Character Map
This CBSE English Passage Assessment will be based on: Character Map
Assessment Format:
• 2 Short Answer Questions (2 marks each) = 4 marks
• 2 Fill in the Blanks Questions (1 mark each) = 2 marks
• 2 Short Answer Questions (1 mark each) = 2 marks
• 2 Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each) = 2 marks
Total: 8 Questions, 10 Marks
This CBSE English Grammar Assessment will be based on: Character Map
Assessment Format:
• 10 Randomized Grammar Questions (1 mark each)
• Question Types: Fill in the Blanks, MCQs, Error Identification, Reported Speech, Sentence Completion
Total: 10 Questions, 10 Marks
This English Vocabulary assessment will be based on: Character Map
Targeting Vocabulary & Usage with Intermediate difficulty.
Before We Read — Let Us Do These Activities
Bloom: L2 UnderstandClose your eyes for one minute and listen carefully to all the sounds around you.
- Do you think those sounds are trying to tell you something? What might they be saying?
- Do you believe that the things around you — the trees, the wind, the river — also listen to you throughout the day?
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Jahnavi was a bright young girl who lived with her parents and three brothers in a coastal village. Her parents worked on the farm. She had a dream.
- What do you imagine her dream could be?
- How do you think she could make that dream come true?
- What is your own dream? What can you do today to move closer to it?
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Key Vocabulary Preview
Character Map
Bloom: L4 AnalyseSee how all characters in the story are connected to Jahnavi and to each other.
The Story — Section I
1 A large, glistening tear splashedⓘ down her nose — and then another. Nearby, a kingfisher swooped down, its wings cutting through the sunlight like Simile a bright blue arrow. A green lizard slitheredⓘ its way to the edge of the river and stretched out lazily to enjoy the warmth of the sun. Imagery
2 "Oh dear, oh dear!" said a drowsy, murmuringⓘ voice. "Whatever is the matter?"
3 The girl, Jahnavi, felt a sudden jolt of surprise — she had been quite certain she was alone. It could not have been the lizard. And the kingfisher had already flown up into the thicketⓘ of bamboo, busy eating its catch. It could not be the parrots either — parrots shriekedⓘ and squawked, while this voice was as gentle and sleepy as still water. She looked all around her. There was not a soul to be seen. Frightened, she felt the urge to run.
4 "You really should not cry, you know," the voice continued softly. "And there is nothing to be afraid of — after all, you have been coming here to visit me nearly every single day."
5 Jahnavi was puzzled. The voice had a quality so like the river — flowing, unhurried, and warm. But surely rivers could not speak! She stared at the moving water, barely daring to breathe. Personification
6 "Come now, tell me what is troubling you," said the River — for it was indeed the River. "I must hurry along to reach the sea, you know, so please do not keep me waiting too long."
7 "They will not allow me to go to school," Jahnavi said, finally pouring out her heart. "I asked my mother, 'Why can I not go to school the way Ettan and Meena do?' And Mother had replied, 'You are still too young, little one. Perhaps later.' " But when she turned five, her youngest brother Ramu had just been born, and Mother still said, 'Maybe next year, Jahnavi — please look after your little brother while I go to the fields.' Now she was nearly ten years old, and still looking after the smallest one of all — baby Appu. "They do not want me at school. They only want me to..." — her words broke off in a sob.
8 "And I am so frightened to go to school now," she went on. "I am so much older than the other children will be. They will never accept me. But I want to go — I want to learn to read, the way Ettan can. I want to understand why spiders in yellow flowers are yellow themselves, why the bamboo trees make that gentle rustlingⓘ sound, why the moon always rises over those same hills and never from the opposite side, why the tiny fish in the rice-field water grow up and turn into frogs..." Imagery
9 "Stop!" said the River with a gentle laugh. "You make me quite breathless with all your questions! So many whys! Well — I can at least tell you about the moon," said the River, conspiratoriallyⓘ. "She always travels the same way — over the mountains and down toward the sea. I have seen her do it myself — always the same path, just like me!" Personification
Q2 — The River's Help: Although the River cannot physically take Jahnavi to school (as it humorously notes — she would get her feet wet), it can help in a very powerful way: by encouraging her and building her confidence. The River points out that Jahnavi is brave — she is not afraid of lizards or snakes or thundering trains. It tells her to "slip along one morning" and sit quietly at the back of the classroom. This is exactly the advice Jahnavi needs to take that first step.
