The Day the River Spoke – Class 7 English Poorvi Question Answer (NCERT 2026–27)

Complete NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 1 (Learning Together) – “The Day the River Spoke” by Kamala Nair: summary, theme, word meanings and every textbook exercise (Let us discuss, Let us think and reflect, Let us learn) answered in full. The questions are reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book, and every table, fill-in and matching task is written out clearly with original, exam-ready answers.

Class: 7 Subject: English Book: Poorvi Unit: 1 – Learning Together Type: Story (Kamala Nair) Session: 2026–27
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About the chapter

“The Day the River Spoke” is the opening prose piece of Unit 1, ‘Learning Together’. It tells the story of Jahnavi, a bright ten-year-old girl from a coastal village in India who longs to go to school like her elder brother and sister. While crying by the riverside, she is surprised to hear the River itself speak to her in a sleepy, kindly voice. The River listens to her worries, gently encourages her to be brave and try, and gives her the courage to walk into school on her own. The story celebrates a girl’s right to education, the value of courage, and the wonder of nature that quietly supports us.

About the author

This story is an extract adapted from The Day the River Spoke by Kamala Nair. The narrative is set in a small Indian coastal village near the sea, where families farm the land and children play among the bamboo clumps, kingfishers and rice fields. The writer uses simple, gentle language and the device of a talking river to highlight a child’s desire to learn and the social barriers that once kept many girls out of school. Through warm dialogue between Jahnavi and the River, the author conveys an inspiring message about courage, curiosity and the importance of education for every child, especially girls.

Summary

Jahnavi is a curious ten-year-old girl who lives with her parents and three brothers in a coastal village. Her parents work on the farm, and Jahnavi spends much of her day minding her youngest brother, little Appu. She has a deep dream: she wants to go to school and learn to read like her elder brother Gopi (whom she calls ‘Ettan’) and her sister Meena. Each time she asked her mother, she was told she was too small, or to wait for ‘next year’, or to look after her little brothers. Now she feels she is too old and that her family does not want her to study.

One day, while sitting by the river and crying, Jahnavi hears a sleepy, murmuring voice asking what the matter is. To her surprise, it is the River itself. The River, who must hurry to reach the sea, listens kindly as Jahnavi pours out her wish to go to school and her many curious questions about the world – why spiders are yellow in yellow flowers, why bamboo trees rustle, why the moon comes from behind the hills, and why baby fish turn into frogs. The River gently advises her that little girls can do as much as little boys, and that she should simply slip along to school one morning, sit quietly and listen. It tells her to be brave, reminding her that she is not afraid of lizards, snakes or trains, so a school should not scare her either.

Gathering courage, Jahnavi reaches the school, listens at the door, and creeps into the back row with little Appu asleep on her shoulder. The kind teacher notices her, learns she is Gopi’s sister, and promises to speak to her father. The next evening the teacher visits her home, and her parents agree to let her study. Her mother says she too had once wished to go to school. Jahnavi is overjoyed and dreams of becoming a teacher herself one day, so she can bring all the village girls to school. The next morning she runs to tell the River, “I did it!”, and the River chuckles and promises to tell her about the great ships that sail the sea.

Theme & message

The central theme is a girl’s right to education and the courage to follow one’s dream. Jahnavi’s longing to learn, and the River’s gentle insistence that “little girls can do as much as little boys,” together challenge the old idea that girls should stay at home. The story also celebrates curiosity and the bond between humans and nature: the talking River represents a wise, encouraging friend who listens patiently and pushes Jahnavi to act. Its message is that with a little courage and self-belief – “it’s up to you” – every child, especially every girl, can claim the chance to learn and grow.

