# Travel and Adventure

## Overview
This chapter explores the spirit of exploration and discovery through an adventure story, a reflective poem, and a powerful biography. Students learn about courage, nature, imagination, and perseverance. The key segments are:
- A fictional story "The Tunnel" by Ruskin Bond
- A lyrical poem capturing the yearning for travel
- A biography of Arunima Sinha's mountaineering feat

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Story: *The Tunnel* by Ruskin Bond

#### Summary
Suraj, a curious boy, travels by bicycle to a jungle tunnel to watch a steam train pass through. Fascinated by its power and beauty, he decides to walk through the tunnel. Inside, he experiences darkness, dampness, and encounters bats and lizards. After exiting, he thinks he sees a leopard.

He meets the watchman, Sunder Singh, who is responsible for checking the tunnel before trains pass. They become friends, and Sunder Singh tells Suraj about a leopard that occasionally visits the area but is not dangerous.

That evening, Suraj returns to the tunnel to witness the night mail train. As they wait, they hear sounds suggesting the leopard is in the tunnel. To prevent the animal from being run over, Sunder Singh and Suraj enter the tunnel, shouting to drive it out. They spot the leopard and it retreats into the forest.

Later, Suraj travels by train with his father and remembers the tunnel, spotting Sunder Singh's lamp—like a firefly—marking the presence of his friend.

#### Themes
- Adventure and curiosity
- Courage and compassion
- Friendship between different generations
- Respect for nature

#### Characters
- **Suraj**: A brave, inquisitive boy drawn to mystery and exploration.
- **Sunder Singh**: A kind and responsible watchman with deep knowledge of jungle life.
- **Leopard**: A recurring, gentle presence symbolizing nature's independence.

#### Vocabulary and Sound Words
- **Shimmered**: Shined with a light that moves
- **Embankment**: A wall to support railway tracks
- **Scuttled**: Moved quickly
- **Snarling**: Growling aggressively
- **Puffing**: Emitting steam in short bursts
- **Rustle**: Soft crackling sound from dry leaves

#### Grammar and Language Focus
- Use of **past habits** with “would” (e.g., “He would walk the tunnel…”)
- **Punctuation practice**: use of colons and semicolons
- **Articles**: Use of 'a', 'an', and 'the' in descriptive writing

#### Creative and Reflective Activities
- Writing a paragraph on a train journey
- Pair conversations using direction vocabulary
- A Diamante poem connecting “reading” and “adventure”
- Describing interesting characters met while travelling

#### Values and Skills
- Courage and presence of mind
- Importance of responsibility and alertness
- Empathy for wildlife
- Bonding across ages and roles

## 2. Poem: *The Railroad Track* by Edna St. Vincent Millay

### Summary
The poem captures the poet's deep emotional connection with trains. Whether it's day or night, the poet hears the whistle and sees the sparks of a train, even if it’s not physically present. Despite having good friends, the poet expresses a desire to take any train, suggesting a deep yearning for travel and adventure.

### Themes
- Desire for exploration
- Power of imagination
- Freedom and movement
- Connection with the unknown

### Literary Devices
- **Imagery**: "cinders red on the sky", "day is loud"
- **Personification**: the whistle "shrieking"
- **Rhyme Scheme**: ABAB

### Vocabulary and Expressions
- **Shrieking**: high-pitched sound
- **Cinders**: small burnt pieces from the engine
- **Whistle**: the loud sound from a train
- **Flickering lights**: dim and unstable lights, usually seen from distant homes

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## 3. Biography: *Conquering the Summit – Arunima Sinha*

### Summary
Arunima Sinha, a national-level volleyball player, lost one leg in a tragic train accident. Despite the life-altering incident, she vowed to climb Mount Everest. With intense training, she achieved this feat in 2013, becoming the world’s first female amputee to do so. She later climbed peaks on all seven continents.

Her story is one of extreme courage, resilience, and the power of goal-setting. Her autobiography *Born Again on the Mountain* reflects this incredible journey.

### Key Milestones
- Lost her leg in 2011
- Trained at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
- Mentored by Bachendri Pal
- Scaled Mount Everest on 21 May 2013
- Completed the Seven Summits in 2019
- Received Padma Shri and other national honors

### Values and Messages
- Inner strength is more important than physical strength
- Never give up, no matter the odds
- Goals must be worthy to make struggles meaningful
- Adversity can transform lives if met with willpower

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## New Words / Terms (with simple definitions)

| Term | Definition |
|------------------|------------|
| Embankment | A raised wall to support railway lines |
| Scuttled | Moved quickly or hurriedly |
| Puffing | Releasing steam in bursts |
| Resilience | Ability to recover from problems |
| Prosthetic leg | Artificial leg used for walking |
| Beacon | A symbol of hope or guide |
| Cinders | Burnt bits from the train engine |
| Sinewy | Lean and muscular |
| Fortitude | Strong courage over a long time |
| Autobiography | A book someone writes about their own life |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)
1. **What animal did Suraj think he saw near the tunnel?**
**Answer:** A leopard
**Explanation:** After coming out of the tunnel, Suraj saw a flash of orange and gold with a swishing tail.

2. **Who was the watchman Suraj met?**
**Answer:** Sunder Singh
**Explanation:** Sunder Singh was the watchman responsible for checking the tunnel.

3. **What was Arunima Sinha's major achievement?**
**Answer:** She climbed Mount Everest with a prosthetic leg.
**Explanation:** She became the first Indian female amputee to scale Mount Everest.

### Medium (2)
4. **What makes Sunder Singh compare the jungle’s safety to the city?**
**Answer:** He says he was almost run over by a bus in town, while nothing happens to him in the jungle.
**Explanation:** This contrast highlights the unpredictability of urban life versus his calm forest routine.

5. **Why is Suraj unable to shout in the tunnel at first?**
**Answer:** His throat was dry due to fear.
**Explanation:** The sudden fear of facing a leopard made him speechless.

### Difficult (3)
6. **What does the repeated train imagery in the poem suggest?**
**Answer:** It reflects the speaker’s deep longing for travel and adventure.
**Explanation:** Despite being surrounded by people, the speaker dreams of leaving.

7. **How did the watchman and Suraj drive away the leopard?**
**Answer:** By shouting loudly and advancing with a lamp and axe.
**Explanation:** Their noise scared the leopard, which ran away.

8. **What is the symbolic meaning of the lamp at the tunnel?**
**Answer:** It represents Sunder Singh’s constant presence and guidance, like a firefly.
**Explanation:** Suraj sees it from the train and feels reassured.

### Very Difficult (2)
9. **What do Arunima’s words, “You have conquered the Everest within you,” mean?**
**Answer:** It means that overcoming inner fear and limitations is the real victory.
**Explanation:** Her mentor Bachendri Pal recognized her inner strength.

10. **How does the poem contrast day and night in relation to the train?**
**Answer:** Day is noisy but the train is imagined; night is quiet yet the train is felt more vividly.
**Explanation:** The poet's connection with the train is stronger than just physical sound.

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