Suraj had to turn and look back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside. Ahead of him, the tunnel's other opening was just a small round circle of light. The tunnel was still full of smoke from the train, but it would be several hours before another train came through. Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again. Suraj didn't stop, because there was nothing to do in the tunnel and nothing to see. He had simply wanted to walk through, so that he would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like.
Write whether the following statement is true or false. Suraj looked back at the opening of the tunnel to check if the train was coming.
False. Suraj looked back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside, not to check if the train was coming.
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence given below. Suraj did not stop anywhere in the tunnel because ____.
A. there was nothing to see in the tunnel
What does the sentence 'Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again' mean?
The sentence means that in the time between train passages, the railway cutting and tunnel area return to their natural state. The jungle reclaims the space—animals, birds, and nature take over until the next train temporarily disrupts the peace. It emphasizes how the human-made structure is only temporarily used by trains and otherwise remains part of the natural jungle environment.
Suraj wanted to know the inside of the tunnel. What character trait of Suraj is highlighted here?
Suraj's curiosity and adventurous spirit are highlighted here. He is eager to explore and experience new things firsthand rather than just imagining them. His desire to walk through the tunnel simply 'to know what the inside of a tunnel was really like' shows his inquisitive nature and willingness to seek direct experiences.
Explanation
(i) The text clearly states that Suraj 'had to turn and look back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside.' The tunnel was pitch dark, and he needed the reassurance of seeing daylight to feel safe, not to check for an approaching train. (ii) The text explicitly states: 'Suraj didn't stop, because there was nothing to do in the tunnel and nothing to see.' The tunnel was dark, damp, and empty except for a bat and a lizard, giving Suraj no reason to pause during his walk. (iii) The chapter describes how trains temporarily disturb the jungle, but 'the cutting belonged to the jungle again' in the intervals between trains. This poetic phrase shows the coexistence between the railway and nature—the jungle is the permanent inhabitant, while trains are temporary visitors. (iv) The text reveals Suraj's character through his actions: 'He had simply wanted to walk through, so that he would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like.' This shows he is curious, adventurous, and prefers experiential learning over passive observation.