The Desert NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 3

The Desert NCERT Extra question Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 3

1. What is the setting of 'The Desert'?
Answer: The story is set in the Thar Desert.

2. Who is the main character in the story?
Answer: The main character is a little bird named Cuckoo.

3. What is Cuckoo searching for in the desert?
Answer: Cuckoo is searching for water in the desert.

4. What does Cuckoo ask the other animals for?
Answer: Cuckoo asks for directions to find water.

5. Which animals help Cuckoo in the desert?
Answer: The camel, the snake, and the crow help Cuckoo.

6. Why does the snake refuse to help Cuckoo initially?
Answer: The snake is too lazy and doesn't want to move.

7. How does the crow help Cuckoo?
Answer: The crow suggests following the camel to find water.

9. What lesson does the story teach about survival in the desert?
Answer: Cooperation and help are essential for survival in the harsh desert.

10. What does Cuckoo realize at the end of the story?
Answer: Cuckoo realizes the value of unity and cooperation.

11. Why is the desert described as a tough place to live?
Answer: The desert lacks water and has extreme temperatures, making it challenging for survival.

12. What is the significance of the camel in the story?
Answer: The camel is a symbol of survival in the harsh desert environment.

13. How does the author create empathy for Cuckoo?
Answer: The author portrays Cuckoo's struggle and desperation in the scorching desert.

14. What is the climax of the story?
Answer: The climax is when Cuckoo finds water with the help of the other animals.

15. What role does the sun play in the desert setting?
Answer: The sun intensifies the harsh conditions, making survival difficult for animals.

16. What do the animals personify in the story?
Answer: The animals personify teamwork and cooperation.

17. Why is the crow considered wise in the story?
Answer: The crow gives practical advice and helps Cuckoo in a difficult situation.

18. What do you think is the moral of the story?
Answer: Unity and cooperation are crucial for overcoming challenges.

19. How does the desert affect the behavior of the characters?
Answer: The characters become helpful and cooperative in the face of adversity.

20. Describe Cuckoo's emotions when finding water.
Answer: Cuckoo feels relief, gratitude, and joy upon finding water.

21. What is the significance of the title "The Desert"?
Answer: The title reflects the challenging environment where the story unfolds.

22. How does the story emphasize the interdependence of living beings?
Answer: The animals rely on each other for survival, highlighting interdependence.

23. Why is the snake's behavior ironic in the desert setting?
Answer: The snake, a desert creature, refuses to help initially, displaying ironic laziness.

24. What does the story suggest about adaptability in challenging situations?
Answer: Adaptability is crucial for survival, as shown by the animals in the desert.

25. How does the author use descriptive language to depict the desert?
Answer: The author uses vivid descriptions to portray the harshness and vastness of the desert.

26. What role does hope play in the story?
Answer: Hope drives Cuckoo to seek help and persevere in the challenging desert.

27. How does the camel's nature contribute to the theme of cooperation?
Answer: The camel's willingness to help and guide others promotes the theme of cooperation.

28. What does the story suggest about the importance of community support?
Answer: Community support is essential for overcoming challenges, as seen in the desert journey.

29. How does the story challenge stereotypes about certain animals?
Answer: The story challenges stereotypes by portraying the crow as wise and the snake as lazy.

30. What does the desert symbolize in the context of the story?
Answer: The desert symbolizes adversity and challenges that require collaboration to overcome.

31. What role does water play as a symbol in the story?
Answer: Water symbolizes life and sustenance, a crucial element for survival in the desert.

Short answer type question 

1. What is the central theme of "The Desert" in Class 7 English?

Answer: The central theme is survival in a harsh desert, highlighting the importance of cooperation and unity among animals facing adversity.

2. Who is the protagonist, and what is their quest in the story?

Answer: Cuckoo, the protagonist, searches for water in the challenging Thar Desert, illustrating the struggle for survival.

3.How do different animals assist Cuckoo in the desert journey?

Answer: The camel, snake, and crow each provide unique assistance to Cuckoo, showcasing the diversity of support needed in challenging situations.

4. Why is the desert depicted as a formidable environment for living beings?

Answer: The lack of water and extreme temperatures make the desert a challenging and inhospitable place for survival.

5. What does the crow symbolize in the story, and how does it contribute to the plot?

Answer: The crow symbolizes wisdom and practical advice, playing a crucial role in guiding Cuckoo towards water and fostering collaboration.

6. How does the snake's initial reluctance to help contribute to the story's conflict?

Answer: The snake's laziness introduces conflict as it initially refuses to assist, emphasizing the need for overcoming individual shortcomings for collective well-being.

7. What lessons about teamwork and interdependence emerge from the desert journey?

Answer: The story underscores the importance of teamwork, mutual assistance, and interdependence for survival, lessons applicable beyond the desert setting.

8. Describe the emotions Cuckoo experiences upon finding water in the desert.

Answer: Cuckoo experiences relief, gratitude, and joy upon finding water, underscoring the significance of basic necessities for emotional well-being.

9. How does the author use descriptive language to evoke the harshness of the desert environment?

Answer: The author employs vivid descriptions, emphasizing scorching heat, vastness, and scarcity to vividly portray the challenging nature of the desert.

10. What role does the camel play in the story, and how does it embody resilience?

Answer: The camel serves as a guide and embodies resilience, navigating the harsh desert conditions and symbolizing adaptability in the face of adversity.

