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Class 7 English Chapter 1 The Day the River Spoke Notes & Book Solutions | Poorvi

Class 7 English Chapter 1 The Day the River Spoke Notes and Book Solutions based on NCERT Poorvi. Get easy explanations, summary, word meanings and textbook question answers for CBSE Class 7 English.

Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 1 – The Day the River Spoke
CLASS 7 ENGLISH • POORVI

UNIT 1 — LEARNING TOGETHER

The Day the River Spoke

Colourful chapter concepts, activities and short, easy in-text solutions

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Pages 1–2

The Day the River Spoke

Chapter Idea: Jahnavi is a young girl who dreams of going to school. A talking River gives her courage and encourages her to believe in herself.
A village beside a flowing river

Let us do these activities before we read.

I
Close your eyes and quietly listen to the sounds around you for a minute.
1. Are they trying to tell you something?
Answer: Yes. Sounds can tell us about what is happening around us.
2. Do you think the things around you also listen to you all day long?
Answer: We can imagine that nature listens to us, but things do not listen like humans do.
II
Jahnavi was a bright young girl who lived with her parents and three brothers in a coastal village in India. Her parents worked on the farm. She had a dream.
1. What could that dream be?
Answer: Her dream could be to go to school and learn.
2. How could she make her dream come true?
Answer: She could gather courage, go to school and ask the teacher for help.
3. What is your dream? What can you do to make your dream come true?
Answer: This is a personal response. I can work hard, learn new things and never give up.
Page 3

Jahnavi and the River

Important: Jahnavi wants to go to school because she loves learning. She has many questions about nature and the world.
Let us discuss — 1. What was Jahnavi’s dream? Was it important to her? Why?
Answer: Her dream was to go to school and learn. Yes, it was very important because she wanted knowledge and wanted to understand the world.
2. Do you think the river can help her in fulfilling her dream? How?
Answer: Yes. The River gives her courage and tells her to try going to school.
Character Point: Jahnavi is curious, brave and eager to learn. The River is kind and encouraging.
Pages 4–5

The River Gives Advice

“It’s up to you!”
Message: The River tells Jahnavi that girls can do as much as boys. It encourages her to take the first step herself.
Page 6

Let us discuss

Complete the table given below with Jahnavi’s questions in Column 1 and the River’s answers in Column 2. Check your answers with the teacher.
Column 1Column 2
…why the moon always comes from behind the hills…?The River says that the moon goes towards the sea, over the mountains and down to the sea, like the River.
… little girls can do as much as little boys.The River says that little girls can do as much as little boys.
What are ships?Big boats, so big that they can take hundreds of people, and they sail along the sea with lights that shine all night.
Will they come here?No. Ships are too large. Chandu’s catamaran can take Jahnavi to see a ship someday.
Easy idea: The River answers Jahnavi’s questions and keeps encouraging her to be brave.
Page 7

Let us think and reflect

I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. “You shouldn’t cry, you know,” the voice went on. “And you really shouldn’t be scared, when you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day.” She was puzzled. It was such a voice, like the river. It couldn’t be the river! “Well, tell me all about it,” said the River, for it was the River. “I’ve got to hurry to reach the sea, you know.”

(i) Complete the sentence with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The tone of the River in the given extract is __________________. (assuring/sympathising)

Answer: assuring

(ii) Select a phrase from the extract which shows that Jahnavi was a frequent visitor to the spot.

Answer: “you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day.”

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
The use of an exclamation mark at the end of the line, ‘It couldn’t be the river!’ expresses __________________.
A. excitement B. hesitation C. irritation D. disbelief

Answer: D. disbelief

(iv) Choose three qualities of the River highlighted in the extract from the words in the box given below.

affectionate
forgiving
thoughtful
impatient
kind-hearted
Answer: affectionate, thoughtful, kind-hearted
2. “Can I do something?” asked Jahnavi. “Well, it’s up to you,” said the River. “Seems to me little girls can do as much as little boys—they swim as fast as little boys. You just slip along one morning and sit there in the school and listen to what’s going on, and maybe the teacher will let you stay.”

“I couldn’t,” gasped Jahnavi. “I couldn’t! They’d scare me! They’d chase me out.”

(i) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
According to the River, there was no difference between girls and boys because __________________.

Answer: Little girls can do as much as little boys.

(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The River encourages Jahnavi to have faith in herself and fulfill her desire to go to school.

