*According to the latest update on the CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, this chapter has been removed.

Providing you with the most detailed and accurate NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Unit 9 A Bicycle in Good Repair from the Honeycomb textbook. Our subject-matter experts have carefully crafted these solutions, aligning them with the CBSE board's standards to ensure their effectiveness.

A Bicycle in Good Repair is a delightful chapter filled with humor. The author shares a funny incident about his friend who ends up unintentionally damaging his bicycle while attempting unnecessary repairs. Despite the author's advice that the bicycle is perfectly fine, his friend persists in tinkering with it. It's an entertaining story that you wouldn't want to miss! For answers to the questions in the NCERT textbook, simply follow the provided link.

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A bicycle in good Repair

A Bicycle in Good Repair" is a captivating chapter that takes you on a journey of a bicycle and its repair. The chapter revolves around the author's friend, who decides to fix the bicycle despite it not needing any repairs. As the story unfolds, you will witness the humorous events that occur as the friend persistently tries to repair the bicycle, much to the author's amusement.

Through this light-hearted narrative, the chapter highlights the enthusiasm and determination of the friend, even though his efforts are unnecessary. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, it's important to recognize when things are already in good condition and not rush into unnecessary repairs.

A bicycle in good Repair summary for class 7

A Bicycle in Good Repair is a humorous tale written by Jerome K. Jerome, which in turn, is an extract from the novel “Three Men in a Bummel”. There are two central characters in the lesson. They are the narrator and a man. The lesson tells the narrator's experience with a man who had suggested that they should go on a bicycle ride. When the day of the plan came, the narrator woke up early, got ready on time, and waited for the man in his garden. However, the man reached half an hour late. Then, the man decided to take a look at the bicycle. He claimed that the front wheel of the bicycle wobbled, and hence decided to fix it. He took the front wheel out. Later, he dropped several of screws and bearings. He also removed the gear-case from the bicycle despite the narrator's warning that it was expensive. Later, the man ended up getting in a tug-of-war between the bicycle. Although the narrator was displeased with the events, he remained quite because he didn't want to hurt the man's feelings.

 Eventually, the men tried putting the bicycle back together. However, unfortunately, the bicycle started to wobble by then. Around 12:45 in the afternoon, the man gave up his repair work. He looked dirty and had cuts and bruises from his battle with the bicycle. The latter also had a significant share in the misfortune. In the end, the man cleaned himself, and the narrator sent him home without taking the trip they had intended.

a bicycle in good repair question answer

Question 1. “I got up early, for me.” It implies that

a.     he was an early riser.

b.    he was a late riser.

c.     he got up late that morning.

Mark the correct answer.

Answer:

b.    he was a late riser.

Question 2. The bicycle “goes easily enough in the morning and a little stiffly after lunch.” The remark is _________.

c.     humorous.

d.    inaccurate.

e.    sarcastic.

f.      enjoyable.

g.     meaningless.

Mark your choice(s).

Answer:

a.     humorous

Question 3. The friend shook the bicycle violently. Find two or three sentences in the text which express the author’s disapproval of it.

Answer: The sentences in the text which express the author’s disapproval of it are:

“Don’t do that; you’ll hurt it.”

“It doesn’t if you don’t wobble it.”

“Don’t you trouble about it anymore”

Question 4. “…if not, it would make a serious difference to the machine.” What does ‘it’ refer to?

Answer: “…if not, it would make a serious difference to the machine.”

It refers to the ball bearings of the bicycle.

Answer the following questions.

Question 1. Did the front wheel really wobble? What is your opinion? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer: No, the front wheel did not wobble much. We can say so because the author says “It didn’t wobble, as a matter of fact—nothing worth calling a wobble.”

Question 2. In what condition did the author find the bicycle when he returned from the tool shed?

Answer: When the author returned from the tool shed, he saw that his friend was sitting on the ground with the front wheel of the bicycle between his legs. He was playing with it twiddling it round between his fingers and the rest was lying on the gravel path beside him.

