Wit and Humour
Class 7 · English
3 ideas in Class 7 English, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Doctor Dolittle — Communication and Empathy
Part of: Reading Comprehension
Doctor Dolittle is a people's doctor who learns animal languages from his parrot Polynesia. Once he can talk to animals, he understands what they need and becomes a famous animal doctor. The story uses humour to explore the serious idea that good communication — truly listening — is the most important skill a helper can have.
Why it matters. Analysing how characters change and what causes the change builds comprehension skills. The story also develops vocabulary through comic and vivid language.
Try it in two minutes
- Ask your child: what change does Doctor Dolittle make in his career, and why?
- Ask: what was the plough horse's real problem? Why hadn't the other vet found it?
- Ask: what is funny about the idea of a horse needing green spectacles?
Try at home. Ask your child to imagine they can speak to their pet or a garden creature. What would the animal say about its daily life?
Compound Words — Open, Closed and Hyphenated
Part of: Vocabulary and Grammar
A compound word is formed by joining two words to make a new meaning. Open compound words have a space (bird language). Closed ones are written as one word (flowerpots). Hyphenated ones use a dash (well-known). The type depends on how the word is conventionally written.
Why it matters. Compound words expand vocabulary efficiently. Knowing the three types also improves spelling — students often miswrite open compounds as closed ones and vice versa.
Try it in two minutes
- Pick any household object and ask: is its name a compound word? (doorbell — closed; garden hose — open)
- Ask: what two words make 'windowsill'? What does each word contribute to the meaning?
- Challenge: make three compound words using the word 'over'.
Try at home. Ask your child to list 10 compound words from a single page of any book and sort them into open, closed and hyphenated.
Adverbs — Types and Usage
Part of: Vocabulary and Grammar
An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Adverbs of manner describe how (slowly, proudly). Adverbs of time describe when (never, always, yesterday). Adverbs of place describe where (outside, here). Adverbs of degree describe how much (very, quite, rather).
Why it matters. Using precise adverbs makes writing vivid and specific. Identifying adverb types also builds analytical grammar skills.
Try it in two minutes
- Say 'She spoke' and ask your child to add an adverb of manner (softly, proudly, loudly).
- Ask: what is the difference between 'he always arrives late' and 'he never arrives late'?
- Practice: take any verb and describe it with four different types of adverbs.
Try at home. Ask your child to rewrite three sentences from any book by changing or adding one adverb, and discuss how the meaning changes.
What your child will practise
- Adverbs — Types and Usage: Desert Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Adverbs — Types and Usage: Mission Control Quest (Match It Up)
- Compound Words — Open, Closed and Hyphenated: Space Quest (Flip and Match)
- Compound Words — Open, Closed and Hyphenated: Word Sort (Sort It Out)
- Doctor Dolittle — Communication and Empathy: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Quiz: Adverbs — Types and Usage (8 questions)
- Quiz: Compound Words — Open, Closed and Hyphenated (8 questions)
- Quiz: Doctor Dolittle — Communication and Empathy (8 questions)