Class 7 English Oxford Question Answers - The River

Short Answer Questions

Q1: What is the river compared to in the poem?
Ans: The river is compared to a wanderer in the poem.

Q2: How does the river behave like a beggar?
Ans: The river behaves like a beggar as it sometimes has to beg while it flows along.

Q3: Why doesn't the river set up its camp anywhere?
Ans: The river doesn't set up its camp anywhere because it keeps moving and doesn't stay in one place for long.

Q4: What does the river do as it flows through hills and valleys?
Ans: The river twists and turns as it flows through hills and valleys.

Q5: What is one characteristic of the river that makes it like a hoarder?
Ans: The river is like a hoarder because it collects and buries little treasures it comes across.

Q6: When does the river sound like a baby?
Ans: The river sounds like a baby when it gurgles and hums.

Q7: What does the river's song do to the countryside?
Ans: The river's song echoes through the countryside.

Q8: What makes the river a monster in the poem?
Ans: The river becomes a monster when it's hungry and vexed.

Q9: What has the river swallowed according to the poem?
Ans: The river has swallowed up trees, and it can even swallow people who fall into it.

Q10: Give one word to describe the river when it's compared to a wanderer.
Ans: Nomadic.

Long Answer Questions

Q1: Describe how the river is like a wanderer in the poem. Provide examples.
Ans: In the poem, the river is compared to a wanderer because it doesn't stay in one place for long. It keeps moving from one place to another, much like a traveler who roams without settling down. For example, the river twists and turns through valleys and hills, never staying still, which is a characteristic of a wanderer.

Q2: Explain how the river acts like a beggar while flowing. Give instances from the poem.
Ans: The river behaves like a beggar in the poem because at times, it seems to beg as it flows along. This means it doesn't always have a consistent and strong flow. It might slow down or meander, just like a beggar might not have a steady income. An example from the poem is when the river is described as "sometimes it can be a beggar."

Q3: How does the river resemble a hoarder, and what treasures does it collect?
Ans: The river is like a hoarder because it collects and buries little treasures that it comes across during its journey. These treasures can be natural items like pebbles, shells, or even debris from its surroundings. The river gathers and keeps these objects as if they are precious to it.

Q4: Discuss the river's different moods and how they are portrayed in the poem.
Ans: The river's different moods are depicted in various ways in the poem. It is compared to a baby when it gurgles and hums, suggesting a playful and cheerful mood. It is also described as a singer, showing a lively and musical aspect. However, it can turn into a monster when it's hungry and vexed, emphasizing its unpredictable and potentially dangerous nature.

Q5: Why does the river become like a monster in the poem? How can it be a threat to people?
Ans: The river becomes a monster when it's hungry and vexed, indicating that it can be destructive. It can be a threat to people because, during floods or when it flows rapidly, it can swallow and carry away anything in its path, including trees and even people who may accidentally fall into it.