Let us discuss
Page No. 144
1. Suraj compares the train to a magical creature. Pick the phrases that convey the meaning.
Answer:
- “some green, black, and gold dragon”
- “some beautiful monster out of Suraj’s dreams”
- “showering sparks left and right, it roared a challenge to the jungle”
- “defying the jungle as it roared through the steep sides of the cutting”
- “like the beautiful dragon of his dreams”
2. Suraj knew that the train was close by because _______ .
Answer: he heard the shrill whistle of the engine and a sound like distant thunder issuing from the tunnel.
3. What did Suraj see inside the tunnel?
Answer: Suraj saw that the tunnel was very dark, with damp and sticky walls. He also noticed a bat flying past and a lizard scuttling between the lines.
4. Select the correct option.
What does Sunder Singh convey about the tunnel?
He says that ____________________ (it is damp and sticky inside/he has lent it to the Government).
Answer: He says that he has lent it to the Government.
5. The watchman has created a system through which he informs the locomotive driver about any danger in the tunnel. The following flow chart shows this system. Refer to the text and complete the flow chart.
Answer: Walks the length of the tunnel
- (i) Day
- (ii) Inspects the tunnel
- No danger found
- (iii) Returns to his hut
- Goes to take a nap
- Danger found
- (iv) Walks back up the line
- (v) Waves a red flag (day) or lamp (night)
- Waves his lamp to warn the locomotive driver (at night)
- No danger found
Let us discuss
Page No. 149
1. Sunder Singh knew that the leopard was in the tunnel because _______.
Answer: he heard a rhythmic sawing sound, as if someone were cutting through the branch of a tree.
2. Why do you think Suraj was unable to do any shouting in the tunnel in the beginning?
(i) He was afraid of the leopard.
(ii) He didn’t want to disturb the leopard.
(iii) He was trying to listen for the leopard.
(iv) He didn’t really believe Sunder Singh.
Answer: (i) He was afraid of the leopard.
3. What made the leopard disappear into the darkness?
Answer: The leopard disappeared into the darkness because Suraj and Sunder Singh both shouted together, and their voices rang through the tunnel, making the leopard uncertain about how many humans were present.
4. How did Suraj know Sunder Singh was at the tunnel?
Answer: Suraj knew Sunder Singh was at the tunnel because he saw the lamp, even though he couldn’t see Sunder Singh himself.
5. Why did Suraj’s father take him along to Delhi?
Answer: Suraj’s father took him along to Delhi because he was going on a business trip and wanted Suraj to learn something about his business, as he was concerned about where Suraj spent most of his time.
Let us think and reflect
Page No. 149
I. Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.
1. Suraj had to turn and look back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside. Ahead of him, the tunnel’s other opening was just a small round circle of light.
The tunnel was still full of smoke from the train, but it would be several hours before another train came through. Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again.
Suraj didn’t stop, because there was nothing to do in the tunnel and nothing to see. He had simply wanted to walk through, so that he would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like.
(i) Write whether the following statement is true or false.
Suraj looked back at the opening of the tunnel to check if the train was coming.
Answer: False
- Suraj looked back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside, not to check if the train was coming.
(ii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence given below.
Suraj did not stop anywhere in the tunnel because _________.
A. there was nothing to see in the tunnel
B. the tunnel was damp and sticky
C. he was in a hurry to get out of the tunnel
D. it was time for another train to come
Answer: A. there was nothing to see in the tunnel.
(iii) What does the sentence ‘Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again’ mean?
Answer: It means that after the train passed, the area around the tunnel (the cutting) returned to its natural state, becoming part of the jungle again. The noise and activity of the train temporarily disturbed the jungle, but with no trains for several hours, the jungle reclaimed the space, restoring its stillness and silence.
(iv) Suraj wanted to know the inside of the tunnel. What character trait of Suraj is highlighted here?
Answer: This highlights Suraj’s curiosity and adventurous spirit. His desire to walk through the tunnel just to experience what it’s like inside shows he is eager to explore and learn about new things, even in unfamiliar or slightly intimidating environments.
2. “The train will soon be here,” said Suraj.
“Yes, my friend. And if we don’t drive the leopard out of the tunnel, it will be run over and killed. I can’t let that happen.”
“But won’t it attack us if we try to drive it out?” asked Suraj, beginning to share the watchman’s concern.
“Not this leopard. It knows me well. We have seen each other many times. It has a weakness for goats and stray dogs, but it will not harm us. Even so, I’ll take my axe with me. You stay here, Suraj.”
(i) What was the watchman’s concern?
