English Class 7 — Poorvi
🏠 Home Log in
TOPIC 7 OF 16

About the Play

🎓 Class 7 English CBSE Theory Ch 2 — Of Animals, Birds and Dr Dolittle ⏱ ~40 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]

This CBSE English Passage Assessment will be based on: About the Play

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: About the Play

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: About the Play
Targeting Vocabulary & Usage with Intermediate difficulty.

Before We Read — Let Us Do These Activities

Bloom: L2 Understand
Activity I — Athithi Devo Bhava

Work in pairs and discuss:

  1. What does the Sanskrit phrase "Athithi Devo Bhava" mean? (Hint: it relates to how guests should be treated.)
  2. Why is it important to be polite and welcoming to guests?
Activity II — Polite or Rude? Identify the Behaviour

Choose the statements that show polite behaviour when you have guests at home:

  1. Offer the guests a glass of water.
  2. Enquire about the well-being of the guests.
  3. Ask the guests when they would leave.
  4. Comment critically about the habits of guests.
  5. Accompany the guests to the door when they leave.
Polite behaviours: 1, 2, and 5. Offering water, asking about their well-being, and accompanying them to the door are all welcoming, considerate acts. Asking when guests will leave (3) is rude, and criticising their habits (4) is both rude and hurtful.
Activity III — Handling Rudeness in Class

Sometimes classmates are rude to each other when disagreeing. Work in groups: what are three ways you could handle such a situation politely and effectively?

1. Stay calm and let the person finish speaking before responding. 2. Use "I feel..." statements instead of "You always..." to avoid blame. 3. Ask a teacher or trusted adult to help mediate if the disagreement escalates. 4. Remind each other that different opinions are natural and should be respected. These skills are exactly what Mary in the play does NOT use — making the play both funny and instructive.

Key Vocabulary Preview

hilariously
In a very funny, laugh-out-loud way; extremely amusing
blunders
Careless, embarrassing mistakes — usually due to lack of thought
embarrasses
Makes someone feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed in front of others
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Sanskrit: "The world is one family" — a philosophy of universal kinship and hospitality
GT
G. C. Thornley
British Author EFL/ELT Writer Humorous Drama
G. C. Thornley was a British writer known for producing graded readers and short plays for learners of English. "Say the Right Thing" is a short humorous play that works beautifully in classroom settings. It explores the gap between what people intend to say and what they actually say — a gap that leads to comic disaster for young Mary and her mother. The play's humour is gentle and relatable: most of us have, at some point, said exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time.

About the Play

Play Introduction

This is a humorous play in which a mother advises her daughter on how to behave politely when guests visit. However, when the guests actually arrive, the daughter hilariously forgets all her mother's guidance — and proceeds to commit one blunder after another, embarrassing the guests and her mother in equal measure. Read to find out how Mary's well-intentioned but tactless remarks create one awkward situation after another.

Characters & Relationships

L4 Analyse
Mary Shaw Tactless daughter Mrs. Shaw Mary's anxious mother Mrs. Harding Wealthy guest (wife of Mr. Harding) Mrs. Lee Mr. Harding's sister Mother of Offends Also offends Sisters-in-law

Click on any character for a character profile. Mary is at the centre — she manages to offend almost every guest without meaning to.

