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The Cherry Tree

NCERT Class 8 · English Based on NCERT Class 8 English textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter is a story by Ruskin Bond about a boy named Rakesh who plants a cherry seed and watches it grow into a tree over several years, facing challenges like harsh weather, a goat, and a grass-cutter. It exists in the syllabus to teach students about patience, care for nature, and the bond between humans and the environment. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that nurturing something with love and effort brings joy and a sense of wonder, and that nature is resilient if given a chance.
Key Concepts (17)
stunted
Stopped from growing to the usual size.
e.g. The dry cold winds stunted the growth of most plants in the Himalayan foothills, so trees were small.
outskirts
The areas that form the edge of a town or city.
e.g. Rakesh lived with his grandfather on the outskirts of Mussoorie, just where the forest began.
yielding
Giving way under pressure; soft.
e.g. The earth in the shady corner was soft and yielding, so Rakesh did not have to dig to plant the seed.
tang
A strong, sharp taste.
e.g. Rakesh rolled the cherry seed in his mouth until all the tang had gone.
haunches
Sit on the feet with legs bent.
e.g. Rakesh went down on his haunches to look at the tiny cherry tree.
peered down
Looked carefully or with difficulty.
e.g. Grandfather bent almost double and peered down at the tiny tree.
plodded
Walked slowly.
e.g. Rakesh plodded to and from school in raincoat and chappals during the monsoon rains.
scrambled
Moved quickly and with difficulty.
e.g. A woman cutting grass scrambled down the hillside.
scythe
A tool with a long, sharp, curved blade with a long handle.
e.g. The woman's scythe swished through the heavy monsoon foliage and cut the cherry tree in two.
foliage
Green leaves.
e.g. The woman's scythe swished through the heavy monsoon foliage.
praying-mantis
An insect.
e.g. Rakesh found a bright green praying-mantis perched on a branch of the cherry tree.
grumpy
Bad-tempered.
e.g. When the road was blocked and there was no newspaper, Grandfather became quite grumpy.
gazed
Looked at something for a long time with admiration.
e.g. Rakesh and Grandfather gazed at the cherry tree as though it had performed a miracle when they saw the first blossom.
flitted
Flew quickly.
e.g. Birds like bulbuls and scarlet minivets flitted in and out of the foliage, feasting on the cherries.
reclining
Lying back.
e.g. Grandfather was reclining on a cane chair under the cherry tree.
nightjar
A bird.
e.g. Rakesh and Grandfather waited in silence until the nightjar began to call.
cicadas
Insects known for their loud distinctive calls, especially during evenings.
e.g. In the forest below, the crickets and cicadas began tuning up.
How It Works
Planting a Cherry Seed
  1. Step 1: Rakesh ate cherries and kept the last seed in his mouth until the tang was gone.
  2. Step 2: He placed the seed on his palm and studied it.
  3. Step 3: Grandfather advised him to plant the seed instead of keeping it.
  4. Step 4: Rakesh found a shady corner where the earth was soft and yielding.
  5. Step 5: He pressed the seed into the soil with his thumb.
  6. Step 6: He watered the seed and circled it with pebbles for privacy.
💡 Students often forget that Rakesh did not dig a hole; he pressed the seed into the soft soil with his thumb. Also, the pebbles were for privacy, not decoration.
Growth and Challenges of the Cherry Tree
  1. Step 1: The seed sprouted into a tiny tree about four inches high after winter.
  2. Step 2: Rakesh watered it and circled it with pebbles.
  3. Step 3: The tree grew slowly at first, then quickly during the monsoon rains.
  4. Step 4: A goat ate all the leaves, leaving only the main stem and two thin branches.
  5. Step 5: The tree grew new leaves, but a woman cutting grass cut it in two with her scythe.
  6. Step 6: Despite these setbacks, the tree sent out new shoots and grew again.
  7. Step 7: By the time Rakesh was nine, the tree was almost as tall as him and produced a pale pink blossom.
  8. Step 8: The following year, there were more blossoms, and the tree grew taller than Rakesh and then taller than Grandfather.
  9. Step 9: The tree bore small, sour cherries that the birds enjoyed.
💡 Students often miss that the tree faced TWO major damages: a goat eating its leaves and a woman cutting it in two. Both times, the tree survived because cherry trees are tough.
The Relationship Between Rakesh and Grandfather
  1. Step 1: Rakesh lived with his grandfather in Mussoorie because there was no school in his village.
  2. Step 2: Grandfather told Rakesh stories in the evening, and Rakesh read the newspaper to Grandfather because his eyesight was weak.
  3. Step 3: Grandfather gave advice, like planting the seed and not drowning the tree.
  4. Step 4: Grandfather comforted Rakesh when the tree was damaged, saying cherry trees are tough.
  5. Step 5: They shared moments of wonder, like when the first blossom appeared.
  6. Step 6: At the end, they sat together under the tree, and Grandfather explained that the tree was special because they planted it themselves.
