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The Cherry Tree Questions & Answers | Class 8 English | CBSE NCERT
Chapter-wise questions and answers for The Cherry Tree in Class 8 English, with a clear summary, key points, and exam-ready model answers.
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About 118 min readThe Cherry TreeUpdated 29 Sep 2026
Questions and answers
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1. 1. Where had the cherries Rakesh was eating come from?
(a) the garden of his cottage
(b) the Kashmir Valley
(c) the forests of oak and deodar
(d) his parents' village
One day, when Rakesh was six, he walked home from the Mussoorie bazaar eating cherries. They were a little sweet, a little sour; small, bright red cherries, which had come all the way from the Kashmir Valley. Here in the Himalayan foothills where Rakesh lived, there were not many fruit trees. The soil was stony, and the dry cold winds stunted the growth of most plants. But on the more sheltered slopes there were forests of oak and deodar. Rakesh lived with his grandfather on the outskirts of Mussoorie, just where the forest began. His father and mother lived in a small village fifty miles away, where they grew maize and rice and barley in narrow terraced fields on the lower slopes of the mountain. But there were no schools in the village, and Rakesh’s parents were keen that he should go to school. As soon as he was of school-going age, they sent him to stay with his grandfather in Mussoorie. He had a little cottage outside the town.
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(b) — The text says the cherries "had come all the way from the Kashmir Valley."
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2. 2. Why were there not many fruit trees in the Himalayan foothills where Rakesh lived?
(a) the birds ate all the fruit
(b) people preferred to grow maize and rice
(c) the soil was stony and the dry cold winds stunted plant growth
(d) the slopes were too steep for trees
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(c) — The extract clearly states that the stony soil and dry cold winds "stunted the growth of most plants."
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3. 3. Why was Rakesh sent to stay with his grandfather in Mussoorie?
(a) his parents were keen that he should go to school, and there were no schools in the village
(b) his grandfather was lonely and needed company
(c) his parents could not afford to feed him in the village
(d) he wanted to learn farming from his grandfather
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(a) — His parents were "keen that he should go to school," but the village had no schools.
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4. 4. Fill in the blank: In their village, Rakesh's parents grew maize, rice and __________ in narrow terraced fields.
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barley
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5. 5. Describe the place where Rakesh lived after he was sent to Mussoorie.
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Rakesh lived with his grandfather in a little cottage outside Mussoorie, on the outskirts of the town, just where the forest began. The land around was difficult for plants — stony soil, dry cold winds, and only oak and deodar forests on the more sheltered slopes.
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6. 6. Rakesh's parents grew crops "in narrow terraced fields on the lower slopes of the mountain." What does this tell us about farming in the hills?
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It shows that farming in the hills is hard, because flat land is scarce and farmers must cut narrow steps (terraces) into the mountainside to grow their crops.
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7. 1. How much did Rakesh pay for the bunch of cherries?
(a) one rupee
(b) fifty paise
(c) five paise
(d) fifteen paise
Rakesh was on his way home from school when he bought the cherries. He paid fifty paise for the bunch. It took him about half-an-hour to walk home, and by the time he reached the cottage there were only three cherries left. ‘Have a cherry, Grandfather,’ he said, as soon as he saw his grandfather in the garden. Grandfather took one cherry and Rakesh promptly ate the other two. He kept the last seed in his mouth for some time, rolling it round and round on his tongue until all the tang had gone. Then he placed the seed on the palm of his hand and studied it.
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(b) — The text says, "He paid fifty paise for the bunch."
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8. 2. How many cherries were left by the time Rakesh reached the cottage?
(a) two
(b) three
(c) four
(d) none
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(b) — "By the time he reached the cottage there were only three cherries left."
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9. 3. What did Rakesh do with the last cherry seed before placing it on his palm?
(a) he threw it away in the garden
(b) he washed it under the tap
(c) he rolled it round and round on his tongue until all the tang had gone
(d) he gave it to a friend at school
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(c) — He kept the seed in his mouth, "rolling it round and round on his tongue until all the tang had gone," and then studied it.
1 marks · mcq
10. 4. True or False: Grandfather ate two of the three remaining cherries.
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False — Grandfather took only one cherry; Rakesh promptly ate the other two himself.
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11. 5. What does Rakesh's offer — 'Have a cherry, Grandfather' — tell us about him?
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It shows that Rakesh is a loving and generous child; the moment he sees his grandfather he thinks of sharing what he has, even though he had eaten almost all the cherries on the way.
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12. 6. What does the word 'tang' mean in this extract? What does Rakesh's act of rolling the seed on his tongue suggest about him?
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'Tang' means a strong, sharp taste. Rakesh's act of savouring the seed suggests he enjoyed the taste of the cherry and was thoughtful — he studied the seed carefully afterwards instead of throwing it away.
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13. 1. According to Grandfather, when does a thing become lucky?
(a) when you keep it locked away safely
(b) when you put it to some use
(c) when you carry it in your pocket
(d) when you get it as a gift
‘Are cherry seeds lucky?’ asked Rakesh. ‘Of course.’ ‘Then I’ll keep it.’ ‘Nothing is lucky if you put it away. If you want luck, you must put it to some use.’ ‘What can I do with a seed?’ ‘Plant it.’ So Rakesh found a small space and began to dig up a flowerbed. ‘Hey, not there,’ said Grandfather. ‘I’ve sown mustard in that bed. Plant it in that shady corner, where it won’t be disturbed.’ Rakesh went to a corner of the garden where the earth was soft and yielding. He did not have to dig. He pressed the seed into the soil with his thumb and it went right in.
