Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Unit 1 Chapter 1.4 The Kings Choice Poem Solutions

Question 1. Write a character sketch of each of the animals. Write about their actions and thoughts and the qualities that emerge through
Answer:
1. Lion: Lion was big and strong and very fierce. All the other animals in the forest called him king. The king promised other animals to give them food and protection. Whenever the king roared other animals stood in awe. Whenever he took a walk, others followed him. The lion was king also very responsible. When he had his meal, he left remains for other. So they always had enough to eat.
2. Fox: He was wise and clever creature and adviser of lion king. The fox took an oath of loyalty to the king.
3. Leopard: He was watchful and swift of foot, and a body of lion king.
4. Vulture: He was bird and can fly high in sky and a messager of lion.
In simple words: This question asks for a brief description of each animal's personality, role, and actions in the story. The lion is fierce and responsible, the fox is wise, the leopard is watchful, and the vulture is a high-flying messenger.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing character sketches, focus on 2-3 key traits and support them with examples of actions or roles from the story for full marks.

Question 2. Using your imagination, write more sentences in the same pattern:
(a) But the more the lion had, the more he wanted.
(b) Whenever he took a walk, they followed him.
(c) To be king is good. But to be kind is better.
Answer:
1. The more you quieten the mind, the more restless it becomes.
2. Whenever I speak, he interrupts me.
3. It is nice to be important. But it is more important to be nice.
4. To live well on earth is good. But to leave well is better.
In simple words: This task requires creating new sentences that mimic the grammatical and structural patterns of the given example sentences, demonstrating an understanding of sentence structure and creative writing.

🎯 Exam Tip: To score well in pattern-based writing, identify the core grammatical structure and the type of relationship (e.g., comparative, temporal, contrasting) expressed in the original sentence, then apply it to new ideas.

Question 3. Turn the story into a play as a group activity and present the scenes in the classroom.
Answer:
(Curtain opens) The lion is seen pacing back and forth in deep thought.
• Lion: Hmmm, I think it's time I've courtiers for myself. (Calls his guards.) Tell the fox, the leopard and the vulture to meet me at once.
• Guard: Yes, Your Majesty! (Enter of fox, leopard and the vulture)
• Fox, Leopard, Vulture: Our salute to the king of kings! (all bow down)
• Lion: Mr. Fox, you are known for your wisdom. You shall be my advisor from now on.
• Mr. Fox: (elated) As you wish, Your Majesty!
• Lion: And you.... Mr. Leopard, I am impressed by your alertness. You are swift of foot too. You shall be my bodyguard.
• Mr. Leopard: (humbly) I shall be happy to serve you, Your Majesty!
• Lion: (gesturing) And dear Vulture, you fly high above. I appoint you as my messenger.
• Mr. Vulture: I am honoured, Your Majesty! (One day the vulture enters all excited)
• Mr. Vulture: O great king! I have seen a camel in the desert not far away. I think it will be a good idea for you to taste camel meat.
• Lion: (looking at his other advisers) What do you say? (Mr. Fox & Mr. Leopard not wanting to show ignorance)
• Mr. Fox & Mr. Leopard: We don't mind. But since the vulture has suggested let him lead the way. We shall humbly follow. (All set off on a journey to the forest. It's hot and the sun is shining brightly.)
• King: Oh! It's too hot to bear. My paws are burning.
• Mr. Vulture: (flying high above in cooler air) Your Majesty! The desert is close by. We shall reach in some time.
• King: (not able to bear the pain) Stop! We shall return.
• Mr. Vulture: (in thought) If we return, there will be nothing for us to eat as I will not be able to eat the king. I must stop him from returning. "Your Majesty! If you want we shall rest”.
• Mr. Fox: O king! We are far away from the forest. Let us continue towards the desert.
• King: I cannot walk anymore.
• Mr. Leopard: (thinking to himself) I wish I could run away from here.
• Fox: Let me ask for help, (leaps towards the desert)
(In the desert)...
In simple words: This answer transforms a portion of the story into a script format, detailing dialogue and actions for a theatrical presentation, including the appointment of courtiers and the initial journey to find the camel.

🎯 Exam Tip: When adapting a story into a play, ensure that each character's lines reflect their personality and role, and that stage directions clearly convey the scene's setting and actions.

