On Killing A Tree Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers

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Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 9^th as Per CBSE Syllabus

Chapter- 8.1

On Killing A Tree Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers

By– Gieve Patel

Introduction of the lesson- ON KILLING A TREE

The poet believes that eradicating evils that have been deeply rooted in society requires digging deep, uprooting them and leaving them to wither away in the sun. The same can be said of social evils. The society should attempt to eradicate the sources of their evil and leave it there forever.
(इस कविता में कवि एक वृक्ष की तुलना गहरी जड़ों वाली एक सामाजिक बुराई से करता है । वह कहता है कि मात्र काटने या फाड़ने से एक वृक्ष को हम मार (समाप्त) नहीं सकते हैं । इसको हमेशा के लिए समाप्त करने के लिए पूर्ण रूप से जड़ से उखाड़ कर धूप में सूखने के लिए छोड़ दिया जाना चाहिए । इसी प्रकार से मात्र आलोचना करने से सामाजिक बुराइयों का अंत नहीं किया जा सकता । समाज को उन्हें हमेशा के लिए मारने के लिए जड़ से उखाड़ देना चाहिए ।)

Introduction (2) ON KILLING A TREE:

The poem “On Killing a Tree” by Gieve Patel presents the strength and vitality of a mature tree. The poem explores how healthy trees survive even through extreme adversity by remaining steady, rooted and enduring on ground that nourishes them with oxygen and nutrients. Trees do not die until they are deprived of their roots to support them and prevent the decay that comes from being uprooted from the earth.

THEME – ON KILLING A TREE

“On Killing a Tree” is a satirical poem on human callousness and cruelty in cutting down trees for agriculture, urbanization and industrialization. The poem reads like a “How-to-Do” manual instructing on how to kill a tree but instead, it is a passionately plea not to chop trees down. The poem goes on to emote the sturdiness and resilience of trees that take all kinds of attacks and wounds in stride without dying. They may be wounded, scarred or maimed, but they bounce back into life after time by healing themselves. The human body may be incapable of achieving that kind of attitude.

TITLE – ON KILLING A TREE

The title of the poem is “Timeless” as it contains the primary concern that the poet has – merciless and callous actions of felling trees. The title fits appropriately for the poem, indicating that it is about the process of killing a tree. The entire poem summarizes the notion that killing a tree is not simple, short or easy. Trees have tremendous strength and amazing instincts when it comes to survival.

MESSAGE – ON KILLING A TREE

The poem conveys that trees are living beings just like any other form of life. They have strong survival instincts and can withstand any type of assault, trauma, or crisis. It is not easy to kill them, for they have a never-say-die attitude to life. Every time they are attacked, injured, or scraped, they heal themselves and regain their glory. However, if they are uprooted and left in the air and the sun; they die. We human beings must live just as trees do.

LITERARY DEVICES – ON KILLING A TREE

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at close intervals. It is used to lend a lyrical or musical element to the poem.

Examples:

The bleeding bark will heal.

(Here the poet has repeated ‘ b’ and ‘I’ sounds.)

The source, white and wet.

(In this line ‘w’ sound is repeated.)

Metaphor

The metaphor is a comparison between two unlike objects, but the word of comparison ‘like’ or ‘as’ is not used. Instead of stating that one thing is like another, the poet identifies one with the other.

Examples:

The bleeding bark

Here the word ‘bleeding’ is a metaphor. The poet compares the sap oozing out of the bark of a hacked tree trunk to the blood of a human being or a living creature but does not use the word of comparison.

leprous hide

Here the uneven, discoloured bark of a tree is compared to the discoloured and gnarled skin of a person suffering from leprosy. But the poet does not use ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Repetition

Repetition ‘ is using a word, phrase, or clause a number of times with the purpose of emphasis or to provide unity to the poem.

Example:

The root is to be pulled out-

Out of the anchoring earth;

It is to be roped, tied,

And pulled out – snapped out

Or pulled out entirely,

Out from the earth-cave.

Here the poet uses ‘pulled out’ and ‘out’ again and again to emphasize the effort involved in uprooting a tree and exposing its roots. It shows that the root of the tree is deeply fixed into the earth.

Enjambment

Enjambment is a figure of speech in which one line of poetry rolls on to the next line without any pause marked by a comma or a full stop. In this poem, there is enjambment in every stanza.

