AP 7th English WIT AND HUMOUR Textbook Answers and Solutions

AP 7th English WIT AND HUMOUR Textbook Answers. ASPCERT 7th Class English Textbook 2nd Unit WIT AND HUMOUR Textbook Exercise Question and Answers. Complete answer key for Unit 2: Wit and Humour (pages 274–323), covering all three parts — "Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle," the poem "A Funny Man," and the play "Say the Right Thing."

UNIT 2: WIT AND HUMOUR — Complete Answer Key

Class 7 English (Honey Bloom) | Pages 274–323

📘 Story 1: Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle (Pages 274–289)

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read (Page 274)

I, II, III. These are open discussion questions to be shared with classmates and teacher. Sample thoughts: Pets bring companionship and joy; people spend time with pets by feeding, walking, and playing with them. If given a chance to talk to an animal, one might choose a dog because they are loyal and always around us. By observing body language — a duck flapping wings may show excitement, a growling dog may show anger, a happy dog shows joy by wagging its tail, and a parrot with raised feathers may show alertness.

Let Us Discuss (Page 277)

I. The Cat's-food-Man suggests Doctor Dolittle should become an animal doctor because he believes Dolittle 4. knows more about animals than the local veterinarians

II. Doctor Dolittle reacts to Polynesia's information about animal languages with both excitement and curiosity (certainty/curiosity). He rushes to write (write/memorise) the bird words she provides and is interested in learning more.

III. Yes, Doctor Dolittle would become famous as an animal doctor because he genuinely cares for animals, listens to them patiently, and treats them with real understanding — qualities that make word spread quickly among the animal world.

Let Us Discuss (Page 280)

I. What became a common sight in Puddleby after Doctor Dolittle started treating animals? 2. Farm animals wearing glasses

II. Doctor Dolittle might face challenges such as too many animals arriving at once, not enough time to treat everyone, and difficulty keeping track of different species. He could overcome these by having separate doors/waiting areas for each animal type, setting up a schedule, and asking for help from assistants.

III. Arrange the Events in Correct Order (Page 281)

Event	Order
A man with a stomach-ache visits Doctor Dolittle and suggests he should treat animals instead of people.	(i)
The parrot, Polynesia, encourages Doctor Dolittle to become an animal doctor, revealing that animals can talk.	(ii)
Doctor Dolittle decides to stop being a doctor for people and becomes a doctor for animals.	(iii)
Polynesia teaches Doctor Dolittle animal languages, and he starts understanding and communicating with animals.	(iv)
Word spreads, and people start bringing their sick pets and farm animals to Doctor Dolittle for treatment.	(v)
A plough horse with vision problems visits Doctor Dolittle, who prescribes green spectacles to improve the horse's eyesight.	(vi)
Doctor Dolittle's ability to communicate with animals helps him diagnose and treat their illnesses effectively.	(vii)
Animals from near and far come to Doctor Dolittle for help, crowding his garden.	(viii)
Doctor Dolittle installs special doors for different animals to enter his house for treatment.	(ix)
Doctor Dolittle gains fame among animals worldwide, and they come to him from various places for his help.	(x)

Let Us Think and Reflect (Page 282)

I.1(i) 'Good Gracious' can be replaced by B. gosh

(ii) Polynesia had never used bird language with the Doctor earlier because she felt there was no use — the Doctor would not have understood her even if she had spoken it before.

(iii) True or False: Polynesia had been munching on a food item while talking to Doctor Dolittle. True (she was dusting cracker crumbs off her wing)

(iv) How did Doctor Dolittle feel? B. surprised

2(i) digging : flower bed :: ploughing : field

(ii) Doctor Dolittle's attitude in the extract is C. understanding

(iii) Based on the extract, we can conclude that doctors take animals for granted because animals don't complain about their pain, so people assume anyone can treat them.

(iv) Do you agree with the concluding sentence? Yes, I agree, because a good animal doctor must understand an animal's needs without the animal being able to explain them in words, which truly requires more skill and patience than treating people who can describe their problems.