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(b) — Grandfather says, "Nothing is lucky if you put it away. If you want luck, you must put it to some use."
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14. 2. Why did Grandfather stop Rakesh from digging up the flowerbed?
(a) the bed belonged to a neighbour
(b) the soil there was too hard
(c) he had sown mustard in that bed
(d) it was the rainy season
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(c) — Grandfather said, "I've sown mustard in that bed. Plant it in that shady corner."
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15. 3. Why did Rakesh not have to dig in the corner of the garden?
(a) he was too small to hold a spade
(b) the earth there was soft and yielding
(c) Grandfather had already dug it
(d) the corner was full of pebbles
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(b) — In that corner "the earth was soft and yielding. He did not have to dig"; he simply pressed the seed in with his thumb.
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16. 4. Fill in the blank: Grandfather had sown __________ in the flowerbed that Rakesh began to dig up.
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mustard
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17. 5. What did Grandfather mean by 'Nothing is lucky if you put it away'?
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He meant that luck or value does not come from merely possessing something; it comes from using it well. A seed kept in a pocket is nothing, but a seed planted can grow into something wonderful.
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18. 6. Do you think Rakesh was right to plant the seed instead of keeping it? Give a reason for your answer.
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Yes. By planting the seed, Rakesh put Grandfather's advice into practice — and the seed grew into the cherry tree that gave them shade, blossoms, fruit and joy for years.
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19. 1. What did Rakesh do soon after planting the seed?
(a) he watered it carefully every day
(b) he had lunch, ran off to play cricket, and forgot all about it
(c) he built a fence around it
(d) he told all his friends about it
Then he had his lunch, and ran off to play cricket with his friends, and forgot all about the cherry seed. When it was winter in the hills, a cold wind blew down from the snows and went whoo-whoo-whoo in the deodar trees, and the garden was dry and bare. In the evenings Grandfather and Rakesh sat over a charcoal fire, and Grandfather told Rakesh stories—stories about people who turned into animals, and ghosts who lived in trees, and beans that jumped and stones that wept—and in turn, Rakesh would read to him from the newspaper, Grandfather’s eyesight being rather weak. Rakesh found the newspaper very dull—especially after the stories—but Grandfather wanted all the news...
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(b) — The text says he "ran off to play cricket with his friends, and forgot all about the cherry seed."
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20. 2. Why did Rakesh read the newspaper to Grandfather?
(a) Grandfather was illiterate
(b) Grandfather's eyesight was rather weak
(c) Grandfather paid him for it
(d) the newspaper belonged to Rakesh
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(b) — Rakesh read to him because "Grandfather's eyesight being rather weak."
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21. 3. What kind of stories did Grandfather tell Rakesh?
(a) stories from history books
(b) stories about cricket matches
(c) stories about people who turned into animals, ghosts who lived in trees, and beans that jumped and stones that wept
(d) moral stories from the newspaper
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(c) — The extract lists Grandfather's fanciful tales exactly in these words.
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22. 4. True or False: Rakesh found the newspaper more interesting than Grandfather's stories.
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False — Rakesh found the newspaper "very dull — especially after the stories," though Grandfather wanted all the news.
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23. 5. Describe the winter evenings that Rakesh and Grandfather spent together.
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They sat over a charcoal fire while Grandfather told strange, imaginative stories, and Rakesh read out the newspaper to him in return because of Grandfather's weak eyesight. It paints a picture of a warm, loving companionship despite the cold outside.
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24. 6. What picture of the relationship between Rakesh and his grandfather do you get from this extract?
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Their relationship is affectionate and caring — they keep each other company through the long winter, exchange stories and news, and each gives what the other cannot manage alone.
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25. 1. How did Rakesh and Grandfather know that spring had arrived?
(a) the snow melted on the roads
(b) the wild duck flew north again, to Siberia
(c) the garden flowers bloomed
(d) the newspaper announced it
They knew it was spring when the wild duck flew north again, to Siberia. Early in the morning, when he got up to chop wood and light a fire, Rakesh saw the V-shaped formation streaming northward, the calls of the birds carrying clearly through the thin mountain air. One morning in the garden he bent to pick up what he thought was a small twig and found to his surprise that it was well rooted. He stared at it for a moment, then ran to fetch Grandfather, calling, ‘Dada, come and look, the cherry tree has come up!’ ‘What cherry tree?’ asked Grandfather, who had forgotten about it. ‘The seed we planted last year—look, it’s come up!’
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(b) — "They knew it was spring when the wild duck flew north again, to Siberia."
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26. 2. What did Rakesh first think the tiny plant was?
(a) a small twig
(b) a weed
(c) a bean sprout
(d) a mustard plant
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(a) — He "bent to pick up what he thought was a small twig" and found it was well rooted.
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27. 3. Why was Rakesh surprised when he bent to pick up the 'twig'?
(a) it was very heavy
(b) it was well rooted — it was a living plant
(c) it was made of stone
(d) it was a stick of wood
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(b) — He found "to his surprise that it was well rooted," meaning the cherry seed had sprouted into a sapling.
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28. 4. Fill in the blank: The wild ducks flew in a __________ formation, streaming northward.
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V-shaped
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29. 5. Why had Grandfather forgotten about the cherry tree?
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Nearly a year had passed since the seed was planted, and Rakesh himself had forgotten all about it after that day. It was such a small, ordinary act that no one expected anything to come of it.
