Gujarat Board GSEB Class 7 English Textbook Solutions Honeycomb Chapter 5 Quality Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.

Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 5 Quality

GSEB Class 7 English Quality Text Book Questions and Answers

Working With The Text
Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a bootmaker?
Answer:
The author was very impressed with Mr Gessler. He liked the boots made only on order and those boots perfectly fitted Mr. Gessler used the best leather and made the boots with painstaking care. He found the work mysterious and wonderful.

Question 2.
Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?
Answer:
The author visited the shop so infrequently because the boots made by Gessler brothers lasted long.

Question 3.
What was the effect on Mr Gessler of the author’s remark about a certain pair of boots?
Answer:
Mr Gessler at first found the remark unbelievable. He was quite sure that the author might have got them wet. He was shocked. He told the author that he would either repair them or adjust the money in his bills.

Question 4.
What was Mr Gessler’s complaint against “big firms”?
Answer:
Mr Gessler complained that the big firms didn’t value the money of the customers. They were capturing the markets through advertisements and not through the quality of their products. He was mostly out of work, because of those ever-growing firms and day by day the volume of his work was getting reduced.

Question 5.
Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?
Answer:
The author felt bad for Mr Gessler who was really talented and made great boots. He ordered so many pairs to help the bootmaker. No, he didn’t really need them.

Working With Language

Question 1.
Study the following phrases and their meanings. Use them appropriately to complete the sentences that follow: ‘
look after: take care of
look down on: disapprove or regard as inferior
look in (on someone): make a short visit look into: investigate
lookout: be careful
lookup: improve
look up to: admire

1. After a very long spell of heat, the weather is ……………………….. at last.
2. We have no right to ………………………. people who do small jobs.
3. Nitin has always …………………………. his uncle, who is a self-made man.
4. The police are ………………. the matter thoroughly.
5. If you want to go out, I will ……………………. the children for you.
6. I promise to ………………………… on your brother s’ when I visit Lucknow next.
7. ………………………. when you are crossing the main road.
Answer:
1. looking up
2. look down on
3. looked up to
4. looking into
5. look after
6. look in
7. Lookout!

Question 2.
Read the following sets of Words loudly and clearly:
(1) cot – coat
(2) cost – coast
(3) tossed – toast
(4) got – goat
(5) rot – rote
(6) blot – bloat
(7) knot – note
Answer:
Do it yourself.

Question 3.
Each of the following words contains the sound ‘sh’ (as in shine) in the beginning or in the middle or at the end. First speak out all the words clearly. Then arrange the words in three groups in the table:

Answer:

Question 4.
In each of the following words, ‘ch’ represents the same consonant sound as in ‘chair’. The words on the left have this sound initially. Those on the right have it
finally. Speak each word clearly.

Underline the letters representing this sound in each of the following words:
(1) feature
(2) archery
(3) picture
(4) reachIng
(5) nature
(6 ) matches
(7) riches
(8) batch
(9) church
Answer:
(1) feature
(2) archery
(3) picture
(4) reaching
(5) nature
(6) matches
(7) riches
(8) batch
(9) church

Speaking

Question 1.
Do you think Mr Gessler was a failure as a bootmaker or as a competitive businessman?
Answer:
Mr Gessler was successful as a bootmaker because his customers were immensely satisfied with the boots he made. They perfectly fit them and lasted long. Yes, he was a failure as a competitive businessman.

He didn’t have money like the big firms so couldn’t invest on advertisements. He lost his business to them. He took time in delivering the boots because he made them alone. He lost his customers because of the delay in delivery. He worked hard, striving for long hours. Whatever he earned went on paying the rent for his shop and for buying leather. He spent his days in great poverty.

Question 2.
What is the significance of the title? To whom or to what does it refer?
Answer:
The title refers to the great quality boots which Mr Gessler made. It is an ideal title for the lesson. It refers to the business practices followed these days where no one cares about quality. For Mr Gessler, quality was of immense significance. He worked for long hours, didn’t allow anyone else to meddle with style of shoemaking. He lost on business, was spending days in poverty still the man didn’t compromise on quality.