The Play — Scene I: Before the Guests Arrive

Scene I
Mrs. Shaw: The room looks much tidier now. Take that coat to your bedroom — this is not the place for it. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee will be here shortly, and they should not have to see that.
Mary: You are always asking me to put things away.
Mrs. Shaw: Yes, I am. You leave your clothes scattered all over the house.
Mary: I am not a child!
Mrs. Shaw: No, you are not. So please keep your clothes in your own room.
Mary: Why are those two women coming here? Who is Mrs. Harding?
Mrs. Shaw: She is the wife of a wealthy man, Mr. Harding, who has recently bought a large house in Lanfield. They were living in London before. I met her in a shop and invited her to visit.
Mary: Oh! I have seen her children — they often walk along our road. And who is Mrs. Lee?
Mrs. Shaw: She is Mr. Harding's sister. She has been staying with them for some time.
Mary: I can talk very well when I wish to. I would like to stay today and talk with them when they arrive.
Mrs. Shaw: If you stay, you may not say the right thing.
Mary: I know the right things to say — "Good afternoon," "How are you?" and the like. Let me stay. I can manage it. Anyone can talk.
Mrs. Shaw: You may stay if you like. But be careful. I would like Mrs. Harding to invite me to her house. Say things that will please people. Laugh, make them feel welcome. If silence falls, find something kind to say. And when they are ready to leave — do not look relieved! Ask them to stay a little longer.
Mary: That is not so difficult. I will remember: "Must you go? Can't you stay? Must you go? Can't you stay?"
Mrs. Shaw: Quite right. Now change into a clean dress, and remember — do not say anything that will upset them.
Mary: I will remember. I have managed harder things than this.
Let Us Discuss — After Scene I L3 Apply
Question I: Complete the table based on Scene I. (Match speakers with their words and reasons)
Mary — "You're always telling me to put things away." Reason: She is irritated by her mother's constant instructions and wants to push back.

Mary — "I'm not a child!" Reason: She feels her mother is being overprotective and not treating her as a mature person capable of independent behaviour.

Mrs. Shaw — "Say things that will please them... laugh a lot..." Reason: To highlight the importance of kindness and tact as the key to making guests feel welcome and to building social friendships.
Question II: Do you think Mary will successfully follow her mother's advice when the guests arrive? Why or why not?
Based on what we learn in Scene I, it seems unlikely that Mary will succeed. She is self-confident to a fault ("I can talk very well when I like") and dismisses the challenge ("anyone can talk"). However, good conversation requires not just talking, but listening, reading the room, and knowing when to stay silent. Mary has not learnt the difference between talking and communicating thoughtfully. Her confidence, combined with her lack of tact, sets up the comic disaster of Scene II.

The Play — Scene II: The Guests Arrive

Scene II
Mrs. Shaw: So you are enjoying Lanfield, Mrs. Harding! I am very glad.
Mrs. Harding: Yes, very much. It is not quite the same as London, but there are some very pleasant people here, and we have found a fine house. (A pause. Mrs. Shaw glances at Mary.)
Mary: What lovely children you have, Mrs. Harding! I have often seen them on the road.
Mrs. Harding: Oh — I have no children.
Mary: Oh, yes, you do! I have seen them — a little boy and a little girl.
Mrs. Harding: (quite displeased) I have no children whatsoever. Please believe me.
Mary: Oh! Irony
Mrs. Shaw: (quickly, steering the conversation) They must be someone else's children. Have you met Mr. Best? A very pleasant man who lives near you.
Mary: Oh, Mr. Best! He lives here but commutes to London by train every single day — he spends his whole life on trains! And he reads two newspapers every morning and another every night. He never reads a book. But he is only a banker, and bankers cannot think.
Mrs. Lee: My brother is a banker. He travels to London by train every day — reading two newspapers on the way and one on the way back.
Mary: Oh — I am so sorry. I did not know. (awkward silence)
Mrs. Shaw: (quickly) Bankers always do have a great deal to read. Do you know Mrs. Best? She is one of my favourite people.
Mary: Mrs. Best? But have you seen her clothes? She steps out in a blue dress with a red coat on top! (she laughs)
Mrs. Harding: I have a blue dress, and I often wear my red coat with it.
Mrs. Shaw: (very quickly) I have always thought blue and red are a charming combination. (Silence.)
Mary: I spotted Mrs. Cotter this afternoon in the street. No one ever sees her in the morning because she stays in bed until noon. And she is always sending for the doctor. I have never visited a doctor in my entire life.
Mrs. Harding: I stay in bed in the morning myself.
Mrs. Lee: I visit the doctor quite regularly.
Mary: Oh — I am so sorry! (A long silence.)
Mrs. Shaw: Do you know Mrs. Grantley? She is one of my dearest friends.
Mary: But she is so talkative! Talkative women are not very interesting, are they?
Mrs. Lee: My mother is a very talkative woman.
Mary: Oh — I am sorry. I did not know. (Nobody speaks.)
Mary: (looking out of the window) Oh — there is that dog again! It always looks so dirty. Who would want a dog? Why doesn't its owner keep it clean?
Mrs. Harding: (looking out of the window) Yes, I see it. That is Towzer. It is our dog.
Mary: (face turning red) Oh — I did not know! (Silence.)
Mary: There is Mr. Pomeroy on his horse. He is forever talking about horses and practising shooting. What have horses and guns ever done for Mr. Pomeroy? It is hard to understand men like that.
Mrs. Lee: My brother practises shooting when he can, and rides his horse regularly. In fact, he sold his London house and moved here precisely so that he could ride and shoot.
Mrs. Harding: (to Mrs. Lee) It is growing rather late. We must be going, Mrs. Shaw. It has been a delightful visit.
Mrs. Shaw: Oh, it was so good of you to come. Please do stay a little longer.
Mary: (unable to say the right thing even now) Oh — must you stay? Can't you go?Irony

