NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive book On Killing a Tree Important Question Answers Poem 7
Class 9 English On Killing a Tree Question Answers – Looking for On Killing a Tree question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Book Poem 7? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 9 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Poem 7: On Killing a Tree now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions.
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
Class 9 English On Killing a Tree Question Answers Poem 7 – Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple jab of the knife
Will do it. It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leprous hide
Sprouting leaves.
Q1. Which poem does this extract belong to?
Ans. It comes from Gieve Patel’s poem, “On Killing A Tree”.
Q2. Can a few blows from an axe kill a tree?
Ans. No, a few blows from an axe can not kill a tree. It takes much more than that to kill a tree.
Q3. How does a tree gain its strength?
Ans. A tree draws its strength from the earth’s crust by absorbing the sunlight, air and water.
Q4. Where do the leaves come from?
Ans. Leaves sprout from the bark of a tree.
Q5. Identify the poetic device in the first line of the poem.
Ans. Consonance (prominence of ‘t’ sound) is used in the first line of the poem.
“It takes much time to kill a tree.”
B. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
So hack and chop
But this alone wont do it.
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal
And from close to the ground
Will rise curled green twigs,
Miniature boughs
Which if unchecked will expand again
To former size.
Q1. Which poetic device is used in the phrase, ‘bleeding bark’?
Ans. Alliteration is used in the phrase, ‘bleeding bark’
Q2. What happens when a tree is cut down?
Ans. When a tree is cut down, it sprouts green curled twigs which develop into full-sized branches.
Q3. What happens to the bleeding bark?
Ans. A bleeding bark heals up again and sprouts fresh twigs.
Q4. What does regrowing of a hacked tree indicate?
Ans. Hacked tree indicates that nature is not easily defeated by man.
Q5. What do you understand by “miniature boughs”?
Ans. Miniature boughs are new branches that sprout where a tree has been cut or hacked. If left unchecked, they will grow into a massive tree.
C. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
No,
The root is to be pulled out-
Out of the anchoring earth;
It is to be roped, tied,
And pulled out-snapped out
Or pulled out entirely,
Out from the earth-cave,
And the strength of the tree exposed
The source, white and wet,
The most sensitive, hidden
For years inside the earth.
Q1. What is meant by the phrase, “anchoring earth”?
Ans. “Anchoring Earth” refers to the tree’s roots that lie within the earth and act as an anchor for the tree to grow and hold it firmly
Q2. Where does the strength of the tree lie?
Ans. The strength of a tree lies in its roots.
Q3. How can the root of a tree be destroyed?
Ans. Root is to be pulled out of the earth and exposed to scorching heat.
Q4. Which is the most sensitive part of a tree?
Ans. Its root is the most sensitive part of a tree.
Q5. Which part of the tree is wet and white?
Ans. The roots of a tree are wet and white.
D. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.
Q1. What remains to be done to kill a tree after its root has been pulled out?
Ans. The tree has to be dried up after being uprooted.
Q2. What dries up the tree?
Ans. The hot and scorching sun dries up the tree.
Q3. What happens to the tree in the sun and dry air?
Ans. The tree turns brown, hardens, twists and withers in sun and dry air.
Q4. “And then it is done.” What does ‘it’ stand for?
Ans. ‘And then it is done’ means finally the tree will die.
Q5. Find a word in the extract which means the same as the following words. “Blazing, Torrid, Searing”
Ans. Scorching
Class 9 English Beehive On Killing a Tree Poem 7 Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Identify the poetic device in the title of the poem. “On Killing a Tree”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- B. Personification
Q2. Identify the poetic device.
“ It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple jab of the knife
Will do it. It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leprous hide
Sprouting leaves.”
A. Imagery
B. Enjambment
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above
Ans- C. Both A and B
Q3. Identify the poetic device. “It takes much time to kill a tree,”
A. Metaphor
B. Alliteration
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- B. Alliteration
Q4. Identify the poetic device. “It has grown slowly”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- B. Personification
Q5. Identify the poetic device. “Slowly consuming the earth,”
A. Metaphor
B. Imagery
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- B. Imagery
Q6. Identify the poetic device. “ Upon its crust, absorbing ”
A. Imagery
B. Personification
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- A. Imagery
Q7. Identify the poetic device. “leperous hide”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- A. Metaphor
Q8. Identify the poetic device. “Not so much pain will do it.”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- B. Personification
Q9. Identify the poetic device. “The bleeding bark will heal ”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Alliteration
D. All of the above
Ans- D. All of the above
Q10. Which of the following statements is true with reference to the poem “On Killing a Tree”?
