Maharashtra Board Class 7 English Unit 3 Chapter 3.6 Think Before You Speak Poem Solutions

1. The same word can be used as a noun in some sentences and as a verb in others.

Question 1. For example,
1. Many are the empty remarks .......... Noun.
2. A wise man once remarked, .......... Verb.
Make two sentences of your own with each of the words given below, using the same word as a noun in one and as a verb in another.
1. change
2. show throw
3. return
4. benefit
Answer:
1. Change:
• Picnics are a welcome change from the daily routine. (Noun)
• Change the way you think. (Verb)

2. Show:
• The students put up a grand musical show. (Noun)
• You need not show me my tickets. (Verb)

3 Throw:
• That was an easy throw. (Noun)
• You must throw garbage in the trash can. (Verb)

4 Return:
• She promised to take me for a movie on her return from the market. (Noun)
• Please return my book, as I need to complete it. (Verb)

5 Benefit:
• I advice you for your own benefit. (Noun)
• Children benefit from parents' advice. (Verb)
In simple words: This exercise demonstrates how certain words can function as both nouns and verbs depending on the context of the sentence. Students create pairs of sentences to illustrate this dual usage.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the word's role in the sentence (subject, object, action) to correctly identify if it's being used as a noun or a verb. Practice with various words to master this concept.

2. Complete The Following.

Question 1. Our ears are like funnels because ..........
Answer: they are open all the time and there is no door with which you can close them.
In simple words: Our ears are always open and cannot be closed, much like funnels that are always open to receive sound.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing sentences, ensure your explanation directly addresses the "because" clause, providing a logical and relevant reason from the text.

Question 2. The two rows of teeth are like a fence because ..........
Answer: if we wish to speak our words have to pierce through them.
In simple words: The teeth act as a barrier, meaning words must pass through them, implying a natural filter before speaking.

🎯 Exam Tip: Relate the metaphor (teeth as a fence) directly to the implied action (words needing to pass through), explaining its significance in controlling speech.

Question 3. The two lips are like fence because ..........
Answer: before a word is spoken, it has to pass through it.
In simple words: Lips serve as another barrier, ensuring that any word spoken has passed through multiple physical checks before being uttered.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the sequence of filters (ears, teeth, lips) that the text suggests for speech, and explain how each serves to make us think before speaking.

Question 4. Harsh words are like scattered bits of paper carried away by the wind because ..........
Answer: once you have spoken them aloud, it is very difficult to take them back.
In simple words: Just as scattered paper cannot be easily re-collected, once harsh words are spoken, they cannot be retrieved or unsaid.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the irreversibility of spoken words, drawing a strong parallel with the physical act of scattering paper to emphasize the lesson's core message.

3. Write A Brief Summary Of The Story Of The Young Man And His Spiritual Teacher, Making The Young Man The Narrator.

Question 1. You may begin as given below. "I went quickly to my spiritual teacher for advice because I had .........."
Answer: I went quickly to my spiritual teacher for advice because I had hurt and insulted my dear friend with unkind and harsh words. When I asked him for the solution, he gave me a fresh sheet of blank paper and a pen and instructed me to write down on that paper all the harsh things I had told my friend. I obeyed. He then asked me to tear it into as many bits as I could and throw the bits out of the window.
The tiny bits scattered far and wide in no time. But to my surprise, he then asked me to collect as many bits as possible. I ran to collect them, but in vain. I couldn't get hold of even in a single bit of paper. I returned all exhausted. He then revealed to me that spoken words are like those bits of paper, easy to scatter but difficult to take back. What was done, was done, and could not be altered. I learnt that I should think before I speak.
In simple words: The young man sought advice after hurting a friend with harsh words. His teacher made him write them down, tear the paper, scatter the pieces, and then try to collect them, illustrating that words, once spoken, are impossible to retrieve.

🎯 Exam Tip: For narrative summaries, ensure you maintain the narrator's perspective and capture the main events and the central lesson learned, using concise and clear language.

4. Language Study.

Adverbial:
An adverbial is something that is used as an adverb. An adverbial is often one word, an adverb, as in the following example:
1.You have run fast.
But, it can also be a phrase or a clause.
2. We played on the playground.
3. I will go home when the bell rings.
In sentence 2, the phrase 'on the playground' is used as an adverb. In sentence 3, the clause 'when the bell rings' Is used as an adverb.

Answer The Following Questions.

