Will you choose life or freedom? Is life even meaningful if one does not have freedom? The chapter is about a goat, Chandni, who is warned by her caretaker about the greedy wolf on the beautiful hills. But Chandni is tired of watching the beautiful sight from such a distance. She wants to explore the hills, enjoy its fresh air and graze the lush green grass. Will she be able to escape her fate of meeting the hungry wolf? Read the entire story and find out.
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES BEHIND THE RISE IN CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS
Comprehension Check
Question 1. Why did Abbu Khan’s goats want to run away? What happened to them in the hills?
Answer: Abbu Khan’s goats wanted to run away because they wanted freedom to go to the beautiful hills and enjoy eating the fresh green grass. A wolf used to kill and eat them in the hills.
Question 2. Abbu Khan said, “No more goats in my house ever again.” Then he changed his mind. Why?
Answer: Abbu Khan said, “No more goats in my house ever again.” Then he changed his mind because he felt very lonely.
Question 3. Why did he buy a young goat?
Answer: He bought a young goat with the thought that the young goat would stay with him for a longer time and would not leave him for freedom.
Comprehension Check
Question 1. Why did Chandni hate the rope around her neck?
Answer: Chandni hated the rope around her neck because it pulled her back from going to the beautiful hills. She wanted to be free of it, knowing the possible consequences.
Question 2. “Now Abbu Khan understood Chandni’s problem…” What was Chandni’s problem?
Answer: Chandni’s problem was that, in spite of knowing the consequences, she wanted to go to the hills. She chose freedom over life. She thought that it was better to face the wolf while being free than to stay chained forever.
Question 3. Abbu Khan pushed Chandni into a small hut. This shows that he
(i) was cruel.
(ii) loved her and wanted to save her life.
(iii) was selfish.
Answer: (ii) loved her and wanted to save her life.
Comprehension Check
Question 1. Why did Chandni refuse to join the group of wild goats?
Answer: Chandni refused to join the group of wild goats because she wanted to enjoy her freedom entirely.
NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Supplementary Chapter 3 Golu Grows a Nose
Question 2. Chandni fought the wolf because she
(i) was stronger than the wolf.
(ii) hated the wolf.
(iii) had to retain her freedom at all costs.
Answer: (iii) had to retain her freedom at all costs.
Exercises
Discuss the following topics in groups.
Question 1. Why did the wise old bird say, “Chandni is the winner”?
Answer: The wise old bird said, “Chandni is the winner” because she faced her fear like a warrior. She did not stay chained just to be alive. On the contrary, she fought for her freedom. She did not lose her freedom.
Question 2. “Death in an open field is better than life in a small hut,” Chandni said to herself. Was it the right decision? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: “Death in an open field is better than life in a small hut,” Chandni said to herself.
Although it was a tough and brave decision, I think that one’s own life should not be the cost one pays for one’s own freedom. Chandni could have listened to Abbu Khan and stayed with him happily.
Question 3. Freedom is life. Discuss this with reference to ‘Chandni’ and ‘I Want Something in a Cage’.
Answer: Freedom is life. In the lesson “I Want Something in a Cage”, the strange man frees two doves from the cage. They were set free to enjoy freedom. The strange man, who had spent ten years in jail, knew the value of freedom.
In the chapter “Chandni” too, the struggle is for Chandni the goat’s freedom, but it is at the cost of her own life.