Three Questions – Class 7 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “Three Questions,” Class 7 English NCERT. This story teaches us three important life lessons: the importance of living in the present moment, valuing the people around us, and doing good to others. Through the king’s journey to find wisdom, students learn that sometimes the simplest answers to life’s complex questions come through our own experiences.

Story Summary (English)

The story “Three Questions” revolves around a king who seeks answers to three important questions: the right time to begin something, which people he should listen to, and what is the most important thing to do. Despite offering rewards and consulting many wise men, he receives different answers that leave him unsatisfied. He then visits a wise hermit who lives in the woods. While helping the hermit dig his garden, the king encounters a wounded man – his enemy who had come to kill him. The king helps save the man’s life, and through this experience, he discovers the answers to his questions. The hermit explains that the most important time is ‘now’, the most important person is whoever you are with, and the most important thing is to do good for that person.

कहानी का सारांश (Hindi)

“तीन प्रश्न” कहानी एक राजा की है जो तीन महत्वपूर्ण प्रश्नों के उत्तर खोजना चाहता है: किसी काम को शुरू करने का सही समय क्या है, किन लोगों की बात सुननी चाहिए, और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण काम क्या है। कई बुद्धिमान लोगों से सलाह लेने और इनाम की घोषणा करने के बाद भी, उसे अलग-अलग जवाब मिलते हैं जो उसे संतुष्ट नहीं करते। वह एक बुद्धिमान साधु से मिलने जंगल जाता है। साधु की बगीचे में मदद करते समय, राजा एक घायल व्यक्ति से मिलता है – जो उसका दुश्मन था और उसे मारने आया था। राजा उस व्यक्ति की जान बचाता है, और इस अनुभव से उसे अपने सवालों के जवाब मिल जाते हैं। साधु समझाता है कि सबसे महत्वपूर्ण समय ‘वर्तमान’ है, सबसे महत्वपूर्ण व्यक्ति वह है जिसके साथ आप हैं, और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण काम उस व्यक्ति की भलाई करना है।

Important Word Meanings

Comprehension Check

1. Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?

The king wanted to know the answers to three questions because he believed that knowing these answers would make him a successful ruler who would never fail. He thought that understanding the right time to start something, knowing which people to listen to, and identifying the most important thing to do would help him make better decisions as a king and lead his kingdom more effectively.

2. Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom:

(i) to fetch wise men
(ii) to find answers to the questions
(iii) to look for the wise hermit
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions

The correct answer is (iv). The king sent messengers throughout his kingdom to announce a reward for anyone who could answer his three questions. He offered a large sum of money as motivation for people to come forward with the correct answers to his questions.

Comprehension Check – Part 2

1. The king requested the hermit…

The king requested the hermit to answer his three important questions about the right time to begin something, the most important people to listen to, and the most crucial thing to do. He traveled alone to the hermit’s hut in the woods, wearing ordinary clothes, hoping to receive wisdom from this renowned wise man.

2. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable…

Some advisers suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly. They believed that only by carefully planning and sticking to a schedule could the king ensure that everything was done at its proper time. This would help him manage his royal duties effectively.

3. Many wise men answered the king’s questions…

Many wise men answered the king’s questions, but their answers were so different and varied that the king couldn’t determine which answer was correct. This diversity of opinions left him confused and unsatisfied, leading him to seek the hermit’s guidance.

4. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men…

Some advisers suggested that the king should have a council of wise men to help him make decisions at the right time. They believed that one person alone couldn’t make correct decisions about timing, and a group of experienced advisers would provide better guidance.

5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound…

The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound, but despite his efforts, the bleeding wouldn’t stop immediately. He had to keep redressing the wound several times until finally, the bleeding stopped. This act of kindness turned out to be crucial in the story.

Working with the Text

1. Why was the king advised to go to magicians?

The king was advised to go to magicians because some wise men believed that to choose the right time for any action, one needed to know the future. Since only magicians were thought to have the power to see into the future, they could help the king determine the perfect timing for his actions. This suggestion highlighted how some people believed that supernatural powers were necessary for making important decisions.

2. In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?

Different groups of people suggested various advisers as being most important to the king:

• Councillors – for their wisdom in governance
• Priests – for their spiritual guidance
• Doctors – for maintaining the king’s health
• Soldiers – for protecting the kingdom and maintaining security

3. What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?

For the third question about the most important thing to do, three main suggestions were made:

• Science – some believed advancing knowledge was most important
• Fighting – others thought military strength was crucial
• Religious worship – some considered spiritual matters most essential

4. Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?

