Hello students! Looking for comprehensive, accurate and reliable solutions to NCERT Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 7 – “An Alien Hand”?
Our team of English experts, trained both in India and overseas, have crafted excellent solutions to all the questions in this lesson in a lucid, easy-to-understand manner. Plenty of additional questions have been provided which cover the all facets of the story in detail to help you prepare. We recommend you go through them in detail – they should clear all your doubts, help you understand the story, and prepare you for the exams.
Find Solutions to NCERT Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 7 An Alien Hand, here.
Comprehension Check (page 69)
1. How does Tilloo manage to find his way to the ‘forbidden passage’?
Answer:
Tilloo managed to find his way to the ‘forbidden passage’ one day by quietly taking his father’s security card while he was enjoying a nap. Tilloo inserted the card into a slot in the metal door to enter the secret passage.
2. What did Tilloo hope to see once he emerged from his underground home?
Answer:
Tilloo had hoped that he would be able to see the sun (if it was daytime) or the stars (if it was night) once he emerged from his underground home.
3. Why did Tilloo’s father advise him not to try to reach the surface of the planet?
Answer:
Tilloo’s father advised him not to try to reach the surface of the planet because he would not be able to breathe as the air was very thin, and Tilloo would also not be able to tolerate the extremely low temperature there unless he was well-equipped.
4. What changes had occurred that forced people to live in underground homes?
Answer:
The change in the temperature of the sun upset the balance of nature on the planet. It created conditions which killed birds and animals. Fish could not bear the change in temperature either. Humans managed to survive only because of their superior technology which enabled them to live in underground homes under artificial conditions.
Comprehension Check (Page 71)
1. Why was everyone in the Control Room greatly excited?
Answer:
Everyone in the Control Room was greatly excited because they learnt that two spacecrafts were approaching their planet.
2. Was the spacecraft manned or unmanned? How do you know it?
Answer:
The space craft was unmanned. According to reports of the Central Bureau, they contained only instruments.
3. What did Number One and Number Two suggest should be done about the alien spacecraft?
Answer:
Number one suggested that they should let the spacecrafts land because they possessed the capability to render them ineffective anytime they chose.
Number Two suggested that they quietly observe the spacecrafts without interfering because it would be unwise to reveal their existence to the senders about whose capabilities, they knew nothing.
Comprehension Check (page 73)
1. What do you think the mechanical hand was trying to do?
Answer:
I think that the mechanical hand was trying to gather soil samples of Mars in order to study if life exists on the planet.
2. Tilloo pressed the red button, and “the damage was done”. What was the damage?
Answer:
The damage caused by Tilloo on pressing the red button was that the mechanical hand from the spacecraft stopped working.
3. Where had the spacecraft come from?
Answer:
The spacecraft had come from the planet Earth. It was sent by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, America).
4. On which planet do Tilloo and his parents live?
Answer:
Tilloo and his parents lived under the surface of Planet Mars. Since the air was thin and the temperature on the surface of the planet was too low to sustain life, human beings using their superior technology were the only living species to survive on the planet by living underground under artificial conditions.
Exercises
Discuss the following topics in groups. (Page 73)
1. If you had to live in a home like Tilloo’s, what parts of life would you find most difficult? What compensations might there be?
Answer:
I would find it most difficult to be cut off from nature – from the infinite variety in fauna and flora it offers, the fresh air, the azure sky, the changing seasons, the golden sun, the canopy of stars at night, the spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
The only compensation that might be there would be safety, a regulated temperature and the warm company of the other inmates.
2. What, if anything, might drive mankind to make their homes underground?
Answer:
If the conditions on the surface of the earth become too hot or cold to support life, mankind may have no other recourse than to make their homes underground, provided they can ensure a constant supply of oxygen, light, heat, food and water.
3. Do you think there is life on other planets? Can you guess what kind of people there may be on them? In what ways are they likely to be different from us?
Answer:
Yes, I do think there might be life on other planets. Scientists are trying hard to find evidence of life on planets that go round the sun. Soil samples have been collected from the moon and Mars for analysis, but there has been no definite proof yet.
Any form of life on other planets would be very different from us because they would have adapted to different environmental conditions prevailing in their planets.
