Earthquake in Assam Chapter Notes, Question and Answers

‘Earthquake in Assam’ is written by Ruskin Bond. Here you would get a summary and question & answers based on the class 7 English book ‘New Voices’.

Summary

The chapter “Earthquake in Assam” narrates the experience of an earthquake that struck Assam in 1897 through the perspective of the narrator’s grandfather, who was present during the calamity. The earthquake was severe, shaking the region around the Brahmaputra river basin, including the picturesque hill station of Shillong.

During the earthquake, the grandfather was taking his usual bath while the grandmother was in the garden. The animals sensed the approaching disaster before humans did, displaying erratic behavior. The earthquake caused widespread destruction, with buildings collapsing, roads breaking, and the land itself shifting. The grandfather described the terrifying experience of being trapped inside the house with his family, struggling to escape as the structure collapsed around them.

The aftermath of the earthquake was chaotic, with minor shocks continuing through the night. The town of Shillong was left in ruins, and over a thousand people lost their lives. The devastation extended beyond Assam, affecting areas along the Assam-Bengal Railway and causing flooding in the Brahmaputra basin.

Despite the destruction, some structures surprisingly remained intact, like a rickety wooden shop where the narrator’s family took shelter. The chapter also highlights the resilience and stoicism of some individuals in the face of adversity, such as an assistant engineer who shrugged off the destruction of his bungalow.

Ultimately, the family, along with other refugees, made their way to Calcutta, where nerves were still on edge due to the fear of further earthquakes. However, the city remained standing, and even though there were concerns about firing a salute of guns for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, the event proceeded without incident.

In summary, the chapter vividly portrays the harrowing experience of the Assam earthquake of 1897 and its widespread impact on the region, while also highlighting moments of resilience and fortitude amidst the devastation.

Textbook Exercise Q/Ans.

Comprehension

A. Mark these sentences as true (T) or false (F).

1. When grandfather was having a bath; he behaved like an old man. …………
2. It is said that the plateau of Shillong has moved away from Assam. …………
3. The author was able to get a clear picture of the earthquake by looking at his grandfather’s memoirs. …………
4. Grandmother could not recall if she was hanging out or taking in the washing. …………
5. The actual reason for grandmother’s inability to stand straight was the trembling of her knees. …………
6. While most houses collapsed where they stood, Government House did not fall. …………

ANSWERS:

1. When grandfather was having a bath; he behaved like an old man. F
2. It is said that the plateau of Shillong has moved away from Assam. T
3. The author was able to get a clear picture of the earthquake by looking at his grandfather’s memoirs. T
4. Grandmother could not recall if she was hanging out or taking in the washing. T
5. The actual reason for grandmother’s inability to stand straight was the trembling of the ground. T
6. While most houses collapsed where they stood, Government House did not fall. T

B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1. The crows all took wing, wheeling wildly overhead and cawing loudly.
   a. Why were the crows ‘wheeling wildly’?
   b. How were the other animals and birds reacting?
   c. Besides the animals behaving restlessly, what else happened during that tin,
2. ‘At first, I did not realise what it was that caused my tub to sway about and the water to splash.”
   a. Who is the speaker here? Where is the speaker at this moment?
   b. What was it that the speaker ‘did not realise’?
   c. What was the reaction of the speaker?
3. ‘The back door was the only way of escape.”
   a. Whose ‘escape’ is being talked about here?
   b. Why did the speaker want to escape?
   c. What was wrong with the ‘inner door’?

ANSWERS:

