Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Unit 2 Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster Poem Solutions

Question 1. From the passage, find all the words and phrases used to describe the ‘monster’.
Answer: Unearthly animal, fearsome creature, unknown creature, huge glowworm, infernal beast, motionless animal.
In simple words: The monster was described using various terms that highlight its mysterious, frightening, and unusual nature, emphasizing its massive size and glowing appearance.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to extract descriptions, scan the text for adjectives and descriptive phrases directly associated with the noun in question. Accuracy and completeness are key for full marks.

Question 1. Form groups of 4. Find all the references to time given in the passage. Then make a chart to show the events described in the passage along with the time when they occur. Example:
Answer:
• All night long: The crew stayed on their feet.
• Near midnight: The sea animal disappeared.
• At 12.53: A deafening hiss was heard.
• Near 2.00 am: The core of a light appeared.
• At 6.00 am: The animal’s electric glow disappeared.
• At 7.00 am: A dense morning mist spread.
• At 8.00 am: The mist disappeared, the sea animal was seen.
• A few moments later: The frigate headed for the animal.
• Three-quarters of an hour later: They were not getting closer to the animal.
• Next one hour: The frigate gathered speed and so did the sea animal.
• At 10.50 pm: The electric light reappeared.
In simple words: The event involves tracking a sea monster, with crew actions and monster sightings recorded at various specific times throughout the night and the following day.

🎯 Exam Tip: For timeline questions, extract all time markers and their corresponding events precisely. Presenting them as a clear list helps in easy evaluation and avoids missing details.

Question 1. How long does the whole event described in this passage take? Work it out by reading the passage.
Answer: The whole event described in the passage takes approximately 23 hours, starting from near midnight and continuing until 10.50 pm the following day.
In simple words: The entire chase and observation of the sea monster lasted for almost a full day, from late night to late evening of the next day.

🎯 Exam Tip: To calculate duration, identify the start and end times clearly from the text. Be careful with 'am' and 'pm' transitions across midnight to ensure accurate calculation.

Question 1. Observe the picture and the labels carefully. Then match the words and the meanings given in the following table.
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र एक जहाज के विभिन्न हिस्सों को दर्शाता है, जैसे मस्तूल (Mast), धनुष (Bow), पिछाड़ी (Stern), डेक (Deck) और अन्य संरचनाएँ। इस चित्र का उपयोग पाठकों को जहाज के विभिन्न भागों की शब्दावली और उनकी स्थिति को समझने में मदद करने के लिए किया गया है ताकि वे पाठ में वर्णित संदर्भों को बेहतर ढंग से समझ सकें।

Answer:

In simple words: This exercise involves matching key nautical terms related to a ship's structure with their correct definitions, helping to understand the vocabulary used in the passage.

🎯 Exam Tip: When matching, carefully read both the word and all possible definitions. Eliminate incorrect options and confirm the best fit. Contextual clues from the passage can also be helpful.

Question 1. Form groups of 4-5. Read the following sentences aloud. Using your imagination and with the help of group discussion, write other situations in which the sentences can be used.
Answer:
• The outcome: disappointment and anger
• The hour of battle had sounded
• What a chase!
• This was our chance
• The outcome: happiness and relief
• The outcome: fun and joy
• The outcome: misery and poverty
• The hour of decision had arrived
• The sound of victory was heard
• What a book!
• What a personality!
• What a movie!
• This was our victory
• This was our last straw
• This was our fight...
In simple words: This activity encourages creative thinking by applying common phrases from the text to various real-life scenarios, broadening their contextual understanding.

🎯 Exam Tip: For open-ended questions involving imagination, focus on showing versatility in applying phrases. Ensure your suggested situations logically fit the tone and meaning of the original phrases.

Question 1. Find the different units of measurement mentioned in the passage and get more information about them from the internet.
Answer: The passage mentions units related to time and distance:
(i) **Time:** References like "12.53", "2.00 am", "6.00 am", "7.00 am", "8.00 am", "10.50 pm" are specific points in time. "Three-quarters of an hour" and "Next one hour" are durations. These are standard measurements for tracking chronological events.
(ii) **Distance:** Units like "twenty feet" (page 12) and "mile" (page 10) are used to measure physical lengths or distances, indicating the separation between objects or the range of an action.
In simple words: The passage uses standard units to track the passage of time and to describe distances, helping readers understand the sequence and scale of events.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying units, look for numerical values followed by specific unit labels (e.g., 'am', 'pm', 'hour', 'feet', 'mile'). Always provide a brief explanation of what each unit measures.