Word Power — Key Vocabulary from the Play

L1 Remember
hilariously
adverb
In an extremely funny, laugh-out-loud way. More intense than "amusingly."
Mary hilariously forgets all her mother's advice the moment the guests arrive.
blunders
noun (plural)
Careless, embarrassing mistakes — usually made through lack of thought or awareness.
Mary commits one blunder after another, offending each guest in turn.
talkative
adjective
Fond of talking; tending to speak a great deal, sometimes more than necessary.
Mary calls Mrs. Grantley "talkative" — not realising that Mrs. Lee's mother is the same.
banker
noun
A person who manages or works at a bank — involved in financial matters and investments.
Mary says bankers cannot think — not realising Mrs. Lee's brother is one.
wealthy
adjective
Having a large amount of money and possessions; very rich.
Mrs. Shaw describes Mr. Harding as a wealthy man who has bought a big house in Lanfield.
tact
noun
The ability to say or do something without causing offence; sensitivity in dealing with others.
Mary lacks all tact — she speaks without considering how her words will land on others.
Let Us Discuss — After Scene II L2 Understand
Question I: Rectify the FALSE statements from Scene II:
  1. Mrs. Harding states that they do not like London as it is not the same as Lanfield.
  2. Mrs. Harding was pleased to know Mary was familiar with her children.
  3. Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers.
  4. Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable.
  5. Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute.
1. Correction: Mrs. Harding says she likes Lanfield very much, even though it is different from London.
2. Correction: Mrs. Harding was displeased — she firmly said she has no children, but Mary kept insisting.
3. Correction: Mrs. Shaw described Mrs. Best as "a nice woman" whom she liked — not because of newspapers.
4. Correction: Mrs. Harding actually defends the combination, saying she herself wears a blue dress with a red coat. Mrs. Shaw quickly agrees it is charming.
5. Correction: Mary called the dog dirty and complained about it — the opposite of finding it cute.