Question 4. This story takes an unexpected turn when the lion decides to spare the camel's life. Choose any fable, story that you like and rewrite it giving it an unexpected turn.
Answer: A 'friend' is a position in one's heart and not the court. A courtier works for money. There is self-interest involved whereas a friend is a far more selfless relation in which one does not expect anything in return. It is a relationship in which friendship itself is the only reward.
In simple words: The prompt asks for a story rewrite with a twist, but the provided answer gives a philosophical explanation about friendship versus courtier relationships, contrasting selfless friendship with self-interested loyalty.

🎯 Exam Tip: For creative writing tasks, ensure your rewritten story clearly deviates from the original plot in a surprising yet logical way, directly fulfilling the "unexpected turn" requirement. The current answer explains a concept rather than providing a rewritten story.

Question 5. Talk about the good qualities of any one person you do not like. (You need not name the person.)
Answer: I do not like my benchmate in my class as she is very untidy and comes shabbily dressed. However, there are many good qualities in her that I admire. She is an extremely polite girl. I have seen her go out of her way to help my other classmates. Also, she is very regular in her studies besides being a voracious reader. A habit that I long to imbibe in myself.
In simple words: This answer describes a classmate who, despite some disliked habits, possesses admirable qualities like politeness, helpfulness, regularity in studies, and being a voracious reader.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing qualities, provide specific examples or instances that demonstrate those traits to make your answer more concrete and relatable.

Question 6. Language Study: Common nouns-i: Some things, animals, etc., that is, some nouns can be counted. They are called countable nouns. Some common nouns stand for something that cannot be counted. They are called uncountable nouns. Countable nouns have two forms. A noun that shows one person or thing, etc. is said to be in the singular. For example, 'boy', 'girl', 'dog', 'tree', 'chair. A noun that shows more than one person or thing, etc. is said to be in the plural. For example, 'boys', 'girls', 'dogs', 'trees', 'chairs'.
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र सामान्य संज्ञाओं को दो मुख्य प्रकारों - गणनीय संज्ञाओं (Countable Nouns) और अगणनीय संज्ञाओं (Uncountable Nouns) में विभाजित करता है। गणनीय संज्ञाओं को आगे एकवचन (Singular) और बहुवचन (Plural) में वर्गीकृत किया गया है, जिसमें प्रत्येक के उदाहरण दिए गए हैं। अगणनीय संज्ञाओं के भी उदाहरण दिए गए हैं। Note the expressions 'a slice of bread', 'strands of hair', 'two glasses of water', 'a cup of milk' and 'a bit of fun!'. Here, we do not say 'breads', 'hairs', 'waters', 'milks', 'funs', etc.
In simple words: This section introduces countable and uncountable nouns, explaining that countable nouns have singular and plural forms while uncountable nouns refer to things that cannot be counted individually. It also provides examples for better understanding.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the difference between countable and uncountable nouns as it affects article usage (a/an/the) and quantity expressions (many/much, few/little).

Question 1. Find five countable nouns from the passage and write their singular and plural forms.
Answer:
1. life - lives
2. friend - friends
3. messenger – messengers
4. gift - gifts
5. creature - creatures
In simple words: This question requires identifying words from the story that can be counted and then providing both their single and multiple forms.

🎯 Exam Tip: When forming plurals, be mindful of irregular plural forms (e.g., life-lives) and common pluralization rules to avoid errors.

Question 2. List the units that we use to measure the following: water, milk, distance, weight.
Answer:
• water - litres
• milk - litres
• distance – centimetre, metre, kilometre
• weight - grams, kilograms
In simple words: This answer lists the standard units used to quantify different physical properties like liquid volume (litres), length (centimetre, metre, kilometre), and mass (grams, kilograms).

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember common measurement units for various quantities, especially those used in daily life, as they are frequently tested in general knowledge and practical application questions.

