A Gift of Chappals – NCERT Solutions

Q. What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?

Ans. The secret that Meena shares with Mridu is the news of finding a kitten. It was kept in the backyard.

Q. How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?

Ans. Ravi gets milk under the pretext that he will drink it because he is hungry. He even drinks some milk to show. Then he comes to the kitten with the tumbler and pours milk into the coconut shell.

Q. Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?

Ans. He says that the kitten’s ancestors are the Pallava kings of the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat. I don’t believe his story.

Q. Ravi has a lot to say about M.P. Poonai. This shows that

1. he is merely trying to impress Mridu.
2. his knowledge of history is sound.
3. he has a rich imagination.
4. he is an intelligent child.

Which of these statements do you agree/disagree to?

Ans. I agree to (1) he is merely trying to impress Mridu and (2) he has a rich imagination.

Q. What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?

Ans. A ‘kreeching’ sound from the window startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran.

Q. The music master is making lovely music. Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea.

Ans. The music master’s notes seemed to float up and settle perfectly into the visible tracks of the melody.

Q. Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. No, it was not the first visit of the beggar to Rukku Manni’s house. She tells Tapi, “He has been coming here everyday for the last week.”

The beggar also admits, “I have kept my body and soul together on their generosity for a whole week.”

Q. “A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows.” What does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni’s mood?

Ans. It suggests that she was getting angry.

Q. Complete the following sentences.

1. Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to _____________.
2. Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran _____________.
3. The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli _____________.
4. The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household _____________.
5. After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if _____________.

Answer

1. Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to a railway train which is derailing.
2. Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran tipped a few children over himself.
3. The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli stumbled behind him poorly.
4. The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household had helped him with food for a whole week.
5. After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if she had seen his chappals.

Q. Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window.

Ans. The music teacher was bony and bald headed. He had an old fashioned tuft on his head and a gold chain round his thick neck. He wore a diamond ring on his hand.

Q. What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?

Ans. The large blisters on the beggar’s bare feet made Mridu conclude that he had no money to buy chappals.

Q. What does she suggest to show her concern?

Ans. She suggests that an old pair of chappals should be given to him.

Q. “Have you children… she began, and then, seeing they were curiously quiet, went on more slowly “seen anyone lurking around the verandah?”

1. What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?
2. Why did she change her question?
3. What did she think had happened?

Answer

1. Rukku Manni really wanted to ask the children if they had hidden the chappals.
2. She changed her question because she thought it was children’s misehief.
3. She thought that children had given it to someone.

Q. On getting Gopu Mama’s chappals, the music teacher tried not to look happy. Why?

Ans. On getting a gift of new chappals the music teacher was really happy. But he did not try to show it. He did not want to expose his greed.

Q. On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?

Ans. The beggar knew that the children had given him slippers without seeking the permission of the elders. He feared that the slippers might be taken back from him. So he left the house in a hurry.

Q. Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?

Ans. Rukku Manni laughed to think how Gopu Mama would react to know that his slippers had been given away to the music master.

Q. Rewrite each of the following pairs of sentences as a single sentence. Use ‘if’ at the beginning of the sentence.

1. Don’t tire yourself now. You won’t be able to work in the evening.
2. Study regularly. You’ll do well in the examination.
3. Work hard. You’ll pass the examination in the first division.
4. Be polite to people. They’ll also be polite to you.
5. Don’t tease the dog. It’ll bite you.

Answer

1. If you tire yourself now, you won’t be able to work in the evening.
2. If you study regularly, you’ll do well in the examination.
3. If you work hard, you’ll pass the examination in the first division.
4. If you are polite to people, they’ll also be polite to you.
5. If you tease the dog, it’ll bite you.

Q. Fill in the blanks in the following paragraph.

Today is Sunday. I’m wondering whether I should stay at home or go out. If I (1) ___________(go) out, I (2) ___________ (miss) the lovely Sunday lunch at home. If I (3) ___________(stay) for lunch, I (4) ___________(miss) the Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I’ll go out and see the film, only to avoid getting too fat.

Answer

Today is Sunday. I’m wondering whether I should stay at home or go out. If I go out, I shall miss the lovely Sunday lunch at home. If I stay for lunch, I shall miss the Sunday film showing at Archana Theatre. I think I’ll go out and see the film, only to avoid getting too fat.

Q. Complete each sentence below by appropriately using any one of the following.

if you want to / if you don’t want to / if you want him to

1. Don’t go to the theatre _______________.
2. He’ll post your letter _______________.
3. Please use my pen _______________.
4. He’ll lend you his umbrella _______________.
5. My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor _______________.
6. Don’t eat it _______________.

Answer

1. Don’t go to the theatre if you don’t want to.
2. He’ll post your letter if you want him to.
3. Please use my pen if you want to.
4. He’ll lend you his umbrella if you want him to.
5. My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor if you want him to.
6. Don’t eat it if you don’t want to.