Class 7 English Unit 3 NCERT Book - My Brother’s Great Invention

 Page 1


Dreams an D Discoveries My Brot her ’s Great InventIon Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Work in pairs and guess the invention.
 1. I am a concept invented by ancient Indian mathematicians. I add 
value to numbers. Without me, calculations in the modern digital 
world would be impossible. Who am I? 
 2. I am an ancient Indian practice, now popular globally. I focus on 
physical and mental well-being. What am I? 
 II Discuss in groups of four what you think the world today would have 
been like without inventions and discoveries. 
 III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. 
These words display qualities of an inventor.
UnIt 3
DREAMS AND DISCOVERIES
C
C
R
D
I
R
U
I
E T
A
E
G
T
-
I
T
V
I
I
A
T
K
N
T
Y
A
I
N
T
O
G
I
N
Unit 3.indd   91 Unit 3.indd   91 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM
Page 2


Dreams an D Discoveries My Brot her ’s Great InventIon Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Work in pairs and guess the invention.
 1. I am a concept invented by ancient Indian mathematicians. I add 
value to numbers. Without me, calculations in the modern digital 
world would be impossible. Who am I? 
 2. I am an ancient Indian practice, now popular globally. I focus on 
physical and mental well-being. What am I? 
 II Discuss in groups of four what you think the world today would have 
been like without inventions and discoveries. 
 III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. 
These words display qualities of an inventor.
UnIt 3
DREAMS AND DISCOVERIES
C
C
R
D
I
R
U
I
E T
A
E
G
T
-
I
T
V
I
I
A
T
K
N
T
Y
A
I
N
T
O
G
I
N
Unit 3.indd   91 Unit 3.indd   91 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM
Poorvi Let us read
I
“Who put that water bag here?” roared my father from the 
front doorstep. “Your burglar alarm,” I hissed to my brother 
Anand, who was getting ready to disappear from the house. 
Ma rushed in to see what the racket was all about and found 
Papa standing there, sopping wet and scowling.
“I want to know who is behind this nonsense,” Papa said 
grimly.
“I think it’s supposed to be a burglar alarm,” Ma said, in a 
soothing voice.
“I don’t care what it’s supposed to be,” Papa said. 
“Where’s that boy? I’m sure he rigged this up.”
Anand had vanished by this time and reappeared only after 
dinner when Papa had cooled down.
Before this story, let me put you in the picture. I am Anita, 
fourteen years old. My brother Anand, one year younger 
than me, caused all that hoo-ha with his burglar alarm. 
And this is not the first time he’s got on Papa’s 
nerves or frightened someone half to death in 
the house. The trouble with him is that he 
thinks he is a scientist. He loves tinkering with 
all sorts of electrical gadgets, tools, dynamos, 
planks of wood, and things like that. And he 
keeps creating ‘inventions’ that never work 
out as they are supposed to. 
Recently there had been a rush of thefts in 
the colony and Anand had got it into his 
head that what was needed was a burglar 
alarm. So, the minute Papa left for the 
office and Ma for the market, he started 
on his latest scheme. As usual I had to 
be involved, though I’d have preferred 
to finish my novel. “If you get a shelling, 
don’t bring me in,” I warned Anand. 
“Nothing will go wrong this time. I’ve 
planned it out carefully. See the blueprint.” 
racket: a loud 
and disturbing 
noise
scowling: having 
an angry or 
frowning 
expression
rigged up: 
assembled 
something 
temporarily
tinkering: 
experimenting 
or fiddling
dynamos: 
electric 
generator
sopping: soaking
Unit 3.indd   92 Unit 3.indd   92 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM
Page 3


Dreams an D Discoveries My Brot her ’s Great InventIon Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Work in pairs and guess the invention.
 1. I am a concept invented by ancient Indian mathematicians. I add 
value to numbers. Without me, calculations in the modern digital 
world would be impossible. Who am I? 
 2. I am an ancient Indian practice, now popular globally. I focus on 
physical and mental well-being. What am I? 
