NCERT Solutions for Chapter 2 A Gift of Chappals Class 7 English Honeycomb
A Gift of Chappals by Vasantha Surya is an exquisite story written about the fantasies of children, expressing their simplicity, whims, their feelings, and their act of charity. In the story, children are mischievous and simple. Their aim is to explore every aspect of life, but they act according to their own logic. Without hesitation, they gave chappals to the beggar and the music teacher. In "A Gift of Chappals," we learn about children's innocence and kindness. When they see a beggar with pink blisters on his feet, they give him their uncle's chappals.
Chapter Name | A Gift of Chappals NCERT Solutions |
Class | CBSE Class 7 |
Textbook Name | Honeycomb |
Related Readings |
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Comprehension Check I
Question 1: What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?
Answer:
Meena and Mridu shared a secret about the kitten they found outside the gate the same morning. The kitten was kept on an inflated football filled with sand in the backyard. A kitten was sipping coconut milk from the outer shell.
Question 2: How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Answer:
Ravi cleverly tricked his grandmother into giving him milk for the kitten. He told his grandmother that he was hungry. Thus, he needs some milk to drink. When his grandmother gives him milk, he keeps it for the kitten instead of drinking it. His grandmother asks him to return the tumbler after drinking the milk, so he says he will keep it back after washing it.
Question 3: Who does he says the kitten's ancestors are? Do you believe him?
Answer:
According to Ravi, the kitten's ancestors were Pallava lions. He says that the Mahabalipuram Rishi Cat is a member of the Pallava dynasty and belongs to them. Also, he said the cat was descended from the cat-goddess of Egypt. Honestly, I don't believe him because whatever Ravi said seems vogue and everything is a lie to me.
Question 4: Ravi has a lot to say about M.P. Poonai. This shows that:
(i) he is merely trying to impress Mridu.
(ii) his knowledge of history is sound.
(iii) he has a rich imagination.
(iv) he is an intelligent child.
Which of these statements do you agree/disagree too?
Answer:
We agree to:
(i) he is merely trying to impress Mridu
(ii) he has a rich imagination.
Question 5: What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?
Answer:
Lalli was playing the violin when the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran was made. There was a 'kreech' sound coming from the window. An unpleasant noise abhorred everyone.
Comprehension Check II
Question 1: The music-master is making lovely music. Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea.
Answer:
"The music-master's notes seemed to float up perfectly and settle into the invisible tracks of the melody like a train wheel fitting smoothly into a rail and whizzing along."
Question 2: Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni's house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
The beggar hadn't come to Rukku Manni's house for the first time. He has been coming there for one week. Paati herself said the beggar should find another house to beg from now that all of them were tired of him.
Question 3: "A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows." What does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni's mood?
Answer:
It suggests that Rukku Manni was somewhat baffled at the moment she know that her teacher's slippers were missing. Also, she became suspicious and angry.
Working with the Text
Question 1: Complete the following sentences.
(i) Ravi compares Lalli's playing the violin to _____
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chilies, Mahendran _____
(iii) The teacher played the few notes on his violin and Lalli _____
(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household _____
(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if _____.
Answer:
(i) the derailing of a train going completely off track.
(ii) tipped a few chilies over himself.
(iii) stumbled behind him on her violin, which looked quite helpless and unhappy in her hands.
(iv) had fed his body and soul together on for a whole week and he couldn't believe that they would turn him away.
(v) she had been his chappals.
Question 2: Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window. Answer:
Seeing the music teacher from the window, certain things about her personality can be inferred. There were only a few hairs left on his head. He was a bony man wearing a thick gold chain around his neck. He wore an old tuft around his neck. In addition to his diamond ring on his hand, he wore a watch that caught attention as he played the violin. In addition to all the 'glitter' he wore, he had a big toe.
Question 3:
(A) What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
Answer:
Mridu noticed the large pink peeling on his feet when he stretched out his bare feet. Mridu concluded that he did not have enough money to buy chappals after seeing the poor old beggar.
