REVISION SHEET- ENGLISH LITERATURE

CLASS- 7th

THE THREE QUESTIONS

SYNOPSIS
A king seeks answers to three important questions to help him rule wisely and
properly. The questions were:
1. What is the right time to do something?
2. Who is the most important person to listen to?
3. What is the most important thing to do?
The king consults many wise men but finds no satisfactory answers. Then he visits a
hermit, who teaches him the answers through experience. While staying with hermit,
the king saves an injured man’s life. The king later knew that the injured man was
his enemy. The hermit sees all this, and answers the king’s three questions. The
answers were:
1. The right time is ‘Now’ because the present moment is all we have.
2. The most important person is the one you are with at present.
3. The most important thing to do is- to do good for others.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
2) Who was the bearded wounded man?
3) Why did the wounded man ask for the king’s forgiveness?
4) The king forgave the bearded man? What did he do to show his forgiveness?
5) What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each
answer separately. Which answer do you like the most and why?

SQUIRREL (POEM)
CENTRAL IDEA
The poem presents a simple yet charming depiction of a squirrel’s playful and lively
nature. The poet describes the squirrel’s physical appearance, such as its gray coat (
its skin) and bushy tail (which looks like a question mark). The poem captures the
squirrel’s movements as it runs, hops and sits upright on a tree, and always ready to
run away when somebody approaches it.

A GIFT OF CHAPPALS
SYNOPSIS
The story revolves around Ravi, Meena, Lalli and Mridu. They live in Chennai. One
day Mridu visits her cousins Ravi, Meena & Lalli. They show Mridu a kitten they’ve
been secretly taking care of in the backyard. Meanwhile, a beggar comes to the door
while the children are playing. He asks for help. Seeing the beggar’s bare feet, the
children feel sorry and decide to give him a pair of old chappals (slippers). Those
chappals are music master’s, who come to teach music to Lalli. The children take
music master’s chappals and give them to the beggar.
Later, the music master realizes that his chappals are missing. He discovers the
truth. The adults of the house scold the children, but later they understand that the
children are motivated by compassion.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu?
2) Who does Ravi say that the kitten’s ancestors are?
3) How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
4) Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began
to laugh. What made her laugh?
5) What made Mridu conclude that the beggar had no money to buy chappals?

REBEL (POEM)
CENTRAL IDEA
The poem highlights the individualistic nature of a rebel. The poem shows that rebels
are not necessarily bad but are unique individuals who choose to go against the
norms. It also suggests that while being a rebel can be amusing, it can sometimes
create unnecessary opposition. Through playful examples, the poem encourages
readers to think about how rebels challenge conformity and bring diversity to the
society.

GOPAL AND HILSA FISH

SYNOPSIS
It is a humorous tale about Gopal, a clever and witty courtier in the king’s palace.
One day, everyone in the kingdom is talking about the Hilsa fish, which is in season.
The king is tired of hearing about the fish and challenges Gopal to buy a Hilsa fish and
bring it to the palace without anyone discussing it. Accepting the challenge, Gopal
comes up with a clever plan. He shaves half his beard, smears ash on his face, and
dresses in rags. As Gopal walks through the streets carrying a Hilsa fish, people are so
shocked by his strange appearance and no one mentions the fish.
When Gopal reaches the palace, even the king laughs at his appearance and
asks him why he is dressed so bizarrely. Gopal responds that no one has talked about
the Hilsa fish, thus he won the challenge. The king is impressed by Gopal's
intelligence and wit. The story highlights Gopal’s cleverness, humor, and ability to
think outside the box to solve problems. It teaches the importance of creativity in
overcoming challenges.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) Why did the king want no more talk about Hilsa Fish?
2) What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
3) What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his Hilsa Fish?
4) How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought
 the Hilsa Fish?
5) Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the Hilsa
Fish which Gopal had bought?

THE SHED (POEM)

CENTRAL IDEA
The poem revolves around curiosity, fear, and imagination. The speaker (a child)
describes a mysterious shed near his house. Though the shed seems spooky and
abandoned, with spider webs and a creaky door. The child is both scared and
fascinated by it. He imagines there might be a ghost inside, but he is determined to
overcome his fears and explore the shed one day. The poem highlights how fear can
be a product of imagination, and it encourages bravery and curiosity to face the
unknown.

