*CLASS VII*

👉🏻 *English Syllabus*

*Literature*

_Prose_

Ch- Quality

Ch-Expert Detectives

Ch-The Invention of Vita Wonk

_Poem_

Tree

Mystery of the talking fan

The Dad and the cat and the tree

Garden Snake

Meadows Surprise

*Writing section*

Email

Article
Paragraph

Letters (Formal+Informal)

*Grammar*

Sentences: Simple, Compound and Complex

Voice

THE INVENTION OF VITA-WONK

Comprehension Check

Answer the following questions:

Question 1. Choose the right answer.

(i) Mr Willy Wonka is-

(a) A cook (b) an inventor (c) a manager.

Answer: (b) an inventor

(ii) Wonka-Vite makes people-

(a) Older (b) younger.

Answer: younger

(iii) Mr Wonka wants to invent a new thing which will make people
(a) Younger (b) older.

Answer: (b) older

Question 2. Can anyone’s age be a minus number? What does “minus 87”
mean?
Answer: No, someone’s age cannot be a minus number. It is calculated from
the day we are born.

Minus 87 means that the person will have to wait for 87 years to take birth.

Question 3: Mr Wonka begins by asking himself two questions. What are

they?

(i) What is _____________________?

(ii) What lives _____________________?

Answer: Mr Wonka begins by asking himself two questions. They are:

(i) What is the oldest living thing in the world?

(ii) What lives longer than anything else?

Working with the text

Question 1. (i) What trees does Mr Wonka mention? Which tree does he say
lives the longest?

(iii) How long does this tree live? Where can you find it?

Answer: (i) Mr Wonka mentions the following trees:

1. Douglas fir
2. Oak
3. Cedar
4. Bristlecone pine

He says that the Bristlecone pine lives the longest.

(iii) This tree has lived for over 4000 years. It can be found upon the
slopes of Wheeler Peak in Nevada, U.S.A.

Question 2. How many of the oldest living things can you remember from Mr
Wonka’s list? (Don’t look back at the story!) Do you think all these things
really exist, or are some of them purely imaginary?

Answer: Here are the oldest living things that are enlisted by Mr Wonka:

1. A 4000-year-old bristlecone pine

2. A 168-year-old Russian farmer
3. A 200-year-old tortoise
4. A 51-year-old horse
5. A 36-year-old cat
6. A 207-year-old giant rat
 7. A 97-year-old grimalkin
8. A 700-year-old cattalo
9. A 36-year-old-flea

I think most of them exist, while some might be purely imaginary.

Question 3. Why does Mr Wonka collect items from the oldest things? Do you
think this is the right way to begin his invention?

Answer: Mr Wonka collects items from the oldest things because he had to
invent an item that can make people older.

I think researching the oldest things is still a good idea as it can give him an
insight into what might be the reason behind their long life. But, collecting
little things from such species is not a great idea to begin his invention.

Question 4. What happens to the volunteer who swallows four drops of the
new invention? What is the name of the invention?

Answer: The volunteer began to wrinkle and shrivel up all over. His hair
started to drop off and his teeth started to fall out. He suddenly became a
seventy-five year-old man!

The name of the Invention was Vita-Wonk

Poem- Dad and the Cat and the Tree (Poem)

Summary

The incident the poem talks of takes place in the morning. A cat gets stuck in
a tall, wobbly tree. The poet, who is the child in this poem, asks the father to
rescue the cat. The father immediately brings a ladder to climb the tree.
Meanwhile, the mother asks the father to be careful. The father tells the
mother not to worry. He said that he was a great climber, and climbing a tall,
wobbly tree such as that was a child’s play for him. However, as he climbed
the ladder, it slipped and he fell on top of the garden’s flower bed. The father
didn’t let this demotivate him. He brushed off the dust and then he tried Plan
B. He told everyone to stand out of the way. The mother asked him to be
careful again, to which the father’s response was light-hearted. He swung
himself on a branch as his second attempt. However, the branch broke and
he landed on his back. The mother became shocked and more anxious and
asked him to stop because she feared that he would break his neck. But he
told her that it was easy and that he was going to try Plan C. He climbed up
the garden wall. Luckily and surprisingly, he didn’t fall. He then gave a great
leap and landed in the crook of the tree-trunk and on the cat. The cat yelled
and jumped down onto the ground. It was now safe and sound. But funnily,
the father was now stuck up the tree.

Working with the poem:-

Question 1:

Why was Dad sure he wouldn’t fall?