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30. 6. How would you have felt on discovering that a seed you had forgotten about had grown into a sapling? What does this tell us about nature?
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I would have felt delighted and amazed, just like Rakesh, who ran to fetch his grandfather at once. It shows that nature quietly keeps working even when we forget about it.
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31. 1. How high was the cherry tree when it was first discovered?
(a) about four inches
(b) about a foot
(c) about two feet
(d) up to Rakesh's knees
Rakesh went down on his haunches, while Grandfather bent almost double and peered down at the tiny tree. It was about four inches high. ‘Yes, it’s a cherry tree,’ said Grandfather. ‘You should water it now and then.’ Rakesh ran indoors and came back with a bucket of water. ‘Don’t drown it!’ said Grandfather. Rakesh gave it a sprinkling and circled it with pebbles. ‘What are the pebbles for?’ asked Grandfather. ‘For privacy,’ said Rakesh. He looked at the tree every morning but it did not seem to be growing very fast, so he stopped looking at it except quickly, out of the corner of his eye. And, after a week or two, when he allowed himself to look at it properly, he found that it had grown—at least an inch!
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(a) — "It was about four inches high."
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32. 2. What warning did Grandfather give when Rakesh brought a bucket of water?
(a) 'Water it daily!'
(b) 'Don't drown it!'
(c) 'Don't touch the leaves!'
(d) 'Keep the goats away!'
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(b) — Seeing the full bucket, Grandfather cautioned, "Don't drown it!" so Rakesh gave only a sprinkling.
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33. 3. Why did Rakesh stop looking at the tree every morning?
(a) Grandfather told him not to
(b) the tree had died
(c) it did not seem to be growing very fast
(d) he lost interest in it completely
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(c) — Since it "did not seem to be growing very fast," he looked at it only quickly, out of the corner of his eye.
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34. 4. Fill in the blank: When asked what the pebbles were for, Rakesh said, 'For __________.'
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privacy
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35. 5. Why do you think Rakesh checked the tree 'out of the corner of his eye'?
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He was impatient to see it grow, but he had realised that constant watching made the slow growth disappointing. Sneaking glances kept his hope alive, and he was finally rewarded — the tree had grown at least an inch.
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36. 6. What does the 'For privacy' reply tell us about Rakesh's personality?
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It shows Rakesh's playful, childlike imagination — he treated the tiny sapling like a living creature that deserved its own space, fencing it with pebbles as if it were a little private home.
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37. 1. How tall was the cherry tree when the goat entered the garden?
(a) about four inches
(b) about a foot
(c) about two feet
(d) up to Rakesh's chest
That year the monsoon rains came early and Rakesh plodded to and from school in raincoat and chappals. Ferns sprang from the trunks of trees, strange-looking lilies came up in the long grass, and even when it wasn’t raining the trees dripped and mist came curling up the valley. The cherry tree grew quickly in this season. It was about two feet high when a goat entered the garden and ate all the leaves. Only the main stem and two thin branches remained. ‘Never mind,’ said Grandfather, seeing that Rakesh was upset. ‘It will grow again, cherry trees are tough.’
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(c) — "It was about two feet high when a goat entered the garden and ate all the leaves."
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38. 2. What was left of the tree after the goat's visit?
(a) nothing at all
(b) only the main stem and two thin branches
(c) only the leaves
(d) half the tree
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(b) — The goat ate all the leaves, and "only the main stem and two thin branches remained."
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39. 3. How did Grandfather console the upset Rakesh?
(a) he bought him new cherries
(b) he scolded the goat
(c) he said, 'It will grow again, cherry trees are tough'
(d) he planted a new seed
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(c) — Grandfather comforted him with the assurance that cherry trees are tough and would grow again.
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40. 4. True or False: The goat destroyed the tree completely so that nothing remained.
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False — The goat ate all the leaves, but the main stem and two thin branches remained.
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41. 5. How did the monsoon season help the cherry tree?
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The early monsoon rains made everything green — ferns sprang from tree trunks and lilies came up in the grass — and the cherry tree "grew quickly in this season," reaching about two feet.
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42. 6. What does Grandfather's reaction to the goat's damage tell us about him, and what can we learn from it?
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Grandfather stayed calm and hopeful instead of despairing; he knew that plants are resilient. It teaches us to accept setbacks patiently and trust in nature's power of recovery.
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43. 1. What was the woman doing when she damaged the cherry tree?
(a) plucking cherries
(b) cutting grass with a scythe
(c) digging the flowerbed
(d) chasing a goat
Towards the end of the rainy season new leaves appeared on the tree. Then a woman cutting grass scrambled down the hillside, her scythe swishing through the heavy monsoon foliage. She did not try to avoid the tree: one sweep, and the cherry tree was cut in two. When Grandfather saw what had happened, he went after the woman and scolded her; but the damage could not be repaired. ‘Maybe it will die now,’ said Rakesh. ‘Maybe,’ said Grandfather. But the cherry tree had no intention of dying. By the time summer came round again, it had sent out several new shoots with tender green leaves.
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(b) — She was cutting grass and "scrambled down the hillside, her scythe swishing through the heavy monsoon foliage."
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44. 2. How did Grandfather react when he saw the damage?
(a) he laughed it off
(b) he went after the woman and scolded her, but the damage could not be repaired
(c) he blamed Rakesh
(d) he cut the tree down himself
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(b) — He "went after the woman and scolded her; but the damage could not be repaired."
