Class 8 › English › Poorvi Mystery and Magic Class 8 English · Poorvi · Chapter 3
Summary Questions & answers Practise this chapter → Tap a card to open it full-screen — swipe through like a story.
Unit 3 of Poorvi is built around the joy of mystery, logic and imagination. Its main reading is the detective story “The Case of the Fifth Word”, adapted from Donald J. Sobol’s Encyclopedia Brown series. A young boy detective, called Encyclopedia (Leroy Brown), helps his father, the Chief of Police, crack a puzzle left behind by a criminal named Nolan. Nolan had hidden stolen jewellery and left a coded clue for his accomplice Davenport: four odd-looking words written on a sheet from a desk calendar. Encyclopedia notices the words stand for days of the week with the letters d-a-y dropped—Nom for Monday, Utes for Tuesday, Sweden for Wednesday and Hurts for Thursday. The missing, unwritten fifth word must therefore be “Fir”, standing for Friday. The jewellery, he reasons, is buried under a young fir tree in Nolan’s nursery—exactly where the police find it. The story shows how careful observation and logical reasoning can solve a mystery that looks impossible at first. The unit also includes imaginative pieces such as “The Magic Brush of Dreams” and “Spectacular Wonders”, extending the theme of wonder, creativity and curiosity. Through codes, clues and magical ideas, the unit trains students to read closely, reason step by step and enjoy puzzles.
1 Chief Brown brings home a mystery, and Encyclopedia quietly listens at dinner. 2 The family discusses Tim Nolan, the old jewellery robbery, and Davenport’s link with him. 3 Chief Brown says Nolan dies after a stroke and leaves his nursery to Davenport. 4 A strange four-word note clipped to the will troubles Chief Brown and Mrs. Brown. 5 Encyclopedia sees that the words hide the names of weekdays from a calendar. 6 He finds the missing fifth word, Friday or fir, and the jewellery is found under the fir tree. E Encyclopedia Brown (Leroy) The boy detective who solves the case using logic and a sharp memory; he helps his father, the police chief.
“ “The Case of the Fifth Word” A detective story adapted from Donald J. Sobol about a coded clue hiding stolen jewellery.
C Code / cipher A hidden message; here, four words stand for days of the week with the letters d-a-y removed.
T The fifth word The unwritten word “Fir” (Friday), the key that reveals the jewellery is hidden under a fir tree.
D Deduction Reasoning step by step from clues to a conclusion, the main skill the detective uses.
T Theme – mystery and wonder The unit blends logical puzzles with imaginative, magical pieces to celebrate curiosity and creativity.
matter-of-fact manner
without showing much emotion
hold-ups
robberies using threat or violence
nursery
place where young plants are grown
testify
make a statement in court
hunch
a strong feeling about something
stroke
sudden serious illness affecting movement
will
legal paper about property after death
leafed through
quickly turned the pages
Q1 Who solves the mystery in “The Case of the Fifth Word”? Answer Q2 What clue did the criminal Nolan leave behind? Answer Q3 How was the code in the four words constructed? Answer Q4 What was the unwritten fifth word, and what did it stand for? Answer Q5 Where was the stolen jewellery actually hidden? Answer Q6 Why was the calendar sheet an important detail? Answer Q7 What skill does the story mainly celebrate? Answer Q8 Why would the code mean nothing to an ordinary person? Answer Q9 How does the unit combine “mystery” and “magic”? Answer Q10 What can readers learn from a detective story like this? Answer Q1 I Work in pairs. Solve the crossword puzzle given below with the clues in the form of anagrams. Across: 3. Declare 6. Tucks 7. Heart 9. Felt 10. Sown 12. Sword 13. Evil Down: 1. Aces 2. Read 4. Tool 5. Alps 6. Hooks 8. Mane 11. Loves Note: An anagram is a word or phrase that is made by rearranging the letters in a different order to make a new word or phrase. For example, ‘Neat’ is an anagram of ‘a net’. Answer Q2 1. Lalit said that he could not sing but that was not the case as he sang melodiously later. Answer Q3 2. The lawyer was waiting for the case to be taken up in court. Answer Q4 3. My pencil case is a gift from my grandmother. Answer Q5 4. The subject of a formal letter is written in title case. Answer Q1 I Complete the following statements with suitable reasons. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. Leroy’s nickname was Encyclopedia and everyone called him by that name because ______________. Answer Q2 2. At the dinner table on Tuesday night, Chief Brown stared at his cream-of-mushroom soup as ______________. Answer Q3 3. Encyclopedia sat quietly at the dinner table because ______________. Answer Q4 4. Nolan put the will on the kitchen table because ______________. Answer Q5 II Do you think Chief Brown would need Leroy’s help to solve this case? If yes, why? If no, why not? Answer Q1 I A fact is something that can be proven true or false. A fact is not based on people’s beliefs. An opinion on the other hand is a belief, feeling, or judgement, and can vary from one person to another. An opinion cannot be proven. Identify which of the following statements from part I and II of the story are facts or opinions. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. Encyclopedia’s father was the Chief of Police. Fact Answer Q2 2. Everyone thought that Chief Brown must be the smartest police chief in the country. Answer Q3 3. An encyclopedia is a book or set of books filled with facts from A to Z. Answer Q4 4. Leroy’s friends said that he was like a library and computer rolled into one, and more user-friendly. Answer Q5 5. Two masked men held up the Diamond Mart on Sixth Avenue. Answer Q6 6. Nolan and Davenport had met while both were in prison in South Carolina. Answer Q7 7. Chief Brown’s hunch was that Davenport and Nolan decided to hide the loot until things cooled down. Answer Q8 8. Nolan wrote a four words code to tell Davenport where he had hidden the stolen jewellery. Answer Q9 II Complete the table by choosing the character traits of Leroy given in the box below. There is an extra word that you do not need. One example has been done for you. cleverness knowledgeable keen listener gentle humble Textual Evidences Traits 1. He read more books than anyone in Idaville, and he never forgot a fact. knowledgeable 2. Encyclopedia never spoke of the help he gave his father. He didn’t want to seem different from other boys. Answer Q10 3. Encyclopedia sat quietly. He knew his mother and father were discussing the case for his benefit. Answer Q11 4. Usually, he needed to ask only one question to solve a case before dessert. Answer Q1 (i) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason. Chief Brown’s dilemma can be called unique because____________. Answer Q2 (ii) What can be inferred about why Encyclopedia never spoke of the help he gave his father? A. He is shy and lacks confidence in his abilities to share his insights. B. He wants to avoid the jealousy others might feel about his skills. C. He desires to blend with the other boys to prevent seeming different. D. He is embarrassed about being smarter than most adults around him. Answer Q3 (iii) The parents choose not to call their son ‘Encyclopedia’. Select the reason that is false. A. For them he is more than his unique abilities; he is their child, with a personal identity. B. Calling him by his real name reflects their affection and the desire to acknowledge him as an ordinary boy. C. They want him to be remembered as different from the others around. Answer Q4 (iv) What does the writer mean by the fact that Leroy was ‘stuck with’ the name Encyclopedia? Answer Q5 (i) What does Chief Brown’s reaction of shaking his head suggest about his understanding of the four words? A. He is confident that the words are a clue. B. He is confused, unable to make sense of the words. C. He believes the words are random and meaningless. D. He thinks the words are unrelated to the case. Answer Q6 (ii) Identify whether the given statement is true or false. Mrs. Brown explained the actual meanings of the individual words rather than decoding the hidden message behind them. Answer Q7 (iii) What does Mrs. Brown’s inability to decode the words suggest about the message? Answer Q8 (iv) Complete the following sentence suitably. The purpose of Encyclopedia’s reminder in the last line of the extract was to _________________. (refocus the discussion on the context of the crime/suggest that the coded message was meant for Davenport/imply that the message was likely a clue about the location of the stolen jewellery) Answer Q9 II Answer the following questions. 1. Nolan and Davenport were very close. Support this statement with evidence from the text. Answer Q10 2. Why did Davenport disappear right after the jewellery hold-up? What might his plans have been if, Nolan had not died? Answer Q11 3. What does Mrs. Brown’s interest in the case tell us about her? Answer Q12 4. Explain why Chief Brown was proud of his son. Answer Q13 5. Why were Chief Brown’s suspicions regarding Nolan and Davenport justified, even when there was a lack of concrete proof? Answer Q14 6. Analyse the role of the four-word coded message in the story. Answer Q15 7. Write a character sketch on Leroy with the help of the character traits table given in ‘Let us discuss’ section. You may begin it like this: Encyclopedia was a knowledgeable eighth grader who never forgot a fact that he read. Answer Q7 A. Finally, some important evidence about the case has _______________. Answer Q8 B. After I _______________, I understood that I had made a big mistake. Answer Q9 C. I couldn’t _______________ why he was angry with me. Answer Q10 D. He _______________ his special coat and went to his friend’s birthday party. Answer Q11 E. Ravi forgets to do his homework but he _______________ it as teacher didn’t ask for it that day. Answer Q12 F. I do not know what to _______________ his behaviour. Answer Q13 II Fill in the blanks in the following sentences by choosing the correct word pairs from the box given below. week/weak dying/dyeing fore/four peace/piece break/brake 1. After running for 50 kilometres last _________________, I felt _________________ for two days. Answer Q14 2. When the committee met yesterday, they brought _________________ local cases to the _________________. Answer Q15 3. While learning to drive, Rina used too much force on the _________________, causing the car to _________________ down. Answer Q16 4. He has composed a