Dreams and Discoveries — Class 7 English
Poorvi · Chapter 3
Visual story
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7- Mathematics
- Science
- + 3 more
- Space weighted by chapter size
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
2- Mathematics
- Social Science
- Space weighted by chapter size
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
- Space weighted by chapter size
- Charts from the book's own data
- Traps corrected
Chapter summary
The story in steps
- Anita tells how Anand makes a burglar alarm, but it soaks Papa when he opens the door softly.
- After watching a film on time travel, Anand builds a time machine and keeps everyone disturbed and worried.
- Papa refuses to test the machine, and Ma makes Anand promise not to touch it while the parents are away.
- At night, Anita hears noises, wakes Anand, and the thief Boppa breaks into the house and locks them inside.
- Anand sends Boppa into his own room, where a crash and strange sounds begin after the time machine starts.
- Neighbours rescue the children, but Boppa vanishes, leaving only his green scarf near the humming machine.
Key ideas & terms
- Anand
- The young aspiring inventor in 'My Brother's Great Invention' whose gadgets, including a burglar alarm and a 'time machine', drive the story.
- Anita
- The fourteen-year-old narrator and Anand's elder sister, who observes his inventing with humour and affection.
- Onomatopoeia
- A device taught in this unit — words that imitate sounds (such as banging or clattering), used to bring the inventions to life.
- Paper boats (symbol)
- In Tagore's poem, the boats symbolise a child's hopes, imagination and longing to reach the wider world.
- Shaana
- The curious young letter-writer in 'North, South, East, West' who travels across India and records its diversity and changing climate.
- Epistolary form
- A narrative told through dated letters or diary entries, used in 'North, South, East, West' to follow Shaana's journey.
शब्दार्थ · Word meanings
- racket
- a loud and disturbing noise
- scowling
- having an angry frowning expression
- rigged up
- assembled something temporarily
- tinkering
- experimenting or fiddling
- dynamos
- electric generator
- stealthily
- quietly so one is not heard
- sceptical
- doubtful
- frantic
- hurried and disorganised
- crestfallen look
- sad and disappointed appearance
- ruffianly
- rough or violent looking
- cudgel
- a short thick stick weapon
- intruders
- people entering without permission
Extra questions & answers
Who narrates 'My Brother's Great Invention' and who is the inventor?
The story is narrated by fourteen-year-old Anita; the inventor is her younger brother Anand, who loves building gadgets.
How did Anand's father become the target of the burglar alarm?
Anand's home-made 'burglar alarm' misfired and dropped a bag of water on his father, who walked in and got soaked, causing an uproar.
What did Anand believe his time machine had done?
When a real burglar broke in and disappeared near the machine, Anand was convinced his time machine had sent the intruder into the past.
Why does the child in 'Paper Boats' write his name and village on the boats?
He hopes that someone in an unknown faraway land will find the boats and come to know who he is and where he lives.
How does 'Paper Boats' blend imagination and reality?
It mixes the real act of floating boats with dreamy fancy, as the child imagines fairies of sleep sailing his boats laden with dreams under the stars.
What form is 'North, South, East, West' written in?
It is written as a travel diary of dated letters that Shaana writes about her journey across different parts of India.
What does Shaana learn about the Sundarbans?
She learns that the Sundarbans is a wetland where mangrove trees grow in seawater, and that the area floods much more than it used to.
Which observations by Shaana point to climate change?
She notices less snow on the glaciers and increased flooding in the Sundarbans, both signs of a changing environment.
What quality links Anand, the child in 'Paper Boats' and Shaana?
All three are driven by imagination and curiosity — about invention, about the wider world, and about the diversity of their own country.
What is the main theme of Unit 3, 'Dreams and Discoveries'?
It celebrates the dreams, curiosity and inventive spirit that lead to discovery, whether through science, imagination or exploration.
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Work in pairs and guess the invention. 1. I am a concept invented by ancient Indian mathematicians. I add value to numbers. Without me, calculations in the modern digital world would be impossible. Who am I?
You are Zero. It was conceived by ancient Indian mathematicians and gives place value to other digits, making modern mathematics and digital computing possible.
I Work in pairs and guess the invention. 2. I am an ancient Indian practice, now popular globally. I focus on physical and mental well-being. What am I?
You are Yoga. It is an ancient Indian discipline that unites body, mind and breath and is now practised worldwide for health and well-being.
II Discuss in groups of four what you think the world today would have been like without inventions and discoveries.
Without inventions and discoveries life would be much harder and slower. There would be no electricity, medicines, transport, or internet. We would still depend on manual labour, face more diseases, and have little knowledge about the world. Progress in communication, education and comfort would not have happened.
III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. These words display qualities of an inventor. Row 1: C R _ A T _ V _ T _
CREATIVITY
III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. These words display qualities of an inventor. Row 2: C U _ _ _ I T Y
CURIOSITY
III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. These words display qualities of an inventor. Row 3: R I _ _ - T _ K _ N G
RISK-TAKING
III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. These words display qualities of an inventor. Row 4: D E T E _ _ I N A T I _ _
DETERMINATION
III Fill the grid given below with missing letters to complete the words. These words display qualities of an inventor. Row 5: I _ _ G I _ A _ I O N
IMAGINATION
Let us discuss
I Complete the cause-and-effect table given below. 1. Anand set up his burglar alarm and rigged it to work when the door was opened softly. Effect: ?
