Maharashtra State Board Class 7 English Solutions Chapter 3.6 Think Before You Speak

Class 7 English Chapter 3.6 Think Before You Speak Textbook Questions and Answers

1. The same word can be used as a noun in some sentences and as a verb in others.

Question 1.
For example,
1. Many are the empty remarks …………….. Noun.
2. A wise man once remarked, ………….. Verb.
Make two sentences of your own with each of the words given below, using the same word as a noun in one and as a verb in another.
1. change
2. show throw
3. return
4. benefit
Answer:
1. Change:

• Picnics are a welcome change from the daily routine. (Noun)
• Change the way you think. (Verb)

2. Show:

• The students put up a grand musical show. (Noun)
• You need not show me your tickets. (Verb)

3 Throw:

• That was an easy throw. (Noun)
• You must throw garbage in the trash can. (Verb)

4 Return:

• She promised to take me for a movie on her return from the market. (Noun)
• Please return my book, as I need to complete it. (Verb)

5 Benefit:

• I advice you for your own benefit. (Noun)
• Children benefit from parents’ advice. (Verb)

2. Complete the following.

Question 1.
Our ears are like funnels because …………..
Answer:
they are open all the time and there is no door with which you can close them.

Question 2.
The two rows of teeth are like a fence because ……………..
Answer:
if we wish to speak our words have to pierce through them.

Question 3.
The two lips are like fence because ……………….
Answer:
before a word is spoken, it has to pass through it.

Question 4.
Harsh words are like scattered bits of paper carried away by the wind because ………………
Answer:
once you have spoken them aloud, it is very difficult to take them back.

3. Write a brief summary of the story of the young man and his spiritual teacher, making the young man the narrator.

Question 1.
You may begin as given below.
“I went quickly to my spiritual teacher for advice because I had ………….”
Answer:
I went quickly to my spiritual teacher for advice because I had hurt and insulted my dear friend with unkind and harsh words. When I asked him for the solution, he gave me a fresh sheet of blank paper and a pen and instructed me to write down on that paper all the harsh things I had told my friend. I obeyed. He then asked me to tear it into as many bits as I could and throw the bits out of the window.

The tiny bits scattered far and wide in no time. But to my surprise, he then asked me to collect as many bits as possible. I ran to collect them, but in vain. I couldn’t get hold of even in a single bit of paper. I returned all exhausted. He then revealed to me that spoken words are like those bits of paper, easy to scatter but difficult to take back. What was done, was done, and could not be altered. I learnt that I should think before I speak.

4. Language study.

Adverbial:
An adverbial is something that is used as an adverb. An adverbial is often one word, an adverb, as in the following example:
1.You have run fast.
But, it can also be a phrase or a clause.
2. We played on the playground.
3. I will go home when the bell rings.
In sentence 2, the phrase ‘on the playground’ is used as an adverb. In
sentence 3, the clause ‘when the bell rings’ Is used as an adverb.

Class 7 English Chapter 3.6 Think Before You Speak Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Was Disraeli trying to give a scientific reason?
Answer:
No, Disraeli wasn’t trying to give a scientific reason, but a logical one. He just wanted to draw our attention to the fact, that human physiology suggests that we should speak less and listen more.

Question 2.
Was he only trying to give a message in a light-hearted but effective way?
Answer:
Yes, he was only trying to give a message in a light-hearted but effective way.

Question 3.
Have you ever passed an empty remark or win statement that might hurt someone? What can you do to avoid it again?
Answer:
Yes, I have passed a vain statement about a classmate’s dressing sense only to realize later that she came from a poor financial background. I was lucky she didn’t hear it or else she would have been hurt. From that day I decided not to pass such remarks because often we do not know the complete background.

Answer the following in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
What did the wise teacher ask the young man to do?
Answer:
The wise teacher asked the young man to write down on a paper all the harsh things he had told his friend.

Question 2.
What did the wise teacher ask the young man to do with the sheet of paper?
Answer:
The wise teacher asked the young man to tear the sheet of paper into a hundred tiny pieces and throw the bits out of the window.

Question 3.
What is the similarity between the bits of paper scattered in the wind and spoken words?
Answer:
Just as bits of paper scattered in the wind are difficult to gather, similarly spoken words are impossible to take back.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.

1. Benjamin Disraeli was a great
2. To speak eve one single words, it must
3. We must think at least

Answer:

1. Britsh Statesman
2. pass through two walls – two fences,
3. twice before we utter a word.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
How do we become slaves of words spoken by us?
Answer:
Once we have spoken a word we become slaves as we cannot take it back, no matter how hard we try. You cannot retrieve it.

Question 2.
What are unspoken words?
Answer:
Unspoken words are things one wants to say, but remain unsaid as thoughts in the mind.

Question 3.
How do spoken words make you a slave?
Answer:
Spoken words are meant to be honoured which means we have to stand by it. We say something and do not follow it, then we lose our credibility. Hence we need to think before we speak and become slave to our own words.

Question 4.
Two rows of teeth’. Thinks of similar expressions.
Answer:

1. Two sets of five fingers.
2. Two sets of five toes.
3. A pairs of eyes
4. A pair of ears are similar expression.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Use the words ‘left’ in separate sentences and show the difference in the meaning.
Answer:
My’sister uses her left hand efficiently. After the function, a lot of food was left behind. She lift without telling anybody.

Question 2.
Man was meant to listen more and talk less similarly make a sentence using words of opposite meaning.
Answer:
We breathe in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide.

Grammar.

Question 1.
The wise teacher gave him a fresh sheet of blank paper and pen. (Rewrite ending with ‘the wise teacher’)
Answer:
He was given a fresh sheet of blank paper and pen by the wise teacher.

Question 2.
You cannot change them or control them. (Make affirmative)
Answer:
You can hardly change them or control them.

Question 3.
Spoken – unspoken
Write two similar antonyms using a prefix.
Answer:
1. able – unable
2. happy – unhappy

Form adjectives.

Question 1.

1. thought
2. remark
3. nature
4. man
5. time

Answer:

1. thoughtful/thoughtless
2. remarkable
3. natural
4. manual/ manly
5. timely

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Do you remember someone else speaking to you angrily, without thinking? What did you do on that occasion? Did you also speak angrily?
Answer:
Yes, I do remember a few occasions. When people have spoken to me angrily without a valid reason. Though I was angry, I did not speak angrily as I did not want an angry exchange in public.

Simple Factual Questions.

Question 1.
1. Socrates had influenced the lives of many youths for the better.
2. According to Socrates, one must never open one’s mouth to speak.
Answer:
1. True
2. False.

Complex Factual Questions.

Question 1.
What are three questions one needs to ask before speaking?
Answer:
Before speaking one needs to ask three questions such as – ‘Is it true?’, ‘Is it pleasant?’, ‘Is it useful?’.

Question 2.
Why should one ask the question ‘Is it true?’ before speaking?
Answer:
One must ask the question ‘Is it true?’ before speaking because if we are not sure about the truth of what we are saying, it is better we do not speak. When we speak words carelessly, we become transmitters of the untruth.

Question 3.
What is the importance of asking the question ‘ ‘Is it useful?’
Answer:
It is important to ask ‘Is it useful?’ before speaking because only if our words benefit the listener and comfort someone, they should be spoken.

Vocabulary.

Question 1.
Pick out a word from the extract that means ‘useless’.
Answer:
vain

Question 2.
Give antonyms.
1. ancient
2. affirmative
Answer:
1. recent / contemporary
2. negative

Grammar.

