Q1. How were the customers convinced by the fishmongers?
Ans: The fishmongers convinced the customers by saying that the price had been down that day.
Q2. What did Gopal's wife think about him? Why did she feel that?
Ans: Gopal's wife thought that her husband had gone mad. She felt that he was dressed too shabbily for a normal man to.
Q3. Why did the king congratulate Gopal?
Ans: The king congratulated Gopal for winning the challenge that he forced upon him to bring the fish to the court without having any kind of conversation about it.
Q4. What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Ans: The king asked Gopal to buy a Hilsa fish and bring it to the palace without anyone asking anything about the fish throughout the way to prove that he was clever.
Q5. What was the gossip going on about the Hilsa fish?
Ans: All the people, fishermen and courtiers were talking nothing but only about Hilsa fish. The gossip was about the cheap prices and sizes of the fish that were sold in the market.
Q6. Why was the king annoyed with his courtiers?
Ans: Everywhere, either in the market or in the palace, everybody was discussing the Hilsa fish. Even the courtiers were talking nothing but Hilsa fish. This made the king very annoyed and angry with the courtiers.
Q7. What was Gopal challenged by the king?
Ans: Gopal was challenged by the king to buy and bring the Hilsa fish from the market without talking to anyone about the fish to his palace.
Q8. What were the comments given by the people to Gopal?
Ans: As he dreamed himself in a weird style and started walking towards the palace holding the Hilsa fish, everyone said that he must be a madman or else a mystic.
Q9. What strange things did Gopal do?
Ans: Gopal had half-shaven his face. Smeared ash over himself. Had put on rags and was looking disgraceful. His wife asked Gopal the reasons for such weird acts. Gopal told her that he was going to buy Hilsa fish. At last, even she concluded that Gopal had gone mad.
Q10. What do you know about Gopal?
Ans: Gopal was known for his wisdom, presence of mind, and cleverness. He was a courtier in the king's court.
Q11. What were the remarks of the two men on seeing Gopal in the market?
Ans: On seeing Gopal, a man said that he must be a madman, while the other called him a mystic.
Q12. Why did the king want no more talk about the hilsa-fish?
Ans: Everyone around the king was talking about the hilsa fish. This had infuriated the king, so he didn't want anyone to talk about the Hilsa fish.
Q13. What three things did Gopal do before he went to buy his hilsa fish?
Ans: Before he went to buy hilsa fish, Gopal half-shaved his face, smeared himself with ash, and wore disgraceful rags.
Q14. How did the fishermen sell the hilsa fish in the market?
Ans: The fishermen sold the fish by telling that the prices of the fish were very low and could easily buy it to the customers.
Q15. How did the king react after Gopal fulfilled the challenge?
Ans: The king was surprised and amused when Gopal proved that no one had spoken to him about the Hilsa fish. He acknowledged Gopal's cleverness and appreciated his success.
Q16. Why was Gopal's wife shocked?
Ans: Gopal's wife was shocked to see her husband's weird dressing style. He had shown his half face and smeared ashes on his face and was a torn clothes. She felt that her husband had gone mad.
Q17. What happened when the guards stopped him from entering the palace?
Ans: When the guards stopped Gopal from entering the king's palace, he started to sing and dance loudly. The king, on hearing those noises, ordered his guards to let him into his palace.
Q18. How did Gopal get inside the palace to see the king after he had bought the fish?
Ans: When Gopal asked the guards to let him meet the king, they refused. Therefore, he began to dance and sing loudly. On hearing his loud song, the king sent his messenger to call him in the court.
Q19. Explain why no one seemed to be interested in talking about the hilsa fish, which Gopal had bought.
Ans: No one was interested in the Hilsa fish. Gopal had bought it because of Gopal's condition. He was wearing rugs, his face was half-shaven, and ash was smeared over his body. People were more interested in his appearance than in the fish.
Q20. How did Gopal dress himself up?
Ans: Gopal showed half of his face and smeared ashes on himself. He put on tattered clothes, which made his wife ask him the cause of his weird look. He said to her that he was going to buy hilsa fish from the market. He was looking disgraceful, which made his wife think her husband had gone mad.
Q21. If a person takes on challenges, he put in his efforts to win it. How?
Ans: One should be resolute and firm. Yes, we should not give up in any situation. We should find a solution to come out of it. Sometimes it might be tough to find the solution, but if we try hard, nothing is impossible. We learn from the efforts we make in life. If we don't make efforts, then our learning will stop.
Q22. Why was Gopal stopped entry to the palace? What did he say to the king?
Ans: Gopal looked suspicious or rather mystic, since he had dressed himself filthily. Moreover, over his beard was half-shave,n and ash was smeared on it. In addition to that, the guards barred his entry palace. He started dancing and singing loudly so that the king might hear him and call him inside. The king ordered him to be taken inside but he could not recognise him. When Gopal reminded him of his challenge and proved that he had fulfilled it the king was surprised and burst into laughter.
Q23. What was the challenge given to him by the king? How did he win it?
Ans: Gopal happily accepted the challenge of buying a huge Hilsa fish from the market and ensured that on the way from the market to the palace, no one would talk to him about the fish. He was an intelligent man. He dressed up like a madman, and his appearance caught everyone's attention. He reached the court without anyone talking about the fish, as everyone was drawn towards his appearance.
Q24. Describe the character sketch of Gopal?
Ans: Gopal was a clever and witty courtier in the king's court. He was known for his presence of mind and problem-solving skills. He accepted the king's challenge confidently and used his intelligence to fulfil it in an unusual yet effective way. By strangely disguising himself, he ensured that people focused on his appearance rather than on the Hilsa fish he was carrying. His creativity, humour, and smart thinking helped him win the challenge, proving that he was not only intelligent but also quick-witted and fearless.
Q25. Why were the people talking about the Hilsa fish?
Ans: People were talking nothing but only about Hilsa fish because it was the season of Hilsa fish. People were buying the fish with lots of excitement all around. The courtiers, fishermen, etc, were also talking nothing but about the Hilsa fish. The fishermen were selling them at a very cheap price because of the availability in the market.
