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Let us do these activities before we read.
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I Close your eyes and quietly listen to the sounds around you for a minute.
1. Are they trying to tell you something?Yes, the sounds of nature often feel like they are trying to communicate with us. The rustling leaves and chirping birds tell us about the wind and the life around us. -
2. Do you think the things around you also listen to you all day long?
Yes, it feels like the natural environment around us listens and reacts to our presence, creating a silent bond.
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II Jahnavi was a bright young girl who lived with her parents and three brothers in a coastal village in India. Her parents worked on the farm. She had a dream.
1. What could that dream be?Her dream could be to go to school, learn to read, and find answers to the many questions she had about the world. -
2. How could she make her dream come true?
She could make her dream come true by gathering courage, expressing her desire to study, and taking a bold step like sitting in a classroom to listen and learn.
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3. What is your dream? What can you do to make your dream come true?
My dream is to become a teacher. I can make it come true by studying hard, attending school regularly, and never giving up on my goals.
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Let us discuss
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1. What was Jahnavi's dream? Was it important to her? Why?
Jahnavi's dream was to go to school and learn to read like her brothers Ettan and Meena. Yes, it was very important to her because she had a deeply curious mind and wanted to understand how nature works, like why spiders are yellow in yellow flowers or why baby fish turn into frogs.
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2. Do you think the river can help her in fulfilling her dream? How?
Yes, the River can help her by providing encouragement and guidance. The River advises her to slip into the school one morning and just sit and listen, giving her the courage to take the first step towards her dream.
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Let us discuss
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Complete the table given below with Jahnavi's questions in Column 1 and the River's answers in Column 2. Check your answers with the teacher.
Column 1 Column 2 ...why the moon always comes from behind the hills...? It goes down towards the sea. I've seen; it always takes the same way-over mountains and down to the sea, like me! Can I do something? little girls can do as much as little boys. What are ships? Big boats, so big that they can take hundreds of people, and they sail along the sea with lights that shine all night. Will they come here? I'm afraid not. Too large, you know.
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Let us think and reflect
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I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. "You shouldn't cry, you know," the voice went on. "And you really shouldn't be scared, when you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day." She was puzzled. It was such a voice, like the river. It couldn't be the river! "Well, tell me all about it," said the River, for it was the River. "I've got to hurry to reach the sea, you know."
(i) Complete the sentence with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The tone of the River in the given extract is assuring (assuring/sympathising)
(ii) Select a phrase from the extract which shows that Jahnavi was a frequent visitor to the spot."coming here to see me every day, well, almost every day"
(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
The use of an exclamation mark at the end of the line, 'It couldn't be the river!' expressesAnswer: D. disbelief
(iv) Choose three qualities of the River highlighted in the extract from the words in the box given below. (affectionate, forgiving, thoughtful, impatient, kind-hearted)affectionate, thoughtful, kind-hearted -
2. "Can I do something?" asked Jahnavi. "Well, it's up to you," said the River. "Seems to me little girls can do as much as little boys-they swim as fast as little boys. You just slip along one morning and sit there in the school and listen to what's going on, and maybe the teacher will let you stay."
"I couldn't," gasped Jahnavi. "I couldn't! They'd scare me! They'd chase me out."
(i) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
According to the River, there was no difference between girls and boys because little girls can do as much as little boys and they swim as fast as little boys.
(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The River encourages Jahnavi to have faith in herself and fulfill her desire to go to school.Statement Ans The River encourages Jahnavi to have faith in herself and fulfill her desire to go to school. True
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(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
When the River suggests that Jahnavi should 'slip along', it means that she should moveAnswer: C. quietly
(iv) What does the repetition of the phrase I couldn't, tell us?It tells us about Jahnavi's extreme fear, hesitation, and lack of confidence in attending school. -
II Answer the following questions.
1. Why does the writer describe different aspects of nature in great detail at the beginning of the story? Why do you think the writer does this?The writer describes nature in great detail to show Jahnavi's close connection and deep bond with her natural surroundings. It establishes a calm and magical setting where the River can peacefully 'speak' to her. -
2. How did the River know so much about Jahnavi?
The River knew so much about Jahnavi because she had been coming to the river's edge almost every day, allowing the River to observe her actions and emotions.
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3. Jahnavi says, "And I'm so old now, they'll never let me go." What can you infer about Jahnavi and the school from this line?
We can infer that Jahnavi is around ten years old and feels she has missed the correct age to start school. It shows that older children who haven't started early might feel intimidated or discouraged from beginning their education.
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4. Why did the River laugh when Jahnavi said she would be scared at school?
The River laughed because Jahnavi was brave enough not to be afraid of the green lizard, the snake in the bamboo clump, or the big rattling trains, yet she was scared of a simple school.
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5. Why should Jahnavi follow the River's advice?
She should follow the River's advice because the River provides a practical, encouraging solution to help her conquer her fears and take the first step toward fulfilling her dream of learning.
