| Book Name | : Blossom |
| Subject | : English |
| Class | : 7 (Madhyamik) |
| Publisher | : Prof. Nabanita Chatterjee |
| Chapter Name | : The Vagabond (6th Chapter) |
Activity 1
Choose the correct from the given alternatives :
(a) The vagabond wishes to have his bed
- in a frosty field
- in the bush
- at a roadside inn.
Answer
(ii) in the bush
(b) The vagabond prays for a life
- In close contact with nature
- devoted to social work
- Spent in comfort and luxury
Answer
(i) In close contact with nature
(c) The vagabond does not seek
- the heaven above him
- wealth
- the road below him
Answer
(ii) wealth
Activity 2
Identify which of the following statements are True and which are False. Give a supporting statement for each of your answers:
- The vagabond wants the way to be far away from him. ( )
- The vagabond dips the bread in the river water. ( )
- When autumn comes the birds are going to be happy with their chirpings. ( )
- The vagabond will not fear t face Autumn or Winter. ( )
Answer
- False; “And the byway nigh me.”
- True; “Bread I dip the river.”
- False; “silencing the birds on the tree.”
- True; “not to autumn will yield,/not to winter even”
Activity 3
Complete the sentences meaningfully:
- The vagabond is a person who ____
- The vagabond wants a life of ____
- The vagabond asks for ____
- The vagabond does not ____ to know him.
Answer
- Wonders all life caring no troubles.
- A wanderer who wants to live amid nature.
- The sky above his head and the road under his feet.
- seek wealth, nor hope love, nor a friend to know him.
Activity 4
Answer the following questions:
- What kind of a life does the vagabond want ?
- What are the things that do not interest the vagabond?
- What would the vagabond do when winter falls?
- How does the poet describe a field in autumn ?
- Why does the poet repeat the second stanza once again?
- What message does the poet want to give through the poem?
Answer
- The vagabond wants a simple and free-spirited life, surrounded by nature and the open road.
- The vagabond is not interested in wealth, hope, love, or having acquaintances who truly know him.
- When winter falls, the vagabond refuses to yield or give in. He will continue to wander and not be affected by the cold.
- The poet describes a field in autumn as white as a meal, covered in frost. It portrays a cold and desolate scene.
- The poet repeats the second stanza once again to emphasize the vagabond’s unwavering desire for a life connected to nature, free from materialistic pursuits.
- The poet, through the poem, wants to give the message that if a man once hears the irresistible call of nature, he cannot help responding to it. Nature captures him under her spell, and all worldly comfort and social bindings become useless to him.
Activity 5
Match the words in Column A with their meaning in Column B:
| Column A | Column B |
| Love | A stream or rivulet |
| Heaven | That which is near |
| Nigh | A feeling of care and understanding |
| Lava | A person who stands by at al times |
| Frosty | Covered with thin ice |
| Friend | A place where a soul finds peace and his God |
Answer
- Love – A feeling of care and understanding
- Heaven – A place where a soul finds peace and his God
- Nigh – That which is near
- Lava – A stream or rivulet
- Friend- A person who stands by at all times
- Frosty – Covered with thin ice
Activity 6
Fill in the blanks with the antonyms of the words given in brackets :
- There is a ____ (warm) breeze blowing from the sea
- His coat is ____ (white) in colour.
- After spring comes ____ (winter).
- From the mountaintop, I could see the river flowing ____ (above).
- I do not want to be ____ (early) for the meeting
Answer
- cold
- black
- summer
- below
- late
Activity 7
Make as many new words as you can from the poem by adding suffixes. One is done for you:
- _ y: wealthy,
- _less: ____
- _full: ____
- _ly: ____
- _th: ____
- _side: ____
- _er: ____
- _r: ____
Answer
- wealthy
- homeless
- joyful
- lovely
- warmth
- fireside
- wanderer
- river
Activity 8 (a)
Find participle adjectives from the given sentences:
- He got down from a running bus.
- The loaded truck hit the tree.
- I met a charming woman today.
- Don’t eat rotten mangoes.
- Cricket is an exciting game.
Answer
- running (got down from a running bus)
- loaded (the loaded truck hit the tree)
- charming (I met a charming woman today)
- rotten (Don’t eat rotten mangoes)
- exciting (Cricket is an exciting game)
Activity 8 (b)
Make new sentences with the participle adjectives that you have found in Activity 8 (a).
Answer
- She watched the running dog chase its tail in the park.
- The loaded shelves collapsed under the weight of the books.
- The charming boy entertained everyone with his magic tricks.
- Don’t eat rotten eggs; they can make you sick.
- The exciting roller coaster ride thrilled the adventurous riders.
Activity 9
Punctuate the following passage:
do you know Watson said Holmes as we sat together at the end of the garden in the darkness I have really some hesitation in taking you tonight there is a risk of danger
You know I welcome it but you have evidently seen more in these rooms than was visible to me
You saw the ventilator
Yes but I do not think that it is such a very dangerous or unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms it was so small that a rat could hardly pass through.
Answer
“Do you know, Watson,” said Holmes as we sat together at the end of the garden in the darkness, “I have really some hesitation in taking you tonight. There is a risk of danger.”
“You know, I welcome it, but you have evidently seen more in these rooms than was visible to me.”
“You saw the ventilator?”
“Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very dangerous or unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a rat could hardly pass through.”
Activity 10
Complete the sentences with adjectives in their proper degree:
- Ram is ____ (old) than Shyam.
- Mt. Everest is the ____ (high) peak in the world.
- A mango is as ____ (sweet) to taste as an apple.
- Darjeeling is ____ (cool) than Siliguri.
- Kolkata is the ____ (large) city in West Bengal.
- Sita is ____ (tall) than Reshma.
Answer
- Ram is older than Shyam.
- Mt. Everest is the highest peak in the world.
- A mango is as sweet to taste as an apple.
- Darjeeling is cooler than Siliguri.
- Kolkata is the largest city in West Bengal.
- Sita is taller than Reshma.
Activity 11
Fill in the blanks with the plural nouns given in the help box. There are some extra words.
[species, headquarters, means, series, spectacles, tongs, congratulations]
- You have won the match ____!
- The police ____ were not far away.
- He did not have the ____ but he had the capacity to build an empire.
- The test ____ was so exciting that all were glued to the television.
- He held the burning coal with the help of ____.
Answer
- You have won the match, congratulations!
- The police headquarters were not far away.
- He did not have the means but he had the capacity to build an empire.
- The test series was so exciting that all were glued to the television.
- He held the burning coal with the help of tongs.
Activity 12
Describe in a short paragraph (within 80 words) your experience of enjoying a picnic. You may use the following hints:
- place of the picnic
- time/season of the picnic
- your companions in the picnic
- games/events/activities
- your feelings after the picnic
Answer
Recently, I had the delightful opportunity to enjoy a picnic in a serene park nestled by a shimmering lake. It was a perfect summer day, with the sun casting a warm glow on everything around. I was accompanied by a group of close friends, and we engaged in various games and activities like frisbee, badminton, and a friendly game of charades. Laughter and joy filled the air as we indulged in delicious homemade food and refreshing beverages. As the day drew to a close, I felt a sense of contentment and rejuvenation, grateful for the wonderful company and the memorable moments created during our picnic adventure.
