NCERT English Class 7 | Chapter 2 | A Gift of Chappals | Question Answer |

COMPREHENSION CHECK I                                                                           PAGE 22

1. What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?

Answer: The secret that Meena shared with Mridu in the backyard was that they had a pet cat.

2. How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?

Answer:  Ravi to a glass of milk from the kitchen and lied to Paati that it was for him. When Paati looked at him he tried to scent her off by drinking most of the milk. He then quickly transferred the rest of the milk into a coconut shell, ran back and washed the tumbler before Paati got suspicious.

3. Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?

Answer: Ravi refers to the Pallava Lion. He tells that the kitten is a descendant of the Mahabalipuram Rishi Cat. He also states that the Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet is the ancestor of the kitten.

No, I do not believe in Ravi’s stories.

4. Ravi has a lot to say about M. P. Poonai. This shows that

(i) he is merely trying to impress Mridu. 

(ii) his knowledge of history is sound.

(iii) he has a rich imagination.

(iv) he is an intelligent child. 

Which of these statements do you agree/disagree with?

Answer: When Ravi speaks so much about M.P Poonai, it shows that his knowledge of history is sound. He has a rich imagination and is an intelligent child. He is not trying to impress Mridu.

5. What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?

Answer: The noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran was that of the violin. Lalli was learning to play the violin and her unsuccessful attempts made a screeching sound.

 

COMPREHENSION CHECK II                                                                         PAGE 28

1. The music master is making lovely music. Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea

Answer:  The sentence in the text that expresses the lovely music made by the music master is

The music master’s notes seemed to float up and settle perfectly into the invisible tracks of the melody. It was like the wheels of a train, fitting smoothly into the rails and whizzing along, as Ravi said.

2. Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer: No, it was the first time the beggar had come to Rukku Maami’s house. We know because Paati asked Ravi to send him away since he was coming to their house every day.

3. “A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows.” What does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni’s mood?

Answer: The above expression made by Rukku Manni clearly shows that she was upset and angry with the children’s behaviour.

 

WORKING WITH THE TEXT                                                                            PAGE 29

1. Complete the following sentences.

(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to

______________________________________

______________________________________

Answer: that of a derailing train.

(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Answer: he tipped a few over himself and howled miserably.

(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin and Lalli 

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Answer: stumbled behind him, on her violin which looked quite helpless and unhappy in her hands.

(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household

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Answer: Are very kind souls, since their generosity has kept the beggar’s body and soul intact for one whole week.

(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Answer: she had seen his chappals as he remembered keeping them in the verandah.

2. Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window.

Answer: The master looked like a bald head man from the window. His back was towards the window. A fringe of oiled black hair was falling around his ears and he had an old-fashioned tuft. A gold chain gleamed around his leathery neck. He also deemed a diamond ring that glittered on his hand as it glided up and down the stem of the violin. A large foot stuck out from beneath his gold-bordered veshti edge, and he was beating time on the floor with the scrawny big toe.


3.       (i) What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?

 

Answer: The beggar’s large, pink, peeling blisters on the soles of his bare feet when shown to the three children made Mridu realize that he has no money to buy chappals. 

(ii) What does she suggest to show her concern? 

 

Answer: Mridu suggests giving the beggar an old pair of chappals so that he could get a respite from the scorching hot sun and leave their household.

4. “Have you children...” she began, and then, seeing they were curiously quiet, went on more slowly, “seen anyone lurking around the verandah?”

(i) What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?

Answer: Rukku Manni wanted to ask whether Mridu, Ravi, and Meena had seen the music master’s pair of chappals.

(ii) Why did she change her question?

Answer Rukku Manni changed her question because she found the children to be curiously quiet, which is highly unlikely for them to remain when they are together.

(iii) What did she think had happened?

Answer:  Rukku Manni was sure that Ravi, Mridu and Meena had done some mischief and they are responsible for the disappearance of the music master’s chappals. They might have hidden the music master’s chappals somewhere.

