NCERT Solutions for Chapter 1 Three Questions Class 7 English Honeycomb
"The Three Questions" is a short story by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy that is included in the collection What Men Live By, and Other Tales. The story tells the story of a king who wants to answer the three most important questions in his life. Tolstoy explores his theme of wisdom, acceptance, kindness, and forgiveness in his short story "Three Questions." In the story, a king seeks understanding by answering the three questions.
Chapter Name | Three Questions NCERT Solutions |
Class | CBSE Class 7 |
Textbook Name | Honeycomb |
Related Readings |
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Comprehension Check I
Question 1: Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
Answer:
The king believed he would never fail if he knew the answers to his three questions. His ambition to succeed reflects his foresight as a king to be prepared for new ventures, his wisdom in seeking the right counsel, and his insight in seeking the right counsel.
Question 2: Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom
(i) to fetch wise men.
(ii) to find answers to the questions.
(iii) to look for the wise hermit.
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Answer:
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
The king wanted wise men from all over the kingdom to come forward with answers to the three questions, so he sent messengers throughout the kingdom announcing a handsome reward.
Comprehension Check II
Question 1: Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.
1) Many wise men answered the king's questions,_____
2) Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men _____
3) Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable _____
4) The king requested the hermit _____
5) The king washed and dressed the bearded man's wound,_____
Answer:
1) Many wise men answered the king's questions, but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
2) Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men to help the king at right time.
3) Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly.
4) The king requested the hermit to answer three questions.
5) The king washed and dressed the bearded man's wound, but the bleeding would not stop.
Working with the Text
Question 1: Why was the king advised to go to magicians?
Answer:
The wise men who answered the questions believe that, in some cases, urgent tasks cannot wait for the council's decision, and that looking into the future is the best way to make a timely decision. As a result, the king was advised to consult magicians.
Question 2: In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?
Answer:
For the second question, some considered the advice of the king's councillors while others considered the advice of the priest most important. Also suggested as suitable advisers were doctors and soldiers.
Question 3: What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Answer:
For the third question, wise people had pointed out that science, fighting, or religious worship would be most important for the king.
Question 4: Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?
Answer:
The wise men didn't win the reward because their responses to the king's questions were so different that he consulted a renowned hermit instead.
Question 5: How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Answer:
The king and the hermit removed the wounded man's clothes and cleaned the wounds to stop the blood loss. Eventually, the blood stopped flowing from the wound after the king re-dressed it, and he slept in the hermit's hut that night.
Question 6:
(A) Who was the bearded man?
Answer:
Bearded man was sworn enemy of the king. The king had put his brother to death and taken away his property. The man was on his way back with the intention of killing the king, but was caught by the king's bodyguard and gravely injured.
(B) Why was he ask for the king's forgiveness?
Answer:
A bearded man was deeply grateful to the king for saving his life. After asking forgiveness, he swore himself and his sons to the king's faithful service.
Question 7: The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Answer:
In light of the peace made with his enemy, the king was glad. In a gesture of goodwill, the king offered to send his servants and his own doctor to treat the bearded man's wound and return his property.
Question 8: What were the Hermit's answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which do you like the best? Why?
Answer:
(a) The most important time is now because it is the only time during which we have the power to act. Our past is gone and the future is yet to come; we can only do something in the present.
(b) In the present, the most important person is the one you are with because the future is uncertain, and we do not know how long we will be with them.
(c) Doing your best is the most important thing in that moment for that person.
What I like best is the answer that the present is the most important time. We have only this one chance to correct the mistakes of the past and work towards a better future. According to the hermit, time is valuable and we should do our best to help others.
Working with Language
Question 1: Match items in list A with their meanings in list B.
|
A |
B |
|
(i) wounded |
give back |
|
(ii) awoke |
small patched of ground for plants |
|
(iii) forgive |
small patches of ground for plants and |
|
(iv) faithful |
severely injured |
|
(v) pity |
pardon |
|
(vi) beds |
loyal |
|
(vii) return |
to feel sorry for |
Answer:
|
A |
B |
|
(i) wounded |
severely injured |
|
(ii) awoke |
got up from sleep |
|
(iii) forgive |
pardon |
|
(iv) faithful |
loyal |
|
(v) pity |
to feel sorry for |
|
(vi) beds |
small patches of ground for plants |
|
(vii) return |
give back |
Faith: The bank gave him a heartfelt farewell for his 35 years of faithful service.
