Are you looking for a comprehensive guide to ace your CBSE Class 7 English exams? Look no further! Here, we will provide you with detailed question answers for the textbook exercise of Lesson 3, “Gopal and the Hilsa-Fish,” from the NCERT English textbook ‘Honeycomb’.
Working with the Text (Page 42)
Answer the following questions.
1. Why did the king want no more talk about the Hilsa fish?
Ans. The king wanted no more talk because everyone around the king was talking about Hilsa fish which greatly angered him. As a result, he forbade anyone from mentioning the topic in his presence.
2. What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Ans. Gopal was tasked by the king to purchase a huge Hilsa fish from the market while making sure that nobody approaches him regarding the fish throughout his journey from the market to the palace.
3. What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his Hilsa fish?
Ans. Gopal shaved only one half of his face and applied ash to his body before dressing in rags and heading out to purchase Hilsa fish.
4. How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?
Ans. Gopal started singing and dancing in front of the palace at a loud voice. The king heard the noise and asked the man to be brought inside.
5. Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the Hilsa fish which Gopal had bought.
Ans. Due to Gopal’s appearance, which included wearing rugs, a half-shaven face, and ash smeared over his body, people showed little interest in the Hilsa fish he had bought. Instead, they were more intrigued by his unusual appearance.
6. Write True or False against each of the following sentences.
(i) The king lost his temper easily. …………….
(ii) Gopal was a madman. …………
(iii) Gopal was a clever man. ………..
(iv) Gopal was too poor to afford decent clothes. ……….
(v) The king got angry when he was shown to be wrong. ……….
Ans.
(i) True (ii) False (iii) True (iv) False (v) False
Working with Language (Pages 42 and 43)
1. Notice how in a comic book, there are no speech marks when characters talk. Instead, what they say is put in a speech ‘bubble’. However, if we wish to repeat or report what they say, we must put it into reported speech.
Change the following sentences in the story to reported speech. The first one has been done for you.
(i) How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
Ans. The woman asked the man how much did he pay for that Hilsa.
(ii) Why is your face half-shaven? Gopal’s wife asked him ……………………….
Ans. Gopal’s wife asked him why his face was half-shaven.
(iii) I accept the challenge, Your Majesty. Gopal told the king ………………….
Ans. Gopal told the king that he accepted the challenge.
(iv) I want to see the king. Gopal told the guards …………………………………….
Ans. Gopal told the guards that he wanted to see the king.
(v) Bring the man to me at once. The king ordered the guard ……………….
Ans. The king ordered the guard to bring the man to him at once.
2. Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.
Answers:
Challenge:
Meaning – a difficult task or situation that tests someone’s abilities
Example – Climbing Mount Everest is a great challenge for even the most experienced mountaineers.
Mystic:
Meaning – of or relating to supernatural powers or things that cannot be explained by science
Example – The old temple was considered a mystical place, where people went to seek spiritual guidance.
Comical:
Meaning – amusing or funny in a silly way
Example – The comedian’s comical performance had the audience in stitches.
Courtier:
Meaning – a person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen
Example – The courtier was responsible for advising the king on matters of state.
Smearing:
Meaning – spreading or rubbing a substance over a surface in a messy or careless way
Example – The children were caught smearing paint all over the walls of the classroom.
Picture Reading (Page 44-45)
1. Look at the picture and read the text aloud
See the pictures given on page 44 and 45
(i) Now ask your partner questions about each picture.
(a) Where is the stag?
(b) What is he doing?
(c) Does he like his antlers (horns)?
(d) Does he like his legs?
(e) Why is the stag running?
(f) Is he able to hide in the bushes?
(g) Where are the hunters now?
(h) Are they closing in on the stag?
(i) Is the stag free?
(j) What does the stag say about his horns and his legs?
Answers:
(a) The stag is standing by the side of a pond.
(b) The stag is about to drink water when he saw his reflection in the pond.
(c) Yes, he finds them beautiful.
(d) No, the stag finds his legs to be thin and ugly.
(e) The stag is running because he has been chased by the hunters.
(f) No, he is not able to hide in the bushes because his horns got stuck in them.
(g) The hunters are just behind the stag.
(h) Yes, they are closing in on the stag.
(i) The stag was able to run fast because of his legs and is free now.
(j) The stag says that he was proud of his horns, but he would have been killed because of them. He was ashamed of his legs, but they saved his life.
(ii) Now write the story in your own words. Give it a title.
The Stag’s Lesson of Humility
Once upon a time, there was a majestic stag living in a dense jungle. One hot afternoon, he decided to quench his thirst by drinking water from a nearby pond. As he bent down to drink, he saw his reflection in the water and was pleased with his impressive antlers.
However, when he looked further down, he noticed his legs and felt ashamed of their thin and unattractive appearance. Suddenly, he heard rustling in the bushes behind him and realized that hunters were approaching.
Panicked, the stag tried to flee to safety, but his antlers got caught in the bushes, preventing him from escaping. The hunters were getting closer, and the stag thought it was the end for him.
In a last ditch effort, he managed to free his antlers by breaking them off, and ran away as fast as he could. His thin legs proved to be his saving grace as they helped him move quickly and escape the hunters.
After the incident, the stag realized the error in his thinking. He had been proud of his antlers, but they almost led to his demise. In contrast, he had been ashamed of his legs, but they ultimately saved his life. He learned a valuable lesson about the importance of humility and not judging oneself based solely on external appearance.
2. Complete the following word ladder with the help of the clues given below.
Answers:
1. cross 2. sight 3. tiny 4. year 5. Roof 6. fuss 7. street