Question 1. Was Disraeli trying to give a scientific reason?
Answer: No, Disraeli wasn't trying to give a scientific reason, but a logical one. He just wanted to draw our attention to the fact, that human physiology suggests that we should speak less and listen more.
In simple words: Disraeli used a logical, not scientific, observation about human anatomy to emphasize that we should listen more and talk less.

🎯 Exam Tip: Differentiate between scientific explanations and logical reasoning based on observation when analyzing text. Focus on the underlying message rather than a literal interpretation.

Question 2. Was he only trying to give a message in a light-hearted but effective way?
Answer: Yes, he was only trying to give a message in a light-hearted but effective way.
In simple words: Yes, Disraeli aimed to convey a serious message about speech through a simple, memorable, and relatable observation.

🎯 Exam Tip: When assessing tone and intent, consider if the language used is straightforward and easily understandable, suggesting a simple yet impactful communication style.

Question 3. Have you ever passed an empty remark or win statement that might hurt someone? What can you do to avoid it again?
Answer: Yes, I have passed a vain statement about a classmate's dressing sense only to realize later that she came from a poor financial background. I was lucky she didn't hear it or else she would have been hurt. From that day I decided not to pass such remarks because often we do not know the complete background.
In simple words: This is a personal reflection on making hurtful remarks, highlighting the importance of understanding others' situations and thinking before speaking to avoid causing pain.

🎯 Exam Tip: For personal response questions, provide a specific example and clearly state the lesson learned or the preventive action you would take, demonstrating critical thinking and empathy.

Answer The Following In One Or Two Sentences.

Question 1. What did the wise teacher ask the young man to do?
Answer: The wise teacher asked the young man to write down on a paper all the harsh things he had told his friend.
In simple words: The teacher asked the young man to list all the hurtful words he had spoken to his friend.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the key instruction given by the teacher and state it directly and concisely, as the question asks for a brief answer.

Question 2. What did the wise teacher ask the young man to do with the sheet of paper?
Answer: The wise teacher asked the young man to tear the sheet of paper into a hundred tiny pieces and throw the bits out of the window.
In simple words: The teacher instructed him to shred the paper and scatter the pieces outside.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the two main actions (tearing and throwing) related to the paper to fully answer the question within the sentence limit.

Question 3. What is the similarity between the bits of paper scattered in the wind and spoken words?
Answer: Just as bits of paper scattered in the wind are difficult to gather, similarly spoken words are impossible to take back.
In simple words: Both scattered paper and spoken words are irreversible; once released, they cannot be easily retrieved or unsaid.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly articulate the common characteristic (irreversibility) that links the two seemingly different items in the analogy.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary And Grammar.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
1. Benjamin Disraeli was a great
2. To speak eve one single words, it must
3. We must think at least
Answer:
1. Britsh Statesman
2. pass through two walls - two fences,
3. twice before we utter a word.
In simple words: This question tests recall of key facts and phrases from the text related to Benjamin Disraeli's views on speaking and the filters of speech.

🎯 Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks or completion questions, ensure your answers are precise and directly reflect the information presented in the lesson.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1. How do we become slaves of words spoken by us?
Answer: Once we have spoken a word we become slaves as we cannot take it back, no matter how hard we try. You cannot retrieve it.
In simple words: We become slaves to our words because once uttered, they cannot be taken back, and we are bound by their consequences or implications.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the concept of being a "slave" to words by focusing on the lack of control over them once they have been spoken and the lasting impact they can have.

Question 2. What are unspoken words?
Answer: Unspoken words are things one wants to say, but remain unsaid as thoughts in the mind.
In simple words: Unspoken words are thoughts or intentions that exist only in our minds and have not yet been vocalized.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define "unspoken words" clearly by contrasting them with spoken words, highlighting their internal and unexpressed nature.

Question 3. How do spoken words make you a slave?
Answer: Spoken words are meant to be honoured which means we have to stand by it. We say something and do not follow it, then we lose our credibility. Hence we need to think before we speak and become slave to our own words.
In simple words: Spoken words make us slaves because we are expected to uphold them; failure to do so diminishes our credibility, binding us to their meaning and consequences.

🎯 Exam Tip: Elaborate on the concept of commitment and credibility in relation to spoken words, explaining how they create an obligation that makes us "slaves" to what we say.

