Unit 2 of Poorvi explores the meaning of true friendship through three readings. The prose story 'The Unlikely Best Friends' by Subba Rao tells of Gajaraj, a royal elephant who is lonely despite all his comforts, until a stray dog named Buntee wanders into his stable. The two become inseparable, bathing and playing together, until a farmer takes Buntee home. Both friends stop eating out of sadness, so the kind farmer finally sets Buntee free to return to Gajaraj, and even the mahout and the farmer become friends. The poem 'A Friend's Prayer' by Jill Wolf is a gentle prayer asking that friendship always stay important, that one give one's best to friends, and that one love friends just as they are without judging them. The third piece, 'The Chair', tells of a boastful boy named Mario who claims to have countless friends. His grandfather gives him an invisible magic chair, betting a plate of fruit chaat that Mario does not have as many real friends as he thinks. At school Mario keeps falling while trying to sit on the chair, and only three true friends, Guneet, Asma and Deepa, hold him up so he will not fall, while the others laugh. Mario learns that real friends care for us and never enjoy our misfortune. Together the readings teach loyalty, acceptance, kindness and the value of true friends. Refer to the illustration in the NCERT textbook.

The story in steps

Gajaraj lives in royal comfort but feels sad because he has no friend.
A stray dog enters the stable, and Gajaraj shares food and plays with him.
The dog, Buntee, enjoys time with Gajaraj, but a farmer finds him and takes him home.
After Buntee leaves, both he and Gajaraj stop eating because they miss each other.
The farmer understands Buntee’s sadness and frees him to return to Gajaraj.
Buntee comes back, both friends eat happily, and the mahout and farmer also become friends.

'The Unlikely Best Friends' by Subba Rao (prose)Loyalty between an elephant and a dog'A Friend's Prayer' by Jill Wolf (poem)'The Chair' and the invisible-chair testQualities of a true friendPast tense, opposites and comprehension

Key ideas & terms

Gajaraj: The lonely royal elephant in 'The Unlikely Best Friends' who befriends a stray dog.
Buntee: The stray dog who becomes Gajaraj's best friend; the two refuse to eat when separated.
Mahout: The elephant trainer and caretaker who looks after Gajaraj and later befriends the farmer.
'A Friend's Prayer': A poem by Jill Wolf in which the speaker prays to be a loving, accepting and devoted friend.
Mario: The boastful boy in 'The Chair' who learns who his real friends are through the invisible-chair test.
Theme of true friendship: The idea, running through all three pieces, that real friends care for us, accept us and stand by us in difficulty.

शब्दार्थ · Word meanings

booth: rectangular space
stables: living spaces for animals
interacted with: communicated with
strayed: came by mistake
munching: chewing
convey: communicate
accompanied: went with someone
plunging: jumping in
yelped: cried
winced: shrunk back in pain or distress
indigestion: upset stomach
relieved: thankful

Extra questions & answers

Why was Gajaraj sad at the start of 'The Unlikely Best Friends'?

Although he had royal comforts, he was lonely because he had no friend; the mahout was only a good caretaker, not a friend.

How did Gajaraj and Buntee show they were true friends?

They played and bathed together, Gajaraj gave Buntee rides on his back, and when separated both refused to eat out of sadness.

Why did the farmer finally set Buntee free?

He saw that Buntee would not eat and was missing his friend, so out of kindness he removed the rope and let the dog return to Gajaraj.

What does the speaker pray for in 'A Friend's Prayer'?

She prays that friendship always stays important to her, that she gives her best to friends, and that she loves them just as they are.

Who wrote the poem 'A Friend's Prayer'?

The poem was written by Jill Wolf.

What bet did Mario's grandfather make in 'The Chair'?

He bet a plate of fruit chaat that Mario did not have as many true friends as he boasted, and gave him an invisible magic chair to test this.

What happened when Mario tried to sit on the invisible chair?

He kept missing and falling to the ground while his classmates laughed, until three real friends held him up so he would not fall.

Who were Mario's real friends and how did they show it?

Guneet, Asma and Deepa held Mario up so he would not fall, while the others only made fun of him.

What lesson does 'The Chair' teach about friendship?

True friends are those who care for us and help us, not those who take joy in our bad luck.

What common idea links all three pieces in this unit?

They all show that true friendship means loyalty, care, acceptance and standing by a friend in difficult times.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your friends and how do you feel?

Friends are important because they support us, share happiness and sadness, help us, and make life more fun. When I am with my friends I play, talk, share tiffin, study together and laugh. I feel happy, safe and cheerful with them.

Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and teacher. One has been done for you. With my friend I _ With my friend I feel _

With my friend I play games. With my friend I read storybooks. With my friend I share secrets. With my friend I feel happy. With my friend I feel loved and confident. With my friend I feel relaxed.

II The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 1. What can be the meaning of ‘unlikely’? Discuss in groups, and then discuss with your teacher.

‘Unlikely’ means not expected or not probable. It describes a friendship that we would not normally expect to happen because the two friends are very different from each other.

II The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 2. Can you think of some unlikely friends? Share your answer with your teacher.

