Chapter 6
IVAN
Comprehension Questions
1.Who was Ivan, and where did he live?
Answer: Ivan was a wealthy farmer from a Russian village. He had plenty of land, many animals, and a joyful family, living a comfortable and successful life.
2.Who was Ivan’s neighbour, and what was their relationship initially?
Answer: Ivan’s neighbour was Gabriel. In the beginning, both of them lived peacefully and shared a warm, friendly bond as good neighbours.
3.What caused the quarrel between Ivan and Gabriel?
Answer: The dispute started when Ivan’s hen went over to Gabriel’s yard and laid an egg there. When Ivan’s daughter-in-law asked about it, Gabriel’s mother spoke harshly, and this small issue soon turned into a serious quarrel between the two families.
4.Who participated in the quarrel?
Answer: Ivan, Gabriel, and their wives got involved in the quarrel. The argument became so heated that the neighbours had to step in to stop the fight and restore peace.
5.What actions did Ivan and Gabriel take against each other after the quarrel?
Answer:After the quarrel, Ivan pulled Gabriel’s beard in anger, which made Gabriel file a complaint in court. In return, Ivan also took legal action against Gabriel, and their conflict continued for a long time.
6.How did the quarrel affect their lives financially and emotionally?
Answer: The ongoing quarrel drained their money and peace of mind. Both families suffered losses due to court expenses and constant tension, leaving them worried and unhappy. It showed how conflicts can destroy both wealth and happiness.
7.Who advised them to reconcile, and what was his advice?
Answer: Ivan’s wise old father advised both of them to make peace. He told them not to fight over such a small matter, reminding them that hatred only creates more hatred and that anger takes away wisdom and peace, often leading to harm and destruction.
8.How did Ivan and Gabriel respond to the advice of Ivan’s father?
Answer: Both Ivan and Gabriel listened to the old man’s words and understood their mistake. They forgave each other, ended the quarrel, and started living together peacefully once again, valuing friendship over petty disputes.
9.What lesson does the story teach about anger?
Answer:The story shows that anger blinds our sense of right and wrong and can destroy peace and relationships. It reminds us that patience and self-control help avoid conflicts and bring lasting happiness.
10.What moral does the story convey about forgiveness?
Answer: The story conveys that forgiveness heals wounds and brings back peace. When Ivan and Gabriel chose to forgive one another, they let go of bitterness and found true happiness and harmony once again.
Vocabulary and Word Study Questions
11.What does the word ‘laborious’ mean, and how is it used in the text?
Answer: The word ‘laborious’ means hardworking and persistent. In the story, it is used to describe Ivan’s three sons, highlighting how diligent and industrious they were.
12.Explain the meaning of ‘pacify’ and give an example from the story.
Answer: ‘Pacify’ means to calm someone or ease their anger. In the story, the neighbours had to pacify Ivan and Gabriel to stop their heated argument and restore peace.
13.What does ‘reconciled’ mean, and how did it happen in the story?
Answer:‘Reconciled’ means to make peace and restore a friendship after a disagreement. In the story, Ivan and Gabriel reconciled when they heeded the wise counsel of Ivan’s father, realizing that anger and grudges were pointless.
14.Use the word ‘rudely’ in your own sentence.
Answer:In the story, Gabriel’s mother answered Ivan’s daughter-in-law rudely. In my sentence: “He rudely interrupted the meeting, making everyone uncomfortable.”
15.Define ‘uproot’ and explain its significance in the story.
Answer: ‘Uproot’ means to pull something out completely from its place. In the story, Ivan uprooted Gabriel’s beard in a fit of anger, showing how their quarrel had escalated and how they had lost all sense of restraint.
16.What is the meaning of ‘hatred,’ and how does it relate to the quarrel?
Answer:‘Hatred’ means a strong feeling of dislike or hostility. In the story, the quarrel intensified as hatred built up between Ivan and Gabriel, demonstrating how negative emotions can fuel disputes and make them worse.
17.Explain the term ‘inquire’ with an example from the story.
Answer:‘Inquire’ means to ask questions or seek information about something. In the story, Ivan’s daughter-in-law inquired at Gabriel’s house about the egg laid by their hen.
18.What does ‘sick’ mean, and who in the story is described as sick?
Answer: ‘Sick’ means being unwell or ill. In the story, Ivan’s father is described as sick and old, showing that even in his fragile state, he possessed great wisdom.
19.Match the word ‘forgive’ with its meaning in the story.
Answer: In the story, ‘forgive’ means to pardon someone or release feelings of anger and resentment. Ivan and Gabriel forgave one another after listening to the wise advice of Ivan’s father.
20.Explain the phrase ‘comfortable with each other’ in the context of the story.
Answer:The phrase ‘comfortable with each other’ means living together peacefully and without conflict. In the story, before their fight, Ivan and Gabriel enjoyed a friendly and harmonious relationship as neighbours.
Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions
21.Do you agree with the statement “Hatred breeds hatred”? Justify your answer with examples from the story.