Question 4. Two rows of teeth'. Thinks of similar expressions.
Answer:
1. Two sets of five fingers.
2. Two sets of five toes.
3. A pairs of eyes
4. A pair of ears are similar expression.
In simple words: This question asks for expressions that describe common paired body parts, similar to how teeth are arranged in two rows.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for similar expressions, provide examples that follow the same structural pattern or convey a similar observation about paired or grouped anatomical features.

Vocabulary.

Question 1. Use the words 'left' in separate sentences and show the difference in the meaning.
Answer: My'sister uses her left hand efficiently. After the function, a lot of food was left behind. She lift without telling anybody.
In simple words: This demonstrates how the word 'left' can have different meanings, such as a direction/side of the body, or something remaining/departing.

🎯 Exam Tip: When illustrating multiple meanings of a word, provide distinct sentences where each context clearly highlights a different definition, ensuring clarity for the reader.

Question 2. Man was meant to listen more and talk less similarly make a sentence using words of opposite meaning.
Answer: We breathe in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide.
In simple words: This sentence uses contrasting actions (breathe in/breathe out) with opposite elements (oxygen/carbon dioxide) to parallel the idea of listening more and talking less.

🎯 Exam Tip: To create sentences with opposite meanings, identify antonyms or contrasting actions and subjects that clearly illustrate the reversal of the original concept.

Grammar.

Question 1. The wise teacher gave him a fresh sheet of blank paper and pen. (Rewrite ending with 'the wise teacher')
Answer: He was given a fresh sheet of blank paper and pen by the wise teacher.
In simple words: This question requires rewriting an active voice sentence into a passive voice, shifting the focus from the doer to the recipient of the action.

🎯 Exam Tip: To rewrite a sentence ending with a specific phrase, often passive voice is required. Ensure the subject and object are correctly repositioned, and the verb form is adjusted accordingly.

Question 2. You cannot change them or control them. (Make affirmative)
Answer: You can hardly change them or control them.
In simple words: This conversion changes a negative statement into an affirmative one while retaining a similar meaning, indicating difficulty rather than impossibility.

🎯 Exam Tip: To convert a negative sentence to an affirmative one with similar meaning, use adverbs like 'hardly,' 'scarcely,' or rephrase using positive constructions that imply limitation.

Question 3. Spoken - unspoken
Write two similar antonyms using a prefix.
Answer:
1. able - unable
2. happy - unhappy
In simple words: This task involves forming antonyms by adding a prefix (like 'un-') to a given word, demonstrating how prefixes change word meanings.

🎯 Exam Tip: When forming antonyms with prefixes, identify common negative prefixes (un-, in-, dis-, im-, ir-) and apply them correctly, ensuring the new word is a valid antonym.

Form Adjectives.

Question 1.
1. thought
2. remark
3. nature
4. man
5. time
Answer:
1. thoughtful/thoughtless
2. remarkable
3. natural
4. manual/ manly
5. timely
In simple words: This exercise requires transforming given nouns into their corresponding adjective forms, which describe qualities or characteristics.

🎯 Exam Tip: To form adjectives from nouns, consider various suffixes (e.g., -ful, -able, -al, -ly) and choose the one that correctly creates a word describing a quality related to the original noun.

Personal Response.

Question 1. Do you remember someone else speaking to you angrily, without thinking? What did you do on that occasion? Did you also speak angrily?
Answer: Yes, I do remember a few occasions. When people have spoken to me angrily without a valid reason. Though I was angry, I did not speak angrily as I did not want an angry exchange in public.
In simple words: This is a reflection on how one responded to someone speaking angrily without thinking, emphasizing a conscious choice to avoid escalating the conflict.

🎯 Exam Tip: In personal response questions, offer a clear, concise anecdote and explain your emotional and behavioral response, demonstrating thoughtfulness and self-control.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
1. Socrates had influenced the lives of many youths for the better.
2. According to Socrates, one must never open one's mouth to speak.
Answer:
1. True
2. False.
In simple words: This question checks understanding of statements about Socrates, determining which are factually correct based on the provided text.

🎯 Exam Tip: For true/false questions, carefully read each statement and cross-reference it with the text to confirm its accuracy, especially distinguishing between partial truths and absolute statements.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1. What are three questions one needs to ask before speaking?
Answer: Before speaking one needs to ask three questions such as 'Is it true?', 'Is it pleasant?', 'Is it useful?'.
In simple words: Before speaking, one should ask if the words are true, pleasant, and useful.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the three crucial questions Socrates posed for effective communication: truth, pleasantness, and usefulness, as these are central to the lesson.

