Say the Right Thing Class 7 English Poorvi NCERT Solutions
Chapter 6 Say the Right Thing NCERT Solutions Class 7 English
Page No. 43
Let us do these activities before we read
I. Work in pairs and discuss.
1. What does 'Athithi Devo Bhava' mean?
Answer
It means "Guest is God." It teaches us to treat guests with respect and kindness, like they are divine.
2. Why is it important to be polite to guests?
Answer
Being polite makes guests feel welcome and happy. It shows respect and builds good relationships.
II. Choose the statements that display polite behaviour when you have guests at home.
1. Offer the guests a glass of water.
2. Enquire about the well-being of the guests.
3. Ask the guests when they would leave.
4. Comment critically about the habits of guests.
5. Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.
Answer
The statements that display polite behaviour include:
- Offer the guests a glass of water.
- Enquire about the well-being of the guests.
- Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.
III. Sometimes you find that a few friends in class are rude while disagreeing with each other on certain issues. Work in groups. How would you deal with such a situation? Share at least three ways in which you can do this.
Answer
- Tell them to speak calmly and listen to each other.
- Remind them to use polite words like "please" and "sorry."
- Suggest taking turns to share their ideas without interrupting.
Page No. 74
Let us discuss
I. Complete the table given below based on Scene I of the play. An example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer
II. Do you think Mary will be able to follow her mother's advice successfully when Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee visit? Why or why not?
Answer
No, Mary might not follow her mother’s advice successfully. She is overconfident and doesn’t fully understand how to be polite. She talks too much and might say the wrong things.
Page No. 77
Let us discuss
I. Rectify the false statements given below from Scene II of the play. An example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.
1. Mrs. Harding states that they do not like London as it is not the same as Lanfield.
Answer
Rectification: Mrs. Harding states that they like Lanfield very much even though it is not the same as London.
Mrs. Harding says, "Yes, we like it very much. It's not the same as London," showing they like Lanfield.
2. Mrs. Harding was pleased to know that Mary was familiar with her children.
Answer
Rectification: Mrs. Harding was not pleased because she has no children, and Mary’s comment made her uncomfortable.
Mrs. Harding says, "I have no children; believe me," showing she was not happy with Mary’s assumption.
3. Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers.
Answer
Rectification: Mrs. Shaw said she liked Mrs. Best because she is a nice woman, not because she read newspapers.
Mrs. Shaw says, "She’s a nice woman. I like her," not mentioning newspapers.
4. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable.
Answer
Rectification: Mrs. Shaw says she likes blue dresses and red coats, and Mrs. Harding wears them, so they don’t think it’s unfashionable.
Mrs. Harding says she wears a blue dress with a red coat, and Mrs. Shaw supports it by saying, "I like blue dresses and red coats."
5. Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute.
Answer
Rectification: Mary says she doesn’t like the dog and calls it dirty, not cute.
Mary says, "It always looks very dirty. I don’t like dogs," showing she doesn’t find it cute.
Page No. 78
Let us think and reflect
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1: Mary : What are you going to talk about?
Mrs. Shaw : I don’t know. All kinds of things. One day you’ll have to go to some of these houses yourself and talk to the people there.
Mary : I can talk now. I’ve been able to talk for a long time.
Mrs. Shaw : Yes, that’s true. You always talk too much. But does anyone want to hear the things that you say?
Mary : I can talk very well when I like. I’ll stay with you today and talk to them when they come.
Mrs. Shaw : Oh, I don’t think so. You can go out for a walk. It will be better if you do that.
(i) What does Mrs. Shaw imply when she says, "One day you'll have to go to some of these houses yourself and talk to the people there"?
A. She believes Mary should start learning about hosting guests then.
B. She thinks Mary is ready to visit these houses independently.
C. She wants Mary to develop social skills for the future.
D. She hopes Mary will avoid these social interactions entirely.
Answer
C. She wants Mary to develop social skills for the future.
Mrs. Shaw means Mary needs to learn how to talk politely to people, which will help her in the future when she visits others.
(ii) Complete the following sentence with the correct option from the brackets.
Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to ______ (have a polite conversation/ get to know people better)
Answer
Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to have a polite conversation.
Mrs. Shaw gives Mary advice on how to talk kindly and politely to guests, like saying nice things and asking them to stay longer.
(iii) Why did Mary insist on staying with her mother when the guests arrived?
Answer
Mary wanted to prove she could talk well and handle the guests. She says, "I can talk very well when I like. I’ll stay with you today and talk to them."
(iv) Match the following character traits to the characters in the extract:
Answer
- Mary: A. eager – She is excited to stay and talk to the guests.
- Mary: B. inexperienced – She doesn’t know how to talk politely yet.
- Mrs. Shaw: C. cautious – She worries Mary might say the wrong things and suggests she go for a walk.
2: Mary : I saw Mrs. Cotter this afternoon. I met her in the street. No one sees her in the morning because she always stays in bed then. And she’s always asking the doctor to go to see her. I can’t understand women who stay in bed in the morning. And why must she always ask for the doctor? I’ve never been to a doctor in my life.
