Samacheer Kalvi Class 7 English Solutions Term 1 Chapter 2 The RedHeaded League

Textual Exercise (Text Book Page No. 133)

A. Say whether the following statements are 'True' or 'False'.

Question 1. Photography was Vincent Spaulding's hobby.
Answer: False
Vincent Spaulding was not interested in photography as a hobby. His real purpose for being Mr. Wilson's assistant was to carry out a secret plan, not to enjoy a pastime. He was more focused on digging a tunnel.
In simple words: Photography was not what Vincent Spaulding liked to do for fun; he had another hidden motive.

🎯 Exam Tip: For true/false questions, quickly recall the main plot points related to the character mentioned to verify their actions or characteristics.

Question 2. Mr. Ross did not want to hire Mr. Wilson.
Answer: False
This statement is false because Mr. Ross actually wanted to hire Mr. Wilson for the Red-Headed League. He specifically sought out red-headed men for a unique job, making sure Wilson was a good fit for their deceptive plan.
In simple words: Mr. Ross did want to hire Mr. Wilson for the special job because of his red hair.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Mr. Ross was actively looking for red-headed men, which included Mr. Wilson, as part of a larger scheme.

Question 3. Mr. Wilson worked for Mr. Ross for six weeks.
Answer: False
Mr. Wilson worked for Mr. Ross for eight weeks, not six. The Red-Headed League office closed suddenly after this period, which caused Mr. Wilson great confusion and led him to seek Holmes' help. This longer duration gave the thieves more time.
In simple words: Mr. Wilson worked for Mr. Ross for eight weeks, not six.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to specific details like numbers and time periods mentioned in the story, as they can be crucial for true/false statements.

Question 4. Mr. Jones was a lawyer.
Answer: False
This is false. Mr. Jones was a police detective, an inspector from Scotland Yard, who helped Sherlock Holmes catch the criminals. He played a vital role in the final capture of the thieves.
In simple words: Mr. Jones was a detective from the police, not a lawyer.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the roles of all key characters clearly to avoid confusion, especially between different professions like lawyer and detective.

Question 5. Spaulding dug a tunnel from the cellar of the shop to the jewellery shop.
Answer: False
Spaulding was digging a tunnel from the pawnshop's cellar to the strong room of a nearby bank, not a jewellery shop. His goal was to steal a large amount of money from the bank, which held French gold. This was a sophisticated plan.
In simple words: Spaulding was digging a tunnel to the bank's strong room, not a jewellery shop.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the true objective of the villain's actions and the precise locations involved to correctly identify true or false statements.

B. Complete the table based on the information from the text.

C. Answer the following questions.

Question 1. Why did Jabez Wilson meet Mr. Holmes?
Answer: Jabez Wilson met Sherlock Holmes because he was very upset and felt that someone had played a mean trick on him. He wanted Holmes to help him understand the strange events and find a solution to his unusual problem. Only Holmes, with his keen detective skills, could uncover the truth behind such a mystery.
In simple words: Jabez Wilson felt tricked and upset, so he went to Holmes to ask for help with his strange problem.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering "why" questions, always state the main reason clearly, then add a brief explanation of the character's feelings or goal.

Question 2. Describe Vincent Spaulding.
Answer: Vincent Spaulding was Mr. Wilson's assistant at the pawnshop, but his real name was John Clay, a well-known criminal. He pretended to work for low wages so he could dig a tunnel from the pawnshop's cellar to a nearby bank's strong room. His secret plan was to rob the bank, but Sherlock Holmes eventually caught him, ending his criminal activities.
In simple words: Vincent Spaulding was actually a criminal named John Clay. He worked for Mr. Wilson for very little money to dig a tunnel and rob a bank, but Holmes caught him.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing a character, include their main role, their true identity (if applicable), their primary actions, and their ultimate fate in the story.