beautiful _________________ of music in order to bring _________________ to thousands of people. Answer Q17 5. She was busy _________________ her hair not caring about the _________________ flowers in her garden. Answer Q18 III Leroy solved the mystery of the missing fifth word with his critical thinking abilities. Work in pairs to solve the puzzles given in the illustrations below and infer what they say. One example has been done for you. Answer: Top secret AGED AGED AGED sense sense sense sense sense sense Try M 1 L L I O N GO It It It It R O A D S R O D S stand ONCE 2 SECRET SECRET SECRET uu Answer Q19 IV Spoonerism is a mistake made when speaking, where the first sounds of the words in a phrase or a sentence are exchanged with each other. This usually gives a funny meaning. Some examples of spoonerism are saying ‘wrong load’ instead of ‘long road’, ‘round of mice’ instead of ‘mound of rice’. Find the correct order for the following spoonerisms. 1. knowing sits 2. it’s roaring with pain. 3. plaster man 4. blarm wanket 5. tars and crucks 6. shake a tower 7. bead a rook 8. mardon me padam Answer Q20 V Read the following sentences from the text and study the highlighted words. Now, fill in the blanks with the words in the box given below to complete the following sentences. There are two extra words that you do not need. Detective stories are exciting, keeping readers guessing (i) ____________ the real culprit is. They take place in settings (ii) ____________ clues are hidden carefully. (iii) ____________ the mystery seems tricky, a clever detective always finds answers. Readers often wonder (iv) ____________ criminals leave small but important clues. The challenge is to decide (v) ____________ suspect is guilty. (vi) ____________ the truth is revealed, everything makes sense. But one may wonder (vii) ____________ they could have solved it themselves. These stories are fun (viii) ____________ they make readers think till the very end. where why who though which when because whose if how Answer Q21 VI Combine the following pairs of sentences using the word given in brackets. One example has been done for you. 1. We gave him the signal. He was waiting for the signal. (that) Answer: We gave him the signal that he was waiting for. 2. We went to a place. The incident occurred there. (where) Answer Q22 3. Teacher said she would retire soon. She is now nearly sixty. (who) Answer Q23 4. It was the day. Half the class was absent. (when) Answer Q24 VII Now, follow these steps to transform the sentences given as examples from direct speech to indirect speech. Indirect Speech (i) Mrs. Brown asked ______________________________________________. (“What’s suspicious about that?” Mrs. Brown asked.) Answer Q25 (ii) Mrs. Brown questioned Leroy __________________________________. (“What do you make of the four words, Leroy?”) Answer Q26 (iii) Mrs. Brown inquired __________________________________________. (“Wasn’t he mixed up in a jewellery robbery a few years ago?”) Answer Q27 (iv) Mrs. Brown asked Chief Brown ________________________________. (“Didn’t you search Nolan’s house, dear?”) Answer Q28 (v) Mrs. Brown inquired ___________________________________________. (“Is there a young fir tree in Mr. Nolan’s palm-tree nursery?”) Answer Q29 VIII Rewrite the following sentences in Reported Speech. 1. “Why did you stop talking to me?” asked Rohan. Rohan questioned __________________________________________________. Answer Q30 2. “Did you enjoy the family gathering yesterday?” asked my aunt. My aunt asked ______________________________________________________. Answer Q31 3. “When will you visit us again?” asked my grandmother. My grandmother inquired _________________________________________. Answer Q32 4. Madavi said to Ravi, “Will you come with me to meet our old teacher tomorrow?” asked Madavi. Madavi asked Ravi __________________________________________________. Answer Q33 5. My friend said, “What gift are you planning to give your brother?” My friend inquired _________________________________________________. Answer Q34 6. “Shall I carry these notebooks to the staffroom, Ma’am?” asked Veenu. Veenu asked her teacher ____________________________________________. Answer Q35 IX Read the conversation between Aditi and Rahul. Aditi: Did you see anyone leave a package near the lift? Rahul: I noticed a man wearing a blue jacket drop it off. Aditi: What time did you see this happen? Rahul: It was around 6:45 p.m. Aditi: Were you able to see his face? Rahul: He wore a hood and so I couldn’t see his face. Complete the following paragraph by transforming the dialogue in indirect speech. Aditi asked Rahul 1. ___________________________________________________. Rahul replied that he had noticed a man wearing a blue jacket drop it off. Aditi asked Rahul 2. ___________________________________________________. Rahul replied that it had been around 6.45 p.m. Aditi further inquired 3. _______________________________________________. Rahul said that he had worn a hood, so he couldn’t see his face. Answer Q1 I You will listen to a podcast about ways of improving observation skills. As you listen, mark the statements 1–4 as true or false. (Transcript for teacher on page 151) 1. Observation skills help improve your common sense. 