English II
Working with the poem
Question 1.
What are the games or human activities which use trees, or in which trees also “participate’?
Answer:
We can play many games by using trees. We can swing swings on tree. One can hide behind a tree
while playing the game of hide and seek. Our kites can get caught in the trées. There are a lot of human
activities in which trees also participate. Human beings can make tree-houses in trees. We can have tea
parties under the trees. Human beings can enjoy cool shade under the trees in summer. Trees also
provide us with various kinds of fruits. Trees provide us clean air. We get timber from trees to build our
houses and furniture etc. Wood is also used for burning.
Question 2.
(i) “Trees are to make no shade in winter.” What does this mean ?
(Contrast this line with the line immediately before it.)
Answer:
As compared to summer season, sunshine in winter is less brighter. Moreover shade is not needed in
winter. The people enjoy basking in the direct sunshine in winter.
(ii) “Trees are for apples to grow on, or pears.” Do you agree that one purpose of a tree is to have fruit
on it ? Or do you think this line is humorous ?
Answer:
One of the most important functions of the trees is to bear and provide us fruits. It is a fact. So, this line
cannot be called humorous.
Question 3.
With the help of your partner, try to rewrite some lines in the poem, or add new ones of your own as in
the following examples.
Trees are for birds to build nests in.
Trees are for people to sit under.
Now try to compose a similar poem about water, or air.
Answer:
Water is the elixir of life for us.
Water is essential for our survival
Water is for fish to live in
Water is a boon for the birds
Water is for plants to trees to grow
Water is a means of transportation
Water is for clothes to be cleaned.
Extra questions
1. What do mothers say when they look at tree?
Ans- Mothers love to capture the beauty of the trees on their canvas.
2. What do adults do under the tree?
Ans- The adults enjoy having tea parties under the shade of the trees.
3. Why the chopped down trees are called timber?
Ans- The trees are chopped down so that their wood could be put to use. The logs and wood, timber, is
used for carpentry and make furniture. However, the poet seems hurt regret cutting of trees.
Reference to context
1. " Trees are for birds.
Trees are for children.
Trees are to make tree houses in.
Trees are to swing swings on.
Trees are for the wind to blow through.
Trees are to hide behind in ‘Hide and Seek.’ "
(i) Who enjoys the tree the most?
(ii) How do children enjoy?
(iii) How could wind blow through?
Answer
(i) Birds and children enjoy the presence of the tree.
(ii) Children make tree houses, swing on swings, play hide and seek.
(iii) When wind blows and passes through a tree it bends to a side. It moves branches and leaves, make
onlookers believe that wind passes through it.
2. " Trees are to have tea parties under.
Trees are for [Link] to get caught in.
Trees are to make cool shade in summer.
Trees are to make no shade in winter.
Trees are for apples to grow on, and pears;
Trees are to chop down and call, "
(i) What is preferred under the shade of trees?
(ii) What do trees do to the kites?
(iii) Who relieves from the scorching heat in summer?
(iv) How do we get ‘timber’?
Answer
(i) Tea parties are arranged under the trees.
(ii) Tree catches the kites.
(iii) Trees relieve from the scorching heat in summer.
(iv) We get timber by chopping of trees.
3. Trees make mothers say,
“What a lovely picture to paint!”
Trees make fathers say,
“What a lot of leaves to rake this fall!”
(i) What does the mother say after seeing trees?
(ii) How useful the dry leaves to father?
Answer
(i) The mother exclaims about the scenic beauty that inspires her to paint.
(ii) The dry leaves could be used as fuel or turned into manure.