Yes. Examples of unlikely friends are an elephant and a dog, a cat and a mouse, a lion and a bird, or a big animal and a tiny animal who become good friends despite their differences in size and nature.

Let us discuss

1. Talk about the things that Gajaraj and Buntee did together. Now, write in the shapes given below. One has been done for you. Buntee and Gajaraj _____________ played

Buntee and Gajaraj ate together, went for a bath together in the pond, played and splashed water, and went for a ride with Buntee sitting on Gajaraj’s back. They also played and enjoyed each other’s company.

2. Why did the farmer hug Buntee?

The farmer hugged Buntee because he had been looking for his lost dog for a long time and was very happy to finally find him at the elephant’s stable.

3. Do you think Buntee will leave Gajaraj and go home with the farmer?

At first Buntee goes with the farmer because the farmer puts a rope around his neck, but Buntee does not want to leave. He yelps and feels sad, which shows he does not want to leave Gajaraj willingly.

Let us discuss

1. Why did Gajaraj not eat his food?

Gajaraj did not eat his food because he missed his friend Buntee very much. After Buntee was taken away by the farmer, Gajaraj became sad and lonely and refused to eat.

2. Who were friends at the end of the story?

At the end, Gajaraj and Buntee were friends again and the mahout and the farmer also became friends with each other. So there were two pairs of friends.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. In spite of royal comforts, Gajaraj was sad because he had no friends. The mahout, or elephant trainer, was the only one he ever interacted with. The mahout was a kind man who served Gajaraj food, and gave him a bath in the elephant pond daily. He was a good caretaker, but not a friend. (i) Complete with one word: mahout : kind : : Gajaraj : ___________

mahout : kind :: Gajaraj : sad

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) The mahout was a good caretaker because he gave ___ to Gajaraj and a in the pond.

The mahout was a good caretaker because he gave food to Gajaraj and a bath in the pond.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) What do you think is the difference between a friend and a caretaker?

A caretaker looks after our needs like giving food and keeping us clean, but a friend plays with us, shares feelings, understands us and gives us company and happiness. Gajaraj needed a friend for love and companionship, not just care.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. “Are you missing your friend?” asked the farmer remembering the happy look on Buntee’s face while sitting on the elephant’s back. “I cannot see you go hungry,” said the farmer, “If you miss your friend so much, go to him.” The farmer removed the rope with which he had tied the dog. (i) The farmer uses the word __________________ to refer to the elephant.

The farmer uses the word ‘friend’ to refer to the elephant.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (ii) How did the farmer know that Buntee was hungry?

The farmer knew Buntee was missing his friend and therefore not eating, because Buntee had not touched his food ever since he was brought home and looked sad, just as Gajaraj had looked sad in the stable.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iii) Why did the farmer remove the rope with which he had tied Buntee?

The farmer removed the rope because he saw Buntee was unhappy and hungry without his friend. He was kind and did not want Buntee to suffer, so he set him free to go back to Gajaraj.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iv) Complete with one word: Gajaraj : Buntee : : __________ : farmer

Gajaraj : Buntee :: mahout : farmer

II Give two examples to show that Gajaraj was very happy to have a friend.

Two examples are: 1. Gajaraj shared his food with Buntee by pushing some of his food towards the hungry dog. 2. Gajaraj playfully splashed water on Buntee at the pond and later picked him up with his trunk and gave him a ride on his back, showing his joy.

III How did the mahout come to know that Gajaraj was sad?

The mahout came to know when Gajaraj refused to eat his favourite food for lunch and dinner and again the next day. When he checked Gajaraj’s tummy he found nothing physically wrong, so he guessed Gajaraj was missing his friend the dog.

IV Why do you think Buntee licked the farmer’s hand?

Buntee licked the farmer’s hand to thank him. The farmer had been kind to let him go free even though he loved Buntee, and Buntee showed gratitude before running back to Gajaraj.

V What was ‘unlikely’ about the friendship of Gajaraj and Buntee?

The friendship was unlikely because Gajaraj is a huge elephant and Buntee is a small dog. They are very different in size, species and nature, so people would not expect them to become best friends, yet they did.

Let us learn

1. Gajaraj was sad without a friend and when he met Buntee, he was filled with joy. ‘Sad’ and ‘filled with joy’ are opposites. Opposites can also be formed by adding some letters before a word. For example, un- unhappy, in- incorrect, dis- disconnect, mis- misuse. Now, take help from the words given as hints and fill up their opposites in the puzzle. (Note: All the words are from the story you have just read.) We are opposites! Down: 1. started 2. appeared 4. sad 5. untouched 6. hate Across: 3. unkind 7. yelped 8. awake 9. relieved 10. missing

Opposites from the story: 1. started – finished; 2. appeared – disappeared; 3. unkind – kind; 4. sad – delighted; 5. untouched – touched; 6. hate – love; 7. yelped – quiet; 8. awake – asleep; 9. relieved – worried; 10. missing – found. In the crossword grid — Down: 1. finished, 2. disappeared, 4. delighted, 5. touched, 6. love; Across: 3. kind, 10. found.

