NCERT Solutions for Ch 5 A Funny Man Class 7 English Poorvi
Book Solutions1
Answer
Here are six things or people around me tha make me laugh, along with reasons why they’re funny.
1. A Playful Pet
Reason: My dog chases its tail in circles, thinking it’s a game, which is hilarious because it never catches it but keeps trying with such enthusiasm!
2. A Funny Classmate
Reason: My friend makes silly faces during boring lessons, mimicking the teacher’s expressions, which cracks everyone up without getting caught.
3. A Comical Cartoon on TV
Reason: Watching a cartoon like Tom and Jerry is funny because Tom’s plans to catch Jerry always fail in the most ridiculous, over-the-top ways.
4. A Sibling’s Goofy Dance
Reason: My younger sibling dances wildly to any music, flailing arms and legs like a robot gone haywire, making everyone laugh at their confidence.
5. A Ticklish Toy
Reason: A toy that makes weird noises or wiggles when you press it, like a giggling plushie, is funny because it surprises you every time.
6. A Teacher’s Witty Joke
Reason: My teacher sometimes tells cheesy jokes, like “Why did the cow become a motivational speaker? Because it was outstanding in its field!”—it’s so bad it’s funny.
2
1. The poet says that she had never heard such an amusing song.
2. The funny man was quite ill-mannered.
3. The funny man wore two hats on his feet.
4. The funny man hopped on his head to reach home.
5. The funny man gave a rose to the poet.
6. The funny man smiled at the poet.
Answer
1. Statement 1 is true: The poet says, "You never heard in all your life Such a funny feeling sound."2. Statement 2 is false: The funny man was polite, not ill-mannered.
3. Statement 3 is true: The poem states, "He wore… hats upon his feet."
4. Statement 4 is true: The funny man "hopped home on his head."
5. Statement 5 is false: He gave a currant bun, not a rose.
6. Statement 6 is true: "He raised the shoe and smiled at me."
3
QII: Identify the words from the poem based on the meanings given. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.
1. a small seedless raisin – C _ R _ _ _ T
2. moved unsteadily - S _ _ G G _ _ _ D
Answer
1.Currant2. Staggered
Explanation:
• "Currant" is from "currant bun," a small seedless raisin.
• "Staggered" is from "I staggered back," meaning moved unsteadily.
4
1. The tone of the poem is ___________ because ___________.
2. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ___________; and it gives a ___________quality to the poem.
3. The poet has frequently repeated the word ‘funny’ in order to___________.
Answer
1. The tone of the poem is funny because the funny man does silly things like wearing hats on his feet and hopping on his head.2. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABCCB; and it gives a playful quality to the poem.
3. The poet has frequently repeated the word 'funny' in order to make the poem humorous and show the man’s silly actions.
5
1. The poem uses vivid imagery to create a _______________________(humorous and nonsensical/ confusing but thought-provoking) scene.
2. The structure of the poem is in ___________ (monologue/ dialogue) form.
3. The phrases ‘sounding sight’ and ‘hopped home’ are examples of___________. (alliteration/simile)
Answer
1. The poem uses vivid imagery to create a humorous and nonsensical scene.2. The structure of the poem is in dialogue form.
3. The phrases 'sounding sight' and 'hopped home' are examples of alliteration.
6
1. But never had I seen before
Such a funny sounding sight
Answer
I had never seen such a funny-sounding sight before.
The original line "But never had I seen before Such a funny sounding sight" is rewritten in natural order.
7
Answer
The poet uses these phrases to make the funny man’s actions seem silly and strange. "Funny sounding sight" describes the odd way he looks, like wearing hats on his feet, which is unusual to see. "Funny feeling sound" shows his song sounds weird and makes the poet laugh. These phrases add humour and show how the funny man’s behaviour is playful and not normal.
8
Answer
Example:
• Clowns at a circus wear funny costumes and do silly acts to make people laugh, like the funny man.
• Street performers juggle or dress oddly to entertain, similar to the funny man’s actions.
9
QI: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. He said, “Allow me to present Your Highness with a rose.”
And taking out a currant bun
He held it to my nose.
I staggered back against the wall
And then I answered, “Well!”
(i): Why does the funny man address the poet as 'Your Highness'?
(ii): Choose a phrase from the extract which indicates a polite request.
(iii): Choose the option which shows a 'currant bun'.
(iv): Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
When the poet says, 'Well!', it expresses surprise. This was so because ______
Answer
(i): To be polite and playful.
(ii): The funny man says, "Allow me to present Your Highness with a rose," which is a polite way to ask.