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45. 3. What happened to the tree by the time summer came round again?
(a) it died
(b) it remained a bare stem
(c) it sent out several new shoots with tender green leaves
(d) it bore fruit
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(c) — Despite being cut in two, the tree "had no intention of dying" and sent out new shoots.
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46. 4. Fill in the blank: One sweep of the scythe, and the cherry tree was cut __________.
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in two
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47. 5. What is meant by the line, 'But the cherry tree had no intention of dying'?
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It is a personification of the tree, suggesting its strong will to live. Even after being cut in two, it fought back by sending out several new shoots with tender green leaves.
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48. 6. What quality of the cherry tree does this extract highlight? How can this quality inspire us in our own lives?
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The extract highlights the tree's resilience — its determination to survive and regrow after every disaster. It inspires us to face our own setbacks bravely and bounce back, just as the tree did.
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49. 1. What did Grandfather call Rakesh's deep black eyes?
(a) rainy-night eyes
(b) blackberry eyes
(c) dark-moon eyes
(d) cherry eyes
Rakesh had grown taller too. He was eight now, a sturdy boy with curly black hair and deep black eyes. Blackberry eyes, Grandfather called them. That monsoon Rakesh went home to his village, to help his father and mother with the planting and ploughing and sowing. He was thinner but stronger when he came back to Grandfather’s house at the end of the rains to find that the cherry tree had grown another foot. It was now up to his chest. Even when there was rain, Rakesh would sometimes water the tree. He wanted it to know that he was there. One day he found a bright green praying-mantis perched on a branch, peering at him with bulging eyes. Rakesh let it remain there; it was the cherry tree’s first visitor. The next visitor was a hairy caterpillar, who started making a meal of the leaves. Rakesh removed it quickly and dropped it on a heap of dry leaves. ‘Come back when you’re a butterfly,’ he said.
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(b) — "Blackberry eyes, Grandfather called them."
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50. 2. Why did Rakesh go to his village that monsoon?
(a) to attend a wedding
(b) to help his father and mother with the planting, ploughing and sowing
(c) to study at the village school
(d) to escape the rains in Mussoorie
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(b) — He "went home to his village, to help his father and mother with the planting and ploughing and sowing."
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51. 3. Who was the cherry tree's first visitor?
(a) a hairy caterpillar
(b) a bulbul
(c) a bright green praying-mantis
(d) a honeybee
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(c) — Rakesh found "a bright green praying-mantis perched on a branch" and let it remain there.
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52. 4. Fill in the blank: While removing the caterpillar, Rakesh said, 'Come back when you're a __________.'
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butterfly
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53. 5. Why did Rakesh water the tree even when there was rain?
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The text says, "He wanted it to know that he was there" — watering was his way of showing the tree his love and care, like a friend checking in.
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54. 6. What does Rakesh's treatment of the praying-mantis and the caterpillar tell us about his attitude towards living things?
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Rakesh is gentle and respectful towards all creatures. He let the mantis stay as an honoured guest, and instead of killing the caterpillar he simply moved it away and asked it to return as a butterfly — showing kindness and humour.
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55. 1. Why did Grandfather become grumpy that winter?
(a) Rakesh broke his cane chair
(b) the road was blocked and there was no newspaper for several days
(c) the cherry tree died
(d) he fell ill
Winter came early. The cherry tree bent low with the weight of snow. Field-mice sought shelter in the roof of the cottage. The road from the valley was blocked, and for several days there was no newspaper, and this made Grandfather quite grumpy. His stories began to have unhappy endings. In February it was Rakesh’s birthday. He was nine—and the tree was four, but almost as tall as Rakesh. One morning, when the sun came out, Grandfather came into the garden to let some warmth ‘get into my bones,’ as he put it. He stopped in front of the cherry tree, stared at it for a few moments, and then called out, ‘Rakesh! Come and look! Come quickly before it falls!’ Rakesh and Grandfather gazed at the tree as though it had performed a miracle. There was a pale pink blossom at the end of a branch.
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(b) — The blocked road meant no newspaper for days, "and this made Grandfather quite grumpy."
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56. 2. How old were Rakesh and the cherry tree in February?
(a) Rakesh was eight; the tree was three
(b) Rakesh was nine; the tree was four
(c) Rakesh was ten; the tree was five
(d) Rakesh was nine; the tree was six
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(b) — "In February it was Rakesh's birthday. He was nine — and the tree was four."
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57. 3. Why did Grandfather shout, 'Come quickly before it falls!'?
(a) snow was falling from the roof
(b) the tree was bending in the wind
(c) he had spotted a pale pink blossom at the end of a branch
(d) a bird was breaking a branch
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(c) — He had discovered the tree's first blossom and feared it might drop before Rakesh could see it.
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58. 4. Fill in the blank: Field-mice sought shelter in the __________ of the cottage.
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roof
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59. 5. Why did Rakesh and Grandfather gaze at the tree 'as though it had performed a miracle'?
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After years of struggle — a goat, a scythe, snow and drought — the tree had finally flowered. Its first pale pink blossom felt like a miraculous reward for all their patience and care.
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60. 6. Why do you think Grandfather came into the garden to let some warmth 'get into my bones'?
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After days of early winter snow and cold, the morning sun was a relief; an old man, he wanted to soak up the warmth — and this ordinary habit led to the joyful discovery of the first blossom.
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61. 1. Whom did the cherry tree eventually grow taller than?
