The Tunnel — NCERT Solutions

Given: Sunder Singh has lived in the jungle for many years and is familiar with its ways.

Answer: To support his opinion that the forest is safer than the town, Sunder Singh gives the example that he has lived in the jungle for many years and has never been attacked or harmed by any wild animal. He points out that the animals in the jungle do not harm people without reason, whereas in towns and cities, there are many dangers from human beings themselves — accidents, crime, and other hazards.

This tells us that Sunder Singh is a wise, experienced, and nature-loving man. He has a deep understanding of the jungle and its creatures. He respects nature and has learned to live in harmony with it. His words reflect his philosophy that nature is not to be feared but to be understood and respected.

Given: Sunder Singh has been the watchman of the tunnel for many years and lives in a small hut near the jungle.

Answer: Sunder Singh has truly become part of the jungle life. This is supported by the following reasons:

1. He is familiar with the leopard that lives in the surrounding jungle. He says, 'We have seen each other many times,' which shows that he and the leopard have developed a kind of mutual understanding and coexistence.

2. He knows the habits and nature of the wild animals — he knows that the leopard will not harm humans but has a weakness for goats and stray dogs.

3. He walks the length of the tunnel every day, moving through the jungle as naturally as the animals do.

4. He considers the tunnel and the jungle as his own, saying he has 'lent' the tunnel to the Government.

All these points show that Sunder Singh has blended into the jungle environment and is as much a part of it as the animals and trees.

Given: Sunder Singh is an old watchman who has lived alone in the jungle for years, while Suraj is a young boy travelling to Delhi for his studies.

Answer: Sunder Singh and Suraj form an unlikely friendship because, despite the difference in their ages and backgrounds, they share certain qualities that draw them together:

1. Curiosity and love of adventure: Both are drawn to the tunnel and the jungle. Suraj walked through the tunnel out of curiosity, and Sunder Singh has spent his life exploring and understanding the jungle.

2. Shared experience: They both enter the tunnel together to rescue the leopard, which creates a bond between them through a shared adventure and a moment of danger.

3. Mutual respect and care: Sunder Singh looks after Suraj and wants to protect him, while Suraj admires and respects the old watchman's wisdom and courage.

4. Love for nature: Both of them care about the leopard's safety, which reflects a shared sensitivity towards nature and living beings.

These common values and the shared experience of the tunnel adventure bring them together despite their differences.

Given: Suraj sees a light moving in the darkness of the tunnel.

Answer: Sunder Singh is referred to as a 'firefly' because when Suraj saw him walking through the dark tunnel with his lamp, the small flickering light of the lamp swinging in the darkness resembled the tiny, glowing light of a firefly. Just as a firefly's light blinks and moves through the darkness of the night, Sunder Singh's lamp bobbed and swayed as he walked through the long, dark tunnel. The comparison is a vivid and poetic image that captures the scene beautifully.

Given: Suraj is a young boy who is travelling to Delhi with his father.

Answer: Yes, Suraj is clearly an adventure-loving boy. The following reasons support this view:

1. He walks through the tunnel alone: Even though the tunnel is dark, long, and filled with smoke, Suraj decides to walk through it simply because he wants to know what the inside of a tunnel is really like. This shows his adventurous and curious spirit.

2. He is not easily frightened: Although he is scared when he realises there is a leopard in the tunnel, he does not run away immediately. He tries to shout and face the situation.

3. He joins Sunder Singh to drive out the leopard: Despite knowing the danger, Suraj follows Sunder Singh into the tunnel to help drive the leopard out. This shows his bravery and willingness to take risks.

4. He is curious about his surroundings: His interest in the tunnel, the jungle, and the watchman's life shows that he is the kind of person who seeks new experiences and is not content with the ordinary.

All these qualities confirm that Suraj is indeed an adventure-loving boy.

1. We could hear the approaching engine of the train long before it came into view at the station.

2. The street was completely dark but the little boy walked to his house guided by the flickering lights from the houses.

3. The sawing sound from the carpenter's workshop grew louder every hour.

4. From the balcony, she watched the drifting smoke from her neighbour's chimney float across the backyard.

The correct matches are:

1. creaking — (ii) making a long low sound when a door or wooden object moves or is moved

2. chatter — (iii) repeated series of short high sounds made by birds or monkeys

3. hissing — (i) making a noise like a long 's' sound

4. rustle — (v) a soft low, dry sound made by the movement of things such as leaves, paper, etc.