Language Study: Transitive And Intransitive Verbs

We can classify verbs into two types - transitive and intransitive. Some verbs need an object/objects. When a verb has an object, it is a transitive verb. For example, 'The boy kicked the football'. Here the verb 'kick' has 'the football' as its object. 'Give', 'cook', 'buy' are transitive verbs. Some verbs do not need any objects. When a verb does not have an object, it is an intransitive verb. For example, 'We laughed loudly'. The verb 'laugh' in this sentence does not have an object. 'Laugh', 'walk', 'dry' are intransitive verbs. Some verbs can be transitive or intransitive. For example, 'Birds fly'. (intransitive) 'Children fly kites'. (transitive)

Answer The Following Questions.

Question 1. Guess what order the commander must have given.
Answer: The order given by the commander must have been to advance slowly towards the monster and to be ready to attack.
In simple words: The commander likely ordered a cautious approach to the monster while preparing the crew for potential confrontation.

🎯 Exam Tip: For inference questions, use contextual clues about the commander's role and the situation to deduce the most logical command. Consider both action and readiness.

Question 2. Why did the Abraham Lincoln slow down?
Answer: The Abraham Lincoln slowed down because it was unable to compete with the monster's speed.
In simple words: The ship reduced its speed because it couldn't keep up with the faster sea monster.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify cause-and-effect relationships in the text. The reason for the ship's speed change is directly linked to the monster's superior speed.

Question 3. What is the monster compared to when it disappeared?
Answer: The monster is compared to a huge glow-worm when it disappeared.
In simple words: When the monster vanished, its glowing appearance led to it being described like a massive glow-worm.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to similes and metaphors used in the text. Direct comparisons are often clearly stated and are important for understanding descriptive language.

Question 4. What did the deafening hiss resemble?
Answer: The deafening hiss resembled the sound made by a water spout expelled with tremendous intensity.
In simple words: The loud hissing sound was like a powerful jet of water being shot out forcefully.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about sensory descriptions, recall the exact comparison or resemblance provided in the passage to accurately describe the sound.

Question 5. Who would get $ 500?
Answer: The man who would pierce the infernal beast would get $ 500.
In simple words: A reward of $500 was offered to anyone who could successfully strike the terrifying sea monster.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note specific details like rewards or challenges mentioned in the narrative. They often highlight key motivations or plot points.

Question 6. Describe the gunner who accepted the challenge.
Answer: The gunner who accepted the challenge was a calm, cool, old and gray-bearded man.
In simple words: The gunner who took on the task was portrayed as an experienced, composed, elderly man with a grey beard.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for descriptions of characters, gather all adjectives and characteristic phrases used in the text to paint a complete picture.

Question 7. What was Ned Land doing?
Answer: Ned Land was brandishing his dreadful weapon.
In simple words: Ned Land was waving his fearsome weapon, indicating his readiness for action against the monster.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the specific actions of characters. Verbs used to describe their movements are crucial for answering such questions accurately.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary And Grammar

Simple Factual Questions:

Fill In The Blanks.

Question i. Let's wait for daylight and then we'll play a ............ role.
Answer: different
In simple words: The speaker suggested waiting for daytime to change their approach or strategy in dealing with the situation.

🎯 Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks, reread the sentence with the options to ensure the chosen word makes logical and grammatical sense within the context of the passage.

Question ii. Unable to compete with the monster's speed, our frigate, the ............ slowed down.
Answer: Abraham Lincoln
In simple words: The ship named Abraham Lincoln reduced its speed because it could not match the monster's pace.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify key nouns or names that complete the factual information given in the sentence. The ship's name is a direct piece of information from the story.

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1. What is the name of the narrator?
Answer: The name of the narrator is Professor Aronnax.
In simple words: The story is told from the perspective of Professor Aronnax.

🎯 Exam Tip: Directly recall the name of the narrator as presented early in the story. Factual details like character names are important for basic comprehension.

Question 2. What is the name of the ship?
Answer: The name of the ship is 'Abraham Lincoln'.
In simple words: The ship involved in the chase is called the 'Abraham Lincoln'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember significant proper nouns, such as the name of the ship, as they are central to the story's setting and plot.