The Story — Section II
10 "Even little Ramu gets to go to school now," Jahnavi said quietly. The River thought for a moment. "What a pity the school is not by the sea," it said. "Then I could simply carry you along, you know. But I cannot really — you would get your feet soaking wet, and that would never do! No, I am afraid there is really only one thing left for you to do."
11 "Is there something I myself can do?" asked Jahnavi, with a small flicker of hope. "It is entirely up to you," said the River. "It seems to me that little girls can do everything little boys can — why, they can swim every bit as fast! All you need to do is slip along one morning, find a quiet seat in the classroom, and listen to what is going on. Perhaps the teacher will let you stay."
12 "Oh, I could not!" Jahnavi gasped. "I simply could not! They would frighten me — they would chase me right out!"
13 The River let out a rippling laugh. "You — frightened?" it said. "You who are not afraid of the green lizard, or even the snake that lives in that bamboo clumpⓘ over there." Jahnavi jumped in surprise — she had not known about the snake. "Or those enormous trains that go rattlingⓘ past that bridge at full speed," the River added. "Trains are terribly noisy affairs," it remarked. "I much prefer ships myself." Personification
14 "What are ships?" asked Jahnavi, momentarily forgetting her troubles.
15 "Great big boats," said the River. "So vast that they can carry hundreds of people at once, sailing across the sea with lights burning all through the night." Jahnavi held her breath, dazzled by the image. Imagery "Will a ship ever come here?" she asked. "I am afraid not," said the River. "Far too large, you know. Chandu's little catamaranⓘ suits me just fine. Chandu might take you to see a real ship someday."
16 "They would never allow me!" Jahnavi wailedⓘ. "Try going to school first," said the River firmly. "Remember — it is entirely up to you."
17 And so Jahnavi gathered every bit of her courage. The very next morning, breathing hard and trembling with nerves, she made her way to the school and stood near the doorway, listening while the teacher read aloud a lesson about a prince named Ashoka who became one of the greatest rulers in history. Baby Appu had fallen asleep against her shoulder. Slowly she crept forward, row by row, until she found herself sitting cross-legged with the others on the cool earthen floor at the back of the room. Little Appu made not a sound.
18 "And who do we have here?" the teacher asked with a kind smile, looking up. "What is your name, child? You are new to my class." One of the boys called out, "She is Gopi's sister!" Another added, "Her name is Jahnavi." The teacher nodded warmly. "So you are Gopi's little sister — Gopi is a fine student."
19 "If you truly, truly want to come to my school, Jahnavi," the teacher said gently, "then we shall go and speak with your father. Do not worry — we will find a way."
20 The following evening, as Jahnavi was lighting the lamp by the door, she watched the teacher climb the steps to their gate. She could see her father frowning and scratching his cheek — as he always did when worried — while the teacher spoke quietly and earnestly, nodding. And later, Mother came to her and said softly, "Little Jahnavi, I shall miss you greatly when you go to school. Girls must be allowed to learn as much as they wish. When I was your age, I too wanted to go to school — but your grandmother said no. I am so glad the teacher came today." Symbolism
21 And Jahnavi looked up and said, "Mother, when I grow up, I will become a teacher myself. I will go from house to house in our village and invite every little girl to come to my school. And I will teach them everything I am about to learn."