Papa, who always opens the door softly, triggered the alarm. The water bag fell on him and soaked him completely, making him very angry.
I Complete the cause-and-effect table given below. 2. Cause: ? Anita was able to avoid any responsibility as Anand faced the consequences alone.
Cause: Anita had warned Anand beforehand that she did not want to be involved and told him that if he got punished he should not bring her name into it.
I Complete the cause-and-effect table given below. 3. We watched the movie ‘Back to the Future’. Effect: Anand: ?
Anand became inspired to build a time machine of his own. It ended peace and quiet in the house as he collected parts, hammered and built a control panel for a fortnight.
I Complete the cause-and-effect table given below. 4. Papa firmly said ‘NO’ to trying out the time machine. Effect: ?
Ma intervened and convinced Papa to at least have a look at it. Later Papa allowed the machine to remain but still forbade trying it out until they returned from Kharagpur, and finally got it dismantled.
II Do you think Anand was able to keep his promise regarding the time machine? If yes, why? If no, why not?
No, he did not intend to keep it fully and the circumstances tested him. He had promised half-heartedly and felt offended that his creation was not respected. Although the children did not deliberately test the machine, the burglar accidentally activated it when Anand misdirected him to that room, so the machine was used while the parents were away.
Let us discuss
Arrange the following events in the correct order of occurrence. 1. The door swings open, and they see Boppa, standing there with an evil grin.
Correct order position 2. After Anita wakes Anand, the door swings open and they see Boppa.
Arrange the following events in the correct order of occurrence. 2. Boppa is nowhere to be found, but his green scarf is lying near the time machine.
Correct order position 5. This is the last event after neighbours search the house.
Arrange the following events in the correct order of occurrence. 3. Mrs. Sharma, her husband, and Dr. Mohan unlock the door and enter the house to help the children.
Correct order position 4. They come after hearing the children shout following the strange noises.
Arrange the following events in the correct order of occurrence. 4. Anita wakes Anand up, informing him that someone is trying to get into the house.
Correct order position 1. This is the first event after hearing scratching and rattling at night.
Arrange the following events in the correct order of occurrence. 5. Anand misleads Boppa into entering his room instead of his father’s room.
Correct order position 3. He does this to gain time before the machine is activated. So final correct sequence is 4, 1, 5, 3, 2.
Let us think and reflect
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. Before beginning this story, let me put you in the picture... (i) Complete the following sentence suitably by choosing the correct option from those given in the brackets. When Anita says, “…let me put you in the picture”, she wants to _________ (introduce/summarise) the situation for the benefit of the readers.
introduce. She wants to introduce the background, her family and her brother's nature before the main incident.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) Anand loves ‘tinkering’ with all sorts of electrical gadgets. This means that he enjoys _________ gadgets. A. dismantling and creating B. labelling or naming C. repairing or improving D. collecting and displaying
A. dismantling and creating. He likes to experiment, take things apart and try to make new inventions, even if they do not work.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) Which of the following options most suitably describes Anand’s personality? A. methodical and cautious B. creative and experimental C. energetic and hasty D. shy and reserved
B. creative and experimental. He is curious, imaginative and constantly tries to build new gadgets.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iv) Based on the extract, compare what Anita thinks of her brother Anand with what he thinks of himself.
Anita thinks Anand is bothersome and over-confident; he thinks he is a scientist but his inventions always fail and trouble the family. Anand thinks of himself as a genuine scientist and inventor who is professional and capable of making useful things like a burglar alarm.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. I was about to direct him upstairs, when Anand said quickly, “The one next to this one.” (i) Complete the sentence given below with a suitable reason. Anita was angry with Anand because ____________.
Anand had directed the intruder to his own room where the time machine was kept, which she thought would make the intruder even angrier when he found nothing valuable and would return.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. (ii) Which action of Anand shows his presence of mind?
His quick decision to mislead Boppa away from their parents' room to his own room. This gave the children time to shout for help and also delayed the burglar while he fumbled for the light switch.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iii) What might be the cause of the strange noises emerging from the next room? A. The intruder moving furniture around B. Anand’s time machine getting activated C. The intruder locating the light switch D. Anand’s invention malfunctioning
B. Anand's time machine getting activated. The crash, scream, thumps, whine and humming indicate the machine was accidentally started by the intruder.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iv) Which of the following best describes the atmosphere in this extract? A. relaxing B. peaceful C. tense D. sad E. suspenseful F. joyful (a) A, D and E (b) B and F (c) C and E (d) Only D
(c) C and E. The situation is tense and suspenseful as the children are locked in and hear frightening noises.
II Complete the table with the suitable traits of the characters based on evidence from the text. Choose the traits given in the box below. creative curious careful responsible bothersome confident Anand 2. ____________ He loves tinkering with all sorts of electrical gadgets, tools, dynamos, planks of wood, and things like that. And he keeps creating ‘inventions’ that never work out as they are supposed to.
curious and creative. Loving to tinker and keep creating shows curiosity and creativity.
