GSEB Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 3 Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Solutions

Working With The Text

Question 1. Why did the king want no more talk about the Hilsa fish?
Answer: Everyone near the king was speaking about Hilsa-fish. This made the king very angry, so he did not wish for anyone to discuss the Hilsa-fish.
In simple words: The king was annoyed by all the talk about Hilsa-fish, so he wanted everyone to stop discussing it.

Exam Tip: When answering questions about a character's emotions, always state the emotion and provide the reason for it.

Question 2. What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Answer: The king asked Gopal to purchase a huge Hilsa-fish from the market and to ensure that no one should speak to him about the fish during his entire journey from the market to the palace.
In simple words: The king told Gopal to buy a large Hilsa-fish and make sure no one mentioned the fish to him on his way back to the palace.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the specific conditions of a challenge or task given to a character, as these details are crucial for a complete answer.

Question 3. What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his Hilsa-fish?
Answer: Gopal half-shaved his face, spread ash on his body, and put on old rags before he went out to purchase a Hilsa-fish.
In simple words: Gopal got ready by shaving half his face, putting ash on himself, and wearing old clothes before buying the fish.

Exam Tip: Listing specific actions clearly helps in scoring full marks for questions that ask "What three things..." or similar.

Question 4. How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?
Answer: Gopal began singing and dancing loudly in front of the palace. The guards observed his strange appearance and odd actions, so they did not allow him to enter. However, when the king heard the commotion, he commanded his men to bring the troublemaker inside the palace.
In simple words: Gopal sang and danced loudly outside the palace. The guards tried to stop him, but the king heard the noise and ordered them to bring Gopal in.

Exam Tip: Describe the sequence of events clearly, including the initial resistance and how the character overcame it, to provide a full picture.

Question 5. Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the Hilsa-fish which Gopal had bought.
Answer: No one was keen on discussing the Hilsa-fish because Gopal's unusual appearance had taken everyone's focus away from the fish. Gopal wore old clothes, his face was half-shaven, and ash was spread all over his body. People were more curious about his strange look than about the fish.
In simple words: Nobody talked about the Hilsa-fish because Gopal's strange clothes, half-shaven face, and ash on his body made them look at him instead.

Exam Tip: When asked to explain a situation, provide all contributing factors and how they led to the outcome.

Question 6. Write True or False against each of the following sentences:
1. The king lost his temper easily.
2. Gopal was a mad man.
3. Gopal was a clever man.
4. Gopal was too poor to afford decent clothes.
5. The king got angry when he was shown to be wrong.
Answer:
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. False
In simple words: Check if each statement matches what happened in the story. For example, the king did get angry easily, but Gopal was smart, not crazy.

Exam Tip: Read each statement carefully and compare it directly with the events and character traits described in the story to determine if it is true or false.

Working With Language

Question 1. Notice how in a comic book, there are no speech marks when characters talk. Instead what they say is put in a speech 'bubble'. However, if we wish to repeat or 'report' what they say, we must put it into; reported speech. Change the following sentences in the story to reported speech. The first one has been done for you.
(1) How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
(2) Why is your face half-shaven? Gopal's wife asked him
(3) I accept the challenge, Your Majesty Gopal told the king
(4) I want to see the king. Gopal told the guards
(5) Bring the man to me at once. The king ordered the guard
Answer:
(1) The woman asked the man how much he had paid for that Hilsa.
(2) Gopal's wife asked him why his face was half-shaven.
(3) Gopal told the king that he accepted the challenge.
(4) Gopal told the guards that he wanted to see the king.
(5) The king ordered the guard to bring the man to him at once.
In simple words: When you change direct speech (like someone saying something exactly) into reported speech, you usually remove quotation marks and change the tense and pronouns to tell what someone said.

Exam Tip: Remember to change pronouns (e.g., "I" to "he"), tenses (e.g., present to past), and time expressions (e.g., "now" to "then") when converting to reported speech.

Question 2. Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own. challenge, mystic, comical, courtier, smearing
Answer:
challenge: a request to take part in a competition or contest.
Vikram accepted the challenge of his teacher and won a prize in the annual day celebrations.
mystic: spiritual, occult.
The Sufi saints like Salim Chishti were mystics.
comical: funny
Mr Bean is one of the most famous comical characters on television.
courtier: a person who attends a royal court as a companion or advisor to the king or queen.
Birbal was one of the most important courtiers in Akbar's court.
smearing: spreading a soft, sticky substance on a surface.
The children were caught while they were smearing mud on the wall.
In simple words: For each word, first understand what it means, then make a new sentence using that word correctly.

