“A Gift of Chappals” is a lesson from the Textbook “Honeycomb” approved by NCERT for the Students of Class 7. Here all the Textual Questions are answered by English teachers.
I
Comprehension Check
1. What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?
Answer: Meena tells Mridu that they have secretly adopted a small kitten, which they found outside their gate that morning.
2. How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Answer: Ravi tricks his Paati by pretending to be hungry and asking for milk. He drinks most of the milk, and secretly pours the rest for the kitten into a coconut shell.
3. Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?
Answer: Ravi claims that the kitten’s ancestors were the Lion of the Pallava kings, the Mahabalipuram Rishi-cat, which was the emblem of Pallava dynasty.
No, I don’t believe him.
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 to?
Answer: Ravi has a lot to say about M.P.Poonai. This shows that- his knowledge of history is sound, also he has a rich imagination and he is answer intelligent student.
5. What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?
Answer: The loud ‘kreech’ sound came from Lalli’s violin startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran.
II
Comprehension Check
1. The music master is making lovely music. Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea.
Answer: The sentence that expresses the idea that the master is making lovely music is – “The music – master’s notes seemed to float up and settle perfectly into the invisible tracks of the melody.”
2. Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: No, the beggar had not come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time. He mentioned that he had been coming there for the past few weeks because the women in the house were kind and generous.
3. “A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows. What does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni’s mood?
Answer: The “sharp V-shaped line” between Rukku Manni’s eyebrows showed her anger and suspicion, as she was clearly upset about the missing chappals.
Working with the Text
1. Complete the following sentences.
(1) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to ____________________________________.
Answer: Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to derailing of a train.
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies. Mahendran _______________________________________.
Answer: Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies. Mahendran tipped a few chiollis over himself.
(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli _______________________________________.
Answer: The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli 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 _______________________________________.
Answer: The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household had been very generous and gave him food for the past few days.
(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if _______________________________________.
Answer: After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if she had seen his chappals.
2. Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window,
Answer: The music teacher was a bony man with a mostly bald head, and a fringe of oiled black hair along with an old fashioned tuft. He wore a gold chain around his leathery neck and a diamond ring on his finger. He sat with one foot sticking out from beneath his veshti, tapping his scrawny big toe to keep time.
3. (i) What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
Answer: Mridu noticed the beggar’s feet were covered with blisters, which made her realize that the beggar had no money to buy chappals .
(ii) What does she suggest to show her concern?
Answer: She suggested giving an old pair of chappals to help him.
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 really wanted to ask if the children knew anything about the missing chappals.
(ii) Why did she change her question?
Answer: She changed her question because the children were suspiciously quiet, making her realize that they might be involved.
(iii) What did she think had happened?
Answer: She thought someone, possibly a stranger had stolen the chappals from the verandah.
5. On getting Gopu Mama’s chappals, the music teacher tried not to look too happy. Why?
Answer: The music teacher’s chappals were old, but he pretended that they were brand new. Since Gopu Mama’s chappals were barely used, he was pleased to get them. However, he tried to hide his happiness and acted upset about his loss.
6. On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?
Answer: The beggar left quickly because he feared that the family members might change their mind and take back the chappals. He did not want to lose the gift, so he hurried away as soon as he got them.
7. Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?
Answer: Rukku Manni laughed, imagining Gopu Mama without his chappals. She wondered how she would explain it to him and what his reaction would be.
Working with Language
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 fect.
(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 will 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 also 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.
Today is Sunday. I’m wondering whether I should stay at home or go out, If I ________ (go) out. I _________ (miss) the lovely Sunday lunch at home. If I ___________ (stay) for lunch, I _________ (miss) the Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I’ll go out and see the film, only to avoid getting too fat.
Answer: Today is Sunday. I’m wondering whether I should stay at home or go out, If I go (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: Don’t go to the theatre if you don’t want to.
(ii) He’ll post your letter ____________________________
Answer: He’ll post your letter if you want him to.
(iii) Please use my pen ____________________________
Answer: Please use my pen if you want to.
(iv) He’ll lend you his umbrella ____________________________
Answer: He’ll lend you his umbrella if you want him to.
(v) My neighbour. Ramesh, will take you to the doctor _______________________________
Answer: My neighbour. Ramesh, will take you to the doctor if you want him to.
(vi) Don’t eat it ___________________________
Answer: Don’t eat it if you don’t want to.
Speaking and Writing
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: Yes, it is better to ask elders before giving away something, as they can guide us on what is appropriate to donate and what might be needed at home.
- Is there someone of your age in the family who is very talkative? Do you find her/him interesting and impressive otherwise? Share your ideas with others in the group.
Answer: There might be a talkative person in every family who can be either entertaining or sometimes overwhelming. It depends on their way of speaking and how engaging their conversations are.
- 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: Rukku Manni ultimately helped the beggar, just like the children. So, blaming them may not be entirely fair as long as it’s for good intentions.
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?
Answer: I enjoy reading books and playing cricket.
(ii) What do you like in general?
Answer: I like to read story books.
(iii) Do you play any game?
Answer: I don’t like to play that much.
(iv) Would you mind if I listened to music after dinner?
Answer: I wouldn’t mind as long as it is not too loud.
(v) Will it be all right if I stay up late to read?
Answer: It’s fine with me though I sleep early.
(vi) Is there anything you dislike, particularly?
Answer: Well, I can’t share a room with someone who keeps room dirty.
(vii) Do you like to attend parties?
Answer: Oh, I love to attend parties. What about you?
(viii) Would you say you are an organised person?
Answer: I think I try to be.