Word meanings

WordEnglish meaningHindi meaning
splashedfell in drops, making a soundछींटे पड़ना / छपाका मारना
slitheredmoved by sliding from side to sideरेंगते हुए सरकना
murmuringspeaking in a low voiceधीमे स्वर में बोलना / फुसफुसाना
startledsurprisedचौंक जाना / हड़बड़ाना
thicketa dense group of bushes and treesझाड़ी / घनी झाड़ियाँ
shriekedmade a high-pitched soundचीख़ पड़ना / चिल्लाना
rustlelight sound made by leaves rubbing togetherपत्तों की सरसराहट
conspiratoriallysecretlyगुप्त ठंग से / रहस्यमय तरीके से
clumpa small group of trees growing togetherपेड़ों का झुंड
rattlingnoise made by shaking thingsखड़खडाहट / खटखटाहट
catamarana kind of boatएक प्रकार की नाव (कटमरान)
wailedcomplained in a loud voiceरोते हुए शिकायत करना / विलाप करना
gaspedtook a short, quick breath due to surprise or shockहौंकना / सांस रोकना
pantingbreathing quickly with short breathsहाँफते हुए
creptmoved slowly and quietlyधीरे से रेंगते हुए बढ़ना
squattingsitting on the heels with knees bentउकड़ू बैठना
chucklea quiet, gentle laughधीमे से हंसना / मुस्कुराना
baskto lie or sit enjoying warmth (of the sun)धूप सेंकना / धूप का आनंद लेना
soul(here) a single personएक भी व्यक्ति / प्राणी

Let us discuss

I. (after Part I)

1. What was Jahnavi’s dream? Was it important to her? Why?

ANSWERJahnavi’s dream was to go to school and learn to read and write like her elder brother Gopi (Ettan) and her sister Meena. Yes, it was very important to her. She was a curious girl full of questions about the world – about spiders, bamboo trees, the moon and the fishes that turned into frogs – and she felt that only school could help her find answers and shape her future. Education meant freedom and dignity to her, so much so that she dreamed of one day becoming a teacher and helping other village girls learn too.

2. Do you think the river can help her in fulfilling her dream? How?

ANSWERYes, the River helps Jahnavi fulfil her dream. It does not do the task for her, but it listens to her patiently and gives her confidence. It tells her that “little girls can do as much as little boys” and advises her simply to slip along to school, sit quietly and listen. By reminding her that she is not really a scared child, the River inspires her to gather courage, take the first step herself, and finally win her place in school.

II. (after the full story)

Complete the table given below with Jahnavi’s questions in Column 1 and the River’s answers in Column 2.

Column 1 – Jahnavi’s questionColumn 2 – The River’s answer
…why the moon always comes from behind the hills…?It goes down towards the sea. The River had seen that it always takes the same way – over the mountains and down to the sea, like the River itself.
Can I do something? (Can a girl go to school?)…little girls can do as much as little boys. (She should slip along, sit in school and listen.)
What are ships?Big boats, so big that they can take hundreds of people, and they sail along the sea with lights that shine all night.
Will they come here?I’m afraid not. Too large, you know. Chandu’s catamaran is good enough for me; Chandu can take you to see a ship someday.

Let us think and reflect

I.1. Extract – “You shouldn’t cry, you know,” the voice went on… “I’ve got to hurry to reach the sea, you know.”

ANSWER (i) The tone of the River in the given extract is sympathising. (ii) The phrase that shows Jahnavi was a frequent visitor to the spot is “you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day”. (iii) D. disbelief – the exclamation mark shows Jahnavi could not believe that it was really the river speaking. (iv) Three qualities of the River highlighted in the extract are: affectionate, thoughtful and kind-hearted.

I.2. Extract – “Can I do something?” asked Jahnavi… “I couldn’t! They’d scare me! They’d chase me out.”

ANSWER (i) According to the River, there was no difference between girls and boys because girls can do as much as boys and can even swim as fast as little boys – so a girl is equally capable of going to school and learning. (ii) True. The River encourages Jahnavi to have faith in herself and fulfil her desire to go to school. (iii) C. quietly – when the River suggests that Jahnavi should ‘slip along’, it means she should move quietly, without being noticed. (iv) The repetition of the phrase ‘I couldn’t’ tells us that Jahnavi was very frightened and full of self-doubt. She felt nervous and unsure of herself, and was afraid that the people at school would scare her and chase her away.

