NCERT Solutions Class 7 English Unit 2 Wit and Humour Chapter 06 Say the Right Thing (Play/Dialogue)

Question 1. What does "Athithi Devo Bhava" mean?
Answer: This Sanskrit phrase translates to "The guest is equivalent to God." It emphasises the Indian cultural value of treating guests with utmost respect, warmth, and hospitality.
In simple words: In Indian culture, guests are thought of as god-like and must be welcomed with great care and kindness.

Exam Tip: Remember this is a key cultural concept - examiners often ask about the meaning and significance of this Sanskrit phrase in the context of Indian hospitality traditions.

Question 2. Why is it important to be polite to guests?
Answer: Politeness to guests creates a warm and friendly atmosphere, makes them feel appreciated and at ease, and shows well on the host. It helps build stronger bonds and supports social peace in communities.
In simple words: Being polite to guests makes them happy, shows respect, and helps people get along better.

Exam Tip: Focus on how politeness affects relationships and creates comfort - these are the main ideas examiners test.

Question. Choose the statements that display polite behaviour when you have guests at home.
(i) Offer the guests a glass of water.
(ii) Enquire about the well-being of the guests.
(iii) Ask the guests when they would leave.
(iv) Comment critically about the habits of guests.
(v) Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.
Answer: The statements that show good manners when guests visit are: (i) Offer the guests a glass of water. (ii) Enquire about the well-being of the guests. (v) Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.
In simple words: Good manners mean offering water, asking how guests are doing, and walking them to the door when they leave. Asking when they will go or criticising them is not polite.

Exam Tip: Always pick choices that show kindness and care - being a good host means making guests feel welcome and respected.

Question. Sometimes you find that a few friends in class are rude while disagreeing with each other on certain issues. Work in groups. How would you deal with such a situation? Share at least three ways in which you can do this.
Answer: Here are three ways to handle rude behaviour during disagreements among friends:

1. Stay Calm and Neutral: Do not take sides. Instead, try to stay relaxed and listen to what both friends have to say. Having someone calm nearby often helps cool things down.

2. Encourage Respectful Communication: Gently remind your friends to share their thoughts without being mean to each other. You can say something like, "Let's try to understand each other's ideas without making it personal."

3. Find Common Ground or Suggest a Break: Help them spot things they both agree on, or suggest they take a short break to avoid making things worse. A little time apart lets everyone calm down and think clearly.
In simple words: Stay calm and listen to both sides. Ask friends to talk nicely to each other. Help them find points they agree on or suggest a break to cool off.

Exam Tip: Examiners look for solutions that show empathy, patience, and respect for both sides of the conflict.

Let us discuss (Page 74)

Question. Complete the table given below based on Scene I of the play. An example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer:

Exam Tip: When filling such tables, match the speaker's exact words with the purpose or feeling behind them - this shows understanding of character motivation.

Question. Do you think Mary will be able to follow her mother's advice successfully when Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee visit? Why or why not?
Answer: Mary puts in real effort to follow her mother's guidance, but it is doubtful she will succeed completely. She shows confidence and eagerness, yet she lacks a full grasp of how to speak with politeness or pause before she talks. This gap in understanding will likely lead to mistakes when the guests come.
In simple words: Mary tries hard but probably will not do well because she does not really understand how to be polite and often speaks without thinking first.

Exam Tip: Support your answer with reasons from the text - show that you understand Mary's character and her weaknesses in following social rules.

Let us discuss (Page 77)

Question 1. Mrs. Harding states that they do not like London as it is not the same as Lanfield. Rectification:
Answer: Mrs. Harding states that they like Lanfield very much even though it is not the same as London.

Exam Tip: When rectifying false statements, flip the meaning completely - change negatives to positives and adjust the logic accordingly.

Question 2. Mrs. Harding was pleased to know that Mary was familiar with her children. Rectification:
Answer: Mrs. Harding was not pleased because she made it clear that she had no children at all.
In simple words: Mrs. Harding did not have children, so she was unhappy when Mary talked about them.

Exam Tip: Look for the direct contradiction in the text - if the statement says one thing happened, the correction should state the opposite or the actual fact.

Question 3. Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers. Rectification:
Answer: Mrs. Shaw said she liked Mrs. Best as a person in general, not because of her newspaper reading habits.
In simple words: Mrs. Shaw liked Mrs. Best herself, not her reading habits.

Exam Tip: Identify the incorrect reason given and replace it with the accurate one from the text.