 II Discuss in groups of four what you think the world today would have 
been like without inventions and discoveries. 
 III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. 
These words display qualities of an inventor.
UnIt 3
DREAMS AND DISCOVERIES
C
C
R
D
I
R
U
I
E T
A
E
G
T
-
I
T
V
I
I
A
T
K
N
T
Y
A
I
N
T
O
G
I
N
Unit 3.indd   91 Unit 3.indd   91 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM
Poorvi Let us read
I
“Who put that water bag here?” roared my father from the 
front doorstep. “Your burglar alarm,” I hissed to my brother 
Anand, who was getting ready to disappear from the house. 
Ma rushed in to see what the racket was all about and found 
Papa standing there, sopping wet and scowling.
“I want to know who is behind this nonsense,” Papa said 
grimly.
“I think it’s supposed to be a burglar alarm,” Ma said, in a 
soothing voice.
“I don’t care what it’s supposed to be,” Papa said. 
“Where’s that boy? I’m sure he rigged this up.”
Anand had vanished by this time and reappeared only after 
dinner when Papa had cooled down.
Before this story, let me put you in the picture. I am Anita, 
fourteen years old. My brother Anand, one year younger 
than me, caused all that hoo-ha with his burglar alarm. 
And this is not the first time he’s got on Papa’s 
nerves or frightened someone half to death in 
the house. The trouble with him is that he 
thinks he is a scientist. He loves tinkering with 
all sorts of electrical gadgets, tools, dynamos, 
planks of wood, and things like that. And he 
keeps creating ‘inventions’ that never work 
out as they are supposed to. 
Recently there had been a rush of thefts in 
the colony and Anand had got it into his 
head that what was needed was a burglar 
alarm. So, the minute Papa left for the 
office and Ma for the market, he started 
on his latest scheme. As usual I had to 
be involved, though I’d have preferred 
to finish my novel. “If you get a shelling, 
don’t bring me in,” I warned Anand. 
“Nothing will go wrong this time. I’ve 
planned it out carefully. See the blueprint.” 
racket: a loud 
and disturbing 
noise
scowling: having 
an angry or 
frowning 
expression
rigged up: 
assembled 
something 
temporarily
tinkering: 
experimenting 
or fiddling
dynamos: 
electric 
generator
sopping: soaking
Unit 3.indd   92 Unit 3.indd   92 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM
93
my own doubts about the alarm’s guessing powers, but kept 
them to myself because when Anand is in one of his inventive 
moods, nothing stops him.
“You see,” Anand explained smugly, “A thief tries to open the 
door stealthily. I’ve rigged it up so that the alarm works only 
when the door is opened gently.”
I was sceptical. “Remember, if Papa asks, I’m not involved,” I 
warned. “Now clean up this mess before anyone gets home.”
As you already know, my doubts about the alarm were 
quite justified. Papa, who always opens the door softly, was 
thoroughly soaked and angry as angry could be. Anyway, for 
a week after this, Anand did not dare try out anything new. 
Then we saw this film ‘Back to the Future’. I don’t know if you 
have seen it, but it’s all about a time machine. Well, that was 
stealthily: 
quietly or 
carefully so that 
one is not seen 
or heard
sceptical: 
doubtful
smugly: proudly
clanging: a loud 
ringing sound 
like that of a 
metal being hit
elaborate: 
detailed
(illustrate similar from the picture . Indian boy 
tinkering with electrical gadgets)
Anand loves words like blueprint—it makes 
him feel professional! Anyway, I looked at the 
elaborate drawing of doors, wires, and bells 
and asked, “How does this thing work?”
“It’s quite simple. The moment the door opens, 
this alarm is tripped off and makes a clanging 
sound. Then this water bag here is loosened 
and falls on the thief’s head. By then we call 
the police—simple!”
“But how does the alarm know that a burglar is 
opening the door?”
“I’ve taken care of that,” Anand said loftily . I had 
the end of peace and quiet in 
the house. 