(B) What does she suggest to show her concern?
Answer:
Mridu develops sympathy for the beggar after seeing his condition and asks Ravi and Meena to give him a pair of slippers. Clearly, she cares and is concerned about the beggar in this way.
Question 4: "Have you, children......." She began, and then, seeing they are curiously quiet, went on more slowly, "seen anyone lurking around the verandah?"
(i) What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?
(ii) Why did she change her question?
(iii) What did she think had happened?
Answer:
(i) Rukku Manni wanted to find out where the sleepers of the music teacher had gone. As a hint, she asked the children if they had hidden their slippers and if so, to return them.
(ii) She changed the question in order to get the truth out more easily. Seeing the children playing so quietly, she became suspicious.
(iii) She thought the teacher's chappals had been stolen. The thief entered the house secretly and ran away with the chappals, she said.
Question 5: On getting Gopu Mama's chappals, the music teacher tried not to look too happy. Why?
Answer:
The music teacher was grateful to get Gopu mama's new chappals, but he pretended not to look happy as he wanted to express his sorrow for his missing chappals. His expression also conveyed that he was taking those chappals with him only because he had no other choice, as his old chappals were better than Gopu mama's new chappals.
Question 6: On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?
Answer:
Once the beggar received the chappals, he was very happy, but he quickly disappeared because he did not want the elders in the house to know about it. He was afraid that they would take away this amazing gift and scold him further.
Question 7: Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?
Answer:
Rukku Manni began to laugh out loud as she walked towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena as she described Gopu Mama's coming home in the evening and searching for his chappals. Eventually, he would hear about the teacher's 'gift of chappals'.
Working with Language
Question 1: Read the following sentences.
Rewrite each of the following pairs of sentences as a single sentence. Use 'if' at the beginning of the sentence.
(i) Don't tire yourself now. You won't be able to work in the evening.
(ii) Study regularly. You'll do well in the examination.
(iii) Work hard. You'll pass the examination in the first division.
(iv) Be polite to people. They'll also be polite to you.
(v) Don't tease the dog. It'll bite you.
Answer:
(i) If you tire yourself now, you won't be able to work in the evening.
(ii) If you study regularly, you'll do well in the examination.
(iii) If you work hard, you'll pass the examination in the first division.
(iv) If you'll be polite to people, they'll also be polite to you.
(v) If you tease the dog, it'll bite you.
Question 2: Fill in the blanks in the following paragraph.
Today is Sunday. I'm wondering whether I should stay at home or go out. If I... (go) out, I... (miss) the lovely Sunday lunch at home. If I............. (stay) for lunch, I... (miss) the Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I'll go out and see the film, only to avoid getting too fat.
Answer:
Today is Sunday. I'm wondering whether I should stay at home or go out. If I go out, I will miss the lovely Sunday lunch at home. If I stay for lunch, I will miss the Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I'll go out and see the film, only to avoid getting too fat.
Question 3: Complete each sentence below by appropriately using any of the following:
If you want to/if you don't want to/if you want him to
(i) Don't go to the theatre _____
(ii) He'll post your letter _____
(iii) Please use my pen _____
(iv) He'll lend you his umbrella _____
(v) My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor _____
(vi) Don't eat it _____
Answer:
(i) if you don't want to.
(ii) if you want to him.
(iii) if you want to.
(iv) if you want him to.
(v) if you want him to.
(vi) if you don't want to.
Speaking and Writing
Question 1: Discuss in small groups
- If you want to give away something of your own to the needy, would it be better to ask your elders first?
- Is there someone of your age in the family two is very talkative? Do you find her/him interesting and impressive or otherwise? Share your ideas with other in the group.
- Has Rukku Manni done exactly the same as the children? In your opinion, then is it right for one party to blame the other?
Answer:
This Question student should do himself.