2. Now, complete the paragraph with some of the words you have used in the puzzle. My pencil was _____. I was very as it was a gift from my friend. I woke up my elder brother who was on the bed. I told him that my pencil seemed to have . He _ and told me to look under my pillow. I was _ when I __ the pencil there.

My pencil was missing. I was very sad as it was a gift from my friend. I woke up my elder brother who was asleep on the bed. I told him that my pencil seemed to have disappeared. He laughed and told me to look under my pillow. I was relieved when I found the pencil there.

3. The words that tell us about an action are called verbs. In the story, the author tells us what happened before. To do that, the past form of the action word (verb) is used. Let us learn about the three forms of past tense. Simple Past Tense, Past Progressive Tense, Past Perfect Tense Given below are some verbs from the story. Put the verbs in their correct column in the table given above. was looking, looked, gave, had ordered, was missing, hated, had followed, noticed, was munching, went, had remained, served, told, asked, felt, touched, had tied, joined, arrived, threw

Simple Past Tense: looked, gave, hated, noticed, went, served, told, asked, felt, touched, joined, arrived, threw. Past Progressive Tense: was looking, was missing, was munching. Past Perfect Tense: had ordered, had followed, had remained, had tied.

Select the correct form of the verb to complete the passage. Check your answers with the teacher. The farmer came back and (noticed/was noticing/had noticed) that Buntee was sad. He (tied/ was tying/had tied) Buntee with a rope the day before. He (asked/was asking/ had asked) Buntee why he was sad. The farmer (felt/was feeling/had felt) that Buntee (missed/was missing/had missed) Gajaraj and set him free.

The farmer came back and noticed that Buntee was sad. He had tied Buntee with a rope the day before. He asked Buntee why he was sad. The farmer felt that Buntee was missing Gajaraj and set him free.

4. ‘…neither the farmer nor the mahout noticed that the two friends were in tears.’ The words ‘neither’, ‘nor’ are used to state that the farmer and the mahout did not notice the same thing. Discuss the given sentences with your teacher to practise. • Neither Shikha nor Anuj likes to tell stories. • Either Bhavesh or Abha made this painting.

Neither Shikha nor Anuj likes to tell stories means both of them do not like to tell stories. Either Bhavesh or Abha made this painting means one of the two, Bhavesh or Abha, made the painting, but we do not know which one.

Let us listen

1. You will listen to a story about ‘Unlikely Friends’. Use exact words from the story to fill up the missing details in the paragraph. (refer to page 71 for transcript) The leopard is a ___ animal but it became a friend of a cow. When the leopard grew up, it left the village. It came in the _ to meet the cow. The leopard would sit the cow. They also played together. _ were surprised at their friendship.

The leopard is a wild animal but it became a friend of a cow. When the leopard grew up, it left the village. It came in the night to meet the cow. The leopard would sit beside the cow. They also played together. Villagers were surprised at their friendship.

2. Now, listen to the story again and number the sentences in correct order. The first one has been done for you. The leopard stopped coming regularly. The cow took care of the leopard cub as a mother. The leopard came to meet the cow at night. The leopard left the village after growing up.

Correct order is: 1. The cow took care of the leopard cub as a mother. 2. The leopard left the village after growing up. 3. The leopard came to meet the cow at night. 4. The leopard stopped coming regularly.

Let us speak

Gajaraj and Buntee had a wonderful time with each other even if they were ‘unlikely’ friends. Talk to your friend and find out your common likes and dislikes. Share your answers with the class. I am I like: • • My friend is My friend likes: • • Both of us like: • • Now, tell your classmates about your friend.

I am Anya. I like reading and playing badminton. My friend is Ravi. My friend likes drawing and playing badminton. Both of us like playing badminton and eating ice-cream. My friend and I like to play together. Both of us want to play badminton every evening. I like to read but my friend likes to draw. We are different as he is quiet and I am talkative, but we are still best friends.

Let us write

Write six sentences about your friend with the help of the facts collected in the above task. Mention how you are not only similar but also different. You may take help of the words given below. same different and but both still like unlike neither nor either or

My best friend is Simran. Both of us like playing in the park and sharing stories. We both like ice-cream and reading comics. I like singing but Simran likes dancing. We are different but we understand each other. Neither of us likes to fight nor likes to be rude. We are still good friends because we care for each other either in happy or sad times.

Let us explore

1. The story, ‘The Elephant and the Dog’ is found in the Jataka tales. These stories are ancient Buddhist stories of life values and wisdom. These stories have been told from one generation to the next for over two thousand years. Find and read another Jataka story.

One other Jataka story is ‘The Monkey and the Crocodile’. It teaches that wisdom and presence of mind can save us from cheating friends. Students can read it from the library and share its moral that we should not trust false friends.

2. Elephants have historically held significant roles in Indian culture, spanning history, warfare, religion, festivals and more. However, contemporary ecological challenges have strained the relationship between humans and elephants. Have a discussion in the class.

Elephants are respected in India as symbols of wisdom and Lord Ganesha, used in festivals and historically in royal processions. Today, loss of forests and human-elephant conflict makes it important to protect elephants and their habitats through sanctuaries and careful planning.

