Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Class 7 English Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier Textbook Questions and Answers

1. From the play, find all the words that are related to the following.
knowledge and learning, books, works
Add other related words you know to the list.

Question 1.
From the play, find all the words that are related to the following.
Add other related words you know to the list.

  1. knowledge and learning
  2. books
  3. works

Answer:

  1. Student, smart, thirst for knowledge, learned, philosophy, astronomy, arabic, persian, scholar, intellectual, sagacious, astute, university, degree.
  2. Student, smart, knowledge, learned, scholar, words, e-book.
  3. Merchant, serve, clerk, pay, office, poultry, keeper, salary, job.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

2. Discuss the following.
(a) Abdul gets what he wants in the end. What is the major factor that contributes to this success?

  • His learning of books
  • His intelligence
  • His attitude
  • His relations with other people
  • His luck

(b) The Emperor says he had realised earlier that Abdul has great talent. Does this tally with his actions? Give your opinion.

Question a.
Abdul gets what he wants in the end. What is the major factor that contributes to this success?

  • His learning of books
  • His intelligence
  • His attitude
  • His relations with other people
  • His luck

Answer:
His attitude

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question b.
The Emperor says he had realised earlier that Abdul has great talent. Does this tally with his actions? Give your opinion.
Answer:
No, it does not. But according to me the Emperor wanted to know whether Abdul could put all his knowledge into practical use.

3. Write a letter from Abdul to the Emperor, requesting the Emperor to give Abdul a suitable job.

Question 1.
Write a letter from Abdul to the Emperor, requesting the Emperor to give Abdul a suitable job.
Answer:
Your Royal Highness,
I, Abdul, am a subject in your kingdom. I have learnt everything books could teach me. I would like to be at your service.
I will serve you with all the knowledge, I have gained, if your royal highness will give me the opportunity. All my knowledge would really be of great use and if given a chance I will do everything I can to the best of my ability. Hoping and awaiting a positive reply. Thanking you in anticipation.
Your loyal subject,
XYZ (Abdul)

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

4. Rewrite the play in the form of a story.

Question 1.
Rewrite the play in the form of a story.

Rewrite the play in the form of a story.
Answer:
Abdul, the Achiever
Once upon a time during the reign of Emperor Akbar, there lived a very humble school teacher. He had an equally humble and down to earth son named Abdul. Abdul dreamt of becoming a scholar. His father could not fund him for the books because they were very costly. His father tried to borrow books from the school library but was unsuccessful. Abdul was disheartened.

He hit upon a brilliant idea to solve his problem. He decided to work for the rich, instead of taking money for services, he requested them to allow him to read the books in their stores. Abdul read and read and became a learned scholar that too one in a million. Now that he had completed his education he aspired to work in the Emperor’s office. The Emperor heard of him and was ready to appoint him. He was first put in charge of the Murgikhana.

Abdul was disappointed at first but then decided to put in his best. His efforts paid him well. The hens were healthier than before. The Emperor was surprised that Abdul had not used any money from the treasury. The Emperor was worried that the hens had died but Abdul told the Emperor that all the hens were in the pink of health because he was feeding them with the left-overs from the Emperor’s kitchen, which was free of cost and something the hens enjoyed and that was the secret of their health.

The Emperor was happy and put him in charge of the library. Abdul was unhappy because he aspired to be a courtier. But he took his job too as a challenge and started making changes in the library. A year later when the Emperor entered the library he was shocked to see that all the books had very expensive covering.

He thought that this would have cost a fortune. Abdul clarified the Emperor’s doubt and told him that it has cost nothing because he used the rich, discarded fabrics of the bags in which requests were sent to the Emperor. Abdul said that he had asked the royal tailors to stitch the jackets and covers for the books. The Emperor was so impressed that he immediately appointed Abdul his courtier.
Moral: Waste not, want not.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

5. Suggest at least one method of creating something useful or beautiful from waste.

Question 1.
Suggest at least one method of creating something useful or beautiful from waste.

6. Write how you take care of your books.

Question 1.
Write how you take care of your books.
Answer:
I see to it that my books are always covered, with my name written on it. I do not throw my books anywhere. I keep them neatly whether in my bag or on my table at home. I do not eat or drink anything with my books in front of me so as to avoid spilling and getting oil stains on my books.

7. Language Study: Common nouns – 3: Common nouns can be classified in one more way – concrete nouns and abstract nouns. Concrete nouns stand for things that you can actually touch or see.
Examples : school, house, bags, buttefflies, child.
Abstract nouns stand for ideas, feelings, qualities, actions, states, etc.
Examples: life, time, goodness, progress, kindness, childhood, honesty, mathematics
Can you spot at least three abstract nouns in the following paragraph?
‘We put the plan of action in motion immediately. We kept it a secret. We wanted to give Mrs Desai a surprise. But her intelligence is really appreciable. She spotted the change within a week.’
Now you know that plural forms of nouns have -s, -es, or -ies at the end. But the plurals of some nouns are formed differently. Look at the following forms.

  • child – children man – men
  • tooth – teeth foot – feet
  • leaf – leaves mouse – mice

Some nouns have the singular and the plural alike.
Examples: sheep, deer.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Class 7 English Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
How did Abdul manage to feed the birds well without spending money?
Answer:
Abdul was in charge of the Emperor’s ‘Murgikhana’. He fed the birds with the left-overs from the kitchen, like scraps, shells and kitchen waste, which the hens enjoyed. This diet not only made the hens healthy but was also free of cost.

Question 2.
How did the Emperor reward Abdul for his work? Do you think the Emperor’s action was right?
Answer:
The Emperor rewarded Abdul by making him in charge of the library. Yes, I think the Emperor’s action was right because he wanted to see how well Abdul would handle this task too.

Question 3.
How did Abdul manage to get expensive jackets for the books?
Answer:
Abdul had noticed that all the formal requests that came to the Emperor were in bags made of the best of fabrics which were discarded. He used these discarded silk, velvet and brocade to make beautiful covers and jackets for the books in the library.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Complete the sentences.
1. Abdul’s father was a ………… .
2. Abdul wanted his father to lend him
Answer:
1. schoolmaster
2. a little gold

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
How many books could Abdul’s father get for him?
Answer:
Abdul’s father could not get any books for him.

Question 2.
What does Abdul want to do? How does he plan to do it?
Answer:
Abdul wants to acquire knowledge and become a scholar. He plans to buy books and study them to rise high and become famous.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question 3.
What are books and manuscripts compared to?
Answer:
Books and manuscripts are compared to treasures rare and exclusive.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Frame a sentence with the phrase ‘brighter tomorrow’.
Answer:
Rohan worked day and night for a brighter tomorrow.

Grammar:

Question 1.
How many books could you get? (Identify the kind of sentence)
Answer:
Interrogative.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question 2.
Pick out a word from the extract which means – to hope or to dream.
Answer:
aspire.

Question 3.
Guess the meaning of ‘a brighter tomorrow’ in context of the play.
Answer:
A brighter tomorrow means a better or brighter future.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Do you like to read books? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I like to read books. I like to read books because it helps to increase our knowledge, gives us a lot of information and keeps us occupied when there is nothing to do. For me. books are my best friends.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question 2.
Abdul got the Royal Tailors to work for making the jackets. What skills does it reflect?
Answer:
The skill which comes out is making best from waste. It not only saves money but also helps to save the environment.

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Complete the sentences.

  1. You appear to be smart,
  2. Quench my
  3. I am pleased with you
  4. made a poultry people?

Answer:

  1. be my clerk
  2. thirst for knowledge
  3. work and loving care!
  4. Intellectual, sagacious, astute

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
What request must Abdul have sent to the Emperor?
Answer:
Abdul must have requested the Emperor to give him a position in his court because he had gained all the knowledge which would help him in the job.

Question 2.
What was the merchant’s reaction to Abdul’s work?
Answer:
The merchant was very pleased with Abdul’s work and wanted to reward him.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question 3.
What job did the emperor give Abdul?
Answer:
The Emperor made Abdul his poultry keeper, in charge of the Royal Murgikhana.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Find words/phrases meaning ‘rare’.
Answer:
One in a million; a gem; unique

Question 2.
Guess the meaning of ‘a gem’ in the context of this play.
Answer:
The context ‘a gem’ in the play means someone very precious, of great value.

Question 3.
Find pairs of rhyming words used in this passage.
Answer:

  • serve – deserve
  • clerk – work
  • care – rare – fair
  • store – more
  • learned – yearned
  • notice – office
  • prayer – care
  • scholar – keeper
  • refuse – use
  • Persian – million.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Grammar:

Question 1.
Write the noun forms of:

  1. move
  2. direct
  3. explore
  4. determine
  5. estitute
  6. hesitate
  7. compel
  8. treat

Answer:

  1. movement
  2. direction
  3. exploration
  4. determination
  5. destitution
  6. hesitation
  7. compulsion
  8. treatment

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1.
Can you spot at least three abstract nouns in the following paragraph?
‘We put the plan of action in motion immediately. We kept it a secret. We wanted to give Mrs Desai a surprise. But her intelligence is really appreciable. She spotted the change within a week.
Answer:
secret, surprise, intelligence.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question 2.
Now you know that plural forms of nouns have -s, -es or -ies at the end. But the plurals of some nouns are formed differently. Singular :

  1. woman
  2. person
  3. goose
  4. half
  5. wife
  6. potato
  7. cactus
  8. fungus
  9. oasis
  10. syllabus
  11. datum
  12. focus
  13. louse

Answer:

Plural:

  1. women
  2. persons /people
  3. geese
  4. halves
  5. wives
  6. potatoes
  7. cacti
  8. fungi
  9. oases
  10. syllabi/syllabuses
  11. data
  12. foci
  13. lice

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question 3.
More of nouns having singular and plural alike.
Singular :

  1. news
  2. aircraft
  3. species
  4. darts
  5. pants
  6. trousers
  7. jeans
  8. glasses
  9. scissors
  10. fish
  11. salmon
  12. headquarters
  13. Chinese

Answer:
Plural:

  1. news
  2. aircraft
  3. species
  4. darts
  5. pants
  6. trousers
  7. jeans
  8. glasses
  9. scissors
  10. fish (if it is the same species)
  11. salmon
  12. headquarters
  13. Chinese

Question 4.
I’m happy to announce, now you are my courtier! (Kind of sentence)
Answer:
Exclamatory sentence.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Question 5.
The Royal tailors made the jackets. (Change the voice)
Answer:
The jackets were made by the Royal tailors.

Question 6.
Abdul enters and bows before the Emperor. (Pick out the conjunction and state its kind)
Answer:
and – coordinating conjunction.

Question 7.
Days passed by, he learned and learned. (Identify the figure of speech and explain)
Answer:
Repetition: The word ‘learned’ has been repeated for better poetic effect.

Question 8.
I need nothing more. (Identify the figure of speech and explain)
Answer:
Alliteration: The sound of the letter ‘n’ has been repeated for better poetic effect.

Abdul Becomes a Courtier Summary in English

The story in this lesson revolves around Abdul who is very wise and intelligent and loves reading and learning. His father cannot afford the costly books and so Abdul works and accepts his reward only in kind and that too he asks for nothing more than reading books. He quenches his thirst for knowledge and desires to work in the Emperor’s office. Let us see how he gets this honourable position.

Introduction:

The lesson ‘Abdul Becomes a Courtier’ is taken from the series of Akbar and Birbal stories. It has been adapted into the dialogue form by Pratibha Nath who is a wonderful story teller and weaves stories for children.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Glossary:

  1. erudition (n) – learning, scholarly work
  2. scores (n)- sets of twenty
  3. clerk (n) – a person who keeps records, accounts, etc.
  4. quench (v) – to satisfy
  5. office (n) – position, responsibility
  6. prayer (n) (here) – request
  7. sagacious (adj) – wise
  8. astute (adj) – intelligent, one who knows how to use a situation to his advantage
  9. zeal (n) – enthusiasm
  10. drive (n) – an effort made to achieve a certain purpose
  11. brains (n) – intelligence
  12. shirk (y) – avoid
  13. brocade (n) – rich fabric woven with golden or silver thread
  14. papers (n) – official documents
  15. aspire (y) – to hope or dream
  16. manuscripts (n) – written by hand, handwritten
  17. rare (adj) – uncommon, unique
  18. exclusive (adj) – of high quality
  19. dejected (adj) – sad
  20. rejected (adj) – not accepted
  21. yearned (v) – to long for
  22. conviction (n) – firm belief
  23. passion (n) – love
  24. relish (v) – enjoy
  25. thrive (v) – grow
  26. perseverance (n) – continuing to do something regardless of failure
  27. chores (n) – work
  28. poultry keeper (n) – a person who looks after chickens, ducks and other birds that are kept for their egg and meat.
  29. ration (n) (here) – food.
  30. jacket (n) – outer covering.
  31. discarded (v) – disposed off, thrown away.
  32. courtier (n) – a person who attends a royal court as an adviser to the king or queen.
  33. expensive (adj) – costly.
  34. ponders (v) – thinks deeply.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Class 7 English Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Write the homophones (words which sound the same. of the following words in the story.