💡 Students should note that the relationship is built on mutual care and learning. Grandfather teaches Rakesh about life, and Rakesh helps Grandfather with his eyesight.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing the order of events
✗ Students often write that the goat ate the leaves after the woman cut the tree, or that the tree blossomed before the monsoon.
→ The story has a clear chronological order: first the goat, then the woman, then the tree grows back, then blossoms appear in February when Rakesh turns nine.
✓ The correct sequence is: Rakesh plants the seed → tree sprouts → goat eats leaves → woman cuts tree → tree regrows → first blossom appears on Rakesh's ninth birthday.
⚠ Misunderstanding 'tang'
✗ Students write that 'tang' means the seed's texture or smell.
→ The text clearly says 'until all the tang had gone' referring to the strong, sharp taste of the cherry seed.
✓ Tang means a strong, sharp taste. Rakesh rolled the seed in his mouth until the taste was gone.
⚠ Thinking the tree died after being cut
✗ Students write that the cherry tree died after the woman cut it with her scythe.
→ The text says 'the cherry tree had no intention of dying' and it sent out new shoots with tender green leaves.
✓ The cherry tree survived being cut in two. It sent out several new shoots with tender green leaves by the next summer.
⚠ Confusing 'pebbles' purpose
✗ Students write that Rakesh circled the tree with pebbles to protect it from animals or to mark the spot.
→ The text explicitly states Rakesh said 'For privacy' when Grandfather asked why he put pebbles.
✓ Rakesh circled the cherry tree with pebbles for privacy.
⚠ Misinterpreting 'Is this what it feels to be God?'
✗ Students write that Rakesh thought he was God or that he wanted to be God.
→ Rakesh is expressing wonder at the miracle of creation—that from one small seed, he helped grow a whole tree. He feels a sense of awe and power like a creator.
✓ Rakesh's question shows his amazement at the miracle of growth and creation. He feels a sense of wonder and responsibility, as if he has participated in an act of creation.
Compare & Contrast
Emotional response to the tree's growth
Rakesh's feelings when the tree first sprouted
Rakesh's feelings when the tree blossomed
When the tree first sprouted, Rakesh was surprised and excited, running to fetch Grandfather. When the tree blossomed, Rakesh and Grandfather gazed at it as though it had performed a miracle, showing deeper awe and wonder.
Response to damage to the cherry tree
Grandfather's reaction to the goat eating the leaves
Grandfather's reaction to the woman cutting the tree
When the goat ate the leaves, Grandfather calmly said 'Never mind, cherry trees are tough.' When the woman cut the tree, Grandfather went after her and scolded her, showing he was more upset because the damage was more severe.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Very Short Answer (1 mark), 1 Short Answer (2-3 marks), 1 Long Answer (5 marks) on theme or character
Most asked: The sequence of events in the story · The relationship between Rakesh and his grandfather · The challenges faced by the cherry tree and how it survived · The moral or message of the story (patience, care for nature, resilience) · Character sketch of Rakesh or Grandfather
Don't skip: Long answer question on the theme: 'What does the story teach us about patience and caring for nature?'; Character sketch of Rakesh or Grandfather; Describe the challenges the cherry tree faced and how it overcame them
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Rakesh was six years old when he bought cherries from the Mussoorie bazaar and planted the last seed in a shady corner of his grandfather's garden.
  2. Grandfather told Rakesh, 'Nothing is lucky if you put it away. If you want luck, you must put it to some use.'
  3. The cherry tree first sprouted when Rakesh was seven, and it was about four inches high.
  4. A goat ate all the leaves of the young cherry tree, but Grandfather said cherry trees are tough.
  5. A woman cutting grass cut the cherry tree in two with her scythe, but the tree sent out new shoots.
  6. The first pale pink blossom appeared on the cherry tree in February when Rakesh turned nine.
  7. The cherry tree grew taller than Rakesh and then taller than Grandfather.
  8. Rakesh let a praying-mantis stay on the tree because it was the tree's first visitor.
  9. Rakesh removed a hairy caterpillar from the tree and told it to come back when it was a butterfly.
  10. Grandfather became grumpy when winter blocked the road and there was no newspaper.
  11. Rakesh and Grandfather sat under the cherry tree, and Grandfather said it was special because they planted it themselves.
  12. At the end of the story, Rakesh touched the tree and whispered, 'Is this what it feels to be God?'
  13. The cherry tree bore small, sour cherries that the birds, like bulbuls and scarlet minivets, enjoyed.
  14. Rakesh's parents sent him to live with his grandfather in Mussoorie because there was no school in their village.
  15. The story is set in the Himalayan foothills near Mussoorie, where the soil was stony and dry cold winds stunted plant growth.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. Where did the cherries that Rakesh bought come from?

