NCERT Solutions Class 7 English Unit 1 Learning Together Chapter 01 The Day the River Spoke (Prose)

Page 1

Let us do these activities before we read.

I. Close your eyes and quietly listen to the sounds around you for a minute.

Question 1. Are they trying to tell you something?
Answer: Different noises tell us what is happening around us. For example, birds singing can mean the weather is shifting. Car horns tell us someone has arrived. Other nature sounds show us how the surroundings are changing.
In simple words: Sounds help us understand what is going on around us.

Exam Tip: Try to give easy real-life examples like chirping birds or moving cars to explain how sounds talk to us.

Question 2. Do you think the things around you also listen to you all day long? Share your answer with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer: The world around us takes in our sounds, but it does not think about them like we do. Living things like plants and animals might react to our voices. Still, they do not understand our words the way people do.
In simple words: Nature hears our sounds, but it does not understand them like humans.

Exam Tip: Explain the difference between just hearing a sound and really understanding what it means.

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.

Question 1. What could that dream be?
Answer: Jahnavi wished to attend school. She wanted to learn how to read books, just like her brothers Ettan and Meena did.
In simple words: Jahnavi wanted to go to school and read like her brothers.

Exam Tip: Always name her brothers, Ettan and Meena, to show you know the details of the story.

Question 2. How could she make her dream come true?
Answer: To reach her goal, she had to stop being scared of school. She also needed her mother and father to agree and support her. Finally, she had to listen to the River and take the first step herself.
In simple words: She had to lose her fear, get her parents' okay, and take action.

Exam Tip: Mentioning both emotional changes (losing fear) and action steps (listening to the River) will score full marks.

Question 3. What is your dream? What can you do to make your dream come true? Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer: I want to grow up and become a teacher. I will work hard at school and learn as much as possible. I will also practice being kind, patient, and dedicated to my work.
In simple words: I want to be a teacher, so I will study well and be kind.

Exam Tip: Personal questions can have many correct answers, so feel free to write about your own real dream.

Page 3 - Let Us Discuss

Question 1. What was Jahnavi’s dream? Was it important to her? Why?
Answer: Jahnavi wanted to go to school and learn how to read just like Meena and Ettan. This goal meant everything to her due to many key reasons:
- She kept telling her mother about this wish for a very long time. This showed she truly cared.
- She felt neglected because her little brother Ramu was chosen to go to school instead of her.
- She had a strong wish to learn new things. She wondered why spiders are yellow in yellow flowers and why bamboo trees make noise.
- She wanted to read and write just like her brothers.
- School meant she could grow as a person and be treated fairly.
- Later in the story, her wish grew bigger. She decided she wanted to be a teacher to help other young girls in the village get an education.
We can see how deeply she felt when she sat crying by the water, showing how much she needed this chance to shape her own life.
In simple words: Jahnavi wanted to study and read. It was very important to her because she wanted to learn, feel equal to her brothers, and eventually teach other girls.

Exam Tip: When answering why the dream was important, lists are easy to read. Mention her specific questions about spiders and bamboos to get high marks.

Question 2. Do you think the river can help her in fulfilling her dream? How?
Answer: Yes, the water gave Jahnavi great help to make her dream real in many ways:
- It gave her a safe place to share her worries and fears by listening to her.
- It gave her wise words, saying that small girls are just as capable as small boys.
- It told her a simple plan on how to go to school by quietly going in and sitting down one morning.
- It made her feel brave by reminding her that she is not scared of wild things like snakes or lizards.
- It helped her see that her own fear was the only thing stopping her, not other excuses.
- It gave her a basic starting point, telling her to just try going to school first.
- It made her feel powerful by saying that the choice was in her hands.
- It acted as a guide who trusted her skills when she had no faith in herself.
This wise advice worked well. At the end, she found the courage to enter the classroom where the teacher welcomed her.
In simple words: The river helped her by listening, making her feel brave, and giving her a simple plan to go to school.

Exam Tip: Be sure to include quotes from the River like "it's up to you" to support your answer and show a deep reading of the text.

Page 6 - Let us discuss

Question. 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.
Answer:

In simple words: This table matches the questions Jahnavi asked with the answers the River gave her.

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the textbook details about ships and the moon to fill in these matching tables correctly.

Page 7 - Let us think and reflect

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

Extract 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."

Question 1(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: sympathising
In simple words: The river is showing kind feelings and care for her sadness.

