Complete solution of chapter 1 of Honeycomb class 7 English, includes comprehension check, working with the text(Q&A), Working with language, Speaking and Writing sections with extra questions and answers.
Comprehension Check 1 (Q&A)
- Why did the king want to know the answers to three questions?
Answer: The king wanted to know the answers to three questions because he believed that if he knew the right time to begin something, the right people to listen to, and the most important thing to do, he would never fail. - 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.
Mark your choice:
Answer: (iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Comprehension Check 2 (Q&A)
- Many wise men answered the king’s questions, ___________.
Answer: but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied. - Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men ___________.
Answer: to help the king act at the right time. - Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable ___________.
Answer: and follow it strictly. - The king requested the hermit ___________.
Answer: to answer three questions. - The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound, ___________.
Answer: but the bleeding would not stop.
Working with the Text
- Why was the king advised to go to magicians?
Answer: The king was advised to go to magicians because some people believed that only magicians could look into the future and decide the right time to do something. - In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?
Answer: In response to the second question, people suggested that the king should listen to his councillors, priests, doctors, or soldiers, depending on who they thought was most important. - What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Answer: Some suggested that science was the most important, others said fighting, and yet others believed that religious worship was the most important thing to do. - Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?
Answer: No, the wise men did not win the reward because their answers were all different, and the king was not satisfied with any of them. - How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Answer: The king and the hermit helped the wounded man by washing and dressing his wound and later carrying him into the hermit’s hut, where they cared for him. - (i) Who was the bearded man?
Answer: The bearded man was the king’s enemy, who wanted to take revenge because the king had put his brother to death and seized his property.
(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?
Answer: He asked for the king’s forgiveness because he had intended to kill the king but ended up being saved by him after being wounded.
- The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Answer: The king showed his forgiveness by promising to send his servants and doctor to take care of the bearded man, and he also promised to return his property. - What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answer do you like most, and why?
Answer:
- The most important time is “now,” because it is the only time we can act.
- The most important person is the one you are with at the present moment.
- The most important thing to do is to do good to the person you are with.
Which answer I like the most and why:
I like the answer about the most important time being “now” because it reminds us to focus on the present moment and make the best of it, as we cannot predict the future.
Working with language
Answer:
List A – List B
(i) Wounded – Severely injured
(ii) Awoke – Got up from sleep
(iii) Forgive – Pardon
(iv) Faithful – Loyal
(v) Pity – Feel sorry for
(vi) Beds – Small patches of ground for plants
(vii) Return – Give back
Sentences using three of the words:
- Wounded: The soldier was wounded in battle and needed immediate medical attention.
- Forgive: She decided to forgive her friend after they apologized for the mistake.
- Beds: The gardener prepared the flower beds for planting roses.
- Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in brackets.
Answer:
(i) The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgment.
(ii) I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differed from one another over small points.
(iii) It’s a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept my answer as final?
(iv) It isn’t necessary that necessity should always be the mother of invention.
(v) Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no one can tell.
(vi) The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to please everyone.
(vii) Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive.
Speaking and Writing
- Imagine you are the king. Narrate the incident of your meeting the hermit. Begin like this:
The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit…
ANSWER:
The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit, who was known for his wisdom. I left my horse and bodyguards behind, dressed in simple clothes, and walked alone to the hermit’s hut deep in the forest. When I arrived, I found the old hermit digging the ground in front of his hut. He looked tired and weak, but continued working.
I greeted him and asked for answers to my three questions. He listened but said nothing, continuing to dig. Feeling sorry for his exhaustion, I offered to help. He handed me the spade, and I dug for hours, all the while waiting for him to speak, but he remained silent. I grew frustrated and asked again, but just as I was about to leave, a wounded man ran towards us. I tended to his wounds, forgetting my original purpose.
The next morning, after the man had recovered and we had made peace, I asked the hermit one final time for the answers. To my surprise, he revealed that through my actions, my questions had already been answered. The most important time was when I was digging, the most important person was the hermit, and the most important act was helping the wounded man. It was then I realized the wisdom in his silence. - Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king. Begin like this:
One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king…
ANSWER:
One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king, though he had come alone and without his royal attire. He asked me three questions, but instead of answering, I continued with my work. I could see the king was a good man, but impatient. He took the spade from me and began digging to help, and I watched as he worked.
Hours passed, and just as the king was about to leave, we saw a man running towards us. He was badly wounded. The king immediately helped him, dressing his wound and caring for him through the night. When the wounded man recovered, he asked the king for forgiveness, and peace was made between them.
The next morning, the king asked me again for the answers to his questions. I explained that through his actions, the answers had already been revealed. The most important time is the present, the most important person is the one you are with, and the most important task is to do good for that person. I smiled as the king understood the wisdom in these simple truths.
10 additional subjective questions to test comprehension of the story “Three Questions” by Leo Tolstoy:
Question 1:
What were the three questions the king wanted answers to, and why did he think they were important?
Answer:
The king wanted to know:
- The right time to begin something.
- Which people he should listen to.
- What the most important thing to do is.
He believed that if he knew the answers to these questions, he would never fail in any task.
Question 2:
Why did the king decide to approach the hermit after consulting the wise men?
Answer:
The wise men gave different answers to the king’s questions, and none satisfied him. Therefore, the king decided to seek the advice of a hermit known for his wisdom, hoping he would provide clearer answers.
Question 3:
Describe the king’s encounter with the hermit. How did the king react to the hermit’s silence?
Answer:
The king found the hermit digging in his garden and asked him the three questions. The hermit did not respond and continued digging. Seeing the hermit was tired, the king offered to help him dig. Although the king repeated his questions, the hermit remained silent, and the king patiently continued helping him.
Question 4:
Why was the bearded man wounded, and what was his original intention towards the king?
Answer:
The bearded man was wounded by the king’s bodyguard while trying to ambush and kill the king. His original intention was to take revenge on the king for the death of his brother and the seizure of his property.
Question 5:
How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man, and what was the result of their actions?
Answer:
The king washed and dressed the man’s wound multiple times to stop the bleeding, and with the hermit’s help, carried him into the hut to rest. As a result of their care, the man recovered and, feeling remorseful, asked for the king’s forgiveness. The king forgave him and promised to return his property.
Question 6:
What was the hermit’s explanation for not answering the king’s questions immediately?
Answer:
The hermit explained that the king had already received the answers through his actions. Helping the hermit was the most important thing at that moment, as it saved the king from being attacked by the wounded man. Caring for the wounded man was the most important action at that time because it turned an enemy into a loyal friend.
Question 7:
According to the hermit, what is the most important time, and why?
Answer:
The most important time is “Now,” according to the hermit, because it is the only time we have control over and can take action. It is the present moment that holds power for decision-making and doing good.
Question 8:
What did the king learn about the most important person and the most important thing to do?
Answer:
The king learned that the most important person is the one you are with at a given moment because no one knows what will happen in the future. The most important thing to do is to help that person, as doing good is the purpose of life.
Question 9:
How does the story illustrate the concept of forgiveness and reconciliation?
Answer:
The story illustrates forgiveness through the king’s actions towards the wounded man. The man initially wanted to kill the king but, after being helped and saved by him, asked for forgiveness. The king not only forgave him but also promised to return his property, turning an enemy into a loyal friend.
Question 10:
What is the overall moral lesson of the story, and how does it relate to daily life?
Answer:
The moral lesson of the story is that the present moment is the most important time, the person you are with is the most important, and doing good for others is the most important action. This teaches that living in the present and helping others should be our focus in daily life, as these actions bring fulfilment and purpose.