Solution:

The Dad was sure he wouldn’t fall because he was a good climber.

Question 2:

Which phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s Self-confidence best?

Solution:

“Right just. Leave it to me.” “Easy as winking to a climber like me.”

Question 3:

Describe Plan A and its consequences.

Solution:

According to Plan A, father would have reached the tree top with the help of
the ladder. However, the ladder slipped and father fell on the ground.

Question 4:

Plan C was success. What went wrong then?

Solution:

Even though Plan C was a success, it did not work out as planned. The
moment the father reached the tree top, the cat jumped and touched the
ground and was again out of father’s reach.

Question 5:

The cat was very happy to be on the ground. Pick out the phrase used to
express this idea.
Solution:

“Smiling and Smirking.”

Question 6:

Describe the Cat and the Dad situation in the beginning and at the end of the
poem.

Solution:

At the Onset, the cat was stuck on the tree and father was confident to be
able to drive it away. By the time the poem ended, the cat was free and the
father got stuck in the tree.

Question 7:

Why and when did Dad say each of the following?

Fall

Never mind

Funny joke

Rubbish

Solution:

1. When his wife warned him against falling, father with a great surprise
said “fall?”
2. Having fallen to the ground, the father did not give up and brushing
the dirt from his hair and clothes said, “never mind.”
3. When his wife again warned him against falling while he was executing
Plan B, he found his wife’s warnings to be a “funny joke.”
4. After the second fall, when his wife intervened saying that he might
break his neck, he again dismissed her concern by saying, “rubbish.”

Question 8:

Do you find the poem humorous? Read aloud lines which make you laugh.

Solution:
Of course. The poem is full of humour. The narrator’s father falling over and
over again was quite humorous.

(a) “the cat gave a yell/ and sprang to the ground.”

(b) “it slipped. He landed in the flower bed.”

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

He got out the leadder

From the garden shed.

It slipped. He landed

In the flower bed.

“Never mind,’ said Dad,

Brushing the dirt

Off his hair and his face.

And his trousers and his shirt,

Question 1:

Does father lose all his hope of bringing the cat down?

Solution:

No, he doesn’t lose hope because climbing up a tree was a child’s play for
him. Therefore he know that he would be successful in his Venture.

Question 2:

Write two pairs of rhyming words from the extract.

Solution:

Shed-bed; dirt-shirt
Question 3:

Does father lose hope?

Solution:

No, father doesn’t lose hope because he had confidence in his skill of
climbing up a tree.

Question 4:

Where did father bring the ladder from?

(a) Garden

(b) Flower bed

© Cow shed

(d) Drawing room

Solution:

(a) Garden shed

Question 5:

What happens after the poet’s father fall off the ladder?

(a) He gives up.

(b) He gets up and goes to take rest.

© He gets up and plans for other trick.

(d) None of the above

Solution:

© He gets up and plans for other trick.

Question 6:

Where all he cleans the dirt from?

(a) His shirts and trousers.

(b) His hair and face.

© Both (a) and (d)

(d) Only (b)

Solution:

© both (a) and (d)

Extract 2

“We’ll try Plan B. Stand

Out of the way!’

Mum said, “Don’t fall

Again, O.K.?’

“Fall again? Said Dad.

“Funny joke!’

Then he swung himself up

On a branch. It broke.

Question 1:

Why does father ask mother to stand away?

Solution:

Father asks mother to stand out of the way that she might not get hurt.

Question 2:

How did father make an attempt to save the Cat for the Second time?

Solution:
For the second time, instead of climbing up the ladder, he swung himself on
a branch.

Question 3:

Was he successful in saving the cat this time?

Solution:

No, he was not successful because the branch that he swung himself upon
broke and he fell again.

Question 4:

What does mother Warn him?

(a) To give up

(b) To bring the cat down immediately

© To beware of dogs

(d) Not to fall again

Solution:

(d) Not to fall again

Question 5:

How does father react at this?

(a) He finds it a funny joke

(b) He needs it seriously

© He obeys her advice

(d) He waits for the right way

Solution:

(a) He finds it a funny joke

Question 6:
Mum Warned Dad to

(a) take medicines regularly.

(b) climb up the tree carefully.

© walk Slowly.

(d) stay silent.