Exam Tip: When providing definitions, ensure they are concise and accurate. For sentences, try to use the word in a context that clearly demonstrates its meaning.

Picture Reading

Question 1. Look At the picture and read the text aloud.
Answer: (This question is an instruction to read the text in the pictures, not to provide an answer in words.)
In simple words: This question asks you to look at the images and speak the words shown in them out loud.

Exam Tip: When instructed to "read aloud" or "observe," ensure you engage with the visual and textual elements as directed, rather than writing a textual answer.

Stag by the side of a pond.

How beautiful my horns are!

But my legs are so thin and ugly!

Hunters! Run for your life!

Let me hide somewhere.

These branches... Oh, no!

They are too close. Get out of here!

I was proud of my horns. They could have caused my death. I was ashamed of my legs. They saved me.

Question 2. Now ask your partner questions about each picture:
(a) Where is the stag?
Answer: The stag is standing beside a pond.
In simple words: The stag is by the pond.

Exam Tip: When answering "where" questions, be precise about the location mentioned in the picture or text.

Question 2. (b) What is he doing?
Answer: The stag is about to drink water when he sees his reflection in the pond.
In simple words: He is about to drink water and sees himself in the pond.

Exam Tip: Describe the current action and any immediate events that occur in response to it, as depicted in the scene.

Question 2. (c) Does he like his antlers (horns)?
Answer: Yes, he likes his antlers very much.
In simple words: Yes, he really likes his horns.

Exam Tip: Answer direct "yes/no" questions first, then add a brief confirmation or reason if it's available in the text.

Question 2. (d) Does he like his legs?
Answer: No, the stag finds his legs to be thin and unsightly.
In simple words: No, the stag thinks his legs are skinny and ugly.

Exam Tip: Ensure your answer reflects the character's exact perception or feeling, as stated in the source.

Question 2. (e) Why is the stag running?
Answer: The stag is running because he is being pursued by the hunters.
In simple words: The stag is running because hunters are chasing him.

Exam Tip: For "why" questions, always identify the cause or motivation behind the action.

Question 2. (f) Is he able to hide in the bushes?
Answer: No, he is not able to hide in the bushes because his horns got caught in them.
In simple words: No, he cannot hide because his horns get stuck in the bushes.

Exam Tip: State the direct answer and then explain the specific obstacle or reason that prevented the action.

Question 2. (g) Where are the hunters now?
Answer: The hunters are very near to the stag.
In simple words: The hunters are close by the stag.

Exam Tip: Use descriptive words that convey proximity or distance as indicated in the context.

Question 2. (h) Are they closing in on the stag?
Answer: Yes, they are getting closer to the stag.
In simple words: Yes, they are coming nearer to the stag.

Exam Tip: Confirm the action clearly and use words that indicate progression, like "closing in" or "getting closer."

Question 2. (i) Is the stag free?
Answer: The stag is free as it could escape from the hunters.
In simple words: Yes, the stag is free because he got away from the hunters.

Exam Tip: Always provide the outcome and the reason for it, especially when asked about freedom or escape.

Question 2. (j) What does the stag say about his horns and his legs?
Answer: The stag says that he was proud of his horns, but they would have led to his death. He was embarrassed by his legs, but they saved his life.
In simple words: The stag was proud of his horns but they almost killed him. He felt bad about his legs but they helped him escape.

Exam Tip: Highlight the contrasting roles of the horns and legs to show the complete change in the stag's perspective.

Question 3. Now write the story in your own words. Give it a title.
Answer: There was a stag that lived in a jungle. One day, he went to drink water from a pond. He saw his reflection in the pond. He felt proud of his beautiful antlers but was embarrassed by his thin and unattractive legs. Suddenly, hunters appeared behind him. The stag ran to save his life. He wished to hide in the bushes, but could not because his antlers got stuck. He found the hunters right behind him. He ran to save his life and was finally safe. In the end, he understood that he was feeling proud of his antlers, but they would have caused his death. He felt embarrassed by his legs, but those same legs helped him run quickly and saved his life. The title is: Do not judge by appearances.
In simple words: A stag saw his reflection in a pond and loved his horns but hated his legs. Hunters came, and his beautiful horns got him stuck in bushes, but his "ugly" legs helped him run away and saved him. The lesson is: "Do not judge by appearances."

Exam Tip: When retelling a story, focus on the main plot points and the character's emotional journey. A good title should reflect the central theme or lesson.

Question 4. Complete the following word ladder with the help of the clues given below.

