Here are the questions and answers for G.C. Thornley’s short play “Say the Right Thing” from the NCERT Class 7 English textbook Poorvi. These NCERT solutions include the in-text questions as well as the end-of-the-text exercises from the textbook Poorvi for Class 7.
In-text questions and answers for “Say the Right Thing” from the NCERT textbook by Poorvi for Grade 7.
These questions are provided before, alongside, or within the main text of the lesson to evaluate comprehension. They appear under headings like “Let us do these activities before we read” and “Let us discuss.” Answers and solutions to these in-text questions are given here (page wise) to assist students using the NCERT English textbook ‘Poorvi’ for Grade 7.
Page: 70
Let us do these activities before we read.
I. Work in pairs and discuss.
1. What does ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ mean?
Answer:
‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ means “The guest is like God.”
We should treat our guests with respect, kindness, and care.
‘अतिथि देवो भव’ का अर्थ है — “अतिथि भगवान के समान होता है।”
हमें अपने मेहमानों को आदर, प्रेम और सेवा से देखना चाहिए।
2. Why is it important to be polite to guests?
Answer:
It is important to be polite to guests because it makes them feel welcome, happy, and respected.
Good manners show that we care for others. Happy guests will remember us and visit again.
मेहमानों से विनम्रता से बात करना जरूरी है क्योंकि इससे वे खुश और सम्मानित महसूस करते हैं।
अच्छे व्यवहार से हम अपने संस्कार और सम्मान दिखाते हैं।
II. Choose the statements that display polite behaviour when you have guests at home.
- Offer the guests a glass of water.
- Enquire about the well-being of the guests.
- Ask the guests when they would leave.
- Comment critically about the habits of guests.
- Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.
Answer:
Correct ✅ choices:
1, 2, 5
III. 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.
Suggested Sample Answer:
- Speak politely and remind them to use kind words.
(उन्हें शांति से समझाना कि नम्र भाषा का प्रयोग करें।) - Listen to both sides and try to understand the problem.
(दोनों की बात सुनकर समस्या समझना।) - Help them calm down by changing the topic or using humour.
(वातावरण हल्का करने की कोशिश करना।) - Take help from the teacher if things go out of control.
(यदि ज़रूरत हो, तो अध्यापक से सहायता लेना।)
Page: 74
Let us discuss
I. 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:
Completing the table’:
| Speaker | Words of the Speaker | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs. Shaw | “The room looks cleaner now. Put that coat away in your bedroom.” | To instruct Mary to keep the room tidy. |
| Mary | “You’re always telling me to put things away.” | Mary is annoyed that her mother keeps telling her to tidy up. |
| Mary | “I’m not a child!” | She wants to show that she is grown up and responsible. |
| Mrs. Shaw | “I can’t tell you everything, but you’ll always be right if you’re kind to people. Say things that will please them.” | To highlight the importance of being kind as a way to ensure Mary says the appropriate things when guests arrive. |
OR
| Speaker | Words of the Speaker | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs. Shaw | The room looks cleaner now. Put that coat away in your bedroom. | To instruct Mary to keep the room tidy |
| Mary | You’re always telling me to put things away. | To complain that her mother always asks her to clean up |
| Mary | I’m not a child! | To defend herself and say that she is grown up |
| Mrs. Shaw | (“You’ll always be right if you’re kind to people…”) | To highlight the importance of being kind as a way to ensure Mary says the appropriate things when guests arrive |
II. 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?
Sample Answer:
No, Mary is not able to follow her mother’s advice. She tries to talk politely, but she says many wrong things. She does not think before speaking. This makes the guests feel uncomfortable and her mother feel embarrassed.
OR
No, I don’t think Mary will be able to follow her mother’s advice successfully.
She talks too much and often speaks without thinking. She forgets what her mother told her and says the wrong things to the guests. This makes everyone feel uncomfortable. So, Mary is not able to say the right thing at the right time.