My brother decided that he 
had to make a time machine 
too. Papa locked up his tool 
box and hid the key while Ma 
kept a wary eye on her oven 
and mixer. Because, as I told 
you, when Anand is on one 
of his inventing binges, he 
takes apart all the gadgets in 
the house to collect parts. You 
can’t imagine the noise that 
Dreams anD Discoveries Unit 3.indd   93 Unit 3.indd   93 06-Mar-25   2:48:49 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:49 PM
Page 4


Dreams an D Discoveries My Brot her ’s Great InventIon Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Work in pairs and guess the invention.
 1. I am a concept invented by ancient Indian mathematicians. I add 
value to numbers. Without me, calculations in the modern digital 
world would be impossible. Who am I? 
 2. I am an ancient Indian practice, now popular globally. I focus on 
physical and mental well-being. What am I? 
 II Discuss in groups of four what you think the world today would have 
been like without inventions and discoveries. 
 III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. 
These words display qualities of an inventor.
UnIt 3
DREAMS AND DISCOVERIES
C
C
R
D
I
R
U
I
E T
A
E
G
T
-
I
T
V
I
I
A
T
K
N
T
Y
A
I
N
T
O
G
I
N
Unit 3.indd   91 Unit 3.indd   91 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM
Poorvi Let us read
I
“Who put that water bag here?” roared my father from the 
front doorstep. “Your burglar alarm,” I hissed to my brother 
Anand, who was getting ready to disappear from the house. 
Ma rushed in to see what the racket was all about and found 
Papa standing there, sopping wet and scowling.
“I want to know who is behind this nonsense,” Papa said 
grimly.
“I think it’s supposed to be a burglar alarm,” Ma said, in a 
soothing voice.
“I don’t care what it’s supposed to be,” Papa said. 
“Where’s that boy? I’m sure he rigged this up.”
Anand had vanished by this time and reappeared only after 
dinner when Papa had cooled down.
Before this story, let me put you in the picture. I am Anita, 
fourteen years old. My brother Anand, one year younger 
than me, caused all that hoo-ha with his burglar alarm. 
And this is not the first time he’s got on Papa’s 
nerves or frightened someone half to death in 
the house. The trouble with him is that he 
thinks he is a scientist. He loves tinkering with 
all sorts of electrical gadgets, tools, dynamos, 
planks of wood, and things like that. And he 
keeps creating ‘inventions’ that never work 
out as they are supposed to. 
Recently there had been a rush of thefts in 
the colony and Anand had got it into his 
head that what was needed was a burglar 
alarm. So, the minute Papa left for the 
office and Ma for the market, he started 
on his latest scheme. As usual I had to 
be involved, though I’d have preferred 
to finish my novel. “If you get a shelling, 
don’t bring me in,” I warned Anand. 
“Nothing will go wrong this time. I’ve 
planned it out carefully. See the blueprint.” 
racket: a loud 
and disturbing 
noise
scowling: having 
an angry or 
frowning 
expression
rigged up: 
assembled 
something 
temporarily
tinkering: 
experimenting 
or fiddling
dynamos: 
electric 
generator
sopping: soaking
Unit 3.indd   92 Unit 3.indd   92 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM
93
my own doubts about the alarm’s guessing powers, but kept 
them to myself because when Anand is in one of his inventive 
moods, nothing stops him.
“You see,” Anand explained smugly, “A thief tries to open the 
door stealthily. I’ve rigged it up so that the alarm works only 
when the door is opened gently.”
I was sceptical. “Remember, if Papa asks, I’m not involved,” I 
warned. “Now clean up this mess before anyone gets home.”
As you already know, my doubts about the alarm were 
quite justified. Papa, who always opens the door softly, was 
thoroughly soaked and angry as angry could be. Anyway, for 
a week after this, Anand did not dare try out anything new. 
