NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 20 - The Tiny Teacher

Question 1:

The story of an ant’s life sounds almost untrue.
The italicised phrase means

  1. highly exaggerated
  2. too remarkable to be true
  3. not based on facts
Answer:

too remarkable to be true

Question 2:

Complete the following sentences.
An ant is the smallest _________________________________________________

Answer:

An ant is the smallest but the wisest insect.

Question 3:

Complete the following sentences.
We know a number of facts about an ant’s life because _______________________________

Answer:

We know a number of facts about an ant’s life because people have kept them as pets and watched their daily behaviour closely.

Question 4:

In what ways is an ant’s life peaceful?

Answer:

Each group of ants has a fixed duty to do. They never interfere in the job of others. They never try to harm one another. Thus, an ant’s life is very peaceful.
Essay Type Answer:
Ants are the smallest creatures on earth. But they are very intelligent and hard working. They are the wisest of all insects. In the ant house, different rooms are alloted for different activities. Each group of ants has a fixed duty to do. They never interfere with the job of others. They never try to harm each other. Thus, an ant’s life is very peaceful.

Question 5:

How long does it take for a grub to become a complete ant?

Answer:

It takes a grub five to six weeks to become a complete ant.
Essay Type Answer:
Every ant colony has a queen. Only she lays eggs. These eggs hatch and grubs come out. The workers carry them about daily for airing, exercise and sunshine. In two or three weeks, grubs become cocoons and lie without food or activity for three more weeks. After completion of three more eks, cocoons break and ants appear. It takes a grub five to six weeks to become a complete ant.

Question 6:

Why do the worker ants carry the grubs about?

Answer:

The worker ants carry the grubs about for airing, exercise and sunshine.

Question 7:

What jobs are new ants trained for?

Answer:

The new ants are trained to work as workers, soldiers, builders, cleaners, etc.

Question 8:

Name some other creatures that live in anthills.

Answer:

Beetles, lesser breeds of ants and the greenfly are some other creatures that live in anthills.

Question 9:

Mention three things we can learn from 'The Tiny Teacher'. Give reasons for choosing these items.

Answer:

From ‘The Tiny Teacher’, we can learn good values such as hard work, sense of duty and discipline and firm loyalty to our motherland. I like these things because these are important for any civilised person to live in a society.

Question 10:

Discuss the following topics in groups.
What problems are you likely to face if you keep ants as pets?

Answer:

If we keep ants as pets, they may spoil our food items. They may also enter our clothes and bite us.

Question 11:

Discuss the following topics in groups.
When a group of bees finds nectar, it informs other bees of its location, quantity, etc. through dancing. Can you guess what ants communicate to their fellow ants by touching one another’s feelers?

Answer:

Ants greet their fellow ants by touching one another’s feelers. They may also inform them where the food lies.

Question 12:

Complete the following poem with words given from the box given below. Then recite the poem.

Answer:

Soldiers live in barracks
And birds in nests.
Much like a snake that rests
In a hole. No horse is able
To sleep except in a stable.
And a dog lives well,
Mind you, only in a kennel
To say hi to an ant, if you will,
You may have to climb an anthill.