QUESTION

Tarun and Ajay are playing in a field. Tarun places stones over all the burrows and tunnels in the soil just for fun. Ajay notices it and removes all the stones. Which value is shown by Ajay?

Ans. The value shown by Ajay is caring. He cares for the living animals. While playing Ajay also notices what his friend is doing. He knows that burrows and tunnels are the homes of some animals. So when he saw them blocked by stones, he went and removed them.

QUESTION

Kajal has a pet cat. She feeds it with milk daily before going to school and after returning back from school. Which value is shown by Kajal?

Ans. The value shown by Kajal is love. She loves to care for pets. She looks after her cat very well. She likes to share food and so she feeds it with milk twice daily. She makes sure that the cat does not remain hungry.

 

QUESTION

Sagar sees a pigeon in his courtyard struggling to fly as its claws are caught in a net trap. Sagar runs and releases the trap. What value is displayed by Sagar?

Ans. The value displayed by Sagar is kindness. He is kind towards living creatures. When he saw the pigeon struggling, he helped the bird to fly away. Sagar does not like birds to be trapped in nets. He felt pity for the bird and so he showed sympathy.

QUESTION

Flowers spread their sweet fragrance all around. They do not restrict their smell to any boundaries. What can you learn from flowers?

Ans. From flowers we learn the value of giving. When flowers bloom they give out a sweet scent. The sweet fragrance spreads wide and attracts many insects to suck nectar. Flowers also give us rejuvenation. We use flowers as gifts, for decoration and to perform ceremonies.

QUESTION

Rohan likes to pluck flowers and put them in a vase in his room daily. His father tells him not to pluck flowers as they are also living things. Flowers look beautiful in garden only. Is it good to pluck flowers from plants? Why? Why not?
 
Ans. No, it is not good to pluck flowers from plants because flowers are valued for their beauty. Flowers look beautiful because of their colours and patterns. When flowers blossom they give out a pleasant smell. The lovely smell attracts bees and butterflies which feed on nectar found in flowers. Some flowers bloom and then fruits are produced.

SNAKES

Snakes are legless reptiles found all over the world except Antarctica. They swallow their food after using venom to kill their prey. The skin of the snakes are covered by scales and they shed their skin once or twice a year.

QUESTION

There is only one slice left of your favourite cake. You pick it up to eat it. Just then, you observe that your younger sister, the maid's daughter and your pet dog are looking at you picking up the cake. What do you do?

• Look away and eat the cake.
• Smile and divide the cake into four portions.

 

Ans. I cut the slice of cake into four portions and give them to my younger sister, the maid's daughter and my pet dog. The value of a person is recognized when he starts giving. The act of giving shows how generous the person is.

QUESTION

Your mother has just come back from work. You are at home and very hungry. What do you do?

• Ask your mother to make your favourite dish.
• Look at her tired face and make a sandwich for her and yourself.

 

Ans. When I look at mother's face and see that she is tired, I make sandwiches for her and also for myself. I love both my mother and father and try to help them when possible. For me, my parents are next to God and I always love and respect them.

QUESTION

It is a hot, summer day. Suddenly the electricity goes off. There is no fan. What do you do?

• Curse the heat and keep praying for the electricity to be restored.
• Make a paper fan and fan yourself with it. What a relief!

 

Ans. I make a fan with a paper and fan myself with it. To have relief from the heat during summer when there is no electricity, I have to use my initiative and do something useful. To have success in life, taking initiative is very important.

QUESTION

You are very good at drawing but not painting. Meenu, your classmate is very good at painting but not at drawing. The teacher gives the two of you a project which involves both the skills. What do you do?

• Share your time and talent to make an excellent project.
• Do your share of work separately and let her do hers and combine later.

 

Ans. I share my time and talent with Meenu and make the project successful. By sharing Meenu's skill in painting and my skill in drawing, we make an excellent project. The value of sharing makes many difficult things possible.

QUESTION

Mangroves grow their roots out of the soil to breathe and thus, adjust to the marshy region they grow in. What values do we learn from plants that adapt to their environment?

 

Ans. A great value that we learn from plants is the ability to adapt to the environment. The roots of trees generally go deep down into the soil, but to adapt to the environment, mangroves grow their roots out of the soil to breathe in the marshy region. There are also other plants that adapt themselves according to the change of seasons or climate. We should also change ourselves like the plants so that we can adjust to our surroundings. Instead of expecting others to change, we should change ourselves and adapt to the environment for harmony.

QUESTION

Lice live on the body of other animals and suck their blood. Is it good to be dependent on other people for your own work? Why/Why not?

 

Ans. It is not good to be dependent on other people for our own work. We all should learn to be independent and stand on one's own feet. Seeking help and guidance from others is good but we should always do our own work. We learn from our mistakes if we work all by ourselves. We also build up confidence by doing our duties.

QUESTION

Monika eats too much sweets and chocolates but her friend, Nitika stops her from doing this. What do you learn from Nitika?

