Bhagya

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 4.1 The Vet Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions, and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 4.1 The Vet

Class 8 English Chapter 4.1 The Vet Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up:

Question 1.
Where do we find all types of wild animals in urban areas?
Answer:
In the zoo.

Question 2.
Do you have a pet?
Answer:
No, I don’t have a pet.

Question 3.
How do we help animals and birds?
Answer:
We help animals and birds by providing them with food, water, and shelter. We also help them by taking them to vets when they are ill.

Question 4.
How do we realize that animals are not feeling well?
Answer:
When animals are not well, they become quiet and inactive. Some may even groan. They also stop eating food.

Question 5.
Who gives medicines/treatment to sick animals and birds?
Answer:
The veterinarian.

1. Doctor who does the special advanced study of specific parts of the body have special terms.
In your group try to match the specialist doctors with who I what they treat.

Answer:

1. dentist – teeth
2. cardiologist – heart
3. ophthalmologist – eye
4. orthopedic – bone
5. pediatrician – small kids
6. neurologist – brain/spine
7. veterinarian – animals/birds

2. Discuss in your group and write down the most important reason, why Pediatrician and Veterinarians have, a tougher job to diagnose their patients’ illnesses.
Answer:
Pediatricians and veterinarians have a tougher job to diagnose their patients’ Illnesses as their patients cannot communicate their problems clearly.

1. What is the Rhyme scheme of stanzas I to 3 and the last ho stanzas? How does it differ in the remaining stanzas 4 to 7?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of:
(i) stanza 1: abab
(ii) stanza 2: abab
(iii) stanza 3: abab

2. Write any five illnesses of the animals in the poem, that you find most amusing/laughable.
Answer:

3. A. Out of all names of birds and animals given in the poem, pick out 4 names that are similar in English as well as in Hindi / Marathi or your Mother tongue.

3. B. Write four reasons why animals in u zoo suffer more than those who live free in the wild.
Answer:
Animals in a zoo suffer more than those who live free in the wild because of:

1. lack of free space to move around.
2. easy transmission of diseases.
3. food limited in quantity and variety.
4. trouble from human visitors.

4. Think deeply and write. Is the poet really discouraging the youth from becoming sets? Explain your response.
Answer:
No, the poet is not really discouraging the youth. The poem is a light-hearted one. However, the poet wants the reader to know how difficult the work of a vet is, and what a wide variety of patients he has to cure. They have different types of illnesses and different types of organs. They cannot even discuss their problems with him. We must acknowledge all this and respect the vet.

5. Find out from a vet or from a website, what precaution a vet has to take, when he/she is culled to treat wild, dangerous animals? Make point-wise flutes of the same.
Answer:
Points: must be aware of the signals they give – their body language – must not be distracted – protect against being attacked – precautions against allergies and transmission of diseases – wear protective gear, etc.

6. Select any four zoo – animals mentioned in the poem. Imagine they are able to talk in English. Compose a dialogue among the four animals discussing their discomfort and illnesses.
Answer:
Answer:
Animals: giraffe, tortoise, bear, kangaroo
Giraffe: Ouch, my neck hurts! The whole length of it! How lucky you are, tortoise to have such a short neck!
Tortoise: Lucky! Do you know what it means to take ages to move afoot? How difficult it is to permanently carry your home on your back?
Kangaroo: Oh, you find it difficult to move your feet. What about me? My legs are of unequal length; I cannot walk comfortably. I’m expected to jump around. I’m sick and tired of jumping. I want to walk regally like you, madam hippo.
Hippo: Regally, my foot! I’m walking so slowly because I’m feeling ill, and I do not know which part of this huge body is actually painting. You, tortoise, have such a small body. Not much searching is needed to find out the cause of the problem.
Tortoise: Problem! I only want to be able to move quickly, so that I can escape my enemies, and exercise my limbs.
Giraffe: I agree with madam hippo. The bigger the body, the more the area that has to be investigated to find out the problem. My doctor is never able to find out which part of my neck actually aches.
Kangaroo: Try balancing yourself on legs of unequal length and having to jump all the time, keeping your baby in your pouch.
Hippo: Ok, we all have our own problems. Let’s hope that the doctor who looks after us has enough knowledge and experience to cure us. He cannot even understand what we say!
All the others: How true!

Class 8 English Chapter 4.1 The Vet Additional Important Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Discuss in your class and write down the most important reason why pediatricians and veterinarians have a tougher job to diagnose their patients’ illnesses.
Answer:
Pediatricians and veterinarians have a tougher job to diagnose their patients’ illnesses as their patients cannot communicate their problems clearly.

Complete the following:

Question 1.
It is difficult to be a successful vet because _________.
Answer:
every patient has different internal organs, and a vet has to possess an extremely wide knowledge of his subject to treat them successfully.

Question 2.
The ducks and chicken are ______.
Answer:
not laying any eggs.

Question 3.
The giraffes have got stiff necks because _______.
Answer:
they have been quarreling with each other

Question 4.
The poet calls the vet ‘omniscient’ because ________.
Answer:
people expect him to know everything about animals’ illnesses and cure all sick animals

Question 5.
The opposite health problems of ______.
Answer:
the lion and Arctic fox are that the lion has caught a cold and the Arctic fox is suffering from heat

Answer the following:

Question 1.
What is the rhyme scheme of stanzas 4 and 5?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of:

• stanza 4 : aabccb
• stanza 5 : aabccb

Question 2.
Pick out an example of Alliteration from the extract.
Answer:
‘If the bear’s too full of buns’ Repetition of the sound of the letter ‘a’.

Question 3.
Pick out an example of Onomatopoeia from the extract.
Answer:
Why the parrot does nothing but groan’. The word ‘groan’ indicates the sound.

Question 4.
From the extract, pick out the words that mean the same as the following words:

1. make a sound of pain.
2. moved
3. very much
4. capable

Answer:

1. groan
2. stirred
3. exceedingly
4. competent

Question 5.
What is the poet’s advice to you? Do you think he means it?
Answer:
The poet advises the reader not to become a vet but to earn his/her living in an easier way. He advises the reader to become a doctor and treat the illnesses of human beings. No, I don’t think he means it. It is just said in a light-hearted way.

Question 6.
Is the poet really discouraging the youth from becoming vets? Explain your response.
Answer:
No, the poet is not really discouraging the youth. The poem is a light-hearted one. However, the poet wants:
the reader to know how difficult the work of a vet is, and what a wide variety of patients he has to cure. They have different types of illnesses and different types of organs. They cannot even discuss their problems with him. We must acknowledge all this and respect the vet.

Question 7.
What is the rhyme scheme of stanzas 6 and 7?
Answer:
Rhyme scheme of:
(i) stanza 6: aabccb (Note: the last line of the 6’ stanza is ‘If the elephant eats….’.)
(ii) stanza 7: aabccb (Note: thefirst line of the 7th stanza is ‘If the camel hurts….’.)

Question 8.
What is the rhyme scheme of the last two stanzas :
Answer:
(i) stanza 8: abab (Note: the last line of the 81h stanza Is ‘Your livtng in….’.)
(ii) stanza 9: abab (Note: the first line of the 9th stanza is ‘Don’t attempt to….’.)

Question 9.
PIck out an example of Alliteration from the extract.
Answer:
‘If the camel hurts his hump’.Repetition of the sound of the letter ‘h’.

Question 10.
Pick out an eximple of Onomatopoeia from the extract.
Answer:
‘If the elephant eats paper-bags and chokes’. The word ‘chokes’ indicates the sound.

Question 11.
What is the rhyme scheme of stanzas 1 to 3 and the last two stanzas? How does it differ In the remaining stanzas 4 to 7?
Answer:
In stanzas 1 to 3 and the last two stanzas, the alternate lines rhyme i.e. the rhyme scheme Is abab, cdcd, and so on. However, In the stanzas 4 to 7, the rhyme scheme is aab ccb I.e. the first two lines rhyme, then the third and sixth lines rhyme, and the fourth and fifth lines rhyme.

Question 12.
Analysis/Appreciation Of A Poem
Answer:

• Poem and poet: ‘The Vet’ by Guy Boas
• Theme: The illnesses various animals suffer from and the difficulties of a vet.
• Tone: witty and light-hearted
• Structure and stanzas: stanzas and lines of unequal length: stanzas 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9 similar, and 4, 5, 6, 7 similar.
• Rhyme and Rhythm: rhyme scheme ahab, cdcd, and so on for stanzas 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9. eefggf and so on for stanzas 4, 5,6, 7
• Language and Imagery: Simple and witty language; vivid Images of animals with different problems, all based on their body structures and abilities.
• Figures of Speech: Alliteration, Onomatopoeia

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.1 Sleep, My Treasure Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.1 Sleep, My Treasure

Class 6 English Chapter 4.1 Sleep, My Treasure Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Who is the speaker in the poem?
Answer:
The mother is the speaker in the poem.

Question 2.
Whom is the poem being addressed to?
Answer:
The poem is addressed to the child/baby.

Question 3.
What time is being described in the poem?
Answer:
Nighttime is being described in the poem.

Question 4.
Name the white and bright things mentioned in the poem.
Answer:
Lilies and daisies are the white and bright things mentioned in the poem.

2. Guess the meaning of the following from the context.

Question 1.
The garden still is alight with.
Answer:
The garden which has now become still (motionless) because the birds have gone into their nests is brightly lit up due to the presence of the showy lilies.

Question 2.
Dawn wakes the starling.
Answer:
As soon as it is dawn, the starling, a commonly found black bird wakes up. This is due to the darkness that has disappeared because of dawn or daybreak.

Question 3.
The meadow is wrapped in shadow.
Answer:
The meadow, where there is plenty of grass appears dark because the sun has set and there is only the shadow of the night falling on it.

3. Which is your favorite time of the day? Describe it in detail.

Question 1.
Which is your favourite time of the day? Describe it in detail.
Answer:
I like the morning time of the day as I feel fresh at daybreak. This feeling of freshness is due to the morning rays of the sun that bring hope in my life. I also look forward to the whole day’s activities, playtime and fun. (Answer may vary).

4. Vist a library. Find and read stories and poems by Edith Hesbit.

Question 1.
Visit a library. Find and read stories and poems by Edith Hesbit.

5. Draw word webs for the following.

Question 1.
Begin with the given word and go on writing as many other words associated with it, as you can. Use these words to write other related words to form a word web.

Answer:

6. An activity.

Question 1.
Speak fust, think faster!
Form groups of 4-6. Discuss each of the following topics. Then each person in the group should choose a topic and speak about it for one minute. Try to say us many sentences as you can in that time.
Answer:
a. What may happen ………………..
1. I may study …………….
As I have to go out during the weekend and then I may not have enough time to complete my studies. I have decided to be hardworking and sincere so that I may excel in my studies and achieve satisfaction.

2. A bird may fly into the classroom ………….
It may possibly get hurt due to the presence of the fan. It may have to be taken care of. It is better that I try to see to it that it does not enter the classroom so that it does not get wounded.

3. The Principal may call me …………..
The Principal may call me as I had expressed my wish to stand for the post of Commander in the school elections. I may be given an opportunity to compete with my friends. I may select the Lion as my logo. I feel I may be elected as Commander or Vice-commander.

4. It may rain ………………..
It may rain as the sky appears very cloudy right now. It may pour heavily and we are eagerly looking forward to it because only then we will have enough water supply to last for the whole year. The water supply may help the farmer tremendously in cultivating the crops to be supplied to the country’s population.

5. Dog may chase a cat.
A dog may chase a cat as it is the way of nature. The cat has been hiding behind the car, running around looking for rats. The dog has been on the lookout for the cat which was the cutest and the tiniest of the lot.

6. A king ……………. kingdom
A king may lose his kingdom. If he does not do justice, his subjects may lose faith in him. They may not love or respect him and even may not want him as their ruler anymore. The king must try to regain the trust of his subjects by being just and noble.

7. My friend …………….. read
My friend may give a storybook to read. He mentioned that the book was very interesting and had a captivating story. The characters in the book were unforgettable and described beautifully. The story is set in a mountainside village with a description of natural scenery. Hence, I feel that I may get that book to read during this weekend.

8. Mother may make idlis today.
Mother may make idlis today as we are going to have all my cousins at home for dinner. My mom is a very good cook. She prepares very tasty chutney and sambhar too. She has bought the ingredients like coconut and coriander, etc. So, I have strong feeling that she may make idlis tonight.

b. What is not likely to happen or will never happen?

1. It won’t …………… classroom.
It won’t rain in the classroom even though it is on the top floor because we have a concrete ceiling over our heads. It is pouring cats and dogs outside. I have a strong temptation to go out of my classroom and get wet in the rain and dance and enjoy because it is absolutely very clear that however hard we try, it will never rain in the classroom.

2. I won’t ever …………… dinosaur
I won’t ever see a dinosaur even if I dream of seeing it. This is a sad fact and a reality too because the dinosaurs have been clearly wiped away from the surface of the earth and not a single one is alive today as they could not adapt themselves to the changing environment. So, it is very sad to accept that I won’t ever see a live dinosaur.

3. The sun …………….. east.

The sun will never set in the east. Every phenomenon follows the law of nature and as per the law of nature that the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. This is due to rotation of the earth – and not the revolution of the sun. If these natural phenomena followed other schedules, things on earth would be very difficult and may go haywire.

c. Imagine yourself to be in a particular environment. Write your own ideas.

He says, “Come on, Monu” ………. Monu tries to strike a balance but is tilting the cycle to one side and falls down. He is only slightly hurt because of his uncle’s presence. His uncle holds him while falling. So, he has only a few bruises. Once again, he is trying hard to balance with a strong determination. Monu does manage to ride the bicycle without falling, but oh only a short distance is covered and Monu is back to square one.. .i.e., the same position as earlier.

Class 6 English Chapter 4.1 Sleep, My Treasure Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What had made the birds tired?
Answer:
The long day’s fun and pleasure has made the birds feel tired.

Question 2.
Where are the birds heading to, at the end of their long day?
Answer:
At the end of the long tiring day, the birds are heading to their nests.

Question 3.
What is the garden still alight with?
Answer:
The garden is still alight with freshly bloomed; merry and live lilies.

Question 4.
What are the daisies in the garden doing?
Answer:
The daisies in the garden are fast asleep.

Reading Skills and Poetic Device.

Question 1.
What does dawn do?
Answer:
Dawn (early morning) wakes the starling, a commonly seen black bird.

