Gujarat Board GSEB Class 7 English Textbook Solutions Honeycomb Chapter 3 Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.
Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 3 Gopal and the Hilsa Fish
GSEB Class 7 English Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Text Book Questions and Answers
Working With The Text
Answer the following questions :
Question 1.
Why did the king want no more talk about the Hilsa fish?
Answer:
Everyone around the king was talking about Hilsa-fish. This had infuriated the king, so he didn’t want anyone to talk about the Hilsa-fish.
Question 2.
What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Answer:
The king asked Gopal to buy a huge Hilsa-fish from the market and to ensure that no one should talk to him about the fish on the entire way from the market to the palace.
Question 3.
What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his Hilsa-fish?
Answer:
Gopal half-shaved his face smeared ash on his body and wore rags before going out to buy a Hilsa-fish.
Question 4.
How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?
Answer:
Gopal started singing and dancing in front of the palace at a loud voice. Observing his weird appearance and strange behaviour, the guards did not allow him to enter the palace, but when the king heard the noise, he ordered his men to bring the nuisance maker inside the palace.
Question 5.
Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the Hilsa-fish: which Gopal had bought.
Answer:
No one was interested in talking about the Hilsa-fish because the weird getup of Gopal had diverted everybody’s attention from the Hilsa-fish. Gopal was wearing rags, his face was half-shaven and ash was smeared over his body. People were more interested in his appearance than in the fish.
Question 6.
Write True or False against each of the following sentences:
1. The king lost his temper easily.
2. Gopal was a mad man.
3. Gopal was a clever man.
4. Gopal was too poor to afford decent clothes.
5. The king got angry when he was shown to be wrong.
Answer:
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. False
Working With Language
Question 1.
Notice how in a comic book, there are no speech marks when characters talk. Instead what they say is put in a speech ‘bubble’. However, if we wish to repeat or ‘report’ what they say, we must put it into; reported speech. Change the following sentences in the story to reported speech. The first one has been done for you.
(1) How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
(2) Why is your face half-shaven? Gopal’s wife asked him
(3) I accept the challenge, Your Majesty Gopal told the king
(4) I want to see the king. Gopal told the guards
(5) Bring the man to me at once. The king ordered the guard
Answer:
(1) The woman asked the man how much he had paid for that Hilsa.
(2) Gopal’s wife asked him why his face was half-shaven.
(3) Gopal told the king that he accepted the challenge.
(4) Gopal told the guards that he wanted to see the king.
(5) The king ordered the guard to bring the man to him at once.
Question 2.
Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own. challenge, mystic, comical, courtier, smearing
Answer:
challenge: a call to take part in a contest or competition.
Vikram accepted the challenge of his teacher and won prize in the annual day celebrations.
mystic: spiritual, occult.
The Sufi saints like Salim Chishti were mystics.
comical: funny
Mr Bean is one of the most famous comical characters on television,
courtici: a person, who attends a royal court as a companion or advisor to the king or queen.
Birbal was one of the most important courtiers in Akbar’s court.
spreading a soft, sticky substance on a surface.
The children were caught while they were smearing mud on the wall.
Picture Reading
Question 1.
Look At the picture and read the text aloud.
Question 2.
Now ask your partner questions about each picture:
(a) Where is the stag?
Answer:
The stag is standing by the side of a pond.
(b) What is he doing?
Answer:
The stag is about to drink water when he saw his reflection in the pond.
(c) Does he like his antlers (horns)?
Answer:
Yes, he likes his antlers very much.
(d) Does he like his legs?
Answer:
No, the stag finds his legs to be thin and ugly.
(e) Why is the stag running?
Answer:
The stag is running because he has been chased by the hunters.
(f) Is he able to hide in the bushes?
Answer:
No, he is not able to hide in the bushes because his horns got stuck in them.
(g) Where are the hunters now?
Answer:
The hunters are too close to the stag.
(h) Are they closing in on the stag?
Answer:
Yes, they are closing in on the stag.
(i) Is the stag free?
Answer:
The stag is free as it could run away from the hunters.
(j) What does the stag say about his horns and his legs?
Answer:
The stag says that he was proud of his horns, but he would have been killed because of them. He was ashamed of his legs, but they saved his life.
Question 3.
Now write the story in your own words. Give it a title.
Answer:
There was a stag and he lived in a jungle. One day he went to drink water in a pond. He saw his reflection in the pond. He felt proud of his beautiful antlers but he was ashamed of his thin and ugly legs. Suddenly, there were hunters behind him. The stag ran to save his life. He wanted to hide in the bushes, but couldn’t as his antlers were stuck in them. He found the hunters just behind him.
He ran for his life and was finally saved. In the end, he realised that he was feeling proud of his antlers, but he would have been killed because of them. He felt ashamed of his legs, but the very same legs helped him run fast and save his life. The title is: Do not judge by appearances.