Question 1.
Socrates was one of the wise men of the ancient world. (Rewrite using ‘as … as’)
Answer:
Very few men of the ancient world were as wise as Socrates.

Question 2.
“O wise one, how may we know when it is right to speak?” they asked him. (Write in indirect speech)
Answer:
Addressing him as a wise one, they asked him how they might know when it was right time to speak.

Personal Response.

Question 1.
Do you agree that thinking before speaking saves one from many troubles? Explain.
Answer:
Yes, I definitely agree that thinking before speaking saves one from many troubles as we get time to analyse our thoughts and decide whether we should speak or not. Many a times when we are angry, if we think before speaking we will not have to regret what we have said. This saves many relationships.

Do as directed.

Question 1.
Write down on this paper all the harsh things you said to him. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
Write down on this paper all the harsh things you said to him, will you?

Question 2.
“Throw the bits out of this window” the teacher told him. (Write in indirect speech)
Answer:
The teacher instructed him to throw the bits out of that window.

Question 3.
It will be difficult indeed. (Make negative)
Answer:
It will not be easy indeed.

Question 4.
It will be difficult indeed, but do give it a try. (Rewrite using although)
Answer:
Although it will be difficult, give it a try.

Question 5.
Speak only when absolutely necessary. (Frame a Wh-question)
Answer:
When should one speak?

Question 6.
The young man went out. (Rewrite in question form)
Answer:
Didn’t the young man go out?

Question 7.
He returned half an hour later. (Rewrite using modal auxiliary of compulsion)
Answer:
He must return half an hour later.

Question 8.
Now tear up this sheet of paper into as many small bits as you can. (Rewrite beginning with ‘Let’)
Answer:
Let this sheet of paper be torn into as many small bits as you can.

Question 9.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrases / idioms given below. Change the form where necessary to fill in the blanks. (far and wide, to make amends, taken aback, bring comfort)

1. His reassuring words ………….. to my troubled mind.
2. People come to see flamingos from …………… .
3. Mishti ……………. by his brother’s arrogance.
4. She ………….. for her rudeness by apologizing.

Answer:

1. brought comfort
2. far and wide
3. was taken aback
4. made amends.

Question 10.
Underline the adverbial in the following sentence.

1. The birds flew over the trees.
2. She speaks in a self tone.
3. The workers left without permission
4. The king promised to give then food to eat.
5. Seema walked behind them briskly.
6. The young man did as he was told.

Answer:

1. over the trees
2. food to eat
3. without permission
4. behind them briskly
5. behind them briskly
6. as he was told.

Think Before You Speak Summary in English

The great British statesment Benjamin Disraeli argued, that as man is endowed with two ears and one mouth it indicates that we should listen more and talk less. We are masters of unspoken words and slaves of the spoken ones.

The lesson narrates a story of a young man who had hurt his friend with his harsh words. Worried that he might lose his friend, he goes to a wise man who teaches him a lesson that words spoken are like scattered bits of paper thrown out in the wind. Easy to blow but difficult to collect. The advice of Socrates in the end nails the message quite forcefully. Socrates once told his disciples that when you wish to speak, ask three questions. If the answer to all of them is ‘Yes’, then go ahead and speak. The questions are – ‘Is it true?’, ‘Is it pleasant?’ and ‘Is it useful?’.

The lesson is a practical tip on how one can earn respect, happy relationships and peace of mind by speaking less and only when needed.

Introduction:

The lesson ‘Think Before You Speak!’ carries the message “speak only when necessary”.

Glossary:

1. statesman (n) – a person experienced in the art of governance
2. endowed (v) – to be provided with something
3. funnels (n) – a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom
4. pierce (v) – go into something
5. stammer (v) – speak with sudden involuntary pause and repeat some letters
6. exhausted (adj) – very tired
7. counselled (v) – advised, guided
8. affirmative (adj) – answer which is ‘yes’
9. veracity (n) – truth
10. transmitters (n) – persons who spread something, in this case, untruth
11. vain (adj) – useless

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 1.7 Param Vir Chakra: Our Heroes

Class 6 English Chapter 1.7 Param Vir Chakra: Our Heroes Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Read the passage and answer the following questions:

Question a.
What is ‘Param Vir Chakra’?
Answer:
Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration awarded for the most conspicuous bravery of some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice by our brave soilders, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.

Question b.
What is seen on the obverse and reverse of the PVC medal?
Answer:
On the obverse, it has the Indian National Emblem at the centre, surrounded by four replicas of ‘Indra’s Vajra’. On the reverse, the words Param Vir Chakra are engraved in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers in between them.

Question c.
Who designed the PVC medal?
Answer:
The Param Vir Chakra medal was designed by Savitribai Khanolkar.

Question d.
What makes Indra’s Vajra or thunderbolt invincible?
Answer:
The Indra’s Vajra or thunderbolt was fashioned from the bones of Sage Dadhichi, and the supreme sacrifice of the Sage makes the weapon invincible.

2. Write the story of Sage Dadhichi’s sacrifice in your own words.

Question 1.
Write the story of Sage Dadhichi’s sacrifice in your own words.
Answer:
Many, many years ago, a demon set out on a mission: stealing all the water in the world! The consequence was very serious. Innocent people suffered and lost their lives. They had no water to quench their thirst. Defeating this demon with an ordinary weapon was not possible.

An extraordinary weapon was required. Sage Dadhichi whose bone had extraordinary power was the only person who could save the people from the clutches of the demon. But how could anyone ask a man for his bones?

A noble man that Sage Dadhichi was, he himself sacrificed his life and gave his own bones to help the people. Using the bones of Sage Dadhichi, Indra’s weapon of thunderbolt was designed, and this matchless weapon helped Indra to defeat the demon. Through Sage Dadhichi’s sacrifice, we learn the value of selflessness and the significance of sacrificing our own life for the larger good.

3. Read aloud the account of how Flying Officer Nirmal iii Singh Sekhon sacrificed his life lo defend our country.

Question 1.
Read aloud the account of how Flying Officer Nirmal iii Singh Sekhon sacrificed his life lo defend our country.
Answer:

1. Sending them sweets on festive occasions.
2. Collecting funds and contributing it towards various initiatives organised by soldiers.
3. Visiting them and organising cultural programmes for them.
4. Writing letters to them and expressing our gratitude to them for giving us a sense of security.
5. Inviting them to the school on occasions like Independence Day, Republic Day etc., and deriving inspiration from their words of wisdom.

4. Find more information about other Param Vir Chakra awardees. Prepare a collage using photographs, pictures and text matter written In beautiful handwriting.

Question 1.
Find more information about other Param Vir Chakra awardees. Prepare a collage using photographs, pictures and text matter written In beautiful handwriting.

5. Find more information about the Indian Armed Forces: The Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Question 1.
Find more information about the Indian Armed Forces: The Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
Answer:
The Indian Armed Forces: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are the military forces of our country. They are supported by paramilitary organisations.
Indian Air Force is the air arm of the IAF. The highest rank is Air Marshal.
Indian Army is the land based branch commanded by a 4 star General or the Chief of Army Staff.
Indian Navy is the naval branch. The chief of Naval staff is a 4 star officer in the rank of Admiral.

Rank of Air Force Officers
Marshal → Air Chief Marshal
Air Vice – Marshal → Air Commodore
Group Captain → Wing Commander
Squadron Leader → Flight Lieutenent Flying Officer

6. What can you do to show your love, respect and support to the soldiers who fight for the country? Discuss this in the classroom. For example, you can send greeting cards to them on various occasions, with the help of your teacher.

