NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 3 Gopal and the Hilsa-fish

Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 3 Gopal and the Hilsa-fish:- In Chapter 3 of Class 7 English Honeycomb, "Gopal and the Hilsa-fish," we read a fun and clever story about Gopal, a smart and trusted adviser in the king’s court. The king is tired of everyone talking non-stop about a Hilsa-fish and wants to put a stop to it. To test Gopal’s cleverness, he gives him a tricky challenge: buy a Hilsa fish and bring it to the palace without anyone talking about the fish. Gopal comes up with a creative plan to meet this challenge, showing how smart and inventive he can be. This story is both entertaining and teaches us about solving problems in clever ways. Get the Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Question Answers from the below article.

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Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Question Answers

Check out class 7 English chapter 3 question answer below:- 

Comprehension Check (Page 36)

Question 1: Why did the king want no more talk about the Hilsa-fish?

Answer: The king was greatly irritated by the constant chatter about the Hilsa-fish. It had become the sole topic of conversation throughout the kingdom, with everyone—whether they were fishermen, courtiers, or common people—obsessing over the fish. The king found this continuous discussion to be monotonous and trivial, as it overshadowed more important matters of the state. The relentless talk about the Hilsa-fish distracted everyone, including the king himself, from their duties, which led to his frustration. To regain focus and bring back normalcy in the court, the king declared that he wanted no more talk about the Hilsa-fish.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1 

Question 2: What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?

Answer: The king was tired of everyone talking only about the Hilsa-fish. To test Gopal's cleverness, he gave him a difficult challenge. The king asked Gopal to buy a Hilsa-fish and bring it to the palace, but with one condition—no one should talk to him about the fish on his way. This seemed almost impossible because everyone was so excited about the fish that they couldn’t stop talking about it. The king believed that if Gopal could do this, it would show how smart and clever he really was.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 2

Working with the Text (Page 40)

Question 1: What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his Hilsa-fish?

Answer: Gopal half-shaved his face.

He smeared ash on himself.

He wore rags instead of his usual clothes.

Question 2: How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?

Answer: Gopal behaved so strangely—wearing rags, with a half-shaved face, and covered in ash—that the guards initially refused to let him in. However, his appearance and behavior attracted a lot of attention, and people started following him, eventually leading to the king's attention. The king then ordered the guards to let Gopal inside.

Question 3: Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the Hilsa-fish which Gopal had bought.

Answer: Gopal's bizarre appearance and actions were so unusual and shocking that no one paid attention to the Hilsa-fish he was carrying. Everyone was more focused on Gopal's odd behavior, which overshadowed the fish.

Working with Language (Page 41)

Question 1: Match the following:

Column A Column B

1. a crack in the wall (iii) of the king’s palace

2. terrible wind (ii) the middle of the night

3. a gold chain (i) around the throne

Question 2: Find out the meaning of the following expressions and use them in sentences of your own.

Ans. 

1. The public procession: A public display or parade that moves along a specific route, often for celebration or protest.

• Sentence: The public procession for the festival was grand and colorful, attracting tourists from all over the city.

2. Half-shaved: Having only half of the beard or head shaved, leaving the other half as it is.

• Sentence: His half-shaved look drew a lot of stares during the event.

3. Foolproof: Incapable of going wrong or being misused.

• Sentence: The new security system is foolproof, ensuring maximum safety.

4. No sooner had… than: Used to indicate that one thing happens immediately after another.

• Sentence: No sooner had the teacher left the room than the students began talking loudly.

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Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Summary

In the story "Gopal and the Hilsa-fish," the king becomes annoyed with the endless talk about Hilsa-fish in his kingdom. To put an end to the chatter, he sets a challenge for his clever courtier, Gopal. The king asks Gopal to buy a Hilsa-fish and bring it to the palace without anyone commenting on it.

Gopal accepts the challenge and devises a clever plan. He disguises himself in rags, covers his body with ash, and leaves his face half-shaved. His unusual appearance attracts attention everywhere he goes. People are so intrigued by his strange looks that they don’t notice the fish he is carrying or talk about it.

When Gopal arrives at the palace, the king is surprised to see that Gopal has managed to avoid any conversation about the Hilsa-fish. The king realizes that Gopal's cleverness and resourcefulness allowed him to succeed in the task. This story highlights the importance of thinking creatively to overcome challenges and demonstrates Gopal's wisdom in handling the king’s test.

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Gopal and the Hilsa Fish FAQs

1. What is the central theme of "Gopal and the Hilsa-fish"?

Ans. The central theme of the story is cleverness and ingenuity. It showcases how Gopal uses his wit and creativity to solve a seemingly impossible challenge set by the king.

2. Why was the king annoyed with the talk about Hilsa-fish?

Ans. The king was annoyed because the constant discussion about the Hilsa-fish was distracting everyone from their duties and important matters. It became the sole focus of conversation, which irritated him.

3. What challenge did the king give to Gopal?

Ans. The king challenged Gopal to buy a Hilsa-fish and bring it to the palace without anyone commenting on it or talking about it.

4. How did Gopal manage to avoid conversations about the Hilsa-fish?

Ans. Gopal dressed in rags, smeared ash on himself, and left his face half-shaved. His bizarre appearance diverted people’s attention away from the fish, making them focus on his unusual looks instead.

5. What was the king’s reaction when Gopal successfully completed the challenge?

Ans. The king was impressed and acknowledged Gopal’s cleverness and resourcefulness. He realized that Gopal’s creative approach allowed him to succeed in the task.