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The Tunnel Questions & Answers | Class 7 English | CBSE NCERT
Chapter-wise questions and answers for The Tunnel in Class 7 English, with a clear summary, key points, and exam-ready model answers.
What you will find on this page: a clear chapter summary, revision notes, word meanings, important questions, MCQs, and exam-ready question answers for Class 7 English.
After reviewing the chapter explanation, answer the short-answer, long-answer, extract-based, and objective questions below.
About 125 min readThe TunnelUpdated 29 Sep 2026
Questions and answers
1 marks · mcq
1. 1. (MCQ) Why was Suraj standing near the cutting?
- (a) He was waiting to board the midday train.
- (b) He wanted to watch the steam engine come roaring out of the tunnel.
- (c) He had come to meet the tunnel’s watchman.
- (d) He was resting on his way to the village.
It was almost noon, and the jungle was very still, very silent. Heat waves shimmered along the railway embankment where it cut a path through the tall evergreen trees. The railway lines were two straight black serpents disappearing into the tunnel in the hillside. Suraj stood near the cutting, waiting for the midday train. It wasn’t a station, and he wasn’t catching a train. He was waiting so that he could watch the steam engine come roaring out of the tunnel.
Show answer
(b) — the text clearly states he was waiting "so that he could watch the steam engine come roaring out of the tunnel."
1 marks · mcq
2. 2. (MCQ) In this extract, the word ‘shimmered’ describes heat waves that —
- (a) made a loud humming noise
- (b) shone with a light that appears to move
- (c) smelled strongly of smoke
- (d) cooled the air of the jungle
Show answer
(b) — ‘shimmered’ means shone with a light that seems to move, as heat waves do on a hot day.
1 marks · mcq
3. 3. (MCQ) "The railway lines were two straight black serpents..." This is an example of —
- (a) a simile
- (b) alliteration
- (c) a metaphor
- (d) hyperbole
Show answer
(c) — the railway lines are directly called serpents, without using ‘like’ or ‘as’, so it is a metaphor.
1 marks · direct
4. 4. (One-word) Fill in the blank: The time of day when the story opens is almost ______.
Show answer
noon
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5. 5. (Short answer) Why does the author begin by calling the jungle "very still, very silent"?
Show answer
It was the hot midday hour when nothing stirred. The utter stillness creates a quiet background against which the train's sudden roar seems even more powerful and dramatic.
1 marks · direct
6. 6. (Short answer) What does this extract tell you about the kind of boy Suraj is?
Show answer
Suraj is curious and adventurous. He does not come to the cutting to travel; he comes only to watch a steam engine burst out of the tunnel, which shows he finds excitement in simple things.
1 marks · mcq
7. 1. (MCQ) How did Suraj reach the tunnel exit?
- (a) He walked all the way from the town.
- (b) He cycled to a small village and then walked over a scrub-covered hill.
- (c) He took the midday train to the tunnel.
- (d) He rode his cycle straight up to the tunnel mouth.
He had cycled out of the town and taken the jungle path until he had come to a small village. He had left the cycle there, and walked over a low scrub-covered hill and down to the tunnel exit. Now he looked up. He had heard, in the distance, the shrill whistle of the engine. He couldn’t see anything, because the train was approaching from the other side of the hill; but presently a sound like distant thunder issued from the tunnel, and he knew the train was coming through.
Show answer
(b) — he left his cycle at a village and walked over a low scrub-covered hill down to the tunnel exit.
1 marks · mcq
8. 2. (MCQ) Why couldn’t Suraj see the train at first?
- (a) The tunnel was full of smoke.
- (b) The bright sunlight dazzled him.
- (c) The train was approaching from the other side of the hill.
- (d) The jungle trees hid the railway line.
Show answer
(c) — the train was on the far side of the hill, so only its sound, not its shape, reached Suraj.
1 marks · mcq
9. 3. (MCQ) The phrase ‘a sound like distant thunder’ is an example of —
- (a) a metaphor
- (b) a simile
- (c) personification
- (d) an idiom
Show answer
(b) — the sound is compared to thunder using the word ‘like’.
1 marks · direct
10. 4. (One-word) Suraj first knew the train was near when he heard the shrill ______ of the engine.
Show answer
whistle
1 marks · direct
11. 5. (Short answer) Why do you think Suraj left his cycle at the village instead of riding all the way?
Show answer
Beyond the village, the way ran through the jungle and over a low scrub-covered hill, which could only be crossed on foot. So he had to leave the cycle behind and walk down to the tunnel exit.
1 marks · direct
12. 6. (Short answer) What does "he knew the train was coming through" tell us about Suraj’s understanding of sounds?
Show answer
Suraj could link the thunder-like noise coming from inside the hill to the train passing through the tunnel. This shows he was observant and could read the meaning of sounds around him.
1 marks · mcq
13. 1. (MCQ) The steam engine is compared to —
- (a) a black serpent
- (b) a green, black and gold dragon
- (c) a roaring lion
- (d) a flying fox
A second or two later, the steam engine shot out of the tunnel, snorting and puffing like some green, black, and gold dragon, some beautiful monster out of Suraj’s dreams. Showering sparks left and right, it roared a challenge to the jungle. Instinctively, Suraj stepped back a few paces. Waves of hot steam struck him in the face. Even the trees seemed to flinch from the noise and heat. And then the train had gone, leaving only a plume of smoke to drift lazily over the tall shisham trees. The jungle was still again. No one moved.
Show answer
(b) — the engine shot out "snorting and puffing like some green, black, and gold dragon".
1 marks · mcq
14. 2. (MCQ) "Even the trees seemed to flinch from the noise and heat." The word ‘flinch’ means —
- (a) to make a quick movement, as if drawing back
- (b) to grow taller
- (c) to catch fire
- (d) to fall to the ground
Show answer
(a) — ‘flinch’ means to make a quick movement, here as though the trees themselves drew back from the train.