22 The next morning, before school began, Jahnavi ran down the path between the fields to tell the River her news. "I did it!" she called out joyfully. "I was frightened — but I did it anyway! And they are letting me go. I shall learn to write my name, and to do arithmetic, and to find out at last why our little rice-field fish turn into frogs!" She heard the River's drowsy chuckle, and then its voice: "Come back and visit me, little one. And one of these days I shall tell you all about the ships that sail the great wide sea." Personification
Complete the table below with Jahnavi's questions in Column 1 and the River's answers in Column 2. Check your answers with the teacher.
| Column 1 — Jahnavi's Questions | Column 2 — River's Answers |
|---|---|
| Why does the moon always come from behind the hills and never the other way? | (Fill in the River's answer from the story) |
| (Fill in Jahnavi's question about equality) | Little girls can do as much as little boys — they swim just as fast. |
| (Fill in Jahnavi's question about ships) | Ships are great big boats that can carry hundreds of people, sailing the sea with lights shining all through the night. |
| Will a ship ever come here (to the river)? | (Fill in the River's answer) |
Row 1 — Moon question: River's answer: "The moon always travels the same route — over the mountains and down to the sea, just like me!"
Row 2 — Equality question: Jahnavi's question: "Can I really do something myself? Can a girl do what a boy does?" → River: "Little girls can do as much as little boys — they swim just as fast."
Row 3 — Ships question: Jahnavi's question: "What are ships?" → River: Ships are great big boats that can carry hundreds of people, sailing the sea with lights shining all through the night.
Row 4 — Ships coming here: River's answer: "No, I am afraid not — they are far too large for this river. Chandu's catamaran suits me just fine."
Word Power — Vocabulary from the Story
Bloom: L1 RememberClick any highlighted word in the story to see its full definition. All vocabulary words from the NCERT margin are listed below.
Extract-Based Questions — Extract 1
• Affectionate — The River speaks to Jahnavi with genuine warmth and care, like a loving friend.
• Thoughtful — It quickly notices that she is upset and asks what is wrong before rushing off to reach the sea.
• Kind-hearted — Rather than ignoring her tears, the River stops and listens, offering comfort and a listening ear.
(Note: "impatient" does not apply — even though the River is in a hurry, it pauses to help Jahnavi. "Forgiving" is not shown in this extract.)
Extract-Based Questions — Extract 2
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the author describe nature in such detail at the opening of the story?
How did the River know so much about Jahnavi?
Why did the River laugh when Jahnavi said she would be scared of school?
What is the main message the writer wants to convey through this story?
Why has the author capitalised the word 'River' throughout the story?
Frequently Asked Questions — The Day the River Spoke
What is The Day the River Spoke about in Class 7 Poorvi?
The Day the River Spoke is a story from NCERT Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 1 about Jahnavi, a young girl in a coastal village who desperately wants to attend school. Her parents keep her home to care for younger siblings. One day, the river she visits daily speaks to her and encourages her to take matters into her own hands. Gathering courage, she walks into the school, and the teacher welcomes her.
Who are the main characters in The Day the River Spoke?
The main characters are Jahnavi (a bright girl who wants education), the River (a personified character who gives Jahnavi courage), Gopi/Ettan (her elder brother who attends school), the Teacher (who welcomes Jahnavi and speaks to her father), and her Mother (who eventually supports her daughter's education after the teacher's visit).
What is the moral of The Day the River Spoke?
The moral is that if you truly want something, you must take the initiative yourself. The River tells Jahnavi it is up to her. The story also highlights the importance of girls' education and shows that sometimes children need encouragement to overcome barriers created by circumstances. It teaches courage, self-reliance, and the value of education.
What literary devices are used in The Day the River Spoke?
The story uses personification as its central device — the river speaks and has a personality. It also uses imagery (descriptions of the kingfisher, bamboo, river), simile, and dialogue to create a magical realist atmosphere. The contrast between Jahnavi's desire for education and her restricted life creates dramatic tension throughout.
Why does the river encourage Jahnavi to go to school?
The river encourages Jahnavi because it has watched her come to the riverbank almost every day, crying about not being able to attend school. The river tells her that little girls can do as much as little boys and challenges her to simply walk into the school. It reminds her she is brave enough since she is not afraid of lizards, snakes, or loud trains.