Answer The Following Questions:

Question 1. What qualities are necessary in the following? Why?
Answer:
1. King: A king should be just and kind. His justice will instill faith towards him in his subjects and his kindness will help him win their hearts. A king should not demand respect instead it should be earned with his qualities and virtues.
2. Adviser: An adviser must be very wise and foresighted. He must weigh the pros and cons of a decision and only then advise the king to go ahead with it. This is also because once the decision is taken it cannot be reverted and fate of the entire kingdom largely depends on these decisions.
3. Bodyguard: A bodyguard of a king must be his shadow. Extremely vigilant and alert, the bodyguard should be able to sense trouble and mischief as the king's life can be in danger if he lacks these qualities. He should not hesitate to risk his life to save the king if required. This also demands physical strength and spirit.
4. Messenger: A messenger should be very quick at carrying messages as sometimes the messages are so important and urgent that any loss of time may cause great harm to the kingdom. Moreover, the messenger should be very faithful and keep the messages of the king confidential. This will safeguard the kingdom from enemies. Also, the messenger should remember that he represents the king himself, hence should be very trustworthy.
In simple words: This question asks for essential qualities for different roles (king, adviser, bodyguard, messenger) and why these qualities are crucial for effective performance and the well-being of the kingdom.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing roles and responsibilities, think about the impact of each quality on the function and overall success of the individual and the organization (or kingdom in this case).

Question 2. Write the oath that each of the courtier must have taken.
Answer:
1. Oath taken by the advisor (Fox):
I, Mr. Fox, do hereby solemnly swear that I will remain loyal to my king and the kingdom and to the best of my ability advise the king on matters of administration in order to preserve, protect and defend the kingdom.
2. Oath taken by the messenger (Vulture):
I, Mr. Vulture, do hereby solemnly swear that I will remain loyal to my king and this great kingdom and will to the best of my ability deliver messages as and when required. In doing so I shall not alter the messages, keeping them confidential in the best interest of my kingdom in order to preserve, protect and defend it.
3. Oath taken by the bodyguard (Leopard):
I, Mr. Leopard, do hereby solemnly swear that I shall always be with the king like his shadow and will to the best of my ability protect, guard and defend the king and in doing so with loyalty I shall not hesitate to lay down my life in the general good of my beloved land.
In simple words: This answer provides a hypothetical loyalty oath for each courtier (fox, vulture, leopard), outlining their specific duties and pledge of faithfulness to the king and kingdom.

🎯 Exam Tip: When formulating oaths or pledges, ensure they explicitly state loyalty, specific responsibilities, and the commitment to uphold the best interests of the entity being served.

Question 3. Why was the vulture told to lead the way?
Answer: The vulture had suggested that the lion should eat the camel it had seen in the desert. As, neither the lion nor the fox, nor the leopard had ever seen a camel and besides, as the fox and leopard didn't want the vulture to appear wiser than them, they asked the vulture to lead as it was his idea.
In simple words: The vulture led the way because it was his idea to find the camel, and the other courtiers didn't want to seem less knowledgeable about the desert prey.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to character motivations in the story; often, actions are driven by self-interest, competition, or a desire to avoid appearing ignorant.

Question 4. Why had the lion never seen a camel?
Answer: The lion stayed in the forest and a camel lives in a desert. So the lion had never seen a camel.
In simple words: The lion had never seen a camel because their natural habitats are different - lions live in forests, while camels live in deserts.

🎯 Exam Tip: Simple questions often have simple, direct answers. Avoid overthinking and state the most straightforward reason based on the text.

Question 5. What advice did the fox and the leopard give? Was it based on good and sound thinking?
Answer: The fox and the leopard advised the king to set off on a camel hunt. This advice was not based on good and sound thinking as they were accustomed to walking in the forest under shady trees and the desert would not provide them this comfort. They didn't want to appear foolish and ignorant and so the advice.
In simple words: The fox and leopard advised the king to hunt the camel, but this advice was not well-thought-out because they were forest dwellers unprepared for the desert's harsh conditions, acting out of pride to avoid looking ignorant.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze the motivations behind characters' advice; sometimes, it's not genuinely helpful but rather driven by personal gain or fear of appearing unwise.

Question 6. Do you think the vulture was enjoying the search?
Answer: Yes, as the vulture was flying high up in the cooler air, it was enjoying the search.
In simple words: Yes, the vulture likely enjoyed the search because it could fly high in the cooler air, making the arduous journey more comfortable for him than for the ground animals.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for an opinion ("Do you think..."), always provide a clear "Yes" or "No" followed by a concise justification from the story.