Exam Tip: Sympathising means sharing someone's pain, which fits because Jahnavi was crying.

Question 1(ii). Select a phrase from the extract which shows that Jahnavi was a frequent visitor to the spot.
Answer: "coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day"
In simple words: This phrase shows she visited the water almost every single day.

Exam Tip: Always quote the exact words from the given passage when asked to select a phrase.

Question 1(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
In simple words: She used this mark because she could not believe that a river was actually talking to her.

Exam Tip: An exclamation mark can show surprise or shock, which is why "disbelief" is the correct answer here.

Question 1(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: thoughtful, kind-hearted, and affectionate
In simple words: The river is caring, warm, and thinks about her feelings.

Exam Tip: Look at how the River listens to her cry and speaks gently to choose these friendly qualities.

Extract 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."

Question 2(i). Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
According to the River, there was no difference between girls and boys because __________________.
Answer: they have the same ability to study and succeed in life.
In simple words: Boys and girls can learn and do things equally well.

Exam Tip: Use terms like "equal ability" or "same capacity" to show gender equality.

Question 2(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
In simple words: Yes, the river does tell her to believe in herself.

Exam Tip: Read the text carefully; the River constantly pushes Jahnavi to be brave, making this statement true.

Question 2(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
In simple words: "Slip along" means going into the class without making any noise.

Exam Tip: In this context, slipping in means entering softly so as not to cause a disturbance.

Question 2(iv). What does the repetition of the phrase "I couldn’t", tell us?
Answer: This shows that Jahnavi is extremely scared. She truly believes that she is not allowed or able to go to school.
In simple words: Saying it twice shows she is very afraid of going to school.

Exam Tip: Repetition in literature is often used to highlight strong emotions like fear or worry.

II. Answer the following questions.

Question 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: The author paints a clear picture of nature to show where the story takes place. It also links Jahnavi to the world around her. This makes it easier for us to see how much the water matters to her, and it prepares us for when the River starts talking like a wise friend.
In simple words: The detailed description makes the story feel real and explains why the river is so special to Jahnavi.

Exam Tip: Mentioning the term "personification" or "personifying the River" is highly recommended to score full marks in literature exams.

Question 2. How did the River know so much about Jahnavi?
Answer: Jahnavi went to the water almost every day. She sat there and spoke about her dreams and worries. Since the River is like a real person in this tale, it watched her visits and heard everything she said.
In simple words: The river knew her because she visited it daily and spoke her thoughts aloud.

Exam Tip: Explain that the River behaves like a living character who can see and hear her actions.

Question 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: From this, we can tell that Jahnavi is around ten years old. She thinks she is too old to start primary classes. It shows that in her village, girls often do not get the same chance to study as boys, and older girls face difficulties when trying to start school.
In simple words: She feels too old for school. This shows girls in her village face social rules that stop them from studying later in life.

Exam Tip: Point out the social challenges and gender inequality that prevent older girls from getting an education.

Question 4. Why did the River laugh when Jahnavi said she would be scared at school?
Answer: The water found it funny because Jahnavi was brave around wild creatures. She was not scared of lizards or the snakes in the bamboo trees, but she was terrified of simply sitting in a room with other kids.
In simple words: The river laughed because she was brave with snakes but scared of school children.

Exam Tip: Use the word "irony" or explain the funny contrast between her physical bravery and her social fear.

Question 5. Why should Jahnavi follow the River’s advice?
Answer: She should listen to the water because it knows what she can achieve. It helps her beat her fear and points her toward her goal. The River is very wise because it has seen many people's lives and knows she is stronger than she thinks.
In simple words: The river is wise, believes in her, and knows a simple way for her to study.

Exam Tip: Describe the River as a guide or mentor who sees her inner strength when she cannot see it herself.

Question 6. How does the conversation between Jahnavi and the River make the story more appealing?
Answer: Talking to the water makes the story exciting because it treats the River like a real person. The dialogue feels natural to young readers. It also creates a magical guide for Jahnavi and makes big topics like girls' rights and school easy to understand.
In simple words: Having a talking river as a friend makes the story fun and explains big lessons in an easy way.

Exam Tip: Highlight how dialogue and fantasy make tough themes like gender rights approachable for children.

Question 7. What is the main message that the writer intends to convey?
Answer: The core lesson is that school matters for every child, whether they are a boy or a girl. If we are brave and keep trying, we can beat our fears and any social rules to reach our goals.
In simple words: Every boy and girl has the right to study, and we should be brave to follow our dreams.

