Class 7 Lesson 2 Honeycomb NCERT English Questions and answers CBSE Parts A Gift of Chappals and The Rebel.
A Gift of Chappals
1. What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?
Ans: The secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard is about a small kitten they found outside their gate that morning. Meena and Ravi are secretly keeping the kitten, which they have named Mahendran, hidden from their grandmother (Paati), as she would get upset if she knew they were taking care of a cat. They are feeding the kitten with milk in a coconut shell and trying to avoid getting caught by their Paati.
2. How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Ravi gets milk for the kitten by tricking his grandmother (Paati). He takes a glass of milk from the kitchen, pretending to be very hungry. When Paati becomes suspicious, he drinks most of the milk to mislead her. Then, he secretly pours the remaining milk into a coconut shell to feed the kitten. Afterward, he quickly washes the glass and returns it to the kitchen to avoid further suspicion from Paati.
3. Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?
(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 to?
Ans: Ravi says the kitten’s ancestors are descended from the lion of the Pallava dynasty and the Egyptian cat-goddess Bastet.
(i) He is merely trying to impress Mridu.
Agree: Ravi creates an elaborate story, possibly to amuse or impress Mridu with his imagination and creativity.
(ii) His knowledge of history is sound.
Disagree: Ravi’s story mixes historical facts with fantasy, indicating that his knowledge of history may not be accurate.
(iii) He has a rich imagination.
Agree: The detailed and fantastical story he tells about the kitten shows that he has a vivid and rich imagination.
(iv) He is an intelligent child.
Agree: Although he mixes fantasy with reality, the way Ravi constructs his narrative and confidently presents it shows signs of creativity and intelligence.
5. What was the noise that started Mirdu and frightened Mahendran?
Ans: The noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran was the sound of Lalli learning to play the violin. Ravi described it as a screeching sound, comparing it to a train that goes on and on, while Lalli kept going off track.
Part II
1. The music master is making lovely music. Read the aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea.
2. Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.
3. “A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows.” What does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni’s mood?
Answer:
- The sentence that expresses the idea of the music master making lovely music is:
“Mridu stared at that huge, beringed hand moving effortlessly up the violin’s stem, making lovely music.” - No, the beggar had not come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time. The reason is that Paati mentioned, “He has been coming here every day for the past week, and it’s time he found another house to beg from!”
- The “sharp V-shaped line” formed between Rukku Manni’s eyebrows suggests that she was angry or upset. This expression indicates tension and frustration, showing that she was displeased, likely about the missing chappals.
Working with text
1. Complete the following sentences.
(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of children, Mahendran
(iii) The teacher played a 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
2. Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window.
3. (i) What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
(ii) What does she suggest to show her concern?
4. “Have you children…….” she began, and then, seeing they were curiously quiet. went on more slowly, “seen anyone lurking around the verandah?
(i) What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?
(ii) What did the change her question?
(iii) What did she think had happened?
5. On getting Gopu Mama’s chappals, the music teacher tired not to look happy. Why?
6. On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?
7. Walking towards the kitchen with Mirdu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?
Answer:
1. Complete the following sentences:
(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to derailing train sounds.
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of children, Mahendran jumped onto the window sill.
(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli struggled to keep up, playing discordant notes.
(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household had always given him something when he asked.
(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if she had improved her practice since the last session.
2. Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window.
The music teacher, as seen from the window, was a bony, scrawny figure, with a bald head and an air of arrogance. His sacred thread was visible as it hung loosely over his shoulder, and he seemed quite serious, engrossed in teaching Lalli, though his presence felt somewhat pompous and self-important.
3. (i) What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
Mridu concluded that the beggar had no money to buy chappals because she noticed his feet were blistered and cracked. His appearance and the way he stood barefoot under the scorching sun made her realize he was too poor to afford footwear.
(ii) What does she suggest to show her concern?
Mridu suggests that they could give the beggar some old chappals lying around in the house, showing her concern for his comfort and well-being.
4. “Have you children…….” she began, and then, seeing they were curiously quiet, went on more slowly, “seen anyone lurking around the verandah?”
(i) What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?
Rukku Manni really wanted to ask if the children had given away Gopu Mama’s chappals to the beggar, as she suspected something was amiss.
(ii) Why did she change her question?
She changed her question because she noticed the children were unusually quiet, and she probably wanted to approach the topic more cautiously to confirm her suspicions.