3. Given below is a news report from an Elephant Sanctuary in the United States about a real-life friendship between an elephant and a dog. The elephant’s name is Tarra and the dog’s name is Bella. Bella came inside a forest for elephants and became Tarra’s friend. Tarra spent most of her time with Bella. One day, Bella had an injury so she could not walk. She was kept inside a building for three weeks. Tarra stood outside for three weeks. Finally, they met and were very happy.

This true story shows that like Gajaraj and Buntee, Tarra and Bella also showed an unlikely but deep friendship. Tarra waited patiently for three weeks for Bella to recover, proving that true friends care, wait for each other and feel happy when they reunite.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Read the following sentences. 1. I wish my friend brings idli in her tiffin tomorrow. 2. I hope my friend and I win the race tomorrow. 3. May my friend get well soon. Which of the three sentences 1–3 is closest to a prayer? Explain to your teacher and classmates.

Sentence 3, ‘May my friend get well soon’ is closest to a prayer because it is a selfless wish for another person’s well-being and uses the prayer-like word ‘May’, showing sincere care from the heart without expecting anything in return.

II What would you pray for your friend? First speak about it and then write it down.

I would pray that my friend always stays happy, healthy and safe, does well in studies, and that our friendship remains strong forever. I would also pray that all her wishes come true.

Let us discuss

1. Read the poem silently. As you read, underline the parts of the poem that you agree with.

I underline lines like ‘May my friendships always be the most important thing to me’ and ‘love my friends the way they are’ because I agree that friendship should be valued and friends should be accepted as they are.

2. Now, share the details of your underlined parts of the poem in groups and explain why you liked those lines.

I liked ‘With special friends I feel I’m blessed’ because I also feel lucky to have good friends who help me. I also liked ‘make no judgements from afar’ because true friends should not judge quickly but understand each other.

3. Which line was underlined by most people in your group? Share it with your teacher.

In our group most people underlined ‘But love my friends the way they are’ because everyone feels that accepting friends without trying to change them is the most important quality of true friendship.

Let us think and reflect

I Complete the summary of the poem by circling the correct highlighted words. The poet says a prayer for/speech on friendship and friends. She wants that friendship should always be an important part of her complete life/ school days. She says that her friendship makes her feel brave/special. She wishes to do the best she can, for her friends. She wants to clap for/ listen to the wishes of her friends. As a good friend, she prays/imagines that she is able to make her friends’ wishes come true. She wants her heart/mind to understand what a true friend is. She prays that she loves her friends as they are/when they are happy. She tells us that true/correct friends accept their friends for all their qualities.

The poet says a prayer for friendship and friends. She wants that friendship should always be an important part of her complete life. She says that her friendship makes her feel special. She wishes to do the best she can for her friends. She wants to listen to the wishes of her friends. As a good friend, she prays that she is able to make her friends’ wishes come true. She wants her heart to understand what a true friend is. She prays that she loves her friends as they are. She tells us that true friends accept their friends for all their qualities.

II Answer in one word only. 1. How does the poet feel about special friends?

Blessed

II Answer in one word only. 2. What does the poet use to realise what friends can be?

Heart

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. I want to do much more than share The hopes and plans of friends who care; I’ll try all that a friend can do To make their wishes come true. (i) Complete the sentence with the most suitable option. These lines tell us that the speaker is _______________. A. clever B. caring C. curious D. calm

B. caring

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. (ii) How will the speaker make her friends’ wishes come true? (by trying hard/by working a lot)

by trying hard

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. (iii) Fill in the blank with a suitable word. My friends will feel __________ if their wishes come true.

My friends will feel happy if their wishes come true.

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. Let me use my heart to see, To realise what friends can be, And make no judgements from afar, But love my friends the way they are. (i) The speaker says that feelings are important to understand friendship. Which line tells us this?

The line ‘Let me use my heart to see’ tells us this, because the heart stands for feelings and emotions.

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. (ii) Complete the sentence with the most suitable option. These lines tell us that the speaker is _______________. A. helpful B. thoughtful C. cheerful D. hopeful

B. thoughtful

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. (iii) Fill in the blank with one word. The speaker does not wish to make any ___________. She cares for them just as they are.

The speaker does not wish to make any judgements.

IV Give one reason why we can say that this poem is a prayer.

We can say it is a prayer because the speaker uses words like ‘May’ and ‘Let me’ to humbly ask for the ability to be a good, caring and accepting friend, which is a sincere wish to God from the heart.

V Why does the speaker ‘want to do more’ for her friend?

The speaker wants to do more than just share hopes and plans because she deeply values friendship and wants to actively help her friends by making their wishes come true and showing true care.

VI Do you think that the speaker knows about the wishes of her friend? How can we say so?

Yes, the speaker knows about her friends’ hopes and plans because the poem says she shares ‘the hopes and plans of friends who care’. This shows friends confide in each other.

VII Do you also pray for your friend? What do you wish for? Discuss.

Yes, I also pray for my friend. I wish that she stays healthy, happy, succeeds in life, and that we always support each other and remain friends forever.