Solution:

(b)Climb up the tree carefully

Unit 8 Poem Meadow Surprises

MEADOW SURPRISES

Unit 8 Poem

Summary

In this poem, the poet says that the meadow is full of different things and
one can explore it well. He lists down a few things that one can find in the
meadow – butterflies, rabbits and flowers. Then one can also explore the
farmhouses. One can find burrows, nests and anthills, to name a few of
the many surprises that a meadow has in store. One has to have a curious
eye and keep one’s ears open to explore the meadow.

Working with the Poem

Question 1. Read the lines in which the following phrases occur. Then
discuss with your partner the meaning of each phrase in its context.

(i) Velvet grass

(ii) Drinking straws
(iii) Meadow houses
(iv) Amazing mound
 (v) Fuzzy head

Answer:

(i) Velvet grass indicates that the grass is as soft as velvet.

(ii) Drinking straws means the butterflies which drink the nectar from
the flowers seem as if they are drinking it with straws.
(iii) Meadow houses refer to the houses of rabbits, i.e. the burrows of
ants, i.e. anthills and nests.
(iv) Amazing mound means the mounds created by the ants for
dwelling.
(v) Fuzzy head indicates the flowers of the dandelion, which now floats
in the air when we blow it.

Question 2: Which line in the poem suggests that you need a keen eye
and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow? Read aloud the stanza that contains
this line.

Answer: The line that suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear
to enjoy a meadow is:

“You may discover these yourself, if you look and listen well.”

Extract 1

Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

Meadows have surprises

You can find them if you look;

Walk softly through the velvet grass,

And listen by the brook.

You may see a butterfly ‘ Rest upon a buttercup

And unfold its drinking straws

To sip the nectar up.

Question 1:

What surprises do the meadows have to offer you?

Solution:

Meadows have too many surprises offer in the form of pleasure of the sounds
of brook and the feeling of soft velvety grass.

Question 2:

Why is it a great pleasure to walk through the meadows?

Solution:

It is a great pleasure to walk through the meadows because its grass is as

soft as a velvet that gives you a pleasant walk.

Question 3:

What does the poet call ‘buttercup’as? Why?

Solution:

The poet figuratively uses the word ‘buttercup’ for flowers and buds. The
poet calls them so because they offer a lot of sweet nector to the butterflies,
to sip.

Question 4:

What must have been called as the ‘drinking straws’ by the poet?

(a) Plastic pipes to drink juices

(b) Twigs of the trees in bushes

© Proboscis of the insects

(c) The straw that the poet carrier with himself to drink river water.

Solution:

© Proboscis of the insects.

Question 5:
Which word in the poem is a synonym of ‘sup’ or ‘drink with mouthfuls’?

(a) Sip

(b) Unfold

© Suck

(d)Brook

Solution:

(a) Sip

Question 6:

Which is the word in the extract that means ‘a liquid sweet juice?

(a) Velvet (b) Meadow

© Brook (d) Nectar

Solution:

(e) Nectar

Extract 2

Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

Explore the meadow houses,

The burrows in the ground,

A nest beneath tall grasses,

The ant’s amazing mound.

Oh! Meadows have surprises

And many things to tell;

You may discover these yourself,

If you look and listen well.

Question 1:

What does the poet refer to ‘meadow houses’?

Solution:

The houses of birds i.e. nests beneath the tall grass, the dwellings of rabbits,
i.e. holes in the ground and mounds for the ants are called as ‘meadow
houses’ by the poet.

Question 2:

What is amazing about he mounds of the ants?

Solution:

The mounds of the ants are made of such a soft soil as is extremely difficult
to pile the way the ants do. They work very diligently to create their house.

Question 3:

Which all surprises must the poet be talking about in these stanzas?

Solution:

The poet talks about the surprises of the beauty of nature, like amazing
chirping sounds of birds and humming sounds of bees and insects.

He talks about the soft velvety grass and the beautiful greenary all around.

Question 4:

Who can feel the delight of the surprises that meadows offer?

(a) A passive passerby.

(b) An eager passerby with his eyes and ears wide open.

© A person who takes photographs of it.

(d) A hunter.

Solution:

(b)An eager passerby with his eyes and ears wide open.
Question 5:

Which word in the extract means, ‘holes’?

(a) Mounds

(b) Meadows

© Nests

(c) Burrows

Solution:

(d)Burrows

Question 6:

Which word is the opposite of ‘badly’?

(a) Look

(b) Many

© Well

(e) Amazing

Solution:

© Well.