Mrs. Harding : I stay in bed in the morning myself.
(i) Complete the following sentence suitably.
Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because ______.
Answer
Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because she often walks there in the afternoon.
Mary says, "I saw Mrs. Cotter this afternoon. I met her in the street," meaning she saw her while passing by.
(ii) What does Mary's comment about Mrs. Cotter staying in bed and calling the doctor suggest about her understanding?
A. She is worried about why Mrs. Cotter stays in bed all morning.
B. She is unable to understand why people need medical help.
C. She thinks Mrs. Cotter is scared and lonely for staying in bed.
D. She believes Mrs. Cotter is right to rest and take care of herself.
Answer
B. She is unable to understand why people need medical help.
Mary says, "I can’t understand women who stay in bed in the morning," and "I’ve never been to a doctor," showing she doesn’t get why someone might need a doctor.
(iii) How can we say that Mary enjoyed good health?
Answer
Mary says, "I’ve never been to a doctor in my life," which means she has never been sick and is healthy.
(iv) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
Mary might have unintentionally offended Mrs. Harding.
Answer
True.
Mary talks about Mrs. Cotter staying in bed, but Mrs. Harding says, "I stay in bed in the morning myself," so Mary’s comment might have made her feel bad.
II. Answer the following questions.
1: What does Mary's comment about Mr. Best's routine and profession reveal about her viewpoint on bankers and their way of life?
Answer
Mary thinks bankers like Mr. Best have a boring life. She says, "He lives in trains! What kind of life is that?" and "bankers can’t think," showing she doesn’t respect their job or lifestyle.
2. What can we say about Mary's understanding of polite conversation based on her interactions with the guests?
Answer
Mary doesn’t understand polite conversation. She says rude things, like calling Mrs. Best’s clothes funny and criticizing the dog, which upsets the guests. She doesn’t follow her mother’s advice to be kind.
3. What do you think the repeated stage direction 'no one speaks' indicates about the atmosphere in the room when Mary speaks?
Answer
It shows the room becomes awkward and silent. Mary’s rude comments make the guests uncomfortable, so they don’t know what to say, and the mood becomes tense.
4. How does Mary's attitude towards the guests change throughout the play?
Answer
At first, Mary is confident and eager to talk to the guests. But after making mistakes, she feels sorry and embarrassed, saying "Oh, I’m sorry" many times. At the end, she still says the wrong thing, asking, "Can’t you go?"
5. What do Mrs. Harding's and Mrs. Lee's responses to Mary's blunders during their visit reveal about their characters?
Answer
Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee are polite but firm. They correct Mary, like when Mrs. Harding says, "I have no children," and Mrs. Lee says, "My brother’s a banker." They stay calm but leave early, showing they are patient but not happy with Mary’s rudeness.
6. In what way does the play show the importance of knowing how to engage in polite conversation?
Answer
The play shows that polite conversation makes people feel comfortable and happy. Mary’s rude words upset the guests, making the visit awkward. Her mother’s advice to be kind shows that politeness helps build good relationships.
Page No. 80
Let us learn
I. Study the following words taken from the text.
humorous, hilariously, coming, beautiful
The given words are made by adding word endings like -ous, -ly, -ing, and -ful to the root words humour, hilarious, come, and beauty. Such word endings are called suffixes.
- humour + -ous
- hilarious + -ly
- come + -ing
- beauty + -ful
1. Now, divide the following words from the text as root words and suffixes. Check your answer with the teacher.
Answer
- Gladly: glad + -ly
- Banker: bank + -er
- Guidance: guide + -ance
- Quietly: quiet + -ly
- Walking: walk + -ing
2. Study the words in Column 1. Match the suffixes in Column 2 with their meanings or purpose in Column 3. Write a few examples for each in Column 4. Share your answers with the teacher.
Answer
3. Fill in the blanks using words given in the brackets by adding suitable suffixes.
To communicate (i) _____ (effective), choose your words and topics (ii) _____ (wise). Avoid (iii) ______ (discuss) things you don’t know much about or that could upset someone. Remember to be (iv) ______ (respect) towards others, including yourself, and express your (v) _____ (appreciate). Finally, always be(vi) _____ (response) by replying promptly to communicate.
Answer
(i) To communicate effectively (effective).
(ii) Choose your words and topics wisely (wise).
(iii) Avoid discussing (discuss).
(iv) Remember to be respectful (respect).
(v) Express your appreciation (appreciate).
(vi) Always be responsive (response).
II. Read the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text.
- But does anyone want to hear the things that you say?
- I can’t tell you everything.
Select the correct answer.
Is there a difference in the meanings of ‘say’ and ‘tell’? (Yes/ No)
- ‘Say’ focuses on the message and does not always require a listener.
- ‘Tell’ focuses on who receives the message and always needs a listener.
1. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the sets of words given in the box below. Make changes in the verb forms (tense), if necessary.
(i) I _____ at the photo, but I didn’t _____ anyone familiar.
(ii) I’d better go and _____ my mother from the station, and then____ her home.
(iii) I need to ____ for my mathematics exam this weekend, so I hope to _____ new concepts along the way.
(iv) I can ____ the music from my neighbour’s house, but I need to _____ to it carefully to understand the lyrics.
(v) “Could I _____ to Mrs. Kalpana, who is going to _____ to us about gardening,” said Ritu.
(vi) I ____ in a small town, but I often ____ with my relatives in the city
Answer
(i) I looked at the photo, but I didn’t see anyone familiar.
(ii) I’d better go and fetch my mother from the station, and then bring her home.
(iii) I need to study for my mathematics exam this weekend, so I hope to learn new concepts along the way.
(iv) I can hear the music from my neighbour’s house, but I need to listen to it carefully to understand the lyrics.
(v) “Could I speak to Mrs. Kalpana, who is going to talk to us about gardening,” said Ritu.
(vi) I live in a small town, but I often stay with my relatives in the city.
III. Read the following sentences from the text and underline the verbs.
- They lived in London before.
- I met her in a shop and asked her to come.
As you know, the verbs you have underlined are in the simple past tense. (actions that happened in the past or distant past)
Read the following sentence from the text and underline the verb.
She has been staying with them for a while.
The verb you have underlined is in the present perfect continuous tense.
1. Fill in the blanks using the verbs given in brackets in the present continuous or present perfect continuous tense.
The students (i) _______ (organise) a play and setting up the stage. They (ii) ______ (prepare) for weeks to make everything perfect. The performers (iii) _______ (rehearse) every day, and their excitement (iv) ______ (grow). The sound in-charge (v)_______ (test) the microphones to check the sound quality. Everyone (vi) ______ (work) hard, and now the place (vii)______ (buzz) with energy and excitement.
Answer
(i) The students are organising (organise) a play and setting up the stage.
(ii) They have been preparing (prepare) for weeks to make everything perfect.
(iii) The performers are rehearsing (rehearse) every day.
(iv) Their excitement is growing (grow).
(v) The sound in-charge is testing (test) the microphones to check the sound quality.
(vi) Everyone is working (work) hard.
(vii) Now the place is buzzing (buzz) with energy and excitement.
IV. Read the explanation about the kinds of sentences given in the table below.
1. Identify the kinds of sentences and punctuate them appropriately.
(i) The meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room.
Answer
Declarative
(ii) What an exciting adventure it was!
Answer
Exclamatory
(iii) How did you solve the problem so quickly?
Answer
Interrogative
(iv) What is the weather forecast today?
Answer
Interrogative
(v) How beautiful is the rainbow!
Answer
Exclamatory
(vi) Clean up your room before dinner.
Answer
Imperative
(vii) The children are planning a surprise party for their mom.
Answer
Declarative
(viii) Turn off the music.
Answer
Imperative
Page No. 84
Let us speak
As you know
- Intonation is the rise and fall of the pitch of tone while speaking.
Let us learn about sentence stress.
- Sentence stress is laying emphasis on certain word (s) in a sentence.
→ The emphasis on particular words helps to convey the meaning and importance of the sentence.
→ Content words like book, run, beautiful, quickly, etc., are mostly stressed instead of function words like she, in, is, etc., in a sentence.
I. Speak the given declarative sentence aloud.
I saw Mrs. Cotter this afternoon.
Answer
Say it with falling intonation at the end and stress "Mrs. Cotter."
Stress "Mrs. Cotter" to emphasise who was seen, and use falling intonation for a declarative sentence.
Remember, stress does not mean to say the word louder than others. Itmeans to say a word with more emphasis than others.
II. Speak the following declarative sentences with falling intonation and stress the highlighted words.
1. The roomlooks cleaner now.2. You always talk too much.
3. You leave your clothes all over the house.
III. Work in pairs and speak the following sentences 1-5 aloud, as Mary. Apply stress and falling intonation. Match each of the sentences to the meaning they convey in (i)-(v).
Answer
- I didn’t hurt anyone today. – (iv) I, specifically, did not hurt anyone, possibly implying someone else might have.
- I didn’t hurt anyone today. – (iii) The action of hurting anyone did not occur.
- I didn’t hurt anyone today. – (i) I might have done other things but did not hurt anyone.
- I didn’t hurt anyone today. – (v) I may have spoken a lot many things but not a single person was hurt.
- I didn’t hurt anyone today. – (ii) I might cause hurt usually, but not anyone on this day.
IV. Now, speak the given declarative sentence with rising intonation towards the end of sentence and stress the highlighted words. I saw Mrs. Cotter this afternoon.
Answer
Say it with rising intonation at the end and stress "Mrs. Cotter."
Remember: The way we use stress and intonation in a sentence can change the meaning of what we wish to say if we are not careful.