Extra Questions on NCERT Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 7 An Alien Hand
A. Multiple Choice type Questions
1. The purpose of the Viking Mission was _________
(i) to take photographs of the Surface of Mars
(ii) to collect samples of the Martian soil
(iii) to conduct biological experiments to look for possible signs of life
(iv) All of the above
2. The Viking Mission to Mars _________
(i) was composed of an orbiter and a lander
(ii) was composed of two spacecrafts
(iii) launched Viking 1 and Viking 2 in the year1975
(iv) both (ii) and (iii) above
3. Why was Tilloo curious about the underground passage?
(i) because he was forbidden to go that way
(ii) because only a few select people were permitted to go that way
(iii) because he saw his father go to work every day along that passage and come back from that direction
(iv) all of the above
4. How did he manage to enter the forbidden passage?
(i) he broke open the lock of the metal door
(ii) he managed to get hold of his father’s security card
(iii) He slipped the security card into a slot in the metal door
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii) above
5. Tilloo looked forward to seeing ________
(i) the sun and the moon
(ii) the the sun and the stars
(iii) the animals he had heard about
(iv) the sea
6. Tillo’s father explained that he should not try to go to the surface of the plabnet because____
(i) the air was too thin
(ii) the temperature was too cold to tolerate
(iii) he would freeze without protection
(iv) All of the above
7. Why were pepople in the Control room full of excitement and crowded around the TV?
(i) They were watching a movie
(ii) they were having a party
(iii) They were watching a star on the TV screen
(iv) They had spotted a spacecraft coming towards them.
8. the Central bureau members __________
(i) did not allow the spaceship to land
(ii) wanted to annhilate the spacecraft in space
(iii) were afraid that they might not be able to neutralise it if it landed
(iv) wanted to let it land and watch without interference or reveal their existence
9. What did the alien spaceship contain?
(i) Little green men
(ii) Weapons of destruction
(iii) alen soldiers
(iv) instruments
10. The scientists at NASA were disappointed because ______-
(i) the mechanical arm could not be repaired
(ii) there were no signs of life on Mars
(iii) they could not install any machines on Mars
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
1. (iv) All of the above
2. (iv) both (ii) and (iii) above
3. (iv) all of the above
4. (iv) Both (ii) and (iii) above
5. (ii) the the sun and the stars
6. (iv) All of the above
7. (iv)They had spotted a spacecraft coming towards them.
8. (iv) wanted to let it land and watch without interference or reveal their existence
9. (iv) instruments
10. (ii) there were no signs of life on Mars
B. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box to complete the following sentences:
| spacecraft | interference | defence | intentions | power | dark |
| courage | Ineffective | observation | wisdom | reveal | existence |
1. Number One was in charge of ______ .He was known for his ______ and _______.
2. I recommend non-____________ and passive ________. Since we do not know the ________ of the senders of these __________, and we are still in the _________about their _______, it is wise not to reveal our __________. If we destroy these spaceships or render them _________, we might _________our existence
Answer:
1. Number One was in charge of defence .He was known for his courage and wisdom.
2. I recommend non-interference and passive observation. Since we do not know the power of the senders of these spacecraft, and we are still in the dark about their intentions, it is wise not to reveal our existence. If we destroy these spaceships or render them ineffective, we might reveal our existence
C. Match the words in column A with those in column B
| A | B |
| siesta | shelter or home |
| habitat | told or informed |
| escorted | found out |
| briefed | a short rest or nap after lunch |
| detected | taken or led |
Answer:
| A | B |
| siesta | a short rest or nap after lunch |
| habitat | shelter or home |
| escorted | taken or led |
| briefed | told or informed |
| detected | found out |
D. State whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE:
1. NASA’s Viking Mission to mars was composed of two spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander.
2. Tilloo’s father can breathe the thin air and tolerate the freezing temperatures because he has been trained to survive and work on the surface of the planet.
3. They have the capacity to to render the alien spacecraft inoperational in space.
4. Number three suggested that they should keep their surface activities to the minimum to create the impression that there is no life on the planet.
5. Of all the planets in our solar system, Mars is the nearest in location and physical conditions to our Earth, but the Viking mission found no sign of life on Mars to the great disappointment of scientists.
