NCERT Solutions for class 7 English chapter – 5 Quality

Working with the text

Q 1. What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a boot maker ?

Ans. according to the author Mr. Gessler was one to the best shoemaker in the city. Their shop had quiet distinction. He made only what was ordered and whatever he made never failed to fit. The boot that he made seemed mysterious and wonderful. He was perfect for his job.

Q 2. Why did the author visit the shop so in frequently ?

Ans. the boots that Mr. Gessler made lasted terribly longer. It was like having something beyond temporary. They had essence of boot stitched into them. Therefore, the author visited the shop so infrequently.

Q 3. What was the effect on Mr. Gessler of the author’s remark about a certain pair of boots ?

Ans. when author made remarks on a certain pair of boots, Mr. Gessler gazed at him surprisingly for a while expecting the author to withdraw or qualify his statement. He said the some are bad from birth and asked the author to get the pair back and if he could do nothing of them then he would take them off his bill.

Q 4. What was Mr. Gessler’s complaint against “big firms”?

Ans. Mr. Gessler’s had a complaint against “big fims” that they didn’t have self – respect. This was the first time ever he discussed about the hardships of his trade with the author. Mr. Gessler added further that they got their got their business by advertisement not by work. Every year, sales for Mr. Gessler were declining because of them and soon he would be left with no job.

Q 5. Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?

Ans. The author felt bad for Mr Gessler who was really talented and made great boots. He ordered so many pairs to help the boot maker. No, he didn’t really need them.

Working with Language

Q 1. Study the following phrases and their

meanings. Use them appropriately to complete

the sentences that follow.

look after : take care of

look down : disapprove or regard as on inferior

look in (on someone): make a short visit

look into : investigate

look out : be careful

look up : improve

look up to : admire

After a very long spell of heat, the weather is ………….. at last.

We have no right to …………. people who do small jobs.

Nitin has always ……………. his uncle, who is a self-made man.

The police are …………… the matter thoroughly.

If you want to go out, I will ………….. the children for you.

I promise to ………….. on your brother when I visit Lucknow next.

……………. when you are crossing the main road.

Ans.

looking up

look down

looked up

looking into

look after

look in

Look out

Q 2. Read the following sets of words loudly and clearly.

cot – coat

cost – coast

tossed – toast

got – goat

rot – rote

blot – bloat

knot – note

Ans. Do it yourself.

Q 3. Each of the following words contains the sound ‘sh’ (as in shine) in the beginning or in the middle or at the end. First speak out all the words clearly. Then arrange the words in three

groups in the table.

sheep trash marsh fashion anxious shriek shore fish portion ashes sure nation

shoe pushing polish moustache

Ans.

Initial Medial Final

Sheep Fashion Trash

Shriek Anxious Marsh

Shore Portion Fish

Sure Ashes Polish

Shoe Nation Pushing

Q 4. In each of the following words ‘ch’ represents the same consonant sound as in ‘chair’. The words on the left have this sound initially. Those on the right have it finally.

Speak each word clearly.

choose bench child march cheese peach chair wretch charming research

Underline the letters representing this sound in each of the following words.

(i) feature (iv) reaching (vii) riches

(ii) archery (v) nature (viii) batch

(iii) picture (vi) matches (ix) church

Ans.

(i) feature (iv) reaching (vii) riches

(ii) archery (v) nature (viii) batch

(iii) picture (vi) matches (ix) church

Speaking

Q 1. Do you think Mr Gessler was a failure as a boot maker or as a competitive businessman?

Ans. Mr Gessler was an amazing boot maker. His customers were highly satisfied with the quality of boots he made.

He was a failure as a competitive businessman. He did not have much money to spend on the advertisements. Whatever he earned went into the raw materials and rent.

Q 2. What is the significance of the title? To whom or to what does it refer?

Ans. The title “Quality” refers to the great quality of boots made by Mr Gessler. He was proficient at it. He would not let others even touch the boots until they got ready. He was a true perfectionist who believed in quality. He was losing business but still never compromised on the quality of the boots he made.

Quality is not much a concern for the big firms. They rely on their advertisements to attract customers.

Q 3.

Notice the way Mr Gessler speaks English. His English is influenced by his mother tongue. He speaks English with an accent.
When Mr Gessler speaks, p,t,k, sound like b,d,g. Can you say these words as Mr Gessler would say them?

It comes and never stops. Does it bother me? Not at all. Ask my brother, please.

Ans. Mr Gessler would have said the above statement like:

Id gomes and never sdobs. Does id bodder me? Not ad all. Asg my brudder blease.

Q 4. Speak to five adults in your neighborhood. Ask them the following questions (in any language they are comfortable in). Then come back and share your findings with the class.

(i) Do they buy their provisions packed in plastic packets at a big store, or loose, from a smaller store near their house?

(ii) Where do they buy their footwear? Do they buy branded footwear, or footwear made locally? What reasons do they have for their preference?

(iii) Do they buy ready-made clothes, or buy cloth and get their clothes stitched by a tailor? Which do they think is better?

Ans.

(i) They buy their provisions packed loose from a smaller store near their house.

(ii) They buy footwear made locally. They prefer the local ones because the branded ones are too expensive and they don’t like to spend too much on regular footwear.

(iii) They buy both- the ready-made as well as the ones that are stitched by a tailor. If they want any customized stitch, then they prefer the one that is stitched by tailor.

Extra Questions :-

What is the outline of the story ?

Ans. The story is about dedication to work of high quality with the passion of an artist and the eventual loss of art and quality in a world of competition and consumerism.

2.Whom did the author describe and was fond of as mentioned ?

Ans. the author highlights the magnificent quality of the boots made by the person who made his father’s boots. His name was Mr Gessler. The author was very fond of the boots made by him, and he also stated that the boots stay for a long period of time.

When did Mr Gessler discuss the conditions and hardships of his trade ?

Ans. It was once when the author went absent-mindedly into Mr Gessler shop in a pair of boots that he bought in an emergency at some large firm. When Mr Gessler noticed it, he became as quiet that froze the blood. Later, Mr Gessler spoke long and bitterly about the conditions and hardships of his trade.