Sometimes, we use two or three adjectives together to describe a noun. In such cases, the order in which adjectives are used depends on the meaning. The adjectives that express/show your opinion about something are usually put first. The other adjectives are normally put in the following order:
size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, use or purpose.
Examples:

• a nice little basket
• a brave young woman.
• a big red, plastic bag.
• a noisy, old, drilling machine

Class 6 English Chapter 1.7 Param Vir Chakra: Our Heroes Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
How are the brave deeds of our brave soldiers honoured?
Answer:
The brave deeds of our brave soldiers are honoured by bestowing military decorations on them.

Question 2.
Which is India’s highest military decorations?
Answer:
The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration.

Question 3.
Why is the Param Vir Chakra awarded?
Answer:
The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.

Question 4.
Where does the Indian Military derive its inspiration from?
Answer:
The Indian Military derives its strength and inspiration from the sacrifice of the bravest of the brave – The Param Vir Chakra holders.

Complete the fact file on: The Param Vir Chakra

1. Name of the : The Param Vir Chakra medal
2. Name of the : Savitribai Khanolkar designer:
3. Description : Made of bronze, fitted with swivel mounting and has a plain purple ribbon.
4. Obverse of the : Has the Indian National PVC medal Emblem at the centre surrounded by four replicas of iridra’s Vajra.’
5. Reverse of the : The words ‘Param Vir PVC Medal Chakra’ are engraved in Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers between them.

Reading Skills, Grammar and Vocabulary

Read the following extract and complete the activities that follow.

Pre-reading Activity

Question 1.
Complete the following web diagram.
Answer:

Question 2.
Which martyr is paid tribute to in this extract?
Answer:
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the martyr who is paid tribute to in this extract.

Question 3.
What happened on the 14th of December, 1971?
Answer:
On the 14th of December, 1971, Srinagar Airfield was attacked by a wave of six enemy Sabre aircraft.

Question 4.
What problem did Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon encounter?
Answer:
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon who was on readiness duty could not take off immediately because of the clouds of dust raised by another aircraft.

Question 5.
Give a brief account of the act of valour displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon.
Answer:
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon took off in his Gnat fighter the moment he could. He began to combat the powerful Sabre jet aircraft of the enemy. He damaged two of them. His fight with the attacking aircraft then continued at tree-top height. At last, the enemy aircraft fled from the scene of battle. The airfield and the town of Srinagar were saved.

Question 6.
How did Flying Officer Sekhon lose his life?
Answer:
Even though Flying Officer Sekhon succeeded in forcing the enemy aircraft to retreat, and the airfield and town of Srinagar were saved, unfortunately Flying Officer Skehon’s aircraft too crashed, and he lost his life.

Question 7.
Which qualities did Flying Officer Sekhon display?
Answer:
Flying Officer Sekhon displayed great flying skill and determination in the face of certain death. He also showed unmatched heroism above and beyond the call of duty.

Question 8.
He damaged two of them. (Change the voice.)
Answer:
Two of them were damaged by him.

Question 9.
Circle the odd word: plain purple ribbon (power)
Answer:
power

Question 10.
How has the account of bravery displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon inspired you? Write in detail.
Answer:
The bravery displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon has inspired me to give my best for my nation’s safety and security. It has aroused the value of patriotism in me and I am also willing to make the highest sacrifice for my motherland.

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1.
Their brave deeds are honoured by bestowing military decorations on them. (Pick out the adjectives.)
Answer:
Adjectives – brave, military

Question 2.
Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration. (Change the degree of comparison.)
Answer:
No other military decoration in India is as high as Param Vir Chakra.

Question 3.
The Param Vir Chakra is a very rare honour. (Make it exclamatory.)
Answer:
What a rare honour the Param Vir Chakra is!

Question 4.
Fourteen of these awards were given posthumously. (Pick out the adverb.)
Answer:
Adverb – posthumously

Question 5.
Something extraordinary was required. (Form a Wh-question to get the underlined part as the answer.)
Answer:
What was required?

Question 6.
Innocent people were suffering and dying without water. (Use not only… but also.)
Answer:
Innocent people were not only suffering but also dying without water.

Question 7.
Sage Dadhichi was a noble person. (Make it Interrogative).
Answer:
Wasn’t Sage Dadhichi a noble person?

Question 8.
The airfield and the town of Srinagar were saved. (Separate the Subject and Predicate.)
Answer:
Subject: The airfield and the town of Srinagar Predicate: were saved.

Question 9.
The medal itself is very simple in appearance. (Pick out the naming word.)
Answer:
Naming word – medal

Question 10.
Savitribai loved India and took Indian citizenship. (Pick out two proper nouns.)
Answer:
Savitribai, India

Give the antonyms of:

1. past × present
2. presence × absence
3. strength × weakness
4. clear × unclear
5. powerful × weak
6. certain × uncertain

Make sentences using the following phrases.

1. to take off: The flight took off before he arrived at the airport.
2. to attack: The enemy attacked the kingdom and took everyone by surprise.
3. to show unmatched heroism: The soldier displayed unmatched heroism before sacrificing his life for his motherland.

Use two or three adjectives together to describe a noun.
Answer:

• A sweet, little girl.
• A courageous, brave soldier.
• A fragrant, red rose.
• A long, pink gown.
• A small, green parrot.
• An old, pleasant, cheerful man.
• A kind, compassionate, helpful lady.

Do you know!

1. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
2. The Indian Armed Forces are managed by the Ministry of Defence, the Government of India.
3. More than 1.3 million personnel are working in the Indian Armed Forces.
4. The Indian Armed Forces have been engaged in various military operations.
5. December 7 is observed as Armed Forces Flag Day

Param Vir Chakra: Our Heroes Summary in English

The author begins by narrating the sacrifice of Sage Dadhichi who laid down his life and gave his own bones for the larger good. He did this to help the people from a demon who had stolen all the water in the world. Indra’s Vajra – Indra’s weapon of thunderbolt was fashioned from Sage Dadhichi’s bones and the demon was defeated.

According to him, just as Indra’s Vajra derived power from sage Dadhichi’s bones, the Indian military derives its strength and power from the sacrifice of the bravest of the brave – the Param Vir Chakra holders.

The lesson goes on to describe the Param Vir Chakra medal. It also provides us a list of 21 bravest of the brave i.e., Param Vir. The lesson also provides information about the bravery and sacrifice made by selfless patriot Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, a Param Vir. Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon sacrificed his life to save an airfield and town of Srinagar from the enemy. Let us derive inspiration from our brave, selfless soldiers and be willing to make the final sacrifice for our country, our motherland, India.

Introduction:

We live in our country with a sense of security because our brave soldiers, even at the cost of their lives are guarding us with their presence on land, at sea or in the air. Their extraordinary acts of bravery are recognised by bestowing military decorations on them. The highest military decoration is the Param Vir Chakra. This lesson tells us more about Param Vir Chakra.

