because she loves looking out of the window at the beautiful plateaus, hills, and beaches of Goa.
Shaana explicitly states her fascination with the scenery as the reason she stays awake.
(ii) What does the speaker mean by saying, ‘You won’t believe how nice the plateaus look’?
Answer: Shaana means that the plateaus are exceptionally beautiful, so stunning that her friends might find it hard to imagine or believe without seeing them for themselves.
Her statement conveys her excitement and the extraordinary nature of the landscape.
(iii) What has been the change in the speaker’s attitude towards tunnels?
A. from fear to comfort B. from courage to confidence
C. from doubt to clarity D. from fascination to delight
Answer: A. from fear to comfort
(iv) Fill in the blanks with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The speaker’s wish to share the experience of touring the plateaus with others indicates her _________ (ability to communicate/sense of connection) as well as the value she places on _________ (shared experiences/updating information) with her peers.
Answer: The speaker’s wish to share the experience of touring the plateaus with others indicates her sense of connection as well as the value she places on shared experiences with her peers.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Shaana mentions that she used to be afraid of tunnels. What could have been the most likely reason for her to be scared of tunnels?
Answer: Shaana was likely scared of tunnels because they are dark, enclosed spaces that can feel claustrophobic or unsafe, especially for a child.
Tunnels often evoke fear due to their darkness and the feeling of being trapped, which could have been intimidating for Shaana before she grew accustomed to them.
2. Do you think Shaana’s Appa and Amma enjoyed themselves, just like children do? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Answer: Yes, Shaana’s Appa and Amma enjoyed themselves like children. Evidence includes their playful behavior in Kashmir, where they threw snowballs at each other (30 April postcard), and in Chennai, where they splashed water on each other while Shaana surfed (17 June postcard). These actions show their carefree, childlike enjoyment.
3. Shaana mentions less snow in the glaciers and more flooding in the Sundarbans. Explain what these observations indicate.
Answer: These observations indicate environmental changes due to climate change. Less snow in the Thajiwas glacier (30 April postcard) suggests global warming is causing glaciers to melt, reducing snowfall. More flooding in the Sundarbans (24 May postcard) points to rising sea levels or increased rainfall, also linked to climate change, which disrupts ecosystems like wetlands.
4. Shaana’s visits to different parts of the country highlight the diversity of India’s geography. Support this statement with evidence from the text.
Answer: Shaana’s visits highlight India’s geographical diversity through varied landscapes: the snowy Thajiwas glacier in Kashmir (north), the thick forests of Arunachal Pradesh (east), the desert in Gujarat (west), the wetlands of Sundarbans (east), the Narmada River (central), the plateaus and beaches of Goa (southwest), and the beaches of Chennai (south). Each location showcases a unique geographical feature, reflecting India’s diverse terrain.
5. How does Shaana use language to convey her excitement, curiosity, and sometimes her fears about the places she visits?
Answer: Shaana uses expressive language to convey her emotions. For excitement, she says, “Today was the best day ever!” while rafting on the Narmada River (7 June postcard) and “you won’t believe how nice the plateaus look” in Goa (12 June postcard). Her curiosity is evident in phrases like “I never knew such a place existed” about the Sundarbans (24 May postcard). Her fears are shown through statements like “I hope they don’t follow us home” about crocodiles in the Sundarbans and her past fear of tunnels in Goa.
6. What might Shaana have learnt from her travels across India? How would it impact her understanding of the country?
Answer: Shaana likely learned about India’s diverse geography, cultures, and environmental challenges. She experienced glaciers, forests, deserts, wetlands, rivers, plateaus, and beaches, and met different people and heard new languages (25 June postcard). She also observed climate issues like less snow and more flooding. This would deepen her understanding of India as a vast, diverse nation with rich natural and cultural variety, but also facing ecological challenges, fostering a greater appreciation and awareness.
7. What could be the author’s purpose of presenting the text in the form of postcards?
Answer: The author’s purpose of using postcards is to make the narrative personal and engaging, allowing Shaana to share her experiences directly with her friends in a childlike, relatable way. It also reflects the theme of travel, as postcards are a traditional way to communicate during journeys, and helps readers connect emotionally with Shaana’s adventures and emotions.
Let us learn
Page No. 128
I. Read the words from the text given in Column 1 and match them with suitable pictures in Column 2.
Answer:
glaciers – (vi)
treehouse – (i)
wetlands – (v)
plateaus – (ii)
pebbles – (iv)
rafting – (iii)
II. Read the situations given in Column 1. Choose the associated words from the text given in the box below and write them in Column 2. An example has been done for you.
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Example: The art of paper folding has been around for hundreds of years. | existed |
| 1. In the middle of the night, the little boy heard a loud noise. He felt so afraid that he couldn’t sleep. | scary |
| 2. There used to be a bookstore near my house. But it is now shifted to the town. | existed |
| 3. The flashes of light from the car made her suddenly close and open her eyes several times. | blink |
| 4. The children jumped into the pool and threw water at each other with loud noises. | splashed |
| 5. My grandmother’s place is so beautiful with all green paddy fields and palm trees. It was a great experience. | amazing |
| 6. When I looked up at the sky, the clouds were not staying at one place. They were moving across the sky. | floating |
III. The following word grid has six words related to ‘travel’ used in the lesson. Circle the words in the grid. You can search horizontally and vertically. The last letter of each word has been highlighted.