Let Us Think and Reflect — Extract-Based Questions

CBQ Extract 1

Mary's Confidence — Scene I

Mary: What are you going to talk about?
Mrs. Shaw: I don't know. All kinds of things. One day you'll have to go to some of these houses yourself and talk to the people there.
Mary: I can talk now. I've been able to talk for a long time.
Mrs. Shaw: Yes, that's true. You always talk too much. But does anyone want to hear the things that you say?
Mary: I can talk very well when I like.
(i) What does Mrs. Shaw imply when she says "One day you'll have to go to some of these houses yourself and talk to the people there"? L4 Analyse
  • A. She believes Mary should start learning about hosting guests then.
  • B. She thinks Mary is ready to visit these houses independently.
  • C. She wants Mary to develop social skills for the future.
  • D. She hopes Mary will avoid these social interactions entirely.
Answer: C. Mrs. Shaw is trying to impress upon Mary that the ability to hold a polite, pleasant social conversation is a life skill she will need as an adult. She is not criticising Mary in anger — she is trying to motivate her to learn.
(ii) Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to _________ (have a polite conversation / get to know people better). L2 Understand
Answer: have a polite conversation. The entire discussion in Scene I is about how Mary should conduct herself — what to say, when to laugh, how to respond when guests are leaving. The focus is on the manner of conversation, not on building friendship (which is Mrs. Shaw's private goal).
(iii) Why did Mary insist on staying when the guests arrived? L2 Understand
Answer: Mary insisted on staying because she was confident in her ability to talk to anyone. She believed that conversation was easy — something anyone could do — and she wanted to prove to her mother that she was capable and mature. Her confidence, unfortunately, was not matched by social awareness or tact.
(iv) Match these character traits to the characters: A. eager B. inexperienced C. cautious — Mary / Mrs. Shaw L4 Analyse
Mary: A. eager (she is enthusiastic to participate) and B. inexperienced (she has never been in a formal social situation before).
Mrs. Shaw: C. cautious (she is careful and anxious about making a good impression on Mrs. Harding — she explicitly tells Mary to "take care").
CBQ Extract 2

Mary and Mrs. Cotter — Scene II

Mary: I saw Mrs. Cotter this afternoon. I met her in the street. No one sees her in the morning because she always stays in bed then. And she's always asking the doctor to go to see her. I can't understand women who stay in bed in the morning. I've never been to a doctor in my life.
Mrs. Harding: I stay in bed in the morning myself.
(i) Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because _________. L1 Remember
Answer: Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter in the street because she only ever comes out in the afternoon — she stays in bed in the mornings. Mary met her that very afternoon and mentions seeing her "in the street" as she only appears outdoors after noon.
(ii) What does Mary's comment about Mrs. Cotter suggest about her understanding? L4 Analyse
  • A. She is worried about why Mrs. Cotter stays in bed all morning.
  • B. She is unable to understand why people need medical help.
  • C. She thinks Mrs. Cotter is scared and lonely for staying in bed.
  • D. She believes Mrs. Cotter is right to rest and take care of herself.
Answer: B. Mary's comment reveals that she lacks empathy — she cannot understand that some people have genuine health conditions that prevent them from getting up in the morning or that require medical attention. Her self-congratulatory remark ("I've never been to a doctor in my life") shows she equates good health with moral virtue, which is both tactless and insensitive.
(iii) How can we say that Mary enjoyed good health? L1 Remember
Answer: Mary herself says "I've never been to a doctor in my life" — which suggests she has had no significant illnesses or health problems. This is the evidence the text gives us that she is in good health, though she uses it as a boast rather than as something to be grateful for privately.
(iv) True or False: Mary might have unintentionally offended Mrs. Harding. L4 Analyse
Answer: True. Mrs. Harding immediately reveals she stays in bed in the morning herself — meaning Mary's criticism of this behaviour was a direct (if unintentional) criticism of the guest she was supposed to be impressing. Mary had no idea she was offending anyone; this is precisely what makes the play both funny and instructive.

Let Us Think and Reflect — Detailed Questions

Q1. What does Mary's comment about Mr. Best's routine and profession reveal about her? L4

Mary's comments about Mr. Best reveal that she is opinionated, judgemental, and socially unaware. She dismisses his daily commute as foolish ("they do not know how to live") and insults his profession ("bankers can't think"). She speaks these opinions freely, without considering whether any of her guests might have a personal connection to Mr. Best or banking. This reveals her immaturity and lack of social sensitivity.