Answer:
1. True
2. False – It is true that Tillloo’s father has been trained to deal with the hostile conditions on the surface of the planet, but he could not survive unless he was well-equipped with a special suit and shoes as well as an oxygen reservoir.
3. False – The Martians do not have the capacity to render the spacecraft ineffective in space, but when the spacecraft land, they have the ability to render them ineffective anytime they choose yo do so.
4. True
5. True
E. Very Short Answer type Questions:
1. What was the forbidden route ?
Answer
The forbidden route was a well-guarded underground passage.
2. What did Tilloo’s mother say when he demanded to know why his father went that way when Tilloo was not allowed to venture there?
Answer:
Tilloo’s mother replied that it was his father’s job.
3. What did Tilloo do after entering the forbidden passage?
Answer:
Tilloo snatched the card from the slot in the wall and marched along the upward sloping passage.
4. Why did the passage slope upwards?
Answer:
The passage sloped upward because it led from the underground habitat to the surface of the planet.
5. Why did Tilloo’s father feel that he should be briefed properly about the surface of the planet?
Answer:
Tilloo’s father felt that if the actual facts about the planet’s surface were explained to him, he would not endanger himself by breaking the rules.
6. What did Tillo’s father tell him about their forefathers?
Answer:
Tilloo’s father told him that their forefathers lived on the surface of the planet quite naturally for millions of years.
7. What enables humans to live comfortably in their underground habitat?
Answer:
Solar energy enables humans to generate enough power to make their lives underground comfortable.
8. How do they ensure that there is no breakdown of the machinery which generates power for the underground habitat?
Answer:
The machines are kept in good working condition by a team which is responsible for servicing them regularly.
9. Why did the people in the Control Room think that the dot on the big TV screen was not a star?
Answer:
The people in the Control Room thought that the big dot on the TV screen was not a star because it changed possitions, unlike stars which are fixed.
10. Why didn’t the Martians have a Space Programme now?
Answer:
Due to energy shortage and a forced underground life, their space programme was terminated.
11. Who announced that the first spacecraft had landed ?
Answer:
The President announced that the first aircraft had landed.
12. What is a red letter day?
Answer:
A red letter day is a day that is pleasantly noteworthy or memorable.
13. Why was it a red letter day for Tilloo?
Answer:
It was a red letter day for Tilloo because his father had at last taken him to the Control Room from where he could see the spacecraft on his TV screen.
14. What was Tilloo’s first reaction on seeing the spacecraft?
Answer:
Tilloo told his dad that it was a ‘funny looking thing’and wondered what it contained.
15. What emerged from the spacecraft?
Answer:
A mechanical arm emerged from the spacecraft.
16. What was the mechanical arm doing?
Answer:
The mechanical arm approached the surface of the planet and then it bent and touched the soil.
17. What did Tilloo do to be in the spotlight?
Answer:
Tilloo could not overcome the irresistible urge to press the red button on the control panel.
18. Who restored the red button to the neutral position?
Answer:
Tilloo’s father pulled him away roughly and restored the red button to neutral position.
19. What happened as a result of pressing the red button?
Answer:
The mechanical hand from the spacecraft ceased to function.
F. Short Answer Type Questions:
1. Who had access to the forbidden route?
Answer:
Very few people had access to the frobidden route. Tilloo’s father was one of the select few people who were permitted to go that way.
2. Why did Tilloo want to explore the forbidden route?
Answer:
He wanted to go to the surface of the planet and view the sun and the stars about which he had heard and read a great deal.
3. What was the function of the metal door? How did it open?
Answer:
The function of the metal door was to prevent unauthorised entry to the underground passage. The door opened noiselessly when Tilloo slipped his father’s security (magic ) card into a slot in the door just as he had watched his father doing.
4. How was Tilloo’s unauthorised presence in the passage detected? What happened thereafter?
Answer:
Tillo had underestimated the security arrangements. Invisible devices had detected his presence in the forbidden passage, taken his photgraph and forwarded it to the Central Bureau where it was thoroughly reviewed and immediate action ordered. Accordingly, the security staff were deployed to escort him back home.
5. What was the general consensus reached by the Central Committee about action to be taken regarding the approaching spacecraft?
