The Day the River Spoke Questions & Answers | Class 7 English | CBSE NCERT

(b) — A "tear" falling down her nose, followed by another, shows that Jahnavi was weeping.

(b) — The kingfisher's wings are directly described as "an arrow of blue", without using "like" or "as", which makes it a metaphor.

(a) — "Slithered" means moved smoothly by sliding from side to side.

sleepy

A kingfisher sweeps down with its blue wings, and a green lizard slithers down to the river's edge to bask in the sun.

The tear shows that Jahnavi is sad and has been crying. She seems to be sitting alone by the river, close to nature, where kingfishers and lizards come and go.

(b) — "Startled" means suddenly surprised or shocked, which is why Jahnavi jumped at hearing the voice.

(b) — The extract says parrots "shrieked", while the voice she heard was "such a sleepy voice".

(b) — The idiom "not a soul in sight" means there was no person to be seen anywhere.

True

She wanted to run away because she was rather scared — she was sure she had been quite alone and there wasn't a soul in sight.

It shows that Jahnavi is observant and thinks carefully and logically about the world around her, using what she knows about each creature before reaching a conclusion.

(b) — The voice comforts Jahnavi ("You shouldn't cry") in a sleepy, murmuring way, showing gentleness and care.

(c) — The exclamation mark shows she cannot believe that the river itself could speak to her.

(b) — The River says, "I've got to hurry to reach the sea, you know."

every day

The voice was like the river, but she could not believe that a river could speak, so she was confused about who was talking to her.

The River speaks in a gentle, caring voice, comforts Jahnavi like a friend and shows curiosity about her problem — all human qualities given to a non-human thing.

(a) — Mother replied, "You are too small, baby. Maybe later."

(c) — Mother told her to mind her little brother while she went to the fields, and she was now minding Little Appu.

(b) — The extract says, "when she was five, little Ramu was born".

ten

Mother needed Jahnavi at home to mind her little brothers while she went to the fields, so her schooling was postponed again and again.

It reveals her deep hurt — she feels unwanted and unloved because her family keeps her home instead of sending her to school, and she is so overcome that she stops with a sob.

(b) — She says, "I want to go... I want to learn to read like Ettan and Meena."

(c) — 'Ettan' means 'Elder brother'; the brother's real name was Gopi.

(c) — "Conspiratorially" means secretly, as if letting her in on a secret.

rustle

She wants to know why spiders are yellow in yellow flowers, and why the moon always comes from behind the hills, never the other way. (Also acceptable: why bamboo trees rustle; why baby fish in the field water become frogs.)

The River says the moon goes down towards the sea, always taking the same way — over the mountains and down to the sea, just like the river itself.

(b) — The River jokes that she would get her feet wet, "and that would never do!"

(b) — The River places the responsibility on Jahnavi; only she can take the first step towards school.

(c) — The River says, "little girls can do as much as little boys—they swim as fast as little boys."

fast

The River tells her to slip along quietly one morning, sit in the school, listen to what is going on, and hope that the teacher will let her stay.

The River believes in Jahnavi's courage and ability. It treats girls and boys as equals and is sure that if Jahnavi acts for herself, the teacher may accept her.

(a) — "Gasped" means to take a short quick breath, here out of fear at the very thought of going to school.

(b) — The River points out that she is not afraid of the green lizard, the snake in the bamboo clump, or the big trains.

(b) — The River calls ships "big boats... so big that they can take hundreds of people", sailing the sea with lights shining all night.

False — the extract clearly says "Jahnavi never knew the snake lived in the bamboo clump."

The River laughed because Jahnavi, who was not at all afraid of a green lizard, a snake or big rattling trains, was scared of simply sitting in a school — a fear that did not fit her brave nature.

The River says, "Trains are noisy; I prefer ships." Being a river that flows to the sea, it naturally loves ships, the great boats that sail the sea.

(b) — The River says, "I'm afraid not... Too large, you know."

(b) — "Wailed" here means complained or cried out in a loud voice.

(b) — The River says "Chandu's catamaran is good enough for me" and that "Chandu can take you to see a ship, someday", so Chandu is a fisherman with a boat.

a catamaran

It emphasises that Jahnavi's future depends on her own effort — nobody else can go to school for her; she must find the courage herself.