Question 7. Do you think the king's decision to go back was right?
Answer: No, I don't think the king's decision to go back was right as he had already walked a long distance not only risking his life but that of his courtiers as well. He could have rested and then continued.
In simple words: No, the king's decision to turn back was not right because he and his courtiers had already risked much by traveling far, and resting would have been a better option than abandoning the mission entirely.

🎯 Exam Tip: Evaluate decisions based on the context provided in the story, considering both short-term consequences and potential long-term implications.

Question 8. Can you guess the plan the fox had thought of?
Answer: The fox had planned to trick the camel, and use him as a means of transport to go to their forest, kill him and have a feast.
In simple words: The fox planned to deceive the camel, using it for transport back to the forest, and then kill it for a celebratory meal.

🎯 Exam Tip: When inferring a character's plan, combine their known traits (like cunning for the fox) with the immediate circumstances to deduce their intentions.

Question 9. Why does the fox address the camel as friend camel?
Answer: The fox addressed the camel as 'friend camel' to make him believe that he is his well-wisher so that the camel does not see through his wicked intentions.
In simple words: The fox called the camel "friend camel" to trick it into believing he was a well-wisher, thereby concealing his true, malicious intentions.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze dialogue carefully; sometimes, seemingly friendly words are used as a disguise for ulterior motives, especially with cunning characters.

Question 10. What qualities of the courtiers emerge in this part of the story when they were in the desert?
Answer: The lion king comes across as someone who had leapt before looking what he was landing into. He himself didn't know how he would return to the forest but commanded that they should stop right there. Not a very thoughtful and far sighted king. The vulture appears to be self-centred and greedy. He was only interested in eating the camel. The leopard, though a bodyguard, was a coward who wanted to run away. However, the fox comes across as a problem-solver who rescues everyone from the situation with his wit.
In simple words: In the desert, the lion appears impulsive, the vulture greedy and self-centered, the leopard cowardly, and the fox cunning and resourceful, revealing a mix of flawed and strategic qualities among the courtiers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Character analysis often requires identifying multiple traits that emerge in different situations, providing a nuanced understanding of their personalities.

Question 11. The fox, the leopard and the vulture have the same thought about the camel. Why is it so?
Answer: By sparing the camel and not eating it, the king had spoilt the plan of the fox, vulture and the leopard. As they had similar interests, they had the same thought about the camel. The animals were all tired and hungry and realised that the camel would make a large meal. The camel being simple minded would not suspect this play and they could easily have a feast and satiate their hunger by fooling him. They were now irritated with their plans having been failed.
In simple words: The fox, leopard, and vulture all thought similarly about the camel because they were hungry and planned to eat it, viewing it as a large meal, and were frustrated when the king's decision to spare it ruined their scheme.

🎯 Exam Tip: Collective motivations often stem from shared needs or desires, especially when characters are united by a common goal or predicament, like hunger in this case.

Question 12. Did you expect the lion to be kind to the camel? Do you think his decision was right?
Answer: No, I didn't expect the lion to be kind to the camel who was his prey. Yes, I think the lion's decision was right as he was thankful to the camel for saving their lives by carrying them back to the forest. His decision was a mark of gratitude towards the camel.
In simple words: Initially, I did not expect the lion to be kind to his prey, the camel. However, his decision to spare the camel was right because it demonstrated gratitude for the camel saving their lives, transforming a predatory relationship into one of appreciation.

🎯 Exam Tip: When evaluating a character's decision, consider the values and lessons conveyed by their actions, especially when they challenge initial expectations or societal norms.

Answer In One Sentence.

Question 1. Why did the king appoint the leopard as his bodyguard?
Answer: The king appointed the leopard as his bodyguard as he was watchful and swift on his feet.
In simple words: The king chose the leopard as his bodyguard because of its keen watchfulness and swiftness.

🎯 Exam Tip: For one-sentence answers, be direct and include only the essential information needed to answer the question accurately.

Question 2. What did the lion's courtiers do when he went hunting?
Answer: When the lion king went hunting, the courtiers found animals for him to kill.
In simple words: The courtiers helped the lion king hunt by locating animals for him to kill.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the specific action performed by the characters as described in the narrative to provide a precise answer.

Question 3. How does the vulture describe the camel to the lion king?
Answer: The vulture describes the camel as a lone animal in the desert who was big and fat.
In simple words: The vulture described the camel as a solitary, large, and plump animal found in the desert.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for a description, include all key adjectives and details provided in the original text.

