Trees : Summary , Class 7 Questions and Answers , NCERT Solutions

Summary

The poem, Trees’ is a long catalogue describing the various advantages of trees. Every person who looks at a tree appreciates it for a different reason. Trees are the source of sustaining life; they provide food and shelter. They are loved by children while playing games. They give shade and fruit and various other gifts.

Stanzawise Explanation

Stanza 1

Trees are for birds.

Trees are for children.

Trees are to make tree houses in.

Trees are to swing swings on.

Trees are for the wind to blow through.

Trees are to hide behind in ‘Hide and Seek’.

Trees are to have tea parties under.

Trees are for kites to get caught in.

Trees are to make cool shade in summer.

Trees are to make no shade in winter.

Trees are for apples to grow on, and pears;

Trees are to chop down and call, “TIMBER-R-R!”

Trees make mothers say,

What a lovely picture to paint!”

Trees make fathers say,

“What a lot of leaves to rake this fall!”

Reference The above lines have been taken from Shirley Bauer’s poem,

Context The poet lists down the various advantages of the trees.

Explanation The trees are used by birds. They live in the trees and build their nests. Trees are used by children.

They love to make tree houses and use them as swings. Children love to play hide and seek behind the trees. Not just children, even grown ups have fun around the trees.

They have their tea parties under the shade of the trees. The strong winds that blow through the trees provide relief to passersby. During extreme summers, trees provide shade.

During winters, trees do not provide shade and allow people to bathe in the sun. People get to eat delicious fruit like apples and pear. Trees are useful even when they are chopped down.

We get timber which is used to make furniture. To some, trees are like beautiful pictures that they would love to paint and to others they are profitable as even their shattered leaves could be put to great use.

Word Meaning

Word Meaning in English

Shade something blocks light

Chop down cut down

NCERT Solutions

Working with the Poem

(NCERT Page 84)

What are the games or human activities which use trees, or in which trees also ‘participate’?

Ans. Children use trees for their games. They make tree houses and play ‘hide and seek’ behind the trees. Trees play an important role also while adults are spending some time at leisure. Under the shade of the trees, they have their tea parties and they also become a befitting subject matter for painting.

(i) “Trees are to make no shade in winter.” What does this mean? (Contrast this line with the line immediately before it.)

Ans. During summers, the trees provide cool shade. In winters, this shade is not required. So people stand under the open sun to enjoy its warmth.

(ii) “Trees are for apples to grow on, or pears.” Do you agree that one purpose of a tree is to have fruit on it?

Do you think this line is humorous?

Ans. One purpose of the trees is to provide fruits like apples, pears and so on.

This line is not humorous. Humans do rely on trees for food.

With the help of your partner, try to rewrite some lines in the poem, or add new ones of your own as in the following examples.

Ans. Trees are for birds to build nests in.

Trees are for people to sit under.

Now try to compose a similar poem about water, or air.

Ans. Trees are for birds to build nests in.

Trees are for people to sit under.

Trees are for those leisurely hours to enjoy

the beauty of nature.

Trees are for the homemakers to beautify

their house.

Trees are for the sick ones to derive their

medicine from.

Trees are for everyone because to every

person a tree has some gift to offer.

Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Who have tea parties under the trees?

Ans. The adults enjoy having tea parties under the shade of the trees.

To what use a mother puts the trees?

Ans. According to the poem, mothers love to capture the beauty of the trees on their canvas.

What happens when the winds blow?

Ans. When the winds blow through the trees, the leaves and branches move to and fro giving cool breeze.

Short Answer Type Questions

Why do the fathers find trees useful?

Ans. During the fall, gathering the scattered leaves from the ground, a lot of profit could be reaped.

These leaves could be used as fuel or turned into manure and fertilisers. The fathers find this profitable as this aids their business.

Why the chopped down trees are called timber?

Ans. The trees are chopped down so that their wood could be put to use. The logs and wood, timber, is used for carpentry and to make furniture. Even when the tree is chopped down, it is useful and profitable.

From the reading of the poem, evaluate the benefits of trees.

Ans. The trees have various benefits. They cater to the needs of all forms of life. Birds derive food and shelter from the trees and so do some of the animals. Birds use trees to build their nests. For human beings, too, trees are a major source of sustenance.

They get fruits, shade, timber, medicines and various other such elements from the trees.

Children love to play around the trees.

For those, who have leisurely time, trees provide relief and also work as subjects that could be painted.

Extra Questions and Answers

Extract 1

Directions (Q.Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

Trees are for birds.

Trees are to make tree houses in.

Trees are to swing swings on.

Trees are for children.

Have you seen animals or birds making houses in trees?

Ans. Yes, I have seen many animals making their houses, nests in trees. Female monkeys joyously sit on the branches, pluck peas, beans etc take out the nuts and feed their young ones. They feel a great content in doing so.

Give two example of trees that have a number of uses in everybody’s life.

Ans. The two uses of trees are

(i) Sandalwood tree gives sandal that is considered, sacred in rituals, worships etc. It gives wood, timber etc. It provides shade to humans, animals and most importantly snakes. It gives fragrance.

(ii) Coconut tree gives a very juicy sweet fruit. Its coir is used to make ropes etc. We get timber from it.

Why do we make swings on trees?

Ans. Swinging is an exercise that feels you with a great joy and energises you. Swinging on the branches of a tree is more interesting than any other swings, because it gives fresh air too.

How are trees useful for birds?

(a) To sit on (b) To build nests on

Ans. (d) All of these

What are advantages of trees for children?

(a) They use trees for furniture.

(b) They get money from trees.

(d) They can play around trees and get fruits, clothes, books from trees.

Ans. (d) They can play around trees and get fruits, clothes, books from trees.

What should be done to save trees?

(a) Everyone should plant at least a tree every year.

(b) We should embrace trees when one wants to cut them.

(d) We should love trees.

Ans. (a) Everyone should plant at least a tree every year

Extract 2

Directions (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

Trees are for the wind to blow through.

Trees are to hide behind in ‘Hide and Seek.’

Trees are to have tea parties under.

Trees are for kites to get caught in.

Trees are to make cool shade in summer.

Trees are to make no shade in winter.

How does a tree prove to be beneficial during summers?

Ans. Tree gives cool shade during summer.

Comment on the tone of the speaker when he says, “Trees are for no shade in winters.”

Ans. The speaker in a humorous way notes that during winter, the shade of the tree is not needed. People enjoy the warmth of the sun.

Use the word ‘shade’ ina sentence of your own.

Ans. We were tired walking a long distance, so we decided to relax under the shade of the sun.

Who reaps the benefits when the wind blows through the trees?

(a) Birds (b) Passersby

Ans. (d) All of these

Who hides behind the trees in ‘Hide and Seek.’

(a) Birds (b) Children

Ans. (b) Children

Who have tea parties under the shade of the trees?

(a) Birds (b) Passersby

Ans. (c) Adults