Unit 1 of Poorvi gathers three short pieces that carry the timeless lessons of fables and folk tales. The main prose reading, 'A Bottle of Dew' by Sudha Murty, tells of Rama Natha, a rich landlord who wastes his time and money searching for a magic potion that can turn objects into gold. A wise sage named Mahipati advises him to plant banana trees and patiently collect five litres of morning dew with his own hands. After six years of hard work, Rama Natha finds that his real wealth came not from magic but from the plantation he built and the bananas his wife sold; the sage reveals that honest labour, not a potion, creates wealth. The unit also includes the poem 'The Raven and the Fox' by Jean de La Fontaine, in which a clever fox flatters a proud raven into singing, making him drop the food in his beak, teaching readers not to be fooled by sweet words or empty pride. The third piece, 'Rama to the Rescue' from Amar Chitra Katha, is a comic-style tale in which a clever husband and wife trap a thief by quietly calling out to the village kotwal named Rama. Together the readings highlight wisdom, hard work, humility and quick thinking. Refer to the illustration in the NCERT textbook.

The story in steps

Rama Natha dreams of a magic potion and wastes time and money searching for it.
Sage Mahipati tells him to plant banana plants and collect winter dew with his own hands.
Rama Natha and Madhumati work on the fields, grow bananas, and collect dew for six years.
Rama Natha takes five litres of dew to the sage and expects copper to turn into gold.
Nothing happens, and the sage shows gold coins earned from selling the banana crop.
Rama Natha learns that hard work creates wealth and then works even harder on his plantation.

'A Bottle of Dew' by Sudha Murty (prose)Hard work versus magic shortcuts'The Raven and the Fox' by Jean de La Fontaine (poem)Flattery, pride and foolishness'Rama to the Rescue' from Amar Chitra KathaHomophones and comprehension

Key ideas & terms

Rama Natha: The landlord in 'A Bottle of Dew' who learns that hard work, not a magic potion, creates real wealth.
Sage Mahipati: The wise sage who tricks Rama Natha into building a banana plantation so he discovers the value of labour.
Fable: A short story, often with animals as characters, that teaches a clear moral lesson.
Reynard the Fox: The cunning fox in the poem who flatters the raven to make him drop his food.
Homophones: Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings, such as 'dew' and 'due', taught in this unit.
Kotwal: A village policeman (also called thaanedar); in 'Rama to the Rescue' the kotwal named Rama catches the thief.

शब्दार्थ · Word meanings

large tracts of land: large areas of land
potion: a liquid with magical powers
give up: stop trying
dew: small drops of water on leaves
chant: repeat or sing words
tended: looked after
muttered: spoke in a low voice
precious: valuable
wisdom: deep understanding
plantation: a large farm of one crop

Extra questions & answers

What false belief did Rama Natha hold in 'A Bottle of Dew'?

He believed there was a magic potion that could turn any object into gold, and he wasted his time and money searching for it.

What did the sage ask Rama Natha to do to make the potion?

He told him to plant banana trees, water them with his own hands, and collect five litres of morning dew from the leaves in winter.

How did Rama Natha actually become wealthy?

His hard work built a huge banana plantation, and his wife Madhumati sold the fruit in the market, earning stacks of gold coins over six years.

What lesson does 'A Bottle of Dew' teach?

It teaches that there is no magic shortcut to riches; honest, patient hard work is what truly creates wealth.

In 'The Raven and the Fox', how did the fox trick the raven?

The fox flattered the raven, praising his feathers and asking him to sing, so the proud raven opened his beak and dropped the food.

What is the moral of 'The Raven and the Fox'?

One should ignore sweet, flattering words and not let pride lead to foolish actions, because pride is unwise.

Who wrote the poem 'The Raven and the Fox'?

The poem was written by Jean de La Fontaine, a famous fable writer.

In 'Rama to the Rescue', how did the man and his wife get help?

They cleverly called out the name 'Rama' loudly, so the village kotwal Rama, who was passing by, heard his name and came to catch the thief.

What quality helped the couple deal with the thief?

Their cleverness and quick thinking, calling out softly and then loudly to alert the kotwal without alarming the thief.

What common theme links the three pieces in this unit?

They all share the spirit of fables and folk tales, teaching wisdom, hard work, humility and clever problem-solving.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Circle the picture that matches with each word. Check your answers by sharing them with your classmates and teacher. 1. worried

The picture of the girl looking anxious or concerned with her hand near her face matches the word worried.

I Circle the picture that matches with each word. Check your answers by sharing them with your classmates and teacher. 2. plantation

The picture showing many banana plants growing together in rows in a field matches the word plantation.

I Circle the picture that matches with each word. Check your answers by sharing them with your classmates and teacher. 3. sage

The picture of the old man in saffron robes sitting and chanting matches the word sage.

I Circle the picture that matches with each word. Check your answers by sharing them with your classmates and teacher. 4. surprise

The picture of the boy with wide open eyes and open mouth matches the word surprise.