Glossary:

1. legendary (adj) – very famous and admired
2. extraordinary (adj) – very special
3. bestowing (v) – presenting
4. military (n) – soldiers of all armed forces
5. conspicuous (adj) – outstanding, easily attracting attention
6. pre-eminent (adj) – outstanding
7. valour (n) – bravery
8. self-sacrifice (n) – giving up one’s life for a cause
9. posthumously (adv) – after a person’s death
10. matchless (adj) – something which cannot be equaled
11. invincible (adj) – unconquerable
12. noble (adj) – morally good
13. thunderbolts (n) – a flash of lightning with a clap of thunder that strikes at something
14. derives (v) – obtains
15. inspiring (v) – motivating
16. aircraft (n) – a machine used to fly in air

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.2 The Story of Gautama’s Quest

Class 6 English Chapter 4.2 The Story of Gautama’s Quest Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Complete the following sentences with reference to the passage.

Question a.
Gautama, the Buddha, was born over two thousand five hundred years ago, as ……………… .
Answer:
a. Gautama, the Buddha, was born over two thousand five hundred years ago, as Prince Siddharth.

Question b.
The king was determined to prevent his beloved son from ………….. .
Answer:
b. The king was determined to prevent his beloved son from renouncing the world.

Question c.
For six years did Gautama practise …………….. .
Answer:
c. To this day, we venerate this tree as the Bodhi Tree.

Question d.
He realised that making the body suffer was not ………….. .
Answer:
d. Siddharth renounced worldly life in quest of the Truth of life.

Question e.
To this day, we venerate this tree as …………… .
Answer:
Gautama found out the cause of sorrow is desire. The cure of sorrow is to give up all desires and adopt Right – Living.

2. Write short notes on the following.

Question a.
Prince Siddharth’s protected life.
Answer:
When Siddharth was born, it was prophesied that the infant would either grow to be a great Emperor or a renunciate who would usher comforts to lost souls. King Raja Shuddhodana was determined to prevent his son from renouncing the world. He surrounded the Prince with every imaginable luxury and comfort in the magnificent palaces. Thus, changing palaces depending on the season of the year. Prince Siddharth lived his secluded, protected life in the beautiful atmosphere of the royal mansions.

Question b.
The four signs that Prince Siddharth beheld.
Answer:
At the age of twenty-nine, Siddharth went out to see his kingdom and meet his subjects when he beheld what the Buddhist books call the ‘four signs’ – which reflected the impermanence of the world. He saw an old man, a diseased man, a dead man and a monk – and he was exposed to a vision of dukkha the world sorrow. From here began Gautama’s journey in quest of the Truth of Life.

Question c.
The message in the vision.
Answer:
The message in the vision was to convey to Buddha that he should not torture his body to starvation in quest of the Truth of Life. It is illustrated by the beautiful example of the sitar. The vision said that the sitar had to be tuned low nor high. If the string of a sitar is overstretched, it will break and lose its ability to make music. Similarly, an overslack string too would not create music. In other words, we should not go to extremes in our efforts to achieve our goals.

Question d.
Sujata’s offering:
Answer:
A beautiful girl named Sujata appeared before Gautama as he was trying to get up to take a bath in the river but couldn’t due to weakness. Sujata was carrying a golden bowl filled with sweetened milk and rice. Seeing the weakened ascetic, she offered the bowl of milk and rice at his feet. Buddha accepted her offerings. The first meal after many days of starvation refreshed him and infused a new strength in him. He realized that making the body suffer was not the way to enlightenment and truth.

3. Read aloud a paragraph of your choice from the passage.

Question 1.
Read aloud a paragraph of your choice from the passage.

4. Visit a library: Read stories about Gautama Buddha. Relate one story in the class.

Question 1.
Visit a library: Read stories about Gautama Buddha. Relate one story in the class.

Class 6 English Chapter 4.2 The Story of Gautama’s Quest Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
When and where was Gautama Buddha born?
Answer:
Gautama Buddha was born over two thousand five hundred years ago on the sacred day of Vaishakh Purnima at Lumbini, situated near the city of Kapilavastu.

Question 2.
What was prophesied at the birth of Gautama Buddha?
Answer:
It was prophesied at the birth of Gautama that the infant would either grow to be a great Chakravarti (an emperor) or a Sannyasi (a renunciate) who would bring comfort to lost souls.

Question 3.
What was the king determined to do?
Answer:
The king was determined to prevent his beloved son from renouncing the world.

Question 4.
Who was the prince married to? What was the name of his son?
Answer:
The prince was married to one of the most beautiful girls of the realm – Princess Yashodhara, the daughter of the Koliyan king. Their son’s name was Rahul.

Question 5.
How did the life of Siddharth change at the age of twenty-nine?
Answer:
At the age of twenty-nine, Siddharth went out to see his kingdom and to meet his subjects. He witnessed what the Buddhist books call the ‘four signs’ – witnesses to the impermanence of the world. This changed Siddharth’s life.

Question 6.
What was the impact of the ‘four signs’ on Siddharth?
Answer:
Siddharth saw an old man, a diseased man, a dead man and a monk and these witnesses to the impermanence of the world moved him, and there entered into his heart a vision of dukkha, the world – sorrow.

Question 7.
Why did Buddha renounce worldly life?
Answer:
To find the answer to the unanswerable question, “What is the way out of the world – sorrow?” He renounced worldly life and set out in quest of the Truth of Life.

Question 8.
What answer did Gautam Buddha get to his query: “What is the cause of sorrow”?
Answer:
The cause of sorrow is desire and the cure for sorrow is to give up all desires and adopt Right Living. This was the answer Gautama found to his query.

Question 9.
Why do we venerate the Bodhi Tree?
Answer:
Born under a tree/ as Buddha received illumination under a tree and so to this day we venerate this tree as the Bodhi Tree.

Question 10.
Complete the web diagram with qualities essential to succeed in what we have set out to achieve.
Answer:

Read the following extract and complete the activities.

Question 1.
Complete the following sentences with reference to the extract.
Answer:

• For six years, did Gautama practise intense asceticism.
• He realised that making the body suffer was not the way to enlightenment and truth.

Question 2.
What does the passage highlight?
Answer:
The passage highlights the intensity with which Gautama practised ascetism in his quest of the truth of life. It also talks about its impact on him and the willpower he displayed.

Question 3.
When did Gautama realise that making the body suffer was not the way to enlightenment and truth?
Answer:
When Buddha accepted Sujata’s offering of milk and rice, it refreshed him and infused a new strength in him. He then realized that making the body suffer was not the way to enlightenment and truth.

Question 4.
Pick out proof from the extract: Gautama in his quest for truth had become extremely weak.
Answer:
His strong, athletic body was reduced to a bag of bones.

Question 5.
Explain the lines: ‘Tune the sitar neither low nor high. The string overstretched breaks/
Answer:
The above lines convey the message that we should not go to any extreme ends in whatever we attempt. We should always take a middle path, i.e. neither going overboard nor remaining too indifferent.

Question 6.
‘I shall not give up until I attain to enlightenment’. What does this line tell us about Buddha?
Answer:
The above line tells us that Gautama Buddha was very determined. It reflects his immense willpower as he set out in quest of the truth of life.

Question 7.
Buddha accepted her offerings. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
Buddha accepted her offerings, didn’t he?

Question 8.
The cause of sorrow is desire. (State the word class of the underlined words and state its kind)
Answer:
sorrow, desire – Abstract nouns

Question 9.
Why is willpower essential to succeed in life?
Answer:
If we are determined and if we persist and never give up, we will definitely emerge as a winner.

Language Study.

Question 1.
He was born on the sacred day of Vaishakh Purnima at Lumbini, situated near the city of Kapilavastu. (State the word class of the underlined words) .
Answer:
Nouns

Question 2.
The king was determined to prevent his beloved son from renouncing the world. (Form Wh-question to get the underlined part as the answer)
Answer:
What was the king determined to do?

Question 3.
He saw an old man, a diseased man, a dead man and a monk. (Pick out the describing words)
Answer:
Describing words: old, diseased, dead

Question 4.
For six years did Gautama practise intense asceticism. (Pick out the action word)
Answer:
practise – action word

Question 5.
I shall not give up until I attain enlightenment. (State the word class of the underlined word)
Answer:
until – Conjunction

Question 6.
When she saw the weakened ascetic, she offered the bowl at his feet. (Pick out the Preposition)
Answer:
at – preposition

Question 7.
Buddha accepted her offering. (Rewrite the sentence starting with: Her offering)
Answer:
Her offering was accepted by Buddha.

Question 8.
It refreshed him and infused a new strength in him. (Use not only …. but also)
Answer:
It not only refreshed him but also infused a new strength in him.

Question 9.
Gautama had longed for enlightenment. (Pick out the verb and state its tense)
Answer:
had longed – Past perfect tense

Question 10.
The cause of sorrow is desire. (Separate the subject and predicate)
Answer:
The cause of sorrow: Subject is desire: Predicate

Question 11.
Word building.
Answer:

Make sentences using the following phrases.

1. to prevent: We should do all we can to prevent the growth of social stigma.
2. to renounce: He renounced all worldly pleasures and left in search of truth.
3. to witness: I witnessed a very serious accident.
4. to attain: We should try to attain excellence in all we set out to do.
5. to serve no purpose: Arguments serve no purpose and so we should avoid it.
6. to achieve: We should achieve great heights through hard work and persistent efforts.
7. to torture: We should never show cruelty towards animals or torture them in any way.
8. to infuse a new strength: His words infused a new strength in my goal of life.
9. to venerate: We venerate forces of nature as they are our providers.

Student’s Activity.

Question a.
Write a paragraph on:
Answer:
Qualities essential for Success

Question b.
Write an essay of about 100 words on:
Answer:
Willpower – Essential for Success

The Story of Gautama’s Quest Summary in English

The lesson ‘The Story of Gautama’s Quest’ narrates his journey from his birth two thousand five hundred years ago till the time he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Son of King Shuddhodana, Gautama would either be a great emperor or a renunciate who would bring comforts to many – thousands of lost souls – this was what was prophesied at his birth.

Despite the best efforts of the king, eventually the prophecy came true when Gautama witnessed the four signs – witnesses to the impermanence of the world. He renounced the comforts of the palace, the worldly life. He left his wife Yashodhara and son Rahul, and set out on a journey – A journey in quest of the Truth of Life.

The lesson goes on to narrate the severe hardships which Gautama underwent for six years. He displayed immense will-power. He hardly ate a grain of rice but refused to give up until he attained enlightenment. Along the way, Gautama saw a vision. It changed his approach. He then decided to follow the middle path and stopped torturing his body to starvation.

As he accepted the offering of milk and rice from Sujata, he felt refreshed and infused with strength. He realised that making the body suffer was not the way to enlightenment and truth.

Gautama’s long wait, the quest for truth, ended when that night he found answer to his question. The cause of sorrow was desire, the urge to possess. The cure for the same was to give up all desires and adopt right living. A circle was complete. Born under a tree, the Buddha received illumination also under a tree – A tree venerated even today.

Introduction:

This lesson throws light on Gautama’s journey in quest of the truth of life – the journey (the quest) which begins with a question: What is the cause of sorrow? The quest ends when he finds the answer that the root cause of all sorrows is desire. The cure for all sorrows is to give up all desires and adopt right living.

Glossary:

1. sacred (adj) – holy
2. prophesied (v) – to reveal by divine something inspiration
3. renunciate (n) – one who formally gives up
4. renounce (verb) – to formally give up
5. magnificent (adj) – extravagant and beautiful
6. mansion (n) – a large, palatial house
7. secluded (adj) – a place which is not visited
8. realm (n) – field of activity
9. impermanence (adj) – not lasting definitely
10. unanswerable (adj) – question which couldn’t be answered
11. quest (v) – search
12. illumination (n)- enlightenment
13. attainment (n) – acquire something
14. intense (adj) – severe
15. asceticism (n) – avoiding pleasures of life and leading a simple life for religious purpose
16. succession (n) – happening one after another
17. athletic (adj) – strong and healthy
18. willpower (n) – strong determination
19. vision (n) – something which is seen in a dream and which conveys some truth or knowledge.
20. stimulant (n) – motivate or encourage
21. starvation (n) – suffer from lack of food
22. ascetic (n) – one who abstains oneself from
23. infused (v) – ushered in (here)
24. desire (n) – to want something strongly
25. venerate (v) – respect deeply

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

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

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:

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.

Answer:

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.

Answer:

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)

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.5 If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking …

Class 6 English Chapter 4.5 If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking … Textbook Questions and Answers

1. What does the poet want to do?

Question 1.
What does the poet want to do?
Answer:
The poet wants to stop a heart from breaking, i.e., help a person from becoming sad and help a fainting robin back into his nest again.

Question 2.
Does the poet expect anything in return? What is the poet’s reward?
Answer:
No, the poet does not expect anything in return. The poet believes that through these acts, he can add meaning to his life and therein lies his reward.

Question 3.
List the phrases that indicate sorrow or pain.
Answer:
a. stop one heart from breaking;
b. ease one life the aching

Question 4.
Form groups of five and discuss. There are many things that seem small, minor or insignificant to some people but the same may be the cause of great pain, suffering for others.
Can you list such things? What can you do to provide help on these occasions? What do we do?
Answer:

1. Some people may not give a lot of importance to money while there are others who are dying due to hunger and starvation. They are so poor that they cannot afford their basic needs,
2. We should help organize food for the poor and the needy. We can request NGOs to help them.
3. Some people leave the taps open and wastewater while there are thousands who are deprived of drinking water. We should create awareness about the need to save water and ensure that we do all we can to help people overcome water scarcity.
4. Many people visit restaurants and waste food. They do it at home too, At the same time, there are so many people who sometimes starve to death.
5. We can request hotels and restaurants to donate a part of whatever they prepare each day to those in need. (Students may add their ideas to the list)

Class 6 English Chapter 4.5 If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking … Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer in one sentence.

Question 1.
What is the message conveyed through this poem?
Answer:
The message conveyed through this poem is that we should do all we can to reduce the pain and suffering of human beings and other creatures of nature.

Reading and Poetic Device.

Question 1.
Complete the web diagram.
Answer:

Question 2.
What is the central idea of the poem?
Answer:
The central idea of the poem is that by showing kindness to man and other creatures of nature like a bird, we will be making our life purposeful and meaningful.

Question 3.
Name two values highlighted in the poem.
Answer:
The two values highlighted in the poem are compassion and kindness.

Question 4.
Explain the lines: ‘If I can ease one life the aching, I shall not live in vain’.
Answer:
Through the above lines, the poetess is conveying the message that if she can reduce the pain and suffering of anyone in this world, her life will acquire meaning. It will be a purposeful life, well-lived.

Question 5.
Pick out proof to show that the poetess doesn’t want to reserve her care and compassion to human beings alone.
Answer:
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain

Question 6.
Complete the following:
If I can stop one heart from breaking
Answer:
I shall not live in vain.

Question 7.
Pick out two pairs of rhyming words from the poem.
Answer:
a. breaking – aching;
b. pain – again

Question 8.
Name the rhyme scheme used in the first four lines of the poem.
Answer:
ababcbb

Question 9.
Pick out an archaic (old usage) word from the poem.
Answer:
unto

Question 10.
How will you make your life worthwhile?
Answer:
I believe: ‘It is blessed to give than to receive’. I will make my life worthwhile by caring for my fellow beings. I will also strive towards conservation, preservation and protection of the environment.

Language Study.

Question 1.
Pick out naming words from the poem, (any 4)
Answer:

Question 2.
Pick out action words from the poem (any 4)
Answer:

Question 3.
Write one word with the same sound.
Answer:
(a) one – won (b) pain – pane.

Writing Skills.

Question 1.
Write an essay on: ‘Service to Humanity is Service to God’
Answer:
Woodrow Wilson has rightly said, “There is no higher religion than human service.” To work for the common good is the greatest creed.”

Our life acquires meaning only when we commit it towards the service of others. Love, care, compassion, kindness, empathy, sympathy, etc., are some of the vital values which will help us to reach out to those in need or to those in distress. There are several social workers who have committed their life in service of others. Whether it is Mother Teresa, Baba Amte, or Sant Cadge Maharaj, one thing they had in common was the unconditional love they had for their fellow beings.

We can make a world of difference by joining NGOs or participating in our school’s initiatives towards social work. Visiting home for the aged and spending time with the elderly, distributing gifts to the children in orphanages on our birthday, etc., are little acts of kindness which can make a big difference.

Let us remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. With a heart filled with generosity, with words that are kind and through acts of selflessness, let us build a world where love and happiness reign supreme.

Quote of the Day.

Use your voice for kindness

1. your care for compassion
2. your hands for charity
3. your mind for truth
4. your heart for love

If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking … Summary in English

Emily Dickinson in her poem conveys the message that we should do whatever we can to make the life of those around us happier.
Little acts of care, compassion, concern and love can make a world of difference. Paraphrase:
The poet also advises us to be compassionate not only to human beings but also to the animals. We should do all we can to reduce pain and suffering.

Introduction:

A beautiful poem which highlights the importance of reaching out to humans and other creatures of nature thus making a world of difference to them.

Glossary:

1. stop heart from breaking – to help a person
2. live in vain – live without purpose
3. ease one life the aching – reduce sorrow in someone’s life
4. cool one pain – reduce the pain, give relief from becoming sad
5. unto – to (archaic use)

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 2.4 Anak Krakatoa

Class 6 English Chapter 2.4 Anak Krakatoa Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Draw a diagram to show a volcanic eruption from its description given in this passage. Label the diagram. Show the following in it: Volcano; earth’s crust; crack in the earth’s crust; hot molten rock; red, hot lava; smoke; ash; burning chunks of rock.

Question 1.
Draw a diagram to show a volcanic eruption from its description given in this passage. Label the diagram. Show the following in it: Volcano; earth’s crust; crack in the earth’s crust; hot molten rock; red, hot lava; smoke; ash; burning chunks of rock.
Answer:

2. Show the three categories of volcanoes using the following tree diagram structure.

Write a very short description of each category below the box.

Question 1.
Show the three categories of volcanoes using the following tree diagram structure.

Write a very short description of each category below the box.
Answer:

3. Show the stages in the process in which Krakatoa collapsed and then Anak Krakatoa formed in the course of volcanic eruptions. Use the flowchart given below.

Question 1.
Show the stages in the process in which Krakatoa collapsed and then Anak Krakatoa formed in the course of volcanic eruptions. Use the flowchart given below.

Answer:

4. Draw a diagram to show how life returned to the island. Label the diagram.
(Use the technique of drawing diagrams when you study science, geography, etc.)

Question 1.
Draw a diagram to show how life returned to the island. Label the diagram.
(Use the technique of drawing diagrams when you study science, geography, etc.)

5. Write short notes on the following:

Question 1.
The 1883 eruption
Answer:
The August 1883 eruption that took place was the worst of the eruptions that took place. The sound of the volcanic eruption was heard more than 3500 kms away in Australia. The island which was a volcanic mountain, collapsed on itself. The dust rose up to 80 km. in the sky, which spread around the world and later settled in different parts thousands of kilometres away.

Giant tsunamis were caused by the eruption, destroying 165 villages and towns. Two-thirds of the island of Krakatoa was destroyed, which collapsed beneath the surface of the sea creating more than a 6 km. wide hole.

Question 2.
The living world on Rakata
Answer:
Rakata, a part of Krakatoa is still visible in the sea, a little away from Anak Krakatoa. After the 1883 eruption, all the surrounding islands and coasts were covered with hot ash rendering the island lifeless. In 1884, a scientist found only one spider when he visited Rakata.

The wind and the sea brought seeds of the plants to the island. Plants and animals that lived in the sea came to the coasts again. Small land animals like ants, termites or even rats and lizards travelled to the island on plants floating in the sea. One edge of the island was soon teeming with plants and animals.

6. Find the pronunciation of the following words from a good dictionary.
strait, eruption, tremendous, dormant, extinct, tsunami, crater, plume.

Question 1.
Find the pronunciation of the following words from a good dictionary.
strait, eruption, tremendous, dormant, extinct, tsunami, crater, plume.

7. Read aloud with the leader: Form groups of five. Read the passage aloud in groups. The leader begins every sentence and stops after a few words. The other members complete the sentence, reading it aloud in chorus.

Question 1.
Read aloud with the leader: Form groups of five. Read the passage aloud in groups. The leader begins every sentence and stops after a few words. The other members complete the sentence, reading it aloud in chorus.

8. Look at the following words carefully for one minute. Now close your book and try to write down as many of the words as you can remember.

Question 1.
Look at the following words carefully for one minute. Now close your book and try to write down as many of the words as you can remember.

Answer:
active, coast, crater, crust, disaster, dormant, eruption, extinct, inland, island, lava, molten, plume, tremendous, tsunami, volcanic.

9. Read the passage and find the verbs used with the following nouns and phrases:
volcano, molten rock, volcanic mountain, dust, 165 village and towns, the wind and the sea, seeds, birds

Question 1.
Read the passage and find the verbs used with the following nouns and phrases:
volcano, molten rock, volcanic mountain, dust, 165 village and towns, the wind and the sea, seeds, birds
Answer:

Class 6 English Chapter 2.4 Anak Krakatoa Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
What is Krakatoa known for?
Answer:
Krakatoa is known for its volcano which erupts regularly.

Question 2.
Name the three categories of volcano.
Answer:

• Active volcano
• Dormant volcano
• Extinct volcano

Question 3.
How loud was the sound of the eruption which took place in August 1883?
Answer:
The sound of the eruption in August 1883 was so loud that it was heard more than 3500 km. away in Australia.

Question 4.
What did the volcanic eruption in August 1883 cause?
Answer:
The volcanic eruption in August 1883 caused giant waves or tsunamis in the sea near the island.?

Question 5.
What was the new island named?
Answer:
The new island was named ‘Anak Krakatoa’ or the ‘Child of Krakatoa’.

Question 6.
Name the agents that helped to maintain the living world on Rakata.
Answer:

1. The wind
2. The sea
3. The birds

Question 7.
How did the western coast of Java become rich in wildlife?
Answer:
The wildlife in the western coast of Java grew naturally because there were no human beings to interfere with it. There was no one to cut the trees or kill animals.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the extract and do the activities.