Question 3.
Notice the way Mr Gessler speaks English. His English is influenced by his; mother tongue. He speaks English with an accent. When Mr Gessler speaks, p, t, k, sound like b, d, g. Can you say these words as Mr Gessler would say them? It comes and never stops. Does it bother me? Not at all. Ask my brother, please.
Answer:
Mr Gessler used to speak English with a German accent. His English sounded funny and a bit difficult to understand. Mr Gessler would have spoken these lines as – Id comes and never ‘sobs. Does ‘Id bidder’s me? ‘Nod ad all’. Ask my ‘brother, please.

Question 4.
Speak to five adults in your neighbourhood. Ask them the following questions (in any language they are comfortable in). Then come back and share your findings with the class.
(1) Do they buy their provisions packed in plastic packets at a big store or loose, from a smaller store near their house?
Answer:
Yes, they prefer buying their provisions; loose from the smaller stores near their house.

(2) Where do they buy their footwear? Do they buy branded footwear, or footwear made locally? What reasons do they have for their preference?
Answer:
They buy footwear for daily purposes from local shops. For office and party purposes, they prefer buying it from branded shops. They don’t like spending too much on their regular footwear. So they buy it from local shops. For office and party, they want to look good and want the footwear to last long and comfortable. So they are fine spending on it.

(3) Do they buy readymade clothes, or buy cloth and get their clothes stitched by a tailor? Which do they think is better?
Answer:
They do the both. At times they buy readymade clothes and at times get them stitched from the tailor. They find it easy to buy readymade clothes. They get the latest fashion and it saves time as well. Let pairs of students talk to each other about leaving the country. One student repeats Ajit’s statement. The other gives a reason for not agreeing with Ajit. The sentence openings given below should be used.

Question 5.
Look at the picture:

Let pairs of students talk to each other about leaving the country. One student repeats Mit’s statement. The other gives a reason for not agreeing with Ajit. The sentence openings given below should be used.
If I leave this country, I’ll miss…
There are some things which you can get only here, for example…
There are some special days I’ll miss, particularly…
Most of all I’ll miss… because…
I think it’s impossible for me to leave my country because…
How can you leave your own country except when…?
Depends on one’s intention. I can’t leave for good because…
Maybe for a couple of years…
Answer:
Ajit: I have decided to go abroad for higher studies.
Anisa: Have you? I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I love my country.
If I leave this country, I’ll miss my friends and family. I will also miss the food. There are some things which you can get only here, for example, the food, snacks and the care and concern of people around.
There are some special days I’ll miss, particularly the festivals, birthdays and national holidays like Independence Day and Republic Day.

Most of all I’ll miss my sister because we are very close to each other and I share all my secrets with her.
I think it’s impossible for me to leave my country because I love my country and family too much and can’t go too far from them. How can you leave your own country except when there is an emergency? Depends on one’s intention. I can’t leave for good because I want to celebrate all my special moments with my close ones. Maybe for a couple of years, I think it should be fine.

Writing

Question 1.
Based on the following points write a story:
Your aunt has gone to her mother’s house.
Your uncle does his cooking.
He is absent-minded.
He puts vegetables on the stove.
He begins to clean his bicycle outside.
The neighbour calls out saying something is burning.
Your uncle rushes to the kitchen.
To save vegetables, he puts some oil on them.
Unfortunately, it’s machine oil, not cooking oil.
What do you think happens to the vegetables?

Answer:
Begin like this …
Last month my aunt decided to visit her parents. They live in another city. In the absence of my aunt, my uncle had to do all the cooking. He is very forgetful and absent-minded. One day he puts vegetables on the stove for cooking and at the same time he goes out to clean his bicycle. My uncle got involved in cleaning his bicycle so much that he completely forgot about the vegetables he had kept on the stove.

One of his neighbours came to his place hurriedly telling about some burning smell coming from his kitchen. My uncle remembered about the vegetables he had kept on the stove for cooking. He rushed to the kitchen and to save the vegetables from getting burnt, he poured some oil over them immediately. Only at the time of eating he realised it was not cooking oil but machine oil. The vegetables were completely spoiled, my uncle had to throw them away.

