The word ‘tip’ has only three letters but many meanings. Match the word with its meanings below.
(i) finger tips – be about to say something
(ii) the tip of your nose – make the boat overturn
(iii) tip the water out of – the ends of one’s fingers the bucket
(iv) have something on – give a rupee to him, the tip of your tongue to thank him
(v) tip the boat over – empty a bucket by tilting it
(vi) tip him a rupee – the pointed end of your nose
(vii) the tip of the bat – if you take this advice
(viii) the police were – the bat lightly touched tipped off the ball
(ix) if you take my tip – the end of the bat
(x) the bat tipped the ball – the police were told, or warned
(i) finger tips – be about to say something
(ii) the tip of your nose. – make the boat overturn
(iii) tip the water out of. – the ends of one’s fingers the bucket
(iv) have something o – give a rupee to him, to thank him the tip of your tongue
(v) tip the boat over. – empty a bucket by tilting it
(vi) tip him a rupee – the pointed end of your nose
(vii) the tip of the bat. – if you take this advice
(viii) the police were. – the bat lightly touched the ball tipped off the ball
(ix) if you take my tip. – the end of the bat
(x) the bat tipped the ball – the police were told, or warned
Why does Maya think Mr Nath is a crook? Who does she say the Sunday visitor is?
Now let us look at the uses of the word break. Match the word with its meanings below. Try to find at least three other ways in which to use the word.
(i) The storm broke – could not speak; was too sad to speak
(ii) daybreak – this kind of weather ended
(iii) His voice is beginning – it began or burst to break into activity
(iv) Her voice broke and – the beginning of daylight she cried
(v) The heat wave broke – changing as he grows up
(vi) broke the bad news – end it by making the workers submit
(vii) break a strike – gently told someone the bad news
(viii) (Find your own expression. Give its meaning here.)
What did Nishad give Mr Nath? Why?
What does Nishad find out about Mr Nath from Ramesh? Arrange the information as suggested below.
• What he eats
• When he eats
• What he drinks, and when
• How he pays
The words helper, companion, partner and accomplice have very similar meanings, but each word is typically used in certain phrases. Can you fill in the blanks below with the most commonly used words? A dictionary may help you.
(i) business
(ii) my on the journey
(iii) I’m mother’s little .
(iv) a faithful such as a dog
(v) the thief’s
(vi) find a good
(vii) tennis/ golf / bridge
(viii) his in his criminal activities
What is “strange” about Mr Nath’s Sundays?
Why did Nishad and Maya get a holiday?
Does Nishad agree with Maya about Mr Nath? How does he feel about him?
Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?
What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu inthe backyard
What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a bootmaker?
Why did the king want no more talk about the hilsa-fish?
Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom
(i) to fetch wise men.
(ii) to find answers to the questions.
(iii) to look for the wise hermit.
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Mark your choice.
How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?
What did the king ask Gopal to do to prove that he was clever?
Mark the right item.
(i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog
(a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work.
(b) as if it was their own baby.
(c) as they were kind to all living beings.
(ii) When the old couple became rich, they
(a) gave the dog better food.
(b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast.
(c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make
(a) rice pastry and bean sauce.
(b) magic ash to win rewards.
(c) a pile of gold.
Why was the king advised to go to magicians?
Ravi has a lot to say about M.P.Poonai. This shows that (i) he is merely trying to impress Mridu. (ii) his knowledge of history is sound. (iii) he has a rich imagination. (iv) he is an intelligent child.Which of these statements do you agree/disagree to?
(i) Who was the bearded man?
(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness?
What suggestions were made in answer to the third question?
Find out the meaning of the following words by looking them up in the dictionary. Then use them in sentences of your own.
challenge mystic comical
courtier smearing
Mark the right item.
(i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog
(a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work.
(b) as if it was their own baby.
(c) as they were kind to all living beings.
(ii) When the old couple became rich, they
(a) gave the dog better food.
(b) invited their greedy neighbours to a feast.
(c) lived comfortably and were generous towards their poor neighbours.
(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mill and the mortar to make
(a) rice pastry and bean sauce.
(b) magic ash to win rewards.
(c) a pile of gold.
Walking towards the kitchen with Mridu and Meena, Rukku Manni began to laugh. What made her laugh?
Speak to five adults in your neighbourhood. Ask them the following questions (in any language they are comfortable in). Then come back and share your findings with the class.
(i) Do they buy their provisions packed in plastic packets at a big store, or loose, from a smaller store near their house?
(ii) Where do they buy their footwear? Do they buy branded footwear, or footwear made locally? What reasons do they have for their preference?
(iii) Do they buy ready-made clothes, or buy cloth and get their clothes stitched by a tailor? Which do they think is better?
Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king. Begin like this: One day I was digging in my garden. A man in ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the king...