NCERT Solutions Poorvi Chapter 2 Say the Right Thing — Let us listen
Book page 84 Updated on2026-09-05
Q1.
Mrs. Shaw wanted Mary to learn to say the right thing. You will listen to a conversation between a mother and her son about basic manners. As you listen, fill in the blanks given below by selecting the correct option. (Transcript for the teacher on pg. 89) How did the son behave in the grocery queue? (i) strangely (ii) impatiently (iii) politely
Answer
The correct option is (ii) impatiently.
The conversation opens with the mother's question: “Why were you getting impatient in the grocery store?”, and the son admits it: “Was I really? I just didn't like waiting so long.”
Listening tip: The answer to the first question in a listening task is very often in the first line of the recording. Be ready to write before the audio begins.
Q2.
The mother finally refers to her son as a ______. (i) polite young man (ii) responsible son (iii) grateful person
Answer
The correct option is (i) polite young man.
Near the end of the conversation the mother says: “You've got it, Rohan. You're becoming a really polite young man.”
Why not the others: She does use the word responsible earlier — “it shows you're responsible” — but that is about apologising, not what she finally calls him. ‘Grateful person' is never said at all; the word gratitude appears only when she explains why ‘thank you' matters.
Q3.
You will once again listen to the conversation. As you listen, select four true statements from 1–7 given below. 1. The mother uses the grocery store incident as an opportunity to teach her son about patience and fairness. 2. The son recognises the value of apologising and understands that it shows he notices others. 3. The son is gradually learning the importance of polite words and actions from his mother's guidance. 4. The mother discourages her son from speaking softly in public, suggesting that people should adjust to his voice level. 5. The son feels that covering his mouth when coughing is only important when he's at home. 6. The son receives all advice readily while understanding its importance. 7. The mother uses praise to support the polite behaviours she wants her son to continue practising.
Answer
The four true statements are 1, 2, 3 and 7.
No.
Statement
True / False
Evidence from the conversation
1
Uses the grocery incident to teach patience and fairness
TRUE
“we always stand in queues and wait for our turn. It's fair for everyone, right?” … “that's when we practise patience”
2
The son values apologising and sees that it shows he notices others
TRUE
“I said sorry right away… so people know I didn't mean to do it and that I care”
3
He is gradually learning polite words and actions from her guidance
TRUE
He moves from “Hmm, I guess” to “Oh, I know this!” and “I also know that we should cover our mouth…”
4
She discourages speaking softly in public
FALSE
The exact opposite — “We speak softly so we don't bother others.” “Right again! It's called using an ‘inside voice'.”
5
He thinks covering the mouth matters only at home
FALSE
He says it matters “in a gathering or a public place”
6
He receives all advice readily while understanding its importance
FALSE
He begins by resisting — “Was I really? I just didn't like waiting so long” and “Hmm, I guess. Even if it takes a lot of time?”
7
She uses praise to support the behaviours she wants continued
TRUE
“Exactly!”, “Right again!”, “You're getting really good at remembering these things”, “You're becoming a really polite young man”
How to sift true from false quickly: Statements 4 and 5 are reversals — they say the opposite of the recording. Statement 6 fails on one word: all. He resists at the start, so “receives all advice readily” cannot be true. Watch for words like all, never, only — they often make an otherwise-true statement false.