Q2. What can we infer about Mary's understanding of polite conversation? L4

Mary clearly believes that polite conversation means simply talking a lot — she says "anyone can talk." But the play demonstrates that polite conversation requires much more: listening, considering others' feelings, avoiding personal judgements, and knowing when to stay quiet. Mary's idea of conversation is a monologue, not a dialogue. She fills silences, but fills them with the wrong things entirely.

Q3. What does the repeated stage direction "(No one speaks)" indicate about the atmosphere? L4

The repeated "No one speaks" / "Silence" is one of the play's most powerful tools. It signals the growing discomfort, awkwardness, and embarrassment in the room after each of Mary's blunders. Mrs. Shaw is left speechless; the guests are too polite (or too shocked) to respond. The silences also create the play's comic rhythm — Mary's remarks, the devastating response from a guest, then the awful silence. Each silence is louder than Mary's words.

Q4. How does Mary's attitude towards the guests change throughout the play? L4

In Scene I, Mary is confident and eager — she believes she can handle the social situation easily. In Scene II, after each blunder, she says "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know" — her apologies reveal growing embarrassment and dawning awareness that she is doing something wrong. But she never quite learns her lesson in time; each recovery is followed by a new blunder. By the end, when she says "Oh, must you stay? Can't you go?" she has perhaps given up entirely.

Q5. What do Mrs. Harding's and Mrs. Lee's responses to Mary's blunders reveal about their characters? L4

The guests' responses reveal remarkable patience and social grace. They never shout, never become openly rude, and never directly rebuke Mary. Instead, they gently reveal personal connections that expose Mary's blunders — "My brother is a banker," "I have a blue dress and red coat," "That is Towzer. It's our dog." Their restraint makes the humour sharper and also shows the reader what good social manners actually look like — dignified, calm, and controlled, even in the face of provocation.

Q6. In what way does the play show the importance of polite conversation? L5

The play uses a negative example — Mary's disastrous conversation — to teach the importance of polite, thoughtful speech. Every one of Mary's blunders could have been avoided if she had: (1) listened before speaking, (2) avoided personal judgements about people she doesn't know well, (3) thought about how her words might affect those listening, and (4) been willing to let others lead the conversation. The play teaches us that the ability to "say the right thing" is not about being clever or witty — it is about being considerate, aware, and kind.

Let Us Learn — Grammar Workshop

I. Suffixes

What is a Suffix? A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or part of speech.
From the play: humour + -ous → humorous | hilarious + -ly → hilariously | come + -ing → coming | beauty + -ful → beautiful

Note: When a word ends in 'e' (come), drop the 'e' before adding -ing (coming). When it ends in 'y' (beauty), change 'y' to 'i' before adding -ful (beautiful).

Activity I — Identify Root Words and Suffixes

Divide these words: gladly, banker, guidance, quietly, walking

glad + -ly = gladly | bank + -er = banker | guide + -ance = guidance | quiet + -ly = quietly | walk + -ing = walking

Activity II — Fill in the Blanks with Suffixes

Complete the passage by adding suitable suffixes to the words in brackets:

To communicate (i) __________ (effective), choose your words and topics (ii) __________ (wise). Avoid (iii) __________ (discuss) things you don't know much about or that could upset someone. Remember to be (iv) __________ (respect) towards others, and express your (v) __________ (appreciate). Finally, always be (vi) __________ (response) by replying promptly.

(i) effectively | (ii) wisely | (iii) discussing | (iv) respectful | (v) appreciation | (vi) responsive

II. Say vs. Tell / See vs. Look / Live vs. Stay / Speak vs. Talk / Hear vs. Listen

Say: focuses on the message; does not always need a listener. "She said she was tired."
Tell: focuses on who receives the message; always needs a listener. "She told me she was tired."