Question 2.
What does the sparrow do at daybreak?
Answer:
The sparrow starts moving slightly at the break of day to indicate that he has woken from his sleep.

Question 3.
What has happened to the meadows?
Answer:
The meadow is totally wrapped (covered) in the shadow of the night.

Question 4.
Till what time is the mother telling the child to remain asleep?
Answer:
The mother is telling the child to remain asleep till the daisies awaken themselves at dawn.

Question 5.
Pick out the rhyming words from the poem.
Answer:

• 1st stanza: treasure – pleasure; creep – asleep; is – lilies
• 2nd stanza: darling – starling; break – wake; meadow – shadow

Question 6.
Add a rhyming word of your own to each of the pairs given above.
Answer:
e.g.: treasure – pleasure – measure

Do you know:

Mother’s Day is a time to honour mother, grandmother, great grandmother for their contribution to family. It honours motherhood, material bonds and the influence of mother in society. It is celebrated in the second week of may., in almost 46 countries. It is an annual event but is held at different dates in the calendar, depending on the country.

Sleep, My Treasure Summary in English

The mother in the poem is putting her baby to sleep. The mother is addressing the baby as her ‘treasure’. She says that the birds are very tired due to the long day’s pleasure of doing a lot of work. Hence, they move slowly and quietly to their nests. Since all the birds have gone to their nests, the garden is still and no movement is seen anywhere, yet it is brightly lit up and appears lively due to the showy lily flowers. In contrast, all the daisies that had earlier bloomed in the garden are fast asleep.
As the mother is telling the baby to go to sleep, she also mentions that dawn wakes up the black birds. The sparrow starts moving and stirs itself when he sees dawn, but the whole meadow is covered in the shadow of the night. The baby too must sleep till it is daybreak and till the time the daisies wake up.

Introduction:

The ‘treasure’ in the poem is the baby who is being addressed by the mother. The mother is describing the night and telling the child to sleep. The mother is also telling the child to wake up in the morning while describing how the beautiful morning scenario would be.

Glossary:

1. pleasure (n) – enjoyment, happiness or satisfaction
2. treasure (n) – something that is precious lighly valued, (here) – the baby/child
3. creep (v) – move slowly without any noise
4. still (adj) – staying in the same position without moving
5. alight (v) – brightly lit up
6. stirs (v) – wakes up, moves slightly
7. wrapped – covered

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.3 A Crow in the House Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.3 A Crow in the House

Class 7 English Chapter 3.3 A Crow in the House Textbook Questions and Answers

1. A. Find antonyms for the following from the story.

Question A.

1. motionless × …………..
2. captivity × …………..
3. frequent × …………..
4. dull × …………..
5. gentle × …………..
6. co-operated × …………..
7. deep × …………..

Answer:

1. motionless × restless
2. captivity × freedom
3. frequent × sometimes
4. dull × gleaming
5. gentle × throaty
6. co-operated × objected
7. deep × shallow

B. Now try to find out synonyms (words that mean the same. for the following: (You may use a dictionary/thesaurus.

Question B.
Now try to find out synonyms (words that mean the same. for the following: (You may use a dictionary/thesaurus.

1. disapproved: …………..
2. bits / pieces: …………..
3. achievement: …………..
4. attracted: …………..
5. nuisance: …………..
6. mishap: …………..
7. controlled: …………..
8. rebuke: …………..

Answer:

1. disapproved: objected
2. bits/pieces: shreds
3. achievement: success
4. attracted: fascinated
5. nuisance: pest
6. mishap: disaster
7. controlled: restricted
8. rebuke: scold

2. Using your imagination, write how the other pets in the house could have objected to Caesar living in their house.

Question 1.
Using your imagination, write how the other pets in the house could have objected to Caesar living in their house.
Answer:
The pet dog Bruno and the little pet cat Tisca would have got upset about the author’s attention-getting divided. Tisca would have refused to eat or drink and Bruno must have barked each time the author would play with Caesar. Bruno and Tisca would have leapt onto the writer’s lap to get his attention like before. Their pet parrot in the cage would have squabbled and squawked at the very sight of Caesar and called him names to tease him.

3. Prepare a table to show Caesar’s pranks at home and outside.

Question 1.
Prepare a table to show Caesar’s pranks at home and outside.
Answer:

Caesar’s pranks at home	Caesar’s pranks outside
1. He danced about on the dining table. 2. He fidgeted about and investigated things. 3. He would empty the matchbox. 4. He would rip the daily paper to shreds. 5. He would overturn a vase of flowers. 6. He would tug at the tail of a dog. 7. He would squabble with the Hornbill and peck at his feet. 8. He knocked off Aunt Mabel’s spectacles.	1. He would visit neighbors’ houses frequently. 2. He would steal pens and pencils, hair ribbons, combs, keys, shuttlecocks, toothbrushes and false teeth. 3. He would snatch sweets from children. 4. He would take off clothes pegs from the clothesline.

4. Relate the life-story of Caesar, rearranging the facts In a proper sequence in the form of a flow chart.

Question 1.
Relate the life-story of Caesar, rearranging the facts In a proper sequence in the form of a flow chart.
Answer:

5. Rewrite in your own words.

Question a.
One event from the story.
Answer:
When Aunt Mabel paid the author a visit, Caesar impressed her by landing on her arm and demanding a kiss. As soon as Aunt Mabel (all delighted. put her cheeks forward, her spectacles grabbed his attention and he knocked them off.

Question b.
One of the Caesar’s traits that makes you laugh.
Answer:
Begining with getting comfortable in the author’s house, caesar slowly started annoying the pets already there. He would tug at the tail of one of the dogs or sit on top of Harold, the hornbill’s cage and peck his feet and annoy him. This trait makes me laugh.

6. Hold a debate on ‘Pets or Pests’.

Question 1.
Hold a debate on ‘Pets or Pests’
Answer:
Pets are the most lovable beings around us. When it comes to dogs, loyalty is their trademark. Besides being friendly, they shower unconditional love. Their presence in itself is a stress buster. They have the art of lifting one’s spirit with their playfulness and joyful nature. Pets help combat depression. Most pets are least demanding.

When one comes home all tired from the workplace, pets are always there to welcome. Their cheerfulness is extremely contagious. Their very presence adds to the energy of the environment. Although they cannot speak like humans, they express their emotions far more effectively. When it comes to understanding emotions, pets sense it pretty fast.

So pets are a blessing to have. Pets are pests as they are quite demanding when it comes to food. All of us know how choosy a cat is. Besides, pets eat into one’s constructive time as they are dependent for their daily chores. They dirty the house and require special training. Not all pets are friendly. Some even create trouble for the neighbourhood and the owner of the pet is held responsible. Guests fear coming home when they know there is a pet dog.

Moreover, one cannot travel with a carefree mind when one has a pet back home. Making adjustments to keep the pet when one is away is another challenge. When one loses one’s pet, it becomes quite difficult to overcome the sorrow due to emotional attachment. Hence, at times, pets turn out to be pests.

7. Do you have pet animals.

Question 1.
Write an interesting story about your own or your friend’s pet.
Answer:
Yes, I do have a pet dog named Brady. He usually gets along well with almost everyone. But one of my neighbours Ms. Miranda, an old woman, aged 70, never managed to impressed the canine. He would do did his utmost to make her life miserable. Sometimes tilting her dustbin kept outside her door, spreading garbage all over her entrance door, other times barking at her guests so fiercely to shoo them away before they could even meet her.

But one evening when Ms. Miranda got stuck in the lift, Brady immediately recognised her voice. He couldn’t bear to hear her cry of anxiety mixed with fear. Off he went running, searching for the security guard and rescued her. Since then both, Brady and Ms. Miranda are best friends.

8. Language Study.

Complement: There are two types of complement: subject complement and object complement. Subject complement Is a word or a phrase used after a verb that describes the subject. The underlined words and phrases in the following sentences are subject complements.
1. I am hungry.
2. My sister became a teacher.
The word ‘hungry’ and the phrase ‘a teacher’ describe the subjects of the verbs. Therefore, they are subject complements. An object complement comes after the object of a verb and gives us information about the object. The underlined words and phrases in the following sentences are object complements.
3. The class made her the monitor.
4. The teacher found my answer correct.
The phrase the monitor’ gives us information about the object ‘her’. The word ‘correct’ gives us information about the object ‘my answer’.

Class 7 English Chapter 3.3 A Crow in the House Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Who were the other members of the author’s family living in the same house?
Answer:
Author and his grandparents lived in the same house.

Question 2.
Did the author’s Grandfather like animals? How do we know that? Give two examples from this page to support your answer.
Answer:
Yes, the author’s Grandfather liked animals. We know this from the fact that Grandfather already had some pets and Caesar was taken good care of by Grandfather when he was ailing.

Question 3.
What is implied in ‘He took over the administration of the house?
Answer:
Inspite of the opposition to caesar’s presence in the house from Grandmother, Aunt Mabel and Grandfather’s pets, he made himself comfortable there. This is what is meant by “He took over the administration of the house.”

Question 4.
Guess how Caesar learnt to say ‘Hello, hello’.
Answer:
The author laught caesar to, say ‘Hello, hello’ in a cracked throaty voice.

Question 5.
What is meant by ‘Aunt Mabel never was a success with the pets’? Can you think of the reasons why it was so?
Answer:
Aunt Mabel never was a success with the pets means she didn’t get along well with pets. She, probably, must be afraid of them or there must be some inherent dislike for pets. It came in the way of pets developing a rapport with her as they are very quick to sensing love.

Question 6.
What is implied in the following sentence? Most of the neighbours were represented in our house by a toothbrush.
Answer:
Caeser stole and gathered toothbrush from his neighborhood and made a collection of them on top of the cupboard in his room. As, he was very fond of them. This implied that ‘Most of the neighbors were represented in our house by a toothbrush.

Question 7.
What actions of the author show that he loved Caesar?
Answer:
The author brought the injured crow home and called it Caesar. Despite Grandmother being unhappy about Caesar’s mischiefs, the author never got upset or thought of getting rid of him. When he died, the author dug a grave in the garden and buried Caesar there along with all the clothes, pegs and toothbrushes. He weven taught him how to talk and kiss These actions of the author show us that he loved Caesar.

Answer the following question in two or three sentences.

Question 1.
Why did the author not expect the crow to live?
Answer:
The author did not expect the crow to live because it was in a very sorry state with its beak gaping and head dropping.

Question 2.
How did the author and his Grandfather revive the injured crow?
Answer:
The author and his Grandfather fed the crow little bread and milk; varied this diet with occassional doses of Grandmother’s home-made wine in order to revive the bird.

Question 3.
How did Caesar trouble Aunt Mabel?
Answer:
When caesar alighted on her arm, the delighted Aunt Mabel leaned forward for a kiss. But her glaming spectacles caught his altention and he knocked them off.

Question 4.
Where would the neighbours clothes be lying? Why?
Answer:
The neighbours clothes would be lying in the mud with no sign of pegs because Caesar would steal the pegs and take it to the writer’s house.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Match the columns.

‘A’	‘B’
1. A horse-drawn vehicle.	a. shreds
2. Make small nervous movement	b. prizing
3. Torn strips of paper.	c. tonga
4. Use force to move apart.	d. fidget

Answer:

‘A’	‘B’
1. A horse-drawn vehicle.	c. tonga
2. Make small nervous movement	d. fidget
3. Torn strips of paper.	a. shreds
4. Use force to move apart.	b. prizing

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
What dangers were likely to befall the young crow?
Answer:
The Young crow was in danger of being crushed by a cart or tonga or seized by a cat.

Question 2.
To whom do these names refer?
1. Mabel
2. Caesar
Answer:
1. Mabel refers to the author’s aunt.
2. Caesar refers to the young crow brought home by the author.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Use appropriate form of the word given in brackets.
1. I picked it up and it home, (bring.
2. He was his freedom (offer.
Answer:
1. I picked it up and brought it home.
2. He was offered his freedom.

Grammar.

Complete the table.

Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle
……………	brought	brought
fall	………………	fallen
……………	kept	kept
give	…………….	given

Answer:

Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle
bring	brought	brought
fall	fell	fallen
keep	kept	kept
give	gave	given

Personal Response.

Question 1.
What pranks did Caesar engage in?
Answer:
During meal times Caesar would dance about on the dining table until he was given a bowl of meat soup and vegetables. He would empty the contents of the match-box, rip the daily paper to shreds, overturn a vase of flowers or tug at the tail of one of the dogs.

Simple Factual Questions.

Complete the statements.

Question 1.
Caesar did not show any inclination to
Answer:
join the other crows in the banyan tree

Question 2.
Perching on top of Harold’s cage, Caesar would
Answer:
peck at the big bird’s feet

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Why did the writer not cage Caesar?
Answer:
When the writer put Caesar in a cage, he cawed and flapped his wings so fiercely that they thought that for their own peace of mind, it was best not to cage him.

Question 2.
Why did Caesar not mingle with other crows, according to Grandfather?
Answer:
According to Grandfather, Caesar did not mingle with other crows because he was a jungle crow and looked at ordinary crows with contempt.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Use prefix ‘in’/’un’ with any two words from the extract to make its antonymns.
1. kind
2. human
Answer:
1. unkind
2. inhuman

Question 2.
Give verb forms.
1. little
2. inclination
Answer:
1. belittle
2. incline

Question 3.
Give one word for the following.
1. to come down
2. shining brightly
Answer:
1. alighted
2. gleaming.

Grammar.

Question 1.
He would sit for hours outside the window. (Rewrite using modal auxiliary of past ability..
Answer:
He could sit for hours outside the window.

Question 2.
I had also taught him to sit on my arm. (Pick out the infinitive..)
Answer:
to sit – infinitive.

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Which two contrasting traits of Caesar does the passage highlight? Do all animals and birds have this?
Answer:
Caesar on one hand is a very snobbish and mischievous crow troubling the Hornbill and not mingling with other crows. But on the other hand, he comes across as a very loving bird greeting the writer and kissing him. Yes, I think all animals and birds have these contrasting traits just as we humans do. They are good to some people and mischievous with the ones who don’t like them.

Simple Factual Questions.

State whether the following sentences true or false.
1. Caesar often managed to snatch sweets from children.
2. An occasional sip of Grandmother’s wine finally led to disaster.
Answer:
1. true
2. false.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Where did Caesar store his stolen goods?
Answer:
Caesar stored his stolen goods on top of the author’s cupboard.