Question 4. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable. Rectification:
Answer: Mrs. Shaw hurriedly said that she liked blue dresses and red coats worn together to avoid hurting Mrs. Harding's feelings, since Mrs. Harding often wears this exact combination.
In simple words: Mrs. Shaw said she liked blue and red together to prevent offending Mrs. Harding, who actually wears that style.

Exam Tip: This rectification shows how politeness sometimes means saying what will please others, not always speaking the truth - a key theme in the play.

Question 5. Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute. Rectification:
Answer: Mary says the dog outside is dirty and mentions she dislikes it, not finding it cute. Later, she learns the dog belongs to Mrs. Harding, which makes the comment even more awkward.
In simple words: Mary called the dog dirty and said she did not like it. She only found out later that it was Mrs. Harding's own dog.

Exam Tip: Notice how Mary's careless remarks, especially when they unknowingly target something a guest owns or cares about, lead to embarrassing moments.

Let us think and reflect (Pages 78-79)

Question 1(i). What does Mrs. Shaw imply when she says, "One day you'll have to go to some of these houses yourself and talk to the people there"?
Answer: (C) She wants Mary to develop social skills for the future.
In simple words: Mrs. Shaw is teaching Mary that she will need to know how to talk nicely to people when she visits homes as an adult.

Exam Tip: This statement shows Mrs. Shaw's goal - not to scold Mary, but to prepare her for real-life social situations she will face.

Question 1(ii). Complete the following sentence with the correct option from the brackets. Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to _____________ (have a polite conversation / get to know people better)
Answer: have a polite conversation
In simple words: The main topic of their talk is how to speak in a kind and respectful way.

Exam Tip: The first option is correct because the conversation centres on what Mary should say, not on building deeper relationships.

Question 1(iii). Why did Mary insist on staying with her mother when the guests arrived?
Answer: Mary wanted to show what she could do in talking with others and prove she knew how to speak appropriately in social situations.
In simple words: Mary wanted to prove she could talk nicely and was ready to meet guests.

Exam Tip: Mary's eagerness here shows her overconfidence - she believes she is already skilled at conversation despite her mother's warnings.

Question 1(iv). Match the following character traits to the characters in the extract: A. eager B. inexperienced C. cautious
Answer: Mary: A. eager; Mrs. Shaw: C. cautious
In simple words: Mary is keen and excited, while Mrs. Shaw is careful and worried about what might go wrong.

Exam Tip: These character traits are crucial to understanding the conflict in the play - Mary's eagerness clashes with her mother's caution.

Question 2(i). Complete the following sentence suitably. Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because _____________.
Answer: she often goes out during the day.
In simple words: Mary saw Mrs. Cotter because Mrs. Cotter was outside in the daytime, unlike her usual habit of staying in bed.

Exam Tip: This answer comes from context - Mary notes that Mrs. Cotter usually stays in bed, so meeting her outside is noteworthy.

Question 2(ii). What does Mary's comment about Mrs. Cotter staying in bed and calling the doctor suggest about her understanding?
Answer: (B) She is unable to understand why people need medical help.
In simple words: Mary does not grasp that some people need a doctor because of health problems or illness.

Exam Tip: This reveals Mary's lack of empathy and insight - she judges others based on her own experience rather than trying to understand their circumstances.

Question 2(iii). How can we say that Mary enjoyed good health?
Answer: We can say Mary enjoyed good health because she points out that she has never needed a doctor in her whole life, which shows she has stayed well and strong.
In simple words: Mary has never been to a doctor, which shows she is healthy.

Exam Tip: Mary uses herself as a measuring stick for health, not realizing that others may have different health needs.

Question 2(iv). Identify whether the following statement is true or false. Mary might have unintentionally offended Mrs. Harding.
Answer: True
In simple words: Yes, Mary hurt Mrs. Harding's feelings without meaning to, because she did not know Mrs. Harding stayed in bed sometimes.

Exam Tip: The word "unintentionally" is key - Mary does not realize she is being hurtful, which makes her remarks even more socially clumsy.

Question 1. What does Mary's comment about Mr. Best's routine and profession reveal about her viewpoint on bankers and their way of life?
Answer: Mary's remarks show that she thinks the work life of bankers is dull and empty of meaning. She finds fault with how they travel by train every day and only read newspapers instead of other books, which to her means they lack creativity and do not think for themselves. She implies bankers care only about their jobs.
In simple words: Mary thinks bankers have boring lives because they go to work on trains and only read newspapers, showing they do not think creatively.

Exam Tip: Mary's judgmental remarks about other professions show her immaturity and lack of respect for different careers.