Question 1.
Write the homophones (words which sound the same. of the following words in the story.

  1. no: ……………………….
  2. dear: ……………………….
  3. here: ……………………….
  4. went: ……………………….
  5. pair: ……………………….
  6. knew: ……………………….
  7. through: ……………………….
  8. soul: ……………………….
  9. whole: ……………………….

Answer:

  1. know
  2. deer
  3. here
  4. vent
  5. pear, pare
  6. new
  7. threw
  8. sole
  9. hole

Examples for homophones along with the prior:

  1. steel-steal
  2. read – red
  3. see – sea
  4. eves – ice
  5. air – heir
  6. meet – meat
  7. grown – groan
  8. would – wood
  9. great – grate

2. Correct the following sentences and rewrite them.

Question 1.
The best shoes that Papa Panov had made were a pair of lady’s shoes.
Answer:
The best shoes that Papa Panov had made were a pair of tiny leather shoes.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 2.
Papa Panov gave hot soup to the sweeper, milk to the young mother and coffee to the beggars.
Answer:
Papa Panov gave hot coffee to the sweeper, milk to the baby and hot soup to the beggars.

Question 3.
By afternoon, Papa Panov had stopped looking out for Jesus.
Answer:
By the time dusk had fallen, Papa Panov had stopped looking out for Jesus.

Question 4.
Papa Panov saw the sweeper, the young mother and the beggars he had helped only once in the morning.
Answer:
Papa Panov saw the sweeper, the young mother and the beggars twice, once during the day and once at night.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 5.
Jesus, had actually visited Papa Panov only once on Christmas Eve.
Answer:
Jesus had visited Papa Panov only once on Christmas Eve and several times on Christmas day.

3. Write a character sketch of Papa Panov in your own words.

Question 1.
Write a character sketch of Papa Panov in your own words.
Answer:
Papa Panov was a kind and humble shoe-maker. He lived in a village in Russia. He was a cheerful man,who lived alone. He was widower and his grown up children had left home to seek their fortune. He has loved by his villagers. He was a happy man with laughter wrinkles on his face indicating his happy life.

He was quite old and had weak eyesight which made him wear spectacles. He earned a decent living. we come to know of this because he helped people in distress. He seems to be a god fearing and pious man because he not only dreamnt of God in his dreams but also spoke to him. Thpugh he was lonely he brightened himeself up by helping people when needed.

We can sum these qualities of Papa Panov as being a wonderful human being with a golden heart. He is filled with humaneness, empathy, selflessness and love for mankind making him God’s beloved creature.

4. Write your interpretation of the story.

Question 4.
Write your interpretation of the story.
Answer:
The story of ‘Papa Panov’ according to me is an interesting story to introduce to children, inculcating in them values of selflessness, empathy, sharing and love for humanity. God resides in those who love their kind, is vividly put forth through this story. This story has inspired me to go out and help those in need.

The smile and blessings I get when I help the needy makes my day and makes me feel blessed. It is rightly said ‘Service to man is service to God’.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

5. Information about cold winters in Russia.

6. Do you know of similar stories in your mother tongue or in other languages? Narrate it in short.

7. Which season would you say is the hardest in your locality?

Question 1.
What help would the poor and homeless people need in that season?
Answer:
The rainy season is the hardest season in my locality. The poor and homeless people are without a roof and have to remain wet and , huddled under some shelter for hours. They do not have proper shelter, clothes, food and drinking water. This is a season which brings in a lot of sicknesses, which if not treated could be fatal. Medical help is also necessary for them in this season which is difficult for them to get.

Class 7 English Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
In the little village what shows that it is Christmas time?
Answer:
In the little village, although it is afternoon, lights begin to appear in the shops and houses, indicating that it is Christmas time.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 2.
Did Papa Panov have a shop away from his home?
Answer:
No, Papa Panov’s shop was his home.

Question 3.
Did he live alone? Why?
Answer:
Yes, Papa Panov lived alone because his wife had died and his grown-up children had all left his home.

Question 4.
What tells us that Papa Panov is a kind person?
Answer:
While reading the Christmas story from the Bible, he read how baby Jesus was born in a cowshed. He wished that Mary and Joseph had come to his home where he would have given them his bed and covered baby Jesus with his quilt to keep him warm. This feeling which comes up in Papa Panov’s mind shows us that he was a kind person.

Question 5.
What do the ‘laughter wrinkles’ tell us?
Answer:
The ‘laughter wrinkles’ tell us that Papa Panov is quite old. It also tells us about the number of happy times he had with family and friends.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 6.
Why is the small box dusty?
Answer:
The small box with a pair of tiny leather shoes was dusty because it was kept high up on the shelf and had not been touched or moved for years.

Question 7.
What thoughts did Papa Panov have before he fell asleep? Were they related to his dream?
Answer:
Papa Panov while reading the story of Christmas day from the Bible felt sad for Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus and thought if they were in his home he would have been of help to them. When he read about the splendid gifts given to baby Jesus by the wise men, the thought that he had nothing to give made him unhappy. The thought that he could give as gift the pair of tiny leather shoes which he had made years ago made him happy again. No, they were not related to his dream.

Question 8.
Did Papa Panov believe in his dream? In what forms did he imagine Jesus to visit him?
Answer:
Yes, Papa Panov believed in his dream. He imagined Jesus visiting him in the form of a little baby or a grown up man or a carpenter or as God’s son.

Question 9.
How does the author show that Papa Panov was disappointed?
Answer:
The winter dusk had fallen. Papa Panov went to the door and strained his eyes but he could not make out the passers by because it had gone very dark and most of them were at home. This made Papa Panov unhappy because it was too late for anyone to come.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 10.
What actions of Papa Panov suggest it?
Answer:
Papa Panov walked slowly back into his room, put up the shutters and sat down wearily indicating his disappointment.

Question 11.
How does the author describe Papa Panov’s happiness?
Answer:
Papa Panov’s heart was overflowing with happiness and peace which made him want to burst out singing, laughing and dancing with joy, knowing that Jesus had come to his home.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Write whether true or false.
1. The setting of the story is in a Russian city.
2. Papa Panov was sad on Christmas Eve.
Answer:
1. False
2. True

Complex Factual Question.

Question 1.
What could be heard from the closed shutters?
Answer:
Muffled sounds of chatter and laughter could be heard from closed shutters.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 2.
What reminded Papa Panov of his past Christmas times?
Answer:
The sounds of happiness, the bright lights and the faint but delicious smells of Christmas cooking reminded Papa Panov of his happy past Christmas times.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Write the homophone for:

  1. one
  2. step
  3. been
  4. his

Answer:

  1. won
  2. steppe
  3. bean
  4. hiss

Grammar.

Question 1.
Old Papa Panov, the village shoemaker, stepped outside. (Separate the subject and predicate.
Answer:
Old Papa Panov, the village shoemaker – Subject; stepped outside – Predicate

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 2.
With a sigh, he settled in his big armchair. (Separate the subject and predicate. ‘ <
Answer:
Subject – He; Predicate – settled/ in his big armchair with a sigh

Question 3.
Excited children scurried indoors. (Name the part of speech of the underlined words.
Answer:
excited – adjective, scurried – verb, indoors – adverb

Question 4.
It was Christmas Eve. (Add a question tag.
Answer:
It was Christmas Eve, wasn’t it?

Question 5.
Excited children scurried indoors. (Write whether the verb is transitive or intransitive.
Answer:
scurried – intransitive

Personal Response.

Question 1.
What do you do on festivals?
Answer:
I enjoy myself a lot. I celebrate every festival because people from all religions live in my locality. My friends and I visit houses, eat and enjoy. My relatives too come home to celebrate our festivals with us. I love it when my house is full of people.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Complete the following sentences.

  1. The Street was deserted
  2. Papa Panov opened the shop door,
  3. The sweeper old clothes steamed
  4. Papa Panov watched him with satisfaction but,

Answer:

  1. I no one was stirring yet.
  2. letting in a thin stream of cold air.
  3. gently in the heat of the stove
  4. every now and then his eyes strayed to the window.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Why did Papa Panov give hot coffee to the sweeper?
Answer:
When Papa Panov took down his shutters and looked out, all he saw was the road sweeper looking miserable and dirty working on Christmas Day, in the raw cold and bitter freezing mist which made him give the sweeper a hot cup of coffee to make him feel better.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 2.
Why did he tell the sweeper about his dream? Why did the sweeper smile?
Answer:
Papa Panov invited the sweeper to drink a cup of hot coffee to keep him warm from the cold. The sweeper noticed that all the time he was in the room, Papa Panov’s eyes strayed to the window now and then. This made the sweeper ask him if he was expecting a visitor which made Papa Panov relate his dream. The sweeper smiled because he was the special visitor, Jesus, Papa Panov was waiting for.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Give adverb form of

  1. gentle
  2. special
  3. actual
  4. comfort

Answer:

  1. gently
  2. specially
  3. actually
  4. comfortably

Grammar.

Question 1.
Pick out four adjectives from the passage
Answer:
might, cold, bitter, freezing

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 2.
Papa Panov opened the door, letting in a thin stream of cold air. (Add a question tag.
Answer:
Papa Panov opened the door, letting in a thin stream of cold air, didn’t he?

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Have you ever noticed that some people have to work even on festivals? Who are they?
Answer:
Yes, I have noticed some people having to work on festivals. They are the newspaper man, the sweeper, our maid at home, the milkman, people employed in the public service such as the postman/postwoman, bus and train drivers and conductors, policemen/ women, soldiers protecting our country.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Complete the following sentences.

  1. The young mother let him
  2. Papa Panov remembered the little
  3. The girl smiled happily and
  4. He took the milk from the stove and

Answer:

  1. Shepherd her indoors and to the comfort of the armchair.
  2. Shoes he had looked at last night.
  3. The baby gurgled with pleasure.
  4. and carefully fed the baby from a spoon, warming her tiny feet.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
What does the way the girl walked suggest?
Answer:
The way the girl walked suggests that she is very hungry, tired and very little energy left in her to move.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
“You both need a warm by the fire and a rest”.
Answer:
They both needed to get the warmth from the fire in the fireplace and also some rest.

Question 2.
The young mother let him shepherd her indoors.
Answer:
The young mother allowed him to guide her into the house.

Do as directed.

Question 1.
It’s Christmas Day. (Add a Question Tag)
Answer:
It’s Christmas Day, isn’t it?

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Question 2.
Expecting someone? (Kind of sentence)
Answer:
Interrogative sentence

Question 3.
The girl walked slowly and quietly. (Use ‘not only … but also’)
Answer:
The girl walked not only slowly but also quietly.

Question 4.
He remembered the little shoes. (Change into negative)
Answer:
He did not forget the little shoes.

Question 5.
I can’t afford the shoes. (Change into positive)
Answer:
I am unable to afford the shoes.

Question 6.
A great peace and happiness filled the room. (Change into exclamatory)
Answer:
What peace and happiness filled the room!

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Why did Papa Panov give the shoes to the baby though he had been keeping them for Jesus?
Answer:
Papa Panov noticed that the young girl with a baby was weary and hungry. He invited her to his home. He noticed that the baby’s feet were bare and the mother could not afford shohes for her child. He decided to give the little shoes he had kept for jesus, to the little baby because he was a very kind-hearted person and could not see them in difficulty.

Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Summary in English

Papa Panov is an elderly cobbler who lives all by himself in a small Russian village. It was Christmas Eve, and there was excitement everywhere. His wife had passed away and his children were all grown up and gone. Alone on Christmas Eve in his shop, Papa Panov decides to open the old family Bible and reads the Christmas story about the birth of Christ. That night he dreams about Jesus coming to him saying that he would visit Papa Panov in person the next day.

Papa Panov was very happy, waited anxiously to meet Jesus on Christmas Day. It was early in the morning and no one in sight. He saw a lone sweeper and invited him for a hot cup of coffee. In this way he helped the needy on Christmas day, all of them blessed him for his love and care. The day wore off but Jesus did not come to meet him. Feeling sad, he sat down in his armchair. He felt that he was not alone. He saw all the people who had come to him that day and as they passed each whispered, ‘Didn’t you see me, Papa Panov?’ Then he understood that Jesus had come to him in the form of the needy people he had helped. He was at peace and his heart danced with joy.