Yes, it is wise because it asks Jahnavi to begin with a small, possible step. Once she attends school and is accepted, bigger dreams — like going to see a ship — can follow.

(b) — The extract states that the teacher read out "a story about a prince called Asˊhoka, who became a great king."

(b) — The phrase shows that Jahnavi found the courage she needed and actually went to the school.

(b) — Though afraid, she wanted to listen, so she moved from the door to the back row without disturbing anyone.

False — she first stood by the door and only then crept nearer till she was in the back row.

Appu is Jahnavi's youngest brother, whom she is minding; he has fallen asleep on her shoulder and makes no noise while she listens.

The teacher notices a new child kindly and gently asks where she has come from and what her name is, showing that he is observant and caring rather than strict.

(c) — One boy says she is Gopi's sister and another gives her name, "It's Jahnavi."

(c) — He says, "we'll talk to your father about it. Don't you worry. We'll find a way."

(c) — He speaks warmly, calls her by name, offers to meet her father and reassures her not to worry.

next

He plans to speak to her father about it and assures her that a way will be found, so she need not worry.

His kindness and readiness to act impress me the most. Instead of ignoring a poor girl standing at the door, he takes personal interest and promises to convince her father.

(b) — The extract says he scratched his cheek "the way he did when he was worried".

(c) — Mother says, "When I was your age, I wanted to go to school, but your grandmother said 'No'."

(c) — She says, "now, I am glad the teacher came to talk to your father."

False — she says "Girls should learn as much as they want" and is glad the teacher came.

Earlier she kept postponing school with "Maybe later" and "Maybe next year"; now she supports Jahnavi's education and is glad the teacher came to talk to her father.

It shows that deep down Mother believes in education for girls. Though she herself was denied school by the grandmother, she wants her daughter to have the chance she lost.

(b) — She says, "I'll be a teacher and I'll go from house to house in our village and ask all the little girls to come to my school."

(b) — She says she will "learn to write my name and do sums and find out why our little fishes in the rice fields turn into frogs".

(c) — Jahnavi hears "the river's sleepy chuckle, 'Come again, little girl, and I'll tell you all about the ships that sail the sea.'"

chuckle

She runs to share her success and gratitude with her friend — "I did it! I was scared, but I did it!" — because the River's advice gave her the courage to act.

It shows her gratitude and generous spirit. Having won the chance to learn, she does not think only of herself but wants every girl in the village to get the same opportunity.

Jahnavi lived with her parents and three brothers in a coastal village in India. Her parents worked on the farm.

Her brothers were Gopi (whom she called 'Ettan', meaning elder brother), Ramu and Appu. Little Appu was the smallest.

Jahnavi was crying because her family would not let her go to school. She felt unwanted, as she was kept home to mind her little brothers while her parents worked.

She was startled because she was sure she had been quite alone, and when she looked around, there wasn't a soul in sight.

The River knew her because she had been coming to see it every day — "well, almost every day" — so it had watched her closely for years.

Jahnavi dreamt of going to school and learning to read like Ettan and Meena. It mattered to her because she was full of curiosity — she wanted to know why bamboo trees rustle, why the moon rises from behind the hills and many other things.

First Mother said, "You are too small, baby. Maybe later." After that, whenever Jahnavi asked, the answer was always "Maybe next year", because she was needed at home to mind her little brothers.

The River advised her to slip along quietly one morning, sit in the school and listen to what was going on, hoping the teacher would let her stay. It reminded her, "it's up to you!"

The River described ships as big boats — so big that they can take hundreds of people — that sail along the sea with lights that shine all night.

The River says, "Trains are noisy; I prefer ships." It belongs to the water that flows to the sea, so it naturally loves the great ships that sail there.

The teacher read out a story about a prince called Asˊhoka, who became a great king.

When the teacher asked who the new girl was, one boy said, "She's Gopi's sister, Gopi is in the next class," and another told him her name, "It's Jahnavi."

The teacher promised, "we'll talk to your father about it. Don't you worry. We'll find a way." This shows that he was kind and ready to take responsibility for a poor girl's education.

The father scratched his cheek in the way he did whenever he was worried. The teacher's visit and the question of his daughter's schooling were weighing on his mind.

