Solutions To NCERT Class 6 English – Poorvi Unit 1 Chapter 1 ‘A Bottle of Dew’

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Find Solutions to NCERT Class 6 English- Poorvi Unit 1 Chapter 1 ‘A Bottle of Dew’ here.

Let us do these activities before we read.

1. Circle the picture that matches with each word. Check your answers by sharing them with your classmates and teacher.

Answer:

2. Answer these questions and discuss them with your classmates and teacher.

(a) Think of a time when you worked hard. What did you do then?
Answer:
A year ago, I planned to knit a blouse as a gift for my grandmother on her eightieth birthday. Her birthday was a month away when I started knitting and I thought that there was plenty of time for me to complete it. I chose a soft pink coloured yarn because it was my grandmother’s favourite colour. After the first two weeks I realised that I had only completed the back portion. The two front sides and sleeves were yet to be knitted. I realised then that unless I worked harder the woollen blouse would not be ready by her birthday.

So, I started knitting as fast as I could devoting as much time as possible after finishing my school work. Two days were left and I still had to finish one sleeve. I stayed up until midnight knitting furiously. Everyone was asleep while my knitting needles clicked away till I finished the last sleeve. But, in the morning I realised that I had dropped a stitch about ten rows down. My heart broke when I had to rip off those ten rows of painstaking knitting, carefully pick up all the stitches and knit those ten rows all over again. Thankfully it was a Saturday so I did not have to go to school and could finish the knitting. It took me all afternoon to stitch the blouse together and then fix the buttons. By evening it was ready to be gifted to my grandmother. I had finished it just in time for the party.

(b) How did it help you?
Answer:
Knitting the blouse made me realise how much patience it requires to make something from scratch. I learnt that I had to be consistent so that the knitting would be even. I picked up time management skills and realised that regularity and discipline were very important to accomplish any task.

(c) How did it make you feel?
Answer:
I was very excited to see my grandmother’s reaction when I gave her the hand knitted blouse. Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes as she clutched the blouse close to her heart. She was overwhelmed with emotion and so was I. Her happiness was the best reward I could ever hope to get.

Text book Page no 3

Let us discuss

1. What did Rama Natha believe?
Answer:
Rama Natha believed that a magic potion, which could transform any object into gold, really existed.

2. How did the sage help Rama Natha?
Answer:
The sage helped Rama Natha by setting him a task that seemed to be a way to create the magic potion. This task inspired Rama Natha to clear his land, cultivate banana plants and look after them diligently. So, by dint of his sheer hard work, Rama Nath created a banana plantation which generated wealth.

3. Do you think Rama Natha will be able to collect the dew? Give a reason.
Answer:
I think that Rama Natha will be able to collect the dew because he took the task set by the sage very seriously. He worked sincerely to grow the banana plants believing that if he collected five litres of dew, the sage would make him the magic potion which could turn anything to gold.

Text Book Page no 5

Let us discuss

1. Why was Rama Natha angry?
Answer:

Rama Natha was angry because he discovered that the magic potion which the sage handed him did not have the power to transform a copper vessel into gold. He was vexed that the six years of his life spent in collecting dew had been in vain. He felt betrayed.

2. How did Rama Natha and Madhumati create wealth?
Answer:
Rama Natha and Madhumati created wealth by planting many banana plants and diligently looking after them. Rama Natha tended the plants, while Madhumati sold the bananas in the market. Their combined efforts over time created a flourishing and profitable banana plantation.

Text Book Page no 6

Let us think and reflect

1. Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.
(a) He spent all his time learning about the magic potion. People cheated him often, promising to tell him about it, but he did not give up. His wife, Madhumati, was tired of this and also worried because she saw how much money Rama Natha was spending. She was sure that soon they would be without money.

(i) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.
Rama Natha did not ‘give up’ because _____________________.
Answer:
Rama Natha did not ‘give up’ because he was convinced that a magic potion, which could transform anything to gold existed, and he was obsessed with finding it.