1 marks · mcq
15. 3. (MCQ) The line "Even the trees seemed to flinch" is an example of —
- (a) a simile
- (b) a metaphor
- (c) personification
- (d) repetition
Show answer
(c) — the trees are given a human-like reaction of shrinking away, which is personification.
1 marks · direct
16. 4. (True/False) Suraj calmly stood his ground when the train shot out of the tunnel.
Show answer
False — he stepped back a few paces instinctively as waves of hot steam struck his face.
1 marks · direct
17. 5. (Short answer) What picture of the train does "showering sparks left and right, it roared a challenge to the jungle" create?
Show answer
It makes the engine seem like a powerful, fire-breathing creature boldly announcing itself to the forest. The machine feels alive, fierce and thrilling.
1 marks · direct
18. 6. (Short answer) Why do you think the train felt like "some beautiful monster out of Suraj’s dreams"?
Show answer
To Suraj, the train was both frightening and wonderful — its noise, heat and colours thrilled him the way a marvellous monster from a dream would. It shows how deeply he admired trains.
1 marks · mcq
19. 1. (MCQ) How far into the tunnel did it become pitch dark?
- (a) At the very entrance
- (b) After about twenty yards
- (c) Halfway through
- (d) Near the other opening
Suraj turned from his contemplation of the drifting smoke and began walking along the embankment towards the tunnel. The tunnel grew darker as he walked further into it. When he had gone about twenty yards, it became pitch dark. 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.
Show answer
(b) — the text says that when he had gone about twenty yards, it became pitch dark.
1 marks · mcq
20. 2. (MCQ) Suraj turned to look back at the opening because —
- (a) he thought someone was following him
- (b) he wanted to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside
- (c) the smoke was hurting his eyes
- (d) he had forgotten the way out
Show answer
(b) — in the pitch darkness, he needed the sight of daylight to comfort and calm himself.
1 marks · mcq
21. 3. (MCQ) The word ‘contemplation’ means —
- (a) deep thought
- (b) loud argument
- (c) quick movement
- (d) careful inspection
Show answer
(a) — Suraj was lost in deep thought as he watched the drifting smoke.
1 marks · direct
22. 4. (Fill in the blank) Till the next train came through, the cutting belonged to the ______ again.
Show answer
jungle
1 marks · direct
23. 5. (Short answer) What did the tunnel’s other opening look like from inside?
Show answer
From within the darkness, the far opening looked like just a small round circle of light.
1 marks · direct
24. 6. (Short answer) Why do you think Suraj kept walking even though the tunnel was pitch dark and full of smoke?
Show answer
He was determined to find out what the inside of a tunnel was really like. His curiosity and courage were stronger than his fear of the darkness.
1 marks · mcq
25. 1. (MCQ) Why did Suraj walk through the tunnel?
- (a) To reach the village on the other side
- (b) To look for the watchman
- (c) Simply to know what the inside of a tunnel was really like
- (d) To escape the heat of the afternoon
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. The walls were damp and sticky. A bat flew past. A lizard scuttled between the lines. Coming straight from the darkness into the light, Suraj was dazzled by the sudden glare and put a hand up to shade his eyes. He looked up at the tree-covered hillside and thought he saw something moving between the trees. It was just a flash of orange and gold, and a long swishing tail. It was there between the trees for a second or two, and then it was gone.
Show answer
(c) — the text says he had simply wanted to walk through so that he would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like.
1 marks · mcq
26. 2. (MCQ) Which of these did Suraj NOT see inside the tunnel?
- (a) A bat
- (b) A lizard
- (c) Damp and sticky walls
- (d) A porcupine
Show answer
(d) — he saw a bat, a lizard and the damp walls; the porcupine is mentioned later, in connection with the watchman's duties.
1 marks · mcq
27. 3. (MCQ) The word ‘scuttled’ means —
- (a) ran hurriedly
- (b) walked slowly
- (c) flew past
- (d) slept soundly
Show answer
(a) — the lizard ran hurriedly between the lines.
1 marks · direct
28. 4. (One-word) Coming out of the tunnel, Suraj was ______ by the sudden glare of light.
Show answer
dazzled
1 marks · direct
29. 5. (Short answer) Why was Suraj "not sure" that he had seen an animal on the hillside?
Show answer
It was only a flash of orange and gold with a long swishing tail, visible for just a second or two before it moved off very quickly. He caught no proper look at it.
1 marks · direct
30. 6. (Short answer) Do you think Suraj was brave to walk through a dark tunnel alone? Give a reason.
Show answer
Yes — the tunnel was pitch dark, its walls were damp and sticky and it was full of smoke, yet he completed the walk because he wanted the experience. It shows courage backed by curiosity.
1 marks · mcq
31. 1. (MCQ) How far from the tunnel entrance was the watchman’s hut?
- (a) Five metres
- (b) Fifteen metres
- (c) Twenty yards
- (d) A hundred metres
About fifteen metres from the entrance to the tunnel stood the watchman’s hut. Marigolds grew in front of the hut, and at the back there was a small vegetable patch. It was the watchman’s duty to inspect the tunnel and keep it clear of obstacles. Every day, before the train came through, he would walk the length of the tunnel. If all was well, he would return to his hut and take a nap. If something was wrong, he would walk back up the line and wave a red flag, and the engine driver would slow down. At night, the watchman lit an oil lamp and made a similar inspection of the tunnel. Of course, he would not stop the train if there was a porcupine on the line. But if there was any danger to the train, he’d go back up the line and wave his lamp to the approaching engine. If all was well, he’d hang his lamp at the door of his hut and go to sleep.
Show answer
(b) — the hut stood about fifteen metres from the entrance to the tunnel.
1 marks · mcq
32. 2. (MCQ) If the watchman found something wrong during his day inspection, he would —
- (a) stop the train by standing on the line
- (b) telephone the nearest station
- (c) walk back up the line and wave a red flag
- (d) wave his oil lamp at the engine
Show answer
(c) — seeing the red flag, the engine driver would slow down.