Example:

Rising out of it, feeding

Upon its crust, absorbing

Years of sunlight, air, water,

Here there is no punctuation mark at the end of the first and the second line. The first line rolls on to the second and the second is carried on to the third.

So hack and chop

But this alone won’t do it.

Here the first line moves on to the second without any comma or full stop at its end.

Miniature boughs

Which if unchecked will expand again

To former size.

In these lines, full stop comes at the end of the third line. The first line rolls on to the second and the second rolls on to the third line.

RHYME SCHEME – ON KILLING A TREE

The poem is written in free verse and the length of the lines varies. The stanzas are not of equal length.

MESSAGE – ON KILLING A TREE

The poem conveys the message that trees are living beings like any other form of life. They have a powerful instinct for survival and ability to withstand any type of assault, trauma or crisis. It is hard to kill them because they don’t give up easily. When humans are harmed by predators, they heal and regenerate themselves and can recover to their original state. Humans depend on their roots as a lifeline in order for them to survive.

Poetic Devices – ON KILLING A TREE

Imagery

Here very strong imagery has been used and it shows the growth of the tree by taking nutrients from the earth and absorbing sunlight, air and water from nature.

Example:

Slowly consuming the earth Rising out of it, feeding upon its crust.

Absorbing years of sunlight, air, water. And out of its leprous hide sprouting leaves.

Personification

The poet portrays the tree as a human being throughout the poem.

Example:

Bleeding bark — the wounded bark is represented as bleeding.

Value Points – ON KILLING A TREE

To kill a tree is not easy because it takes lots of time.
For growing on the earth, a tree feeds on its crust and consumes years of sunlight, air and water.
The simple jab of a knife or an axe cannot kill a tree. They can only cause wounds to the bark and make them bleed.
The strength of trees actually lies in its roots.
Of all the parts of trees, the roots are the most sensitive parts. They hold them in the earth.
But when they are uprooted and exposed to the sun, they become brown. The exposed roots become hardened in the sun and air and wither. Gradually they start withering away. Finally, trees are killed.

Useful Expressions – ON KILLING A TREE

Years of sunlight, air, water – A tree consumes lots of sunlight, air and water to become a completely grown tree.
… leprous hide —Discoloured bark.
… anchoring earth – With the help of roots, the earth holds the trees.
And the strength of the tree exposed – The strength of a tree lies in its roots. So to kill a tree its roots are to be exposed to the sun for dryness.
… scorching and choking – When the trees are uprooted, they dry up.
Browning, hardening, Twisting, withering –When trees are uprooted and exposed to the sun, they become hardened, twisted and start decaying.

Paraphrasing – ON KILLING A TREE

STANZA

MEANING

It takes much time to kill a tree,

Not a simple jab of the knife

Will do it It has grown

Slowly consuming the earth,

Rising out of it, feeding

Upon its crust, absorbing

Years of sunlight, air, water,

And out of its leprous hide

Sprouting leaves

The poet tells us that killing a tree is not easy. It is time-consuming. A tree grows straight out the earth and nourishes itself on the nutrients found in the earth, besides taking years of sunlight, water, and air. Although its bark looks irregular and scaly, leaves and branches sprout out of it.

So hack and chop

But this alone won’t do it.

The poet says that the hack of a knife, or chopping Off a bough is not sufficient to bring a tree down. These

Not so much pain will do it.

The bleeding bark will heal

And from close to the ground

Will rise curled green twigs,

Miniature boughs

Which if unchecked will expand again

To former size.

jabs may inflict pain on the tree but the pain is not enough to kill it. The ‘bleeding bark’ will heal with time. New green twigs will grow again and boughs chopped off will be replaced by new boughs. It will grow into their former size.

No,

The root is to be pulled out —

Out of the anchoring earth;

It is to be roped, tied,

And pulled out — snapped out

Or pulled out entirely,

Out from the earth-cave,

And the strength of the tree exposed

The source, white and wet,

The most sensitive, hidden

For years inside the earth.

Here, the poet explains how a tree could be killed. He says to kill a tree, its root has to be pulled out. The life source, the root, is exposed, the tree becomes vulnerable. Thus, the strength of the tree is exposed.

Then the matter

Of scorching and choking

In sun and air, Browning, hardening,

Twisting, withering,

And then it is done.

The poet tells us that when the tree is exposed to the sun and air, it will be scorched because of the heat. Slowly, it will become brown, hardened. With time, it will start to wither, become dry and bend out of shape, leaving a corpse. The exposure of root vulnerable to all vagaries of will ultimately weaken the tree and kill it.