Question 3. At what time is this event taking place?
Answer: This event is taking place sometime near midnight.
In simple words: The main events described in this part of the passage begin around the middle of the night.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to time references in the initial setting of the story. "Near midnight" sets the atmospheric tone for the encounter.

Vocabulary:

Question 1. Give two words as phrases used to describe 'monster' in this passage.
Answer: fearsome creature, cetacean
In simple words: The monster is described as a terrifying being and also identified as a type of marine animal, like a whale.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding descriptive words, look for adjectives and specific classifications used in the text. Ensure they are directly from the passage.

Grammar:

Question 1. The animal mimicked the frigate. (End with '... the animal')
Answer: The frigate was mimicked by the animal.
In simple words: This sentence is rewritten in passive voice, showing that the animal was the one performing the action of mimicking the frigate.

🎯 Exam Tip: When converting sentences, ensure the meaning remains the same and all grammatical rules, especially for voice change, are correctly applied.

Question 2. No one thought of sleeping. (Make it affirmative)
Answer: Everyone remained awake.
In simple words: The sentence is rephrased positively to convey that all individuals stayed alert and did not sleep.

🎯 Exam Tip: To convert to affirmative, find an equivalent positive phrase that expresses the same meaning as the negative one. Focus on common antonyms or alternative expressions.

Question 3. The animal mimicked the frigate. (Change into interrogative)
Answer: Didn't the animal mimic the frigate?
In simple words: The statement is turned into a question, usually by adding a helping verb and adjusting the sentence structure.

🎯 Exam Tip: For interrogative changes, use appropriate helping verbs (like 'did', 'didn't', 'does') at the beginning of the sentence and ensure the question mark is included.

Question 4. Pick out the verb and state whether it is transitive or intransitive.
1. Rama rang the bell loudly.
2. The bell rang loudly.
3. The baby sleeps on a bed.
4. The birds fly in the air.
5. Close the door.
6. He wrote a letter to his friend.
Answer:
1. rang - transitive verb
2. rang - intransitive verb
3. sleeps - intransitive verb
4. fly - intransitive verb
5. close - transitive verb
6. wrote - transitive verb
In simple words: This exercise differentiates between transitive verbs (which require an object to complete their meaning) and intransitive verbs (which do not).

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify if a verb is transitive, ask "what?" or "whom?" after the verb. If there's an answer in the sentence, it's transitive; otherwise, it's intransitive.

Read The Following Passage And Do The Activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Write Whether True Or False.

Question i. We stayed on the alert until night and were getting ready for action.
Answer: False
In simple words: The statement is incorrect based on the passage, suggesting that the crew's alert period or readiness for action might have been at a different time.

🎯 Exam Tip: For true or false questions, directly compare the statement with the information in the passage. Any discrepancy makes the statement false.

Question ii. The mist was very dense.
Answer: True.
In simple words: This statement is accurate, confirming that the mist described in the passage was thick and difficult to see through.

🎯 Exam Tip: Verify every detail of the statement against the text. Even a single incorrect detail can make an entire statement false.

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1. What can the blunderbusses do?
Answer: The blunderbusses can launch harpoons as far as a mile.
In simple words: Blunderbusses are weapons capable of firing harpoons over a long distance, up to a mile.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about capabilities or functions of objects, find the direct description of what they can do within the text. Specific details like "as far as a mile" are important.

Grammar:

Question 1. Ned had a dreadful weapon. (Add a question tag)
Answer: Ned had a dreadful weapon, didn't he?
In simple words: A question tag is added to the statement to turn it into a question seeking confirmation.

🎯 Exam Tip: To add a question tag, use the auxiliary verb from the main clause (or 'do' forms if no auxiliary), negate it if the statement is positive (and vice-versa), and use the subject pronoun.

Question 2. Pick out two abstract nouns from the extract.
Answer: Disappointment, anger.
In simple words: Abstract nouns refer to ideas, qualities, or states rather than concrete objects, such as the feelings of disappointment and anger.

🎯 Exam Tip: Abstract nouns cannot be perceived with the five senses. Look for words that represent emotions, states, or concepts mentioned in the passage.