II. Answer the Following Questions (Page 283)

1. Polynesia was a good trainer because she patiently taught the Doctor bird words one at a time, let him write them down, and slowly built his understanding until he could talk to animals himself.
2. Doctor Dolittle made special doors for each type of animal — 'HORSES' on the front door, 'COWS' on the side door, 'SHEEP' on the kitchen door, and even a tiny tunnel for mice — so that every animal, big or small, could comfortably come to him for treatment.
3. Doctor Dolittle's readiness to follow the parrot's advice shows that he was open-minded and respected different viewpoints, even from an animal, which helped him discover a totally new and useful skill.
4. His kindness, patience, and understanding made him famous — for example, he got green spectacles for the horse and treated even tiny creatures like mice and bats with equal care.
5. If people could understand animals like Doctor Dolittle, the world would treat animals with more kindness, sickness in animals would be treated properly, and there would be less cruelty towards them.
6. He gave up being a people's doctor because he realised he understood animals much better and enjoyed helping them, especially after learning that animals could talk and share their problems.
7. Polynesia's words made the Doctor realise animals could talk, which opened a completely new path for him — he became the world's most famous animal doctor.
8. The animals feel safe and comfortable with Doctor Dolittle because he can understand their language, listen to their problems, and treat them with real care.
9. The writer wants to tell us that care, kindness, and understanding help us connect with all living beings, not just humans.
10. We can show similar respect towards animals and nature by being kind to animals, not littering, protecting trees, and helping injured or stray creatures.

Let Us Learn — Compound Words (Page 283–284)

I. Complete the table:

Hyphenated Words	Open Compound Words	Closed Compound Words
check-in well-bred	sailor song plough horse harvest mice	teatime windowsill

II. Create compound words:

A	B
1. fun	→ (iv) loving (given example)
2. high	→ (iii) flying
3. never	→ (vii) ending
4. early	→ (v) risers
5. song	→ (ii) birds
6. over	→ (i) head
7. tree	→ (vi) tops

Paragraph fill-in: After being treated by Doctor Dolittle, the A. fun-loving dolphins danced playfully in his sanctuary. The B. never-ending chatter of monkeys echoed through the C. treetops, their ailments cured. D. High-flying eagles soared gracefully, E. early risers, their health restored. F. Songbirds among the G. overhead branches chirped joyfully. All creatures were happy with Doctor Dolittle's care.

III. Hidden animal names:

1. Dr. Dolittle was eating oatmeal for his breakfast. → hidden word: eating oat → GOAT (a farm animal)
2. Old ladies began to bring him their pets. → hidden word: ANT (an insect)
3. The author sees the connection between humans and animals. → hidden word: EWE (a farm animal, hidden across "between")
4. The three baby dinosaurs are from ice age. → hidden word: MICE (field animal)
5. The patients who came late didn't know where to go. → hidden word: CAMEL (ship of the desert)

IV. Palindromes (Page 285)

The highlighted words "never even" spell and read the same backwards — this is a palindrome.

Identify the palindrome words/sentences:

1. Step on no pets. → The whole sentence is a palindrome (reads the same backwards, ignoring spaces).
2. Naman saw a race car at the show. → palindrome words: Naman, race car (racecar)
3. Nitin speaks in Malayalam. → palindrome words: Nitin, Malayalam
4. The engineer used a rotator to check the surface level. → palindrome words: rotator, level
5. The pilot relied on the radar to navigate safely. → palindrome word: radar
6. Eva can I see bees in a cave? → The whole sentence is a palindrome (a well-known palindrome sentence).

Create your own palindrome: Example — "Was it a rat I saw?" (Sample answer for the "create your own" activity.)

V. Identify the Tense (Page 285)

1. He is asking you a question. → Present Continuous Tense
2. Oh, there are plenty of animal doctors. → Simple Present Tense
3. I am going blind in one eye. → Present Continuous Tense
4. ...the trouble is that anybody thinks he can doctor animals. → Simple Present Tense

Fill in the Blanks — Present Perfect Tense (Page 286)

Since becoming an animal doctor, Doctor Dolittle 1. has learnt (learn) to communicate with all animals and birds. He 2. has treated (treat) countless farm animals and pets with care. The parrot, Polynesia, 3. has taught (teach) him bird-language, and he 4. has written (write) books about his adventures. Many people 5. have brought (bring) their sick animals to his door. Over the years, Dolittle 6. has become (become) renowned worldwide for his unique abilities.