A. No matter how much humans cut and chop a tree, it won’t do anything.
B. The chopping of the bark of trees into many pieces will not be enough to destroy a tree.
C. The point at which the tree gets cut will bleed like a human being and gradually heal from it and grow into a new branch again.
D. All of the above
Ans- D. All of the above
Q11. Identify the poetic device. “The source, white and wet,”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Alliteration
D. Repetition
Ans- C. Alliteration
Q12. Identify the poetic device. “Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done. ”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Enjambment
D. Repetition
Ans- C. Enjambment
Q13. Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem “On Killing a Tree”
A. ABAB
B. ABCB
C. ABAC
D. No rhyme scheme
Ans- D. No rhyme scheme
Q14. In the phrase, “bleeding bark”, bleeding means-
A. bruising
B. oozing
C. flowing
D. snoozing
Ans- B. oozing
Q15. “It takes much time to kill a tree.” The statement points out-
A. Nature’s resilience,
B. vigorous efforts of man,
C. cruelty of man,
D. the rapid growth of the tree.
Ans- A.Nature’s resilience.
Q16. “On killing a Tree ‘reflects the poet’s concern for-
A. nature’s violence
B. destruction of environment by man
C. natural tendency of man
D. the sacred duty of a man
Ans- B. destruction of environment by man
Q17. The expression ‘leprous hide’ refers to –
A. Bark of a tree
B. the leper’s skin
C. smooth skin
D. roots
Ans-A. Bark of a tree
Q18. The poet uses the expression, ‘sprouting leaves’ to suggest the idea of –
A. approaching death
B. spirited and vibrant creature
C. small world
D. continuous life-cycle
Ans- D.continuous life-cycle
Q19. The epithet, ‘hack and chop’ reveals-
A. Resilience of the tree
B. a philosophy of violence
C. violence against nature
D. sympathy for the tree
Ans-C. greater violence against nature
Q20. Who is the author of the poem “On Killing a Tree”?
A. Nissim Ezekiel
B. Vikram Seth
C. Gieve Patel
D. Jamesh Kirkup
Ans- C. Gieve Patel
Class 9 English On Killing a Tree Short Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)
In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from Poem 7 On Killing a Tree for CBSE Class 9 exam in the coming session
Q1. What is the effect of hacking and chopping on a tree?
Ans. A simple knife assault cannot bring down a tree. When a tree is chopped and hacked, the bark bleeds. It quickly heals and returns to its original size. These actions by themselves are insufficient to kill it.
Q2. What happens to the tree after its bark will heal?
Ans. The tree’s wounds begin to heal. Fresh green twigs sprout from not far from the ground. The tiny boughs will grow to their previous size. The tree is now once again alive. This is how nature works.
Q3. What do the roots look like when these are pulled out?
Ans. The tree’s roots are where its true power lies. The most delicate portion of the tree are its roots. They are white and moist when they are removed. But soon these begin to dry out and wither.
Q4. “Consuming the earth, rising out of it.” Explain.
Ans. The poet makes the point that a tree gets stronger in the ground. It consumes the ground and then rises from it. It is where it derives its strength. The tree is difficult to cut down with a single knife stab. It is firmly anchored in the Earth’s ground.
Q5. “So hack and chop. But this alone won’t do it.” What does hack and chop do to a tree?
Ans. To kill a tree, according to the poet, is not a simple task. A quick knife stab will not cause any harm. The tree doesn’t seem to be in too much pain. A knife stab does not destroy the tree; it merely injures the bark. The tree will re-grow.
Q6. “Which, if unchecked, will expand again to its former size”. What will expand to its former size?
Ans. A tree is not killed when it is chopped down, according to the poet. Only the branches bleed. They quickly recover and get back up. If the tiny branches are allowed to grow unchecked, they quickly enlarge and grow into a big tree.
Q7. What are the two important stages for killing a tree?
Ans. A tree can be killed in two stages. The tree should first be completely uprooted. Its roots must be exposed to the elements of the nature, like air and sun. Second, the roots must be exposed to the sun’s heat. The roots become dark, hard, and withering when they are burnt. Finally, the tree is killed.
Q8. How does the poet create the feelings of sadness in the poem ‘On Killing A Tree’?
Ans. The poet uses terms like “killing,” “jabbing,” “bleeding,” “uprooting,” etc. to convey a sense of melancholy. The “bleeding bark” symbolises a tree’s suffering. The sentences that make readers melancholy include “No so much suffering will do it” and “The wounded bark will heal.”