Question 2. Why should one ask the question 'Is it true?' before speaking?
Answer: One must ask the question 'Is it true?' before speaking because if we are not sure about the truth of what we are saying, it is better we do not speak. When we speak words carelessly, we become transmitters of the untruth.
In simple words: Asking "Is it true?" is vital because speaking without certainty can spread falsehoods and damage credibility.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the consequence of not verifying truth - the spread of misinformation - as the primary reason for this crucial question.

Question 3. What is the importance of asking the question ' 'Is it useful?'
Answer: It is important to ask 'Is it useful?' before speaking because only if our words benefit the listener and comfort someone, they should be spoken.
In simple words: It's important to ask "Is it useful?" because words should only be spoken if they bring benefit or comfort to the listener.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight the positive impact (benefit, comfort) on the listener as the core reason for considering the usefulness of one's words before speaking.

Vocabulary.

Question 1. Pick out a word from the extract that means 'useless'.
Answer: vain
In simple words: The word "vain" from the text means something is useless or without real value.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to identify synonyms, scan the text for words that directly convey the specified meaning, ensuring your answer is directly from the passage.

Question 2. Give antonyms.
1. ancient
2. affirmative
Answer:
1. recent / contemporary
2. negative
In simple words: This question asks to provide words that have the opposite meaning of "ancient" and "affirmative."

🎯 Exam Tip: For antonyms, think of direct opposites. For "ancient," consider words related to the present; for "affirmative," think of words that express denial or opposition.

Grammar.

Question 1. Socrates was one of the wise men of the ancient world. (Rewrite using 'as ... as')
Answer: Very few men of the ancient world were as wise as Socrates.
In simple words: This rewrite uses the comparative structure "as...as" to highlight Socrates' exceptional wisdom compared to others.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using "as...as" for comparison, ensure the structure correctly emphasizes the degree of a quality, often requiring a modification of the initial phrase.

Question 2. "O wise one, how may we know when it is right to speak?" they asked him. (Write in indirect speech)
Answer: Addressing him as a wise one, they asked him how they might know when it was right time to speak.
In simple words: This converts a direct question into indirect speech, narrating what was asked without quoting verbatim.

🎯 Exam Tip: To convert to indirect speech, change pronouns, verb tenses, and time/place expressions appropriately, and use reporting verbs like 'asked' or 'enquired'.

Personal Response.

Question 1. Do you agree that thinking before speaking saves one from many troubles? Explain.
Answer: Yes, I definitely agree that thinking before speaking saves one from many troubles as we get time to analyse our thoughts and decide whether we should speak or not. Many a times when we are angry, if we think before speaking we will not have to regret what we have said. This saves many relationships.
In simple words: Yes, thinking before speaking helps avoid regrets and preserves relationships by allowing us to analyze our thoughts, especially during anger.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide a clear stance (agree/disagree) and support it with logical reasons and examples of how thoughtful communication prevents negative outcomes and fosters better interactions.

Do As Directed.

Question 1. Write down on this paper all the harsh things you said to him. (Add a question tag)
Answer: Write down on this paper all the harsh things you said to him, will you?
In simple words: This question adds a question tag to an imperative sentence, turning a command into a polite request for confirmation.

🎯 Exam Tip: For imperative sentences, the question tag is typically "will you?" or "won't you?". Ensure the tag matches the tone of the command or request.

Question 2. "Throw the bits out of this window" the teacher told him. (Write in indirect speech)
Answer: The teacher instructed him to throw the bits out of that window.
In simple words: This transforms a direct command into an indirect statement, reporting the teacher's instruction.

🎯 Exam Tip: When converting direct commands to indirect speech, use reporting verbs like 'instructed,' 'ordered,' or 'advised,' and change 'this' to 'that' for location references.

Question 3. It will be difficult indeed. (Make negative)
Answer: It will not be easy indeed.
In simple words: This changes an affirmative statement into a negative one while maintaining the original meaning of difficulty.

🎯 Exam Tip: To make a sentence negative, introduce a negative word (like 'not') and often replace a positive adjective with its antonym (e.g., 'difficult' to 'not easy') to preserve the meaning.

Question 4. It will be difficult indeed, but do give it a try. (Rewrite using although)
Answer: Although it will be difficult, give it a try.
In simple words: This combines two clauses using "although" to show a concession, emphasizing that despite difficulty, an effort should still be made.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using "although," place it at the beginning of the subordinate clause (the concession) and ensure the main clause logically follows, indicating contrast or unexpected outcome.

