Class 7 – Three Questions Solutions

Content Structure

  • 1. About the author – Leo Tolstoy
  • 2. Theme of the Three Questions
  • 3. Summary of the Three Questions
    • Part – I
    • Part – II
  • 4. Word meanings
  • 5. Comprehension Check
    • Part – I
    • Part – II
  • 6. Working with the Text
  • 7. Working with Language
  • 8. Speaking and Writing

1. About the author – Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy was a famous Russian writer, born on 9th September 1828. He is best known for his well-known novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which are thought to be some of the best books ever written. In his stories, he talked about the true meaning of human life and feelings. He strongly believed in simple and good values like love, truth, and non-violence. He did not care for power and wealth and chose to live a simple life based on human values. His strong beliefs inspired many people, especially Mahatma Gandhi, who deeply respected Tolstoy’s strong belief in peace and non-violence.

2. Theme of the Three Questions

  • The story teaches us that the most important time is now because we can’t change the past or the future, so we should focus on doing our best in the present moment.
  • The story also teaches that helping others is the most important thing in life, as good actions can help us find love and care in meaningful ways. They bring peace and friendship and help us forget hatred or enemies.
  • It also teaches that true wisdom does not come from books or advisors but from our actions, kindness, honesty, and a pure heart.

3. Summary of the Three Questions

Part – 1

A king believed that if he knew the right time to act, the right people to follow, and the most important thing to do, he would never fail in any war. So, he promised to give a great reward to anyone who could answer these three questions. Some people told the king to make a strict timetable and follow it strictly, while others said it was impossible to decide the right time in advance. Some advised taking help from a council of wise men, while others said only a magician could know the right time. In answer to the second question, some said counselors, while others suggested priests, doctors, or soldiers were the most important people. As for the third question, some said science, while others said fighting or religious worship was the most important thing to do. The answers were too different, so the king decided to meet a wise hermit who lived a simple life in a forest hut. The king dressed in simple clothes and went alone into the forest. He saw the hermit digging the ground in front of his hut and asked him his three questions, but the hermit did not reply, when the king noticed that the old hermit was tired, he took the spade and helped him dig.

Part – II

One hour passed, and as the sun set, a bearded man suddenly came running out of the forest with a wound in his stomach. The king cleaned the wound, bandaged it carefully to stop the bleeding, and stayed beside the man to care for him in the hut. The next morning, the bearded man said sorry in a weak voice to the king and told him that he had come to kill him to take revenge for his brother’s death. He had planned to attack the king, but his bodyguards recognized him and attacked first. He said that if the king hadn’t saved his life, he would have died. The king was very happy to find peace so easily and forgave the man, even promising to give back his property. The king again asked the hermit for the answers, but the hermit smiled and said that he had already received them. He explained that the most important time is now, as it is the only moment we have; the most important person is the one you are with at the moment; and the most important thing to do is to do good to that person. The king finally understood the real wisdom: to live in the present, help others, and always do good.

4. Word meanings

WordMeaning
PleasuresJoys
CouncilGroup of leaders
CouncillorsCouncil members
PriestsReligious men
WidelyEverywhere
GreetedWelcomed
HermitA person who lives alone away from people and society
WoodA small forest
AffairsImportant work
SpadeA tool for digging
BedsPlanting spots
StuckUnable to move
FaintedFell down
Re-dressedBandaged again
SeizedTook quickly
FaithfulLoyal
SowingPlanting seeds
PitiedFelt sorry for someone

5. Comprehension Check

Part – I

1. Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
Ans: The Tsar believed that if he knew the right time to act, the right people to follow, and the most important thing to do, he would never fail in any task. So, he announced a great reward for anyone who could answer these three questions.

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.
Mark your choice.

Ans: (iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.

Part – II

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

1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions, but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men to help the king act at the right time.
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly.
4. The king requested the hermit to answer three questions.
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound but the bleeding would not stop.