II Complete the table with the suitable traits of the characters based on evidence from the text. Anand 3. ____________ “Nothing will go wrong this time. I’ve planned it out carefully. See the blueprint.”
confident. He is sure his plan will succeed this time.
II Complete the table with the suitable traits of the characters based on evidence from the text. Anita 1. ____________ “We’re old enough to look after ourselves, Ma…”
responsible and confident. She reassures her mother that they can manage alone.
II Complete the table with the suitable traits of the characters based on evidence from the text. Anita 2. ____________ “But how does the alarm know that a burglar is opening the door?”
curious and careful. She questions the logic and is sceptical about the invention.
II Complete the table with the suitable traits of the characters based on evidence from the text. Anita 3. ____________ “Now clean up this mess before anyone gets home.”
responsible and careful. She wants to avoid trouble and keep the house in order.
III Answer the following questions. 1. What prompted Anand to create the burglar alarm?
A series of thefts in their colony prompted him. He thought a burglar alarm was needed to protect the house.
III Answer the following questions. 2. How did Anand’s father become the target of the burglar alarm?
The alarm was rigged to trigger only when the door was opened gently and stealthily. Papa always opens the door softly, so he unknowingly activated it and the water bag fell on him.
III Answer the following questions. 3. How did Anand’s parents and sister react to his ideas?
Papa was stern and annoyed, forbidding experiments. Ma was softer, indulgent and tried to balance. Anita was sceptical, warned Anand she would not share the blame, but was still forced to help.
III Answer the following questions. 4. How did Anand behave when he was on his ‘inventing binges’?
He would dismantle gadgets, collect parts, hammer, saw and clatter continuously, keep his room locked and full of wires, springs and a control panel, and neglect his appearance.
III Answer the following questions. 5. Why did Mr. Sharma not believe Anand when he spoke about his time machine?
He thought it was a child's wild imagination. Adults consider a time machine impossible, and the disappearance of the thief seemed too fantastic to be true.
III Answer the following questions. 6. Give an ending to this story, explaining what might have happened to Boppa.
Boppa accidentally pressed the switches and the machine hummed and transported him to another time. He disappeared forever, leaving only his scarf. The family dismantled the machine to prevent further danger, and Anand remains convinced his invention worked.
Let us learn
I Read the highlighted word in the following sentence. It’s quite simple. The moment the door opens, this alarm is tripped off and makes a clanging sound. Such sound words are called onomatopoeic words. 1. Read the sound words used in the story in Column 1. Complete Column 2 by matching expressions from the box given below. Column 1 (ii) Humming Column 2 ?
a continuous low and soothing sound
I Read the highlighted word in the following sentence. 1. Read the sound words used in the story in Column 1. Complete Column 2 by matching expressions from the box given below. (iii) Hissed
whispered angrily
I Read the highlighted word in the following sentence. 1. Read the sound words used in the story in Column 1. Complete Column 2 by matching expressions from the box given below. (iv) Hammering, sawing, clattering
constant and loud construction noises
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. Well, that was the end of peace and quiet in the house. 1. Match the words in Column 1 with the correct pairs in Column 2 to make binomials. (i) safe and ?
safe and sound
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 1. Match the words in Column 1 with the correct pairs in Column 2 to make binomials. (ii) odds and ?
odds and ends
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 1. Match the words in Column 1 with the correct pairs in Column 2 to make binomials. (iii) make and ?
make and break
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 1. Match the words in Column 1 with the correct pairs in Column 2 to make binomials. (iv) pros and ?
pros and cons
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 1. Match the words in Column 1 with the correct pairs in Column 2 to make binomials. (v) now and ?
now and never
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 1. Match the words in Column 1 with the correct pairs in Column 2 to make binomials. (vi) give and ?
give and take
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 2. Complete the following sentences with suitable binomials from 1. (i) This project will be a ______________ moment for our team’s success.
make or break
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 2. Complete the following sentences with suitable binomials from 1. (ii) After a long journey, we were relieved to arrive home ______________.
safe and sound
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 2. Complete the following sentences with suitable binomials from 1. (iii) Every friendship works well when there is a balance of ______________.
give and take
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 2. Complete the following sentences with suitable binomials from 1. (iv) She organised all the ______________ in the cupboard, to make space for new clothes.
odds and ends
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 2. Complete the following sentences with suitable binomials from 1. (v) Before making a decision, it is important to weigh the ______________ carefully.
pros and cons
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 2. Complete the following sentences with suitable binomials from 1. (vi) This is our final chance to perform on stage, it is ______________.
now or never
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 3. Complete the paragraph by using the phrasal verbs given in the box below. tripped off let up turned out ran out of rigged up It had been raining and we (i) ___________ time to set up for the function, so we quickly (ii) ___________ some decorations using whatever materials we had.
(i) ran out of (ii) rigged up
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 3. Complete the paragraph by using the phrasal verbs given in the box below. We accidentally (iii) ___________ the fire alarm because of the smoke from the bonfire.
tripped off
II Read the highlighted phrase in the following sentence from the text. 3. Complete the paragraph by using the phrasal verbs given in the box below. Thankfully, the rain (iv) ___________ just as the guests were arriving, and despite all the chaos, the function (v) ___________ to be a huge success.
