Dad and the Cat and the Tree (Poem): NCERT 7th CBSE Honeycomb English Chapter 17
Question: Why was Dad sure he wouldn’t fall?
Answer: The Dad was sure he wouldn’t fall because he was a good climber.
Question: Which phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s Self-confidence best?
Answer: “Right just. Leave it to me.” “Easy as winking to a climber like me.”
Question: Describe Plan A and its consequences.
Answer: According to Plan A, father would have reached the tree top with the help of the ladder. However, the ladder slipped and father fell on the ground.
Question: Plan C was success. What went wrong then?
Answer: Even though Plan C was a success, it did not work out as planned. The moment the father reached the tree top, the cat jumped and touched the ground and was again out of father’s reach.
Question: The cat was very happy to be on the ground. Pick out the phrase used to express this idea.
Answer: “Smiling and Smirking.”
Question: Describe the Cat and the Dad situation in the beginning and at the end of the poem.
Answer: At the Onset, the cat was stuck on the tree and father was confident to be able to drive it away. By the time the poem ended, the cat was free and the father got stuck in the tree.
Question: Why and when did Dad say each of the following?
- Fall
- Never mind
- Funny joke
- Rubbish
Answer:
- When his wife warned him against falling, father with a great surprise said “fall?”
- Having fallen to the ground, the father did not give up and brushing the dirt from his hair and clothes said, “never mind.”
- When his wife again warned him against falling while he was executing Plan B, he found his wife’s warnings to be a “funny joke.”
- After the second fall, when his wife intervened saying that he might break his neck, he again dismissed her concern by saying, “rubbish.”
Question: Do you find the poem humorous? Read aloud lines which make you laugh.
Answer: Of course. The poem is full of humour. The narrator’s father falling over and over again was quite humorous.
- “the cat gave a yell / and sprang to the ground.”
- “it slipped. He landed in the flower bed.”
Question: How many times does the narrator’s father try to climb the tree?
Answer: The narrator’s father tried to climb the tree thrice. To do SO, he executed Pan A, B and C.
Question: State an adjective used to describe the tree.
Answer: Wobbly
Question: From where did the narrator’ father get the ladder?
Answer: The narrator’s father got the ladder from the garden shed.
Question: Why did Plan B fail?
Answer: Father swung himself on a branch and the branch broke. Thus, the Plan B failed.
Question: Describe the tone in which the narrator’s father dismissed his wife’s warnings every single time.
Answer: When his wife warned him the first time, father was really astonished. He thought how a good climber like him could fall. The Second time his wife warned him, he laughed at her finding her warning to be a funny joke.
Question: Discuss plan A, B and C and the reasons for their respective failures.
Answer: According to Plan A, father would have reached the tree top with the help of the ladder. However, the ladder slipped and father fell on the ground.
Then, he thought of Plan B. He swung himself on the branch. But, the branch broke and father again fell on the ground.
Finally, he thought of Plan C. He thought of climbing the garden wall. However, even that did not work as planned.
The moment the father reached the tree top, the cat jumped and touched the ground and was again out of father’s reach.
Directions – 1 (Q. Nos. 1 – 6). Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
He got out the leadder
From the garden shed.
It slipped. He landed
In the flower bed.
“Never mind,” said Dad,
Brushing the dirt
Off his hair and his face.
And his trousers and his shirt,
Question: Does father lose all his hope of bringing the cat down?
Answer: No, he doesn’t lose hope because climbing up a tree was a child’s play for him. Therefore he know that he would be successful in his Venture.
Question: Write two pairs of rhyming words from the extract.
Answer: Shed-bed; dirt-shirt
Question: Does father lose hope?
Answer: No, father doesn’t lose hope because he had confidence in his skill of climbing up a tree.
Question: Where did father bring the ladder from?
- Garden
- Flower bed
- Cow shed
- Drawing room
Answer:
- 1. Garden shed
Question: What happens after the poet’s father fall off the ladder?
- He gives up.
- He gets up and goes to take rest.
- He gets up and plans for other trick.
- None of the above
Answer:
- 3. He gets up and plans for other trick.
Question: Where all he cleans the dirt from?
- His shirts and trousers.
- His hair and face.
- Both (a) and (d)
- Only (b)
Answer:
- 3. both (a) and (d)
Directions – 2 (Q. Nos. 1 – 6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
“We’ll try Plan B. Stand
Out of the way!’
Mum said, “Don’t fall
Again, O.K.?’
“Fall again? said Dad.
“Funny joke!’
Then he swung himself up
On a branch. It broke.
Question: Why does father ask mother to stand away?
Answer: Father asks mother to stand out of the way that she might not get hurt.
Question: How did father make an attempt to save the Cat for the Second time?
Answer: For the second time, instead of climbing up the ladder, he swung himself on a branch.
Question: Was he successful in saving the cat this time?
Answer: No, he was not successful because the branch that he swung himself upon broke and he fell again.
Question: What does mother Warn him?
- To give up
- To bring the cat down immediately
- To beware of dogs
- Not to fall again
Answer:
- 4. Not to fall again
Dad and the Cat and the Tree – Question: How does father react at this?
- He finds it a funny joke
- He needs it seriously
- He obeys her advice
- He waits for the right way
Dad and the Cat and the Tree – Answer:
- 1. He finds it a funny joke
Dad and the Cat and the Tree – Question: Mum Warned Dad to
- take medicines regularly.
- climb up the tree carefully.
- walk Slowly.
- stay silent.
Answer:
- 2. climb up the tree carefully