(a) only Rakesh
(b) only Grandfather
(c) both Rakesh and Grandfather
(d) the oak trees in the forest
The following year there were more blossoms. And suddenly the tree was taller than Rakesh, even though it was less than half his age. And then it was taller than Grandfather, who was older than some of the oak trees. But Rakesh had grown too. He could run and jump and climb trees as well as most boys, and he read a lot of books, although he still liked listening to Grandfather’s tales. In the cherry tree, bees came to feed on the nectar in the blossoms, and tiny birds pecked at the blossoms and broke them off. But the tree kept blossoming right through the spring, and there were always more blossoms than birds. That summer there were small cherries on the tree. Rakesh tasted one and spat it out. ‘It’s too sour,’ he said. ‘They’ll be better next year,’ said Grandfather. But the birds liked them—especially the bigger birds, such as the bulbuls and scarlet minivets—and they flitted in and out of the foliage, feasting on the cherries.
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(c) — The tree became "taller than Rakesh" and "then it was taller than Grandfather."
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62. 2. Why did Rakesh spit out the first cherry he tasted?
(a) it was rotten
(b) it was too sour
(c) a bird had pecked it
(d) it was unripe and bitter
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(b) — He tasted one, spat it out and said, "It's too sour."
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63. 3. Which birds especially liked the cherries?
(a) crows and kites
(b) sparrows and pigeons
(c) bulbuls and scarlet minivets
(d) nightjars and wild ducks
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(c) — The bigger birds, "such as the bulbuls and scarlet minivets," flitted in and out, feasting on the cherries.
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64. 4. True or False: The birds' pecking stopped the tree from blossoming.
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False — The tree "kept blossoming right through the spring, and there were always more blossoms than birds."
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65. 5. Why do you think the tree bore sour cherries in its first fruiting? What was Grandfather's hopeful response?
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The cherries were small and sour because the tree was still young; Grandfather cheerfully predicted, "They'll be better next year," showing his patience and optimism.
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66. 6. What does the line 'there were always more blossoms than birds' suggest about nature's generosity?
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It suggests that nature gives abundantly — the tree produced so many blossoms that both the birds and the bees could be fed, and still the blossoming continued through the spring.
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67. 1. Where did Rakesh finally find Grandfather on the warm sunny afternoon?
(a) asleep in the bedroom
(b) reclining on a cane chair under the cherry tree
(c) sitting over the charcoal fire
(d) walking in the forest
On a warm sunny afternoon, when even the bees looked sleepy, Rakesh was looking for Grandfather without finding him in any of his favourite places around the house. Then he looked out of the bedroom window and saw Grandfather reclining on a cane chair under the cherry tree. ‘There’s just the right amount of shade here,’ said Grandfather. ‘And I like looking at the leaves.’ ‘They’re pretty leaves,’ said Rakesh. ‘And they are always ready to dance, if there’s a breeze.’ After Grandfather had come indoors, Rakesh went into the garden and lay down on the grass beneath the tree. He gazed up through the leaves at the great blue sky; and turning on his side, he could see the mountains striding away into the clouds. He was still lying beneath the tree when the evening shadows crept across the garden. Grandfather came back and sat down beside Rakesh, and they waited in silence until the stars came out and the nightjar began to call. In the forest below, the crickets and cicadas began tuning up; and suddenly the trees were full of the sound of insects. ‘There are so many trees in the forest,’ said Rakesh. ‘What’s so special about this tree? Why do we like it so much?’ ‘We planted it ourselves,’ said Grandfather. ‘That’s why it’s special.’ ‘Just one small seed,’ said Rakesh, and he touched the smooth bark of the tree that he had grown. He ran his hand along the trunk of the tree and put his finger to the tip of a leaf. ‘I wonder,’ he whispered. ‘Is this what it feels to be God?’
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(b) — Looking out of the bedroom window, Rakesh "saw Grandfather reclining on a cane chair under the cherry tree."
1 marks · direct
68. 2. According to Grandfather, why is this tree special?
(a) it gives the sweetest cherries
(b) it is the tallest tree in Mussoorie
(c) they planted it themselves
(d) it attracts rare birds
69. 3. What does Rakesh wonder at the very end of the story?
(a) whether the cherries will be sweet
(b) whether the tree will survive the winter
(c) whether this is what it feels like to be God
(d) whether Grandfather likes the tree
Show answer
(c) — Touching the tree he had grown from one small seed, he whispers, "Is this what it feels to be God?"
1 marks · direct
70. 4. Fill in the blank: According to Rakesh, the leaves 'are always ready to __________, if there's a breeze.'
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dance
1 marks · direct
71. 5. How does the story end? Describe the final scene.
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Rakesh lies beneath the tree watching the sky and the mountains; Grandfather joins him as evening falls, and they wait in silence for the stars, the nightjar and the insects. Their talk about the tree's specialness ends with Rakesh touching the smooth bark and wondering whether creating something feels like being God.
1 marks · direct
72. 6. What do you think Rakesh means by his final whispered question, 'Is this what it feels to be God?'
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Having nurtured a tiny seed into a tall, living tree that now shelters and feeds so many creatures, Rakesh feels the deep joy and wonder of creation. He is marvelling that growing and caring for a living thing must feel the way God feels about the world He made.
2 marks · short
73. 1. Where did Rakesh live, and with whom?
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Rakesh lived with his grandfather in a little cottage on the outskirts of Mussoorie, just where the forest began. His parents stayed in a village fifty miles away.