मुझे नहीं लगता कि Mary पूरी सलाह याद रख पाएगी। वह बहुत जिज्ञासु और आवेग में बोलने वाली है, इसलिए वह बिना सोच-विचार के तुरंत बोल देगी। Scene II में हमने देखा कि वह बार-बार माँ की सलाह भूलकर गलत बातें बोल बैठी थी। इसलिए उसके लिए सलाह याद रखना और सही समय पर सही बात कहना कठिन होगा।
End-of-the-text questions and answers for ‘Say the Right Thing’ from the NCERT English textbook Poorvi for Grade 7.
These questions are provided at the end of the main text to encourage critical thinking, reasoning, responding, and analysing. They are presented under various headings, starting with ‘Let us think and reflect.’ Here, answers and solutions to these questions are offered (page-wise) to assist students studying the NCERT English textbook ‘Poorvi’ for Grade 7.
Page: 78
Let us think and reflect
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
(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”?
A. She believes Mary should start learning about hosting guests then.
B. She thinks Mary is ready to visit these houses independently.
C. She wants Mary to develop social skills for the future.
D. She hopes Mary will avoid these social interactions entirely.
Answer:
✅C. She wants Mary to develop social skills for the future.
Explanation: (Mrs. Shaw wants Mary to learn how to behave and talk politely with people so she can handle such situations on her own later in life.)
(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:
✅ (Correct option: have a polite conversation)
Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to have a polite conversation.
(iii) Why did Mary insist on staying with her mother when the guests arrived?
Answer:
Mary insisted on staying because she wanted to prove that she could talk well and behave properly in front of the guests.
She believed she could speak just like grown-ups do and make a good impression.
(iv) Match the following character traits to the characters in the extract:
Answer:
Matching the character traits:
| Character Trait | Character |
|---|---|
| A. eager | Mary |
| B. inexperienced | Mary |
| C. cautious | Mrs. Shaw |
Explanation:
- Mary is eager to join and talk to guests, but also inexperienced as she often says the wrong thing.
- Mrs. Shaw is cautious because she is careful and doesn’t trust that Mary will say the right thing.
(i) Complete the following sentence suitably.
Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because ________ .
Answer:
Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because Mrs. Cotter usually stays in bed in the morning and was seen outside only in the afternoon.
(ii) What does Mary’s comment about Mrs. Cotter staying in bed and calling the doctor suggest about her understanding?
A. She is worried about why Mrs. Cotter stays in bed all morning.
B. She is unable to understand why people need medical help.
C. She thinks Mrs. Cotter is scared and lonely for staying in bed.
D. She believes Mrs. Cotter is right to rest and take care of herself.
Answer:
✅ B. She is unable to understand why people need medical help.
Explanation: Mary says she has never been to a doctor and questions why others need one. This shows her lack of understanding about health needs.
(iii) How can we say that Mary enjoyed good health?
Answer:
Mary herself says, “I’ve never been to a doctor in my life.”
This shows that she has never fallen seriously ill and has always been healthy.
(iv) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
Mary might have unintentionally offended Mrs. Harding.
Answer:
True
Explanation: Mary did not know that Mrs. Harding also stays in bed in the morning. Her comments may have made Mrs. Harding feel uncomfortable or insulted, even though Mary didn’t mean to hurt her.
Page: 79
II. Answer the following questions.
- What does Mary’s comment about Mr. Best’s routine and profession reveal about her viewpoint on bankers and their way of life?
- What can we infer about Mary’s understanding of polite conversation based on her interactions with the guests?
- What do you think the repeated stage direction ‘no one speaks’ indicates about the atmosphere in the room when Mary speaks?
- How does Mary’s attitude towards the guests change throughout the play?
- What do Mrs. Harding’s and Mrs. Lee’s responses to Mary’s blunders during their visit reveal about their characters?
- In what way does the play show the importance of knowing how to engage in polite conversation?
Answers:
Answer Set – 1 (Short Answers)
Ans 1. Mary thinks bankers live boring lives and do not think much. She makes fun of Mr. Best’s daily routine.