Answer:
- BOAT (row 1, columns 5-8, ends with T).
- DROVE (row 2, columns 6-10, ends with E).
- TRAIN (row 5, columns 5-9, ends with N).
- WALKED (row 7, columns 1-6, ends with D).
- RAFT (row 5, columns 2-5, ends with T, from “rafting”).
- SURF (row 3, columns 7-10, O U F I, ends with I, highlighted).
IV. Read the following sentences from the text and underline the subject and the verb.
1. Amma and Appa are fast asleep.
(When the subject of a sentence has two or more nouns or pronouns that are connected by ‘and’, we use a plural verb).
Answer:
- Subject: The subject is the noun or pronoun performing the action. Here, “Amma and Appa” are the ones who are fast asleep.
- Verb: The verb describes the action or state of being. Here, “are” is the verb (a form of “to be”) that agrees with the plural subject “Amma and Appa.”
- Underlined: Amma and Appa are fast asleep.
2. It’s hot, dry, and there is sand everywhere.
(In case the subject is ‘it’, the verb that follows is either ‘is’ or ‘was’ depending on the tense of the sentence).
Answer: This sentence has two parts: “It’s hot, dry” and “there is sand everywhere.” We focus on the main clause with a clear subject and verb.
First part (“It’s hot, dry”):
- Subject: “It” is the subject, a singular pronoun.
- Verb: “’s” (is) is the verb, a contraction of “it is,” agreeing with the singular subject “It.”
Second part (“there is sand everywhere”):
- Subject: In sentences starting with “there,” the subject comes after the verb. Here, “sand” is the subject.
- Verb: “is” is the verb, agreeing with the singular subject “sand.”
- Underlined: It ’s hot, dry, and there is sand everywhere.
3. There are so many hills here, and beaches too.
(When we begin a sentence with ‘there’, the subject comes after the verb).
Answer:
- Subject: In “there” sentences, the subject follows the verb. Here, “so many hills” is the subject (plural).
- Verb: “are” is the verb, agreeing with the plural subject “so many hills.”
- Underlined: There are so many hills here, and beaches too.
V. Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets.
1. A pair of sunglasses _______ (is/are) essential when travelling to sunny destinations.
2. Either the tour guide or the tourists _________ (has/have) to arrive first at the meeting point.
3. The information on travel expenses _________ (is/are) useful for firsttime travellers.
4. Neither the flight crew nor the pilot _________ (was/were) aware of the delay.
5. The news about the heavy rains _________ (makes/make) many people reconsider their vacation plans.
6. A pair of binoculars _________ (is/are) useful for spotting wildlife on a safari.
7. The hill stations in India _________ (remains/remain) a popular travel destination during winter.
8. Keeping accounts _________ (is/are) important for spending money wisely during travel.
9. Either the ticket or the bus passes _________ (need/needs) to be used for travelling in the tourist bus.
10. Neither the passengers nor the taxi driver _________ (was/were) aware of the best route to the hotel.
Answer:
- is
- have
- is
- was
- makes
- is
- remain
- is
- need
- was
Let us listen
Page No. 131
You will listen to a girl speak about the story of how Agartala got its name and the importance of agar. As you listen, choose the correct option for the questions given below. (Transcript for the teacher on pg. 138)
1. What does the word ‘Agartala’ mean?
(i) under the agar tree (ii) beside the agar tree
(iii) around the agar tree
Answer: (i) under the agar tree
2. Which of these is another name for agarwood trees?
(i) gharuwood (ii) sandalwood (iii) rosewood
Answer: (i) gharuwood
3. What kind of smell does agarwood have?
(i) woody and citrusy (ii) woody and flowery
(iii) fresh and citrusy
Answer: (ii) woody and flowery
4. How is agarwood formed?
(i) when the tree dries (ii) when the tree dies
(iii) when the tree gets infected
Answer: (iii) when the tree gets infected
5. What is agarwood used to make?
(i) incense and edible oil
(ii) perfumes and wood carvings
(iii) gum and candies
Answer: (ii) perfumes and wood carvings
Let us write
Page No. 133
Imagine that you have to travel to your hometown to attend a family event. Write an application to the Principal of your school, requesting leave of absence. Remember to include the duration of the leave, the reason for the leave and mention how you will complete your school work. Use the format of the application and the verbal cues given below.
123 Green Lane
Mumbai
Maharashtra
May 08, 2025
The Principal
St. Xavier’s School
Mumbai
Maharashtra
Subject: Request for leave for 5 days
Dear Madam,
I am writing to request 5 days leave with effect from May 10, 2025, to May 14, 2025, in order to attend a family wedding in my hometown.
I would like to assure you that I would complete all my assignments and catch up on lessons with the help of my classmates upon my return.
I would be grateful if you could grant me the leave.
Yours sincerely,
Aryan Sharma
Class 7A, Roll Number 15
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