Let us learn
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I You have learnt that naming words are called nouns and only proper nouns begin with a capital letter. Why has the author used a capital letter for the 'River' even when it is a common noun?
The author used a capital letter for the 'River' because it has been personified and given the qualities of a human being, acting as a distinct character who speaks and interacts with Jahnavi.
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II There are a few words related to sound in the text. Pick the words from the text and write them next to the correct definition.
1. made a high-pitched piercing sound: shrieked
2. to cause liquid to strike or fall on something: splashed
3. a low continuous background noise: murmuring
4. cry with loud uncontrollable gasps: sob
5. to make a soft dry sound, like paper or leaves moving: rustle
6. took a short quick breath through the mouth due to surprise, pain or shock: gasped
7. shaking rapidly to make continuous short, sharp sounds: rattling
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8. making a lot of noise
noisy
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9. made a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadness
wailed
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Now, fill in the blanks with suitable sound words from exercise (II).
The classroom grew (i) quiet as the students noticed the teacher carrying the answer papers. As the teacher turned the pages with a (ii) rustle, the children (iii) murmured wondering what comments awaited. Someone (iv) gasped in frustration, and the (v) murmuring of the students steadily increased. Finally, when the teacher praised the students for their excellent performance, the students (vi) shrieked with excitement.
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III The word 'catamaran' is used in the text. The word originates from Tamil language 'kattu maram' meaning 'tied wood'. Find out the meanings of these words. From which Indian language these words were borrowed.
1. karma (Sanskrit): destiny or action
2. sahib (Arabic/Urdu): a polite title or form of address for a man
3. chutney (Hindi): a spicy condiment made of fruits or vegetables
4. guru (Sanskrit): a spiritual teacher or expert
5. verandah (Hindi/Portuguese): a roofed platform along the outside of a house
6. jungle (Sanskrit/Hindi): an area of land overgrown with dense forest
7. areca (Malayalam/Kannada): a type of palm tree
8. palanquin (Sanskrit/Odia): a covered litter for one passenger -
IV Chandu, the fisherman, has a catamaran that the River preferred to a ship. Given below are some boats that are used in different parts of our country. (1. canoe, 2. catamaran, 3. coracle, 4. shikara)
(i) Which one would you like to travel in?I would like to travel in a shikara to enjoy a peaceful ride on a lake.
(ii) Make a colourful drawing of a boat that you would like to travel in.(Students should draw and colour their preferred boat here.)
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V Solve the crossword puzzle based on words related to water transport.
Across:
1. SHIP (a large vessel used for transporting goods or passengers by sea)
2. MOTORBOAT (a small vessel for travelling on water, typically propelled by oars, sails, or an engine)
3. RAFT (a flat floating structure for travelling across water)
4. STEAMER (a boat or ship driven by steam)
Down:
5. CANOE (a small, light, narrow boat, pointed at both ends and moved using a paddle)
6. TUGBOAT (a boat with a powerful engine which can change direction easily and is used to pull large ships into and out of port)
7. YACHT (a boat with sails and sometimes an engine, used for either racing or travelling for pleasure, rhymes with 'cot')
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Now, fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions given within the brackets.
Jahnavi takes the River's advice and goes to school. On her first day 1. at (at/in/on) school, Jahnavi stood nervously 2. outside (in/outside/above) the gate, clutching her bag close to her. The bell rang and she hurried 3. inside (outside/through/inside) the bustling classroom. She found a seat 4. between (among/between/from) two friendly classmates. The teacher greeted them warmly and started the lesson 5. about (about/in/for) numbers. Jahnavi listened attentively, feeling excited 6. about (at/about/for) the new adventure ahead.
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VII Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs.
1. The cat jumped off the table. (preposition)
2. The children played outside until dark. (adverb)
3. She quickly ran across the park. (preposition)
4. The helicopter was hovering above. (adverb)
5. We were just walking around chatting. (adverb)
6. After thoroughly wiping his shoes, he stepped inside. (adverb)
7. She drove slowly around the sharp curve. (preposition)
8. He placed the keys on the mat before leaving. (preposition)
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Let us listen
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I Read the words given in the box below. You will listen to five people speak about school life. As you listen, circle the words that are used by the speakers. There are two words you do not need.
The words used by the speakers are: careers, homemaker, books. (The words you do not need are determined by the transcript provided to the teacher).
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II You will once again listen to the five speakers. As you listen, match each statement 1-7 to each speaker (i)-(v). There are two statements that you do not need.
Statements Speaker No. 1. Promotes active participation for all in school activities (v) 2. Comments on how school makes learning Mathematics joyful Not used 3. Believes in the power of education that leads to freedom of choice (i) 4. Shares that school also means companionship (iv) 5. Understands that boys and girls have different abilities Not used 6. Persuades the parent to grant permission to attend school (ii) 7. Believes that learning skills is not gender-based (iii)
