CBSE Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 5: Golu Grows a Nose NCERT Solutions

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

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 7 PDF

This chapter, 'Golu Grows a Nose' from the Class 7 English textbook 'An Alien Hand', narrates the whimsical story of Golu, a baby elephant who desires a nose. The NCERT Solutions provide detailed answers to the exercises, helping students understand Golu's curiosity and his encounters with various animals. The solutions cover Golu's interactions with birds, his hippopotamus uncle, and the wise mynah who advises him to visit the Limpopo River. Students will learn about Golu's encounter with a cunning crocodile and how he eventually gets his long trunk from a helpful elephant. These solutions are designed to clarify the narrative, explain character motivations, and ensure students grasp the key events and lessons from the chapter, making exam revision more effective.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 7
Subject	An Alien Hand
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	5. Golu Grows a Nose

Chapter summary

Chapter 5, 'Golu Grows a Nose,' from the Class 7 English 'An Alien Hand' textbook, focuses on a young elephant's quest for a nose. The NCERT Solutions cover the chapter's exercises, detailing Golu's interactions with different animals, his journey to the Limpopo River, and his encounter with a crocodile. The solutions explain how Golu ultimately receives his long trunk, providing clear answers to comprehension questions about the story's events and characters.

Learning outcomes

Understand the story of Golu's quest for a nose.
Identify the characters Golu interacts with and their responses.
Explain the reasons behind Golu's actions and his relatives' reactions.
Describe Golu's journey to the Limpopo River and his encounter with the crocodile.
Recognize the role of the elephant in helping Golu.
Answer comprehension questions based on the narrative.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Golu's curiosity
Animal interactions
The Limpopo River
The crocodile's trick
The elephant's trunk
Character development
Story comprehension
Problem-solving

Important topics

Golu's quest for a nose
The crocodile's deception
The role of the elephant
Understanding animal behavior
Answering comprehension questions

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Questions and Solutions

Q1

Whom does Golu ask, "Why don't you ever fly like other birds?"

Solution: Golu, the curious baby elephant, asks this question to the ostrich. He is puzzled because most birds he sees can fly, and he wonders why the ostrich doesn't join them in the sky.

Q2

Which uncle of Golu had red eyes?

Solution: The hippopotamus is the uncle of Golu who is described as having red eyes. Golu encounters him while seeking answers about his nose.

Q3

Golu's relatives did not answer his questions because

(i) they were shy.

(ii) the questions were too difficult.

(iii) Golu was a naughty baby

Solution: Golu's relatives did not answer his questions because (ii) the questions were too difficult. Golu was very curious and asked many questions that his family members found hard to answer.

Q4

Who advised Golu to go to the Limpopo river?

Solution: The mynah bird advised Golu to go to the Limpopo river. Seeing that Golu's relatives could not help him, the mynah suggested this journey to find answers.

Q5

Why did Golu go to the river?

Solution: Golu went to the Limpopo river for two main reasons: firstly, to see a crocodile, and secondly, to find out what the crocodile ate for its dinner, as he was seeking answers to his persistent questions.

Q6

The crocodile lay on the bank of the Limpopo river. Golu thought it was

(i) a living crocodile

(ii) a dead crocodile

(iii) a log of wood.

Solution: When Golu saw the crocodile resting on the riverbank, he thought it was (iii) a log of wood. He was not aware that it was a real, living crocodile.

Q7

What did the crocodile do to show that it was a real crocodile?

Solution: To convince Golu that it was a real crocodile and not a log of wood, the crocodile shed crocodile tears. This is a famous expression associated with crocodiles pretending to be sad.

Q8

"Come here, little one, and I'll whisper the answer to you." The crocodile said this because

(i) he couldn't stand up.

(ii) he wanted to eat Golu.

(iii) Golu was deaf.

Solution: The crocodile said, "Come here, little one, and I'll whisper the answer to you" because (ii) he wanted to eat Golu. This was a cunning trick to lure the unsuspecting baby elephant closer so he could capture and eat him.

Q9

Who helped Golu on the bank of the river?

Solution: On the bank of the Limpopo river, after his frightening encounter with the crocodile, Golu was helped by a large elephant. This elephant provided assistance and guidance.

Q10

Name two things the elephant can do with his trunk, and two he cannot.

Solution: The elephant can use its trunk for several purposes.

Things the elephant can do with its trunk:

Lift food and bring it to its mouth.
Pick up heavy objects.
Spray water over itself for a bath.

Things the elephant cannot do with its trunk:

Scratch itself, as it cannot reach all parts of its body.
Smell properly when it is too far away.

Common mistakes

Confusing the reasons why Golu's relatives did not answer him.
Misidentifying the animal that advised Golu to go to the Limpopo River.
Incorrectly stating what the crocodile did to prove it was real.
Confusing the actions an elephant can and cannot do with its trunk.

Revision tips

Read the story 'Golu Grows a Nose' carefully to understand the plot.
Review the solutions to ensure you can answer all comprehension questions accurately.
Pay attention to the descriptions of the animals Golu meets and their dialogue.
Understand the sequence of events, especially Golu's journey and his transformation.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Who did Golu ask, "Why don't you ever fly like other birds?"

Q2. Which of Golu's relatives had red eyes?

Q3. Why did Golu's relatives not answer his questions?

Q4. Who advised Golu to visit the Limpopo River?

Q5. What did Golu initially mistake the crocodile for?

Q6. How did the crocodile try to convince Golu it was real?

Q7. Who ultimately helped Golu get his long nose (trunk)?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main story of Chapter 5, 'Golu Grows a Nose'?

Chapter 5 tells the story of Golu, a baby elephant who is curious about why he doesn't have a long nose like other elephants. He embarks on a journey to find out, encountering various animals and eventually getting his trunk.

Who advised Golu to go to the Limpopo River?

A mynah bird advised Golu to go to the Limpopo River to find the answer to his questions about his nose.

What trick did the crocodile use on Golu?

The crocodile pretended to be friendly and offered to whisper the answer to Golu. It also shed crocodile tears to make Golu believe it was sad and harmless, while actually planning to eat him.

How did Golu get his long nose?

Golu met a large elephant at the Limpopo River who helped him. The elephant showed Golu how to use his newly grown long nose, which is now called a trunk.

Why are these NCERT Solutions helpful for Class 7 students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all the questions in Chapter 5, 'Golu Grows a Nose.' They help students understand the story, characters, and events, aiding in their studies and exam preparation.

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