(iv) let up (v) turned out
III Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with suitable idioms from the text given in the box below. leaving the coast clear get on our nerves fell over ourselves frighten me half to death get a shelling 1. Shekhar knew he would _______________________ for breaking his mother’s favourite flower vase.
get a shelling
III Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with suitable idioms from the text given in the box below. 2. We _______________________ trying to help the injured dog and get it to the vet as quickly as possible.
fell over ourselves
III Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with suitable idioms from the text given in the box below. 3. Faizy distracted Kanchan, _______________________ for us to get inside the room to prepare the birthday surprise.
leaving the coast clear
III Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with suitable idioms from the text given in the box below. 4. The constant power fluctuations during meetings can _______________________.
get on our nerves
III Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with suitable idioms from the text given in the box below. 5. When I am alone at home, any unexpected loud noise in the night can _______________________.
frighten me half to death
IV 1. Underline the verbs in simple past and past perfect tense for the following sentences from the text. (i) Ma had rushed in to see what the racket was all about and found Papa standing there, sopping wet and scowling.
had rushed is past perfect, found is simple past.
IV 1. Underline the verbs in simple past and past perfect tense for the following sentences from the text. (ii) Anand had vanished by this time and reappeared only after dinner when Papa had cooled down.
had vanished and had cooled down are past perfect, reappeared is simple past.
IV 2. Fill in the blanks with the simple past or past perfect form of the verbs given in brackets. (i) After Rohan A. __________ (finish) his homework, he B. __________ (decide) to go for a walk. He C. __________ (leave) the house and D. __________ (realise) he E. __________ (forget) his keys inside.
A. had finished B. decided C. left D. realised E. had forgotten
IV 2. Fill in the blanks with the simple past or past perfect form of the verbs given in brackets. (ii) By the time we A. __________ (reach) the station, the train B. __________ (already/leave). We C. __________ (wait) for the next one to arrive.
A. reached B. had already left C. waited
IV 3. Combine the pairs of sentences using the time expressions in the boxes given below and rewrite them using the past perfect tenses. (ii) We started work. He arrived in the morning.
We had started work before he arrived in the morning. / By the time he arrived in the morning, we had started work.
IV 3. Combine the pairs of sentences using the time expressions in the boxes given below and rewrite them using the past perfect tenses. (iii) They set up the tents. The others brought food and medicine.
They had set up the tents before the others brought food and medicine.
IV 3. Combine the pairs of sentences using the time expressions in the boxes given below and rewrite them using the past perfect tenses. (iv) The students became quiet. They heard the teacher coming.
The students became quiet when they heard the teacher coming. / The students had become quiet when they heard the teacher coming.
IV 3. Combine the pairs of sentences using the time expressions in the boxes given below and rewrite them using the past perfect tenses. (v) The villagers left the village. The flood submerged the entire area.
The villagers had left the village before the flood submerged the entire area. / By the time the flood submerged the entire area, the villagers had left the village.
Let us listen
I You will listen to a conversation between Anita and Toby. Toby is a Martian and is stranded on Earth. He has become Anita’s friend. As you listen, choose the true statements from 1–5 given below. 1. Toby misses his school.
False. He says he misses his people and home, not school.
I You will listen to a conversation between Anita and Toby. 2. Anita accepts Toby as her friend.
True. She says she is happy to have him as her friend.
I You will listen to a conversation between Anita and Toby. 3. Anita asks Toby about one of his facial features.
True. She asks how he is able to see with only one eye in the centre of his face.
I You will listen to a conversation between Anita and Toby. 4. Toby tells Anita that she had a banana for breakfast.
False. He says she had an apple for breakfast.
I You will listen to a conversation between Anita and Toby. 5. Toby shares that he can see much clearer with a closed eye.
True. He says he can see even with his eye closed, beyond mountains, clouds, wood and metals.
II Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear. 1. Toby: I miss my _________________ and home.
people
II Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear. 2. Toby: Well, we _________________ don’t need to eat anything. We get our _________________ from the Sun.
Martians, energy
II Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear. 3. Anita: Oh! Don’t you ever feel like having ice creams and _________________?
chocolates
II Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear. 4. Anita: Okay, tell me one thing. How are you able to see with only_________________ eye?
one
II Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear. 5. Toby: I can see beyond mountains and _________________, woods and even _________________.
clouds, metals
Let us speak
I Work in pairs. Pronounce these words out loud and put them in the correct boxes given below. Sounds like ‘oo’ Sounds like ‘off’ Sounds like ‘o’ Sounds like ‘ow’ Sounds like ‘aw’ Words: bough dough through cough thought plough
Sounds like ‘oo’ - through; Sounds like ‘off’ - cough; Sounds like ‘o’ - dough; Sounds like ‘ow’ - bough, plough; Sounds like ‘aw’ - thought.
II Read the story given below aloud. Check the correct pronunciation with the teacher. In spite of a nagging cough, the woman continued working in her farm, right through the rough weather...
This is a pronunciation practice task. Students should read aloud paying attention to -ough words: cough as off, rough as uff, through as oo, ploughed as ow, bough as ow, dough as oh, though as oh, tough as uff.
III Now try saying this tongue twister fast as many times as you can clearly. The boy with the tough dough on the rose bough fell in the trough and caught a cough.