1 marks · mcq
33. 3. (MCQ) The watchman would NOT stop the train if he found —
- (a) a fallen tree on the line
- (b) a porcupine on the line
- (c) a broken rail
- (d) a leopard in the tunnel
Show answer
(b) — a porcupine on the line posed no real danger to the train, so it was not worth stopping for.
1 marks · direct
34. 4. (Fill in the blank) At night, if all was well, the watchman would hang his lamp ______ and go to sleep.
Show answer
at the door of his hut
1 marks · direct
35. 5. (Short answer) What grew around the watchman’s hut, and what does this tell us about him?
Show answer
Marigolds grew in front of the hut and a small vegetable patch lay at the back. This shows that the watchman loved plants and had made his lonely hut a home-like, well-tended place.
1 marks · direct
36. 6. (Short answer) Why was the watchman’s job important?
Show answer
He inspected the tunnel on foot before every train, by day and by night. His red flag or waving lamp warned the engine driver in time, keeping the trains and their passengers safe from danger in the tunnel.
1 marks · mcq
37. 1. (MCQ) What was the watchman’s name?
- (a) Suraj
- (b) Sunder Singh
- (c) Bachendri Pal
- (d) It is not mentioned in this part
He was just settling down on his cot for an afternoon nap when he saw the boy emerge from the tunnel. He waited until Suraj was only a metre or so away and then said, “Welcome, welcome. I don’t often have visitors. Sit down for a while, and tell me why you were inspecting my tunnel.” “Is it your tunnel?” asked Suraj. “It is,” said the watchman. “It is truly my tunnel, since no one else will have anything to do with it. I have only lent it to the Government.” Suraj sat down on the edge of the cot. “I wanted to see the train come through,” he said. “And then, when it had gone, I thought I’d walk through the tunnel.” “And what did you find in it?” “Nothing. It was very dark. But when I came out, I thought I saw an animal—up on the hill—but I’m not sure, it moved off very quickly.” “It was a leopard you saw,” said the watchman. “My leopard.” “Do you own a leopard too?” “I do.” “And do you lend it to the Government?” “I do not.” “Is it dangerous?” “No, it’s a leopard that minds its own business. It comes to this range for a few days every month.”
Show answer
(b) — the watchman later introduces himself as Sunder Singh, who has been there many years.
1 marks · mcq
38. 2. (MCQ) Sunder Singh calls the tunnel "truly my tunnel" because —
- (a) he bought it from the Government
- (b) he built it with his own hands
- (c) no one else will have anything to do with it, and he has only lent it to the Government
- (d) the villagers gifted it to him
Show answer
(c) — since he alone lives by it and cares for it, he jokingly feels it is his own.
1 marks · mcq
39. 3. (MCQ) According to Sunder Singh, the animal Suraj saw was a —
- (a) tiger
- (b) leopard
- (c) fox
- (d) wild dog
Show answer
(b) — the watchman says, "It was a leopard you saw... My leopard."
1 marks · direct
40. 4. (True/False) Sunder Singh says the leopard is dangerous.
Show answer
False — he says it is a leopard that minds its own business.
1 marks · direct
41. 5. (Short answer) What does Sunder Singh mean when he says he has "only lent it to the Government"?
Show answer
It is a humorous remark. The tunnel is not really his, but since he is the only one who lives beside it and looks after it, he feels it belongs to him almost like a friend.
1 marks · direct
42. 6. (Short answer) What do we learn about the leopard from this conversation?
Show answer
The leopard visits this range only a few days every month, keeps to itself and is not dangerous. To Sunder Singh it is a familiar, almost neighbourly creature — "My leopard."
1 marks · mcq
43. 1. (MCQ) How many trains pass through the tunnel in a day, according to Sunder Singh?
- (a) One
- (b) Two
- (c) Three
- (d) None after dark
“Have you been here a long time?” asked Suraj. “Many years. My name is Sunder Singh.” “My name’s Suraj.” “There is one train during the day. And there is one train during the night. Have you seen the night mail come through the tunnel?” “No. At what time does it come?” “About nine o’clock, if it isn’t late. You could come and sit here with me, if you like. And after it has gone, instead of going to sleep I will take you home.” “I’ll ask my parents,” said Suraj. “Will it be safe?” “Of course. It is safer in the jungle than in the town. Nothing happens to me out here. But last month, when I went into town, I was almost run over by a bus.” Sunder Singh yawned and stretched himself out on the cot. “And now I am going to take a nap, my friend. It is too hot to be up and about in the afternoon.” “Everyone goes to sleep in the afternoon,” complained Suraj. “My father lies down as soon as he’s had his lunch.” “Well, the animals also rest in the heat of the day. It is only the tribe of boys who cannot, or will not, rest.” Sunder Singh placed a large banana leaf over his face to keep away the flies, and was soon snoring gently. Suraj stood up, looking up and down the railway tracks. Then he began walking back to the village.
Show answer
(b) — there is one train during the day and one train, the night mail, during the night.
1 marks · mcq
44. 2. (MCQ) What time does the night mail usually come?
- (a) About seven o’clock
- (b) About eight o’clock
- (c) About nine o’clock
- (d) About midnight
Show answer
(c) — it comes about nine o’clock, if it isn’t late.
1 marks · mcq
45. 3. (MCQ) Sunder Singh finds the jungle safer than the town because —
- (a) the leopard guards him
- (b) nothing happens to him in the jungle, but in town he was almost run over by a bus
- (c) the town is full of wild animals
- (d) the trains protect him
Show answer
(b) — his own funny experience is that danger followed him to town, not to the jungle.
1 marks · direct
46. 4. (Fill in the blank) Sunder Singh placed a large ______ over his face to keep away the flies.