Beds: The gardener tends to the flowers beds with care.
Question 2: Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in brackets.
Example: He has promised to help me. Do you think he will remember his promise? (Promise)
(i) The ____ said that only fresh evidence would make him change his ____ ? (judge)
(ii) I didn't notice any serious ____ of opinion among the debaters, although they ____ from one another over small points. (differ)
(iii) It's a fairly simple question to ____ , but will you accept my ____ as final? (answer)
(iv) It isn't ____ that ____ should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
(v) Hermits are ____ men. How they acquire their ____ , no one can tell. (wise)
(vi) The committee had ____ to make Jagdish captain of the team. The ____ is likely to please everyone. (decide)
(vii) Asking for ____ is as noble as willingness to ____.(forgive).
Answer:
(i) The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgement? (judge)
(ii) I didn't notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differed from one another over small points. (differ)
(iii) It's a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept my answer as final? (answer)
(iv) It isn't necessary that necessity should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
(v) Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom, no one can tell. (wise)
(vi) The committee had decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to please everyone. (decide)
(vii) Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive. (forgive)
Speaking and Writing
Question 1: Imagine you are king. Narrate the incident of your meeting the hermit. Begin like this:
Answer:
I wasn't satisfied with the answers I received from the wise men. I decided to go to the forest one day and meet the hermit, who is famed for his wisdom. In plain clothes, I entered the hermitage and left the horse at a distance from the hut with the bodyguard. Walking towards the hermitage, I saw the wise man digging flower beds. The old, weak, and tired man took deep breaths as he labored. I went up to meet him and asked him these three questions: what's the right time to do something?, who should I be talking to?, and what's most important for me to do? In silence, the hermit continued digging. I decided to let the old man rest while I did the digging. The hermit did not answer my questions after digging two beds, and I was ready to leave disappointed. Suddenly, a bearded man ran toward us, bleeding profusely. After washing the wound and dressing it until the bleeding stopped, I took him inside to rest. Having worked all day, I too fell asleep. The wounded man had actually planned to kill me the next day. In gratitude for the care I had given him, he asked for my forgiveness and was glad to accept it. Ready to take my leave, I asked the hermit one last time to answer my questions and was told that I already knew the answer: 'Now' is the most important time. The person we are with at the moment is the most important person, and doing him well is our most important duty. My satisfaction was sparked after deeply considering his answer and I left.
Question 2: Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king. Begin like this:
Answer:
I was digging in my garden one day. A man dressed in ordinary clothes approached me. It was clear to me he was the king. My work continued as I greeted him. He wanted answers to three questions. When he saw me growing tired, he grabbed the spade and started digging himself. After about an hour, he repeated his question. As he grew frustrated and tired of my silence, a bearded man ran towards us, bleeding profusely and wounded. Dressing his wounds and giving him water, the king carried him inside to rest. Because it was quite late, the tired king also went to sleep on the floor. In the next day's speech, the wounded man apologized to the king and declared himself the enemy of the king. A man planned to kill the king, but the king's bodyguard discovered him and wounded him. Forgiving his enemy was a pleasure for the king, who was glad to have made peace with him. After repeating his questions before taking leave, I told the king that he already knew the answers. A satisfied king returned to his kingdom after reflecting on the events of the day, his behavior, and my response.
The Squirrel - Working with the Poem
Question 1: Why does the poet say the squirrel "wore a question mark for tail"? Draw a squirrel, or find a picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground. How would you describe its tail?
Answer:
The squirrel's tail appears upturned in the form of a question mark. Hence, the poet says the squirrel "wore a question mark for tail".
Question 2: Do we usually say that an animal wears' a tail? What do we say? (Think: Does an animal wear a coat? Consult a dictionary if you like, and find out how 'wear' is used in different ways.)
Answer:
Usually, we say the animal has a tail. To say that an animal 'wears' a tail is a poetic expression.
Question 3: "He liked to tease and play." Who is teasing whom? How?
Answer:
The squirrel enjoyed tease and playing with the poet and her friends. When the children ran around the tree, it would disappear. It would sit right up eating nuts, teasing them from the top.