Exam Tip: Focus on terms like "equal right to study" and "bravery" as these represent the core moral of the story.

Page 8 - Let us learn

Question I. Why has the author used a capital letter for the 'River' even when it is a common noun? (Clue: Has the River been given qualities of a human being?)
Answer: The author capitalizes 'River' because it behaves like a human character in the story, speaking and offering advice.
In simple words: The river is treated like a real person who talks, so it gets a capital letter.

Exam Tip: This literary tool is called "personification," which turns an object into a character with a proper name.

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.

Question 1. Write the correct sound word from the text next to each definition:
(i) made a high-pitched piercing sound
(ii) to cause liquid to strike or fall on something
(iii) a low continuous background noise
(iv) cry with loud uncontrollable gasps
(v) to make a soft dry sound, like paper or leaves moving
(vi) took a short quick breath through the mouth due to surprise, pain or shock
(vii) shaking rapidly to make continuous short, sharp sounds
(viii) making a lot of noise
(ix) made a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadness
Answer:
(i) Shrieked
(ii) Splashed
(iii) Murmuring
(iv) Sobbed/wailed
(v) Rustled
(vi) Gasped
(vii) Rattling
(viii) Noisy
(ix) Wailed
In simple words: These are words that describe different sounds, like water splashing or leaves rustling.

Exam Tip: Memorize these sound-related vocabulary words as they are frequently tested in English spelling and grammar sections.

Question 2. Fill in the blanks with suitable sound words from the list above.
The classroom grew (i) _______ as the students noticed the teacher carrying the answer papers. As the teacher turned the pages with a (ii) _______, the children (iii) _______, wondering what comments awaited. Someone (iv) _______ in frustration, and the (v) _______ of the students steadily increased. Finally, when the teacher praised the students for their excellent performance, the students (vi) ________ with excitement.
Answer:
(i) noisy
(ii) rustle
(iii) gasped
(iv) wailed
(v) murmuring
(vi) shrieked
In simple words: This paragraph describes how the classroom got loud, quiet, and then excited when the teacher showed the test scores.

Exam Tip: Read the entire paragraph first to understand the mood before selecting the sound words that best fit the context.

Question 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 and identify from which Indian language these words were borrowed.
1. karma
2. sahib
3. chutney
4. guru
5. verandah
6. jungle
7. areca
8. palanquin
Answer:
1. Karma - Sanskrit
2. Sahib - Urdu
3. Chutney - Hindi
4. Guru - Sanskrit
5. Verandah - Hindi
6. Jungle - Hindi
7. Areca - Kannada
8. Palanquin - Sanskrit
In simple words: Many words we use in English actually come from Indian languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, and Urdu.

Exam Tip: Matching exercises are simple to score. Review the origin of common English words that have Indian roots.

Question 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 (canoe, catamaran, coracle, shikara).
(i) Which one would you like to travel in?
(ii) Make a colourful drawing of a boat that you would like to travel in.
Answer:
(i) I would love to ride in a Shikara. It is a very calm and lovely boat used on the lakes in Kashmir.
(ii) Below is a drawing of the boat:
In simple words: This shows a drawing of a pretty boat sailing on the water under a bright sun.

Exam Tip: Practice drawing a basic boat with a sail, waves, and a sun for your art integration tasks.

Question 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
2. A small vessel for travelling on water, typically propelled by oars, sails, or an engine
3. A flat floating structure for travelling across water
4. A boat or ship driven by steam
Down:
5. A small, light, narrow boat, pointed at both ends and moved using a paddle
6. A boat with a powerful engine which can change direction easily and is used to pull large ships into and out of port
7. A boat with sails and sometimes an engine, used for either racing or travelling for pleasure, rhymes with 'cot'
Answer:
Across:
1. SHIP
2. BOAT
3. RAFT
4. STEAMER
Down:
5. CANOE
6. TUGBOAT
7. YACHT
In simple words: This list gives the names of different boats and ships used for water travel.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the spelling of tricky words like "YACHT" and "CANOE" as they often appear in vocabulary tests.

Question VI. Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions from 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. for
In simple words: Prepositions are little words that show where things are and when things happen.

Exam Tip: We say "at school" for location, and "between" when referring to two classmates.

Question VII. Fill in the blanks with the correct 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. happily
3. across
4. overhead
5. along
6. inside
7. around
8. on
In simple words: Adverbs describe how or where an action happens, while prepositions show the link between a noun and another word.

