Let us do these activities before we read. (Page 118)

1. 🏖️ Work in pairs. Talk about a memorable trip you took, who you went with, your mode of transport, and what the experience taught you.

   Answer: I once went on a family vacation to Nainital. We drove there by car, and the scenic mountain route was breathtaking. I enjoyed boating on the lake with my parents and observing wildlife at the local zoo. This trip taught me how calming nature is and why we must protect our environment. It also made me realise how travelling together creates beautiful family memories.

2. 🗺️ Which State or Union Territory do you reside in? Provide the following details:

   Answer: I live in the state of West Bengal.

• Part of the country: East

• Capital: Kolkata

• Language: Bengali

• River(s): Ganga, Hooghly, Teesta

• Tourist attractions: Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Darjeeling, Sundarbans

• Food: Roshogolla, Sandesh, Shukto, Beguni, Alur Dom with Luchi, Pithe.

3. 🤔 Work in pairs. List the Indian states ending with 'Pradesh'. Note their regional location and a special feature of each.

   Answer:

• Himachal Pradesh: Located in the North. Famous for stunning hill stations like Manali and Shimla.

• Arunachal Pradesh: Located in the East/Northeast. Beautifully known as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’.

• Andhra Pradesh: Located in the South. Renowned for its spicy cuisine and the classical Kuchipudi dance.

• Madhya Pradesh: Located in the Centre. Famous for its diverse wildlife and the historic Khajuraho temples.

Let us discuss (Page 125)

1. 📝 Fill out the table below based on the postcards written by Shaana.

   Answer:

• Thajiwas Glacier, Kashmir: Stunning white and blue glaciers; having fun throwing snowballs.

• Himachal Pradesh: Beautiful mountain views, chirping birds, and the sound of growling bears in the distance.

• Arunachal Pradesh: Trekking through dense, thick forests to arrive at a beautiful treehouse.

• Gujarat: Extremely hot and dry terrain that looks like a waterless ocean; mesmerised by bright, colourful dresses.

• The Narmada River: Enjoyed a thrilling but slightly scary family river rafting adventure.

• Chennai: A breathtaking view of the Pamban Bridge stretching over the ocean.

• Olaikaadu Beach: Floating on the water, observing fish; her parents went for a scuba dive.

Let us think and reflect (Pages 126-127)

I. Read the extracts below and answer the corresponding questions.

Extract 1: Amma tells me that places like the Sundarbans are called wetlands...

1. 😲 What emotion is Shaana expressing when she writes, “I never knew such a place existed…”?

   A. pride | B. hope | C. relief | D. wonder

   Answer: D. Wonder

2. 🌧️ Complete the sentence: Amma is sad about the frequent flooding in the Sundarbans because ____________.

   Answer: the region is now experiencing heavy and frequent floods due to climate changes.

3. 🐊 Pick the sentence from the text that shows the speaker is feeling a little nervous.

   Answer: The line "I hope they don’t follow us home" highlights her slight anxiety about encountering wild animals like crocodiles and a lonely snake.

4. 🧠 Choose the correct option regarding the Assertion and Reason.

   Assertion: The speaker misses her friends.

   Reason: The speaker asks about the well-being of her friends.

   Answer: A. Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion.

   (Explanation: When Shaana asks, "Are you missing me yet?", it indicates she is thinking fondly of them and missing their company as well).

Extract 2: Amma and Appa are fast asleep, and I should be sleeping too...

1. 🚂 Complete the sentence: The speaker chooses to stay awake because ____________.

   Answer: she wants to admire the gorgeous views of the plateaus, beaches, and hills outside her window.

2. 🌄 What does the speaker mean when she says, ‘you won’t believe how nice the plateaus look’?

   Answer: She means that the plateaus are so extraordinarily beautiful that her friends would likely find it hard to believe without seeing it with their own eyes.

3. 🚇 How has the speaker's attitude towards tunnels changed?

   A. from fear to comfort | B. from courage to confidence | C. from doubt to clarity | D. from fascination to delight

   Answer: A. from fear to comfort.