Question 2. What can we infer about Mary's understanding of polite conversation based on her interactions with the guests?
Answer: From her talks with the guests, it becomes clear that Mary has not really learned what polite conversation means. She makes remarks that are out of place and embarrass others, even though her mother told her to be kind and say pleasing things. She does not think about how her words affect others.
In simple words: Mary does not understand politeness. She says things that hurt people's feelings, even though her mother warned her to be kind.

Exam Tip: Mary's behaviour reveals a gap between knowing the "rule" (be polite) and understanding what polite speech actually looks like in real situations.

Question 3. What do you think the repeated stage direction 'no one speaks' indicates about the atmosphere in the room when Mary speaks?
Answer: The repeated stage direction 'no one speaks' creates a picture of silence and unease in the room. It tells us that Mary's words make the guests feel uncomfortable and unsure of how to react or what to say in return.
In simple words: When Mary speaks and no one replies, the room feels awkward and tense, which shows her words upset people.

Exam Tip: Stage directions are tools that reveal emotion and atmosphere - silence often speaks louder than words in theatre.

Question 4. How does Mary's attitude towards the guests change throughout the play?
Answer: At the start, Mary feels excited and keen to talk and make a good impression on the guests. As the play moves forward, her own blunders cause her to grow more embarrassed and hesitant, mainly when she sees that her words have hurt the guests' feelings. Her confidence fades as she realizes her mistakes.
In simple words: Mary begins full of confidence and excitement but becomes more shy and ashamed as her careless words offend the guests.

Exam Tip: Character development is shown through changing emotions and behaviour - track how Mary shifts from confident to embarrassed.

Question 5. What do Mrs. Harding's and Mrs. Lee's responses to Mary's blunders during their visit reveal about their characters?
Answer: Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee handle Mary's mistakes with restraint and grace, even though her words are sometimes hurtful. Their behaviour shows that they are patient people who can stay calm in awkward moments and treat others with respect even when those others have been careless or rude.
In simple words: Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee are polite and patient - they do not get angry even when Mary says mean things.

Exam Tip: The guests' politeness contrasts sharply with Mary's lack of it, highlighting the play's central message about good manners.

Question 6. In what way does the play show the importance of knowing how to engage in polite conversation?
Answer: The play teaches that being able to talk politely is vital for building good bonds and making positive first meetings. Mary's mistakes show how words spoken without care can create awkward moments and push people apart. Her failure to speak with thought and respect damages what could have been pleasant social connections.
In simple words: The play shows that polite talk helps people like each other and get along, while careless words hurt feelings and damage friendships.

Exam Tip: This is the core message of the play - use examples of Mary's mistakes and their consequences to support answers about politeness.

Let us learn (Pages 80-83) - Suffixes

Question. Study the words in Column 1. Match the suffixes in Column 2 with their meanings or purpose in Column 3. Write a few examples for each in Column 4. Share your answers with the teacher.
Answer:

Exam Tip: Understand how each suffix changes the form and meaning of a word - this helps in building vocabulary and improving spelling.

Question 2. Fill in the blanks using words given in the brackets by adding suitable suffixes. To communicate (i) _____________ (effective), choose your words and topics (ii) _____________ (wise). Avoid (iii) _____________ (discuss) things you don't know much about or that could upset someone. Remember to be (iv) _____________ (respect) towards others, including yourself, and express your (v) _____________ (appreciate). Finally, always fee (vi) _____________ (response) by replying promptly to communicate.
Answer: (i) effectively (ii) wisely (iii) discussing (iv) respectful (v) appreciation (vi) responsive
In simple words: Add suffixes to these root words to make them fit the blanks: -ly for adverbs, -ing for verbs, and -ous or -ion for nouns.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the grammar role each blank needs - is it a noun, verb, adverb, or adjective? The suffix changes the word to match.

Say and Tell - Word Distinction

Question. Read the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text. "But does anyone want to hear the things that you say?" and "I can't tell you everything." Select the correct answer. Is there a difference in the meanings of 'say' and 'tell'? (Yes/No)
Answer: Yes. 'Say' focuses on the message itself and does not always need a listener. 'Tell' focuses on who receives the message and always requires a listener.
In simple words: Say means to speak words (you do not need someone to listen). Tell means to give information to someone specific (you must have a listener).

Exam Tip: Remember: you say something, but you tell someone something - the object of 'tell' is always a person.

