NCERT Solutions

Comprehension Check

(NCERT Page 89)

1.What did Nishad gave Mr Nath? Why?

Ans. Nishad gave Mr Nath a bar of chocolate because he concluded from Mr Nath’s lean thin appearance that he was starving.

2.What is ‘strange’ about Mr Nath’s Sundays?

Ans. Every Sunday Mr Nath used to have the same visitor at this home and the two used to have lunch together.

3.Why did Nishad and Maya get a holiday?

Ans. It was raining heavily and the streets were flooded with the downpour. The traffic was blocked and the children got a holiday because of all this. 

Working with the Text

(NCERT Page 93)

1.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

Ans.

  • Mr Nath used to eat two chapattis, some dal and a vegetable.
  • He used to eat in the morning and evening.
  • He used to drink tea in morning and afternoon.
  • He used to pay in cash and also used to give tips to Ramesh.

2.Why does Maya think Mr Nath is a crook? Who does she say the Sunday visitor is?

Ans. Maya thinks that Mr Nath is a crook because he doesn’t talk to anyone and has no friends. She believes that his scars are result of shoot-out with police.

He doesn’t work anywhere and sits at home all the day and there are no visitors at his place except the Sunday morning guest.

He is not bothered about his meals and pays the money in cash. She thinks that the Sunday visitor is his partner in the crime. He keeps the money from the loot and comes to give Mr Nath his share.

3.Does Nishad agree with Maya about Mr Nath? How does he feel about him?

Ans. No, Nishad doesn’t agree with Maya about Mr Nath. He feels bad for Mr Nath because he thinks that he is a poor and lonely man.

He also feels that he is a generous man because he gives tips to Ramesh regularly. He is determined to find why he is so thin and lonely.

Working with Language

(NCERT Page 93)

1.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 bucket – the ends of one’s fingers

(iv) have something on the tip of your tongue – give a rupee to him, 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 tipped off – the bat lightly touched 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

Ans.

(i) Finger tips – the ends of one’s fingers

(ii) The tip of your nose – the pointed end of your nose

(iii) Tip the water out of the bucket – empty a bucket by tilting it

(iv) Have something on the tip of your tongue – be about to say something

(v) Tip the boat over – make the boat overturn

(vi) Tip him a rupee – give a rupee to him to thank him

(vii) The tip of the bat – the end of the bat

(viii) The police were tipped off – the police were told or warned

(ix)) If you take my tip – if you take my advice

(x) The bat tipped the ball – the bat lightly touched the ball

2.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 dog.

(v) the thief’s ……………………….

(vi) find a good ……………………….

(vii) tennis / golf / bridge ……………………….

(vii) his ………………………. in his criminal activities.

Ans.

(i) partner                                                     (ii) companion

(iii) helper                                                     (iv) companion

(v) accomplice                                             (vi) helper

(vii) partner                                                  (viii) accomplice

3.Now let us look at the uses of the word break. Match the word with its meanings below. Try to find out 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 to break – it began or burst into activity

(iv) Her voice broke and she cried – the beginning of daylight

(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)

Ans.

(i) The storm broke – this kind of weather ended

(ii) Daybreak – the beginning of daylight

(iii) His voice is beginning to break – changing as he grows up

(iv) Her voice broke and she cried – could not speak, was too sad to speak

(v) The heat wave broke – it began or burst into activity

(vi) Broke the bad news – gently told someone the bad news

(vii) Break a strike – end it by making the workers submit

(viii) Breakdown – a machine failure

Speaking (NCERT Page 95)

1.Play detectives with each other. Find a person in your class (or some other acquaintance) to speak to.  Find out the answers to the questions given below. Be careful to ask your questions in a polite and inoffensive way. Do not force the person to answer you. Then allow the person to ask you the same questions.

(i) Name?

(ii) What newspaper or magazine does the person read?

(iii) How long has the person lived at the current address?

(iv) What does she/he do during the day, i.e. the daily routine?

(v) What do neighbours and friends say about the person?

(vi) Who are his/her visitors and what are his/her eating habits? (You can ask a few other questions about this.)

(vii) What do you think about the person?

Ans. Please try it yourself.

Writing (NCERT Pages 95 and 96)

1.Who do you think Mr Nath is? Write a paragraph or two about him.

Ans. Mr Nath is a lean and thin person. He might have met with some serious accident with fire which has resulted in many scars on his face. People are scared about him for those scars which give his face an ugly impression.

He realises the same and that is why he prefers living along and avoids going out. He talks less, but is a well-mannered person and is polite towards everyone.

He is regularly consulting Maya and Nishad’s mother, who is a doctor. May be he is not keeping well and that could be the reason behind his gaunt appearance.

He has a brother who visits him every Sunday to find out about his health. Mr Nishad is not much interested about nitty-gritty’s of life and prefer eating same simple food daily.

2.What else do you think Nishad and Maya will find out about him? How? Will they ever be friends? Think about these questions and write a paragraph or two to continue the story.

Ans. Nishad and Maya would have found out that the Sunday visitor is Mr Nath’s brother. Mr Nath used to work for a big private company and has left the job for while because he was not keeping well.

He is suffering from some liver ailment and will be undergoing a surgery soon.

Nishad succeeds in befriending him and goes to his house every evening to play with him. He finds Mr Nath a caring and loving person.

He becomes a frequent visitor to his place. Maya regrets about her earlier thoughts about Mr Nath.

She feels sorry about it. Nishad takes her along one day and the they all become friends.

3.Conducting a Survey

Step I Study the following questionnaire and discuss the points in small groups.

A home is a place where Yes No Don’t know
You feel secure and happy
You can be alone
You can bring up a family
You can invite friends/relatives.
You can make a noise if you want to.
You can do whatever you like.
You are at peace.
You can look after your parents
You receive and give love.

Step II Collect information. Contact people in the school / your locality and put these questions to them. Tick Mark (ü) their answers in the relevant column.

Step III Analyse the results in the group by asking.

  • How many people think that home is place where you feel secure and happy?
  • How many people think that a home isn’t a place where you feel secure and happy?
  • How many don’t know about it?

Step IV Present a brief oral report on the result of your survey. Use phrases such as following

  • Most people think that …..
  • Few people think that …..
  • Hardly anyone thinks that …..
  • No one thinks that ….

Ans. Try it yourself.