II Answer these questions and discuss them with your classmates and teacher. 1. Think of a time when you worked hard. What did you do then?

When I prepared for my annual exam I studied every day, made notes, and practised writing answers without looking.

II Answer these questions and discuss them with your classmates and teacher. 2. How did it help you?

It helped me understand the lessons clearly, remember them better and get good marks.

II Answer these questions and discuss them with your classmates and teacher. 3. How did it make you feel?

It made me feel confident, happy and proud of my effort.

Let us discuss

1. What did Rama Natha believe?

Rama Natha believed that there was a magic potion which could turn any object into gold.

2. How did the sage help Rama Natha?

The sage helped Rama Natha by tricking him into hard work. He told him to grow banana plants and collect five litres of dew himself, which made him work on his land.

3. Do you think Rama Natha will be able to collect the dew? Give a reason.

Yes, he will be able to collect it if he plants many banana plants and works regularly, because more plants give more dew and he has many years to collect it.

Let us discuss

1. Why was Rama Natha angry?

Rama Natha was angry because when he sprinkled the dew water on the copper vessel it did not turn into gold, so he thought the sage had cheated him and he had wasted six years.

2. How did Rama Natha and Madhumati create wealth?

Rama Natha worked hard in the fields planting and tending banana plants and collecting dew, while Madhumati harvested the bananas and sold them in the market for a good price. Together their hard work earned many gold coins.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. He spent all his time to learn about the magic potion. People cheated him often, promising to tell him about it, but he did not give up. His wife, Madhumati, was tired of this and also worried because she saw how much money Rama Natha was spending. She was sure that soon they would be without money. (i) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason. Rama Natha did not ‘give up’ because _____________________.

Rama Natha did not give up because he strongly believed that a magic potion to turn things into gold really existed and he wanted to find it.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) Read the column which shows ‘what happened’ and write the correct outcome in the next column. What Happened: A. People promised to tell Rama Natha about the magic potion.

Outcome: They cheated him and took his money without giving any real potion.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) Read the column which shows ‘what happened’ and write the correct outcome in the next column. What Happened: B. Rama Natha was spending a lot of money.

Outcome: His wife Madhumati became tired and worried that they would soon be without money.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) Write whether the following statements are True or False. A. Madhumati was troubled about what her husband did.

True. Madhumati was troubled and worried about her husband spending money on the magic potion.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) Write whether the following statements are True or False. B. Rama Natha was very happy digging his fields.

False. At that time Rama Natha did not work in his fields at all; he spent his time searching for the potion.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) Write whether the following statements are True or False. C. The sage wanted to show the right path to Rama Natha.

True. The sage wanted to teach him the value of hard work.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. Carefully, he took the bottle to the sage. The sage smiled and muttered something over the water. Then he returned the bottle and said, “Try it out.” Rama Natha sprinkled a few drops on a copper vessel and waited for it to turn to gold. To his surprise nothing happened! (i) Choose the option that lists the events given below in the correct order. A. The sage smiled. B. Rama Natha gave the bottle to the sage. C. Rama Natha dropped a few drops of water on a copper vessel. D. He said something in a low voice over the water. E. Rama Natha waited to see if the magic worked. (a) a, e, d, b, c (b) b, a, d, c, e (c) c, d, a, b, e (d) a, d, b, e, c

The correct order is (b) B, A, D, C, E. First Rama Natha gave the bottle, then the sage smiled, then he muttered, then Rama Natha sprinkled drops, then he waited.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (ii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the lines given above. Seeing that the plant had dried up, the gardener ____________ some water on it.

sprinkled

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iii) How might Rama Natha have felt when nothing happened to the copper vessel?

He must have felt shocked, disappointed and cheated, and thought that six precious years were wasted.

II Answer the following questions. 1. What did the sage ask Rama Natha to do to make the magic potion?

The sage asked him to plant banana plants, look after them himself, collect morning dew from the leaves in winter with his own hands until he had five litres, and then bring it to him.

II Answer the following questions. 2. Why did the sage ask Rama Natha to do everything himself?

So that Rama Natha would learn to work hard on his own land instead of depending on magic and others.

II Answer the following questions. 3. How could Rama Natha have a big banana plantation after six years?

He cleaned his empty fields, planted rows of banana plants, tended them carefully, and kept planting more plants each year. His wife also helped, so over six years they built a huge plantation.

II Answer the following questions. 4. How did the sage make Rama Natha believe that there is no magic potion?

He made him try the dew water on a copper vessel and when nothing turned to gold, he showed the box of gold coins earned by selling bananas and explained that hard work, not magic, created that wealth.

II Answer the following questions. 5. Fill in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ table about Rama Natha. What he did before meeting the sage (i)

Before meeting the sage he was lazy, did not look after his land, and wasted time and money searching for the magic potion.

II Answer the following questions. 5. Fill in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ table about Rama Natha. What he did before meeting the sage (ii)

He believed in magic and let people cheat him.

II Answer the following questions. 5. Fill in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ table about Rama Natha. What he did after meeting the sage (i)

After meeting the sage he worked hard, cleaned his fields, planted and tended banana plants and collected dew honestly.

II Answer the following questions. 5. Fill in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ table about Rama Natha. What he did after meeting the sage (ii)

He understood that hard work creates wealth and continued to work even harder on his plantation.

Let us learn

1. Use the words correctly to complete the paragraph given below. There are two extra words in the box that you do not need. There was a farmer who had a ________ coconut plantation. He worked hard and did not depend on . Every day was _ but he did not give up. One day, a man bought a bag of coconuts from him, and _ to pay him the money the next day. Days passed and the man did not pay him anything. The farmer felt . About two months later, he met the same man and asked him about his money. The man said, “Oh! I had forgotten. Now, I ______ buying coconuts from you.” And he paid the money. Words: promised, spending, cheated, luck, remember, huge, difficult, market

There was a farmer who had a huge coconut plantation. He worked hard and did not depend on luck. Every day was difficult but he did not give up. One day, a man bought a bag of coconuts from him, and promised to pay him the money the next day. Days passed and the man did not pay him anything. The farmer felt cheated. About two months later, he met the same man and asked him about his money. The man said, Oh! I had forgotten. Now, I remember buying coconuts from you. Extra words are spending and market.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B. Column A I -> Column B eye -> Meaning of words in Column B

eye means the organ of sight.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B. Column A your -> Column B you’re -> Meaning short form of ‘you are’

you're is already given as short form of you are.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B. Column A dew -> Column B due -> Meaning happening at some time in the future

due is already given as happening at some time in the future.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B. Column A son -> Column B sun -> Meaning

sun means the star that gives light and heat to the earth.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B. Column A one -> Column B won -> Meaning past tense of win

won is already given as past tense of win.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B. Column A ate -> Column B eight -> Meaning

eight means the number 8.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B. Column A see -> Column B sea -> Meaning

sea means the large body of salt water covering much of the earth.

3. Choose four pairs of homophones from the table above, and for each pair write a sentence that uses both homophones in the same sentence. Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates. An example has been given below: I ate eight bananas for breakfast today.

Examples: 1. I saw my eye in the mirror. 2. Your book is you're welcome to borrow. 3. The dew on the grass is due to cold night. 4. The son sat in the sun. Any four such sentences are correct if both homophones are used correctly.

4. Match the phrases in Column A with the phrases in Column B. Use the connecting words given in the middle column to make meaningful sentences. Column A: The children submitted their work (When?) - Connecting Word: because/before/as soon as/as - Column B: the bell rang.

The children submitted their work before the deadline.

4. Match the phrases in Column A with the phrases in Column B. Use the connecting words given in the middle column to make meaningful sentences. Column A: He did not want to try rock climbing (Why?) - Column B: there was a traffic jam.

He did not want to try rock climbing because of his fear of heights.

4. Match the phrases in Column A with the phrases in Column B. Use the connecting words given in the middle column to make meaningful sentences. Column A: The children ran towards the gate (When?) - Column B: the deadline.

The children ran towards the gate as soon as the bell rang.

4. Match the phrases in Column A with the phrases in Column B. Use the connecting words given in the middle column to make meaningful sentences. Column A: Nitin was late to school today (Why?) - Column B: of his fear of heights.

Nitin was late to school today because there was a traffic jam.

5. Here are two sentences with letter ‘b’. Read them slowly the first time. As you read them a few more times, read them faster each time. Bunty bhaiya bought a big bunch of bananas. A big bunch of bananas was bought by Bunty bhaiya. Now, try to create a tongue twister on your own and share it with your peers.

Example tongue twister: Blue bananas bring bright blessings. Students can create any original tongue twister using repeated b sounds.

Let us listen

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas from her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event. 1. Gives two bananas to a boy who is hungry

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas from her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event. 2. Meets her friend Kalawati in the market

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas from her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event. 3. Visits her mother and gives her two dozen bananas

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas from her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event. 4. Chooses to go home as only some bananas were left

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas from her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event. 5. Visits her neighbour and gifts them a bunch of bananas

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas from her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event. 6. Gives twelve bananas to her friend

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas from her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event. 7. Goes to the market to sell the bananas

Let us speak

II Discuss the following questions with a partner. You may use the hints given in brackets while speaking. 1. What does hard work mean to you? (It means … / It is something … / Well, you see … /What I mean is …)

To me hard work means putting continuous sincere effort to achieve a goal even when it is difficult, without giving up easily.

II Discuss the following questions with a partner. You may use the hints given in brackets while speaking. 2. Give three reasons why you think hard work is important. (Firstly, I feel … because … / Secondly, I think … since … /Lastly, I believe … as … )

Firstly, hard work helps us achieve our goals because nothing can be gained without effort. Secondly, it makes us independent and confident. Lastly, it teaches discipline and patience.

II Discuss the following questions with a partner. You may use the hints given in brackets while speaking. 3. Share three ideas you would give to someone who needs to work hard. (To begin with, it is important that … /Next, you could … / Finally, I think you should … )

To begin with, set a clear daily plan. Next, you could work regularly and not postpone tasks. Finally, you should stay positive and learn from mistakes.

Let us write

1. Work in pairs to complete the description of a banana. You may take the help of the words given in brackets. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. when I like to eat a banana (at breakfast/during break/after school) smell (fruity/strong/bad/sweet/fresh) healthy because (gives energy/rich in vitamins/stores fats/filling/good for skin) how the outer covering feels on touch (soft/hard/smooth/silky/ rough/sticky) taste (sweet/sour/salty/bitter/creamy/spicy) colour of the outer covering and fruit (green/yellow/white/brown/black) Now, use the information given in the picture to write eight sentences about a banana. Share your responses with your classmates and teacher.

I like to eat a banana during break. It has a sweet and fruity smell. It tastes sweet and creamy. The outer covering is yellow when ripe and the fruit inside is white. The peel feels smooth and soft. Banana is healthy because it gives energy and is rich in vitamins. It is filling and good for skin. I enjoy eating it after school too.

2. On the basis of the story ‘A Bottle of Dew’ develop a script with dialogues and enact it with expressions. Present it in the assembly or your classroom.

Script example: Rama Natha: Oh sage, tell me the secret of the magic potion. Sage: Plant banana plants and bring five litres of dew. Madhumati: Let us work together, we can sell bananas. After six years Rama Natha tries the water and learns hard work is the real magic.

There is a special kind of banana called the Blue Java banana. This banana has got its name from its blue skin. It is also known as Ice Cream banana as it is so creamy and tastes like ice cream. It is grown in South East Asia and Hawaii. These banana plants grow to a height of fifteen to twenty feet.

This is information for reading, no answer needed. Students can note that Blue Java banana is a creamy, blue-skinned variety grown in South East Asia and Hawaii.

Let us explore

Find out the varieties of bananas which are grown, cultivated and eaten in different parts of India. You can find information about them from websites such as: https://nhb.gov.in/pdf/fruits/banana/ban013

Some common Indian banana varieties are Robusta, Dwarf Cavendish, Nendran, Rasthali, Poovan, Monthan and Red Banana, grown in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I We know that frogs croak. Did you know that ravens also croak?

Yes, ravens also make a harsh croaking sound, not a sweet song.

II Which animal is shown to be cunning in stories? Circle the correct answer. 1. tiger 2. fox 3. bear

2. fox. The fox is shown as cunning in many fables.

Let us discuss

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 1. Stanza 1 (i) Mr Raven is a __________. (bird/frog)

bird

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 1. Stanza 1 (ii) The name of the fox is __________. (Raven/Reynard)

Reynard

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 1. Stanza 1 (iii) Mr Raven had __________ in his beak. (a piece of food/ a bunch of leaves)

a piece of food

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 2. Stanza 2 (i) The Fox calls the Raven a __________ bird. (foolish/good-looking)

good-looking

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 2. Stanza 2 (ii) The Fox asks the Raven to __________. (dance/sing)

sing

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 2. Stanza 2 (iii) The Raven and the Fox live in the __________. (trees/woods)

woods

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 3. Stanza 3 (i) The Raven ___________ that he croaked. (remembered/forgot)

forgot

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 3. Stanza 3 (ii) The Raven opened its beak to ___________. (eat/sing)

sing

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 3. Stanza 3 (iii) The ___________ fell down. (food/Raven)

food

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 4. Stanza 4 (i) The Fox ___________ at the Raven. (laughed/looked)

laughed

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 4. Stanza 4 (ii) It is not ___________ to be too proud of oneself. (wise/unwise)

wise

I Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. 4. Stanza 4 (iii) The Raven learnt a ______________. (lesson/teaching)

lesson

II Read the poem again and match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Check your answers with your teacher and classmates. 1. perched

sat on a branch

II Read the poem again and match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Check your answers with your teacher and classmates. 2. morsel

a small piece of food

II Read the poem again and match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Check your answers with your teacher and classmates. 3. seek

to look for something

II Read the poem again and match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Check your answers with your teacher and classmates. 4. pride

feeling that you are better than others

II Read the poem again and match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Check your answers with your teacher and classmates. 5. eyed

looked with interest at something

II Read the poem again and match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Check your answers with your teacher and classmates. 6. limb

branch of a tree

II Read the poem again and match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Check your answers with your teacher and classmates. 7. woods

a smaller area of forest with similar kind of trees

Let us think and reflect

I Look at the pictures and number them in the order that they happen in the poem.

The correct order is: Raven perched with morsel on tree, Fox praising Raven, Raven opening beak to sing, Morsel falling and Fox laughing. Students number pictures accordingly.

II Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird. Such feathers! If you would only sing, The birds of these woods would call you King. (i) ‘Such feathers’ refer to __________________ feathers. A. shiny and beautiful B. black and dull C. grey and long D. short and unattractive

A. shiny and beautiful

II Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird. Such feathers! If you would only sing, The birds of these woods would call you King. (ii) Why would the birds of the woods call the Raven ‘King’?

They would call him King if he could sing beautifully, because a king bird should be both handsome and a good singer.

II Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird. Such feathers! If you would only sing, The birds of these woods would call you King. (iii) Why does the Fox address the Raven as ‘Sir’?

The fox calls him Sir to flatter him and sound respectful so that the Raven feels proud and listens to him.

II Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. The Raven, who did not see the joke, Forgot that his voice was just a croak. He opened his beak, in his foolish pride– (i) Why did the Raven open his beak?

The Raven opened his beak to sing and show his voice because he was flattered and felt proud.

II Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. The Raven, who did not see the joke, Forgot that his voice was just a croak. He opened his beak, in his foolish pride– (ii) Complete the following with one word from the given lines. Fox : clever : : Raven : ______________

foolish

III Why does the Raven forget that his voice is just a croak?

Because the fox's sweet praise makes him proud and foolish, so he forgets his real croaking voice.

IV How does Reynard make the Raven sing?

Reynard flatters the Raven by calling him handsome and saying that if he sings the birds will call him King, which tricks the proud Raven into opening his beak to sing.

V Why does Reynard say that pride is not wise?

Because pride made the Raven lose his food; being too proud makes one ignore truth and become easy to cheat.

VI Give one reason why the teaching is quite a surprise.

The teaching is a surprise because the Raven learns his lesson suddenly after losing the morsel he was so proud of.

VII Imagine someone praises you too much. How would you react?

I would thank the person politely but remain careful, check if the praise is true, and not become proud or do anything foolish.

Let us learn

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 1 (i) limb-him

limb - him

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 1 (ii)

beak - seek

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 2 (i) word-______

word - bird

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 2 (ii)

sing - King

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 3 (i) joke-______

joke - croak

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 3 (ii)

pride - eyed

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 4 (i) know-______

know - glow

I Write the rhyming words from the poem. One has been done for you. Stanza 4 (ii)

unwise - surprise

II Study the underlined words in the poem. 1. For the Raven held in his great big beak. The words ‘big’ and ‘beak’ begin with the same /b/ sound. Alliteration is a repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. When two or more words together, begin with the same sound, it is called alliteration. Now, pick another example of alliteration from Stanza 2.

Two examples of alliteration from Stanza 2 are 'would … woods' (repeated 'w' sound) and 'sing … such' (repeated 's' sound).

III Choose the correct opposites from the box given below and complete the table. There are two extra words that you will not need. wise happy humility flew remembered notice dim cried silly Words Opposites 1. perched

flew

III Choose the correct opposites from the box given below and complete the table. There are two extra words that you will not need. Words Opposites 2. forgot

remembered

III Choose the correct opposites from the box given below and complete the table. There are two extra words that you will not need. Words Opposites 3. foolish

wise or silly is synonym, opposite is wise

III Choose the correct opposites from the box given below and complete the table. There are two extra words that you will not need. Words Opposites 4. pride

humility

III Choose the correct opposites from the box given below and complete the table. There are two extra words that you will not need. Words Opposites 5. laughed

cried

III Choose the correct opposites from the box given below and complete the table. There are two extra words that you will not need. Words Opposites 6. ignore

notice

III Choose the correct opposites from the box given below and complete the table. There are two extra words that you will not need. Words Opposites 7. glow

dim

III Use any four words from the table given above to make sentences of your own.

Examples: The bird perched on the wall. I forgot my pencil. He is wise to save money. She spoke with humility. (Any four correct sentences)

Let us listen

I You will listen to what the crow did after he lost his food. As you listen, mark the given statements as True or False. (refer to page 37 for transcript) 1. The crow was unhappy that he lost his food.

True. The transcript says the crow felt really sad because the fox cheated him.

I You will listen to what the crow did after he lost his food. As you listen, mark the given statements as True or False. (refer to page 37 for transcript) 2. The crow thought that his lovely feathers made him smart.

False. He thought even if his feathers are not beautiful, he is smart after learning the lesson.

I You will listen to what the crow did after he lost his food. As you listen, mark the given statements as True or False. (refer to page 37 for transcript) 3. The crow wanted to tell his friends not to be proud.

True. He decided to tell other animals to be careful with words and not let pride lose what you have.

Let us speak

Narrate the poem in the form of a story. Give a different ending to the story. You may begin like this: This is a story about a clever fox named Reynard and Mr Raven. One day…

This is a story about a clever fox named Reynard and Mr Raven. One day Raven had a piece of cheese. Fox praised him to sing. In my ending, Raven is clever and does not open his mouth, keeps the food and flies away, teaching the fox a lesson.

Let us write

Now, write the story you narrated in the form of a conversation. (Remember to write only the actions for the Raven as he has food in his mouth and does not speak.) You may begin like this. Reynard: Good morning, Mr Raven! You seem to be awake so early! (Mr Raven just nods his head) Reynard: Oh, Mr Raven, you look …

Reynard: Good morning, Mr Raven! You look handsome today. (Raven nods) Reynard: If you sing, all birds will call you King. (Raven does not open mouth but keeps food) Reynard: Oh, you are smart! Raven flies away with food.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Identify the following people. How do they help us when we are in trouble?

They are policemen or kotwals. They help us by catching thieves and keeping us safe.

II Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. The word ‘rescue’ means to ______________________. 1. make fun of someone 2. save someone 3. ask someone for help

2. save someone

III Work in pairs: Put a tick mark at the end of the phrases describing those who need to be rescued. Share your answers with your teacher and classmates. 1. A man stuck in a building on fire.

Needs to be rescued - tick

III Work in pairs: Put a tick mark at the end of the phrases describing those who need to be rescued. Share your answers with your teacher and classmates. 2. A woman buying vegetables in the market.

Does not need rescue - no tick

III Work in pairs: Put a tick mark at the end of the phrases describing those who need to be rescued. Share your answers with your teacher and classmates. 3. A dog who has hurt its leg.

Needs to be rescued - tick

III Work in pairs: Put a tick mark at the end of the phrases describing those who need to be rescued. Share your answers with your teacher and classmates. 4. A tree being cut down in a forest.

Not a person/animal in need of rescue in this sense - no tick

IV The policeman in the story you are about to read is called the kotwal. Some people call him thaanedar. What do you call a policeman in your language? Share it with your classmates and teacher.

In my language we call a policeman puliskarmi or sipahi. Students can share their own word.

V Imagine you are alone at home and you face a problem. Answer the following questions and share your answers with your teacher and classmates. 1. Will you solve the problem yourself or wait for someone to help you?

I will try to solve it myself first, and if needed call an elder for help.

V Imagine you are alone at home and you face a problem. Answer the following questions and share your answers with your teacher and classmates. 2. How will you deal with the problem? Give a reason. (i) Be worried about the problem and give up. (ii) Feel angry that only you have the problem. (iii) Think quickly about ways to solve the problem.

(iii) Think quickly about ways to solve the problem, because clever thinking can find a solution safely.

Let us discuss

I Circle the odd one. 1. The characters are: husband, wife, children

children is the odd one, because the story has husband, wife and kotwal/thief but no children shown.

I Circle the odd one. 2. Who entered the house? guest, robber, Kotwal

guest is odd, actually robber entered; Kotwal came later upon hearing name.

Let us discuss

I Write whether True or False. 1. The man tells his plan to his wife.

True. He whispers his plan to call Rama the kotwal.

I Write whether True or False. 2. The thief wants to know where they kept their jewels.

True. He listens carefully thinking they talk about money.

Let us discuss

1. Along with your classmates, call out the name ‘Rama’– softly, loudly and very loudly.

This is a speaking activity. Saying Rama softly is not heard far, loudly and very loudly reaches the kotwal outside.

2. What do you think will happen next in the story?

The thief will be confused and the kotwal named Rama will come and catch him.

Let us discuss

I Work in pairs to match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B. Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates. 1. wonder

a feeling of surprise

I Work in pairs to match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B. Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates. 2. yard

an area outside a building

I Work in pairs to match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B. Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates. 3. chatter

talk for a long time about unimportant things

I Work in pairs to match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B. Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates. 4. instead

in place of someone or something

I Work in pairs to match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B. Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates. 5. closely

carefully

I Work in pairs to match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B. Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates. 6. perhaps

maybe

II Fill in the boxes with suitable words as you read the story. RAMA TO THE RESCUE Main Characters Problem Solution Setting Other Characters

Main Characters: Man and his wife. Problem: A thief entered the house at night. Solution: They cleverly called kotwal Rama by pretending to talk about naming a child. Setting: Their house at night. Other Characters: Thief and Rama the kotwal.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the following lines and then answer the questions that follow. 1. Man: What’s the matter? What are you looking at? Wife: Ssssh! Listen! Man: Somebody is trying to get in. Wife: I … I think he has got in … the noise has stopped. (i) What makes the man say the first line?

He says it because he sees his wife staring and acting silently as if she heard something strange.

I Read the following lines and then answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) Choose the correct option. The wife says ‘Ssssh! Listen!’. What does the word ‘Ssssh’ mean here? a. sleep B. help C. rest D. be silent

D. be silent

I Read the following lines and then answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) How can you tell that the wife was listening carefully?

She says Ssssh, says listen, notes the noise has stopped and says she thinks he has got in, showing close listening.

I Read the following lines and then answer the questions that follow. 2. Rama, the village kotwal, ran to the house from which he heard his name being called. Rama: Oh, Oh! Some thief has dug his way into this house. (i) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the given lines. The villagers caught the thief and took him to the _____________________.

house (or kotwal's place). The expected word from lines is house.

I Read the following lines and then answer the questions that follow. 2. (ii) Choose the correct option. What do the words “Oh, Oh!” show here? A. surprise B. anger C. pain D. happiness

A. surprise

I Read the following lines and then answer the questions that follow. 2. (iii) How can you tell that the kotwal was good at his job?

He ran quickly on hearing his name and immediately understood a thief had dug into the house, showing alertness.

II Give one reason why the man and his wife were not able to fall asleep.

They heard someone trying to get in, so they felt scared and alert.

III What did the thief wish would happen? Did it happen?

The thief wished to hear where their money and jewels were and steal them quietly. No, instead his presence was found and he was caught.

IV How did the man and his wife get help from the kotwal?

They pretended to discuss what to name their future child and loudly called out Rama many times, so the kotwal Rama who lived nearby heard his name and came to the house.

V Do you think cleverness can help us solve our problems? Why do you say so?

Yes, being clever helps us stay calm and find smart ways out, like the couple who used their mind to call for help without alerting the thief.

Let us learn

I Study the highlighted words in the following lines. • I’m feeling so sleepy. • It’s a thief. • They’re awake. The highlighted words given in the above sentences have one letter missing in each. What are they? Share them with your teacher and classmates. Now, write the full words with the missing letter. 1. _________ feeling so sleepy.

I am feeling so sleepy.

I Study the highlighted words in the following lines. • I’m feeling so sleepy. • It’s a thief. • They’re awake. Now, write the full words with the missing letter. 2. _________ a thief.

It is a thief.

I Study the highlighted words in the following lines. • I’m feeling so sleepy. • It’s a thief. • They’re awake. Now, write the full words with the missing letter. 3. _____ awake.

They are awake.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 1. what’s what is

what is - What is your name?

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 2. I’ll

I will - I'll help you.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 3. I’d

I would / I had - I'd like to go.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 4. we’ll

we will - We'll play tomorrow.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 5. that’s

that is - That's my book.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 6. we’re

we are - We're ready.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 7. don’t

do not - Don't run.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 8. you’ll

you will - You'll see.

II Expand the following words. Two examples have been done for you. Use the contracted form of these words in sentences of your own. 9. must’ve must have

must have - You must've missed the bus.

III Study the highlighted words and the words in the brackets in the following sentences from the story. 1. I am feeling so sleepy. [am + feel + ing] 2. What are you looking at? [are + look + ing] 3. Somebody is trying to get in. [is + try + ing] 4. They are saying something. [are + say + ing] 5. Perhaps, they are talking about their money. [are + talk + ing] Now, choose the correct option. The sentences 1–5 refer to actions that _________________. [are going on at the time of speaking/happened in the past/will take place in the future]

are going on at the time of speaking. These are present progressive tense.

IV Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences. 1. I ______________ in Grade 6. [am + study + ing]

I am studying in Grade 6.

IV Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences. 2. My friend ______________ a story book. [is + read + ing]

My friend is reading a story book.

IV Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences. 3. We ______________ a board game. [are + play + ing]

We are playing a board game.

IV Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences. 4. I ______________ a new language. [am + learn + ing]

I am learning a new language.

IV Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences. 5. The teachers ______________ in the staff room. [are + sit + ing]

The teachers are sitting in the staff room.

IV Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences. 6. My mother ______________ food in the kitchen. [is + cook + ing]

My mother is cooking food in the kitchen.

V Study the following picture and fill in the blanks with the present progressive form of verbs. 1. Govind and Anu _____________ football.

Govind and Anu are playing football.

V Study the following picture and fill in the blanks with the present progressive form of verbs. 2. Pema ___________ flowers.

Pema is plucking flowers.

V Study the following picture and fill in the blanks with the present progressive form of verbs. 3. Anil _____________ the score card.

Anil is checking the score card.

V Study the following picture and fill in the blanks with the present progressive form of verbs. 4. The mother ___________ a book.

The mother is reading a book.

V Study the following picture and fill in the blanks with the present progressive form of verbs. 5. The dog __________ to catch the ball.

The dog is running to catch the ball.

V Study the following picture and fill in the blanks with the present progressive form of verbs. 6. The birds _________ in the sky.

The birds are flying in the sky.

VI Study the following sentences from the story and complete the table. One example has been done for you. 1. I’d better listen closely. 2. When he’s in the house, I’ll call out softly to him. 3. Then I’ll call out very loudly… Sentence Question Word (i) I’d better listen closely. How does he listen? a. closely (ii) When he’s in the house, I’ll call out softly to him. How does she call out? b.

softly

VI Study the following sentences from the story and complete the table. One example has been done for you. (iii) Then I’ll call out very loudly. How does she call out? c.

very loudly

VII Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box given below. There are two extra words that you do not need. warmly gracefully smoothly beautifully funnily quickly hurriedly 1. He solved the mathematics problem _____________.

quickly / smoothly

VII Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box given below. There are two extra words that you do not need. 2. The car moved _____________ along the highway.

smoothly

VII Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box given below. There are two extra words that you do not need. 3. The musician played the guitar _____________.

beautifully

VII Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box given below. There are two extra words that you do not need. 4. Shobha danced _____________.

gracefully

VII Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box given below. There are two extra words that you do not need. 5. Rohit left the house _____________.

hurriedly

VIII Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs from the box given below. There are two extra words that you do not need. honestly brightly peacefully sweetly angrily slowly tirelessly Once upon a time in a small forest, animals lived 1. _____. The wise old tortoise moved 2. _ but always won the race against the proud rabbit. The ants worked 3. _, gathering food for the winter. The kind-hearted lion ruled the jungle 4. _, giving everyone a chance to speak. The birds sang 5. _______, making everyone in the forest happy.

1. peacefully 2. slowly 3. tirelessly 4. honestly 5. sweetly

IX Study the following sentences from the story and choose the correct option. 1. Oh, hum! What a hard day it has been! 2. Ah, at last, they’ve stopped their chatter! 3. What should we do? 4. What should we name our child? (i) Sentence 1. expresses a feeling of __________. (tiredness/joy)

tiredness

IX Study the following sentences from the story and choose the correct option. (ii) Sentence 2. expresses a feeling of __________. (wonder/relief)

relief

IX Study the following sentences from the story and choose the correct option. (iii) Sentences 3. and 4. ask __________. (answers/questions)

questions

X Punctuate the following sentences and write whether they are exclamatory or interrogative sentences. 1. Wow, what an intelligent man he is

Wow, what an intelligent man he is! - Exclamatory

X Punctuate the following sentences and write whether they are exclamatory or interrogative sentences. 2. Oh how big the hole is

Oh, how big the hole is! - Exclamatory

X Punctuate the following sentences and write whether they are exclamatory or interrogative sentences. 3. Do you like to read comic books

Do you like to read comic books? - Interrogative

X Punctuate the following sentences and write whether they are exclamatory or interrogative sentences. 4. What is your favourite story

What is your favourite story? - Interrogative

Let us listen

You will listen to a security guard making an announcement to the people in the neighbourhood. As you listen, fill in the blanks with only one word that you hear. (refer to page 38 for transcript) The security guard announced that 1. ____________ has been happening in that area.

robbery

You will listen to a security guard making an announcement to the people in the neighbourhood. As you listen, fill in the blanks with only one word that you hear. (refer to page 38 for transcript) He advised everyone to stay safe and the kids to tell the 2. ____________ as soon as they find anything different.

adults

You will listen to a security guard making an announcement to the people in the neighbourhood. As you listen, fill in the blanks with only one word that you hear. (refer to page 38 for transcript) They should not forget that 3. ____________ is the main thing.

safety

You will listen to a security guard making an announcement to the people in the neighbourhood. As you listen, fill in the blanks with only one word that you hear. (refer to page 38 for transcript) He asked them to call 4. ____________ when they need immediate help.

100

Let us speak

II Discuss in pairs: 1. Why do you think it’s important for people to keep their house and themselves safe? Tick the suitable reasons. (i) To be safe from injury (ii) To keep family members and pets safe (iii) To stop accidents from happening (iv) To make sure they visit the doctor regularly (v) To stop robbery (vi) To pay the electricity bill (vii) To save money

Suitable reasons are (i) To be safe from injury, (ii) To keep family members and pets safe, (iii) To stop accidents from happening, (v) To stop robbery.

II Discuss in pairs: 2. Now, use the given hints to share your reasons in complete sentences with your teacher and classmates. • I think it’s important because ... / • I feel it’s necessary as ... / • The reason we need to look at safety is ...

I think it's important to keep house safe because it protects our family and prevents robbery and accidents.

II Discuss in pairs: 3. Use the given hints to share three ideas on how people can keep their houses and themselves safe. Share with your classmates and teachers. • I think they should … / • I suppose they could … / • They must … / • They should … / • How about … / • It might be better to …

I think they should lock doors and windows at night. They must inform adults about strangers. They should keep emergency numbers like 100 ready.

Let us write

The next day, the neighbour asked the man in the story about what had happened. As the man, tell the neighbour what had happened in your own words. Remember to include the following: when ………….........…………………………………………………. where ………….........…………………………………………………. what ………….........…………………………………………………. how ………….........…………………………………………………. why ………….........…………………………………………………. You may begin this way: My wife and I were about to go to sleep last night when we heard someone …

My wife and I were about to sleep last night when we heard a thief digging into our house. We kept calm and loudly called out the name Rama pretending to name our child, which brought the kotwal Rama who caught the thief. We did this because we were clever and wanted to get help without alarming the thief.

Let us explore

1. Find out from your teacher or parents what you would do in the following situations. Who will you call if … • you see fire • you see someone getting hurt • you see a wounded animal • you see someone suspicious • you find a lost child • you get lost

For fire call fire brigade 101, for someone hurt call ambulance 108, for wounded animal call animal rescue or adults, for suspicious person call police 100, for lost child help him find parents or call police, if you get lost stay where you are and call parents or police.

2. Find the right path for the kotwal to catch the thief.

This is a maze activity. Students trace the path from the kotwal to the thief's house through the correct route in the picture.