DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DURGAPUR
CLASS- IX
ENGLISH LITERATURE-TERM- II ASSIGNMENT-3
TOPIC- ON KILLING A TREE
Note: All the questions and answers must be written down in the fair literature notebook.
Textual Questions:
Q1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?
Ans: No, a simple jab of a knife cannot kill a tree because it takes many years for a tree to grow and rise
out of the earth. So only a chop cannot kill it because it will slowly rise again and grow to its original size.
Q2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.
Ans: The tree has grown to its full size, by absorbing years of sunlight, water, and air. It has slowly grown
out of the earth, sprouting leaves.
The words suggestive of its life and activity are ‘grown slowly consuming the earth’, ‘rising out of it’,
‘feeding upon its crust’, ‘absorbing years of sunlight, air, water’, and ‘sprouting leaves’.
Q3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?
Ans: “Bleeding bark” refers to the area on the tree trunk where it has been hit with the axe. It bleeds
because the wood cutter has wounded the tree by cutting and chopping it.
Q4. The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?
Ans: In the beginning of the third stanza, the poet has said “No” to lay emphasis on the fact that mere
chopping of the tree would not kill it. The tree would grow again and retain its original size.
Q5. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?
Ans: “Anchoring earth” refers to the roots of the tree that lie inside the earth and play the role of an
anchor for the tree to grow. They ensure the security of the tree as they nourish it with water and
nutrients. “Earth cave” refers to the ground on which the foundation of the tree is laid as it holds the
roots and keeps the tree standing tall and protects it from adversities such as heavy rainfall or storm.
Q6. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?
Ans: The strength of the tree lies in its roots, which the poet asks to snap out in order to kill the tree. Thus,
the phrase “the strength of the tree exposed” refers to the roots of the tree being exposed to sunlight and
air.
Q7. What finally kills the tree?
Ans: The tree is finally killed by the uprooting of its roots. When the roots, which had anchored it lying
hidden in the earth for years, were dug out, the tree’s strength was exposed and this led to the death of the
tree. It dried up after it had been uprooted.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TOPIC: INTEGRATED GRAMMAR, DIARY ENTRY
Note: Both the exercises must be done in the fair language and writing skill notebooks
respectively.
I. Choose the correct option:
a. She said to me, “Do you like tea or coffee?”
(i) She asked me if I liked tea or coffee.
(ii) She asked me whether I like tea or coffee.
(iii) She asked me whether I was liking tea or coffee.
(iv) She told me if I liked tea or coffee.
b. _______ persons can keep a secret. ( many/ some/ few/ a few)
c. Several of the sheep _______ (be) sick. (is/are/ was/ have)
d. She said, “God is omnipresent.”
(i) She told that God is omnipresent.
(ii) She said that God was omnipresent.
(iii) She said that God is omnipresent.
(iv) She said that God had to be omnipresent.
e. My brother ________ be nine next Sunday. (may/must/ will/could)
f. Stan Smith, the tennis player _______ as a mere ball boy for a Davis Cup match. The organizers
_______ that he _______ too clumsy. Smith ________ on to prove them wrong by winning
the Wimbledon.
(a) had been rejected, had felt, was, gone
(b) had been rejected, felt, had been, had gone
(c) was rejected, was feeling, was, went
(d) had been rejected, felt, was, went
II. Diary Entry:
Recently, you had the opportunity of representing your school in an online debate competition. Write a
diary entry in about 100-120 words, expressing your feelings after you found yourself on that platform,
with children from so many other schools, across the nation.
Format:
Day, Date Time:
Body