II. Answer the following questions.

ANSWER 1. Why does the writer describe different aspects of nature in great detail at the beginning of the story? The writer describes the kingfisher, the green lizard, the river and the bamboo thicket to create a vivid, peaceful coastal setting and to draw the reader into Jahnavi’s world. This detailed nature also prepares us for the magical moment when the River speaks – it makes nature feel alive and close, like a companion that quietly watches over and listens to the children of the village. 2. How did the River know so much about Jahnavi? The River knew so much about Jahnavi because she came to its bank to see it every day, “well, almost every day.” Over time the River had silently observed her, her moods and her surroundings, so it knew her habits, her fears and even details such as the snake in the bamboo clump and the trains rattling past the bridge. 3. What can you infer about Jahnavi and the school from the line, “And I’m so old now, they’ll never let me go.”? We can infer that Jahnavi has been kept out of school for years while she looked after her younger brothers, and that she has started school much later than usual. It suggests that in her village, girls were often not sent to school on time, and that Jahnavi fears she has missed her chance because of her age. 4. Why did the River laugh when Jahnavi said she would be scared at school? The River laughed because it found it funny that Jahnavi, who was not afraid of the green lizard, the snake in the bamboo clump or the big trains rattling past the bridge, should be frightened of going to school. By laughing, the River gently showed her that she was actually a brave girl and had no real reason to be afraid. 5. Why should Jahnavi follow the River’s advice? Jahnavi should follow the River’s advice because it is wise and practical. The River does not promise to do anything for her; instead it tells her to take the first step herself – to go quietly to school and simply listen. This advice gives her courage, helps her overcome her fear, and finally leads to her being accepted as a student. 6. How does the conversation between Jahnavi and the River make the story more appealing? The talking River turns an ordinary tale into something magical and charming. The warm, playful conversation reveals Jahnavi’s feelings, fears and curiosity, while the River’s sleepy, kindly voice acts like a wise friend. This imaginative device makes the story lively and engaging and brings out its message about courage and learning in a gentle, memorable way. 7. What is the main message that the writer intends to convey? The main message is that every child, especially every girl, has the right to education, and that courage and self-belief can help us achieve our dreams. The story teaches that “it’s up to you” – we must take the first brave step ourselves – and that girls are just as capable as boys of learning and succeeding.

Let us learn

I. Why is ‘River’ capitalised?

You have learnt that naming words are called nouns and only proper nouns begin with a capital letter. Why has the author used a capital letter for the ‘River’ even when it is a common noun?

ANSWERThe author capitalises ‘River’ because, in this story, the river is given the qualities of a human being – it speaks, laughs, listens, gives advice and hurries to reach the sea. This literary device is called personification. By writing ‘River’ with a capital letter, the author treats it like a living character, almost a person with a name, rather than an ordinary, lifeless body of water.

II. Words related to sound

Pick the words from the text and write them next to the correct definition.

ANSWER 1. made a high-pitched piercing sound → shrieked 2. to cause liquid to strike or fall on something → splashed 3. a low continuous background noise → murmuring 4. cry with loud uncontrollable gasps → sob 5. to make a soft dry sound, like paper or leaves moving → rustle 6. took a short quick breath through the mouth due to surprise, pain or shock → gasped 7. shaking rapidly to make continuous short, sharp sounds → rattling 8. making a lot of noise → noisy 9. made a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadness → wailed
ANSWER – fill in the blanks (sample) The classroom grew (i) noisy as the students noticed the teacher carrying the answer papers. As the teacher turned the pages with a (ii) rustle, the children (iii) gasped, wondering what comments awaited. Someone (iv) wailed in frustration, and the (v) murmuring of the students steadily increased. Finally, when the teacher praised the students for their excellent performance, the students (vi) shrieked with excitement.

III. Words borrowed from Indian languages

The word ‘catamaran’ comes from Tamil ‘kattu maram’ (‘tied wood’). Find out the meanings of these words and the Indian language they were borrowed from. (Example: karma – Sanskrit)

ANSWER 1. karma – action / the results of one’s deeds — Sanskrit (given) 2. sahib – a respectful term for a gentleman or master — from Urdu/Hindi (originally Arabic). 3. chutney – a tangy sauce or relish — from Hindi (‘chatni’). 4. guru – a teacher or spiritual guide — Sanskrit/Hindi. 5. verandah – an open, roofed porch along a house — from Hindi (‘varanda’). 6. jungle – a thick forest or wild land — from Hindi (‘jangal’). 7. areca – the areca (betel) nut palm — from Malayalam (‘adakka’). 8. palanquin – a covered seat carried on poles by bearers — from Hindi/Oriya (‘palki’, from Sanskrit ‘palyanka’).

IV. Boats of India

Given below are some boats used in different parts of our country: 1. canoe 2. catamaran 3. coracle 4. shikara. (i) Which one would you like to travel in? (ii) Make a colourful drawing of a boat that you would like to travel in.