Question 4.
Complete the following word ladder with the help of the clues given below.
Clues:
1. Mother will be very ……………………… If you don’t go to school.
2. As soon as he caught …………………… of the teacher, Mohan started writing.
3. How do you like my …………………………. kitchen garden? Big enough for you, is it?
4. My youngest sister is now a ………………………. old.
5. Standing on the …………………………. he saw children playing on the road.
6. Don’t make such a ………………….. . Nothing, will happen.
7. Don’t cross the ………………………… till the green light comes on.
Answer:
1. cross
2. sight
3. tiny
4. year
5. roof
6. fuss
7. street
GSEB Class 7 English Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Additional Important Questions and Answers
Select the most appropriate options as answers and complete the following sentences :
Question 1.
…………………. were talking about the Hilsa-fish.
A. Fishermen
B. Fishmongers
C. Courtiers
D. All these three
Answer:
D. All these three
Question 2.
Gopal took up the challenge to ……………….. .
A. sell maximum number of Hilsa-fish.
B. bring Hilsa-fish from the market openly without being talked about it.
C. win the contest about Hilsa-fish.
D. buy Hilsa-fish at the lowest price.
Answer:
B. bring Hilsa-fish from the market openly without being talked about it.
Question 3.
Gopal dressed himself in such a way that he looked a …………………. .
A. fishmonger.
B. fisherman.
C. crazy man.
D. courtier.
Answer:
C. crazy man.
Question 4.
The onlookers called Gopal …………………… .
A. comical.
B. mystic.
C. mad.
D. All these three.
Answer:
D. All these three.
Question 5.
The king …………….. Gopal in the end.
A. congratulated
B. scolded
C. rewarded
D. punished
Answer:
A. congratulated
Say whether the following sentences are True or False:
1. Hilsa-fish was the talk of the town.
2. Fishmongers were not happy selling fish at cheap prices.
3. Nobody but Gopal was talking about Hilsa-fish in the court.
4. Gopal went out with a half-shaved beard.
5. Gopal’s wife was not happy allowing him to go out in tattered clothes.
6. When Gopal started dancing and singing loudly at the court-gate, the gatekeepers; allowed him to enter the court.
Answer:
1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each: –
Question 1.
What happened when the king heard his courtiers talking about Hilsa-fish?
Answer:
When the king heard his courtiers talking about Hilsa-fish, he lost his temper and warned them that they were courtiers and not fishermen. But the king soon felt guilty, looking at his nervous and humble courtiers whom he had rebuked. His tone changed and he said that it was the season of Hilsa and nobody could be stopped from! talking about it.
Question 2.
Why did Gopal’s wife find his activities strange?
Answer:
Gopal had half-shaven his face, smeared ash over himself, had put on rags and was looking disgraceful. She asked Gopal the reason for such weird acts. She stopped him from going out like that but Gopal told her that he was going to buy Hilsa-fish. At last, she concluded that Gopal had gone mad.
Answer the following questions in four to Jive sentences each :
Question 1.
Who was Gopal? What was the challenge given to him by the king? How he won it?
Answer:
Gopal was one of the wise men in the king’s court. When the king was fed up with ongoing talks about Hilsa-fish he: challenged Gopal. Gopal happily accepted the challenge of, buying a huge Hilsa-fish from the market; and to ensure that on the way from the market to the palace no one should talk to him about the fish. Gopal was an intelligent man. He dressed up like a mad man and his appearance caught everyone’s attention. He reached the court without anyone talking about the fish as everyone was drawn towards his appearance.
Question 2.
Why was Gopal barred entry to the palace?
OR
How did Gopal manage to get in? What was the king’s reaction to Gopal’s deed?
Answer:
Gopal looked suspicious or rather mystic since he had dressed himself in rags. Moreover, his beard was half-shaven and ash was smeared on it. Therefore the guards barred his entry to the palace. He started dancing and singing loudly so that the king might hear him and call him inside. The king ordered him to be taken inside but he could not recognise him.
When Gopal reminded the King of his challenge and proved that he had fulfilled it, the king was surprised and burst into laughter.
(Grammar)
Choose the correct Article(s), Conjunsction(s) and Preposition(s) and complete the following passage :
Strangely enough, no one seems to be interested ………………………… Hilsa-fish today! ………………….. the market ……………… the palace ……………………. in the court, not …………………………… soul has spoken a word ……………………… Hilsa-fish!
Answer:
Strangely enough, no one seems to be interested in Hilsa-fish today! From the market to the palace and in the court; not a soul has spoken a word about Hilsa-fish!
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of verbs given in the brackets and complete the texts :
Question 1.
Then let me see you ……….1……….. (buy) a huge Hilsa and …………2………… (bring) it to the palace without anyone ………3………… (ask) you a word about it.