Answer: The watchman’s concern was that if they didn’t drive the leopard out of the tunnel, the approaching train would run over and kill it. He didn’t want that to happen.
(ii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.
Sunder Singh was sure that the leopard in the tunnel would not attack him and Suraj because _____.
Answer: it knows him well, as they have seen each other many times, and it typically preys on goats and stray dogs, not humans.
(iii) Select the sentences that are true from those given below.
A. Suraj wants to see the leopards in the jungle.
B. Suraj is concerned about Sunder Singh’s safety.
C. The leopard in the tunnel attacks goats and stray dogs.
D. Sunder Singh wants to protect Suraj.
E. Sunder Singh knows all about the animals in the jungle.
Answer:
C. The leopard in the tunnel attacks goats and stray dogs.
D. Sunder Singh wants to protect Suraj.
(iv) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
Sunder Singh decides to take his axe with him. This tells us that he was __________.
A. violent B. cautious C. bold D. afraid
Answer: B. cautious
II. Answer the following questions.
1. What does Sunder Singh convey by saying that he has lent his tunnel to the Government?
Answer: Sunder Singh conveys a sense of ownership and responsibility over the tunnel. He means that he feels a personal connection to it, as he maintains and inspects it daily, but he has allowed the Government to use it for the railway. It reflects his pride in his role and his humorous way of expressing his dedication.
2. According to Sunder Singh, “It is safer in the forest than in the town”. What example does Sunder Singh give to support his opinion? What does this tell us about him?
Answer: Sunder Singh supports his opinion by saying that last month, when he went into town, he was almost run over by a bus, whereas nothing happens to him in the jungle. This tells us that Sunder Singh feels more comfortable and secure in the jungle, where he understands the environment and its risks, compared to the town, which he finds unpredictable and dangerous. It shows his deep connection to the jungle and his preference for a simpler, more natural life.
3. Sunder Singh has become part of the jungle life. Support the view with a suitable reason.
Answer: Sunder Singh has become part of the jungle life because he lives in harmony with its rhythms and creatures. For example, he is familiar with the leopard, knows its habits, and coexists with it peacefully, even calling it “my leopard.” This shows how integrated he is with the jungle’s ecosystem, understanding and respecting its wildlife.
4. Sunder Singh and Suraj form an unlikely friendship. What draws them together?
Answer: Sunder Singh and Suraj are drawn together by their shared sense of adventure and curiosity about the jungle. Suraj’s interest in the tunnel and the train aligns with Sunder Singh’s life as the tunnel’s watchman. Additionally, Sunder Singh’s welcoming nature and Suraj’s eagerness to learn and explore create a bond, despite their age difference, as they both appreciate the jungle’s wonders.
5. Why is Sunder Singh referred to as a ‘firefly’?
Answer: Sunder Singh is referred to as a ‘firefly’ because he lights up the darkness for others, just like a firefly. His lamp signals safety for the train drivers and provides reassurance to travelers like Suraj, guiding them through the night in the lonely jungle, much like a firefly’s light in the dark.
6. Do you think Suraj is an adventure-loving boy? Give reasons.
Answer: Yes, Suraj is an adventure-loving boy. He cycles through the jungle to reach the tunnel, walks through the dark tunnel just to experience it, and joins Sunder Singh to drive a leopard out of the tunnel despite the potential danger. These actions show his curiosity, bravery, and eagerness to explore new and thrilling experiences.
Let us learn
Page No. 151
I. Complete the following sentences using the suitable phrases from the text given in the box below.
1. We could hear the ________ of the train long before it came into view at the station.
2. The street was completely dark but the little boy walked to his house guided by the _________ from the houses.
3. The __________ from the carpenter’s workshop grew louder every hour.
4. From the balcony, she watched the ________from her neighbour’s chimney float across the backyard.
Answer:
- approaching engine
- flickering lights
- sawing sound
- drifting smok
II. The text has many ‘sound words’. Some of these words are given in Column 1 and their meanings are given in Column 2. Match the words with their meanings. You can use a dictionary.
Now, complete the sentences given below by filling in the blanks with the correct form of the sound words given in Column 1.