Question 5. Speak only when absolutely necessary. (Frame a Wh-question)
Answer: When should one speak?
In simple words: This converts a statement about conditional speaking into a "Wh-question" that asks for the specific condition or timing.

🎯 Exam Tip: To frame a Wh-question, identify the key piece of information being conditioned (e.g., 'when,' 'why,' 'how') and structure the question to elicit that specific detail.

Question 6. The young man went out. (Rewrite in question form)
Answer: Didn't the young man go out?
In simple words: This transforms a simple statement into a negative interrogative question, often used for confirmation or to express mild surprise.

🎯 Exam Tip: To rewrite a statement as a question, use an auxiliary verb (e.g., 'did,' 'does,' 'is') at the beginning. For a negative question, include 'not' (often contracted) with the auxiliary.

Question 7. He returned half an hour later. (Rewrite using modal auxiliary of compulsion)
Answer: He must return half an hour later.
In simple words: This changes a statement of past action into one expressing necessity or compulsion for a future action using a modal verb.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify modal auxiliaries that convey compulsion (e.g., 'must,' 'have to,' 'should') and integrate them into the sentence, adjusting tense if necessary to fit the context of requirement.

Question 8. Now tear up this sheet of paper into as many small bits as you can. (Rewrite beginning with 'Let')
Answer: Let this sheet of paper be torn into as many small bits as you can.
In simple words: This rewrites an imperative command using 'Let' to form a polite suggestion or instruction, often in the passive voice.

🎯 Exam Tip: When rewriting with 'Let' for a command or suggestion, ensure the verb is in its base form and the sentence structure reflects a permission or proposal, often requiring a passive construction.

Question 9. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrases / idioms given below. Change the form where necessary to fill in the blanks. (far and wide, to make amends, taken aback, bring comfort)
1. His reassuring words .......... to my troubled mind.
2. People come to see flamingos from ..........
3. Mishti .......... by his brother's arrogance.
4. She .......... for her rudeness by apologizing.
Answer:
1. brought comfort
2. far and wide
3. was taken aback
4. made amends.
In simple words: This exercise involves selecting and correctly conjugating idioms and phrases from a given list to fit the meaning of various sentences.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the meaning of each idiom/phrase and its grammatical form. Pay attention to verb tenses and subject-verb agreement when filling in the blanks.

Question 10. Underline the adverbial in the following sentence.
1. The birds flew over the trees.
2. She speaks in a self tone.
Answer:
1. over the trees
2. food to eat
3. without permission
4. behind them briskly
5. behind them briskly
6. as he was told.
In simple words: This question asks to identify adverbial phrases in given sentences. An adverbial modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating how, when, where, or to what extent an action is performed. The provided answer lists several adverbial phrases, though some may correspond to unstated sentences.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify an adverbial, look for words or phrases that provide additional information about the verb (e.g., location, time, manner). Be careful to distinguish them from adjectives modifying nouns.

Think Before You Speak Summary In English

The great British statesman Benjamin Disraeli argued, that as man is endowed with two ears and one mouth it indicates that we should listen more and talk less. We are masters of unspoken words and slaves of the spoken ones.

The lesson narrates a story of a young man who had hurt his friend with his harsh words. Worried that he might lose his friend, he goes to a wise man who teaches him a lesson that words spoken are like scattered bits of paper thrown out in the wind. Easy to blow but difficult to collect. The advice of Socrates in the end nails the message quite forcefully. Socrates once told his disciples that when you wish to speak, ask three questions. If the answer to all of them is 'Yes', then go ahead and speak. The questions are - 'Is it true?', 'Is it pleasant?' and 'Is it useful?'.

The lesson is a practical tip on how one can earn respect, happy relationships and peace of mind by speaking less and only when needed.

Introduction:

The lesson 'Think Before You Speak!' carries the message "speak only when necessary".

Glossary:

1. statesman (n) - a person experienced in the art of governance
2. endowed (v) - to be provided with something
3. funnels (n) a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom
4. pierce (v) - go into something
5. stammer (v) - speak with sudden involuntary pause and repeat some letters
6. exhausted (adj) - very tired
7. counselled (v) - advised, guided
8. affirmative (adj) - answer which is 'yes'
9. veracity (n) - truth
10. transmitters (n) - persons who spread something, in this case, untruth
11. vain (adj) - useless