NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English - A Tiger in the House

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 - English (An Alien Hand )

(Chapter 9 - A Tiger in the House)

Comprehension Check - 
Q1 : “He had the distinction of being the only member of the party to have bagged any game...”
The phrase in italics means
(i) Grandfather was the most distinguished member of the party.
(ii) Grandfather was the only sportsperson in the party.
(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.
Answer :
The phrase in italics means that the grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.
Q2 :
 Complete the following sentences.
(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when ______

(ii) _____I became one of the tiger's favourites.
 (iii) Timothy had clean habits, _______
Answer :

(i)Toto climbed up the curtains when Timothy lost its temper because Toto pulled it by the tail.
(ii) One of Timothy's favourite amusements was to stalk anyone who would play with him, and so, when I came to live with Grandfather, I became one of the tiger's favourites.
(iii)Timothy had clean habits, and would scrub his face with his paws exactly like a cat.
Q3 : Grandmother's prophecy was that the tiger
(i) would prefer Mahmoud's bed to sleep in.
(ii) and the cook would disappear together from the house.
(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
Answer :
Grandmother's prophecy was that the tiger would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.
Q4 : When Timothy was about six months old, a change came over him.
 The phrase in italics means that
 (i) Timothy had grown to his full size.
 (ii) Timothy grew more friendly.
 (iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous
Answer :
The phrase in italics means that Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.
Q5 : Write 'True' or 'False' against each of the following statements.
 (i) Timothy and Grandfather went to Lucknow in a special compartment. ________
(ii) The compartment in which Grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other passenger. ________
(iii) Timothy and Grandfather travelled in a first class compartment. ________
(iv) All passengers in the compartment thought that Timothy was a well-fed and civilised tiger. ________
Answer :
(i)False, It was not a special compartment. It was a first class compartment.
(ii)True
(iii)True
(iv)False, The zoo authorities thought that Timothy was a well-fed and civilised tiger.
Q6 : Grandfather suggested that Timothy should be put in another cage.
The reason was that
 (i) the tiger had become very bad tempered.
 (ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
 (iii) the cage was too small for a full grown tiger.
Answer :
The reason was that a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.
Q7 : The tiger was still licking his arm, with increasing relish. The phrase in italics suggests that Timothy 

(i) was good natured.
 (ii) recognised an old friend.
 (iii) smelt fresh food.
 Answer :
The phrase in italics suggests that Timothy was good natured.
Exercise - 
Q1 : Where was the tiger cub hiding when Grandfather found him?
 Answer :
The tiger cub was hiding among the intricate roots of a banyan tree when Grandfather found him.
Q2 : 

 (i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy?
 (ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?
 Answer :
(i)Toto pulled Timothy by the tail to entertain him.
(ii)When Timothy lost his temper, Toto climbed up the curtains.
Q3 :  “I became one of the tiger's favourites”. Who is 'I' in thestatement? Why did he think so?
 Answer :
In the statement, 'I' is the narrator of the story. Timothy had the habit of stalking anyone who would play with him. When the narrator went to live with Grandfather, he became Timothy's favourite playmate. One of his games was to slowly creep towards the narrator and then suddenly make a dash for his feet, pretending to bite his ankles.
Q4 : Where was Timothy most comfortable during the day? Wherewas he during the night?
Answer :
During the day, Timothy's favourite place in the house was the drawing-room and was the most comfortable on the long sofa. He slept at night in the cook's quarters.
Q5 : What was Grandmother's prophecy about the cook? Did it cometrue?
 Answer :
Grandmother's prophecy about the cook was that one day Timothy would make a meal of Mahmoud. It did not come true. However, the tiger had begun to stalk Mahmoud about the house with a villainous intent.
Q6 : What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?
Answer :
When Timothy was about six months old, he grew less friendly. When he was out for a walk with the narrator, he would try to steal away to stalk a cat or someone's pet dog.
Sometimes at night, they would hear frenzied cackling from the poultry house. In the morning, they would find feathers lying all over the verandah. Timothy had to be chained up more often. And finally, when it began to stalk Mahmoud about the house with a villainous intent, Grandfather decided it was time to transfer it to a zoo.
Q7 : Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in anotherenclosure?
 Answer :
Grandfather wanted Timothy to be put in another enclosure as the leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy. Whenever this happened, the frightened Timothy would slink to a corner.
Q8 : What shocked Grandfather in the end?
 Answer :
While he was petting Timothy, Grandfather happened to notice the keeper who had been there when Timothy had been brought to the zoo. He was watching Grandfather with alarm. When Grandfather asked him to transfer Timothy to another cage, he said that the tiger in the cage was not Timothy. He said that Grandfather's tiger had died two months back because of pneumonia. The tiger that Grandfather mistook to be Timothy was actually a very dangerous tiger and was trapped the previous month. This was what shocked Grandfather.

Discuss the Following topics in groups: 

Q1 :  Shoot animals with a camera, not with a gun.
 Answer :
This question requires you to use your own perspective as well as your analytical skills. The answer to the question would vary from one person to another. It is suggested that you read the text carefully and try attempting it on your own.

Q2 : Keeping pets helps us become more loving and tolerant. It alsohelps us respect life in any form. Do you agree?
 Answer :
This question requires you to use your own perspective as well as your analytical skills. The answer to the question would vary from one person to another. It is suggested that you read the text carefully and try attempting it on your own.

Q3 : Have you heard of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)? What do they do?
 Answer :
This question requires you to use your own perspective as well as your analytical skills. The answer to the question would vary from one person to another. It is suggested that you read the text carefully and try attempting it on your own.