NCERT Solutions Class 6 English
Chapter 5: A Different Kind of School
Summary:
“A Different Kind of School” is a story about a school in a village where children learn under a tree. The chapter introduces readers to a school without walls or a building, where students sit under a large tree to study. The teacher, Mali, is dedicated to providing education to children despite the lack of resources. The story highlights the importance of education and the resilience of individuals who strive to make a difference in their communities.
Solutions:
WORKING WITH THE TEXT
A. Put these sentences from the story in the right
order and write them out in a paragraph. Don’t
refer to the text.
- l I shall be so glad when today is over.
- l Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess.
- l I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day — at least not much.
- l But being blind is so frightening.
- l Only you must tell me about things.
- l Let’s go for a little walk.
- l The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this.
Answer : Let’s go for a little walk. Only you must tell me about things. I shall be so glad when today is over. The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this. Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess. I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day — at least not much. But being blind is so frightening.
B. Answer the following questions
- Why do you think the writer visited Miss
Beam’s school? (1) - What was the ‘game’ that every child in the school had
to play? (9) - “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day…”
Complete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it
the hardest? (9, 11, 15) - What was the purpose of these special days? (5, 9)
Answer :
- Why do you think the writer visited Miss Beam’s school?
- The writer visited Miss Beam’s school to learn about its unique teaching methods and to see the special way the school taught children to be kind and thoughtful.
2. What was the ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play?
- The ‘game’ was that each child had to experience different kinds of disabilities for a day, like being blind, lame, deaf, injured, or dumb.
3. “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day…” Complete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it the hardest?
- “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day, and one dumb day.” The hardest day was the blind day because being blind was the most frightening and challenging as the children couldn’t see anything and had to rely completely on others for help.
4 . What was the purpose of these special days?
it themselves. This helped them become more thoughtful, kind, and responsible citizens.
The purpose of these special days was to teach the children to appreciate and understand misfortune by experiencing
A. Match the words and phrases with their meanings in the box below.
paragraph numbers
1.homesick (3)
2.practically (4)
3.it pains me (7)
4. appreciate (9)
5.thoughtless (10)
6.exercise (11)
7relief (13)
8.ghastly (14)
almost it hurts me terrible test the strength of understanding the difficulties wanting to be home a welcome change not very caring
Answer
- homesick (3)
- wanting to be home
2.practically (4)
- almost
3.it pains me (7)
- it hurts me
4.appreciate (9)
- understanding the difficulties
5.thoughtless (10)
- not very caring
6.exercise (11)
- test the strength of
7.relief (13)
- a welcome change
8.ghastly (14)
- terrible
B. Re-word these lines from the story:
1. I had heard a great deal about Miss Beam’s school.
2. Miss Beam was all that I had expected — middle-aged, full of
authority.
3. I went to the window which overlooked a large garden.
4. “We cannot bandage the children’s mouths, so they really have
to exercise their will-power.”
Answer-
B. Re-word these lines from the story:
- I had heard a lot about Miss Beam’s school.
- Miss Beam was exactly as I expected — middle-aged and authoritative.
- I went to the window that looked out onto a large garden.
- “We can’t cover the children’s mouths, so they really have to use their willpower.”
C. 1. Given below is a page from a dictionary. Look at it carefully
and
(i) find a word which means the same as ghastly. Write down
the word and its two meanings.
(ii) find a word meaning a part of the school year.
(iii) find a word that means examination.
test2 noun
an examination: I passed my driving test
today.
test tube noun small thin glass tube: We
put chemicals in test tubes in our chemistry
class.
text noun
1 the words used in a book
2 a few words from a book
textbook noun: A textbook is a book we
use to learn about something.
than
(used when we compare things, in
sentences like these): My brother is older
than me. Mary sings better than anyone
else in the class.
thank verb
to say we are grateful to someone: I
thanked her for the present she sent me.
Thank you for the present you sent me.
