Class-VII

Subject: English

Unit-1 ; Chapter: Three Questions

Warm up Activities/ ice breaking Activities:

1.Choose the vocabulary from the below and place it against the most appropriate picture:
fainted, woods, hermit, council

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2.Watch this video clip to comprehend the chapter

https://youtu.be/EKS7ZCZsboc?feature=shared

DAY: UNIT-1 CLASSWORK

Three Questions
By-LEO TOLSTOY
DATE

Introduction:- The chapter ‘Three Questions’ is written by Leo Tolstoy. In this chapter a
king is intrigued by three deeply important questions, and he comes across a hermit who
answers his questions. The chapter gives a beautiful message at the end and shows us all a
new way of life.

Glossary

1. council - a group of people chosen to give advice or to make rules

2. councillors- members of the council

3. hermit- a person who leads a simple life

4. woods- a small forest

5. affairs- matters
6. beds- small patches of ground for plants

7. fainted- lost consciousness

8. re-dressed- dressed again

9. seized- took by force

10. faithful- loyal and true

LANGUAGE ENHANCEMENT:

V1 - v2 - v3

a) awake awoke awoken

b) stretch stretched stretched

c) sleep slept slept

d) repeat repeated repeated

e) forgive forgave forgiven

f)wear wore worn

g)mark marked marked

h)like liked liked

i)run ran run

j)go went gone

QUESTION/ANSWER

Q1. Why was the king advised to go to magicians?

Ans: The king was told that in order to decide the right time for doing something, it was
necessary to look into the future. Since only magicians could do so, he was advised to go to
magicians.

Q2. In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important
to the king?
Ans: The second question also got varied responses. As answer to this question, some said that
the people most necessary to the king were his councillors. Hence, their advice would be the
most important. Others said that the priests were the most important. A few others chose the
doctors. And yet others said that his soldiers were the most important.

Q3. What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?

Ans: In answer to the third question, some said that the most important thing was science.
others said fighting; and yet others chose religious worship.

Q4. Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?
Ans: No, the wise men did not win the reward. As he got different answers to his questions, the
king was not satisfied, and therefore, he chose not to give the reward to anyone.

Q5. How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Ans: When the king and the hermit saw the large wound on the man’s stomach, the king
washed and covered it with his handkerchief. He dressed the wound a second time to stop the
bleeding. Then the king and the hermit carried the man to a bed in the hut.
Q6. (i) Who was the bearded man?

Ans: The bearded man was an enemy of the king. The king had put the man’s brother to death
and had also seized his property. That is why he wanted to take revenge on the king.

(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?

Ans: He had come with the intention of killing the king. Ironically, he was saved by the very
person whose life he wanted to take. That is why he asked for the king’s forgiveness.

Q7. The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Ans: The king forgave the man. He showed his forgiveness by telling him that he would send
his servants and his own doctor to look after him. He also promised to give back the man his
property.
Long Answer question:
Q1. What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer
separately. Which answer do you like most, and why?
Ans: In answer to the first question, the hermit said that there is only one time that is important
and that time is ‘Now’. It is the only time when one has any power to act.
The hermit answered the second question by saying that the most necessary person is the person
you are with at a particular moment. This is because no one knows what will happen in the
future and whether we will meet anyone else.
The hermit’s response to the third question was that the most important thing is to do good for
the person one is with. This is because all are sent into this world for that purpose alone.
All the answers are linked to each other and have their own significance.

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Solution of book exercise: unit-1 Three Questions

Comprehension Check

Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given
in the box.

 but the bleeding would not stop.

• to answer three questions.

1. Many wise men
• but answered
their answersthe king's
were questions,........................................
so varied that the king was not
2. Someonesatisfied.
suggested that there should be a council of wise men...........................

3. Someone• else
and suggested
follow it strictly.
that the king should have a timetable...............................
• to help the king act at the right time.

4. The king requested the hermit....................................

5. The king washed and dressed the beared man's wound.............................

Solution:

1. 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 to help the king act at the
right time.

3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly.

4. The king requested the hermit to answer three questions.

5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man's wound but the bleeding would not
stop.

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Working with Language

Question 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 given words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of
the word.

Solution:

(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

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Question 2:
Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms
of the word given in the 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?

