“The Lost Camel” is a lesson of Class 7 Textbook of MPBSE. Here all the Exercises Questions are done by teachers.
Comprehension:
A) Answer the following questions :
- Why were the two merchants surprised at the old man’s questions?
The merchants were surprised because the old man described the camel perfectly without them telling him anything about it. - Why did the merchants think that the old man had seen the camel?
The merchants thought the old man had seen the camel because he described its condition, like being lame, blind in one eye, and carrying wheat and honey. - Why did they take the old man to the Khalifa?
The merchants took the old man to the Khalifa because they believed he had stolen the goods and killed the camel. - How did the old man know that the camel was blind?
The old man knew the camel was blind because it had eaten the leaves of bushes only on one side of the road. - Why were the bees flying only on one side of the road?
The bees were flying only on one side of the road because the camel was carrying honey on that side, and some of it had fallen. - Why did the Khalifa not punish the old man?
The Khalifa did not punish the old man because he had not stolen anything. He simply used his observation skills to describe the camel.
B) Complete the following sentences using the correct option:
- The two merchants were looking…
a) for their friend
b) for their lost camel
Answer: b) for their lost camel - The old man’s answers were in the form of…
a) silence
b) statements
c) questions
Answer: c) questions - The old man asked whether…
a) the camel could not walk fast
b) the camel carried a heavy load
c) the camel was lame
Answer: c) the camel was lame - The merchants were angry because…
a) they thought that the old man had stolen the goods and killed the camel.
b) they thought that the old man was making fun of them.
c) they thought that they would never get their camel back.
Answer: a) they thought that the old man had stolen the goods and killed the camel. - The old man knew the camel was lame because…
a) one of its footprints could hardly be seen
b) the ants carried fallen grains from one side of the road
c) he had seen the camel before
Answer: a) one of its footprints could hardly be seen - The Khalifa said that the old man knew so much about the camel because…
a) he was an expert
b) he had killed the camel
c) he used his eyes to look at things carefully
Answer: c) he used his eyes to look at things carefully - The merchants went to…
a) the camel
b) the Khalifa
c) the king
Answer: b) the Khalifa - The camel was…
a) lame in one leg
b) blind in one eye
c) both lame in one leg and blind in one eye
Answer: c) both lame in one leg and blind in one eye - The Khalifa said to the merchants…
a) use your ears
b) use your eyes
c) use your mouth
Answer: b) use your eyes - The old man had…
a) stolen the camel
b) killed the camel
c) never seen the camel
Answer: c) never seen the camel
Word Power:
A) Match the words with their meanings:
| S.No. | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Without excitement | Calmly |
| 2 | A tiny insect | Bee |
| 3 | A person who buys and sells goods | Merchant |
| 4 | Disabled in the leg or foot | Lame |
| 5 | The mark left by a foot or shoe | Footprint |
B) Fill in the blank spaces in the sentences, using the given words or phrases:
(carrying, understand, were searching, the ship of the desert, a lame excuse, foolproof, to work hard, to turn a blind eye, leave footprints, angry)
- Bhola was searching for his ball.
- The truck was carrying bags of onions.
- The teacher was angry because Suraj did not do his work.
- No one could understand the story told by Ramesh.
- The police turned a blind eye when they saw the thief was running away.
- The camel is known as the ship of the desert.
- Ramesh had not done his homework so he made a lame excuse of falling sick.
- Some products in the market claim to be a foolproof remedy for illness.
- Shyama has worked hard to secure good marks.
- If you leave footprints on the sand at a beach, the sea is sure to wash them away.
Grammar in Use:
A) Fill in the blank spaces with the correct form of the verbs:
Two boys were playing (play) in the ground with a ball.
A few boys were watching (watch) them.
All of them were enjoying (enjoy) their free time.
Suddenly it started raining (rain).
Now all of them ran (run) back to their rooms.
One of them picked (pick) up the ball.
B) Frame questions to get the following answers. Start with the ‘wh’ word given in front of each sentence.
- She has her lunch at 10 o’clock. (when)
When does she have her lunch? - She has chappaties and vegetables for lunch. (what)
What does she have for lunch? - She had dinner at her friend’s home last night. (where)
Where did she have dinner last night?
You are talking to a friend on telephone who has returned from a journey during vacation. Ask five questions about his/her journey.
- Where did you go?
- What’s the weather like at Pachmarhi?
- How did you travel to Pachmarhi?
- What places did you visit there?
- Did you enjoy your trip?
Let’s Write:
A) 1. Imagine that you are the camel in the story. Write the story using the following words :
(lake, tracks, footprints, went back, happy, leaves, lost, sand)
Title: The Lost Camel’s Journey
I was walking through the desert when I got separated from my owners. They must have thought I was lost. As I walked, I left my footprints on the soft sand, hoping someone would follow my tracks to find me. I was tired and thirsty, so I looked for a lake to drink water.
On my way, I found some leaves from bushes to eat. But since I could only see from one eye, I ate leaves only from the bushes on one side. After resting for a while, I decided to go back to the place where I had lost my owners.
When I finally reached the spot, I saw them searching for me. They were so happy to see me again, and I felt happy too. It was a long journey, but I was glad to be back with them.
B) Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions given below it.
The camel is one of the oldest of the domestic animals. It has been used for thousands of years by the desert people of Africa and Asia to fulfil several of their needs.
On the fertile edges of the desert, camels pull ploughs, turn wheels to irrigate fields and carry goods to the market. In the desert itself, they are still almost the only means of transport. They supply food, milk and clothing in the form of wool and leather.
This useful animal is well adapted to life in harsh, dry lands. The Arabian camel has one hump which is used as a source of energy when food and water are scarce. When it does drink, the camel can take upto 100 litres of water in ten minutes.
The camel has broad, soft feet for a steady grip in the sand. A thick skin protects it from the hot daytime sun and bitterly cold nights. The camel’s eyes have three eyelids to help keep out sand; its ears and nose are also adapted to keep out sand storms.
Camels stand about two metres high at the shoulder and weigh 500-800 kilos. Often called “the ship of the desert” while travelling long distances, they can carry loads of 200 kilos and more.
Camels eat grass, dates and grain when available. Deep in the desert they survive on dry leaves and seeds.
- In what ways can the camel help us in agriculture?
Camels help in agriculture by pulling ploughs, turning wheels to irrigate fields, and carrying goods to the market. - What’s the use of the camel’s hump?
The camel’s hump stores energy in the form of fat, which it uses when food and water are scarce. - How is the camel’s body suited to the desert’s hard conditions?
- The camel has broad, soft feet for a steady grip in the sand.
- It has a thick skin to protect against the hot sun and cold nights.
- Its eyes have three eyelids to keep out sand.
- Its ears and nose are adapted to prevent sand from entering during sandstorms.
- What does the camel eat?
Camels eat grass, dates, and grain when available. In the desert, they survive on dry leaves and seeds. - Give a suitable title to the passage.
“The Ship of the Desert: The Camel’s Role and Adaptations”