I Learn to Talk: Solutions Summary & Word Meanings Class 7

Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. Helen was stricken with a severe illness at 19 months of age that left her blind and deaf. Her teacher, Anne Sullivan is remembered as the Miracle worker for her lifetime, dedication, patience and love. During her remarkable life, Keller stood as powerful example of how determination, hard work, and imagination can allow an individual to triumph over adversity.

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Word-Meanings of Chapter I Learn to Talk

immeasurable – too great to be measured

contrast – difference

vague – not clear, indistinct

penetrate – to enter, pass through, go into something

linger – to stay at a place for longer

unconsciously – unwillingly, unknowingly

blossoms – flowers

come forth – come forward

prey upon – victimise, affect greatly and adversely

languor – the pleasant state of feeling lazy and without energy

tangible – that which can be touched or felt

plummet – drop, steep and rapid fall

imitate – to copy somebody or something

flushed – excited or elated, feeling very happy

uncomprehending – not understanding

confounding – confusing

fragments – pieces

gushed – flowed out

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Summary: I Learn to Talk Class 7 Wind Chimes

The story commences with the arrival of Anne Mansfield Sullivan, a teacher, into Helen Keller’s life. Anne starts teaching Helen words that represent specific objects. The first lesson involves a doll that Anne places in Helen’s hands and spells out the word ‘doll’ on her palm. Helen feels proud and rushes to show her mother, even though she doesn’t fully comprehend the meaning of the word. Nevertheless, she is overjoyed by the experience of learning. The lessons continue until a disagreement between Helen and Anne arises over the words ‘water’ and ‘mug’. Helen is confused and reluctant to acknowledge that they have different meanings. In addition, she breaks the doll that Anne has given her, but feels content after hearing the sound of its pieces.

On a sunny day, Anne takes Helen outside and places her hands under the spout of a hand pump. When Helen feels the water flowing, Anne spells out the word ‘water’ on her hand, and Helen finally comprehends the difference between ‘water’ and ‘mug’. She learns numerous new words that day and feels as if she has unlocked an inner strength. Upon returning home, she tries to gather the pieces of the broken doll, regretful for her actions. Despite her tears, she feels elated and eagerly awaits the next day for the first time.

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Textbook Solutions

Practise-Comprehension

Answers. A.

1. c
2. a
3. e
4. b
5. d

Answers.B

1. a. The speaker is Helen Keller.
   b. ‘It’ refers to the day or time that connected her to her teacher.
   c. She is talking about two lives; one before she met her teacher and the second after she met her teacher.
   d. The contrasts are ‘immeasurable’ because she underwent a sea of change in this period of time.
2. a. ‘Someone’ here was Helen’s teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan.
   b. Her teacher took her hand and held her close to hers.
   c. A new life awaited her. She was not aware of how her life would transform after this meeting.
   d. Her gentle touch, familiarity with Helen showed that she loved her.
3. a. The ‘living word’ referred here was when she felt the word ‘water’. It was when she could relate to things around having a name.
   b. It gave hope, light and joy to Helen.
   c. It gave her hope as it gave her something to look forward too. Despite her life being caught in the dark, she now had a purpose. She discovered everything had a name and this new name gave birth to a new thought.
   d. He teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan was responsible for this.

Answers.C

1. The day that changed Helen Keller’s life forever was when Anne Sullivan became her teacher on March 3rd, 1887.
2. March 3rd, 1887 was a significant date in Helen Keller’s life.
3. Helen was nearly seven years old when she met her teacher, Anne Sullivan.
4. Miss Sullivan gave Helen a doll that had been sent by blind children from the Perkins Institution. Helen initially played with the doll, but then threw it on the floor, shattering it into pieces.
5. Miss Sullivan tried to teach Helen to spell the word “doll” using her fingers, but Helen became frustrated and threw the doll on the floor.
6. When Helen realized that everything had a name and that each name represented a new thought, she was filled with regret for her previous behavior. She finally understood what her teacher was trying to teach her.
7. Miss Sullivan took Helen to the well-house, where she felt the cool water rushing over her hand as her teacher spelled the word “water” on her other hand. This was a turning point for Helen, as she finally understood the concept of language.
8. The words that made the world “blossom” for Helen were mother, father, sister, and teacher.
9. When Helen discovered that things had names, she felt delight and realized that despite her blindness, she still had so much to learn and think about.
10. Miss Sullivan was a patient and loving teacher who never gave up on Helen, even when she threw tantrums. She even patiently swept up the pieces of the shattered doll.
11. Helen’s whole attitude toward life and learning changed after meeting Anne Sullivan. She became more curious and serious about learning and considered March 3rd, 1887, a turning point in her life.

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Perfect-Vocabulary

Answers

1. unwise
2. disagrees
3. unreliable
4. disinterested
5. insufficient
6. unable
7. disappeared
8. disconnected
9. misbehave
10. misread

Answers

1. dangerous 2. comfortable 3. ambitious 4. electrical 5. interesting 6. suitable 7. penniless 8. courteous 9. fashionable 10. frightening

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Grammar

Answers

1. I told him that I would take him to shop with me the following week.
2. My sister asked me to lend her the new book I bought.
3. He wants his father to always support him.
4. Rohan wishes to be famous when he grows up.
5. I have decided to work hard.
6. She hoped to pass the test this time.
7. The girl knows how to behave in a classroom.
8. All of them wished us to go and see a movie.

Answers

1. My brother’s favourite hobby is painting.
2. She loves walking in her garden.
3. I love working in this office.
4. My father likes cooking in his spare time.
5. We are watching them learn skating.
6. Forgiving and forgetting should be easy.
7. I thought I would go shopping at the mall.
8. It is fun sliding down this little hillock.

Answers1. interesting 2. honking 3. leaking 4. running 5. typing 6. babbling 7. falling 8. sparkling

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