NCERT Solutions for Chapter 9 A bicycle in Good Repair Class 7 English Honeycomb
A Bicycle in Good Repair is a humorous chapter in which the author describes how his friend unnecessarily destroys his bicycle. His friend keeps repairing the bicycle even though the author discourages him from doing so, saying that it is all good. According to the narrator, both the bicycle and man suffer during this procedure. Tired and even bleeding, the man is proud to announce that his bicycle is now repaired perfectly. It seems that the bicycle suffered as much as the man who took on the task of repairing it. "A bicycle in good repair" teaches us that it takes very little time to disfigure something, but it takes a lot of effort to repair it.
Chapter Name | A bicycle in Good Repair NCERT Solutions |
Class | CBSE Class 7 |
Textbook Name | Honeycomb |
Related Readings |
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Comprehension Check I
Question 1: "I got up early, for me." It implies that
- he was an early riser.
- he was a late riser;
- he got up late that morning.
Mark the correct answer.
Answer:
"I got up early, for me." It implies that he was a late riser.
Question 2: The bicycle "goes easily enough in the morning and a little stiffy after lunch."
The remark is
- humorous
- inaccurate
- sarcastic
- enjoyable
- meaningless.
Mark your choice(s).
Answer:
The remark is humorous.
Question 3: The friend shook the bicycle violently. Find two or three sentences in the text which express the author's disapproval of it.
Answer:
The following remarks express the author's disapproval:
"Don't do that; you'll hurt it"
'I did not see why he should shake it; it had not done anything to him'.
Question 4: "..... if not, it would make a serious difference to the machine." What does 'it' refer to?
Answer:
The 'it' refers to the ball bearings.
Working with the Text
Question 1: Did the front wheel really wobble? What is your opinion? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
No, the front wheel didn't actually wobble. It wobbled only when it was shaken by the man which displeased the author.
Question 2: In what condition did the author find the bicycle when he returned from the tool shed?
Answer:
The author returned from the tool shed to find a man sitting with his front wheel between his legs and the rest of the bicycle lying on the ground discarded.
Question 3: "Nothing is easier than taking off the gear case." Comment on or continue this sentence in the light of what actually happens.
Answer:
When viewed in light of what actually occurs, this sentence shows that the author's friend is overconfident about his knowledge of machines and ignores the advice of someone with more experience.
Question 4: What special treatment did the chain receive?
Answer:
A friend of the author fiddled with the chain. First, he tightened it until it wouldn't move, then he loosened it until it was twice as long as it used to be.
Question 5: The friend has two qualities he knows what he is doing and is absolutely sure it is good. Find the two phrases in the text which mean the same.
Answer:
The two phrases in the text which show the two qualities are:
- Cheery confidence
- Inexplicable hopefulness
Question 6: Describe the fight' between the man and the machine. Find the relevant sentences in the text and write them.
Answer:
There would be a moment when the bicycle was on the gravel path, and the next he would be on top of it. After that, he would be flushed with victory, his bicycle firmly in place between his legs. However, his victory would be short-lived. There was no fight left between the man and the machine after he was disarranged, dirty, cut, and bleeding.
Working with Language
Question 1: Rewrite each of the following sentences using should/ ought to/must in place of the italicised words. Make other changes wherever necessary.
(i) You are obliged to do your duty irrespective of consequences. ____
(ii) You will do well to study at least for an hour every day. ____
(iii) The doctor says it is necessary for her to sleep eight hours every night. ____
(iv) It is right that you show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters. ____
(v) If you want to stay healthy, exercise regularly. ____
(vi) It is good for you to take a walk every morning. ____
(vii) It is strongly advised that you don't stand on your head. ____
(viii) As he has a cold, it is better for him to go to bed. ____
Answer:
(i) You are obliged to do your duty irrespective of consequences.
You must do your duty irrespective of consequences.
(ii) You will do well to study at least for an hour every day.
You should study at least for an hour every day.
(iii) The doctor says it is necessary for her to sleep eight hours every night.
The doctor says she must sleep for eight hours every night.
(iv) It is right that you show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters.
You ought to show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters.
(v) If you want to stay healthy, exercise regularly.
You must exercise regularly to stay healthy.
(vi) It is good for you to take a walk every morning.