B. Answering your questions with reference to the context:

1. The crows all took wing, wheeling wildly overhead and cawing loudly.
   a. The crows were likely reacting to the pre-earthquake tremors or sounds that humans couldn’t understand. Their erratic (irregular) flight pattern suggests panic or confusion.
   b. How were the other animals and birds reacting?
   The passage mentions chickens flapping in circles and dogs running scared with their tails between their legs. These behaviours indicate the animals sensed danger and were trying to escape.
   c. Besides the animals behaving restlessly, what else happened during that time?
   The text mentions a “rattling, rumbling noise, like the approach of a train” .
2. ‘At first, I did not realise what it was that caused my tub to sway about and the water to splash.”
   a. Who is the speaker here? Where is the speaker at this moment?
   The speaker is the grandfather. He is in his bathtub at that moment .
   b. What was it that the speaker ‘did not realise’?
   The grandfather didn’t realize it was an earthquake that caused the tub to move and the water to splash.
   c. What was the reaction of the speaker?
   The text doesn’t explicitly say, but it implies surprise. He rose up to investigate the cause of the movement.
3. ‘The back door was the only way of escape.’
   a. Whose ‘escape’ is being talked about here?
   The escape refers to the grandfather’s attempt to get out and find his family (paragraph 3).
   b. Why did the speaker want to escape?
   The grandfather likely wanted to escape to find his wife and children and ensure their safety during the earthquake.
   c. What was wrong with the ‘inner door’?
   The passage says that “boxes, furniture and plaster had come up against it” (paragraph 3), blocking the inner door.

Another Set of Answer:

1. The crows all took wing, wheeling wildly overhead and cawing loudly.
   a. The crows were ‘wheeling wildly’ because they sensed the approaching earthquake. Animals are often more sensitive to natural disasters than humans.
   b. The text describes other animals and birds reacting in a panicked way as well. The chickens “flapped in circles” and the dogs “jumped up and ran out with their tails between their legs”.
   c. Besides the animals behaving restlessly, the text mentions a “rattling, rumbling noise, like the approach of a train” which increased for a minute before the ground began to tremble.
2. ‘At first, I did not realise what it was that caused my tub to sway about and the water to splash.’
   a. The speaker here is the grandfather. He is in his bathtub at this moment .
   b. The speaker “did not realise” what was causing the tub to sway and the water to splash. He hadn’t yet understood that an earthquake was happening.
   c. When he realized what was happening, the text says he “rose up” (paragraph 3). This suggests he might have been surprised or startled.
3. ‘The back door was the only way of escape.’
   a. Here, “escape” is referring to the grandfather’s attempt to get out of the house and find his family.
   b. The speaker wanted to escape because the house was shaking due to the earthquake, and he likely feared for his safety and the safety of his family.
   c. The text says the “dratted door” (likely referring to the inner door) was blocked by furniture and plaster that had fallen due to the shaking .

C. Answer these questions.

1. What is a sure sign of a natural disaster approaching, according to the writer?
2. What time did grandfather usually have his bath?
3. Why was grandfather unable to open the door?
4. What were the ‘great clouds of dust’ that the girl wrote about in The Englishman?
5. How did the people of Calcutta react to the earthquake?
6. What makes animals sense danger from a natural disaster even before human beings sense it? Discuss.
7. Everything made of masonry was brought to the ground by the earthquake. Why?
8. Even while describing a natural disaster, which his own family experienced, Ruskin Bond does not lose his sense of humour. Pick out three instances and say how they are humorous.

ANSWERS:

1. According to the writer, animals making a hideous noise is a sure sign of a natural disaster approaching. The text says it’s because “animals sense the approach of an earthquake much more quickly than humans”.
2. Grandfather usually had his bath in the morning, but on the day of the earthquake, he took an afternoon bath.
3. Grandfather couldn’t open the inner door because “boxes, furniture and plaster had come up against it” due to the shaking.
4. The “great clouds of dust” the girl described in The Englishman were caused by houses falling and the Earth slipping from the hillsides.
5. The people of Calcutta, though not directly affected to the same extent as Shillong, were in a state of panic. They had felt the tremors and feared it might happen again. The text says they “slept in the open or in carriages” due to fear.
6. The text doesn’t delve into the scientific reasons behind why animals might sense an earthquake before humans. However, it suggests that animals are more attuned to subtle changes in their environment, which could include vibrations or shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field before a quake hits.
7. Everything made of masonry (brick, stone) was brought to the ground by the earthquake because these materials are rigid and brittle. During an earthquake, the ground shakes and moves rapidly, and these rigid structures can’t flex with the movement. This causes them to crack and crumble.
8. Here are three instances where Ruskin Bond uses humor while describing the disaster:
   • Paragraph 1: He describes his grandfather as “wallowing” in the bathtub and splashing around “like a boy.” This lighthearted description adds a touch of humor considering the situation.
   • Paragraph 3: Grandfather describes the door he couldn’t open as the “dratted door,” which is a mild curse word but adds a touch of whimsy to his frustration.
   • Paragraph 5: The author mentions the assistant engineer who received a telegram about his bungalow being destroyed. The engineer’s response, calling it a “beastly nuisance” adds a touch of dark humor to the situation.