Introduction:

‘Papa Panov’s Special Christmas’ is a short children’s story written by Leo Tolstoy. This is an interesting story to introduce young children to the value of kindness.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Glossary:

  1. scurried (v) – to run with quick light steps
  2. muffled (adj) – sound which is covered up
  3. delicious (adj0 – tasty
  4. quilt (n) – a bed covering consisting of two layers stitched together with insulation between
  5. splendid (adj) – magnificent
  6. charcoal (n) – impure carbon, coal
  7. stove (n) – a device for heating food
  8. miserable (adj) – sad, poor hunger
  9. scanning (adj) – to examine part by part
  10. wrapped (v) – covered in thin material
  11. shepherd (v) – (here. to guide
  12. stirring (v) – action of movement
  13. gurgled (v) – to make a bubbling sound
  14. anxiously (adj) – in a worried manner
  15. hunk (n) – a large piece of something’
  16. bewildered (adj) – confused
  17. pinched (adj) – very thin, pale from cold or hunger.
  18. clasped (v) – to grab tightly

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Class 7 English Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme Textbook Questions and Answers

1. The items in the programme below have got mixed up.

Question 1.
Rearrange them in the proper order. Just add the number in the left-hand column.
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme 1
Answer:
Balanand Vidyalaya Art Festival Programme

  • Dignitaries arrive
  • Igniting the lamp
  • Welcome and introduction of guests
  • Appraisal of the Art Festival
  • Recital of ‘Taal Kacheri’
  • Koli Dance
  • The Boy Comes Home – A skit by Std. IX
  • Prize distribution
  • Chief Guest speaks
  • Vote of thanks

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

2. Form groups of 5-8. This passage tells us only what the compère says.

Question 1.
Try to visualise and write what the other people on the dais must have said In their speeches (Write only the main points.)
1. The School Principal
2. The Chief Guest
3. The Art teacher who offered vote of thanks
Answer:
1. The compere thanks the Principal, Dr. Ajinkya Parakhi.
2. The compere thanks the Chief Guest- for releasing the book and formally inaugurating the art festival.

3. Choose the appropriate phrase to insert in the gaps to make the sentences meaningful. Use the appropriate form of the verb.

  1. to appraise
  2. to be relieved of
  3. to draw the curtain
  4. to escort
  5. to be likened to
  6. to have butterflies in ones stomach

Question 1.
Before we ………….., let us stand in attention for the National Anthem.
Answer:
draw the curtain

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 2.
I ………….. just as I was to receive my Report Card.
Answer:
had butterflies in my stomach

Question 3.
After I took the medicine, I ………….. ………….. of the pain.
Answer:
was relieved

Question 4.
Before we do the experiment in the laboratory, let me ………….. you all about it.
Answer:
appraise

Question 5.
The Minister ………….. by his personal bodyguards.
Answer:
was escorted

Question 6.
Sorrowful times ………….. to darkness.
Answer:
are likened.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

4. Prepare a formal invitation card for the Art Festival.

Question 1.
Prepare a formal invitation card for the Art Festival.
Answer:
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme 2

5. Prepare a News Report in brief on this Art Festival.

Question 1.
Prepare a News Report in brief on this Art Festival.
Answer:

Art Collage

– by a student reporter

Balanand Vidyalaya, June 26: Balanand Vidyalaya had organised a Art Festival on 25th June, 2017 in the school. Preparations for the same had begun days in advance. Their Art teacher, Ms. Shilpa Sanghani was confident as everything was well planned.

The function began with the lighting of the lamp followed by the welcome speech and introduction of guests. The Chief Guest for the function Shri Charudatta Diwan was welcomed by the Principal with a token of two volumes of Cherished Lives of Great Artists. The Convener of the Art Festival, Ms. Shilpa Sanghani welcomed the President of Balanand Academy, Mr. Avadhoot Pathak. The Principal briefed the audience about the Art Festival after which a special book comprising photographs of unique pieces of art contributed by students was released by the Honourable Chief Guest.

Art in its different forms were then presented by the students. This included Taal Kacheri, Koli dance and a light comedy play. The prize distribution thereafter came as a pat on their back. While Taal Kacheri won the first prize, the Koli dance won the second prize. The Chief Guest Shri Diwan’s speech on various aspects of Art and Culture left the audience with new insights.

In the end a vote of thanks was proposed by Ms. Shilpa Sanghani. When asked one of the parents remarked, “Such activities give an impetus to Art and Culture and encourage students to realize their potential.” The Art Festival was a grand success underlining the importance of co-curricular activities in school.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

6. Chalk out detailed programmes for the following occasions.

Question 1.
1. The Teacher’s Day programme in your school.
2. An exhibition of science projects arranged in your classroom.
3. A wedding anniversary/birthday celebration for your grandparents that you have arranged with your family.
Answer:
1. Teacher’s Day programme:

  1. Welcome Speech by the Head Boy
  2. Speech on importance of teachers by the Head Girl.
  3. Felicitation of teachers
  4. Address by the Principal
  5. Cultural Programme
  6. Games
  7. Vote of thanks
  8. National Anthem
  9. Snacks

2. Exhibition of Science projects in classroom:

  1. Welcome speech by monitor
  2. Ribbon cutting ceremony
  3. Speech by the Principal
  4. Judging of projects
  5. Prize distribution
  6. Vote of thanks
  7. National Anthem

3. Birthday celebration for grandfather:

  1. Welcome grandparents
  2. Powerpoint show on Grandfather
  3. Talks by relatives and friends
  4. Cake cutting
  5. Snacks and refreshment
  6. Vote of thanks

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

7. Language Study.

Object: Direct and indirect – An object is a word, phrase
or clause that shows the person. thing etc. affected by the action of the verb.
The underlined words or phrases in the following sentences are objects.
1. Mother drives a scooter.
2. He gave me a pen.
There are two types of object: direct and indirect. The direct object Is directly affected by the action. For example, in sentence 2 above, ‘a pen’ Is direct object. An indirect object refers to the person or a thing to whom/for whom the action Is done. In sentence 2 above, ‘me’ is an indirect object.
Answer:

  1. He told the boys a story
  2. Amruta gave me a stern look.
  3. His friend gifted him a kettle
  4. A neighbour gave him a ticket
  5. Davy gave Faraday an impossible task.
  6. Harsh Serves them breakfast
  7. Shweta told me her problems.
Direct object Indirect object
1. A story the boys
2. a stern look me
3. a kettle him
4. a ticket him
5. an impossible task Faraday
6. breakfast them
7. her problems me

Class 7 English Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Why does the compere request the audience to switch off their mobile phones?
Answer:
The compere requests the audience to switch off their mobile phones so that they can give undivided attention to the creative expressions of the youngsters and not get distracted by their other pre-occupations and ringtone.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 2.
Why does she request them to be seated?
Answer:
She requests them to take their seats so that she can begin the programme.

Question 3.
At the beginning of the programme, who does the compere address by name?
Answer:
At the beginning of the programme, the compere addresses the Head Girl by her name.

Question 4.
Describe the book that is released.
Answer:
The book is a volume comprising photographs of all the beautiful and unique pieces of art contributed by the skillful students of Balanand Vidyalaya.

Question 5.
Who is taking part in the Taal Kacheri?
Answer:
Sahil of Std. X A, Varsha, Vivek, Zubin and Govind are taking part in the Taal Kacheri.

Question 6.
Guess/Find the meaning of Taal Kacheri.
Answer:
Taal Kacheri, literally translated means rhythmic instrumental musical session.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 7.
Does the compere say the following at the beginning of the programme or after it has ended?
Answer:
1. What a wonderful presentation!
2. That was indeed a fantastic performance!
The compere says the given statements after the programme has ended.

Question 8.
What is meant by ‘butterflies in the stomach’?
Answer:
‘Butterflies in the stomach’ means to be anxious and nervous.

Question 9.
How is this vocal rendition different from music?
Answer:
Music is the pattern of sounds produced by people singing or playing instruments expressing ideas and emotions. Vocal refers to music human voice, which is singing.

Answer the following in one sentence.

Question 1.
Who was present at the Art Festival?
Answer:
Special invitees, guests, parents, teachers and students were present for the Art Festival.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 2.
How did the programme begin?
Answer:
The programme began with the lighting of the lamp.

Question 3.
Explain ‘Atithi Devo Bhava!’
Answer:
‘Atithi Devo Bhava!’ means a guest is equivalent to God.

Question 4.
Which amazing quality of the lamp does the compere highlight?
Answer:
The compere highlights that the lamp not only dispels darkness but also leaves way for a thousand other lamps to be lit with its flames.

Question 5.
How are knowledge and lamp similar?
Answer:
Knowledge and lamp are similar in the fact that they both spread light. They only add and multiply.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 6.
Who gave away the prizes to the prize winners?
Answer:
The Chief Guest, Shri Charudatta Diwan gave away the prizes to the prize winners.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Which is the school in question?
Answer:
The school in question is Balanand Vidyalaya.

Question 2.
Why is the lamp said to be having an amazing quality?
Answer:
A lamp can dispel or remove darkness and also help to light a thousand other lamps from its flames. Hence it is said to possess an amazing quality.

Question 3.
What is the lamp compared to? Give reason.
Answer:
The lamp is compared to knowledge because when you share knowledge, it never reduces. One can share knowledge with thousands of people and enlighten their minds.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 4.
What do we learn about Shri Charudatta Diwan from the compere’s speech?
Answer:
From the compere’s speech, we learn that Shri Charudatta Diwan is a renowned artist, a painter of international repute, proud recipient of many prestigious awards and President of Kala Ranjan Academy.

Question 5.
Who are the following?

  1. Mr. Avadhoot Pathak
  2. Ms. Shubhada Murarka
  3. Mr. Ajinkya Parakhi

Answer:

  1. President of Balanand Education Society
  2. Head Girl of Balanand Vidyalaya
  3. Principal of Balanand Vidhyalaya

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Give one world for the following.

  1. the formal beginning of an event
  2. one who receives
  3. having high status
  4. noteworthy and important

Answer:

  1. inauguration
  2. recipient
  3. prestigious
  4. eminent

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 2.
Write the antonyms.

  1. gather
  2. auspicious
  3. request
  4. honour

Answer:

  1. disperse
  2. inauspicious
  3. order
  4. dishonour

Question 3.
Form a word chain of verbs.
e.g. announce – extend – deliver – request
1. Break, ……., ……., …….
2. Release, ……., ……., …….
3. Visit, ……., ……., …….
Answer:
1. keep, pick, kick
2. educate, end, dance
3. teach, hide, eliminate

Grammar.

Question 1.
Knowledge, too, spreads light (Rewrite the sentence removing ‘too’)
Answer:
Knowledge also spreads light.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 2.
It is indeed a proud privilege. (Make exclamatory)
Answer:
What a proud privilege it is!

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Do you have a school song? What does it tell you?
Answer:
Yes, we have a school song by the name ‘The Temple of Learning’. It tells us about how a school acts as a sheltered cocoon for students preparing them to take a flight spreading their wings in the beautiful world outside.

Simple Factual Questions.

Complete the tree diagram on the basis of information given in the extract.
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme 3

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Who were the participants of Taal Kacheri? Which instruments did they play?
Answer:
Varsha played the Mridangam, Vivek was on Dholak, Zubin played the Tabla and Ghatam was played by Govind. Sahil gave the vocal reaction.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 2.
What kind of play is ‘The Boy Comes Home’?
Answer:
‘The Boy Comes Home’ is a light comedy.

Question 3.
The Art Festival aims at encouraging the students and bringing out their creative best. How do we know this from the extract?
Answer:
The Art Festival included a Book release in which various students had contributed their creative work. Besides students also displayed their talent through music, dance and play. This tells us that the Art Festival aims to be a launching pad for students to reach greater heights in the field of Art and Culture.

Vocabulary.

Give antonyms.

  1. unique
  2. deliver
  3. pleasure
  4. introductory

Answer:

  1. ordinary, common
  2. collect
  3. sadness, pain
  4. conclusive

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Grammar.

Question 1.
What a wonderful presentation! (Make assertive)
Answer:
It was indeed a wonderful presentation.

Question 2.
Match the question tags.

‘A’ ‘B’
1.  Let’s enjoy the Taal kacheri a. can’t you?
2. After this programme, you can take that pleasure b. should we?
c. shall we?

Answer:

‘A’ ‘B’
1.  Let’s enjoy the Taal kacheri c. shall we?
2. After this programme, you can take that pleasure a. can’t you?

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Do you think such programmes inspire students? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, I think such programmes inspire students. Mark Twain has rightly remarked, “Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered – either by themselves or by others. Such programmes help students to get over their fears and also build up their confidence. It also serves as a platform to showcase their hidden talents. Appreciation in the form of award/trophy further encourages them to do even better.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Language Study.

Make sentences using the phrases.

Question 1.
To have butterflies in one’s stomach
Answer:
When Ria was about to enter the interview room, she had butterflies in her stomach.

Question 2.
To lend a helping hand
Answer:
Many Mumbaikars lent a helping hand to those who had got stranded due to floods. OR She was always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy.

Do as directed.

Question 1.
Look at the amazing quality of this lamp. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
Look at the amazing quality of this lamp, won’t you?

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Question 2.
It only adds and multiplies. (Rewrite as negative)
Answer:
It does nothing but adds and multiplies.

