NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Poorvi Chapter 6 Say the Right Thing

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Poorvi Chapter 6 help students understand the lesson Say the Right Thing clearly. The chapter focuses on speaking thoughtfully, choosing words carefully, and realizing the impact of our speech on others. Studying this chapter helps students improve communication skills and prepares them for exams. This chapter is included in the CBSE Class 7 Syllabus for English.

About Say the Right Thing Class 7 

Say the Right Thing shows how words can motivate, comfort, or hurt depending on how they are used. The lesson encourages students to pause, think, and speak politely and clearly. Learning this chapter also strengthens comprehension skills and builds confidence in answering questions.

Say the Right Thing Class 7 Question Answers

NCERT Solutions step-by-step answers given at the end of the chapter are provided here. The solutions follow NCERT guidelines and focus on clarity, relevance, and proper expression. Say the Right Thing Class 7 Question Answers help students revise effectively and understand how to communicate responsibly in everyday life. 

Question 1. What does “Athithi Devo Bhava” mean?

Answer: This Sanskrit saying means “A guest is like God.” It teaches the Indian tradition of treating guests with respect, care, and kindness.

Question 2. Why is it important to be polite to guests?

Answer: Being polite to guests makes them feel welcome and comfortable. It also shows that the host is respectful and helps build good relationships and harmony.

II. Choose the statements that display polite behaviour when you have guests at home.

Answer: Polite behaviour includes:

• Offering guests a glass of water

• Asking how they are doing

• Walking them to the door when they leave

Other ways to say it:

• Giving them water to drink

• Checking on their comfort and health

• Seeing them off at the door

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.

Answer:

1. Stay calm and neutral: Keep your cool and listen to both sides without taking sides. This helps reduce tension.

2. Encourage polite talk: Remind your friends to speak respectfully. You could say, “Let’s discuss this nicely without insulting each other.”

3. Find common points or take a break: Show where they agree or suggest a short pause to cool down and think clearly.

Say the Right Thing Class 7 Question Answer – Let us discuss (Page 74)

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:

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?

Answer: Mary tries to follow her mother’s advice, but she might not succeed. She is willing and confident, but she hasn’t yet learned to speak politely or think before talking, which could create problems when the guests arrive.

Class 7 English Say the Right Thing Question Answer – Let us discuss (Page 77)

I. Rectify the false statements given below from Scene II of the play.

Question 1. Mrs. Harding states that they do not like London as it is not the same as Lanfield.
Answer: Mrs. Harding says they love Lanfield, even though it is different from London.

Question 2. Mrs. Harding was pleased to know that Mary was familiar with her children.
Answer: Mrs. Harding was unhappy because she said she didn’t have any children.

Question 3. Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers.
Answer: Mrs. Shaw liked Mrs. Best for who she was, not because she read newspapers.

Question 4. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable.
Answer: Mrs. Shaw said she liked blue dresses with red coats so as not to offend Mrs. Harding.

Question 5. Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute.
Answer: Mary said the dog outside looked dirty and she didn’t like it. Later she learns it belongs to Mrs. Harding.

Say the Right Thing Class 7 Questions and Answers – Let us think and reflect (Pages 78-79)

1. MARY: What are you going to talk about?

(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.

(ii) Complete the sentence:
Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to ____________
Answer: have a polite conversation

(iii) Why did Mary insist on staying with her mother when the guests arrived?
Answer: Mary wanted to show she could talk properly and hold a conversation.

(iv) Match the traits:

• Mary: A. eager

• Mrs. Shaw: C. cautious

2. MARY: I saw Mrs. Cotter this afternoon...

(i) Complete:
Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because she often goes out during the day.

(ii) What does Mary’s comment suggest?
Answer: B. She doesn’t understand why people need medical help.

(iii) How can we say Mary enjoyed good health?
Answer: She has never had to see a doctor, so she must be healthy.

(iv) True or False:
Mary might have unintentionally offended Mrs. Harding. Answer: True

II. Answer the following questions.

Question 1. What does Mary’s comment about Mr. Best reveal about her view on bankers?
Answer: Mary thinks bankers have boring lives. She teases them for taking trains daily and only reading newspapers, suggesting they are too focused on work.

Question 2. What can we infer about Mary’s understanding of polite conversation?
Answer: Mary does not understand polite conversation well. She often says things that embarrass the guests, even though her mother told her to speak kindly.

Question 3. What does the repeated stage direction “no one speaks” indicate?
Answer: It shows the room became awkward and silent because Mary’s words made the guests uncomfortable.

Question 4. How does Mary’s attitude change throughout the play?
Answer: At first, Mary is eager to talk and impress guests. Later, she feels embarrassed and unsure after making mistakes that upset them.

Question 5. What do Mrs. Harding’s and Mrs. Lee’s responses reveal?
Answer: They remain calm and polite, showing patience and the ability to handle awkward situations gracefully.

Question 6. How does the play show the importance of polite conversation?
Answer: The play shows that polite conversation helps make a good impression and build relationships. Mary’s mistakes show that careless words can cause awkwardness and misunderstandings.