5. On getting Gopu Mama’s chappals, the music teacher tried not to look too happy. Why?

Answer: Gopu Mama’s chappals were brand new, he had hardly worn them. When the music master was gifted with a new pair of chappals instead of his old ones, he was happy but tried not to look the same. He had told a lie to Lalli that his chappals were new and hence tried not to look happy.

6. On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?

Answer: On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar left in such a hurry because he was aware that the children had gifted him the chappals without the permission of the elders. He might have to return them if he stayed longer or if the elders saw them on his feet.

7. Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?

Answer: Rakku Manni was laughing because she was glad that Gopu Mama doesn’t wear those pair of chappals to the office. But, he would eagerly open his shoes and socks after returning from the office and wear those chappals immediately. She was thinking how Gopu Mama would react when he would get to know that his chappals were given away to the music master.

 

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE                                                                      PAGE 30

1. Read the following sentences.

(a) If she knows we have a cat, Paati will leave the house.

(b) She won’t be so upset if she knows about the poor beggar with sores on his feet.

(c) If the chappals do fit, will you really not mind?

Notice that each sentence consists of two parts. The first part begins with ‘if ’. 

It is known as if-clause.

Rewrite each of the following pairs of sentences as a single sentence. Use ‘if ’ at the beginning of the sentence.

(a) Walk fast. You’ll catch the bus.

 If you walk fast, you’ll catch the bus.

(b) Don’t spit on the road. You’ll be fined. 

If you spit on the road, you’ll be fined

(i) Don’t tire yourself now. You won’t be able to work in the evening.

Answer: If you tire yourself now, you won’t be able to work in the evening.

(ii) Study regularly. You’ll do well in the examination.

Answer: If you study regularly, you will do well in the examination.

(iii) Work hard. You’ll pass the examination in the first division.

Answer: If you work hard, you’ll pass the examination in the first division.

(iv) Be polite to people. They’ll also be polite to you.

Answer: If you are polite to people, they’ll be polite to you.

(v) Don’t tease the dog. It’ll bite you.

Answer: If you tease the dog, it’ll bite you.

2. Fill in the blanks in the following paragraph.

Answer: Today is Sunday. I’m wondering whether I should stay at home or go out. If I go out (go) out, I will miss (miss) the lovely Sunday lunch at home. If I stay (stay) for lunch, I will miss (miss) the Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I’ll go out and see the film, only to avoid getting too fat.

3. Complete each sentence below by appropriately using any one of the following:

if you want to/if you don’t want to/if you want him to

(i) Don’t go to the theatre ______________________________

Answer: If you don’t want to

(ii) He’ll post your letter _______________________________

Answer: If you want him to

(iii) Please use my pen _________________________________

Answer: If you want to

(iv) He’ll lend you his umbrella _________________________

Answer: if you want him to

(v) My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor _______

Answer: will take you to the doctor if you want him to

(vi) Don’t eat it ______________________________________

Answer: if you don’t want to


SPEAKING AND WRITING                                                                               PAGE 31

 1. Discuss in small groups


  •   If you want to give away something of your own to the needy, would it be better to ask your elders first? 

Answer:

(a) Yes, it is important for us to seek the permission of our elders before we give away something to the needy.

 

(b) If the thing that we wish to give the needy belongs to us we can take the liberty to give it to the poor.

 

(c)It is important for us to check the value of the thing that we are planning to give away. We should also keep in mind the reason behind our donation and act likewise.

  •  Is there someone of your age in the family who is very talkative? Do you find her/him interesting and impressive or otherwise? Share your ideas with others in the group.

Answer:

(a) Yes, I have an uncle in my family who is elder to me.

(b)He is a very interesting person.


(c) He talks about different things, including scientific facts, history and also tells us stories.

 

  • Has Rukku Manni done exactly the same as the children? In your opinion, then, is it right for one party to blame the other?

Answer:

(a) Rukku Manni did not do the right thing. She should have been stricter with the children.  She was laughing at the incident after a while hence she shouldn’t have chided Ravi.

 

(b) Rukku Manni was in an embarrassing situation because of the children. The music master’s pair of chappals went missing from their home. She had to compensate for the actions of the children by giving away the Gopu Mama’s chappals to the teacher. She made the correct decision, it was absolutely right on her part to be angry and upset.