Question 3.
Our Indian culture regards guests as gods. (Begin with ‘Guests are … ’)
Answer:
Guests are regarded as gods in our Indian culture.

Question 4.
We have gathered here for the inauguration of our School Art festival. (Frame a Wh- question)
Answer:
What have we gathered here for?

Question 5.
Different states display their unique identity through their respective culture. (Rewrite using Modal auxiliary of possibility)
Answer:
Different states might display their unique identity through their respective culture.

Find words with the given clues.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme 4

Clues.

Question 1.

  1. to give information about
  2. famous and respected within a particular sphere
  3. a special right
  4. used for flooring
  5. Joyous

Answer:

  1. Appraise
  2. Eminent
  3. Privelege
  4. Tile
  5. Festive

Compere a Programme Summary in English

The lesson ‘Compere a Programme’ serves as a model for students to compere official, staged events in school or other places. The compere takes charge of the smooth delegation of the events of the itinerary and most importantly, in a planned sequence. Right from instructions to the audience, to inviting dignitaries for the introductory talk, prize distribution, speech etc., the compere takes the programme ahead in a lively manner. The students also need to notice the formal, polite language and vocabulary used during such events. Besides al’l this, the lesson has a message for all schools. It is to encourage our younger generation to preserve and pass on our rich traditions through such events.

Introduction:

A compere is an official presenter of a ceremony, a staged event or programme. Compering a programme holds great importance as the success of a programme largely depends on the way it is compered.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.2 Compere a Programme

Glossary:

  1. festive (adj) – joyous
  2. preoccupation (n) – being engrossed with something
  3. escort (v) (n) – to accompany someone somewhere
  4. dignitaries (n) – important persons due to their rank or office
  5. renown (n) – the condition of being known, fame
  6. hearty (adj) – loudly vigorous and cheerful
  7. auspicious (adj) – favourable, to be of good omen
  8. symbolic (adj) – representing something
  9. potential (n)- having the capacity to develop into something in the future
  10. distinguished (adj) – very successful
  11. eminent (adj) – noteworthy and important
  12. prestigious (adj) – having high status
  13. comprise (v) – consist of
  14. auditorium (n) – the part of a theatre in which the audience sits
  15. display (v) – show, exhibit
  16. vocal (adj) – a part of music that is sung
  17. rendition (n) – performance
  18. demonstration (n) – exhibition, presentation
  19. apprise (adj) – give information about
  20. anxiety (n)- uneasiness
  21. insights (n) – understanding of something
  22. immensely (adj) – extremely
  23. convener (n) – a person who calls people together for meetings of a committee

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Class 7 English Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster Textbook Questions and Answers

1. From the passage, find all the words and phrases used to describe the ‘monster’.

Question 1.
From the passage, find all the words and phrases used to describe the ‘monster’.
Answer:
Unearthly animal, fearsome creature, unknown creature, huge glowworm, infernal beast, motionless animal.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

2. Form groups of 4. Find all the references to time given In the passage. Then make a chart to show the events described in the passage along with the time when they occur.
Example:

  • All night long: The crew stayed on their feet
  • Near midnight: …………………………………….
  • At 12.53: …………………………………………….
  • ………….. : …………………………………………….
  • ………….. : …………………………………………….
  • ………….. : …………………………………………….
    (lise as many lines as you need.)

Question 1.
Form groups of 4. Find all the references to time given in the passage. Then make a chart to show the events described in the passage along with the time when they occur. Example:
Answer:

  • All night long: The crew stayed on their feet.
  • Near midnight: The sea animal disappeared.
  • At 12.53: A deafening hiss was heard.
  • Near 2.00 am: The core of a light appeared.
  • At 6.00 am: The animals electric glow disappeared.
  • At 7.00 am: A dense morning mist spread.
  • At 8.00 am: The mist disappeared, the sea animal was seen.
  • A few moments later: The frigate headed for the animal.
  • Three-quarters of an hour later: They were not getting closer to the animal.
  • Next one hour: The frigate gathered speed and so did the sea animal.
  • At 10.50 pm: The electric light reappeared.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

3. How long does the whole event described in this passage take? Work it out by reading the passage.

Question 1.
How long does the whole event described in this passage take? Work it out by reading the passage.

4. Observe the picture and the labels carefully. Then match the words and the meanings given in the foliwing table.

Question 1.
Observe the picture and the labels carefully. Then match the words and the meanings given in the foliwing table.
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster 1 Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster 2
Answer:

Words Column ‘B’
1. Yard (e) A pole slung across a ship’s mast. A sail hangs from a yard
2. Mast (d) Tall, upright pole on a ship
3. Bow (b) The forward part of the main body of a ship
4. Deck (a) A floor, flat area built on a Ship
5. Forecastle (g) The part which is always at the front while the ship is sailing
6. Starboard (h) The right-hand side of a ship as one faces forward
7. Stern (f) The rearmost (back) part of a ship
8. Afterdeck (i) An open deck near the back
9. Fore (c) The forward part of a deck

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

5. Form groups of 4-5. Read the following sentences aloud. Using your imagination and with the help of group discussion, write other situations in which the sentences can be used.

  • The outcome: disappointment and anger.
  • The hour of battle had sounded
  • What a chase!
  • This was our chance, ……..

Question 1.
Form groups of 4-5. Read the following sentences aloud. Using your imagination and with the help of group discussion, write other situations in which the sentences can be used.
Answer:

  • The outcome: disappointment and anger
  • The hour of battle had sounded
  • What a chase!
  • This was our chance
  • The outcome: happiness and relief
  • The outcome: fun and joy
  • The outcome: misery and poverty
  • The hour of decision had arrived
  • The sound of victory was heard
  • What a book!
  • What a personality!
  • What a movie!
  • This was our victory …
  • This was our last straw …
  • This was our fight…

6. Find the different units of measurement mentioned in the passage and get more information about them from the internet.

Question 1.
Find the different units of measurement mentioned in the passage and get more information about them from the internet.

7. Language Study: Transitive and intransitive verbs : We can classify verbs into two types – transitive and intransitive. Some verbs need on object/objects. When a verb has an object, it is a transitive verb. For example, ‘The boy kicked the football’. Here the verb ‘kick’ has ‘the football’ as its object. ‘Give’, ‘cook’, ‘buy’ are transitive verb.
Some verbs do not need any objects. When a verb does not have an object, it is an intransitive verb. For example, ‘We laughed loudly’. The verb ‘laugh’ in this sentence does not have an object. ‘Laugh’, ‘walk’, ‘dy’ are intransitive verbs.
Some verbs can be transitive or intransitive. For example,
‘Birds fly’. (intransitive) ‘Children fly kites’. (transitive)

Class 7 English Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Guess what order the commander must have given.
Answer:
The order given by the commander must have been to advance slowly towards the monster and to be ready to attack.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question 2.
Why did the Abraham Lincoln slow down? Answer: The Abraham Lincoln slowed down because
it was
unable to compete with the monster’s speed.

Question 3.
What is the monster compared to when it disappeared?
Answer:
The monster is compared to a huge glow-worm when it disappeared.

Question 4.
What did the deafening hiss resemble?
Answer:
The deafening hiss resembled the sound made by a water spout expelled with tremendous intensity.

Question 5.
Who would get $ 500?
Answer:
The man who would pierce the infernal beast would get $ 500.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question 6.
Describe the gunner who accepted the challenge.
Answer:
The gunner who accepted the challenge was a calm, cool, old and gray bearded man.

Question 7.
What was Ned Land doing?
Answer:
Ned Land was brandishing his dreadful weapon.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Simple Factual Questions:

Fill in the blanks.

Question i.
Let’s wait for daylight and then we’ll play a …………… role.
Answer:
different

Question ii.
Unable to compete with the monster’s speed, our frigate, the ………………. slowed down.
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
What is the name of the narrator?
Answer:
The name of the narrator is Professor Aronnax.

Question 2.
What is the name of the ship?
Answer:
The name of the ship is ‘Abraham Lincoln’.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question 3.
At what time is this event taking place?
Answer:
This event is taking place sometime near midnight.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Give two words as phrases used to describe ‘monster’ in this passage.
Answer:
fear some creature, cetacean

Grammar:

Question 1.
The animal mimicked the frigate. (End with ’… the animal’)
Answer:
The frigate was mimicked by the animal.

Question 2.
No one thought of sleeping. (Make it affirmative)
Answer:
Everyone remained awake.

Question 3.
The animal mimicked the frigate. (Change into interrogative)
Answer:
Didn’t the animal mimic the frigate?

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question 4.
Pick out the verb and state whether it is transitive or intransitive.

  1. Rama rang the bell loudly.
  2. The bell rang loudly.
  3. The baby sleeps on a bed.
  4. The birds fly in the air.
  5. Close the door.
  6. He wrote a letter to his friend.

Answer:

  1. rang – transitive verb
  2. rang – intransitive verb
  3. sleeps – intransitive verb
  4. fly – intransitive verb
  5. dose – transitive verb
  6. wrote – transitive verb

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Write whether True or False.

Question i.
We stayed on the alert until night and were getting ready for action.
Answer:
False

Question ii.
The mist was very dense.
Answer:
True.

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
What can the blunderbusses do?
Answer:
The blunderbusses can launch harpoons as far as a mile.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Grammar:

Question 1.
Ned had a dreadful weapon. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
Ned had a dreadful weapon, didn’t he?

Question 2.
Pick out two abstract nouns from the extract.
Answer:
Disappointment, anger.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Do you like travelling on sea? Why?
Answer:
No, I do not like travelling on sea. I don’t know how to swim and I am very scared of drowning.

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Fill in the blanks.

Question i.
………… stayed at his post, harpoon in hand.
Answer:
Ned Land

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question ii.
The animal is faster than the ………….. .
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Explain why the author uses the words “what a chase!”.
Answer:
It was an exciting chase no doubt. The author says that the excitement shook his very being. The animal was so smart, it let the frigate get a little closer to it and then picked up speed and kept its distance. The animal was playing tricks with the frigate.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Pick out the words from the extract that mean the following.
i. person who fires the cannon
ii. moved faster
Answer:
i. cannoneer
ii. gathered speed

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question 2.
Give the meanings of the following.
i. harpooner
ii. mate
Answer:
i. person who handles the harpoon
ii. assistant

Grammar:

Question 1.
what a chase no i can’t describe the excitement that shook my very being (Punctuate)
Answer:
What a chase! No, It can’t describe the excitement that shook my very being.

Question 2.
The cannoneer fired a shot. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
The cannoneer fired a shot, didn’t he?

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1.
There was a mighty explosion. (Pick out the verb and state its kind)
Answer:
was – transitive verb.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question 2.
The monster seemed motionless. (Frame a ’Wh1 question so as to get the underlined words as the answer)
Answer:
Who seemed motionless?

Question 3.
Barely twenty feet separated him from the motionless animal. (Pick out the adjectives from the sentence)
Answer:
Twenty, motionless

Question 4.
The electric light suddenly went out. (Identify the part of speech of the underlined word)
Answer:
Suddenly – adverb

Question 5.
Pick out the verb and state whether it is transitive or intransitive.
Question i.
The hunter killed the wolf.
Answer:
killed – transitive verb

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Question ii.
Leena saw a monster.
Answer:
saw – transitive verb

Question iii.
Rains spoilt the picnic.
Answer:
spoilt – transitive verb

Question iv.
The baby cried loudly.
Answer:
cried – intransitive verb

Question v.
The bird flew away.
Answer:
flew – intransitive verb

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Writing Skills

Question 1.
Write an essay on ‘A Sea Journey’.
Answer:
A sea journey is something I had never experienced. I used to look at the majestic sea and wonder what it would be like to travel by sea. I got the chance of a life time to travel on a ship.

The ship was filled with people from different states of India. At the beginning all was wonderful, the people, the sea, the sky, the weather. I was told that the journey would take many on board. But as time passed, the journey which I felt would be a pleasant one, wasn’t all that pleasant. There was nothing to see except water, water and more water. The movement of the ship on the water gave me a nauseating/nauseous feeling.

I was praying and hoping for the journey to end. At last after about eight long hours we touched land. I was so happy to be on firm landing once again. The journey by sea was an experience I wouldn’t want to repeat. This journey by sea was my first and last one.

Chasing the Sea Monster Summary in English

The lesson ‘Chasing the Sea Monster’ is an extract from the novel ‘20,000 Leagues under the Sea’ written by Jules Verne. The story in this extract is about spotting a mysterious sea monster by the inmates on a warship. The story revolves round the relentless chase between the warship (frigate) and the sea monster.

The warship (frigate) named Abraham Lincoln captained by Commander Farragut along with Professor Pierre Aronnax, a French marine biologist and narrator of the story, a master harpoonist Ned Land and other crew members chase the sea monster and in the end Ned Land succeeds in hitting the sea monster. The collision between the frigate and the sea monster is so hideous that Commander Farragut, Professor Pierre Aronnax and Ned Land are hurled into the sea.