11. Why is the title "The Desert" significant, and how does it reflect the story's essence?

Answer: The title signifies the challenging setting, reflecting the story's essence of overcoming adversity in a harsh, barren environment.

12. How does the story emphasize the importance of adaptability in the face of challenges?

Answer: The characters showcase adaptability by adjusting their behavior and working together, highlighting the necessity of flexibility in challenging circumstances.

13. What commentary does the story provide on the symbiotic relationships among different species in nature?

Answer: The story emphasizes the interconnectedness of species, illustrating how collaboration and support are essential for the survival of all in the ecosystem.

14. How does the sun serve as a symbolic element in the desert landscape?

Answer: The sun symbolizes the harsh conditions of the desert, intensifying the challenges faced by the characters and setting the tone for the story.

15. Discuss the significance of hope as a driving force for Cuckoo throughout the narrative.

Answer: Hope motivates Cuckoo to persist in the quest for water, highlighting the power of optimism in the face of adversity.

16. What underlying messages about community support are embedded in the story?

Answer: The story underscores the importance of community support, portraying how collective efforts and mutual aid lead to success in challenging situations.

17. How does the story challenge stereotypes associated with certain animals, such as the crow and the snake?

Answer: The story challenges stereotypes by portraying the crow as wise and the snake as lazy, offering a nuanced perspective on animal characteristics.

18. In what ways does the desert symbolize a testing ground for character virtues in the story?

Answer: The desert serves as a testing ground, bringing out virtues like kindness, cooperation, and resilience in the characters facing adversity.

19. Explain the role of water as a symbolic element in the story's narrative structure.

Answer: Water symbolizes life and sustenance, acting as a crucial element in the story's narrative structure and representing the ultimate goal of survival.

20. What broader life lessons can readers draw from the challenges faced by the characters in "The Desert"?

Answer: The story imparts lessons on the importance of cooperation, adaptability, and resilience in overcoming life's challenges, offering valuable insights applicable beyond the desert setting.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Describe briefly a desert.

Answer: A desert is generally without water and vegetation. It is the home of a variety of people, animals, plants that have learnt to live under very hot and dry conditions.. The few plants and animals that live in deserts have developed the ability to require less water than most plants and animals. A desert is not always flat, unchanging wasteland of dry sand. It may have mountains and hills. It may have an oasis, big or small. Thus deserts are an important part of natures great plan.

2. What are called ‘Sand dunes’?

Answer: Some deserts are almost totally without water. In such places, strong winds blow raising heaps of sand and depositing them as moulds. These are called ‘sand dunes’ that shift and move endlessly across the desert. Few plants can survive on such dry, shifting sands.

3. How camel live in the desert?

Answer: The camel, popularly known as ‘ship of the desert’ , can drink a lot of water at one time. The camel is a typical desert animal. They can live without water for days together. The reason is they sweat very little. Camels can stand high body temperature. They do not need to sweat and can, therefore retain the water they drink for long period of time.

4. What do the smaller desert animals do to live in the desert?

Answer: The smaller desert animals do not drink water. They burrow underground during the hot day and come out at night to eat. Some of them eat other animals and get the water they need from the moisture in the meat. Others eat plants and seeds and get the water they need from plant juices.

5. How desert plants lead their lives?

Answer: Desert plants also adapt themselves to the life they lead. Cactus plants store water in their thick stems. Their roots lie close to the surface of the ground and quickly absorb the moisture from the light rains that occasionally fall.

6. What happen in the humid climates in the desert?

Answer: In humid climates, the moisture in the air acts like a blanket and protects the earth’s surface from the hot rays of the sun. The absence of this blanket in desert lands causes the desert to heat up rapidly during the day and to cool off rapidly at night.

7. ‘Desert can be a beautiful place’ yet water is the necessity of every individual. Discuss and throw light on conservation of water and its resources.

Answer: Nature has bestowed us with its bounties and gifts and deserts are one of them. But the hardships faced by the inhabitants are really harsh. Water resources are depleting and no measures are taken into consideration for optimum use of it. Well and rivers are drying up. Constant source of rain water needs to be restored and more canals should be dug so as to provide the basic necessity of every living being.

8. Animals and plants that live in desert have adapted themselves yet facing hardship is part of their lives comment.

Answer: Living in deserts is full of hardships be it cold or hot desert. The struggle of sustenance takes a toll on life in desert. They have to face scarcity and extremities of weather conditions. Less flora and fauna blot the beauties of these places. People have to stay inside during day restricting their working hours.

9. Describe a desert in your own way. Write a paragraph and read it aloud to your classmates.

Answer: A desert is generally without water and vegetation but it is as beautiful as a forest. A desert may be too hot or too cold but plants and animals. They have learned to survive in hot and dry and cold condition. Deserts also have a different kind of vegetation.

10. A camel can do without water for days together. What is the reason given in the text?

Answer: A camel can do without water for days together because they sweat very little. Camels can stand high body temperature. They don’t need to sweat and therefore can retain the water they drink for long periods of time.

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

Answer: The smaller desert animals spend the day in the underground burrows to escape the heat. Some of them eat other animals and get the water they need from the moisture from the meat. Others eat plants and get the water they need from plant juices.

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

Answer: In humid climates, the moisture in the air acts like a blanket and protects the earth’s surface from the rays of the sun. The absence of the blanket in desert lands causes the desert to heat upto rapidly during the day and to cool off rapidly at night.