5. puffing — (iv) blowing with short, quick blasts, as the wind

1. The steam engine reached the station puffing black smoke into the sky.

2. Suddenly the snake raised its hood and made a hissing noise.

3. When the wind blew, I heard the creaking of the wooden roof.

4. He heard a rustle of leaves behind him when he was walking in the woods.

5. I get disturbed by the continuous chatter of the monkeys in the neighbourhood.

Correct option: (iii) to talk about a habit in the past.

Explanation: In the passage, 'would' is used to describe the repeated, routine actions that Sunder Singh performed every day as part of his duty — walking the tunnel, returning to his hut, waving the red flag, etc. These were habitual actions in the past, and 'would' is used to express such past habits or routines.

Concept: 'Would' is used for repeated/habitual actions in the past. 'Used to' is used for past states or habits that no longer continue. For stative verbs (be, have, etc.), we use 'used to' rather than 'would'.

Completed paragraph:

When I was a child we used to live in a village near a forest. Back then, we (i) would grow vegetables in our back garden. Every day we (ii) would get up early and go for a walk. The weather in summer (iii) used to be really nice. There was a lake near the house and we (iv) would go there every Sunday for a picnic. Winters (v) used to be rather cold. In the evenings, my father (vi) would tell us incredible stories and we (vii) would listen with admiration.

Note: 'Used to be' is used for sentences (iii) and (v) because 'be' is a stative verb and 'would' is generally not used with stative verbs to describe past states.

Concept used:

• Colon (:) is used before a list or an explanation.
• Semicolon (;) is used to connect two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.

Corrected and punctuated paragraph:

We explored the busy by-lanes of Charminar, the heart of Hyderabad; it was an exciting day. We wanted to do a few things: buy bangles, taste biryani, and purchase pearl earrings, which are special to this area. As we walked through the lanes, we saw stalls selling spices, clothes, and jewellery; the market was full of colours. We visited some famous spots: Charminar, Golconda Fort, Salar Jung Museum, and Chowmahalla Palace; each place was beautiful.

Explanation:

1. 'Hyderabad; it was an exciting day' — semicolon connects two related independent clauses.
2. 'a few things: buy bangles...' — colon introduces a list.
3. 'and jewellery; the market was full of colours' — semicolon connects two related independent clauses.
4. 'famous spots: Charminar...' — colon introduces a list; 'Palace; each place was beautiful' — semicolon connects two related clauses.

A Train Journey to Remember

It was a bright Tuesday morning when my family and I boarded the Rajdhani Express at New Delhi Railway Station. The platform was buzzing with activity — coolies rushing with heavy luggage, vendors calling out their wares, and families hurrying to find their coaches. As we settled into our seats, I felt a wave of excitement wash over me. The shrill whistle of the engine pierced the air, and with a gentle jolt, the train began to move.

Soon, the crowded city gave way to open fields and small villages. I pressed my face against the cool glass of the window and watched the world rush by — golden mustard fields, clusters of trees, and tiny stations that appeared and disappeared in a flash. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the tracks was like a steady drumbeat, and the gentle swaying of the coach was almost lulling. Inside the compartment, passengers chatted, children laughed, and the aroma of hot tea and snacks filled the air as the pantry boy walked down the aisle.

As evening approached, the sky turned shades of orange and pink, and the silhouettes of trees stood against the glowing horizon. I felt a deep sense of peace and wonder — the world outside seemed vast and beautiful. By the time the train pulled into our destination, I was reluctant to leave. The journey had been more than just a ride; it had been an experience that stirred my senses and filled my heart with joy.

The Atal Tunnel is a remarkable engineering achievement of India. Key facts:

• Length: 9.02 kilometres, making it the world's longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet.
• Location: It runs under the Rohtang Pass on the Manali-Leh Highway in Himachal Pradesh.
• Significance: It was constructed under extremely challenging conditions — freezing temperatures and difficult mountainous terrain.
• Recognition: It has been officially certified by the World Book of Records as the 'World's Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 Feet.'
• Importance: The tunnel provides all-weather connectivity to the Lahaul-Spiti Valley, which was previously cut off for about six months every year due to heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass. It is a source of national pride and a testament to India's engineering capabilities.

Key facts about the history of Indian Railways:

• The history of Indian Railways spans over 165 years.
• The first passenger train in India ran on 16 April 1853 between Bori Bunder (Mumbai) and Thane, covering a distance of 34 kilometres.
• The train was operated by three locomotives named Sahib, Sultan, and Sindh and had thirteen carriages.
• In 1864, North India received its first railway station — Delhi Junction, located near Chandni Chowk.
• Today, Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, connecting thousands of cities, towns, and villages across the country.
• It plays a vital role in the economic and social development of India, transporting millions of passengers and tonnes of goods every day.