Exam Tip: A preposition is always followed by a noun (like "the table" or "the park"), while an adverb stands on its own to describe the action.

Page 12 - Let us listen

Question I. Read the words below. Circle the words that are used by the speakers. (There are two words you do not need).
[ lawyer, desks, homemaker, principal, posters, newspapers, marriage, advertisements, careers, books ]
Answer: The words used by the speakers are:
- Homemaker
- Principal
- Careers
- Books
- Desks
- Advertisements
In simple words: These six words from the list were heard in the speaking activity.

Exam Tip: In listening tasks, listen carefully for synonyms if the exact word is not repeated, though here the exact words are used.

Question II. Match each statement 1–7 to each speaker (i)–(v). There are two statements that you do not need.
1. Promotes active participation for all in school activities
2. Comments on how school makes learning Mathematics joyful
3. Believes in the power of education that leads to freedom of choice
4. Shares that school also means companionship
5. Understands that boys and girls have different abilities
6. Persuades the parent to grant permission to attend school
7. Believes that learning skills is not gender-based
Answer:
1. (v) Principal
3. (i) Father
4. (iv) Student
6. (iii) Teacher
7. (ii) Grandmother
Note: Statements 2 and 5 are the two extra statements that are not needed.
In simple words: This shows which person made each statement about school and learning.

Exam Tip: Read through all the options first, and eliminate the unused statements to ensure your matches are accurate.

Page 13 - Let Us Speak

Question I. Read the sentence: "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." Work in pairs and speak the sentence using different voices (happy, scared, angry, excited, worried).
Answer:
1. Cheerful voice: (Very bright and full of energy) "Dear, dear! What is the matter? You should not cry, you know! And you really should not feel scared!"
2. Frightened voice: (Shaking and speaking in a whisper) "Dear... dear? What is the matter? You... you should not cry. You really should not be scared..."
3. Furious voice: (Very loud and strong) "Dear, dear! What is the matter?! You should not cry, and you really should not be scared!"
4. Thrilled voice: (Fast and happy) "Dear, dear! What is the matter? Oh! You should not cry, you know - and guess what, you really should not be scared!"
5. Anxious voice: (Sounding highly concerned) "Oh dear, dear! What is the matter? You should not cry, you know... and you really should not be scared, should you?"
In simple words: This activity helps you practice saying the same lines using different feelings and tones.

Exam Tip: Change your volume, speed, and pitch to match the feeling of each voice during this speaking practice.

Question II. Ask for and give advice in pairs for the following situations:
Situation (i): You wish to play football at school but it has an all-boys’ team only.
Situation (ii): You have been unable to score well in Mathematics due to nervousness during exams.
Situation (iii): You really enjoy music classes but do not get enough time to practise for it.
Situation (iv): You cannot see the blackboard clearly from the last bench.
Answer:
1. Situation (i):
Student: I want to play football, but the school only has a boys' team. What should I do?
Friend: You should go talk to your gym teacher. Ask if they can start a mixed team for everyone.
2. Situation (ii):
Student: I get very scared during math tests and get bad marks. What is your advice?
Friend: Try doing more practice tests at home. It would also help to talk to your teacher for extra support.
3. Situation (iii):
Student: I love my music class, but I do not have enough time to practice. Should I quit?
Friend: No, do not quit! Just practice for fifteen minutes every day. A short daily routine will help a lot.
4. Situation (iv):
Student: I cannot see what is on the blackboard from the last row. What would you do?
Friend: Tell your class teacher about it. Ask to sit in the front row so you can see better.
In simple words: This shows how friends can talk to each other and give helpful tips for common school problems.

Exam Tip: When writing dialogues, keep the language simple, polite, and directly focused on solving the problem.

Page 14 - Let Us Explore

Question 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 in India are seen as holy because they provide life-saving water to people, animals, and plants. Many rivers, such as the Ganga and Yamuna, are prayed to as goddesses. People see them as mothers who feed us and keep us alive. Their gentle flow is viewed as a female quality, which is why we say "Mother Ganga". On the other hand, rivers like the Brahmaputra are called male because they flow with massive and wild power.
In simple words: Indian rivers are holy because they give us life. Most are called mothers because they are gentle, but very powerful ones are called male.

Exam Tip: Mention the name of "Ganga" and "Yamuna" as examples of female rivers, and "Brahmaputra" as a male river to make your answer complete.