Question 3. Why did Spaulding spend a lot of time in the cellar?
Answer: Spaulding spent a lot of time in the cellar of Mr. Wilson's pawnshop. He was secretly digging a long tunnel from there to the strong room of the nearby bank. This tunnel was a key part of his plan to steal money from the bank, allowing him a secret entry point for the robbery.
In simple words: Spaulding spent many hours in the cellar to secretly dig a tunnel. This tunnel connected the pawnshop to the bank, so he could rob it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the villain's secret activity and its ultimate purpose for the plot when explaining their actions.

Question 4. Why was Mr. Wilson hired to copy the Encyclopaedia?
Answer: Mr. Wilson was hired to copy the Encyclopaedia as part of a clever trick. The job advertisement specifically asked for men with red hair, which was very unusual. The real reason for this was to keep Mr. Wilson busy and out of his shop for many hours each day, so Spaulding could dig the tunnel undisturbed. This was a distraction tactic.
In simple words: Mr. Wilson was hired to copy the Encyclopaedia because he had red hair. This was a trick to keep him busy and away from his shop so the thieves could dig a tunnel.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain both the superficial reason (red hair) and the hidden, true purpose (distraction for digging the tunnel) when describing such events.

Question 5. How did Holmes' team catch the thieves?
Answer: Sherlock Holmes suspected that the pawnshop's cellar connected directly to the bank's strong room. So, he and Inspector Jones, along with other officers, waited quietly inside the bank's strong room on a Saturday night. They planned to catch the thieves, John Clay (Spaulding) and his partner, as they broke through the floor, and they successfully caught them in the act.
In simple words: Holmes guessed the cellar led to the bank. He and Jones waited inside the bank's strong room and caught the thieves when they broke through the floor.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe Holmes' deduction (suspicion about the tunnel) and the specific method used to apprehend the criminals (waiting inside the bank to catch them red-handed).

Question D. Based on your reading of the text complete the pyramid by arranging the sequence in the correct order.
Answer: The events of the story, arranged in chronological order, are:
1. Wilson got a job in The Red-Headed League.
2. Wilson was assigned to copy the encyclopaedia.
3. One day he found the notice that 'The Red-Headed League' was dissolved.
4. Wilson asked Sherlock Holmes for help.
5. Holmes found the tunnel from the cellar to the bank's strong room.
6. Holmes recognised Spaulding, who was actually John Clay, a notorious criminal.
7. Spaulding and Ross were caught by the famous detective.
In simple words: We put the story events in order, from what happened first to what happened last. This helps us understand the sequence of the plot.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to arrange events, always identify the starting point and trace the sequence chronologically, from the earliest to the latest event in the narrative.

PROJECT

E. Here is the sample of an advertisement of a circus.

Imagine you have visited a Mystery Theme Park you have come across. Make an eye-catching advertisement with the help of the given clues.

A mirror maze Scary faces A ghostly figure A pitch dark room

Are you ready to discover the mysterical world? Face your fears @ The Mystery Theme Park Special features:

Answer:

Step into the Unknown! Dare to Enter The Mystery Theme Park!

Are you brave enough? Prepare for an adventure like no other at The Mystery Theme Park! We've got spine-tingling thrills and chilling delights waiting just for you!

• **Get Lost in the Mirror Maze:** Find your way out if you can!
• **Encounter Scary Faces:** Ghoulish figures lurk in every shadow, ready to make you jump!
• **Spot a Ghostly Figure:** Watch out for the mysterious, glowing apparitions that float by!
• **Brave the Pitch Dark Room:** Can you navigate through total darkness? What secrets does it hold?
• **Hear Eerie Sounds:** Strange whispers and spooky noises will surround you, adding to the chill!

Hurry up! An adventurous journey is awaiting for you! Don't miss the chance! Enjoy a day filled with mystery, screams, and unforgettable fun. Gather your courage and visit us this weekend!

In simple words: Create an exciting advertisement for a theme park using words like 'mirror maze', 'scary faces', 'ghostly figures', 'pitch dark room', and 'eerie sounds' to attract visitors.