Let Us Listen (Page 286)

I. True or False: Dr. Dolittle's new clinic presents an offer of free medicines. → False

II. Fill in the blanks:

1. The new clinic is located in the town of Woodstock.
2. The address is 12, Rose Lane.
3. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Special timings for birds are on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
5. Dr. Dolittle will ensure that animals get the best care possible.
6. All animals — horses, cows, pets, wild animals, and others are welcome.

Let Us Speak (Page 286–287)

This is a role-play activity — students work in pairs to act out doctor-patient conversations for the four given problems (cough & cold, dry lips, sore throat, fatigue) using the cue cards provided. No fixed written answer is required.

Let Us Write — Notice (Page 288)

Name of the School
NOTICE

12 July 20XX

Annual Health Check-up

This is to inform all the students of Grades 6–8 about the Annual Health Check-up.
Date: Thursday and Friday, 27 and 28 July 20XX
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Venue: Assembly Hall

All students are requested to bring their health card for the check-up.
For queries or further details please contact the undersigned.

Asma
Asma
In-charge

Let Us Explore (Page 289)

I. Planning a visit to a 'goshala' with the teacher is an activity to be carried out in class/school; students can note how cows are fed, cleaned, and cared for during the visit.

II. Organisations working for animal welfare include: PETA India, Blue Cross of India, Animal Aid Unlimited, and Wildlife SOS.

III. The best way to take care of stray and abandoned animals is a combination of all three — providing food and water, taking them to a shelter if injured, and adopting them when possible — because each action helps the animal in a different way: immediate care, medical help, and a permanent loving home.

😂 Poem: A Funny Man (Pages 290–301)

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read (Page 290)

Open discussion — students share things/people that make them laugh (e.g., funny movies, clowns, jokes, pets doing silly things).

Let Us Discuss (Page 292)

I. Identify the TRUE statements:

Statement	True/False
1. The poet says that she had never heard such an amusing song.	True
2. The funny man was quite ill-mannered.	False
3. The funny man wore two hats on his feet.	True
4. The funny man hopped on his head to reach home.	True
5. The funny man gave a rose to the poet.	False (he offered a rose but gave a currant bun)
6. The funny man smiled at the poet.	True

II. Identify the words:

1. a small seedless raisin → C U R R A N T
2. moved unsteadily → S T A G G E R E D

III. Complete the sentences with a reason:

1. The tone of the poem is humorous and light-hearted because it describes the funny man's silly, nonsensical actions in an amusing way.
2. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABCB; and it gives a musical/rhythmic quality to the poem.
3. The poet has frequently repeated the word 'funny' in order to emphasise how strange and amusing the man's behaviour was, and to create a playful tone.

IV. Choose the Correct Answer (Page 293)

1. The poem uses vivid imagery to create a humorous and nonsensical scene.
2. The structure of the poem is in monologue form.
3. The phrases 'sounding sight' and 'hopped home' are examples of alliteration.

V. Rewrite in Correct Order (Page 293)

1. (Given example) "But never had I seen before / Such a funny sounding sight."

2. The poet used phrases like 'funny sounding sight' and 'funny feeling sound' to create alliteration and vivid sensory imagery, making the poem more musical, memorable, and humorous.

VI. Think Further (Page 293)

Real-world situations similar to the funny man: street performers, clowns, mimes, and comedians often behave in silly, unconventional ways purely for fun and entertainment.

1. The poet creates humour through the funny man's illogical actions — for example: wearing a shoe on his head and hats on his feet, offering a currant bun instead of a rose, and hopping home on his head instead of walking.
2. The repetition of the word 'funny' throughout the poem keeps reminding the reader of how strange and amusing the man is, building a light, cheerful, and comic tone throughout.