1. The ........said that only fresh evidence would make him change his...........(judge)

2. I didn't notice any serious......... of opinion among the debaters, although

they ...............from one another over small points.(differ)

3. It's fairly simple question to..........., but will accept my ............ as final? (answer)

4. It isn't........... that............ should always be the mother of invention.(necessary)

5. Hermits are..........men. How they acquire their.......... no one can tell. (wise)

6. The committee has ..............to make Jagdish captain of the team. The......... is likely to
please everyone. (decide)

7. Asking for........... is as noble as willingness to...................(forgive)

Solution:

1. judge, judgement

2. difference, differed

3. answer, answer

4. necessary, necessity

5. wise, wisdom

6. decided, decision

7. forgiveness, forgive

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Creative Writing assignment:

1. Write biosketch of Leo Tolstoy.

Or

2. List out the challenges faced by the people of your city and it's solution.

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Subject Integrated Activity

Math Activities

1. List out the top 10 Indian kings along with needful information regarding them.
(picture,birth , death, ruling time and region)

or

2. Compare the king's council with Prime minister's council.

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Class-VII

Subject: English

Unit-1 ; Poem - The Squirrel

*Warm up Activities/ ice breaking Activities:*

Instructions:

- Find and circle each of the given words horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in the
puzzle.

Words to find:

- OTHER WAY

- GRAY

- OVERCOAT

- TEASE

- WORE

Search words in the below:

AELMORTCEAO

ITEASEGRAYOE

T A I L S O W OR E U T

ROTHERWAYOCE

OVERCOATOFGR

AYOEUTAOSSIT

Or
2.Ask students to describe the squirrel's appearance, movements, and actions using vivid
adjectives and imagery.

Day UNIT-1 Classwork

Poem

Date The Squirrel

By-Mildred Bowers Armstrong

Summary:- The poem ‘The Squirrel’ is written by ‘Mildred Bowers Armstrong’. In this poem
the poet observes a squirrel in his garden. He describes how the squirrel, covered in gray fur,
sits in an upright position on a tree branch eating a nut. His tail looks like a question mark
because of its bent shape.

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Glossary

1.overcoat - loose coat

2.gray - dusty

3. tease - irritate

4. straight - directly

5.around - in all directions

6. wore - put on

7. other way - opposite direction

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Poetic devices/Figurative Language:

1.Metaphor: It is a figure of speech that compare two unlike things without using " like"
or "as". It is a way of describing an object, concept or idea, suggesting that share a
common characteristic or essence.

Example: "He wore a question mark for tail" (comparing the squirrel's tail to a question
mark)

2. Personification: It is the act of giving a human quality or characteristic to something

which is not human.

Example: "He liked to tease and play" (giving the squirrel human-like qualities)

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QUESTION / ANSWER

Q1. Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a question mark for tail”? Draw a squirrel,
or find a picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground. How would you describe its tail?
Ans: The poet says that the squirrel wore a question mark because its tail looks like a question
mark when it sits on the ground eating a nut. I will describe its tail as if it is a stick having a
hook at the top.

Q2. Do we usually say that an animal ‘wears’ a tail? What do we say? (Think: Does an
animal wear a coat? Consult a dictionary if you like, and find out how ‘wear’ is used in
different ways.)
Ans: No, we do not usually say that an animal wears a tail. We say that animal has a tail.
Q3. “He liked to tease and play”. Who is teasing whom? How ?
Ans: The squirrel is teasing the poet. When the poet goes around, the squirrel disappears behind
the tree.
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REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT

“He liked to tease and play,

And if we ran around his tree,
He went the other way.”
Question 1: Name the poem and the poet.
Answer :- The name of the poem is ‘The Squirrel’ and the name of the poet is ‘Mildred Bowers
Armstrong’.
Question 2:Give a synonym for ‘like’ in the context of the poem.
Answer:-Relish

Question 3: Who does ‘he’ stand for?

Answer:- ‘He’ stands for the squirrel.

Question 4: Who went the other way?

Answer:- The squirrel went the other way.

Question 5: What does he like the most?

Answer:- He likes to play with human beings.

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Learning Assignment: Unit-1

I. Answer the following questions:

ii) Choose the correct option:

1.Who did the king approach to get answers to his three questions?