See: involuntary; happens whether or not we pay attention. "I saw a car."
Look: deliberate; paying attention in a direction. "Look at the blackboard."

Live: permanent residence. "I live in Delhi."
Stay: temporary presence. "I am staying with relatives for a week."

Hear: perceive sound unintentionally. "I heard music from next door."
Listen: pay deliberate attention to sound. "Please listen to my instructions."

Activity — Fill in the Blanks

  1. I __________ at the photo, but I didn't __________ anyone familiar.
  2. I'd better go and __________ my mother from the station.
  3. I need to __________ for my mathematics exam this weekend.
  4. I can __________ the music from next door, but I need to __________ carefully to understand the lyrics.
  5. "Could I __________ to Mrs. Kalpana, who is going to __________ to us about gardening?"
  6. I __________ in a small town, but I often __________ with my relatives in the city.
(i) looked / see | (ii) fetch / bring | (iii) study / learn | (iv) hear / listen | (v) speak / talk | (vi) live / stay

III. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Structure: has/have + been + verb + -ing

Use 1: Duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
Example: "She has been staying with them for a while." (She arrived in the past and is still there now.)

Use 2: An action ongoing recently, with results evident now.
Example: "Mrs. Shaw has been cleaning the room since morning." (The room is clean now as a result.)

Activity — Fill in the Blanks

Use present continuous or present perfect continuous tense:

The students (i) ______________ (organise) a play and setting up the stage. They (ii) ______________ (prepare) for weeks to make everything perfect. The performers (iii) ______________ (rehearse) every day, and their excitement (iv) ______________ (grow). The sound in-charge (v) ______________ (test) the microphones. Everyone (vi) ______________ (work) hard, and now the place (vii) ______________ (buzz) with energy.

(i) are organising | (ii) have been preparing | (iii) have been rehearsing | (iv) has been growing | (v) is testing | (vi) have been working | (vii) is buzzing

IV. Kinds of Sentences

Declarative: states information — ends with a full stop. "There's always something to say."
Interrogative: asks a question — ends with a question mark. "What shall I do when they want to go?"
Exclamatory: expresses strong feeling — ends with an exclamation mark. "What beautiful children you have!"
Imperative: gives an order or request — ends with a full stop. "Put that coat away in your bedroom."

Activity — Identify and Punctuate

  1. the meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room
  2. what an exciting adventure it was
  3. how did you solve the problem so quickly
  4. what is the weather forecast today
  5. how beautiful is the rainbow
  6. clean up your room before dinner
  7. the children are planning a surprise party for their mom
  8. turn off the music
(i) Declarative. The meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. in the conference room.
(ii) Exclamatory. What an exciting adventure it was!
(iii) Interrogative. How did you solve the problem so quickly?
(iv) Interrogative. What is the weather forecast today?
(v) Exclamatory. How beautiful is the rainbow!
(vi) Imperative. Clean up your room before dinner.
(vii) Declarative. The children are planning a surprise party for their mom.
(viii) Imperative. Turn off the music.

Let Us Write — Rewrite the Play as a Short Story

Writing Task
Rewrite the play "Say the Right Thing" as a short story, focusing on Mary's interactions with her mother and the guests. The story should capture the main events, character emotions, and humorous moments effectively. Use paragraphs and descriptive language to bring the characters and events to life.

Story Structure Guide

Paragraph 1 — Introduction: Describe Mary, Mrs. Shaw, their relationship, and the setting (the house in Lanfield).

Paragraph 2 — Rising Action: Explain Mrs. Shaw's instructions to Mary before the guests arrive. Show Mary's confidence and eagerness to prove herself.

Paragraph 3 — Climax: Narrate the guests' visit. Describe each of Mary's blunders and the guests' reactions. Include the silences and Mrs. Shaw's desperate attempts to recover the situation.

Paragraph 4 — Resolution: Describe how the visit ended. Include Mary's final, ultimate blunder — saying "Oh, must you stay? Can't you go?" instead of "Must you go? Can't you stay?"