  • A. The Kashmir Valley ✓
  • B. The local Mussoorie market
  • C. His grandfather's garden
  • D. His parents' village

Answer: A — The text states the cherries were small and bright red ones that had come from the Kashmir Valley.

Q2. Why was Rakesh sent to stay with his grandfather in Mussoorie?

  • A. His parents did not want to care for him
  • B. To attend school, as there were no schools in his parents' village ✓
  • C. To learn farming from his grandfather
  • D. Because the weather in the village was too harsh

Answer: B — The text clearly states Rakesh's parents were keen he should go to school, and since there were no schools in their village, they sent him to Mussoorie.

Q3. What did Rakesh do with the last cherry seed after eating the cherries?

  • A. He threw it away in the garden
  • B. He kept it in his mouth, rolling it on his tongue until all taste was gone ✓
  • C. He gave it to his grandfather to plant
  • D. He buried it under the cottage

Answer: B — The text states Rakesh kept the seed in his mouth for some time, rolling it round and round on his tongue until all the tang had gone.

Q4. Why did Grandfather advise Rakesh not to plant the cherry seed in the flowerbed where mustard was sown?

  • A. The soil there was too stony for seeds
  • B. Grandfather had already planted mustard in that bed ✓
  • C. The flowerbed was in direct sunlight
  • D. Cherry trees cannot grow near mustard plants

Answer: B — Grandfather specifically said, 'I've sown mustard in that bed,' indicating the bed was already occupied and the seed should be planted elsewhere.

Q5. Which of the following is NOT a challenge the cherry tree faced in the story?

  • A. A goat ate all its leaves
  • B. It was cut in two by a woman cutting grass
  • C. It was planted in poor, stony soil ✓
  • D. It grew very slowly at first

Answer: C — The tree was planted in a shady corner with soft, yielding earth, not in poor stony soil; the other three challenges are clearly described in the text.

Q6. What does Rakesh's statement 'For privacy' when circling the tree with pebbles reveal about his character?

  • A. He believed pebbles kept animals away from the plant
  • B. He showed a tender, imaginative care for the tree by giving it personal space and protection ✓
  • C. He was trying to copy something his grandfather had taught him
  • D. He wanted to hide the tree from the grass-cutting woman

Answer: B — Rakesh's imaginative phrase shows his emotional connection and protective care for the young plant, treating it almost like a person needing privacy.

Q7. What causes the cherry tree to grow quickly during the second growing season?

  • A. Rakesh watered it more frequently
  • B. The monsoon rains came early and provided abundant moisture ✓
  • C. Grandfather gave it special fertilizer from his garden
  • D. The soil became less stony over time

Answer: B — The text explicitly states 'The cherry tree grew quickly in this season' referring to the monsoon rains season when conditions were favourable.

Q8. How does the cherry tree demonstrate resilience after the grass-cutter damages it?

  • A. It produces flowers immediately to recover its strength
  • B. Rakesh replants a new seed in the same spot
  • C. By summer, it sends out several new shoots with tender green leaves ✓
  • D. Grandfather protects it with a fence so no one harms it again

Answer: C — Despite being cut in two, the tree's natural resilience allows it to send out new shoots and leaves by the following summer.

Q9. Rakesh stopped looking carefully at the cherry tree after planting it because—

  • A. He forgot about it completely and never thought of it again
  • B. He was busy with school and cricket with his friends
  • C. It seemed to grow too slowly, so he only glanced at it casually, but it had actually grown significantly when he looked properly ✓
  • D. His grandfather told him not to look at plants while they were growing

Answer: C — The text shows Rakesh stopped careful observation due to slow initial growth, but when he finally looked properly, he was surprised to find it had grown an inch.

Q10. What is the deeper significance of Grandfather's statement 'Nothing is lucky if you put it away. If you want luck, you must put it to some use'?

  • A. Lucky charms only work if you show them to other people
  • B. Seeds are not truly lucky objects and should not be treated as such
  • C. Luck requires action and effort; passive possession of something is meaningless without doing something with it ✓
  • D. Grandfather believed in luck as a scientific principle that responds to physical actions

Answer: C — This statement teaches that luck, opportunity, and gifts only matter when you actively use them and take responsibility for them, a life lesson embedded in the story's message.

Flashcards

What were the two main reasons Rakesh came to live with his grandfather in Mussoorie?

His parents wanted him to attend school (no schools in their village) and to receive proper education away from their farm.

Why did Grandfather say 'Nothing is lucky if you put it away'?

He meant that luck only works when you take action and use it, not when you just keep something without doing anything with it.

How did Rakesh care for the newly sprouted cherry tree?

He watered it carefully with a bucket and circled it with pebbles, which he said was for privacy.

What happened to the cherry tree during the monsoon rains?

It grew very quickly because the monsoon rains provided plenty of moisture and favourable growing conditions.

How did the cherry tree survive being eaten by the goat?

Grandfather said cherry trees are tough, and the tree grew new leaves again after losing all its foliage.

What does the woman cutting grass do that damages the cherry tree?

She cuts the tree in two with her scythe in a single sweep while cutting monsoon grass on the hillside.

Why did Rakesh stop looking carefully at the cherry tree after planting it?

Because the tree seemed to be growing very slowly, so he only looked at it out of the corner of his eye.

What is the geographical setting where Rakesh's grandfather's cottage is located?

It is on the outskirts of Mussoorie in the Himalayan foothills, where the forest of oak and deodar trees begins.

How does Grandfather communicate with Rakesh in the winter evenings?

Grandfather tells Rakesh stories about magical things while Rakesh reads the newspaper to him because Grandfather's eyesight is weak.

What makes the cherry tree cut by the grass-cutting woman finally sprout again?

By summer, the tree sent out several new shoots with tender green leaves, showing its natural ability to recover and grow.

Important Board Questions

What does Grandfather mean when he tells Rakesh, 'Nothing is lucky if you put it away. If you want luck, you must put it to some use'? How does this advice lead to planting the cherry seed? [2 marks]

Explain that luck requires action, not passive keeping. Show how Rakesh applies this by choosing to plant the seed instead of just storing it.