Answer:
The central committee decided that it would be prudent to wait and watch since the power and intentions of the senders of the spacecraft were unknown. Destroying the spaceships or rendering them ineffective, would reveal their own existence. So they decided to keep surface activities to the minimum creating the impression that there’s no life on the planet.
6. What do you know about NASA’s Viking Mission to Mars?
Answer:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Viking Mission to Mars was composed of two spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander.
Viking 1 was launched, on 20 August 1975 and arrived at Mars on 19 June 1976.
Viking 2 was launched on 9 September 1975. It entered Mar’s orbit on 7 August 1976 .
7. What were the main objectives of NASA’s Viking Mission to Mars?
Answer:
The main objectives of the NASA Viking Mission to Mars were:
(i) To obtain images and samples of the Martian surface and soil,
(ii) To search for any possible signs of life on the planet Mars.
G. Long answer Type Questions
1. Why did Tilloo and his family live under the surface of the planet? How did they ensure steady supply of power to their underground homes.
Answer:
Tilloo and his family were obliged to live under the surface of the planet due to massive environmental changes which took place. The sun which was a source of sustenance became hostile. It changed only slightly but the change had devastating effects and upset the balance of nature on the planet.
At first the birds died. Then the animals perished, followed by the fish who could not adapt to the changes in the environment either. Human beings managed to survive because they possessed superior technology, but they were compelled to live beneath the surface of the planet under artificial conditions.
Solar energy was harnessed to generate sufficient power to make their underground lives comfortable.
But the machines which generated power had to be kept in good working condition at all times. Some of the machines were kept on the surface of the planet and a team of experts was given the responsibility of keeping a watch on them and servicing them when necessary.
2. How did Tilloo’s father manage to survive on the surface of the planet?
Answer:
The conditions on the surface of the planet were extremely harsh. The air was so thin that it was impossible for a normal person to breathe. The temperature was so low that one would freeze to death.
Tilloo’s father told him that he went there well- equipped in a special suit which kept him warm and carried a reservoir of oxygen. He also wore boots specially designed to make it easy for him to walk on the surface. Moreover, he had been specially trained to survive and work on the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on NCERT Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 7 “An Alien hand”
These solutions have been prepared by an experienced team of English experts, trained in India and overseas, following proven methods to ensure maximum learning and retention. Literally everything you need to know to be able to understand the story is included in the solutions. We are confident that if you study them in detail, you will be pleasantly satisfied.
We have included free PDFs of the solutions which you can download anytime! We will keep providing you with lots of useful study material, resources and other information. So, make sure you keep visiting our website and join our email list to get free access to the opportunities we provide!
Tilloo was a young boy who lived with his parents under the surface of planet Mars. The air on the planet’s surface was too thin to breathe and the temperature was so low that an ordinary person would freeze to death. Human beings were able to survive by using their superior technology to build underground habitats for survival.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Viking Mission to Mars was composed of two spacecrafts, Viking 1 and Viking 2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander.
Viking 1 was launched, on 20 August 1975 and arrived at Mars on 19 June 1976.
Viking 2 was launched on 9 September 1975. It entered Mar’s orbit on 7 August 1976 .
Tillo had underestimated the security arrangements. Invisible devices had detected his presence in the forbidden passage, taken his photograph and forwarded it to the Central Bureau where it was thoroughly reviewed and immediate action ordered. Accordingly, the security staff were deployed to escort him back home.
Our team of competent English teachers have carefully anticipated all the queries you may have about the story and crafted these excellent solutions which draw your attention to every detail in the story.
We suggest that at first you read the story closely and look up the meanings of unfamiliar terms. Then read the solutions taking in all the details.
Do not memorise because the key to learning lies in understanding the text.
Our English experts have painstakingly provided many extra questions which are similar to exam questions and are designed to give you sufficient practice.
Go through the solutions before the exam and practice writing out some answers within a specified time period. This is an important step which should not be skipped because practice not only makes perfect, but also boosts your self-confidence. You will be well-equipped to take on any challenge that your examiner may pose! Good luck!
Need us to coach you and prepare you for your exams? Our expert teachers look forward to teaching bright young students like you and will go the extra mile to help you succeed. Feel free to contact us with your requirements anytime and we’ll be happy to help you out! We provide on-demand one-to-one coaching, based on your convenience and your needs – have it completely your way! Find the details here.
Good luck!