Personal Response:

Question 1. Do you like travelling on sea? Why?
Answer: No, I do not like travelling on sea. I don't know how to swim and I am very scared of drowning.
In simple words: The personal response indicates a dislike for sea travel due to fear of drowning and lack of swimming ability.

🎯 Exam Tip: For personal response questions, provide an honest and well-reasoned answer based on your own feelings or experiences. Ensure your "why" directly supports your "do you like/dislike" statement.

Read The Following Passage And Do The Activities.

Fill In The Blanks.

Question i. ............ stayed at his post, harpoon in hand.
Answer: Ned Land
In simple words: Ned Land, a character in the story, maintained his position, holding his harpoon, ready for action.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the character associated with specific actions or objects in the narrative. "Harpoon in hand" is a strong clue for Ned Land.

Question ii. The animal is faster than the ............ .
Answer: Abraham Lincoln
In simple words: The sea animal could outpace the ship, Abraham Lincoln.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for comparative statements in the passage that highlight the relative speeds of the monster and the ship.

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1. Explain why the author uses the words "what a chase!".
Answer: It was an exciting chase no doubt. The author says that the excitement shook his very being. The animal was so smart, it let the frigate get a little closer to it and then picked up speed and kept its distance. The animal was playing tricks with the frigate.
In simple words: The phrase "what a chase!" is used to express the intense excitement and frustrating cleverness of the sea monster, which outmaneuvered the ship by toying with it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze the emotional and descriptive impact of such exclamations. Connect the phrase to the monster's behavior and the narrator's feelings to fully explain its use.

Vocabulary:

Question 1. Pick out the words from the extract that mean the following.
(i) person who fires the cannon
(ii) moved faster
Answer:
(i) cannoneer
(ii) gathered speed
In simple words: This task identifies specific vocabulary words from the passage that correspond to given definitions, enhancing understanding of the text.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding synonyms or definitions, ensure the chosen word is directly from the passage and accurately conveys the meaning in the given context.

Question 2. Give the meanings of the following.
(i) harpooner
(ii) mate
Answer:
(i) person who handles the harpoon
(ii) assistant
In simple words: "Harpooner" refers to someone who uses a harpoon, and "mate" means an assistant, often on a ship.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define nautical or specific terms accurately. Knowing the context of their use in the story helps provide precise meanings.

Grammar:

Question 1. what a chase no i can't describe the excitement that shook my very being (Punctuate)
Answer: What a chase! No, It can't describe the excitement that shook my very being.
In simple words: This involves correctly adding punctuation marks like capital letters, exclamation points, and commas to make the sentence grammatically correct and clear.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on capitalization at the beginning of sentences and proper nouns, commas for pauses, and appropriate end punctuation like exclamation marks for strong emotion.

Question 2. The cannoneer fired a shot. (Add a question tag)
Answer: The cannoneer fired a shot, didn't he?
In simple words: A question tag is added to the end of the statement to turn it into a question asking for confirmation.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the appropriate past tense auxiliary verb ('did' in this case) and match its polarity (negative for a positive statement) with the correct pronoun ('he').

Language Study

Do As Directed.

Question 1. There was a mighty explosion. (Pick out the verb and state its kind)
Answer: was - transitive verb.
In simple words: The verb 'was' is identified as a transitive verb because it describes a state of being related to an object (explosion).

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify a verb, look for the action or state of being. Determine if it takes a direct object to categorize it as transitive or intransitive.

Question 2. The monster seemed motionless. (Frame a 'Wh' question so as to get the underlined words as the answer)
Answer: Who seemed motionless?
In simple words: A 'Wh' question is formed to specifically elicit "The monster" as the answer.

🎯 Exam Tip: For 'Wh' questions, choose the correct 'Wh' word (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) that targets the underlined part of the sentence for the answer.

Question 3. Barely twenty feet separated him from the motionless animal. (Pick out the adjectives from the sentence)
Answer: Twenty, motionless
In simple words: The adjectives "twenty" and "motionless" describe the number of feet and the state of the animal, respectively.

🎯 Exam Tip: Adjectives describe nouns. Look for words that answer "how many?" or "what kind?" about a noun in the sentence.

Question 4. The electric light suddenly went out. (Identify the part of speech of the underlined word)
Answer: Suddenly - adverb
In simple words: The word "suddenly" modifies the verb "went out" by describing how the action occurred, making it an adverb.