Another set of answers:

1. According to the writer, animals making a hideous noise is a sure sign of a natural disaster approaching. The text says it’s because animals “sense the approach of an earthquake much more quickly than humans”.
2. Grandfather usually had his bath in the morning, but on the day of the earthquake, he took an afternoon bath .
3. Grandfather couldn’t open the inner door because “boxes, furniture and plaster had come up against it” due to the shaking.
4. The “great clouds of dust” the girl described in The Englishman were caused by houses falling and “the Earth slipping from the sides of the hills”.
5. The people of Calcutta reacted with panic even though the damage there was slight compared to Shillong. The text says they were “in a state of panic; for they too had felt the quake and were expecting it to recur”. They slept outdoors or in carriages due to fear .
6. The text doesn’t explicitly discuss why animals can sense danger before humans, but it suggests they are more attuned to subtle changes in their environment. Animals might pick up on vibrations, air pressure changes, or electrical disturbances that precede an earthquake. Humans may need more obvious cues to sense danger.
7. Everything made of masonry (brick or stone construction) was brought to the ground by the earthquake because this type of structure is rigid and inflexible. During an earthquake, the ground shakes and moves rapidly. Rigid structures can’t bend or sway with the movement, making them more susceptible to cracking and collapsing.
8. Here are three instances where Ruskin Bond uses humour while describing the disaster:
   • First Instance: “Grandfather …………boy” (paragraph 1). This playful description of the grandfather’s bathing habits adds a light touch despite the serious topic.
   • Second Instance: ‘The bearer ………… beneath it.’ (paragraph 3). The use of “pluckily borne” adds a touch of humour to a potentially horrifying situation.
   • Third Instance: Bond writes, ‘Beastly nuisance,’ he observed with an aggrieved air. I’ve seen it cave in during a storm, but this is the first time it has played me such a trick on account of an earthquake.’. The engineer’s casual manner of recounting a significant calamity brings in an element of dark humour.

Vocabulary

A. Read the chapter very carefully and complete this web chart. Follow the examples given.

Ans. Here are few examples given:

Actions: Heaved, Shook, Swayed

Sound: Rattling, “doors banged”

B. Using these prefixes create words and use any five of them in sentences of your own.

1. bi-
2. Bio-
3. dis-
4. il-
5. im-
6. in-
7. Ir-
8. Mis-
9. over-
10. post-
11. pre-
12. re-

ANSWERS:

1. bi- (meaning two)
   • biannual (happening twice a year)
   • bilingual (able to speak two languages)
   • bisect (to cut into two equal parts)
2. bio- (meaning life)
   • biology (the study of living organisms)
   • biography (a written account of a person’s life)
   • biodegradable (able to decompose naturally)
3. dis- (meaning not, opposite of)
   • disagree (not agree)
   • disappear (not appear)
   • dishonest (not honest)
4. in- (meaning not)
   • inability (not able)
   • insecure (not secure)
   • incorrect (not correct)
5. im- (meaning in, not)
   • impossible (not possible)
   • immature (not mature)
   • imperfect (not perfect)
6. ir- (meaning not)
   • irrational (not rational)
   • irregular (not regular)
   • irresponsible (not responsible)
7. mis- (meaning wrongly, incorrectly)
   • misunderstand (understand wrongly)
   • misspelled (spelled incorrectly)
   • misuse (use wrongly)
8. over- (meaning too much, excessive)
   • overheat (become too hot)
   • overload (put too much weight or strain on)
   • overeat (eat too much)
9. post- (meaning after)
   • postscript (something written after a letter has been signed)
   • postwar (after a war)
   • postpone (put off to a later time)
10. pre- (meaning before)
    • predict (say what will happen before it does)
    • preview (a short look at something before it happens)
    • prefix (a group of letters added to the beginning of a word)
11. re- (meaning again)
    • rewrite (write again)
    • rebuild (build again)
    • remake (make again)

Sentences:

1. The school held a biannual science fair showcasing student projects.
2. I loved biology class because it allowed me to explore the living world.
3. My friend and I often disagree about our favorite movies.
4. Due to his injury, he had a temporary inability to walk.
5. Traveling to Mars right now is still considered impossible.