Practice for fluency. tough, trough, cough pronounced with off/uff sound, dough with oh sound, bough with ow sound.
Let us write
Now, choose a vocation and write a paragraph. You may use the hints given below. • why you like this vocation • what training is needed • what tools and equipment are required • who would your co-workers be • highlight the importance of team work • how you would deal with the customers • how you plan to pursue it with a sense of pride
I like the vocation of a chef because it combines creativity, science and service. Training requires a diploma in culinary arts and apprenticeship in a kitchen. Tools include knives, ovens, mixers and stoves. Co-workers are sous-chefs, waiters and managers. Teamwork is vital as cooking, plating and serving must be coordinated. I would deal with customers politely, listening to feedback. I plan to pursue it with pride by using fresh ingredients, maintaining hygiene and constantly learning new recipes.
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Read the questions given below. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher. 1. What comes to mind when you think about ‘paper boats’?
Childhood, rain, streams, imagination, innocence and hope come to mind.
I Read the questions given below. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher. 2. What do you think someone might hope for when they send a paper boat down a stream?
They hope their wish or message will travel far, be found by someone, and that their dreams will come true.
I Read the questions given below. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher. 3. Read the title of the poem ‘Paper Boats’ and predict what the poem might be about.
The poem is likely about a child floating paper boats with his name and dreams, imagining them travelling to distant lands.
II Read the given paragraph and match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box below. loading speedily flowing swelling putting bouncing 1. running
speedily flowing
II Read the given paragraph and match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box below. 2. skipping
bouncing
II Read the given paragraph and match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box below. 3. bulging
swelling
II Read the given paragraph and match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box below. 4. lading
loading
II Read the given paragraph and match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box below. 5. burying
putting
Let us discuss
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. The poet sends paper boats down a 1. __________ (stream/river) each day,
stream
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. 2. __________ (school/ village) on them.
village
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. 3. __________ (strange/familiar) land will find them
strange
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. 4. __________ (rose/shiuli) flowers
shiuli
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. 5. __________ (night/morning).
night
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. 6. __________ (clouds/birds) in the sky
clouds
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. 7. __________ (swim/float) under the midnight stars
float
I Choose the correct words from the brackets to complete the summary of the poem given below. 8. __________ (dreams/fruits).
dreams
II Choose the correct option for the following. The theme of the poem is ________________. 1. innocence 2. imagination 3. ignorance 4. playfulness 5. travel (i) 1, 2 and 3 (ii) 3, 4 and 5 (iii) 1, 4 and 5 (iv) 1, 2 and 4
(iv) 1, 2 and 4 - innocence, imagination and playfulness.
III Identify whether the following statement is true or false. The setting of the poem is a natural, outdoor environment.
True. It is beside a running stream, under the sky and midnight stars.
IV Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word given within the brackets. The tone is ____________________ (sad and serious/gentle and wishful) and the mood is ____________________ (thoughtful/boring).
gentle and wishful, thoughtful
V Identify the examples of alliteration from the poem.
Examples include big black letters, blooms of the dawn is not alliteration but big black is, and fairies of sleep has soft repetition. The clear alliteration is big black.
VI Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the poem. 1. The repetition of words ___________ and ___________ emphasises the passage of time.
day by day and on and on
VI Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the poem. 2. The poet uses imagery like ___________ and ___________ to create a clear picture in the minds of the readers.
big black letters and midnight stars / white bulging sails and shiuli flower
VII Match the descriptions in Column 1 with what they symbolise in Column 2. (i) midnight stars Column 2 ?
the vast universe and the child's dreams continuing through the night
VII Match the descriptions in Column 1 with what they symbolise in Column 2. (ii) paper boats
the child's innocence, dreams, hopes, and messages sent out into the world
VII Match the descriptions in Column 1 with what they symbolise in Column 2. (iii) shiuli flowers
purity, beauty, and the start of a new day
Let us think and reflect
I Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars. The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams. (i) Select the option that is most likely to be the speaker as per the extract.
A child poet who is imaginative and dreamy.
I Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. (ii) What can be inferred about the speaker’s feelings when night comes?
He feels calm, hopeful and dreamy, letting his imagination continue even while sleeping.
I Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. (iii) What kind of beings are the ‘fairies of sleep’ imagined as? Select the most appropriate option. A. mischievous B. gentle C. fearsome D. playful
B. gentle
I Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. (iv) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option from those given in the brackets. The phrase ‘lading is their baskets full of dreams’ suggests that the speaker imagines the fairies of sleep carefully _________________ (carrying his dreams /collecting his wishes) in their baskets.
carrying his dreams
II Answer the following questions. 1. Why do you think the poet writes his personal details on the paper boats?
He wants someone in a distant strange land to find them and know who he is, connecting himself to the wider world.
II Answer the following questions. 2. The poet talks about the imagination of a child. Support this view with examples from the poem.
He imagines clouds as friends racing with his boats, fairies of sleep sailing in them, and dreams being carried in baskets. He believes his boats will travel under midnight stars to unknown lands.
II Answer the following questions. 3. How does the poet bring together imagination and reality to make the poem more interesting?