Q9. What does the killing of a tree symbolize?
Ans. Killing a tree is a metaphor for breaking a habit. Habit strengthens over time, much like a tree. It cannot be abandoned all at once. To break a habit, significant time is required. It must be abandoned with unwavering resolve.
Q10. “The strength of the tree exposed.” Explain.
Ans. The strength of a tree is in its roots. The tree is secure as long as its roots are protected. It cannot be killed. As the roots are removed and exposed to the air and sun, they wither, ultimately causing the tree to die.
Class 9 On Killing a Tree Long Answer Questions Poem 7
Q1. It takes much time to kill a tree’ – Why does it take much time to kill a tree? According to the poet, how is the tree finally killed? [H.S. – 2015, 2018]
Ans. A tree grows slowly by absorbing nutrients from the soil. Through time, it has consumed the Earth’s crust and also taken in water, sunshine, and air from deep-rooted roots. It has the power to stop the bleeding in its bark. It has the resilience to withstand any attack from the outside. Thus, cutting down a tree takes a long time.
A tree cannot be killed by a single stab attack. Neither hacking nor chopping is sufficient to kill a tree. Roots must be dragged out by tying a rope in order to kill a tree. They must be exposed to scorching heat and dry air. The tree will eventually perish after the roots become brown, hard, twisted, and withered.
Q2. How does a tree offer resistance to its destruction? How does its resistance fail? [H.S. 2017]
Ans. A tree is extremely tough to kill. Simple knife jabs, hacking, and chopping will simply cause discomfort and cause the tree’s bark to bleed. It will gradually bounce back. The stem will occasionally sprout into curled green twigs and branches. They will enlarge to take on their previous form if it is left uncontrolled. Hence, a tree provides strong protection against destruction.
When the roots of a tree are uprooted by attaching a rope, the tree loses its ability to resist. All strength comes from the roots. Roots, which are white and moist, are the tree’s most delicate components. They become burned, shrivelled, and ultimately the tree gets killed when the roots are exposed to scorching sun and dry air.
Q3. How does the poet describe the growth of a tree over the years? What are the different steps taken for killing a tree? [H.S. = 2019]
Ans. In his poem “On Killing a Tree,” the poet Gieve Patel discusses how a tree grows slowly after absorbing nutrients from the soil. It feeds upon the upper crust of the earth. Over time, it absorbs water, air, and sunlight. A tree grows slowly in this way, absorbing all the nutrients from the soil and the atmosphere.
“Not a simple jab of the knife
Will do it. It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leperous hide
Sprouting leaves.”
The roots must be taken out by tying a rope in order to kill a tree. Then they are left out in the open which causes burning and choking to the roots of the tree. The tree will perish if the roots become brown, hard, twisted, and withered.
Q4. Justify the title of the poem ‘On Killing A Tree’. [H.S. = 2016]
Ans. Gieve Patel’s concern for the environment is evident from the poem’s title, “On Killing a Tree.” The tree is a kind friend of man, and such friends are annihilated by the harshness and selfishness of man. The poet describes the entire process of cutting down a tree in a sarcastic manner. Cutting, hacking, and chopping with a sharp object will not cut down the tree. It needs to be pulled out of the ground. The roots are then exposed to the air and sun for withering, choking, and burning. After a protracted process of anguish and suffering, the mission of killing a tree is finally carried out. The irony in the title refers to human stupidity and carelessness. The poet wants to convey a message through the poem to his readers to be sympathetic to nature. Hence the title is appropriate.
Q5. Write why people cut trees. Are there other alternatives to trees for them?
Ans. There are many needs that people have that trees can meet. Trees provide them with furnishings and fuel for their fires. They receive a variety of foods and medicines. Although the indigenous people are totally reliant on trees, they never cut them down. But, as they have no other options, the common people cut down trees. However, they shouldn’t destroy the beauty of nature by felling trees. They should also find other sources to meet their demands. Encouragement should be given to them to use steel sheets for their windows and doors. All assistance should be provided to the tribal people in order to lessen their reliance on trees. They should be held accountable for maintaining and growing more trees in their neighbourhoods. Besides, people should be made aware of the environmental problems which are created after cutting down trees. We have to protect trees at any cost.
Also See:
- On Killing a Tree Lesson Explanation, Summary
- On Killing a Tree MCQ Question Answers
- Class 9 English Lesson Explanation
- Class 9 English Beehive Poem word meaning