Question 3. “Nothing is easier than taking off the gear-case.” Comment on or continue this sentence in the light of what actually happens.

Answer: The author’s friend says, “Nothing is easier than taking off the gear-case.”

The author warns him that he had heard by one of his experienced friends that, “If anything goes wrong with your gear-case, sell the machine and buy a new one; it comes cheaper.”

The author’s friend doesn’t take it seriously and continues to take off the gear-case. Later, he struggles and is unable to put back the gear-case in its proper place.

Question 4. What special treatment did the chain receive?

Answer: The author’s friend tightened the chain so much that it stopped moving completely. Then he began to loosen it. He loosened it until it became twice as loose as it was before.

Question 5. The friend has two qualities — he knows what he is doing and is absolutely sure it is good. Find the two phrases in the text which mean the same.

Answer: The two phrases in the text which mean the same are:

·       Cheery confidence

·       Inexplicable hopefulness

Question 6. Describe ‘the fight’ between the man and the machine. Find the relevant sentences in the text and write them.

Answer: The author’s bicycle did not need any treatment. It was in a good condition but the friend of the author made it a big deal and messed it up. He actually made it such that now it would need a lot of repair.

The fight between the man and the machine can be understood by the following paragraph in the text:

One moment the bicycle would be on the gravel path, and he on top of it; the next, the position would be reversed—he on the gravel path, the bicycle on him. Now he would be standing flushed with victory, the bicycle firmly fixed between his legs. But his triumph would be short-lived. By a sudden, quick movement it would free itself and, turning upon him, hit him sharply over the head with one of its handles.

Question 1. Read the following sentences.

·       We should go for a long bicycle ride.

·       I ought to have been firm.

·       We mustn’t lose any of them.

·       I suggested that he should hold the fork, and that I should handle the wheel.

The words in italics are modal auxiliaries. Modal auxiliaries are used with verbs to express notions such as possibility, permission, willingness, obligation, necessity, etc. ‘Should,’ ‘must’ and ‘ought to’ generally express moral obligation, necessity and desirability.

Look at the following.

·       We should go on a holiday. (Suggestion: It is a good idea for us to go on a holiday.)

·       He is not too well these days. He must see a doctor before he becomes worse. (Compulsion or necessity: It is absolutely essential or necessary for him to see a doctor.)

·       You ought to listen to me. I am well over a decade older than you. (more emphatic than ‘should’: Since I am older than you, it is advisable that you listen to me.)

Note: ‘Should’ and ‘ought to’ are often used interchangeably.

Rewrite each of the following sentences using should/ ought to/must in place of the italicized words. Make other changes wherever necessary.

a.     You are obliged to do your duty irrespective of consequences.

b.    You will do well to study at least for an hour every day.

c.     The doctor says it is necessary for her to sleep eight hours every night.

d.    It is right that you show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters.

e.    If you want to stay healthy, exercise regularly.

f.      It is good for you to take a walk every morning.

g.     It is strongly advised that you don’t stand on your head.

h.    As he has a cold, it is better for him to go to bed.

Answer:

a.     You must do your duty irrespective of consequences.

b.    You should study at least for an hour every day.

c.     The doctor says it is a must for her to sleep eight hours every night.

d.    You ought to show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters.

e.    If you want to stay healthy, you must exercise regularly.

f.      You should take a walk every morning.

g.     It is a must not to stand on your head.

h.    As he has a cold, he should go to bed.

Question 2: Use should/must/ought to appropriately in the following sentences.

a.     People who live in glass houses ________ not throw stones.

b.    You ________ wipe your feet before coming into the house, especially during the rains.

c.     You ________ do what the teacher tells you.

d.    The pupils were told that they ________ write more neatly.

e.    Sign in front of a park: You ________ not walk on the grass.

f.      You ________ be ashamed of yourself having made such a remark.

g.     He left home at 9 o’clock. He ________ be here any minute.

h.    “Whatever happened to the chocolate cake?”

