Reviewing the Poorvi Book Class 7 Solutions Unit 1 Learning Together Chapter 1 The Day the River Spoke Questions and Answers before exams can boost your confidence.
The Day the River Spoke Class 7 Questions and Answers
The Day the River Spoke Class 7 Question Answer
NCERT Class 7 English Poorvi Chapter 1 The Day the River Spoke Question Answer
Let us Discuss (NCERT PAGE 3)
Question 1.
What was Jahnavi’s dream? Was it important to her? Why?
Answer:
Jahnavi’s dream was to go to school and learn to read, write and explore the world through education. She was curious about nature and wanted to understand things like the moon, the rustling bamboo and how fishes turned into frogs. This dream was very important to her because she felt left behind while her siblings went to school. Education, for her, meant hope freedom and the power to question and grow.
Question 2.
Do you think the river can help her in fulfilling her dream? How?
Answer:
Yes, the river encouraged Jahnavi and gave her emotional strength. Though it could not physically take her to school, it inspired her to believe in herself and overcome her fears. The river reminded her that girls are as capable as boys and motivated her to take the first step by visiting the school. Its kind and wise words helped her gather the courage to fulfill her dream.
Let us Discuss (NCERT PAGE 6)
I. Complete the table given below with Jahnavi’s questions in column 1 and the River’s answers in column 2. Check your answers with the teacher.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Let us Think and Reflect (NCERT PAGE 7 & 8)
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Question 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 that shows that Jahnavi was a frequent visitor is ‘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.
Answer:
affectionate, thoughtful, kind-hearted
Question 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:
girls are just as talented and strong as boys-they can swim well, think deeply and learn all the same things if given the chance.
(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
(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:
The repetition of ‘I couldn’t’ shows how nervous and unsure Jahnavi feels. It tells us that she is scared of being rejected or embarrassed in school. Even though she wants to go, she doesn’t believe she is brave enough yet. Her fear is stronger than her confidence at the given moment.
II. Answer the following questions.
Question 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 aspects of nature in detail to show the beauty and peace of the setting. The writer does so because it helps the reader feel like they are right beside Jahnavi. The calm and magical environment makes it believable that the River could speak. It also reflects how close Jahnavi feels to nature.
Question 2.
How did the River know so much about Jahnavi?
Answer:
The River knew a lot about Jahnavi because she visited that place frequently. She spent her time sitting by the river, thinking about her dreams and worries. The River had watched her closely, listened quietly and understood her feelings like a caring friend.
Question 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:
The line “And I’m so old now, they’ll never let me go”, shows that Jahnavi feels sad and discouraged. She thinks she is too old to go to school and has missed her chance to start learning. It also shows that children, especially girls, are often told it’s too late to begin learning, even when they are still young.
Jahnavi wants to go to school, but she’s afraid that other children might laugh at her.
Question 4.
Why did the River laugh when Jahnavi said she would be scared at school?
Answer:
The River laughed in a kind and playful way because it knew Jahnavi was actually a brave girl. She was not scared of lizards, snakes or even ‘big noisy trains’. So, the River found it funny that she would be afraid of sitting in a quiet classroom.
Question 5.
Why should Jahnavi follow the River’s advice?
Answer:
Jahnavi should follow the River’s advice because it encourages her to believe in herself and take the first step. The River’s words remind her that she is strong and smart and that she should not be afraid to follow her dreams. She should go to school and learn new things.
Question 6.
How does the conversation between Jahnavi and the River make the story more appealing?
Answer:
The conversation adds a magical feeling to the story. It shows the River as a gentle, wise friend who listens and gives good advice. This makes the story more appealing and helps us feel more connected to Jahnavi’s emotions. It also makes us think about how nature can guide us if we pay attention.
Question 7.
What is the main message that the writer intends to convey?
Answer:
The main message of the story is that girls should be given equal chances to learn and grow, just like boys. It teaches us that courage, confidence and support from others can help overcome fear and challenges. The story also reminds us to listen to our hearts and never give up on our dreams.
Let us Learn (NCERT PAGE 8-12)
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:
The author has used a capital letter for ‘River’ because in the story, the River has been personified. It is given human-like qualities such as speaking, laughing and offering advice.
Instead of being just a body of water, it becomes a wise and friendly guide to Jahnavi. This quality makes it similar to a proper noun.
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. made a high-pitched piercing sound
2. to cause liquid to strike or fall on something
3. a low continuous background noise
4. cry with loud uncontrollable gasps
5. to make a soft dry sound, like paper or leaves moving
6. took a short quick breath through the mouth due to surprise, pain or shock
7. shaking rapicily to make continuous short, sharp sounds
8. making a lot of noise
9. made a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadness
Answer:
1. Shrieked
3. Murmuring
5. Rustle
7. Rattling
9. Cried
2. Splashed
4. Wailed
6. Gasped
8. Noisy
Now, 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:
(i) noisy
(ii) rustle
(iii) gasped
(iv) wailed
(v) murmuring
(vi) rattling
(vii) shrieked
III. The word ‘catamaran’ is used in the text. The word originates from Tamil language ‘kattu maram’ meaning ‘tied wood’.
Find out the meanings of these words. From which Indian language these words were borrowed. An example has been given.