Let us learn

I The poet says, ‘With special friends I feel I’m blessed’. Select the words that are similar to the meaning of being blessed, from those given below. excited grateful understood thankful relaxed

Words similar to blessed are grateful and thankful.

II Good friends have a lot of qualities. Let us list some. loyal, h e f l, k d, c i n g, h o t Now, fill in the blanks with the words you just listed above. 1. My friend is always _______ to me even when I make a mistake. 2. My friend shares things with me. She is very _. 3. My friend is _ because he always supports me. 4. My friend never lies. She is an _ person. 5. My friend and I believe in _______ for each other.

The qualities are loyal, helpful, kind, caring, honest. 1. My friend is always kind to me even when I make a mistake. 2. My friend shares things with me. She is very helpful. 3. My friend is loyal because he always supports me. 4. My friend never lies. She is an honest person. 5. My friend and I believe in caring for each other.

III Think of any three of your friends. Write three sentences on why you like each one of them.

I like Ayesha because she is kind and helps me with homework. I like Rohan because he is loyal and always stands by me. I like Neha because she is cheerful and makes me laugh even when I am sad.

Let us listen

I You will listen to a talk about some outdoor activities that two friends spend their time doing. As you listen, answer the given question in one or two word(s) only. (refer to page 72 for transcript) 1. What do the two friends purchase and use on the park bench?

Comic book

II You will once again listen to the talk about some outdoor activities of the two friends. As you listen, circle the pictures that show these activities. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

The correct pictures to circle are those showing swings, slides, walking in park listening to birds and looking at trees, cycling, eating ice-cream together, and reading a comic book on a park bench.

Let us speak

1. In pairs, act the role of friends speaking to each other. Speak about the following situations: 1. A walk in the park 2. Sharing tiffins at school

Situation 1 - A walk in the park: A: Hello! Would you like to go for a walk in the park with me? B: Yes, I would love to. We can enjoy the swings and listen to birds. A: Great, let’s go together. Situation 2 - Sharing tiffins: A: Hi! I have brought idli and you have brought paratha. Shall we share? B: Yes, let’s share. I love your idli. A: Thank you. Sharing makes me feel happy and closer to you.

2. Create a new situation and have another conversation.

New situation - Doing homework together: A: Hi, shall we do our English homework together? B: Yes, we can help each other. A: I will explain the poem and you can help me with grammar. B: That sounds like a good plan for friends.

Let us write

Describe how your friendship with your friend started. • First list the answers for — When? Where? How? • Then, use your sentences to write a short paragraph of about 80 words. • Give a title to your paragraph.

Title: My Best Friend Ria. When: In Class 3. Where: In my new school. How: She helped me when I was new and shared her crayons. Paragraph: I met Ria in Class 3 when I joined the school. She sat next to me and helped me find my classroom. She shared her crayons and lunch with me on the first day. We started playing together during recess and found we both love stories. Since then we have been best friends who care and help each other.

Let us explore

I There are many quotations about friendship. Read the ones given below. • “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” • “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” 1. What do you think is the meaning of these quotations? Share it with your teacher. 2. Think of an experience in your life with your friend that suits this quotation. Share it with your friends.

1. ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’ means a true friend helps when we are in trouble. ‘My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me’ means a good friend encourages our good qualities. 2. Once I was sick before an exam and my friend helped me with notes and encouraged me, showing he is a true friend in need.

II Look for some famous quotations on friendship; these can be in your own language too. Read and share them with your teacher and classmates. Write one quotation on paper, colour and decorate it. Put it up on the class board.

One famous quotation is: ‘Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.’ I will write it beautifully, decorate it with colours and put it on the class board to share with everyone.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Write two words that come to your mind when you think of friendship. 1. Now, find some more words that are related to friendship from the grid given below. You can search horizontally or vertically. There are eight words. One word has been marked as an example. The first letter of each word has been given in bold. 2. Fill in the blanks to complete the words, which mean the same as ‘friend’ or ‘friends’ with the help of the meanings. Meaning Word (i) a person with whom you do activities together p r n r (ii) an informal word for friends b d s (iii) a person who you spend a lot of time with c m p n o (iv) children who are in the same class as you at school c l s m t __ s 3. There are so many words for a friend. What do you call ‘a friend’ in your own language?

Two words for friendship are trust and love. Words from grid: laughter, helpful, loyal, loving, caring, supportive, kind, honest. Fill in blanks: (i) partner (ii) buddies (iii) companion (iv) classmates. In Hindi, a friend is called ‘mitr’ or ‘dost’, in my language we also say ‘saheli’ for a girl friend.

Let us discuss

1. Mario was very proud of having so many friends. State whether True or False.

True

2. What did the grandfather take from the attic?

The grandfather brought a very special invisible chair from the attic to test who Mario’s real friends were.

3. Will Mario face any challenges?

Yes, Mario will face the challenge of sitting on an invisible chair which is tricky because it cannot be seen, and he may fall and be laughed at.

4. Will Mario be able to use the magic?

Yes, if Mario manages to sit on the invisible chair with the help of true friends, the magic will work and show him who his real friends are.

