CBSE Class 7 English Chapter 1 The Tiny Teacher NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 7 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 7 English, Chapter 1: 'The Tiny Teacher'. It delves into the fascinating world of ants, exploring their social structure, daily routines, and the lessons they offer. The solutions cover comprehension checks, explaining complex phrases, completing sentences, and answering questions about ant behavior, communication, and their role in the ecosystem. It also touches upon the concept of ants as pets and their communication methods. The chapter highlights teamwork, hard work, and discipline as key takeaways from observing ants. These solutions are designed to help students understand the chapter thoroughly and prepare effectively for their English examinations by offering clear explanations and structured answers.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 7
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 1- The Tiny Teacher

Chapter summary

Chapter 1, 'The Tiny Teacher', in CBSE Class 7 English NCERT Solutions focuses on the intricate life of ants. The solutions explain the social hierarchy, daily activities, and communication methods of ants. Students will find answers to comprehension questions, learn about the ant's life cycle, and understand the importance of teamwork, hard work, and discipline as exemplified by these tiny creatures. The exercise section encourages discussion on keeping ants as pets and their communication, along with a poem about animal homes.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the social structure and daily life of ants.
  • Explain the meaning of phrases related to ant behavior.
  • Identify and describe the jobs performed by different ants.
  • Analyze the communication methods used by ants.
  • Learn about the importance of teamwork, hard work, and discipline from ants.
  • Complete a poem about animal habitats.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Ants as teachers
  • Ant life cycle
  • Ant colony structure
  • Ant communication
  • Teamwork and cooperation
  • Hard work and discipline
  • Ants as pets
  • Animal habitats
  • Comprehension skills
  • Vocabulary enrichment

Important topics

  • Understanding ant society and roles
  • Lessons of teamwork and discipline from ants
  • Ant communication methods
  • Ant life cycle and development
  • Interpreting figurative language

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Questions and Solutions

Comprehension Check - Question 1

The story of an ant's life sounds almost untrue. The italicised phrase means:
  1. highly exaggerated.
  2. too remarkable to be true.
  3. not based on facts.
Solution: The phrase 'almost untrue' suggests that the description of an ant's life is so extraordinary and detailed that it seems difficult to believe. Therefore, the correct meaning is ii. too remarkable to be true.

Comprehension Check - Question 2

Complete the following sentences:
  1. An ant is the smallest,

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  2. We know a number of facts about an ant's life because

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Solution: Completing the sentences based on the chapter:
  1. An ant is the smallest, the commonest but the wisest insect.
  2. We know a number of facts about an ant's life because people have kept ants as pets and have watched their daily behaviour closely.

Comprehension Check - Question 3

In what ways is an ant's life peaceful?
Solution: An ant's life is considered peaceful because ants within the same group do not fight with each other. They diligently perform their own tasks, understand the value of sharing and contribution, and do not interfere with the work of others, contributing to a harmonious existence.

Comprehension Check - Question 4

How long does it take for a grub to become a complete ant?
Solution: It takes approximately five to six weeks for a grub to fully develop into a complete ant.

Comprehension Check - Question 5

Why do the worker ants carry the grubs about?
Solution: The worker ants carry the grubs about daily for several important reasons: to provide them with fresh air, to allow them to exercise, and to expose them to beneficial sunshine.

Comprehension Check - Question 6

What jobs are new ants trained for?
Solution: New ants are trained for various essential roles within the colony. These jobs include becoming workers, soldiers, builders, and cleaners, ensuring the smooth functioning and survival of the anthill.

Comprehension Check - Question 7

Name some other creatures that live in anthills.
Solution: Besides ants, several other creatures share the anthill environment. These include beetles, lesser breeds of ants, and greenflies.

Comprehension Check - Question 8

Mention three things we can learn from the 'tiny teacher'. Give reasons for choosing these items.
Solution: We can learn several valuable lessons from ants, the 'tiny teachers':
  1. Teamwork: Ants work together by sharing tasks and contributing without interfering in each other's work, demonstrating effective cooperation.
  2. Hard Work: Ants dedicate most of their time to their specific jobs without hesitation, showing a strong commitment to their responsibilities.
  3. Discipline: Ants live highly disciplined lives, always adhering to the rules of their group and remaining loyal to it, which is crucial for colony survival.

Exercise - Question 1

Discuss the following topics in groups:
  1. (i) What problems are you likely to face if you keep ants as pets?
  2. When a group of bees finds nectar, it informs other bees of its location, quantity, etc. through dancing. Can you guess what ants communicate to their fellow ants by touching one another's feelers?
Solution: These questions are designed for group discussion and personal reflection.
  1. Problems keeping ants as pets: Potential problems include difficulty in providing the right environment (temperature, humidity), ensuring a suitable diet, managing their social needs, potential for escape, and the ethical considerations of keeping wild creatures confined.
  2. Ant communication: By touching each other's feelers, ants likely communicate information about food sources (location, quality), potential dangers, the need for help, or signals related to colony tasks and social status. This tactile communication is vital for their coordinated activities.

Exercise - Question 2

Complete the following poem with words from the box below. Then recite the poem.

Soldiers live in barracks And birds in —————, Much like a snake that rests In a —————. No horse is able To sleep except in a —————. And a dog lives well, Mind you, only in a —————. To say 'hi' to an ant, if you will, You may have to climb an —————.

Words: hole, kennel, nests, anthill, stable

Solution: Here is the completed poem with the correct words filled in:

Soldiers live in barracks And birds in nests, Much like a snake that rests In a hole. No horse is able To sleep except in a stable. And a dog lives well, Mind you, only in a kennel. To say 'hi' to an ant, if you will, You may have to climb an anthill.

Common mistakes

  • Misinterpreting idiomatic phrases related to ant life.
  • Difficulty in recalling specific details about ant behavior and life cycle.
  • Struggling to articulate the lessons learned from ants.
  • Incomplete answers for discussion-based questions.

Revision tips

  • Read the chapter 'The Tiny Teacher' carefully to grasp the details of ant life.
  • Review the solutions for comprehension questions to ensure accurate understanding of facts.
  • Pay attention to the explanations of ant communication and social structure.
  • Practice completing the poem with the correct words for animal homes.
  • Discuss the exercise questions in groups to develop critical thinking.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What does the phrase 'almost untrue' suggest about the story of an ant's life?

Q2. According to the text, which of these is NOT a characteristic of an ant?

Q3. Why do worker ants carry grubs outside daily?

Q4. Which of the following is mentioned as a job for new ants?

Q5. What can we learn from ants regarding their work?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of Chapter 1, 'The Tiny Teacher'?

The main theme of Chapter 1, 'The Tiny Teacher', is to highlight the remarkable social structure, hard work, discipline, and teamwork of ants, presenting them as 'teachers' from whom humans can learn valuable life lessons.

How do the NCERT Solutions for 'The Tiny Teacher' help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all comprehension and exercise questions, helping students understand the chapter's content deeply, learn about ant behavior, and prepare effectively for their English exams.

What are the key characteristics of an ant mentioned in the chapter?

The chapter describes ants as the smallest, commonest, and wisest insects. They are known for their hard work, discipline, teamwork, and contribution to their group.

What can be learned from the ants' way of life?

From ants, one can learn the importance of teamwork, sharing, contribution, hard work, discipline, and loyalty towards one's group or community.

How do ants communicate with each other?

Ants communicate with each other primarily by touching each other's feelers, which helps them convey information about food sources, dangers, or other colony needs.

What is the purpose of the poem in the exercise section?

The poem in the exercise section helps students learn about the different homes or habitats of various creatures, including soldiers, birds, snakes, horses, dogs, and ants, reinforcing vocabulary related to these.

Important links

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.