Look at the pictures and read the text aloud.

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?

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

(i) After a very long spell of heat, the weather is at last.                                            (ii) We have no right to people who do small jobs.
(iii) Nitin has always his uncle, who is a self-made man.
(iv) The police are the matter thoroughly.
(v) If you want to go out, I will the children for you.
(vi) I promise to on your brother when I visit Lucknow next.
(vi) when you are crossing the main road.

Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?

Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.

challenge     mystic     comical
courtier      smearing

What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu inthe backyard

How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?

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

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

Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?

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.