Let Us Think and Reflect (Page 293–294)

1(i) Why does the funny man address the poet as 'Your Highness'? → He does this jokingly and politely, as an exaggerated, mock-respectful way of greeting her, adding to the humour of the poem.

(ii) Phrase showing a polite request → "Allow me to present"

(iii) Option showing a 'currant bun' → A. Image 1

(iv) When the poet says 'Well!', it expresses surprise. This was so because the man offered her a rose but instead held out a currant bun to her nose, which was completely unexpected.

2(i) Line showing the sound was unique → "You never heard in all your life / Such a funny feeling sound."

(ii) The poet calls the funny man 'my friend' because she feels friendly and amused towards him despite his odd behaviour, and wants to ask him a question in a warm, familiar way.

(iii) The reaction of the funny man to the poet's question tells us that he is unpredictable, carefree, and enjoys being playful rather than giving straightforward answers.

(iv) The last line makes readers feel D. cheerful

II. Answer the Following Questions (Page 294)

1. The character trait most appealing was his cheerfulness and politeness despite his odd appearance — he stayed friendly and funny throughout. (Sample opinion answer)
2. The funny man's unusual actions create a light, playful, and joyful mood in the poem, making the reader smile and enjoy the nonsense.
3. Alternative title: "The Man with Two Hats" — because it highlights one of his oddest and funniest actions.
4. The poet includes dialogues to make the poem feel like a real conversation, adding humour and making the funny man's character more lively and vivid.
5. The poet wants to convey that unusual, funny behaviour can bring joy and laughter into an ordinary day.
6. The poet felt surprised and amused when she first saw the man; the lines "But never had I seen before / Such a funny sounding sight" show this reaction.
7. The poet describes his actions as "funny" to highlight how silly and illogical they are, which makes the reader laugh and enjoy the nonsense of the poem.
8. The unusual thing is that he offers a rose but gives a currant bun instead — this surprise mix-up adds humour to the poem.
9. The poet uses imagery like "funny sounding sight" (sound) and "funny feeling sound" (touch/feel) to make the man's strange behaviour vivid and amusing to imagine.
10. The poem suggests that we should accept unusual or different people with humour and warmth rather than judging them, since the poet treats the funny man kindly despite his odd ways.

Let Us Learn — Phrasal Verbs (Page 295–296)

I. Match the phrasal verbs:

1. take up → (iii) to begin to study, practice, or do something
2. take after → (v) to resemble or look similar to (usually a family member)
3. take in → (i) to understand or comprehend something
4. take over → (ii) to assume control or responsibility for something
5. take off → (iv) to become successful or popular quickly

Fill in the blanks:

1. The new technology is set to take over traditional methods of communication.
2. I tried hard to take in what the writer wanted to say but was unsuccessful.
3. Arjun decided to take up painting as a hobby.
4. The smartphone quickly took off the sales in the market.
5. Sheela takes after her father; they have the same smile.

II. Match verbs with adverbs/prepositions:

Verb + Preposition	Meaning
1. look after	to take care of (given)
2. run away	to escape or flee from a place
3. put off	to postpone something
4. break down	to stop working (a machine) or to become very upset
5. call off	to cancel something

Sample sentences: She looks after her younger brother. He ran away from the barking dog. Let's put off the meeting till Monday. My bike broke down on the way to school. They called off the picnic due to rain.

III. Increasing Order of Pace (Page 297)

stagger → walk → trot → hop → jog → run → sprint

Let Us Listen (Page 297–298)

I. The picture related to the narration → Picture 3 (the girl eating at the table, where the mix-up happened).

II. Arrange the events in order of occurrence:

1. 6. Prepared for the presentation
2. 2. Took off shoes
3. 1. Ate lunch
4. 5. Placed the plate in the room
5. 4. Laughed at the mistake
6. 3. Put shoes in the room
7. 7. Put the plate in the kitchen

Let Us Speak (Page 298)

Read the joke aloud and role-play it in pairs using the described voice modulations (narrator, man's voice, God's voice). Then create and share an original joke with the class. (Speaking activity — no fixed written answer.)