 

Ans. From Nitika we learn that eating too much of sweets and chocolates are not good. We also learn the values of caring and friendship from Nitika. As eating too much of sweets and chocolates are bad for health, Nitika stops Monika from doing so. Nitika cares for her friend and so she advises her not to eat too much of them. For Nitika, friendship matters most and therefore she tells Monika to avoid eating all that is bad for her well-being.

QUESTION

Vishal often plays very loud music. His brother Anirudh stops him from doing so. What values do you learn from Anirudh?

Ans. The values that we learn from Anirudh are caring for the environment and good relationship with the neighbours. Playing loud music causes noise pollution and Anirudh stops Vishal from doing so. Loud music also disturbs the neighbours. Anirudh likes to maintain good relationship with everyone around. So he does not allow Vishal to play very loud music. 

QUESTION

Pradeep finds his mother lying down with high fever. He gets a thermometer and measures her temperature and finds it to be 102*F. He calls up his father and takes her to the doctor immediately. Which value is shown by Pradeep?

Ans. The value shown by Pradeep is caring. Pradeep cares for his mother very much. When he finds that his mother is suffering from high fever, he measures her temperature. Then he immediately takes her to the doctor. He wants his mother to get well soon.

QUESTION

Our organ systems work together to carry out major functions of our body. What value do you learn from this?

Ans. We learn the value of unity from our organ systems. The organ systems of the human body work together to carry out different functions. If one system does not work properly, a person may die. The organ systems work as a team. We should also learn to live in unity and perform our duties.

THE DREAM COMES TRUE (Tenzing Norgay)

Q. What preparations did Hillary and Tenzing make for the last climb?
Ans. Before the last climb, Hillary and Tenzing wore three pairs of gloves on their hands. The gloves were of silk, wool and windproof. Then they fastened their crampons to their boots and on their backs, they slung the oxygen apparatus weighing forty pounds.

Q. Why was the ridge leading to the summit so dangerous?
Ans. The ridge leading to the summit was very dangerous. Just below the summit, the ridge became wide into a sort of snow-face and so the climb was on an almost vertical white wall. The worst part was that the snow was not firm and it kept sliding down.

Q. How did the two mountaineers move up the ridge?
Ans. From the south summit, the two mountaineers first had to go down a little. Then they had to climb up. As they moved up, there was the danger that the snow would slip or that the cornice would break as they go further. They moved one at a time by taking turns when proceeding ahead and the second climber wrapped the rope round his axe and fixed it in the snow like an anchor.

Q. What barred their way to the top? How did they get round it?
Ans. Hillary and Tenzing faced the last big obstacle below the top. There was a cliff of rock rising straight from the ridge that barred their way. The mountaineers now had to either get over or round it and they could find just one possible way. It was along a steep, narrow gap between one side of the rock and the inner side of an adjoining cornice. Hillary moved first, working his way slowly and carefully to a kind of platform above. There was a great threat of the ice slipping away but fortunately it did not. After Hillary safely got up to the top of the rock, he held the rope for Tenzing to follow.

Q. Explain the title of the passage.
Ans. The title of the passage is 'The Dream Comes True'. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay had set out on an expedition to climb Mount Everest. After overcoming numerous obstacles during their ascent, they finally reached a place where beyond them was the great open sky and brown plains. They looked down the far side of the mountain upon Tibet. They stepped up on the summit and reached the top of the world. Thus, their dream had come true.

Q. Use the following words in sentences of your own:
(a) apparatus: A geyser is a convenient form of apparatus for heating water in a short time.
(b) vertical: Experienced rock climbers can climb up vertical rock faces using accurate equipments.
(c) twisting: The rivers look like twisting lines when seen from an aeroplane.
(d) obstacle: The steep face of the mountain was the most difficult obstacle for the climbers during their ascent.
(e) block: The police arrested the crowd of protestors who tried to block the road.
(f) adjoining: The mischievous students of the class were summoned by the Principal into the adjoining room.

Q. Find out the exact meaning of:
(a) a ridge: a long narrow mountain range
(b) a precipice: a very steep face of a cliff or rock
(c) a cornice: a mass of ice projecting over a mountain ridge
(d) a hump: a rounded raised mass of earth

Q. Rewrite the following sentences as directed:
(a) Next time it slides, and we will go all the way down. (Make it a complex sentence)
Ans. Next time it slides, we will go all the way down.
(b) It was one of the most dangerous places I had ever been to. (Change the degree)
Ans. It was more dangerous than any other place I had ever been to.
(c) The danger was that the snow would slip. (Make it a simple sentence)
Ans. Slipping of snow would be dangerous.
(d) It was a cliff of rock. It rose straight up out of the ridge. (Combine into a simple sentence)
Ans. It was a cliff of rock that rose straight up out of the ridge.