Answer: True

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
When the River suggests that Jahnavi should ‘slip along’, it means that she should move __________________.
A. quickly B. casually C. quietly D. confidently

Answer: C. quietly

(iv) What does the repetition of the phrase I couldn’t, tell us?

Answer: It shows that Jahnavi is very afraid and lacks confidence.

II Answer the following questions.

1. Why does the writer describe different aspects of nature in great detail at the beginning of the story? Why do you think the writer does this?
Answer: It creates a vivid picture of nature and makes the story more interesting.
2. How did the River know so much about Jahnavi?
Answer: Jahnavi visited the River almost every day, so the River had observed her closely.
3. Jahnavi says, “And I’m so old now, they’ll never let me go.” What can you infer about Jahnavi and the school from this line?
Answer: Jahnavi is nearly ten and feels she is too old to start school. She has been denied the chance to study.
4. Why did the River laugh when Jahnavi said she would be scared at school?
Answer: The River knew Jahnavi was brave because she was not afraid of lizards, snakes or trains.
5. Why should Jahnavi follow the River’s advice?
Answer: The advice gives her courage and a chance to fulfil her dream of going to school.
6. How does the conversation between Jahnavi and the River make the story more appealing?
Answer: It makes the story imaginative, lively and encouraging.
7. What is the main message that the writer intends to convey?
Answer: Everyone deserves education, and girls should have the freedom to learn and follow their dreams.
Page 8

Let us learn

I You have learnt that naming words are called nouns and only proper nouns begin with a capital letter. Why has the author used a capital letter for the ‘River’ even when it is a common noun?
Answer: The River is given human qualities. It speaks, listens and gives advice, so it is treated like a person.
II There are a few words related to sound in the text. Pick the words from the text and write them next to the correct definition.
No.DefinitionAnswer
1made a high-pitched piercing soundshrieked
2to cause liquid to strike or fall on somethingsplashed
3a low continuous background noisemurmuring
4cry with loud uncontrollable gaspssob
5to make a soft dry sound, like paper or leaves movingrustle
6took a short quick breath through the mouth due to surprise, pain or shockgasped
7shaking rapidly to make continuous short, sharp soundsrattling
8making a lot of noiserattling
9made a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadnesswailed

Now, fill in the blanks with suitable sound words from exercise (II).

Answer:
(i) quiet
(ii) rustle
(iii) gasped
(iv) wailed
(v) murmuring
(vi) shrieked
Page 9

Words borrowed from Indian languages

III The word ‘catamaran’ is used in the text. The word originates from Tamil language ‘kattu maram’ meaning ‘tied wood’. Find out the meanings of these words. From which Indian language these words were borrowed. An example has been given.
WordLanguageMeaning
1. karmaSanskritaction or deed
2. sahibHindi/Urdusir or respected person
3. chutneyHindia spicy sauce or relish
4. guruSanskritteacher or guide
5. verandahHindia covered area along a building
6. jungleHindiwild forest
7. arecaMalayalamthe areca nut/palm
8. palanquinHindia covered seat carried by people
Note: Some English words have travelled through more than one Indian language. The important point is to understand their Indian origin and meaning.
IV Chandu, the fisherman, has a catamaran that the River preferred to a ship. Given below are some boats that are used in different parts of our country.
1. canoe
2. catamaran
3. coracle
4. shikara

(i) Which one would you like to travel in?

Answer: Personal response. Example: I would like to travel in a shikara.

(ii) Make a colourful drawing of a boat that you would like to travel in.

Activity: Draw and colour your favourite boat. Add water, sky and a few natural details.
A simple boat drawing idea
Page 10

Water Transport Crossword

V Solve the crossword puzzle based on words related to water transport.

Across

1. a large vessel used for transporting goods or passengers by sea

Answer: ship

2. a small vessel for travelling on water, typically propelled by oars, sails, or an engine

Answer: boat

3. a flat floating structure for travelling across water

Answer: raft

4. a boat or ship driven by steam

Answer: steamer

Down

5. a small, light, narrow boat, pointed at both ends and moved using a paddle

Answer: kayak

6. a boat with a powerful engine which can change direction easily and is used to pull large ships into and out of port

Answer: tug

7. a boat with sails and sometimes an engine, used for either racing or travelling for pleasure, rhymes with ‘cot’

Answer: yacht
Remember: Water transport includes ships, boats, rafts, canoes, yachts and many other types of vessels.
VI Read the highlighted words in the following lines from the text.