Introduction:

The lesson ‘Chasing The Sea Monster7 is a science fiction written by Jules Verne, a French writer. He is known as the ‘Father of Science Fiction’. This is a passage, from his novel ‘20,000 Leagues under the Sea’. He describes how people on a ship think of the submarine as an animal and try to chase and hunt it.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.6 Chasing the Sea Monster

Glossary:

  1. frigate (n) – small, speedy ship used in war
  2. unearthly (adj) – strange, not like those found on earth
  3. luminous (adj) – bright, full of light
  4. fearsome (adj) – scary, frightening
  5. crew (n) – people working on the ship
  6. cetaceans (n) – marine animals like a whale
  7. lurking (v) – hiding
  8. whaling gear (n) – equipment used to hunt whales
  9. mate (n) – assistant
  10. armour (n) – protective metal covering
  11. profound (adj) – deep
  12. astern to port (v) – towards the hinder part or stem; backward
  13. blunderbusses (n) – a short, large bored gun firing metal balls, slugs or nails
  14. duck guns (n) – large shot guns used for hunting ducks in large number
  15. harpoon (n) – a barbed spear attached to a rope and thrown or fired from a gun to hunt whales or large fish
  16. cannoneer (n) – an artillery man who uses cannon
  17. harpooner (n) – a person who uses harpoons especially to hunt whales
  18. enormous (adj) – huge
  19. hideous (adj) – dreadful, horrid
  20. mute (adj) – dumb; not having the power of speech
  21. alert (adj) – attentive
  22. informed (adj) – having information, based on information.
  23. target (n) – a person, object or place selected as the aim of attack
  24. weariness (n)- tiredness
  25. brandishing (v) – to move or swing back and forth particularly demonstrating skill
  26. collision (n)- clash

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Class 7 English Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Complete the following diagrams.

Question A.
Benefits of yoga.
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals 1
Answer:
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals 2

Question B.
Precautions in Yoga Practice
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals 3
Answer:
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals 4

Question C.
What is yoga?
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals 5
Answer:
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals 6

2. Prepare charts for each one of the asanas described in the passage. Use the following points:

  • Name (in English, in your mother tongue)
  • Meaning in English
  • General information
  • Steps and pictures
  • Benefits

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

3. List the names of body parts used in the passage.

Question 1.
List the names of body parts used in the passage.
Answer:
Body parts – navel, spine, shoulder, palm, face, elbow, wrist, chin, abdomen, chest, fingers, jaws, feet, legs, toes, eyes, mouth, head, back, tongue, lungs.
Now go through the passage and find out some more and add to the list.

4. List the adverbs/adverbial phrases used in the passage.

Question 1.
List the adverbs/adverbial phrases used in the passage.
Answer:

  1. to feel physically vibrant
  2. feel mentally sharp
  3. completely at ease
  4. breathe in deeply
  5. slowly raise
  6. come up slowly
  7. come down slowly
  8. inhale immediately
  9. positioned directly below
  10. smoothly arch the spine
  11. adds flexibility
  12. simultaneously arch your back

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

5. Language Study: Conjunctions: A conjunction is a word which joins words or clauses. Look at the following sentences.
1. Sahil and Rohan go to school together.
2. Sahil is drawing a picture and Rahul is playing football.
In sentence 1, the conjunction ‘and’ joins two words.
In sentence 2, the conjunction ‘and’ joins two clauses.
The following are some more examples of conjunction.

  1. Do you like cricket or football?
  2. Your parents will be happy if you study well.
  3. She has not come to school because she is ill.
  4. We played well, but we lost the match.
  5. Tell him that we are going to the playground.
  6. When you are at home, you should help your mother in her work.

Interjections: An interjection is a word that expresses a sudden feeling or emotion. Interjections can express joy, grief, surprise, pain, approval etc.
Look at the following examples.

  1. Hurrah! We have won the game. (Joy)
  2. Ouch! That hurt. (Pain)
  3. Wow! What a nice picture! (Approval)

Question 1.
Underline the conjunctions in the following.
Answer:

  1. Do you like cricket or football?
  2. Your parents will be happy if you study well.
  3. She has not come to school because she is ill.
  4. We played well, but we lost the match.
  5. Tell him that we are going to the playground.
  6. When you are at home, you should help your mother in her work

Class 7 English Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Where was yoga perfected?
Answer:
Yoga was perfected in ancient India.

Question 2.
What does yoga involve?
Answer:
Yoga involves the mind, body and soul.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Question 3.
What are the benefits of yoga?
Answer:
The benefits of yoga are attaining concentration, focus and improving flexibility, balance and strength.

Question 4.
How does one feel after doing yoga?
Answer:
One feels physically vibrant and mentally sharp after doing yoga.

Question 5.
Who enjoys the Lion pose asana? Why?
Answer:
Simhasana or Lion pose is favourite with young people. Young people love this asana because it requires very little effort.

Question 6.
What pose does the Bhujangasana resemble?
Answer:
The Bhujangasana is a pose that resembles the posture of a cobra with raised head.

Question 7.
What are the benefits of Bhujangasana? .
Answer:
Bhujangasana helps us to tone the muscles of our back, strengthens our spine and also benefits the chest and shoulders.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Question 8.
When does the world celebrate International Yoga Day?
Answer:
The world celebrates International Yoga Day on June 21st every year, since the year 2015.

Question 9.
Why should Marjaryasana be a part of one’s morning yoga routine?
Answer:
Marjaryasana should be a part of one’s morning yoga routine because it gently stretches the muscles of the abdomen and the back as well as helps to get rid of any body pain.

Question 10.
How does Garudasana benefit the legs?
Answer:
Garudasana makes the leg muscles stronger and improves the flexibility of joints by loosening the joint muscles.

Question 11.
What are the advantages of practising the Ustrasana?
Answer:

  1. It strengthens the back.
  2. It boosts mood and energy.
  3. It opens the shoulders, chest and quadriceps.
  4. It helps in improving digestion.
  5. It adds flexibility and strength to the body.

Question 12.
Do you exercise regularly? What form of exercise do you practice ?
Answer:
I exercise regularly as my parents have always motivated me to stay fit. I go to the local swimming pool everyday to swim in the evening. Swimming is refreshing for the mind and helps to maintain the overall fitness of one’s body.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Question 1.
Complete the web diagram.
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals 7

Question 2.
Fill in the blanks.
i. Yoga is a form of…….
ii. Yoga helps us to feel physically vibrant and mentally ……..
Answer:
i. biomimicry
ii. sharp

Question 3.
Match the columns.

Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’
1. Phvsicallv a. area
2. Ancient Indian b. sharp
3. Contemporary c. discipline
4. Mentally d. vibrant

Answer:

Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’
1. Phvsicallv d. vibrant
2. Ancient Indian c. discipline
3. Contemporary a. area
4. Mentally b. sharp

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Answer in just one word:

Question 1.
What solves human problems with solutions already present in the natural world?
Answer:
Biomimicry.

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
What is biomimicry?
Answer:
Biomimicry is the science of solving human problems with solutions already present in the natural world.

Question 2.
In what way is yoga a form of biomimicry?
Answer:
Yoga is a form of biomimicry because they comprise typical asanas and poses wherein we emulate mountains, trees, fish, cats and many more animals.

Question 3.
Which problems in our day-to-day life can be solved through biomimicry?
Answer:
Problems such as stiffness and back pain can be easily solved through biomimicry.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Question 4.
What does biomimicry mean in simple terms?
Answer:
In simple terms, ‘bio’ means ‘life’ and ‘mimicry’ means ’emulate’.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Give forms of the following words.
Answer:

Noun Verb Adjective
Nature Naturalise Natural
Simplicity Simplify Simple
Sharpness Sharpen Sharp

Question 2.
Pick out a word from the extract which means ‘in the same time period’.
Answer:
Contemporary.

Grammar:

Question 1.
Experts today are doing a wonderful job. (Begin with ’A wonderful job’)
Answer:
A wonderful job is being done by the experts today.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Question 2.
This helps us to solve our problems. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
This helps us to solve our problems, doesn’t it?

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Do you think it is necessary to exercise? Why?
Answer:
Yes. I do think it is necessary to exercise. Exercising keeps us fit and healthy. We feel active and fresh to meet the challenges of the day. It also keeps us mentally positive.

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1.
The best time to practise is in the morning. (Begin with ‘The morning’)
Answer:
The morning is the best time to practise.

Question 2.
Practise in a clean, airy, well-lit room. (Pick out the adjectives in the sentence)
Answer:
Clean, airy, well-lit.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Question 3.
Relax your muscles completely. (Identify the kind of sentence)
Answer:
Imperative sentence.

Question 4.
Kneel on the yoga mat and place your hands on the hips. (Pick out the nouns)
Answer:
Mat, hands, hips.

Fill in with conjunctions.

Question 1.
This is the picture ……….. I painted yesterday.
Answer:
that

Question 2.
We met the sailors ……….. ship was wrecked.
Answer:
whose

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Question 3.
This is the girl ………… has a melodious voice.
Answer:
who

Question 4.
………….. you study hard, you will succeed.
Answer:
If

Question 5.
………… it rains heavily, life comes to a standstill.
Answer:
When.

Question 6.
Give examples of interjections.
Answer:

  1. Oops! I broke it. (mistake)
  2. Hushi/Shh! The baby is sleeping, (silence)
  3. Hey! What are you doing here? (surprise)
  4. Oh! You wanted tea and not coffee, (realisation)
  5. Ugh! What a foul smell! (disgust)
  6. Phew! We nearly missed the fall! (relief)
  7. Whew! I cannot believe we have completed on time, (relief/amazement)

Fill in with interjections.

Question 1.
………… ! You stamped my foot.
Answer:
Ouch

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Question 2.
………… ! If only I had listened.
Answer:
Oh

Question 3.
………… ! It looks horrible.
Answer:
Ugh

Question 4.
………… ! I spilled the milk.
Answer:
Oops

Question 5.
………… ! What a pretty dress!
Answer:
Wow

Learn Yoga from Animals Summary in English

The lesson aptly shows us how we can do yoga by imitating animals and reptiles. It tells us the benefits and ways one can remain fit and healthy.

Introduction:

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice attributed mostly to India. Yoga day is celebrated annually on 21st June since 2015. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this day, 21st June to be an international day for yoga. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his U.N. address suggested the date of 21st June as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.5 Learn Yoga from Animals

Glossary:

  1. emulate (v) – imitate
  2. vibrant (adj) – full of energy and life
  3. posture (n) – the position in which you hold your body while sitting or standing
  4. tone (v) – here it means to make the muscles firm
  5. navel (n) – belly button
  6. assume (v) – here it means ‘take’
  7. splayed (v) – spread apart
  8. quadriceps (n) – the large muscle at the front of the thigh
  9. composite (adj) – mixture of
  10. integrated (adj) – composed and co-ordinated
  11. contemporary (adj) – same time period
  12. discipline (n) – a specific branch of knowledge or learning
  13. jerk (n) – sudden uncontrolled movement
  14. vertebra (n) – small bones which make up the backbone
  15. palette (n) – roof of your mouth
  16. exhaling (v) – to expel air
  17. inhale (v) – to draw in air
  18. routine (n) – a course of action
  19. flexibility (n) – quality of being flexible, suppleness
  20. calf (n) – the muscle in the back of the leg below the knee
  21. aches (n) – continuous dull pains in a part of one’s body
  22. arch (n) – a curve with the ends down and the middle up
  23. drawing (v) – to direct one’s attention to something
  24. explosion (n) – a sudden burst
  25. biomimicry – the science of solving human problems with solutions already present in the natural world.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Class 7 English Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Find the pairs of rhyming words used at the end of the lines in the poem.

Question 1.
Find the pairs of rhyming words used at the end of the lines in the poem.
Answer:

Rain heads wings cry
Again spreads sing sky
Plain spring

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

2. Read the poem aloud using proper intonation.

Question 1.
Read the poem aloud using proper intonation.

3. If you were to draw a landscape on the basis of this poem, what elements will you show in It? What colours will you use?

Question 1.
If you were to draw a landscape on the basis of this poem, what elements will you show in It? What colours will you use?
Answer:
If I were to draw a landscape on the basis of this poem, I would show elements like a patch of lush green grass stretching far and wide, small flowers growing all over the plain tossing their heads, brightly coloured butterflies happily fluttering, a rainbow stretching across the sky.