Let Us Write — Limerick (Page 298–299)

I. Rhyme scheme of the given limerick ("There was an old Man with a beard...") → AABBA

II. Sample original limerick (following the AABBA structure):

There was a child from Chennai,
Who loved to eat mango and dry pie,
She danced with a hen,
Then counted to ten,
And laughed till she started to cry!

Let Us Explore (Page 299–300)

I. Famous funny characters from Indian mythology/literature: Tenali Rama, Birbal, Mullah Nasruddin, King Vikramaditya and Betal. (Students read and share a story of their choice with classmates.)

II. The funny man's acts can be compared to modern-day street performers/clowns (unusual dress and unexpected acts), performance/abstract theatre (breaking conventional rules), and children's comedy shows (creating laughter through silly behaviour).

III. Sukumar Ray's "Abol Tabol" is a well-known Bengali nonsense-verse book similar in style. Students may share a similar humorous poem from their own native language with the class.

IV. Read and Enjoy — "My Lost Pencil" (Page 301)

This poem is for reading and enjoyment only — no exercises are attached to it.

🎭 Play: Say the Right Thing (Pages 302–320)

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read (Page 302)

I.1. 'Athithi Devo Bhava' means "the guest is equivalent to God" — it teaches us to treat guests with great respect and honour.

2. It is important to be polite to guests because it makes them feel welcome, builds strong relationships, and reflects good manners and culture.

II. Statements showing polite behaviour with guests: 1. Offer the guests a glass of water; 2. Enquire about the well-being of the guests; 5. Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.

III. Ways to deal with rude friends who disagree: (1) stay calm and don't raise your voice, (2) listen to their point of view patiently before responding, (3) speak politely and try to find a middle ground instead of arguing.

Let Us Discuss — Scene I (Page 306)

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 (given)
Mary	You're always telling me to put things away.	To express her annoyance at being repeatedly reminded to tidy up
Mary	I'm not a child!	To assert that she is grown up and shouldn't be treated like a little girl
Mrs. Shaw	"I can't tell you everything, but you'll always be right if you're kind to people. Say things that will please them..."	To highlight the importance of being kind as a way to ensure Mary says the appropriate things when guests arrive (given)

II. Do you think Mary will follow her mother's advice successfully? — Most likely not fully, because although Mary is confident and eager, she is inexperienced and too honest/blunt, which could make her say things without thinking about the guests' feelings, as later happens in Scene II.

Let Us Discuss — Scene II (Page 309)

Rectify the false statements:

1. (Given example) 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 displeased, because she has no children — Mary had mistaken someone else's children for hers.
3. Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers. → Rectification: Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best because she is a nice woman; it was Mr. Best (the banker) who read the newspapers, not Mrs. Best.
4. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable. → Rectification: Mrs. Harding said she also wears a blue dress with a red coat, and Mrs. Shaw said she actually likes blue dresses and red coats.
5. Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute. → Rectification: Mary shares that she finds the dog dirty and says she doesn't like dogs.

Let Us Think and Reflect (Page 310–311)

1(i) What does Mrs. Shaw imply? → C. She wants Mary to develop social skills for the future.

(ii) Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to have a polite conversation.

(iii) Mary insisted on staying because she was confident she already knew how to talk politely and wanted to prove she could handle the guests well.

(iv) Match the character traits:

Mary → A. eager, B. inexperienced
Mrs. Shaw → C. cautious

2(i) Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because she happened to see her outside, even though Mrs. Cotter usually stays in bed in the mornings.

(ii) What does Mary's comment suggest about her understanding? → B. She is unable to understand why people need medical help.

(iii) We can say Mary enjoyed good health because she says she has never been to a doctor in her life.

