4.2 Unke Munke Timpetoo
Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Seven English.
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Reference: The solutions below are based on the story "Unke Munke Timpetoo" by Sigrun Srivastava found in the provided document[cite: 21].
Margin Questions (Summary of Answers)
Sentences: "Well, Rohan, I don't say I believe in it..." and "I thought it was all nonsense."[cite: 21]
What their actions show: Despite claiming they don't believe in magic, their actions show the exact opposite. Rohan is desperate enough for a table tennis set that he agrees to sneak into his strict former principal's garden at midnight, run around a banyan tree seventeen times, and chant a magical phrase. This proves that hope and strong desire can make people give in to superstitions even when they claim otherwise[cite: 21].
No, I wouldn't rely on magical chants or charms because I know wishes come true through hard work, dedication, and practical efforts rather than magic[cite: 21].
No, the author was quite frightened. He was terrified of entering Mrs. Groover's garden at midnight because of her strict reputation, and he ran as fast as he could while chanting nervously[cite: 21].
We know Muk was frightened because when Mrs. Groover's dog barked and she threatened to unleash it, Muk immediately climbed up the banyan tree to hide instead of standing by his friend[cite: 21].
Initially, Mrs. Groover appears stern, strict, and intimidating, much like a strict school principal. However, as the story unfolds, we realize she is actually very kind, understanding, and warm-hearted. Instead of punishing the boys or calling the police, she quietly listens to Rohan, secretly arranges a fabulous table tennis set for his birthday, and later invites him over for tea and cookies, showing her gentle and friendly side[cite: 21].
Yes, he was initially disappointed because he wanted a table tennis set, but once he saw the big surprise parcel, his joy for the gifts increased manifold[cite: 21].
It implies that the set was likely a pre-owned one that Mrs. Groover had arranged or gifted from her own house, further confirming that she was the secret benefactor behind the "magic"[cite: 21].
No, the gift did not come from any magic spell. In our opinion, Mrs. Groover must have sent the gift after hearing Rohan's wish in her garden that night. 'Unke, Munke, Timpetoo' was not a real magical charm; rather, it became a symbol of a wonderful act of friendliness, kindness, and understanding between the strict former principal and the young boy[cite: 21].
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English Workshop
| Word | Adjective Form |
|---|---|
| harm | harmful / harmless[cite: 21] |
| fear | fearful / fearless[cite: 21] |
| question | questionable[cite: 21] |
| continue | continuous[cite: 21] |
| thought | thoughtful / thoughtless[cite: 21] |
| believe | believable / believing[cite: 21] |
| wish | wished / wistful[cite: 21] |
- (a) Rohan desperately wished for — (iv) a table-tennis set[cite: 21]
- (b) Rohan and Muk entered the garden at midnight — (ii) to chant around the banyan tree[cite: 21]
- (c) Rohan had finished seventeen rounds of the tree before Mrs. Groover discovered him. — (i) seventeen[cite: 21]
- (d) The table-tennis set was gifted by Mrs. Groover (implied). — (i) Mrs. Groover[cite: 21]
- (e) The Principal turned out to be a very — (iii) kind and understanding[cite: 21]
(i) Very funny ending:
When Rohan opened the big parcel labelled "From Unke, Munke, Timpetoo!", instead of a table tennis set, out popped a mechanical robotic dog that barked loudly in Mrs. Groover's stern voice: "Did you use the front gate?!" Rohan fell backward in shock, while Muk burst out laughing. The next day, Mrs. Groover walked past their house carrying a remote control and winked at Rohan!
(ii) Full of horror and mystery ending:
When Rohan opened the parcel, it contained an old, dusty wooden box locked with a silver clasp. Inside was a glowing note written in emerald ink: "A wish granted requires a secret kept." Suddenly, the lights flickered, and a cold breeze swept through the room. On the windowsill, a shadow resembling a flying banyan root vanished into the dark night, leaving Rohan wondering if magic was real after all.
Chant 1:
Hocus, Pocus, Pickle-pie,
Make a pizza touch the sky!
Chant 2:
Zippy, Zappy, Zoom and Zing,
Bring me back my missing ring!
Examples of Prefixes:
- un- + happy = unhappy[cite: 21]
- dis- + appear = disappear[cite: 21]
- mis- +understand = misunderstand[cite: 21]
- re- + write = rewrite[cite: 21]
- pre- + fix = prefix[cite: 21]
Examples of Suffixes:
- -ship: friendship, leadership[cite: 21]
- -less: fearless, hopeless[cite: 21]
- -ness: kindness, happiness[cite: 21]
- -ly: softly, quickly[cite: 21]
- -ful: wonderful, beautiful[cite: 21]
- -able: readable, believable[cite: 21]