Extract Based Questions: On Killing a Tree - Class 9 PDF Download

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

Q1: It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple jab of the knife
Will do it. It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leprous hide
Sprouting leaves.

(a) Why does it take so much time to kill a tree?
Ans: It takes much time to kill because killing a tree is not a simple or easy task.

(b) What does it consume?
Ans: The tree consumes nutrients from the soil.

(c) What does a tree absorb?
Ans: It absorbs sunlight, air and water

(d) Explain “leprous hide”.
Ans: Leprous hide means the disfigured and irregular bark of the tree which seems as if it is diseased or suffering from leprosy.

Q2: It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple jab of the knife
Will do it. It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leprous hide ‘
Sprouting leaves.

(a) What kind of task is it to kill a tree?
Ans: It is very difficult task to kill a tree and it takes much time

(b) Why can a “simple jab of the knife” not kill a tree?
Ans: The tree is too strong to be killed by a simple jab of the knife as it is firmly held by the earth for so many years and its roots are safe.

(c) How is the task of cutting a tree represented in the poem?
Ans: The task of cutting a tree is represented as a killing or murder of a tree.

(d) What happens if the branches of a tree are cut off?
Ans: The branches that are cut off are replaced by new boughs, which will grow into their former size.

Q3: So hack and chop
But this alone won’t do it.
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal
And from close to the ground
Will rise curled green twigs,
Miniature boughs
Which if unchecked will expand again
To former size.

(a) Why does the poet say ‘killing’ a tree rather than cutting it?
Ans: The tree has been personified and hence the word ‘killing’ instead of ‘cutting’ has been used.

(b) “But this alone won’t do it..- What does ‘this’ refer to here? What does ‘it’ refer to?
Ans: The word ‘this’ refers to hacking and chopping of the tree. ‘It’ refers to the killing of a tree

(c) What does the phrase ‘bleeding bark’ mean?
Ans: “Bleeding bark” refers to the area on the tree trunk where it has been hit with the axe, It bleeds because the wood cutter has wounded the tree by cutting and chopping it. The area is oozing sap.

(d) What are processes suggested to do it?
Ans: The root of the tree has to be roped, tied and pulled out entirely from the earth-cave till the root of the tree is exposed. It will then shrivel, choke and die.

Q4: So hack and chop
But this alone won’t do it.
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal
And from close to the ground
Will rise curled green twigs,
Miniature boughs
Which if unchecked will expand again
To former size.

(a) Explain “hack and chop”?
Ans: Hack or chop means to cut off something, usually with a sharp instrument or weapon.

(b) What do you mean by ‘not so much pain will do it’?
Ans: It means that hacking and chopping of the tree will cause it pain but will not kill it.

(c) Where will the curling green twigs rise from?
Ans: After hacking and chopping the curling green twigs will rise from the remaining part of tree that is close to the ground.

(d) What finally kills the tree?
Ans: Uprooting the tree and exposing its roots to heat and scorching and choking them kills the tree.

Q5: No,
The root is to be pulled out –
Out of the anchoring earth;
It is to be roped, tied,
And pulled out-snapped out
Or pulled out entirely,
Out from the earth-cave,
And the strength of the tree exposed
The source, white and wet,
The most sensitive, hidden
For years inside the earth.

(a) What does the poet mean by the word “No”?
Ans: The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza suggesting that a simple jab of knife will not kill a tree. It will grow again.

(b) Why should the root be pulled out?
Ans: Pulling out its root is the only way of killing a tree.

(c) What is the meaning of “anchoring earth”?
Ans: Anchoring earth’ implies that the trees are held secure with the help of the roots in the earth. So long as the roots are firmly held by the earth, the tree is safe and cannot be killed by a simple jab of a knife.

(d) What is the condition of the root of the tree?
Ans: The root of the tree looks wet and white.

Q6: No,
The root is to be pulled out –
Out of the anchoring earth;
It is to be roped, tied,
And pulled out-snapped out
Or pulled out entirely,
Out from the earth-cave,
And the strength of the tree exposed
The source, white and wet,
The most sensitive, hidden
For years inside the earth.

(a) Where does the strength of the tree lie?
Ans: The real strength of a tree lies in its roots.

(b) How does the earth protect the tree?
Ans: The earth protects the tree by giving it nourishment and allowing its root to spread under the earth.

(c) What role do the sun and air play in killing a tree?
Ans: The sun and the air play a vital role in killing a tree by scorching and choking the root.

(d) Explain the meaning of “earth cave”?
Ans: ‘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.

Q7: Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.

(a) How do the roots look like when they are pulled out?
Ans: When the roots are pulled out, they are white and wet.

(b) What happens to the tree after it is pulled out?
Ans: The root gets scorched and choked after it is pulled out. It becomes brown, hardens and withers.

(c) What happens to the tree after withering?
Ans: It is killed after withering.

(d) “And then it is done” – What is done?
Ans: The act of killing a tree completely is accomplished; the tree is killed.

Q8: Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.

(a) “Then the matter..” What does ‘Then’ refer to?
Ans: ‘Then’ here refers to what happens to the root after it is exposed,

(b) What role do the sun and air play in killing a tree?
Ans: The sun and the air play a vital role in killing a tree by scorching and choking the root after it is pulled out.

(c) “The strength of the tree exposed.” Explain.
Ans: The root, which is the strength of a tree, must be pulled out of its cave, in order to kill the tree.

(d) What will happen if the miniature boughs are left unchecked?
Ans: If the miniature boughs are left unchecked, they will expand to their former size.