Answer: Yes, I agree. The story shows that the initial rudeness and anger between Ivan and Gabriel grew into a prolonged quarrel, causing financial trouble and unhappiness. This proves that hatred only generates more hatred and worsens situations.
22.How does anger lead to destruction in Ivan and Gabriel’s story?
Answer: In Ivan and Gabriel’s story, anger led them to physically attack each other and take legal action, drained their money, and disrupted their happiness. This illustrates how uncontrolled anger can bring about serious harm and destruction.
23.What qualities made Ivan’s father wise?
Answer: Ivan’s father was wise because he was patient, perceptive, and could understand the broader consequences of actions. His wisdom showed in guiding them toward forgiveness and harmony rather than revenge.
24.If you were a neighbour, how would you help resolve a quarrel?
Answer: If I were a neighbour, I would stay calm, hear both sides carefully, and help them find a fair solution, just like the neighbours who stepped in to pacify Ivan and Gabriel and stop the fight from getting worse.
25.Why is forgiveness important in human relationships?
Answer: Forgiveness is important because it brings back harmony, strengthens friendships, and stops anger and resentment from causing lasting harm, just as Ivan and Gabriel experienced when they reconciled.
26.Compare the role of material possessions versus relationships in the story.
Answer: In the story, material things like the hen and the egg triggered the quarrel, but after forgiveness, the focus shifted to preserving their friendship. This highlights that relationships are far more important than minor possessions.
27.How did a small incident escalate into a major dispute?
Answer: A simple event, like a hen laying an egg in Gabriel’s house, led to rude words, rising anger, physical confrontation, court cases, and financial problems. This shows how minor issues can grow into serious conflicts when patience and understanding are missing.
28.What does the story teach about the importance of patience?
Answer: The story teaches that patience allows people to stay calm and solve problems peacefully. Ivan and Gabriel’s lack of patience caused trouble, but when they listened to the father’s advice, patience helped them restore peace.
29.Discuss the emotional impact of quarrels on families, based on the story.
Answer: Quarrels bring tension, unhappiness, and emotional stress to families. In the story, Ivan and Gabriel’s prolonged fight caused worry and sorrow for both families, showing how conflicts can deeply affect loved ones.
30.Do you think the legal action was necessary? Why or why not?
Answer:The legal action was not necessary, as the quarrel started over a very small matter. It only extended the conflict, led to money loss, and could have been easily avoided if they had chosen to talk and forgive each other.
Grammar Questions (Clauses)
31.Identify the principal clause and subordinate clause in “An old man had four sons who were lazy.”
Answer:In the sentence “An old man had four sons who were lazy,” the principal clause is “An old man had four sons,” and the subordinate clause is “who were lazy.”
32.Identify the co-ordinate clauses in “Ramu was poor but his sister was honest.”
Answer: In the sentence “Ramu was poor but his sister was honest,” the co-ordinate clauses are “Ramu was poor” and “his sister was honest,” connected by the conjunction “but.”
33.Identify the clauses in “I don’t know where she lives.”
Answer: In the sentence “I don’t know where she lives,” the principal clause is “I don’t know,” and the subordinate clause is “where she lives.”
34.Identify the principal and subordinate clauses in “He had three sons who were laborious.”
Answer: In the sentence “He had three sons who were laborious,” the principal clause is “He had three sons,” and the subordinate clause is “who were laborious.”
35.Identify the co-ordinate clauses in “He is ugly but his wife is beautiful.”
Answer:In the sentence “He is ugly but his wife is beautiful,” the co-ordinate clauses are “He is ugly” and “his wife is beautiful,” joined by the conjunction “but.”
36.Identify the co-ordinate clauses in “Abhishek was fond of rasgullas but he didn’t like jalebis.”
Answer: In the sentence “Abhishek was fond of rasgullas but he didn’t like jalebis,” the co-ordinate clauses are “Abhishek was fond of rasgullas” and “he didn’t like jalebis,” connected by “but.”
37.Explain the difference between a principal clause and a subordinate clause with examples from the story.
Answer:A principal clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone, such as “Ivan was a rich farmer.” A subordinate clause cannot stand alone and adds extra information, like “who lived in a village in Russia.”
38.Give an example of a sentence with both a principal and a subordinate clause.
Answer: An example is: “Ivan had some hens that laid eggs every morning.” Here, the principal clause is “Ivan had some hens,” and the subordinate clause is “that laid eggs every morning.”
39.Give an example of a sentence with two co-ordinate clauses.
Answer:An example is: “Gabriel went to court, but Ivan went there by train.” Both parts, “Gabriel went to court” and “Ivan went there by train,” are independent clauses joined by the conjunction “but.”
40.Why are clauses important in writing clear sentences?
Answer: Clauses are important because they organize sentences and make ideas clear. Principal clauses express the main thought, subordinate clauses provide extra information, and co-ordinate clauses connect equally important ideas, helping writing to be precise and understandable.
Answer by Mrinmoee