Then we saw this film ‘Back to the Future’. I don’t know if you 
have seen it, but it’s all about a time machine. Well, that was 
stealthily: 
quietly or 
carefully so that 
one is not seen 
or heard
sceptical: 
doubtful
smugly: proudly
clanging: a loud 
ringing sound 
like that of a 
metal being hit
elaborate: 
detailed
(illustrate similar from the picture . Indian boy 
tinkering with electrical gadgets)
Anand loves words like blueprint—it makes 
him feel professional! Anyway, I looked at the 
elaborate drawing of doors, wires, and bells 
and asked, “How does this thing work?”
“It’s quite simple. The moment the door opens, 
this alarm is tripped off and makes a clanging 
sound. Then this water bag here is loosened 
and falls on the thief’s head. By then we call 
the police—simple!”
“But how does the alarm know that a burglar is 
opening the door?”
“I’ve taken care of that,” Anand said loftily . I had 
the end of peace and quiet in 
the house. 
My brother decided that he 
had to make a time machine 
too. Papa locked up his tool 
box and hid the key while Ma 
kept a wary eye on her oven 
and mixer. Because, as I told 
you, when Anand is on one 
of his inventing binges, he 
takes apart all the gadgets in 
the house to collect parts. You 
can’t imagine the noise that 
Dreams anD Discoveries Unit 3.indd   93 Unit 3.indd   93 06-Mar-25   2:48:49 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:49 PM
Poorvi 94
was going on—hammering and sawing and clattering. Anand’s 
room, next to our room, was transformed into a network of 
wires, springs, levers, and bulbs. There was an enormous 
panel which was to be control switchboard. As for Anand, he 
went around looking like a savage. When Ma didn’t notice, the 
fellow didn’t even comb his hair. 
Anand just wouldn’t let anyone into his room. Finally, after a 
fortnight of frantic activity, the time machine was ready. “We 
can try it out tonight,” Anand announced to everyone at home 
at lunch time.
“I don’t know what you’ve been up to in that room, but you’re 
not trying out anything new,” Papa said firmly. 
“But it’s a time machine! I’ve invented it,” Anand protested. 
“When I say NO, I mean NO,” Papa said, glaring. 
“Poor boy,” Ma said noticing Anand’s crestfallen look. 
“At least let’s take a look at it.”
Papa sighed. “All right, but if the house falls, it’s your fault.”
As it turned out, we could not try out the time machine that 
day at all. The next day, Papa and Ma were going to Kharagpur, 
a few hours away from Calcutta (now Kolkata), for a wedding. 
Ma was worried about leaving us alone, but we reassured her. 
“We’re old enough to look after ourselves, Ma,” I said. “And we 
can go next door to Sharma Aunty if we need anything.”
“And it’s only one night,” Anand added. 
“All right. But promise me you won’t do anything with that 
time machine till we come back,” Ma said sternly, looking at 
Anand. He promised half-heartedly, offended at this lack of 
respect for his creation. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Let us discuss
 I Complete the cause-and-effect table given below.
Causes Effects
1. Anand set up his burglar alarm 
and rigged it to work when the 
door was opened softly.
frantic: 
hurried and 
disorganised
crestfallen 
look: sad and 
disappointed 
appearance
offended: felt 
upset or hurt
Unit 3.indd   94 Unit 3.indd   94 06-Mar-25   2:48:50 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:50 PM
Page 5


Dreams an D Discoveries My Brot her ’s Great InventIon Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Work in pairs and guess the invention.
 1. I am a concept invented by ancient Indian mathematicians. I add 
value to numbers. Without me, calculations in the modern digital 
world would be impossible. Who am I? 
 2. I am an ancient Indian practice, now popular globally. I focus on 
physical and mental well-being. What am I? 
 II Discuss in groups of four what you think the world today would have 
been like without inventions and discoveries. 
 III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. 
These words display qualities of an inventor.
