Textbook Exercise with Solutions: The Scholarship Jacket | Class 7 English Oxford PDF Download

Reading 1

Q1. On the basis of your understanding of the story, tick the correct option.
a. 
Ans: proficiency in academics

b. 
Ans: the family was not financially well off.

c. 
Ans: the award of the scholarship jacket at school.

Q2. Answer the following questions briefly.
a. 
Ans: The school tradition that Martha longed to follow was the awarding of the scholarship jacket to the class valedictorian. She longed to follow this tradition because she had maintained straight A's since the first grade and was expecting to win the jacket.

b.
Ans: Martha was brought up by her grandparents because her father, a farm labourer, couldn't earn enough money to feed eight children.

c. This one, the scholarship jacket, was our only chance.
i. 
Ans: 'Our' in this line refers to Martha and her family.

ii. 
Ans: The only chance was to win the scholarship jacket.

iii.
Ans: That was the only chance because they couldn't participate in school sports due to the costs associated with registration fees, uniform costs, and trips out of town.

d. 
Ans: The two teachers were arguing about who should receive the scholarship jacket. They disagreed because Mr. Schmidt believed Martha deserved it due to her academic excellence, while Mr. Boone suggested giving it to Joann due to her father's influence.

e. 
Ans: Martha was shocked and saddened after overhearing the argument. It seemed like a cruel coincidence because she was the subject of the argument and it shattered her expectation of winning the jacket.

f. 
Ans:  Grandpa responded by saying that if they had to pay for the scholarship jacket, then it wouldn't be a scholarship jacket. He refused to pay the fifteen dollars.

g. 
Ans: The principal was uncomfortable and unhappy. He decided to make an exception in Martha's case and award her the jacket.

Reading 2

Answer the following questions.
Q1.

Ans: Yes, I agree. Martha reacts like most fourteen year olds would do. She is hopeful about winning the scholarship jacket and is deeply affected when she hears the teachers arguing about it. She also cries when she is happy or sad, which is a common emotional response at that age.

Q2.
Ans: Martha is hard-working (she maintained straight A's since the first grade), thoughtful (she didn't want to interrupt her teachers' argument), considerate (she asked her grandfather about the money in a respectful way), sensitive (she cried when she was sad and happy), and affectionate (she gave Mr. Schmidt a quick hug).

Q3.
Ans: The principal makes an exception in Martha's case probably because he realizes that she truly deserves the jacket due to her academic excellence and that it would be unfair to deny her the jacket due to financial constraints. 

Q4.
Ans: Grandpa means that if they have to pay for the jacket, it is no longer a reward for academic excellence but something that can be bought. I agree with him because a scholarship should be a reward for hard work and dedication, not something that can be obtained with money.