Question 2: Ask one another questions about likes/dislikes/preferences/hobbies/personal characteristics. Use the
following questions and sentence openings.
(i) What do you enjoy doing after school?
(ii) What do you like in general?
(iii) Do you play any game?
(iv) Would you mind if I listened to music after dinner?
(v) Will it be all right if I...............?
(vi) Is there anything you dislike, particularly?
(vii) Do you like to attend parties?
(viii) Would you say you are...............?
Answer:
(i) Playing outside with friends and having a cup of coffee with my mother are two of my favorite things to do.
(ii) I am a literature-loving person. Therefore, I like reading novels and poems in general.
(iii) I participated in many sports during my school days, but my favorite sports are cricket and chess.
(iv) No, I wouldn't mind if you listened to music after dinner. You are free to do whatever you feel like doing.
(v) If you want to share my room with me, that's fine with me.
(vi) Nothing as such, but I hate it when people lie to me.
(vii) I'm not the type to enjoy parties. I would rather read novels at home than go out.
(viii) I think I am an excellent observer.
The Rebel - Working with the Poem
Question 1:
(A) Answer the following question.
If someone doesn't wear a uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?
Answer:
If a child does not wear a uniform to school, the teacher will ask him/her about the reason for not wearing one. For genuine reasons such as a wet uniform, a dirty uniform, or the child's birthday, the teacher may let the child go and instruct him to wear the uniform the next time. However, if the child gives excuses and argues with the teacher, the teacher may send the child out of class.
(B) Answer the following question.
When everyone wants a clear sky, what does the rebel want most?
Answer:
When everyone wants a clear sky, the rebel wants a cloudy sky. Because the rebel seeks everything contrary to the majority, he wishes for a cloudy sky when others desire a clear and sunny day.
(C) Answer the following question.
If the rebel has a dog for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?
Answer:
Rebels never want or are able to have the same things as everyone else, so if they have a dog for a pet, they are likely to have a cat instead.
(D) Answer the following question.
Why is it good to have rebels?
Answer:
The good thing about rebels is to know that there are people out there who don't follow the herd mentality, who are motivated to make a difference through their actions and thoughts.
(E) Answer the following question.
Why is it good to have rebels?
Answer:
Sometimes, rebellious behavior isn't a good thing because change is difficult to accept, and that's what rebels do as well. Many times, society doesn't like people who are different, and people tend to judge them. No one supports a rebel when he is alone, even when he is right.
(F) Answer the following question.
Would you like to be a rebel? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Answer:
I would like to be a rebel because I believe in myself and do what is right, not what is convenient. In order to stand out from the crowd, I want to create a unique identity for myself. While I know that the journey of a rebel will be challenging and challenging, I am not afraid of anyone and ready to face whatever obstacles may arise.
Question 2: Find in the poem an antonym (a word opposite in meaning) for each of the following words.
1) Long _____
2) Grow _____
3) Quietness _____
4) Sober _____
5) Lost _____
|
Words |
Antonyms |
|
1) Long |
short |
|
2) Grow |
cut |
|
3) Quietness |
disturbance |
|
4) Sober |
fantastic |
|
5) Lost |
found |
(i) The rebel refuses to cut his hair.
(ii) He says cats are better
(iii) He recommends dogs.
(iv) He is unhappy because there is no sun.
(v) He is noisy on purpose.
Answer:
(i) When everyone else has short hair, the rebel wishes for long hair. He grows his hair longer than others.
(ii) In the company of dog lovers, the rebel outstrips others by stating that cats are better.
(iii) When everyone is busy discussing dogs, the rebel is the only one who says favorable things about dogs and recommends dogs.
(iv) When everyone enjoys the amazing rain, the rebel feels sad for the sun. He misses the absence of sun instead of rain.
(v) The rebel tries to be noisy on purpose as he wishes to disturb the class. When nobody talks during the lesson the rebel creates the disturbance.