(ii) Read the column which shows ‘what happened’ and write the correct outcome in the next column.

What happened	Outcome
a. People promised to tell Rama Natha about the magic potion.
b. Rama Natha was spending a lot of money.

Answer:

What happened	Outcome
a. People promised to tell Rama Natha about the magic potion.	He was frequently cheated by cunning people who took advantage of his gullible nature.
b. Rama Natha was spending a lot of money.	Madhumati was alarmed that their money would run out and they would be left penniless.

(iii) Write whether the following statements are True or False.

a. Madhumati was troubled about what her husband did.
b. Rama Natha was very happy digging his fields.
c. The sage wanted to show the right path to Rama Natha.

Answer:
a. Madhumati was troubled about what her husband did.   TRUE
b. Rama Natha was very happy digging his fields.                   FALSE
c. The sage wanted to show the right path to Rama Natha.  TRUE

(b) Carefully, he took the bottle to the sage. The sage smiled and muttered something over the water. Then he returned the bottle and said, “Try it
out.” Rama Natha sprinkled a few drops on a copper vessel and waited for it to turn to gold. To his surprise nothing happened!

(i) Choose the option that lists the events given below in the
correct order.
a. The sage smiled.

b. Rama Natha gave the bottle to the sage.

c. Rama Natha dropped a few drops of water on a copper vessel.

d. He said something in a low voice over the water.

e. Rama Natha waited to see if the magic worked.

1. a, e, d, b, c            
2. b, a, d, c, e
3. c, d, a, b, e
4. a, d, b, e, c

Answer:
The correct word order is 2. b, a, d, c, e:

b. Rama Natha gave the bottle to the sage.
a. The sage smiled.
d. He said something in a low voice over the water.
c. Rama Natha dropped a few drops of water on a copper vessel.
e. Rama Natha waited to see if the magic worked.

(ii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the lines given above.

Seeing that the plant had dried up, the gardener ____________ some water on it.
Answer:
Seeing that the plant had dried up, the gardener sprinkled some water on it.

(iii) How might Rama Natha have felt when nothing happened to the copper vessel?
Answer:
Rama Natha might have felt vexed and angry when nothing happened to the copper vessel. He most likely felt that all his efforts over the past six years had been in vain.

2. Answer the following questions.

(a) What did the sage ask Rama Natha to do to make the magic potion?

Answer:
The sage asked Rama Natha to plant banana plants and water them regularly. He instructed Rama Natha to collect the morning dew from the banana leaves during the winter with his own hands and store it in a bottle until he had five litres. 

(b) Why did the sage ask Rama Natha to do everything himself?
Answer:
The sage asked Rama Nath to do everything himself to ensure that he worked diligently and learnt the value of hard work and also how much could be achieved through hard work.

(c) How could Rama Natha have a big banana plantation after six years?
Answer:
Rama Natha could have a big banana plantation after six years by diligently planting and caring for his banana plants. His consistent efforts yielded results and he became the proud owner of a thriving banana plantation.

(d) How did the sage make Rama Natha believe that there is no magic potion?
Answer:
The sage made Rama Natha believe there is no magic potion by showing him the wealth in gold generated by virtue of his hard work on the plantation. He explained that the true source of their wealth was the hard work and dedication Rama Natha and Madhumati had invested into growing and selling bananas.

(e) Fill in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ table about Rama Natha.

Answer:

What he did before meeting the sage	What he did after meeting the sage
He spent all his time trying to learn all about the magic potion which he believed transformed objects into gold.	He cleared his land which had been lying idle for years and planted banana plants as advised by the sage.
He wasted a lot of money trying to learn the secret of the magic potion from people who tricked and cheated him.	He tended the banana plants and painstakingly collected the dew form banana leaves as suggested by the sage.

Text Book Page no 8

Let us learn

1. Read the following words from the story.

promised	spending	cheated	luck
remember	huge	difficult	market

Use the words correctly to complete the paragraph given below. There are two extra words in the box that you do not need.

