Textbook Questions: My Unknown Friend | Gul Mohar Class 7: Book Solutions, Summaries & Worksheets PDF Download

Before You Read

While Reading

Q2. The Indian Railways … Do you know what ranking it has?
Ans: Indian Railways is one of the largest railway systems in the world. It ranks among the top five globally for its network size and the number of people it carries daily.

Q3. How do you think the story will end?
Ans: The story will likely end with a humorous twist, where the narrator realises too late that he has been tricked by the stranger and lost both the game of wits and his money.

Q4. He answered ‘very gently’ because …
Ans: He wanted to sound natural and calm, without revealing he had no idea what “old place” the stranger was talking about. This helped him keep up his side of the game.

Q5. Underline the two sentences that tell you that the speaker thinks of this conversation as a game.
Ans: “So far I had scored the first point.” and “That was something to build on.”

Q6. Why is the narrator starting to feel more confident?
Ans: The narrator begins to feel confident as his guesses about “Billy” and “Pete” seem correct. The stranger accepts his words, which makes him believe he is winning the game.

Q7. The shift in tone here is that the conversation suddenly …
Ans: Becomes serious and personal when the stranger mentions a “loss.” The light, playful tone changes, creating tension for the narrator as he tries to guess what kind of loss is meant.

Q8. Look at paragraphs 34–46. How does the writer build up tension in the exchange? What reaction did it get from you?
Ans: The narrator guesses nervously about money, then death, then a grandmother, while the stranger plays along. This creates suspense and ends in comic surprise, making readers laugh at the confusion.

Q9. Social intelligence is the ability to understand and act on the feelings, thoughts, and behaviours of other people. What aspects of this can you find in this conversation?
Ans: The narrator tries to read hints, adjust his replies, and pretend he remembers. He shows quick thinking and adaptability, though he ultimately fails to truly understand the stranger’s plan.

Q10. Look at paragraph 56. Do you think it was an accident? What makes you think so?
Ans: No, it was not an accident. The stranger carefully distracted the narrator, pretended to miss his stop, and ran away with the money, showing it was a planned trick.

Q11. Explain what the porter is saying in paragraphs 51 and 63.
Ans: 1. In paragraph 51, the porter warns that the train will stop only for two minutes.
2. In paragraph 63, he explains he searched the carriage but could not find the missing suitcase.

Q12. The stranger’s purpose in talking to the narrator had been to …
Ans: Distract and confuse him with false familiarity so he could steal his money.

Understanding the Text

A. Complete these sentences in your own words.

B. Answer these questions.

Q2. Paragraphs 3 to 9 record the exchange between the two men.
a. Which of these lines indicate that something may not be quite right?
Ans: “And all the time I was wondering who he was.”
b. What does it suggest?
Ans: It suggests the narrator had doubts, but still pretended to know the man.

Q3. I know just how to deal with the situation. (para 10)
a. What kind of a situation was the speaker talking about?
Ans: It was about meeting someone he could not remember.
b. How was he going to deal with it?
Ans: He planned to stay calm and make clever guesses to handle it.

Q4. What plan did the speaker use in paragraphs 26 to 39? Why? Did his plan work?
Ans: He guessed names like “Billy” and “Pete,” hoping they would fit. It worked for a short while but later failed, leading to his embarrassment and loss.

Q5. "Pardon me," I said, annoyed at my own stupidity. (para 47)
a. What 'stupidity' is he referring to?
Ans: His mistaken assumption about his grandmother.
b. Why could it be stupid?
Ans: Because he revealed his ignorance.

Q6. His face was agitated. (para 49)
a. Why was the stranger's face agitated?
Ans: He pretended to panic about missing his stop and needing his money quickly.
b. What was the speaker's reaction to the stranger's problem? (paras 54 and 60)
Ans: He gave him money in a hurry, then realised he was cheated.

Q7. Does the writer blame himself for his loss? Why? What was the loss?
Ans: Yes, he blames himself for being overconfident. His loss was all the money he had, along with the shame of losing the clever game.

Q8. The next time that I fall into talk with a casual stranger in a car, I shall not try to be quite so extraordinarily clever. (para 69)
a. What is the main emotion in this sentence?
Ans: Regret and humiliation.
b. Is the speaker upset because he was cheated of his money or because he had lost the battle of wits?
Ans: More because he lost the battle of wits.

Appreciating the Text

Q2. What do you understand about the speaker from following his thoughts and actions in the story? Provide an example from the text for each of these.
a. quick-thinking
b. ability to adapt as the conversation moves on
c. sense of humour
d. competitiveness
e. sense of superiority
Ans: a. quick-thinking: He invents stories about Billy and Pete.
b. ability to adapt: He shifts from money to death to grandmother.
c. sense of humour: He laughs inwardly at his own guesses.
d. competitiveness: He calls it “scoring points.”
e. sense of superiority: He thinks he can handle any situation.

Q. Which of these qualities does he share with the stranger?
Ans: Quick-thinking, adaptability, competitiveness, and superiority. Both men enjoy trying to outwit each other.

3. How does the writer make the text humorous?
a. But apart from these details, I never forget anybody, and I am proud of it.
b. "Never," I said, firmly and flatly. This had to be absolute.
c. Evidently, I was plumb ruined.
d. I almost hiccoughed with joy.
e. "What," he said, looking confused, "did your grandmother ... "
f. Stung!
Ans: a. But apart from these details, I never forget anybody, and I am proud of it: Irony.
b. “Never,” I said, firmly and flatly. This had to be absolute: Overconfidence.
c. Evidently, I was plumb ruined: Exaggeration.
d. I almost hiccoughed with joy: Comical reaction.
e. “What,” he said, looking confused, “did your grandmother …” : Sudden twist.
f. Stung! : Short, dramatic exclamation.