2. Rushing through tasks helps you focus better and observe more. 3. Taking notes or making sketches helps with what you observe. 4. Incorporating tips on observation skills will soon lead to success. Answer Q2 II You will once again listen to the podcast. As you listen, complete the given sentences by filling in the blanks with one to three exact words you hear. 1. It is important to slow down and ___________________ to notice several aspects around you more clearly. Answer Q3 2. The more senses like hearing and smelling you use, the more ___________________ you absorb. Answer Q4 3. People who are ___________________ tend to be better observers because they seek to understand what they notice. Answer Q5 4. When you make a note of things, it helps reinforce the ________________ in your memory. Answer Q6 5. Practising mindfulness helps a person stay ___________________ with their surroundings. Answer Q1 I Read the following words from the text loudly with the help of pronunciation guide given in brackets. jewellery (jool-ree) clerk (claak) dessert (dih-zuht)—a sweet dish Now, practise reading the following words. January (ja-nyoo-uh-ree) sour (sau-uh) pizza (peet-zaa) Wednesday (wenz-day) bowl (bol) buffet (buh-fay) pronunciation (pruh-nuhn-see-ay-shn) Answer Q2 II Work in groups of five or six. Conduct a group discussion on the topic, ‘The Interesting Aspects of a Mystery Story’. Answer Q1 I A report is written for an event that has already occurred. The purpose of a report is to provide first-hand details of an incident or event. It presents the information in a proper sequence. Read the sample report written about the ‘Inter-school Football Tournament’ organised by your Vidyalaya. Note the format, content, and language used. Now,as a member of the Art and Craft Club, write a report on an ‘Inter-school Art Exhibition’ organised by your school. Include the necessary details. Answer Q1 I Work in pairs. Read the words and observe the images given below. Check if your answers match. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. These are optical illusions which may trick the eye and make you think that you can see two different things. Answer Q2 II Read the steps to play a language game—Name the Mystery Object. 1. Divide the class into teams. 2. Each team chooses an object and prepares three hints to enable the other teams to name the object. 3. Each team takes turns to name the object given by the other team. 4. If a team names the object with the first hint, they get 20 points, with the second hint 10 points, and with the third hint 5 points. One example with three hints: (i) I display information for all to share, with a swipe I’m clean and bare. (ii) I am rectangular or a square, whom neither teacher nor student can spare. (iii) I am mostly black, sometimes green, now in white too I am seen. Answer Q3 III Visit the library and look for an encyclopedia. What is it? Check how it is different from a dictionary. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Answer Q4 IV A thesaurus is a reference book or digital tool that provides a collection of words with similar meanings, allowing users to find alternative words or phrases to express the same idea. Choose any five words and find out their alternative words from the thesaurus. Answer Q1 I Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. Mention a magical object that you would like to have. Give a reason for your choice. Answer Q2 2. What would you draw for yourself, if you had a magic paint brush? Why? Answer Q3 3. Would you use the magic paint brush to draw for someone else? If yes, why? If no, why not? Answer Q4 II Work in pairs. Discuss instances of acts of kindness that you have heard, read, or experienced. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Answer Q5 III Work in pairs and guess the meanings of the words given below and draw pictures depicting their meanings. Share with your classmates and teacher. paintbrush joy fortress feast fear winding twig bows drawing cold Now, arrange these words into different categories as given below. Things: ................................................................. Actions: ................................................................. Emotions: ................................................................. Answer Q1 I Arrange the events in order of occurrence in the poem. The last one has been marked for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. Gopi paints a bowl of khichdi, which becomes real and amazes the villagers. 2. The Zamindar orders Gopi to paint treasures for him. 3. Gopi is told to gather food but instead sits drawing pictures in the sand. 4. Gopi returns to the village with the Zamindar and his men chasing her. 5. The Zamindar throws Gopi into prison. 6. Gopi paints a road and a horse to escape. 7. Gopi uses the magic brush to paint useful items for the villagers. 8. Gopi paints a wide river, stopping the Zamindar and his men. 9. A man gives a magic brush to Gopi to paint only for the poor. 10. Gopi scares the Zamindar away, and celebrates with the villagers. 