I would also show a tree-lined road, and under the blue sky I would show boys and girls walking down the road enjoying themselves in the rain. I would use all sorts of colours. Green being promment, I would also use shades of bright colours to depict life, liveliness and joy in nature during spring.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

4. The special arrangement of short lines makes you think about every detail. If you write the sentences In the usual manner, It does not have the same effect. For example, the first stanza would be something like ‘The earth puis forth new life again: green grasses grow and flowers lift their heads and the wonder of life spreads all over the plain in time of silver rain.’
Now try the following:
Write one or two sentences about something beautiful, using your own experience or imagination. Then rearrange the words In the sentences In a poetic form. You may write about a beautiful day, a beautiful night, a stream, a crop standing in a field, a graceful bird or animal, etc.
Answer:

  • A beautiful night
  • The people were enjoying
  • When the clouds were making noise and thundering.
  • But I was sitting along with no one aside.
  • My feelings were at night just like a sea tide.
  • It started raining and I cried
  • It started raining and I cried

5. Fill in the following blanks with reference to the poem.

Question 1.
‘In time of rain when spring and life are ……….., the butterflies lift ……….. wings to catch a ……….. cry and trees put forth …….. leaves to sing in ………… beneath the sky as ……….. boys and girls too ……… singing down the roadway’.
Answer:
In time of rain when rain and life are new, the butterflies lift silken wings to catch a rainbow cry and trees put forth new leaves to sing in joy beneath the sky as passing boys and girls too go singing down the roadway.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

6. Think and answer :

Question a.
Is the poet talking about heavy rains in the rainy season or ram that has come after a long time?
Answer:
The poet is talking about rain that has come after a long time.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Question b.
Are the boys and girls happy that it is raining?
Answer:
Yes, the poet says that the boys and girls are singing as they pass down the roadway in the rain, so they are obviously happy that it is raining.

7. Find out the following with the help of your teacher and the internet.
Seasonal Rains (monsoon) in India and other countries.
Rain in countries like UK which experience spring-summer-autumn-winter.

Question 1.
Find out the following with the help of your teacher and the internet.
Seasonal Rains (monsoon) in India and other countries.
Rain in countries like UK which experience spring-summer-autumn-winter.
Answer:
We get seasonal rain monsoon the starting of June. some times it will receive very high rainfall in some coastal areas states like Kerala – Goa – Karnataka – Odisha etc. This states are receives high rain fall from starting to ending og June. some states have received monsoon in the July. And it continues with heavy rains and winds also.

In United Kingdom the month of June, July and August which is the summer season, and it is very hottest season with long sunny days. autumn can be dry but sometimes occational rains and winds also come.

  • Average rainfall in the months of winter December to February is 80 mm.
  • Average rainfall in the month of spring March to May is 55 mm.
  • Average rainfall in the month of Summer June to August is – 60 mm.
  • Average rainfall in the month of autumn September to November is 85 mm.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

8. Talk about your favourite season. (A one-minute activity.)

Question 1.
Talk about your favourite season. (A one-minute activity.)
Answer:
My favourite season is winter as with the cold that it brings, it also brings an opportunity to sit by the fire-place and read my favourite book. The snow-clad landscapes look divine and radiate peace. What a pleasure it is to eat in this season! Keeping myself warm under the quilt and sharing roasted peanuts with my siblings is a passtime that brings immense joy.

9. Language Study: Alliteration: When the same sound occurs at the beginning of two or more words in the same line, it is called alliteration.
Example: Nayna needs new notebooks.
Find an example of alliteration from the poem.
Collect other examples of alliteration.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Class 7 English Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain Additional Important Questions and Answers

Think and answer.

Question 1.
Why does the poet say that life is new when it rains?
Answer:
The poet says that life is new when it rains because after the hot and dry summer, the flora and fauna come back to their former, lively and wonderful forms. People feel refreshed by rain as it provides a relief. Rain restores the energy and colour of the nature that get drained out during the harsh summers.

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What is the poem about?
Answer:
The poem is about the changes that take place in nature at the onset of spring, especially when it rains. It also talks about the joy that spring brings along with it.

Question 2.
What do the boys and girls do in happiness?
Answer:
The boys and girls sing in happiness as they pass down the roadway.

Question 3.
Give two examples of imagery used by the poet.
Answer:

  1. Butterflies lift their wings to catch a rainbow cry.
  2. Green grasses grow and flowers lift their heads.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Reading Skills and Poetic Device

Read the following extract and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Fill in the web with all that happens in nature during the time of new rain.
Answer:
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain 1

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Which elements of nature are mentioned in the given extract?
Answer:
The elements of nature that are mentioned in the given extract are grass, trees, butterflies, rainbow, sky and flowers.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Question 2.
Why do the butterflies lift their silver wings?
Answer:
Butterflies lift their silver wings to catch a rainbow.

Question 3.
Which line in the poem tells us that the spring season has just begun?
Answer:
The line “In time of silver rain when spring and life are new” tells us that the spring season has just begun.

Question 4.
Who go singing down the roadway?
Answer:
The boys and girls go singing down the roadway.

Question 5.
Describe in your own words what happens during the time of silver rain.
Answer:
During the time of silver rain, the face of the earth completely changes. The earth puts forth new life, green grasses are seen on the surface. The flowers lift their heads in happiness. The butterflies lift their silky wings and trees put forth new leaves. The boys and girls are happy and go round singing. Thus everywhere we can see new life.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Poetic Device:

Question 1.
Pick out an example of Alliteration from the extract.
Answer:
Green grasses grow.

Question 2.
Give rhyming words of your own.
Answer:

  • life – knife
  • rain – main
  • grow – throw
  • spring – bring

Question 3.
Name and explain the figures of speech in the following lines.
Question i.
And overall the plain The wonder spreads
Answer:
Inversion: The word order has been changed. The correct order is “And the wonder spreads all over the plains”.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Question ii.
Of life, Of life, Of life!
Answer:
Repetition: The words ‘Of life’ are repeated thrice for better poetic effect.

Question ii.
And flowers lift their heads.
Answer:
Personification: The flowers are given the human quality of lifting their heads.

Question iv.
The butterflies lift silken wings To catch a rainbow cry
Answer:
Personification: The butterflies are given the human quality of catching.

Question v.
And trees put forth New leaves to sing In joy beneath the sky
Answer:
Personification: Leaves are given the human quality of singing for a better poetic effect.

Question vi.
As down the roadway Passing boys and girls Go singing, too
Answer:
Inversion: The word order has been changed. The correct word order is ‘As passing boys and girls, too, go singing down the roadway’.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Question 4.
Give the adjective used to describe ’rain’.
Answer:
’Silver1 is the adjective used to describe ’rain’.

Question 5.
Give the rhyme scheme of the first verse.
Answer:
a b a c d a d

In Time of Silver Rain Summary in English

The poem is an expression of joy and beauty of nature that spring brings, along with it filling our hearts with wonderment at the newness of life.

Paraphrase:

In the poem “In Time of Silver Rain” the poet Langston Hughes paints a vivid imagery of rains during springtime. He elaborates in his simple yet effective style, the majestic spread of life in nature. Grass and flowers stretching across green vistas act as symbols of newness in nature. The coming of rain in springtime invites butterflies that flutter around in the hope of catching a rainbow.

The trees give birth to new leaves to express their joy. The happiness in nature is so contagious that it extends to human beings as well. The boys and girls sing merrily as they walk down the road in the rains at the onset of spring season.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 In Time of Silver Rain

Glossary:

  1. spring (n) – a season
  2. put forth (v) – to bring out
  3. beneath (prep) – under
  4. joy (n) – happiness
  5. forth (adv) – away, forwards
  6. spreads (v) – disperses widely, scatters
  7. silken (adj) – like silkc

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Class 7 English Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Guess the meaning of the following words:
exorbitantly, precautions, unauthorised, repeatedly, enthusiastically
Write the smaller and related words that you see within these words.

Question 1.
Guess the meaning of the following words. Write the smaller and related words that you see within these words.
Answer:
(i) exorbitantly (adv) – excessively, smaller words – orbit, bit, ant.
related words – exorbitant.

(ii) precaution (n) – to take care beforehand.
smaller words – caution, cat, rat, pet, ear, action, reaction.
related word – caution

(iii) unauthorised (adj) – having no authority.
smaller word – author, ant, rise, his, this, north, said
related words – authorise, authorised.

(iv) repeatedly (adv) – done several times; again and again.
smaller words – repeat, pet, eat, ate, pat, rat, tape, trade
related words – repeat, repeated.

(v) enthusiastically (adv) – done in an excited and motivated manner.
smaller words – enthusiastic, thus, ally, silly, thin, ten
related words – enthusiast, enthusiastic, enthusiastical.
Collective nouns also have singular and plural forms.

Examples:

class – classes, herd – herds, team – teams.

Some more examples-

  • arrm armies council – councils
  • school – schools group – groups
  • society – societies cabinet – cabinets
  • department – departments, etc

Collective Nouns (examples)

  1. an army ol ants
  2. a flight of birds
  3. a school of hsh
  4. a shoal ol hsh
  5. a choir ot singers
  6. a band of musicians
  7. a crew of sailors
  8. a troupe of artists/dancers
  9. an audience of listeners
  10. a litter of puppies/kittens
  11. a galaxy of stars
  12. a group of islands
  13. a forest of trees
  14. an album of stamps/autographs/photographs

2. Use the details given in the story and your imagination and prepare a timetable for the trip to the moon.

Question 1.
Use the details given in the story and your imagination and prepare a timetable for the trip to the moon.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

3. Say whether the following statements are right or wrong.

Question a.
Sayali was travelling in space for the first time.
Answer:
Wrong.

Question b.
Many changes had occurred on the earth in the hundred years before Sayali’s trip to the moon.
Answer:
Correct

Question c.
There were no old cities left on the earth.
Answer:
Correct

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question d.
Sayali’s mother did not want her to go on the trip.
Answer:
Correct

Question e.
There were no human settlements on the moon.
Answer:
Correct

Question f.
Sayali made a hasty purchase.
Answer:
Wrong

Question g.
Sayali did not understand the mistake she had made.
Answer:
Correct

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

4. Imagine you are Sayali. Write your diary for eveiy day of your trip to the moon, and for the day you gave the earrings to your mother.

Question 1.
Imagine you are Sayali. Write your diary for eveiy day of your trip to the moon, and for the day you gave the earrings to your mother.
Answer:

Monday
28th May, 2018
11.30 pm

Dear Diary,
After spending the day on walking the soil of the moon, it feels joyous and I am pleases to have such a trip.
The weather there is cold, so every time I go there. I carry some warm clothes with me.
Today I bought an earning for my mother. When I gave it to her she was very happy and thrilled to see them. She even said ‘Sayali’, ‘I am proud of you’.
She said that it was the most beautiful gift. She has ever got. The earnings was also very beautiful. Well t was a peaceful day for me.

Good night

5. Discuss: In the story, human settlements are mentioned but not cities or villages. Why is it so?

6. Gather more information about the following from your Science textbook, the internet and other sources.
Gravitational force
View of the sky when you are on the moon.
Chandrayaan mission of India.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

7. You want to start human settlement somewhere else other than the earth, in the universe. Will you select a star or a planet? Why? What features supporting life will you look for? Try to find answers to such questions and make a presentalion using scientific information and your imagination.

8. Language Study: Common nouns – 2: Some nouns stand for a number of persons
or things taken together. They are called collective nouns.
Examples: class (a class of sixty students), a herd of cattle, a flock of sheep,
a team of players, a list of names.
Collective nouns also have singular and plural forms.
Examples: class-classes, herd-herds, team-teams
Make a collection of collective nouns.

Class 7 English Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
In what time periods is the story taking place? given to the children?
Answer:
The story is taking place in 2069, somewhere closer to the 22nd century.

Question 2.
Where does Sayali live?
Answer:
Sayali lives on the earth.

Question 3.
What were the two important instructions
Answer:
The two important instructions were:
1. To be extremely careful while roaming outside the human settlements on the moon because a gravitational force equivalent to that of the earth had been artificially maintained in the human settlements but outside the settlements the gravitational force of the moon was at work.

2. To buy articles only from the shops which were inside the dome shaped settlements because there the articles would be genuine and not to buy anything from the unauthorised shops outside the settlement.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 4.
Imagine you are landing on the moon. What would be your feelings?
Answer:
For me the moon always looked like a huge cotton ball. Now that I have got a chance to go on the moon and as I am getting closer, I can see the moon has a lot of craters. I am so excited to be landing on the moon and anxious too as to what it would be like when I step on the moon. I am looking forward to walking on the moon; I have heard that we do not actually walk but bounce on the moon because of its lack of gravitational force. I am waiting to walk on the moon and experience the feel of flying while walking.

Question 5.
Was Sayali making a mistake when she bought earrings?
Answer:
Yes, Sayali was making a mistake when she bought the earrings.

Question 6.
What instructions had she ignored?
Answer:
She had been instructed to buy articles only from the shops which were inside the dome shaped settlements which were genuine and not to buy anything from the unauthorised shops outside the settlement. She ignored these instructions and purchased from outside the settlement.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 7.
Why had the earrings become so heavy on the earth?
Answer:
Sayali purchased the earrings from outside the human settlement where the moon’s gravitational force was at work. The gravitational force of the moon made the earrings light on the moon, but it became very heavy on the earth because of the earth’s gravitational force.

