Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary and Question Answers

Welcome to a new blog post in Class 7th English. The poem “Gopal and the Hilsa Fish” is Chapter 3 taken from newly introduced Melody English for students of Class 7^th of JKBOSE. This post is Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary and Question Answers. In my previous post, you read about The Rebel Melody English Summary and Question Answers with you. So, let’s not waste any more time and get started with today’s post.

Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary and Question Answers

Introduction

Gopal and the Hilsa-fish is a comic strip. It narrates the intelligence of a courtier Gopal to the king. It was the season of Hilsa-fish. Everybody was talking about it. Gopal accepted the challenge to divert the attention of the public from the Hilsa fish and also brought the Hilsa fish to the palace without anyone knowing about it is the main theme of the comical story.

Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary in English

In the town, there was Hilsa season and everyone was talking about Hilsa fish, similar to the excitement for mangoes in summer, the king was tired of hearing about it. He challenged his courtiers to bring him a Hilsa fish without anyone mentioning it.

Gopal, a clever courtier, decided to take on the challenge. To divert attention, he shaved half of his face, covered himself in ash, and wore torn clothes. On his way to the palace with a big Hilsa fish, people laughed at his strange appearance, but no one asked about the fish. Even when he reached the palace, the king was more interested in Gopal’s peculiar dressing sense and singing than the Hilsa fish. Gopal finally reminded the king of the challenge, and to everyone’s surprise, he had completed the task.

The king laughed at this and congratulated Gopal for his clever strategy, proving that sometimes, distracting from the main focus can lead to unexpected success. The story showcases wit and humour as Gopal outsmarted everyone by turning their attention away from the much-talked-about Hilsa fish.

Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Word Meaning

Textual Exercise 

Working with the Text Page No. 42

Answer the following questions:

6. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following sentences.

(i) The king lost his temper easily.

Ans. True

(ii) Gopal was a mad man.

Ans. False

(iii) Gopal was a clever man.

Ans. True

(iv) Gopal was too poor to afford decent clothes.

Ans. False

(v) The King got angry when he was shown to be wrong.

Ans. False

Working with Language Page No. 42

1. Notice how in a comic book, there are no speech marks when characters talk. Instead, what they say is put in a speech ‘bubble’. However, if we wish to repeat or “report” what they say, we must put it into Reported Speech.

Change the following sentences in the story to reported speech. The first one has been done for you.

(i) How much did you pay for that also?

The woman asked the man how much he had paid for that Hilsa.

(ii) Why is your face half-shaven?

Ans. Gopal’s wife asked him why his face was half-shaven. 

(iii) I accept the challenge, Your Majesty.

Ans. Gopal told the king that he accepted the challenge. 

(iv) I want to see the king.

Ans. Gopal told the guards that he wanted to see the King. 

(v) Bring the man to me at once.

Ans. The King ordered the guard to bring the man to him at once.

2. Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.

Challenge, Mystic, Comical, Courtier, Smearing

Ans. (i) Challenge: an invitation to compete

Gopal accepted the challenge of the king.

(ii) mystic: relating to mystery

Some people thought Gopal was a mystic character.

(iii) comical: funny

Johny Lever is a comical character in Bollywood.

(iv) courtier: subjects in the court

Birbal was a witty courtier.

(v) smearing: rubbing

He is smearing his body with ash.

Picture Reading Page No. 44

1. Look at the pictures and read the text aloud.

[Note: Refer to Textbook page No. 44-45 for the above Question.] 

2. Now ask your partner questions about each picture. 

(i) Where is the stag?

Ans. The stag is near a pond.

(ii) What is he doing?

Ans. He is drinking water.

(iii) Does he like his antlers (horns)?

Ans. Yes, he does like his antlers.

(iv) Does he like his legs?

Ans. No, he does not like his legs. 

(v) Why is the stag running? 

Ans. The hunters are chasing him.

(vi) Is he able to hide in the bushes? 

Ans. No, he is unable to hide in the bushes. 

(vii) Where are the hunters now?

Ans. The hunters are very near to the stag. 

(viii) Are they closing in on the stag?

Ans. Yes, they are closing in on the stag. 

(ix) Is the stag free?

Ans. Yes, he is free and out of danger.

(x) What does the stag say about his horns and his legs? 

Ans. It was proud of his horns but they could have caused his death. But his legs saved his life. Earlier, he was ashamed of his legs.

3. Now write the story in your own words. Give it a title. 

Once there was a stag with big, strong horns. One day, he went to a pond to drink water and saw his reflection. He felt proud of his impressive horns but noticed his thin legs and felt ashamed of them. Suddenly, he heard hunters nearby and quickly ran away to hide in the bushes. Unfortunately, his horns got stuck, but his thin legs helped him escape. As he ran to safety, he thought of his antlers. They could have caused his death but the thin legs which he was ashamed of saved his precious life. He thanked God.

Title: A Vain Stag or Everything has its importance.

4. Complete the following word ladder with the help of the clues given below.

Clues

1. Mother will be very……… if you don’t go to school.
2. As soon as he caught…. of the teacher, Mohan started writing.
3. How do you like my ……….. kitchen garden? Big enough for you, is it?
4. My youngest sister is now a ……. old.
5. Standing on the …………, he saw children playing on the road. 
6. Don’t make such a …………… Nothing will happen.
7. Don’t cross the …..till the green light comes on.

Ans.

1. Mother will be very cross if you don’t go to school.
2. As soon as he caught sight of the teacher, Mohan started writing.
3. How do you like my tiny kitchen garden? Big enough for you, is it?
4. My youngest sister is now a year old.
5. Standing on the roof, he saw children playing on the road. 
6. Don’t make such a fuss Nothing will happen.
7. Don’t cross the street till the green light comes on.

That’s it about Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary and Question Answers. Hope it helped. Do share your views about this post in the comment section below.