All questions of Poem - On Killing a Tree for Class 9 Exam

Answer:

Introduction:
A tree is a living organism that plays a vital role in our ecosystem. Killing a tree is a destructive act and should not be encouraged. However, if we were to consider the possibility of killing a tree with a simple jab of a knife, the answer would be "no."

Explanation:
There are several reasons why a simple jab of a knife cannot kill a tree:

1. Tree's Anatomy:
- Trees have a complex anatomy with different layers of protective tissues. The outermost layer, known as the bark, acts as a shield against external factors like pests, diseases, and physical damage.
- The inner layer of the bark, called the cambium, is responsible for the growth of new cells that form the xylem and phloem, which transport water and nutrients throughout the tree.
- The xylem and phloem are essential for the tree's survival, and damaging them with a simple jab of a knife is unlikely to be fatal.

2. Self-healing Ability:
- Trees have an incredible ability to heal themselves from minor injuries.
- When a tree is wounded, it activates its defense mechanisms, such as producing special chemicals and forming callus tissue to cover the damaged area.
- This healing process helps protect the tree from infections and further damage, allowing it to recover and continue its growth.

3. Root System:
- Killing a tree requires more than just damaging its above-ground parts. The roots play a crucial role in a tree's overall health and survival.
- Even if the above-ground parts are damaged, the tree can still survive and regenerate from the remaining root system.
- Cutting the roots effectively requires extensive excavation and damage beyond a simple jab of a knife.

4. Time and Persistence:
- Killing a tree entirely would require a sustained effort over an extended period.
- Even if the initial damage is significant, the tree may still send up new shoots or sprouts from the surviving parts.
- To ensure the tree's complete demise, it would be necessary to continually remove any new growth and prevent photosynthesis, depriving the tree of energy.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, a simple jab of a knife is unlikely to kill a tree. Trees are resilient organisms with protective mechanisms and the ability to heal themselves. Killing a tree requires extensive damage to its vital parts, including the roots, and persistent efforts over an extended period. It is essential to respect and preserve trees for their ecological importance and the benefits they provide to our planet.

The tree's roots are firmly fixed in the anchoring earth and, in order to kill a tree, it must be uprooted (most sensitive part). It is to be roped, tied and pulled out from the earth-cave. After uprooting, the root is to be exposed to sunlight, and air for scorching and choking.

Introduction:
The strength of a tree lies in its roots. The roots of a tree play a crucial role in providing support, stability, and nourishment to the entire structure. They anchor the tree firmly in the ground, allowing it to withstand external forces such as wind, rain, and storms. Additionally, the roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil, which are essential for the tree's growth and survival.

Importance of Roots:
The roots of a tree provide several benefits that contribute to its strength:

1. Anchorage: The primary function of tree roots is to anchor the tree securely in the ground. Tree roots extend deep into the soil and spread out in a vast network, providing stability and preventing the tree from toppling over. The extensive root system ensures that the tree remains firmly rooted, even during strong winds or adverse weather conditions.

2. Water Absorption: Tree roots are responsible for absorbing water from the soil. They have specialized structures called root hairs, which increase the surface area for water absorption. Water is essential for various physiological processes within the tree, including photosynthesis, nutrient transportation, and cell growth. Without sufficient water absorption, the tree would become weak and eventually die.

3. Nutrient Absorption: In addition to water, tree roots also absorb essential nutrients from the soil. These nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are necessary for the tree's overall health and development. The roots transport these nutrients to other parts of the tree, ensuring proper growth, leaf production, and fruit formation.

4. Storage: Tree roots also serve as a storage organ. They store carbohydrates and other nutrients produced through photosynthesis. During periods of limited sunlight or unfavorable conditions, the tree can utilize the stored energy from the roots to sustain itself.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the strength of a tree lies in its roots. The roots provide support, stability, and anchorage to the tree, allowing it to withstand external forces. They also absorb water and essential nutrients from the soil, which are crucial for the tree's growth and survival. Without strong and healthy roots, a tree would struggle to thrive and may eventually perish.

The stem/root is the strength of a tree. When the tree is pulled out, its strength is exposed. Pulling out the tree from the mother earth and scorching and choking it in the sun and air kill the tree. It becomes brown, dry and gets hard.

The tree grows to its full size by consuming nutrients from the earth, feeding upon its crust absorbing years of light, air and water. Once the roots of the tree are pulled out, and are exposed to sun and air, the killing of the tree is complete.

The tree is finally killed when its roots are uprooted and it scorches and chokes in sunlight and air. This process leads to the browning, hardening, twisting and thereby, withering of the roots.

'Earth-cave' suggests the space created in the earth by uprooting a tree. When the roots are pulled out of the earth, the large hollow where the roots were hidden, is exposed.

The simple poem with a profound meaning, 'On Killing a Tree', has been written by Gieve Patel, a famous Indian poet and playwright. He was born in Mumbai, and has completed all of his education from Mumbai.

The poet has compared the skin of a leprosy patient with that of the bark of a tree. Therefore, in the poem, killing a tree, the hide means skin and the leprous is referred to as the leopard like skin or the discoloured skin which is of the tree bark.

