NCERT Solutions Poorvi Chapter 2 The Chair, Part I — Let us discuss
Book page 61 Updated on2026-09-05
Q1.
Mario was very proud of having so many friends. State whether True or False.
Answer
True.
The very first lines say so: “There was a boy called Mario who loved to have lots of friends. He showed off a lot, always talking about how many friends he had at school, and how he was so friendly with everyone.” ‘Showed off’ means boasted — and boasting is pride on display.
Why the story begins here: Mario's pride is the problem the invisible chair has to cure. He counts his friends; his grandfather teaches him to weigh them instead.
Q2.
What did the grandfather take from the attic?
Answer
He brought down a chair — a very special, invisible chair.
He said, “I have exactly what you need. It's in the attic. Wait here a minute.” When he returned he came “as though carrying something in his hand, but Mario could see nothing there”, and told him, “Take it. It's a very special chair. As it's invisible, it's rather tricky to sit on it.”
Think about it: Was there really a chair at all? The grandfather is a clever old man — the ‘chair’ may be nothing but an idea. What is real is the test it sets up.
Q3.
Will Mario face any challenges?
Answer
Yes — and the biggest challenge will not be the chair, but his classmates.
The grandfather has already warned him: “As it's invisible, it's rather tricky to sit on it.” You cannot see where an invisible seat is, so Mario is going to miss it and fall. And he must do this in the middle of a circle of the whole class, so he will have to bear their laughter as well as the falls.
Read on and you will find both difficulties come true: “he missed and fell straight onto his backside. His classmates had a pretty good laugh.”
Q4.
Will Mario be able to use the magic?
Answer
Yes, he will — but only after falling several times.
The grandfather sets one condition: “if you take it to school and manage to sit on it, then the magic will work.” Mario is described as “brave and determined”, and the story tells us “Mario wouldn't give up. He kept trying to sit on the magic chair and kept falling to the ground until, suddenly, he tried again and didn't fall.”
The real magic: He does not sit on a chair at all — Guneet, Asma and Deepa hold him up in mid-air. The ‘magic’ is simply that true friends step forward when you keep falling.