Describe the different challenges the cherry tree faces in the story and explain how Grandfather's wisdom helps Rakesh accept them without losing hope. [3 marks]

List three obstacles (goat eating leaves, grass-cutter cutting tree, slow growth). Show how Grandfather's statements like 'cherry trees are tough' and 'It will grow again' teach Rakesh patience and resilience.

Analyze how the story of the cherry tree serves as a metaphor for growth, patience, and environmental responsibility. What does Rakesh learn through caring for the tree, and how does his relationship with his grandfather deepen because of this experience? [5 marks]

Explain how small, consistent action (planting, watering) creates lasting change. Show how Grandfather's stories and guidance shape Rakesh's character. Connect this to environmental themes—planting trees in a harsh mountain region creates hope and beauty.

Assertion-Reason Questions for The Cherry Tree

Q1. Assertion (A):

Rakesh planted the cherry seed in a shady corner of the garden.

Reason (R):

The shady corner had soft, yielding earth that did not need digging, and Grandfather wanted to avoid disturbing the tree's growth in already-occupied spaces.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The text states Rakesh went to 'a corner of the garden where the earth was soft and yielding' and that Grandfather specifically asked him to plant it 'in that shady corner, where it won't be disturbed' because the flowerbed had mustard seeds. The reason correctly explains why this location was chosen.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The cherry tree survived being cut in two and eventually grew new shoots with leaves.

Reason (R):

Grandfather told Rakesh that cherry trees are made of magical wood that can repair itself instantly.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true—the text clearly states the tree grew new shoots after being cut. However, the reason is false. Grandfather said cherry trees are 'tough,' referring to their resilience and ability to recover naturally through biological growth, not magic. The survival came from the tree's natural resilience, not magical properties.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Rakesh's observation method of the cherry tree changed from constant watching to occasional glancing to proper observation.

Reason (R):

He stopped looking at the tree frequently because he became disinterested in its growth and wanted to play instead.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true based on the text, but the reason does not correctly explain the assertion. Rakesh changed his observation method because the tree 'did not seem to be growing very fast,' so he stopped looking directly to avoid disappointment. He eventually looked again and was surprised to see significant growth. His method change was due to patience and managing expectations, not disinterest.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for The Cherry Tree

Case Study:

A school science club in Mussoorie decided to start a tree-growing project. Students were given seeds of different plants to grow at home and document their progress. Priya received a seed similar to Rakesh's cherry seed. For the first two weeks, she watered it daily and checked it constantly, but saw no visible growth. Frustrated, she nearly gave up. However, after two months of consistent but less frequent care during the monsoon season, she discovered the plant had grown significantly. She realized that patient, regular care was more important than anxious, frequent monitoring.

Q1. What is the main similarity between Priya's experience and Rakesh's experience with planting seeds?

  • A. Both students gave up on their plants after two weeks
  • B. Both learned that consistent, patient care over time produces better results than frequent anxious monitoring ✓
  • C. Both plants grew at exactly the same speed
  • D. Both received seeds from the Mussoorie bazaar

Answer: B

Q2. Why did Priya's plant grow better during the monsoon season?

  • A. Because she started watering it less frequently
  • B. Because the natural moisture and rainfall of the monsoon season supported plant growth, similar to what helped Rakesh's cherry tree ✓
  • C. Because the rain washed away the soil
  • D. Because she moved the plant to a different location

Answer: B

Q3. What lesson about patience can be learned from both Rakesh's and Priya's experiences?

  • A. Growth takes time, and constant anxious observation can discourage people; regular care and patience yield better results ✓
  • B. Checking plants every day helps them grow faster
  • C. Seeds never grow into plants without magical help
  • D. Plants should be abandoned if they don't show growth in two weeks

Answer: A

Q4. If Priya had given up on her plant in the first two weeks like she almost did, what would NOT have happened?

  • A. She would have missed the significant growth during monsoon season
  • B. She would have learned the importance of patience and persistent care
  • C. She would have successfully grown the plant to maturity
  • D. Both A and B ✓

Answer: D

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