Vocabulary – ON KILLING A TREE

Jab— to hit something forcefully; Consuming—using fuel, energy, etc.; Rise—move up; Crust—upper layer of earth; Absorb— to take something in slowly; Leprous—irregular and scaly; Hide— out of view; Sprout—to produce leaves; Hack—cut; Chop—cut in pieces; Bleed— to lose blood; Bark—hard outer covering of tree; Heal—to become well again; Close—near; Expand— to increase in size; Pull— remove; Anchor— hold; Rope— cord; Entirely— completely; Strength— effort; Expose— to disclose; Sensitive— delicate; Matter— situation; Scorching— to burn slightly; Choking— blocking breaths; Hardening— to become hard; Twisting—turn; Wither— to become weak.

Important Word-Meanings of difficult words from the lesson- ON KILLING A TREE

WORD MEANING – ON KILLING A TREE

Word-Meanings : Jab = a sudden rough blow,प्रहार,चुभन ; consuming the earth = getting food from the earth, धरती से भोजन प्राप्त करते हुए ; crust = outer layer of the earth, धरती की बाहरी परत ; absorbing =sucking, सोखते हुए ; leprous = disease of Leprosy,कुष्ठ रोग ; hide = back,छाल ; sprouting = germinating,उगते हुए I Hack = to cut with a heavy spade, भारी कुल्हाड़ी से काटना ; chop = snap, फाड़ देना ; heal =recover, स्वस्थ हो जाना ; curled = twisted,मुड़ी हुई ; twigs = small branches, शाखाएँ ; miniature = small, छोटी Anchoring earth = the earth that gives support to the trees, धरती जो वृक्षों को सहारा देती है ; roped = tied with a rope, रस्सी से बांधना ; snapped out = chopped out, काटकर बाहर निकालना I Strength = power, शक्ति ; exposed = to take out in open, बाहर खुले में ले जाना ; sensitive=quick to the touch,संवेदनशील I scorching= discolouring by the sun,धूप से झुलस जाना ; choking = unable to breath,दम घुट जाना ; browning = becoming of brown colour, धूसर रंग का हो जाना ; twisting =getting bends,बल खाते हुए ; withering = fading,मुरझाते हुए l

Short and Simple Summary of the lesson in English– ON KILLING A TREE/ Summary in simple Words/ Critical appreciation of the lesson – ON KILLING A TREE

If we want to kill a tree, it takes time. A simple job of the knife won’t kill a tree. The tree grows by getting food and other nutrients from the earth. It absorbs sunlight, air, and water. It becomes very strong over years. If we try to hack and chop trees with an axe, they will not feel much pain. Their bleeding bark heals very quickly. Small branches begin to grow from them and soon they become big and strong. The real strength of a tree lies in its roots. If you want to kill a tree forever, pull out the roots entirely and leave it exposed to sun and air. After going through a series of changes, you can say that a tree is killed

Summary (2) ON KILLING A TREE:

“On Killing a Tree” compares the process of cutting down trees to committing an act of murder. The poet presents this view in a satirical and sarcastic tone. The pain experienced by trees while being killed dominates the mood of the poem. The poem opens with the statement that “killing a tree takes a lot of time.” It can’t be done merely with a stab of a knife because the tree is strong over time, drawing its nutrients from the earth, sun, air and water. Its bark looks dull and discoloured yet new leaves are always coming out. A tree cannot be destroyed with just a few cuts or blows. The hacking and chopping is not enough to kill it. However, its injured and mutilated bark would heal over time and flourishing, green twigs will rise from its hacked base. If these small boughs are not cut, they will soon reach the original size of the tree. According to the poet, a real process that could kill a tree threatens cruelty and ruthlessness. The root of the tree is pulled from its embedded position, removing it from its protective layer. It is torn up from the ground in order to be shared with light and air. The outer coating consists of dead cells, which provides no further support for nutriment. Eventually, that core weakness of the tree is exposed due to drying out. When the cell membranes are disturbed, essential nutrients unable to get back into the roots and received by leaves evaporate completely. Without sustenance, life slowly desiccates from it and kills the plant.

