GSEB Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 9 Garden Snake Solutions

Working With The Poem

Question 1. (1) Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
Answer: The line that shows the child's fear of snakes is "I saw a snake and ran away."
In simple words: The poem says, "I saw a snake and ran away," showing the child was scared.

Exam Tip: When asked to pick a line, always quote the exact phrase from the poem within quotation marks to earn full marks.

Question 1. (2) Which line shows a complete change of the child's attitude towards snakes? Read it aloud.
Answer: The line that reveals a complete shift in the child's outlook towards snakes is "I'll stand aside and watch him pass.”
In simple words: The line "I'll stand aside and watch him pass" shows the child's mind changed about snakes.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to keywords like "complete change" to find lines that clearly indicate a shift in emotion or thought.

Question 1. (3) "But mother says that kind is good..." What is mother referring to?
Answer: The mother is talking about the gentle garden snake, which is not harmful.
In simple words: The mother is talking about the garden snake, saying it is not dangerous.

Exam Tip: For quote-based questions, identify the speaker and the specific context or subject they are discussing.

Question 2. Find the word that refers to the snake's movements in the grass.
Answer: The word that describes the snake's movements in the grass is 'wiggles'.
In simple words: The word 'wiggles' tells us how the snake moves in the grass.

Exam Tip: Look for descriptive verbs in the poem that illustrate actions or specific movements of characters or objects.

Question 3. There are four pairs of rhyming words in the poem. Say them aloud.
Answer: The four pairs of rhyming words from the poem are: good, food; pass, grass; away, say; and mistake, snake.
In simple words: The four rhyming pairs are good/food, pass/grass, away/say, and mistake/snake.

Exam Tip: Identify rhyming words by their similar ending sounds, which typically occur at the end of lines in a poem.

Question 4. A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast. Can you guess how ? Discuss in the group.
Answer: A snake moves very quickly without legs or feet by sliding along the grass, utilizing its scales to push forward.
In simple words: Snakes move fast by sliding on their scales over the grass, even though they have no legs.

Exam Tip: When discussing animal movements, remember that different animals use various body parts and methods for locomotion.

Question 5. Can you recall the word used for a cobra's long sharp teeth ? Where did you come across this word first?
Answer: The term for a cobra's long, sharp teeth is 'fangs'. Fangs are like hollow tubes linked to a venomous gland on one side. The narrator first encountered this word on the National Geographic channel, where it was probably explained.
In simple words: The word for a cobra's sharp teeth is 'fangs', which are hollow and connected to poison. The narrator first heard this word on National Geographic.

Exam Tip: When asked to recall specific terminology, provide the term itself and, if relevant, where you first learned about it.

Gseb Class 7 English Garden Snake Additional Important Questions And Answers

Select The Most Appropriate Options As Answers And Complete The Following Sentences:

Question 1. Where did the poet see the snake?
(a) Near his house.
(b) On his runway.
(c) In the garden.
(d) In his field.
Answer: (c) In the garden.
In simple words: The poet saw the snake moving around in the garden area.

Exam Tip: For questions about setting, look for direct statements in the text that describe where an event occurs.

Question 2. What did the poet do on seeing the snake ?
(a) He screamed loudly.
(b) He ran away.
(c) He called his mother.
(d) He called his friends.
Answer: (b) He ran away.
In simple words: When the poet saw the snake, he quickly ran away because he was scared.

Exam Tip: Identify the immediate reaction of characters in a story to understand their initial feelings or actions.

Question 3. What is the food of the snake ?
(a) Insects
(b) Grass
(c) Frogs
(d) Fruits
Answer: (a) Insects
In simple words: The snake mainly eats insects to get its food.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to details mentioned in the poem or story that describe the habits or diet of animals.

Question 4. What is the snake doing in the grass ?
(a) It is catching insects.
(b) It is moving about.
(c) It is raising its hood.
(d) It is coiling up in search of its prey.
Answer: (b) It is moving about.
In simple words: The snake is simply moving and wiggling through the grass.

Exam Tip: Look for verbs and descriptive phrases that indicate the immediate actions of the subject in the given context.

