The Trees – Class 10 Descriptive Quiz

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Explore the powerful environmental and emotional themes in “The Trees” by Adrienne Rich, a thought-provoking poem from the Class 10 CBSE English First Flight textbook. This free online descriptive quiz is designed to help students reflect on the deeper meaning of the poem while improving their ability to craft thoughtful and well-structured answers.

The poem uses vivid imagery and symbolism to depict the silent rebellion of trees as they move out of human confinement and return to their natural habitat. It subtly addresses themes of freedom, displacement, and human interference with nature, while also evoking a sense of personal liberation and quiet resistance.

Through a variety of NCERT-aligned short and long answer questions, this quiz encourages students to analyze poetic devices, interpret underlying messages, and explore emotional undertones with clarity and confidence. Each question challenges learners to engage with the poem’s tone, structure, and symbolism, making it a perfect tool for mastering literary analysis.

Whether you're preparing for board exams, school tests, or daily revision, this descriptive quiz is ideal for strengthening your writing skills, understanding of poetic elements, and ability to express insights effectively.

Start your quiz practice on “The Trees” today and take a step closer to mastering descriptive English answers with greater depth and fluency.

How Our Descriptive Test on The Trees Works

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In this descriptive quiz on The Trees, you will:

  • Write your own answers instead of choosing from fixed options
  • Get instant evaluation with detailed, actionable feedback
  • Build clarity, communication, and critical thinking skills
  • Practice exam-focused questions from textbooks and previous years’ papers
  • Sharpen your writing to score better in school tests and board exams

Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest.

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: In a treeless forest: 1. Birds cannot sit on trees. 2. Insects cannot hide in the branches. 3. The sun cannot cool its light in the shade of trees.

What picture do these words create in your mind: “… sun bury its feet in shadow…”? What could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet’?

Marks: 2

Suggested Answer: The phrase “sun bury its feet in shadow” creates an image of the sun lowering itself into the cool shade, as if resting. The poet’s “sun’s feet” likely symbolize its rays touching the ground.

Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?

Marks: 2

Suggested Answer: In the poem, the trees are inside a closed space, possibly a house or room. Their roots work to free themselves, the leaves strain towards the glass, and the twigs stretch out like arms.

What does the poet compare their branches to?

Marks: 2

Suggested Answer: The poet compares the branches of the trees to newly discharged patients moving out of a hospital, suggesting their struggle for freedom and longing to return to their natural environment.

How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the beginning of the third stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?

Marks: 2

Suggested Answer: (a) At the beginning of the third stanza, the moon is described as a whole, shining peacefully in the open sky. (b) By the end, it appears broken into pieces. This change is caused by the shadows of the trees, which move outward and obstruct the moonlight.

What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?

Marks: 2

Suggested Answer: When the trees move out of the house, the air becomes silent, the smell of leaves and lichens disappears, and the glass panes of the windows break due to the pressure of the trees pushing outward.

Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters?

Marks: 2

Suggested Answer: The poet does not mention "the departure of the forest from the house" in her letters because it symbolizes a silent yet powerful act of freedom and resistance, which she observes but does not interfere with.

Does the poem present a conflict between man and nature? Compare it with A Tiger in the Zoo. Is the poet suggesting that plants and trees, used for ‘interior decoration’ in cities while forests are cut down, are ‘imprisoned’, and need to ‘break out’?

Marks: 5

Suggested Answer: Yes, the poem "The Trees" presents a conflict between man and nature. It highlights how trees, meant to be free in forests, are confined indoors for decoration, symbolizing nature’s suppression by humans. The poet suggests that trees must "break out" to reclaim their natural space. In "A Tiger in the Zoo," a similar theme is explored, where the tiger is imprisoned in a cage, deprived of its freedom. Like the trees, the tiger also longs for its natural habitat. Both poems emphasize that nature—whether in the form of trees or animals—does not belong in human-controlled spaces and should be allowed to exist freely.

Adrienne Rich has been known to use trees as a metaphor for human beings; this is a recurrent image in her poetry. What new meanings emerge from the poem if you take its trees to be symbolic of this particular meaning?

Marks: 5

Suggested Answer: If we interpret the trees in Adrienne Rich’s poem as a metaphor for human beings, the poem takes on a deeper meaning about freedom, oppression, and self-liberation. The trees breaking out of the house can symbolize people—especially women or the oppressed—escaping from restrictions, societal expectations, or confinement. The house, then, represents a restrictive society that tries to control individuals, while the forest stands for freedom and self-expression. The silent struggle of the trees mirrors the struggles of those who feel trapped by societal norms. Their eventual escape suggests hope, resistance, and the reclaiming of space. This metaphor aligns with Adrienne Rich’s themes of feminism, independence, and breaking free from oppression, making the poem not just about nature, but about human resilience and liberation.

Compare and contrast the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ by Gieve Patel (Beehive – Textbook in English for Class IX, NCERT) with the poem The Trees by ADRIENNE RICH.

Marks: 5

Suggested Answer: Both On Killing a Tree by Gieve Patel and The Trees by Adrienne Rich focus on the relationship between humans and nature. However, their perspectives differ. Patel’s poem describes the brutal destruction of a tree, emphasizing nature’s resilience against human interference. In contrast, Rich’s poem depicts trees breaking free from confinement, symbolizing the struggle for freedom. The tone of On Killing a Tree is harsh and realistic, highlighting violence, whereas The Trees is symbolic and hopeful, suggesting liberation. Patel portrays trees as victims of human cruelty, while Rich presents them as symbols of rebellion. Both poems use trees as metaphors—Patel’s tree represents nature’s endurance, while Rich’s trees symbolize human struggle for freedom. Together, they emphasize the conflict between human actions and nature but offer contrasting views—one of destruction and the other of hope.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this descriptive quiz on "The Trees" available for free?

Yes, you can attempt up to 5 descriptive questions per day across all quizzes, including "The Trees", for free. To solve more and enjoy an ad-free experience, you can upgrade to premium access.

Will this test on "The Trees" help me improve my exam performance?

Absolutely. Each quiz on The Trees is crafted to match the relevant syllabus. You'll receive instant evaluation and detailed feedback to improve your writing, clarity, and exam readiness.

How many questions can I solve for free per day?

You can solve up to 5 descriptive questions per day across all quizzes for free. After reaching this limit, you’ll need premium access to continue receiving instant feedback. You can still write and review your answers beyond the free limit, but they won’t be evaluated instantly.

Why does descriptive practice matter?

Descriptive practice develops critical thinking, improves written expression, and strengthens your ability to organize and articulate ideas—all essential for scoring well in CBSE board exams and beyond.

Are other types of quizzes (like MCQs) and topics available for free?

Yes! You can explore our full quiz list, including free MCQ quizzes and more descriptive tests across subjects and topics. MCQ quizzes are unlimited and free to practice. For descriptive quizzes like The Trees, the free limit of 5 evaluations per day applies across all quizzes, meaning you can attempt any 5 questions from any quiz each day.

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