Summary in Hindi/ ON KILLING A TREE

कवि कहता है कि यदि हम एक वृक्ष को मारना चाहते हैं तो इसमें बहुत अधिक समय लग जाता है । साधारण चाकू के द्वारा किए गए केवल एक कटाव से वृक्ष मर नहीं सकता है । वृक्षा धरती से भोजन और अन्य पोषक तत्व प्राप्त करके बड़ा होता है । वह सूर्य के प्रकाश, हवा और जल को वर्षों तक चूसता रहता है और बहुत ही शक्तिशाली बन जाता है । यदि हम इसे काटने या फाड़ने का प्रयास करते हैं तो इससे इसको अधिक पीडा नहीं होती है । इसकी रक्त बहती हुई त्वचा जल्दी ही ठीक हो जाती है। उससे छोटी –छोटी टहनियाँ फूट पड़ती हैं और शीघ्र ही वे बहुत बड़ी और शक्तिशाली हो जाती है ।

कवि कहता है कि वृक्ष की असली ताकत उसकी जड़ों में होती है । यदि हम वृक्ष को हमेशा के लिए मारना चाहते है तो उसकी जड़ों को पूर्ण रूप से बाहर निकाल लिया जाना चाहिए । उन्हें खुले में छोड़ दिया जाना चाहिए ताकि वे धूप में मुरझा जाएँ औऱ हवा के कारण उनका दम घुट जाए । इस प्रकार से आकार और रंग बदलने की एक लंबी प्रक्रिया के पश्चात हम कह सकते है कि वृक्ष मर गया है ।

Go to the NCERT Solution “Reach for the top Part II”

COMPREHENSION OF STANZAS – ON KILLING A TREE

STANZA 1

It takes much time to kill a tree,

Not a simple jab of the knife

Will do it. it has grown

Slowly consuming the earth,

Rising out of it, feeding

Upon its crust, absorbing

Years of sunlight, air, water,

And out of its leprous hide

Sprouting leaves.

हिंदी अनुवाद –पेड़ को मारने (समाप्त करने) में बहुत समय लग जाता है । चाकू की एक चुभन मात्र से पेड़ को नही मारा जा सकता । यह धरती से पोषण प्राप्त करते हुए और इसकी ऊपरी सतह से उगते हुए वर्षों तक धूप ,हवा और पानी को चूसते हुए बड़ा होता है । इसकी छाल में से पत्ते निकलते रहते हैं और ये ऐसे प्रतीत होतें है जैसे कि इस पर कुष्ठ रोग के अनेक रंगों के धब्बे पड़ गए हों ।

Questions :

(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Can we kill a tree just with a simple jab of the knife?
(c) How does a tree grow up?
(d) What does it absorb for years?
(e) What does a tree symbolize in this poem?

Answers :

(a) The name of the poem is ‘On killing A Tree’ and the name of the poet is `Gieve Patel’.
(b) No, we can’t kill a tree just with a simple jab of the knife.
(c) A tree grows up consuming the earth.
(d) It absorbs sunlight, air and water.
(e) It symbolizes a deep-rooted evil.

STANZA 2

So hack and chop

But this alone won’t do it.

Not so much pain will do it.

The bleeding bark will heal

And front close to the ground

Will rise curled green twigs,

Miniature boughs

Which if unchecked will expand again

To former size.

हिंदी अनुवाद –इसलिए इसे भारी चोटें मार–मार कर फाड़ना चाहिए । परंतु मात्र इतना करने से ही पेड़ मर नहीं जाएगा । इससे उसे अधिक पीड़ा भी नहीं होगी । उसकी घायल छाल जल्दी ही ठीक हो जाएगीं और छोटी –छोटी कुंडली के आकार की हरी शाखाएँ निकलेगीऔर यदि उन्हें रोका (तोड़ा) नहीं गया तो वे पहले के आकार की हो जाएँगी I

Questions :

(a) How should we kill a tree?
(b) That alone can’t kill a tree?
(c) What will happen to Its bleeding skin?
(d) What rises from dose to the ground?
(e) What is the meaning of ‘miniature boughs’?

Answers :
(a) We should kill a tree by hacking and chopping it.
(b) lacking and chopping alone can’t kill a tree.
(c) It’s bleeding skin will heal very soon.
(d) Small green twigs rise from close to the ground.
(e) ‘Miniature boughs’ means small branches.