Mother said that when she was Jahnavi's age, she too had wanted to go to school, but her grandmother had said 'No'. She was now glad the teacher had come to talk to Jahnavi's father.

She promised that she would become a teacher, go from house to house in the village and ask all the little girls to come to her school, and teach them everything she herself would learn.

She went to meet the River to tell it her good news — "I did it! I was scared, but I did it!" — because the River's encouragement had made her success possible.

She wanted to learn to write her name, do sums, and find out why the little fishes in the rice fields turn into frogs.

A catamaran is a kind of boat. The word comes from the Tamil words 'kattu maram', meaning 'tied wood'.

The story teaches that girls are as capable as boys and deserve education just as much. It also shows that one determined girl, with the support of a kind teacher, can change the thinking of a whole family.

Jahnavi sits alone by the river, surrounded by a kingfisher, a green lizard and parrots, all described lovingly. The river itself notices her tears, speaks to her gently, knows her habits and cheers her up like a true friend. Nature, in this story, listens to her and responds with warmth.

The River first comforts her — "You shouldn't cry, you know." Then it makes her believe in herself by saying that "little girls can do as much as little boys". It gives her a practical plan: slip along one morning, sit in the school and listen. Finally it repeats, "it's up to you!", so that Jahnavi takes responsibility for her own dream.

We can infer that Jahnavi's fear has grown out of years of waiting and disappointment; she thinks nearly ten is too late to start. It also suggests that the school is not in the habit of welcoming older beginners, which is why she fears she would be chased out.

The River tells Jahnavi to slip along to school and listen quietly. The next day, she gathers courage and creeps into the back row with sleeping Appu on her shoulder. The teacher notices her, learns her name from the boys, and promises to talk to her father. The next evening the teacher visits her home, and her parents finally agree to send her.

The humour is gentle and playful. The River complains, "You make me breathless. So many whys!" at Jahnavi's flood of questions. It jokes that it cannot take her to school because "You'd get your feet wet. And that would never do!" and adds, "Trains are noisy; I prefer ships" — small witty remarks that keep the conversation lively.

The detailed description of the tear, the kingfisher and the lizard creates a peaceful riverside scene and shows how closely Jahnavi is connected to nature. It prepares us for the magical moment when the River itself speaks, and shows why Jahnavi, a curious child of nature, longs to learn about the world.

The story shows a society where girls were kept at home to mind younger siblings while parents worked, and their education was postponed with "Maybe later". Mother's own childhood — when the grandmother said 'No' to her schooling — shows that the same fate had been passed down from one generation of girls to the next.

Mother's support is the turning point at home. She admits, "Girls should learn as much as they want", and says she is glad the teacher came. Since she herself was denied an education, her support breaks the old family pattern and makes Jahnavi's schooling possible.

Jahnavi shows courage by acting on the River's advice despite her fear, and honesty by admitting "I was scared, but I did it!" Above all, she is generous: she promises to become a teacher and go from house to house asking all the little girls to come to her school. She turns her own struggle into a gift for others.

The title points to the most magical and important moment in the story — the day the River speaks to Jahnavi. Everything changes from that day: the lonely, crying girl is comforted, guided and finally sent to school. The title captures both the wonder of the event and its power to change a life.

Jahnavi is a bright young girl of nearly ten who lives in a coastal village with her parents and three brothers. She is sensitive and loving — she cries quietly by the river when she feels unwanted, and carries little Appu tenderly on her shoulder. She is remarkably curious, bubbling with questions about why spiders are yellow in yellow flowers, why bamboo trees rustle, why the moon always comes from behind the hills and why baby fish become frogs. She is also observant and thoughtful, reasoning carefully about who could have spoken to her. Though she is scared of going to school, she is fundamentally brave — the same girl is unafraid of lizards, snakes and rattling trains. When encouraged, she gathers courage, acts on good advice and wins her place in the classroom. Best of all, she is unselfish: she dreams of becoming a teacher who will go from house to house bringing the little girls of her village to school. Jahnavi is thus a picture of curiosity, courage and generosity.