“She goes down towards the sea. I’ve seen her; she always takes the same way—over the mountains and down to the sea, like me!”

Concept: Prepositions show relationships such as direction, place and time. Words such as down, towards and over can show direction or position.
Page 11

Prepositions and Adverbs

A preposition is followed by an object, usually a noun or pronoun. An adverb gives more information about the action.

For example:

  • She ran up the stairs. — preposition
  • She rang me up. — adverb
Now, fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions given within the brackets.

Jahnavi takes the River’s advice and goes to school. On her first day 1. _________ (at/in/on) school, Jahnavi stood nervously 2. _________ (in/outside/above) the gate, clutching her bag close to her. The bell rang and she hurried 3. _________ (outside/through/inside) the bustling classroom. She found a seat 4. _________ (among/between/from) two friendly classmates. The teacher greeted them warmly and started the lesson 5. _________ (about/in/for) numbers. Jahnavi listened attentively, feeling excited 6. _________ (at/about/for) the new adventure ahead.

Answer:
1. at
2. outside
3. inside
4. between
5. about
6. about
VII Read the highlighted words in the following sentence from the text. Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs.
  1. The cat jumped ___________ the table. (preposition)
  2. The children played ___________ until dark. (adverb)
  3. She quickly ran ___________ the park. (preposition)
  4. The helicopter was hovering ___________. (adverb)
  5. We were just walking ___________, chatting. (adverb)
  6. After thoroughly wiping his shoes, he stepped ___________. (adverb)
  7. She drove slowly ___________ the sharp curve. (preposition)
  8. He placed the keys ___________ the mat before leaving. (preposition)
Answer:
1. onto
2. around
3. through
4. above
5. along
6. inside
7. around
8. under
Page 12

Let us listen

I Read the words given in the box below. You will listen to five people speak about school life. As you listen, circle the words that are used by the speakers. There are two words you do not need. (Transcript for the teacher on pg. 39 )
lawyer
desks
homemaker
principal
posters
newspapers
marriage
advertisements
careers
books
Answer: This is a listening activity. Listen carefully and circle only the words actually spoken by the five speakers.
1. Promotes active participation for all in school activities
Answer: Listen and identify the speaker.
2. Comments on how school makes learning Mathematics joyful
Answer: Listen and identify the speaker.
3. Believes in the power of education that leads to freedom of choice
Answer: Listen and identify the speaker.
4. Shares that school also means companionship
Answer: Listen and identify the speaker.
5. Understands that boys and girls have different abilities
Answer: Listen and identify the speaker.
6. Persuades the parent to grant permission to attend school
Answer: Listen and identify the speaker.
7. Believes that learning skills is not gender-based
Answer: Listen and identify the speaker.
Page 13

Let us speak

I Read the sentence given below.

“Dear, dear! What’s the matter? … You shouldn’t cry, you know. And you really shouldn’t be scared, when you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day.”

The River spoke to Jahnavi in a ‘sleepy’ voice. Work in pairs and take turns to speak the same sentence in ‘other’ voices. Some hints are given below.

happy
surprised
angry
scared
sad
worried
Activity: Read the same sentence using different emotions. Change your voice, facial expression and speed.

Asking for and Giving Advice

II Janhavi asks the River for advice and the River gives advice. Read the given situations and work in pairs to ask for and give advice. Take turns to change your roles. Use the prompts given below.
  1. Situation (i) : You wish to play football at school but it has an all-boys’ team only.
  2. Situation (ii) : You have been unable to score well in Mathematics due to nervousness during exams.
  3. Situation (iii) : You really enjoy music classes but do not get enough time to practise for it.
  4. Situation (iv) : You cannot see the blackboard clearly from the last bench.
Asking for adviceGiving advice
• _______ problem _______. What do you think I should do?
• _______ problem _______. Do you think I should…?
• _______ problem _______. What would you do in my position?
• _______ problem _______. I’d appreciate your advice on this issue.		 • I think you should…
• Why don’t you…?
• The best thing to do is…
• If I were you, I would / wouldn’t…
Example: “I cannot see the blackboard clearly. What should I do?”
“I think you should sit on a front bench or tell the teacher about the problem.”
Page 14

Let us explore

I Discuss why rivers in India are considered to be sacred and most of them are referred to as female. Some rivers are referred to as male, for example, the Brahmaputra and the Sone.
Answer: Rivers provide water and support life, farming and communities. Therefore, many Indian traditions respect rivers as sacred and give them female identities. Some rivers have male names too.
II Whole Class Activity

1. India is a multilingual country, and many of us can speak two to three languages easily. Make a list of the languages that everyone in the class can speak and display it on a chart paper in the classroom.