Question 8.
Which was the longest trip during mummy’s childhood?
Answer:
During mummy’s childhood the longest trip meant going to Europe.

Question 9.
What did the dome shaped settlements on the moon resemble?
Answer:
The dome shaped settlements on the moon resembled the igloos of the Eskimos.

Question 10.
Where were the children escorted to, on the moon?
Answer:
The children were escorted through an airtight tunnel to the settlement at the Neil Armstrong base on the moon.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 11.
Quote the first words uttered by a human on the moon. Who uttered them and when?
Answer:
The first words uttered by a human on the moon was, ‘One small step, for a man, one giant leap for mankind’.
These words were uttered by Neil Armstrong who was the first man to put his foot on the moon.

Question 12.
Say whether the following statements are right or wrong.

  1. Sayali was travelling in space for the first time.
  2. Many changes had occurred on the earth in the hundred years before Sayali’s trip to the moon.
  3. There were no old cities left on the earth.
  4. Sayali’s mother did not want her to go on the trip.
  5. There were no human settlements on the moon.
  6. Sayali made a hasty purchase.
  7. Sayali did not understand the mistake she had made.

Answer:

  1. Right
  2. Right
  3. Wrong
  4. Wrong
  5. Wrong
  6. Right
  7. Wrong.

Question 13.
Discuss: In the story, human settlements are mentioned but not cities or villages. Why is it so?
Answer:
There are no cities or villages on the moon but just human settlements because according to me people have just started settling on the moon, making it their home.

I Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
State whether the statements true or false.
1. The three days of the trip were going to be part of the daytime on the moon.
2. The stars are seen rarely and very brightly on the earth.
Answer:
1. False
2. False.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 2.
Choose the correct answer.
In the moon sky the earth looked times bigger than the moon in the earth sky.
(a) Seventy
(b) Thirteen
(c) Seventeen
Answer:
(b) Thirteen

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
What did the beautiful enchanting view make Sayali and her friends feel?
Answer:
The beautiful enchanting view made Sayali and her friends feel ecstatic.

Question 2.
What was special about the sky watch on the moon?
Answer:
The speciality about the sky watch was that the stars shone dazzling bright against the dark background of the moon sky because there is no atmosphere on the moon.

Question 3.
What does it tell you about the conditions on the earth at that time?
Answer:
The conditions on the earth at that time was usually foggy and the stars were seen rarely and only very faintly.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Pick out a word from the extract which means – ‘not clear’.
Answer:
Foggy

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 2.
Find the odd man out:
Moon, stars, earth, bright
Answer:
Bright – the rest are nouns.

Grammar:

Question 1.
Pick out the adjective.
They fell asleep feeling happy, excited and comfortable at the same time.
Answer:
Asleep, happy, excited, comfortable.

Question 2.
The most attractive view was that of the disc of the earth! (State the kind of sentence)
Answer:
Exclamatory.

Question 3.
Pick out two compound words from the extract.
Answer:
background, comfortable, daylight, night-time.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 4.
It was seventy times brighter. (Adda question tag)
Answer:
It was seventy times brighter, wasn’t it?

Personal Response:

Question 1.
How does the moon look to you from the earth?
Answer:
To me the moon looks like a round shiny ball of cotton. Sometimes, I feel that the moon looks like a pizza layered with cheese. I love to look at the full moon and dream of being there someday.

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Fill in the blanks:
1. The second day’s attraction was a ………. on the moon!
2. ………… and her friends had travelled far and wide and had done a lot of sight-seeing.
Answer:
1. circus
2. Sayali

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 2.
State whether the following statements are true or false.
1. One unique feature of the circus was the seating arrangement.
2. The guide had assigned them the task of writing stories about the circus.
Answer:
1. True
2. False

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Where did the teacher take the students on the second day?
Answer:
The teacher took the students to the circus on the moon on the second day.

Question 2.
What was the unique feature of the circus?
Answer:
The unique feature of the circus was the seating arrangement.

Question 3.
What were the special attractions of the circus?
Answer:
The special attractions of the circus were high jumps and long jumps.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 4.
What could be the reason behind the unique seating arrangement?
Answer:
The unique seating arrangement with the spectators sitting inside the tent and the circus going on outside could be because the gravitational force in the tents was artificially maintained according to the earth’s gravitational force which helped the spectators to remain in one place without bouncing around and watching the circus which was taking place outside the tent where the gravitational force of the moon was at work. This helped the performers perform unique stunts as well.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Identify the plurals of the following words.

  1. friend
  2. metre
  3. feature
  4. tent
  5. teacher.

Answer:

  1. friends
  2. metres
  3. features
  4. tents
  5. teachers.

Question 2.
Pick out compound words from the passage.
Answer:
outside, self-study, sight-seeing.

Grammar:

Question 1.
One gymnast jumped twenty seven metres high! (Add a question tag)
Answer:
One gymnast jumped twenty seven metres high, didn’t he?

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 2.
It was expected that the students should spend some time for self-study.
(Frame a ‘Wh’ question so as to get the underlined
words as the answer.)
Answer:
What was expected from they students?

Personal Response:

Question 1.
What would be the overall effects of having no atmosphere?
Answer:
Atmosphere is a protective layer of gases that envelopes the earth. It consists of a number of gases including nitrogen, oxygen and many more.
Life depends on the atmosphere.

  • If there was no atmosphere the intense light and harmful radiation of the sun would harm life.
  • Every creature depending on oxygen from the smallest ant to the biggest whales would perish. There
  • would be no oceans because in the absence of atmosphere, oceans would just evaporate due to the scorching heat of the sun.
  • No water for living because there would be no water-cycle.
  • The temperature would be so high that everything would get burnt.
  • Atmosphere protects asteroid strikes on the earth.
  • To sum it up, without atmosphere there would be no life.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Answer the following.

Question 1.
Collective noun: Collective noun is the name given to a number of persons, animals or things taken as a whole, (one single collective unit)
Examples:

  1. Persons – staff, team, crowd, jury, committee, gang, crew, choir, class
  2. Animals- flock, herd, shoal, swarm, pride, pack, brood
  3. Things – bunch, pile, stack, flight, pile collection, bouquet, library

Make a collection of collective nouns.

  • an army of soldiers
  • a fleet of ships
  • a brood of chickens
  • a collection of pictures/stamps
  • a flight of steps
  • a pride of lions
  • apackof wolves
  • a litter of puppies/kittens
  • a bunch of keys/flowers
  • a gang/band of thieves

Question 2.
Punctuate the following sentences.

  1. a Jam packed three day’s programme awaited the children on the moon
  2. be careful when you walk dear children don’t run or sprint you will fall
  3. she exclaimed hello dear how am i going to wear such heavy earrings
  4. everyone was looking forward to this visit to the historical monument it was the oldest place in the history of man on the moon

Answer:

  1. A jam-packed three day’s programme awaited the children on the moon.
  2. “Be careful when you walk, dear children; don’t run, or sprint, you will fall!”
  3. She exclaimed, “Hello dear, how am I going to wear such heavy earrings?”
  4. Everyone was looking forward to this visit to the historical monument – it was the oldest place in the history of man on the moon.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 3.
Find out the collective words for the following:
1. A …….. of shoes.
2. A ………. of mountains.
3. A ………… of ships.
4. A ………….. of flowers.
5. A ……….. of lies.
6. A ………… of wild animals.
Answer:
pair, range, fleet, bouquet, pack, zoo

Question 4.
Identify the plurals of the following.

  1. company
  2. firm
  3. family
  4. crowd
  5. gang

Answer:

  1. companies
  2. firms
  3. families
  4. crowds
  5. gangs

Do as directed.

Question 1.
Remembering the incident made her laugh even now. (Frame a ‘Wh’ question so as to get the underlined words as the answer)
Answer:
What made her laugh even now?

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 2.
She had read the description. (Change the voice)
Answer:
The description had been read by her.

Question 3.
The clouds had disappeared, the stars were shining bright. (Use ‘not only … but also’)
Answer:
Not only had the clouds disappeared but also the stars were also shining bright.

Question 4.
Sayali immediately realized her mistake. (Identify the part of speech for the underlined word)
Answer:
immediately – adverb.

Question 5.
Her mother picked up the earrings. (Change the voice)
Answer:
The earrings were picked up by her mother.

Question 6.
Give me those red earrings. (Kind of sentence)
Answer:
Imperative sentence.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Question 7.
High jumps and long jumps were the special attractions. (Use ‘not only … but also’)
Answer:
Not only high jumps but also long jumps were the special attractions.

Question 8.
A hundred years ago Neil Armstrong had landed at this place. (Frame a question – begin with ’When …’)
Answer:
When had Neil Armstrong landed at this place?

Question 9.
Give me those red earrings. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
Give me those red earrings, will you/won’t you?

Question 10.
Use a prefix to get the opposite of:
Answer:

  • experience × inexperience
  • contented × discontented
  • appeared × disappeared
  • visible × invisible
  • comfortable × uncomfortable
  • happy × unhappy
  • paid × unpaid
  • spent × unspent

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Writing Skills

Diary Writing

Question 1.
Write your diary everyday describing your trip to the moon, and also about the day you gifted the earrings to your mother.
Answer:
11th June, 2019
Sunday
We landed safely on the moon. It was a wonderful experience. In the space shuttle I was excited as well as anxious. When we alighted from the space shuttle on the moon, it was a feeling which cannot be expressed in words. On the first day we were taken to the Neil Armstrong base. We were instructed about the things we could and could not do.

We were told about the differences in the gravitational force on the moon and in the human settlement on the moon. We were a part of the night time on the moon. The stars shone brightly like diamonds. We also saw the earth from the moon. The earth looked thirteen times bigger than the moon and seventy times brighter. The view was so enchanting that we were ecstatic.
12th June, 2019
Monday

We woke up early and got ready for our second day’s attraction. We saw a circus show on the moon! The unique feature of the circus was the seating arrangement. We were made to sit inside the tent and the circus was going on outside the tent. High jumps and long jumps were the main attraction. We also visited various settlements and jotted down important points which would help us in writing an essay on our trip to the moon. My friends and I travelled a lot and did a lot of sight-seeing.
13th June, 2019
Tuesday

Being excited, we were ready before the others. Our teacher took us to that place of historical importance where Neil Armstrong had landed in Apollo II on 20th July, 1969, the space flight that helped the 1st two humans walk on the moon. It was Neil Armstrong who was the first human being to put his foot on the moon. We got to see the first footprint of Neil Armstrong which has been preserved on the moon land. The first words uttered by a human on the moon is also carved at the base of Neil Armstrong’s statue.

We were made to wear space suits for the first time as we were going to roam on the moon experiencing its gravitational force. My friends purchased souvenirs for their families and friends because the next day we were to start our return journey. How these three days have flown by! I am carrying back memories to last a life time.
15th June, 2019
Thursday

I was so excited on the moon that I had not thought of any of my family members, not even mummy! How could I forget her! I remembered mummy just before leaving for the earth, I felt very guilty. In my haste to please my mother, I forgot the instructions given by our escorts and purchased a beautiful pair of red earrings from a shopkeeper outside the settlement. After returning to the earth, the first thing I did was to show mummy the earrings I had brought for her. Mummy picked up the earrings to admire it and found them very heavy. It was then that I realised the blunder I had done. Now those earrings are kept as souvenirs from the moon in our show case.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Formative Assessment:

Question 1.
Prepare a timetable for a trip to the moon. Use your imagination.
Answer:

  • Plan ahead before making the trip.
  • Research your destination and know what to expect.
  • Get the necessary passport/documents.
  • Check and get immunization if necessary.
  • Keep updated with the current happenings on the moon.
  • Learn and understand what should be done/ not done on the moon.
  • Have a communication plan with family and friends at home.
  • Pack wisely. The lighter the better. Take things you like to wear and plan on wearing it several times.
  • Have a good attitude. Keep your mind open.
  • Don’t complain.
  • Be an observer not a judge. Enjoy your trip.

The Souvenir Summary in English

Introduction:

‘The Souvenir’ written by Lakshman Londhe is a story in the form of a science fiction.

Paraphrase:

‘The Souvenir’ is a story which is a science fiction. A science fiction deals with world that differs from our own as a result of new scientific discoveries, new technologies or different social systems. It is sometimes hard to distinguish science fiction from fantasy. Through this story the writer has tried to tell us the changes which would have taken place by 2069 because of new technologies.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 The Souvenir

Glossary:

  1. souvenir (n) – a thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place or event
  2. awe (n) – amazement
  3. abate (v) – subside, to reduce
  4. azure (n) – clear blue colour
  5. unauthorized (v) – not legal unauthorised (adj) – having no authority
  6. enthusiastically (adv) – happily
  7. repeatedly (adv) – again and again
  8. exorbitantly (adv) – excessively
  9. shuttle (n) – a form of transport that travels between two places
  10. panorama (n) – an unbroken view of an entire surrounding area, a very wide view, usually a 360° view
  11. succession (n) – following in sequence
  12. escorted (v) – carefully accompanied
  13. genuine (adj) – real
  14. ecstatic (adj) – extremely happy
  15. unique (adj) – unusual
  16. sprint (v) – a short race at top speed
  17. jam-packed (adj) – extremely crowded
  18. out of the world – extraordinary; not found on the earth
  19. far and wide – across a large area
  20. precaution (n) – care taken before hand
  21. captured (v)- recorded
  22. receptionist (n) – a person who greets and deals with visitors
  23. outset (v) – start
  24. dazzling (adj) – extremely bright
  25. foggy (adj) – unclear
  26. uttered (v) – said

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands

Class 7 English Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Study the following format of an informal letter carefully.

