Here is a new blog post in Class 7th English. “An Alien Hand” is Chapter 10 taken from the newly introduced textbook Melody English for students of Class 7th of JKBOSE and Honeycomb English for NCERT students. Jayant Narlikar an Indian astrophysicist and emeritus professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics wrote it. This post concerns An Alien Hand Chapter 10 Summary and Question Answers. In my previous post, you read about A Tiger in the House Summary and Question Answers with you. So, let’s not waste any more time and get started with today’s post.
An Alien Hand Chapter Summary and Question Answers
Introduction
“An Alien Hand” is a tale about a young boy named Tilloo and his family encountering a spaceship from another world on Mars. The chapter focuses on an extraterrestrial being. However, it’s important to clarify whether this alien is from Earth or a different planet. The story draws inspiration from NASA’s Viking 1 and Viking 2 missions to Mars. These missions aimed to discover any hints of life by examining soil samples on the red planet.
An Alien Hand Chapter 9 Word Meaning
| Word | English Meaning | Hindi Meaning | Urdu Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission | a particular task assigned to a person or a group | उद्देश्य | مہم |
| Spacecrafts | a vehicle that travels in space | अंतरिक्ष यान | خلائی جہاز |
| Siesta | afternoon nap | दोपहर की झपकी | دوپہر کی جھپکی |
| Barred | stopped | रोका गया | روکا گیا |
| Evading | escaping from | बच निकालना | بچنا |
| Beckon | call with a gesture | इशारे से बुलाना | ایشارے سے بولنا |
| Snatch | take forcibly | छीनना | چھیننا |
| Detected | identified | पता लगाया | پتہ لگایا |
| Intruder | one who enters without permission | बिना अधिकार के प्रवेश करनेवाला | بغیر کسی اختیار کے داخل ہونے والا |
| Escort | accompany for protection | सुरक्षा के लिए साथ देना | حفاظت کے لیے ساتھ دینا |
| Equipped | with necessary instruments | सुसज्जित | لیس |
| Reservoir | tank | जलाशय | ٹینکی |
| Sustenance | capacity to live | जीविका | رزق |
| Hostile | unfriendly | प्रतिकूल | مخالف |
| Artificial | man-made | कृत्रिम | مصنوعی |
| Sufficient | enough | पर्याप्त | کافی |
| Trajectory | path described by a moving object | प्रक्षेप पथ | رفتار |
| Archives | a collection of documents or records | अभिलेखागार, दस्तावेज़ों या अभिलेखों का संग्रह | دستاویزات یا ریکارڈز کا مجموعہ |
| Impotently | helplessly | निर्बलता से | نامردی سے |
| Vantage | advantageous | सहूलियत | سہولت |
| Orbiting | going around | परिक्रमा | چکر لگانا |
| Unoperational | unable to work | अक्रियाशील | غیر فعال |
| Irresistible | that which cannot be resisted | अप्रतिरोध्य | ناقابلِ مزاحمت |
| Hitch | problem | बाधा | رکاوٹ |
| Malfunction | working problem | खराबी | خرابی |
An Alien Hand Chapter 9 Summary in English
Tilloo’s life on Mars was unlike anything we experience on Earth. His family resided beneath the planet’s surface, shielded from the harsh environmental conditions that made life on the surface nearly impossible. Only a select few, equipped with special suits, were permitted to venture onto the Martian terrain, carrying reservoirs of precious oxygen to sustain them during critical tasks. Among these skilled individuals was Tilloo’s father.
Tilloo, a curious young boy, had always harboured a fascination with the surface of Mars. The forbidden allure of the planet’s exterior beckoned to him, a realm where the sun and stars existed beyond the confines of their underground habitat. Despite his persistent yearning, Tilloo’s desire to explore the Martian surface was always met with a resolute denial from his parents.
One day, an opportunity presented itself to Tilloo. He managed to acquire his father’s security card, a key to the secret passage leading to the surface. His heart pounding with excitement, quietly he made his way to the forbidden passage. He slipped his father’s magic card into a slot. The door to the passage opened.
Eager to witness the sun and stars for the first time, Tilloo took tentative steps into the forbidden realm. However, his brief foray into the surface world was abruptly cut short as the vigilant security staff apprehended him. Defying the rules had consequences, and Tilloo found himself swiftly returned to the safety of his subterranean home, his dreams of the surface momentarily shattered.
Understanding the gravity of Tilloo’s yearning, his father took it upon himself to brief him properly. He told Tilloo that he couldn’t survive on the surface. The air was too thin and the temperature was too low there. So, he advised him not to try again to reach the surface of the planet.
In a poignant conversation, Tilloo’s father recounted the history of Mars, a planet once inhabited by forefathers on the surface. However, environmental changes, possibly triggered by alterations in the sun, disrupted the delicate balance of nature. The repercussions were severe – birds vanished, animals followed suit, and even the fish perished. Human beings, resilient in their reliance on advanced technology, managed to survive. Solar energy machines, positioned on the surface, played a crucial role in sustaining life beneath the Martian crust.
Tilloo’s father promised his son – a future where Tilloo could join the team responsible for maintaining these vital machines. However, this promise came with a condition: unwavering obedience to his parents, a prerequisite for participating in the crucial work on the Martian surface.