🎯 Exam Tip: Adverbs often end in -ly and describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, answering questions like how, when, where, or to what extent.

Question 5. Pick out the verb and state whether it is transitive or intransitive.
(i) The hunter killed the wolf.
(ii) Leena saw a monster.
(iii) Rains spoilt the picnic.
(iv) The baby cried loudly.
(v) The bird flew away.
Answer:
(i) killed - transitive verb
(ii) saw - transitive verb
(iii) spoilt - transitive verb
(iv) cried - intransitive verb
(v) flew - intransitive verb
In simple words: This exercise reinforces the distinction between transitive verbs (which act upon an object) and intransitive verbs (which complete their meaning without an object).

🎯 Exam Tip: Always look for a direct object after the verb. If one is present, the verb is transitive. If the verb expresses a complete thought on its own, it's intransitive.

Writing Skills

Question 1. Write an essay on 'A Sea Journey'.
Answer: A sea journey is something I had never experienced. I used to look at the majestic sea and wonder what it would be like to travel by sea. I got the chance of a life time to travel on a ship.
The ship was filled with people from different states of India. At the beginning all was wonderful, the people, the sea, the sky, the weather. I was told that the journey would take many on board. But as time passed, the journey which I felt would be a pleasant one, wasn't all that pleasant. There was nothing to see except water, water and more water. The movement of the ship on the water gave me a nauseating/nauseous feeling.
I was praying and hoping for the journey to end. At last after about eight long hours we touched land. I was so happy to be on firm landing once again. The journey by sea was an experience I wouldn't want to repeat. This journey by sea was my first and last one.
In simple words: This essay describes a personal sea journey, initially exciting but ultimately disappointing due to monotony and motion sickness, leading to a strong aversion to future sea travel.

🎯 Exam Tip: For essay writing, structure your thoughts with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Use vivid descriptive language and personal reflection to make your essay engaging and coherent.

Chasing The Sea Monster Summary In English

The lesson 'Chasing the Sea Monster' is an extract from the novel '20,000 Leagues under the Sea' written by Jules Verne. The story in this extract is about spotting a mysterious sea monster by the inmates on a warship. The story revolves round the relentless chase between the warship (frigate) and the sea monster.

The warship (frigate) named Abraham Lincoln captained by Commander Farragut along with Professor Pierre Aronnax, a French marine biologist and narrator of the story, a master harpoonist Ned Land and other crew members chase the sea monster and in the end Ned Land succeeds in hitting the sea monster. The collision between the frigate and the sea monster is so hideous that Commander Farragut, Professor Pierre Aronnax and Ned Land are hurled into the sea.

Introduction:

The lesson 'Chasing The Sea Monster' is a science fiction written by Jules Verne, a French writer. He is known as the 'Father of Science Fiction'. This is a passage, from his novel '20,000 Leagues under the Sea'. He describes how people on a ship think of the submarine as an animal and try to chase and hunt it.

Glossary:

1. frigate (n) - small, speedy ship used in war
2. unearthly (adj) - strange, not like those found on earth
3. luminous (adj) - bright, full of light
4. fearsome (adj) - scary, frightening
5. crew (n) - people working on the ship
6. cetaceans (n) - marine animals like a whale
7. lurking (v) - hiding
8. whaling gear (n) - equipment used to hunt whales
9. mate (n) - assistant
10. armour (n) - protective metal covering
11. profound (adj) - deep
12. astern to port (v) - towards the hinder part or stem; backward
13. blunderbusses (n) a short, large bored gun firing metal balls, slugs or nails
14. duck guns (n) - large shot guns used for hunting ducks in large number
15. harpoon (n) a barbed spear attached to a rope and thrown or fired from a gun to hunt whales or large fish
16. cannoneer (n) - an artillery man who uses cannon
17. harpooner (n) a person who uses harpoons especially to hunt whales
18. enormous (adj) - huge
19. hideous (adj) - dreadful, horrid
20. mute (adj) - dumb; not having the power of speech
21. alert (adj) - attentive
22. informed (adj) - having information, based on information.
23. target (n) a person, object or place selected as the aim of attack
24. weariness (n)- tiredness
25. brandishing (v) - to move or swing back and forth particularly demonstrating skill
26. collision (n)- clash