English Poorvi Class 7 Three Days to See Question & Answers

Let us discuss

Page No. 31

I. Work in pairs. Identify the statements that are true from the ones given below. Share your answers with the teacher.

1. The author expresses a deep longing to experience the world through the sense of hearing.

Answer – False

2. The author would like exploring the city only to observe how people are suffering.

Answer – False

3. The author would spend the first day seeing the people whose kind-heartedness and friendship have enriched her life.

Answer – True

4. The author acknowledges that even in three days, she would not be able to see everything.

Answer – True

5. The author feels that everyone can find the greatest joy merely by the sense of touch.

Answer – False

6. The author advises those who can see to appreciate every moment as if they might lose their senses tomorrow.

Answer – True

7. On the third day, the author would like to observe people in their daily lives and understand their experiences.

Answer – True

II Complete the table given below with what Helen Keller wanted to do on the three days if she had sight.

Answer:

III. The author says that you need eyes to be able to ‘see’ the true self of a person. Therefore, she refers to the eye as ‘window of the soul’.

How is the narrator able to understand the feelings of a person?

Answer: The narrator, Helen Keller, explains in the document that she understands the feelings of a person through her sense of touch, specifically by feeling their faces. She states, “I can only ‘see’ through my fingertips the outline of a face. I can detect laughter, sorrow and other obvious emotions. I know my friends from the feel of their faces.” This indicates that she relies on tactile perception to interpret emotions, as she is blind and cannot use visual cues like facial expressions seen through the eyes, which she refers to as the “window of the soul.” By touching a person’s face, she can sense physical changes associated with emotions, such as the shape of a smile or the tension of sorrow, allowing her to understand their feelings.

Let us think and reflect

Page No. 32

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

1. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring, I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. Occasionally, I am very fortunate; I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.

(i) What does the ‘delicate symmetry of a leaf’ symbolise?

Answer: The ‘delicate symmetry of a leaf’ symbolises the beauty and perfection of nature. It reflects the intricate and balanced design found in natural objects, which the author appreciates through her sense of touch, highlighting her deep connection to the natural world despite her blindness.

(ii) List two phrases from the extract that describe the texture of objects in nature.

Answer:

• “smooth skin of a silver birch”
• “rough, shaggy bark of a pine”

(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The phrase ‘awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep’ refers to _______.

Answer: the renewal and rebirth of nature in spring, when plants and trees begin to grow again after the dormancy of winter.

(iv) What is the tone of the writer in this extract?

A. nostalgic B. proud
C. admiring D. celebratory

Answer: C. admiring

2. The next day I should arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day. I should behold with awe the magnificent panorama of light with which the sun awakens the sleeping earth. This day I should devote to a hasty glimpse of the world, past and present. I should want to see the pageant of man’s progress, and so I should go to the museums.

(i) The word ‘thrilling’ has been used with ‘miracle’.

Which of the following words does not match with the word ‘thrilling’?

A. experience B. tale C. knowledge D. adventure

Answer: C. knowledge

(ii) Why does the writer refer to the earth as ‘sleeping earth’?

Answer: The writer refers to the earth as ‘sleeping earth’ to describe its state during the night, when it appears dormant or at rest, before the sun rises and brings light, warmth, and activity, metaphorically awakening it. This imagery emphasizes the transformative power of dawn.

(iii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.

The writer wishes to dedicate the day to a brief look at the present and past world because ________.

Answer: she wants to witness the progress of humanity and the historical development of the earth, as evidenced by her desire to visit museums to see the “pageant of man’s progress” and the “condensed history of the earth.”

(iv) Why does the writer use ‘should’ multiple times in the extract?

Answer: The writer uses ‘should’ multiple times to express a hypothetical intention or plan, reflecting her imagined actions if she were granted the gift of sight for three days. As a modal verb, ‘should’ indicates her deliberate choices and aspirations for how she would use this temporary ability, emphasizing the purposeful and thoughtful nature of her envisioned activities.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. The sense of touch makes up for the loss of sight and hearing. Explain this statement with reference to the text.

Answer: The sense of touch compensates for the author’s inability to see and hear by allowing her to experience and connect with the world in a meaningful way. The text describes how she finds “hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch,” such as feeling the “delicate symmetry of a leaf,” the “smooth skin of a silver birch,” or the “happy quiver of a bird in full song.” Additionally, she uses touch to understand human emotions, stating, “I can only ‘see’ through my fingertips the outline of a face. I can detect laughter, sorrow and other obvious emotions.” These examples illustrate how touch enables her to perceive textures, recognize signs of life, and connect emotionally with others, partially making up for her lack of sight and hearing.

2. Why does the author believe that the sense of sight is the most wonderful?

Answer: The author believes that sight is the most wonderful sense because it reveals a greater depth and breadth of beauty and detail than touch alone can provide. She expresses, “If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight.” She imagines that sight would allow her to see the “magnificent panorama of light” at dawn, the “pageant of man’s progress” in museums, and the varied emotions of people in the city, suggesting that sight offers a richer, more immediate, and more comprehensive experience of the world, which she considers “the most delightful” sense.

3. How might the author’s opinion on making the most of our senses guide us to be kinder towards people with special abilities?

