Question

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

Winter came early. The cherry tree bent low with the weight of snow. Field-mice sought shelter in the roof of the cottage. The road from the valley was blocked, and for several days there was no newspaper, and this made Grandfather quite grumpy. His stories began to have unhappy endings. In February it was Rakesh’s birthday. He was nine—and the tree was four, but almost as tall as Rakesh.

(i) Complete the following sentence suitably.

The phrase ‘field-mice sought shelter in the roof of the cottage’ suggests that ______.

(ii) What can be inferred about the cherry tree’s toughness from the line, ‘The cherry tree bent low with the weight of snow’?

1. The weight of the tree was more than the snow.
2. The tree could withstand harsh weather.
3. The tree was growing close to the ground.
4. The snow gave support to the tree.

(iii) How did the early winter affect Grandfather’s mood and storytelling?

(iv) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option.

The comparison of Rakesh’s age to the cherry tree’s age symbolises ______. (the tree’s growth paralleling Rakesh’s own development/the tree standing as a dear one on Rakesh’s birthday)

Answer 1

(i) The phrase ‘field-mice sought shelter in the roof of the cottage’ suggests that the weather was extremely cold, so the field-mice entered the cottage roof to find warmth and shelter.

(ii) The tree could withstand harsh weather.

(iii) The early winter made Grandfather grumpy because the road was blocked and he could not get the newspaper. His bad mood also affected his storytelling, and his stories began to have unhappy endings.

(iv) The comparison of Rakesh’s age to the cherry tree’s age symbolises the tree’s growth paralleling Rakesh’s own development.