10 Answer Q2 II Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the box given below. triumphant and celebratory tension and suspense playful and innocent The tone of the poem shifts throughout, reflecting the different moods of the story. Initially, the tone is 1. _________________ as Gopi uses her imagination to draw in the sand, and later when the Zamindar enters the story, the tone shifts to one of 2. _________________. In the final part of the poem, the tone becomes 3. _________________ as Gopi escapes, the Zamindar is defeated, and the villagers rejoice. Answer Q3 III Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option from within the brackets. 1. The poem mostly follows a simple rhyme scheme, _________________, which adds a rhythmic flow. (ABCB, ABBA, ABAB) Answer Q4 2. This poem belongs to the _________________ poetry genre, which tells a story through verse. (descriptive, narrative or ballad, free style) Answer Q5 IV Give examples from the poem for the following explanations. 1. The poem is rich in imagery, creating clear pictures in the reader’s mind. For example, ___________________. Answer Q6 2. What is the effect of repetition in the line—‘On you, and you and you!’? Answer Q7 1. The magic paintbrush (i) greed and the desire for wealth Answer Q8 2. The grand fortress (ii) barriers to protect Gopi from the Zamindar’s anger Answer Q9 3. The river and the beast (iii) the power of art and imagination to change the world Answer Q10 VI Identify whether the following statement is true or false. While Gopi uses the magic brush to help others, the Zamindar wants to use it for personal gain. This contrast drives the moral of the story. Answer Q1 (i) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option from those given in the brackets. The man is whispering and telling Gopi to keep the brush a secret reflects his _______________________ (careful and secretive/magical and delightful) nature. Answer Q2 (ii) What is the significance of the man slipping the brush into Gopi’s hand? Answer Q3 (iii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason. The most likely reason the man instructs Gopi to ‘Paint not for wealthy ones but only for the poor’ is because he _______________________. Answer Q4 (iv) Select the most appropriate title for the extract from the two given below. A. The Magic Brush’s Secret B. Gopi’s Special Gift Answer Q5 (i) Complete the following sentence with the correct reason. The news of Gopi’s magic brush spreads ‘through forests, fields, and plains’ because of its _______________________. Answer Q6 (ii) Why does the poet refer to things painted by Gopi’s paintbrush as ‘magic gains’? Answer Q7 (iii) Which of the following statements given below is false? Rectify the false statement. A. Gopi’s magic brush draws the attention of the powerful Zamindar. B. The Zamindar requests Gopi to paint a grand fortress and jewels. Answer Q8 (iv) What does the Zamindar’s demand for a grand fortress and jewels reveal about his character? Answer Q9 II Answer the following questions. 1. Explain why Gopi made the right decision by refusing to paint for the Zamindar. Answer Q10 2. Gopi threatens to draw a beast to scare away the Zamindar. Justify her action. How would you have dealt with the situation differently? Answer Q11 3. What is the significance of Gopi celebrating with the villagers at the end of the poem? Answer Q12 4. Compare Gopi’s use of the magic brush to how the Zamindar would have used it. Answer Q13 5. What can be inferred about Gopi’s character based on her refusal to follow the Zamindar’s orders? Answer Q14 6. Justify the appropriateness of the title of the poem. Answer Q15 7. If you had the magic brush, how would you use it in today’s world? Answer Q1 1. His speech drew loud applause from the audience. (i) opened Answer Q2 2. The event will draw huge crowds from all neighbouring places. (ii) pulled out Answer Q3 3. Plants draw water from the soil. (iii) got a reaction Answer Q4 4. I reached the station when the train was drawing into the station. (iv) attract Answer Q5 5. The room was dark, so she drew the curtains to let the sunlight in. (v) moving Answer Q6 6. He drew a piece of paper from the folder. (vi) absorb Answer Q7 II Fill in the crossword. Clues have been given below. You will find the words in the poem. Across Down 2. the fastest pace of a horse 4. happen fast 7. speaks very softly 10. take hold of (something) and quickly remove it from its place 11. having a lot of money; rich 12. take hold of something suddenly and forcibly 1. runs away from a place 3. possessing a great deal of strength or power 5. a deep loud shout in pain or anger 6. to act according to rules 8. moved in a continuous flow in a specified direction 9. a win after overcoming an enemy Answer Q8 III There are certain expressions that convey a sudden feeling or reaction. They can be used to express a variety of emotions and thoughts. Example: ... he whispers. “Hush!” (‘Hush’ denotes the act of silencing someone) Now, match the expressions in Column 1 with what emotions or reactions they convey, in Column 2. Column 1 Column 2 1. Phew! (i) surprise 2. Eek! (ii) pain 3. Ouch! (iii) mistake 4. Yippee! (iv) attract attention 5. Whoa! (v) relief 6. Oops! (vi) delight 7. Hey! (vii) alarm Now, create sentences using any five expressions from Column 1. Answer Q1 I You will listen to five speakers speak about a magical power they wish for. As you listen, match statements 1–7 with speakers (i)–(v). There are two statements you do not need. (Transcript