GSEB Class 7 English Quality Additional Important Questions and Answers

Select the most appropriate options; as answers and complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
The boots made by Mr Gessler…………….. .
A. lasted very long.
B. never failed to fit.
C. soon started creaking.
D. both A’ and ‘B’.
Answer:
D. both A’ and ‘B’.

Question 2.
Gesslers’ shop is compared with ……………………… .
A. a church.
B. a bookshop.
C. a firm.
D. none of these three.
Answer:
A. a church.

Question 3.
In this story, the incense is …………………….. .
A. aroma in a church.
B. the smell of leather.
C. the nauseating smell of boots.
D. the smell of glue.
Answer:
B. the smell of leather.

Question 4.
What was wrong with the writer’s previous pair of boots?
A. They were torn.
B. They developed certain creases.
C. They creaked.
D. They did not fit the writer’s feet.
Answer:
C. They creaked.

Question 5.
According to Gessler, big firms get their business ………………… .
A. by work.
B. by advertisement.
C. by innovations.
D. by criticizing work done by craftsmen.
Answer:
B. by advertisement.

Question 6.
Coming back to London, the writer visited Gessler’s shop after …………………………. .
A. over 3 years
B. over 2 years
C. over 5 years
D. over a year
Answer:
D. over a year

Question 7.
The reason of Gessler’s death was ……………….. .
A. jaundice
B. cancer
C. starvation
D. cholera
Answer:
C. starvation

Question 8.
One of the following reasons is not applicable for the loss of Gessler’s business :
A. Not a man in London made a better boot than Gessler.
B. Gessler never advertised.
C. Gessler charged too high.
D. Gessler took too long a time to make boots.
Answer:
C. Gessler charged too high.

Say whether the following sentences are True or False:

Question 1.
The writer knew Gessler right from his very youth.
Answer:
True

Question 2.
For Mr Gessler boot making was an art.
Answer:
True

Question 3.
The boots made by Mr Gessler often creaked.
Answer:
False

Question 4.
The writer wanted Gessler to give him French leather boots.
Answer:
False

Question 5.
Mr Gessler used to wear self-made boots in his shop.
Answer:
False

Question 6.
According to Gessler, big firms have taken away their business.
Answer:
True

Question 7.
A Russian had taken over the boot-shop of Gessler brothers.
Answer:
False

Question 8.
According to the writer, Gessler brothers must have advertised for their boots to survive in the competition.
Answer:
True

Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each:

Question 1.
Why did the author preferred boots made by Mr Gessler to that of big firms?
Answer:
The author preferred boots made by Mr Gessler to that of big firms because Mr Gessler’s boots were durable, pre-made from best leather and they fitted perfectly well. The author was very attached to Mr Gessler.

Question 2.
The author felt sorry for complaining } about his boots. What made him feel so?
Answer:
Mr Gessler was shocked at the complaint. He failed to believe it. He became silent and then started thinking deeply where he went wrong. This made the author regret making such a complaint.

Question 3.
Why the author called those boots bought from big firm ‘ill-omened’?
Answer:
Seeing those boots Mr Gessler for the first time informed the author about the hardships of his trade and the hard times! he was going through. Finding Mr Gessler in pain, the author called those boots bought from big firm ‘ill-omened’ ones.

Question 4.
Describe the boots made by Mr Gessler.
Answer:
Mr Gessler made boots only on orders. His boots were perfect fit. They lasted long and were made from the best leather. For Mr s Gessler bootmaking was an art which was exhibited perfectly in each pair carved by him.

Answer the following questions in four to five sentences each:

Question 1.
Mr Gessler in his last years wasn’t in good health. Give three examples to prove this.
Answer:
Author had mistaken Mr Gessler for his elder brother because he looked too old. There was very thin lining of hair left on the top portion of his head. During the last meeting with the author within a period s of one year, Mr Gessler had grown older by around 10 years. He looked tired and exhausted. The hardships of the trade have taken a toll on his health. He even failed to recognise the author at first.

Question 2.
Mr Gessler was spending his days with great difficulty. Give suitable arguments in favour of this.
Answer:
Mr Gessler was having a tough time in his final years. He had lost his customers because of the delay in delivery of his orders.