🎯 Exam Tip: When creating an advertisement, use strong, descriptive words (adjectives and verbs) and include a call to action to make it engaging and effective.

Connecting to Self

F. Observe the pictures carefully and write your answers.

Question 1. (Scenario: One day your parents had gone for a wedding. You are all alone at home. Suddenly at midnight, someone knocks at the door.) What will you do?
Answer: If my parents are away and someone knocks at my door late at night, I would first feel very worried and confused. I would quickly call my neighbours or my parents on the phone to let them know what is happening. It's important to ask for help and never open the door to strangers, especially at night. I would stay calm and follow their advice.
In simple words: If someone knocks late when I'm alone, I will call my neighbours or parents right away and not open the door.

🎯 Exam Tip: For safety scenarios, always suggest actions that prioritize personal safety, seeking help from trusted adults, and avoiding direct contact with strangers.

Question 2. (Scenario: While you are coming to school, if a stranger gives you a chocolate) What will you do?
Answer: If a stranger offers me chocolates or any other gifts on my way to school, I would politely but firmly refuse. I would immediately walk away from the person and not take anything they offer, even if it looks appealing. It's very important never to accept things from strangers for my safety and to inform a trusted adult later. Safety always comes first.
In simple words: I will not take chocolates from a stranger. I will ignore them and walk away quickly to stay safe.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the importance of not accepting anything from strangers and moving away from them quickly, as this is a fundamental safety rule.

G. Just like the examples, use the key to fill in the blanks and break the codes.

Answer: Using the provided key, the codes can be broken as follows. Each pair of numbers (row, column) gives one letter, making this a fun way to learn coding.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always double-check your row and column numbers carefully for each digit pair to avoid making mistakes in decoding the letters.

The Red-Headed League Summary in English

Sherlock Holmes knocks the door. Spaulding opens the door. His runs are dirty. Holmes finds out that Spaulding is a notorious thief named John Clay. He digs a tunnel to the strong room of the nearby bank. So, Holmes and other men wait in the strong an advertisement to his master Wilson. The ad promises a high salary for little work for the Redhair man Wilson joins duty of the Red-headed League. Suddenly the office of the Red-Headed league gets closed. Wilson is confused. He meets Holmes to look into this case and find out the solution. Holmes found the truth.

The Red-Headed League Summary in Tamil

ஷெர்லாக் ஹோம்ஸ் கதவை தட்டுகிறார். ஸ்பால்டிங் கதவை திறக்கிறார். அவரது காலணிகள் மண்ணாய், அழுக்காய் உள்ளன. ஹோம்ஸ் ஸ்பால்டிங் ஒரு பெரிய திருடன் என்று கண்டுபிடிக்கிறார், அவன் பெயர் ஜான் க்ளே. அவன் அருகிலுள்ள வங்கியின் இரகசிய அறைக்கு சுரங்கம் தோண்டுகிறான் என்பதை ஹோம்ஸ் அறிந்து கொண்டார். எனவே ஹோம்ஸ் மற்றும் சில அதிகாரிகள் இரகசிய அறையில் ஒளிந்து கொள்கிறார்கள். சுரங்கம் வழியே வந்த திருடனை பிடித்து விட்டனர். ஸ்பால்டிங் தன் கடை எஜமானரிடம் ஒரு விளம்பரத்தை காட்டுகிறான். சிவப்பு தலைமயிர் உள்ள நபருக்கு நல்ல சம்பளத்தில் வேலை தரப்படும் என்று விளம்பரத்தில் இருக்கவே, தீடீர் என அந்த அலுவலகம் மூடப்படுகிறது. குழம்பிய வில்சன் ஷெர்லாக் ஹோம்ஸ் உதவியை நாடுகிறான். ஹோம்ஸ், ஸ்பால்டிங் சுரங்கம் தோண்டியதை கண்டறிந்து வங்கி கொள்ளையை தடுத்து விடுகிறான்.