STANZA 3

No,

The root is to be pulled out-

Out of the anchoring earth;

It is to be roped, tied,

And pulled out-snapped out

Or pulled out entirely,

Questions :
(a) What should we do to kill a tree entirely?
(b) What is the main anchor of the trees?
(c) Where does the strength of a tree lie?
(d) What should we do to its roots?
(e) Name the poem and the poet

Answers :
(a) To kill a tree entirely we should pull out its root from the earth.
(b) The earth is the main anchor of the trees.
(c) The strength of a tree lies in its roots.
(d) The roots should be snapped and taken out of the earth
(e) The name of the poem is ‘On Killing A Tree’ and the name of the poet is ‘Cleve Patel’.

STANZA 4

Out from the earth-cave,

And the strength of the tree exposed

The source, white and wet,

The most sensitive, hidden

For years inside the earth.

हिंदी अनुवाद – धरती की गुफा के अंदर से वृक्ष की ताकत निकल आती है और वृक्ष की ताकत का वह स्रोत सफ़ेद रंग का और गीला होता है तथा बहुत ही संवेदनशील होता जोकि वृक्षों से धरती के अंदर छिपा हुआ था I

Questions :
(a) What is taken out of the earth’s cave?
(b) What Is the source of the strength of a tree?
(c) Where does the root remain hidden for years?
(d) Name the most sensitive part of the tree.
(e) How is the strength of the tree exposed?

Answers
(a) The root of a tree is taken out of the cave.
(b) Root is the source of the strength of a tree.
(c) Under the earth.
(d) The most sensitive part of the tree is its ‘root’.
(e) The strength of a tree is exposed by Pulling out its root.

STANZA 5

Then the matter

Of scorching and choking

In sun and air,

Browning, hardening,

Twisting, withering,

And then it is done.

हिंदी अनुवाद—तब धूप में झुलसने और हवा न मिलने के कारण दम घुटने के लिए खुला छोड़ देना चाहिए l फिर वह भूरे रंग का होकर कठोर हो जाएगा और फिर उसकी शाखाएँ बल खाकर मुरझा जाएंगी और हम कह सकेंगें कि पेड़ मर गया है I

Questions :
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is scorching done by?
(c) What is chocking done by?
(d) ‘And then it is done’. What is done?
(e) In this poem what is a symbol of a tree?

Answers :
(a) The name of the poem is ‘On Killing A Tree’ and the name of the poet is Gieve Patel’.
(b) Scorching is done by the heat of the sun.
(c) Chocking is done by the absence of the air.
(d) A tree is put to an end forever.
(e) In this poem, the tree is a symbol of deep-rooted evil.

Following is the complete question bank for – ON KILLING A TREE

Additional Very Short Answer Type Questions – ON KILLING A TREE

1. In the poem ‘On Killing A Tree’ what is the tree a symbol of?

Ans. In this poem, the tree is a symbol of deep-rooted evil.

2. How does a tree grow up?

Ans. A tree grows up by getting food and other nutrients from the earth.

3. Can we kill a tree with a simple jab of the knife?

Ans. No, we can’t kill a tree with a simple jab of the knife.

4. How should we kill a tree?

Ans. We should kill a tree by hacking and chopping it.

5. What should we do to kill a tree permanently?

Ans. To kill a tree permanently we should take out its root from the earth.

6. Where does the strength of a tree lie?

Ans. The strength of a tree lies in its roots.

7. What should be done to the roots or a tree?

Ans. The roots of a tree should be snapped and taken out of the earth.

8. What finally kills the tree?

Ans. Scorching and choking kill the tree finally.

9. What does it mean ‘the strength of the tree is exposed’?

Ans. It means the roots of the tree are taken out of the earth.

10. It is easy to kill a tree?

Ans. No, it is not easy to kill a tree.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS – ON KILLING A TREE

Q1.Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not? (Textual)

Ans:- Cutting a tree down with an unsophisticated knife will not kill it, and additional damaging it might sap fluid from the tree. Though, the real reason a tree is alive is its roots that provide nutrients and keep it firmly seated in place.

Q2.How has the tree grown to its full size? List words suggestive of its life and activity.

(Textual)

Ans:- The tree has grown to its full size gradually. It has grown by slowly consuming the earth. It has risen out of the earth and has fed upon its crust. It has also absorbed light, air and water for years. Leaves have sprouted out of its discoloured bark.

Q3.In the phrase ‘consuming the earth’, who consumes the earth and how?

Ans:- It is the tree that consumes the earth by drawing its nourishment from the soil through its root. The diet required by the tree lies deep inside the earth and the root sucks and absorbs nutrients and nourishes the tree.

Q4. What is meant by ‘years of sunlight, air and water’?

