CBSE Class VII English (Poorvi) Unit 1: Learning Together — The Day the River Spoke Questions and Answers

Unit 1: Learning Together — The Day the River Spoke

Let us do these activities before we read

I. Close your eyes and quietly listen to the sounds around you for a minute.

1. Are they trying to tell you something?
Yes, the gentle rustle of leaves, chirping of birds, and humming of the wind tell us that nature is active and full of life.

2. Do you think the things around you also listen to you all day long?
Yes, it feels as though elements of nature like trees, rivers, and animals quietly observe and listen to us as we go about our day.

II. Jahnavi was a bright young girl who lived with her parents and three brothers in a coastal village in India. Her parents worked on the farm. She had a dream.

1. What could that dream be?
Her dream was to go to school and learn to read, write, and understand the world.

2. How could she make her dream come true?
She could make her dream come true by being brave, going to school, and getting support from her teacher and parents.

3. What is your dream? What can you do to make your dream come true?
My dream is to become a scientist. I can make it come true by studying hard, staying curious, and asking questions every day.

Figure 1: Jahnavi sitting by the river side surrounded by nature.

Let us discuss (Page 3)

1. What was Jahnavi's dream? Was it important to her? Why?

Jahnavi's dream was to go to school and learn to read like her siblings. Yes, it was very important to her because she had so many questions about nature and wanted to understand how things work.

2. Do you think the river can help her in fulfilling her dream? How?

Yes, the River helps by giving her courage and suggesting that she simply go to the school, sit inside, and listen to the teacher.

Figure 2: Jahnavi gathering courage to step inside the classroom with her little brother.

Let us discuss (Page 6)

Complete the table given below with Jahnavi's questions in Column 1 and the River's answers in Column 2.

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 always takes the same way—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?	I'm afraid not. Too large, you know. Chandu's catamaran is good enough for me. Chandu can take you to see a ship, someday.

Let us think and reflect

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

Extract 1: "You shouldn't cry, you know," the voice went on. "And you really shouldn't be scared..."

(i) Complete the sentence with the correct option from those given in the brackets:
The tone of the River in the given extract is sympathising.

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

(iv) Choose three qualities of the River highlighted in the extract from the words in the box:
1. Affectionate
2. Thoughtful
3. Kind-hearted

Extract 2: "Can I do something?" asked Jahnavi. "Well, it's up to you," said the River...

(i) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason:
According to the River, there was no difference between girls and boys because girls can do as much as boys and swim just as fast as little boys.

(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. — 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 __________________.
C. quietly

(iv) What does the repetition of the phrase "I couldn't" tell us?
It highlights Jahnavi's deep fear, hesitation, and lack of confidence about going to school.

II. Answer the following questions.

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?

The writer describes nature in detail to create a vivid, peaceful setting and to show how closely Jahnavi is connected to the natural world around her, setting the stage for nature itself to speak to her.

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

The River knew so much about Jahnavi because she visited the river bank almost every day.

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?

We can infer that Jahnavi feels insecure and behind in age (nearly ten) compared to when children usually start school, fearing that her age will prevent her acceptance.

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

The River laughed because Jahnavi was already brave enough not to fear green lizards, snakes in the bamboo clump, or loud trains, so going to school was nothing to be afraid of.

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

She should follow the advice because it gives her a practical way to show her passion for learning and take charge of her own dream.

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

It adds a magical element of fantasy and personification, making the lesson about courage engaging and imaginative.

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

The main message is that education is every child's right regardless of gender, and courage and determination can help overcome obstacles to achieve one's dreams.

Let us learn

I. Why has the author used a capital letter for the ‘River’ even when it is a common noun?

The author capitalized 'River' because the river is personified as a character in the story with human traits, speech, and feelings.

II. Pick the sound words from the text and write them next to the correct definition.

1. made a high-pitched piercing sound — shrieked
2. to cause liquid to strike or fall on something — splashed
3. a low continuous background noise — murmuring
4. cry with loud uncontrollable gasps — wailed
5. to make a soft dry sound, like paper or leaves moving — rustle
6. took a short quick breath through the mouth due to surprise, pain or shock — gasped
7. shaking rapidly to make continuous short, sharp sounds — rattling
8. making a lot of noise — noisy
9. made a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadness — sobbed / wailed

Fill in the blanks with suitable sound words:

The classroom grew (i) murmuring as the students noticed the teacher carrying the answer papers. As the teacher turned the pages with a (ii) rustle, the children (iii) gasped wondering what comments awaited. Someone (iv) wailed in frustration, and the (v) noisy chatter 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 borrowed words and their originating Indian languages.

1. karma: Action or deed determining future fate (Sanskrit).
2. sahib: Sir or master (Hindi / Urdu).
3. chutney: A spicy or savory condiment (Hindi).
4. guru: A spiritual teacher or guide (Sanskrit).
5. verandah: An open porch along the outside of a building (Hindi / Bengali).
6. jungle: A wild land overgrown with dense vegetation (Hindi / Sanskrit).
7. areca: A type of palm tree / nut (Malayalam).
8. palanquin: A covered litter for one passenger (Sanskrit / Hindi).

