by Tiwari Academy Team
NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 Wit and Humour – Question Answers, Hindi Translation, Summary and Word Meaning for Session 2026-27 Exam Preparation. Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 Wit and Humour is a delightful unit from the new NCERT textbook that brings together three engaging pieces of literature – a prose extract Animals, Birds and Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting, a poem A Funny Man by Natalie Joan and a humorous play Say the Right Thing by G.C. Thornley. The unit explores the themes of empathy, communication, wit and the art of saying the right thing at the right time. Students also learn important grammar concepts such as compound words, palindromes, phrasal verbs, present perfect tense, present perfect continuous tense and suffixes. This page provides a complete, structured guide to help students and teachers navigate the entire unit with ease.
NCERT Class 7 English Poorvi Unit II Solutions
| Chapters | Type | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Animals, Birds and Dr. Dolittle | Prose (Story) | Hugh Lofting |
| A Funny Man | Poem | Natalie Joan |
| Say the Right Thing | Play (Drama) | G.C. Thornley |
Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 Chapter 1 Animals, Birds and Dr. Dolittle
Doctor John Dolittle is a people’s doctor who is exceptionally knowledgeable about animals. A visitor called the Cat’s-food-Man suggests he should become an animal doctor. His parrot, Polynesia, overhears this and enthusiastically agrees. Polynesia then reveals that animals have their own language and spends the afternoon teaching the Doctor animal words. With this new ability, Doctor Dolittle gives up treating human patients and becomes a famous animal doctor. Animals of all kinds – from farm animals to wild creatures – flock to his house. He even prescribes green spectacles to a plough horse going blind in one eye. Word spreads across the world and Doctor Dolittle becomes beloved by animals everywhere.
Chapter 1 Key Characters
| Character | Role | Key Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor John Dolittle | People’s doctor turned animal doctor | Knowledgeable, open-minded, kind |
| Polynesia | The parrot | Wise, persuasive, multilingual |
| Cat’s-food-Man | A patient with a stomach-ache | Well-meaning, practical |
| The Plough Horse | A patient | Observant, articulate |
Important Events of the Story
- The Cat’s-food-Man visits Doctor Dolittle and suggests he become an animal doctor.
- Polynesia encourages the Doctor and reveals that animals can talk.
- Polynesia teaches the Doctor animal languages throughout the afternoon.
- Doctor Dolittle decides to give up being a people’s doctor.
- People begin bringing their sick pets and farm animals to him.
- A plough horse visits and explains it needs green spectacles, not pills.
- Doctor Dolittle installs special doors for different animals.
- Animals from all over the world hear about him and come for treatment.
- Doctor Dolittle becomes world-famous among animals.
Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 Chapter 2 A Funny Man (Poem)
A Funny Man by Natalie Joan is a humorous, whimsical poem about a strange man who walks down the street wearing a shoe on his head and hats on his feet. He behaves in topsy-turvy ways throughout – offering a currant bun instead of a rose, singing a song while sitting on the ground and finally hopping home on his head.
Poem at a Glance
| Stanza | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Stanza 1 | The funny man appears wearing a shoe on his head and hats on his feet |
| Stanza 2 | He raises the shoe and smiles – a funny sight |
| Stanza 3 | He offers a currant bun instead of a rose |
| Stanza 4 | The poet is surprised by the “funny looking smell” |
| Stanza 5 | He sings a song sitting on the ground |
| Stanza 6 | When asked why he wears hats on his feet, he hops home on his head |
Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 Chapter 3 Say the Right Thing (Play)
Say the Right Thing by G.C. Thornley is a humorous one-act play in which Mrs. Shaw carefully coaches her daughter Mary on how to behave politely when important guests – Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee – visit their home. Despite her confidence, Mary repeatedly says exactly the wrong thing, accidentally offending the guests at every turn.
Main characters in the Play
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Mary Shaw | A young, overconfident girl who talks without thinking |
| Mrs. Shaw | Mary’s cautious, socially aware mother |
| Mrs. Harding | Wife of a wealthy banker, Mr. Harding |
| Mrs. Lee | Mr. Harding’s married sister |
Mrs. Shaw’s Instructions to Mary (Scene I)
Mrs. Shaw tells Mary:
- Be kind to people and say things that please them
- Laugh and try to make guests laugh too
- If everyone stops talking, think of something kind to restart the conversation
- When guests want to leave, do not jump up happily – look sorry
- Ask them to stay: say “Must you go? Can’t you stay?“
- Do not say anything that will make them angry
Mary’s Blunders in Scene II
| What Mary Said | Why It Was a Blunder |
|---|---|
| Complimented Mrs. Harding on her “beautiful children” | Mrs. Harding has no children |
| Mocked Mr. Best’s train commute and said “bankers can’t think” | Mrs. Lee’s brother is a banker who does the same |
| Laughed at Mrs. Best’s blue dress with a red coat | Mrs. Harding wears the exact same combination |
| Criticised women who stay in bed in the morning and visit doctors often | Mrs. Harding stays in bed mornings; Mrs. Lee visits the doctor often |
| Called Mrs. Grantley “so talkative” and said talkative women aren’t interesting | Mrs. Lee’s mother is very talkative |
| Complained about a dirty dog outside | It was Mrs. Harding’s dog, Towzer |
| Criticised Mr. Pomeroy for riding horses and shooting | Mrs. Lee’s brother does exactly that |
| At farewell, said: “Oh, must you stay? Can’t you go?” | Mixed up the farewell phrase her mother taught her |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 โ Wit and Humour?
The unit explores humour, wit and effective communication through three different literary forms. The story shows the importance of empathy and open-mindedness, the poem celebrates absurdist fun and the play teaches students the value of thinking before speaking. Together they highlight how language, when used thoughtfully – or carelessly – can have very different effects.
Who is Polynesia in class 7 English Poorvi Unit 2 Animals, Birds and Dr. Dolittle and what role does she play?
Polynesia is Doctor Dolittle’s parrot and the most important supporting character in the story. She is the one who persuades the Doctor to become an animal doctor and then teaches him animal languages, starting with bird language. She is witty, confident and practical โ essentially the catalyst for the Doctor’s entire transformation.
What is the literary significance of the oxymoronic phrases “funny looking smell” and “funny feeling sound” in the poem A Funny Man?
These phrases mix two different senses โ sight and smell in one case, feeling and sound in another โ creating a deliberately absurd effect. They are examples of synesthesia (mixing of senses) used for comic effect. The poet uses them to reinforce the idea that everything about the funny man is topsy-turvy and defies ordinary logic, which is the central joke of the poem.
The play teaches that good communication is not just about talking confidently โ it is about being considerate, listening, and thinking before you speak. Mary’s constant blunders show that criticising people or things without knowing who you are talking to can cause serious offence. The play encourages empathy, awareness of one’s audience and the social skill of keeping conversation pleasant and inclusive.
