Ch_1 Three Questions

Comprehension Check

Q1:  Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?

Solution:

The king wanted to know answers of his three questions because he wanted to be a successful ruler.

Q2: Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom

a)      to fetch wise men.

b)      to find answers to the questions.

c)      to look for the wise hermit.

d)      to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.

Solution:  

b) to find answers to the questions.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Comprehension Check

Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.

a)      Many wise men answered the king’s questions  __________

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

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

d)      The king requested the hermit  ……………….

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

Solution:

a)      Many wise men answered the king’s questions, but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.

b)      Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men to help the king act at the right time.

c)      Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly.

d)      The king requested the hermit to answer three questions.

e)      The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound but the bleeding would not stop.

 Working with the Text

Answer the following questions.

Q1: Why was the king advised to go to the magicians?

Solution:

A few of the wise individuals held the belief that in order to determine the appropriate timing for an action, one must possess the ability to foresee the future, a skill attributed only to magicians. Hence, they suggested to the king that he seek guidance from the magicians.

Q2: In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?

Solution:

In answer to the second question some people, suggested to seek advice of councillors, the priest or the doctors or the soldiers.

Q3: What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?

Solution:

Regarding the third question, there were individuals who expressed the view that science held paramount importance, while others argued in favour of warfare, and there were also those who advocated for prioritizing religious worship above all else.

Q4: Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?

Solution:

No, the wise men didn’t win the reward because their answers were so different from each other and king was not satisfied with their answers.

Q5: How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?

Solution:

The king washed the wound and covered the wound of the man with his handkerchief and kept on dressing it until the bleeding stopped completely.The king also offered the wounded man water to drink. The hermit helped the king to bring the wounded man inside his hut and allowed the man to spend his night in the hut.

The king carefully cleaned the wound and placed his handkerchief over it, diligently tending to the injured man until the bleeding stopped entirely. In addition, the king provided the wounded individual with water to drink. With the hermit's assistance, the king took the injured man into the hut, allowed him to take rest.

Q6: (i) Who was the bearded man?

(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?

Solution:

 (i) The bearded man was an enemy of the king. He wanted to take revenge of his brother’s death by killing the king and taking away all his property.

(ii) The bearded man asked for the king’s forgiveness because he wanted to kill the king but the king has saved his life. He was grateful to the king now.

Q7: The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?

Solution:

The king showed his forgiveness by promising the man that he will send his doctor and servants to look after him and also promised him to return all his property.

Q8: What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answers do you like the most and why?

Solution:

According to the hermit, the present moment holds the utmost significance as it is the only time in which we possess the ability to take action. The hermit emphasized that we ourselves are the most important individuals in any given moment, as the future remains uncertain and we cannot predict whether we will meet others or not. Hence, it is crucial to listen to our own inner voice.

The hermit further asserted that the most important business is to be kind and good towards others, as our purpose in this world is to dedicate ourselves to this noble cause. Personally, I found the third answer to be the most compelling, as helping those in needs is akin to serving a divine purpose. It not only shapes us into better individuals but also brings about a profound sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.

Working with Language

Q1: Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.

Example - fainted: lost consciousness

Use any three of the given words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of the word.

Solution:

Q2: Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in the brackets.

He has ……… to help me. Do you think he will remember his  ……… ? (promise)

He has promised to help me. Do you think he will remember his promise?

a)      The  ………………. said that only fresh evidence would make him change his  ………………. (judge)

b)      I didn’t notice any serious of  ……………….  opinion among the debaters, although they ……………….  from one another over small points.(differ)

c)      It’s fairly simple question to ……………….  but will accept my  ………………. as final? (answer)

d)      It isn’t ……………….  that  ………………. should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)

e)      Hermits are ……………….  men. How they acquire their  ………………. no one can tell. (wise)

f)       The committee has ……………….  to makeJagdish captain of the team. The  ………………. is likely to please everyone. (decide)

g)      Asking for ………………. . is as noble as willingness to  ………………. (forgive)

Solution:

a)      judge, judgement

b)      difference, differed

c)      answer, answer

d)      necessary, necessity

e)      wise, wisdom

f)       has decided, decision

g)      forgiveness, forgive

Speaking and Writing

Q1: Imagine you are the king. Narrate the incident of your meeting with 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….

