CBSE Class VII English (Poorvi) Unit 2: WIT AND HUMOUR — Say the Right Thing Questions and Answers

Chapter 6: Say the Right Thing - Complete Solutions

Let us do these activities before we read

IV. Read and enjoy the poem: "My Lost Pencil"

Figure 1: Illustration of a lost pencil on a study table

I. Work in pairs and discuss.

Figure 2: Athithi Devo Bhava - Welcoming guests politely

1. What does 'Athithi Devo Bhava' mean?

Answer: 'Athithi Devo Bhava' is a Sanskrit phrase that means "The guest is equivalent to God". It emphasizes treating guests with utmost respect, warmth, and hospitality.

2. Why is it important to be polite to guests?

Answer: It is important to be polite to guests because polite behavior makes them feel welcome, comfortable, and respected. It reflects good manners and builds positive social 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.

Polite Statements:

• Statement 1: Offer the guests a glass of water.
• Statement 2: Enquire about the well-being of the guests.
• Statement 5: 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.

Three ways to deal with the situation:

1. Remind them calmly to use polite language and listen to each other's viewpoints without interrupting.
2. Help them focus on the problem or topic rather than making personal remarks or critical comments.
3. Suggest taking a short break to cool down before continuing the discussion peacefully.

Let us discuss (Scene I)

Figure 3: Mrs. Shaw guiding Mary in Scene I

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.

Speaker	Words of the Speaker	Reason
Mrs. Shaw	The room looks cleaner now. Put that coat away in your bedroom.	To instruct Mary to keep the room tidy
Mary	You're always telling me to put things away.	To express annoyance at her mother's constant reminders
Mary	I'm not a child!	To insist that she is grown up enough to handle herself
Mrs. Shaw	you'll always be right if you're kind to people. Say things that will please them. Then they'll like you.	To highlight the importance of being kind as a way to ensure Mary says the appropriate things when guests arrive

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 will likely not be able to follow her mother's advice successfully. This is because she is overly confident, talks too much without thinking, and tends to make blunt or tactless comments without understanding social boundaries.

Let us discuss (Scene II)

Figure 4: Scene II - Guests visiting Mrs. Shaw's home

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.

Rectification: Mrs. Harding states that they like Lanfield very much even though it is not the same as London.

2. Mrs. Harding was pleased to know that Mary was familiar with her children.

Rectification: Mrs. Harding was not very pleased because she told Mary that she had no children.

3. Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers.

Rectification: Mary said Mr. Best reads two newspapers in the train every day, while Mrs. Shaw simply mentioned that Mrs. Best is a nice woman whom she likes.

4. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable.

Rectification: Mrs. Harding mentioned that she wears a red coat over a blue dress, and Mrs. Shaw quickly added that she likes blue dresses and red coats.

5. Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute.

Rectification: Mary stated that the dog always looks very dirty and that she does not like dogs.

Let us think and reflect

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

Extract 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.

(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: have a polite conversation

(iii) Why did Mary insist on staying with her mother when the guests arrived?

Answer: Mary insisted on staying because she believed she was already very good at talking and wanted to prove to her mother that she could speak well to the guests.

(iv) Match the following character traits to the characters in the extract:
Traits: A. eager  |  B. inexperienced  |  C. cautious
Characters: Mary, Mrs. Shaw

Answer:

• Mary: A. eager, B. inexperienced
• Mrs. Shaw: C. cautious

Extract 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: ...it was the afternoon, which was the only time Mrs. Cotter came out of her house.

(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.

(iii) How can we say that Mary enjoyed good health?

Answer: We can say Mary enjoyed good health because she explicitly stated, "I've never been to a doctor in my life."

(iv) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
Mary might have unintentionally offended Mrs. Harding.

Answer: True

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: It reveals that Mary views a banker's routine as pointless and silly. She thinks bankers "do not know how to live" and believes "bankers can't think" because they only read newspapers and commute by train.