THE ASHES THAT MADE TREES BLOOM

SYNOPSIS
The story revolves around an old couple who are kind to all living creatures, including
a dog named Muko. One day, Muko leads the couple to a hidden treasure in their
field, which makes them prosperous. A jealous neighbor, trying to replicate their
success, mistreats the dog, kills it and ends up with nothing.
After Muko’s death, his spirit helps the kind couple again by turning his ashes
into a magical substance that makes trees bloom. In contrast, the greedy neighbor's
attempts to use the ashes lead to humiliation. The story emphasizes the virtues of
kindness and the consequences of greed.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) Why did the cruel neighbour kill the dog?
2) How did the dog repay his master?
3) What happened when the wicked neighbour sprinkled ashes over the
Cherry tree?
4) The old farmer was a kind person. What is the evidence of his kindness?
5) Why did the daimio reward the farmer but punish his neighbour for the
same act?

CHIVVY (POEM)
CENTRAL IDEA
The poem shows how adults constantly instruct and nag children on how to behave.
The poem lists a series of commands like "sit up," "don't talk with your mouth full,"
"take your hands out of your pockets," showing how adults often impose their own
rules on children. It highlights the frustration children feel when they are
continuously told what to do, but also raises the question of whether these rules help
in teaching proper behavior. The poem captures the clash between adult authority
and a child's sense of freedom.
 THE TINY TEACHER
SYNOPSIS
The Tiny Teacher is a lesson about ants, one of the smallest yet most organized
creatures in the animal kingdom. The chapter highlights how ants live in colonies with
a structured social system. Each ant has a specific role—some are workers, others
soldiers, and a few are the queens. The story emphasizes the discipline, cooperation,
and hard work that ants demonstrate. It also explains how ants communicate, care for
their young ones, and work tirelessly without needing supervision. Through the life of
ants, the chapter teaches the value of teamwork, organization, and perseverance.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) In what ways is an ant's life peaceful?
2) What jobs are new ants trained for?
3) Mention three things we can learn from the tiny teacher? Give reasons
for choosing these items?
4) How long does it take for a grub to become a complete ant?
5) What do you know about the homes of ants?

BRINGING UP KARI
SYNOPSIS
It is a story about a young boy's experiences raising an elephant named Kari. The
story describes Kari’s playful and sometimes mischievous behavior as he grows up.
Kari is gentle and intelligent, learning new things quickly, such as how to follow
commands. The boy and Kari develop a close bond. Kari even saves the boy from
drowning at one point. However, caring for Kari is not always easy, as he requires a lot
of attention and food. The story highlights the challenges and joys of raising a wild
animal, emphasizing friendship, responsibility, and the intelligence of animals.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) Did Kari enjoy his morning bath in the river? Give reasons for your answer.
2) Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time. Why so?
3) Why did Kari push his friend into the stream?
4) Kari was like a baby. What are the main points of comparison?
5) What is the master call? Why is it the most important signal for an elephant
to learn?

GOLU GROWS A NOSE

SYNOPSIS
It is a humorous story about Golu, a curious baby elephant who doesn’t have a trunk
like modern elephants. Golu is full of questions and one day, out of curiosity, he sets
off to find out what crocodiles eat for dinner. On his journey, he encounters various
animals but remains focused on his quest. When Golu finally meets a crocodile by the
Limpopo river, the crocodile grabs his nose and pulls, stretching it into a long trunk.
At first, Golu is unhappy with his new trunk, but soon he realizes its usefulness. He
can now swat flies, pluck grass, and gather food with ease. The story explains, in a
playful way, how elephants might have developed trunks while also highlighting the
value of curiosity and adaptability.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) Why did the relatives of Golu not answer his question?
2) Who advised Golu to go to the Limpopo river?
3) Why did Golu go to the river?
4) Who helped Golu on the bank of the river?
5) Name two things an elephant can do with his trunk and two he cannot.

CHANDNI
SYNOPSIS
Chandni is a story about freedom, courage, and the desire to live life on one's own
terms. The story revolves around Abbu Khan, an old man who keeps goats in his small
house. However, despite his care and affection, all his goats eventually run away to
the hills, where they fall prey to wild animals. Abbu Khan buys a new goat, Chandni,
hoping she will stay with him forever.
Chandni, however, yearns for freedom and dreams of running in the hills.
Despite Abbu Khan's warnings about the dangers, she decides to follow her heart. She
escapes to the hills, where she enjoys her freedom, but soon encounters a ferocious
wolf. Though Chandni is no match for the wolf, she fights bravely, choosing to die as a
free goat rather than live in captivity. The story highlights the themes of freedom,
bravery, and the willingness to face challenges for what one truly believes in.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1) Why did Abbu Khan’s goats want to run away? What happened to them in
the hills?
2) Why did Abbu Khan buy a young goat?
3) Why did Chandni hate the rope around her neck?
4) Why did the wise old bird say, “Chandni is the winner”?
5) “Death in an open field is better than life in a small hut” - Chandni said
to herself. Was it the right decision? Give reasons for your answers.