Let us discuss

1. Mario successfully sat on the invisible chair on his first attempt. State whether True or False.

False

2. Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Mario’s grandfather challenged him to a bet of __________.

Mario’s grandfather challenged him to a bet of fruit chaat.

3. Match the following characters with their action. Guneet, Asma and Deepa (i) held Mario up, so he wouldn't fall (ii) made fun of Mario’s attempts Others (i) held Mario up, so he wouldn't fall (ii) made fun of Mario’s attempts

Guneet, Asma and Deepa - (i) held Mario up, so he wouldn't fall. Others (other classmates) - (ii) made fun of Mario’s attempts.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. “Take it. It’s a very special chair. As it’s invisible, it’s rather tricky to sit on it. But if you take it to school and manage to sit on it, then the magic will work and you’ll be able to tell who your real friends are.” (i) Fill in the blanks with two words that describe the chair. The chair is ___ and _.

The chair is special and invisible.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) Why was it tricky to sit on the chair?

It was tricky because the chair was invisible, so it could not be seen and it was hard to know where to sit.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) Why does Mario’s grandfather call the chair ‘special’?

He calls it special because it has magic to reveal who Mario’s true friends are - those who will support him instead of laughing.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. “Wait, wait, just a slight technical problem,” he said, trying again. But again, he missed the seat, causing more surprised looks and laughter. Mario wouldn’t give up. (i) Fill in the blank with a suitable reason. Mario says there was a technical problem because ___________.

Mario says there was a technical problem because he missed the seat and fell down as he could not see the invisible chair.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (ii) Mario’s friends were very caring and helpful. State whether True or False.

False for most classmates, but True for his three real friends Guneet, Asma and Deepa. The statement about all friends is False.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. Mario wouldn’t give up. This shows he is _____________. a. strong-willed C. loving B. supportive d. hard-working

a. strong-willed

II Answer the following questions. 1. What was the bet about?

The bet was that Mario claimed he had many friends, but his grandfather bet a fruit chaat that not all of them were real friends, but only companions or partners, and Mario had to prove it with the magic chair.

II Answer the following questions. 2. What happened when Mario sat on the chair for the first time?

When Mario tried to sit the first time, he missed the invisible seat and fell straight onto his backside, and his classmates laughed at him.

II Answer the following questions. 3. How was Mario able to find his real friends?

Mario was able to find his real friends when he finally sat hanging in mid-air. He saw that Guneet, Asma and Deepa were holding him up to stop him falling, while others only laughed. Their help revealed they were his true friends.

II Answer the following questions. 4. Do you think the magic chair test was good? Why do you say so?

Yes, the magic chair test was good because it showed the difference between true friends who help and support in difficulty and false friends who only laugh at our problems. It taught Mario a valuable lesson without harm.

II Answer the following questions. 5. What does ‘friends for life’ mean to you?

‘Friends for life’ means friends who stay together forever, supporting and caring for each other through good and bad times, never leaving each other.

II Answer the following questions. 6. The grandfather’s idea helped Mario find his ‘real friends’. Mention any other way that would help you find out who are your ‘real friends’.

Another way is to see who helps you when you are in trouble, sick or need help with studies, who keeps your secrets and stands by you even when others make fun of you. Real friends share and care, not just enjoy good times.

Let us learn

I Read the following words from the text. Complete the following table by dividing the words into two parts. One has been done for you. The words in Column A are called the root words. The sequences of letters that are in Column B which come after the root words are called suffixes. friendly suddenly talking carrying called showed

friendly = friend + ly, suddenly = sudden + ly, talking = talk + ing, carrying = carry + ing, called = call + ed, showed = show + ed.

II Match the following root words with suitable suffixes. You can use a suffix more than once as shown. Use them to make sentences of your own. S. No. Root Word Suffix Word Sentence 1. magic -ing magical 2. care -al 3. celebrate -ful 4. laugh -ly 5. wonder -ed 6. help -tion 7. friend -ous 8. courage -ship

2. care + ful = careful - She is careful with her books. 3. celebrate + tion = celebration - We had a big celebration for Diwali. 4. laugh + ed = laughed - They laughed at the joke. 5. wonder + ful = wonderful - We had a wonderful day at the park. 6. help + ful = helpful - My brother is very helpful. 7. friend + ship = friendship - Their friendship is strong. 8. courage + ous = courageous - The soldier was courageous.

III Read the following lines from the story. Mario, brave and determined, took the strange invisible chair … You have already described the chair. Now, describe what kind of a person Mario is in the image given below. [Use words from the story. You may also use words of your own.] The words that describe the quality of a person or a thing are called adjectives. Mario

Mario is brave, determined, strong-willed, friendly, cheerful and a show-off at first but later humble and loving. He does not give up easily and values true friendship.