Ans:-Years of sunlight, air and water means that the tree takes years together to grow up fully. In this course of time, it draws energy from sunlight, air and water.

Q5.Why has the tree’s ‘hide’ been called leprous?

Ans:- The bark on the tree has uneven textures and colors, similar to the skin of someone suffering from leprosy. Up to this point, the poet has been drawing a parallel between these two images.

Q6. What is the role of hacking and chopping in killing a tree?

Ans:- Hacking and chopping wound the body of a tree causing it great pain. They peal the bark of the tree and it appears to be bleeding when the sap oozes out. However, this pain or bleeding does not manage to kill the tree.

Q7.What is the meaning of ‘bleeding bark’? What makes it bleed? (Textual)

Ans:- Bleeding bark denotes the sap oozing out of a tree when it is attacked with a knife or an axe. The word “bleeding” is metaphorically used to compare the sap to the blood from a wound of a human being and signifies pain of the tree.

Q8.What will rise from ‘close to the ground’? Why?

Ans:-Curled green twigs and miniature boughs will rise from the stump of the tree that is close to the ground. They will rise because the tree rejuvenates and revives itself as long as its root is intact.

Q9.’What will happen if the miniature boughs are left ‘unchecked’?

Ans:-‘Unchecked’ here means left free to grow without any harm or danger. If left ‘unchecked’, the new, green, delicate branches from the stump of a tree will expand and regain their original size.

Q 10. “No, The root is to be pulled out.” Why has the poet started this stanza with “No”? Or The poet says “No” at the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this? (Textual)

Ans:- Cutting and hacking a tree from the outside usually causes only pain, but that is not enough to kill it. The poet emphasizes this point by saying that ‘No’ is a word that requires pain for it to take effect.

Q 11. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”? (Textual)

Ans:- “Anchoring earth” means the earth which gives a firm grip to the tree and keeps it from falling. Just as a ship anchored in the sea stays in its place securely and steadily, similarly the tree stands secure and stable with the support of the earth. “Earth cave” refers to the depth under the earth where the root of a tree remains sheltered safely for years. It is firmly attached to this point and a cave-like hollow is created when the root is pulled out.

Q12. How is the root of the tree to be pulled out? What is the result of this pulling?

Ans:- The base of the tree is tied to a rope and pulled out with a great force, which, in turn, results in a hollowing of the earth, exposing it to weather changes. This eventually causes the death of the tree.

Q13.What does the poet mean by The strength of the tree exposed”? (Textual)

Ans:-The expression ‘the strength of the tree exposed’ means the root of the tree is pulled out of the earth and thrown open at the mercy of harsh weather. Root is the source of the tree’s power. Once exposed to the scorching and choking sun and air, it withers away and the tree finally dies.

Q14.What is ‘the most sensitive’ part of the tree? What is it sensitive to and why?

Ans:- The root of the tree is its most sensitive part. It is sensitive to the heat and vagaries of weather on the open surface of the earth. It is so because it remains hidden safely under the earth.

Q15. How is the exposed root affected by the sun and air?

Ans:- As the air and sun start to dry out the exposed root of the tree, it becomes discoloured, dried up and hard. With its moisture packed away, it gets twisted and gnarled as none of its life remains and the process of killing it is complete.

Q16. What finally kills the tree? (Textual)

Ans:-The withering of the pulled out root finally kills the tree. The root of a tree is the source of its strength. Once it is pulled out, it can no longer nurture the tree. The root is sensitive to sunlight and air. Once exposed, it gets dehydrated, brown and twisted. Ultimately it dries up and the tree yields to death.

Q17. What message is conveyed by this poem?

Ans:-The poem conveys the message that human beings have destructive temperament towards nature, but Mother nature has regenerative powers and cannot be destroyed easily. It has the ability to resurrect itself. Also, the tree teaches us that mere physical assaults cannot ruin us. As long as our root, our soul, is intact we can rise again.

Q18. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?

Ans. No, a simple jab of the knife does not have the ability to kill the tree. It has to go through various processes. If its root is not removed from the earth, it will sprout again.

Q19. What finally kills the tree?

Ans. Digging up a tree and destroying it using the sun and air will kill the tree, rendering it brown, dry, and dead. Eventually, the tree dies.

Q20. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.

Ans. The tree has grown to its full size by consuming the earth, feeding upon its crust, absorbing years of light, air and water. Consuming, rising, feeding and absorbing are the words suggestive of its life and activity.

