CLASS 7 English Poorvi book Chapter 1 The Day the River Spoke

 

Chapter 1

The Day the River Spoke

Word Meaning:

1.   Splashed: fell in drops, making a sound

2.   Kingfisher: an often brightly coloured bird with a large head and long sharp beak, typically diving for fish from a perch. Many of the tropical kinds live in forests and feed on terrestrial prey such as insects and lizards

3. Swept down: something that moves swiftly and smoothly downward, often in a continuous, forceful manner

4.   Slithered: moved by sliding from side to side

5.    River’s edge: the point where the land meets the water of a river.

6.   Bask in the sun: to lie or sit in the pleasant warmth of the sun, enjoying its heat and light

7.    Murmuring: speaking in a low voice

8.    Startled: surprised

9.    Thicket: a dense group of bushes and trees

10.  Shrieked: made a high-pitched sound

11.  There wasn’t a soul in sight: no one was visible; the area was completely empty of people

12.  Went on: to continue, to happen, or to talk excessively.

13.  Puzzled: unable to understand; perplexed.

14. Fields: an area of open land, especially one planted with crops or pasture, typically bounded by hedges or fences.

15.  Minding: take care or be careful of or about something

16.  Sob: cry noisily

17.  Rustle: light sound made by leaves rubbing against each other

18.  Breathless: gasping for breath, typically due to exertion

19.  Conspiratorially: secretly

20. Pity: the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.

21.  Clump: a small group of trees growing together

22.  Rattling: noise made by shaking things

23.  Catamaran: a kind of boat

24.  Wailed: (here) complained in a loud voice

25.  Panting: breathing with short, quick breaths; out of breath.

26.  Crept: move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed.

27. Squatting: crouch or sit with one’s knees bent and one’s heels close to or touching one’s buttocks or the back of one’s thighs.

28.  earthen floor: floor that is made from compacted soil or clay, not concrete, tile, or wood.

29.  Spring from: to originate from, be caused by, or result from something

30.  Scratching: the act of rubbing your skin with your nails

31. Nodding: lower and raise one’s head slightly and briefly, especially in greeting, assent, or understanding, or to give someone a signal

32.  Chuckle: laugh quietly or inwardly.

33.  Sail: voyage

ACTIVITIES:

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

Question1. Are they trying to tell you something?
Answer: Yes, the sounds are trying share a message. For example, birds chirping could mean it is a cheerful morning, or rustling leaves might suggest a windy day.

Question 2. Do you think the things around you also listen to you all day long? Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer: Yes, I think that trees, rivers, and birds might hear us when we speak or laugh, like silent friends who listen carefully. “I heard birds singing, which made me happy. I think nature listens to us too!”

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.

Question1. What could that dream be?
Answer: Jahnavi’s dream might be to attend school and learn to read and write, as she is clever and eager to know more.

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

Question1. “You shouldn’t cry, you know,” the voice went on. “And you really shouldn’t be scared, when you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost everyday She was puzzled. It was such a voice, like the river. It couldn’t be the river! “Well, tell me all about it,” said the River, for it was the River. “I’ve got to hurry to reach the sea, you know. ”

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

(ii) Select a phrase from the extract which shows that Jahnavi was a frequent visitor to the spot.
Answer: The phrase showing Jahnavi was a frequent visitor is “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
A. excitement
B. hesitation
C. irritation
D. disbelief
Answer: D. Disbelief!

(iv) Choose three qualities of the River highlighted in the extract from the words in the box given below.
affectionate forgiving thoughtful impatient
kind-hearted
Answer: affectionate, thoughtful, kind-hearted.

(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.
Answer: True.
Reason: It tells her to try school and trust herself.

iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
When the River suggests that Jahnavi should ‘slip along’, it means that she should move
A. quickly
B. casually
C. quietly
D. confidently
Answer: C. Quietly.

(iv) What does the repetition of the phrase I couldn’t, tell us?
Answer: scared and unsure.