Read the following passages carefully: and answer the questions given below them :

Question 1.
The shop had a certain quiet distinction. There was no sign upon it other than the name of Gessler Brothers and in the window a few pairs of boots. He made only what was ordered, and what he made never failed to fit. To make boots – such boots as he made – seemed to me then, and still seems to me, mysterious and wonderful. I remember well my shy remarks, one day while stretching out to him my youthful foot. “Isn’t it awfully hard to do, Mr Gessler ?” And his answer, given with a sudden smile i- from out of the redness of his beard: “Id is an art!”
Questions:
(1) Pick out the sentence that shows ‘the shop was different.
Answer:
‘The shop was different’ = The shop had a certain quiet distinction.

(2) What kind of boots, according to the j; writer, did Gessler brothers make?
Answer:
According to the writer, Gessler brothers made mysterious and wonderful boots.

(3) At what stage of life did the writer visit the boot shop of Gessler brothers?
Answer:
The writer visited the boot shop of Gessler brothers when he was young.

(4) What was the reply of Mr Gessler when the writer asked him about the making of boots?
Answer:
when the writer asked Gessler about the making of boots, he replied that ‘It is an art’.

Question 2.
Once (once only) I went absent-mindedly into his shop in a pair of boots bought in an emergency at some large firm. He took my order without showing me any leather and I could feel his eyes penetrating the inferior covering of my foot. At last, he said, “Dose are nod my boods.” The tone was not one of anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt, but there was in it something quiet that froze the blood.

He put his hand down and pressed an Anger on the place where the left boot was not quite comfortable.
“Id ’urds’ you dere,” he said, “Dose big firms ’ave no self-respect.” And then, as if something had given way within him, he spoke long and bitterly. It was the only time I ever heard him discuss the conditions and hardships of his trade.
Questions :
(1) How did Mr Gessler find out that the boots that the writer had put on were not made by him?
Answer:
Mr Gessler sharply observed that the quality of the boots that the writer had put on was inferior and realised that they were not made by him.

(2) What affected the writer intensely?
Answer:
The tone of Mr Gessler’s speech affected the writer intensely.

(3) What were the subjects that Mr Gessler talked on long and bitterly?
Answer:
Mr Gessler talked on long and bitterly on the conditions and hardships of his trade.

(4) With the accent of which language is English spoken by Mr Gessler?
Answer:
Mr Gessler speaks English with German accent.

Question 3.
“Ah !” he said, “Poor old man starved himself. Slow starvation, the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn’t have a soul touch his boots except himself. When he got an order, it took him such a time. People won’t wait. He lost everybody. And there he’d sit, going on and on. I will say that for him-not a man in London made a better boot. But look at the competition! He never advertised! Would have the best leather too, and do it all himself. Well, there it is. What could you expect with his ideas ?’’
“But starvation!”
“That may be a bit Lowery, as the saying is-but I know myself he was sitting over his boots day and night, to the very last you see, I used to watch him. Never gave
himself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in rent and leather. How he lived so long I don’t know. He regularly let his fire go out. He was a character. But he made good boots.”
‘“Yes,” I said, “he made good boots.”
Questions ;
(1) What reason did the doctor give about Mr Gessler’s death?
Answer:
According to the doctor, Mr Gessler must have died of slow starvation.

(2) Why did Mr Gessler lose his business?
Answer:
Mr Gessler took such a long time to make the boots that the customers would not wait. Thus he lost his business.

(3) How dedicated was Mr Gessler to his work?
Answer:
Mr Gessler worked on boots day and s night. He did not spare time even to eat. Even if he had no money to survive, he never s compromised with his work; so dedicated he was.

(4) What does the word ‘flowery mean here ?
Answer:
Here the word ‘flowery’ means ‘exaggerated’.

Vocabulary

Replace the underlined words selecting the most appropriate options from the brackets :

(1) Things are looking up now that the s weather’s better. (inventing, improving, disappearing)
(2) The shoes I have brought for you are long-lasting. (expensive, imported, durable)
(3) Mechanic: Leave your car for a few hours. I will look at it. (study the problem, watch, repair)
(4) I heard a terrible scream and that froze my blood. (made my blood cold, horrified me, made me unconscious)
(5) My shoes wore out just within a month. (became smooth for wearing, were stolen, became useless)
(6) Do you have a soul to face him when you are wrong? (have courage, have patience, have skill)
Answer:
(1) Things are improving now that the weather’s better.
(2) The shoes I have brought for you are durable.
(3) Mechanic: Leave your car for a few hours. I will study the problem.
(4) I heard a terrible scream and that horrified me.
(5) My shoes became useless just within a month.
(6) Do you have courage to face him when you are wrong?