Show answer
banana leaf
1 marks · direct
47. 5. (Short answer) What does Sunder Singh mean by "It is only the tribe of boys who cannot, or will not, rest"?
Show answer
He is teasing Suraj humorously. While animals and grown-ups rest during the heat of the day, boys are the one ‘tribe’ too restless to do so.
1 marks · direct
48. 6. (Short answer) What arrangement did Sunder Singh make with Suraj before taking his nap?
Show answer
He invited Suraj to come and sit with him that evening, watch the night mail come through the tunnel, and afterwards — instead of going to sleep — he would take Suraj home.
1 marks · mcq
49. 1. (MCQ) When did Suraj return to the watchman’s hut?
- (a) The same afternoon
- (b) The following evening towards dusk
- (c) A week later
- (d) Early in the morning
The following evening, towards dusk, as the flying foxes swooped silently out of the trees, Suraj made his way to the watchman’s hut. It had been a long hot day, but now the earth was cooling, and a light breeze was moving through the trees. It carried with it the scent of mango blossoms, the promise of rain. Sunder Singh was waiting for Suraj. He had watered his small garden, and the flowers looked cool and fresh. A kettle was boiling on a small oil stove. “I am making tea,” he said. “There is nothing like a glass of hot tea while waiting for a train.” They drank their tea, listening to the sharp notes of the tailorbird and the noisy chatter of the seven sisters.
Show answer
(b) — the second visit took place the following evening, towards dusk.
1 marks · mcq
50. 2. (MCQ) The ‘seven sisters’ whose noisy chatter Suraj heard are —
- (a) village women
- (b) jungle babblers (birds)
- (c) Sunder Singh’s relatives
- (d) young deer
Show answer
(b) — ‘seven sisters’ is another name for jungle babblers, which move about in groups of six to eight.
1 marks · mcq
51. 3. (MCQ) The word ‘swooped’ means —
- (a) moved quickly downwards through the air
- (b) climbed slowly upwards
- (c) sang sweetly
- (d) hid among the leaves
Show answer
(a) — the flying foxes swept down swiftly and silently from the trees.
1 marks · direct
52. 4. (Fill in the blank) The light breeze carried with it the scent of ______, the promise of rain.
Show answer
mango blossoms
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53. 5. (Short answer) How do we know that Sunder Singh was expecting Suraj?
Show answer
He was waiting for Suraj, had already watered his small garden so that the flowers looked cool and fresh, and kept a kettle boiling on the oil stove to make tea for him.
1 marks · direct
54. 6. (Short answer) What does the line "There is nothing like a glass of hot tea while waiting for a train" tell you about Sunder Singh?
Show answer
It shows that he knew how to enjoy life’s small pleasures. He turned the lonely wait for a train into a warm, companionable moment — a sign of his simple, contented nature.
1 marks · mcq
55. 1. (MCQ) Which of these sounds did Suraj hear on the night breeze?
- (a) The tailorbird’s song
- (b) The barking deer, a fox and a nightjar
- (c) The engine’s whistle
- (d) Village bells
As the brief twilight faded, most of the birds fell silent. Sunder Singh lit his oil lamp and said it was time for him to inspect the tunnel. He moved off towards the tunnel, while Suraj sat on the cot, sipping his tea. In the dark, the trees seemed to move closer to him. And the nightlife of the forest was conveyed on the breeze—the sharp call of a barking deer, the cry of a fox, the quaint tonk-tonk of a nightjar. There were some sounds that Suraj didn’t recognise—sounds that came from the trees, creakings and whisperings, as though the trees were coming to life, stretching their limbs in the dark, shifting a little, flexing their fingers. Sunder Singh stood inside the tunnel, trimming his lamp. The night sounds were familiar to him and he did not give them much thought; but something else—a padded footfall, a rustle of dry leaves—made him stand still for a few seconds, peering into the darkness. Then, humming softly to himself, he returned to where Suraj was waiting. Ten minutes remained for the night mail to arrive. As Sunder Singh sat down on the cot beside Suraj, a new sound reached both of them quite distinctly—a rhythmic sawing sound, as if someone cutting through the branch of a tree. “What’s that?” whispered Suraj. “It’s the leopard,” said Sunder Singh. “I think it’s in the tunnel.” “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.” “No, I’m coming with you. It will be better than sitting here alone in the dark!” “All right, but stay close behind me. And remember, there is nothing to fear.”
Show answer
(b) — the forest’s nightlife reached him through the sharp call of a barking deer, the cry of a fox and the quaint tonk-tonk of a nightjar.
1 marks · mcq
56. 2. (MCQ) "...as though the trees were coming to life, stretching their limbs in the dark, shifting a little, flexing their fingers." This is an example of —
- (a) a simile
- (b) a metaphor
- (c) personification
- (d) hyperbole
Show answer
(c) — the trees are imagined as living beings that stretch and flex like humans.
1 marks · mcq
57. 3. (MCQ) What made Sunder Singh stand still and peer into the darkness inside the tunnel?
- (a) Suraj’s shout
- (b) A padded footfall and a rustle of dry leaves
- (c) The night mail’s whistle
- (d) His lamp going out
Show answer
(b) — though the night sounds were familiar to him, this particular sound made him pause and peer into the darkness.
1 marks · direct
58. 4. (One-word) The rhythmic sawing sound heard near the tunnel was made by the ______.
Show answer
leopard
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59. 5. (Short answer) Why did Sunder Singh say, "I can’t let that happen"?
Show answer
If the leopard stayed inside the tunnel, the night mail would run over and kill it. The watchman was fond of the animal and could not let it die, so he had to drive it out before the train came.
1 marks · direct
60. 6. (Short answer) Why did Suraj refuse to stay behind at the hut?
Show answer
He said it would be better to go along than to sit alone in the dark. It shows his growing courage and his trust in Sunder Singh, whom he now regarded as a friend.
1 marks · mcq
61. 1. (MCQ) Where was the leopard when the lamplight fell upon it?
