Homework Assignment 1 | Class 7 BBC Compacta Solutions PDF Download

Q1: On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following summary by filling in the blanks with suitable words taken from the box below.
whistling, trusted, small, prayed, lost, lonely, hands, eaten, crossed, body  

One day the poet saw a little puppy (a) lost in a streets in a big city. He was risking his life with every street he (b) crossed. People tried to draw his attention by stretching their (c) hands and by hailing him, but he did not pay any attention to them. He found himself to be much too (d) small and frail in so big a city. He seemed to have been tortured, for his (e) body was shaking in fear. The poet wondered if he had (f) eaten and slept enough recently. She (g) prayed to God that the dog should listen to her. She tried to reach out to him by (h) whistling and following him. To her luck, the dog somehow (i) trusted her and followed her. The poet remembers how on many occasions she too felt lost, (j) lonely and afraid in the big city.

2. Answer the following questions as briefly as possible. 

(a) Why did the dog not respond to people's outstretched hands and calls?

Ans: The dog did not respond because he was overwhelmed by the city's bigness and felt small and frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings and the many strangers.

(b) What doubt did the poet have when she looked at the dog?

Ans: The poet doubted whether the dog had been fed or had a place to sleep recently due to his frail and scared appearance.

(c) Why do you think the poet decided to follow the dog?

Ans: The poet followed the dog because she felt a sense of kinship with his loneliness and fear, having felt the same way herself in the big city.

(d) What prayer did the poet make?

Ans: The poet prayed to the God of little things to make the puppy trust her and heed her call.

(e) How was her prayer answered?

Ans: Her prayer was answered when the dog, against all odds, trusted her, heeded her call, and followed her.

Q3: Tick the correct option for each of the following statements.

( a) Choose the option that correctly lists the given qualities belonging to the poet and the dog respectively. 

1. observant 2. caring 3. compassionate 4. timid 5. terrified 6. distrusting 7. persuasive 4. 8. friendly 9. hopeful 10. lonely 11. God-fearing 12. helpless 

(a) The correct option for the given qualities is:

(iii) The poet – 1,2,3,7,8,9,11

The dog – 4,5,6,10,12

(b) One thing common between the dog and the speaker has been:

(i) both are compassionate ◻ 

(ii) both are cheerful and playful
(iii) both have had an experience of being lost ◻

(iv) both readily reach out to each other

Ans: (iii) both have had an experience of being lost

(c) The poet has a:
(i) deep faith in herself
(iii) deep faith in the world around her
(ii) deep faith in the dog
(iv) deep faith in God

Ans:  (iv) deep faith in God

(d) The poet hoped the dog to:

(i) shy away from her
(iii) say he was lost
(ii) accept her friendship
(iv) follow her

Ans:  (ii) accept her friendship

(e) What dangers, risks or threats did the dog have to face? (Choose the option that has NOT been mentioned or suggested in the poem.)

(i) Die of hunger
(iii) Fall sick
(ii) Hit by speeding vehicles
(iv) Had no shelter
Ans: (iii) Fall sick

Q4: In your opinion did the poet make a good decision in rescuing the dog? Say 'Yes' or 'No'. Give two reasons for your opinion, using information given in the poem.

Yes, the poet made a good decision in rescuing the dog. Firstly, the dog was lost and in danger, crossing streets and shaking in fear, which means he needed help. Secondly, the poet felt a connection with the dog's loneliness and fear, which likely gave the dog a sense of companionship and safety.