Choose the correct words from the brackets and complete the following passage:

Question 1.
(sign, ordered, wonderful, distinction, seems, window)
The shop had a certain quiet ………………… There was no ………………… upon it other than the name of Gessler Brothers, and in the ………………….. a few pairs of boots. He made only what was …………………………. and what he made never failed to fit. To make boots – such boots as he made – seemed to me then, and still …………………………… to me, mysterious and ……………… .
Answer:
The shop had a certain quiet distinction. There was no sign upon it other than the name of Gessler Brothers and in the window a few pairs of boots. He made only what was ordered, and what he made never failed to fit. To make boots-such boots as he made – seemed to me then, and still seems to me, mysterious and wonderful.

Question 2.
(leather, slippers, murmur, dream, reply, moved)
Then I would ……………………., “Thank you! Good morning, Mr Gessler.” “Good morning,” he would ……………………., still looking at the ……………………. in his hand. And as I ………………………….. to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his ………….. going up the stars: to his ……………….. of boots.
Answer:
Then I would murmur, “Thank you! Good morning, Mr Gessler.” “Good morning,” he would reply, still looking at the leather in his hand. And as I moved to the door, I would hear the tip-tap of his slippers going up the stairs: to his dream of boots.

Grammar

Choose the correct Article(s), Conjunction (s) and Preposition (s) and complete the following passage:

Question 1.
Once (once only) I went absentmindedly ……………………… his shop ……………….. a pair …………………… boots bought In ……………………..emergency at some large firm. He took my order ……………………… showing me any leather ……………………….. I could feel his eyes penetrating the inferior covering of my foot. At last he said. “Dose are nod my boods.”
Answer:
Once (once only) I went absent-mindedly into his shop in a pair of boots bought In an emergency at some large firm. He took my order without showing me any leather and I could feel his eyes penetrating the Inferior covering of my foot. At last, he said, “Dose are nod my boods.”

Question 2.
The tone was not one ………………………… anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt ……………………. there was In It something quiet …………………. froze the blood. He put his hand down …………………… pressed a finger on ……………………. place ……………………. the left boot was not quite comfortable.
Answer:
The tone was not one of anger, nor of sorrow, not even of contempt, but there was m it something quiet that froze the
blood. He put his hand down and pressed a finger on the place where the left boot was not quite comfortable.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of verbs given in the brackets and complete the texts:

Question 1.
One went in. not as Into most shops. but restfully, as one …………….1………………. (enter) a church. and ……………2…………….. (sit) on the single wooden chair, ……………….3…………… (watt).
Answer:
1. enters
2. sItting
3. waIted

Question 2.
I cannot ……….1……… (forget) that day on: which I had occasion …………2……….. (say) to him, “Mr Gessler, that last pair of boots ……………3……….. (creak), you know.”
Answer:
1. forget
2. to say
3. creaked

Change the voice of the following.

(1) He made my father’s boots.
(2) Could you make me a pair of Russian- leather boots?
(3) I cannot forget that day.
(4) He took my order without showing me any leather.
(5) I explained the circumstances of those. ill-omened boots.
(6) I had given those boots up when one evening they came.
(7) I only received these boots from him last Wednesday week.
Answer:
(1) My father’s boots were made by him.
(2) Could a pair of Russian-leather boots be made for me by you?
(3) That day cannot be forgotten by me.
(4) My order was taken by him without showing me any leather.
(5) The circumstances of those ill-omened boots were explained by me.
(6) Those boots had been given up by me when one evening they came.
(7) These boots were only received by me from him last Wednesday week.