- (a) Outside the tunnel, near the hut
- (b) Crouching between the tracks, about five metres away
- (c) On the tree-covered hillside
- (d) Asleep on the rails near the entrance
Raising his lamp, Sunder Singh advanced into the tunnel, shouting at the top of his voice to try and scare away the animal. Suraj followed close behind, but he found he was unable to do any shouting. His throat was quite dry. They had gone about twenty paces into the tunnel when the light from the lamp fell upon the leopard. It was crouching between the tracks, only five metres away from them. It was not a very big leopard, but it looked lithe and sinewy. Baring its teeth and snarling, it went down on its belly, tail twitching. Suraj and Sunder Singh both shouted together. Their voices rang through the tunnel. And the leopard, uncertain as to how many terrifying humans were there in the tunnel with him, turned swiftly and disappeared into the darkness. To make sure that it had gone, Sunder Singh and Suraj walked the length of the tunnel. When they returned to the entrance, the rails were beginning to hum. They knew the train was coming.
Show answer
(b) — it was crouching between the tracks, only five metres away from them.
1 marks · mcq
62. 2. (MCQ) ‘Lithe and sinewy’ describes the leopard as —
- (a) thin and graceful, and lean and muscular
- (b) huge and heavy
- (c) sleepy and slow
- (d) wounded and weak
Show answer
(a) — though not very big, the leopard looked graceful and powerfully muscular.
1 marks · mcq
63. 3. (MCQ) Why did the leopard turn and disappear into the darkness?
- (a) It was wounded by the axe.
- (b) It was frightened and uncertain about how many humans were in the tunnel.
- (c) It heard the train coming.
- (d) It wanted to catch a goat outside.
Show answer
(b) — the loud, ringing shouts of the two made it flee, unsure of how many "terrifying humans" it faced.
1 marks · direct
64. 4. (Fill in the blank) Suraj found himself unable to shout because his ______ was quite dry.
Show answer
throat
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65. 5. (Short answer) How did the two make sure that the leopard had really gone?
Show answer
They walked the whole length of the tunnel, from the entrance to the other end, and only then returned to the entrance of the tunnel.
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66. 6. (Short answer) What does this episode reveal about Sunder Singh’s character?
Show answer
It shows he is brave, calm and experienced. He walks ahead with his raised lamp, carries his axe for safety, and risks his own life without hesitation to save the leopard.
1 marks · mcq
67. 1. (MCQ) How did Suraj first know that the train was coming while they stood at the entrance?
- (a) The rails began to hum, and he felt their tremor.
- (b) The leopard roared.
- (c) The guard blew a whistle.
- (d) The moon came out.
Suraj put his hand to one of the rails and felt its tremor. He heard the distant rumble of the train. And then the engine came round the bend, hissing at them, scattering sparks into the darkness, defying the jungle as it roared through the steep sides of the cutting. It charged straight at the tunnel, and into it, thundering past Suraj like the beautiful dragon of his dreams. And when it had gone, the silence returned and the forest seemed to breathe, to live again. Only the rails still trembled with the passing of the train. They trembled again to the passing of the same train, almost a week later, when Suraj and his father were both travelling in it. Suraj’s father was scribbling in a notebook, doing his accounts. Suraj sat at an open window staring out at the darkness. His father was going to Delhi on a business trip and had decided to take the boy along. (“I don’t know where he gets to, most of the time,” he’d complained. “I think it’s time he learnt something about my business.”) The night mail rushed through the forest with its hundreds of passengers. The carriage wheels beat out a steady rhythm on the rails. Tiny flickering lights came and went, as they passed small villages on the fringe of the jungle. Suraj heard the rumble as the train passed over a small bridge. It was too dark to see the hut near the cutting, but he knew they must be approaching the tunnel. He strained his eyes looking out into the night; and then, just as the engine let out a shrill whistle, Suraj saw the lamp. He couldn’t see Sunder Singh, but he saw the lamp, and he knew that his friend was out there. The train went into the tunnel and out again; it left the jungle behind and thundered across the endless plains. Suraj stared out at the darkness, thinking of the lonely cutting in the forest and the watchman with the lamp, who would always remain a firefly for those travelling thousands as he lit up the darkness for steam engines and leopards.
Show answer
(a) — the rails began to hum, and when Suraj put his hand to one of them he felt its tremor and heard the distant rumble.
1 marks · mcq
68. 2. (MCQ) Why was Suraj travelling by the night mail almost a week later?
- (a) He was going to Delhi with his father on a business trip.
- (b) He had run away from home.
- (c) He was going to meet Sunder Singh.
- (d) He was going to the village school.
Show answer
(a) — his father was going to Delhi on a business trip and had decided to take the boy along.
1 marks · mcq
69. 3. (MCQ) In the last lines, the watchman with the lamp is compared to a —
- (a) dragon
- (b) firefly
- (c) star
- (d) serpent
Show answer
(b) — to the thousands of travellers, the watchman's small light in the vast darkness looks like a firefly.
1 marks · direct
70. 4. (True/False) From the train window, Suraj could clearly see Sunder Singh standing by his hut.
Show answer
False — it was too dark to see the hut or the man; Suraj saw only the lamp.
1 marks · direct
71. 5. (Short answer) Why did Suraj strain his eyes looking out into the night?
Show answer
He knew the train was approaching the cutting and the tunnel, and he eagerly hoped to catch a glimpse of his friend Sunder Singh and the lamp in the darkness.
1 marks · direct
72. 6. (Short answer) Explain the meaning of: the watchman "would always remain a firefly for those travelling thousands as he lit up the darkness for steam engines and leopards."
Show answer
To the countless passengers who flash past in the night, the watchman's lone lamp looks as small as a firefly. Yet for the trains he guards and the leopards he lives beside, he is a constant, faithful light — the image honours his quiet, unending service.
2 marks · short
73. 1. Why did Suraj cycle out of the town that afternoon?
