1. What did Sunder Singh mean when he said he had 'lent' his tunnel to the Government?
He meant that although the tunnel belongs to the Government, no one else looks after it; he performs the duty of a watchman and cares for it as if it were his own. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

2. Why did Sunder Singh take his axe with him into the tunnel?
He took the axe as a precautionary measure — he was cautious and ready to protect himself and Suraj if needed while trying to drive the leopard out so the train wouldn't run it over. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

3. How did Suraj know Sunder Singh was at the tunnel when the train passed by later?
Suraj saw the watchman’s lamp and recognized that Sunder Singh was there to inspect the tunnel; the lamp served as a signal. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

4. What made the leopard disappear into the darkness?
The shout of Suraj and Sunder Singh together frightened the leopard, which then slipped away into the dark end of the tunnel. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Passage: “The tunnel was still full of smoke from the train, but it would be several hours before another train came through.”

(i) What does the sentence imply? — That until the next train comes, the cutting and the tunnel belong to the jungle and its life, and human activity is minimal. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

(ii) What image does the train create for Suraj? — Suraj imagines the train as a powerful creature, like a dragon that charges through the tunnel. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Passage: “It was crouching between the tracks, only five metres away from them.”

Q: What was the position and behaviour of the leopard?
A: The leopard was crouching low between the railway tracks, baring its teeth and snarling — ready to spring, but not very large; lithe and sinewy. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Important Words & Meanings

• shimmered — shined with a moving light. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• cutting — a narrow valley cut through a hill for the railway line. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
• plume of smoke — a long thin cloud of smoke. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
• dazzled — blinded by bright light. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
• lithe — thin and graceful; sinewy — lean and muscular. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Grammar Focus

• 'Would' to express past habits: The watchman's routine (e.g., "he would walk the length of the tunnel") — used to describe repeated past actions. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
• Onomatopoeia / Sound words: Words like clanging, hissing, puffing, rustle create atmosphere and imitate sounds from the text. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
• Direct & Indirect Speech: Practice converting dialogues between Suraj and Sunder Singh.