Grade - 7 - Poorvi - Unit - 1 - LEARNING TOGETHER - the Day the River Spoke - Bookback exercises - NCERT - CBSE

 

Grade – 7

Unit - 1

“The Day the River Spoke”

Let us discuss (Page:6)

Column 1 (Jahnavi’s Questions)	Column 2 (River’s Answers)
………. why the moon always comes from behind the hills?	It goes down towards the sea. I’ve seen it—it always takes the same path, over the mountains and down to the sea, like me!
“Can I do something?”	… little girls can do as much as little boys.
“What are ships?”	Big boats, so big that they can take hundreds of people, and they sail along the sea with lights that shine all night.
Will they come here?	No, they won’t. They’re too big. Chandu’s catamaran is fine for me. He can take you to see a ship someday.

 

Let us think and reflect (Page:7)

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. “You shouldn’t cry, you know,” the voice went on. “And you really shouldn’t be scared, when you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day. She was puzzled. It was such a voice, like the river. It couldn’t be the river! “Well, tell me all about it,” said the River, for it was the River. “I’ve got to hurry to reach the sea, you know. ”

(i) Complete the sentence with the correct option from those given in the brackets.

The tone of the River in the given extract is (assuring/ sympathising)

Answer: assuring.

 

(ii) Select a phrase from the extract which shows that Jahnavi was a frequent visitor to the spot.

Answer: The phrase showing Jahnavi was a frequent visitor is “when you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day”.

 (iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

The use of an exclamation mark at the end of the line, ‘It couldn’t be the river!’ expresses

A. excitement              B. hesitation                 C. irritation                  D. disbelief

Answer: D. Disbelief

(iv) Choose three qualities of the River highlighted in the extract from the words in the box given below.

(Affectionate, forgiving, thoughtful,  impatient, kind-hearted)

Answer: affectionate, thoughtful, kind-hearted.

2. “Can I do something?” asked Jahnavi. “Well, it’s up to you,” said the River. “Seems to me little girls can do as much as little boys—they swim as fast as little boys. You just slip along one morning and sit there in the school and listen to what’s going on, and maybe the teacher will let you stay.”

“I couldn’t,” gasped Jahnavi. “I couldn’t! They’d scare me! They’d chase me out.”

(i) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.

According to the River, there was no difference between girls and boys because __________.

Answer: they can do the same things, like swim as fast.

(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.

The River encourages Jahnavi to have faith in herself and fulfill her desire to go to school.

Answer: True.

(Reason: It tells her to try school and trust herself.)

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

When the River suggests that Jahnavi should ‘slip along’, it means that she should move

A. quickly        B. casually       C. quietly         D. confidently

Answer: C. Quietly.

(iv) What does the repetition of the phrase “I couldn’t”  tell us?

Answer: scared and unsure.

II. Answer the following questions. (Page: 8)

 

1. Why does the writer describe different aspects of nature in great detail at the beginning of the story? Why do you think the writer does this?

Answer: The writer describes the kingfisher’s blue wings, the green lizard, and the river to create a beautiful vivid picture and show Jahnavi’s love for nature. It transports the reader to the  world of Jahnavi. It also hints that the river is special to her.

 

2. How did the River know so much about Jahnavi?

Answer: The River knew a lot because Jahnavi visited it almost every day, talking and sharing her thoughts. It observed her that she was not afraid of lizards or other creatures.

 

3. Jahnavi says, “And I’m so old now, they’ll never let me go.” What can you infer about Jahnavi and the school from this line?

Answer: Jahnavi thinks she is too old (almost 10) to start school, and perhaps her family or the school will not allow older students. She feels she has missed her chance.

 

4. Why did the River laugh when’ Jahnavi said she would be scared at school?

Answer: The River laughed because Jahnavi is brave with lizards and spiders but scared of school. It finds this funny since she is usually fearless.

 

5. Why should Jahnavi follow the River’s advice?

Answer: She should follow it because the River knows her, well and gave her a good plan to sneak into school. It worked, and the teacher agreed.

 

6. How does the conversation between Jahnavi and the River make the story more appealing?

Answer: The talking river makes the story exciting and magical. It reveals Jahnavi’s hopes and fears, keeping us eager to know what happens next.

 

7. What is the main message that the writer intends to convey?

Answer: The writer teaches us to be brave and pursue our dreams, like going to school. It also shows that girls can do anything boys can if they try well.

