Three Questions – NCERT Solutions

Q. Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?

Ans. The king wanted to know the answers to three questions for his own safety, success and good governance.

Q. Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom

1. to fetch wise men.
2. to find answers to the questions.
3. to look for the wise hermit.
4. to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.

Mark your choice.

Ans. to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.

Q. Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.

1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions, __________.
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men __________.
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable __________.
4. The king requested the hermit __________.
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound, __________.

Answers

1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions, but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men to help the king act at the right time.
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly.
4. The king requested the hermit to answer three questions.
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound, but the bleeding would not stop.

Q. Why was the king advised to go to magicians?

Ans. The king was advised to consult some magicians because they alone could look into the future and decide the right time to do a thing.

Q. In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?

Ans. In answer to the second question, the people said that the advice of the councillors or priests or doctors or soldiers would be important to the king.

Q. What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?

Ans. In answer to the third question some said that science was the most important thing. Others suggested fighting or religious worship.

Q. Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?

Ans. No, the wise men didn’t win the reward because none could give a satisfactory answer.

Q. How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?

Ans. The king and the hermit removed the wounded man’s clothing. The king washed the wound and covered it with his handkerchief. He dressed the wound a second time to stop the bleeding. Then the king and the hermit carried the man to a bed in the hut.

Q. Who was the bearded man?

Ans. The bearded man was, in fact, the king’s enemy. He had taken a vow to take revenge. The king had killed the man’s brother and confiscated all his property.

Q. Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?

Ans. The wounded man begged the king to forgive him. He was grateful to the king who had saved his life. He felt guilty at heart. He promised to serve the king all his life.

Q. The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?

Ans. The king forgave the bearded man. He promised to send his servant and the doctor to look after him. He also returned the property seized by him.

Q. What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answer do you like most, and why?

Ans. The hermit answered the king’s questions in his own way. Now, the present time, was the best time. Had he gone back, he would have been killed by his enemy. The bearded man was the best man at the moment. To do good to the hermit and the bearded man was the most important thing for the king. I like the answer to the first question most because it is most logical.

Q. Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.

A	B
(i) wounded	got up from sleep
(ii) awoke	give back
(iii) forgive	small patches of ground for plants
(iv) faithful	severely injured
(v) pity	pardon
(vi) beds	loyal
(vii) return	feel sorry for

Use any three of the above words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of the word.

Answer

1. wounded : severely injured
2. awoke : got up from sleep
3. forgive : pardon
4. faithful : loyal
5. pity : feel sorry for
6. beds : small patches of ground for plants
7. return : give back

Sentence Making:

• Faithful – Dogs are usually faithful to their masters.
• Pity – Take pity on the poor.
• Return –The king returned the property of the bearded man.

Q. Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in brackets.

1. The ________ said that only fresh evidence would make him change his __________. (judge)
2. I didn’t notice any serious ________ of opinion among the debaters, although they ________ from one another over small points. (differ)
3. It’s a fairly simple question to ________, but will you accept my ________ as final? (answer)
4. It isn’t ________that ________should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
5. Hermits are ________ men. How they acquire their ________ no one can tell. (wise)
6. The committee has ________ to make Jagdish captain of the team. The ________ is likely to please everyone. (decide)
7. Asking for ________ is as noble as willingness to ________. (forgive)

Answer

1. The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgement.
2. I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differed from one another over small points.
3. It’s a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept my answer as final?
4. It isn’t necessary that necessity should always be the mother of invention.
5. Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no one can tell.
6. The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to please everyone.
7. Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive.