Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about If from Class 7 English_FL. Before we begin reading the poem, our textbook shares a very important introductory thought. It tells us that giving is important in life. To give someone something you must yourself be kind, strong and charitable. You must not be hesitant. This beautiful idea sets the foundation for the poem we are about to study. The poet wants us to understand that kindness and generosity require inner strength and immediate action. Let us now read the complete poem together, exactly as it appears in your textbook.
If you have a kind word to say, Say it now. If you have something to give, Give it now. If you can make someone glad, Or another less sad, Do it now, do it now, do it now. If there’s good news to give, Give it now. If there is friendship to show, Hope you can raise, Or someone you can praise, Do it now, do it now, do it now. If you have trust to bestow, Give it now. If there is courage to give, Pain you can ease Or someone you can please, Do it now, do it now, do it now. Refrain : Now before it is too late Now’s the time for the good deed, Do not wait until tomorrow, For it may be just a little too late. - Anon.
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Now that we have heard the complete poem, let us understand its meaning line by line. The poet begins by telling us that if we have kind words to share, we should speak them immediately. If we have something to offer, we should give it right away. If we have the power to bring happiness to someone or reduce their sadness, we must act at once. The repetition of do it now three times creates a strong sense of urgency. The poet is teaching us that good deeds should never be delayed. In the next lines, the poet expands this idea. Sharing good news, showing friendship, raising hope in others, or praising someone are all wonderful acts. The poet reminds us that these positive actions lose their value if we wait. When you praise someone, you lift their spirits. When you show friendship, you build trust. All of these should happen in the present moment, not tomorrow.
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The third stanza speaks of deeper emotional qualities. Bestowing trust means giving your confidence in someone. Giving courage means inspiring bravery in others. Easing pain means comforting someone who is suffering, and pleasing someone means bringing them joy. Again, the poet repeats the urgent message to act immediately. Now we come to the refrain. It says, Now before it is too late, Now is the time for the good deed, Do not wait until tomorrow, For it may be just a little too late. At the end of this refrain, you will see a dash followed by Anon. This stands for Anonymous, indicating that the author of this particular refrain is unknown, rather than being a signature for the entire poem. Before we move to the exercises, let us look at the glossary provided in your textbook. The first entry is bestow on someone. It is a formal word that means give someone. The second phrase is pain you can ease. It means free someone from pain or worry. These definitions are important for understanding the deeper meaning of the poem.
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We will now move on to Section A, Talking about the poem. The textbook gives clear instructions for this activity. Take turns with your partner to ask or answer these questions. Explain to him or her why you think your answer is correct. Quote from the poem if necessary. I will read each question and guide you through the answers so you can prepare well. Question one: The poet is addressing a kind man. True or Not True. Answer: Not True. The poet is addressing every reader, not just a kind man. The use of the word you makes the message universal, urging all of us to act kindly. Question two: The poet is not talking about the good deeds that we can do. True or Not True. Answer: Not True. The entire poem is dedicated to listing the good deeds we can perform, such as sharing kind words, giving trust, showing friendship, and easing pain. Question three: How can you make someone glad? Or someone less sad? Can you give an example each? Answer: You can make someone glad by offering genuine praise, sharing happy news, or spending quality time with them. For example, telling a friend that you appreciate their help will make them glad. You can make someone less sad by listening to their troubles, offering comfort, or helping them solve a problem. For example, sitting quietly with a classmate who is upset and offering words of encouragement will reduce their sadness.
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Question four: The poet is saying you should praise people in order to gain favour. True or Not True. Answer: Not True. The poet advises praising people to genuinely uplift their spirits and spread positivity, not to win personal favour or selfish benefits. True praise comes from a selfless heart. Question five: The poet is saying you have to be strong yourself to do good to others. True or Not True. Answer: True. As the introductory note explains, to give something you must yourself be kind, strong and charitable. Inner strength is necessary to face challenges and help others consistently. Question six: a. The poet is assuming you may not have a forceful personality. b. The poet is advising you to develop a forceful personality. Underline the True statement. The correct choice is statement b. The introductory note clearly states, You must not be hesitant. Hesitation means being unsure or holding back, which is the exact opposite of being forceful and decisive. By urging you to act immediately and without delay, the poet is advising you to develop a strong, decisive personality that takes positive action right away.
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Question seven: Look at the good qualities given below: kindness, charity, broadmindedness, helpfulness, trustworthiness, friendliness, courage, and mercy. Do you know someone who has any of these qualities? Give an example. Remember Maqbool Butt. He had three of these qualities. For this activity, choose any three qualities from the list and think of a real person in your life who demonstrates them. Give a clear example, such as a teacher who shows helpfulness by patiently explaining lessons, or a friend who shows kindness by sharing their lunch. The textbook mentions Maqbool Butt as an example of someone who possessed three of these qualities, though it does not specify exactly which three. Use this as a prompt to reflect on the admirable traits of people you know or have read about. Question eight: The poet is telling us what is correct behaviour. True or Not True. Answer: True. The poem serves as a moral guide, teaching us that correct behaviour involves acting with kindness, generosity, and promptness rather than delaying our duties to others. Question nine: The general idea of the poem is that procrastination is good. True or Not True. Answer: Not True. The poem strongly opposes procrastination. It repeatedly urges us to act now and warns that waiting until tomorrow may be too late.
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Before we answer the final question, let us highlight a key vocabulary term from your textbook note. The note defines Procrastinate as delay, without good reason, doing of some necessary act; delay action keep on putting off action. Keep this exact definition in mind, as it is essential for understanding the next question and the writing task. Question ten: Procrastination is the Thief of Time. Discuss the meaning of this proverb with your teacher. What figure of speech is used here? Your textbook specifically assigns this as a discussion activity to be done with your teacher. The proverb means that when we delay important work, we are essentially stealing away our own valuable time. Since the textbook asks you to discuss the figure of speech in class, please follow your teacher's guidance to explore and identify it together during your lesson. Now let us complete the writing task from Section B. You are asked to write a short paragraph on the proverb Procrastination is the Thief of Time. To complete this task successfully, begin your paragraph by stating the proverb and explaining its meaning in your own words. Next, describe how delaying tasks wastes precious time and creates unnecessary stress. You can include a simple example from student life, such as postponing homework or exam preparation. Finally, conclude by explaining why acting promptly is important. Use the glossary definition of procrastination and the poem's message of doing good deeds now to support your writing.
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Let us quickly review what we have learned today. We studied the complete poem If, which teaches us to perform good deeds without delay. We explored its meaning, learned the glossary words, and answered all ten comprehension questions step by step. We also discussed the famous proverb about procrastination and prepared for the writing task. Remember, kindness, courage, and prompt action are the keys to a meaningful life. Practice reading the poem aloud with proper expression and try to apply its message in your daily routine. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]