Q21. What are the two important stages for killing a tree?

Ans. There are two stages of killing a tree. The first is to remove the entire tree, exposing it’s roots to the sun and air, and the second is to scorch or burn off the root system before it even has a chance to heal. When the roots have turned brown, die, and become hard and withered, then your tree dies.

Q22. Write the meanings of ‘anchoring earth’ and ‘earth cave’.

Ans. ‘Anchoring earth’ implies that the trees are held secure with the help of the roots in the earth. So long as the roots are firmly held by the earth, the tree is safe and cannot be killed by a simple jab of a knife.

Q23. How will the bleeding bark of trees heal?

Ans. When the blow of knives or axes does not kill trees, its bleeding bark will gradually heal its pain all the time and the green leaves will grow from the boughs. Actually, the strength of trees lies in its roots. When they are not uprooted, they will expand and grow into a complete tree.

Q24. How is the problem of deforestation raised in the poem?

Ans. Sadly, in our generation deforestation has become a major issue and forests are being cleared off to make doors, windows, furniture and fuel. This act has adversely affected our ecosystem. The poet seems to be an environmentalist and his urge to save trees is felt throughout the whole poem.

Q25. What is the central idea of this poem?

Ans. The central idea of this poem is that the uprooting of trees is not easy. Actually, his act is quite painful. In the same way, the human soul never dies. The poem beautifully expresses that before killing trees, we have to cause injury to them. The human soul is also difficult to be killed but external vagaries can mutually damage it. Like human souls, trees can also feel pain and suffering.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS – ON KILLING A TREE

Q1. How does a tree grow up?

Ans:-

A tree takes many years to grow and develop. The seed sprouts out of the ground, and after growing and developing it has a root, which draws nutrients from the ground, sunlight, air, and water to nourish it. From its bark, the tree grows branches with leaves all over them. The tree caught the eye of a few people and they each came one day with a knife. Eventually, the bark was split but the tree continued to heal itself. The cuts made by knives healed and new branches grew in order to become its original size again. The tree would not die as long as the roots remained stable below the earth.

Q2. What relationship does the tree have with the earth?

Ans:- A tree has a deep relationship with the earth. It owes its very existence to the earth. The seed germinates in the womb of the earth and the baby plant sprouts out over the surface of the earth. The tree draws nutrients for it from the soil. It is the earth that gives it support to stand erect and protects it from falling. Giving a firm grip to its roots, the earth gives it ground to grow and assume a massive size. The earth keeps roots of the tree concealed, protecting it from exposure to the sunlight and the air which can prove to be very injurious for its existence. Thus, the earth helps a tree right from its birth to its survival. Even a chopped tree grows again out of the stump and gains the original, big size because the earth supports it.

Q3. What does the root of the tree look like when it is pulled out of the earth-cave? What happens to it when it is left exposed?

Ans:-The root of the tree is moist anti-white when it is pulled out of its hiding, the earth-cave. It is very tender and delicate as it has remained concealed for years together, away from sunlight and air. The root cannot tolerate the light and heat of the sun and the open air. When it is left exposed, it feels scorched and choked in the sun and the air. Initially, it starts changing its colour and becomes somewhat brown. Then it starts losing its tenderness. It becomes hard and its suppleness declines. Gradually, it withers away and becomes gnarled and twisted. Ultimately, life is completely drained out of it and it leads to the death of the whole tree. This is how exposure robs first the root and then the entire tree of its life.

Q4. What would happen if the tree is hacked and chopped?

Ans:- If the tree is hacked and chopped by a chainsaw and left in this state without damaging the root system, it will continue to provide nutrients to the stump of the tree. This stump will then be covered with new shoots that grow out of its surface. If these twigs are not pruned, hacked, or chopped down, the tree will keep on growing for years and eventually be as tall as it was when it was pruned. The tree’s bark will heal and the tree will grow back to the same size. The tree has conquered the threat and hacking or chopping has failed to kill it. The safe root will bring back the life of the tree, which had once been lost.

Q5. Suppose you are a tree. Write a diary entry in about 150 words describing how you were hacked and chopped and your root was pulled out and how you are inching towards your end.

