NCERT Solutions for Chapter 4 The Cop and the Anthem Class 7 English An Alien Hand
"The Cop and The Anthem" is a short story by the United States author O. Henry. In "The Cop and The Anthem," a homeless man called Soapy notices one cold night on his park bench that he has to do everything he can in order to get into prison for three months to survive the winter.
A moral we might gain from this story is that our goals, dreams, hopes, and plans might greatly influence the course of our lives.
Chapter Name | The Cop and the Anthem NCERT Solutions |
Class | CBSE Class 7 |
Textbook Name | An Alien Hand |
Related Readings |
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Exercise
Question 1: What are some of the signs of approaching winter referred to in the text?
Answer:
The text mentions birds flying south, people needing warm new coats, and dead leaves falling from trees as signs of approaching winter.
Question 2: Write 'True' or 'False' against each of the following
(i) Soapy did not want to go to prison.
(ii) Soapy had been to prison several times.
(iii) It was not possible for Soapy to survive in the city.
(iv) Soapy hated to answer questions of a personal nature.
Answer:
(i) False; (ii) True; (iii) False; (iv) True.
Question 3: What was Soapy's first plan? Why did it not work?
Answer:
Soapy wanted to go to a fine restaurant for dinner and then refuse to pay since he couldn't afford it, which would get him arrested. Next day, he would appear in front of a judge who would sentence him to three months in jail on Blackwell's Island. The plan didn't work since as soon as Soapy stepped inside a fine restaurant at Broadway, his shabby clothing caught the attention of the head waiter and he was immediately kicked out.
Question 4: "But the cop's mind would not consider Soapy." What dis the cop not consider, and why?
Answer:
A cop determined that Soapy wasn't the person who threw the stone because he thought a person who did it wouldn't have stayed to talk to the police.
Question 5: "We have orders to let them shout." What is the policeman referring to?
Answer:
In his attempt to get arrested again, Soapy shouted outside the theatre pretending he was drunk, but the policeman thought he was a harmless protestor. He told the man beside him that they had orders to shout.
Question 6: Write 'True' or 'False' against each of the following
(i) Soapy stole a man's umbrella.
(ii) The owner of the umbrella offered to give it to Soapy.
(iii) The man had stolen the umbrella that was now Soapy's.
(iv) Soapy threw away the umbrella.
Answer:
(i) True; (ii) False; (iii) True; (iv) True
Question 7: "There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul." What brought about the change in Soapy?
Answer:
In his return to Madison Square, Soapy stopped outside his old childhood home.
This place brought back memories of his childhood when he lived a happy and honest life with his mother and friends. The soft light shining through his living room's window and the sweet music caused a sudden change in his soul, and he realized that his life was worthless and hopeless and that he needed to change it.
Question 8: Suppose no cop came at the end. What would Soapy's life be like next winter?
Answer:
Soapy's life would have changed completely if there had been no cop at the end. Soapy decided to earn an income and find work for himself. Thus, we can suppose that he would have worked frequently on any small project over the coming winter. He would have been able to get a small house for himself. The clothes he would wear and the food he would eat would be decent. It would make him happy and satisfied.
Question 9: Retell an episode in the story which is a good example of irony in a situation.
Answer:
One of the most ironic incidents in the story is the umbrella incident. When Soapy failed to get caught two times, he walked into a store. He saw an umbrella beside the door of a man. The man picked up the umbrella and walked out. From behind, the man reclaimed his umbrella. Soapy suggested calling a cop for him to be arrested for stealing the umbrella. But that man revealed to Soapy that he had found the umbrella himself in a restaurant that morning. Therefore, Soapy did not get arrested once again.