Say the Right Thing Question Answer Class 7 – Let us learn (Padres 80-83)

I. Study the following words taken from the text:

humorous  hilariously  coming   beautifu

The given words are made by adding word endings like -ous, -ly, -ing, and -ful to the root words humour, hilarious, come, and beauty. Such word endings are called suffixes.

• Humour + -ous

• Hilarious + -ly

• Come + -ing

• beauty + -ful

Now, divide the following words from the text as root words and suffixes. Check your answer with the teacher.

Answer:

• Gladly : Glad + -ly

• Banker : Bank + -er

• Guidance : Guide + -ance

• Quietly : Quiet + -ly

• Walking : Walk + -ing

Question 1. 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: 

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

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.

• Select the correct answer.

• 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, say emphasises the words spoken and doesn’t always need a specific listener.

Yes, tell highlights the person being spoken to and therefore always requires a listener.

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:

1. looked, see

2. fetch, bring

3. study, learn

4. hear, listen

5. speak, talk

6. live, stay

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

• They lived in London before.

• I met her in a shop and asked her to come

The verbs underlined are in simple past tense (actions that happened in the past or distant past)

Read the following sentence from the text and underline the verb.

 Answer: She has been staying with them for some time.
The underlined verb is in the present perfect continuous tense.

We use the present perfect continuous (has/have + been + verb + -ing) to show:

1. An action that began in the past and is still happening now.

Mrs. Shaw has been preparing the room since morning for Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee’s visit.

2. An action that was happening recently, with clear effects in the present.

The emphasis is on the activity itself, not on whether it is finished.

Mrs. Shaw has been cleaning the room since the morning.
(Now the room is spotless.)

The students have been practising a play based on the story.
(Now they are well-rehearsed and ready.)

 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

 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:

(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)

(u) 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)

Class 7 English Chapter 6 Question Answer – Let us listen (Page 84)

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 page 89 of NCERT textbook)

Question 1. How did the son behave in the grocery queue?
(i) Strangely
(ii) Impatiently
(iii) Politely

Answer: (ii) Impatiently

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

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

1. The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach her son about patience and fairness.
2. The son recognises the value of apologising and understands that it shows he notices others.
3. The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother’s guidance.
4. The mother discourages her son from speaking softly in public, suggesting that people should adjust to his voice level.
5. The son feels that covering his mouth when coughing is only important when he’s at home.
6. The son receives all advice readily while understanding its importance.
7. The mother uses praise to support the polite behaviours she wants her son to continue practising.

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 sun 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)

NCERT Class 7 English Poorvi Chapter 6 Question Answer – Let us write (Page 86)

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 paragraph to organise your story and include descriptive language to bring the characters and events to

• life.

You may refer to the following hints:

• Begin with an introduction: describe Mary and Mrs. Shaw, their relation¬ship and the setting of the story.

• Explain Mrs. Shaw’s instructions to Maiy before the guests arrive and Mary’s confidence in handling the situation.

• Narrate the events when Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee visit, highlighting Mary’s remarks and the guests’ reactions.

• Include key moments of humour and awkwardness to maintain the tone of the play.

• Conclude by commenting on how the visit ended and Mary’s impact on the situation.

Answer: Mrs. Shaw eagerly prepared for the visit of the respected guests, Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee, and carefully coached her daughter Mary on proper manners. But Mary’s enthusiasm and blunt honesty soon created several uncomfortable situations. She complimented Mrs. Harding on children she didn’t have, upset Mrs. Lee with her comments about bankers, and criticised Mrs. Best’s clothing—only to learn that Mrs. Harding dressed the same way.

The most embarrassing moment came when Mary spoke negatively about dirty dogs, unknowingly describing Mrs. Harding’s own pet, Towzer. Although Mrs. Shaw tried to rescue the conversation, Mary’s final remark, “Oh, must you stay? Can’t you go?” brought the disastrous visit to an end. The guests left with stiff farewells, while Mrs. Shaw was mortified. Mary, unaware of the trouble she had caused, smiled proudly, believing she had socialised perfectly.

Class 7th English Chapter 6 Say the Right Thing Question Answer – Let us explore (Pages 86-87)

I. 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 do it on their own.

II. Find out how people greet guests who visit their homes in different languages. Share it with your classmates and the teacher.

Answer: People around the world welcome guests in different ways.

In English, it is common to say, “Hello, welcome to our home!” or “Come on in!”

In Hindi, guests are greeted with “Namaste!” or “Aapka swagat hai!”

In Odia, people say, “Namaskara, ama gharaku swagat.”

In Bengali, the greeting is, “Nomoskar, amader barite shagot.”

In Tamil, guests are welcomed with “Vanakkam, engal veetirkku varuga.”

In Telugu, people say, “Namaskaram, maa intiki swagatam.”

In Malayalam, the greeting is “Namaskaram, njangalude veettilekku swagatham.”

In Marathi, guests are welcomed with “Namaskar, amchya ghari swagat aahe.”