Show answer
He wanted to watch the midday steam engine come roaring out of the tunnel. The place was not a station, and he was not catching a train — he went there purely to see the train.
2 marks · short
74. 2. How did Suraj reach the tunnel exit from his town?
Show answer
He cycled out of the town along the jungle path to a small village. There he left his cycle, walked over a low scrub-covered hill and came down to the tunnel exit.
2 marks · short
75. 3. How did Suraj know the train was coming before he could see it?
Show answer
He first heard the shrill whistle of the engine in the distance. Then a sound like distant thunder issued from the tunnel, which told him the train was coming through.
2 marks · short
76. 4. How does the author describe the midday train as it came out of the tunnel?
Show answer
The steam engine shot out "snorting and puffing like some green, black, and gold dragon, some beautiful monster out of Suraj's dreams". It showered sparks left and right and roared a challenge to the jungle.
2 marks · short
77. 5. What did Suraj notice inside the tunnel?
Show answer
After about twenty yards the tunnel became pitch dark. The walls were damp and sticky, a bat flew past, a lizard scuttled between the lines, and the air was still full of smoke.
2 marks · short
78. 6. Who lived near the tunnel, and what was his duty?
Show answer
Sunder Singh, the tunnel watchman, lived in a hut about fifteen metres from the tunnel entrance. It was his duty to inspect the tunnel and keep it clear of obstacles before each train passed.
2 marks · short
79. 7. Describe the watchman's hut and its surroundings.
Show answer
The hut stood about fifteen metres from the tunnel entrance. Marigolds grew in front of it, a small vegetable patch lay at the back, and inside it had a cot where the watchman rested.
2 marks · short
80. 8. How did the watchman warn the engine driver of danger during the day and at night?
Show answer
During the day, he walked back up the line and waved a red flag. At night, he waved his lit oil lamp to the approaching engine; if all was well, he hung the lamp at the door of his hut.
2 marks · short
81. 9. Why did Sunder Singh jokingly call the tunnel 'my tunnel'?
Show answer
He said that since no one else would have anything to do with the tunnel, it was truly his, and he had only lent it to the Government. The joke shows his affection for the place he serves alone.
2 marks · short
82. 10. What did Sunder Singh tell Suraj about the leopard?
Show answer
He said it was "my leopard", which minds its own business and is not dangerous. It visits the range for a few days every month and has a weakness for goats and stray dogs.
2 marks · short
83. 11. What did Sunder Singh invite Suraj to do?
Show answer
He invited Suraj to come in the evening, sit with him, and watch the night mail come through the tunnel at about nine o'clock. Afterwards, instead of going to sleep, he would take Suraj home.
2 marks · short
84. 12. What does Suraj's reply "I'll ask my parents" tell us about him?
Show answer
It shows that Suraj was a responsible boy. Even though the plan excited him, he wanted his parents' permission before going out at night.
2 marks · short
85. 13. Why did Sunder Singh say the jungle was safer than the town?
Show answer
He said nothing ever happened to him in the jungle. Humorously, he added that the previous month, when he had gone into town, he had almost been run over by a bus.
2 marks · short
86. 14. How does the writer show that the evening of the second visit was pleasant?
Show answer
The earth was cooling after a long hot day, a light breeze carried the scent of mango blossoms, the watered garden looked cool and fresh, and tea boiled on a small oil stove.
2 marks · short
87. 15. What sounds of the forest at night did Suraj hear while Sunder Singh inspected the tunnel?
Show answer
He heard the sharp call of a barking deer, the cry of a fox, the quaint tonk-tonk of a nightjar, and creakings and whisperings from the trees.
2 marks · short
88. 16. What sound told them that the leopard was in the tunnel?
Show answer
They heard a rhythmic sawing sound, as if someone were cutting through the branch of a tree. Sunder Singh recognised it as the sound made by the leopard.
2 marks · short
89. 17. Why did Suraj insist on going with Sunder Singh into the tunnel?
Show answer
He said it would be better than sitting alone in the dark. Despite his fear, he wanted to share the danger with his friend, which shows his courage and loyalty.
2 marks · short
90. 18. How did Suraj and Sunder Singh drive the leopard out of the tunnel?
Show answer
Sunder Singh raised his lamp and advanced, shouting loudly, and Suraj followed close behind. Their combined shouts rang through the tunnel, and the frightened leopard turned and disappeared into the darkness.
2 marks · short
91. 19. How did Suraj know the night mail was approaching while they stood at the tunnel entrance?
Show answer
The rails began to hum. Suraj put his hand on one of the rails and felt its tremor, and he heard the distant rumble of the approaching train.
2 marks · short
92. 20. What did Suraj see a week later as the night mail passed the cutting?
Show answer
It was too dark to see the hut, but just as the engine let out a shrill whistle, Suraj saw the lamp. He could not see Sunder Singh, but he knew his friend was out there.
3 marks · short
93. 1. Draw a character sketch of Suraj.
Show answer
Suraj is a curious, adventurous schoolboy who loves trains and the jungle. He cycles miles out of town just to watch a train burst out of a tunnel, and walks through the dark tunnel simply to know what it is like inside. He is responsible too — he says he will ask his parents before coming at night. Though fearful at times (his throat goes dry when he sees the leopard), he gathers courage, accompanies Sunder Singh, and even shouts to help drive the leopard out. By the end, he has grown from a curious visitor into a brave friend of the watchman.
3 marks · short
94. 2. Draw a character sketch of Sunder Singh.
Show answer
Sunder Singh is the lonely but contented watchman of the tunnel, who has kept his post for many years. He is dutiful — he inspects the tunnel on foot before every train, by day and by night, with a red flag or a lamp to signal danger. He is warm and hospitable, welcoming Suraj with tea and an invitation to watch the night mail. He is also brave and compassionate: he risks his life to drive the leopard out so that it is not killed by the train. His dry humour ("I have only lent it to the Government") and his love for his garden show a cheerful, large-hearted man at peace with his solitary life.