A) A wise old man

B) A magician

C) A scholar

D) A priest

2. What was the wise old man's answer to the king's first question?

A) The best time to do each thing is when you feel like it.

B) The best time to do each thing is when you have the most energy.

C) The best time to do each thing is now.

D) The best time to do each thing is when you are most focused.

3.Who wrote the story " The three questions"?

A) Leo Tolstoy

B) Rabindranath Tagore

C) Ruskin Bond

D) R.K.Narayan

4 .What lesson or message do you think the story of the three questions conveys?

A) The importance of seeking advice from others.

B) The importance of living in the present moment.

C) The importance of being wise and knowledgeable.

D) The importance of being rich and powerful.

5.What is the moral of the story?

A) wisdom is the most important

B) kindness is the most important

C) that being needed is the most important

D) that doing good is the most important.

6. What is the main theme of the poem "Squirrel"?

A) The beauty of nature

B) The importance of hard work

C) The joy of playing

D) The significance of saving

7. What is the squirrel busy doing in the poem?

A) Playing with friends

B) Climbing trees

C) Gathering nuts

D) Taking a nap

8. What does the squirrel store away for winter?

A) Fruits and vegetables

B) Nuts and seeds

C) Leaves and twigs

D) Flowers and berries

9. What literary device does the poet use to describe the squirrel's tail?

A) Simile

B) Metaphor
C) Personification

D) Hyperbole

10.What did the speaker learn from the poem squirrel?

A) To be brave

B) To be kind

C) To be patient

D) To appreciate small joys

Answer: 1. A. 6.A

2.C. 7.C

3.A. 8.B

4.B. 9.A

5. D. 10.D

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Class Test

Unit -1 M.M.-10

Q 1. Write the meaning of the following words: (0.5x4 = 2)

a. wounded

b. pity-

c. gray

d. tease
Q2. REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT. (1x4 = 4)

“He liked to tease and play,

And if we ran around his tree,
He went the other way.”
A: Name the poem and the poet.
B:Give a synonym for ‘like’ in the context of the poem.

C.Who does ‘he’ stand for?

D: What does he like the most?

Q3. Very short answer questions for comprehensive check: (1x4 = 4)

a. Why was the king advised to go to magicians?

b. Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?

C.Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a question mark for tail”? Draw a squirrel, or find a
picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground. How would you describe its tail?

d. “He liked to tease and play”. Who is teasing whom? How ?

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Oral Evaluation

Unit -1

1. Who are the main characters in the story?

2. What are the three questions that the king asks the wise old man?

3. What is the wise old man's response to the king's questions?

4. What lesson or message do you think the story conveys?

5. What does the story say about the nature of wisdom and knowledge?

6. Describe the squirrel's appearance in the poem.

7.What does the squirrel's behavior in the poem teach us?

8. What do you think is the most important lesson or message from the poem? Why?

9. What is the squirrel's main activity in the poem?

10.What message do you think the poet is trying to convey through the poem? Use evidence
from the poem to support your answer

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COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

There are many kinds of ants, but the leaf-cutting ant is the most interesting. These ants are
tiny teachers. They teach their young ones how to cut leaves and carry them to their homes.
The young ants learn quickly. They cut the leaves into small pieces and carry them in their
mouths. The ants use these leaves to grow a special kind of food. They are very clever and
hardworking.

_MCQ Questions:_

1. What type of ant is mentioned in the passage?

A) Fire ant

B) Harvester ant

C) Leaf-cutting ant

D) Carpenter ant

2. What do the tiny teacher ants teach their young ones?

A) How to fly

B) How to swim

C) How to cut leaves and carry them home

D) How to build nests

3. What do the ants use the cut leaves for?

A) To build their homes

B) To make their food

C) To grow a special kind of food

D) To protect themselves from predators

4. What can be inferred about the leaf-cutting ants?

A) They are lazy and inefficient

B) They are clever and hardworking

C) They are aggressive and violent

D) They are slow learners

5.. What is the main idea of the passage?

A) The different types of ants

B) The unique characteristics of leaf-cutting ants

C) The importance of teamwork in ant colonies

D) The role of ants in the ecosystem

Answer:

1. C

2. C

3. C

4. B

5. B

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Newspaper activity:

Identify the different nouns from the article.

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Listening activity: