What does Nishad find out about Mr Nath from Ramesh? Arrange the information as suggested below.
• What he eats
• When he eats
• What he drinks, and when
• How he pays
Nishad finds out from Ramesh that Mr Nath eat two meals in a day every morning and evening. He was not particular about what he eats, its always the same food- two chapattis, some dal and a vegetables, he drinks two cups of tea, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. He plays cash and tips well.
Why does Maya think Mr Nath is a crook? Who does she say the Sunday visitor is?
Now let us look at the uses of the word break. Match the word with its meanings below. Try to find at least three other ways in which to use the word.
(i) The storm broke – could not speak; was too sad to speak
(ii) daybreak – this kind of weather ended
(iii) His voice is beginning – it began or burst to break into activity
(iv) Her voice broke and – the beginning of daylight she cried
(v) The heat wave broke – changing as he grows up
(vi) broke the bad news – end it by making the workers submit
(vii) break a strike – gently told someone the bad news
(viii) (Find your own expression. Give its meaning here.)
What did Nishad give Mr Nath? Why?
The words helper, companion, partner and accomplice have very similar meanings, but each word is typically used in certain phrases. Can you fill in the blanks below with the most commonly used words? A dictionary may help you.
(i) business
(ii) my on the journey
(iii) I’m mother’s little .
(iv) a faithful such as a dog
(v) the thief’s
(vi) find a good
(vii) tennis/ golf / bridge
(viii) his in his criminal activities
What is “strange” about Mr Nath’s Sundays?
Why did Nishad and Maya get a holiday?
The word ‘tip’ has only three letters but many meanings. Match the word with its meanings below.
(i) finger tips – be about to say something
(ii) the tip of your nose – make the boat overturn
(iii) tip the water out of – the ends of one’s fingers the bucket
(iv) have something on – give a rupee to him, the tip of your tongue to thank him
(v) tip the boat over – empty a bucket by tilting it
(vi) tip him a rupee – the pointed end of your nose
(vii) the tip of the bat – if you take this advice
(viii) the police were – the bat lightly touched tipped off the ball
(ix) if you take my tip – the end of the bat
(x) the bat tipped the ball – the police were told, or warned
Does Nishad agree with Maya about Mr Nath? How does he feel about him?
Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu inthe backyard
What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a bootmaker?
Why did the king want no more talk about the hilsa-fish?
Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom
(i) to fetch wise men.
(ii) to find answers to the questions.
(iii) to look for the wise hermit.
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Mark your choice.
How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?
What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Mark the right item.
(i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog
(a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work.
(b) as if it was their own baby.
(c) as they were kind to all living beings.
(ii) When the old couple became rich, they
(a) gave the dog better food.
(b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast.
(c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make
(a) rice pastry and bean sauce.
(b) magic ash to win rewards.
(c) a pile of gold.
Read the following conversation.
Ravi: What are you doing?
Mridu: I’m reading a book.
Ravi: Who wrote it?
Mridu: Ruskin Bond.
Ravi: Where did you find it?
Mridu: In the library.
Notice that ‘what’, ‘who’, ‘where’, are question words. Questions that require information begin with question words. Some other question words are ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘where’, ‘which’ and ‘how’. Remember that
Read the following paragraph and frame questions on the italicised phrases. Anil is in school. I am in school too. Anil is sitting in the left row. He is reading a book. Anil’s friend is sitting in the second row. He is sharpening his pencil. The teacher is writing on the blackboard. Children are writing in their copybooks. Some children are looking out of the window.
What did the dog do to lead the farmer to the hidden gold?
Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.
1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions,
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable
4. The king requested the hermit
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound,
• but the bleeding would not stop.
• to answer three questions.
• but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
• and follow it strictly.
• to help the king act at the right time.
Now write the story in your own words. Give it a title.
Complete the following sentences.
(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran
(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli
(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household
(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if
What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately. Which answer do you like most, and why?
Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.
challenge mystic comical
courtier smearing
1. Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.
fainted: lost consciousness
A. B
(i) wounded. got up from sleep
(ii) awoke. give back
(iii) forgive. small patches ofground for plants
(iv) faithful. severely injured
(v) pity. pardon
(vi) beds. loyal
(vii) return. feel sorry for
Use any three of the above words in sentences of your own. You may change the form of the word.
Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
Discuss in small groups
1.If you want to give away something of your own to the needy, would it be better to ask your elders first?
2.Is there someone of your age in the family who is very talkative? Do you find her/him interesting and impressive or otherwise? Share your ideas with others in the group.
3.Has Rukku Manni done exactly the same as the children? In your opinion, then, is it right for one party to blame the other?