C. Change these words by adding suitable suffixes.

1. Manage
2. Drive
3. Edit
4. operate
5. art
6. pay
7. devote
8. exist
9. perform
10. invite
11. inform
12. King

ANSWERS:

1. Manage – Manager
2. Drive – Driver
3. Edit – Edited
4. Operate – Operational
5. Art – Artistic
6. Pay – Payment
7. Devote – Devoted
8. Exist – Existence
9. Perform – Performance
10. Invite – Invitation
11. Inform – Informed
12. King – Kingdom

Grammar

A. Underline the dependent clauses and circle the independent clauses in these sentences.

1. He asked me what I knew.
2. Beena works well when she is on her own.
3. This is the house that we bought last year.
4. They will meet me after they arrive.
5. He was happy as he had done very well in his exams.
6. Let me know when you are ready.
7. My mother baked a cake because she wanted to make me happy.
8. Since we didn’t have any milk, we could not make any tea for you.
9. Until I learn how to cook, I couldn’t even make a sandwich.
10. I tried to see her, but I couldn’t.
11. You may sit here as long as you don’t disturb anyone.
12. Although I don’t remember his name, I am sure that man is a famous writer.

ANSWERS: The bold part shows independent clauses while the italicized part shows the independennt clause.

1. He asked me whatIknew.
2. Beena works well whensheisonherown​.
3. This is the house that we bought last year​.
4. They will meet me after they arrive​.
5. He was happy as he had done very well in his exams.
6. Let me know when you are ready.
7. My mother baked a cake because she wanted to make me happy.
8. Since we didn’t have any milk, we could not make any tea for you.
9. Until I learn how to cook, I couldn’t even make a sandwich.
10. I tried to see her, but I couldn’t.
11. You may sit here as long as you don’t disturb anyone.
12. Although I don’t remember his name, I am sure that man is a famous writer.

B. Complete these sentences using suitable dependent clauses.

1. She could not go home
2. I went to the market
3. My mother gave me a gift
4. Many people visit this place
5. My sister went to school
6. The doctor will deliver a speech
7. I woke up at noon
8. Harnam works hard
9. My dog ran away
10. We will meet you
11. Please join us at the table
12. The children will not be able to go out

ANSWERS:

1. She could not go home because it was raining.
2. I went to the market after finishing my work.
3. My mother gave me a gift when I graduated from college.
4. Many people visit this place whenever there’s a festival.
5. My sister went to school before the sun rose.
6. The doctor will deliver a speech after the chief guest arrives.
7. I woke up at noon since I stayed up late studying.
8. Harnam works hard so that he can provide for his family.
9. My dog ran away while I was taking him for a walk.
10. We will meet you wherever you decide.
11. Please join us at the table whenever you’re ready.
12. The children will not be able to go out unless the rain stops.

C. Create main clauses of your own to make complete sentences with these dependent or subordinate clauses.

1. after they finished painting
2. before I go to London
3. since he arrived
4. which inspired me to take this class
5. as soon as you reach
6. after work tomorrow
7. because it was too cheap
8. while he rode the bus to work
9. if you decide to cook lunch
10. although it was hot and humid yesterday

ANSWERS:

1. After they finished painting, they celebrated with a barbecue in the backyard.
2. Before I go to London, I need to finalize my travel itinerary.
3. Since he arrived, there has been a noticeable change in the office atmosphere.
4. The documentary, which inspired me to take this class, was about sustainable farming practices.
5. As soon as you reach the hotel, remember to check in at the reception.
6. After work tomorrow, we’re planning to go out for dinner at our favorite restaurant.
7. Because it was too cheap, I was skeptical about the quality of the product.
8. While he rode the bus to work, he listened to an audiobook to pass the time.
9. If you decide to cook lunch, I’ll gladly help with the preparations.
10. Although it was hot and humid yesterday, we still enjoyed our picnic in the park.

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