There was a farmer who had a ________________ coconut plantation. He worked hard and did not depend on ________________. Every day was _______________ but he did not give up. One day, a man bought a bag of coconuts from him, and _________________ to pay him the money the next day. Days passed and the man did not pay him anything. The farmer felt__________________. About two months later, he met the same man and asked him about his money. The man said, “Oh! I had forgotten. Now, I______________ buying coconuts from you.” And he paid the money.

Answer:
There was a farmer who had a huge coconut plantation. He worked hard and did not depend on luck. Every day was difficult but he did not give up. One day, a man bought a bag of coconuts from him, and promised to pay him the money the next day. Days passed and the man did not pay him anything. The farmer felt cheated. About two months later, he met the same man and asked him about his money. The man said, “Oh! I had forgotten. Now, I remember buying coconuts from you.” And he paid the money.

2. Read the words from the story in Column A. Read the new words in Column B. Complete the meanings of the words given in Column B.
Meanings of some words are given.

Column A	Column B	Meaning of words in Column B
I	eye
your	You’re	Short form of ‘you are’
dew	due	Happening at some time in the future
son	sun
one	won	Past tense of win
ate	eight
see	sea

Answer:

Column A	Column B	Meaning of words in Column B
I	eye	Organ used for seeing
your	You’re	Short form of ‘you are’
dew	due	Happening at some time in the future
son	sun	The star round which the earth orbits
one	won	Past tense of ‘win’
ate	eight	A number that is one more than 7
see	sea	The great body of salt water that covers much of the earth

The words given in each row of the table above have the same sounds but different spellings and meanings. Such words are called homophones.

3. Choose four pairs of homophones from the table above, and for each pair write a sentence that uses both homophones in the same sentence.

Check your answers by sharing them with your teacher and classmates.

An example has been given below:

I ate eight bananas for breakfast today.

Answer:

1. I had an infection which made my right eye itch and water.
2. The dew evaporated fast due to the intensity of the sun rays.
3. We won only one of the hockey matches.
4. I could see the vast blue sea from my balcony in Goa.

4. Match the phrases in Column A with the phrases in Column B. Use the connecting words given in the middle column to make meaningful sentences.

Column A	Connecting Words	Column B
The children submitted their work (When?)	because     before     as soon as     as	the bell rang.
He did not want to try rock climbing (Why?)		there was a traffic jam.
The children ran towards the gate (When?)		the deadline.
Nitin was late to school today (Why?)		of his fear of heights.

Now, write the sentences in your notebook.

Answer:

1. The children submitted their work before the deadline.
2. He did not want to try rock climbing because of his fear of heights.
3. The children ran towards the gate as soon as the bell rang.
4. Nitin was late to school today as there was a traffic jam.

5. Here are two sentences with letter ‘b’. Read them slowly the first time. As you read them a few more times, read them faster each time.

Bunty bhaiya bought a big bunch of bananas.
A big bunch of bananas was bought by Bunty bhaiya.

Now, try to create a tongue twister on your own and share it with your peers.

Answer:
 She sails, she swims the salty seas,
 She swiftly spots the shimmering seals.

Text Book Page no 10

Let us listen

You will listen to what Madhumati does with the bananas in her plantation. As you listen, number the events in the correct order in which they happen. Write the number in the box beside each event.

(refer to page 36 for transcript)

Events	Sl no
(a) Gives two bananas to a boy who is hungry
(b) Meets her friend Kalawati in the market
(c) Visits her mother and gives her two dozen bananas
(d) Chooses to go home as only some bananas were left
(e) Visits her neighbour and gifts them a bunch of bananas
(f) Gives twelve bananas to her friend
(g) Goes to the market to sell the bananas

Answer:

Events	Sl no
(a) Gives two bananas to a boy who is hungry	6
(b) Meets her friend Kalawati in the market	3
(c) Visits her mother and gives her two dozen bananas	1
(d) Chooses to go home as only some bananas were left	5
(e) Visits her neighbour and gifts them a bunch of bananas	7
(f) Gives twelve bananas to her friend	4
(g) Goes to the market to sell the bananas	2

Text Book Page no 10

Let us Speak

1. Read aloud the following words from the story.

sage

promising

wisdom

trees

surprise

All these words have the letter ‘s’ in them. But the sound of letter ‘s’ is

not always the same.