Poem Garden Snake

Summary

The poet says that when he saw a snake, he ran away because he had heard
that some snakes were dangerous. On the other hand, his mother said that
some snakes were good because they ate insects. So, now whenever the
poet sees a snake crawling in his garden, he stands on one side and watches
it pass. The poet tells himself that it is a harmless garden snake.

Working with the Poem

Question 1. Answer the following questions:

 (i) Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.
(ii) Which line shows a complete change of the child’s attitude towards
snakes? Read it aloud.
(iii) “But mother says that kind is good…” What is mother referring to?

Answer: (i) The line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes is:

“I saw a snake and ran away…”

(ii) The line that shows a complete change of child’s attitude towards snakes
is:

“I’ll stand aside and watch him pass,”

(iv) The mother is referring to the “garden snakes”.

Question 2: Find the word that refers to the snake’s movements in the grass.

Answer: “Wiggles” is the word that refers to the snake’s movements in the
grass.

Question 3: There are four pairs of rhyming words in the poem. Say them
aloud.

Answer: The four pairs of rhyming words in the poem are:

Away-say

Good-food

Grass-pass

Mistake-snake

Question 4: A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast. Can you
guess how? Discuss in the group.

Answer: A snake wiggles, and that’s how it moves very fast, although it does
not have legs or feet.

Question 5: Can you recall the word used for a cobra’s long sharp teeth?
Where did you come across this word first?

Answer: The word used for cobra’s long sharp teeth is “fangs”. I have heard
this word while watching the Discovery channel.

Voice
Rules

‘Voice’ – What Is It?

The term ‘voice’ is a term that is used to denote the form of the verb which
shows if the subject in a given sentence is the doer or receiver of the action.
The voice of a verb describes the relationship between the action and the
participants (subject or object) in a sentence.

The Two Voices in the English Language

There are two voices in the English language and they are as follows:

 Active Voice
 Passive Voice
Let us look into the two voices a little in detail with the help of the meaning
and definition given below.

What is the Active Voice? – Meaning and Definition

The active voice, in a sentence, denotes that the noun or pronoun that acts
as the subject in the sentence is the doer of the action. In other words, the
subject performs the action or acts upon the verb.

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the active voice is defined as

“the form of a verb in which the subject is the person or thing that performs
the action”, and according to the Collins Dictionary, the active voice is
defined as “a voice of verbs used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is
performing the action or causing the event or process described by the
verb.”

What is the Passive Voice? – Meaning and Definition

The passive voice, on the other hand, represents that the subject is one
acted upon by the action or verb in the sentence. It can also be said that the
passive voice indicates that the subject in the sentence is no longer active
but passive.

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the passive voice is defined as

“the form of a verb used when the subject is affected by the action of the
verb”, and according to the Collins Dictionary, the passive voice is “formed
using ‘be’ and the past participle of a verb. The subject of a passive clause
does not perform the action expressed by the verb but is affected by it.”

Using the Active Voice and the Passive Voice – Points to Remember

There are a few points that you have to bear in mind when using the active
voice and the passive voice. In the English language, the active voice is used
generally as they give the information in a direct and clear manner. Make
sure you do not use the passive voice just because you think it sounds
better. Use it only if it is necessary. Remember that the active voice has the
subject doing the action and the passive voice has the subject receiving the
action. If you want to communicate your thoughts and ideas clearly and
effectively, especially in a professional setup, it would be best to use the
active voice.

A pro tip for you to master the active voice and the passive voice is to know
the structure and formula by which they work.

Active Voice – Subject + Verb + Object

Passive Voice – Object + Verb + Subject

Difference between the Active Voice and the Passive Voice

Analysing the difference between the active voice and the passive voice is
what will help you in a much better way to learn how to use the two voices
effectively. Take a look at the following table to know how they differ.
 Active Voice Passive Voice

 Denotes that  Denotes that

the subject is the subject is
performing acted upon
the action. by the verb
or action in
the
sentence.

 The active  The passive

voice does voice uses a
not require a linking verb
linking verb followed by
to make the past
sense. participle of
the main
verb.

 The active  The passive

voice voice comes
focuses on in handy
the doer of when the
the action. doer of the
action is
undetermine
d.

 Has a direct,  Has an

clear and indirect,
strong tone. weak and
subtle tone.

 Examples:  Examples:

 I  The
decora hall
ted the was
hall. decora
ted by
 Devi me.
gave
Shanth  Shanth
Rules to be Followed When Converting the Active Voice to the Passive Voice

When converting the active voice into the passive voice or vice versa, there
are changes in the tenses and pronouns used in the sentences.