  • but the bleeding would not stop.
  • to answer three questions.
  • but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
  • and follow it strictly.
  • to help the king act at the right time.

6. Working with the Text

Answer the following questions.

1. Why was the king advised to go to magicians?
Ans: The wise people advised the king to go to the magician because only he could know the right time for any work in advance.

2. In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to the king?
Ans: The common people said that the most important people were counselors, while others believed that doctors, priests, or soldiers were the most important to help the king.

3. What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Ans: Some people said that the most important thing was science, while others argued that it was war or prayer.

4. Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?
Ans: No, the wise men did not win any reward because their answers were too different and did not satisfy the king.

5. How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Ans: The king and the hermit cleaned the man’s wound and washed it several times to stop the bleeding. The king changed the bandage repeatedly as it became soaked with blood, using a towel and his handkerchief as bandages. He also gave the man fresh water to drink and stayed with him throughout the night. Later, with the hermit’s help, the Tsar carried the man into the hut and continued to care for him.

6. (i) Who was the bearded man?
(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?
Ans:
(i) The bearded man confessed that he was an enemy of the king and had planned to kill him because he believed the king had taken his land and killed his brother.
(ii) The bearded man asked for forgiveness because he realized that if the king hadn’t saved his life, he would have died.

7. The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?
Ans: The king forgave the man without showing any anger and promised to return his land and send his own doctor to care for him. His kind and calm response turned an enemy into a loyal friend, showing that forgiveness and kindness have the power to remove hatred and build peace.

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

  • The most important time is now, because it is the only time we have power.
  • The most important person is the one you are with at the moment.
  • The most important thing to do is to do good to that person.

I like the first answer the most because it reminds us to focus on the present because we cannot change the past or control the future, so the best use of our time is to live fully in the present moment in a meaningful way.

7. Working with Language

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

AB
(i) woundedgot up from sleep
(ii) awokegive back
(iii) forgivesmall patches of ground for plants
(iv) faithfulseverely injured
(v) pitypardon
(vi) bedsloyal
(vii) returnfeel sorry for

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

Ans:

AB
(i) woundedseverely injured
(ii) awokegot up from sleep
(iii) forgivepardon
(iv) faithfulloyal
(v) pityfeel sorry for
(vi) bedssmall patches of ground for plants
(vii) returngive back

Wounded: The soldiers were badly wounded in the war.
Awake: She is awake early every morning for exercise.
Return: He returned from his grandparents house after the holidays.

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

(i) The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgement. (judge)
(ii) I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differed from one another over small points. (differ)
(iii) It’s a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept my answer as final? (answer)
(iv) It isn’t necessary that necessity should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
(v) Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no one can tell. (wise)
(vi) The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to
please everyone. (decide)
(vii) Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive. (forgive)

8. 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…

Ans: 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 in a forest hut and only met with simple people. So, I wore simple clothes and went alone to meet him, when I arrived at his hut, I saw that he was digging the ground for planting. The old hermit welcomed me but continued his work. I asked him my questions, but he gave no answer. At that moment, I noticed he was too old and tired, so I took the spade from him and started digging in the ground. After planting two seeds, I looked at the hermit, hoping for an answer, but he was still silent. I became very tired from the hard work and went to sleep in the hut. The next morning, I again went to the hermit, still hoping for an answer. Finally, the hermit explained everything in a simple way, giving deep and meaningful answers that helped me understand the true meaning of life.

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 it was the
king…

Ans: One day, I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king, but I did not express it and welcomed him silently. He asked me three deep questions about the meaning of life, but I wanted to understand why he was asking, so I let my silent actions help him find the answers himself. He helped me from digging to planting, which showed his care for people, after some time, a bearded man came running from the forest, badly injured. The king and I helped him. The man was an enemy of the king but still, the king cared for him, gave him water to drink, and looked after him throughout the night. By the next morning, the king came to me again to ask the same questions. He already knew the answers by then, and my explanation helped him clearly understand and realize the deeper meaning of life.

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