Quality – Class 7 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “Quality,” Class 7 English NCERT. This touching story teaches us important values like dedication to one’s craft, maintaining quality over profits, and the challenges small businesses face against large corporations. Through Mr. Gessler’s character, students learn about passion for work, integrity, and the importance of valuing quality over quantity in life.

Summary of the Story

English Summary:
“Quality” is a poignant story about Mr. Gessler, a German bootmaker in London who takes immense pride in his craft. He runs a small shop with his brother, making custom boots of exceptional quality. The story is narrated by a loyal customer who has known Mr. Gessler since childhood. Mr. Gessler never compromises on the quality of his boots and refuses to advertise, relying solely on his craftsmanship. However, as big companies with aggressive advertising take over the market, his business declines. Despite financial hardships, he maintains his high standards until his death from slow starvation, choosing his principles over profit.

Hindi Summary:
“क्वालिटी” एक मार्मिक कहानी है जो लंदन में रहने वाले एक जर्मन बूट निर्माता मिस्टर गेसलर के बारे में है। वह अपने भाई के साथ एक छोटी दुकान चलाते हैं, जहाँ वे उच्च गुणवत्ता वाले कस्टम बूट बनाते हैं। कहानी एक वफादार ग्राहक द्वारा सुनाई जाती है जो बचपन से मिस्टर गेसलर को जानता है। मिस्टर गेसलर कभी भी अपने बूट की गुणवत्ता से समझौता नहीं करते और विज्ञापन से दूर रहते हैं। बड़ी कंपनियों के आक्रामक विज्ञापन के कारण उनका व्यवसाय घटने लगता है। आर्थिक कठिनाइयों के बावजूद, वे अपने उच्च मानकों को बनाए रखते हैं और अंत में भूख से उनकी मृत्यु हो जाती है, लेकिन वे अपने सिद्धांतों को मुनाफे से ऊपर रखते हैं।

Word Meanings

Reading is Fun

1. What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a bootmaker?

The author held Mr. Gessler in very high regard as a bootmaker, considering him more of an artist than a mere craftsman. He was impressed by several aspects of Mr. Gessler’s work:

• His boots always fit perfectly, showing his exceptional skill in measurement and crafting
• He used only the finest quality leather and materials
• Each pair was made with such precision and care that they lasted extraordinarily long
• He made boots only on order, ensuring personalized attention to each customer
• The author found his boot-making process “mysterious and wonderful,” highlighting the artistic nature of his craft

2. Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?

The author’s infrequent visits to Mr. Gessler’s shop were due to the exceptional durability of his boots. Each pair was crafted with such quality and precision that they seemed to have “something beyond the temporary” built into them. The boots lasted so long that there was simply no need to buy new ones frequently. This durability, while a testament to Mr. Gessler’s craftsmanship, ironically contributed to fewer visits to his shop.

3. What was the effect on Mr Gessler of the author’s remark about a certain pair of boots?

When the author mentioned that a pair of boots creaked, Mr. Gessler’s reaction revealed his deep professional pride and commitment to quality:

• He initially looked at the author in disbelief, expecting him to withdraw the complaint
• When the author confirmed the issue, Mr. Gessler suggested that perhaps they got wet before being properly broken in
• He immediately requested the boots be returned for inspection
• He even offered to either fix the problem or remove the cost from the bill if the boots were defective
• His entire demeanor showed how personally he took any criticism of his work, demonstrating his dedication to perfection

4. What was Mr Gessler’s complaint against “big firms”?

Mr. Gessler’s complaint against big firms was multi-faceted and revealed the struggles of small craftsmen:

• He criticized their reliance on advertising rather than quality workmanship to attract customers
• He felt they were taking business away from dedicated craftsmen who truly loved their work
• Their mass production methods sacrificed quality for quantity
• He noted that these firms had no self-respect regarding their craft
• Their aggressive marketing strategies were making it increasingly difficult for traditional bootmakers to survive

5. Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?

No, the author didn’t actually need so many pairs of boots. He ordered them out of compassion and concern for Mr. Gessler after:

• Seeing the bootmaker’s struggling financial condition
• Noticing the increasing gray hairs in his red beard, indicating his stress
• Realizing the impact of competition on his business
• Understanding Mr. Gessler’s unwillingness to compromise his principles

Working with Language

1. Complete the sentences using appropriate phrases:

1. After a very long spell of heat, the weather is looking up at last. (improving)
2. We have no right to look down on people who do small jobs. (disapprove)
3. Nitin has always looked up to his uncle, who is a self-made man. (admired)
4. The police are looking into the matter thoroughly. (investigating)
5. If you want to go out, I will look after the children for you. (take care of)
6. I promise to look in on your brother when I visit Lucknow next. (visit briefly)
7. Look out when you are crossing the main road. (be careful)

2. Read the following sets of words loudly and clearly:

Practice pronouncing these word pairs, noting the difference in vowel sounds:

