CBSE Class VII English (Poorvi) Unit 4: Travel and Adventure — Travel Questions and Answers

Unit 4: Travel and Adventure - Travel

Figure 1: Travel Word Web showing modes of transport, reasons, feelings, activities, destinations, and challenges.

Let us do these activities before we read

I. Complete the following word web on travel.

• Modes of Transport: bus, train, aeroplane, ship, bicycle
• Reasons for Travel: work, vacation, education, visiting relatives
• Feelings: joy, excitement, thrill, relaxation
• Adventure Activities: exploring, trekking, camping, rafting
• Destinations: riverside, mountains, historical monuments, beaches
• Challenges: bad weather, traffic jams, lost luggage, illness

II. You are going on a trip to an adventure camp with your classmates and teacher. Answer the following questions:

1. How will you travel to the adventure camp?
We will travel to the adventure camp by school bus.

2. What things will you take along?
We will take water bottles, packed food, comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, and a diary.

3. Why would you like to go there?
We would like to go there to experience nature, learn new skills, and enjoy adventure activities with our friends.

4. What are the activities you would like to do with your friends?
We would like to do trekking, rock climbing, zip-lining, pitch tents, and sit around a campfire.

5. How much time will it take to complete your adventure trip?
It will take two days and one night to complete our adventure trip.

III. Discuss in pairs. What might be the reasons that people enjoy train journeys?

People enjoy train journeys because they offer scenic views of the countryside, comfortable seating to relax or sleep, opportunities to chat and make friends with fellow travelers, and a unique rhythm and atmosphere that makes traveling memorable.

Let us discuss

I. The main ideas of each stanza of the poem are given below. Write the number of the stanza against the matching main idea.

• At night, the speaker imagines the train and hears its engine in the quiet. — Stanza 2
• The speaker feels a strong desire to take any train, no matter where it goes. — Stanza 3
• The speaker hears the train whistle during the day, even though the train is far away. — Stanza 1

II. Read the poem and underline the rhyming words in each stanza. Write the rhyming words from each stanza.

• Stanza (i): away–day; speaking–shrieking
• Stanza (ii): by–sky; dreaming–steaming
• Stanza (iii): make–take; knowing–going

III. Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem from the options given below.

Correct Option: 3. ABAB

IV. Identify the word in the poem that personifies the whistle of the train.

The word that personifies the whistle of the train is "shrieking".

V. Tone refers to the attitude the poet has about the poem. Which of these words can be used to describe the poet's tone in this poem?

The words that describe the poet's tone are: excited, curious, enthusiastic, and thoughtful.

VI. Select the words that tell us what the train symbolises for the poet.

The train symbolises 2. adventure and 4. opportunities.

VII. Complete the following by choosing the correct option from those given in brackets: The poet repeats the line, '...there isn't a train goes by,' in all three stanzas to _______________

highlight the speaker's fascination with the train.

Figure 2: Four young friends interacting and sharing ideas.

VIII. The poem contrasts the busy day with the stillness of the night. What is the common factor in these?

The common factor in both day and night is the speaker's constant awareness of and longing for the passing train.

IX. Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to create mental pictures. Select the phrases from the poem that are examples of imagery.

• day is loud
• whistle shrieking
• night is still
• cinders red on the sky
• engine steaming

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

"My heart is warm with the friends I make,
And better friends I'll not be knowing..."

(i) Choose the suitable option to complete the following: The line 'My heart is warm' refers to a heart that is _______________
Answer: B. full of love

(ii) What does the speaker say about her current friends?
Answer: The speaker says her heart feels warm with the friends she has made and that she will not know better friends than them.

(iii) What does the line 'better friends I'll not be knowing' suggest about the speaker's feelings toward their current friends?
Answer: It suggests that she holds her current friends in the highest regard, values them deeply, and feels completely content with their friendship.

(iv) Complete the following suitably: The tone of the speaker in these lines is _______________
Answer: grateful / content

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What does the phrase 'cinders red on the sky' tell us about the train at night?
It creates a vivid visual image of burning sparks and glowing red embers shooting out from the steam engine's chimney into the dark night sky.

2. What is the significance of the repeated references to the train's whistle?
The repeated references emphasize the persistent call of travel and adventure in the speaker's mind, showing that no matter what time or setting, her thoughts are drawn to the train.

3. What does the line 'no matter where it's going' reveal about the speaker's attitude towards travel?
It reveals her unconditioned wanderlust and passion for travel itself; the journey and adventure matter far more to her than the specific destination.

4. Do you think the poet actually sees and hears the train? Why or why not?
No, the speaker does not necessarily see or hear a real train every time. The poem notes the railroad track is "miles away" and "there isn't a train goes by all day," implying these sights and sounds are vivid imaginations driven by her deep desire to travel.