Reality is the simple act of floating paper boats with his name and shiuli flowers. Imagination transforms it into clouds competing, fairies sailing, and dreams travelling through night, blending the real and the magical.
Let us learn
I The poet has used phrases like ‘blooms of the dawn’ and ‘fairies of sleep’ in the poem. In the same way we can create phrases. Now, select words from Column 1 and Column 2 and combine them with ‘of’. Write as many phrases as possible in Column 3. An example has been done for you. wings the birds wings of the wind
Possible phrases: waves of the ocean, dreams of the children, songs of the birds, glimmers of the stars, cries of the children, tears of the clouds, roars of the thunder, shadows of the evening.
II The poet uses words like ‘dawn’, ‘night’ and ‘midnight’ to show different parts of the day. The box given below has some more words. Write the words in the appropriate columns. twilight dawn dusk sunrise noon daybreak nightfall sunset midnight sunup forenoon sundown noontime night-time noonday midday Morning Afternoon Evening Night
Morning: dawn, daybreak, sunrise, sunup; Afternoon: noon, noontime, midday, noonday, forenoon; Evening: dusk, twilight, sunset, sundown, nightfall; Night: midnight, night-time, nightfall can also be night.
III Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with their opposites in Column 2. 1. strange (i) halt
strange - ordinary (v)
III Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with their opposites in Column 2. 2. dawn (ii) emptying
dawn - dusk (iv)
III Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with their opposites in Column 2. 3. launch (iii) sink
launch - halt (i)
III Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with their opposites in Column 2. 4. bulging (iv) dusk
bulging - shrinking (vi)
III Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with their opposites in Column 2. 5. float (v) ordinary
float - sink (iii)
III Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with their opposites in Column 2. 6. lading (vi) shrinking
lading - emptying (ii)
Let us listen
You will listen to a conversation between a girl and her father about the art of paper folding called origami. As you listen, select the true statements from 1–7. 1. Sai was trying to make an origami boat.
False. She was trying to make an origami crane.
You will listen to a conversation between a girl and her father about the art of paper folding called origami. 2. Sai’s father used to do origami as a child.
True.
You will listen to a conversation between a girl and her father about the art of paper folding called origami. 3. Paper was very expensive so it was used only for special occasions.
True. In old Japan it was used for religious ceremonies.
You will listen to a conversation between a girl and her father about the art of paper folding called origami. 4. People have been making paper cranes for thousands of years.
False. Crane making for fun started from the seventeenth century, so hundreds of years.
You will listen to a conversation between a girl and her father about the art of paper folding called origami. 5. There is a belief that if you make a thousand paper cranes, your wish will come true.
True.
You will listen to a conversation between a girl and her father about the art of paper folding called origami. 6. The art of origami is about enjoying the process.
True. It is about patience, creativity and process, not just final shape.
You will listen to a conversation between a girl and her father about the art of paper folding called origami. 7. Sai’s father suggests making a paper bookmark next time.
False. He suggests making a paper boat next.
Let us write
A diary entry is a personal document. It records an individual’s account of a day of her or his life ... Now, write a diary entry expressing your joy experiencing a rainy day. You may begin as given below: Friday, 15 July 20XX 6:30 p.m. Dear Diary, It was quite humid today...
Friday, 15 July 20XX 6:30 p.m. Dear Diary, It was quite humid today. On my journey back from school, I wished that it would rain. And it did! The cool drops made paper boats dance in puddles. I splashed with friends, smelled wet earth and felt refreshed. The rain washed away tiredness and filled my heart with joy. I will never forget this beautiful rainy evening.
Let us explore
II Solve the riddles given below. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher. 1. I have water that you cannot drink, People come to see how in me the Sun sinks. I can be rough, I can be calm, I hold within myself plenty of charm. My depths tell a never-ending tale. Who am I with dolphins and the whale?
The Ocean/Sea
II Solve the riddles given below. 2. I sit in stillness, but move with the wind, My surface mirrors the world you are in. The trees around me live happily, In me, you can take a dip daily. Home to ducks, frogs, fish, and all, Can you guess what I am, after all?
A Pond or Lake
II Solve the riddles given below. 3. I gently travel through valleys deep, My soft murmur can make you sleep. Little paper boats float on me in rain The merry laughter of the kids I gain. You may sit beside me without any fear, Who am I who skips along, crystal clear?
A Stream
II Solve the riddles given below. 4. I have a bed, but I do not sleep. I have a bank, but no money I keep. I carry stories, old and new, High mountains to the oceans blue. I journey far to meet the sea, Can you guess, who I can be?
A River
Let us do these activities before we read.
I Work in pairs. Discuss the place that you have enjoyed travelling to. Talk about who you went with, how you travelled, and what you learnt from the experience.
This is a speaking activity. A student can describe a visit to a hill station or beach with family by train, learning about new culture and nature.
II Which State or Union Territory of India do you live in? Write the following details about it. 1. Part of the country—North, East, Northeast, West, South or Centre 2. Its capital 3. Language 4. River(s) 5. Tourist attraction 6. Food
Answers vary by student location. Example: I live in Delhi, North India, capital New Delhi, language Hindi, river Yamuna, tourist attraction Red Fort, food chole bhature.