Answer: The author’s opinion that we should use our senses as if we might lose them tomorrow encourages empathy and appreciation for the challenges faced by people with special abilities. By urging others to “use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind” and apply the same approach to other senses, she prompts us to value sensory experiences and recognize their fragility. This perspective fosters kindness by helping us understand the limitations faced by those who lack certain senses, such as the blind or deaf, and motivates us to support their inclusion and independence, as exemplified by her own ability to find joy through touch despite her disabilities.

4. What is the significance of imagining the loss of a sense, according to the author?

Answer: According to the author, imagining the loss of a sense heightens our appreciation for it and encourages us to fully engage with the world. She advises, “use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind,” extending this to hearing, touch, smell, and taste. This exercise makes us more mindful of the “facets of pleasure and beauty” each sense provides, preventing us from taking them for granted. By contemplating their potential loss, we are motivated to savor sensory experiences more deeply, enriching our lives and fostering gratitude for our abilities.

5. How does the author encourage people to approach their everyday sensory experiences?

Answer: The author encourages people to approach their everyday sensory experiences with mindfulness and gratitude, as if each moment could be their last opportunity to use those senses. She advises, “Make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty, which the world reveals to you.” Specifically, she suggests using eyes as if facing imminent blindness, hearing as if facing deafness, and touching, smelling, and tasting with similar urgency. This approach involves actively noticing and appreciating details, such as the “music of voice,” the “perfume of flowers,” or the “relish” of food, to fully embrace the richness of sensory life.

6. What do the author’s choices for the three days tell us about her values and priorities?

Answer: The author’s choices for the three days reflect her values of human connection, appreciation of nature and history, and understanding of everyday life. On the first day, she prioritizes seeing “the people whose kindness and companionship have made my life worth living,” highlighting her value of relationships and emotional bonds. On the second day, she chooses to witness the “thrilling miracle” of dawn and visit museums to see the “pageant of man’s progress,” showing her reverence for nature’s beauty and humanity’s achievements. On the third day, she focuses on observing people in the city to understand their daily lives, indicating her empathy and curiosity about human experiences. These choices underscore her priorities of love, learning, and compassion, emphasizing meaningful connections and a deep appreciation for the world’s beauty and diversity.

Let us learn

Page No. 34

I. Sensory words are descriptive—they describe how we experience the world: how we see, hear, smell, taste or feel something.

Complete the following table with sensory words from the text in Column 2 for the five senses in Column 1. Add new words in Column 3.

Answer:

II Read the following sentences from the text and underline the verbs.

• I should divide the period into three parts.
• On the first day, I should want to see…
• The next day I should arise with the dawn…
• I should behold with awe…

The words you have underlined are a combination of two verbs. In each of these sentences, ‘should’ is the modal verb (suggestion), and the second verb (divide, want, arise, behold) is the main verb.

Answer:

the should divide period into three parts.
On the first day, I should want to see…
The next day I should arise with the dawn…
I should behold with awe…

III. Identify the modal verbs in the following sentences. Choose the functions they express from those given in the box below.

1. You can learn a lot from this experience.
2. They might arrive late due to traffic.
3. She must finish her homework before dinner.
4. They ought to apologise for their mistake.
5. He would like to have some lassi, please.

Answer: The functions they express are:
1. can – Ability
2. might – Possibility
3. must – Necessity
4. ought – Moral obligation
5. would – Polite request

IV Read the situations in Column 1 and functions in Column 2. Fill in the blanks in the sentences in Column 4 with appropriate modal verbs from Column 3. After filling in the blanks, explain the function of each modal verb you used to your classmates and the teacher.

Answer:

Let us listen

Page No. 36

You will listen to a conversation between a mother and son. As you listen, select four true statements from 1–7 given below. (Transcript for the teacher on pg. 41)

Let us speak

Page No. 36

Work in pairs. Take turns to speak for a minute on any one of the senses you value the most. Use the given prompts to frame your response before you speak.

• I value my sense of sight/ sound/ touch/ smell / taste the most because…
• One of my favourite experiences is…
• This is so because…
• I appreciate being able to see/ hear/touch/ smell/ taste…
• God forbid, if I were to lose the sense of sight/ sound/ touch/ smell / taste, it would make me feel…
• I would not be able to…
• I thank God that I am able to see/ hear/ touch/ smell / taste.

Remember to

• speak clearly and confidently
• glance at your notes for reference rather than reading
• make eye contact
• use gestures if you wish to
• pronounce words clearly and avoid mumbling
• speak at a steady, moderate pace

Answer: I value my sense of sight the most because it allows me to see the beauty of the world around me—the colours of flowers, the sparkle of sunlight on water, and the smiles of the people I love. One of my favourite experiences is watching the sunrise from a hilltop. This is so because the sky turns into a masterpiece of orange, pink, and gold, making me feel calm and hopeful. I appreciate being able to see the faces of my family and friends, their expressions telling me how they feel without needing words. God forbid, if I were to lose the sense of sight, it would make me feel scared and limited, as I wouldn’t be able to enjoy books, paintings, or the beauty of nature. I would not be able to see my surroundings and would need to rely more on other senses. I thank God that I am able to see the wonderful things life offers and cherish every moment I can see them.