Question 2.
Why did Grandmother’s blood pressure go up?
Answer:
Watching Caesar steal combs, keys pens, pencils etc. from neighboring houses, Grandmother’s blood pressure went up.

Question 3.
Where did the author bury him?
Answer:
The authors dug a shallow grave in the garden and buried him there.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Give norm forms for the following.

1. restrict
2. fascinate
3. spy
4. refuse

Answer:

1. restriction
2. fascination
3. spy
4. refusal

Question 2.
Use ‘spy’ as a noun and verb in sentences.
Answer:
Noun – Vijay’s brother worked as a spy for FBI
Verb – It is a very sensitive matter to spy for one’s country.

Grammar.

Grandfather and I washed and bandaged his leg and gave a sip of homemade wine. (Rewrite using ‘Not only but also’)
Answer:
Grandfather and I not only washed and bandaged his leg but also gave a sip of homemade wine.

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Do you think the author had any feelings when he found Caesar dead?
Answer:
The expression “Poor Caesar!” by the author shows that he had a soft corner for Caesar. They both shared a loving relationship with Caesar welcoming the author back from school saying, ‘hello, hello’ and “Kiss, Kiss” by sitting on his arm and placing his head against the author’s mouth.

Language Study.

Question 1.
I dug a shallow grave in the garden. (End with ‘………. by me’)
Answer:
A shallow grave was dug in the garden by me.

Question 2.
He grew weaker day-by-day. (Make negative)
Answer:
He didn’t grow stronger day-by-day.

Make sentence.

Question 1.
to bring it round
Answer:
The doctors put in their best efforts to bring the patient round.

Question 2.
to make oneself at home
Answer:
I made myself at home in the new hostel room within few days.

Question 3.
to tug at something
Answer:
The beggar tugged at my sleeve asking for some money.

Question 4.
to get rid off
Answer:
I got rid off the old story books by giving them to the child next door.

Question 5.
to find one’s way
Answer:
I found my way to the college on my own.

Question 6.
Caesar was joining us at mealtimes. (Identify the tense)
Answer:
was joining – past continuous tense.

Question 7.
He danced about on the dining table. (Change into present continuous tense.)
Answer:
He is dancing about on the dining table.

Question 8.
Use the following phrases in sentence.
1. do your best
2. on the road to recovery
Answer:
1. My grandma tells me to do my best when I take up any task.
2. After the revaging floods, the state of of Kerala is on the road to recovery.

Writing Skills.

Question 1.
Write a character sketch on Caesar.
Answer:
Caesar was the author’s pet crow who had been brought home by him after an injury. Caesar, was typically wild with all his anti-social activities. He had made the life of his caretakers difficult. The other pets in the house too did not like him as he would not spare them as well. The fact that he did not mingle with other crows shows that he was too snobbish. He couldn’t be caged and so he made the most of the freedom that he got by troubling others.

He comes across as a hoarder who loved to amass various things ranging from essentials like toothbrushes and combs to false teeth. However, lying beneath this arrogant behaviour, was a layer of love and warmth for the writer whom he greeted with a ‘hello’ and a kiss. He was a good learner as he had learnt to say ‘hello’. But his own notorious action landed him in trouble and proved fatal when he was hit with a stick. In short, Caesar was a wild bird who loved to live a life on his own terms around the author’s house.

Formative Assessment.

Question 1.
Crows are very common to India. Gather some information about them.

1. Are crows intelligent?
2. Can you teach a crow to talk?
3. Are crows friendly?
4. Do crows have funerals?

Answer:

1. Crows are nearly as intelligent as ravens. They have a good memory for human faces and approach people differently.
2. Several crows can mimic human speech.
3. Crows are very social species and live in large extended family groups.
4. When a bird dies, crows gather squawking loudly and gathering as many other birds as they can find to come and look at the dead body.

A Crow in the House Summary in English

This extract revolves around a crow who was injured and lying on the road. He was picked up and taken home by the author and nursed back to health. How he became a pet as well as a pest in -w the family is seen in this lesson.

Introduction:

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He has made significant contribution to the growth of children’s literature in India. He was a recipients of ‘Padmashri’ in 1999 and ‘Padmabhushan’ in 2014. His works reflect his love for things in nature and his keen sense of observation. The present extract is from his book “Grandfather’s Private Zoo”.

Glossary:

1. fluttering (v) – fly unsteadily
2. tonga (n) – a light horse-drawn-two-wheeled vehicle used in India
3. prizing (v) – use force to move apart
4. recovery (n) – a return to a normal state of health
5. grubs (n) – the larva of an insect, especially a beetle
6. fidgeting (v) – to make small nervous movement of hands and feet
7. rip (v) – tear or pull something away forcibly
8. shreds (n) – torn strips or pieces of paper or cloth
9. ruin (n) – destruction
10. grumbled (v) – complain about something in a bad-tempered way
11. fierce (adj) – violent and aggressive
12. contemptuous (adj) – showing disregard
13. squabble (v) – to quarrel noisily over a small matter
14. gleaming (adj) – shining brightly
15. engaging (adj) – charming and attractive
16. spied (v) – to observe carefully and make out something
17. disaster (n) – tragedy
18. mend (v) – repair
19. flung (v) – threw
20. anti-social (adj) – contrary to the laws and customs of society
21. grave (n) – burying place
22. carrion crows (n) – crows feeding on dead or decaying flesh (and other garbage)

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.5 News Analysis Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.5 News Analysis

Class 7 English Chapter 3.5 News Analysis Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Write your own impression about the news items given in (a), (b), (c), (d) in the table given below.

Question 1.
Write your own impression about the news items given in (a), (b), (c), (d) in the table given below.

Answer:

Good/Bad News	Reliable/ Unreliable News	Interesting/ Uninteresting/ Boring	others
good	reliable	interesting	Lists down DO’s and DON’TS for candidate.
bad	unreliable	boring	No authenticity. Might be based on rumours.
bad	reliable	interesting	Creates an awareness about environmental problems.
bad	unreliable	boring	Highlights the need to adopt a more scientific attitude.

2. Write a letter to your class teacher or the Principal of your school to make any one of the following requests.

a. You wish to start a news bulletin for your school/class. It will be a one-page bulletin to be published every week. A different group of students will manage the preparation of the bulletin every time.
Answer:
C/1, Elixir Apartments,
V. S. Road,
Dadar (West),
Mumbai – 400 028.
7th July, 2017.

To
The Principal,
St. John’s School,
Dadar (West),
Mumbai – 400 028.
Sub: Request to start a news bulletin. Respected Sir,
I, XYZ, the monitor of VII – B, would wish to request you to grant us permission to start a news bulletin for our school. As part of the Literary Club activity, the bulletin will serve as a platform for those who wish to enhance their writing skills and try their hands at journalism right in school.

The bulletin would be a single page weekly, covering news related to schools in our neighbourhood and their notable innovative activities and of our own school activities, achievements and programmes. This gives opportunity to students to scout around, explore and express their observations, thoughts and ideas and expose them to a new career option for later life.

Kindly consider my earnest request and grant us the permission so that the Literary Club may flourish –
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
XYZ

b. Your school library subscribes to a few newspapers. Your class wants old issue of the newspaper for some educational activity in the classroom. You are required to make cuttings/news clipping. Therefore, the papers cannot be returned to the liabrary but you will use them in a responsible manner. Use the format of a formal letter given below.

Answer:
C/1, Elixir Apartments,
V. S. Road,
Dadar (West),
Mumbai – 400 028.
7th July, 2017.

To
The Principal,
St. John’s School,
Dadar (West),
Mumbai – 400 028.

Sub: Request to issue old newspapers for a project.
Respected Sir,
I, XYZ, of class VII-B would wish to request you to grant us permission to use old newspaper clippings from the Library for our English project.

The project aims at making us aware of various types of news articles, the language used in newspaper reports and enable us to compare and see the changes that have taken place in terms of presentation and news that is printed. However, we do not have access to newspapers of the past five years.

May I earnestly request you to allow us to make use of newspaper clippings of the last five years from the school Library? I assure you that the newspaper will be used in a responsible manner.

We intend to hold competitions that will further encourage students to put in their best. Your support and guidance will help serve the purpose better.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
XYZ

3. Hold a discussion in the classroom about the differences between printed newspaper, radio news bulletins, T.V. news bulletins.

Question 1.
Hold a discussion in the classroom about the differences between printed newspaper, radio news bulletins, T.V. news bulletins. Discuss the merits, demerits and popularity of each.
Answer:
The merits and demerits of the print Media are as follows:
a. Print Media (Newspapers):
Merits: These are more accessible. They are available at a low cost. They are also delivered at one’s doorstep. Besides this, one can always choose to read news of one’s choice by just turning over the pages. More suitable for senior citizens who are not tech-savvy.

Demerits: The illiterate cannot make use of the Print Media. It occupies more space after some time when the newspapers pile up. Usually the news articles are based on the thought process of the owners of the Newspaper advertisements news articles.

b. Electronic Media:
Merits: As the T.V. is an audiovisual medium it appeals to the sense of hearing and sight. The illiterate can have entertainment as well as information. It is more lively as the person can see the reporter or the panel discussing a given topic. Various news channels offer a wide variety of topics and programmes. An animated map with weather forecast is much more interesting to see as compared to reading it in black and white.

Demerits of Electronic media: Electronic media includes radio, television tablets, all phones etc. with the flooding of TV channels, cell phones with enormous features etc have enslaved man. People are hooked on to these items and direct human communication has broken down within the families too. The reason is everybody is busy with either the TV or cell phone most of the time. Children are also hooked on to these from a very early stage in life. These technologies also bring with them problems of radiation and health risks and take away personal time.

Class 7 English Chapter 3.5 News Analysis Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer in one sentence.

Question 1.
Who is Stephen Hawking?
Answer:
Stephen Hawking was a physics professor.

Question 2.
Why did people flock to Ralewadi?
Answer:
People flocked to Ralewadi to get a special powder from Miribaba that was supposed to cure all ailments.

Question 3.
What was the cost of the herbal powder packet?
Answer:
The packet of powder was priced at Rs. 25/-

Question 4.
Name some herbs?
Answer:
Some Common herbs are ginger, tulsi, mint.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Complete the web diagram with all non-electronic items prohibited in the examination hall as per the news item.
Answer:

Question 2.
What is the meaning of issued, candidates and invigilators?
Answer:

1. issued – distributed.
2. candidates – a person who applies for some job (here).
3. invigilators – people who watch students taking an exam.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Who is conducting the test?
Answer:
Shivam Institute of Innovative Technology in Bengaluru is conducting the test.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Form four 4 letter words from the following:

1. Bengaluru
2. prestigious
3. examination

Answer:

1. Bengaluru – Bengal, bugle, lure, rule, glue
2. prestigious – Press, rest, gist, sprout, priest
3. examination – name, exam, mine, animation, nation

Grammar.

Question 1.
The pens will be provided in the hall by the invigilators. (Begin with ‘………….. The invigilators’)
Answer:
The invigilators will provide the pens in the hall.

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Why is this news published in newspapers?
Answer:
This news is published in the newspaper to make the readers and other institutions aware of the steps some educational institutions are taking to prevent malpractices during exams. It also prepares the candidates taking the exam by distributing a ‘Do’s and ‘Don’ts list beforehand.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
What words are used for the following in the news item:
1. Film industry.
2. Something on which a lot of money is spent.
Answer:
1. Film industry – Bollywood.
2. Something on which a lot of money is spent – big-budget.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Guess why ‘Ant’ is a big-budget movie?
Answer:
’Ant’ could be a big-budget movie as it must be an animated film with a lot of sound and visual effects and also because the makers had roped in Ritika, a highly paid Bollywood star.

Question 2.
What will be Ritika’s reaction to this news?
Answer:
Ritika might be surprised to read this news as there may be no truth in it.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Guess the meaning of ‘most highly paid’, ‘revealed’, ‘sign films’.
Answer:

1. most highly paid – someone who is paid the highest amount of salary.
2. revealed – to make something new known to others.
3. sign films – to agree to do a film by signing a contract.

Grammar.

Question 1.
She refused to give any reasons for her decision. (Change into a negative sent)
Answer:
She did not give any reasons for her decision.

Question 2.
Make adjectives.
Answer:
1. heart
2. decision
3. reason
Answer:
1. hearty
2. decisive
3. reasonable

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Can you think of other reasons for Ritika’s decision to not sign any more movies after ‘Ant’?
Answer:
There could be many reasons for Ritika’s decision to not sign any more movies after ‘Ant’ like disillusion with film world, desire to seek work in some foreign country, the urge to raise a family and settle down, etc.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Which words or phrases in the news refer to the earth?
Answer:
The word ‘planet’ and ‘world’ in the news refer to the earth.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Which of the following problems do you believe is the most serious:
a. climate change,
b. overpopulation,
c. epidemic diseases?
Answer:
Overpopulation is the most serious problem faced by the world today leading to a host of other problems.

Question 2.
Within two minutes tell as many words as possible related to the following words:
Answer:
a. news – reporters, T.V, radio, crime, politics, movies, sports, newspaper, responsibility
b. T.V. – serials, sports, music, entertainment, education, innovation, remote control, news channels.
c. radio – AIR, Akashwani, Radio Mirchi, news, songs, recordings, talks, interviews.
d. mobile – messages, Whatsapp, charger, camera, music, games, internet, connectivity, camera, instant communication, global.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Guess the meaning of ‘mankind’?
Answer:
mankind – human race.

Grammar.

Question 1.
1. Hawking said that the world today is facing huge challenges.
2. We have only one planet and we need to work together to protect it.
Answer:
1. that
2. and

Question 2.
Make verb.
Answer:

1. dangerous – endanger
2. work – work
3. challenge – challenge

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Prof. Hawking wrote about the problem in the Guardian. Why is it given as ‘news’ in other papers?
Answer:
Although Prof. Hawking wrote about the problem in the Guardian, it is given as ‘news’ in other papers to create awareness about the gravity of the situation and the need to take urgent, constructive steps to protect our planet from further degradation by mending our ways. As the problem in discussion concerns the whole world, putting it in other papers will help spread awareness and take some corrective steps.

Fill in the blanks.

Question 1.
1. He has developed this powder from a special herb in the …………… .
2. Dr. …………… of Ambegaon Civil Hospital said number of patients increased in last few weeks.
Answer:
1. Himalayas
2. Karnik.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Why is there a question mark in the heading?
Answer:
There is a question mark in the heading as the article leaves it on us to decide or find out the truth about Miribaba’s cure. The question mark indicates that it is not certain whether the powder has the power to cure ailments.

Question 2.
Which part of the news is reliable? Which part may not be reliable? How do we learn that?
Answer:
A report from Dr. Karnik of Ambegaon civil Hospital that there was an increase in member of patients in the last few weeks is probably more reliable. It could be that people out of blind faith went to Miribaba with their problems and were treated with some unnamed herbal powder. When their problems got out of hand or did not get better, they must have visited the civil hospital.

The claim of Miribaba’s followers that the herbal packs blessed by him cured thousands of people may be a story to cure more people towards Baber.

Question 3.
Will Miribaba and his followers like the news?
Answer:
Miribaba and his followers will definitely not like the news.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Guess the meaning of ‘flock’ and ‘followers’.
Answer:

1. flock – gather or move in large numbers
2. followers – people supporting someone whom they believe in disciples.

Grammar.

Question 1.
Hundreds of people flock every hour to Ralewadi. (Frame a Wh – question to get the underlined word as an answer)
Answer:
Where do hundreds of people flock every hour?

Question 2.
Each packet is specially blessed by him. (Separate the subject and predicate)
Answer:
Each packet – Subject is specially blessed by him – Predicate.

Personal Response.

Question 1.
What should you do when you fall ill?
Answer:
When one falls ill one mus identify the cause of the discomfort and how it can be set right with rest and correct food. Safe home remedies could be tried and if no improvement is found, one should consult a doctor immediately.

Language Study.

Question 1.
Complete the table.
Answer:

Noun	Verb	Adjective	Adverb
innovation	innovate	innovative	innovatively
measurement	measure	measurable	measurably
decision	decide	decisive	decisively
danger	endanger	dangerous	dangerously

Make sentences using the following phrases/ idioms, also write its meaning.

Question a.
to break someone’s heart – to make someone very sad.
Answer:
I kept up my promise of taking my five-year-old nephew out as I didn’t want to break his heart.

Question b.
to flock – to gather.
Answer:
Thousands of flamingoes flock to Sewri every year.

Question 2.
She refused to give any reasons for her decision. (Make negative)
Answer:
She did not give any reasons for her decision.

Question 3.
We have the technology to destroy the planet on which we live. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
We have the technology to destroy the planet on which we live, don’t we?

Question 4.
We will have built colonies amid the stars. (Rewrite in Future Perfect Continuous tense)
Answer:
We will have been building colonies amid the stars.

Question 5.
The world today is facing huge challenges. (Rewrite ending with world today’)
Answer:
Huge challenges are being faced by the world today.

Question 6.
She wants to make a career in politics. (Use Modal auxiliary of possibility)
Answer:
She might want to make a career in politics.

Question 7.
Hawking wrote recently in the Guardian newspaper. (Write in question form)
Answer:
Didn’t Hawking write in the Guardian newspaper recently?

Question 8.
Mankind is facing the most dangerous time in its history today. (Rewrite using ‘Positive degree’)
Answer:
No other time faced by mankind in its history is as dangerous as today.

Question 9.
Imagine how this news item helped people understand the truth that Miribaba’s powder cannot cure diseases. Write the story about it in short.
Answer:
After reading the article in the newspaper regarding ailing people, some truth-seekers made their way to the Ambegaon Civil Hospital. On checking the records and after talking to the patients, it was clear that Miribaba was a fraud and there was nothing miraculous in the powder as claimed by him. To set things straight, these people headed towards to Ralewadi. But the news of the truth being revealed had already reached Miribaba who fled away to save his life.

Question 10.
Go through a few specimens of major newspaper. You will see that each page carries only a certain type of news. Read all the news items given in the lesson of your textbook and decide their types.
Answer:
Nature
a. Educational
b. Entertainment
c. Environment
d. exploitation

Question 11.
Which other items do you find in a newspaper besides news?
Answer:
Besides news, we find advertisements, classifieds, cartoon strips, daily horoscope, brain teaser games, recipes, letters to the editor, entertainment, etc.

News Analysis Summary in English

News Analysis is a detailed examinations of the elements of the news item presented. Here we have news items from different fields such as academics, entertainment, environment and exploitation of gullible people. It is our responsibility to read, reflect and analyse news items and verify the authenticity of the news before we share it with others.

Introduction:
With the application of technology in mass media, we have access to news through various newspapers, magazines, T.V. Channels and through the internet.

Glossary:

1. analysis (n) – detailed examination of the elements give out officially of something.
2. issued (v) – distributed
3. candidate (n) – a person who applies for something (here, exam)
4. prestigious (ad]) – having high status
5. invigilators (n) – people who supervise
6. gadget (n) – a small mechanical or electronic device
7. informal (adj) – friendly, unofficial
8. epidemic (n) – a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease
9. flock (v) – gather
10. settlement (n) – a village
11. winding (adj) – twisting
12. claim (v)- assert that something is the case
13. amid (prep) – in the middle of candidates taking an exam

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 1.5 A Kabaddi Match Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 1.5 A Kabaddi Match

Class 6 English Chapter 1.5 A Kabaddi Match Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Form pairs. Make a list of as many games as you can. (At least 25) Then classify the games using the following criteria:

• indoor and outdoor games.
• Games played with and without any equipment.
• Games which have one-to-one matches and those in which teams play against each other (Single player or team)
• Games played mostly by children and games played by adult players.
• Shape and size of the court or field.
• Use the following figures to show your classification.

Question 1.
indoor and outdoor games.
Answer:

Indoor Games	Outdoor Games
Billiards	Archery
Bowling	Cricket
Boxing	Diving
Chess	Golf
Gymnastics	Hockey
Judo	Tennis
Karate	Volleyball
Kung fu	Kho-Kho
Squash
Swimming
Table tennis
Weight lifting
Wrestling

Question 2.
Games played with and without any equipment.
Answer:

Bowling	Cricket	Judo
Billiards	Basketball	Karate
Diving	Table tennis	Boxing
Squash	Golf	Weight lifting
Archery	Chess	Soccer
Boxing	Hockey	Kung fu
Badminton	Wrestling	Kho-Kho
Volleyball	Gymnastics	Swimming

Question 3.
Games which have one-to-one matches and those in which teams play against each other (Single player or team)
Answer:

Question 4.
Games played mostly by children and games played by adult players.
Answer:

Games played by children	Games played by adults
Blind man’s buff	Chess
Cops and robbers	Snooker
Dodge ball	Hockey
Four square	Cricket
I spy	Badminton
Leap frog	Football
Pick-up-sticks	Polo
Ring a Ring o’ Roses	Billiards

Question 5.
Shape and size of the court or field.
Answer:

Name of the game	Shape of the court field	Size of the field
Basketball	Rectangular	26 m in length, 14 m in width measured from the inside edges of the boundary lines.
Boxing	Square	The ring should not be less than 12 feet or more than 20 feet square. The height from the ring floor level to the top rope should not be less than four feet, nor more than five feet.

2. Read the description of the Kabaddi match and do the following:

Question a.
Note down the names of the players and say whether each one belongs to 9A or 9B.
Answer:

Name of the student	Class
Govind	9A
Suresh	9B
Ravi	9B
Mohan	9B
Vinod	9B
Mangesh	9A
Ajinkya	9B
Mihir	9B
Sohan	9A
Vivek	9A

Question b.
Describe, in your own words, the important events in the first half.
Answer:
With the spectators clapping and boosting the morale of both the teams, the match got off to a good start. Having won the toss 9A sent their raider, Govind. Catching the opponent unawares, he touched Suresh from 9B and in no time headed towards home thus scoring a point.

Ravi being a strong player, with the knowledge of the right techniques appeared relaxed as he was aware of his strengths. Mangesh was wrestled down by Ravi and his friend, but Mangesh proved his capability. Even as he was on the ground with the anti¬raiders catching hold of his waist and legs, he slowly inched towards his court.

The best efforts of the anti-raiders failed in pulling him back and Mangesh successfully touched the mid-line scoring three points and getting three players of the anti-raiders out from the game.

Now, 9B began to play by exercising caution. Mihir and one of their raider tasted early success as they managed to tag Sohan in 9A. The other few raids were futile. Now, it was the turn of Vivek, the strategist. The remaining three players from 9B trapped Vivek. He slowly made his way back towards his court with the anti-raiders moving with him.

When they caught Vivek’s arm and tried to pull him back, Vivek slipped his leg beyond the midline with the anti-raiders still hanging onto his arm. Thanks to Vivek’s efforts, the whole of 9B was declared out.

Question c.
Write in your own words, what happened in the second half.
Answer:
The half time break was over, the star players of 9A were brimming with confidence. They did an encore by catching hold of ace raiders Mohan, Ajinkya and Ravi. As they say, the best team wins. Since 9A displayed excellence in all areas of the game, they emerged the winners. This coupled with team spirit, their confidence, strategies, swiftness and suppleness helped them emerge the winners beating 9B – a team which had never been defeated in any game of Kabaddi.

Question d.
Choose any one event and draw a diagram to show what happened.

3. List all the words specially used in the game of Kabaddi.

4. From the internet or other sources, find the other names by which Kubaddi is known in different parts of our country and the world.

Question 1.
From the internet or other sources, find the other names by which Kubaddi is known in different parts of our country and the world.

5. What characteristics are needed to be a good player of Kabaddi? What should you do to develop each? Discuss this in groups of 5 and write a composition on it.

Question 1.
What characteristics are needed to be a good player of Kabaddi? What should you do to develop each? Discuss this in groups of 5 and write a composition on it.

6. Read the following note from a school girl’s diary:

Write diary entries for the interesting or important events that take place in your school. Write at least 3 entries.

Question 1.
Write diary entries for the interesting or important events that take place in your school. Write at least 3 entries.
Answer:
Dairy 1.

15th June, 2016.

Dear Diary,
Today was the first day of our new academic year. It was a fun filled day meeting new teachers and friends.
I am looking forward to the days ahead. My friends and I have made several plans to make the most of our time in school. The new textbooks are really very informative and colourful.
I am all excited about the days ahead.

– XYZ

Dairy 2.

15th Aug, 2016.

Dear Diary,
We had a tree plantation drive in our school on the occasion of Independence Day. All of us had to take saplings to school. I had taken a mango sapling. I wonder when my sapling will grow into a huge tree. There were posters everywhere, one which said – “Plant and preserve, Plant and protect, Plant and prosper, Plant and perish”.

-XYZ

Dairy 3.

12th Dec, 2016.

Dear Diary,
Today was our Sports Day. It was inaugurated by our Sports Minister. After the speeches, the competitions started. Various competitions were held. The most exciting were the Tug of War and Relay. I won the gold medal in 100 m Running. What an eventful day it was!

-XYZ

7. Language Study: Degrees of comparison.
We use different forms of adjectives and adverbs to show comparison. They are known as degrees of comparison.

• Positive: Mangesh was ac strong ac Ravi.
  She is as tall as her sister.
• Comparative: Mangesh was stroll gel’ than other players.
  She is taller than her sister.
• Superlative: Mungesh was the strongest player in the team.
  Their sister is the tallest amongst the three.

8. Complete the following sentences using your own ideas.

1. The princess was as …………. as………… . (Positive)
2. The princess was ……………. than …………….. .(Comparative)
3. The princess was the ……………. amongst all ………… .(Superlative)

Note that we usually add ‘-er’, ‘-est’ to short adjectives and use more’ or ‘moSt’ with longer adjectives.
Examples:

• high – higher – highest
• attractive – more attractive – most attractive
• nice – nicer – nicest
• interesting – more interesting – most interesting

Question 1.
Complete the following sentences using your own ideas.

1. The princess was as …………. as………… . (Positive)
2. The princess was ……………. than …………….. .(Comparative)
3. The princess was the ……………. amongst all ………… .(Superlative)

Answer:

1. The princess was as beautiful as Princess lane.
2. The princess was taller than Prince Arthur.
3. The princess was the best among all girls.

9. Read the following words and name the degree of comparison shown by each.
good – better – best bad – worse – worst

Class 6 English Chapter 1.5 A Kabaddi Match Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
What led to the hopes of class 9 A soaring?
Answer:
The inclusion of three new students in class 9A, who were outstanding Kabaddi players led to the hopes of the class soaring.

Question 2.
How did the spectators boost the morale of both the teams?
Answer:
When the match started, all the spectators clapped and boosted the morale of both the teams.

Question 3.
How was the first point of the game scored?
Answer:
Raider Govind was so swift that before the opponents realised it, he had touched Suresh from 9B and was already heading home and a point was scored.

Question 4.
What was the strength of Ravi from 9B?
Answer:
Ravi from 9B, was a very strong player and he could single-handedly catch hold of any player tightly in between his legs, twisted like scissors. Releasing oneself from his grip would be next to impossible.

Question 5.
Why was Ravi relaxed?
Answer:
Ravi was relaxed as he had never dreamt of any strong opposition from any team.

Question 6.
Which quality helped Mangesh to prove his mettle?
Answer:
The quality of determination helped Mangesh . to prove his mettle.

Question 7.
What was the result of Mangesh’s efforts?
Answer:
Mangesh, through his efforts not only saved himself but was able to score three points for his team as Ravi, Mohan and Ajinkya who were holding him were also declared out.

Question 8.
How was the whole of 9B team declared out?
Answer:
The three players from 9B trapped Vivek but he slowly moved back towards his court with the three anti-raiders moving with him. When they caught his arm and were trying to pull him back, Vivek slipped his leg beyond the midline with the anti-raiders still hanging on to his arm. Thus, the whole of 9B team was declared out.

Question 9.
What helped 9 A beat 9B who had never tasted defeat earlier in the game of Kabaddi?
Answer:
9A outplayed 9B in all areas of Kabaddi. Their team spirit, confidence, strategies, swiftness and suppleness helped them to beat 9B who had never tasted defeat before.

Reading Skill, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following passage and complete the activities that follow.

Question 1.
Prepare a word register for the word ‘sports’.
Answer:
courts, teams, opponents, players Extract:
In Kabaddi, two teams of seven members each, face each other on a flat rectangular court, divided by a midline. The game is usually played in two halves with a halftime break in between. After the break, the teams exchange their sides on the court.

To play the game, each team sends ‘raiders’ across the midline to the other team. The raider tries to ‘tag’ the opponents and run back to his side, all in one breath. To show that he hasn’t inhaled again, he has to chant ‘Kabaddi-Kabaddi’ all the time. If he has to inhale again, he is ‘out’.

The opponents try to catch the raider and stop him from going back to his half till he loses his breath, and has to inhale again. If the raider manages to go back successfully, all the persons he has tagged and all those who have touched him are declared out. For each player declared out, the opposite team scores a point. If all the seven players in a team are ‘out’, the opposite team gets bonus points – a Iona. The team with the maximum points wins the match.

The game of Kabaddi requires good health, muscular strength, strategic skills, a lot of practice and above all, great determination.

Question 2.
Which aspects of the game of Kabaddi is highlighted in this extract?
Answer:
The rules of the game of Kabaddi and the qualities required to excel in this game are title two aspects discussed in this extract.

Question 3.
What should each team do to play the game?
Answer:
To play the game, each team sends ‘raiders’ across the midline to the other team.

Question 4.
What does the raider do?
Answer:
The raider tries to ‘tag’ the opponents and run back to his side, all in one breath.

Question 5.
Why should the raider chant ‘Kabaddi- Kabaddi’ all the time?
Answer:
To show that the raider has not inhaled again, the raider has to chant ‘Kabaddi-Kabaddi’ all the time.

Question 6.
When does the opposite team get bonus points?
Answer:
When all the seven players in a team are ‘out’, the opposite team gets bonus points – a Iona.

Question 7.
Which team wins the match?
Answer:
The team with the maximum points wins the match.

Question 8.
What are the qualities essential to excel at Kabaddi?
Answer:
To excel in the game of Kabaddi one requires good health, muscular strength, strategic skills, a lot of practice and above all, great determination.

Question 9.
The team with the maximum points wins, the match. (State the word class of the underlined word.)
Answer:
maximum – adjective

Question 10.
Do you think sports plays an important role in development? Elaborate.
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi, has rightly said: “Education is the all-round development of an individual – body, mind and spirit.”
Sports plays an important role in contributing to our physical fitness apart from developing essential values and virtues.

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1.
The school sports meet was scheduled next month. (State the part of speech of the underlined word.)
Answer:
next – adjective

Question 2.
The practice matches had already begun. (Add a question tag.)
Answer:
The practice matches had already begun, hadn’t they?

Question 3.
When the match started, all the spectators clapped and boosted the morale of both the teams. (Pick out the action words.)
Answer:
started, clapped, boosted

Question 4.
9A won the toss and sent their raider Govind. (Begin the sentence with, “Winning the toss ……”)
Answer:
Winning the toss, 9A sent their raider Govind.

Question 5.
All the players were literally afraid of him. (Pick out the adverb.)
Answer:
Adverb: literally

Question 6.
Mangesh from 9A was strong. (Form a Wh- question to get the underline word as the answer.)
Answer:
Who was strong?

Question 7.
Kabaddi is an ancient sport. (Pick out the article.)
Answer:
an – article

Question 8.
The team with the maximum points wins the match. (Pick out the collective noun.)
Answer:
team – collective noun

Question 9.
Indian girls and boys have always excelled at Kabaddi. (Pick out the naming words.)
Answer:
girls, boys, Kabaddi – Naming words

Question 10.
One day, you may help win glory for your school. (Pick out the modal and state its function.)
Answer:
may – possibility

Change into the positive degree of comparison.

Question 1.
Kabaddi is the most popular game in this school.
Answer:
No other game is as popular as Kabaddi in this school.

Question 2.
Kevin was the strongest player.
Answer:
No other player was as strong as Kevin.

Question 3.
Kabaddi is more popular than that game.
Answer:
This game is not as popular as Kabaddi.

Question 4.
He is the best Kabaddi player in the school.
Answer:
No other Kabaddi player in the school is as good as he is.

Name of Kabaddi in different parts of the world.

• baibalea – Maldives
• hadudu – Bangladesh
• kabaddi – Denmark
• kabaddi – Kenya
• kabaddi – Spain

Complete the table.

Noun	Adjective	Verb
practice	practical	practise
strength	strong	strengthen
inclusion	inclusive	include
declaration	declarative	declare
strategy	strategic	strategies

Writing Skills

Flow Chart:

Question 1.
Arrange the points in proper order to show how the game of Kabaddi is played. Write the numbers in the blocks.
Answer:

Essay:

Question 1.
Write an essay using the points given below.
What characteristics are needed to be a good player of Kabaddi?
What should we do to develop each of them?
Answer:
A Good Kabaddi Player
Any player requires various characteristics to emerge as a good player. The game of Kabaddi too requires physical and mental fitness. While good health, muscular strength and strategic skills are essential to emerge a winner, also equally important are other traits. Determination, dedication, devotion, consistency in performance and willingness to give one’s best, too are of paramount importance.

We can acquire these skills if we resolve to do our best and give our hundred percent to the game. Right skills, ample practice and the will to excel will help us reach our goal. Watching Kabaddi matches on television, seeking help from experts, finding one’s weak areas and working on them are ways in which we can develop attributes to become a good Kabaddi player.
‘Hardwork is the key to success’ in Kabaddi or any other game.

Let Us Remember:

“The heights which great men,
Reached and kept,
Were not attained by sudden flight,
They, while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night.”

Do yoy know?

Kabddi World Cup
The 2016 World Cup, the third standard style Kabbadi World Cup was an international Kabbadi tournament contested from 7th October 2016 to 22nd October 2016 at the Arena, in Ahmedabad. 12 countries had competed in the tournament and 33 matches been played. The tournament was won by India who defeated Iran 38-29 in the Championship Games to win their third Kabbadi world cup.

Kabaddi Match Summary in English

The lesson begins with a School Sports Meet through which the rules and strategies of the game are shared with the reader. The extract also highlights the qualities displayed by the winning team – team spirit, confidence, right strategies, swiftness and suppleness.
The lesson goes on to talk about the rules of the game and ends with qualities essential to excel in this game.

Introduction:

This lesson is about Kabaddi, an outdoor sport which originated in India, and is now popular in many countries of the world.

Glossary:

1. sports meet (n) – an event where sports competitions are held
2. scheduled (v) – planned
3. outstanding (adj) – very good
4. pectators (n) – people who watch a game
5. opponents (n) – ones who compete with another in a game
6. grip (n) – a firm hold
7. literally (adv) – exactly
8. anti-raiders (n) – every player in whose court, raid is being made
9. determination (n) – firmness in purpose
10. cautiously (adv) – in a guarded manner
11. strategies (n) – plans of action to achieve an aim
12. enviable (adj) – sought after
13. ace (adj) – one who excels
14. swiftness (n) – moving with rapid speed
15. suppleness (n) – flexibility
16. inhale (v) – breathe in
17. tagged (v) – to follow someone from one place to another
18. strategic (adj) – useful in achieving a plan
19. resolve (n) – firm decision

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 1.4 Children are Going to School … Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 1.4 Children are Going to School …

Class 6 English Chapter 1.4 Children are Going to School … Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Read the poem aloud.

Question 1.
Read the poem aloud.

2. Find atleast two things from the poem that show the following:

Question a.
It is early morning:
Answer:

1. Morning light spreads over the earth.
2. The sun, after his morning dip in the river dressed up in his golden muslin turban waits and smiles on one side of the road.

Question b.
The atmosphere is pleasant.
Answer:

1. Breezes sing their songs of blessings.
2. Fragrant flowers awaken the sleepy roads with their melodies.

3. Apart from children, no other human beings are mentioned in the poem. However, many natural elements are shown to act like person. Name them and also write what they do.

Question 1.
Apart from children, no other human beings are mentioned in the poem. However, many natural elements are shown to act like person. Name them and also write what they do.
Answer:

1. The sky: Sky bows his head in respect for children going to school.
2. The sun: The sun waits and smiles on one side of the road for the children are going to school.
3. The breezes: Through the green-topped branches, breezes sing their songs of blessings.
4. The fragrant flowers: They awaken the sleepy roads with their melodies.
5. The peepal tree: It waves his hands for the children going to school.
6. Every particle of the earth: Throbs like a mother’s heart for the children going to school.
7. Pigeons: Fly in the sky for children going to school.

4. Draw a picture of the scene described in the poem.

Question 1.
Draw a picture of the scene described in the poem.

5. The whole world is happy because children are going to school. Why is it so? Discuss it in the classroom.

Question 1.
The whole world is happy because children are going to school. Why is it so? Discuss it in the classroom.
Answer:
Children going to school is a beautiful sight. The fun they have, the little games they play, the mischievous things they do enroute to the school, all make it a pretty picture. So, the whole world is happy to witness this sight. Apart from this, it is important that children go to school for their development and the development of the world at large. So, the whole world is happy because children are going to school.

6. Write about how your family supports you to go to school.

Question 1.
Write about how your family supports you to go to school.
Answer:
My family is my greatest support system. They support me in every way to go to school. Packing my lunch box and bag with books and learning material is done by my mother. My father helps me to keep my books complete. He also helps me to get ready to go to school before dropping me to school.

7. What would happen if children didn’t go to school? Discuss the question in groups of 5-8 and prepare a short composition on it.

Question 1.
What would happen if children didn’t go to school? Discuss the question in groups of 5-8 and prepare a short composition on it.
Answer:
School is a temple of knowledge. If children didn’t go to school, they would not attain knowledge. In a school, they learn different subjects, good qualities and various skills. This helps them to become good individuals and great citizens. Children who don’t go to school will be denied all these experiences. They will also miss out all the fun other children have in schools.

We should ensure that every child is sent to school so that he receives good education. This will not only help him to realise his dreams but also help him contribute towards national development. Let us educate and empower ourselves and work towards a bright future.

8. Write in short about what your parents/guardians feel when they send you to school.

Question 1.
Write in short about what your parents/guardians feel when they send you to school.
Answer:
Parents/guardians experience mixed feelings when they send us to school. They feel happy that we are going to school to acquire knowledge, skills and values and at the same time they miss our absence from home too.
Sometimes, if the school is far away, parents and guardians are worried till we get back. At the same time they are aware that for our bright future it is essential to go to school. They are proud that we are doing our best in school by making the most of our experiences.

9. List five of your favourite Hindi or Marathi poems or songs. Try to translate any one of them into English.

Question 1.
List five of your favourite Hindi or Marathi poems or songs. Try to translate any one of them into English.

10. Visit a library. Find a school poem. Recite it to your parents.

Question 1.
Visit a library. Find a school poem. Recite it to your parents.

Class 6 English Chapter 1.4 Children are Going to School … Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
When and to whom does the sky bow his head in respect?
Answer:
When the morning light spreads over the earth, the sky bows his head in respect to the children going to school.

Question 2.
How has the poet described the sun in the poem?
Answer:
The sun is described beautifully by the poet. He says that after the sun’s morning dip in the river, dressed up in golden muslin turban it waits and smiles on one side of the road for the children going to school.

Question 3.
Who waves at the children going to school?
Answer:
The peepal tree waves his hands at the children going to school.

Question 4.
Why is every road shining bright?
Answer:
The angels of light have set out and so every road is shining bright.

Reading Skill, Vocabulary and Poetic Devices

Read the following extract and complete the activities that follow.

Question 1.
Complete the web diagram with the elements of nature mentioned in the extract.
Answer:

Question 2.
What does the poet convey through the above poem?
Answer:
The poet conveys the happiness of all the elements of nature at the sight of children going to school.

Question 3.
What do the breezes do as the children are going to school?
Answer:
Through the green-topped branches, the breezes sing their songs of blessings.

Question 4.
What do the fragrant flowers do as the children are going to school?
Answer:
The fragrant flowers awaken the sleepy roads with their melodies as the children are going to school.

Question 5.
What has the poet compared the throbbing of every particle of the earth to?
Answer:
The poet has compared the throbbing of every particle of the earth to the throb of a mother’s heart.

Question 6.
Explain the line:
Angels of light have set out Every road is a-gleam.
Answer: The sunlight is rejoicing at the sight of the children going to school and it has made the roads shining bright for the children.

Question 7.
Name the rhyme scheme used in the last four lines of the poem.
Answer:
abed

Question 8.
Pick out an example of Simile from the extract.
Answer:
At this hour, every particle of the earth throbs like a mother’s heart.

Question 10.
What are the emotions you experience at the thought of going to school?
Answer:
I am filled with happiness and joy at the thought of going to school. I look forward to have fun, frolic and enjoyment in school and so I get very excited at the very thought.

Student’s Activity:

Spot the words based on the clues given.

Answer:

1. Greenery, leafy cover
2. Sweet music
3. A kind of soft cotton fabric
4. Light wind

Observe the words given below. Write a story in about hundred words based on the same:

Children are Going to School … Summary in English

‘Children Going to School’ is a beautiful poem translated from ‘Bachche School Ja Rahe Hai’ written by Nida Fazli. The poem talks about how natural elements like the sky, sun, breezes, fragrant flowers, peepal tree, every particle of the earth and pigeons etc., are happy at the sight of children going to school. They express their happiness in different ways as the children find their way to school.

Introduction:

The poem highlights the reaction of different elements of nature at the sight of children going to school.

Glossary:

1. dip (n) – plunge into the river (here)
2. muslin (n) – a kind of soft cotton fabric
3. green-topped branches – branches covered with leaves
4. breezes (n) – light wind
5. melodies (n) – sweet music
6. foliage (n) – greenery, leafy cover
7. gleam (n) – shining bright

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.4 How Doth the Little Busy Bee Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.4 How Doth the Little Busy Bee

Class 7 English Chapter 2.4 How Doth the Little Busy Bee Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Write the meaning of:
doth, opening (in the context of the poem), cell.

Question 1.
Write the meaning of:
doth, opening (in the context of the poem), cell.
Answer:

• Doth: In this poem the meaning of ‘doth’ is the word of old origin,
• Meaning of doth: Archaic, third person singular present of do. Doth is a form of the word ‘do’ which is defined as to perform an action. They get back to their nest and relax.
• Opening: Meaning of opening is blooming when a plant or tree blooms. It produces flowers. When a flower blooms, it opens.
• Cell: Meaning of cell is functional and structural unit of life.

2. A parody is playful, comic imitation of a writer’s style. A parody is like a verbal cartoon. Compare the original poem and its parody given on page 35 using the following points:

Question 1.
Compare the original poem and its parody given on page 35 using the following points:

Answer:

3. Answer the following questions and write in short, why the parody sounds funny.

Question a.
What does the bee stand for?
Answer:
The bee stands for hard-work and positivity

Question b.
What does the crocodile stand for?
Answer:
The crocodile stands for laziness, mischief and negativity.