Clues:
1. Mother will be very .................. If you don't go to school.
2. As soon as he caught ............... of the teacher, Mohan started writing.
3. How do you like my .................. kitchen garden? Big enough for you, is it?
4. My youngest sister is now a .................. old.
5. Standing on the .................. he saw children playing on the road.
6. Don't make such a .................. Nothing, will happen.
7. Don't cross the .................. till the green light comes on.
Answer:
1. cross
2. sight
3. tiny
4. year
5. roof
6. fuss
7. street
In simple words: Read each hint carefully and find the word that fits. The words will form a ladder, changing one letter at a time.

Exam Tip: For word ladders, start with the easiest clues first. Look for words that fit both the clue and the existing letters in the grid.

GSEB Class 7 English Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Additional Important Questions and Answers

Select the most appropriate options as answers and complete the following sentences :

Question 1. .................. were talking about the Hilsa-fish.
A. Fishermen
B. Fishmongers
C. Courtiers
D. All these three
Answer: (D) All these three
In simple words: Everyone, from fishermen to courtiers, was talking about Hilsa-fish.

Exam Tip: When multiple groups are mentioned, consider if the context suggests all of them were involved or only a specific one.

Question 2. Gopal took up the challenge to ..................
A. sell maximum number of Hilsa-fish.
B. bring Hilsa-fish from the market openly without being talked about it.
C. win the contest about Hilsa-fish.
D. buy Hilsa-fish at the lowest price.
Answer: (B) bring Hilsa-fish from the market openly without being talked about it.
In simple words: Gopal accepted the task to bring a Hilsa-fish from the market to the palace without anyone discussing the fish with him.

Exam Tip: Understand the core task or condition of the challenge to pick the correct option. Often, distractors describe related but not central actions.

Question 3. Gopal dressed himself in such a way that he looked a ..................
A. fishmonger.
B. fisherman.
C. crazy man.
D. courtier.
Answer: (C) crazy man.
In simple words: Gopal dressed strangely, appearing like a mad person.

Exam Tip: Focus on how the character's actions or appearance were perceived by others in the story to determine the best description.

Question 4. The onlookers called Gopal ..................
A. comical.
B. mystic.
C. mad.
D. All these three.
Answer: (D) All these three.
In simple words: People watching Gopal thought he was funny, mysterious, and perhaps a bit crazy.

Exam Tip: If all options describe different but plausible perceptions, and the character's behavior could be interpreted in multiple ways, "All these three" is often the correct choice.

Question 5. The king .................. Gopal in the end.
A. congratulated
B. scolded
C. rewarded
D. punished
Answer: (A) congratulated
In simple words: At the end, the king praised Gopal.

Exam Tip: Consider the final outcome and the king's reaction after the challenge was successfully completed.

Say whether the following sentences are True or False:

Question 1. Hilsa-fish was the talk of the town.
Answer: True
In simple words: Everyone in the town was talking about Hilsa-fish.

Exam Tip: Recall the main problem at the beginning of the story to confirm this fact.

Question 2. Fishmongers were not happy selling fish at cheap prices.
Answer: False
In simple words: Fish sellers were actually happy to sell fish for less money.

Exam Tip: Review the details about the fishmongers' pricing. Usually, they are pleased when sales are good, even at lower prices.

Question 3. Nobody but Gopal was talking about Hilsa-fish in the court.
Answer: False
In simple words: Actually, everyone else was talking about Hilsa-fish, not just Gopal.

Exam Tip: This statement is a common misunderstanding. Recall that the king was annoyed because *everyone* was talking about the fish.

Question 4. Gopal went out with a half-shaved beard.
Answer: True
In simple words: Gopal did shave only half of his beard before he left.

Exam Tip: This detail about Gopal's disguise is explicitly mentioned in the story.

Question 5. Gopal's wife was not happy allowing him to go out in tattered clothes.
Answer: True
In simple words: Gopal's wife did not like him leaving the house in torn clothing.

Exam Tip: Remember the reaction of Gopal's wife when she saw his strange attire.

Question 6. When Gopal started dancing and singing loudly at the court-gate, the gatekeepers allowed him to enter the court.
Answer: False
In simple words: The gatekeepers did not let him in at first, but the king ordered them to after hearing the noise.

Exam Tip: Distinguish between the immediate reaction of the gatekeepers and the king's eventual command to admit Gopal.

Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each: –

Question 1. What happened when the king heard his courtiers talking about Hilsa-fish?
Answer: When the king heard his courtiers discussing Hilsa-fish, he became very angry and told them they were courtiers, not fishermen. However, he quickly felt bad after seeing his nervous courtiers, changing his tone to admit it was the Hilsa season and no one could stop talking about it.
In simple words: The king got mad when courtiers talked about Hilsa-fish and told them off. But then he felt guilty and said it was the season for Hilsa, so people would talk about it.