Figure 3: Traditional water transport vessels.

IV. Boat choices activity

(i) Which one would you like to travel in?
I would like to travel in a shikara because it looks peaceful and glides smoothly on calm waters.

(ii) Make a colourful drawing of a boat that you would like to travel in.
[Student activity: Draw a colorful boat on paper]

V. Solve the crossword puzzle based on words related to water transport.

Across:
1. SHIP
2. BOAT
3. RAFT
4. STEAMER

Down:
5. CANOE
6. TUG
7. YACHT

VI. 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 school, Jahnavi stood nervously 2. outside the gate, clutching her bag close to her. The bell rang and she hurried 3. inside the bustling classroom. She found a seat 4. between two friendly classmates. The teacher greeted them warmly and started the lesson 5. about numbers. Jahnavi listened attentively, feeling excited 6. about the new adventure ahead.

VII. Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs.

1. The cat jumped off the table. (preposition)
2. The children played outside until dark. (adverb)
3. She quickly ran through 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 in. (adverb)
7. She drove slowly around the sharp curve. (preposition)
8. He placed the keys under the mat before leaving. (preposition)

Let us listen

I. Read the words given in the box below. As you listen, circle the words that are used by the speakers.

Words used by speakers to be circled: desks, homemaker, principal, posters, books, careers, marriage.
(Unused words: lawyer, advertisements)

II. Match each statement 1-7 to each speaker (i)-(v).

• Speaker (i) [Father]: Statement 3 (Believes in the power of education that leads to freedom of choice)
• Speaker (ii) [Grandmother]: Statement 6 (Persuades the parent to grant permission to attend school)
• Speaker (iii) [Teacher]: Statement 7 (Believes that learning skills is not gender-based)
• Speaker (iv) [Student]: Statement 4 (Shares that school also means companionship)
• Speaker (v) [Principal]: Statement 1 (Promotes active participation for all in school activities)

Let us speak

I. Speak the line in 'other' voices (happy, surprised, angry, scared, sad, worried).

[Paired Speaking Activity: Practice tone variations with a classmate]

II. Situational Role Play — Asking for and giving advice

1. Situation (i): Wanting to play football on an all-boys' team.
Student A: I have a problem; I want to play football but our school only has a boys' team. What do you think I should do?
Student B: I think you should talk to the sports teacher and request to form a girls' team or join the practice sessions.

2. Situation (ii): Exam nervousness in Mathematics.
Student A: I get very nervous during Math exams. What would you do in my position?
Student B: If I were you, I would practice sample papers regularly to build confidence.

3. Situation (iii): Not enough time for music practice.
Student A: I really enjoy music, but I don't get enough time to practice. I'd appreciate your advice.
Student B: Why don't you make a daily timetable and set aside 20 minutes every evening for practice?

4. Situation (iv): Cannot see the blackboard clearly.
Student A: I cannot see the blackboard clearly from the last bench. What do you think I should do?
Student B: The best thing to do is inform your class teacher and get your eyes checked by a doctor.

Let us write

Observing Nature: Descriptive Paragraph

Title: The Dancing Morning Breeze

Every day, I see the golden morning sunlight filter through the vibrant green leaves of the big mango tree outside my window. I find it very interesting that the light creates moving shadows on the ground as the gentle breeze flows. I like sitting quietly near the garden because the soft sound of rustling leaves and the bright blue feathers of the flying kingfisher bring peace to my heart. I feel refreshed as nature comes alive each day with stunning textures and colors. My message to everyone around me is to take a moment daily to pause, look closely, and cherish the incredible beauty of our environment.

Let us explore

I. Discuss why rivers in India are considered sacred and referred to as female, while some are male.

Rivers are revered as life-givers, mothers, and symbols of nourishment, which is why most are given female names. Rivers like Brahmaputra and Sone are named as male due to their powerful, surging, and roaring nature during monsoon seasons.

II. Multilingual Class Activity

1. List of languages: Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi.

2. In which language do you enjoy reading and learning the most?
I enjoy reading and learning the most in my mother tongue because it feels natural and comfortable.

Figure 4: Poster supporting girl child education and dignity.

III. Read the poster and answer the questions that follow.

1. What are the things you can observe in the poster?
Young schoolgirls sitting together with smiles on their faces, writing attentively in their notebooks.

2. Why do you think the girls look happy?
They look happy because they are getting the opportunity to learn, read, and go to school.

3. What is the relation between 'dignity' and 'happiness'?
Dignity gives a person self-respect and confidence, which leads to inner satisfaction and happiness.

4. How does a Nation prosper when its daughters are happy?
When daughters are educated and respected, they contribute positively to society, economic growth, and future generations, helping the nation prosper.

IV. Schemes for girl child education and spreading awareness.

Some key government schemes include:

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
• Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
• National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education