The River is the most unusual character in the story — a common noun given a capital letter because it is personified with human qualities. It is affectionate and thoughtful: it notices Jahnavi's tears at once and asks, "Dear, dear! What's the matter?" It knows her intimately, having watched her come to see it almost every day. It is playful and witty — it complains, "You make me breathless. So many whys!", jokes that it cannot take her to school because she would get her feet wet, and remarks that trains are noisy and it prefers ships. It is also wise and encouraging: it teaches Jahnavi that "little girls can do as much as little boys" and keeps repeating "it's up to you!" so that she depends on herself. Finally, it is a true friend — it keeps its promise of stories about the ships that sail the sea, waiting for her with a sleepy chuckle. The River is friend, philosopher and guide in one.

The central message of the story is that every child — especially every girl — deserves an education, and that the first step towards a dream must be taken by oneself. Jahnavi is repeatedly put off with "You are too small, baby. Maybe later" and "Maybe next year", simply because she is a girl needed at home. The River counters this thinking directly: "little girls can do as much as little boys." The story also shows that support can turn a dream into reality — the teacher promises, "we'll talk to your father about it. Don't you worry. We'll find a way," and Mother finally says, "Girls should learn as much as they want." Another part of the message is about courage: Jahnavi herself admits, "I was scared, but I did it!" The writer shows that when a determined child, a wise friend and a kind teacher come together, even an old family tradition of denying girls education can be broken.

The story teaches several lasting values. First, gender equality: the River declares that "little girls can do as much as little boys — they swim as fast as little boys", a lesson Mother echoes when she says girls should learn as much as they want. Second, courage in the face of fear: Jahnavi is "scared" but still slips into the school and later says, "I was scared, but I did it!" Third, kindness and helpfulness: the teacher spots a new girl in the back row, asks her name and offers to speak to her father. Fourth, gratitude and generosity: Jahnavi thanks the River first, and then promises to become a teacher who will teach all the little girls of her village everything she learns. Finally, the story values curiosity — Jahnavi's endless "whys" show that the desire to know is the beginning of all learning.

The story applies directly to everyday life. Like Jahnavi, I sometimes postpone things out of fear — speaking on stage, asking a doubt in class or trying something new. The River's advice, "it's up to you!", reminds me that nobody can act in my place; I must take the first small step myself, just as Jahnavi slipped along one morning and sat in the school. The story also teaches me to respect every child's right to learn: I should share my books, help classmates who struggle, and never tease a new or older student joining my class, the way the boys in Jahnavi's class kindly told the teacher who she was. Above all, Jahnavi's promise to teach the little girls of her village inspires me to pass on whatever I learn — for example, teaching a younger sibling or helping at home — instead of keeping my good fortune to myself.

The teacher and Mother play decisive roles in turning Jahnavi's dream into reality. When the teacher notices a new girl in his class, he does not scold or chase her away; instead he gently asks, "Where did you spring from, little girl?" On hearing her wish, he immediately promises, "we'll talk to your father about it. Don't you worry. We'll find a way." True to his word, he walks up the steps to her gate the very next evening and persuades her worried father. Mother, on her part, changes the course of the family's history. She had earlier postponed Jahnavi's schooling with "Maybe later" and "Maybe next year", but standing at the gate she declares, "Girls should learn as much as they want." She reveals her own unfulfilled longing for school and admits she is glad the teacher came. Thus one adult opens the door of the school from outside, and the other opens the door of the home from inside — together they make Jahnavi's education possible.

Dear Diary, today was the most wonderful day of my life — my first day at school! Last night I could hardly sleep. I remembered the River's words, "it's up to you!" and my heart thumped as I walked to school with the other children. My teacher smiled when I entered and made me sit near a girl who shared her slate with me. When the teacher read out the lesson, I understood almost everything, for I had listened at the door before. I held the chalk for the first time and tried to write my own name — 'Jahnavi' — crooked letters, but mine! We did simple sums, and I counted faster than I expected. At break, the boys who knew Gopi played with me, and nobody chased me out as I had feared. Walking home, I stopped at the river and told my friend everything. It chuckled sleepily and said, "Come again, little girl, and I'll tell you all about the ships that sail the sea." Mother hugged me when I got home. One day I shall be a teacher and bring all the little girls of our village to this school. Tonight I am tired but happy. — Jahnavi