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74. 2. Why was Rakesh sent to stay with his grandfather?
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There were no schools in his parents' village, and they were keen that he should go to school. So, as soon as he was of school-going age, he was sent to Mussoorie.
2 marks · short
75. 3. How did the conversation about 'lucky' seeds lead to the planting of the cherry tree?
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When Rakesh asked if cherry seeds were lucky and said he would keep the seed, Grandfather replied that nothing is lucky if you put it away — it must be put to some use. When Rakesh asked what he could do with a seed, Grandfather told him to plant it.
2 marks · short
76. 4. Why was the shady corner chosen for planting the seed?
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Grandfather had sown mustard in the flowerbed Rakesh began to dig, so he directed him to the shady corner "where it won't be disturbed." There the earth was soft and yielding, and the seed could be pressed straight in.
2 marks · short
77. 5. What happened to the cherry tree when the goat entered the garden?
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The tree was about two feet high when the goat entered and ate all its leaves. Only the main stem and two thin branches remained.
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78. 6. How did Grandfather comfort Rakesh after the goat's attack?
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Seeing that Rakesh was upset, Grandfather said, "Never mind. It will grow again, cherry trees are tough." His calm words restored Rakesh's hope.
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79. 7. Who cut the cherry tree in two, and how?
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A woman who was cutting grass scrambled down the hillside with her scythe swishing through the heavy monsoon foliage. She did not try to avoid the tree, and one sweep of her scythe cut the cherry tree in two.
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80. 8. How did the cherry tree recover after it was cut in two?
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The tree "had no intention of dying." By the time summer came round again, it had sent out several new shoots with tender green leaves.
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81. 9. What did Grandfather call Rakesh's eyes, and why?
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Grandfather called them "Blackberry eyes," because Rakesh's eyes were deep black, like the shiny black berries.
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82. 10. Why did Rakesh go to his village during one monsoon?
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He went home to help his father and mother with the planting, ploughing and sowing. He came back thinner but stronger.
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83. 11. Who were the cherry tree's first two visitors, and how did Rakesh treat them?
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The first visitor was a bright green praying-mantis, which Rakesh allowed to stay. The second was a hairy caterpillar eating the leaves, which Rakesh removed and dropped on a heap of dry leaves, saying, "Come back when you're a butterfly."
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84. 12. Why did Rakesh water the tree even when it rained?
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He wanted the tree to know that he was there. Watering it was his small, loving gesture of companionship and care.
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85. 13. Why did Grandfather become grumpy in the early winter?
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The road from the valley was blocked, and for several days there was no newspaper. This made Grandfather quite grumpy, and even his stories began to have unhappy endings.
2 marks · short
86. 14. What was the miracle that Rakesh and Grandfather gazed at?
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On a sunny February morning, Grandfather discovered a pale pink blossom at the end of a branch — the cherry tree's very first flower. He called Rakesh quickly, and both gazed at it as though the tree had performed a miracle.
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87. 15. How old were Rakesh and the tree when it first blossomed?
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Rakesh had just turned nine on his February birthday, and the tree was four — but it was already almost as tall as Rakesh.
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88. 16. Why did Rakesh spit out the first cherry he tasted? What did Grandfather say?
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The small cherries of the young tree were too sour. Grandfather comforted him cheerfully, "They'll be better next year."
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89. 17. Give the meaning of any two of these words from the story: 'stunted', 'tang', 'foliage', 'reclining'.
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'Stunted' means stopped from growing to the usual size; 'tang' means a strong, sharp taste; 'foliage' means green leaves; 'reclining' means lying back in a relaxed way. (Any two.)
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90. 18. How did Rakesh and Grandfather know that spring had come to the hills?
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They knew it was spring when the wild duck flew north again, to Siberia — Rakesh would see and hear the V-shaped formation streaming northward through the thin mountain air.
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91. 19. What did Grandfather like about sitting under the cherry tree?
Show answer
He said there was "just the right amount of shade" there, and that he liked looking at the leaves — which Rakesh added were "always ready to dance, if there's a breeze."
2 marks · short
92. 20. According to Grandfather, why did they like this tree so much more than the forest trees?
Show answer
Grandfather said, "We planted it ourselves. That's why it's special." A tree you have planted with your own hands is dearer than thousands of wild trees.
3 marks · short
93. 1. Trace the growth of the cherry tree from a seed to a blossoming tree.
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Rakesh pressed the seed into the soft earth with his thumb. The next spring it appeared as a sapling about four inches high; after a week or two it grew at least an inch. It grew quickly during the monsoon to about two feet, then was eaten by a goat, and later cut in two by a grass-cutter's scythe — but each time it regrew. At four years it was almost as tall as nine-year-old Rakesh and produced its first pale pink blossom. The following year it was taller than both Rakesh and Grandfather, and finally bore small cherries.
3 marks · short
94. 2. What hardships did the cherry tree face, and how did it survive them?
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The tree faced a series of hardships: the stony soil and dry cold winds of the hills, a goat that ate all its leaves leaving only the stem and two thin branches, a woman's scythe that cut it in two, and winters when it bent low under the weight of snow. It survived each time because cherry trees are tough — it sent out new shoots and leaves, kept growing, and finally flowered and fruited, proving that "the cherry tree had no intention of dying."
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95. 3. Draw a character sketch of Rakesh.