Solution:

 I knew the hermit used to help only ordinary men, so I left behind my servants and bodyguards. I went to meet him wearing simple clothes. The hermit was an old man and used to live in a hut amidst the woods. He was digging the ground in front of his hut when I arrived there. He greeted me and continued his work. I informed him the purpose of my visit, but still he continued digging the ground. He looked tired so I offered my help. He agreed, so I took the spade from him and started digging the ground.After digging for many hours I again repeated my questions, but the hermit did not answer.Evening was approaching and now I thought of returning. Suddenly, the hermit showed me a bearded man who was running towards us.

Q2: 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 it was the king….

Solution:

The man standing in front of me was familiar, but I chose to feign ignorance about his identity. He revealed that he had three questions for which he had come seeking answers. I welcomed him and resumed digging the ground. After some time, I grew tired and the king noticed. He kindly offered to assist me, to which I consented, handing him my spade. Together, we dug two plots of land. At this point, the king repeated his queries, but I chose to remain silent and instead asked if he was fatigued and would prefer me to continue digging. However, he declined my offer and persisted with the task. As evening approached, it appeared as though he was ready to depart. Suddenly, we spotted a man sprinting towards us.

Chapter Practice

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1: Why did the king send two messengers throughout his kingdom?

Solution:

The king sent his messengers to look for wise people.

Question 2:How did the king promise to reward the person who would answer his questions correctly?

Solution:

The king promised to reward the person with a huge sum of money.

Question 3:Whose advice did the king finally think of seeking?

Solution:

The king finally thought of seeking the hermit’s advice who lived in a distant jungle.

Question 4:Who did go along with the king to meet the hermit?

Solution:

No one went along with the king.

Question 5:During which time of the day would the hermit would leave the forest and go out?Solution:

The hermit never used to go out of the forest.

Question 6:Why did the bearded man press his stomach with his hand?

Solution:

The bearded man pressed his stomach because he was wounded and wanted to stop blood flowing out from his wound.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:Why was the king advised to listen to his soldiers?

Solution:

Some wise men thought that it were soldiers who used to fight wars for the king and help him extend his territory and power. So, according to them they thought soldiers were the most important people whom the king should follow.

Question 2:Why did the king refuse to give reward to anyone?

Solution:

The king was not satisfied with the answers of the wise men.They all had given different answers to the same questions because of which he was unable to come to a conclusion, so he refused giving the reward to anyone.

Question 3:Why the king changed his clothes and left behind his bodyguards and horse before meeting the hermit?

Solution:

The king was aware that the hermit would meet only simple people. So, he dressed up like an ordinary man, left behind his horse and bodyguards and went to meet the hermit in his hut in the woods all alone.

Question 4:Describe the hermit in one or two sentences.

Solution:

The hermit was a weak old man and used to live amidst the woods which he would never leave. He was digging the ground in front of his hut for sowing seeds when the king arrived and the tedious task had made him tired.

Question 5:“Here comes someone running”. Who has been referred to in this sentence?

Solution:

The bearded man is being referred to in these lines. He had planned to attack the king, but was instead attacked by the king’s bodyguards, as they had recognised him. He had received a wound in his stomach. He was rushing towards the hermit’s hut for help.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:What were the replies the king received for his first question?

Solution:

In reply to his first question, the king was advised to follow a timetable by some men. There were some people who were of the opinion that it was impossible to decide the right time in advance. The king was suggested to keep a note of all the happenings around him, avoid indulging in excessive pleasure and do everything that seemed important at any particular time. Along with this he should have a team of intelligent people to guide to him to the right thing at the right time.

Question 2:Describe the king in your own words.