for teacher on page 152 ) Statements Speaker No. 1. Power of healing ailments 2. Ability to end poverty in the world 3. Power to control the weather as per need 4. Ability to make wise business decisions 5. Power to predict one’s own future clearly 6. Ability to remember information quickly 7. Power to move around without using vehicles Answer Q1 I Intonation is the rise and fall of the pitch of tone while speaking. The ‘falling’ tone is the fall in the pitch of the voice from a high level to a low level. It is marked [ ]. The falling tone is generally used in imperative sentences. Such sentences are used in speech for different communicative purposes— to express a command or an instruction, to ask for a favour or to give a warning. Read the following sentences from the text with the falling tone. • Come here! • Seize this magic brush… • Paint my fortress tall! • Go and fetch some rice. Answer Q2 II Work in pairs. Take turns to make requests for the following formal and informal situations. Formal Requests Situation 1 Situation 2 Situation 3 You request your teacher to organise a class picnic. You request your class teacher for an extra sports period, since you missed it last week. You request your Activity incharge teacher to include you in the upcoming inter-school event. Informal Requests Situation 1 Situation 2 Situation 3 You request your sibling to help you with the completion of your project. You request your mother to enroll you in a dance class. You request your cousin to come over to spend the weekend with you. You may use the following phrases when you make the request. Formal Informal • Would you mind if… • Do you think you could… • I would like to… • Would it be possible… • Can/Will you… • Do you mind if… • By any chance do you know… • I was wondering if… Answer Q1 II Complete the given checklist based on your observations and understanding of what an imaginative essay includes. Share the answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. Title — A relevant title 2. Introduction • Captivating opening sentence to catch the reader’s attention • Clear statement of the setting, situation, or main idea • Establishes the tone (e.g., playful, serious, and adventurous) • Introduces the narrator briefly (if applicable) 3. Setting and Context • Description of the setting to create a mental picture • Clear time frame (past, present, or future) • Brief explanation of any unique or imaginative elements (e.g., powers, fantasy world) 4. Characters • Main character introduced with unique traits • Supporting characters briefly described (if relevant) 5. Central Idea • Clear focus on a single powerful idea or narrative • Logical flow of events, even if the story involves imagination or fantasy 6. Language and Style • Use of sensory details (sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste) to enhance the narrative • Creative metaphors or similes to enrich descriptions 7. Resolution • Key turning point or moment of realisation • Resolution of the main idea • Clear takeaway message 8. Conclusion • Ends on a reflective or thought-provoking note • Summarises the main message or leaves the reader with a strong final impression Answer Q2 III Write an imaginative essay on any one of the following. 1. Imagine you were a scarf that flew away from a clothesline. Describe the places you travelled to and how you came back. Also write about what you thought was the most valuable experience. 2. Imagine you stumbled upon a magical book in the library. The book transported you to a different time period. Describe your experience and an important learning. Answer Q1 II Words can also play tricks. Read the riddles about things that seem to be unreal and find what they refer to. 1. I can fill a room, but I take up no space. I’m often heard, but never seen. What am I? 2. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? 3. I have cities but no houses, I have forests but no trees. What am I? 4. I’m tall when I’m young and short when I’m old, in a dark room, my story is told. Answer Q2 III You are asked to create a magical object. What object would you create? Make a drawing with all its details and mention its special quality on the same sheet. Put up the sheet on the display board. Answer Q1 I Look at the pictures given below and sort them into natural and man-made wonders. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Natural: ______, ______, ______, and ______ Man-made: ______, ______, ______, and ______ Answer Q2 II Which of these wonders—man-made or natural—are more appealing and why? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Answer Q3 III Work in pairs. Write down two wonders of nature that have amazed you. Discuss what makes them impressive. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Answer Q4 IV Work in groups of four. Complete the web chart given below with words that you associate with the phrase, ‘Nature’s Power’. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Nature’s Power Answer Q1 I Complete the information in the table given below. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Amazing Natural Phenomena Location One Unique Feature 1. The Valley of Flowers Chamoli district, Uttarakhand Around 600 species of exotic flowers 2. The Living Root Bridges 3. Buldhana district, Maharashtra 4. Magnetic Hills 5. Glowing Waters 6. West Bengal 7. Balasore district, Odisha Answer Q1 (i) Replace the underlined phrase with one from the extract. India is the birthplace of several rare species of flora and fauna that thrive in its diverse ecosystems. Answer Q2 (ii) What does the phrase ‘nature’s unusual side’ suggest about the phenomena described? Answer Q3 (iii) Complete the similarity by choosing the correct option. spark: imagination : : ______________ : ______________. A. inspiration; creativity B. wonder; amazement C. effort; reward D. knowledge; books Answer Q4 (iv) Identify whether the following statement is true or false. Some natural phenomena can surprise people. Answer Q5 (i) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason. The writer’s most likely purpose to introduce the information about the Chandipur Beach phenomenon with a question is to ____________________. (engage the reader’s curiosity and create a sense of suspense/draw the reader to learn more about the unusual phenomenon/set the tone for the surprising nature of the content that follows) Answer Q6 (ii) Select the option that is correct for both Assertion (A) and Reason (R). (A): Chandipur Beach in Odisha is known for its unique feature of the sea disappearing. (R): The tides retreat drastically, exposing the Chandipur beach. A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of(A). B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A). C. (A) is true, but (R) is false. D. (A) is false, but (R) is true. Answer Q7 (iii) What does the term ‘unique’ suggest about the beach in Balasore? A. very popular B. one of its kind C. ancient place D. far from city Answer Q8 (iv) What does the writer want to convey with the use of the phrase ‘playing hide-and-seek with its visitors’? Answer Q9 II Answer the following questions. 1. How are the living root bridges a boon for the local people of Meghalaya? Answer Q10 2. Why is the Lonar Crater Lake considered a remarkable and rare site? Answer Q11 3. What might be the writer’s purpose of highlighting the awe-inspiring natural wonders of India? Answer Q12 4. The writer uses descriptive language and introductory questions for some of the natural phenomena. What impact does it have on the readers? Answer Q13 5. Which of these unusual phenomena did you find the most interesting and why? Answer Q1 I Fill in the blanks with the correct expressions from the text given in the box below. came into existence to no end in full glory in disbelief to name a few age-old problem 1. I have read many stories _____________________. Answer Q2 2. Do you know when this little town _____________________? Answer Q3 3. His hard work has helped him _____________________. Answer Q4 4. There are no simple solutions to the _____________________ of traffic jams. Answer Q5 5. He opened the ancient wooden box and stared at the treasure _____________________. Answer Q6 6. The garden is _____________________ in spring with lots of beautiful flowers in bloom. Answer Q7 II Select the correct synonyms from the box given below that match the list of words in 1–5. You may refer to a thesaurus. colossal exotic serene enigmatic spectacular 1. mysterious, puzzling, baffling Answer Q8 2. mighty, gigantic, huge Answer Q9 3. breath-taking, stunning, awe-inspiring Answer Q10 4. peaceful, calm, tranquil Answer Q11 5. unusual, peculiar, foreign Answer Q12 III The expressions ‘hide-and-seek’ and ‘flora and fauna’ are used in the text. These are called binomials—a pair of fixed words joined by ‘and’ or ‘or’. The binomials are mostly synonyms, antonyms, rhyming words, same sound words (alliterations), etc. Match the binomials in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary. Column 1 Column 2 1. odds and ends (i) put different things together to get a range of possibilities 2. on and off (ii) complete part of or belong to 3. mix and match (iii) choose only the best (things, people, etc.) 4. all or nothing (iv) at some time in the future 5. part and parcel (v) sometimes, occasionally 6. pick and choose (vi) increase or develop very quickly 7. sooner or later (vii) small, unimportant things 8. leaps and bounds (viii) something to be done completely or not at all Use the binomials given in Column 1 in sentences of your own. Answer Q13 IV Study the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text. • The living root bridges are one of Meghalaya’s most beautiful… • …creating a striking visual contrast against the surrounding rugged terrain. In the given sentences, the highlighted words ‘living’, ‘striking’, and ‘rugged’ are examples of verbs used as adjectives. Such verbs are called participles. Participles are verb forms that can function as adjectives, and they come in two types: present participles (‘living’ and ‘striking’) usually ending in –ing, and past participles (‘rugged’) usually ending in -ed, -d, -t, -en, or –n. (though irregular verbs may vary) Present participles are used to describe ongoing or continuous actions. For example, People have seen these lights moving quickly in random directions but often hanging out in one spot for a while before fading. Past participles usually describe actions that have already been completed. For example, When the vehicles are parked at the indicated spot, they