Question 4. Why couldn't the lion walk any further?
Answer: The lion could not walk any further as the hot sand had burned his paws.
In simple words: The lion stopped walking because the hot desert sand had painfully burned his paws.

🎯 Exam Tip: Ensure your answer clearly states the cause-and-effect relationship (hot sand causing burned paws, leading to inability to walk).

Question 5. What does the fox tell the camel?
Answer: The fox tells that the camel that the lion king had killed his master and it was now free. The lion king, therefore, had invited it to live at his court.
In simple words: The fox falsely told the camel that its master had been killed by the lion king, and as a result, the camel was now free and invited to join the king's court.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguish between true statements and deceptive ones made by characters; understanding the lie helps reveal the character's manipulative nature.

Question 6. On what condition did the camel agree to serve the lion?
Answer: The camel agreed to serve the lion in return for a home at his court.
In simple words: The camel agreed to serve the lion in exchange for a place to live in his royal court.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify specific conditions or agreements explicitly stated in the story to accurately answer such questions.

Question 7. Why were the courtiers shocked to listen to the lion king's decision?
Answer: The courtiers were shocked to listen to the lion king's decision as they had risked their lives to eat the camel's meat but the king had now decided to spare it.
In simple words: The courtiers were shocked because they had risked their lives hoping to eat the camel, but the king unexpectedly chose to spare it instead.

🎯 Exam Tip: Link the characters' reactions directly to their expectations or personal stakes to explain their emotional responses effectively.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary And Grammar

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1. Complete the web
Answer:
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह एक वेब आरेख है जो कहानी में उल्लिखित जानवरों को दर्शाता है। केंद्र में "The animals mentioned in the passage" शीर्षक है, जिससे चार तीर बाहर निकलते हुए "King Lion", "The Vulture", "The fox", और "The Leopard" के नाम दिखाते हैं।
In simple words: The web diagram illustrates the main animal characters mentioned in the passage, specifically listing King Lion, the Vulture, the Fox, and the Leopard.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing web diagrams, ensure all elements are correctly placed and connected according to the information provided in the passage.

Question 2. Who said to whom
(i) "A king must have a court"
Answer: The king thought to himself.
(ii) "I want you to be my adviser”
Answer: The king said the above sentence to the fox.
(iii) "I want you to be my bodyguard"
Answer: The king said the above sentence to the leopard.
(iv) "You are to be my messenger"
Answer: The king said the above sentence to the vulture.
In simple words: This section identifies the speaker and recipient of key dialogues from the story, clarifying who said what to whom, including internal thoughts.

🎯 Exam Tip: For "Who said to whom" questions, accurately recall character interactions and whether a statement was spoken aloud or thought internally.

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1. Why must a king have a court?
Answer: A king must have a court for the smooth functioning of his kingdom. Besides, the king cannot do everything on his own so, by delegating work to his courtiers, the king can assure that various departments in his kingdom are serving his subjects well.
In simple words: A king needs a court to ensure the smooth administration of the kingdom, as he cannot manage all tasks alone, and delegating responsibilities helps different departments serve the subjects efficiently.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining the purpose of a system, consider the practical benefits it offers, such as delegation, efficiency, and broader reach in governance.

Question 2. How is the human administration similar to that of what we read in the passage?
Answer: Just as we have different portfolios the Lion king also gave responsibilities to his courtiers. For example the fox who is very wise and clever and we too have a council of ministers who advice the Prime Minister; just like the leopard who is watchful and swift, we too have the defence system in our country and like their vulture who is a messenger we too have the ministry of communication and technology.
In simple words: Human administration mirrors the lion king's court by delegating specialized roles, such as a council of ministers for advice (like the fox), a defense system for protection (like the leopard), and a ministry of communication (like the vulture messenger).

🎯 Exam Tip: When drawing parallels, provide clear, specific examples from both contexts (the story and human administration) to illustrate the similarities effectively.

Question 3. What is the oath of loyalty?
Answer: An oath of loyalty is a pledge one takes acknowledging one's duty and faithfulness towards one's country or a king.
In simple words: An oath of loyalty is a formal promise to be devoted and faithful to one's country or a ruler.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define key terms clearly and concisely, focusing on their core meaning and significance.