IV Match each word (adjectives) in Column A with a suitable word (noun) in Column B. You can make more than one combination. One has been done as an example. Column A Adjectives 1. brave friends 2. clever rain 3. tasty soldier 4. heavy plan 5. slight peanuts 6. true cold Column B Nouns Column C Phrases Column D Sentences

1. brave - soldier - brave soldier - The brave soldier marched ahead. 2. clever - plan - clever plan - She made a clever plan to win. 3. tasty - peanuts - tasty peanuts - We ate tasty peanuts. 4. heavy - rain - heavy rain - Heavy rain filled the streets. 5. slight - cold - slight cold - He has a slight cold. 6. true - friends - true friends - True friends always help.

V Complete the paragraph with suitable adjective-noun pairings. Use the words in the box given below. old book magical adventures happy boy amazing stories fantastic adventures colourful creatures old castles Once upon a time in a little village, a/an 1. named Abhishek found a/an 2. in the attic. He read 3. about fairy lands, 4. and 5. . Abhishek’s eyes got big as he imagined these 6. . He told his friends about the stories, and they started to have their own 7. __ when they played together.

Once upon a time in a little village, a happy boy named Abhishek found an old book in the attic. He read amazing stories about fairy lands, old castles and colourful creatures. Abhishek’s eyes got big as he imagined these magical adventures. He told his friends about the stories, and they started to have their own fantastic adventures when they played together.

Let us listen

You will listen to Manu talk about her friend, Monika. As you listen, fill in the blanks with words that you hear. (refer to page 73 for transcript) 1. Manu found it _______ when she took admission in the school. 2. Manu met _ and was helped by her in many ways. 3. So, it was not so _ for the new girl to adjust in the school. 4. Both friends experienced difficult and _ moments together. 5. Manu is _______ to Monika for making her life easy and finding a friend.

1. Manu found it difficult when she took admission in the school. 2. Manu met Monika and was helped by her in many ways. 3. So, it was not so difficult for the new girl to adjust in the school. 4. Both friends experienced difficult and happy moments together. 5. Manu is thankful to Monika for making her life easy and finding a friend.

Let us speak

Work in pairs. Read the following qualities of a friend. loving honest kind caring loyal polite respectful team-worker understanding Discuss in pairs. Choose any four positive qualities that you would like your friend to have. Give a reason for your choice.

I want my friend to be honest because she will always tell the truth. I want her to be caring because she will help me when I am sad. I want her to be loyal because she will stand by me always. I want her to be understanding because she will listen to my feelings without judging me.

Let us write

1. Now, choose the correct word given in brackets to complete Mario’s message to Guneet. Dear Guneet, I am (thankful to/requesting) God to have you as a (lucky/real) friend for life. When everyone was (laughing at/talking to) me, Deepa, Asma and you showed me that you (will save/care for) me. You are indeed a __ (blessing/loving) in my life. Best wishes, Mario

Dear Guneet, I am thankful to God to have you as a real friend for life. When everyone was laughing at me, Deepa, Asma and you showed me that you care for me. You are indeed a blessing in my life. Best wishes, Mario

2. Now, write your own message to your best friend. You may take ideas from the story, ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’ and the poem, ‘A Friend’s Prayer’.

Dear Priya, I feel blessed to have you as my best friend. You are always there for me like Guneet, Asma and Deepa were for Mario. I pray that our friendship always remains special and that I can make your wishes come true. I love you the way you are and I promise to be helpful and loyal always. Your friend, Anya

Let us explore

1. Find out more stories about ‘Friendship’. It could be from your state, other states or other countries too. You can share them with your class.

One friendship story from my state is about Krishna and Sudama, who were friends despite being rich and poor. It shows true friendship does not depend on wealth. I will share its summary in class.

2. Describe your friends by filling in the blanks with suitable words. This is known as an acrostic poem. F R I E N D S

F - Faithful, R - Respectful, I - Inspiring, E - Encouraging, N - Nice, D - Dependable, S - Supportive

3. Complete the following task by talking to different people of different age groups as mentioned in the table. You may divide the class into groups to do the following: Question Age Group Response What does friendship mean to you? 50+ 31 to 49 20 to 30 12 to 19 After gathering responses: Discuss: similarities and differences across age groups. Reflect: how viewpoints on friendship may change with age and life experiences. Present: a summary of the group’s responses, emphasising key themes or unique insights.

Sample responses: 50+ - Friendship means lifelong support and trust. 31 to 49 - Friendship means help in difficult times and understanding. 20 to 30 - Friendship means sharing fun and career support. 12 to 19 - Friendship means playing and sharing secrets. Summary: While younger groups focus on play and sharing, older groups value trust, loyalty and lifelong companionship. With age, friendship is seen more as emotional support than just fun.

Friendship — Class 6 English

Visual story

CBSE Class 6 community

Chapter summary

The story in steps

Key ideas & terms

शब्दार्थ · Word meanings

Extra questions & answers

Why was Gajaraj sad at the start of 'The Unlikely Best Friends'?

How did Gajaraj and Buntee show they were true friends?

Why did the farmer finally set Buntee free?

What does the speaker pray for in 'A Friend's Prayer'?

Who wrote the poem 'A Friend's Prayer'?

What bet did Mario's grandfather make in 'The Chair'?

What happened when Mario tried to sit on the invisible chair?

Who were Mario's real friends and how did they show it?

What lesson does 'The Chair' teach about friendship?