Using the format, (a) Write an informal letter to your friend who has gone to another town for a month. (b) Write a personal letter of thank to an elder person.
Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands
Answer:
a. Mogra Villa,
B -116,
Linking Road,
Mumbai – 54.
20th June, 2019.

Dear granny,

How are you? I hope you are taking care of your health. I am sure grandpa too is doing good.

Thank you for the wonderful present you have sent me on my birthday! It was really overwhelming to be remembered and I felt so specially when I received my favourite ‘Harry Potter’ book series.

I enjoyed reading the first book and I am sharing it with my friends too. I am sure to improve my reading skills after reading these books. I will remember you everytime I look at the books or read them.

Thank you granny, I really appreciate your thought and love. Hoping to see you soon. Bye and take care.

Give my love to grandpa.
Your loving granddaughter,
XYZ

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands

b. 73, Minar Road,
Bandra (West),
Mumbai – 50.
21st June, 2019.

Dear Rohini,

How are you? I am sure you are doing good. How is the weather in Pune? You told me that you had to go to Pune for a month because you were selected for the women’s cricket coaching.

I know you have never been to Pune before. Are you excited? Where are you staying? How is the coaching going on? I wish I too was selected. We could have had fun together. How are the other girls who have come for the same? I know that they have come from different places from Maharashtra. Have you made any new friends? I know your nature will be liked by all and you are going to do your best. I am already missing you. Counting the days and waiting for the month to come to an end quickly.

I know you are busy with your new opportunities. Wish you all the luck. Take care and remain healthy.

Your loving friend,
XYZ

2. Form a group of four to six. As a group activity, write a conversation In which a person/a group of persons thanks, someone.

Question 1.
Form a group of four to six. As a group activity, write a conversation In which a person/a group of persons thanks someone.
Answer:

  • Mona: Wow! What a pleasant surprise!
  • Tina: Mona, I have come to thank you for picking up my child from school.
  • Mona: You didn’t need to do that. Anyway I was picking up my child too.
  • Tina: I was unable to pick her on time. Knowing I could rely on You made me breathe a huge sigh of relief.
  • Mona: You could have called me. Why did you take the trouble of coming home all the way?
  • Tina: No It was not a trouble for me. I wanted to thank you personally. I do appreciate your willingness to help. Thank you once again for the timely help at such a short notice.
  • Mona: Thank you for appreciating. You can count on me anytime. I know you have a very busy schedule. Don’t worry, 111 always be there when you need me.
  • Tina: I won’t make it a habit but thank you once again for being such a wonderful person.
  • Mona: It will be my pleasure to be of any help possible and thank you for the kind words

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands

Class 7 English Chapter 4.5 Seeing Eyes Helping Hands Additional Important Questions and Answers

Formal letter (A letter of thanks).

Question 1.
Write a letter of thanks to the owner of a shop.
Answer:
Mogra Villa,
B -116,
Linking Road,
Mumbai – 54.
3rd July, 2017.

To,
Mr. Singh,
Shop No. – 25 Vile Parle (E),
Mumbai – 57.
Mr Singh,

I would like to convey my thanks to you and your team of salesmen. They have done a wonderful job.

My mother who is quite elderly and has difficulty in hearing, had visited your store. She was overwhelmed by the helpful treatment. She praised your team and you too, who have made them so. If everyone could be as pleasant and helpful, our world would be a better and much happier place.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart and please convey my appreciation and thanks to your team as well.

With warm regards.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
XYZ

Seeing Eyes Helping Hands Summary in English

This chapter teaches us how to write a letter whether informal or formal. An informal letter is written in a friendly manner to your family, friends and near and dear ones. A formal letter is a professional way of communicating for official purpose. It can be in the way of appreciation, complaint or application.
A letter of thanks can be formal or informal.

Introduction:

This chapter ‘Seeing Eyes Helping Hands’ introduces us to a couple of writing skills in the form of letter writing and dialogue writing.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Class 7 English Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Write in your own words.

Question a.
How does the poet glorify his home in the first stanza?
Answer:
The poet glorifies his home in the first stanza by saying that we may roam places and stay in palaces but like magic we will get drawn to our home however modest it may be because there
is no place in the world better than our own home.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Question b.
How does the poet describe his home in the second stanza?
Answer:
The poet in the second stanza there is says that all the wonders in the world nothing as compared to his modest home. It is in his humble dwelling that he gets peace of mind which is more precious than anything in the world.

Question c.
What makes the poet remember his mother?
Answer:
The poet spends long periods of time away from home and while gazing at the moon in a faraway place he remembers his mother who must be looking at the moon from their home and remembering her child.

Question d.
What does the poet miss?
Answer:
The poet misses his loving father’s smile and the soothing caress of his loving mother.

Question e.
What does the poet hope for?
Answer:
The poet hopes to return to the warmth and comfort of his humble home and remain there forever.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Question f.
In which professions is a person forced to stay away from his home/homeland for a long time? Try to guess why the poet is forced to stay away from his home.
Answer:
A person is forced to stay away from his home/ homeland for a long time if he is an artist – could be an actor, a writer, a model, a businessman, an interpreter, a trader, a dancer, a singer, etc. A poet needs to be constantly on the move so that he gets inspired to write and create poetry. I think this is the reason the poet is forced to stay away from home.

2. Write out a few things that you would really miss about your home if you were to stay away from it for long.

Question a.
Write out a few things that you would really miss about your home if you were to stay away from it for long.
Answer:

  1. I would miss my family members in the first place.
  2. I would miss my friends.
  3. I would miss the food made at home by my mother.
  4. I would miss the love and care I get from my parents and relatives.
  5. I would miss the smell of my home, my bed.

Class 7 English Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home Additional Important Questions and Answers

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
State Whether the statements are True or False
1. Though we may roam around palaces, but there is no place like home.
2. The birds sings dolefully and does not respond to the poet’s call
Answer:
1. True
2. False

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Poetic Devices.

Question 1.
Pick out the rhyming words from the extract.
Answer:
roam-home, there-elsewhere, rain-again, call-all.

Question 2.
Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam.
Answer:
Alliteration – The sound of ‘p’ is repeated for better poetic effect.

Question 3.
To thee I’ll return, overburdened with care. (Explain the line)
Answer:
The poet says that he’ll return home with a lot of worries.

Question 4.
Pick out the rhyming words from the extract.
Answer:

  1. smile – beguile
  2. roam – home
  3. care – there

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Question 5.
Write the rhyme scheme for the first four lines of the extract.
Answer:
The rhyme scheme is aabb.

Name the figures of speech for the following.

Question 1.
How sweet ’tis to sit ‘neath a fond Father’s smile.
Answer:
Alliteration – The sound of’ s’ and’ f’ is repeated for better poetic effect.

Question 2.
But give me, oh, give me, the pleasures of home.
Answer:
Repetition – The words ‘give me’ have been repeated for better poetic effect.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Question 3.
No more from that cottage again will I roam.
Answer:
Inversion – The words are not in order for better poetic effect. The right order is, ‘No more will I roam again from that cottage’.

Question 4.
Be a poet. Try and write a poem on ‘My Home’.
Answer:
My Home

I have a cosy little home,
Made of cement, bricks and dome.
It is coloured beautifully,
With everything arranged wonderfully.
We are a family of five,
When together we come alive.
A place where I can rest.
My home, it is the best.

Home Sweet Home Summary in English

The poet John Howard Payne through his poem conveys the message that ‘Home Sweet Home’ assurs us that there is no place better than home. It is a poem that reaches into the heart. He says that home is a place where we experience independence, safety, privacy and where we can dispense hospitality. The poet says that wherever we might roam or live, there is no comfort like home however big or small it is, because a home is where our family is.

Introduction:

The poem ‘Home Sweet Home’ was written by John Howard Payne, an American actor, poet, playright and author. ‘Home Sweet Home’ is a song adapted from Payne’s opera ‘Clari, the Maid of Milan’.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 Home Sweet Home

Glossary:

  1. humble (adj) (here) – modest
  2. charm (n) – an object believed to have magic powers
  3. ‘neath (adj) – below or underneath
  4. hallow (v) – to make holy
  5. exile (n) – banished from one’s home or country
  6. splendour (n)- magnificent
  7. vain (adj) – useless
  8. gayly (adv) – cheerfully, happily
  9. dearer (adj) – precious or greatly valued by someone
  10. gaze (v) – to stare intently
  11. tread (v) – to walk
  12. drear (adj) – cheerless
  13. woodbine (n) – any of several climbing vines
  14. fragrance (n) – pleasant smell
  15. soothe (v) – comfort
  16. beguile (v) – to charm, delight or captivate
  17. overburdened (adj) – excessively burdened
  18. care (n) (here) – worries
  19. solace (n) – comfort in a time of loneliness or distress

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage

Class 7 English Chapter 1.6 A Collage Textbook Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What did Swami Vivekanand make the world aware of?
Answer:
Swami Vivekanand made the world aware of the greatness of Indian Philosophy.

Question 2.
Why did Swami Vivekanand receive a standing ovation at the Parliament of World’s religions?
Answer:
At the Parliament of World’s religions, Swami Vivekanand began his speech with “Sisters and brothers of America!”. For these words, he received a standing ovation.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage

Question 3.
What did Swami Vivekanand emphasize upon?
Answer:
Swami Vivekanand emphasized the importance of selflessness and service to mankind.

Question 4.
What is Swami Vivekanand regarded as?
Answer:
Swami Vivekanand is regarded as a patriotic saint.

Question 5.
What is a collage?
Answer:
A collage is a collection of various materials such as pictures, articles and quotes, put together in an artistic and creative manner.

Question 6.
What does the collage given in the textbook talk about?
Answer:
The collage talks about Swami Vivekananda and displays a few famous quotes by him.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage

Question 7.
What can you include in a collage?
Answer:
Photographs, pictures, famous quotes/lines and information about a particular person can be included in a collage.

Question 8.
A mosaic is similar to a collage. Can you say how?
Answer:
A mosaic is a design that is formed by putting pieces of colourful glass, stones or tiles together in a creative manner/pattern, which sounds similar to a collage i.e. a collection of various pictures and quotes, put together in an artistic way.

Question 9.
Where can you see the collage pattern being used?
Answer:
The collage pattern can be seen in paintings, architectural work and photography.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage

Explain the quotes.

Question 1.
Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached.
Answer:
The given quote says that one should rise up to achieve one’s goal and until it is achieved, one should not stop to rest. Achieving one’s goal should be a relentless affair.

Question 2.
Talk to yourself atleast once in a day… otherwise you may miss a meeting with an excellent person in the world.
Answer:
The given quote says that each one of us is unique and excellent in our own way. We spend most of our lives talking to others but forget to have a conversation with ourselves and hence do not realize our own qualities.

Question 3.
Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals. Place them day and night before you and out of that will come great work.
Answer:
High thoughts and high ideals act as an inspiration to achieve higher goals. Reading the life and work of great men motivates us to believe in ourselves. The outcome of which is great work.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage

Question 4.
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is way of success.
Answer:
Swami Vivekanand through these lines tells us to eat, sleep and breathe our dreams. We must focus on that one dream so much that it becomes our very life. Only when we completely focus our energy on that one dream and give our heart and soul to it, can we be successful.

Question 5.
Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourself weak, weak you will be. If you think yourself strong, strong you will be.
Answer:
The given lines emphasize the importance of thoughts. The quality of our thoughts determine the quality of our lives because we are what our thoughts are. So by carefully choosing empowering thoughts, we can become what we wish to become.

A Collage Summary in English

The lesson, presented in the form of a collage, talks about Swami Vivekanand, his beliefs, his work and his contribution. The lesson also has some of his famous quotes, each of which has a deep meaning to it.

Introduction:

A collage is a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric on to a background.

Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 1.6 A Collage

Glossary:

  1. philosophy (n) – a theory or attitude that acts as a guiding principle for behaviour
  2. emphasize (v) – give special importance to something
  3. patriotic (adj) – having or expressingdevotion to one’s country
  4. inspirational (adj) – something that encourages and inspires
  5. ideal (n) – a principle
  6. standing ovation (n) – display of appreciation by standing up and clapping continuously
  7. collage (n) – a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs or pieces of paper or fabric ontoa larger and firmer surface.