(iv) True or False: Mary might have unintentionally offended Mrs. Harding. → True

II. Answer the Following Questions (Page 311)

1. Mary's comment about Mr. Best being "only a banker" and thinking "bankers can't think" reveals that she judges people unfairly and speaks without considering their feelings.
2. Mary understood polite conversation to mean saying pleasant things like "Good afternoon" and "How are you?", but she did not truly grasp the deeper skill of thinking before speaking and avoiding hurtful comments.
3. The repeated stage direction 'no one speaks' shows the awkward, uncomfortable silence created in the room after Mary's tactless remarks embarrass the guests.
4. Mary starts the visit confidently, but as she keeps making blunders, her careless remarks continue without her fully realising the discomfort she is causing — she doesn't really change her attitude throughout the play.
5. Mrs. Harding's and Mrs. Lee's responses (like staying quiet or replying briefly) reveal that they are polite and patient, choosing not to argue with Mary despite feeling embarrassed.
6. The play shows that knowing how to converse politely — thinking before speaking and being sensitive to others' feelings — is very important to avoid embarrassing situations.
7. Mrs. Shaw repeatedly advises Mary to "say the right thing" because in society, saying the wrong thing, even unintentionally, can hurt others and spoil relationships.
8. Mary's honesty turns into humour when she wrongly claims Mrs. Harding has children, and when she calls dogs and Mr. Best's routine "silly," not realising who she is talking to.
9. The contrast between Mrs. Shaw's careful expectations and Mary's blunt, innocent remarks creates comic misunderstandings that keep making the guests uncomfortable, adding to the play's humour.
10. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee feel embarrassed and awkward; this is shown through their brief, polite replies and the silence ("no one speaks") after Mary's remarks.
11. Mary's mistakes seem innocent rather than intentional, because she genuinely believes she is being honest and friendly — she simply lacks the experience to know which comments are inappropriate.

Let Us Learn — Suffixes (Page 312–313)

Divide into root words and suffixes:

gladly = glad + ly  |  banker = bank + er  |  guidance = guide + ance  |  quietly = quiet + ly  |  walking = walk + ing

1. Match suffixes with meaning and examples:

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3 (Meaning)	Column 4 (Example)
Biology	(i) -logy	C. a study of	Sociology (given)
tolerance	(ii) -ance	F. change to a noun	guidance
stopped	(iii) -ed	E. change to past tense	walked
backward	(iv) -ward	G. in a certain direction	homeward
courageous	(v) -ous	H. change to adjective	famous
quietly	(vi) -ly	A. change to adverb	gladly
toughest	(vii) -est	D. change to superlative	strongest
tomatoes	(viii) -es	B. change to plural	potatoes

2. Fill in the blanks with suitable suffixes:

To communicate (i) effectively (effective), choose your words and topics (ii) wisely (wise). Avoid (iii) discussing (discuss) things you don't know much about or that could upset someone. Remember to be (iv) respectful (respect) towards others, including yourself, and express your (v) appreciation (appreciate). Finally, always be (vi) responsive (response) by replying promptly to communicate.

II. Say vs Tell (Page 313)

Is there a difference in the meanings of 'say' and 'tell'? → Yes

1. Fill in the blanks:

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

Present Perfect Continuous Tense (Page 315)

Fill in the blanks:

The students (i) are organising (organise) a play and setting up the stage. They (ii) have been preparing (prepare) for weeks to make everything perfect. The performers (iii) are rehearsing (rehearse) every day, and their excitement (iv) is growing (grow). The sound in-charge (v) is testing (test) the microphones to check the sound quality. Everyone (vi) is working (work) hard, and now the place (vii) is buzzing (buzz) with energy and excitement.

IV. Kinds of Sentences (Page 315)

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

Let Us Listen (Page 316)

I.1. How did the son behave in the grocery queue? → (ii) impatiently

2. The mother finally refers to her son as a → (i) polite young man

II. Select the four TRUE statements:

1. The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach her son about patience and fairness.
3. The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother's guidance.
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.

Let Us Speak — Stress and Intonation (Page 316–318)

These are speaking-practice activities (reading aloud with correct stress and falling/rising intonation). For part III, match the stressed sentence to its meaning:

Sentence (stress shown in bold)	Meaning
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.	(i) I might have done other things but did not hurt anyone.
4. I didn't hurt anyone today.	(v) I may have spoken a lot many things but not a single person was hurt.
5. I didn't hurt anyone today.	(ii) I might cause hurt usually, but not anyone on this day.