Question II. 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.
Answer: The languages spoken by students in our class include Hindi, English, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Urdu, and Kannada.
In simple words: This is a list of the many different languages spoken by students in a typical Indian school.

Exam Tip: Since India is a land of many languages, listing 5 to 6 major languages will easily answer this question.

Question 2. In which language do you enjoy reading and learning the most?
Answer: I love reading and studying in English because it helps me discover wonderful tales and thoughts from different countries.
In simple words: I like English because it lets me read stories from all over the world.

Exam Tip: You can choose any language you like, but always give a simple reason why you enjoy it.

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

Question III(1). What are the things you can observe in the poster?
Answer: In the poster, we can see cheerful young girls, a school house, school books, warm smiles, and self-respect shown on their faces.
In simple words: The poster shows happy girls holding books near a school.

Exam Tip: List at least three distinct visual items you see in the poster, like books, smiles, or the school building.

Question III(2). Why do you think the girls look happy?
Answer: The girls look joyful because they have the chance to go to school and learn. This gives them the power to have big dreams and make a great future for themselves.
In simple words: They are happy because they can go to school and build their future.

Exam Tip: Use positive words like "opportunity" and "empowerment" when describing the benefits of education.

Question III(3). What is the relation between ‘dignity’ and ‘happiness’?
Answer: Having dignity means being respected and treated well by others. This self-respect makes a person feel confident and free, which leads to true happiness.
In simple words: When people respect you, you feel confident and happy.

Exam Tip: Connect dignity (respect) to happiness through intermediate steps like confidence and self-respect.

Question III(4). How does a nation prosper when its daughters are happy?
Answer: When girls receive an education and are happy, they become strong and smart women. They can then help their society and country grow. An educated woman helps her entire family, leading to a wealthier and healthier nation.
In simple words: Educated and happy girls grow up to help their families and make the whole country stronger.

Exam Tip: Explain how educating one girl can have a positive impact on her entire family and the country's economy.

Question IV. The Government has launched many schemes for the education of the girl child. Find out more such schemes from the internet or from your teacher and spread awareness in your neighbourhood.
Answer:
Some other government schemes are:
1. National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE): This scheme offers money to girls who clear Class 8 to help them keep studying.
2. CBSE UDAAN: This scheme helps girls in Class 11 and 12 get ready for engineering college tests.
Ways to spread awareness:
- I can chat with my neighbors to share information about these plans.
- I can create a simple poster and place it in our local community center.
- I can talk about these programs with my classmates and close friends at school.
- I can request our school teacher to help us run a brief info meeting for everyone.
In simple words: There are many government programs to help girls study, and we can share this information with our neighbors and friends.

Exam Tip: Be ready with at least two program names and two simple ways you can share this information with others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question. What is "The Day the River Spoke" about?
Answer: This story is about a ten-year-old girl named Jahnavi who cannot go to school because she has to take care of her little brothers. One day, while crying near the water, the River speaks to her. The River tells her that girls can do anything boys can do, and advises her to go sit in class. Jahnavi finds the courage to do this, and her teacher helps her enroll. In the end, Jahnavi dreams of becoming a school teacher to help other girls in her village study.
In simple words: It is a story about a girl who overcomes her fears with the help of a wise talking river to go to school.

Exam Tip: Summarize the key points: Jahnavi's dream, the River's advice, and her final goal of becoming a teacher.

Question. Who is the author of "The Day the River Spoke" in Class 7 Poorvi?
Answer: The author of this story is Kamala Nair. The lesson is adapted from her original work.
In simple words: The story was written by Kamala Nair.

Exam Tip: Remembering the author's name, Kamala Nair, is important for short-answer questions in exams.

Question. Why does the River speak with a capital letter in the story?
Answer: The author uses a capital letter because the River is not just water; it is a speaking character who acts as Jahnavi's guide and mentor.
In simple words: The word 'River' starts with a capital letter because it is treated like a person in this story.

Exam Tip: Point out that giving human features to a non-living thing is called personification.

Question. What is the moral of "The Day the River Spoke"?
Answer: The lesson is that every child, especially girls, must have the chance to study. It also teaches us that being brave and taking action can help us beat our fears and reach our goals.
In simple words: The moral is that education is for everyone, and we must be brave to follow our dreams.

Exam Tip: Use terms like "gender equality" and "courage" to explain the main lesson clearly.