3 marks · short
95. 3. Describe the watchman's system of inspecting the tunnel and warning trains.
Show answer
The watchman's duty was to inspect the tunnel and keep it clear of obstacles. Every day, before the train came through, he walked the length of the tunnel. If all was well, he returned to his hut and took a nap. If something was wrong, he walked back up the line and waved a red flag, so that the engine driver would slow down. At night he made a similar inspection with a lit oil lamp; if there was danger, he waved the lamp at the approaching engine, and if all was well, he hung it at his hut door and slept. He would not stop a train for a mere porcupine, only for real danger.
3 marks · short
96. 4. Narrate the scene in which the leopard was driven out of the tunnel.
Show answer
Hearing the leopard's rhythmic sawing sound inside the tunnel, Sunder Singh knew it would be run over by the night mail. Taking his axe and lamp, and asking Suraj to stay close, he advanced into the tunnel shouting at the top of his voice. About twenty paces in, the lamplight fell upon the leopard, crouching between the tracks barely five metres away — not very big, but lithe and sinewy, baring its teeth and snarling. Both shouted together, and their ringing voices so confused and frightened the animal that it turned swiftly and vanished into the darkness. The two then walked the whole length of the tunnel to make sure it had gone.
3 marks · short
97. 5. How does Ruskin Bond create an atmosphere of night and mystery in the second part of the story?
Show answer
The author fills the evening with soft, suggestive details: flying foxes swooping out at dusk, a breeze carrying the scent of mango blossoms, and the tail notes of the tailorbird fading with the twilight. After dark, the trees seem to move closer, and the forest speaks through the call of a barking deer, the cry of a fox and the tonk-tonk of a nightjar. The trees are personified as creatures "coming to life, stretching their limbs... flexing their fingers". Finally, the padded footfall and the rhythmic sawing sound in the tunnel build suspense before the leopard appears, keeping the reader tense till the train thunders through.
3 marks · short
98. 6. What does the story suggest about the bond between humans and wild animals?
Show answer
The story shows that wild creatures and humans can share a habitat peacefully when there is understanding. Sunder Singh calls the leopard "my leopard" and knows its habits — it comes to the range for a few days every month and minds its own business. The leopard, in turn, "knows him well", for they have seen each other many times. Yet the watchman does not become careless; he takes his axe along. The story suggests respect, familiarity and kindness, rather than fear, should govern our relationship with wildlife.
3 marks · short
99. 7. How does the friendship between Suraj and Sunder Singh develop through the story?
Show answer
The friendship begins when the watchman playfully asks Suraj why he was "inspecting my tunnel". Suraj's curiosity warms Sunder Singh, who invites him to return in the evening to watch the night mail. On the second visit, the lonely watchman waits for the boy with tea, and the two share the quiet of the forest together. When the leopard enters the tunnel, Suraj refuses to leave the old man's side, and together they face the animal. A week later, from the speeding train, Suraj looks for the lamp and thinks of "his friend" — the bond has become deep and lasting.
3 marks · short
100. 8. What is the significance of the title 'The Tunnel'?
Show answer
The tunnel is the centre of the whole story: Suraj comes to watch the train burst out of it, walks through its darkness, meets the watchman who guards it, and returns at night to see the night mail pass through it. The leopard hides in it, and the watchman's entire life revolves around inspecting it. Metaphorically, the tunnel also connects two worlds — the town and the jungle, boyhood adventure and adult duty — and it is through the tunnel that Suraj's friendship with Sunder Singh is formed. Hence the title is apt.
3 marks · short
101. 9. How does the ending, with the image of the firefly, add to the meaning of the story?
Show answer
In the final scene, Suraj — now a passenger on the night mail — sees only the watchman's tiny lamp glowing in the vast darkness. To the thousands of rushing travellers it looks like a firefly, yet that small light keeps trains and leopards safe. The image beautifully captures how quiet, ordinary workers do great good without recognition. It also shows how much Suraj's view has changed: he once saw the train as a dragon; now he sees the small human light of his friend beside it.
3 marks · short
102. 10. Compare the two train scenes in the story — the midday train and the night mail.
Show answer
Both trains are described as powerful dragon-like creatures, but the two scenes are different in mood. The midday train bursts out in bright heat, showering sparks, making even the trees seem to flinch, while the silent jungle waits afterwards. The night mail, seen in darkness, is more dramatic in sound than sight — humming rails, a distant rumble, the engine hissing and scattering sparks into the dark. The first scene shows Suraj the excited spectator; in the second, he is a brave participant, and finally a passenger thinking of the friend he has left behind at the tunnel.
5 marks · broad
103. 1. Write a character sketch of Suraj, supporting your points with evidence from the text.
Show answer
Suraj is the young hero of the story, a curious and adventurous boy. Right at the start we learn that the cutting "wasn't a station, and he wasn't catching a train" — he cycles out of town and walks over a scrub-covered hill only to watch a steam engine come roaring out of the tunnel. This love of trains and the jungle defines him. He is also boldly inquisitive: after the train has gone, he walks through the pitch-dark tunnel simply because he "would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like", noticing its damp, sticky walls, a bat and a lizard. Yet he is not reckless — when invited to come at night, he sensibly says, "I'll ask my parents." His honesty shows in his admission that he was "not sure" he had seen an animal on the hillside. During the night adventure, though his "throat was quite dry" with fear, he refuses to stay behind and even shouts to help drive the leopard out. A week later, sitting at the train window, he strains his eyes to see his friend's lamp, thinking of the watchman "who would always remain a firefly". Suraj thus grows from a curious watcher into a warm, courageous and faithful friend.
5 marks · broad
104. 2. Write a character sketch of Sunder Singh, the watchman.