2. What can we infer about Mary's understanding of polite conversation based on her interactions with the guests?

Answer: We can infer that Mary thinks speaking continuously and bringing up topics is enough, but she completely lacks tact, empathy, and awareness of her listeners' feelings.

3. What do you think the repeated stage direction 'no one speaks' indicates about the atmosphere in the room when Mary speaks?

Answer: It indicates an awkward, tense, uncomfortable, and embarrassed silence created by Mary's insulting and insensitive remarks.

4. How does Mary's attitude towards the guests change throughout the play?

Answer: Initially, Mary is overconfident and eager to impress. As she makes blunder after blunder, she becomes embarrassed (with a "red face"), yet remains unable to say the right thing right till the end.

5. What do Mrs. Harding's and Mrs. Lee's responses to Mary's blunders during their visit reveal about their characters?

Answer: Their responses show that they are polite, restrained, and defensive when offended. Rather than arguing, they quietly point out facts and decide to leave politely when uncomfortable.

6. In what way does the play show the importance of knowing how to engage in polite conversation?

Answer: The play demonstrates that failing to speak politely and tactfully can offend others, cause immense embarrassment, and ruin social relationships.

Let us learn

I. Now, divide the following words from the text as root words and suffixes. Check your answer with the teacher.

Words: gladly, banker, guidance, quietly, walking

Word	Root Word	Suffix
gladly	glad	-ly
banker	bank	-er
guidance	guide	-ance
quietly	quiet	-ly
walking	walk	-ing

1. 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.

Column 1	Column 2 (Suffix)	Column 3 (Meaning/Purpose)	Column 4 (Examples)
Biology	(i) -logy	C. a study of	Sociology, Zoology
tolerance	(ii) -ance	F. change to a noun	acceptance, assistance
stopped	(iii) -ed	E. change to past tense	walked, played
backward	(iv) -ward	G. in a certain direction	forward, homeward
courageous	(v) -ous	H. change to adjective	famous, dangerous
quietly	(vi) -ly	A. change to adverb	slowly, quickly
toughest	(vii) -est	D. change to superlative	fastest, tallest
tomatoes	(viii) -es	B. change to plural	potatoes, heroines

2. 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.

1. effectively
2. wisely
3. discussing
4. respectful
5. appreciation
6. responsive

II. Is there a difference in the meanings of 'say' and 'tell'? (Yes/No)

Answer: Yes. ('Say' focuses on the message, while 'tell' focuses on the receiver).

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.

1. I __________ at the photo, but I didn't __________ anyone familiar.
2. I'd better go and __________ my mother from the station, and then __________ her home.
3. I need to __________ for my mathematics exam this weekend, so I hope to __________ new concepts along the way.
4. I can __________ the music from my neighbour's house, but I need to __________ to it carefully to understand the lyrics.
5. "Could I __________ to Mrs. Kalpana, who is going to __________ to us about gardening," said Ritu.
6. I __________ in a small town, but I often __________ with my relatives in the city.

1. looked, see
2. fetch, bring
3. study, learn
4. hear, listen
5. speak, talk
6. live, stay

III. 1. Fill in the blanks using the verbs given in brackets in 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.

1. are organising
2. have been preparing
3. have been rehearsing
4. is growing
5. is testing
6. has been working
7. is buzzing

IV. 1. Identify the kinds of sentences and punctuate them appropriately.

1. the meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room
2. what an exciting adventure it was
3. how did you solve the problem so quickly
4. what is the weather forecast today
5. how beautiful is the rainbow
6. clean up your room before dinner
7. the children are planning a surprise party for their mom
8. turn off the music

1. The meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room. — Declarative Sentence
2. What an exciting adventure it was! — Exclamatory Sentence
3. How did you solve the problem so quickly? — Interrogative Sentence
4. What is the weather forecast today? — Interrogative Sentence
5. How beautiful is the rainbow! — Exclamatory Sentence
6. Clean up your room before dinner. — Imperative Sentence
7. The children are planning a surprise party for their mom. — Declarative Sentence
8. Turn off the music. — Imperative Sentence

Let us listen

I. As you listen to the conversation between a mother and her son about basic manners, fill in the blanks given below by selecting the correct option.