To kill it, the tree should be tied with a rope and pulled out from the anchoring earth, exposing its bleeding white root. Once the root withers and chokes, the tree will die. Justify the title of the poem 'On Killing a Tree'.

Curled green twigs and miniature boughs will rise from the stump of the tree that is close to the ground. They will rise because the tree rejuvenates and revives itself as long as its root is intact.

Bleeding bark refers to seeping of the sap like substance from a part of the tree trunk where it has been hit with the axe. Here, the poet wants to convey a message that just like the human beings feel pain and start to bleed when cut, trees also feel pain when cut or chopped.

The bark of the tree is described the 'leprous hide'. The poet describes the broken, discoloured bark of a tree that has been hacked and which resembles a leper's skin. Leaves grow from the leprous hide or the bark of the tree. This is ironic because leprosy usually eats away the body.

If the tree is hacked and chopped and left as such with the root of the tree neither dugout nor injured, the root will continue to provide nourishment to the stump of the tree. The wounded bark of the tree will get healed and the tree will be as big as it was earlier.

The correct answer is option 'A' - the root remains hidden for years in the earth. Let's explore why this is the case.

Roots are an essential part of a plant's structure as they provide support, absorb water and nutrients, and store food. They are generally found below the ground, hidden within the soil. The root system of a plant consists of the main root, known as the taproot, and its branches, known as lateral roots.

Here is a detailed explanation of why the root remains hidden in the earth for years:

1. Anchoring the plant:
- The primary function of the root is to anchor the plant firmly in the soil.
- By growing deep into the ground, the root provides stability, preventing the plant from being uprooted by wind or other external factors.
- This anchoring mechanism is crucial for the plant's survival, especially during storms or strong winds.

2. Absorbing water and nutrients:
- Roots play a vital role in absorbing water and essential nutrients from the soil.
- The root hairs, which are tiny extensions of the root, increase the surface area for absorption.
- The root system extends far and wide, allowing the plant to access water and nutrients present in a larger area of the soil.

3. Storing food:
- Roots also store food reserves for the plant.
- In some plants, such as carrots and radishes, the taproot becomes swollen and stores carbohydrates.
- These stored food reserves help the plant survive during unfavorable conditions, such as drought or winter.

4. Protection and growth:
- Being hidden in the earth provides protection to the delicate root tissues from extreme temperatures, sunlight, and physical damage.
- The soil acts as a buffer, shielding the roots from harmful external factors.
- Additionally, the darkness in the soil promotes root growth, as roots are sensitive to light and tend to grow away from it.

In conclusion, the root remains hidden for years in the earth because it serves multiple crucial functions for the plant's survival, such as anchoring, absorbing water and nutrients, storing food, and protection. The soil provides an ideal environment for root growth and protection, ensuring the plant's overall well-being.

Jab means to hit something forcefully and quickly often with sharp object or stab.

This refers to hacking and chopping because the strength of tree is in its roots, it will not be exposed until it's roots are out of soil.

Miniature boughs are new branches which sprout where the tree was hacked or chopped. If they are left unchecked, they expand and become a huge tree. The chopped tree grows back to its former size.

Explanation:

The extract given is a poem describing the process of uprooting a tree. The speaker emphasizes the force and effort required to pull the tree out of the ground, comparing it to pulling a root out of an "earth-cave." Here's a detailed explanation of why the correct answer is option 'D' - uprooted.

1. Context of the extract:
- The extract describes a situation where the root of a tree needs to be removed.
- The speaker talks about the process of pulling the root out of the ground.
- The root is described as being hidden inside the earth for years.

2. Meaning of 'earth-cave':
- The term "earth-cave" in the context of the poem refers to the hole or space in the ground where the tree's root is located.
- The root is described as being inside this earth-cave, implying that it is deeply embedded in the ground.
- The use of the term "cave" suggests that the root is not easily visible or accessible.

3. Process of uprooting a tree:
- When a tree is uprooted, it means that its roots are removed from the ground, causing the entire tree to come out.
- Uprooting a tree requires physical force and effort to pull the roots out of the ground.
- The speaker describes this process as pulling the root out entirely, exposing the strength of the tree.

4. Conclusion:
Based on the context and the description in the extract, it can be inferred that the "earth-cave" mentioned in the poem refers to the hole or space in the ground where the root of the tree is located. Therefore, when the tree is uprooted, the "earth-cave" is created. Hence, the correct answer is option 'D' - uprooted.

To kill a tree, the roots have to be pulled out of the anchoring earth, exposed to the sunlight and air for scorching and choking. The act of killing a tree becomes complete when the tree becomes completely withered and dies.

The poet, Gieve Patel, has effectively used irony and has successfully conveyed his intended message to the readers. In the poem, he meticulously explains all the effective steps to completely finish off a tree, but implies just the opposite. He means to say that trees are very important part of our life.

'Miniature' means tiny and 'boughs' refer to the main branches of a tree. Miniature boughs or tiny branches will emerge close to the ground if a tree is chopped. They will then grow bigger into a tree again.

The strength of the tree lies in its roots. Thus, the phrase “the strength of the tree exposed” refers to the roots of the tree being exposed to sunlight and air after pulling the tree out of the ground.