• in sage and promising – the letter ‘s’ has a /s/ sound

• in wisdom – the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound

• in trees – the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound

• in surprise – the first letter ‘s’ has a /s/ sound and the second has a /z/ sound.

Now, speak each word clearly along with your teacher and classmates.

Your teacher will now say some words. Listen carefully to the sound of ‘s’. Write the sound next to the word.

beds

sand

clothes

sea

was

keys

bags

nose

• In beds     –   the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound
• In sand     –    the letter ‘s’ has a /s/ sound
• In clothes –   the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound
• In sea       –    the letter ‘s’ has a /s/ sound
• In was      –    the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound
• In keys     –    the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound
• In bags    –    the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound
• In nose   –     the letter ‘s’ has a /z/ sound

2. Discuss the following questions with a partner. You may use the hints given in brackets while speaking.

(a) What does hard work mean to you?

(It means … / It is something … / Well, you see … /What I mean is …

Answer:
It means always trying my best and not giving up until I attain my goal. It is something that takes time, patience and perseverance. Well, you see, hard work isn’t just about physical effort, it’s also about mental strength and being committed to my goal. What I mean is, hard work helps me become a better person and learn important lessons.

(b) Give three reasons why you think hard work is important.
(Firstly, I feel … because … / Secondly, I think … since … /Lastly, I believe … as … )
Answer:
Firstly, I feel hard work is important because it helps you to succeed.
Secondly, I think hard work helps you reach your goals since you do not give up till you attain them.  Lastly, I believe hard work is important as it teaches you to be disciplined and do your best.

(c) Share three ideas you would give to someone who needs to work hard.
(To begin with, it is important that … /Next, you could … / Finally, I think you should
Answer:
To begin with, it is important that you set clear and simple goals.
Next, you could make a plan and follow it to use your time effectively.
Finally, I think you should remain positive, motivated and remember why you are working hard.

Text Book Page no 12

Writing Exercise

1. Work in pairs to complete the description of a banana. You may take the help of the words given in brackets. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Now, use the information given in the picture to write eight sentences about a banana. Share your responses with your classmates and teacher.

Answer:

Eight sentences about a banana using the information provided:

Bananas are both healthy and tasty.
They are packed with vitamins and provide a lot of energy.
Bananas are sweet and have a creamy texture.
The peel is yellow, smooth, and easy to take off.
When you peel a banana, it releases a fresh, fruity scent.
Bananas are perfect for breakfast, snacks, and even dessert.
They contribute to keeping you fit and strong.
Many people enjoy eating bananas because they are both delicious and beneficial for health.

2. On the basis of the story ‘A Bottle of Dew’ develop a script with dialogues and enact it with expressions. Present it in the assembly or your classroom.

Answer:

Script Based on “A Bottle of Dew”

List of Characters:

Narrator

Rama Natha

Madhumati

Sage Mahipati

Scene 1: Rama Natha’s House

Narrator: (speaking to the audience) Rama Natha was the son of a rich landlord. His father left him large tracts of land when he died. But Rama Natha did not spend even one day looking after his land. Instead, he was obsessed with finding a magic potion that could turn any object into gold.

Rama Natha: (frantically pacing around) There must be a potion that can turn objects into gold. I have to find it soon!

Madhumati: (worriedly) Rama Natha, you are spending so much money on this wild goose chase. We will soon be left without any money!

Narrator: Despite being cheated many times; Rama Natha never gave up. One day, a famous sage named Mahipati came to their town.

Scene 2: Meeting the Sage

Rama Natha: (expectantly) Sage Mahipati, I have heard you know about a magic potion that can turn objects into gold. Is it true?

Sage Mahipati: (placidly) Yes, in my travels in the Himalayas, I heard about such a potion. But it is very difficult to make.

Rama Natha: (excitedly) Tell me, please! I will do anything to get it!

Sage Mahipati: (thoughtfully) You have to plant a banana plant and water it regularly with your hands. In winter, collect the morning dew from the leaves and store it in a bottle. When you have five litres of dew, bring it to me, and I will chant magic words to turn it into the potion.

Rama Natha: (worriedly) But winter is only for a few months. It will take me years to collect five litres of dew.

Sage Mahipati: (nodding) You can plant as many banana plants as you want. But remember, you must look after them yourself and collect the dew with your own hands.

Scene 3: Rama Natha’s Transformation

Narrator: Rama Natha went home and started cleaning his large fields, which had been lying fallow all these years. He planted rows and rows of banana plants and tended to them carefully.

Rama Natha: (working in the field) I must collect the dew myself to get the magic potion.

Madhumati: (cooperating) I will gather the bananas and sell them in the market.

Narrator: Over the years, they planted more banana plants and soon had a huge plantation. After six years, Rama Natha finally collected five litres of dew.

Scene 4: The Truth Disclosed

Narrator: Rama Natha took the bottle to the sage, who smiled and chanted something over the water.

Sage Mahipati: (handing the bottle back) Try it out.

Rama Natha: (agitatedly sprinkling the water on a copper vessel) Why isn’t it working? Why isn’t it turning into gold? This is cheating!

Sage Mahipati: (calmly calling Madhumati) Madhumati, please bring the box.

Madhumati: (opening a box filled with gold coins) Here it is.

Sage Mahipati: (to astonished Rama Natha) There is no magic potion that can turn things into gold. Your hard work on the plantation created this wealth. While you tended to the plants, your wife sold the fruits in the market. This is the result of your hard work, not magic. I had to trick you to make you understand.

Rama Natha: (realizing) I understand now. Hard work is the true magic. I will continue to work hard and take care of our plantation.

Narrator: And from that day on, Rama Natha worked even harder on his plantation, realizing the true value of hard work and dedication.

End of Play

Narrator: (addressing the audience) The moral of the story is that there are no shortcuts to success. Hard work and dedication are the true keys to achieving your goals.

Text Book Page no 12

Let us explore

Find out the varieties of bananas which are grown, cultivated, and eaten in different parts of India. You can find information about them from websites such as https://nhb.gov.in/pdf/fruits/banana/ban013.

Answer:

Here is a list of banana varieties grown, cultivated and eaten in different parts of India:

Dwarf Cavendish: Known for its high yield. It is widely grown in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

Robusta: Predominantly cultivated in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, popular for its robustness.

Nendran: Popular in Kerala, often used for making banana chips and snacks.

Poovan: Known for its unique flavour, commonly grown in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Rasthali: Prized for its taste, grown in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Red Banana: Distinguished by its reddish-purple skin, grown in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Karpuravalli (Karpooravalli): Known for its taste, primarily grown in Tamil Nadu.

Chakia: Cultivated in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Bhusawal Keli: Grown mainly in Maharashtra.

Monthan: A cooking banana, commonly grown in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Grand Naine: Similar to Dwarf Cavendish but larger, grown across many states including Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Basrai: Another variety similar to Dwarf Cavendish, popular in Maharashtra.

Pachanadan: Known for its high yield, grown in Tamil Nadu.

Safed Velchi: Grown in Maharashtra, known for its unique taste and aroma.

Lal Velchi: Another aromatic variety grown in Maharashtra.

Martaman: A dessert banana grown in West Bengal and Odisha.

Nyali: Popular in Gujarat and Maharashtra, known for its robustness.

Elakki Bale: Small, sweet bananas grown in Karnataka.

These varieties cater to different tastes and uses, from fresh consumption to cooking and making snacks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English- Poorvi Unit 1 Chapter 1 ‘A Bottle of Dew’