1. How did the son behave in the grocery queue?

• (i) strangely  |  (ii) impatiently  |  (iii) politely

2. The mother finally refers to her son as a __________

• (i) polite young man  |  (ii) responsible son  |  (iii) grateful person

1. (ii) impatiently
2. (i) polite young man

II. You will once again listen to the conversation. As you listen, select four true statements from 1-7 given below.

1. The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach her son about patience and fairness.
2. The son recognises the value of apologising and understands that it shows he notices others.
3. The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother's guidance.
4. The mother discourages her son from speaking softly in public, suggesting that people should adjust to his voice level.
5. The son feels that covering his mouth when coughing is only important when he's at home.
6. The son receives all advice readily while understanding its importance.
7. The mother uses praise to support the polite behaviours she wants her son to continue practising.

Four True Statements:

• Statement 1: The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach her son about patience and fairness.
• Statement 3: The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother's guidance.
• Statement 6: The son receives all advice readily while understanding its importance.
• Statement 7: The mother uses praise to support the polite behaviours she wants her son to continue practising.

Let us speak

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).

Sentences:

1. I didn't hurt anyone today.
2. I didn't hurt anyone today.
3. I didn't hurt anyone today.
4. I didn't hurt anyone today.
5. I didn't hurt anyone today.

Matching Meanings:

• 1. I didn't hurt anyone today. → (iv) I, specifically, did not hurt anyone, possibly implying someone else might have.
• 2. I didn't hurt anyone today. → (iii) The action of hurting anyone did not occur.
• 3. I didn't hurt anyone today. → (v) I may have spoken a lot many things but not a single person was hurt.
• 4. I didn't hurt anyone today. → (i) I might have done other things but did not hurt anyone.
• 5. I didn't hurt anyone today. → (ii) I might cause hurt usually, but not anyone on this day.

Let us write

Rewrite the play 'Say the Right Thing' as a short story, focusing on Mary's interactions with her mother and the guests.

Short Story Adaptation:

Mrs. Shaw and her young daughter, Mary, lived in the quiet town of Lanfield. Mrs. Shaw was eager to make new friends, so she invited Mrs. Harding, the wife of a wealthy banker, and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Lee, for tea. Before the guests arrived, Mrs. Shaw instructed Mary to keep her clothes in her room and taught her how to hold a polite conversation by being kind and encouraging. Overconfident, Mary assured her mother that she was well aware of how to talk.

However, when the guests arrived, Mary's attempts at polite conversation turned into a series of awkward blunders. First, she insisted Mrs. Harding had children when she did not. Next, she mocked Mr. Best's routine as a banker, unaware that Mrs. Lee's brother was also a banker. She then criticized women who stay in bed late, inadvertently insulting Mrs. Harding, and criticized talkative mothers, insulting Mrs. Lee. To make matters worse, Mary called a dog outside dirty, only to discover it belonged to Mrs. Harding.

Feeling uncomfortable, the guests decided to leave. When Mrs. Shaw politely asked them to stay, Mary tried to follow her mother's earlier advice but accidentally blurted out, "Oh, must you stay? Can't you go?" leaving everyone utterly embarrassed.

Let us explore

II. Find out how people greet guests who visit their homes in different languages. Share it with your classmates and the teacher.

Greetings in Different Languages:

• Hindi: Namaste / Aapka Swagat Hai
• Bengali: Shagotom
• Tamil: Vanakkam
• Spanish: Bienvenido
• French: Bienvenue

Figure 5: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - Theme of G20 India 2023

III. Read about 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम) and its message of global unity.

Key Insight: 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' translates to "The world is one family". Originating from ancient texts like the Maha Upanishad, it encourages global peace, mutual respect, unity, and treating every human being with empathy regardless of background.