I Want Something in a Cage NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 6

I Want Something in a Cage NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers
I Want Something in a Cage Comprehension check (Pages 38-39) 

Question 1.

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the 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. ……………..

Answer:

(i) True

(ii) False

(iii) False

(iv) True.

Question 2.

Why is Mr. Purcell compared to an owl ?

Answer:

Mr Purcell had huge spectacles. Through his spectacles, his eyes appeared to be incredibly large. He had the appearance of an owl. As a result, he compared Mr. Purcell to an owl.

Question 3.

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.

Answer:

(i) Twitters, squeals, cheeps and squeals.

(ii) Scampered, flicker, stir, rustling

(iii) Frightened, bewildered and blindly seeking.

Question 4.

“…..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 ‘iť refer to ?

(ii) Why does Mr. Purcell not hear ‘iť clearly ?

Answer:

i) Here, ‘it’ refers to the cries of the caged birds and animals in the shop.

 (ii) Mr Purcell does  not hear the noise clearly because he was quiet used to it.

Comprehension check (Page 42)

Question 1.

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

Answer:

I believe the atmosphere around Mr. Purcell's business was rather gloomy and depressing. There were frenzied circles and terrified voices in the shop. Birds' twittering, squeals, and squeaks only served to aggravate and monotonize the situation.

Question 2.

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

Answer:

The stranger that entered the pet shop was dressed in gleaming shoes and a cheap, ill-fitting, but new suit. He had a penetrating stare and short hair. He was looking around the store. He was looking for something in a cage.

Question 3.

(i) The man insisted an buying the doves because he was fond of birds. Do you agree?

(ii) How had he earned the five dollars he had ?

Answer:

(i) No, I don’t agree with it. The man was not fond of birds. He loved freedom. He insisted on buying doves so that he could grant them freedom for ever.

(ii) The man had lived in prison for ten years. He worked there. He was given fifty cents per year. Thus, he earned five dollars in ten years.

Question 4.

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

Answer:

I don’t think the customer was interested in the care and feeding of the doves. This is because he set them free immediately after buying them.

I Want Something in a Cage Exercises Question and Answer

Discuss the following topics in groups :

Question 1.

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

Answer:

The man himself had been in prison for ten years. He knew how painful is the life in a cage. He knew the great importance of freedom. So, he set the doves free.

Question 2.

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

Answer:

Mr. Purcell was irritated because he had supplied the pair of doves at a steep discount. He assumed the purchaser was in severe need of the doves. He couldn't figure out why the man who had bargained for the best pair of doves had let them go.