Answer:
1. buy
2. bring
3. asking
Question 2.
King: Not even Gopal …………………1………….. (can + stop) anyone from ………2…………… (talk) about Hilsa-Fish. Courtier: Oh, I think I …………3……….. (can), Your Majesty.
Answer:
1. can stop
2. talking
3. could
Change the voice of the following :
(1) Fishermen could think of nothing but Hilsa-fish.
(2) How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
(3) You wouldn’t believe it.
(4) I accept the challenge, your majesty.
(5) What do you want ?
(6) You can’t see the king.
(7) Bring that man to me at once.
Answer:
(1) Nothing could be thought of but Hilsa fish by fishermen.
(2) How much was paid by you for that s Hilsa?
(3) It wouldn’t be believed by you.
(4) The challenge is accepted by me, your majesty.
(5) What is wanted by you?
(6) The king can’t be seen by you.
(7) Let that man be brought to me at once.
Turn the following dialogue into Indirect Speech:
Question 1.
Fishmonger: Come, buy. The price of Hilsa is down today.
Wife: How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
Man: You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.
Answer:
A fishmonger called a buyer to come and buy a Hilsa-fish. He tempted him saying that the price of the fish was down that day. His wife (when he reached home) asked him how much he had paid for that Hilsa. The man told in reply that she wouldn’t believe it if he told her.
Question 2.
Wife: Why is your face half-shaven?
Gopal: I’m dressing up to buy a fish.
Wife: What’s the matter with you? Why are you smearing yourself with ash?
Gopal: I told you I am dressing up to buy a Hilsa-fish.
Answer:
Gopal’s wife asked him with surprise why his face was half-shaven. Gopal replied that he was dressing up to buy a fish. His wife asked him what the matter was with him. She asked him further inquisitively why he was smearing himself with ash. Gopal- told her irritatingly that he was dressing up to buy a Hilsa-fish.
Rewrite as directed :
(1) How many times must I tell you, woman? (Turn into Assertive.)
(2) He has gone mad ……………….. ? (Add a Question Tag.)
(3) What a crazy man! (Use ‘indeed’.)
(4) No one seems to be interested in Hilsa-fish today. (Turn into Affirmative.)
(5) He must be a mad man. (Turn into Negative.)
Answer:
(1) Hey woman, it annoys me to tell you the same thing again and again.
(2) He has gone mad, hasn’t he?
(3) He is indeed a crazy man.
(4) Everyone seems to be uninterested in Hilsa-fish today.
(5) He must not be in his sense.
Additional Writing
Letter Writing
Write a letter to your penfriend in the USA, describing the Diwali festival in India, s You may include the following points:
– the greatest Hindu festival
-the Hindu New Year
-Diwali, the festival of lights
-four days – lamps (diyas), crackers, sweets
-new purchases, greetings, family visits
-enjoyment of the children, long holidays
-ask him to write about some American festivals not known much in India
Answer:
20th November 2019
Dear Tom,
Thank you for your letter telling me about the state you live in. You have asked me to describe the Diwali festival in India. Well, I must begin by saying that Diwali is the greatest Hindu festival. It is also the time of the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated all over the country with great joy. It is the festival of lights.
During the four days of Diwali, we light diyas (earthen lamps) and place them on the windowsills or on the porch of our houses. We burst a lot of crackers and fill ourselves up with sweets. We make new purchases such as clothes and jewellery. We send greetings to our friends and relatives. We also visit the families of our friends and relatives. Students have almost twenty days of holidays during this time and so enjoy the festival most.
Do write and let me know about some festivals celebrated in America that we in India know little about.
Give my regards to all at home.
Yours affectionately,
XYZ
Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary in English
Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary:
It was a season of Hilsa-fish and fishermen, fish-mongers and all in the kingdom were talking about it far and wide. Fishmongers were selling the fish at lowest rates ever. Even the courtiers could not help themselves talking about Hilsa-fish even before the king. The king was angry first but later he regretted for losing his temper. Then he put the challenge openly if anybody could avoid talking about Hilsa-fish even for five minutes.
Buying the fish from the market, one had to come all the way to the palace and see that nobody talked about the fish in his hand. Gopal took up the challenge. He half-shaved his beard, put on tattered clothes and set out to the market. He bought Hilsa-fish and started walking along the road to the palace. Whoever saw him, took him to be a crazy man and started talking about him instead of the Hilsa-fish in his hand.
Finally, he reached the palace. At the gate, he was stopped by the gatekeepers. Gopal started dancing and singing loudly there. Finally, he was called inside by the king. The king had already forgotten about the challenge. Gopal reminded him of the challenge. The king remembered it and congratulated Gopal for winning the challenge, i.e. achieving the impossible.