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Tilloo’s father, engaged in his duties on the surface, encounters a momentous event. The Control Room is abuzz with excitement as two alien spacecraft approach Mars. The previously held belief that Mars was devoid of other life forms is shattered. The President, surrounded by a room full of anxious faces, announces the presence of these spacecraft, speculating that they might be from a neighbouring planet.
A collective decision must be made on how to handle this unprecedented situation. The Défense Chief advises against destroying the spacecraft, revealing that they house instruments, not living beings. The fear of exposing their existence to potential extraterrestrial observers tempers the urge to obliterate the alien crafts. As they deliberate, news arrives that the first spacecraft has landed on Martian soil.
On this historic day, Tilloo finds himself in the Control Room, witnessing the unfolding events on a TV screen. The control panel, adorned with coloured buttons, becomes the focal point of attention. Tilloo’s father explains its significance – the power to render inert any part of the alien spacecraft lies in those buttons. Excitement reaches a crescendo as a mechanical hand emerges from one of the crafts, making contact with the Martian soil.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Tilloo impulsively presses a red button on the panel. A shrill whistle pierces the air, and his father, reacting swiftly, pulls him away. The red button is restored to its initial position, but the damage is irreversible – the mechanical hand of the alien spacecraft ceases to function.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, NASA holds press conferences to address the situation. The revelation that the spacecraft is of Earthly origin comes as a surprise. Despite initial setbacks, including the malfunction of the mechanical hand, NASA remains optimistic about the mission’s success. A subsequent press conference announces the reactivation of the mechanical hand, now collecting soil samples to determine the presence of life on Mars.
However, Earth’s Viking Mission disappoints scientists as the collected soil samples yield no signs of life on the Red Planet. The quest for extraterrestrial life, while met with technological achievements and scientific exploration, remains unfulfilled in this Martian tale.
An Alien Hand Class 7th Chapter 9 Question Answers
Comprehension Check Page No. 69
1. How does Tilloo manage to find his way to the ‘forbidden passage’?
Ans. One day while his father was taking a nap. Tilloo managed to get hold of his father’s security card. He then evaded his mother’s watchful eye and went to the passage.
2. What did Tilloo hope to see once he emerged from his underground home?
Ans. Tilloo knew that the passage led to the surface of the planet. So, he hoped that he would be able to see the sun (if it was day) or stars (if it was night) once he emerged from his underground home.
3. Why did Tilloo’s father advise him not to try to reach the surface of the planet?
Ans. Tilloo’s dad told him not to go to the planet’s surface because it’s too dangerous. He said regular people like Tilloo wouldn’t make it because the air is too thin, and it’s so cold that someone could freeze to death.
4. What changes had occurred, that forced people to live in underground homes?
Ans. The sun changed a little, upsetting the natural balance. This caused animals and plants to die out. People had to live underground to survive, or they would have also disappeared.
Page No. 71
1. Why was everyone in the Control Room greatly excited?
Ans. People in the Control Room were very excited when Tilloo’s father returned to work. because they had seen two spacecraft coming towards their planet.
2. Was the spacecraft manned or unmanned? How do you know it?
Ans. The spaceship didn’t have people inside; it was unmanned. Number One informed the President that their observations indicated the spacecraft had instruments on board.
3. What did Number One and Number Two suggest should be done about the alien spacecraft?
Ans. Number One suggested they should allow the spaceship to land on their planet because there might be no harm. Destroying it right away wouldn’t be smart. If the spacecraft turned out to be dangerous, they could stop it from working when it landed. Number Two suggested not interfering and just watching. Since they didn’t know what the spaceship wanted, destroying it could cause problems. Revealing their presence might lead to something bad later on.
Page No. 73
1. What do you think the mechanical hand was trying to do?
Ans. The mechanical hand was trying to gather pieces of Martian soil. These samples would be sent to NASA scientists to check if there might be life on Mars.
2. Tilloo pressed the red button and “the damage was done”. What was the damage?
Ans. Tilloo’s dad said that the buttons on the control panel could mess up the spacecraft if it acted up. The red button made the mechanical hand stop working.
3. Where had the spacecraft come from?
Ans. The spacecraft had come from the planet Earth. It was sent by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, America).
4. On which planet do Tilloo and his parents live?
Ans. Tilloo and his parents live on planet Mars with thin air, freezing cold and no animals on the surface.
Textual Exercises Page No. 73
Discuss the following topics in groups.
1. If you had to live in a home-like Tilloo’s, what parts of life would you find most difficult? What compensations might there be?
Ans. The tough parts about this kind of life would be no fresh air, no stars, sun, or moon in the sky, no rain, and no seasons like winter or summer. Also, there wouldn’t be any animals, plants, or natural surroundings. It would be pretty boring and fake. The only good thing might be having a set temperature and controlled air.
2. What, if anything, might drive mankind to make their homes underground?
Ans. If the Sun grows cold, life on Earth would be in danger of extinction. The temperature will go below freezing point. People will be forced to live underground with an assured supply of oxygen, light and heat.
3. Do you think there is life on other planets? Can you guess what kind of people there may be on them? In what ways are they likely to be different from us?
Ans. I believe there could be living things on other planets. Scientists are doing a lot of research to find out if this is true. People from different countries who study space are always trying to find any signs of life. They’ve sent spacecraft to the moon and Mars to look for clues. If there are living things on other planets, they would be very different from us because they’ve lived in different environments and adapted in their own way.
That’s it about An Alien Hand Chapter Summary and Question Answers. Hope it has helped. Do share your views about this post in the comment section below.
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