(i) The man insisted on buying the doves | Class 7 English - An Alien Hand Chapter I Want Something in a Cage, I Want Something in a Cage NCERT Solutions

Why did it make Mr Purcell feel “vaguely insulted”?

Describe the stranger who came to the pet shop. What did he want?
 

Do you think the atmosphere of Mr Purcell’s shop was cheerful or depressing? Give reasons for your answer.
 

Why, in your opinion, did the man set the doves free?
 

 Was the customer interested in the care and feeding of the doves he had bought? If not, why not?

From the third paragraph pick out
(i) words associated with cries of birds,
(ii) words associated with noise,
(iii) words suggestive of confusion and fear.

“...Mr Purcell heard it no more than he would have heard the monotonous ticking of a familiar clock.” (Read para beginning with “It was a rough day...”)
(i) What does ‘it’ refer to?
(ii) Why does Mr Purcell not hear ‘it’ clearly?

Why is Mr Purcell compared to an owl?
 

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of following statements.
(i) Mr Purcell sold birds, cats, dogs and monkeys.
(ii) He was very concerned about the well-being of the birds and animals in his shop.
(iii) He was impressed by the customer who bought the two doves.
(iv) He was a successful shopowner, though insensitive and cold as a person.
 

“I became one of the tiger’s favourites”. Who is ‘I’ in the statement? Why did he think so?
 

What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?
 

When was the bear tied up with a chain? Why?
 

1. The story of an ant’s life sounds almost untrue. The italicised phrase means
 (i) highly exaggerated.
(ii) too remarkable to be true.
(iii) not based on facts.

Why did Tilloo’s father advise him not to try to reach the surface of the planet?
 

Why did Chandni hate the rope round her neck?
 

 Name two things the elephant can do with his trunk, and two he cannot.

What was Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook? Did it come true?
 

Why did he buy a young goat?

Kari was like a baby. What are the main points of comparison?
 

Whom does Golu ask, “Why don’t you ever fly like other birds?”
 

“But the cop’s mind would not consider Soapy”. What did the cop not consider, and why?
 

What jobs are new ants trained for?
 

3. Golu’s relatives did not answer his questions because
(i) they were shy.
(ii) the questions were too difficult.
(iii) Golu was a naughty baby.

1. From the first paragraph
(i) pick out two phrases which describe the desert as most people believe it is;
(ii) pick out two phrases which describe the desert as specialists see it. Which do you think is          an apt description, and why?

What changes had occurred, which forced people to live in underground homes?

What are some of the signs of approaching winter referred to in the text?
 

Mention three things we can learn from the ‘tiny teacher’. Give reasons for choosing these items.

In a desert the temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night. Why?

How do the smaller desert animals fulfil their need for water?