Show answer
Sunder Singh is the heart of the story — a lonely watchman who has kept the tunnel for "many years". He is thoroughly dutiful: every day he walks the length of the tunnel before the train, waving a red flag if something is wrong, and at night he inspects it again with an oil lamp, hanging it at his hut door only when all is well. Behind this duty lies a cheerful, humorous nature. He welcomes the boy warmly — "I don't often have visitors" — and jokes that the tunnel is truly his since "I have only lent it to the Government". He teases that "it is only the tribe of boys who cannot, or will not, rest". He is hospitable, waiting for Suraj with a watered garden and tea "while waiting for a train". Above all, he is brave and kind-hearted: he cannot let the leopard be "run over and killed", so he walks into the dark tunnel with his lamp and axe, reassuring the frightened boy that "there is nothing to fear". Gentle with children, familiar with animals, and faithful to his work, he is one of Ruskin Bond's unforgettable ordinary heroes.
5 marks · broad
105. 3. What is the theme of 'The Tunnel'? What message does the story convey?
Show answer
On the surface, 'The Tunnel' is an adventure story about a boy, a train and a leopard. Beneath that, its themes are friendship, duty, and harmony between humans and nature. The friendship theme runs through the growing bond between the boy and the old watchman — from the playful "welcome, welcome" of their first meeting, through tea at dusk, to facing the leopard together and Suraj's last, longing look at the lamp from the night mail. The theme of quiet duty is embodied in Sunder Singh, who inspects the tunnel twice a day, in heat and darkness, so that trains and passengers pass safely. The story also shows a rare harmony with the wild: the watchman calls the leopard "my leopard", knows its habits, and risks his life to save it from the train rather than let it be killed. The message is that courage, kindness and faithful work light up even the loneliest places — the watchman's small lamp is "a firefly" that "lit up the darkness for steam engines and leopards".
5 marks · broad
106. 4. What values do you learn from the story? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Show answer
The story teaches several lasting values. First, curiosity and the spirit of adventure: Suraj's desire to know "what the inside of a tunnel was really like" leads him to explore, and exploration is how he gains a friend and a memorable experience. Second, responsibility: Suraj will not go out at night without asking his parents, and the watchman never skips an inspection — day or night — because hundreds of passengers depend on him. Third, compassion for animals: rather than let the leopard be "run over and killed", Sunder Singh enters the dark tunnel to drive it out safely; he even refuses to stop a train for a harmless porcupine. Fourth, courage in the face of fear: Suraj's throat goes dry, yet he shouts with all his might beside the snarling leopard. Fifth, friendship across differences of age and background: a schoolboy and an old watchman share tea, laughter and danger as equals. Finally, the value of contentment: Sunder Singh, alone in the jungle with his marigolds and his tea, proves that a simple life served with devotion can be a happy one.
5 marks · broad
107. 5. How can the lessons of this story be applied in our own lives? Explain with examples.
Show answer
The story offers lessons we can practise every day. Like Suraj, we can let healthy curiosity lead us to explore the world around us — asking questions, observing nature, and learning how things work, rather than sitting idle. From Suraj's "I'll ask my parents", we learn to take permission and keep trust with elders before doing anything risky. From Sunder Singh's routine, we learn the dignity of duty done quietly and regularly — a student's revision, a monitor's responsibilities, or a family member's chores should be as dependable as the watchman's daily inspection. The watchman's care for the leopard teaches us to protect animals and coexist with wildlife instead of fearing or harming them; for example, we can feed street dogs responsibly or plant trees for birds. Suraj's courage despite a dry throat tells us that bravery is not the absence of fear but action in spite of it — useful when we speak on stage, attempt a difficult paper, or stand up for someone. And the firefly image reminds us to value and thank the unseen workers around us — guards, sweepers, drivers — whose small lights keep our daily trains running.
5 marks · broad
108. 6. "The watchman with the lamp... would always remain a firefly for those travelling thousands." Explain the significance of the closing image of the story.
Show answer
The closing image gathers up the whole meaning of the story. A week after the leopard adventure, Suraj is himself a passenger on the night mail, racing through the same jungle with "its hundreds of passengers". He strains his eyes, and just as the engine whistles, he sees the tiny lamp of the hut near the cutting — he cannot see Sunder Singh, only the light. To the thousands who flash past, the watchman is no more than a firefly: a small spark in the immense darkness of the forest. Yet that little light represents a whole life of service — the daily walk through the tunnel, the red flag and the lamp, the saving of a leopard. Ruskin Bond thus honours all unseen workers whose quiet devotion protects many while remaining unknown to them. The image also completes Suraj's emotional journey: the boy who once saw only the dragon-like train now looks for the human light beside the rails. It reminds the reader that greatness often glows softly, and that true friendship makes even a distant lamp a comforting sight.
5 marks · broad
109. 7. Imagine you are Suraj. Write a diary entry describing the night you helped the watchman drive the leopard out of the tunnel.
Show answer
Dear Diary, tonight was the most thrilling night of my life! In the evening I cycled to the watchman's hut again, and Sunder Singh was waiting for me with hot tea. We sat listening to the tailorbird and the seven sisters as the light faded. When it was quite dark, he lit his lamp and went to inspect the tunnel, and I sat alone on the cot, listening to the barking deer and the nightjar. My heart was already beating fast when he came back and we heard a strange sound — a rhythmic sawing, like someone cutting a branch. "It's the leopard," he said. "I think it's in the tunnel." I felt fear grip me, but when he said I should stay behind, I refused — it was better than sitting alone in the dark. He took his axe and I stayed close behind him as he walked in, shouting. My throat was so dry that I could not make a sound. Then the lamplight fell on the leopard — crouched between the tracks, so close, snarling with bared teeth! We both shouted together, and it turned and melted into the darkness. We walked the whole tunnel to make sure it was gone, and just then the rails began to hum — the night mail! The engine thundered past us like the beautiful dragon of my dreams. I shall never forget this night, or my friend Sunder Singh, and the little lamp that shines for trains and leopards alike.
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