Gopal and the Hilsa-fish – Class 7 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “Gopal and the Hilsa-fish,” Class 7 English NCERT. This clever story teaches students the importance of wit and intelligence over force. Through Gopal’s creative solution, children learn how thinking differently can solve problems that seem impossible at first. The story also demonstrates that sometimes, the best way to achieve something is not through direct means but through smart and innovative approaches.

Word Meanings

Reading is Fun

1. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following sentences.

(i) The king lost his temper easily. – True
Explanation: The story shows that the king became irritated quickly when people kept talking about hilsa fish.

(ii) Gopal was a madman. – False
Explanation: Gopal was actually a very clever and intelligent person who used his wit to solve problems.

(iii) Gopal was a clever man. – True
Explanation: Gopal demonstrated his cleverness by creating a situation where people forgot about the hilsa fish.

(iv) Gopal was too poor to afford decent clothes. – False
Explanation: Gopal deliberately wore rags as part of his clever plan, not because he was poor.

(v) The king got angry when he was shown to be wrong. – False
Explanation: The king actually appreciated Gopal’s wit and clever solution to the problem.

2. Why did the king want no more talk about the hilsa-fish?

The king had grown extremely tired and irritated because throughout his kingdom, people were constantly discussing only one topic – the hilsa fish. Whether in the market, on the streets, or even in the palace, conversations revolved around the taste, price, and availability of hilsa fish. This continuous discussion about a single subject had become overwhelming for the king, making him wish for some variety in people’s conversations.

3. What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?

The king challenged Gopal to prove his cleverness by accomplishing what seemed impossible – making people stop talking about the hilsa fish. The challenge was particularly difficult because the fish was extremely popular among the people. The king wanted to see if Gopal could use his wit to divert people’s attention from their favorite topic of discussion.

4. What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his hilsa-fish?

Before going to buy the hilsa fish, Gopal made three unusual changes to his appearance:

• He shaved only half of his face, leaving the other half unshaved
• He smeared ash all over his body, making himself look unusual
• He dressed himself in torn and tattered rags instead of his normal clothes

5. How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?

Gopal used a creative approach to enter the palace. When the guards prevented him from entering, he started singing and dancing loudly outside the palace gates. His unusual behavior and the commotion he created caught the king’s attention. The king, curious about the source of the noise, ordered the guards to bring the man inside. This clever act allowed Gopal to achieve his goal of entering the palace.

6. Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the hilsa-fish which Gopal had bought.

People were completely distracted by Gopal’s bizarre appearance and behavior:

• His half-shaved face was so unusual that it immediately caught everyone’s attention
• The ash-covered body made him look strange and mysterious
• His ragged clothes were in stark contrast to his normal appearance

Grammar Exercise

7. Change the following sentences in the story to reported speech:

(i) “How much did you pay for that hilsa?”
The woman asked the man how much he had paid for that hilsa.

(ii) “Why is your face half-shaven?”
Gopal’s wife asked him why his face was half-shaven.

(iii) “I accept the challenge, Your Majesty.”
Gopal told the king that he accepted the challenge.

(iv) “I want to see the king.”
Gopal told the guards that he wanted to see the king.

(v) “Bring the man to me at once.”
The king ordered the guard to bring the man to him at once.

Vocabulary Exercise

8. Use the following words in sentences of your own:

Challenge: “The mountain climb proved to be a challenging adventure for the young hikers.”

Mystic: “The old temple had a mystic atmosphere that made visitors speak in whispers.”

Comical: “The puppy’s attempts to catch its own tail created a comical scene in the garden.”

Courtier: “The loyal courtier always gave honest advice to the king about the kingdom’s matters.”

Smearing: “The children enjoyed smearing colors on paper to create their artwork.”

Picture Reading

Questions about the Stag:

1. Where is the stag?
The stag is standing beside a peaceful pond in the forest.

2. What is he doing?
He is admiring his reflection in the still water of the pond, particularly looking at his features.

3. Does he like his antlers (horns)?
Yes, he is very proud of his magnificent antlers and admires them greatly.

4. Does he like his legs?
No, he feels ashamed of his thin legs and considers them ugly.

5. Why is the stag running?
The stag is running to escape from hunters who are chasing him through the forest.

6. Is he able to hide in the bushes?
No, he has difficulty hiding because his beautiful antlers keep getting tangled in the bushes.

7. Where are the hunters now?
The hunters are pursuing the stag through the forest, getting closer to him.

8. Are they closing in on the stag?
Yes, the hunters are gradually getting closer to the stag.

9. Is the stag free?
Yes, ultimately the stag manages to escape from the hunters.

10. What does the stag say about his horns and his legs?
The stag realizes that his proud antlers almost caused his death by getting caught in the bushes, while his despised thin legs actually saved his life by helping him run fast and escape.

Write the story in your own words:

The Proud Stag’s Lesson

In a peaceful forest, there lived a magnificent stag who was extremely proud of his beautiful antlers. One day, while drinking water from a pond, he saw his reflection and began admiring his impressive horns. However, he felt disappointed looking at his thin legs, considering them ugly and worthless. Little did he know that fate would soon teach him a valuable lesson. One day, hunters spotted him and gave chase. As the stag ran for his life, his beautiful antlers kept getting tangled in the forest’s thick bushes, slowing him down. However, his thin legs, which he had always despised, proved to be his salvation. They carried him swiftly through the forest, helping him outrun the hunters and escape to safety. This experience taught the stag a profound lesson: what we consider our greatest beauty might sometimes be a hindrance, while our perceived flaws might turn out to be our greatest strengths. The story teaches us not to judge something’s worth merely by its appearance.

Word Ladder Exercise

Complete the word ladder with these clues:

1. Mother will be very cross if you don’t go to school.
2. As soon as he caught sight of the teacher, Mohan started writing.
3. How do you like my tiny kitchen garden? Big enough for you, is it?
4. My youngest sister is now a year old.
5. Standing on the roof, he saw children playing on the road.
6. Don’t make such a fuss. Nothing will happen.
7. Don’t cross the street till the green light comes on.