No, none of the wise men won the reward. This was because:

• Their answers were vastly different from each other
• The king couldn’t determine which answer was the most accurate
• The varying opinions left him more confused than enlightened
• None of the answers seemed to fully satisfy his quest for understanding

5. How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?

The king and the hermit helped the wounded man in several ways:

• The king cleaned and washed the wound carefully
• He covered the wound with his own handkerchief
• He continued to redress the wound until the bleeding stopped
• They gave the wounded man water to drink
• Together, they carried him into the hermit’s hut
• They provided him a bed to rest and recover

6. (i) Who was the bearded man? (ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?

(i) The bearded man was actually the king’s enemy who had a personal vendetta against him. He was seeking revenge because the king had executed his brother and seized his property.

(ii) He asked for the king’s forgiveness because:

• He had come with the intention to kill the king
• Instead of killing him, the king saved his life
• The king’s kindness and compassion moved him deeply
• He felt remorse for his revenge plan after experiencing the king’s goodness

7. The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?

The king demonstrated his forgiveness through several generous actions:

• He promised to send his personal doctor to treat the man
• He offered to send his servants to care for him
• He agreed to return all the man’s seized property
• He accepted the man’s offer of friendship and loyalty

8. What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answer do you like most, and why?

The hermit’s answers were profound in their simplicity:

1. The most important time: “Now” – because it is the only time when we have the power to act
2. The most important person: The person you are with at any particular moment – because we never know if we will meet anyone else in the future
3. The most important thing: To do good to the person you are with – because we are sent into this world for the sole purpose of doing good to others

The most compelling answer is about the importance of “now” because it reminds us that we can only act in the present moment. The past is gone, the future hasn’t arrived, but the present moment is where we have the power to make choices and take action.

Working with Language

1. Match items in List A with their meanings in List B

Example sentences:

1. The wounded soldier was quickly taken to the hospital for treatment.
2. She remained faithful to her friends throughout the difficult times.
3. We must return borrowed books to the library on time.

2. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in brackets

1. The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgement.

2. I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differed from one another over small points.

3. It’s a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept my answer as final?

4. It isn’t necessary that necessity should always be the mother of invention.

5. Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no one can tell.

6. The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to please everyone.

7. Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive.

Speaking and Writing

1. Imagine you are the king. Narrate the incident of your meeting the hermit. Begin like this: The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit…

The wise men answered my questions, but I was not satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go and meet the hermit who lived alone in the woods. I knew of his great wisdom and humble lifestyle. I dressed in simple clothes and went alone, leaving my guards at a distance.

When I reached his hut, I found the elderly hermit digging in his garden. Despite his age and evident fatigue, he continued his work diligently. I approached him and asked my three questions, but he remained silent and continued digging. Seeing him struggle with the heavy work, I offered to help. He handed me his spade with a gentle smile.

As I dug the earth, I repeated my questions several times, but the hermit remained quiet. Hours passed, and just as I was about to leave in disappointment, we noticed a wounded man running towards us. This unexpected event would lead to the most profound lessons of my life. Through helping this man – who turned out to be my enemy – I discovered the answers I had been seeking all along.

The experience taught me that the present moment is most important, the person we are with deserves our full attention, and doing good to others is our true purpose. The hermit’s silence had actually guided me to find these answers through my own actions.

2. Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king. Begin like this: One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew he was the king…

One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew he was the king, but I continued my work as usual. Despite his royal status, he had come seeking wisdom dressed as a common man, which showed his sincere desire to learn.

The king asked me three questions that had been troubling him. Instead of giving him immediate answers, I continued digging. I wanted him to discover the truth through experience rather than just hearing my words. When he saw me struggling with the heavy spade, he kindly offered to help. This showed his compassionate nature, despite being a king.

As he worked in my garden, he repeatedly asked his questions. I remained silent, knowing that the answers would soon reveal themselves. Then, as if destiny had planned it, a wounded man appeared. I watched as the king, forgetting his questions and his royal status, immediately helped the injured man. He cleaned the wound, brought water, and helped carry the man to my hut.

Through his own actions, the king found the answers he sought. He learned that the present moment is most precious, the person before us is most important, and doing good to others is our highest purpose. Sometimes, the best teaching is to let people discover wisdom through their own experiences.