• cot — coat
• cost — coast
• tossed — toast
• got — goat
• rot — rote
• blot — bloat
• knot — note

3. Arrange words with ‘sh’ sound in the table:

4. Underline the letters representing ‘ch’ sound in each word:

• feature
• archery
• picture
• reaching
• nature
• matches
• riches
• batch
• church

Speaking

1. Do you think Mr Gessler was a failure as a bootmaker or as a competitive businessman?

Mr. Gessler presents an interesting contrast between craftsmanship and business acumen:

• As a Bootmaker:
  • He was exceptionally successful in terms of quality and skill
  • His boots were perfect in fit and durability
  • He maintained highest standards of craftsmanship
  • Customers deeply respected his work
• As a Businessman:
  • He failed to adapt to changing market conditions
  • Refused to advertise or modernize his business
  • Didn’t maintain competitive pricing
  • Was too slow in completing orders
  • Didn’t delegate work to meet demand

2. What is the significance of the title? To whom or to what does it refer?

The title “Quality” is significant on multiple levels:

• It directly refers to the exceptional quality of Mr. Gessler’s boots
• It represents Mr. Gessler’s unwavering commitment to maintaining high standards
• It symbolizes the conflict between quality craftsmanship and mass production
• It highlights the declining value of quality in a commercialized world
• It serves as a commentary on choosing principles over profit
The title encapsulates not just the physical quality of the boots, but also the quality of character, dedication, and craftsmanship that Mr. Gessler embodied.

3. Notice Mr Gessler’s English accent – Practice speaking these words as he would:

Original: “It comes and never stops. Does it bother me? Not at all. Ask my brother, please.”

Mr. Gessler’s pronunciation: “Id gomes and never sdobs. Does id bodder me? Nod ad all. Asg my brudder blease.”

Key pronunciation changes:

• ‘t’ becomes ‘d’ (it → id)
• ‘c’ becomes ‘g’ (comes → gomes)
• ‘p’ becomes ‘b’ (stops → sdobs)
• ‘th’ becomes ‘d’ (brother → brudder)
• ‘k’ becomes ‘g’ (ask → asg)

4. Speak to five adults in your neighborhood about their shopping preferences:

Here’s a detailed analysis based on a survey of five adults:

• Grocery Shopping Habits:
  • 3 out of 5 prefer buying loose items from local stores
  • They find local stores more convenient and economical
  • Fresh produce quality can be checked personally
  • Building relationship with local shopkeepers helps in getting better service
• Footwear Preferences:
  • Most prefer a mix of branded and local footwear
  • Formal shoes – usually branded for better quality and durability
  • Daily wear – local footwear for affordability and ease of replacement
  • Sports shoes – branded for better support and quality
• Clothing Choices:
  • Casual wear – mostly ready-made clothes
  • Traditional wear – prefer tailor-made for better fit
  • Special occasions – mix of both depending on requirements
  • Professional wear – tailor-made for perfect fitting

5. Discussion about leaving the country:

Here’s a thoughtful conversation about leaving one’s country:

• “If I leave this country, I’ll miss the festivals, especially Diwali with my family and friends.”
• “There are some things which you can get only here, for example our street food, the local markets, and most importantly, our family gatherings.”
• “There are some special days I’ll miss, particularly our Independence Day celebrations and the local fairs.”
• “Most of all I’ll miss my grandmother’s stories because they connect me to our culture and heritage.”
• “I think it’s impossible for me to leave my country because my roots are deeply embedded here.”
• “How can you leave your own country except when it’s absolutely necessary for education or career growth?”
• “Maybe for a couple of years for studies, but I would definitely want to come back and contribute to my country’s progress.”
Spoken English Online Class | Free Trial

Writing

Write a story based on given points about an absent-minded uncle:

Last month my aunt decided to visit her parents for a few weeks. My uncle, who usually depends on her for all household matters, was left alone to manage things by himself. Known for being quite absent-minded, he often gets lost in his own thoughts. One evening, feeling hungry, he decided to cook some vegetables for dinner. He put the vegetables in a pan on the stove and turned on the heat. Just then, he remembered that his bicycle needed cleaning, so he went outside, completely forgetting about the cooking vegetables. While he was engrossed in cleaning his bicycle, suddenly his neighbor called out, “Something’s burning in your kitchen!” Startled, my uncle rushed inside to find smoke coming from the pan. In a panic to save the vegetables, he quickly grabbed the nearest bottle of oil and poured it over them. Unfortunately, in his haste, he had grabbed the machine oil he had been using to clean his bicycle instead of cooking oil! The vegetables were now not only burnt but also covered in inedible machine oil. The entire kitchen smelled of burnt food and machine oil. That evening, my uncle had to order takeout food, and he learned an important lesson about paying attention while cooking. When my aunt returned and heard this story, she couldn’t stop laughing at his misadventure.