CHAPTER 1 THREE QUESTIONS
1. What were the replies the king received for his first question?
Answer: In reply to his first question, the king was advised to follow a timetable by some
men. There were some people who were of the opinion that it was impossible to decide
the right time in advance. The king was suggested to keep a note of all happenings around
him, avoid indulging in excessive pleasure and do everything that seemed important at
any particular time. Along with this he should have a team of intelligent people to guide to
him to the right thing at the right time.
2. The king is the main character of the story. Explain giving three examples.
Answer: The whole story revolves around the king. The king had known the hermit’s
nature of meeting only ordinary men. So, he gave up his king’s attire, left behind his
soldiers and the horse and went alone to meet him. He offered the hermit his help in
digging the ground. He did this till evening. This helped him avoid the attack planned by
the bearded man. He helped the bearded man bandaging his wound and offered him
water. He saved his life. This helped him made friends with his enemy.
3. Why was the king Advised to go to magicians?
Answer: Some of the wise men thought that in order to decide right time for doing
something, one must look into the future and only magicians were able to do that. So,
they advised the king to go to the magicians.
4. In answer to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important
to the king?
Answer: In answers to the second questions, some said that the people most necessary to
the king were his councillors, other said, the priests. A few others chose the doctors. And
yet others said that soldiers were the most necessary.
5. How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?
Answer: The king and the hermit helped the wounded man by providing him the shelter
and protected from the army. The king washed and covered the would of the man with his
handkerchief. But the blood would not stop flowing. The king re-dressed the wound until it
stopped bleeding. They took him to hut for taking rest and king also gave him fresh water
after being relaxed.
6. (i) Who was the bearded mem?
(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?
Answer:
(i) The bearded man was an enemy of the king. He wanted to take revenge of his brother’s
death by killing the king and taking away all his property.
(ii) The bearded man asked for the king’s forgiveness because he wanted to kill but the
king has saved his life. He was grateful to the king now.
7. What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately.
Which answer do you like most, and why?
Answer: In answer to king’s first the hermit said that there is only one important time
‘Now’. It is the only time when you have power to act. In answer to king’s second
question, the hermit said that the most important person is the one with whom we are at
the present. In response to king’s second question, the hermit answered that the most
important things to do is to do that person good. I like the answers of the first the most
because time has the supreme power. It can take you to height if you do something good
and can also make you fall on ground if you won’t act in presence. One should live and act
according to present.
8. What do you gathered about the wise hermit from the lesson?
Answer: The hermit was a weak old man and used to live amidst the woods which he
would never leave. He was digging the ground in front of his hut for sowing seeds when
king arrived and the tedious task had made him tired.
9. Who was the intruder? What made him visit the hermit?
Answer: The intruder was enemy of the king he had planned to attack the king but was
instead attacked by the king’s bodyguards, as they had recognized him. He had received a
wound in his stomach. He was rushing towards the hermit’s hut for help.
10. What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Answer: In answer to the third questions, some said that the most important thing was
science. Others said fighting and yet others chose religious worship.