Question 1.
Write True or False:
a. Krakatoa is an island in the Sunda strait.
b. Great volcanic erruptions can change the land forms on an area.
Answer:
a. False
b. True

Question 2.
Where is the island of Krakatoa?
Answer:
The island of Krakatoa is in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia.

Question 3.
What can a great volcanic eruption do?
Answer:
A great volcanic eruption can change the landforms in an area.

Grammar:

Question 1.
Pick out a word from the extract which means:
(a) glowing red hot
(b) great
Answer:
(a) molten
(b) tremendous

Question 2.
Thick, dark clouds of smoke rise high from the opening. (Change into past continuous tense)
Answer:
Thick, dark clouds of smoke were rising high from the opening.

Question 3.
Pick out a word which is a combination of 2 meaningful words.
Answer:
Sometimes and landforms.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Do you think animals are happy at the zoo? Why?
Answer:
No, I don’t think animals are happy at the zoo because they are caged and not free to move about. Though they get their food, they are disturbed by human visitors. They would love to be in their natural habitat.

Language Study

Frajne the questions using auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) for the given statements. Begin the question with the helping verb.

Question 1.
It was raining.
Answer:
Was it raining?

Question 2.
They were tired.
Answer:
Were they tired?

Question 3.
They did their duty.
Answer:
Did they do their duty?

Question 4.
He works in all weathers.
Answer:
Does he work in all weathers?

Remember:

• Helping (auxiliary) verbs help in changing the tense of the verb in the sentence.
• Helping (auxiliary) verbs can also be used at the beginning of a sentence to frame a ‘Yes/ No’ question.

Turn each of these statements into a negative question.

Question 1.
It is hot today.
Answer:
Is it not hot today?

Question 2.
You are feeling hungry.
Answer:
Are you not feeling hungry?

Question 3.
She is enjoying the film.
Answer:
Is she not enjoying the film?

Question 4.
They have eaten their dinner.
Answer:
Have they not eaten their dinner?

Do as directed:

Question 1.
What is a volcano? (State the kind of sentence.)
Answer:
Interrogative sentence

Question 2.
A great volcanic eruption can change the landforms in an area. (Pick out the modal auxiliary)
Answer:
Can – modal (verb) auxiliary

Question 3.
Krakatoa is an active volcano. (Change into a negative sentence)
Answer:
Krakatoa is not an inactive volcano.

Question 4.
This region became rich in wildlife. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
This region became rich in wildlife, didn’t it?

Question 5.
A part of the old island known as Rakata is still visible in the sea. (Separate the subject and predicate)
Answer:
Subject – A part of the old island known as Rakata
Predicate – is still visible in the sea.

Question 6.
A volcanic eruption happens on a tremendous scale. (Underline the adjectives)
Answer:
Volcanic, tremendous.

Question 7.
Very hot mud and ash are also thrown out. (Name the word class of the underlined words)
Answer:
Very – adverb, hot – adjective, and – conjunction

Question 8.
Complete the table.
Answer:

Do as directed:

Question 1.
Write the noun form of:
Answer:

• erupted – eruption
• know – knowledge

Question 2.
Write the adjective form of:
Answer:

• volcano – volcanic
• regularly – regular

Question 3.
Add a prefix to:
Answer:

• regularly – irregularly
• known – unknown

Writing Skills:

Question 1.
Write a paragraph on ‘Volcanoes’.
Answer:
Volcanoes are nothing but a natural way the earth has, of cooling off and releasing internal pressure and heat. Volcanoes have their advantages and disadvantages as well, that is the good and bad effects. The bad effects harm human life causing destruction of life and property.

There are many good effects of volcanoes, which not everyone is aware of. Volcanoes provide nutrients to the surrounding soil which is beneficial for plants. Volcanoes make islands. Volcanic ash is used as household cleaners. Volcanoes also create a spectacular sceneries. The most important of all is that volcanic gases are the source of all the water today.

Do you Know?

• The word ‘valcano’ originally comes from the name of Roman god of fire-Vulcan
• The Pacific Ring of Fire, an area around the Pacific Ocean, has evidence of 75% of the volcanoes on Earth.
• While there are big volcanoes on the Earth, the biggest known volcano in our Solar System is actually on Mars, known as Olympus Mons.

Anak Krakatoa Summary in English

Anak Krakatoa which means ‘Child of Krakatoa’ is named after Krakatoa. It is still an active volcano. The worst of the eruptions took place in August 1883. A part of the old island known as Rakata, is still visible in the sea, a little away from the new arrival. After Krakatoa’s eruption in 1883, all the surrounding islands and coasts were covered with hot ash. No life remained. When a scientist visited in 1884, he found just one spider there.

Introduction:

‘Anak Krakatoa’ is an informative lesson about Krakatoa – an island in Indonesia which is known for its volcano which erupts regularly.

Glossary:

1. strait (n) – a narrow channel of water connecting two larger bodies of water
2. eruption (n) – a sudden release of pressure, such as lava from a volcano
3. tremendous (adj) – extremely large or great in amount, extent, degree, etc.
4. dormant (adj) – inactive
5. extinct (adj) – no longer in existence
6. tsunami (n) – a destructive tidal wave
7. crater (n) – any large, circular depression or hole
8. plume (n) – an upswelling of molten material from the earth’s mantle
9. island (n) – an area of land totally surrounded by water
10. molten (adj) – glowing red hot
11. disaster (n) – an event causing great loss

Maharashtra State Board Class 6 English Solutions Chapter 4.4 A Mad Tea Party

Class 6 English Chapter 4.4 A Mad Tea Party Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Read the passage aloud playing the roles of different characters.

Question 1.
Read the passage aloud playing the roles of different characters.
Answer:
We all follow a class time table made by the school. Imagine for a minute what will happen if there was no time table for your class.

2. Write any three of the silly remarks made by the characters other than Alice. Write why you think the remark is silly.

Question 1.
Write any three of the silly remarks made by the characters other than Alice. Write why you think the remark is silly.
Answer:
Three silly remarks made by the characters other than Alice:
a. I see what I eat – I eat what I see – Hatter
b. I like what I get – I get what I like – March Hare
c. I breathe when I sleep -1 sleep when I breathe – Dormouse
All have a statement and an inverted version of the same. There is no intention of conveying any message. They are spoken for the sake of speaking. However, they sound silly.

3. Read the following sentences.

Question 1.
1. I mean what I say. I say what I mean.
2. I see what I eat. I eat what I see.
Use your imagination to write a funny sentence on this pattern.
Answer:
1. I do what I love.
2. I love what I do.

4. Write what would you like to do if ‘Time’ was your friend.

Question 1.
Write what would you like to do if ‘Time’ was your friend.
Answer:
If ‘Time’ was my friend, I would want to do a lot of things. I will want to get back to my childhood days. I would go back in time and keep my grandparents and all my near and dear ones (who are no more now) alive.

5. Can you think of a similarity between a raven and a writing desk? Write at least five differences between the two.

Question 1.
Can you think of a similarity between a raven and a writing desk? Write at least five differences between the two.
Answer:
Five differences between a raven and a writing desk:
a. A raven is a living creature whereas a writing desk is a non-living thing.
b. A raven can fly whereas a writing desk cannot fly.
c. A raven cannot be used for writing purposes but a writing desk can be used for the same purpose.
d. A raven can lay eggs but a writing desk cannot.
e. A raven is natural and a writing desk is man¬made.

