[Literature - Extract Question] Question 7 (B) - i - Sample Paper 1 by Teachoo - Teachoo Sample Paper - English Class 9

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)

What does the word "leprous" mean in the context of the extract?

1. Having a disease that causes skin sores and nerve damage
2. Having a rough and scaly appearance
3. Having a white and snowy colour
4. Having a spotted and mottled pattern

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The word “leprous” means B. Having a rough and scaly appearance in the context of the extract.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• To answer this question, we need to understand the meaning of the word “leprous” and how it relates to the extract. 📖
• The word “leprous” is an adjective that describes something that is affected by leprosy, which is a disease that causes skin sores and nerve damage. However, the word can also be used figuratively to describe something that is unpleasant, ugly, or decaying. 🤢
• In the context of the extract, the word “leprous” is used figuratively to describe the hide of the tree, which is its outer layer of bark. The poet uses this word to show that the tree is old, damaged, and diseased. He also creates a contrast between the leprous hide and the sprouting leaves, which are signs of life and growth. 🌳
• Therefore, the answer that best matches the meaning of the word “leprous” in the context of the extract is B. Having a rough and scaly appearance. 🙌
• We can eliminate the other options because they do not match the meaning of the word “leprous” in the context of the extract. Option A is wrong because the word “leprous” is not used literally to describe a disease, but figuratively to describe an appearance. Option C is wrong because the word “leprous” does not imply a white and snowy colour, but a dark and dirty one. Option D is wrong because the word “leprous” does not suggest a spotted and mottled pattern, but a smooth and uniform one. ❌