NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Unit 4 : Chapter 10 The Tunnel

Class 7 English Chapter 10 The Tunnel is a short and meaningful story that teaches students the virtue of courage, fear, and personal growth. The story shows how a person can discover inner strength and confidence through difficult situations. Students can relate to the characters and their emotions because of the simple and relatable story telling involved.

The NCERT Solutions are prepared in clear and simple English to ensure quick and easy understanding. They follow the NCERT syllabus and explain the answers/ideas in a step by step manner, helping students understand how to write proper and structured answers. Practicing these solutions improves vocabulary, and answer-writing skills, which are crucial for school exams, assessments and also Olympiad exams.

1.0Download NCERT Solutions Class 7 English Chapter 10 The Tunnel : Free PDF

The chapter The Tunnel teaches the important lesson about facing fear with courage. The NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Chapter 10 The Tunnel provides clear and exam friendly answers to the textbook questions. Download the free PDF from below for quick revision.

2.0Class 7 English Chapter 10 The Tunnel: Brief Explanation

This chapter highlights how fear can be overcome through courage and determination. Below are the key lessons explained briefly for easy understanding:

• Fear is stronger when it is faced alone or without any support.
• In difficult and scary situations, courage helps a person overcome them. Facing problems directly is what builds inner strength
• Challenging experiences are the ones that lead individuals to personal growth and confidence
• Self belief is an important factor in overcoming fear.

3.0NCERT Class 7 English Chapter 10 The Tunnel : Detailed Solutions

Let us discuss

Suraj compares the train to a magical creature. Pick the phrases that convey the meaning.

Ans. The phrases that convey the meaning of Suraj comparing the train to a magical train are:

• The railway lines were two straight black serpents disappearing into the tunnel in the hill side.
• The steam engine shot out of the tunnel, snorting and puffing like some green, black and gold dragon.
• It charged straight at the tunnel, and into it thundering past Suraj like the beautiful dragon of his dreams.

Suraj knew that the train was close by because .

Ans. he had heard, in the distance, the shrill whistle of the engine.

What did Suraj see inside the tunnel?

Ans. Inside the tunnel it was too dark, the walls were damp and sticky, a bat flew past and a lizard scuttled between the lines.

Select the correct option.

What does Sunder Singh convey about the tunnel? He says that (it is damp and sticky inside/he has lent it to the Government).

Ans. he has lent it to the Government

5. The watchman has created a system through which he informs the locomotive driver about any danger in the tunnel. The following flow chart shows this system. Refer to the text and complete the flow chart.

Ans. (i) Day (ii) No Danger found (iii) Danger found (iv) wave a red flag

(v) Hang lamp at the door of his hut Put answers in above chart form

Let us discuss

1. Sunder Singh knew that the leopard was in the tunnel because . Ans. he could hear padded footfall of the leopard and rustle of dry leaves.
2. Why do you think Suraj was unable to do any shouting in the tunnel in the beginning?

i. He was afraid of the leopard.

ii. He didn’t want to disturb the leopard.

iii. He was trying to listen for the leopard.

iv. He didn’t really believe Sunder Singh.

Ans. (iii) He was trying to listen for the leopard.

3. What made the leopard disappear into the darkness?

Ans. The leopard disappeared into the darkness because, when both Suraj and Sunder Singh shouted in the tunnel, their voices echoed. Hearing their shouts, the leopard became terrified, thinking that many humans wers following it.

4. How did Suraj know Sunder Singh was at the tunnel?

Ans. Suraj knew that Sunder Singh was at the tunnel because, he saw a lamp glowing inside it while travelling with his father to Delhi. Even though he couldn’t see Sunder Singh’s face, he was sure that it was his friend Sunder who was there.

5. Why did Suraj’s father take him along to Delhi?

Ans. Suraj’s father took him to Delhi because he felt it was time for Suraj to learn about the business he does.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.

Suraj had to turn and look back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside. Ahead of him, the tunnel’s other opening was just a small round circle of light.

The tunnel was still full of smoke from the train, but it would be several hours before another train came through. Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again.

Suraj didn’t stop, because there was nothing to do in the tunnel and nothing to see. He had simply wanted to walk through, so that he would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like.

1. Write whether the following statement is true or false.

a. Suraj looked back at the opening of the tunnel to check if the train was coming.

Ans. False

2. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence given below.

Suraj did not stop anywhere in the tunnel because .

A. there was nothing to see in the tunnel

B. the tunnel was damp and sticky

C. he was in a hurry to get out of the tunnel

D. it was time for another train to come

Ans. A. there was nothing to see in the tunnel

3. What does the sentence ‘Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again’ mean?

Ans. It means that the cleared path through which the train travelled would return to its normal state, becoming part of the jungle once more.

4. Suraj wanted to know the inside of the tunnel. What character trait of Suraj is highlighted here?

Ans. The character trait of Suraj being highlighted here is that he is bold and curious.

2. “The train will soon be here,” said Suraj.

“Yes, my friend. And if we don’t drive the leopard out of the tunnel, it will be run over and killed. I can’t let that happen.”

“But won’t it attack us if we try to drive it out?” asked Suraj, beginning to share the watchman’s concern.

“Not this leopard. It knows me well. We have seen each other many times. It has a weakness for goats and stray dogs, but it will not harm us. Even so, I’ll take my axe with me. You stay here, Suraj.”

1. What was the watchman’s concern?

Ans. The watchman heard the noise of the leopard in the tunnel. His concern was that if he did not drive the leopard out, it would be run over by the train.

2. Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.

Sunder Singh was sure that the leopard in the tunnel would not attack him and Suraj because .

Ans. Sunder Singh knew that the leopard has weakness for goats and stray dogs.

3. Select the sentences that are true from those given below.

A. Suraj wants to see the leopards in the jungle.

B. Suraj is concerned about Sunder Singh’s safety.

C. The leopard in the tunnel attacks goats and stray dogs.

D. Sunder Singh wants to protect Suraj.

E. Sunder Singh knows all about the animals in the jungle. 

Ans. Sentences B, C, D and E are true.

4. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

Sunder Singh decides to take his axe with him. This tells us that he was .

A. violent B. cautious C. bold D. afraid

Ans. B. cautious

II Answer the following questions.

1. What does Sunder Singh convey by saying that he has lent his tunnel to the Government?

Ans. By saying so he wants to convey that since the tunnel is in the middle of the jungle and no one wants to visit or inspect it, he is the only one who takes care of it. He feels that the tunnel belongs to him, though he acknowledges that it belongs to the government.

2. According to Sunder Singh, “It is safer in the forest than in the town”. What example does Sunder Singh give to support his opinion? What does this tell us about him?

Ans. Sunder Singh supported his statement, “Itis safer in the forest than in the town”, by giving an example—he was almost run over by a bus when he went to the town last month.

3. Sunder Singh has become part of the jungle life. Support the view with a suitable reason.

Ans. Sunder Singh has become a part of the jungle, as shown by his deep understanding of its complexities. He knows the traits of all the animals in the jungle. For example, he is aware that the leopard is not aggressive towards humans, as it prefers to hunt goats and wild dogs for food. He entered the tunnel to drive the leopard out and took an axe for protection only after Suraj warned him that the leopard might harm them.

4. Sunder Singh and Suraj form an unlikely friendship. What draws them together?

Ans. Suraj and Sunder Singh form an unlikely friendship, brought together by their shared love for nature and the peace of forest life. Suraj, curious and adventurous, comes from the city to visit the tunnel and explore the jungle. Sunder Singh, on the other hand, prefers the calm and simplicity of the forest over the chaos of city life. Their common appreciation for the natural world, along with their respect for the jungle and its creatures creates a bond between them despite their different backgrounds.

5. Why is Sunder Singh referred to as a ‘firefly’?

Ans. Sunder Singh is referred to as a firefly because, like a firefly that provides light in the darkness, he serves as a guiding presence to the train driver in the lonely and mysterious jungle. He is a watchman with a lamp, always present to help and reassure travellers passing through the night, Sunder Singh’s presence brings a sense of safety and familiarity to those journeying through the dark and unknown terrain.

6. Do you think Suraj is an adventure-loving boy? Give reasons.

Ans. Yes, we can see that Suraj is an adventure-loving boy. He travelled from the city to a village on a bicycle, left it there and walked all the way to explore the jungle and the tunnel. He experienced the train leaving a cloud of smoke, cinders flying in all directions, tree leaves rustling, bats flying and a lizard crawling between the tracks in the tunnel. He also observed the dark and damp tunnel walls, encountered a leopard in the jungle, sippeji tea with the watchman, and even helped drive the leopard out of the tunnel to prevent it from being run over by the train. All these incidents clearly show how adventurous he is.

4.0Key Features and Benefits of Class 7 English Chapter 10

• The solutions are completely based on the latest NCERT syllabus for Class 7 CBSE and they follow the exam pattern.
• The exercises in the chapter focus on improving comprehension, theme based learning, and answering textbook-based questions
• These solutions can be helpful for developing skills needed in English olympiad exams as they strengthen answer writing, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities