Supplementary Chapter 2 Class 7 NCERT: Bringing Up Kari

Story Overview: Bringing Up Kari

M. Krishnan brings home a baby crocodile, only six inches long, and names it Kari. At first, Kari is kept in a cistern and later shifted to a bigger tank as it grows. The author observes Kari's diet — it eats fish, meat, and frogs — and its odd behaviour of remaining still for long hours, only to move suddenly when hungry or disturbed.

As Kari grows bigger and stronger, it becomes difficult to handle. It develops a habit of climbing out of its tank at night and hiding in unexpected corners of the house, giving the family quite a fright. Eventually, since a full-grown crocodile cannot be kept safely as a pet, the author decides to release Kari back into a river, ending the story on a bittersweet note of care, responsibility, and letting go of something you love once it belongs to nature.

Theme and Author's Message

Important Word Meanings

Cistern

A tank or container used for storing water; here, used as a temporary home for baby Kari.

Marsh crocodile

A type of crocodile (also called mugger) found in marshes, rivers, and lakes of the Indian subcontinent.

Voracious

Having a huge appetite; eating a large amount of food eagerly.

Reptile

A cold-blooded animal with scaly skin that lays eggs, such as crocodiles, snakes, and lizards.

Torpid

Inactive or sluggish; showing little movement, as Kari often did when resting.

Worked Examples: Answering Comprehension Questions

• Q: How did the author get Kari? A: Step 1: Recall the opening of the story — the author received Kari as a small baby crocodile, only six inches long, likely given by someone or found near a water body. Step 2: Frame the answer using the story's detail: 'The author, M. Krishnan, got Kari when it was a tiny baby crocodile about six inches in length.' Step 3: Add why he kept it — out of curiosity and love for observing animals. Final answer: The author received Kari as a six-inch-long baby crocodile and decided to raise it, driven by his interest in animals and nature.
• Q: Describe Kari's typical behaviour as observed by the author. A: Step 1: Note two contrasting behaviours mentioned in the text — stillness and sudden activity. Step 2: Explain that Kari would stay motionless for hours, appearing almost lifeless (torpid). Step 3: Explain that it became active and quick, especially while eating or trying to escape. Final answer: Kari usually remained still and inactive for long periods but would suddenly become alert and fast when it sensed food or wanted to move, showing the typical patient-hunter nature of crocodiles.
• Q: Why did the author finally release Kari? A: Step 1: Identify the cause — Kari grew too large and started escaping the tank at night. Step 2: Connect the effect — it became unsafe and impractical to keep a full-grown crocodile at home. Step 3: State the resolution — the author released Kari into a river to let it live naturally in the wild. Final answer: As Kari grew bigger and increasingly difficult to manage safely at home, the author released it into a river, understanding that a full-grown crocodile belongs in the wild, not in a household tank.

Exam Tip: Writing 'In Your Own Words' Answers

Many students lose marks by copying sentences directly from the textbook instead of paraphrasing. For chapters like 'Bringing Up Kari', CBSE examiners specifically check if you understood the sequence of events (getting Kari → raising it → problems as it grew → releasing it). Always answer in 3-4 complete sentences, mention the reason behind an action (not just the action), and avoid one-word or incomplete answers, since comprehension questions from supplementary readers carry 2-3 marks each and need full context.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing 'Kari' with an alligator — the story clearly states it is a marsh crocodile (mugger), not an alligator.
• Writing only 'because it grew big' for the release — always mention BOTH growth in size AND the safety/escaping problem for full marks.
• Ignoring the naturalist tone of M. Krishnan — questions on 'author's purpose' expect you to mention his interest in wildlife observation, not just storytelling.
• Skipping vocabulary-in-context questions — word meanings in this chapter are often tested with a sentence, so practice using words like 'voracious' and 'torpid' in your own sentences.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What kind of animal was Kari, and where do such animals usually live? A: Step 1: Identify the animal type from the text — a marsh crocodile (mugger). Step 2: Recall its natural habitat — marshes, rivers, ponds, and lakes in India. Step 3: Combine facts into a complete answer. Final answer: Kari was a marsh crocodile (mugger), a reptile that usually lives in marshes, rivers, ponds, and lakes across the Indian subcontinent.
• Q: How did the size of Kari's home change as it grew? A: Step 1: Recall that Kari started in a small cistern when it was a baby. Step 2: Note that as it grew bigger and stronger, the author had to shift it to a larger tank to accommodate its size. Step 3: Mention the reason — a growing crocodile needs more space and cannot be confined to a small container. Final answer: Kari was first kept in a small cistern as a baby, but as it grew bigger and more active, the author moved it to a larger tank to give it enough space to live comfortably and safely.
• Q: What problems did the family face because of Kari's growing size? A: Step 1: Identify the key problem — Kari began climbing out of its tank at night. Step 2: Explain the consequence — it would hide in unexpected corners of the house, startling family members. Step 3: Link this to the final decision of releasing it. Final answer: As Kari grew larger, it started escaping its tank at night and hiding in different parts of the house, frightening the family and making it clear that keeping a full-grown crocodile at home was unsafe and impractical.
• Q: What does the chapter 'Bringing Up Kari' teach us about caring for wild animals? A: Step 1: Think about the emotional and practical lessons in the story. Step 2: Mention that while wild animals can be cared for with patience and love when small, they eventually need to live in their natural environment. Step 3: Connect this to the idea of responsible pet-keeping. Final answer: The chapter teaches that wild animals like crocodiles can be raised with care and curiosity when young, but as they grow, true love for them means recognising their need to live freely in nature rather than being confined at home.
• Q: Use the word 'voracious' in a sentence based on the chapter's context. A: Step 1: Recall the meaning — having a huge appetite. Step 2: Connect it to Kari's eating habits described in the story. Step 3: Frame a grammatically correct sentence. Final answer: Kari was a voracious eater, quickly finishing every fish and piece of meat that the author gave it.

Section 8

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