Vocabulary:

Question 1. Give the meanings of the following words.
Answer:
• courtiers - people who attend the royal court
• adviser - the one who advises
• bodyguard – a person employed to protect somebody
• loyal - faithful towards a person or an organisation.
In simple words: This section defines common vocabulary words from the passage, explaining "courtiers" as royal attendees, "adviser" as a guide, "bodyguard" as a protector, and "loyal" as faithful.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing the precise meanings of vocabulary words is crucial for comprehension and accurate interpretation of any text.

Grammar:

Question 1. Pick out the Subject and Predicate from the following sentences.
1. They brought him gifts from every corner of the forest.
2. The lion called a leopard to his side.
3. The fox, the vulture and the leopard took an oath of loyalty to the king.
4. The three courtiers never opposed the king.
Answer:

In simple words: This table correctly identifies the subject (who or what performs the action) and the predicate (the action and its details) for each given sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: To find the subject, ask "Who or what is performing the action?" To find the predicate, identify the verb and everything that follows it in the sentence.

Question 2. Identify any 4 common nouns from the above passage.
Answer: king, forest, fox, leopard, animals
In simple words: This answer lists five common nouns found in the passage: king, forest, fox, leopard, and animals, which are general names for people, places, or things.

🎯 Exam Tip: Common nouns refer to general categories, not specific individuals or places. Practice distinguishing them from proper nouns.

Question 3. Add the question tag for the following sentences.
1. He called a fox to his side.
2. You are to be my messenger.
3. The king promised to give them food and protection.
4. He was big and strong and very fierce.
Answer:
1. He called a fox to his side, didn't he?
2. You are to be my messenger, aren't you?
3. The king promised to give them food and protection, didn't he?
4. He was big and strong and very fierce, wasn't he?
In simple words: This exercise correctly adds question tags to the given statements, transforming them into interrogative sentences while following the rules of auxiliary verbs and polarity.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to use the opposite polarity (positive statement, negative tag; negative statement, positive tag) and the correct auxiliary verb from the main sentence when forming question tags.

Question 4. Give the adjective forms for the following.
1. protection
2. loyalty
3. watch
4. thought
Answer:
1. protective, protected
2. loyal
3. watchful
4. thoughtful
In simple words: This task converts the given nouns into their corresponding adjective forms, such as "protection" becoming "protective" or "protected," and "loyalty" becoming "loyal."

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to suffixes and word transformations when converting words from one part of speech to another; some nouns may have multiple adjective forms with slightly different meanings.

Question 5. Complete the table using the singular or plural forms of the nouns.
Answer:

In simple words: This table completes the singular and plural forms of various nouns, demonstrating both regular and irregular pluralization rules (e.g., apple-apples, life-lives, woman-women).

🎯 Exam Tip: Master both regular (adding -s or -es) and irregular plural forms (e.g., vowel changes, no change) as they are common grammar points.

Question 6. Find five countable nouns from the passage and write their singular and plural forms.
Answer:

In simple words: This table lists five countable nouns from the story, showing their singular and corresponding plural forms. It helps understand how these common nouns change when referring to one or many.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognizing singular and plural forms of nouns is crucial for grammatical accuracy and can impact sentence structure in essays.

Read The Following Passage And Do The Activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1. State whether the following statements are true or false.
Answer:
1. False
2. True
In simple words: The statements are evaluated for their truthfulness based on the story, indicating whether they align with the events described.

🎯 Exam Tip: For true/false questions, always refer directly to the passage to verify each statement, avoiding assumptions.

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1. Were the courtiers being loyal to their king?
Answer:
No, the courtiers were not being loyal to their king as by getting the camel killed by the lion they would force the lion king to go against his own promise of protecting the camel thereby spoiling the king's image.
In simple words: The courtiers were disloyal because they intended for the king to break his promise and kill the camel for their own gain.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze character actions and motivations to determine loyalty; actions often speak louder than words.

Question 2. What qualities of the camel are seen in his speech?
Answer:
The camel comes across as very humble and loyal character. He knows very well that he could not be of much use to the lion in the forest. Moreover, he is willing to lay down his life for the sake of his king which means that he is extremely selfless.
In simple words: The camel's speech shows him to be humble, loyal, and selfless, willing to sacrifice himself for the king.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to dialogue and self-description to identify character traits and deeper meanings.