Ans 2. Mary thinks polite talk means only greetings. She doesn’t realise that words can hurt if spoken carelessly.
Ans 3. “No one speaks” shows silence and awkwardness after Mary says something rude or wrong.
Ans 4. Mary starts confidently but later makes mistakes. By the end, she feels confused and embarrassed.
Ans 5. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee stay calm and polite. They do not react harshly to Mary’s mistakes.
Ans 6. The play teaches us to be kind, think before speaking, and talk politely to avoid hurting others.
Answer Set – 2
Ans 1. Mary thinks bankers live a boring life. She laughs at Mr. Best’s daily routine and says bankers cannot think. This shows she does not respect their work and finds their lifestyle dull.
Ans 2. Mary does not fully understand polite conversation. She says rude things without thinking. She believes just greeting people is enough, but her careless comments upset the guests and show her lack of social understanding.
Ans 3. The line “no one speaks” shows that everyone feels awkward or embarrassed after Mary’s comments. The silence means her words have made the guests uncomfortable, and they don’t know how to respond.
Ans 4. At first, Mary is excited to talk to the guests. But as the visit continues, she makes many mistakes. In the end, she feels embarrassed and confused because she cannot say the right thing.
Ans 5. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee stay calm and polite, even when Mary makes blunders. Their behaviour shows they are patient and respectful, and they try not to create a scene during the visit.
Ans 6. The play shows that polite conversation means more than greetings. It teaches us to be kind, think before speaking, and avoid saying things that might hurt others. Speaking politely builds good relationships.
Answer Set – 3
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 thinks bankers like Mr. Best live boring lives.
She makes fun of him for travelling daily and reading newspapers instead of books.
This shows that she doesn’t respect bankers much and doesn’t understand the importance of their work.
2. What can we infer about Mary’s understanding of polite conversation based on her interactions with the guests?
Answer:
Mary knows basic polite phrases like “Good afternoon” and “How are you?”, but she does not understand how to speak carefully.
She speaks without thinking and says things that hurt or embarrass others, even though she does not mean to.
This shows she still needs to learn how to be truly polite in conversations.
3. What do you think the repeated stage direction ‘no one speaks’ indicates about the atmosphere in the room when Mary speaks?
Answer:
It shows that the atmosphere becomes awkward and uncomfortable after Mary says something rude or silly. Everyone goes silent because they don’t know what to say next or how to respond.
4. How does Mary’s attitude towards the guests change throughout the play?
Answer:
At the beginning, Mary is excited and confident that she can talk to guests. But after she makes many mistakes, she feels embarrassed and unsure. In the end, she mixes up her mother’s advice and says the wrong thing again.
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 remain calm and polite even when Mary says hurtful things. They do not scold or argue with her. This shows that they are well-mannered, mature, and patient.
6. In what way does the play show the importance of knowing how to engage in polite conversation?
Answer:
The play shows that speaking without thinking can make others feel uncomfortable or upset. It teaches us that using kind words, listening, and speaking thoughtfully are important to have good relationships and leave a positive impression on others.
Answer Set – 4
1. What does Mary’s comment about Mr. Best’s routine and profession reveal about her viewpoint on bankers and their way of life?
Ans. Mary thinks bankers lead a silly, unthinking life. She mocks Mr. Best for living “in trains” and reading newspapers instead of books. This shows she believes bankers don’t really “live” or use their minds—they are just busy with routines.
2. What can we infer about Mary’s understanding of polite conversation based on her interactions with the guests?
Ans. Mary thinks politeness is only about saying a few greetings. She doesn’t realize it also means:
- Knowing your listener’s situation
- Avoiding critical or personal remarks
- Listening before you speak
Because she lacks these, her “polite” talk often hurts feelings.
3. What do you think the repeated stage direction “(No one speaks)” indicates about the atmosphere in the room when Mary speaks?
Ans. Whenever Mary makes a mistake, everyone goes silent. This silence shows:
- Awkwardness and embarrassment
- Shock or discomfort among the guests and Mrs. Shaw
- That Mary’s words have broken the friendly mood
4. How does Mary’s attitude towards the guests change throughout the play?
Ans.
- At first she is confident and excited: “I can talk very well!”
- During the visit she becomes careless and critical, making jokes at others’ expense.
- In the end she grows embarrassed and confused when she can’t even say the right farewell.
5. What do Mrs. Harding’s and Mrs. Lee’s responses to Mary’s blunders during their visit reveal about their characters?
Ans.
- Politeness and patience: They often correct Mary gently or simply stay silent rather than shout.
- Tolerance: They endure her mistakes to keep the visit civil.
- Grace under pressure: Even when hurt, they still try to stay courteous to Mrs. Shaw.
6. In what way does the play show the importance of knowing how to engage in polite conversation?
Ans. The play demonstrates that:
- Thinking before speaking prevents hurt feelings.
- Kindness and listening make guests feel welcome.
- Simple greetings alone aren’t enough—you must also be aware of others’ lives and avoid careless remarks.
Without these skills, you risk embarrassment and damaged relationships, as Mary’s mother warned.
Page: 80
Let us learn
I. Study the following words taken from the text. (see the book for the full question)
Now, divide the following words from the text as root words and suffixes. Check your answer with the teacher.
Answer:
Dividing the words into root words and suffixes:
| Word | Root Word | Suffix |
|---|---|---|
| gladly | glad | -ly |
| banker | bank | -er |
| guidance | guide | -ance |
| quietly | quiet | -ly |
| walking | walk | -ing |
- 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:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 (Meaning) | Column 4 (Example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | (i) -logy | C. a study of | Sociology, Zoology |
| tolerance | (ii) -ance | F. change to a noun | Importance, Appearance |
| stopped | (iii) -ed | E. change to past tense | Jumped, Talked |
| backward | (iv) -ward | G. in a certain direction | Forward, Upward |
| courageous | (v) -ous | H. change to adjective | Dangerous, Nervous |
| quietly | (vi) -ly | A. change to adverb | Slowly, Softly |
| toughest | (vii) -est | D. change to superlative | Fastest, Smallest |
| tomatoes | (viii) -es | B. change to plural | Mangoes, Potatoes |
Page: 81
- 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 be (vi) _____ (response) by replying promptly to communicate.
Answer:
To communicate (i) effectively, choose your words and topics (ii) wisely. Avoid (iii) discussing things you don’t know much about or that could upset someone. Remember to be (iv) respectful towards others, including yourself, and express your (v) appreciation. Finally, always be (vi) responsive by replying promptly to communicate.
II. Read the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text.
But does anyone want to hear the things that you say?
I can’t tell you everything.
Is there a difference in the meanings of ‘say’ and ‘tell’? (Yes/ No)
• ‘Say’ focuses on the message and does not always require a listener.
• ‘Tell’ focuses on who receives the message and always needs a listener.
Answer:
Yes, there a difference in the meanings of ‘say’ and ‘tell’? (Yes/ No)
Explanation:
- ‘Say’ focuses on what is spoken (the message). It does not always need a listener.
🔹 Example: She said something funny.
🔸 (We don’t know to whom.) - ‘Tell’ focuses on who is being spoken to (the person). It always needs a listener.
🔹 Example: She told me a story.
🔸 (‘Me’ is the listener here.)
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) I looked at the photo, but I didn’t see anyone familiar.
- looked = focused my eyes on the photo
- see = notice someone without trying too hard
(ii) I’d better go and fetch my mother from the station, and then bring her home.
- fetch = go get someone (your mother) and bring her back
- bring = carry someone with you to another place (your home)
(iii) I need to study for my mathematics exam this weekend, so I hope to learn new concepts along the way.
- study = spend time learning formally (for an exam)
- learn = gain knowledge or skill (new concepts)
(iv) I can hear the music from my neighbour’s house, but I need to listen to it carefully to understand the lyrics.