(iii): Image 2 likely represents a currant bun.
(iv): the funny man gave her a currant bun but called it a rose.
The poet was surprised because a currant bun doesn’t look or smell like a rose.
10
2. You never heard in all your life
Such a funny feeling sound.
“My friend, why do you wear two hats
Upon your feet?” I said.
He turned the other way about,
And hopped home on his head.
(i): Choose the line from the extract which tells us that the sound was unique.
(ii): Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason. The poet calls the funny man 'my friend' because __________
(iii): What does the reaction of the funny man to the poet's question tell us about him?
(iv): Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. The last line of the extract makes the readers feel ______.
A. dreamy
B. impatient
C. worried
D. cheerful
Answer
(i): "You never heard in all your life Such a funny feeling sound."This line shows the sound was unique because the poet had never heard it before.
(ii): she wants to be friendly and ask him a question.
(iii): Instead of answering the question, he turns around and hops on his head. This shows us that he is silly and playful.
(iv) D. cheerful
The funny man hopping on his head is silly and makes readers smile, so it feels cheerful.
11
QII: Answer the following questions.
1: Which character trait of the funny man was most appealing to you? Why?
Answer
His playfulness. He does funny things like wearing hats on his feet and hopping on his head, which makes the poem enjoyable.12
Answer
It makes the mood funny and light. His actions like giving a currant bun as a rose and hopping on his head create laughter.13
Answer
"The Silly Man’s Adventure" because the funny man does silly things like wearing a shoe on his head and singing a funny song.14
Answer
To make the poem lively and show the funny man’s actions directly. Lines like "I said" and "He said" make it more engaging.15
Answer
The poet wants to show that being silly can bring joy. The funny man’s actions, like wearing hats on his feet, make people smile.16
Read the following phrases from the poem.
• walking down • taking out • sat down
These are phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb with a preposition or adverb that together function as a single unit. They often have meanings that are different from the individual words used alone. The same verb followed by different prepositions or adverbs conveys different meanings.
QI: Match the phrasal verbs in Column 1 with their correct meaning in Column 2.
Now, fill in the blanks with suitable phrasal verbs from the table given in I. You may change the tense of the verb, if required.
1. The new technology is set to ______ traditional methods of communication.
2. I tried hard to ______ what the writer wanted to say but was unsuccessful.
3. Arjun decided to ______ painting as a hobby.
4. The smartphone quickly _____ the sales in the market.
5. Sheela ______ her father; they have the same smile.
Answer
1. The new technology is set to take over traditional methods of communication.
2. I tried hard to take in what the writer wanted to say but was unsuccessful.
3. Arjun decided to take up painting as a hobby.
4. The smartphone quickly took off the sales in the market.
5. Sheela takes after her father; they have the same smile.
17
Now, frame sentences of your own using any five phrasal verbs.
1. I will ______ my dog while my parents are away.
2. The cat ______ when it heard a loud noise.
3. She ______ her jacket before going outside.
4. The car ______ on the way to school.
5. They ______ the match because of rain.
Answer
1. I will look after my dog while my parents are away.
2. The cat ran away when it heard a loud noise.
3. She put on her jacket before going outside.
4. The car broke down on the way to school.
5. They called off the match because of rain.
18
QIII: Read the following words from the poem.
walking, staggered, hopped
The given words denote the different ways of walking. Arrange the words given in the box in increasing order of pace.
Answer
19
(I) You will listen to a girl narrate a personal incident. As you listen, select the picture related to the narration. (Transcript for the teacher on pg. 88)
Transcript: Hello. This is quite a funny incident. One day, I was so preoccupied with preparing for my presentation. After a long day of studying at a friend’s place, I finally came home. Exhausted, I removed my shoes at the door and headed straight to the kitchen for some lunch. I served myself dal-chawal and ate it, still thinking about all the topics I needed to cover.
Once I finished my lunch, I got up to put my shoes away in my room and placed my plate in the kitchen. However, being so preoccupied, I ended up doing the opposite! I walked to my room with my plate in hand and left it on my desk. Then, I took my shoes and placed them in the kitchen!
As I stood there, confused, I realised what I had done. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. I shook my head, recovered my shoes from the kitchen and kept the plate in the kitchen.
Answer
The correct picture is picture 3 where the girl can be seen eating food.20
Ate lunch
2. Took off shoes
3. Put shoes in the room
4. Laughed at the mistake
5. Placed the plate in the room
6. Prepared for the presentation
7. Put the plate in the kitchen
Answer
Here is the correct order of events based on the narration:1. Prepared for the presentation
2. Took off shoes
3. Ate lunch
4. Placed the plate in the room
5. Put shoes in the kitchen (Note: The option given is "Put shoes in the room," but from the narration, the shoes were mistakenly placed in the kitchen.)