Question c.
Why does the bee work hour after hour?
Answer:
The bee works hour after hour to store the nectar that it collects from the flowers.

Question d.
Why does the crocodile work?
Answer:
The crocodile works only to fill its stomach.

Question e.
Is the bee a gentle creature? Is the crocodile gentle?
Answer:
The bee is a gentle creature. The crocodile is not gentle.

4. Desciibe a crocodile in your own words. Which of the words and phrases in the poem will you use In a realistic description?
Put a tick mark against the ones you will use.

• little [ ]
• shining tail [ ]
• golden scale [ ]
• cheerful [ ]
• grIn [ ]
• claws [ ]
• gently smiling [ ]
• jaws [ ]

Question 1.
Describe the crocodile in your own words.
Answer:
The crocodile is a large reptile. The crocodile to me looks very frightening, ferocious and ugly. The scaly skin of the crocodile makes me feel very creepy. They have different colours which ranges from brown to grey. Some are greenish-brown in colour. They have sharp teeth and claws. They have big strong jaws. They appear to be grinning because of the way their jaw is placed. The tail of the crocodile is very powerful and it helps the crocodile to swim. Crocodiles can live upto 80 years!

5. Note that most of the times well-known works are parodied, because people can enjoy the parody better when they know the original. Try to find more examples of parodies in English or other languages. 

Question 1.
Note that most of the times well-known works are parodied, because people can enjoy the parody better when they know the original. Try to find more examples of parodies in English or other languages.

6. What do you like better – the original poem or the parody? Why?

Question 1.
What do you like better – the original poem or the parody? Why?
Answer:
I like the parody. I like the parody because it is funny, interesting and the best part is that it is very easy to memorize.

Class 7 English Chapter 2.4 How Doth the Little Busy Bee Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Why does the parody sound funny?
Answer:
The parody sounds funny because it is just in complete contrast with ‘How doth the little busy bee’. The bee is hard working and positive. She is using every minute fruitfully while in contrast the crocodile is wasting its time doing nothing still manages to keep its stomach full.

Question 2.
Match the nouns with the adjectives used to describe them:

Column ’A’	Column B’
1. bee	a. shining
2. food	b. smiling
3. tail	c. busy
4. jaws	d. sweet
5. scale	e. little
6. crocodile	f. golden

Answer:

Column ’A’	Column B’
1. bee	c. busy
2. food	d. sweet
3. tail	a. shining
4. jaws	b. smiling
5. scale	f. golden
6. crocodile	f. golden

Read the following extract and do the activities.

Answer the questions in one word.

Question i.
What does the bee gather all the day?
Answer:
honey

Question ii.
How does the bee spread her wax?
Answer:
neatly

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
How does the bee build her cell?
Answer:
The bee builds her cell skilfully.

Question 2.
What food does the bee make?
Answer:
The bee makes sweet food.

Poetic Device:

Question 1.
Make a list of the rhyming words
Answer:
hour – flower; cell – well

Question 2.
What is the rhyme scheme of the first stanza?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the first stanza is abcb

Question 3.
What is the rhyme scheme of the second stanza?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the second stanza is abac

Read the following extract and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Complete the web.
Answer:

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Which river is mentioned in the above poem?
Answer:
River Nile is mentioned in the above poem.

Question 2.
Whom does the crocodile welcome?
Answer:
The crocodile welcomes little fishes.

Question 3.
How does the extract portray the crocodile?
Answer:
The extract portrays the crocodile as a deceiving, idle reptile.

Question 4.
Write the rhyme scheme for the 2nd stanza.
Answer:
The rhyme scheme is abab.

Question 5.
And welcomes little fishes in, With gently smiling jaws!
Identify the figure of speech of the above lines and explain.
Answer:

• Personification: The human quality of welcoming and smiling is given to a reptile for better poetic effect.
• Exclamation: The line ends with an exclamatory mark.

Poetic Device:

Question 1.
Pick out the rhyming words from the 1st stanza.
Answer:
Crocodile – Nile, tail – scale

Writing Skills:

Question 1.
Create a poem of your own on ‘A crocodile’.
Answer:
Crocodile with a smile
Today I saw a crocodile walking quickly down the isle
I nearly missed a heartbeat, when I saw its clawy feet.
I thought I saw it cry a tear,
This made me really lose my fear. Looking at me it gave a smile
Ohh that’s the reason I ran away a mile.

How Doth the Little Busy Bee Summary in English

In this poem, the poet Isaac Watts tells us about the busy bee who does not waste time but works day in and day out to collect nectar from the flowers and stores it in the hives built by the bees. The poet appreciates the skills of the bees, used in making the cells and sealing them for future use. The poet is trying to tell us that we should take the example of these small creatures and use our time fruitfully. Isaac Watts

The parody “How doth the – a small little crocodile” written be Lewis Caroll tries to poke fun at the poem “How doth the little busy bee”. The parody in a humorous way speaks about the idleness and cunningness of a crocodile in contrast to the hardworking bee. The busy bee works all day for its honey but in contrast the crocodile remains idle yet gets his fill.

Introduction:

‘How doth the little busy bee’ written by Isaac Watts is a poem in which the hard work of the bee is appreciated. A parody is playful comic imitation of a writer’s style. A parody deliberately copies someone or something in an amusing way. It may be simply a humorous imitation of a well-known or popular work.

Glossary:

1. doth (v) – does (old English)
2. opening (adj) – blooming
3. cell (n) – a small hexagonal compartment in a honeycomb
4. labours (v) – works hard
5. grin (v) – to smile with lips parted to reveal the teeth
6. claws (n) – curved pointed nail on each of the foot of a mammal, reptile or bird
7. scale (n) – small flat hard and bony covering the skin, particularly of a fish or reptile
8. jaw (n) – the part of the face below the mouth
9. skilfully (adv) – cleverly.
10. cheerfully (adv) – happily.
11. gather (v) – to collect.
12. parody (n) – a humorous way of writing in which the original work of another writer is copied in an exaggerated way.

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier

Class 7 English Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier Textbook Questions and Answers

1. From the play, find all the words that are related to the following.
knowledge and learning, books, works
Add other related words you know to the list.

Question 1.
From the play, find all the words that are related to the following.
Add other related words you know to the list.

1. knowledge and learning
2. books
3. works

Answer:

1. Student, smart, thirst for knowledge, learned, philosophy, astronomy, arabic, persian, scholar, intellectual, sagacious, astute, university, degree.
2. Student, smart, knowledge, learned, scholar, words, e-book.
3. Merchant, serve, clerk, pay, office, poultry, keeper, salary, job.

2. Discuss the following.
(a) Abdul gets what he wants in the end. What is the major factor that contributes to this success?

• His learning of books
• His intelligence
• His attitude
• His relations with other people
• His luck

(b) The Emperor says he had realised earlier that Abdul has great talent. Does this tally with his actions? Give your opinion.

Question a.
Abdul gets what he wants in the end. What is the major factor that contributes to this success?

• His learning of books
• His intelligence
• His attitude
• His relations with other people
• His luck

Answer:
His attitude

Question b.
The Emperor says he had realised earlier that Abdul has great talent. Does this tally with his actions? Give your opinion.
Answer:
No, it does not. But according to me the Emperor wanted to know whether Abdul could put all his knowledge into practical use.

3. Write a letter from Abdul to the Emperor, requesting the Emperor to give Abdul a suitable job.

Question 1.
Write a letter from Abdul to the Emperor, requesting the Emperor to give Abdul a suitable job.
Answer:
Your Royal Highness,
I, Abdul, am a subject in your kingdom. I have learnt everything books could teach me. I would like to be at your service.
I will serve you with all the knowledge, I have gained, if your royal highness will give me the opportunity. All my knowledge would really be of great use and if given a chance I will do everything I can to the best of my ability. Hoping and awaiting a positive reply. Thanking you in anticipation.
Your loyal subject,
XYZ (Abdul)

4. Rewrite the play in the form of a story.

Question 1.
Rewrite the play in the form of a story.

Rewrite the play in the form of a story.
Answer:
Abdul, the Achiever
Once upon a time during the reign of Emperor Akbar, there lived a very humble school teacher. He had an equally humble and down to earth son named Abdul. Abdul dreamt of becoming a scholar. His father could not fund him for the books because they were very costly. His father tried to borrow books from the school library but was unsuccessful. Abdul was disheartened.

He hit upon a brilliant idea to solve his problem. He decided to work for the rich, instead of taking money for services, he requested them to allow him to read the books in their stores. Abdul read and read and became a learned scholar that too one in a million. Now that he had completed his education he aspired to work in the Emperor’s office. The Emperor heard of him and was ready to appoint him. He was first put in charge of the Murgikhana.

Abdul was disappointed at first but then decided to put in his best. His efforts paid him well. The hens were healthier than before. The Emperor was surprised that Abdul had not used any money from the treasury. The Emperor was worried that the hens had died but Abdul told the Emperor that all the hens were in the pink of health because he was feeding them with the left-overs from the Emperor’s kitchen, which was free of cost and something the hens enjoyed and that was the secret of their health.

The Emperor was happy and put him in charge of the library. Abdul was unhappy because he aspired to be a courtier. But he took his job too as a challenge and started making changes in the library. A year later when the Emperor entered the library he was shocked to see that all the books had very expensive covering.

He thought that this would have cost a fortune. Abdul clarified the Emperor’s doubt and told him that it has cost nothing because he used the rich, discarded fabrics of the bags in which requests were sent to the Emperor. Abdul said that he had asked the royal tailors to stitch the jackets and covers for the books. The Emperor was so impressed that he immediately appointed Abdul his courtier.
Moral: Waste not, want not.

5. Suggest at least one method of creating something useful or beautiful from waste.

Question 1.
Suggest at least one method of creating something useful or beautiful from waste.

6. Write how you take care of your books.

Question 1.
Write how you take care of your books.
Answer:
I see to it that my books are always covered, with my name written on it. I do not throw my books anywhere. I keep them neatly whether in my bag or on my table at home. I do not eat or drink anything with my books in front of me so as to avoid spilling and getting oil stains on my books.

7. Language Study: Common nouns – 3: Common nouns can be classified in one more way – concrete nouns and abstract nouns. Concrete nouns stand for things that you can actually touch or see.
Examples : school, house, bags, buttefflies, child.
Abstract nouns stand for ideas, feelings, qualities, actions, states, etc.
Examples: life, time, goodness, progress, kindness, childhood, honesty, mathematics
Can you spot at least three abstract nouns in the following paragraph?
‘We put the plan of action in motion immediately. We kept it a secret. We wanted to give Mrs Desai a surprise. But her intelligence is really appreciable. She spotted the change within a week.’
Now you know that plural forms of nouns have -s, -es, or -ies at the end. But the plurals of some nouns are formed differently. Look at the following forms.

• child – children man – men
• tooth – teeth foot – feet
• leaf – leaves mouse – mice

Some nouns have the singular and the plural alike.
Examples: sheep, deer.

Class 7 English Chapter 2.3 Abdul Becomes a Courtier Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
How did Abdul manage to feed the birds well without spending money?
Answer:
Abdul was in charge of the Emperor’s ‘Murgikhana’. He fed the birds with the left-overs from the kitchen, like scraps, shells and kitchen waste, which the hens enjoyed. This diet not only made the hens healthy but was also free of cost.

Question 2.
How did the Emperor reward Abdul for his work? Do you think the Emperor’s action was right?
Answer:
The Emperor rewarded Abdul by making him in charge of the library. Yes, I think the Emperor’s action was right because he wanted to see how well Abdul would handle this task too.

Question 3.
How did Abdul manage to get expensive jackets for the books?
Answer:
Abdul had noticed that all the formal requests that came to the Emperor were in bags made of the best of fabrics which were discarded. He used these discarded silk, velvet and brocade to make beautiful covers and jackets for the books in the library.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Complete the sentences.
1. Abdul’s father was a ………… .
2. Abdul wanted his father to lend him
Answer:
1. schoolmaster
2. a little gold

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
How many books could Abdul’s father get for him?
Answer:
Abdul’s father could not get any books for him.

Question 2.
What does Abdul want to do? How does he plan to do it?
Answer:
Abdul wants to acquire knowledge and become a scholar. He plans to buy books and study them to rise high and become famous.

Question 3.
What are books and manuscripts compared to?
Answer:
Books and manuscripts are compared to treasures rare and exclusive.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Frame a sentence with the phrase ‘brighter tomorrow’.
Answer:
Rohan worked day and night for a brighter tomorrow.

Grammar:

Question 1.
How many books could you get? (Identify the kind of sentence)
Answer:
Interrogative.

Question 2.
Pick out a word from the extract which means – to hope or to dream.
Answer:
aspire.

Question 3.
Guess the meaning of ‘a brighter tomorrow’ in context of the play.
Answer:
A brighter tomorrow means a better or brighter future.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Do you like to read books? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I like to read books. I like to read books because it helps to increase our knowledge, gives us a lot of information and keeps us occupied when there is nothing to do. For me. books are my best friends.

Question 2.
Abdul got the Royal Tailors to work for making the jackets. What skills does it reflect?
Answer:
The skill which comes out is making best from waste. It not only saves money but also helps to save the environment.

Read the following passage and do the activities.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Complete the sentences.

1. You appear to be smart,
2. Quench my
3. I am pleased with you
4. made a poultry people?

Answer:

1. be my clerk
2. thirst for knowledge
3. work and loving care!
4. Intellectual, sagacious, astute

Complex Factual Questions:

Question 1.
What request must Abdul have sent to the Emperor?
Answer:
Abdul must have requested the Emperor to give him a position in his court because he had gained all the knowledge which would help him in the job.

Question 2.
What was the merchant’s reaction to Abdul’s work?
Answer:
The merchant was very pleased with Abdul’s work and wanted to reward him.

Question 3.
What job did the emperor give Abdul?
Answer:
The Emperor made Abdul his poultry keeper, in charge of the Royal Murgikhana.

Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Find words/phrases meaning ‘rare’.
Answer:
One in a million; a gem; unique

Question 2.
Guess the meaning of ‘a gem’ in the context of this play.
Answer:
The context ‘a gem’ in the play means someone very precious, of great value.

Question 3.
Find pairs of rhyming words used in this passage.
Answer:

• serve – deserve
• clerk – work
• care – rare – fair
• store – more
• learned – yearned
• notice – office
• prayer – care
• scholar – keeper
• refuse – use
• Persian – million.

Grammar:

Question 1.
Write the noun forms of:

1. move
2. direct
3. explore
4. determine
5. estitute
6. hesitate
7. compel
8. treat

Answer:

1. movement
2. direction
3. exploration
4. determination
5. destitution
6. hesitation
7. compulsion
8. treatment

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1.
Can you spot at least three abstract nouns in the following paragraph?
‘We put the plan of action in motion immediately. We kept it a secret. We wanted to give Mrs Desai a surprise. But her intelligence is really appreciable. She spotted the change within a week.
Answer:
secret, surprise, intelligence.

Question 2.
Now you know that plural forms of nouns have -s, -es or -ies at the end. But the plurals of some nouns are formed differently. Singular :

1. woman
2. person
3. goose
4. half
5. wife
6. potato
7. cactus
8. fungus
9. oasis
10. syllabus
11. datum
12. focus
13. louse

Answer:

Plural:

1. women
2. persons /people
3. geese
4. halves
5. wives
6. potatoes
7. cacti
8. fungi
9. oases
10. syllabi/syllabuses
11. data
12. foci
13. lice

Question 3.
More of nouns having singular and plural alike.
Singular :

1. news
2. aircraft
3. species
4. darts
5. pants
6. trousers
7. jeans
8. glasses
9. scissors
10. fish
11. salmon
12. headquarters
13. Chinese

Answer:
Plural:

1. news
2. aircraft
3. species
4. darts
5. pants
6. trousers
7. jeans
8. glasses
9. scissors
10. fish (if it is the same species)
11. salmon
12. headquarters
13. Chinese

Question 4.
I’m happy to announce, now you are my courtier! (Kind of sentence)
Answer:
Exclamatory sentence.

Question 5.
The Royal tailors made the jackets. (Change the voice)
Answer:
The jackets were made by the Royal tailors.

Question 6.
Abdul enters and bows before the Emperor. (Pick out the conjunction and state its kind)
Answer:
and – coordinating conjunction.

Question 7.
Days passed by, he learned and learned. (Identify the figure of speech and explain)
Answer:
Repetition: The word ‘learned’ has been repeated for better poetic effect.

Question 8.
I need nothing more. (Identify the figure of speech and explain)
Answer:
Alliteration: The sound of the letter ‘n’ has been repeated for better poetic effect.

Abdul Becomes a Courtier Summary in English

The story in this lesson revolves around Abdul who is very wise and intelligent and loves reading and learning. His father cannot afford the costly books and so Abdul works and accepts his reward only in kind and that too he asks for nothing more than reading books. He quenches his thirst for knowledge and desires to work in the Emperor’s office. Let us see how he gets this honourable position.

Introduction:

The lesson ‘Abdul Becomes a Courtier’ is taken from the series of Akbar and Birbal stories. It has been adapted into the dialogue form by Pratibha Nath who is a wonderful story teller and weaves stories for children.

Glossary:

1. erudition (n) – learning, scholarly work
2. scores (n)- sets of twenty
3. clerk (n) – a person who keeps records, accounts, etc.
4. quench (v) – to satisfy
5. office (n) – position, responsibility
6. prayer (n) (here) – request
7. sagacious (adj) – wise
8. astute (adj) – intelligent, one who knows how to use a situation to his advantage
9. zeal (n) – enthusiasm
10. drive (n) – an effort made to achieve a certain purpose
11. brains (n) – intelligence
12. shirk (y) – avoid
13. brocade (n) – rich fabric woven with golden or silver thread
14. papers (n) – official documents
15. aspire (y) – to hope or dream
16. manuscripts (n) – written by hand, handwritten
17. rare (adj) – uncommon, unique
18. exclusive (adj) – of high quality
19. dejected (adj) – sad
20. rejected (adj) – not accepted
21. yearned (v) – to long for
22. conviction (n) – firm belief
23. passion (n) – love
24. relish (v) – enjoy
25. thrive (v) – grow
26. perseverance (n) – continuing to do something regardless of failure
27. chores (n) – work
28. poultry keeper (n) – a person who looks after chickens, ducks and other birds that are kept for their egg and meat.
29. ration (n) (here) – food.
30. jacket (n) – outer covering.
31. discarded (v) – disposed off, thrown away.
32. courtier (n) – a person who attends a royal court as an adviser to the king or queen.
33. expensive (adj) – costly.
34. ponders (v) – thinks deeply.

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas

Class 7 English Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Write the homophones (words which sound the same. of the following words in the story.

Question 1.
Write the homophones (words which sound the same. of the following words in the story.

1. no: ……………………….
2. dear: ……………………….
3. here: ……………………….
4. went: ……………………….
5. pair: ……………………….
6. knew: ……………………….
7. through: ……………………….
8. soul: ……………………….
9. whole: ……………………….

Answer:

1. know
2. deer
3. here
4. vent
5. pear, pare
6. new
7. threw
8. sole
9. hole

Examples for homophones along with the prior:

1. steel-steal
2. read – red
3. see – sea
4. eves – ice
5. air – heir
6. meet – meat
7. grown – groan
8. would – wood
9. great – grate

2. Correct the following sentences and rewrite them.

Question 1.
The best shoes that Papa Panov had made were a pair of lady’s shoes.
Answer:
The best shoes that Papa Panov had made were a pair of tiny leather shoes.

Question 2.
Papa Panov gave hot soup to the sweeper, milk to the young mother and coffee to the beggars.
Answer:
Papa Panov gave hot coffee to the sweeper, milk to the baby and hot soup to the beggars.

Question 3.
By afternoon, Papa Panov had stopped looking out for Jesus.
Answer:
By the time dusk had fallen, Papa Panov had stopped looking out for Jesus.

Question 4.
Papa Panov saw the sweeper, the young mother and the beggars he had helped only once in the morning.
Answer:
Papa Panov saw the sweeper, the young mother and the beggars twice, once during the day and once at night.

Question 5.
Jesus, had actually visited Papa Panov only once on Christmas Eve.
Answer:
Jesus had visited Papa Panov only once on Christmas Eve and several times on Christmas day.

3. Write a character sketch of Papa Panov in your own words.

Question 1.
Write a character sketch of Papa Panov in your own words.
Answer:
Papa Panov was a kind and humble shoe-maker. He lived in a village in Russia. He was a cheerful man,who lived alone. He was widower and his grown up children had left home to seek their fortune. He has loved by his villagers. He was a happy man with laughter wrinkles on his face indicating his happy life.

He was quite old and had weak eyesight which made him wear spectacles. He earned a decent living. we come to know of this because he helped people in distress. He seems to be a god fearing and pious man because he not only dreamnt of God in his dreams but also spoke to him. Thpugh he was lonely he brightened himeself up by helping people when needed.

We can sum these qualities of Papa Panov as being a wonderful human being with a golden heart. He is filled with humaneness, empathy, selflessness and love for mankind making him God’s beloved creature.

4. Write your interpretation of the story.

Question 4.
Write your interpretation of the story.
Answer:
The story of ‘Papa Panov’ according to me is an interesting story to introduce to children, inculcating in them values of selflessness, empathy, sharing and love for humanity. God resides in those who love their kind, is vividly put forth through this story. This story has inspired me to go out and help those in need.

The smile and blessings I get when I help the needy makes my day and makes me feel blessed. It is rightly said ‘Service to man is service to God’.

5. Information about cold winters in Russia.

6. Do you know of similar stories in your mother tongue or in other languages? Narrate it in short.

7. Which season would you say is the hardest in your locality?

Question 1.
What help would the poor and homeless people need in that season?
Answer:
The rainy season is the hardest season in my locality. The poor and homeless people are without a roof and have to remain wet and , huddled under some shelter for hours. They do not have proper shelter, clothes, food and drinking water. This is a season which brings in a lot of sicknesses, which if not treated could be fatal. Medical help is also necessary for them in this season which is difficult for them to get.

Class 7 English Chapter 4.6 Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
In the little village what shows that it is Christmas time?
Answer:
In the little village, although it is afternoon, lights begin to appear in the shops and houses, indicating that it is Christmas time.

Question 2.
Did Papa Panov have a shop away from his home?
Answer:
No, Papa Panov’s shop was his home.

Question 3.
Did he live alone? Why?
Answer:
Yes, Papa Panov lived alone because his wife had died and his grown-up children had all left his home.

Question 4.
What tells us that Papa Panov is a kind person?
Answer:
While reading the Christmas story from the Bible, he read how baby Jesus was born in a cowshed. He wished that Mary and Joseph had come to his home where he would have given them his bed and covered baby Jesus with his quilt to keep him warm. This feeling which comes up in Papa Panov’s mind shows us that he was a kind person.

Question 5.
What do the ‘laughter wrinkles’ tell us?
Answer:
The ‘laughter wrinkles’ tell us that Papa Panov is quite old. It also tells us about the number of happy times he had with family and friends.

Question 6.
Why is the small box dusty?
Answer:
The small box with a pair of tiny leather shoes was dusty because it was kept high up on the shelf and had not been touched or moved for years.

Question 7.
What thoughts did Papa Panov have before he fell asleep? Were they related to his dream?
Answer:
Papa Panov while reading the story of Christmas day from the Bible felt sad for Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus and thought if they were in his home he would have been of help to them. When he read about the splendid gifts given to baby Jesus by the wise men, the thought that he had nothing to give made him unhappy. The thought that he could give as gift the pair of tiny leather shoes which he had made years ago made him happy again. No, they were not related to his dream.

Question 8.
Did Papa Panov believe in his dream? In what forms did he imagine Jesus to visit him?
Answer:
Yes, Papa Panov believed in his dream. He imagined Jesus visiting him in the form of a little baby or a grown up man or a carpenter or as God’s son.

Question 9.
How does the author show that Papa Panov was disappointed?
Answer:
The winter dusk had fallen. Papa Panov went to the door and strained his eyes but he could not make out the passers by because it had gone very dark and most of them were at home. This made Papa Panov unhappy because it was too late for anyone to come.

Question 10.
What actions of Papa Panov suggest it?
Answer:
Papa Panov walked slowly back into his room, put up the shutters and sat down wearily indicating his disappointment.

Question 11.
How does the author describe Papa Panov’s happiness?
Answer:
Papa Panov’s heart was overflowing with happiness and peace which made him want to burst out singing, laughing and dancing with joy, knowing that Jesus had come to his home.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Simple Factual Questions:

Question 1.
Write whether true or false.
1. The setting of the story is in a Russian city.
2. Papa Panov was sad on Christmas Eve.
Answer:
1. False
2. True

Complex Factual Question.

Question 1.
What could be heard from the closed shutters?
Answer:
Muffled sounds of chatter and laughter could be heard from closed shutters.

Question 2.
What reminded Papa Panov of his past Christmas times?
Answer:
The sounds of happiness, the bright lights and the faint but delicious smells of Christmas cooking reminded Papa Panov of his happy past Christmas times.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Write the homophone for:

1. one
2. step
3. been
4. his

Answer:

1. won
2. steppe
3. bean
4. hiss

Grammar.

Question 1.
Old Papa Panov, the village shoemaker, stepped outside. (Separate the subject and predicate.
Answer:
Old Papa Panov, the village shoemaker – Subject; stepped outside – Predicate

Question 2.
With a sigh, he settled in his big armchair. (Separate the subject and predicate. ‘ <
Answer:
Subject – He; Predicate – settled/ in his big armchair with a sigh

Question 3.
Excited children scurried indoors. (Name the part of speech of the underlined words.
Answer:
excited – adjective, scurried – verb, indoors – adverb

Question 4.
It was Christmas Eve. (Add a question tag.
Answer:
It was Christmas Eve, wasn’t it?

Question 5.
Excited children scurried indoors. (Write whether the verb is transitive or intransitive.
Answer:
scurried – intransitive

Personal Response.

Question 1.
What do you do on festivals?
Answer:
I enjoy myself a lot. I celebrate every festival because people from all religions live in my locality. My friends and I visit houses, eat and enjoy. My relatives too come home to celebrate our festivals with us. I love it when my house is full of people.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Complete the following sentences.

1. The Street was deserted
2. Papa Panov opened the shop door,
3. The sweeper old clothes steamed
4. Papa Panov watched him with satisfaction but,

Answer:

1. I no one was stirring yet.
2. letting in a thin stream of cold air.
3. gently in the heat of the stove
4. every now and then his eyes strayed to the window.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Why did Papa Panov give hot coffee to the sweeper?
Answer:
When Papa Panov took down his shutters and looked out, all he saw was the road sweeper looking miserable and dirty working on Christmas Day, in the raw cold and bitter freezing mist which made him give the sweeper a hot cup of coffee to make him feel better.

Question 2.
Why did he tell the sweeper about his dream? Why did the sweeper smile?
Answer:
Papa Panov invited the sweeper to drink a cup of hot coffee to keep him warm from the cold. The sweeper noticed that all the time he was in the room, Papa Panov’s eyes strayed to the window now and then. This made the sweeper ask him if he was expecting a visitor which made Papa Panov relate his dream. The sweeper smiled because he was the special visitor, Jesus, Papa Panov was waiting for.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Give adverb form of

1. gentle
2. special
3. actual
4. comfort

Answer:

1. gently
2. specially
3. actually
4. comfortably

Grammar.

Question 1.
Pick out four adjectives from the passage
Answer:
might, cold, bitter, freezing

Question 2.
Papa Panov opened the door, letting in a thin stream of cold air. (Add a question tag.
Answer:
Papa Panov opened the door, letting in a thin stream of cold air, didn’t he?

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Have you ever noticed that some people have to work even on festivals? Who are they?
Answer:
Yes, I have noticed some people having to work on festivals. They are the newspaper man, the sweeper, our maid at home, the milkman, people employed in the public service such as the postman/postwoman, bus and train drivers and conductors, policemen/ women, soldiers protecting our country.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
Complete the following sentences.

1. The young mother let him
2. Papa Panov remembered the little
3. The girl smiled happily and
4. He took the milk from the stove and

Answer:

1. Shepherd her indoors and to the comfort of the armchair.
2. Shoes he had looked at last night.
3. The baby gurgled with pleasure.
4. and carefully fed the baby from a spoon, warming her tiny feet.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
What does the way the girl walked suggest?
Answer:
The way the girl walked suggests that she is very hungry, tired and very little energy left in her to move.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
“You both need a warm by the fire and a rest”.
Answer:
They both needed to get the warmth from the fire in the fireplace and also some rest.

Question 2.
The young mother let him shepherd her indoors.
Answer:
The young mother allowed him to guide her into the house.

Do as directed.

Question 1.
It’s Christmas Day. (Add a Question Tag)
Answer:
It’s Christmas Day, isn’t it?

Question 2.
Expecting someone? (Kind of sentence)
Answer:
Interrogative sentence

Question 3.
The girl walked slowly and quietly. (Use ‘not only … but also’)
Answer:
The girl walked not only slowly but also quietly.

Question 4.
He remembered the little shoes. (Change into negative)
Answer:
He did not forget the little shoes.

Question 5.
I can’t afford the shoes. (Change into positive)
Answer:
I am unable to afford the shoes.

Question 6.
A great peace and happiness filled the room. (Change into exclamatory)
Answer:
What peace and happiness filled the room!

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Why did Papa Panov give the shoes to the baby though he had been keeping them for Jesus?
Answer:
Papa Panov noticed that the young girl with a baby was weary and hungry. He invited her to his home. He noticed that the baby’s feet were bare and the mother could not afford shohes for her child. He decided to give the little shoes he had kept for jesus, to the little baby because he was a very kind-hearted person and could not see them in difficulty.

Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Summary in English

Papa Panov is an elderly cobbler who lives all by himself in a small Russian village. It was Christmas Eve, and there was excitement everywhere. His wife had passed away and his children were all grown up and gone. Alone on Christmas Eve in his shop, Papa Panov decides to open the old family Bible and reads the Christmas story about the birth of Christ. That night he dreams about Jesus coming to him saying that he would visit Papa Panov in person the next day.

Papa Panov was very happy, waited anxiously to meet Jesus on Christmas Day. It was early in the morning and no one in sight. He saw a lone sweeper and invited him for a hot cup of coffee. In this way he helped the needy on Christmas day, all of them blessed him for his love and care. The day wore off but Jesus did not come to meet him. Feeling sad, he sat down in his armchair. He felt that he was not alone. He saw all the people who had come to him that day and as they passed each whispered, ‘Didn’t you see me, Papa Panov?’ Then he understood that Jesus had come to him in the form of the needy people he had helped. He was at peace and his heart danced with joy.

Introduction:

‘Papa Panov’s Special Christmas’ is a short children’s story written by Leo Tolstoy. This is an interesting story to introduce young children to the value of kindness.

Glossary:

1. scurried (v) – to run with quick light steps
2. muffled (adj) – sound which is covered up
3. delicious (adj0 – tasty
4. quilt (n) – a bed covering consisting of two layers stitched together with insulation between
5. splendid (adj) – magnificent
6. charcoal (n) – impure carbon, coal
7. stove (n) – a device for heating food
8. miserable (adj) – sad, poor hunger
9. scanning (adj) – to examine part by part
10. wrapped (v) – covered in thin material
11. shepherd (v) – (here. to guide
12. stirring (v) – action of movement
13. gurgled (v) – to make a bubbling sound
14. anxiously (adj) – in a worried manner
15. hunk (n) – a large piece of something’
16. bewildered (adj) – confused
17. pinched (adj) – very thin, pale from cold or hunger.
18. clasped (v) – to grab tightly

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 1.2 Who’s the Greatest? Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 1.2 Who’s the Greatest?

Class 6 English Chapter 1.2 Who’s the Greatest? Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Listen to the stories carefully, as your teacher reads them aloud. Note down the new words, ideas or concepts. Discuss them in the class.

Question 1.
Listen to the stories carefully, as your teacher reads them aloud. Note down the new words, ideas or concepts. Discuss them in the class.

2. Guess the meaning of the following words and phrases:
untold wealth, closest to the Emperor’s heart, grave offence, banish.

Question 1.
Guess the meaning of the following words and phrases:
untold wealth, closest to the Emperor’s heart, grave offence, banish.
Answer:

1. untold wealth: limitless wealth, the magnitude of which is not revealed
2. closest to the Emperor’s heart: dear to the Emperor
3. grave offence: serious mistake
4. banish: send away into exile

3. Say with reasons, whether the following statements are true or false.

Question a.
Akbar wanted to punish the person who pulled his moustache.
Answer:
False. Akbar did tell his courtiers that someone had pulled his moustache. But it was his grandson who had lovingly pulled his moustache and Akbar did not have any intention of punishing him.

Question b.
Akbar thought he was greater than God.
Answer:
False. Akbar did not think so. It was his courtiers who said so in an attempt to praise him for receiving favours.

Question c.
Birbal thought Akbar was greater than God.
Answer:
True. Birbal thought Akbar was greater than God but only at one aspect. Unlike Akbar, God’s kingdom extended everywhere so the Almighty God could not banish anyone from his kingdom.

4. Write a sentence about three of your friends. Each time you should say what your friend cannot do, and yet, pay a compliment to your friend.

Question 1.
Write a sentence about three of your friends. Each time you should say what your friend cannot do, and yet, pay a compliment to your friend.
Answer:

• My friend Raj cannot say no to others as he does not like to hurt others.
• My friend Radha cannot hurt animals as she is concerned about their welfare.
• My friend Sai cannot be rude to others because he is extremely loving and polite.

5. Write a short note on Emperor Akbar.

Question 1.
Write a short note on Emperor Akbar.
Answer:
Emperor Akbar or Akbar the Great is known as one of the greatest rulers in the world – not just because he had a vast empire, a very strong army, untold wealth but because he was a good human being. He cared for his subjects. He had great respect for scholars, writers, poets and artists belonging to different religions. He was a patron of art and culture. The nine gems or ‘nav-ratnas’ in his court were famous which included Birbal who was known for his wit and humour. He was the one who was very dear to Akbar.

6. Convert the stories into dialogues and read the dialogues aloud in the class.

Question 1.
Convert the stories into dialogues and read the dialogues aloud in the class.
(One is done for you.)
Answer:

• Emperor Akbar: (With a serious expression.)
  I have a question for all of you. What should be the punishment for someone who pulls my moustache?
• One Nobleman: Flog him! Give him fifty lashes of the whip.
• Second Nobleman: That’s not enough. Put him in jail without food and water.
• Third Nobleman: Whip him! Beat him up! Fourth Nobleman: Hang him!
• Fifth Nobleman: Cut off his offending hands.
• Akbar: What do you say Birbal?
  What is your opinion?
• Birbal: In my opinion, given of peace to the world, the offender should be given his favourite sweetmeats.
• Courtiers: Raja Birbal, are you out of your mind? Give sweetmeats for such a grave offence?
• Birbal: Yes, who would be so bold as to pull the Emperor’s moustache? Only his own grandson!
  (Akbar burst out laughing as it was exactly what had happened in the morning.)

7. Form pairs and make a ‘pair presentation’ of any one of the two stories. To do so, each person presents only one sentence at a time, and the next one is immediately presented by the partner. Thus, each person in the pair presents alternate sentences without breaking the flow of the narration.

8. Find at least five other Akbar and Birbal stories and share them with your friends. Make a list of the stories collected by the entire class. Write your list in alphabetical order.

9. Visit a library. Find the stories of:

• Mulla Nasiruddin
• Gopal Bhand
• Tenali Raman

Share them in the class.

Class 6 English Chapter 1.2 Who’s the Greatest? Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer in one sentence.

Question 1.
Why is Emperor Akbar or Akbar the Great known as one of the greatest rulers in the world?
Answer:
Emperor Akbar or Akbar the Great is known as one of the greatest rulers in the world, not just because he had a vast empire, a very strong army, untold wealth, but because he was a good human being.

Question 2.
Give two examples to show that Akbar was an ideal ruler.
Answer:

1. Akbar cared for his subjects.
2. He had great respect for scholars, writers, poets and artists belonging to different religions.

Question 3.
Who did Akbar have great respect for?
Answer:
Akbar had great respect for scholars, writers, poets and artists belonging to different religious.

Question 4.
Which question posed by Akbar stunned the Emperor’s court? Why?
Answer:
The question, “What should be the punishment for someone who pulls my moustache?” stunned Akbar’s court as it was unheard of.

Question 5.
Write any one punishment suggested by any one nobleman.
Answer:
One nobleman suggested that the person who pulled the Emperor’s moustache should be flogged with fifty lashes of the whip.

Question 6.
What was Birbal’s suggestion regarding punishing the offender?
Answer:
Birbal suggested that the offender should be given his favourite sweetmeats.

Question 7.
What explanation did Birbal offer for his choice of punishment?
Answer:
Birbal explained that only his own grandson would be so bold to pull the Emperor’s moustache and so giving his favourite sweetmeats would be the best punishment.

Question 8.
Why did the courtiers compete with each other in praising Akbar?
Answer:
The courtiers competed with each other in praising Akbar as they wanted to get some favours from him.

Question 9.
What dilemma did the courtiers face?
Answer:
When the courtiers praised Akbar and said that he was greater than God Almighty, Akbar asked them to prove it or face punishment.

Question 10.
What was the one thing according to Birbal which Akbar could do but God Almighty could not?
Answer:
According to Birbal when Akbar wanted to punish someone, he could banish that person out of his kingdom, but as God’s kingdom extended everywhere, the Almighty couldn’t banish anyone from his kingdom.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following extract and complete the activities that follow.

Question 1.
State whether the following statements are true or false.
a. Akbar was happy to hear the praises from his courtiers.
b. Akbar was angry with Birbal’s response.
Answer:
a. False
b. False

Question 2.
What information did Akbar want?
Answer:
Akbar wanted to know if the courtiers had found an answer to his question.

Question 3.
Why could God not banish anyone from his kingdom?
Answer:
God couldn’t banish anyone from his kingdom because God’s kingdom extended everywhere.

Question 4.
Why did Akbar’s face lighten up with a smile?
Answer:
Akbar’s face lightened up with a smile because Birbal had given a clever reply.

Question 5.
Why did Akbar forgive the courtiers for their stupidity?
Answer:
Akbar was so pleased with the answer given by Birbal that he forgave the courtiers for their stupidity.

Question 6.
Find the odd word:
look, royal, good, proper
Answer:
look, The rest are adjectives.

Question 7.
Complete the analogy:
Answer:
prove: proof: punish: punishment

Question 8.
Everyone was curious to see what would happen next. (State the word class of the underlined word.)
Answer:
next: adverb

Question 9.
The Almighty cannot banish anyone from his kingdom. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
The Almighty cannot banish anyone from his kingdom, can he?

Question 10.
Do you believe in false praise? Elaborate.
Answer:
No, I don’t. Appreciating people for their good qualities is a good thing but resorting to false praise for receiving favours or for some ulterior motive is definitely something which we should refrain from.

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1.
You are the greatest of the kings. (Underline the adjective)
Answer:
greatest.

Question 2.
Put him in jail without food and water. (State the types of nouns)
Answer:
food, water – Material noun.

Question 3.
He was an patron of art and culture. (Correct the article)
Answer:
He was a patron of art and culture.

Question 4.
I believe you. ( Begin the sentence with ‘you are )
Answer:
You are believed (by me).

Question 5.
Flag him ! (State the type of sentence)
Answer:
Exclamatory sentence.

Question 6.
Akbar looked at Birbal thoughtfully (State the part of speech of the underlined word)
Answer:
thoughtfully – Adverb.

Make sentences using the following phrases.

1. to have respect: I have great respect for my teachers who are my friends and my guide.
2. to come up with: He came up with the most silly excuse.
3. to be stunned: The whole world was stunned by the news .
4. to offer an explanation: He realised his mistake and offered an explanation for them.
5. to have an advantage: The other team in the game had an advantage because they were highly experienced.

Complete the following table.

Noun	Adjective	Verb
care	careful	care
belief	believable	believe
competition	competitive	compete
punishment	punishable	punish

Give the antonyms by providing appropriate suffixes.

1. interesting × uninteresting
2. human × inhuman
3. pleased × displeased
4. advantage × disadvantage
5. proper × improper

Give one word for:

1. very great in area or size: vast
2. to beat someone hard with a whip: flog
3. to be disturbed: agitated
4. lack of cleverness: stupidity

Did you Know?

Birbal stories are very famous and popular in India among all ages of people. They are also known as Akbar-Birbal stories. Akbar, the Great, the Mughal Emperor in India, ruled from 1560 to 1605. He himself was illeterate but he invited several learned people in his court. Among these, nine people were very famous and were known as Nav-ratnas. Birbal was the favourite of Akbar, because of his wisdom, wit and subtle humour.

Who’s the Greatest? Summary in English

Who’s the Greatest? is an interesting lesson which narrates two of the very popular Akbar and Birbal stories. Akbar would always pose interesting questions and problems in his court and Birbal, one of his nine gems or ‘nav-ratnas’ never failed to come up with an answer displaying his wit and humour.

In this lesson, one of the stories talks about Akbar’s question to his courtiers:
“What should be the punishment for someone who pulls my moustache?”
While everyone called for strict actions for the grave offence, Birbal smilingly suggested that Akbar should give the offender his favourite sweetmeats. After all he said, who would be so bold to pull the Emperor’s moustache other than his own grandson?
The next story is about the challenge Akbar posed to his courtiers who showered him with false praises and called him greater than the God Almighty.
He told the courtiers to tell him atleast one thing he could do but God Almighty would not be able to do.
Here Birbal came to the courtier’s rescue. He said:
“When you want to punish someone, you can banish that person – you can throw him out of your kingdom. But God’s kingdom extends everywhere. The Almighty cannot banish anyone from his kingdom.” Akbar was pleased with the answer.
The humour and wit in the Akbar and Birbal stories are the reasons for their popularity.

Introduction:

‘Who’s the Greatest’ narrates Akbar and Birbal’s stories which reflect Birbal’s wit, humour and intelligence.

Glossary:

1. vast (adj) – very great in area or size
2. empire (n) – a large area ruled by an emperor or supreme authority
3. scholars (n) – learned persons
4. patrons (n) – a person supporting something. Here it is art and culture
5. pose (v) – present a question
6. generations (n) – all the people born in the same period
7. agitated (adj) – angry, disturbed.
8. courtiers (n) – attendants at the court
9. offender (n) – one who commits an illegal act
10. opportunity (n) – circumstances which ensure that something can be done
11. displeasure (n) – annoyance
12. banish (v) – send away into exile
13. advantage (n) – something which provides one a favourable position