CBSE Class 7 English: The Bear Story NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 7 PDF

This chapter, "The Bear Story," from the CBSE Class 7 English curriculum, narrates the tale of a lady and her pet bear. The solutions provided cover all the exercises, detailing the bear's upbringing from a helpless cub found in the forest to a well-behaved, amiable pet. The solutions explain the bear's diet, his allowed and disallowed activities, and the circumstances under which he was chained. A significant part of the solutions focuses on a humorous misunderstanding where the lady mistakes another bear for her pet. These NCERT Solutions offer clear, step-by-step explanations for each question, aiding students in comprehending the narrative, character traits, and plot points, making it an excellent resource for exam preparation and revision.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 7
Subject	An Alien Hand
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	8. The Bear Story

Chapter summary

Chapter 8, "The Bear Story," NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English focuses on a narrative about a lady's pet bear. The exercises cover the bear's rescue and upbringing, its amiable nature despite being a wild animal, its diet, and the rules it had to follow. The solutions also delve into the reasons for the bear being chained and a key incident involving a mistaken identity. These solutions provide clear answers to comprehension questions, helping students understand the story's events and themes.

Learning outcomes

Understand the narrative of "The Bear Story."
Identify the characteristics of the pet bear.
Explain the reasons behind the bear's actions and punishments.
Analyze the misunderstanding between the lady and the two bears.
Comprehend the details of the bear's diet and daily routine.
Answer comprehension questions based on the story.

Topics covered

Paper topics

The Bear Cub's Rescue
Bear's Upbringing
Amiable Nature of the Bear
Bear's Diet
Bear's Restrictions
Reasons for Chaining the Bear
Mistaken Identity Incident
Lady's Reaction
Cook's Affection for the Bear
Unusual Pets Discussion
Bear's Fear Analysis

Important topics

The bear's amiable nature and interactions
The incident of mistaken identity
Reasons for the bear's restrictions and chaining
Understanding the narrative and character motivations

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Questions and Solutions

Q1

Where did the lady find the bear cub? How did she bring it up?

Solution: The lady discovered the bear cub in the forest. It was very small, weak, and close to death from starvation. The lady and the old cook had to feed it using a bottle to nurse it back to health and raise it.

Q2

The bear grew up but "he was a most amiable bear". Give three examples to prove this.

Solution: The bear was indeed a very friendly and gentle creature, as proven by the following examples:

He never harmed anyone, even when cattle grazed nearby. He would simply watch them with his intelligent eyes in a friendly manner.
Children often rode on his back and sometimes fell asleep comfortably between his paws inside his kennel.
The three dogs in the household loved to play with him. They would pull his ears and tail, teasing him in various ways, but the bear never got upset or minded their playful antics.

Q3

What did the bear eat? There were two things he was not allowed to do. What were they?

Solution: The bear's diet consisted of various food items such as bread, porridge, potatoes, cabbage, and turnips. However, there were two specific activities he was forbidden to do:

He was not permitted to pluck apples from the trees. He later learned that this action was illegal.
He was also strictly prohibited from touching the beehives. For attempting to do so, he was punished by being put on a chain.

Q4

When was the bear tied up with a chain? Why?

Solution: The bear was typically tied up with a chain during the night. Additionally, he was also chained on Sundays. His mistress decided to chain him on Sundays because she would often spend the afternoon visiting her married sister. She felt it was not advisable for the bear to roam freely in the forest, as it presented too many temptations for him to get into trouble.

Q5

What happened one Sunday when the lady was going to her sister's house? What did the lady do? What was the bear's reaction?

Solution: One Sunday, as the lady was on her way to her sister's house, she encountered a bear moving at a fast pace. Mistaking it for her own pet bear, and already running late for lunch, the lady became very angry. She scolded the bear and ordered it to go back. Noticing that the bear had even lost its new collar further infuriated her. In her anger, she struck the bear on its nose with her parasol, which consequently broke into two pieces. The bear reacted by opening its mouth several times, as if trying to communicate something, before turning around and continuing on its way.

Q6

Why was the bear looking sorry for himself in the evening? Why did the cook get angry with her mistress?

Solution: In the evening, the bear appeared to be sorry for himself because he had been kept chained the entire day and was unable to engage in his usual activities. When his mistress returned, she scolded him further, believing he was the bear she had seen earlier and that he deserved to remain chained for two more days as punishment. The cook, who was very fond of the bear and treated him like her own child, could not tolerate seeing him treated this way. This is why she became angry. She informed her mistress that the bear had behaved very well throughout the day, staying near his kennel and patiently waiting for her return.

Discuss The Following Topics In Groups Q1

Most people keep dogs and cats as pets. Can you think of some unusual pets that people keep?

Solution: While dogs and cats are common pets, people also keep a variety of unusual animals. These can include reptiles like snakes, lizards, and turtles; birds such as parrots and exotic species; small mammals like hamsters, guinea pigs, and ferrets; and even some larger or more exotic animals like hedgehogs, sugar gliders, or certain types of fish and insects, depending on local regulations and the owner's ability to care for them properly.

Discuss The Following Topics In Groups Q2

The second bear did not attack the lady because he was afraid of her. Do you agree?

Solution: It is unlikely that the second bear did not attack the lady solely out of fear. While wild animals can be unpredictable, the bear's reaction of opening its mouth as if to speak and then turning away suggests it might have been surprised, confused, or perhaps even startled by the lady's aggressive actions and the broken parasol. It's also possible the bear was not particularly aggressive by nature or was simply not interested in confronting the lady further after the initial encounter.

Common mistakes

Confusing the pet bear with the wild bear in the story.
Misinterpreting the lady's anger and actions towards the bear.
Not recalling specific details about the bear's diet or restrictions.

Revision tips

Read the story carefully to grasp the sequence of events.
Pay attention to the descriptions of the bear's behavior and personality.
Understand the context of the lady's decisions regarding the bear.
Review the solutions to ensure accurate comprehension of plot points and character interactions.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Where was the bear cub found by the lady?

Q2. Which of the following best describes the bear's nature?

Q3. What was one of the things the bear was NOT allowed to do?

Q4. Why was the bear sometimes tied up with a chain?

Q5. What happened when the lady encountered a bear on a Sunday afternoon?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of "The Bear Story"?

The main theme revolves around the relationship between humans and animals, focusing on the upbringing of a wild animal as a pet, the misunderstandings that can arise, and the nature of companionship.

How was the bear cub found and raised?

The lady found the bear cub in the forest, half-dead from hunger. She and the old cook raised it using a bottle.

Why did the lady get angry with the bear on Sunday?

She encountered a bear on her way to her sister's house and, being late and in a bad mood, mistakenly believed it was her pet bear, leading to her anger and scolding.

What did the cook say to defend the bear?

The cook told the mistress that the bear had been good all day, stayed by his kennel, and waited for her return, contradicting the mistress's assumption that he had been wandering.

What does 'amiable' mean in the context of the bear?

In the context of the story, 'amiable' means friendly, pleasant, and good-natured. The bear showed this by not harming anyone and tolerating the children and dogs playing with him.

Are the discussion questions in the chapter meant to be answered directly?

The discussion questions are intended for group activities and personal reflection, encouraging students to think critically about related topics rather than providing a single correct answer.

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