6. Laughed at the mistake
7. Put the plate in the kitchen
21
A man is talking to God.
The man says, “God, how long is a million years?”
God replies, “For me, it’s about a minute.”
The man asks, “How much is a million rupees?”
God smiles and replies, “It’s less than a rupee for me.”
The man quickly requests, “God, may I have a rupee?”
God promptly says, “Wait a minute.”
Work in pairs and take turns to tell the joke.
Remember:
• Narrator’s voice – your own voice (speak in a matter-of-fact manner)
• Man’s voice – change to louder voice (speak with respect)
• God’s voice – deep voice (speak in a pleasant tone)
Now, work in pairs to create a joke and tell it in front of the class.
Answer
Here’s an original joke for you and your partner to practice and perform:
• Narrator: A cat visits a wise owl in the forest.
• Cat (in a curious, meowing tone): “Owl, why do you stay up all night?”
• Owl (in a slow, hooting tone): “Because the night is when I’m wide awake!”
• Cat (excitedly): “Can you teach me to stay up like you?”
• Owl (with a chuckle): “Sure, but you’ll need to catch a nap first!”
Performance Tips:
• Narrator: Speak in your natural voice, calmly setting up the scene.
• Cat’s Voice: Use a high-pitched, playful tone to mimic a curious cat.
• Owl’s Voice: Use a slow, deep tone to sound wise and slightly amused.
• Practice switching roles, emphasizing the punchline (“catch a nap first”) with a pause for effect.
• Perform confidently in front of the class, using gestures like mimicking a cat’s whiskers or an owl’s head turn to make it funnier.
Sharing with Class: After performing, explain why you chose the characters and punchline (e.g., “We picked a cat and owl because their opposite sleep habits make a funny contrast”). Encourage classmates to share their jokes, creating a lively, humorous class session.
22
QI: A limerick is a nonsensical and funny verse consisting of five lines. Study the limerick given below and identify the rhyme scheme.
Answer
The rhyme scheme is AABBA.
Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme ("beard," "feared," "beard"), and lines 3 and 4 rhyme ("Hen," "Wren").
23
QII: Follow the structure given below and write a limerick on your own.
Answer
There was a child from the city,Who loved to chase a small kitty,
It ran up a tree,
The child laughed with glee,
But fell in the mud—what a pity!
24
(I) In ancient Indian literature and mythology, there are several humorous or funny characters who play important roles in the stories. These characters often represent wit, humour and mischief while conveying deeper moral lessons. Here are a few well-known funny characters:
Take any story to read and share it with your classmates and the teacher.
Answer
In ancient Indian literature and mythology, many funny and clever characters appear in stories. These characters use wit, humour, and sometimes mischief to teach important lessons.
Some well-known funny characters are:
• Tenali Raman – A witty poet and advisor in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, famous for his clever solutions to difficult problems.
• Birbal – A wise and humorous advisor in Emperor Akbar’s court, known for his quick thinking and humorous stories.
• Gopal Bhar – A court jester in the kingdom of Bengal, who used humour to solve problems and entertain.
25
• Street Performers or Clowns: Like the funny man in the poem, modernday street performers or clowns often dress in unusual ways and do unexpected acts to entertain people.
• Performance Art or Abstract Theatre: The funny man’s actions, such as singing a song and hopping on his head, resemble performance art or abstract theatre, where artists break conventional rules to create thought-provoking, often humorous experiences.
• Children’s Entertainment and Comedy Shows: The funny man’s behaviour is reflected in children’s shows to evoke laughter. In these examples, the common theme is humour, imagination, and defying logic or expectation, which is exactly what the funny man in the poem represents.
Answer
In all these activities, the main idea is to use humour, creativity, and surprise, just like the funny man in the poem.26
Answer
You can also find and share a funny or imaginative poem from your own native language with your classmates and teacher. This will help everyone enjoy the fun and creativity in poetry from different cultures.
27
My Lost Pencil
Answer
Oh pencil, dear pencil, where have you gone?I just had you here a minute at dawn!
You were sharp and perfect, ready to write,
Now you’re missing—gone from sight!
Did you roll off my desk?
Did you fall to the floor?
Did someone swipe you for sure?
It’s always the same, I’ve lost fifty this year,
By the end of the month, they just disappear!
Next time, I’ll tie you with tape or a string,
Because losing my pencils is a real thing.