III Work in pairs. Recall the names of the states of our country which have ‘Pradesh’ in their names. Mention if it is in the North, East, Northeast, West, South or Centre of our country. Recall any special feature about each ‘Pradesh’.
Andhra Pradesh - South - known for Tirupati; Arunachal Pradesh - Northeast - land of rising sun, red panda; Himachal Pradesh - North - Himalayas; Madhya Pradesh - Centre - heart of India; Uttar Pradesh - North - Taj Mahal.
Let us discuss
Complete the table given below based on Shaana’s postcards. An example has been done for you. Places Visited Interesting Descriptions and Activities 1. Thajiwas glacier, Kashmir white and blue glaciers; throwing snowballs 2. Himachal Pradesh
quiet mountains, colourful birds chirping at sunrise, hears bears growling which is Appa snoring
Complete the table given below based on Shaana’s postcards. 3. walking through a thick forest to reach the tree house
Arunachal Pradesh, thick forest where one can get lost, hope to see red pandas
Complete the table given below based on Shaana’s postcards. 4. Gujarat
hot dry desert with sand everywhere, like a beach without sea, pretty colourful clothes
Complete the table given below based on Shaana’s postcards. 5. The Narmada river
rafting in wild fast river, fully wet, flows to centre of India, Appa scared
Complete the table given below based on Shaana’s postcards. 6. Chennai
learning to surf on rough brown waves, falling twice, Appa and Amma splashing like children
Complete the table given below based on Shaana’s postcards. 7. floating and looking at the fish; Appa and Amma went for a dive
Olaikaadu beach, floating and seeing fish, collecting pebbles, near Pamban bridge
Let us think and reflect
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. Amma tells me that places like the Sundarbans are called wetlands... (ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason. Amma is sad about the frequent flooding in Sundarbans because ____________.
rising water levels and climate change are damaging the fragile wetland and its mangrove ecosystem.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) Select the evidence from the text that reflects a feeling of the speaker’s slight nervousness.
I hope they don’t follow us home after seeing crocodiles and a lonely snake.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iv) Select the option that applies to both the Assertion and the Reason. Assertion: The speaker is missing her friends. Reason : The speaker wishes to know the well-being of her friends. A. Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion. B. Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason does not correctly explain the assertion. C. The assertion is true, but the reason is false. D. Both the assertion and the reason are false.
A. Both are true and the reason correctly explains the assertion. She asks How is everyone? Are you missing me yet?
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 1. We also saw crocodiles and a lonely snake while boating. I hope they don’t follow us home. How is everyone? Are you missing me yet? (i) What feeling does Shaana most likely experience when she says, “I never knew such a place existed...”? A. pride B. hope C. relief D. wonder
D. wonder
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. Amma and Appa are fast asleep... There are also a lot of tunnels that the train goes through. I used to be afraid of tunnels, but I’m not any more. (i) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason. The speaker chooses to stay awake because ____________________.
she loves looking out of the window at the beautiful plateaus, hills and beaches of Goa.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. (ii) What does the speaker mean by saying, ‘You won’t believe how nice the plateaus look’?
She is expressing great excitement and wonder at the stunning beauty of the plateaus.
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iii) What has been the change in the speaker’s attitude towards tunnels? A. from fear to comfort B. from courage to confidence C. from doubt to clarity D. from fascination to delight
A. from fear to comfort
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iv) Fill in the blanks with the correct option from those given in the brackets. The speaker’s wish to share the experience of touring the plateaus with others indicates her ___________ (ability to communicate/sense of connection) as well as the value she places on ___________ (shared experiences/updating information) with her peers.
sense of connection, shared experiences
II Answer the following questions. 1. Shaana mentions that she used to be afraid of tunnels. What could have been the most likely reason for her to be scared of tunnels?
Tunnels are dark, enclosed and noisy when a train passes through, which can feel frightening for a child.
II Answer the following questions. 2. Do you think Shaana’s Appa and Amma enjoyed themselves, just like children do? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Yes. They throw snowballs at each other in Kashmir, splash water like children while surfing in Puducherry, and Appa screams on rafting, showing childlike joy.
II Answer the following questions. 3. Shaana mentions less snow in the glaciers and more flooding in the Sundarbans. Explain what these observations indicate.
They indicate effects of climate change and global warming leading to glacier melt and sea-level rise causing more floods.
II Answer the following questions. 4. Shaana’s visits to different parts of the country highlight the diversity of India’s geography. Support this statement with evidence from the text.
She sees glaciers in Kashmir, mountains in Himachal, dense forests in Arunachal, wetlands and mangroves in Sundarbans, desert in Gujarat, river Narmada, plateaus in Goa and beaches in the south, showing varied landscapes.
II Answer the following questions. 5. How does Shaana use language to convey her excitement, curiosity, and sometimes her fears about the places she visits?
She uses exclamations like You won’t believe, best day ever, questions and wonder statements like I never knew, and honest fears like I hope they don’t follow us home.
II Answer the following questions. 6. What might Shaana have learnt from her travels across India? How would it impact her understanding of the country?
She learnt about diversity of landforms, cultures, languages, foods and environmental changes, making her appreciate unity in diversity and importance of protecting nature.
II Answer the following questions. 7. What could be the author’s purpose of presenting the text in the form of postcards?