What common idea links all three pieces in this unit?

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your friends and how do you feel?

Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and teacher. One has been done for you. With my friend I _____________ With my friend I feel _____________

II The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 1. What can be the meaning of ‘unlikely’? Discuss in groups, and then discuss with your teacher.

II The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 2. Can you think of some unlikely friends? Share your answer with your teacher.

Let us discuss

1. Talk about the things that Gajaraj and Buntee did together. Now, write in the shapes given below. One has been done for you. Buntee and Gajaraj _____________ played

2. Why did the farmer hug Buntee?

3. Do you think Buntee will leave Gajaraj and go home with the farmer?

Let us discuss

1. Why did Gajaraj not eat his food?

2. Who were friends at the end of the story?

Let us think and reflect

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) The mahout was a good caretaker because he gave _________ to Gajaraj and a ______ in the pond.

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (iii) What do you think is the difference between a friend and a caretaker?

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (ii) How did the farmer know that Buntee was hungry?

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iii) Why did the farmer remove the rope with which he had tied Buntee?

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 2. (iv) Complete with one word: Gajaraj : Buntee : : __________ : farmer

II Give two examples to show that Gajaraj was very happy to have a friend.

III How did the mahout come to know that Gajaraj was sad?

IV Why do you think Buntee licked the farmer’s hand?

V What was ‘unlikely’ about the friendship of Gajaraj and Buntee?

Let us learn

Let us listen

2. Now, listen to the story again and number the sentences in correct order. The first one has been done for you. The leopard stopped coming regularly. The cow took care of the leopard cub as a mother. The leopard came to meet the cow at night. The leopard left the village after growing up.

Let us speak

Let us write

Write six sentences about your friend with the help of the facts collected in the above task. Mention how you are not only similar but also different. You may take help of the words given below. same different and but both still like unlike neither nor either or

Let us explore

1. The story, ‘The Elephant and the Dog’ is found in the Jataka tales. These stories are ancient Buddhist stories of life values and wisdom. These stories have been told from one generation to the next for over two thousand years. Find and read another Jataka story.

2. Elephants have historically held significant roles in Indian culture, spanning history, warfare, religion, festivals and more. However, contemporary ecological challenges have strained the relationship between humans and elephants. Have a discussion in the class.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Read the following sentences. 1. I wish my friend brings idli in her tiffin tomorrow. 2. I hope my friend and I win the race tomorrow. 3. May my friend get well soon. Which of the three sentences 1–3 is closest to a prayer? Explain to your teacher and classmates.

II What would you pray for your friend? First speak about it and then write it down.

Let us discuss

1. Read the poem silently. As you read, underline the parts of the poem that you agree with.

2. Now, share the details of your underlined parts of the poem in groups and explain why you liked those lines.

3. Which line was underlined by most people in your group? Share it with your teacher.

Let us think and reflect

II Answer in one word only. 1. How does the poet feel about special friends?

II Answer in one word only. 2. What does the poet use to realise what friends can be?

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. (ii) How will the speaker make her friends’ wishes come true? (by trying hard/by working a lot)

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. (iii) Fill in the blank with a suitable word. My friends will feel __________ if their wishes come true.

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. (ii) Complete the sentence with the most suitable option. These lines tell us that the speaker is _______________. A. helpful B. thoughtful C. cheerful D. hopeful

III Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. (iii) Fill in the blank with one word. The speaker does not wish to make any ___________. She cares for them just as they are.

IV Give one reason why we can say that this poem is a prayer.

V Why does the speaker ‘want to do more’ for her friend?

VI Do you think that the speaker knows about the wishes of her friend? How can we say so?

VII Do you also pray for your friend? What do you wish for? Discuss.

Let us learn

I The poet says, ‘With special friends I feel I’m blessed’. Select the words that are similar to the meaning of being blessed, from those given below. excited grateful understood thankful relaxed

III Think of any three of your friends. Write three sentences on why you like each one of them.

Let us listen

I You will listen to a talk about some outdoor activities that two friends spend their time doing. As you listen, answer the given question in one or two word(s) only. (refer to page 72 for transcript) 1. What do the two friends purchase and use on the park bench?

II You will once again listen to the talk about some outdoor activities of the two friends. As you listen, circle the pictures that show these activities. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Let us speak

1. In pairs, act the role of friends speaking to each other. Speak about the following situations: 1. A walk in the park 2. Sharing tiffins at school

2. Create a new situation and have another conversation.

Let us write

Describe how your friendship with your friend started. • First list the answers for — When? Where? How? • Then, use your sentences to write a short paragraph of about 80 words. • Give a title to your paragraph.

Let us explore

II Look for some famous quotations on friendship; these can be in your own language too. Read and share them with your teacher and classmates. Write one quotation on paper, colour and decorate it. Put it up on the class board.

Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and teacher. One has been done for you. With my friend I _ With my friend I feel _

I Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 1. (ii) The mahout was a good caretaker because he gave ___ to Gajaraj and a in the pond.

2. Describe your friends by filling in the blanks with suitable words. This is known as an acrostic poem. F R I E N D S