 

(c) Both Rakku Mani and the children did the same so it was not right for either of them to blame each other.

2. Read the following.


  •   A group of children in your class are going to live in a hostel. 
  •  They have been asked to choose a person in the group to share a room with.
  •  They are asking each other questions to decide who they would like to share a room with.

Ask one another questions about likes/dislikes/ preferences/hobbies/personal characteristics. Use the following questions and sentence openings.

(i)      What do you enjoy doing after school?

I enjoy…

Answer: I enjoy attending my painting classes after school.

(ii)     What do you like in general?

I like…

Answer: I like to help my mother with her work.

(iii)    Do you play any games?

I don’t like…

Answer: I don’t like to play games that are costly. I don’t like to play indoor games.

(iv)    Would you mind if I listened to music after dinner?

I wouldn’t…

Answer: I wouldn’t mind it if you listened to music wearing headphones or at a low volume.

(v)     Will it be all right if I...?

It’s fine with me…

Answer: It’s fine with me if you want to play video games while I study.

(vi)    Is there anything you dislike, particularly?

Well, I can’t share..

Answer: Well, I can’t share the things I dislike with you.

(vii)   Do you like to attend parties?

Oh, I...

Answer: I completely enjoy attending parties because of the variety of tasty food.

(viii)  Would you say you are...?

I think…

Answer: I think I am a helping hand to my mother.


Poem: The Rebel                        By D. J. Enright

WORKING WITH THE POEM                                                                           PAGE 34

1. Answer the following questions.


(i) If someone doesn’t wear a uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?

Answer: The teacher will not be very happy with the student who would not be following the rules of the school and might also reprimand him for not wearing the school uniform.


(ii) When everyone wants a clear sky, what does the rebel want most?

Answer: The rebel wants it to rain when everyone wants a clear sky.


(iii) If the rebel has a dog for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?

Answer: If a rebel has a dog for a pet, the others are most likely to be cat lovers.


(iv) Why is it good to have rebels?

Answer: Rebels teach how to be tolerant towards others who do not have the same perspective as ours. Therefore, it is good to have rebelled in society.

(v) Why is it not good to be a rebel oneself?

Answer: It is difficult to be a rebel. One should not become a rebel because society does not accept the rebel’s opinions easily and makes harsh criticism about his choices.


(vi) Would you like to be a rebel? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Answer: I  would like to be a rebel because a rebel is an iconoclast. He can think differently and uniquely rather than following the mentality of the majority. However, it is not easy to be a rebel as the rebels will always be criticized by society for their different behaviour.

2. Find in the poem an antonym (a word opposite in meaning) for each of the following words.

(i) long                           _________________
(ii) grow                         _________________
(iii) quietness                  _________________

(iv) sober                        _________________

(v) lost                            _________________ 

Answer:

(i) long                           _________________short.
(ii) grow                         __________________ cut.
(iii) quietness                  ___________ disturbance.

(iv) sober                        ______________ fantastic.
(v) lost                            __________________ find.

3. Find in the poem lines that match the following. Read both one after the other.

(i) The rebel refuses to cut his hair.

Answer: The rebel lets his hair grow long.

(ii) He says cats are better.

Answer: He puts in a good word for dogs.

(iii) He recommends dogs.

Answer: He puts in a good word for dogs.

(iv) He is unhappy because there is no sun.

Answer: When everybody is greeting the rain.

(v) He is noisy on purpose.

Answer: When nobody talks during the lesson.

1. Three Questions ; The Squirrel Question Answer

2. A Gift of Chappals ; The Rebel Question Answer

3. Gopal and the Hilsa Fish ; The Shed Question Answer

4. The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom ; Chivvy Question Answer

5. Quality ; Trees Question Answer

6. Expert Detectives ; Mystery of the Talking Fan Question Answer

7. The Invention of Vita-Wonk ; Dad and the Cat and the Tree Question Answer

8. Fire: Friend and Foe ; Meadow Surprises Question Answer

9. A Bicycle in Good Repair ; Garden Snake Question Answer

10. The Story of Cricket Question Answer

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