Solution:

The king wanted to be a good ruler. He was seeking answers for the three questions which he thought would help him in his mission. The king was kind hearted, when he found the old man tired of digging the ground, he offered him his help. He kept on bandaging the bearded man’s wound until blood stopped coming out from it. He was down to earth, he dressed up like a common man and spent the night sleeping on floor at the hermit’s hut.

Question 3:Describe the bearded man in your own words.

Solution:

The bearded man was courageous. He wanted to avenge his brother’s death killing the king. He lacked patience because when the king didn’t return by evening, he became anxious and left his hiding place. He was thankful and obliged by the king’s act.He repented for his act and asked for forgiveness. He returned the favour by promising the king faithfulness of his entire family for the kingdom.

Question 4:The king had done right things at the right time. Explain giving three examples.

Solution:

The king had known the hermit’s nature of meeting only ordinary men. So, he gave up his king’s attire, left behind his soldiers and the horse and went alone to meet him.He offered the hermit his help in digging the ground. He did this till evening. This helped him avoid the attack planned by the bearded man.He helped the bearded man bandaging his wound and offered him water. He saved his life. This helped him made friends with his enemy.

Value Based Questions

Q1. Is it advisable to provide assistance to individuals in need? What is the rationale behind it?

Solution:

It is imperative to always extend help to those who are in need. Our purpose on this earth is to serve and benefit others. When we exhibit kindness and generosity towards others, it earns us their respect. Furthermore, being helpful and compassionate provides a sense of internal contentment. Witnessing the joy and relief on the faces of those we have helped brings about a sense of fulfillment that nothing else can match. In return for our acts of kindness, we earn the well-wishes and blessings of those we have helped. Being helpful is the most fundamental principle of humanity, and we should always strive to abide by it.

Q2: The king assisted the hermit in digging the beds and even slept on the floor of the hut, living a simple life. What lesson can we derive from this?

Solution:

The king encountered an exhausted hermit who was digging beds, and offered to lend a hand. Despite his opulent lifestyle in the palace, the king slept on the floor of the hermit's hut during his stay. We must be prepared to live without luxuries if the need arises, even if we are accustomed to them in our daily lives. One day we may become wealthy and prosperous, but we must always maintain a humble heart and be willing to embrace simplicity at any moment.

Extract Based Questions

 Extract – 1

Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

The Sun went down behind the tree and at last the king stuck the spade into the ground and said, “ I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me no answer, tell me so and I will return home.” “Here comes someone running,” said the hermit.

Q1. What was the king doing all this while?

Solution :

The king was digging beds on the ground for the hermit.

Q2. Why the king was asking the man to answer his questions?

Solutions :

Because the answers given by the different wise men cannot satisfied the king. He has heard about the hermit to be a wise man. Hence, he approached to him.

Q3. Which hour of the day has been referred to in these lines?

Solution :

The Sun was setting down at that time, so it was dusk.

Q4. Who was the person come running towards them?

Solution :

A bearded man came running towards them.

Q5. What follows immediately after this incident?

Solution :

The king and the hermit bandaged the man’s wound.

Extract – 2

Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

“You have already been answered !” said the hermit still bending down to the ground and looking up at the king as he stood before him. “ How have I been Answered? What do you mean?” “Do you not see?” replied the hermit. “If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday and had not dug these beds for me, you would have gone away.”

Q1. What is being answered in the above lines?

Solution :

The above lines refers to the answers of the three questions that the king had asked the hermit.

Q2. How the king has been answered?

Solution :

The king through the acts of the previous day has got the answers for all the questions.

Q3. The king had helped the hermit to dig the beds. Which question has been answered here?

Solution :

The king with this act answered the first question. He has done the right act at right moment.

Q4. …… the hermit still bending down. The hermit was in such a posture because he was ____

(a) standing in front of the king

(b) sowing the see

(c) bowing before the Sun

(d) tired

Solution :

(b) sowing the seeds.

Q5. Why did the king take up the task of digging the beds?

(a) for passing the time

(b) to get answers for his questions

(c) to please the hermit

(d) to help the hermit

Solution :

(d) to help the hermit.