To make travel experiences personal, immediate and engaging, as if a friend is sharing journey updates, and to show gradual learning.
Let us learn
I Read the words from the text given in Column 1 and match them with suitable pictures in Column 2. 1. glaciers
Picture of white and blue ice mass on mountains
I Read the words from the text given in Column 1 and match them with suitable pictures in Column 2. 2. treehouse
Picture of house built on a tree in forest
I Read the words from the text given in Column 1 and match them with suitable pictures in Column 2. 3. wetlands
Picture of Sundarbans with water and mangrove trees
I Read the words from the text given in Column 1 and match them with suitable pictures in Column 2. 4. plateaus
Picture of flat topped hills in Goa
I Read the words from the text given in Column 1 and match them with suitable pictures in Column 2. 5. pebbles
Picture of small smooth stones on beach
I Read the words from the text given in Column 1 and match them with suitable pictures in Column 2. 6. rafting
Picture of people in rubber boat on river
II Read the situations given in Column 1. Choose the associated words from the text given in the box below and write them in Column 2. blink scary existed amazing splashed floating 1. In the middle of the night, the little boy heard a loud noise. He felt so afraid that he couldn’t sleep.
scary
II Read the situations given in Column 1. Choose the associated words from the text given in the box below and write them in Column 2. 2. There used to be a bookstore near my house. But it is now shifted to the town.
existed
II Read the situations given in Column 1. Choose the associated words from the text given in the box below and write them in Column 2. 3. The flashes of light from the car made her suddenly close and open her eyes several times.
blink
II Read the situations given in Column 1. Choose the associated words from the text given in the box below and write them in Column 2. 4. The children jumped into the pool and threw water at each other with loud noises.
splashed
II Read the situations given in Column 1. Choose the associated words from the text given in the box below and write them in Column 2. 5. My grandmother’s place is so beautiful with all green paddy fields and palm trees. It was a great experience.
amazing
II Read the situations given in Column 1. Choose the associated words from the text given in the box below and write them in Column 2. 6. When I looked up at the sky, the clouds were not staying at one place. They were moving across the sky.
floating
III The following word grid has six words related to ‘travel’ used in the lesson. Circle the words in the grid. You can search horizontally and vertically. The last letter of each word has been highlighted.
Words are TRAIN, BOAT, DROVE, WALKED, TRAVEL, RAFT (found horizontally and vertically in grid)
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 1. A pair of sunglasses _________ (is/are) essential when travelling to sunny destinations.
is
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 2. Either the tour guide or the tourists _________ (has/have) to arrive first at the meeting point.
have
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 3. The information on travel expenses _________ (is/are) useful for first-time travellers.
is
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 4. Neither the flight crew nor the pilot _________ (was/were) aware of the delay.
was
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 5. The news about the heavy rains _________ (makes/make) many people reconsider their vacation plans.
makes
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 6. A pair of binoculars _________ (is/are) useful for spotting wildlife on a safari.
is
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 7. The hill stations in India _________ (remains/remain) a popular travel destination during winter.
remain
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 8. Keeping accounts _________ (is/are) important for spending money wisely during travel.
is
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 9. Either the ticket or the bus passes _________ (need/needs) to be used for travelling in the tourist bus.
need
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 10. Neither the passengers nor the taxi driver _________ (was/were) aware of the best route to the hotel.
was
Let us listen
You will listen to a girl speak about the story of how Agartala got its name and the importance of agar. As you listen, choose the correct option for the questions given below. 1. What does the word ‘Agartala’ mean? (i) under the agar tree (ii) beside the agar tree (iii) around the agar tree
(i) under the agar tree - agar plus tala meaning underneath
You will listen to a girl speak about the story of how Agartala got its name and the importance of agar. 2. Which of these is another name for agarwood trees? (i) gharuwood (ii) sandalwood (iii) rosewood
(i) gharuwood - also called aloeswood, eaglewood
You will listen to a girl speak about the story of how Agartala got its name and the importance of agar. 3. What kind of smell does agarwood have? (i) woody and citrusy (ii) woody and flowery (iii) fresh and citrusy
(ii) woody and flowery
You will listen to a girl speak about the story of how Agartala got its name and the importance of agar. 4. How is agarwood formed? (i) when the tree dries (ii) when the tree dies (iii) when the tree gets infected
(iii) when the tree gets infected with a bug or virus and creates dark sticky agar oil
You will listen to a girl speak about the story of how Agartala got its name and the importance of agar. 5. What is agarwood used to make? (i) incense and edible oil (ii) perfumes and wood carvings (iii) gum and candies
(ii) perfumes and wood carvings - also incense, medicines and rituals
Let us write
Imagine that you have to travel to your hometown to attend a family event. Write an application to the Principal of your school, requesting leave of absence. Remember to include the duration of the leave, the reason for the leave and mention how you will complete your school work.
12, MG Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 10 June 20XX, The Principal, Sun Public School, Jaipur, Subject: Request for leave for three days, Respected Madam, I am writing to request three days leave from 12 to 14 June to attend a family wedding in my hometown. I will complete all missed work and take notes from classmates. Kindly grant me leave. Yours sincerely, Ananya, Class 7 B, Roll No. 15