1. karma (Sanskrit)
2. sahib
3. chutney
4. guru
5. verandah
6. jungle
7. areca
8. palanquin
Answer:
1. Karma (Sanskrit) The concept of actions and their consequences.
2. Sahib (Persian via Hindi) A respectful title for men, meaning ‘master’ or ‘sir’.
3. Chutney (Hindi) A spiced condiment made from fruits, vegetables or herbs.
4. Guru (Sanskrit) A spiritual teacher or knowledgeable person.
5. Verandah (Hindi) A roofed outdoor space attached to a house.
6. Jungle (Sanskrit via Hindi) A dense forest or wild land.
7. Areca (Malayalam) A tropical palm tree producing betel nuts.
8. Palanquin (Sanskrit) A covered litter carried by bearers for transporting people.
IV. Chandu, the fisherman, has a catamaran that the River preferred to a ship. Given below are some boats that are used in different parts of our country.
1. Canoe
2. Catamaran
3. Coracle
4. Shikara
(i) Which one would you like to travel in?
Answer:
Do it yourself.
(ii) Make a colourful drawing of a boat that you would like to travel in.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Answer:
(i) and (ii) To be attempted by the students.
v. Solve the crossword puzzle based on words related to water transport.
Across
1. a laige vessel used for transporting goods or passengers by sea
2. a small vessel for travelling on water, typically propelled by oars, sails or an engine
3. a flat floating structure for travelling across water
4. a boat or ship driven by steam
Down
5. a small, light, narrow boat, pointed at both ends and moved using a paddle
6. a boat with a powerful engine which can change direction easily and is used to pull large ships into and out of port
7. a boat with sails and sometimes an engine, used for either racing or travelling for pleasure, rhymes with ‘cot’
Answer:
Across
1. Ship
2. Boat
3. Raft
4. Steamer
Down
5. Canoe
6. Tugboat
7. Yacht
VI. Read the highlighted words in the following lines from the text.
“She goes down towards the sea. I’ve seen her; she always takes the same way-over the mountains and down to the sea, like me!”
Prepositions are words that indicate the relationship between nouns or pronouns and other elements in a sentence. They show direction, location, time or logical relationships between ideas.
Now, 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/in/on) school, Jahnavi stood nervously 2 . ……… (in/outside/above) the gate, clutching her bag close to her. The bell rang and she hurried 3. ……… (outside/through/inside) the bustling classroom. She found a seat 4 . ………
(among/between/from) two friendly classmates. The teacher greeted them warmly and started the lesson 5.
……… (about/in/for) numbers. Jahnavi listened attentively, feeling excited 6 . ……… (at/about/for) the new adventure ahead.
Answer:
1. at
2. outside
3. through
4. between
5. about
6. about
VII. Read the highlighted words in the following sentence from the text.
A kingfisher swept down, its wings an arrow of blue in the sunlight.
Words like on, off, up, down can function both as preposition and as adverb.
For example:
She ran up the stairs. (preposition)
She rang me up. (adverb)
Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs.
1. The cat jumped ……… the table. (preposition)
2. The children played ……… dark. (adverb)
3. She quickly ran ……… the park. (preposition)
4. The helicopter was hovering ……… (adverb)
5. We were just walking ……… chatting. (adverb)
6. After thoroughly wiping his shoes, he stepped ……… (adverb)
7. She drove slowly ……… the sharp curve. (preposition)
8. He placed the keys ……… the mat before leaving. (preposition)
Answer:
1. onto
2. until
3. through
4. above
5. and
6. inside
7. around
8. on
Let us write (NCERT PAGE 14)
Observing Nature
Take some time to observe the world around you. Over the next few days, pay attention to the colours, shapes, patterns and textures found in nature. Look closely at the plant trees, flowers, birds and even the sky. Make detailed notes of what you observe, focusing on textures, movements and how light plays with these elements. Record your observations in detail and the features that draw your attention the most-whether it’s the soft ripple of water, the vibrant flutter of a butterfly or the colour the birds or flowers.
Now, write a descriptive paragraph based on what you’ve observed. Highlight the colour shapes, textures, and unique details that made an impression on you.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Let us Explore (NCERT PAGE 15)
1. What are the things you can observe in the poster?
2. Why do you think the girls look happy?
3. Dignity means ‘self-respect’. What is the relation between ‘dignity’ and ‘happiness’?
4. How does a nation prosper when its daughters are happy?
Answer:
1. In this poster we can see four girls sitting in a classroom, smiling and studying together.
2. I think the girls look happy as they enjoy learning new things at school.
3. Dignity and happiness are closely connected. Dignity means having self-respect and being treated with respect by others. When people feel valued and respected, they develop confidence and a positive attitude towards life. This boosts their happiness.
4. A nation prospers when its daughters are happy because their well-being leads to education, progress and equality. When girls receive respect, opportunities, and support, they grow into confident individuals. They contribute to society in many ways as – through education, leadership and economic development.
Happy daughters build strong families and communities, spreading values like kindness and resilience. Their success helps in reducing discrimination and creating a fair and peaceful environment.
By ensuring dignity and happiness for girls, a nation moves toward a brighter, more progressive future.
The Government has launched many schemes for the education of the girl child. Some of them are ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, ‘Balika Samridhi Yojana’, ‘Samagra Shiksha Scheme-Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas’, etc.
Find out more such schemes from the internet or from your teacher and spread awareness in your neighbourhood.
Answer:
Do it yourself.