6. Visit a library: Read Lewis Carroll’s book ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

Question 1.
Visit a library: Read Lewis Carroll’s book ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
Answer:
Apart from class/school, where else are you likely to find a time table useful?

Class 6 English Chapter 4.4 A Mad Tea Party Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer in one sentence.

Question 1.
How were March Hare, the Hatter and the Dormouse seated despite the large size of the table?
Answer:
Although the table was a large one, all the three of them were crowded together at one corner of the table.

Question 2.
What did all the three of them say when they saw Alice coming?
Answer:
When the Dormouse, the Hatter and the March Hare saw Alice coming, they shouted that there was no room (place) on the table to seat anyone.

Question 3.
What was Alice’s response to this comment of no space being available on the table?
Answer:
On hearing the cry of all the three of them stating that there was no room on the table, Alice replied very angrily that there was PLENTY of room. Saying so, she sat down.

Question 4.
Ultimately, where did Alice sit down?
Answer:
Alice sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table.

Question 5.
What did the March Hare tell Alice after she sat down?
Answer:
The March Hare told Alice to have some wine, in an encouraging tone.

Question 6.
Did Alice see any wine on the table? If not, what did she find on the table?
Answer:
Alice did not see any wine on the table. Alice looked all around the table, but she found nothing on it except tea.

Question 7.
What was Hatter’s first speech to Alice?
Answer:
Hatter remarked that Alice’s hair wants cutting.

Question 8.
How did Alice react?
Answer:
Alice spoke with severity that Hatter should learn not to make personal remarks as it is rude.

Question 9.
What kind of discussion did the Hatter, the March Hare and the Dormouse have with Alice?
Answer:
They had silly, senseless and stupid discussion with Alice.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Question 1.
Where was the table set out?
Answer:
The table was set out under a tree in front of the house.

Question 2.
Who all were seated at the table?
Answer:
The March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at the table and a Dormouse was sitting between them.

Question 3.
Why did Alice think that the Dormouse must be uncomfortable?
Answer:
The Dormouse was sitting between the March Hare and the Hatter. They both were using the Dormouse as a cushion, resting their elbows on it and talking over its head. So, Alice thought that the dormouse must be uncomfortable.

Question 4.
Why did the Dormouse not mind the discomfort, according to Alice?
Answer:
Alice thought that the Dormouse did not mind the discomfort caused by the March Hare and the Hatter only because it was asleep.

Question 5.
Give the antonyms of:
a. uncomfortable
b. asleep
Answer:
a. comfortable,
b. awake

Question 6.
A Dormouse was sitting between them. (Identify the tense)
Answer:
was sitting – Past continuous

Question 7.
What does the paragraph remind you?
Answer:
The paragraph reminds me of a “Garden Tea Party”.

Language Study.

Question 1.
There was a table set out under a tree. (Separate the subject and predicate)
Answer:
a table – subject
was set out under a tree – predicate

Question 2.
A Dormouse was sitting between them. (Pick out the verb and state its tense)
Answer:
was sitting (verb) – Past continuous tense

Question 3.
The table was a large one. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
The table was a large one, wasn’t it?

Question 4.
There’s plenty of room! (State the kind of sentence)
Answer:
Exclamatory sentence

Question 5.
The other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head. (Pick out the conjunction)
Answer:
and – Conjunction

Question 6.
She sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table. (Pick out the preposition)
Answer:
in, at, of – prepositions

Question 7.
Pick out an example of an Imperative sentence from the passage.
Answer:
‘Have some wine’ – Imperative sentence

Question 8.
The three were all crowded together at one corner of it. (Pick out the adjective and state its kind)
Answer:
one – Adjective of number (Definite Numeral Adjective)

Question 9.
The March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it. (Pick out the nouns and state their kinds)
Answer:
March Hare, Hatter – proper nouns tea – common noun

Question 10.
I suppose it doesn’t mind. (Pick out the pronoun and state its kind)
Answer:
I – Personal pronoun (first-person pronoun)

Write the noun form of.

Question 1.

1. waste
2. silent
3. know
4. believe
5. rude
6. civil

Answer:

1. wastage
2. silence
3. knowledge
4. belief
5. rudeness
6. civility

Write the adjective forms of.

Question 1.

1. severity
2. curiosity
3. conversation
4. hair
5. time
6. table

Answer:

1. severe
2. curious
3. conversational
4. hairy
5. timely
6. tabular

Write degrees of comparison of:

Question 1.
1. great
2. wide
3. loud
4. well
Answer:

Write the verb forms of:

Question 1.

1. conversation
2. head
3. proposal
4. beginning
5. reason

Answer:

1. converse
2. behead
3. propose
4. begin
5. reason

Write the adverb forms of:

Question 1.

1. bright
2. feeble
3. hoarse
4. suppose
5. alarmed

Answer:

1. brightly
2. feebly
3. hoarsely
4. supposedly
5. alarmingly

Write the homophones of:

Question 1.

1. as
2. no
3. once
4. so
5. in

Answer:

1. ass
2. know
3. ones
4. sow
5. inn

Writing Skills

Question 1.
Write a book review after reading “Alice in Wonderland”.
Answer:
‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll is a nice book of fantasy. All the characters in the book are very interesting, even though they seem too funny to be real. The way Alice deals with all the three characters is also quite impressive. They way Alice experiences adventures after falling into the rabbit hole and travels to places makes for an interesting read. The book holds our attention and keep us imagining the scenes as we also travel along with Alice. Alice’s emotions and expressions also show her emotional side and how she cares and feels for the Dormouse, etc. On the whole, it is a captivating book which entertains us to a limitless extent.

Student’s Activity

Question 1.
A Project: Time Tables
Answer:
Make a time table of your daily routine.
1. On a school day
2. On a holiday, and
3. During examinations.
Start at the time you normally get up and list your acitivities hourly: 7 am to 8 am, and so on.

A Mad Tea Party Summary in English

Alice falls into a rabbit hide and happens to attend a tea party with the March Hare, the Mad Hatter and the Dormouse.
Alice makes herself comfortable on a large arm-chair at the corner of a large table, though all the three tell her that there was no space to accommodate her. After getting seated, Alice get into arguments with them for various reasons, due to their silly remarks. Ultimately all of them get tired of their own talks and the March Hare suggest that Alice should tell them a story. When Alice refuses, they suggest that the Dormouse who was sleeping should tell. The Dormouse opening his eyes tells that he wasn’t asleep all the while, but was listening to every word that they all were saying.

Introduction:

‘A Mad Tea Party’ is a part of the fantasy novel ‘Alice in Wonderland’ written by Lewis Carroll. This novel is all about a little girl named Alice and all her adventures in a fantasy world. This particular part deals with a tea party attended by her along with the three particular creatures – The March Hare, the Mad Hatter and the Dormouse.

Glossary:

1. fantasy (n) – imagination
2. mingle (v) – mix
3. peculiar – odd
4. indignantly – angrily
5. but – except
6. civil-polite
7. curiosity – eager desire to know or learn something
8. severity – harshness
9. hastily – hurriedly
10. dropped – stopped (discussion)
11. wearily – in a tired manner.
12. contemptuously – a feeling of dislike
13. cautiously – paying attention to warning/ safety
14. to accounts for – provide to an explanation for
15. to not stand – to not tolerate
16. keep on good terms – keeps in good relations
17. instance – a particular situation
18. in a twinkling – in a very short time
19. ventured – dares

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:

Answer:

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.