UnIt 3
DREAMS AND DISCOVERIES
C
C
R
D
I
R
U
I
E T
A
E
G
T
-
I
T
V
I
I
A
T
K
N
T
Y
A
I
N
T
O
G
I
N
Unit 3.indd   91 Unit 3.indd   91 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:47 PM
Poorvi Let us read
I
“Who put that water bag here?” roared my father from the 
front doorstep. “Your burglar alarm,” I hissed to my brother 
Anand, who was getting ready to disappear from the house. 
Ma rushed in to see what the racket was all about and found 
Papa standing there, sopping wet and scowling.
“I want to know who is behind this nonsense,” Papa said 
grimly.
“I think it’s supposed to be a burglar alarm,” Ma said, in a 
soothing voice.
“I don’t care what it’s supposed to be,” Papa said. 
“Where’s that boy? I’m sure he rigged this up.”
Anand had vanished by this time and reappeared only after 
dinner when Papa had cooled down.
Before this story, let me put you in the picture. I am Anita, 
fourteen years old. My brother Anand, one year younger 
than me, caused all that hoo-ha with his burglar alarm. 
And this is not the first time he’s got on Papa’s 
nerves or frightened someone half to death in 
the house. The trouble with him is that he 
thinks he is a scientist. He loves tinkering with 
all sorts of electrical gadgets, tools, dynamos, 
planks of wood, and things like that. And he 
keeps creating ‘inventions’ that never work 
out as they are supposed to. 
Recently there had been a rush of thefts in 
the colony and Anand had got it into his 
head that what was needed was a burglar 
alarm. So, the minute Papa left for the 
office and Ma for the market, he started 
on his latest scheme. As usual I had to 
be involved, though I’d have preferred 
to finish my novel. “If you get a shelling, 
don’t bring me in,” I warned Anand. 
“Nothing will go wrong this time. I’ve 
planned it out carefully. See the blueprint.” 
racket: a loud 
and disturbing 
noise
scowling: having 
an angry or 
frowning 
expression
rigged up: 
assembled 
something 
temporarily
tinkering: 
experimenting 
or fiddling
dynamos: 
electric 
generator
sopping: soaking
Unit 3.indd   92 Unit 3.indd   92 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:48 PM
93
my own doubts about the alarm’s guessing powers, but kept 
them to myself because when Anand is in one of his inventive 
moods, nothing stops him.
“You see,” Anand explained smugly, “A thief tries to open the 
door stealthily. I’ve rigged it up so that the alarm works only 
when the door is opened gently.”
I was sceptical. “Remember, if Papa asks, I’m not involved,” I 
warned. “Now clean up this mess before anyone gets home.”
As you already know, my doubts about the alarm were 
quite justified. Papa, who always opens the door softly, was 
thoroughly soaked and angry as angry could be. Anyway, for 
a week after this, Anand did not dare try out anything new. 
Then we saw this film ‘Back to the Future’. I don’t know if you 
have seen it, but it’s all about a time machine. Well, that was 
stealthily: 
quietly or 
carefully so that 
one is not seen 
or heard
sceptical: 
doubtful
smugly: proudly
clanging: a loud 
ringing sound 
like that of a 
metal being hit
elaborate: 
detailed
(illustrate similar from the picture . Indian boy 
tinkering with electrical gadgets)
Anand loves words like blueprint—it makes 
him feel professional! Anyway, I looked at the 
elaborate drawing of doors, wires, and bells 
and asked, “How does this thing work?”
“It’s quite simple. The moment the door opens, 
this alarm is tripped off and makes a clanging 
sound. Then this water bag here is loosened 
and falls on the thief’s head. By then we call 
the police—simple!”
“But how does the alarm know that a burglar is 
opening the door?”
“I’ve taken care of that,” Anand said loftily . I had 
the end of peace and quiet in 
the house. 
