“Ghosts on the Verandah” is a lesson of Textbook “Blossom” approved by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education for the Students of Class 7. Here all the Activity Questions are done by English teachers.
Activity 1
Complete the following table with information from the text:
| Statement | Reason |
| (a) The author went to stay at Anil’s house | Anil’s father was out of town. |
| (b) Anil’s mother told them ghost stories | Anil’s mother’s memory was stored with stories of spirits. |
| (c) The boy in the classroom could stretch his hands four yards | He was a Jinn. |
| (d) Anil wished to be a Jinn | He would get advantage in volleyball matches. |
Activity 2
Answer the following questions:
(a) What attracts a Jinn?
Answer: Long hair and pretty black eyes attracts a Jinn.
(b) List the activities of an annoyed Munjila?
Answer: When a Munjia is annoyed, he rushes out from his tree and upsets tongas, bullock-carts and cycles and even a bus.
(c) Why must one be careful while yawning under a peepul tree at night?
Answer: The Munjia will jump down one’s throat and completely ruin one’s digestion!
(d) How did the boy in the class show that he was a Jinn?
Answer: The boy merely stretched out his hand, took the book from the cupboard, and handed it to the teacher.
Activity 3
Fill in the blanks by choosing appropriate words from the box given below. You may need to change the form of the words:
[ incredible, fetch, cupboard, agility ]
(a) Since she is a gymnast, she has great agility.
(b) Tuhin fetches a bucket of water.
(c) Your story is incredible.
(d) The utensils are kept inside a cupboard.
Activity 4
Complete the following comparisons by correctly choosing the word from the box given below:
[ cold, hot, black, proud, brave, green, heavy, gentle, firm, busy ]
(a) as black as coal
(b) as brave as a lion
(c) as busy as a bee
(d) as gentle as a lamb
(e) as proud as a peacock
(f) as green as grass
(g) as firm as rock
(h) as heavy as lead
(i) as cold as ice
(j) as hot as fire
Activity 5
Rewrite the following sentences using the adverbs given in brackets in the appropriate place:
(a) This exercise is too easy. (too)
(b) The train is fairly fast. (fairly)
(c) The bottle is quite full. (quite)
(d) We nearly won the match. (nearly)
(e) Rather we are late, let us hurry. (rather)
(f) She has just come in. (just)
(g) He never makes a mistake. (never)
(h) I always get up early in the morning. (always)
(i) I am very sorry. (very)
(j) He was intelligent enough to solve the problem. (enough)
Activity 6
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a) Anil’s mother thought that seeing a snake is good luck.
(b) Kamal and the author did not want to go to their room because they were afraid of ghosts.
(c) When Anil’s mother saw the boys rushing about, she cried and said that their bed had also gone.
(d) Kamal sang softly because he wanted to raise their spirits.
Activity 7
Answer the following questions:
(a) Why did Anil and Mulia appear “pale and anxious ”?
Answer: Anil and Mulia appeared “pale and anxious” because they had succeeded in frightening themselves as a result of Anil’s mother’s ghost stories.
(b) What did Anil’s mother think when she saw the room empty?
Answer: When Anil’s mother saw the room empty she thought that their bed had also gone and cried out.
(c) What was the effect of Kamal’s singing on the author?
Answer: Kamal’s singing made the atmosphere more eerie for the author.
(d) Do you think Anil’s mother believed in ghosts? Give a reason for your answer:
Answer: Yes, Anil’s mother believed in ghosts. Anil’s mother took the pajamas as ghosts and gave a scream and collapsed on a cot.
Activity 8
Fill in the blanks with suitable modals:
(a) I can speak English.
(b) We eat so that we can live.
(c) You may go now.
(d) May you have good luck!
(e) We will be rewarded.
(f) I will not surrender.
(g) You must be able to do it in no time.
(h) We should help the poor.
(i) Should I never tell lies?
(j) Tomorrow we will have a holiday.
Activity 9
Fill in the blanks with the correct tense of the verb given in brackets:
(a) She ran so fast that I could (can) not overtake her.
(b) I thought I saw (see) you yesterday.
(c) He helps his neighbours more than he helped (help) his family.
(d) When I saw her, I spoke (speak) to her.
(e) The more he learned, the more he wanted (want) to learn.
(f) There was a rumour that he died (die) in the accident.
(g) We thought that she would (will) succeed.
(h) I shall nurse her that she may (may) recover.
(i) I left the place as soon as I heard (hear) the news.
(j) Honesty is (be) the best policy.
Activity 10
Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct verb given in brackets:
(a) All that glitters are (is/are) not gold.
(b) The great poet and novelist is (is/are) dead.
(c) Each of the boys was (was/were) given a prize.
(d) Salim as well as his friend is (is/are) honest.
(e) Time and tide waits (wait/waits) for none.
(f) Neither of the girls has (has/have) brought her book.
(g) None but the brave deserve (deserve/deserves) the fair.
(h) Three -fourths of the meal was (was/were) eaten.
(i) Either you or he has (has/have) done it.
(j) Slow and steady wins (win/wins) the race.
Activity 11
Fill in the following gaps in the following table with appropriate forms of adjectives:
| POSITIVE | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE |
| good | better | best |
| dark | darker | darkest |
| mild | milder | mildest |
| wise | wiser | wisest |
| hard | harder | hardest |
| Soft | softer | softest |
| high | higher | highest |
| bright | brighter | brightest |
| little | less | least |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| bad | worse | worst |
| intelligent | more intelligent | most intelligent |
| serious | more serious | most serious |
| less | lesser | least |
| swift | swiffer | swiftest |
Activity 12
Pick out the adjectives from the following sentences and write their degree:
a. Which is the best book?
Answer: Best – Superlative Degree.
b. December is colder than other months.
Answer: Colder – Comparative Degree.
c. He is my eldest brother.
Answer: Eldest – Superlative Degree.
d. Nothing moves as fast as light.
Answer: fast – Positive Degree.
e. Success is sweeter than failure.
Answer: Sweeter – Comparative Degree
Activity 13
Write a story in which you and your two friends are forced to spend a night in an old, desolate building far away from home.
Answer: It was winter. Once I was returning home from my friend’s house. It was a lonely place. Two of my friends were with me. On the way we felt tired. Suddenly, I saw an old, desolate house. I said to Tiyasa, “It would be better to spend a night here.” But Pratika said, “Nobody lives in this house. It won’t be so good to stay here.” It soon became dark all around the place. We went into the house. By 12 o’clock at night, I heard some voices outside the room. Some bats and owls flew away. It made the atmosphere eerie. Pratika, Tiyasa and I went outside and found nothing. I was nervous but Pratika tried to make it easy. I hardly knew how the time rolled away. Somehow, we managed to sleep, covering our face with our shawl. In the morning we woke up and reached home. It was really a moment full of suspense and horror.
Activity 14
Write a paragraph on a magic show. Use the following points:
Place – the atmosphere – dress of the magician – tricks that he performed – how you liked the show – did you feel interested in performing magic by yourself – conclusion
Answer: Yesterday a magic show was held in the big hall of our school. There were many students. Wearing a shining dress with a turban a great magician, Ajit Sarkar, performed his tricks. All of us were very excited to watch the show. Among all the tricks I liked “magic box”, “vanishing milk”, “paper show”, “water of India” and “card game”. We all watched him playing tricks one by one. At the end of each trick we all clapped in joy. I was really interested in learning some magic. At the end of the show I tried to perform certain tricks by myself. But I was not as good as he was. I went home in a jolly mood. I will never forget the magic show I saw in school.
Very good