You should take a walk every morning.
(vii) It is strongly advised that you don't stand on your head.
You must not stand on your head.
(viii) As he has a cold, it is better for him to go to bed.
As he has a cold, he should go to bed.
Question 2: Use should, must, ought to appropriately in the following sentences:
(i) People who live in glass houses ____ not throw stones.
(ii) You ____ wipe your feet before coming into the house, especially during rains.
(iii) You ____ do what the teacher tells you.
(iv) The pupils were told that they ____ write more neatly.
(v) Sign in front of a park: You ____ not walk on the grass.
(vi) You ____ be ashamed of yourself having made such a remark.
(vii) He left home at 9 o'clock. He ____ be here any minute.
(viii) "Whatever happened to the chocolate cake?" How ____ I know? I have just arrived."
Answer:
(i) People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
(ii) You must wipe your feet before coming into the house, especially during rains.
(iii) You must do what the teacher tells you.
(iv) The pupils were told that they ought to write more neatly.
(v) Sign in front of a park: You must not walk on the grass.
(vi) You ought to be ashamed of yourself having made such a remark.
(vii) He left home at 9 o'clock. He should be here any minute.
(viii) "Whatever happened to the chocolate cake?" How should I know? I have just arrived."
Question 3: Divide each of the following sentences into its parts. Write meaningful parts. If necessary, supply a word or two to make each part meaningful.
(i) I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. (3 parts)
(ii) When I came back he was sitting on the ground. (2 parts)
(iii) We may as well see what's the matter with it, now it is out. (3 parts)
(iv) He said he hoped we had got them all. (3 parts)
(v) I had to confess he was right. (2 parts)
Answer:
(i) I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. (3 parts)
I went to the tool shed. I went to see. What could I find?
(ii) When I came back he was sitting on the ground. (2 parts)
I came back. He was sitting on the ground.
(iii) We may as well see what's the matter with it, now it is out. (3) parts)
We may as well see. What's the matter with it? Now, it is out.
(iv) He said he hoped we had got them all. (3 parts)
He said. He hoped. We had got them all.
(v) I had to confess he was right. (2 parts)
I had to confess. He was right.
Question 4: (i) Now arrange the words given in the box under three headings. Encourage dampen listen barren endanger soften fasten enclose weaken even enable enclave
(ii) Find new words in your textbook and put them under the same headings.
Answer:
(i)
|
Prefix |
Suffix |
Part of word |
|
Encourage |
Dampen |
Listen |
|
Endanger |
Soften |
Barren |
|
Enable |
Fasten |
Even |
|
Enclose |
Weaken |
Enclave |
|
Prefix |
Suffix |
Part of word |
|
Enact |
Deepen |
Energy |
|
Enjoy |
Forgotten |
End |
|
Ensure |
Quicken |
Enquiry |
|
Entrap |
Tighten |
Happen |
|
Encircle |
Strengthen |
Sudden |
|
Entact |
Forgotten |
Happen |
Question 1: Answer the following questions.
(i) Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
(ii) Which line shows a complete change of the child's attitude towards snakes? Read it aloud.
(iii) "But mother says that kind is good......." What is mother referring to?
Answer:
(i) The line "I saw a snake and ran away..." suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
(ii) The line "So when he wiggles in the grass I'll stand aside and watch him pass," shows a complete change of the child's attitude towards snakes.
(iii) The mother is referring to the garden snake which is a non- venomous snake and eats insects for his food.
Question 2: Find the word that refers to the snake's movements in the grass.
Answer:
The word 'wiggles' refers to snake movements in the grass. The word describes rapid movements from side to side or up and down.
Question 3: There are four pairs of rhyming words in the poem. Say them aloud.
Answer:
The four pairs of rhyming words in the poem are:
- away-say
- good-food
- grass-pass
- mistake- snake.
Question 4: A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast. Can you guess how? Discuss in the group.
Answer:
Snakes have no legs or feet, but they do move very quickly because they wiggle on their stomachs in zigzag patterns.
Question 5: Can you recall the word used for a cobra's long sharp teeth? Where did you come across this word first?
Answer:
A cobra's long, sharp teeth are called 'fangs'. When I was watching a thriller about deadly snakes in English, I came across it.