ANSWER (sample)(i) I would most like to travel in a shikara, the beautiful, gently moving wooden boat used on the lakes of Kashmir. It glides slowly over calm water, has cushioned seats and a colourful canopy, and lets the traveller enjoy the scenery in peace. (ii) This is a drawing activity – draw a colourful boat (for example a shikara or catamaran) with its sail, oars and bright decorations, and label its parts.

Note: Activity IV(ii) is a drawing task to be done in your notebook.

V. Crossword (water transport)

Solve the crossword puzzle based on words related to water transport.

ANSWER Across: 1. SHIP   2. BOAT   3. RAFT   4. STEAMER Down: 5. CANOE   6. TUG (tugboat)   7. YACHT (rhymes with ‘cot’)

VI. Prepositions

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions given within the brackets.

ANSWER 1. On her first day at school… 2. Jahnavi stood nervously outside the gate… 3. she hurried inside the bustling classroom. 4. She found a seat between two friendly classmates. 5. The teacher… started the lesson about numbers. 6. Jahnavi listened attentively, feeling excited about the new adventure ahead.

VII. Prepositions and adverbs

Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs.

ANSWER 1. The cat jumped on the table. (preposition) 2. The children played outside until dark. (adverb) 3. She quickly ran through the park. (preposition) 4. The helicopter was hovering above. (adverb) 5. We were just walking along, chatting. (adverb) 6. After thoroughly wiping his shoes, he stepped in. (adverb) 7. She drove slowly around the sharp curve. (preposition) 8. He placed the keys on the mat before leaving. (preposition)

Note: The Let us listen (circling words and matching the five speakers about school life), Let us speak (saying the River’s line in different voices; asking for and giving advice), Let us write (‘Observing Nature’ descriptive paragraph) and Let us explore (why Indian rivers are seen as sacred and often female; the multilingual class activity; the poster discussion; girl-child education schemes) are listening, speaking, writing and project activities to be done in class. Useful guidance: in the listening task the speakers mention careers, homemaker, principal, books and similar words; for the discussion, rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna and Kaveri are revered as life-giving ‘mothers’, which is why many are referred to as female.

Extra questions

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. Where did Jahnavi live and what did her parents do?

ANSWERJahnavi lived in a coastal village in India with her parents and three brothers. Her parents worked on the farm, growing crops, while Jahnavi often stayed home to mind her youngest brother, little Appu.

2. Why was Jahnavi crying by the river?

ANSWERJahnavi was crying because her family would not let her go to school. She felt she was now too old, that no one wanted her to study, and she longed to read and learn like her brother Gopi and sister Meena.

3. What were some of the questions Jahnavi wanted answers to?

ANSWERJahnavi wanted to know why spiders are yellow in yellow flowers, why bamboo trees rustle, why the moon always comes from behind the hills and never the other way, and why baby fish in the field water become frogs.

4. What advice did the River give Jahnavi about going to school?

ANSWERThe River told Jahnavi that little girls can do as much as little boys. It advised her to slip along quietly to school one morning, sit there and listen to the lesson, and said that the teacher might then let her stay. It reminded her, “it’s up to you.”

5. How did the teacher help Jahnavi join school?

ANSWERWhen the teacher noticed Jahnavi listening in the back row, she learnt that the girl was Gopi’s sister and promised to find a way. The next evening she visited Jahnavi’s home and spoke to her father, after which her parents agreed to let her study.

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. Describe how Jahnavi’s dream of going to school finally came true.

ANSWERJahnavi had long dreamed of going to school but was always told she was too small or needed to mind her brothers. One day, crying by the river, she met the talking River, which gently told her that girls can do as much as boys and that she should simply go and listen at school. Gathering courage, she reached the school, listened at the door and crept into the back row with little Appu asleep on her shoulder. The kind teacher noticed her, learnt she was Gopi’s sister, and visited her home to speak to her father. Her parents agreed, and Jahnavi joyfully began school, dreaming of becoming a teacher and helping other village girls learn too.

7. How does ‘The Day the River Spoke’ convey the importance of education, especially for girls?

ANSWERThe story shows that education is a precious right that should be open to every child, regardless of gender. Jahnavi is bright and curious, yet she is kept from school simply because she is a girl who must look after her brothers. The River challenges this old thinking by insisting that “little girls can do as much as little boys.” When Jahnavi finally joins school, even her mother admits she too had wished to study as a child. Jahnavi’s dream of becoming a teacher and bringing all the village girls to school carries the story’s hopeful message: educating girls uplifts not just one child but the whole community.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Where did Jahnavi live?

