ENGLISH
CLASS- VII
CHAPTER -1 THREE QUESTIONS
WORD MEANINGS
1. pleasure- enjoyment or satisfaction
2. councillors- members of the council who give advice
3. seek- to go in search or quest of
4. faint- feeling weak, about to lose consciousness
5. wound- an injury
6. escape- to get away, avoid capture
7. seized- to take hold of suddenly or forcibly
8. pity- to feel sympathetic, to show mercy
9. hermit- a person who lives alone and lead a simple life
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, 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 act at the 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.
Answer the following question:
Question 1: Why was the king advised to go to magicians?
ANSWER: The king was told that in order to decide the right time for doing something, it was
necessary to look into the future. Since only magicians could do so, he was advised to go to
magicians.
Question 2: In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important
to the king?
ANSWER: The second question also got varied responses. As answer to this question, some said that
the people most necessary to the king were his councillors. Hence, their advice would be the most
important. Others said that the priests were the most important. A few others chose the doctors.
And yet others said that his soldiers were the most important.
Question 3: What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
ANSWER: In answer to the third question, some said that the most important thing was science.
Others said fighting; and yet others chose religious worship.
Question 4: Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?
ANSWER: No, the wise men did not win the reward. As he got very different answers to his
questions, the king was not satisfied, and therefore, he chose not to give the reward to anyone.
Question 5: How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
ANSWER: When the king and the hermit saw the large wound on the man’s stomach, the king
washed and covered it with his handkerchief. Since the blood did not stop flowing, he re-dressed
the wound until it stopped bleeding. When the man felt better, he gave fresh water to him. Then,
with the help of the hermit, he took the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. This is
how they helped the wounded man.
Question 6:
(i) Who was the bearded man?
(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?
ANSWER:
(i) The bearded man an enemy of the king. The king had put the man’s brother to death and had
also seized his property. That is why he wanted to take revenge on the king.
(ii) He had come with the intention of killing the king. When he left his hiding place, the king’s
bodyguard recognised him and thus, wounded him. He managed to escape, but would have died if
the king had not taken care of him and dressed his wounds. Ironically, he was saved by the very
person whose life he wanted to take. That is why he asked for the king’s forgiveness.
Question 7: The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
ANSWER: The king forgave the man. He showed his forgiveness by telling him that he would send
his servants and his own doctor to look after him. He also promised to give back the man his
property.
Question 8: What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately.
Which answer do you like most, and why?
ANSWER: In answer to the first question, the hermit said that there is only one time that is
important and that time is ‘Now’. It is the only time when one has any power to act.
The hermit answered the second question by saying that the most necessary person is the person
you are with at a particular moment. This is because no one knows what will happen in the future
and whether we will meet anyone else.
The hermit’s response to the third question was that the most important thing is to do good for the
person one is with. This is because all are sent into this world for that purpose alone.
All the answers are linked to each other and have their own significance.
