Complete each sentence below by appropriately using any one of the following: if you want to/if you don’t want to/if you want him to
(i) Don’t go to the theatre
(ii) He’ll post your letter
(iii) Please use my pen
(iv) He’ll lend you his umbrella
(v) My neighbour, Ramesh, will take you to the doctor
(vi) Don’t eat it

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

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

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

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

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...

1. Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.
fainted: lost consciousness

        A.                                                             B
(i) wounded.                                   got up from sleep
(ii) awoke.                                              give back

(iii) forgive.                       small patches ofground for plants
(iv) faithful.                                      severely injured
(v) pity.                                                     pardon
(vi) beds.                                                    loyal
(vii) return.                                          feel sorry for
Use any three of the above words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of the word.

Why was the king advised to go to magicians?

How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?

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,
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable
4. The king requested the hermit
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound,

• 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.

Why does Maya think Mr Nath is a crook? Who does she say the Sunday visitor is?

(i) What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has nomoney to buy chappals?

(ii) What does she suggest to show her concern?

Why did the king want no more talk about the hilsa-fish?

What did Nishad give Mr Nath? Why?

On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?

 What is the significance of the title? To whom or to what does it refer

What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightenedMahendran?

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

Read the following sentences.
(a) If she knows we have a cat, Paati will leave the house.
(b) She won’t be so upset if she knows about the poor beggar with sores on his fect.
(c) If the chappals do fit, will you really not mind? Notice that each sentence consists of two parts. The first part begins with ‘if ’. It is known as if-clause. Rewrite each of the following pairs of sentences as a single sentence. Use ‘if ’ at the beginning of the sentence.
(a) Walk fast. You’ll catch the bus. If you walk fast, you’ll catch the bus.
(b) Don’t spit on the road. You’ll be fined. If you spit on the road, you’ll be fined.

(i) Don’t tire yourself now. You won’t be able to work in the evening.
(ii) Study regularly. You’ll do well in the examination.
(iii) Work hard. You’ll pass the examination in the first division.
(iv) Be polite to people. They’ll also be polite to you.
(v) Don’t tease the dog. It’ll bite you.

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.

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...