Rewrite as directed :
(1) It was not possible to go to him very often. (Turn into Affirmative.)
(2) He spoke long and bitterly. (Use ‘Not only… but also.)
(3) Those boots were the best he had ever made. (Change the Degree.)
(4) How splendidly the new boots fitted! (Turn into Assertive.)
(5) What could you expect with his ideas ? (Turn into Negative.)
(6) When he got an order, it took him such a time. (Turn into Simple sentence.)
(7) He put his hand down and pressed a finger on the place. (Turn into Simple.)
Answer:
(1) It was impossible to go to him very often.
(2) He spoke not only long but also bitterly.
(3) Those boots were better than any other pair he had ever made. OR No other pair he had made so far was so good as those boots.
(4) The new boots fitted quite splendidly.
(5) You just couldn’t expect anything better with his ideas.
(6) After getting an order, it took him such a time.
(7) Putting his hand down, he pressed a finger on the place.

Letter Writing

Informal letter:
These are letters to friends and relations, or people you know well. Structure:
The sender’s address should always appear on the top left-hand corner of the page.
Include telephone number and email if available
Greeting – There are several variations that can be used depending on how well you know the person: Dear Mary, Hi Mary, Greetings, etc.
Complimentary close – Short comment, for example, Love, Lots of love, With thanks, See you soon, etc.

Raj Malhotra,
15, Shyamal Bungalows,
Nehru Park,
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad-15.
October 23, 2019

Dear Mary,
How are you? I’m very well. I didn’t write earlier because I was very busy. I like my new home. It is a lovely place. I have a big bedroom looking over the garden. I helped Mummy paint the bedroom walls yesterday. We chose a pretty yellow colour.
A boy called Mark lives next door. He is in the same class as I am. Mark is very good at sports and English. He likes animals just like we do, but even more.

He says he is going to be a vet when he grows up. I am still thinking about being a writer. Do you want me to send you the story I am writing when it is finished? It is all about animals having adventures. Write back soon. I am really looking forward to hearing all your news.
Love,
Raj

Quality Summary in English

Quality Summary:
The story starts with the description of the boot shop; on top was the nameplate ‘Gessler Brothers’ and a few shoes displayed on the window. They make shoes on order. The narrator then narrates one of his meetings with Mr Gessler. He says it has not been possible to go to him much because the shoes he made have lasted very long and are the best of their kind. One day the narrator goes to their shop to get a pair of Russian- leather shoes. Mr Gessler retreats upstairs and comes back after some time holding a fine golden Russian leather piece.

After the narrator’s approval, he says he’ll get his shoes the next fortnight. One day the narrator goes to their boot shop and tells him that the latest pair of shoes he got from him creak. After a long pause, Mr Gessler asks him to bring the shoes to him. He assures that if he can’t repair them, he will give the money back. Another day he goes to Gessler Brothers to order a new pair, wearing a pair of shoes which he bought from a big firm in an emergency. Mr Gessler at once recognizes that the shoes are not made by him.

He touches a particular spot on the narrator’s, shoe where it isn’t comfortable for the narrator and rightly predicts that it must be hurting there. He expresses his contempt for that those large firms attracting customers through shiny impressive advertisements to sell their inferior quality products. Then the author explains to him under what circumstances he had to buy those shoes. The new shoes lasted nearly two years. And in his next visit he receives quite a shock. When he enters the shop, he sees the younger Gessler brother who informs him of elder Gessler’s death.

That day he orders several pairs. It takes longer to make them but the quality is even better than the previous ones. Soon after, the narrator leaves for abroad and returns after over a year. The first shop he goes to is Mr Gessler’s. Mr Gessler, now seventy-five, is unable to recognize him at first. The Narrator gives a huge order. The wait is longer than ever but the quality only gets better. After a week, while passing the little street, the narrator thinks to go in and tell Mr Gessler that the boots are perfect.

But when he goes to the place where the shop was, the nameplate is no longer there. Disturbed, he goes into the shop and a young English face greets him. The narrator enquires about Mr Gessler and comes to know of younger Gessler’s death. Upon hearing this, the narrator is quite shocked.

The young man explains to him that Gessler died from starvation; he used to devote himself to shoemaking so much that he used to forget about everything else. All the money went in the rents and leather. The fate was quite obvious from the beginning. But both the narrator and the young man agrees that the Gessler brothers made good quality boots.