1. The steam engine reached the station ________ black smoke into the sky.
2. Suddenly the snake raised its hood and made a ________ noise.
3. When the wind blew, I heard the ________ of the wooden roof.
4. He heard a __________ of leaves behind him when he was walking in the woods.
5. I get disturbed by the continuous ________of the monkeys in the neighbourhood.
| Sentence | Sound Word Used | Completed Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The steam engine reached the station __________________ black smoke into the sky. | puffing | The steam engine reached the station puffing black smoke into the sky. |
| 2. Suddenly the snake raised its hood and made a __________________ noise. | hissing | Suddenly the snake raised its hood and made a hissing noise. |
| 3. When the wind blew, I heard the __________________ of the wooden roof. | creaking | When the wind blew, I heard the creaking of the wooden roof. |
| 4. He heard a __________________ of leaves behind him when he was walking in the woods. | rustle | He heard a rustle of leaves behind him when he was walking in the woods. |
| 5. I get disturbed by the continuous __________________ of the monkeys in the neighbourhood. | chatter | I get disturbed by the continuous chatter of the monkeys in the neighbourhood. |
III. Read what the watchman Sunder Singh did regularly at the tunnel as part of his duty. Notice the use of ‘would’.
Every day, before the train came through, he would walk the length of the tunnel. If all was well, he would return to his hut and take a nap. If something was wrong, he would walk back up the line and wave a red flag and the engine driver would slow down. At night, the watchman lit an oil lamp and made a similar inspection of the tunnel.
1. Why is the word ‘would’ used here?
(i) to make a polite request
(ii) to express a desire
(iii) to talk about a habit in the past
In these sentences, the word ‘would’ is used to speak about a past habit.
Would and used to both describe something that happened regularly in the past. However, ‘used to’ indicates a past action that doesn’t happen any longer.
• I used to paint when I was in Grade 4.
• Riya used to eat a lot of junk food, but she stopped last year.
Answer: (iii) to talk about a habit in the past.
2. Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets with the correct form of ‘used to’ or ‘would’. An example has been done for you.
When I was a child we used to live in a village near a forest. Back then, we (i) _________ (grow) vegetables in our back garden. Every day we (ii) ________ (get up) early and go for a walk. The weather in summer (iii) ________ (be) really nice. There was a lake near the house and we (iv) _________ (go) there every Sunday for a picnic. Winters (v) ________ (be) rather cold. In the evenings, my father (vi) ________ (tell) us incredible stories and we (vii) ________ (listen) with admiration.
Answer:
- used to grow
- would get up
- used to be
- would go
- used to be
- would tell
- would listen
IV. We use punctuation marks to make our writing clear. You already know how to use full stops and commas. Let us look at three more punctuation marks—brackets, semicolon, and colon.
Colon (:) is used to introduce a list or an explanation.
• You need the following ingredients to make Ela Ada: ghee, coconut, jaggery, and rice flour.
• He has one goal: to win the championship.
Semicolon (;) is used to connect two clauses which are closely related without a conjunction.
• She loves reading; he prefers watching movies.
• Suraj followed close behind; but he found he was unable to do any shouting.
Now, use semicolons and colons to punctuate the following paragraph.
Answer:
- A semicolon (;) is used to connect two related independent clauses without a conjunction: “Charminar, the heart of Hyderabad; it was an exciting day” and “spices, clothes, and jewellery; the market was full of colours.”
- A colon (:) is used to introduce a list: “We wanted to do a few things: buy bangles, taste biryani, and purchase pearl earrings” and “We visited some famous spots: Charminar, Golconda Fort, Salar Jung Museum, and Chowmahalla Palace.”
Let us write
Page No. 155
Write a descriptive paragraph about your experience of a train journey. Describe the sights, sounds, and feelings you experienced during the journey. Include details about the people around you, the scenery outside, and the atmosphere inside the train to make your paragraph vivid and engaging.
You may use the following guidelines to help you create the paragraph.
• Start with how the journey began: boarding the train, finding your seat, and the initial impressions.
• Describe the sounds: the whistle of the train, the chatter of passengers, and the rhythmic clatter of wheels on the tracks.
• Mention the sights: the changing scenery outside the window, the hustle and bustle inside the train, and any interesting moments.
• Reflect on your feelings: Were you excited, relaxed, or curious? How did the journey make you feel overall?
Answer: I boarded the train early in the morning, the platform buzzing with chatter as I found my seat near the window. As the train whistled sharply and jolted forward, I felt a rush of excitement, eager to see the world unfold outside. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the tracks was soothing, blending with the soft murmurs of passengers around me—families laughing, vendors calling out, and a baby cooing nearby. Through the window, I watched the scenery change: golden fields stretched endlessly under the morning sun, dotted with farmers working diligently, while distant hills loomed under a pale blue sky. Inside, the train was alive with energy; the smell of chai wafted through the air as a vendor passed by, and a group of friends played cards, their laughter filling the carriage. I felt a mix of curiosity and calm, captivated by the journey’s rhythm and the stories unfolding around me, as the train carried us through a tapestry of sights and sounds.
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