- hear = perceive a sound without trying
- listen = pay attention to sounds intentionally
(v) “Could I speak to Mrs. Kalpana, who is going to talk to us about gardening,” said Ritu.
- speak = express thoughts in a (more) formal way
- talk = engage in an informal conversation
(vi) I live in a small town, but I often stay with my relatives in the city.
- live = have a permanent residence
- stay = be a temporary guest or visitor
Page: 82
III. Read the following sentences from the text and underline the verbs. (see the book for the full 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:
The students (i) are organising a play and setting up the stage. They (ii) have been preparing for weeks to make everything perfect. The performers (iii) have been rehearsing every day, and their excitement (iv) is growing. The sound in-charge (v) is testing the microphones to check the sound quality. Everyone (vi) has been working hard, and now the place (vii) is buzzing with energy and excitement.
Page: 83
IV. Read the explanation about the kinds of sentences given in the table below.
1. 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:
The table contains sentences, correctly capitalized, punctuated, and their kinds identified:
| No. | Sentence | Kind of Sentence | Correct Punctuation |
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | The meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room. | Declarative | The meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room. |
| (ii) | What an exciting adventure it was! | Exclamatory | What an exciting adventure it was! |
| (iii) | How did you solve the problem so quickly? | Interrogative | How did you solve the problem so quickly? |
| (iv) | What is the weather forecast today? | Interrogative | What is the weather forecast today? |
| (v) | How beautiful is the rainbow! | Exclamatory | How beautiful is the rainbow! |
| (vi) | Clean up your room before dinner. | Imperative | Clean up your room before dinner. |
| (vii) | The children are planning a surprise party for their mom. | Declarative | The children are planning a surprise party for their mom. |
| (viii) | Turn off the music. | Imperative | Turn off the music. |
Page: 84
Let us listen
I. Mrs. Shaw wanted Mary to learn to say the right thing. You will listen to a conversation between a mother and her son about basic manners. As you listen, fill in the blanks given below by selecting the correct option. (Transcript for the teacher on pg. 89)
- How did the son behave in the grocery queue?
(i) strangely (ii) impatiently (iii) politely
Ans. (ii) impatiently - The mother finally refers to her son as a ______.
(i) polite young man (ii) responsible son (iii) grateful person
Ans. (i) polite young man
II You will once again listen to the conversation. As you listen, select four true statements from 1– 7 given below.
- The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach her son about patience and fairness.
- The son recognises the value of apologising and understands that it shows he notices others.
- The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother’s guidance.
- The mother discourages her son from speaking softly in public, suggesting that people should adjust to his voice level.
- The son feels that covering his mouth when coughing is only important when he’s at home.
- The son receives all advice readily while understanding its importance.
- The mother uses praise to support the polite behaviours she wants her son to continue practising.
Answer:
Four true statements:
1, 2, 3, 7
- The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach him about patience and fairness. – True
- The son recognises the value of apologising and understands that it shows he notices others. –True
- The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother’s guidance. – True
- The mother actually encourages him to speak softly in public (“inside voice”); she does not discourage it. – False
- The son knows that covering his mouth when he coughs or sneezes is important in public, not just at home. – False
- The son receives his mother’s advice readily and shows he understands its importance. – False
- The mother uses praise (“You’re becoming a really polite young man,” etc.) to support and reinforce the polite behaviours she wants him to keep practising. – True
False Statements:
- ✖ The mother encourages speaking softly in public — she does not discourage it.
- ✖ The son says it’s important to cover mouth in public, not just at home.
- ✖ The son doesn’t accept all advice instantly — he questions and learns slowly.
Page: 84
Let us speak
Do yourself:
The whole exercise is activity to be performed and attempted by students themselves:
Page: 86
Let us write
Rewrite the play ‘Say the Right Thing’ as a short story, focusing on Mary’s interactions with her mother and the guests.
Answer:
Here is a short story version of the play “Say the Right Thing”, written and divided into clear paragraphs as per the hints provided in the exercise.