Exam Tip: Describe both the king's initial reaction (anger and rebuke) and his subsequent change of heart and justification.

Question 2. Why did Gopal's wife find his activities strange?
Answer: Gopal had half-shaved his face, spread ash on himself, and worn rags, making him look very untidy. His wife asked why he was doing such weird things and tried to stop him from going out like that. Eventually, she concluded that Gopal had lost his mind.
In simple words: Gopal's wife thought he was strange because he half-shaved, put ash on himself, and wore old clothes. She thought he had gone crazy.

Exam Tip: Detail the specific actions Gopal performed that made his wife consider him strange, and conclude with her final thought.

Answer the following questions in four to five sentences each :

Question 1. Who was Gopal? What was the challenge given to him by the king? How he won it?
Answer: Gopal was a clever man in the king's court. When the king was tired of the ongoing talks about Hilsa-fish, he challenged Gopal. Gopal happily accepted the task of purchasing a huge Hilsa-fish from the market and ensuring that no one spoke to him about it on the way to the palace. Gopal, being intelligent, dressed like a madman, which drew everyone's focus. He reached the court without anyone mentioning the fish, as everyone was more interested in his appearance.
In simple words: Gopal was a smart courtier. The king challenged him to bring a Hilsa-fish to the palace without anyone talking about it. Gopal dressed strangely, making people focus on him instead of the fish, so he won.

Exam Tip: Break down the answer into parts: who Gopal was, the exact challenge, and the strategy he used to win, providing a clear narrative.

Question 2. Why was Gopal barred entry to the palace?
OR
How did Gopal manage to get in? What was the king's reaction to Gopal's deed?
Answer: Gopal appeared suspicious or rather mysterious because he had dressed himself in old rags. Additionally, his beard was half-shaven and ash was smeared on it. Therefore, the guards stopped his entry to the palace. He began dancing and singing loudly so that the king might hear him and call him inside. The king commanded him to be taken inside but initially could not recognize him. When Gopal reminded the King of his challenge and proved he had completed it, the king was surprised and burst into laughter.
In simple words: Gopal was stopped at the palace gate because he looked strange with his half-shaved beard, ash, and rags. To get in, he danced and sang loudly until the king heard him. The king was surprised when Gopal reminded him of the challenge and laughed.

Exam Tip: Address each part of the combined question thoroughly: the reason for being barred, the method of entry, and the king's final reaction, including his initial lack of recognition.

Grammar

Choose the correct Article(s), Conjunsction(s) and Preposition(s) and complete the following passage :

Strangely enough, no one seems to be interested .................. Hilsa-fish today! .................. the market .................. the palace .................. in the court, not .................. soul has spoken a word .................. Hilsa-fish!
Answer: Strangely enough, no one seems to be interested in Hilsa-fish today! From the market to the palace and in the court; not a soul has spoken a word about Hilsa-fish!
In simple words: Fill in the gaps with words like "from," "to," and "in" to make the sentences flow correctly and show where the interest in Hilsa-fish was missing.

Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks, read the full sentence to understand the context and decide which article, conjunction, or preposition makes the most sense grammatically and semantically.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of verbs given in the brackets and complete the texts:

Question 1. Then let me see you ...............…………… (buy) a huge Hilsa and .................. (bring) it to the palace without anyone .................. (ask) you a word about it.
Answer:
1. buy
2. bring
3. asking
In simple words: Use the correct form of the verbs "buy," "bring," and "ask" to complete the king's challenge to Gopal.

Exam Tip: Ensure that the verb forms match the tense and subject of the sentence. Here, the verbs are in their base or -ing form to fit the continuous action or infinitive structure.

Question 2. King: Not even Gopal .................. (can + stop) anyone from .................. (talk) about Hilsa-Fish. Courtier: Oh, I think I .................. (can), Your Majesty.
Answer:
1. can stop
2. talking
3. could
In simple words: Complete the dialogue by using "can stop" and "talking" for the king's challenge, and "could" for the courtier's confident reply.

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the context of the dialogue to choose the appropriate modal verbs and verb forms that convey the intended meaning and possibility.