Ans:-

(Day and Date) (Time)

Dear Diary Today my heart is crying and I suffer due to the pain inflicted upon me by cruel men. Two days ago, I was enjoying the fresh air and warm sunlight when suddenly I felt a blow of an axe on my trunk. I noticed that a man was hitting me hard, giving one blow after another. My bark was wounded, the sap was oozing and my leaves and branches were falling off lifelessly. I could feel a sharp pain that I found hard to tolerate. When the man got tired, he left me for the night. I was relieved that he had not harmed my root. I was certain that my wound would heal and new branches would grow after some time. But the next day there came five people. The first chopped off big chunks from my trunk and then tied a rope firmly around me. They applied force to pull my root out of the earth. Now my strength gave way and my white, wet and sensitive root was hauled. My root has been left exposed to the sunlight and air. Its white colour is turning brown and it has started hardening and twisting. Slowly, it will wither away and I will die. I wish these ignorant people had realized that I was serving them selflessly with fresh oxygen and dense shade. Sadly, I have to say goodbye to this beautiful world because of the insensitivity of some people. Banyan

Q6. Trees are our lifeline. So they must not be killed. Write your suggestions on how trees can be protected.

Ans. Trees have great importance in our life. They teach us that life is made for others. They bear fruits for others and provide shelter to them. All creatures are equal in their eyes. Besides, trees take several years to become fully grown up. When they are full-grown, they enhance the beauty of nature. But we are recklessly cutting down trees for our selfish needs. We have to check this useless cutting of trees. We have to make strict rules and protect them. The government should also come forward in this regard. The forest should be declared protected areas and people must be encouraged to plant more trees. They should be made aware of how trees are valuable for human beings. On the other hand, we should organise ourselves in some groups or associations and prohibit people from cutting down trees. Moreover, everybody should develop a love for trees.

Q7. Write why people cut trees. Are there other alternatives to trees for them?

Ans. People have several requirements which can be fulfilled by trees. They get wood for fire and furniture from trees. They get various kinds of medicine and fruits. The tribal people are completely dependent on trees, but they never cut them. But the common people cut trees as they have no alternatives. But they should not cut down trees and spoil the beauty of nature. Moreover, they should discover other sources to fulfil their needs. They should be encouraged to use steel sheets in their doors and windows. The tribal people should be given every support to decrease their dependence on trees. They should be made responsible to protect trees in their areas and plant more trees. Besides people should be made aware of the environmental problems which are created after cutting down trees. We have to protect trees at any cost.

Q8. Describe the growth of a tree in detail with reference to the poem.

Ans.

After describing the life of a tree, the author, Gieve Patel concludes that it is difficult to kill one without killing yourself and nature. He talks about how this one can consume nutrients from air and water in hundreds of years to make food for itself. A tree heals its wounds by creating new branches, and this process is slow. It takes years for sunlight, air, and water to be absorbed by a tree.

QUICK REVIEW OF THE POEM – ON KILLING A TREE

1. What does the poet symbolize a tree too?

(A) a good tradition (B) a deep-rooted evil

Ans. (B) a deep-rooted evil

2. Can we kill a tree with a simple jab of the knife?

(A) yes (B) no

Ans. (B) no

3. What does a tree consume to grow?

(A) earth (B) sky

(B) chopping (D) none of the above

Ans. (A) earth

4. What does a tree absorb in the process of growing?

(A) sunlight (B) air

Ans. (D) all of the above

5. What can alone kill a tree?

(A) hacking (B) chopping

Ans. (D) none of the above

6. What is needed to be pulled out to kill a tree?

(A) root (B) leaves

Ans. (A) root

7. What does the strength of a tree lie in?

(A) leaves (B) root

(D) fruit (C) flowers

Ans. (B) root

8. What is scorching done by?

(A) the water (B) the earth

Ans. (C) the heat of the sun

9. Chocking is done in the absence of :

(A)earth (B)air

Ans. (B) air

10. Where does the root remain hidden for years?

(A) in the earth (B) in the water

Ans. (A) in the earth

11. What is related to the death of roots?

(A) pulling out (B) scorching

Ans. (D) all of the above

12. What happens to a tree’s bleeding bark?

(A) it heals soon (B) it heals in a big time

Ans. (A) it heals soon

13. What will again expand to a tree’s full size?

(A) roots (B) green twigs

Ans. (B) green twigs

14. What is needed to kill a tree?

(A) a simple jab (B) hacking

Ans. (D) pulling out the roots entirely

15. Who is the poet of the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’?

(A) Edward Lear (B) Gieve Patel

Ans. (B) Gieve Patel

Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 9th as Per CBSE Syllabus

On Killing A Tree Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers

Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 9^th as Per CBSE Syllabus