Exploring Values — Important Questions

He was thinking about whether the mangoes were ripe or unripe

Step 1: The story tells us that Swaminathan's 'mouth began to water at the thought of mangoes.' Step 2: He kept wondering if the mangoes in the problem were ripe or unripe. Step 3: He felt that whether the mangoes were ripe was the 'key to the whole problem'. Step 4: He believed it would be unfair to pay fifteen annas for unripe mangoes. Step 5: This distraction stopped him from solving the simple maths problem.

An angry expression on the face

Step 1: Activity 3 in the chapter provides a vocabulary matching exercise. Step 2: The word 'scowl' is listed in column A. Step 3: The matching answer in column B is 'an angry expression on the face'. Step 4: In the story, father was waiting with a scowl, meaning he looked very angry and displeased with Swaminathan. Step 5: So the correct answer is 'an angry expression on the face'.

To become easy

Step 1: The vocabulary matching activity in the chapter lists 'plain sailing' in column A. Step 2: The correct match in column B is 'to become easy'. Step 3: In the story, after Swaminathan found the price of one mango, the rest of the problem became easy. Step 4: The author says 'It was plain sailing after that', meaning the rest was simple and easy. Step 5: So the correct answer is 'to become easy'.

Trying to smile

Step 1: The vocabulary activity in the chapter asks students to match words with their meanings. Step 2: The word 'smothering' is matched with 'trying to smile'. Step 3: 'Smothering a smile' means trying to hide or suppress a smile. Step 4: In the story, father was trying not to smile at Swaminathan's funny question about whether the mangoes were ripe. Step 5: So the correct answer is 'trying to smile'.