Question 3. Why did the lion laugh to see the courtiers go?
Answer:
The lion laughed to see the courtiers go because he knew they were unfaithful courtiers and were only with him to serve their own selfish motives. He had been successful in driving them away without pronouncing a cruel judgment against them.
In simple words: The lion laughed because he outsmarted his selfish courtiers, making them leave without directly punishing them, thus revealing their true nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding a character's internal thoughts and reasons for actions provides insight into the story's themes.

Question 4. Why did the king offer his friendship to the camel?
Answer:
The king realized that his courtiers were unfaithful. In contrast, the camel was loyal and good. So, he offered friendship to the camel.
In simple words: The king offered friendship to the camel because he recognized the camel's genuine loyalty and goodness, unlike his deceitful courtiers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying contrasting character traits helps explain decisions made by main characters and highlights moral lessons.

Question 5.
Explain the lines "To be king is good. But to be kind is better”.
Answer:
The king through the lines "To be king is good, but to be kind is better” wants to say that as a king he demanded respect but couldn't win loyal friends or courtiers. But by being kind to the camel he not only gained respect but also won a true friend.
In simple words: This line means that while having power as a king is good, showing kindness is superior because it earns true respect and loyal relationships, not just demanded obedience.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explaining moral statements requires relating them back to the story's events and character development to show their significance.

Vocabulary:

Question.
Give homophones for the following words.
(a) accept
(b) seen
Answer:
(a) except
(b) scene
In simple words: Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mastering homophones improves vocabulary and spelling accuracy, crucial for clear written communication.

Grammar:

Question 2. Away flew the vulture.
(Separate the subject and predicate.)
Answer:
The vulture - subject, flew away - predicate
In simple words: The subject is who or what the sentence is about (the vulture), and the predicate is what the subject does or is (flew away).

🎯 Exam Tip: Correctly identifying subjects and predicates is fundamental to understanding sentence structure and improves analytical skills.

Question 3. They were never seen in the forest again.
(Add a question tag)
Answer:
They were never seen in the forest again, were they?
In simple words: A question tag is a short question added to the end of a statement to ask for confirmation.

🎯 Exam Tip: When adding question tags, remember to use the opposite auxiliary verb and the pronoun corresponding to the subject.

Question 4. What qualities of the lion king impresses you the most? Why?
Answer:
The lion king was very witty and wise. He had the skill of teaching his wicked and cunning courtiers a lesson without being cruel to them. He also had the quality of distinguishing between the faithful and the unfaithful. These qualities of the lion king impress me the most.
In simple words: The lion king's wit, wisdom, ability to teach lessons without cruelty, and skill in discerning true loyalty are his most impressive qualities.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing character qualities, provide specific examples from the story to support your claims and explain their impact.

Language Study:

Do As Directed.

Question 1. The king promised to give them food and protection. (Rewrite using 'Not only... but also'.)
Answer:
The king promised to give them not only food but also protection. The king not only promised to give them food, but also protection.
In simple words: This grammatical construction emphasizes that the king provided two things: food and protection.

🎯 Exam Tip: The 'not only... but also' structure is used to connect two grammatically parallel items or clauses, adding emphasis to the second item.

Question 2. Let us go back to the forest.
(State the kind of sentence.)
Answer:
Imperative sentence.
In simple words: An imperative sentence gives a command, makes a request, or offers advice, often starting with a verb.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the purpose of a sentence - if it issues a command or suggestion, it's likely imperative.

Question 3. They did not want the vulture to seem wiser than them. (Identify the degree of comparison.)
Answer:
Comparative degree.
In simple words: The comparative degree is used to compare two things, often indicated by words like "wiser than".

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for "than" or the "-er" suffix on adjectives to quickly identify the comparative degree in sentences.

Question 4. All the other animals in the forest called him king.
(Rewrite beginning with 'He was'.)
Answer:
He was called king by all the other animals in the forest.
In simple words: This sentence is rewritten from active voice to passive voice, shifting the focus from the doer to the recipient of the action.

🎯 Exam Tip: To change to passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and a form of 'to be' + past participle is used.

