Comprehension check…
Part I
1. Why
did the king want to know the answer to three questions?
Ans: The king did not want to fail in
life. So he wanted to know the answer to three questions.
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.
Ans: (iv) to announce a reward for those
who could answer the questions.
Part II
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, ------------
2. Someone
suggested that there should be a council of wise men -----------
3. Someone
else suggested that the king should have a timetable ---------
4. The
requested the hermit-------
5. The king
washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound ---------
Ans:
1. but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
2. to help
the king act at right time.
3. and
follow it strictly.
4. to answer
three questions.
5. but the
bleeding would not stopped.
Working with the text…
1. Why
was the king advised to go to magicians?
Ans: The king was advised to go to magicians because only they can tell the future.
2. In
answer to the second question, whose advise did the people say would be important?
Ans: The people said that the advice of
king’s councillors, priests, doctors and soldiers would be important to the
king.
3. What
suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Ans: In answer to the third question,
some suggested science, some suggested fighting and others suggested religious
worship.
4. Did
the wise men win the reward? Why not?
Ans: No, the wise men did not win the
reward because their answers were so different that the king was not satisfied
with them.
5. How
did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Ans: They removed his clothes. The king
washed his wound and covered it with his handkerchief. He redressed the wound
to stop the bleeding.
6.(i) Who
was the bearded man?
Ans: The bearded man was the king’s
enemy.
(ii) Why
did he ask the king’s forgiveness?
Ans: The bearded man wanted to kill the
king but the king saved his life. So he asked for the king’s forgiveness.
7. The
king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Ans: He promised to send a doctor to look
after him and to return his property.
8. What
were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Which answer do you like the most, and why?
Ans: The hermit’s answers were –
(i)The most
important time is the present time.
(ii) The
most important person is one who is with you at that time.
(iii)The
most important business is to do good for that person.
The best
answer is that the most important time is the present time. It is the only time
when we can act.
Working with the 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.
Ans: 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
Use in sentences-
(i) faithful -
The dog is a faithful
animal.
(ii)
wounded - We should help the wounded man.
(iii)
forgive - The king forgave the bearded man.
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)
(ii) I
didn't notice any serious ---------of opinion among the debaters, although they
------- from one another over small points. (differ)
(iii) It's a
fairly simple question to -------but will you accept my --------as final? (answer)
(iv) It
isn't ------that------- should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
(v) Hermits
are --------men. How they acquire their------ no one can tell. (wise)
(vi)The committee has ------to make Jagdish
captain of the team. The---------is likely to please everyone.(decide)
(vii) Asking
for ----- is as noble as willingness to--------. (forgive)
Ans:
(i) judge, judgement
(ii)
difference, differed
(iii)
answer, answer
(iv)
necessary, necessity
(v) wise,
wisdom
(vi)
decided, decision
(vii)
forgiveness, forgive.
Poem
The Squirrel
Working with the poem...
1. Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a
question mark for 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.
2. Do we usually say that an animal 'wears' a tail? What do we say? Find out how 'wear' is used in different ways.
Ans : No, we usually do not say that an animal wears a tail. We usually say an animal has a tail. The word 'wear' is used in the following ways: to put on, consume, spend etc.
3. “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.