4. 🤝 Fill in the blanks: The speaker’s desire to share a tour of the plateaus indicates her ____________ (ability to communicate/sense of connection) and the value she places on ____________ (shared experiences/updating information) with her peers.

   Answer: sense of connection; shared experiences.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. 🕳️ Shaana mentions she used to be terrified of tunnels. What is the most likely reason for this fear?

   Answer: Like most young children, Shaana was probably afraid of the sudden pitch-black darkness that happens when a train enters a tunnel.

2. 👨‍👩‍👧 Do you think Shaana’s parents enjoyed the trip as much as kids do? Provide evidence.

   Answer: Yes, her parents thoroughly enjoyed themselves like children. The text mentions them playfully throwing snowballs, splashing water, and enthusiastically going scuba diving.

3. 🌍 Shaana notices less snow in the glaciers and increased flooding in the Sundarbans. What do these observations signify?

   Answer: These alarming observations point directly to the negative impacts of global warming and climate change on our environment.

4. 🇮🇳 Shaana’s travels highlight India’s geographical diversity. Back this statement up with text evidence.

   Answer: Her journey beautifully showcases India's varied terrains. She travels from the freezing, icy glaciers of Kashmir to the lush green forests of Arunachal Pradesh. She also witnesses the watery wetlands of the Sundarbans, the arid desert of Gujarat, and scenic coastal beaches.

5. 🗣️ How does Shaana use language to express her excitement, curiosity, and fears during the trip?

   Answer: Shaana uses vibrant and energetic words to convey her thrill. She asks constant questions to show her curiosity and uses short, slightly anxious sentences to depict her fears. She actively describes her sensory experiences (sights and sounds) to bring the locations to life.

6. 🎒 What lessons did Shaana likely learn from her travels, and how does it alter her understanding of India?

   Answer: She likely gained a deep appreciation for India’s massive cultural and geographical diversity, as well as an awareness of pressing environmental issues. This broadens her perspective on the country's richness and the importance of preserving its natural beauty.

7. 📭 What is the author’s main purpose in formatting the story as a series of postcards?

   Answer: Presenting the text as postcards makes the story highly personal and relatable. It provides quick, vivid snapshots of Shaana's adventures, making the readers feel as though they are receiving updates and travelling right alongside her.

Let us learn (Pages 128-131)

1. 🖼️ Match the text words in Column 1 with the corresponding pictures in Column 2.

   Answer: (Students will visually match the vocabulary with the respective images provided in their NCERT textbooks).

2. 🔠 Match the given situations to the correct vocabulary words from the text.

   Answer:

• 1. A little boy heard a loud noise at night and was too scared to sleep. ➔ Scary

• 2. A bookstore near my house recently shifted to the main town. ➔ Existed

• 3. The bright car lights made her quickly open and shut her eyes. ➔ Blink

• 4. The kids jumped into the pool, throwing water at one another noisily. ➔ Splashed

• 5. My grandmother’s village, with its green fields, is a wonderful experience. ➔ Amazing

• 6. The clouds in the sky were slowly moving from one place to another. ➔ Floating

3. 🧩 Find the six travel-related words hidden in the word grid.

   Answer: (Students will complete this fun word-search activity directly in their textbooks).

4. ✍️ Underline the subject and the verb in the following sentences.

• 1. Amma and Appa are fast asleep. ➔ Subject: Amma and Appa | Verb: are

• 2. It’s hot, dry, and there is sand everywhere. ➔ Clause 1 Subject: It | Verb: is. Clause 2 Subject: There | Verb: is.

• 3. There are so many hills here, and beaches too. ➔ Subject: so many hills and beaches | Verb: are

5. ✔️ Choose the correct verb option from the brackets.

   Answer:

• 1. A pair of sunglasses is essential when travelling to sunny destinations.

• 2. Either the tour guide or the tourists have to arrive first at the meeting point.

• 3. The information on travel expenses is useful for first-time travellers.

• 4. Neither the flight crew nor the pilot was aware of the delay.

• 5. The news about the heavy rains makes many people reconsider their vacation plans.

• 6. A pair of binoculars is useful for spotting wildlife on a safari.

• 7. The hill stations in India remain a popular travel destination during winter.

• 8. Keeping accounts is important for spending money wisely during travel.

• 9. Either the ticket or the bus passes need to be used for travelling in the tourist bus.

• 10. Neither the passengers nor the taxi driver was aware of the best route to the hotel.

Let us listen (Pages 131-132)

1. 🎧 Listen to the audio about Agartala and agarwood, then select the correct options.

   Answer:

• 1. What does the word ‘Agartala’ mean? ➔ (i) under the agar tree

• 2. Which is another name for agarwood trees? ➔ (i) gharuwood

• 3. What kind of smell does agarwood have? ➔ (ii) woody and flowery

• 4. How is agarwood formed? ➔ (iii) when the tree gets infected

• 5. What is agarwood used to make? ➔ (ii) perfumes and wood carvings

Let us speak (Pages 132-133)

1. 🗣️ Work in pairs and discuss your travel preferences using the provided conversational phrases.

   Answer: (These are suggestive responses)

• How do you like to travel? I prefer to travel by bus because it is affordable and offers lovely window views.

• What kind of a trip do you like? I would rather go on a school trip than a family trip because exploring with my friends is so much fun.

• Where would you like to go? I like mountains better than beaches as the cool, fresh air really appeals to me.

• What do you like to do on a trip? Sightseeing appeals to me more than adventure activities because I love discovering history and culture.

• When do you like to travel? I am alright with both, but I prefer winter because the cool weather makes walking and exploring much easier.

• What kind of places would you like to visit? Given a choice, I would go for historical monuments over wildlife sanctuaries because ancient architecture fascinates me.

• How long of a trip would you like? Long trips are better than short trips because they give me ample time to relax and truly experience a place.

Let us write (Page 133)

1. ✍️ Write a formal application to your school Principal requesting a leave of absence to attend a family event in your hometown.

   Answer:

D-150, Sector-15 Noida, (U.P.)

1st September 2025

The Principal,

Rosebud Public School,

Karol Bagh, New Delhi

Subject: Request for 5 Days Leave of Absence

Respected Madam,

I am writing to formally request a leave of absence for five days, effective from 7th September 2025 to 12th September 2025. The reason for this leave is to travel to my hometown to attend an important family wedding.

I would like to assure you that I will be responsible for catching up on all missed lessons and will complete my pending schoolwork by collecting notes from my classmates.

I would be highly grateful if you could kindly grant me this leave.

Yours sincerely,

Sunny

Class 7A

Roll No. 34

Let us explore (Pages 134-135)

1. 🧩 Solve the crossword puzzle by identifying the respective States and Union Territories of India.

   Answer:

• Across: 2. Ladakh (Pangong Lake), 7. Rajasthan (Thar Desert), 9. Puducherry (Serenity Beach), 11. Karnataka (Hampi), 12. Telangana (Nagarjuna Sagar Dam), 14. Sikkim (Thangka Paintings), 15. Gujarat (Rann of Kutch), 16. Bihar (Nalanda University).

• Down: 1. Mizoram (Dampa Tiger Reserve), 3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Cellular Jail), 4. Meghalaya (Double Decker Living Root Bridge), 5. Goa (Dudhsagar Falls), 6. Uttarakhand (Gangotri Glacier), 8. Odisha (Chilika Lake), 10. Jharkhand (Chota Nagpur Plateau), 13. Haryana (Kurukshetra).

2. 🏛️ Research unique historical or ancient places in your state/region and share them with the class.

   Answer: (Students will perform this activity independently based on their local geographical region).

3. 🦅 Group Activity: Find out more about the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland (when it's held, participants, purpose, events).

   Answer: (Students will research this vibrant cultural festival online or in the library to learn more about Nagaland's heritage).