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Rakesh is an affectionate, cheerful boy. He shares his last cherries with his grandfather, and respectfully reads the newspaper aloud to him. He is curious and thoughtful — he studies the cherry seed and plants it as advised. He is patient and caring, watering the tree, fencing it with pebbles "for privacy," and guarding it from the caterpillar. He is also playful and imaginative, speaking to the caterpillar gently. Above all, he shows quiet devotion, standing by his tree through every season until it becomes taller than himself.
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96. 4. Draw a character sketch of Rakesh's grandfather.
Show answer
Grandfather is kind, wise and understanding. He guides Rakesh with gentle advice — telling him to put the lucky seed to use, where to plant it, and how to water it ("Don't drown it!"). He is a wonderful storyteller with a imagination full of ghosts and weeping stones, yet he is patient and optimistic when things go wrong: "Never mind... cherry trees are tough." He is fond of nature and of his grandson, enjoys the shade of the cherry tree, and teaches Rakesh the most important lesson — that what we plant ourselves is special.
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97. 5. How does the story show the bond between Rakesh and his grandfather?
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Their bond is warm and affectionate. Rakesh offers his grandfather the first cherry, and reads the newspaper to him because of the old man's weak eyesight. Grandfather, in turn, tells Rakesh marvellous stories by the charcoal fire, guides him in planting and caring for the tree, and consoles him after every mishap. Together they discover the first blossom and spend a quiet evening beneath the tree. The cherry tree itself becomes a shared labour of love between them.
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98. 6. Why is the story titled 'The Cherry Tree'?
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The title is apt because the whole story revolves around the life of a single cherry tree — from the seed Rakesh plants at the age of six to the tall, blossoming tree of his boyhood. The tree is the central character: its struggles, survival and growth mirror Rakesh's own growing up, and it binds together all the events, emotions and people in the story.
3 marks · short
99. 7. How does the writer show the passage of time in the story?
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The story spans about four to five years, shown through the cycle of seasons and the parallel growth of boy and tree. Rakesh is six when he plants the seed, eight when he goes to help with the village sowing, and nine — with the tree four — when the first blossom appears. Winters, monsoons, springs and summers pass, marked by wild ducks flying north, snow, early rains, blossoms, bees and finally fruit.
3 marks · short
100. 8. What is the message of the story? Support it with evidence from the text.
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The message is that patience, care and perseverance turn small beginnings into great joys, and that nature rewards those who nurture it. Grandfather's words, "Nothing is lucky if you put it away. If you want luck, you must put it to some use," begin the story's lesson, and the tree's triumph over goat, scythe and snow proves that "cherry trees are tough."
3 marks · short
101. 9. 'Is this what it feels to be God?' What does Rakesh's final question reveal about him?
Show answer
The question reveals Rakesh's deep wonder and humility. He realises that a single small seed, given care and time, has become a tall tree that shelters, feeds and delights so many creatures. Standing beside his creation, he feels the quiet joy of a creator. It shows his sensitivity to nature and his growth from a boy who planted a seed thoughtlessly into someone who understands the sacredness of nurturing life.
3 marks · short
102. 10. The story teaches us to value what we create with our own effort. Explain with examples from the text.
Show answer
When Rakesh asks why they love this tree more than the many forest trees, Grandfather replies simply, "We planted it ourselves. That's why it's special." Their love is not for the tree's size or sweetness — indeed its first cherries are too sour — but for the years of shared care behind it: watering, guarding from the caterpillar, and rejoicing over the first blossom. What we labour over becomes precious to us.
5 marks · broad
103. 1. Write a character sketch of Rakesh, highlighting the qualities that make him special. Support your answer with examples from the story.
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Rakesh, the hero of the story, is a lovable boy of the Himalayan foothills who grows from six to nine years of age during the course of the narrative. He is generous and affectionate — walking home from school, he offers his last cherries to his grandfather before eating the rest, and he faithfully reads the dull newspaper aloud because Grandfather's eyesight is weak. He is curious and thoughtful; instead of throwing away the cherry seed, he rolls it on his tongue, studies it on his palm, and asks whether cherry seeds are lucky. He is obedient and receptive to guidance — he plants the seed where Grandfather directs, gives the sapling only "a sprinkling" of water, and circles it with pebbles "for privacy," showing his playful imagination. He is gentle towards all living things, letting the praying-mantis stay as the tree's first visitor and kindly relocating the caterpillar with the words, "Come back when you're a butterfly." Most importantly, he is patient and devoted, caring for the tree through goat and scythe and snow, even watering it in the rain "to let it know that he was there." By the end, this care fills him with the creator's wonder: "Is this what it feels to be God?"
5 marks · broad
104. 2. Write a character sketch of Rakesh's grandfather.
Show answer
Grandfather is the wise and warm heart of the story. An elderly man living on the outskirts of Mussoorie, he is responsible for his grandson's upbringing, and he does it with gentle humour and affection. He is a man of practical wisdom: he teaches Rakesh that "Nothing is lucky if you put it away. If you want luck, you must put it to some use" — advice that sets the whole story in motion. He knows the ways of nature, from mustard sowing to the toughness of cherry trees, and his experience reassures Rakesh whenever disaster strikes: "Never mind... It will grow again, cherry trees are tough," and later, "They'll be better next year." He is fond of stories, entertaining Rakesh with tales of people who turned into animals, ghosts in trees, and beans that jumped — and he has endearing human weaknesses, growing grumpy when the blocked road cuts off his newspaper. He loves simple pleasures, basking in the sun to let warmth "get into my bones" and reclining under the cherry tree he and Rakesh grew. Through him the story delivers its finest lesson: "We planted it ourselves. That's why it's special."