“How ________ I know? I have just arrived.

Answer:

a.     People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

b.    You must wipe your feet before coming into the house, especially during the rains.

c.     You must do what the teacher tells you.

d.    The pupils were told that they should write more neatly.

e.    Sign in front of a park: You must not walk on the grass.

f.      You ought to be ashamed of yourself having made such a remark.

g.     He left home at 9 o’clock. He should be here any minute.

h.    “Whatever happened to the chocolate cake?”

“How should I know? I have just arrived.

Question 3: Two or more single sentences can be combined to form a single sentence.

Read the following.

I made an effort, and was pleased with myself.

This sentence is in fact a combination of two sentences.

·       I made an effort.

·       I was pleased with myself.

Now read this sentence.

I did not see why he should shake it.

This is also a combination of two sentences.

·       I did not see (it).

·       Why should he shake it?

Divide each of the following sentences into its parts. Write meaningful parts. If necessary, supply a word or two to make each part meaningful.

a.     I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. (3 parts)

b.    When I came back he was sitting on the ground. (2 parts)

c.     We may as well see what’s the matter with it, now it is out. (3 parts)

d.    He said he hoped we had got them all. (3 parts)

e.    I had to confess he was right. (2 parts)

Answer:

a.     I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. (3 parts)

I went to the tool shed.

I went (there) to see.

What I could find.

b.    When I came back he was sitting on the ground. (2 parts)

I came back.

He was sitting on the ground.

c.     We may as well see what’s the matter with it, now it is out. (3 parts)

We may as well see.

What is the matter with it.

Now it is out.

d.    He said he hoped we had got them all. (3 parts)

He said.

He hoped.

We had got them all.

e.    I had to confess he was right. (2 parts)

I had to confess.

He was right.

Question 4: ‘en’ acts as a prefix (put at the beginning) or as a suffix (put at the end) to form new words.

en + courage = encourage

weak + en = weaken

‘en’ at the beginning or at the end of a word is not always a prefix or a suffix. It is then an integral part of the word.

ending

barren

a.     Now arrange the words given in the box under the three headings — prefix, suffix and part of the word.

encourage dampen listen

barren endanger soften

fasten enclose weaken

even enable enclave

en (prefix) en (suffix) en (part of word)

_______ _______ _______

_______ _______ _______

_______ _______ _______

_______ _______ _______

b.    Find new words in your textbook and put them under the same headings.

Answer:

a.      

en (prefix) en (suffix) en (part of word)

encourage dampen listen

endanger soften barren

enable weaken even

enclose fasten enclave

b.    evening garden enough when between dozen tighten loosen end ten open forgotten sudden

en (prefix): endangered, enact, entrap.

en (suffix): tighten, loosed, forgotten.

en (part of word): evening, garden, enough, when, dozen, end, ten, open, sudden.

In conclusion, "A Bicycle in Good Repair" is an engaging chapter that explores the amusing events surrounding the repair of a bicycle. It showcases the author's friend's determination to fix the bicycle, despite it being in perfect condition. The chapter emphasizes the importance of recognizing when something is already in good repair and not rushing into unnecessary repairs.

For comprehensive solutions to the questions related to this chapter, refer to the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English. These solutions have been carefully crafted by our experts to provide accurate and reliable answers.

To further enhance your understanding, you can also access the PDF version of the solutions, which can be downloaded for free. This allows you to study the chapter and its questions at your convenience, even without an internet connection.

Whether you are seeking a summary of the chapter in Hindi or English, or you simply want to delve into the details of "A Bicycle in Good Repair," these resources will assist you in comprehending the chapter more effectively.

Make sure to explore Chapter 9 of your English textbook, "A Bicycle in Good Repair," to enjoy the humorous narrative and gain valuable insights into the quirks of human behavior. Happy reading and learning!