THE TAJ MAHAL (Lieut. Colonel Sleeman)

Q. What were the writer's impressions about the Taj Mahal?
Ans. The writer had heard much about the Taj Mahal and for twenty-five years he had been eagerly waiting for a view. To enjoy the beauty of the splendid mausoleum, he wanted his tents to be laid down in the gardens. Before entering the tent, he inspected the entire building and everything went beyond what he hoped.

Q. Describe the situation of this beautiful building.
Ans. The beautiful building is situated on the north side of a big quadrangle, beside the river Jumna. The other three sides are surrounded by a tall wall of red sandstone. Towards the south opposite the tomb, lies the entrance through a splendid gateway. Two beautiful mosques facing inwards and matching each other in measurement, design and execution stand on the east and west side of the large quadrangle.

Q. How does the writer compare the Taj Mahal with the Moti Masjid?
Ans. The writer makes a comparison between the Taj Mahal and the Moti Masjid. According to him, the slabs of marble in the Taj Mahal are elegantly done in mosaic whereas in the Moti Masjid, no mosaic work has been done on the marble pillars or panels.

Q. Use the following words and phrases in sentences of your own:
a) look forward to: The mother was looking forward to visit her son who stays abroad.
b) anticipated: For cricket World Cup final, the performance of the Indian team is eagerly anticipated.
c) on the contrary: Classics never fade; on the contrary, old is gold.
d) minute: The minute cells of the human body are examined under a microscope.
e) within his reach: To disperse the crowd, the policeman lashed out hitting all within his reach.
f) corresponding with: Some apartments have buildings corresponding with each other in design.
g) exceedingly: Prizes are awarded to students who do exceedingly well in their exams.
h) partiality: The mischievous boy complained about partiality when he did not get what he wanted.

Q. '...................... this splendid mausoleum.' There are two other adjectives used in the passage to describe the splendor of the building. Point them out.
Ans. magnificent gateway, beautiful mosques.

Q. Express in another way:
a) We might have our fill of the enjoyment.
Ans. We may enjoy ourselves in full swing.
b) The emotion which one feels at first is never impaired.
Ans. The feeling that a person experiences first never gets diminished.
c) Everything surpassed my expectations.
Ans. All went beyond what I hoped.
d) One returns and returns to it with undiminished pleasure.
Ans. Anyone comes back again and again to it with delight that does not get reduced.

Q. Make a list of all the words used in the passage for parts of the Taj Mahal building, e.g. dome, tomb.
Ans. vault, gateway, mosque, mosaic, mausoleum, terrace, minaret, cupola, pillar.

THE MAN OF THE ISLAND (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Q. Why was Jim frightened when he first saw the man of the island?
Ans. Jim was frightened as he was not sure if it was a man or an animal because the figure appeared dark and shaggy.

Q. How did the man behave when Jim advanced towards him?
Ans. When Jim advanced towards the man, he appeared from behind a tree trunk and stepped forward. He hesitated for a moment, went back, came again and then kneeled down before Jim with his hands clasped.

Q. What was peculiar about the man's appearance and his clothes?
Ans. The man was a white man like Jim but he had a sun-burnt skin, black lips and a dark face with eyes fair and startling. He wore tatters of a ship's canvas and old sea cloth, all fastened by a variety of brass buttons and pieces of stick.

Q. How had he been punished? Why do you think he had been punished in this way?
Ans. He was marooned for three years on a deserted and remote island. I think he was punished in this way because he knew about the treasure that the pirates had hidden.

Q. What did Ben Gunn mean by saying that he was back on piety?
Ans. Ben Gunn told Jim that he lived a rough life about which he was ashamed of. His mother was pious and he was religious too when he was a boy. After living alone on the island for three years, he has thought about it all and was again back on piety.

Q. How did Gunn show that he was speaking of a secret?
Ans. Gunn spoke a secret by looking around him and bringing his tone to a whisper.

Q. Use the following words and phrases in sentences of your own:
a) clasped: The little boy clasped his hands and prayed to God.
b) briskly: She walked briskly as she was getting late for school.
c) solitude: The solitude of the place was ruined when helicopters passed by.
d) turn on my heel: Seeing two dogs fighting on the road, I turned on my heel.
e) retrace my steps: I retrace my steps towards home whenever I forget to bring something.
f) rattle off: It is a pleasure to see children rattle off their multiplication tables.

Q. Which words in the story mean the following?
a) firmly: resolutely
b) torn pieces of cloth: tatters
c) mad: crazy
d) rough and harsh (voice): hoarse

Q. Fill in the blanks with words used in the passage:
a) The rock fell rattling and hounding down the hill.
b) The creature flitted like a deer from tree to tree.
c) A sudden thought flashed into my mind.
d) To my wonder and confusion, the beggar threw himself on his knees.

HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY

With sheer dedication,
You impart education,
To build a great nation.

You always motivate,
Inspire us to do great,
Help all, never to hate.

You teach with interest,
Prepare us for the test,
Enhance to do our best.

Thank you, respected teacher,
For the guidance and nurture,
Towards our bright future.

Every year on this day,
Let us cheer and say,
Happy Teachers' Day !