 

8. What was Jahnavi’s dream? Was it important to her? Why? (Page: 3)

Answer:  Jahnavi’s dream was to go to school and learn to read and write. It was important to her because she wanted to understand things like why spiders are yellow, why bamboo rustles, and other questions. Learning would make her happy and help her feel equal to her siblings.

 

9. Do you think the river can help her in fulfilling her dream? How? (Page: 3)

Answer:  Yes, the river helps Jahnavi by encouraging her to be brave and go to school. It tells her to try sitting in class and listening, which gives her the courage to take the first step toward the dream.

 

Let us learn  (Page :8)

I. You have learnt that naming words are called nouns and only proper nouns begin with a capital letter. Why has the author used a capital letter for the ‘River’ even when it is a common noun? (Clue: Has the River been given qualities of a human being?)
Answer: In real life, rivers do not speak, but in this story, the author personifies the river to show that it acts like a human being, guiding the young girl and emphasising the importance of education. The author uses a capital “R” for the River because the River acts like a person, it talks and helps Jahnavi. It is a character with human abilities and not just water. This helps the readers feel that the River has its own voice, feelings, and wisdom, making it more powerful and meaningful in the story.

 

II . There are a few words related to sound in the text. Pick the words from the text and write them next to the correct definition

1)      Shrieked (or Screeched): Made a high-pitched piercing sound.

2)      Splashed: To cause liquid to strike or fall on something.

3)      Murmuring: A low continuous background noise.

4)      Sob (or Sobbed): Cry with loud uncontrollable gasps.

5)      Rustle (or Rustled): To make a soft dry sound, like paper or leaves moving.

6)      Gasped: Took a short quick breath through the mouth due to surprise, pain or shock.

7)      Rattling: Shaking rapidly to make continuous short, sharp sounds.

8)      Noisy: Making a lot of noise.

9)      Wailed: Made a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadness.

 

Fill in the blanks with suitable sound words from exercise (II).
The classroom grew (i) _______ as the students noticed the teacher carrying the answer papers. As the teacher turned the pages with a (ii) _______, the children (iii) _______, wondering what comments awaited. Someone (iv) _______ in frustration, and the (v) _______of the students steadily increased. Finally, when the teacher praised the students for their excellent performance, the students (vi) _______ with excitement.
Answer:
The classroom grew (i) noisy as the students noticed the teacher carrying the answer papers. As the teacher turned the pages with a (ii) rustled, the children (iii) gasped wondering what comments awaited. Someone (iv) wailed in frustration, and the (v) murmuring of the students steadily increased. Finally, when the teacher praised the students for their excellent performance, the students (vi) shrieked with excitement.

 

III. Find out the meanings of these words. From which Indian language these words were borrowed. An example has been given

Word meanings and languages they are borrowed from.
1. Karma- Results of your actions (Sanskrit)
2. Sahib- Respectful word for “sir” (Urdu/ Hindi)
3. Chutney- Spicy sauce (Hindi)
4. Guru- Teacher or guide (Sanskrit)
5. Verandah- Roofed porch (Hindi)
6. Jungle-Wild forest (Hindi/Sanskrit)
7. Areca- Nut tree (Malayalam/Tamil)
8. Palanquin- (Palki) Covered seat for one passenger consisting of a large box carried on two horizontal poles by four or six men (Sanskrit/Hindi

 

Prepositions (Page: 11)

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions given within the brackets.

Jahnavi takes the River’s advice and goes to school. On her first day 1. at (at/ in/on) school, Jhhnavi stood nervously 2. outside (in/ outside/above) the gate, clutching her bag close to her. The bell rang and she hurried 3. inside (outside/ through/inside) the bustling classroom. She found a seat 4. between (among/between/ from) two friendly classmates. The teacher greeted them warmly and started the lesson 5. about (about/in/for) numbers. Jahnavi listened attentively, feeling excited 6. about (at/about/for) the new adventure ahead.

 

Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs

1. The cat jumped on the table, (preposition)
2. The children played outside until dark, (adverb)
3. She quickly ran to the park, (preposition)
4. The helicopter was hovering above, (adverb)
5. We were just walking along chatting, (adverb)
6. After thoroughly wiping his shoes, he stepped inside, (adverb)
7. She drove slowly around the sharp curve, (preposition)
8. He placed the keys on the mat before leaving, (preposition)

 

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