“Three Questions” 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.
Comprehension Check
1. Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
Answer: The king wanted to know answers to the three questions to ensure he would never fail in anything he did in the future.
2. Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom
(i) to fetch wise men.
(ii) to find answers to the questions.
(iii) to look for the wise hermit.
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Mark your choice.
Answer: Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom – to find answers to the questions.
Comprehension Check
Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.
1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions, ____________________________
Answer: Many wise men answered the king’s questions, but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men ______________________
Answer: Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men to help the king act at the right time.
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable ____________________
Answer: Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly.
4. The king requested the hermit _________________________
Answer: The king requested the hermit to answer the three questions.
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound __________________________
Answer: The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound but the bleeding would not stop.
| but the bleeding would not stop. to answer three questions. but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied. and follow it strictly. to help the king act at the right time. |
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
1. Why was the king advised to go to magicians?
Answer: The king was advised to go to the magicians because they could see the future and decide the right time for every action.
2. In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?
Answer: In answer to the second question, some people said Councillors, others said priests, doctors or soldiers were the most important advisors to the king.
3. What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Answer: To answer the third question, some suggested science, others chose fighting and some believed religious worship was the most important.
4. Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?
Answer: No, the wise man did not win the reward because they gave different answers which did not satisfy the king.
5. How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Answer: The King and the hermit helped the wounded man by washing and dressing his wound, giving him water, and cataying him into the hut to take some rest.
6. (i) Who was the bearded man?
Answer: The bearded man was the enemy of the king who wanted to take revenge for his brother’s death and Lost property.
(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?
Answer: He asked for the king’s forgiveness because the king had saved his life.
7. The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Answer: The king forgave the branded man, promised to send a doctor and servants to take care of him and returned his property.
8. What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions?
Write each answer separately. Which answer do you like most, and why?
Answer: Hermits answers to the three questions were-
a) The most important time is now because it is the only time we have any power to act.
b) The most necessary person is the one you are with at the moment because the future is uncertain.
c) The most important business is to do good for people because that is our life’s purpose.
I like the answer about now being the most important time because it teaches us to focus on the present and make the best out of it.
Working with Language
1. Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.
fainted: lost consciousness
| A | B |
| (i) wounded | got up from sleep |
| (ii) awoke. | give back |
| (iii) forgive | small patches of ground for plants |
| (iv) faithful | severely injured |
| (v) pity | pardon |
| (vi) beds | loyal |
| (vii) return | feel sorry for |
Use any three of the above words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of the word.
Answer:
| A | B |
| (i) wounded | severely injured |
| (ii) awoke. | got up from sleep |
| (iii) forgive | pardon |
| (iv) faithful | loyal |
| (v) pity | feel sorry for |
| (vi) beds | small patches of ground for plants |
| (vii) return | give back |
(i) wounded: The boy was fatally wounded in the accident.
(ii) awoke: A strange noise awoke me in the morning.
(iii) forgive: I was willing to forgive all her faults.
2. Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in brackets.
He has _________ to help me. Do you think he will remember his ___________ ? (promise)
He has promised to help me. Do you think he will remember his promise?
(i) The _________ said that only fresh evidence would make him change his ___________ . (judge)
Answer: The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgement .
(ii) I didn’t notice any serious ________ of opinion among the debaters, although they _________ from one another over small points. (differ)
Answer: I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differ from one another over small points.
(iii) It’s a fairly simple question to ________ ,but will you accept my _________ as final? (answer)
Answer: It’s a fairly simple question to answer,but will you accept my answer as final?
(iv) It isn’t _________ that _________ should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
Answer: It isn’t necessary that necessities should always be the mother of invention.
(v) Hermits are _______ men. How they acquire their __________ no one can tell. (wise)
Answer: Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no one can tell.
(vi) The committee has ________ to make Jagdish captain of the team. The______ is likely to please everyone. (decide)
Answer: The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to please everyone.
(vii) Asking for ________ is as noble as willingness to ___________. (forgive)
Answer: Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive.
Speaking and Writing
1. Imagine you are the king. Narrate the incident of your meeting the hermit. Begin like this:
The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit…
Answer: The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit who was known for his wisdom. Disguised in simple clothes. I left my horse and walked alone to his hut in the forest. When I arrived I saw the hermit digging the ground, weak and tired. I asked my three questions, though he remained silent and continued working. Seeing his struggle, I offered him help. Hours passed but he still did not answer me. As I was about to leave, we saw a wounded man running towards us, leading me to the answers I had been searching for.
2. Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king. Begin like this:
One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king…
Answer: One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king but remained silent. He asked his questions again and again, but I did not answer. Also, he helped me in digging. Later, a wounded man ran to us bleeding. The king took care of him and through his actions, he found the answers he was seeking.
Does an ostrich really stick its head in the sand to hide from an enemy?
Answer: No. An ostrich does not stick its head in the sand to hide from the enemy. They lie low to hide, stretching its neck along the ground.