Chapter 12

                                                       Suraj And Tutu


A. Comprehension – Questions from the Story

1. Who are the main characters in the story?
Answer: The story’s main characters include Suraj, a young boy from Sabalpur, his father Mangal, and the dolphins Gangu and Tutu. Mangal works as a fisherman, and Suraj accompanies him to learn fishing. Gangu and Tutu, the dolphins, play a significant role by helping Suraj when he faces danger in the river.

2. Where does the story take place?
Answer: The story is set in a village named Sabalpur, located on the banks of the river Ganga. The river is very important in the story as it provides a living for the villagers and serves as the natural habitat for the dolphins.

3. Why did Suraj go fishing alone one day?
Answer: Suraj went fishing alone because his father, Mangal, was unwell that day. Usually, they went fishing together, but due to his father’s illness, Suraj had to fish by himself.

4. What happened to Suraj while he was fishing?
Answer: While Suraj was fishing alone, his boat capsized due to the rough river and high waves. Unable to swim, he struggled in the water and feared for his life.

5. Who saved Suraj from drowning?
Answer: Suraj was saved from drowning by a dolphin called Gangu. The dolphin guided him to the riverbank, ensuring his safety even though he could not swim.

6. How did Suraj react when the dolphin saved him?
Answer: At first, Suraj felt scared, but he soon thanked the dolphin for rescuing him. This event became the start of a friendly bond between Suraj and the dolphins.

7. What is the name of the young dolphin?
Answer: The young dolphin is named Tutu. She is the daughter of Gangu and forms a friendship with Suraj during their talk.

8. How did Suraj and Tutu become friends?

Answer: Suraj and Tutu became friends when Suraj thanked Gangu for rescuing him. They conversed, introduced themselves, and talked about their lives. Suraj showed interest in Tutu, and she gladly agreed to be his friend.

9. Is a dolphin a fish? Why or why not?
Answer: No, a dolphin is not a fish. It is a mammal since it breathes air through a blowhole, bears live young, and feeds them with milk. Unlike fish, dolphins do not lay eggs.

10. How do dolphins breathe?
Answer: Dolphins take in air through a blowhole on the top of their head. They surface to breathe in and out, unlike fish, which use gills to get oxygen from water.

11. Do dolphins live only in the Ganga River?
Answer: No, dolphins are not found only in the Ganga. They inhabit many rivers and seas, such as the northern and far eastern seas, the Black Sea, and the Baltic Sea. Some of the dolphins living in the sea can grow to several meters long.

12. What do dolphins eat?
Answer: Dolphins feed on fish. They possess around 140 needle-like teeth used to catch and hold their prey, but they do not chew it. Instead, they swallow the fish whole.

13. How do dolphins communicate?
Answer: Dolphins talk to each other underwater using clicks and whistles. They rely on echolocation, listening to the echoes of these sounds to locate food and move around.

14. How do dolphins see underwater?
Answer: Dolphins do have eyes, but their vision underwater is not as clear as that of humans. They depend on sound and echolocation to find food and navigate.

15. How do dolphins help one another?
Answer: Dolphins are friendly and social creatures. They gather in groups to support each other while hunting and to safeguard one another from danger. Whenever a dolphin faces trouble, the others quickly come to help.

16. What dangers do dolphins face in the Ganga?
Answer: Dolphins in the Ganga are threatened by pollution, which can make them sick, and by fishermen, whose nets may trap and injure them. Tutu explains that her father died after being caught in a large net.

17. How does Suraj feel about the dolphins?
Answer:Suraj feels curious and amazed by the dolphins. After they rescue him, he forms a friendship with them and gains knowledge about their lifestyle, habits, and the difficulties they face.

18. What does Tutu teach Suraj about echolocation?
Answer: Tutu tells Suraj that dolphins produce clicking sounds underwater and use the returning echoes to locate food and move around. This technique helps them overcome their poor vision underwater.

19. How does Suraj learn about the dolphin’s life?

Answer:Suraj discovers the life of dolphins by talking with Tutu. She describes their food habits, ways of communication, social interactions, places they live, and the dangers they face, giving Suraj a clear understanding of their life.

20. How does the story end?
Answer: The story concludes with Tutu going back to her mother, Gangu. She assures Suraj that they will meet again, marking the start of a lasting friendship between him and the dolphins.

B. Think and Write – Answers

21. Why did Suraj go to fish alone?
Answer: Suraj had to fish alone as his father, Mangal, was unwell and unable to go with him.

22. Who saved Suraj’s life?
Answer: Suraj’s life was saved by a dolphin called Gangu, who guided him safely to the riverbank.

23. What was the young dolphin’s name?
Answer: The name of the young dolphin was Tutu.

24. Is a dolphin a fish?
Answer: No, a dolphin is a mammal, not a fish.

25. How did Suraj and Tutu become friends?
Answer: Suraj expressed his gratitude to Gangu for rescuing him, and Tutu introduced herself. By talking and exchanging details about their lives, they formed a friendship.

26. How do dolphins get their food?
Answer: Dolphins obtain their food by catching fish with their needle-like teeth and swallowing it whole without chewing. They also use echolocation to locate their prey.

27. What threats are dolphins facing?

Answer: Dolphins are threatened by river pollution, which can cause diseases, and by fishermen, whose nets may trap and harm them.

28. What happened to Suraj while fishing?
Answer:While fishing, Suraj’s boat capsized in the rough river, and he struggled to stay alive because he did not know how to swim.

C. Word Study – Answers

29. An animal that gives birth to babies and does not lay eggs

Answers: Mammal

30. The child of your aunt or uncle

Answers: Cousin

31. To repeat or send back a sound

Answers: Echo

32. The action of making air, water, etc., dirty and dangerous

Answers: Pollution

33. Rearrange the letters:

  • STURGGEL → STRUGGLE

  • ARFADI → AFRAID

  • DONPHIL → DOLPHIN

  • THOURHG → THROUGH

  • COSIUN → COUSIN

  • POELEP → PEOPLE

D. Grammar – Sequence of Tenses

34. Complete the sentence: She had gone out before it started raining.
35. Complete the sentence: I found the key before he broke the lock.
36. Complete the sentence: The patient died before the doctor came.
37. Complete the sentence: The thief ran away before the police came.
38. Complete the sentence: The students had gone before the teacher came.


Answer by Mrinmoee