The table given below shows you how the tenses change when converting
the active voice to the passive voice and vice versa.
Conversion Rules for Active Voice and Passive
Voice

Tens Voi Simp Contin Perfe Perfect

e ce le uous ct Contin
Tens Tense Tens uous
e e Tense

Pres Acti Bren Brendo Bren Brendo

ent ve don n is don n has
plays playing has been
crick cricket. playe playing
et. d cricket.
crick
et.

Pass Crick Cricket Crick No

ive et is is being et has Passive
playe played been
d by by playe
Bren Brendo d by
don. n. Bren
don.

Past Acti Bren Brendo Bren Brendo

ve don n was don n had
playe playing had been
d cricket. playe playing
crick d cricket.
et. crick
et.

Pass Crick Cricket Crick No

ive et was et Passive
was being had
playe played been
 Change of Pronouns

Active Voice Passive Voice

I Me

We Us

He Him

She Her

They Them

It It

There are a few other points that you have to know so that you can use the
two voices effectively. They are as follows:

 When converting a sentence in the active voice to the passive voice,

the first thing that you have to do is interchange the subject and the
object.
 The next part of speech you have to focus on is the verb. When
converting the active voice into the passive voice, you just have to
convert the main verb into its past participle or its third form. The third
form of the main verb is the past participle form of the verb.
 When you are changing the tense of the main verb, make sure you use
an auxiliary verb which maintains the tense the sentence represents.
 Always use the preposition, ‘by’ before the subject in a passive
sentence.
 If there are any adverbs used in the sentence with the active voice, be
sure to include it in the passive voice as well. Do not just drop it when
you convert a sentence in the active voice to the passive voice or vice-
versa.
Examples of the Active and Passive Voice

Given below are a few examples of how to convert the active voice into the
passive voice.

 Active Voice – Twinkle likes adventure stories.

Passive Voice – Adventure stories are liked by Twinkle.

 Active Voice – Latha is learning French this year.

Passive Voice – French is being learnt by Latha this year.

 Active Voice – Kurt has brought macaroons.

Passive Voice – Macaroons have been brought by Kurt.

 Active Voice – Sidharth played cricket.

Passive Voice – Cricket was played by Sidharth.

 Active Voice – They were making invitation cards.

Passive Voice – Invitation cards were being made by them.

 Active Voice – Becky had packed the bags.

Passive Voice – The bags had been packed by Becky.

 Active Voice – Mira will buy the refreshments for the party.
Passive Voice – The refreshments for the party will be bought by Mira.

 Active Voice – Sanjay will have given the forms to all the participants.
Passive Voice – The forms will have been given to all the participants by
Sanjay.

Check Your Understanding of the Active Voice and the Passive Voice

Now that you have seen a number of examples and learnt how the
conversion is done, try converting the following sentences as directed.

1. Varun is helping Reshmi. (Change into passive voice)

2. A gift was given to Manassa by me. (Change into active voice)

3. Santana will sing All My Life at the Nationals. (Change into active voice)

4. A mouse was being chased by my cat. (Change into active voice)

5. Naveen loves Praveena. (Change into passive voice)

6. The decorations for the annual day will be done by Emma. (Change into
active voice)

7. J. K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter novels. (Change into passive voice)

8. Ms. Holly will teach Spanish this year. (Change into passive voice)

9. Mike was hit by Nick. (Change into active voice)

10. Naslen is being scolded by his mom. (Change into active voice)

Check out if you did the conversion right from the answers given below.

1. Reshmi is being helped by Varun.

2. I gave Manassa a gift.

3. All My Life will be sung by Santana at the Nationals.

4. My cat was chasing a mouse.

5. Praveena is loved by Naveen.

6. Emma will do the decorations for the annual day.

7. The Harry Potter novels were written by J. K. Rowling.

8. Spanish will be taught by Ms. Holly this year.

9. Nick hit Mike.

10. Naslen’s mom is scolding him.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Active Voice and the Passive Voice
Q1

What is the active voice?

The active voice, in a sentence, denotes that the noun or pronoun that acts
as the subject in the sentence is the doer of the action. In other words, the
subject performs the action or acts upon the verb.
Q2

What is the passive voice?

The passive voice, on the other hand, denotes that the subject is acted upon
by the action or verb in the sentence. It can also be said that the passive
voice indicates that the subject in the sentence is no longer active but
passive.