Say the Right Thing – A Short Story
Mary was a young, lively girl who loved to talk. She lived with her mother, Mrs. Shaw, in a small town named Lanfield. Mrs. Shaw was polite, tidy, and careful about how things looked and what people thought. Mary, on the other hand, often spoke without thinking. She didn’t mean to hurt anyone, but her words sometimes caused problems.
One day, Mrs. Shaw told Mary that two guests—Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee—were coming over. They were new in town and quite important. Mrs. Shaw wanted to make a good impression. She instructed Mary to be polite, smile, say kind things, and most importantly, not say anything that might offend the guests. Mary, full of confidence, said she could talk very well and insisted on staying with her mother when the guests came.
As soon as Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee arrived, Mary tried her best to talk to them. But very soon, things started to go wrong. She told Mrs. Harding how beautiful her children were—only to find out that Mrs. Harding had no children! Then she made fun of a banker’s boring life, not knowing Mrs. Lee’s brother was a banker. She laughed at a woman’s strange clothes, and then realised that the guest wore the same outfit sometimes. One after another, Mary made awkward remarks. She even called a nearby dog dirty—only to discover it belonged to Mrs. Harding!
Each time Mary spoke, the room fell silent. Her mother looked more and more worried. The guests tried to remain calm and polite, but it was clear they were uncomfortable. Even when it was time for the guests to leave, Mary mixed up her mother’s advice and instead of saying, “Must you go? Can’t you stay?”, she blurted out, “Must you stay? Can’t you go?”
Though Mary wanted to help, she didn’t realise how her careless words were affecting the situation. The visit ended with an awkward goodbye. Mrs. Shaw was disappointed, but she also knew that Mary was still learning.
This story reminds us that speaking kindly and thoughtfully is very important, especially when we are around guests. Mary learned that saying the right thing isn’t just about talking—it’s about thinking before you speak.
Say the Right Thing – Shorter Story Version
Mary was a cheerful girl who loved to talk. Her mother, Mrs. Shaw, was careful and polite. One day, Mrs. Shaw invited two guests—Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee—to their home. She told Mary to be polite and speak kindly. Mary was confident that she could handle it well.
But when the guests arrived, Mary began making mistakes. She said Mrs. Harding had children—though she had none. She made fun of bankers, not knowing Mrs. Lee’s brother was one. She laughed at clothes, criticised a dog that belonged to the guest, and spoke without thinking many times.
Every time she said something wrong, the room became silent and awkward. Even while saying goodbye, Mary confused her words and said, “Must you stay? Can’t you go?”
Though Mary meant no harm, her careless words upset the guests. Her mother was disappointed, but Mary learned an important lesson—it’s not just about talking, it’s about saying the right thing at the right time.
Page: 86
Let us explore
I. Work in groups. Enact your favourite part of the play.
Answer: For students to perform this activity
II. Find out how people greet guests who visit their homes in different languages. Share it with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer:
Here’s a Sample list of greetings used to welcome guests in different languages. These are commonly used to make guests feel warm and respected when they visit someone’s home:
Guest Greetings in Different Languages
| Language | Greeting for Guests | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | Swāgat hai! (स्वागत है!) | Welcome! |
| English | Welcome! | Glad to have you here! |
| French | Bienvenue! | Welcome! |
| Spanish | ¡Bienvenido! (male) / ¡Bienvenida! (female) | Welcome! |
| German | Willkommen! | Welcome! |
| Arabic | Ahlan wa sahlan! (أهلاً وسهلاً) | You are most welcome! |
| Mandarin Chinese | Huānyíng! (欢迎) | Welcome! |
| Japanese | Irasshaimase! (いらっしゃいませ) | Welcome (used especially for guests) |
| Tamil | Vaanga! (வாங்க!) | Come in / Welcome! |
| Punjabi | Ji āyān nū! (ਜੀ ਆਇਆਂ ਨੂੰ!) | You are welcome! |
| Bengali | Swāgatam! (স্বাগতম!) | Welcome! |
| Telugu | Swāgatam! (స్వాగతం!) | Welcome! |