(iii) What did she think had happened?
She thought that the children had taken Gopu Mama’s chappals and given them to the beggar without permission.
5. On getting Gopu Mama’s chappals, the music teacher tried not to look happy. Why?
The music teacher tried not to look happy because, even though the chappals were comfortable and better than his old ones, he didn’t want to appear rude or too eager to accept them since they belonged to someone else.
6. On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?
The beggar was in a hurry to leave because he knew that the chappals were a valuable gift, and he wanted to get away quickly before anyone changed their mind or demanded the chappals back.
7. Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?
Rukku Manni laughed because the entire situation of losing Gopu Mama’s chappals, the music teacher’s reaction, and the children’s innocent involvement in trying to help the beggar with the chappals seemed too ridiculous and comical. She probably found humor in the chaos the incident caused.
Working with language
1. Read the following sentences.
(a) If she knows we have a cat, Paati will leave the house.
(b) She won’t be so upset if she knows about the poor beggar with sores on his fect.
(c) If the chappals do fit, will you really not mind?
Notice that each sentence consists of two parts. The first part begins with ‘if’. It is known as if-clause.
Rewrite each of the following pairs of sentences as a single sentence. Use ‘if’ at the beginning of the sentence.
(i) Walk fast. You’ll catch the bus. If you walk fast. you’ll catch the bus.
(ii) Don’t spit on the road. You’ll be fined. If you spit on the road. You’ll be fined.
(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:
1. Rewrite each of the following pairs of sentences as a single sentence using ‘if’:
(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 are polite to people, they’ll also be polite to you.
(v) If you tease the dog, it’ll bite you.
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.
Answers:
Here is the paragraph with the blanks filled:
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.
3. Complete each sentence below by appropriately using any one of the following:
if you want to/if you don’t 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 ______________
Answers:
(i) Don’t go to the theatre if you don’t want to.
(ii) He’ll post your letter if you want him to.
(iii) Please use my pen if you want to.
(iv) He’ll lend you his umbrella if you want him to.
(v) My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor if you want him to.
(vi) Don’t eat it if you don’t want to.
Part 2 The Rebel
Working with the Poem
1. Answer the following questions.
(i) If someone doesn’t wear a uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?
(ii) When everyone wants a clear sky, what does the rebel want most?
(iii) If the rebel has a dog for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?
(iv) Why is it good to have rebels?
(v) Why is it not good to be a rebel oneself?
(vi) Would you like to be a rebel? If yes, why? If not, why not?
2. Find in the poem an antonyms (a word opposite in meaning) for each of the following words.
(i) long __________
(ii) grow __________
(iii) quietness __________
(iv) sober ___________
(v) lost _________________
3. Find in the poem lines that match the following. Read both one after the other.
(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) If someone doesn’t wear a uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?
The teacher will likely ask the student why they are not in uniform and might remind them to follow the school dress code.
(ii) When everyone wants a clear sky, what does the rebel want most?
When everyone wants a clear sky, the rebel most likely wants rain.
(iii) If the rebel has a dog for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?
If the rebel has a dog for a pet, everyone else is likely to have cats.
(iv) Why is it good to have rebels?
It is good to have rebels because they bring different perspectives, challenge conformity, and encourage independent thinking.
(v) Why is it not good to be a rebel oneself?
Being a rebel can make one feel isolated or misunderstood, as their actions or opinions often go against the majority.
(vi) Would you like to be a rebel? If yes, why? If not, why not?
This is a personal question. Some might like to be rebels because they enjoy thinking differently, while others might not want to be rebels because they prefer to fit in with the group.
2. Find in the poem antonyms (opposites) for each of the following words:
(i) long – short
(ii) grow – cut
(iii) quietness – disturbance
(iv) sober – fantastic (clothes)
(v) lost – found
3. Find in the poem lines that match the following.
(i) The rebel refuses to cut his hair.
“When everybody has short hair, The rebel lets his hair grow long.”
(ii) He says cats are better.
“In the company of dog lovers, The rebel expresses a preference for cats.”
(iii) He recommends dogs.
“In the company of cat lovers, The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.”
(iv) He is unhappy because there is no sun.
“When everybody is greeting the rain, The rebel regrets the absence of sun.”
(v) He is noisy on purpose.
“When nobody talks during the lesson, The rebel creates a disturbance.”
Solution- All Chapters: English Grammar Exercises for Class 7 with Answers