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Facts, Opinions, and the Art of Embroidery
Reading Comprehension Questions
Class 7
English
Facts, Opinions, and the Art of Embroidery
The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the St. Jude’s High School library, casting long, golden rectangles across the polished floor. Rohan sat in his favorite corner, his head bent low over a small wooden hoop. His fingers moved with practiced grace, pulling a needle and bright blue thread through a piece of white linen. He was finishing a pattern of a kingfisher, its wings mid-flight.
"Look at that!" a loud, mocking voice echoed through the quiet room.
Sameer and a few other boys from Class 7 stood at the end of the aisle. Sameer was smirking, his arms crossed over his chest. "Hey Rohan, are you making a handkerchief for your grandmother? Or is that your new 'girly' hobby?"
The other boys snickered. Rohan’s face flushed a deep crimson. He tried to tuck the embroidery hoop into his bag, but his hands trembled.
"It’s just embroidery, Sameer," Rohan said quietly, his voice barely a whisper.
"No, it’s weird," Sameer countered, stepping closer. "Boys don’t do needlework. It’s a fact that embroidery is for girls. You’re just being weak."
Before Rohan could respond, a chair scraped against the floor. Anjali, who had been studying at the next table, stood up. She walked over, her expression calm but firm.
"Actually, Sameer, that’s not a fact at all," Anjali said, crossing her arms.
Sameer rolled his eyes. "Oh, here comes the teacher’s pet. Everyone knows I’m right."
"Do they?" Anjali asked. "We just learned about this in English class yesterday. Remember the lesson on Facts vs. Opinions?"
Sameer blinked, caught off guard.
"Let’s use the Source Check," Anjali continued, pointing toward the history section of the library. "If you look at history books, you’ll find that for centuries, men in many cultures—from the royal tailors of India to the sailors on grand ships—were the masters of embroidery. That is a verifiable fact. It can be proven with evidence."
Sameer scoffed. "Whatever. It still looks weak."
"That," Anjali said, highlighting the word with her finger in the air, "is a Signal Word. 'Weak' is an adjective. It’s subjective. It’s based on your personal feelings and judgments, not on reality. When you say 'boys shouldn't do this,' you aren't stating a fact. You are stating an opinion based on a gender stereotype."
Rohan looked up, a small spark of courage returning to his eyes. Anjali turned to Rohan and smiled. "The fact is, Rohan is talented. The opinion is that his talent belongs to only one gender. And opinions, Sameer, don't give you the right to be a bully."
Sameer opened his mouth to argue, but he found himself silenced by the logic. He looked at the history books, then back at Anjali’s steady gaze. The 'Subjectivity Test' was hard to beat when someone called it out so clearly.
"Fine," Sameer muttered, turning away. "It’s still a boring hobby."
"And that's your opinion!" Anjali called out as they walked away. "You're entitled to it, as long as you don't use it to hurt others."
Rohan took a deep breath and pulled his embroidery hoop back out. "Thanks, Anjali. I didn't know how to explain it."
"You don't always have to explain your joy, Rohan," Anjali replied, sitting back down. "But it helps to know the difference between what's true and what's just someone else's loud perspective."
Rohan nodded, his needle moving again. The kingfisher’s wings were almost complete, and for the first time that day, they felt like they could fly.
Vocabulary Mastery: Words in Context
Before answering the questions, review these key terms as used in the story:
- Mocking: Used to describe Sameer's voice when he was making fun of Rohan.
- Definition: Making fun of someone or something in a cruel way; derisive.
- Crimson: Used to describe Rohan's face when he felt embarrassed.
- Definition: A deep, rich red color, often associated with a blush or shame.
- Verifiable: Used by Anjali to describe a fact that can be proven by history books.
- Definition: Able to be checked or demonstrated to be true, accurate, or justified.
- Subjective: Used to describe Sameer's use of the word "weak."
- Definition: Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
- Stereotype: Used to describe Sameer's narrow view of what boys should or shouldn't do.
- Definition: A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions
- In the sentence "Rohan’s face flushed a deep crimson," what does the word 'crimson' help the reader understand? A) Rohan was feeling very cold in the library. B) Rohan was wearing a red shirt that day. C) Rohan was feeling pale because he was sick. D) Rohan was experiencing intense embarrassment or anger.
- Why did Anjali refer to the "royal tailors of India" and "sailors on grand ships"? A) To show that she knows more about history than Sameer. B) To provide verifiable evidence that men have historically practiced embroidery. C) To suggest that Rohan should join the navy or become a royal tailor. D) To explain why the library has a history section.
- According to the text, why is the word "weak" considered a Signal Word in Sameer’s argument? A) It proves that Rohan is not strong enough to defend himself. B) It is a fact that can be found in a science textbook. C) It is a strong verb that shows action. D) It is an adjective that expresses a personal judgment or opinion.
- What is the definition of verifiable as used in the context of Anjali's "Source Check"? A) Something that everyone in the room agrees with immediately. B) A statement that sounds loud and confident. C) Something that can be proven true using evidence or records. D) A personal feeling that someone holds very deeply.
- Which of the following statements represents a fact mentioned in the story? A) Embroidery is a boring hobby for boys. B) Rohan should be making handkerchiefs for his grandmother. C) Sameer is the smartest boy in Class 7. D) Rohan is talented at embroidery.
Section 2: Fill in the Blank Questions
- A _________ is a widely held but oversimplified and fixed idea about a group of people, such as "embroidery is only for girls."
- Anjali explains that because "weak" is an adjective based on personal feelings, it is _________ rather than objective.
- Rohan was working on an embroidery pattern of a _________, which symbolizes his growing sense of freedom at the end of the story.
- To prove her point, Anjali suggests using a "Source Check" to find information that is _________ through history books.
Section 3: True or False Questions
- Sameer’s claim that "embroidery is for girls" is a verifiable fact. (True / False)
- History shows that men in various cultures have been masters of needlework for centuries. (True / False)
- Adjectives that express judgment are often signal words that indicate an opinion is being shared. (True / False)
- Rohan stopped his embroidery permanently after Sameer mocked him. (True / False)
Section 4: Critical Thinking Questions
- Explain how Anjali used the "Subjectivity Test" to challenge Sameer’s bullying.
- At the beginning of the story, Rohan’s hands "trembled," but at the end, he felt like the kingfisher "could fly." What does this change tell us about his emotional journey?
- Why is it important to distinguish between a fact and an opinion when someone is making a negative comment about your interests?
- Analyze Sameer's reaction when Anjali presented him with facts. Why do you think he found it hard to argue against her?
Section 5: Situational Judgement Questions
- If you witnessed Sameer mocking Rohan in the library, what are two specific ways you could support Rohan based on what you learned from Anjali?
- Imagine Sameer sees a world-famous male fashion designer using embroidery on a runway. Based on the story, how should Sameer adjust his perspective to move away from stereotypes?
- Rohan says he didn't know how to explain his hobby. If someone tells you that your favorite activity is "weird," how can you use the concepts of 'subjectivity' and 'opinion' to respond calmly?