(a) a hill town   (b) a coastal village   (c) a big city   (d) a desert village

ANSWER(b) a coastal village.

2. What was Jahnavi’s dream?

(a) to sail on a ship   (b) to go to school and learn to read   (c) to work on the farm   (d) to swim in the sea

ANSWER(b) to go to school and learn to read.

3. Who spoke to Jahnavi in a sleepy, murmuring voice?

(a) the kingfisher   (b) the green lizard   (c) the parrots   (d) the River

ANSWER(d) the River.

4. What does ‘Ettan’ mean?

(a) elder brother   (b) friend   (c) teacher   (d) little boy

ANSWER(a) elder brother (Jahnavi’s brother’s real name was Gopi).

5. According to the River, little girls can do as much as little boys – they can even…

(a) run as fast   (b) swim as fast   (c) climb as high   (d) sing as well

ANSWER(b) swim as fast as little boys.

6. What did the River advise Jahnavi to do at school?

(a) argue with the teacher   (b) slip along, sit and listen   (c) bring a letter   (d) wait one more year

ANSWER(b) slip along, sit and listen.

7. Whose catamaran did the River say was ‘good enough’?

(a) Gopi’s   (b) the teacher’s   (c) Chandu’s   (d) Appu’s

ANSWER(c) Chandu’s (Chandu the fisherman).

8. Who came to Jahnavi’s home to talk to her father?

(a) the River   (b) the principal   (c) the teacher   (d) Chandu

ANSWER(c) the teacher.

9. What did Jahnavi dream of becoming when she grew up?

(a) a farmer   (b) a teacher   (c) a sailor   (d) a doctor

ANSWER(b) a teacher – so she could bring all the village girls to school.

10. Who is the author of ‘The Day the River Spoke’?

(a) Ruskin Bond   (b) Kamala Nair   (c) Helen Keller   (d) Eliza Cook

ANSWER(b) Kamala Nair.
MCQ Answer Key: 1-(b), 2-(b), 3-(d), 4-(a), 5-(b), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(c), 9-(b), 10-(b)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Jahnavi was startled when she heard a voice by the river.

Reason (R): She was sure she had been quite alone, with not a soul in sight.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): The River knew a great deal about Jahnavi’s life and surroundings.

Reason (R): Jahnavi came to see the River almost every day.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

3. Assertion (A): The River laughed when Jahnavi said she would be scared at school.

Reason (R): Jahnavi was not afraid of the green lizard, the snake or the rattling trains.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

4. Assertion (A): Jahnavi was sent to school cheerfully as soon as she was five years old.

Reason (R): Her mother kept telling her to wait and to mind her little brothers.

ANSWER(d) A is false (she was repeatedly made to wait and was nearly ten before she joined school), while R is true.

5. Assertion (A): Jahnavi dreamed of becoming a teacher when she grew up.

Reason (R): She wanted to go from house to house and bring all the village girls to her school.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

Exam tips & common mistakes

Exam tips

• Remember the order of events: crying by the river → the River speaks → advice to ‘slip along’ → listening at school → teacher visits home → parents agree.
• Always name the author (Kamala Nair) and the setting (a coastal Indian village) in long answers.
• Note that the River is personified – mention this for the capital-letter question and for theme questions.
• For value-based questions, stress girls’ education, courage and self-belief (‘it’s up to you’).

Common mistakes

• Do not say Jahnavi’s grandfather or a friend spoke to her – it was the River itself.
• ‘Ettan’ is not a name; it means elder brother. Her brother’s real name is Gopi.
• The River did not take Jahnavi to school – it only advised her; she went on her own.
• The boat the River preferred is a catamaran (Chandu’s), not a ship – ships were too large for the river.

FAQs

Who wrote ‘The Day the River Spoke’ and what is it about?

It is an extract adapted from The Day the River Spoke by Kamala Nair. It is about a village girl named Jahnavi who longs to go to school and is encouraged by a talking river to be brave and follow her dream.

Why is the word ‘River’ written with a capital letter?

Because the river is personified – it is given human qualities such as speaking, laughing and giving advice – so the author treats it like a character with a name and capitalises it.

What is the main message of the story?

The story conveys that every child, especially every girl, has the right to education, and that courage and self-belief help us achieve our dreams – ‘it’s up to you’.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT Poorvi textbook; the summary, author note and all answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

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