Paragraph 5 — Reflection: End with a comment on what the visit has taught Mary (or failed to teach her), and what it tells us about the importance of thinking before we speak.
Remember to include: Descriptive language ("she laughed, oblivious to the growing silence") | Transition words (meanwhile, however, at this point, before long) | Dialogue woven into the narrative | Humorous tone throughout

Let Us Speak — Intonation and Sentence Stress

Key Concepts
Intonation: The rise and fall of the pitch (tone) of your voice as you speak. Declarative sentences usually end with a falling intonation. Questions often use rising intonation.

Sentence Stress: Placing extra emphasis on certain words in a sentence. Content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) are usually stressed. Function words (she, in, is, the) are usually unstressed. Stress does not mean louder — it means more emphasis.

Activity: The sentence "I didn't hurt anyone today" has five different meanings depending on which word you stress. Match each stressed version with its meaning:

  1. I didn't hurt anyone today.
  2. I didn't hurt anyone today.
  3. I didn't hurt anyone today.
  4. I didn't hurt anyone today.
  5. I didn't hurt anyone today.
1. I — "I, specifically, did not hurt anyone (perhaps implying someone else did)."
2. didn't — "The action of hurting did not occur (emphasis on denial)."
3. hurt — "I did not hurt anyone — I may have done other things, but not hurt them."
4. anyone — "I might usually cause hurt, but not on this particular day."
5. today — "I may have hurt someone on other days, but not today."

Let Us Explore

I. Enact Your Favourite Part: Work in groups to perform a scene from the play. Assign roles: director, narrator, Mary, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Lee. Follow the stage directions carefully — pay attention to expressions, voice tone, and silences. Remember: the humour lives in the awkward pauses!

II. Greetings Around the World: How do people in different parts of India greet guests at home? What do they say in different languages? Research and share at least three examples. For instance, in Malayalam: "Sughamaano?" (Are you well?), in Tamil: "Vanga, vanga!" (Come, come!), in Hindi: "Aao, aao, tashreef rakhiye." (Please come, be seated.)

III. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: This ancient Sanskrit phrase from the Maha Upanishad and Hitopadesha means "The world is one family." It was chosen as the theme for the G20 Summit hosted by India. In the context of this play:

1. If the world is one family, how should we treat guests — even strangers — who visit our homes?
2. Does treating guests with respect and kindness help build community and friendship? How does Mrs. Shaw's desire to befriend Mrs. Harding reflect this idea?
3. How can the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" guide us in our daily conversations — in school, at home, and in public life?

This phrase encourages us to see every person — not just family and friends — as someone deserving of kindness, consideration, and good manners. Mary's blunders happen precisely because she does not yet see the guests as "family" in this broad sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Say the Right Thing about in NCERT English?

Read Say the Right Thing from NCERT Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 with vocabulary, grammar, and writing.

What vocabulary is important in Say the Right Thing?

Key vocabulary words from Say the Right Thing are highlighted in the lesson with contextual meanings, usage examples, and interesting facts. Click any highlighted word to see its full definition.

What literary devices are used in Say the Right Thing?

Say the Right Thing uses various literary devices including imagery, symbolism, and figurative language that are identified with coloured tags throughout the text for easy recognition.

What exercises are included for Say the Right Thing?

Exercises include extract-based comprehension questions in CBSE board exam format, grammar workshops connected to the text, vocabulary activities, and creative writing tasks.

How does Say the Right Thing connect to the unit theme?

Say the Right Thing is part of a thematic unit that explores related ideas through prose, poetry, and non-fiction. Each text in the unit reinforces the central theme from a different perspective.

AI Tutor
English Class 7 — Poorvi
Ready
Hi! 👋 I'm Gaura, your AI Tutor for About the Play. Take your time studying the lesson — whenever you have a doubt, just ask me! I'm here to help.