Question 1. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the sets of words given in the box below. Make changes in the verb forms (tense), if necessary. (i) I _________ at the photo, but I didn't _________ anyone familiar. (ii) I'd better go and _________ my mother from the station, and then _________ her home. (iii) I need to _________ for my mathematics exam this weekend, so I hope to _________ new concepts along the way. (iv) I can _________ the music from my neighbour's house, but I need to _________ to it carefully to understand the lyrics. (v) "Could I _________ to Mrs. Kalpana, who is going to _________ to us about gardening," said Ritu. (vi) I _________ in a small town, but I often _________ with my relatives in the city
Answer:
(i) looked, see
(ii) fetch, bring
(iii) study, learn
(iv) hear, listen
(v) speak, talk
(vi) live, stay
In simple words: Look means to turn your eyes toward something. See means to notice it. Fetch means to go get something. Bring means to carry it to where you are. Study means to learn from a book. Learn means to gain knowledge. Hear means sounds enter your ears. Listen means you pay attention to sounds. Speak means to talk in a formal or official way. Talk means to have a conversation. Live means to have your home somewhere. Stay means to visit for a short time.

Exam Tip: These verb pairs are commonly confused - practice using them in context to remember their exact differences.

Question. Read the following sentences from the text and underline the verbs. "They lived in London before." and "I met her in a shop and asked her to come."
Answer: The verbs are "lived" and "met" and "asked". These are in simple past tense, showing actions that happened in the past.
In simple words: Simple past tense verbs are used for things that finished in the past.

Exam Tip: Simple past tense often ends in -ed; look for verbs that show completed actions.

Question. Read the following sentence from the text and underline the verb. "She has been staving with them for a while."
Answer: The verb is "has been staying". This is in present perfect continuous tense.
In simple words: Present perfect continuous shows an action that started in the past and is still happening now.

Exam Tip: Present perfect continuous uses has/have + been + verb + ing. It shows duration and ongoing action.

Note: We use present perfect continuous (has/have - been - verb - ing) to show: The length of time for an action that began in the past and keeps going until now. Example: Mrs. Shaw has been preparing the room since morning for Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee's visit. An action that was happening recently in the past, and we can still see its effects now. The emphasis is on the action itself rather than when it finished. Example: Mrs. Shaw has been cleaning the room since morning. (The room looks spotless now.)

Question 1. Fill in the blanks using the verbs given in brackets in present continuous or present perfect continuous tense. The students (i) _________ (organise) a play and setting up the stage. They (ii) _________ (prepare) for weeks to make everything perfect. The performers (iii) _________ (rehearse) every day, and their excitement (iv) _________ (grow). The sound in-charge (v) _________ (test) the microphones to check the sound quality. Everyone (vi) _________ (work) hard, and now the place (vii) _________ (buzz) with energy and excitement.
Answer:
(i) are organising
(ii) have been preparing
(iii) have been rehearsing
(iv) is growing
(v) is testing
(vi) is working
(vii) is buzzing
In simple words: Use "are/is - verb + ing" for things happening right now. Use "have/has been - verb + ing" for things that started before and are still happening now.

Exam Tip: Present continuous shows what is happening now. Present perfect continuous shows what has been happening for a period of time up to now.

Types of Sentences

Question. Identify the kinds of sentences and punctuate them appropriately. (i) the meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room (ii) what an exciting adventure it was (iii) how did you solve the problem so quickly (iv) what is the weather forecast today (v) how beautiful is the rainbow (vi) clean up your room before dinner (vii) the children are planning a surprise party for their mom (viii) turn off the music
Answer:
(i) The meeting starts at 10.00 am in the conference room. (Declarative)
(ii) What an exciting adventure it was! (Exclamatory)
(iii) How did you solve the problem so quickly? (Interrogative)
(iv) What is the weather forecast today? (Interrogative)
(v) How beautiful is the rainbow! (Exclamatory)
(vi) Clean up your room before dinner. (Imperative)
(vii) The children are planning a surprise party for their mom. (Declarative)
(viii) Turn off the music. (Imperative)
In simple words: Declarative sentences state facts and end with a period. Interrogative sentences ask questions and end with a question mark. Exclamatory sentences show strong feeling and end with an exclamation mark. Imperative sentences give orders and end with a period.

Exam Tip: Match the punctuation to the sentence type - statements get periods, questions get question marks, and expressions of strong emotion get exclamation marks.

Let us listen (Page 84)

Question 1. How did the son behave in the grocery queue?
(i) Strangely
(ii) Impatiently
(iii) Politely
Answer: (ii) Impatiently
In simple words: The son was not patient - he acted in a rude and hurried manner in the shop line.

Exam Tip: Listening comprehension questions require you to pick the right word that best describes the character's behaviour.