Let us learn

I. Read the expressions from the poem given in Column 1 and match them with what they indicate in Column 2. Then fill in the blanks.

Column 1	Column 2
1. miles away	(v) The distance of the train from the speaker
2. cinders red	(iv) The glow of the train's sparks lighting up the night sky
3. heart is warm	(i) The speaker's affection for their friends
4. day is loud	(iii) The busy and noisy atmosphere during the day
5. engine steaming	(ii) The fast and powerful movement of the train

Filled Blanks:

1. After meeting her old friend, her heart is warm with the joy of rekindled memories.
2. As I arrived at the railway station I could hear the engine steaming.
3. The marketplace is bustling, and the day is loud with the chatter of shoppers and vendors.
4. The bonfire glowed brightly, throwing cinders red into the dark night sky.
5. The sound of a train could still be heard miles away as the evening grew quiet.

II. Match the sound meanings in Column 1 with words in Column 2, and complete the paragraph.

Column 1	Column 2
1. shouting loudly, often in anger or excitement	(iv) yelling
2. crying out in fear or excitement	(vii) screaming
3. crying loudly with grief or sorrow	(i) wailing
4. making a high-pitched, piercing sound	(iii) screeching
5. calling out loudly, often in a casual or informal way	(ii) hollering
6. crying softly in a low, broken voice	(v) whimpering
7. crying loudly and uncontrollably	(vi) bawling

Completed Paragraph:
The street was filled with a variety of sounds. A shopkeeper was 1. hollering to attract customers, while a child nearby was 2. yelling at his friend to wait for him. From the other side of the road, a toddler was 3. bawling uncontrollably after dropping his ice cream, and his mother tried to calm him as he began 4. whimpering softly. In the background, someone's loud 5. screeching voice added to the bustling noise of the busy evening.

Let us listen

I. Listen to this announcement made in the morning assembly about a school trip to the National Science Centre. As you listen, circle the information that is not correct.

Incorrect statements based on the audio script:

• 1. The trip to the National Science Centre is organised on 15 September. (Incorrect date)
• 2. Students will start from school at 8.00 in the morning and return by 5.00 in the evening. (Incorrect return time)
• 3. Refreshment will not be provided during the trip. (Incorrect detail)
• 4. Students are permitted to carry a phone, a notebook, and a pen. (Incorrect regarding phone)
• 5. The permission slip is to be signed by the class teacher. (Incorrect signatory)
• 7. Mr. Mukherjee is the Adventure Club in-charge. (Incorrect title)

II. Rectify the incorrect sentences based on the listening transcript.

1. The trip to the National Science Centre is organised on 16 September.
2. Students will start from school at 8.00 in the morning and return by 5.30 in the evening.
3. Light refreshments will be provided at the museum.
4. Students are not permitted to carry mobile phones; they may carry a notebook and a pen.
5. The permission slip is to be signed by your parent.
6. Mr. Mukherjee is the excursion in-charge.

Let us speak

Pronunciation Rules for Soft 'c' (/s/) and Hard 'c' (/k/): Classify and pronounce the given words.

Rules: 'c' makes a soft /s/ sound when followed by 'e', 'i', or 'y'. 'c' makes a hard /k/ sound when followed by 'a', 'o', 'u', or a consonant.

Soft 'c' (/s/ sound)	Hard 'c' (/k/ sound)
cell	cable
circle	concert (first 'c')
race	cake
bicycle (second 'c')
decide	uncle
receive	echo

Let us write

I. Write a diamante poem that connects 'reading' and 'adventure'.

Reading
Quiet, peaceful
Imagining, learning, dreaming
Pages, words, maps, journeys
Exploring, discovering, daring
Bold, exciting
Adventure

II. Describe an interesting character you met while travelling.

During my last summer vacation train journey to Shimla, I met an elderly gentleman named Uncle Sharma. He was tall, had silver hair, and wore a bright yellow jacket with round spectacles. He was a retired nature photographer who traveled across India. He was an extremely cheerful, kind, and talkative person. During our journey, he showed us beautiful wildlife photographs on his camera and shared stories about animal behavior. My favorite moment was when he pointed out a rare bird outside the train window and exclaimed, "Every journey holds a new secret if you just keep your eyes open!"

Let us explore

Key exploratory points about railways in India and around the world:

• Mountain Railways of India: Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and Kalka-Shimla Railway. The Matheran Hill Railway and Kangra Valley Railway are on the tentative UNESCO list.
• Vande Bharat Express: India's first indigenous semi-high-speed train launched under 'Make in India' on 15 February 2019 on the New Delhi–Varanasi route, running at 160 km/h.
• Underwater Rail Tunnels: Famous global examples include the Thames Tunnel (London), Seikan Tunnel (Japan), and Channel Tunnel (UK/France). India's first underwater metro started in Kolkata in March 2024 under the Hooghly River.