Change the voice of the following :

Question 1. (1) Fishermen could think of nothing but Hilsa-fish.
(2) How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
(3) You wouldn't believe it.
(4) I accept the challenge, your majesty.
(5) What do you want?
(6) You can't see the king.
(7) Bring that man to me at once.
Answer:
(1) Nothing could be thought of but Hilsa fish by fishermen.
(2) How much was paid by you for that Hilsa?
(3) It wouldn't be believed by you.
(4) The challenge is accepted by me, your majesty.
(5) What is wanted by you?
(6) The king can't be seen by you.
(7) Let that man be brought to me at once.
In simple words: Change each sentence from active voice (where the subject performs the action) to passive voice (where the action is performed on the subject).

Exam Tip: To change to passive voice, identify the object of the active sentence and make it the subject. Use a form of "to be" plus the past participle of the main verb, and often "by [original subject]."

Turn the following dialogue into Indirect Speech:

Question 1. Fishmonger: Come, buy. The price of Hilsa is down today. Wife: How much did you pay for that Hilsa? Man: You wouldn't believe it if I told you.
Answer: A fishmonger invited a buyer to come and purchase a Hilsa-fish. He tempted him by stating that the price of the fish was lower that day. His wife (when he arrived home) asked him how much he had paid for that Hilsa. The man replied that she would not believe it if he told her.
In simple words: The fishmonger told someone to buy fish because it was cheap. Later, his wife asked how much he paid, and he said she wouldn't believe it.

Exam Tip: When converting dialogue to indirect speech, use reporting verbs like "said," "asked," "replied," "tempted," and adjust tenses, pronouns, and time references accordingly.

Question 2. Wife: Why is your face half-shaven? Gopal: I'm dressing up to buy a fish. Wife: What's the matter with you? Why are you smearing yourself with ash? Gopal: I told you I am dressing up to buy a Hilsa-fish.
Answer: Gopal's wife asked him with surprise why his face was half-shaven. Gopal replied that he was dressing up to buy a fish. His wife then asked him what the problem was with him and why he was covering himself with ash. Gopal irritably told her again that he was dressing up to purchase a Hilsa-fish.
In simple words: Gopal's wife asked why his face was half-shaven. He said he was getting ready to buy a fish. She then asked why he was covering himself in ash, and he impatiently repeated that he was dressing to buy a Hilsa-fish.

Exam Tip: Capture the tone and sequence of questions and answers in the dialogue. Use appropriate reporting verbs to show emotion (e.g., "asked with surprise," "irritably told").

Rewrite as directed :

Question 1. (1) How many times must I tell you, woman? (Turn into Assertive.)
(2) He has gone mad ..................? (Add a Question Tag.)
(3) What a crazy man! (Use 'indeed'.)
(4) No one seems to be interested in Hilsa-fish today. (Turn into Affirmative.)
(5) He must be a mad man. (Turn into Negative.)
Answer:
(1) Hey woman, it annoys me to tell you the same thing again and again.
(2) He has gone mad, hasn't he?
(3) He is indeed a crazy man.
(4) Everyone seems to be uninterested in Hilsa-fish today.
(5) He must not be in his sense.
In simple words: Change each sentence to the required type, like making a strong statement into a normal one, adding a question tag, using "indeed" for emphasis, making a negative statement positive, or making a positive statement negative.

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the specific instructions for each transformation, as they often involve changes in sentence structure, punctuation, or word choice to achieve the desired effect.

Additional Writing

Letter Writing

Question 1. Write a letter to your penfriend in the USA, describing the Diwali festival in India, s You may include the following points:
- the greatest Hindu festival
-the Hindu New Year
-Diwali, the festival of lights
-four days – lamps (diyas), crackers, sweets
-new purchases, greetings, family visits
-enjoyment of the children, long holidays
-ask him to write about some American festivals not known much in India
Answer:
20th November 2019

Dear Tom,

Thank you for your letter telling me about the state you live in. You have asked me to describe the Diwali festival in India. Well, I must begin by saying that Diwali is the greatest Hindu festival. It is also the time of the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated across the country with great happiness. It is truly the festival of lights.

During the four days of Diwali, we light diyas (earthen lamps) and place them on the windowsills or on the porch of our homes. We burst many crackers and fill ourselves with sweets. We make new purchases such as clothes and jewelry. We send wishes to our friends and relatives. We also visit the families of our friends and relatives. Students have nearly twenty days of holidays during this period and enjoy the festival the most.

Do write and let me know about some festivals celebrated in America that we in India know little about.

Give my regards to all at home.

Yours affectionately,
XYZ
In simple words: Write a friendly letter to a friend in the USA, describing Diwali as a festival of lights, new year, family gatherings, sweets, and fireworks, and then ask about their festivals.

Exam Tip: Structure your letter clearly with an address, salutation, body paragraphs covering all points, a closing, and your name. Use descriptive language to bring the festival to life for your penfriend.