Activity: Make a class language chart. Write each language and the number of students who can speak it.

2. In which language do you enjoy reading and learning the most?

Answer: Personal response. Example: I enjoy reading and learning in English the most.

Observing Nature

Take some time to observe the world around you. Over the next few days, pay attention to the colours, shapes, patterns, and textures found in nature. Look closely at the plants, trees, flowers, birds, and even the sky. Make detailed notes of what you observe, focusing on textures, movements, and how light plays with these elements. Record your observations in detail and the features that draw your attention the most—whether it’s the soft ripple of water, the vibrant flutter of a butterfly or the colour of the birds or flowers.
Task: Write a descriptive paragraph based on your observations. Highlight colours, shapes, textures and unique details. Give your paragraph a title.
Sample answer:
Title: A Beautiful Morning
Every morning, I see green trees shining in the sunlight. Small flowers add bright colours to the garden. Birds move from branch to branch and their soft sounds make the morning pleasant. I love watching the gentle movement of leaves in the cool breeze.
Page 14–15

Let us write

Ideas Prompts
IdeasPrompts
What do you observe?Every day, I see…
How do you feel? Why?I find it very interesting that…
I like… because…
I feel… as…
What is your message to everyone around you?I want to tell you that…
My advice to all is…
Writing tip: Use describing words for colours, sounds, shapes, movements and feelings.

III Read the poster given below and answer the questions that follow.

EDUCATION • DIGNITY • HAPPINESS Happy daughters help build a stronger nation
1. What are the things you can observe in the poster?
Answer: We can observe happy girls and a message about education, dignity and happiness.
2. Why do you think the girls look happy?
Answer: They look happy because they have opportunities to learn and live with dignity.
3. Dignity means ‘self-respect’. What is the relation between ‘dignity’ and ‘happiness’ ?
Answer: When people are respected and treated fairly, they feel confident and happy.
4. How does a Nation prosper when its daughters are happy?
Answer: Educated and confident daughters contribute to their families, communities and the nation.
Page 15

Girl Child Education

IV The Government has launched many schemes for the education of the girl child. Some of them are ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, ‘Balika Samridhi Yojana’, ‘Samagra Shiksha Scheme–Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas’, etc. Find out more such schemes from the internet or from your teacher and spread awareness in your neighbourhood.
Answer: This is a research and awareness activity. Students can learn about education-related government schemes from a teacher or reliable government source and prepare a small awareness poster.
Poster idea:
“Educate Every Girl — Empower Every Family — Build a Better Nation”

Chapter Message

  • Every child deserves education.
  • Girls and boys should get equal opportunities.
  • Curiosity helps us learn about the world.
  • Courage helps us take the first step towards our dreams.
  • Nature can inspire and teach us many things.
  • We should respect different languages, cultures and traditions.
Quick Revision

Important Words from the Chapter

WordEasy Meaning
splashedfell in drops with a sound
slitheredmoved by sliding from side to side
murmuringspeaking in a low voice
thicketa dense group of bushes and trees
shriekedmade a high-pitched sound
startledsurprised
rustlea light sound made by leaves rubbing together
conspiratoriallysecretly
wailedcomplained or cried loudly
catamarana type of boat
clumpa small group of trees growing together
rattlinga repeated shaking sound
Chapter Revision

Characters and Their Qualities

CharacterQualities
Jahnavicurious, brave, determined, eager to learn
The Riverkind, thoughtful, affectionate, encouraging
Jahnavi’s Motherloving, understanding and supportive
Teacherhelpful, caring and encouraging
Central idea: Jahnavi’s courage and love for learning help her overcome fear and move towards her dream of going to school.

One-Minute Revision

Dream
Education
Courage
Equality
Nature
Curiosity
Remember the story in five steps:
  1. Jahnavi dreams of going to school.
  2. She meets the River and shares her worries.
  3. The River encourages her to be brave.
  4. Jahnavi goes to school despite her fear.
  5. Her teacher and parents support her education.
Life Lesson: Believe in yourself, take the first step and never give up on a good dream.
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Class 7 English • Poorvi • Unit 1 • The Day the River Spoke

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CLASS 7 • ENGLISH • POORVI

Chapter 1-The Day The River Spoke

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