Let Us Write (Page 319)

1. Short story version of "Say the Right Thing":

Mary lived with her mother, Mrs. Shaw, in the quiet town of Lanfield. One afternoon, Mrs. Shaw was expecting two important guests, Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee, and told Mary to tidy the room and put her coat away. Mary, feeling grown up, complained that she was "not a child," but obeyed anyway.

Before the guests arrived, Mrs. Shaw gently advised Mary to be kind, say pleasant things, and never let the guests feel uncomfortable. Confident in her abilities, Mary promised to behave perfectly.

However, when Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee arrived, things did not go as planned. Mary wrongly claimed to have seen Mrs. Harding's children, not knowing she had none. She mocked Mr. Best for travelling by train and reading newspapers, only to learn he was Mrs. Lee's brother. She called a talkative woman "not interesting," forgetting it was Mrs. Lee's own mother. She even complained about a dirty dog, unaware it belonged to the Hardings!

Each blunder left the guests speechless and embarrassed, while Mrs. Shaw tried to smooth things over. Finally, as the guests rose to leave, Mary — still unable to say the right thing — blurted out, "Oh, must you stay? Can't you go?" instead of asking them to stay longer, ending the visit on a hilariously awkward note.

2. Mary's character (80–100 words):

Mary is a young, confident, and talkative girl who believes she already knows how to behave politely with guests. She is honest and speaks her mind freely, without realising that some things are better left unsaid. Although she is eager to prove herself capable and grown-up, she is actually quite inexperienced in social manners. Throughout the play, her innocent but tactless remarks embarrass the guests repeatedly, showing that she does not yet understand the difference between honesty and politeness. Despite her mistakes, Mary is not unkind — she simply needs more experience and guidance to truly "say the right thing."

3. Is Mrs. Shaw right in blaming Mary? (60–80 words):

Mrs. Shaw is only partly right in blaming Mary. While Mary's remarks were careless and caused embarrassment, Mrs. Shaw herself allowed an inexperienced Mary to stay during an important visit despite having doubts. Mary is still young and honestly did not realise her comments were hurtful. Instead of only blaming her, Mrs. Shaw should patiently guide Mary further, since good social skills take time and practice to develop.

4. Letter of apology from Mary to Mrs. Harding (about 120 words):

Lanfield
15 July 20XX

Dear Mrs. Harding,

I am writing to apologise for my behaviour during your visit to our home last week. I spoke without thinking and said several things that must have made you uncomfortable — especially about your children and your dog, Towzer. I did not mean to upset you or embarrass my mother; I simply did not realise how my words could affect others.

I am truly sorry for my mistakes and hope you can forgive me. I promise to think more carefully before I speak in the future.

Yours sincerely,
Mary

5. Three rules Mary would follow while talking to guests:

1. Think before speaking, and avoid commenting on personal matters like family or appearance.
2. Listen carefully to what guests say instead of assuming things about them.
3. Always be kind and encouraging, even when staying quiet is the better choice.

6. Relevance of the play in today's society (brief):

The play remains relevant today because good manners, thoughtful speech, and sensitivity towards others' feelings are still essential in every conversation — at home, school, or social gatherings. Just like Mary, many people today speak without thinking, and the play reminds us to be mindful and kind with our words.

Let Us Explore (Page 320)

I. Work in groups to enact a favourite part of the play, assigning roles like director, narrator, and characters. (Group activity — no written answer required.)

II. Ways people greet guests in different languages: Namaste (Hindi), Vanakkam (Tamil), Sat Sri Akal (Punjabi), Salaam (Urdu/Arabic), Konnichiwa (Japanese), Bonjour (French).

III. 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' means "the world is one family." It is a Sanskrit phrase from ancient Indian texts encouraging unity, cooperation, and treating everyone with kindness regardless of differences — this was the guiding theme of the G20 Summit hosted by India.

— End of Unit 2: Wit and Humour Answer Key —