begin moving forward at a speed of almost 20km/h. Now, fill in the blanks using present participle or past participle form of the verbs in the box given below. stand amaze carve scatter glow 1. The _______________ marble monument looks even more spectacular in the moonlight. Answer Q14 2. The _______________ view of the Himalayas from Darjeeling attracts visitors from all over the world. Answer Q15 3. The Sun Temple in Konark features intricately _______________ stone wheels and walls. Answer Q16 4. _______________ at a height of 182 m, the Statue of Unity is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Answer Q17 5. The _______________ islands of the Andaman and Nicobar offer some of the cleanest beaches in India. Answer Q18 V Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentences. Write ‘G’ for gerunds and ‘P’ for participles in the space provided. One example has been done for you. 1. Dancing is a great way to express emotions. G 2. Travelling can broaden your perspective. 3. The falling leaves signalled the arrival of autumn. 4. She enjoys cooking new recipes for her family. 5. Reading helps improve your vocabulary. 6. He watched the shimmering stars in the night sky. 7. Forgetting the keys inside, Kanchan locked the door. Answer Q19 VI Combine the following pairs of sentences using participles or gerunds. You may use the clues given in brackets. One example has been done for you. 1. Nitesh entered the room. He saw his friend sitting in the corner. (participle) Entering the room, Nitesh saw his friend sitting in the corner. 2. Smitha walked carelessly. She slipped on the doormat. (participle) Answer Q20 3. Sleep for eight hours. It is good for health. (gerund) Answer Q21 4. Ranjith felt happy about the result. He called his parents. (participle) Answer Q22 5. Father encouraged Meena. Meena joined the course. (gerund) Answer Q1 I You will listen to a brother and sister discuss a natural phenomenon. As you listen, mark the four true statements from 1–6 given below. (Transcript for teacher on page 153) 1. The brother was taken aback to see the posted pictures. 2. The brother admitted to not knowing about his sister’s favourite picture. 3. The sister stated that the rainbow mountain was like any other mountain. 4. The brother was aware of the reason for the formation of colours on the mountain. 5. The brother was surprised to learn about the mountain being covered with snow till recently. 6. The sister understood nature’s role in the beauty of the mountain. Answer Q1 I Work in groups of four. Make a presentation on a place of interest in and around your region that people like to visit. You may use the following guidelines to make your presentation. Guidelines: 1. Slides 1–2: Choose any popular place of interest in your region. 2. Slides 3–4: Mention where it is located and how to reach there. 3. Slides 5–6: Describe the attractions of the place, why it is popular and explain its historical importance, if any. 4. Slides 7–8: List out weather conditions, local food, customs, and language. 5. Slides 9–10: Suggest the best time of the year to visit and why you recommend this place. Answer Q1 I You just read vivid descriptions of the natural wonders of our country. Write a descriptive essay for your school magazine describing anything from nature that attracted your attention. It may be an object, a place, or an event experienced by you. Remember to give a title to your essay. Use proper format and content organisation—begin with a title, include introduction (one paragraph), body (two to three paragraphs), and conclusion (one paragraph). Answer Q1 I Man-made Wonders 1. Kallanai Dam (The Grand Anaicut) in Tamil Nadu is one of the world’s oldest dams and is still in use. The Kallanai Dam represents a significant achievement in ancient Indian hydraulic engineering. It was built by the Chola King Karikala around 150 CE. 2. Another spectacular legacy of ancient wisdom that we have is the world’s first residential university at Nalanda in Bihar. Nalanda was established much before any European university, providing higher education to thousands of students. It was declared as a UNESCO heritage site in 1980. You may visit the site given below to know more about this. https://nalandauniv.edu.in/about-nalanda/history-and-revival/ 3. Hampi, a town in Karnataka, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Vittala Temple in Hampi was built in the 15th century. This temple has 56 special pillars known as the SaReGaMa pillars. When these pillars are tapped, they produce musical notes that can be heard clearly. 4. Some of the man-made wonders of modern India include the Bandra–Worli Sea Link in Mumbai; Statue of Unity in Gujarat; Bhupen Hazarika Setu (The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge) in Assam; and many more. Answer Q2 II Some micro-planktons in the sea are bioluminescent. Have you seen any other life form that has this quality? Identify the insect given below and find out what it is called in your language. Look out for it when you visit a field or a place with a wetland. Answer
Who solves the mystery in “The Case of the Fifth Word”?
A Chief Brown alone B Encyclopedia (Leroy) Brown, the boy detective C Mrs. Brown D The criminal Nolan
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