No, thank you, I don’t want any more tea.
thankful adjective very glad; grateful
thanks plural noun word used to show that
we are grateful: Thanks for helping me. It
was thanks to John (= because of him)
that we won the game.
that
1 (plural those) the one over there; the
one further away than this one: This is my
bowl; that bowl is yours.
2 (plural those) (used to point out someone
or something; used to mean the one known
or mentioned already): Did you bring that
photograph? We played football and after
that ( = next) we went home.
3 (used instead of who, whom)
term noun
1 a fixed length of time: He was made captain
of the football team for a term of one year.
2 a part of the school year: There are three
terms in a school year.
terms plural noun the things you are asking
for: If you agree to my terms—free meals and
good wages—I will work for you.
terrace noun
1 a level area cut out from the side of a hill
2 a flat area outside a house: We sat on the
terrace in the evening.
3 a row of houses joined together
terraced adjective: a terraced house
terrible adjective
1 causing fear: We saw a terrible storm.
2 very bad: Your writing is terrible.
terribly adverb: It is terribly ( = very) hot.
terrify verb
(present participle terrifying, past terrified)
to fill with fear: The animals were terrified
by the storm.
terror noun (no plural)
great fear: a feeling of terror
territory noun
(plural territories)
1 land ruled by one government: This island
is British territory.
2 an area belonging to one person or animal:
Wild animals will not allow other animals to
enter their territory.
test verb
1 to look at something to see if it is correct
or will work properly: Before he bought the
car, he drove it to test it.
2 to ask someone questions: The teacher
tested the children on their homework.
Answers
(i) Find a word which means the same as ghastly. Write down the word and its two meanings.
- Terrible
- Causing fear: We saw a terrible storm.
- Very bad: Your writing is terrible.
(ii) Find a word meaning a part of the school year.
- Term
- A part of the school year: There are three terms in a school year.
(iii) Find a word that means examination.
- Test
- An examination: I passed my driving test today.
2. Now make lists of
(i) all the words on the page (plus any more that you can
think of) that begin with terr-:
(ii) five words that may follow the last word on the page, that.
(iii) write down your own meaning of the word thank. Then
write down the meaning given in the dictionary.
Answer–
(i) All the words on the page (plus any more that you can think of) that begin with terr-:
- Terrace
- Terraced
- Terrible
- Terribly
- Terrify
- Terrifying
- Terror
- Territory
- Terrific (additional word)
- Terrarium (additional word)
(ii) Five words that may follow the last word on the page, that:
- Theater
- Theme
- Theory
- Therapy
- Thermometer
(iii) Meanings of the word “thank”:
- My own meaning:
- To express gratitude or appreciation to someone for something they have done.
- Dictionary meaning:
- To say we are grateful to someone: I thanked her for the present she sent me.
D . A poem for you to read
All but Blind*
All but blind
In his chambered hole
Gropes for worms
The four-clawed Mole.
All but blind
In the evening sky
The hooded Bat
Twirls softly by.
All but blind
In the burning day
The Barn Owl blunders
On her way.
And blind as are
These three to me,
So, blind to Someone
I must be.
WALTER DE LA MARE
Answer
read the poem
B. Look at your hands carefully. Now, write down for each finger one
action for which that finger is particularly important. For example,
the second (or index) finger helps to hold the knife down firmly
when cutting.
Answer
- Thumb
- Essential for gripping and holding objects firmly. For example, the thumb is crucial when holding a pen or grasping a doorknob.
2.Index (Second) Finger
- Important for pointing and precise actions. It helps to hold the knife down firmly when cutting.
3.Middle (Third) Finger
- Provides balance and strength when gripping objects. It is often used to apply extra pressure when pressing buttons or using tools.
4.Ring (Fourth) Finger
- Vital for tasks that require a stable grip. It helps to hold objects like a steering wheel or a cup securely.
5.Little (Fifth) Finger
- Adds extra strength and stability to the grip. It is useful for holding smaller objects and providing support when typing or playing musical instruments like the piano.