Question 5. "Our king, the lion, has killed your master” said the fox.
(Change into indirect speech.)
Answer:
The fox informed that their king, the lion, had killed his master.
In simple words: Indirect speech reports what was said without using the exact words, often changing tense and pronouns.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to change the tense of the verb in indirect speech if the reporting verb is in the past tense, and adjust pronouns accordingly.

Question 6. Make sentences using phrases/idioms.
Answer:
- To set off - We packed our bags and set off on a nature trail.
- To keep (yourself) from - My grandmother is 70 years old. But that does not keep her from enjoying treks.
In simple words: These examples demonstrate how to correctly use the given phrases in context within a sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practicing phrases and idioms in sentences helps solidify their meaning and appropriate usage, enhancing fluency and comprehension.

Question 7. Complete the table.
Answer:

In simple words: This table shows how words can change form to function as a noun, a verb, or an adjective while retaining a related meaning.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding different word forms helps expand vocabulary and improves sentence construction and grammatical accuracy.

Writing Skills:

Question 1. Choose any fable, story that you like and rewrite it giving it an unexpected turn.
Answer:
The Thirsty Crow
One hot day, a thirsty crow flew all across the plains in search of water. It had taken him more time than he thought and he felt weak. Losing all hope, he flew down to see if there was water kept outside the houses by the lonely street.

To his delight, he found a jug with water outside a small hut. But, the jug had very little water and it's neck was too narrow for his head to be put in. He tried picking up the jug but in vain. Finally, he saw some pebbles and decided that if he dropped the pebbles, into the jug the water level would rise and he would be able to quench his thirst. But the crow had no patience to throw each pebble in one by one and wait for water level to rise slowly.

He saw a big stone lying by the side of the jug. He thought to himself, "if I put this big stone inside the jug, the level of water will rise at once”.

In his heart he felt proud about himself for this brilliant idea. So in desperation, he took the big stone and threw it in the jug. But to his disappointment, the stone hit the base of the earthen jug so hard that the jug broke into pieces. All the water from the jug spread all over the place. The crow tried to drink but before he could do so the thirsty earth had soaked in most of it.
Moral: Haste makes waste.
In simple words: The classic story of the thirsty crow is retold with an unexpected twist: instead of successfully raising the water level, the crow's impatience and attempt to use a large stone break the jug, resulting in no water for him.

🎯 Exam Tip: When rewriting a story with an unexpected turn, ensure the new ending logically connects to the established characters and plot, adding a fresh perspective to the original moral.

The King's Choice Summary In English

The folk tale 'The King's Choice' highlights the importance of virtues such as loyalty and kindness. The lion king in the story proves that a king's might and majesty may win him some untrue and fake followers but kindness alone can give him the gift of faithful friends. On the other hand, the faithful camel's character underlines the age old maxim, 'Loyalty always pays'.

Paraphrase:

The story takes us to a forest where the lion king appoints the fox, the vulture and the leopard as his courtiers. However, the vulture due to his selfish and greedy motive of eating up the lion king lures him into going to the desert to eat camel meat. Other courtiers also follow.

When the king and his companions get tired of walking in the scorching sun, the fox comes to their rescue. He, through his wit and craftiness, befriends the camel and tricks him into believing that the king wanted to befriend him. The innocent camel appears before the king and carries the trio back to the forest on his back.

Filled with gratitude towards the camel on saving his life, the king decides to spare him and gives him his protection. Although the three courtiers are unhappy with the decision, they keep quiet.

However, after few days, unable to go hunting, the lion summons his courtiers and orders them to bring him food. The cunning fox once again holds a meeting and they plan to compel the king to eat the camel. But there is a twist in the story, the camel is safe once again due to its loyalty and the betrayers are compelled to flee.

Thus, the king outsmarts his crafty and unfaithful courtiers and repays the camel for his loyalty with his kindness.

Glossary:

1. fierce (adj) - physically violent and frightening
2. swift (adj) - quick
3. watchful (adj) - alert and vigilant
4. oath (n) - promise or vow
5. awe (n) - respect and fear
6. remains (n) - the parts left over after other parts have been removed
7. lone (adj) - only one
8. vulture (n) - a large bird of prey
9. paws (n) - an animal's foot
10. feast (n) - a large meal, typically eaten during celebrations
11. risked (v) - put in danger
12. grateful (adj) - thankful