5 marks · broad
105. 3. What is the central theme of 'The Cherry Tree'? Discuss the message the story conveys.
Show answer
The central theme of the story is the joy and reward of nurturing life. A tiny, almost-forgotten cherry seed, pressed into the earth by a six-year-old, grows into a tree taller than the grandfather — a living symbol of what patience, care and time can create. The story's message operates on several levels. First, it teaches that luck must be put to use: the seed would have been nothing if Rakesh had merely kept it. Second, it celebrates resilience — the tree survives a goat, a scythe and heavy snow because, as Grandfather says, "cherry trees are tough," teaching us to face setbacks with the same spirit. Third, it shows that creation brings deep fulfilment: Rakesh's whispered question, "Is this what it feels to be God?", captures the wonder of having grown a living thing. Finally, it reminds us that what we raise with our own hands — "We planted it ourselves" — is dearer to us than anything we merely find. The story quietly urges every reader to plant, protect and patiently nurture the natural world.
5 marks · broad
106. 4. Describe the hardships suffered by the cherry tree and the manner in which it overcame each of them. What does this teach us?
Show answer
The cherry tree's life is a series of battles against misfortune. It begins in unfriendly ground — the stony soil and dry cold winds of the Himalayan foothills that stunted most plants. As a young sapling of about two feet, it loses all its leaves to a stray goat, only the main stem and two thin branches remaining. It recovers and grows new leaves, only to be cut clean in two by a grass-cutting woman's scythe that sweeps through the monsoon foliage. Even after that near-fatal blow, "the cherry tree had no intention of dying," and by the next summer it sends out several new shoots with tender green leaves. Then winter comes early, and the tree bends low with the weight of snow; later, birds and bees and caterpillars feed upon it. Yet each time, the tree survives, and by its fourth spring it produces a pale pink blossom that amazes Rakesh and Grandfather "as though it had performed a miracle." The lesson is unmistakable: life is resilient, and hardship cannot destroy what is determined to live. Like the cherry tree, we too should recover from every setback and keep growing.
5 marks · broad
107. 5. How does 'The Cherry Tree' portray the relationship between human beings and nature? What values does the story teach? Give textual evidence.
Show answer
The story portrays an ideal, tender relationship between humans and nature, built on care rather than possession. Rakesh treats the cherry tree almost as a friend — he waters it even in the rain because "he wanted it to know that he was there," and he surrounds the tiny sapling with pebbles "for privacy," as if it were a living companion deserving its own space. He welcomes its visitors, letting the praying-mantis stay and gently relocating the caterpillar instead of killing it, saying, "Come back when you're a butterfly." Grandfather, too, delights in the tree's shade and its dancing leaves. In return, nature gives generously: shade for the old man, blossoms, fruit for the bulbuls and scarlet minivets, and finally the deep joy of creation to Rakesh himself. The values the story teaches are patience, perseverance, gentleness towards all creatures, gratitude towards nature, and the humility to see something miraculous in a "pale pink blossom." It also teaches responsibility — the reward of planting: "We planted it ourselves. That's why it's special."
5 marks · broad
108. 6. 'The things we grow with our own hands are the most precious to us.' How can you apply the message of this story in your own life?
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The story shows that Rakesh and Grandfather love one small garden tree more than the endless forests of oak and deodar around them, simply because "We planted it ourselves. That's why it's special." I can apply this message in my own life in several ways. I can plant a sapling — or even a seed from a fruit I eat, just as Rakesh planted his cherry seed — and care for it patiently through every season, watering it, guarding it from pests and celebrating its first flower. I can keep a small kitchen garden and experience the joy of eating something I grew myself. I can extend the same care to my surroundings: keeping a bird-bath in summer, refusing to pluck flowers needlessly, or joining a neighbourhood plantation drive on Environment Day. The story also teaches me to value effort over results — Rakesh's first cherries were too sour, yet Grandfather said, "They'll be better next year" — so I must not give up on my plant, or on any good work, after early disappointment. Most of all, I will remember that nurturing a living thing brings a quiet, almost divine happiness, the wonder Rakesh felt when he whispered, "Is this what it feels to be God?"
5 marks · broad
109. 7. Imagine you are Rakesh. Write in your own words the diary entry you would have written on the evening you found the first pale pink blossom on your cherry tree.
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(An imagined diary entry, based on the story.) 14 February — What a morning! Grandfather went into the garden to let the warmth "get into his bones," and suddenly I heard him shouting, "Rakesh! Come and look! Come quickly before it falls!" I ran out, and there it was — a pale pink blossom at the end of one branch. We both stood staring as though the tree had performed a miracle, and honestly, it felt like one. Four years ago I pressed that little seed into the ground with my thumb and then forgot all about it. I remembered it again only when I found what I thought was a twig and it turned out to be well rooted. Since then, this tree has been eaten by a goat, cut in two by a grass-cutter's scythe, and buried under snow — and still it grew, till today, on my ninth birthday month, it has given me its very first flower. I did not mind at all that the whole day passed in looking at it. Grandfather says we love this tree because we planted it ourselves. Tonight, when I touched its smooth bark, I really understood him. Just one small seed — and now this beautiful living thing. I wonder, is this what it feels to be God? I cannot wait for the cherries to come — even if they are a little sour. Grandfather says they will be better next year. I believe him. Good night, dear tree. — Rakesh
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