Question 2. The mother finally refers to her son as a
(i) Polite young man
(ii) Responsible son
(iii) Grateful person
Answer: (i) Polite young man
In simple words: By the end of the talk, the mother sees that her son is becoming polite and well-behaved.

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the exact words the mother uses - they reveal what she has noticed in her son's growth.

Question. You will once again listen to the conversation. As you listen, select four true statements from 1-7 given below.
Answer:

(1) The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach her son about patience and fairness. - True

(2) The son recognises the value of apologising and understands that it shows he notices others. - True

(3) The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother's guidance. - True

(4) The mother discourages her son from speaking softly in public, suggesting that people should adjust to his voice level. - False

(5) The son feels that covering his mouth when coughing is only important when he's at home. - False

(6) The son receives all advice readily while understanding its importance. - False

(7) The mother uses praise to support the polite behaviours she wants her son to continue practising. - True

In simple words: Read each statement and listen carefully to see if what it says matches the talk you hear. Four of these statements match the talk.

Exam Tip: When selecting multiple true statements, check each one against the text carefully - some statements may sound right but be slightly wrong, so read closely.

Let us write (Page 86)

Question. Rewrite the play 'Say The Right Thing' as a short story, focusing on Mary's interactions with her mother and the guests. Ensure the story captures the main events, characters, emotions, and humorous moments effectively. Use paragraphs to organise your story and include descriptive language to bring the characters and events to life.
Answer: Mrs. Shaw made careful plans for the visit of important guests, Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee. She tried to guide her daughter Mary on how to act politely at a social gathering. Yet Mary's keen eagerness and straightforward honesty led to one awkward moment after another. She made a careless compliment about Mrs. Harding's children, who did not exist. She made mean remarks about Mrs. Lee's husband being a banker with a boring job. She even insulted Mrs. Best's choice of wearing blue with red, only to learn that Mrs. Harding wore this exact style herself.

The afternoon reached its worst point when Mary said the dog she saw was dirty and ugly, not knowing it was Mrs. Harding's beloved dog, Towzer. Even when her mother tried hard to fix the mess, Mary made it worse with her final words: "Oh, must you stay? Can't you go?" This comment made the guests leave feeling awkward and unhappy.

The visit ended in failure. The guests left with tense goodbyes, leaving Mrs. Shaw red with shame. But Mary, who did not see the hurt she had caused, walked away feeling proud of herself, genuinely thinking she had done great at making friends. The irony was sharp - Mary thought she had succeeded when she had truly failed at the very thing her mother had tried to teach her.
In simple words: Mrs. Shaw taught Mary to be polite to guests. Mary tried hard but kept saying mean and careless things that hurt people's feelings. By the end, the guests felt bad and left upset, but Mary did not even know she had made mistakes.

Exam Tip: When rewriting a play as a story, use descriptive words to show feelings and build atmosphere. Include the key moments that drive the plot and show character growth.

Let us explore (Pages 86-87)

Question 1. Work in groups. Enact your favourite part of the play. Points to remember: Allot a specific role to each member in the group. For example: director, narrator, and characters. Include the actions and expressions as indicated in brackets in the play.
Answer: Students will perform this activity on their own by selecting a scene, assigning roles (director, narrator, and actors), and acting it out with proper gestures and dialogue as given in the script.
In simple words: You and your group will pick a favourite scene from the play, give each person a job, and perform it with actions and feelings.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to stage directions in brackets - they tell you how characters should move and feel when speaking their lines.

Question 2. Find out how people greet guests who visit their homes in different languages. Share it with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer: Different cultures have their own ways of welcoming guests into their homes:

In English, people say "Hello, welcome to our home!" or "Come on in!"

In Hindi, guests hear "Namaste!" (Hello!) or "Aapka swagat hai!" (You're welcome!)

In Oriya, the greeting is "namaskara, ama gharaku swagata" (Welcome to our home)

In Bengali, guests are greeted with "nomaskar, amader barite shagot" (Hello, welcome to our home)

In Tamil, the welcome is "Vanakkam enkal vittirku varuka" (Welcome, please come to our house)

In Telugu, people say "Hato, ma intiki svagatam" (Hello, welcome to my home)

In Malayalam, the greeting is "halo njangalude veettilekku swagatham" (Hello, welcome to our house)

In Marathi, guests hear "namaskara, amacya ghari svagata ahe" (Hello, welcome to my home)
In simple words: Every language and culture has special words to welcome visitors warmly and make them feel at home.

Exam Tip: Learning how to greet guests in different languages shows respect for other cultures and is an important part of being truly polite.