My brother decided that he 
had to make a time machine 
too. Papa locked up his tool 
box and hid the key while Ma 
kept a wary eye on her oven 
and mixer. Because, as I told 
you, when Anand is on one 
of his inventing binges, he 
takes apart all the gadgets in 
the house to collect parts. You 
can’t imagine the noise that 
Dreams anD Discoveries Unit 3.indd   93 Unit 3.indd   93 06-Mar-25   2:48:49 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:49 PM
Poorvi 94
was going on—hammering and sawing and clattering. Anand’s 
room, next to our room, was transformed into a network of 
wires, springs, levers, and bulbs. There was an enormous 
panel which was to be control switchboard. As for Anand, he 
went around looking like a savage. When Ma didn’t notice, the 
fellow didn’t even comb his hair. 
Anand just wouldn’t let anyone into his room. Finally, after a 
fortnight of frantic activity, the time machine was ready. “We 
can try it out tonight,” Anand announced to everyone at home 
at lunch time.
“I don’t know what you’ve been up to in that room, but you’re 
not trying out anything new,” Papa said firmly. 
“But it’s a time machine! I’ve invented it,” Anand protested. 
“When I say NO, I mean NO,” Papa said, glaring. 
“Poor boy,” Ma said noticing Anand’s crestfallen look. 
“At least let’s take a look at it.”
Papa sighed. “All right, but if the house falls, it’s your fault.”
As it turned out, we could not try out the time machine that 
day at all. The next day, Papa and Ma were going to Kharagpur, 
a few hours away from Calcutta (now Kolkata), for a wedding. 
Ma was worried about leaving us alone, but we reassured her. 
“We’re old enough to look after ourselves, Ma,” I said. “And we 
can go next door to Sharma Aunty if we need anything.”
“And it’s only one night,” Anand added. 
“All right. But promise me you won’t do anything with that 
time machine till we come back,” Ma said sternly, looking at 
Anand. He promised half-heartedly, offended at this lack of 
respect for his creation. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Let us discuss
 I Complete the cause-and-effect table given below.
Causes Effects
1. Anand set up his burglar alarm 
and rigged it to work when the 
door was opened softly.
frantic: 
hurried and 
disorganised
crestfallen 
look: sad and 
disappointed 
appearance
offended: felt 
upset or hurt
Unit 3.indd   94 Unit 3.indd   94 06-Mar-25   2:48:50 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:50 PM
Dreams an D Discoveries 95
2. Anita was able to avoid any 
responsibility as Anand faced 
the consequences alone.
3. We watched the movie ‘Back to 
the Future’.
Anand:
4. Papa firmly said ‘ NO’ to trying 
out the time machine.
 II Do you think Anand was able to keep his promise regarding the time 
machine? If yes, why? If no, why not?
II
They left by the afternoon train and were coming back the 
following evening. Anand fell asleep immediately, but I stayed 
up to finish a novel. At about eleven thirty I thought I heard 
a scratching at the front door. Telling myself it was only my 
imagination, I went back to the book. A little later there was 
a rattle and a click. I was really scared, I can tell you, what 
with a murder story before me and then strange noises in the 
middle of the night! I shook Anand and whispered, “Listen, 
there’s someone at the door.”
“Go and open it then,” he muttered groggily.
“You silly! Someone’s trying to get in,” I said.
Anand sat up. “Who? What?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “What shall we do?”
“Let’s holler for help,” he said. Before we could do anything, 
the door swung open and we found ourselves looking 
at a ruffianly fellow with a green scarf around his neck. 
Anand gasped.
“Hey, it’s Boppa!” I whispered. It was indeed the fellow who 
had recently begun sweeping out the compounds in our row of 
houses. So, he was the thief, and no wonder. He knew exactly 
when the occupants were out, leaving the coast clear.
The fellow gave an evil grin. “One squeak out of you and see 
what happens,” he said, brandishing his cudgel and backing 
out of the room. We heard him slide the latch in. 
“What do we do now?” I asked in a low voice. 
groggily: 
sleepily
ruffianly: 
rough or violent 
looking
gasped: took 
a short, deep 
breath in 
surprise
brandishing: 
waving
cudgel: a short, 
thick stick used 
as a weapon
Unit 3.indd   95 Unit 3.indd   95 06-Mar-25   2:48:50 PM 06-Mar-25   2:48:50 PM