Question 5. Why does the poet feel that it is a harmless snake ?
(a) As it passes off without doing any harm to the poet.
(b) As it does not do hissing.
(c) As it does not raise its hood.
(d) All of the options
Answer: (a) As it passes off without doing any harm to the poet.
In simple words: The poet believes the snake is harmless because it simply moves away without causing any trouble.

Exam Tip: Understand the reasons behind a character's feelings or beliefs by connecting them to specific events or observations in the story.

Answer The Following Questions In Two To Three Sentences Each:

Question 1. What makes the child comfortable the next time he sees the garden snake?
Answer: Initially, the child feels great fear upon seeing the snake. However, after his mother informs him that this specific garden snake is not harmful, the child feels more at ease when he sees it again.
In simple words: The child first felt scared, but his mother told him the garden snake was not dangerous, making him feel okay later.

Exam Tip: Trace the emotional development of characters and the reasons behind changes in their feelings throughout a narrative.

Question 2. What lesson does the young child narrator learn from his mother?
Answer: The young narrator, due to his lack of knowledge, initially believed all snakes were dangerous. His mother taught him that not all types of snakes are harmful; some are safe. This knowledge allowed him to peacefully appreciate the garden snake on future sightings. He also learned the importance of collecting information about any new animal or thing before forming a judgment.
In simple words: The child learned from his mother that not all snakes are dangerous. He understood that it's important to learn about things before deciding what to think of them.

Exam Tip: When asked about lessons learned, summarize the key moral or piece of information gained by a character from their experiences or interactions.

Read The Following Stanzas And Answer The Questions Given Below Them:

I saw a snake and ran away
Some snakes are dangerous, they say;
But mother says that kind is good,
And eats up insects for his food.

Question 1. (1) What is told about snakes ?
Answer: It is said that some snakes are dangerous.
In simple words: The poem tells us that some snakes are considered dangerous.

Exam Tip: When answering questions based on a stanza, refer directly to the information presented in those lines.

Question 1. (2) What do you mean by 'they say' ?
Answer: In this context, 'they say' implies 'It represents the common belief held by many people'.
In simple words: 'They say' means what most people think or believe.

Exam Tip: Understand common idiomatic expressions in poetry to grasp the full meaning of the text.

Question 1. (3) How is mother's opinion different from others?
Answer: The mother's view differs because she states that snakes are gentle and harmless. She also points out that they consume insects as food, which is a beneficial act.
In simple words: Mother thinks snakes are good and harmless because they eat insects, unlike what others believe.

Exam Tip: Compare and contrast different perspectives presented in the text to highlight individual opinions.

So when he wiggles in the grass
I'll stand aside and watch him pass,
And tell myself, “There's no mistake,
It's just a harmless garden snake !"

Question 2. (1) Why is the word 'wiggle' used for moving of the snake?
Answer: The term 'wiggle' is employed to describe the snake's movement because, lacking legs, it is unable to walk or run. Instead, it moves with a side-to-side motion.
In simple words: 'Wiggle' is used because snakes have no legs, so they move by wiggling their bodies instead of walking.

Exam Tip: Analyze word choice in poetry to understand how specific verbs convey unique actions or characteristics of the subject.

Question 2. (2) What does the poet do on seeing the snake ?
Answer: Upon spotting the snake, the poet moves to one side and observes it as it moves past.
In simple words: When the poet sees the snake, he steps aside and watches it go by.

Exam Tip: Note character actions to understand their interaction with elements of the story or poem.

Question 2. (3) How is the poet convinced that the snake is harmless ?
Answer: The poet becomes certain the snake is harmless because it simply moves past without causing any injury or threat.
In simple words: The snake moves away without hurting the poet, which makes the poet believe it is harmless.

Exam Tip: Look for direct evidence or observations within the text that support a character's conclusions or feelings.

Garden Snake Summary In English

Garden Snake Summary:

The poem, 'Garden Snake', offers a simple description of a snake that is not harmful. The young child who narrates the story finds a snake in the garden and runs away because he is scared. However, his mother tells him that some types of snakes are not dangerous at all. They only eat insects. After hearing this, the young child narrator overcomes his fear and starts observing the snake as it moves through the garden.

Exam Tip: When summarizing, focus on the main characters, key events, and the overall message or development of the narrative.