Question 2 - On Killing a tree - Beehive - Poems (Literature) - English Class 9

Read the given extract and answer the questions

Extract:

It takes much time to kill a tree,

 Not a simple jab of the knife 

Will do it. It has grown 

Slowly consuming the earth, 

Rising out of it, feeding

 Upon its crust, absorbing 

Years of sunlight, air, water, 

And out of its leprous hide

 Sprouting leaves.

(On Killing a Tree)

 Question(i)

What does the poet imply by saying that killing a tree is not as easy as stabbing it with a knife? 

• a) The tree is very strong and resilient
• b) The tree is very weak and fragile 
• c) The tree is very tall and thick 
• d) The tree is very short and thin

Answer: 

Answer written by the student: 

a) The tree is very strong and resilient

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• The poet implies that killing a tree is not as easy as stabbing it with a knife because the tree is very strong and resilient .🌳
• This means that the tree can survive and recover from injuries and damages caused by humans or nature.💪
• The poet uses words like “grown”, “feeding”, “absorbing”, and “sprouting” to show how the tree has been living and growing for years, using the resources of the earth, sun, air, and water .🌎☀️💨💧
• The poet also uses words like “heal”, “rise”, and “expand” to show how the tree can heal its wounds, rise from the ground, and expand its branches again after being cut or chopped .🩹🌱🌿
• Therefore, the correct option is a) The tree is very strong and resilient. ✔️

Question (ii)

What is the opposite of "consuming" as used by the poet to describe the tree's growth?

Answer: