Incorporating DAV Class 4 English Reader Book Solutions Pdf Chapter 3 Wit and Humour into study routines can lead to better overall language proficiency.
My English Reader Class 4 DAV Solutions Unit 3 Wit and Humour
DAV Class 4 English Reader Book Solutions Unit 3 Wit and Humour
Introduction:
Here are some pictures of little Nitin taken from the family album. Choose suitable words from the given box to indicate the expressions. [Textbook Page 41]
Answer:
(i) Crying;
(ii) Laughing;
(iii) Angry;
(iv) Sad;
(v) Worrying
See and Smile! [Textbook Page 42]
Say it yourself. [ Textbook Page 42]
I do doctor, but I cannot wait. I need immediate treatment.
Now complete the boy’s dialogue and tell it to your teacher. It should be something funny and interesting so that it makes others laugh.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
A
A.1. Read the story given below
The Rich Lady and the Artist [Textbook Pages 43-44]
Summary of the Story
There was a rich old lady. One day she asked an artist to paint her portrait. The artist worked hard on the portrait for many days. Finally the portrait was ready and the lady was invited to the artist’s studio.
The old lady came to the studio with her dog whom she considered the cleverest animal in the world. The lady showed her portrait to the dog but the animal showed no interest. The rich lady refused to take the portrait saying that her portrait did not look like her and therefore her dog could not recognise her in the portrait.
The artist was a wise man. He did not argue and requested the lady to come the next day. When the lady had gone, the artist rubbed the portrait with a juicy piece of meat. The next day, the lady visited the studio again with her dog. This time the dog licked the portrait with great interest. The lady became happy and paid a big amount to the artist. Thus, he was rewarded for his cleverness.
Summary in Hindi
एक धनी बूढ़ी महिला थी। एक दिन उसने एक चित्रकार से अपनी तस्वीर बनाने को कहा। चित्रकार ने तस्वीर पर कई दिनों तक कड़ी मेहनत की। जब तस्वीर बिल्कुल तैयार हो गयी तो उस बूढ़ी महिला को स्टूडियो बुलाया गया।
बूढ़ी महिला अपने कुत्ते के साथ स्टूडियो पहुँची। वह अपने कुत्ते को संसार का सबसे चालाक जानवर मानती थी। उसने अपनी तस्वीर कुत्ते को दिखाई लेकिन उसने (कुत्ते ने) तस्वीर में कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं ली। महिला ने अपनी तस्वीर लेने से इंकार कर दिया। उसने कहा कि तस्वीर उससे मिलती-जुलती नहीं है; इसी कारण उसका कुत्ता उसे पहचान नहीं पाया।
चित्रकार एक होशियार व्यक्ति था। उसने कोई बहस नहीं की और महिला से दूसरे दिन आने का अनुरोध किया। जब महिला चली गई तो चित्रकार ने उस तस्वीर पर रसीला मांस का टुकड़ा रगड़ दिया। दूसरे दिन वह महिला फिर अपने कुत्ते के साथ स्टूडियो आई। इस बार कुत्ते ने तस्वीर को चाटना शुरु कर दिया। महिला खुश हो गई और उसने चित्रकार को मेहनताना के रूप में एक बड़ी राशि दी। इस प्रकार चित्रकार अपनी होशियारी के लिए पुरस्कृत हुआ।
Word – Meanings:
Well-known = famous – विख्यात,
Portrait = a photograph of a person – तस्वीर,
Wealthy = rich – धनी,
Recognise = identify – पहचानना,
Worldly = related to the world – संसार से संबंधित,
Wisdom = the quality of being wise – बुद्धि,
Strange = unusual – विचित्र,
Argue = to speak angrily to somebody – गुस्से में बात करना,
Studio = workroom of a painter – चित्रकार के काम करने का कमरा,
Lick = to move tongue over eatables – चाटना,
Wagged = made the tail move – पूँछ हिलाना,
Wrap = to cover something in paper – कागज में लपेटना,
Hearty = loud and cheerful – तहे दिल से,
Rubbed = move hand backward and forward over a surface – रगड़ना।
A.2. On the basis of your reading of the story, complete the following:
(i) The rich lady asked the artist to __________.
Answer:
paint her portrait.
(ii) The lady refused to take the portrait as __________.
Answer:
her dog did not show interest in it.
(iii) The artist did not argue with the lady because __________.
Answer:
he knew about the strange ways of wealthy people.
(iv) The artist made Tommy lick the portrait by __________.
Answer:
rubbing it with a juicy piece of meat.
A.3. Answer the following questions:
(i) Why did the artist laugh after the lady had left the studio?
Answer:
The artist was a clever guy. He knew how to deal with wealthy people. He
laughed on his cleverness after the lady had left the studio. Very cleverly he made the lady’s dog lick her portrait by rubbing it with a juicy piece of meat.
(ii) The lady admires her dog for its cleverness. Do you think the dog was really clever?
Answer:
No, I don’t think that the dog was clever. Had the artist not rubbed the portrait with a piece of meat, the dog again would have showed no interest in the portrait.
(iii) The lady was foolish. Justify the statement with evidence from the story.
Answer:
The lady believed that her dog was the cleverest animal in the world. This shows that she was foolish. Again she could not understand the artist’s trick and paid him a big price for the portrait.
(iv) How was the artist rewarded for his cleverness?
Answer:
The artist played a trick on the foolish lady. He made her dog lick the portrait by rubbing a juicy peace of meat on it. The lady could not understand this trick and paid him a big price for the portrait. In this way, he was rewarded for his cleverness.
A.4. Tick (✓) the correct answers.
(i) The old lady was very fond of her dog because she thought—
(a) it was very good looking.
(b) it was a good companion.
(c) it was the cleverest animal in the world.
Answer:
(c) it was the cleverest animal in the world.
(ii) The lady refused to take the portrait the first time because—
(a) she looked ugly in it.
(b) her dog showed no interest in it.
(c) the artist was rude to her.
Answer:
(b) her dog showed no interest in it.
(iii) The artist did not argue with the lady because—
(a) he did not know how to talk.
(b) he was scared of the lady.
(c) he was a worldly-wise man.
Answer:
(c) he was a worldly-wise man.
A.5. Complete the table using words from the box. Work in pairs and see who can do it first. One has been done for you as an example.
Answer:
| (i) clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| (ii) little | less | least |
| (iii) bad | worse | worst |
| (iv) good | better | best |
| (v) fat | fatter | fattest |
| (vi) near | nearer | nearest |
A.6. Complete the following sentences with words from the boxes. One has been done for you as an example.
(i) An artist uses a brush to paint pictures.
(ii) A __________ uses __________ to __________ his boat.
Answer:
boatman, oars, row
(iii) A __________ uses a piece of __________ to __________ on the blackboard.
Answer:
teacher, chalk, write
(iv) A __________ uses a __________ to __________ your temperature.
Answer:
doctor, thermometer, take.
A.7. The following words have been taken from the story. Their opposites are given in the pot. Find them out and write in the appropriate spaces. One has been done for you. [Textbook Page 47]
(i) laugh __________
Answer:
cry
(ii) old __________
Answer:
young
(iii) beautiful __________
Answer:
ugly
(iv) wealthy __________
Answer:
poor
(v) clever __________
Answer:
foolish
A.8. Complete the table with words from the story to make meaningful phrases. One has been done for you as an example.
Answer:
| Describing Words | Naming Words | Phrases |
| old | lady | an old lady |
| clever | artist | a clever artist |
| wealthy | lady | a wealthy lady |
| big | price | a big price |
| juicy | piece of meat | a juicy piece of meat |
A.9. Get into pairs. With the help of the given hints, complete the crossword puzzle by filling in appropriate words. [Textbook Page 48]
Hints:
(i) work room of a painter.
(ii) person who practises any one of the fine arts, especially painting.
(iii) a painted picture of a person.
(iv) unusual; surprising.
(v) make the tail move.
Answer:
(i) Studio
(ii) Artist
(iii) Portrait
(iv) Strange
(v)Wag
A.10. Life Skills
Do you appreciate the artist for his cleverness? Can you narrate any incident/story where the cleverness of a person got him reward?
Answer:
Yes, I appreciate the artist for his cleverness. I can narrate the story of ‘The Capseller and the Monkeys’ where the cleverness of the capseller saved him from being ruined. The story goes on—
Once a capseller went to a village to sell caps. On the way, he took rest under a shady tree keeping the bundle of caps beside him. Some monkeys lived in that tree. Seeing the capseller fast asleep, they all climbed down and took away the caps. They wore the caps on their head and began to enjoy time. The capseller woke up after sometime. He found his caps missing. Soon his eyes fell on the monkeys who were jumping from this branch to that wearing his caps. The capseller was a clever guy. He knew that monkeys imitate. So, he took off his own cap and threw it down on the ground. The monkeys did the same. The capseller picked all the caps and went on his way.
Thus, he was rewarded for his cleverness.
A.11. Value Based Question
Is cleverness a positive virtue or a negative quality? Discuss citing reasons.
Answer:
Being a clever means being intelligent, both positively and negatively. Sometimes one uses one’s intelligence to cheat the other. Here, he applies his negative intelligence which is a negative quality. It cannot be appreciated and promoted. But if he applies his intelligence and uses his tricks to benefit others or to do good to others, his cleverness becomes a positive virtue, because the tricks he uses doesn’t harm anyone.
A.12. Imagine that the rich lady of the story is your aunt. She has written to you how she decided to purchase her portrait. Would you appreciate her purchase? Write a letter to your aunt expressing your feelings in the space provided.
Answer:
40-C
Vikas Nagar
Mumbai
4th October 20XX
My dear Aunt
I have got your letter. I am not happy with the purchase you have done. Why did you involve your dog in this matter? A dog is, after all, an animal. How can it show interest in a portrait, even though it is yours? You had gone to a well- known artist who made your portrait with all accuracy. You should take it immediately and pay its price. In fact, you did a mistake by refusing to take it. So far I think, the artist is a clever guy. He must have played a trick on you and to take advantage of your foolishness. The portrait that he showed you the first time and one that he showed you the next time was the same. But you could not understand his trick and paid him a big price. By the way, we cannot do anything now. So, be happy and hang the portrait on the wall.
I am coming soon to you with my parents.
Rest is fine. Take care.
Yours lovingly
Abhinav
Additional Questions:
Question 1.
What was the old lady’s belief about her pet dog?
Answer:
She believed that her pet dog was the cleverest little animal in the entire world.
Question 2.
What did the dog do when the lady showed her portrait to it for the first time?
Answer:
The dog showed no interest in the portrait. It turned away its face from the portrait.
Question 3.
How did the lady react when her dog showed no interest in her portrait?
Answer:
The lady didn’t take the portrait saying that it didn’t look like her at all. Even her clever dog could not recognise her in the portrait.
Question 4.
How can you say that the artist was a man of worldly wisdom?
Answer:
The artist didn’t argue the wealthy lady. He simply requested her to come the next day and assured her that he would make the portrait look so real that her dog would lick it.
Question 5.
What did the artist do to the portrait? Why?
Answer:
He rubbed the portrait with a juicy piece of meat to make the dog lick it.
Question 6.
How did the rich lady react this time?
Answer:
She became very happy and gave the artist a big amount.
B
B.1. Listen to the poem ‘Curious Town’ as given in tape script and complete B.2.
Listen to the audio CD titled Listen & Comprehend (Class-IV). After listening, answer the questions verbally. Thereafter, complete the given questions. The script is also given on page no. 64.
B.2. The poet calls it a curious town because the following things are curious there, for one reason or the other. Write under each figure one strange behaviour of each. [Textbook Page 50]
Answer:
- The kitten barks.
- The puppy mews.
- The frog climbs up a tree.
- The river flows with fire and volcano is packed with dew.
- The man walks with four legs.
- The boat goes moving over the rocks.
B.3. Work in pairs. Find the words that rhyme with the following:
(i) hue __________
Answer:
mew
(ii) way __________
Answer:
today
(iii) roar __________
Answer:
four
(iv) grain __________
Answer:
train
B.4. Unscramble the words given in Column I and write them in Column n. Match the words you get with their descriptions in Column m. One is done for you.
Answer:
| I | II | III |
| (i) kcor | rock | a very large stone |
| (ii) wmaiob | rainbow | forms in the sky after rainfall |
| (iii) tboa | boat | a small vessel for travelling in water |
| (iv) ownt | town | a small city |
B.5. Match the animals with their sounds. [Textbook Page 51]
Answer:
(i) – c
(ii) – d
(iii) – b
(iv) – a.
B.6. Look at this picture carefully and find out five funny things about it. Write five sentences in the space given.
Answer:
See the picture on Textbook Page 52.
- The frog is flying in the sky with the help of feathers.
- The tree is upside down.
- The man is headless and playing with a ball.
- The dog has got horns and tail like a cow/buffalo.
- The shape of the sun is square.
C
C.1. Do you know some kings or their ministers who were famous for their wisdom and cleverness? Discuss with your partner and write their names.
Answer:
(i) Emperor Akbar and his minister Birbal.
(ii) King Krishnadeva Raya and his minister Tenaliram.
C.2. Here is an interesting play about Birbal, which shows his great sense of wit and humour. Read and act the play in the class.
The Foolish Men [Textbook Pages 54 – 57]
Summary of the Play
Once Emperor Akbar asked Birbal to bring five most foolish men in the city of Agra. Birbal agreed to do so and went out in search of them. He first saw a man lying on his back in a puddle of water, his arms stretched wide above his head. When Birbal asked him why he was not trying to stand up using his hands, the man answered that he couldn’t do that because he would lose the measurement of the length of cloth his wife wanted. Birbal held the man by his hair and set him on his feet. He told him to follow him.
On the way, Birbal met another man who was carrying a bundle of straw on his head while riding a horse. When he asked him why he was carrying straw on his head, the man answered that his horse was very old and very weak. It might die with heavy loads. Now Birbal had two foolish men. Soon he met the third one who had lost his diamond ring somewhere in the darkness but was looking for it under a street light.
Birbal brought the three foolish men to Akbar and told him that he had judged them to be foolish from their actions. But Akbar was not happy because he had asked Birbal to bring five most foolish men, not three. At this, Birbal told the Emperor that the last two most foolish men in Agra were he (Akbar) and himself. Birbal called Akbar and himself foolish because Akbar had set him such a foolish task and he (Birbal) foolishly had carried out his (Akbar’s) orders.
Summary in Hindi
एक बार सम्राट अकबर ने बीरबल से आगरा के पाँच सबसे मूर्ख व्यक्तियों को लाने के लिए कहा।
बीरबल सम्राट के हुक्म का पालन करते हुए पाँच मूर्ख व्यक्तियों की खोज में निकल पड़ा। सबसे पहले उसकी नजर एक ऐसे व्यक्ति पर पड़ी जो अपने दोनों हाथों को ऊपर फैलाए पानी में पीठ के सहारे पड़ा हुआ था। जब बीरबल ने उससे पूछा कि वह अपने हाथों की मदद से खड़ा होने का प्रयास क्यों नहीं कर रहा है तो उस आदमी ने जवाब दिया कि वह ऐसा नहीं कर सकता है क्योंकि इससे वह कपड़े की लंबाई का माप भूल जाएगा जो उसे अपनी पत्नी के लिए खरीदना है। बीरबल ने उस आदमी का बाल पकड़कर उसे खड़ा कर दिया। बीरबल ने उसको अपने साथ चलने को भी कहा।
रास्ते में बीरबल एक दूसरे आदमी से मिला। वह अपने सिर पर पुआल का गठ्ठर उठाए घोड़े की सवारी कर रहा था। जब बीरबल ने उससे पूछा कि वह गठुर को सिर पर क्यों उठाए हुए हैं, तो उस आदमी ने जवाब दिया कि उसका घोड़ा बहुत बूढ़ा और कमजोर है। अधिक भार उठाने से वह मर भी सकता है। अब बीरबल के पास दो मूर्ख व्यक्ति हो गए। बहुत जल्दी उसे तीसरा मूर्ख व्यक्ति भी मिल गया। उस व्यक्ति ने अपनी हीरे की अंगूठी को कहीं अंधेरे में खो दिया था लेकिन उसकी खोज स्ट्रीट लाइट की रौशनी में कर रहा था।
बीरबल ने तीनों मूर्ख व्यक्तियों को अकबर के पास लाया और उनसे कहा कि उसने इन व्यक्तिों की हरकतों के कारण उन्हें मूर्ख घोषित किया है। लेकिन अकबर खुश नहीं था। क्योंकि उसने तो बीरबल से पाँच मूर्ख व्यक्तियों को लाने को कहा था न कि तीन इस पर बीरबल ने सम्राट से कहा कि दो मूर्ख व्यक्ति सम्राट और वह स्वयं है। बीरबल ने अकबर और खुद को मूर्ख इसलिए कहा क्योंकि सम्राट ने उसे ऐसा मूर्खतापूर्ण कार्य सौंपा और उसने मूर्खतापूर्ण रूप से सम्राट के आदेश का पालन किया।
Word-Meanings:
Wit = the ability to say or write things that are both clever and amusing – हाजिरजवाबी,
Humour = the ability to laugh at things that are amusing – परिहास, विनोद,
Puddle = water lying in hollow place – डबरा,
Stretched = extended – पहिला हुआ,
Fellow – man = आदमी,
Straw = dried stems – पुआल,
Wander = to move here and there – घूमना,
Spot = a particular place – एक खास जगह,
Certainly = without doubt – निश्चित रूप से
C.3. On the basis of your reading of the story, complete the following:
(i) Once Emperor Akbar asked Birbal to __________.
Answer:
bring five most foolish men in the city of Agra
(ii) Birbal agreed to do so and went out in search of __________.
Answer:
five most foolish men in Agra.
(iii) When Birbal asked the first man why he was not using his hands, the man answered that he __________.
Answer:
if he changed the position of his hands, he would lose the measurement of the length of cloth his wife wanted
(iv) On the way, he met another man who was __________ while riding a horse.
Answer:
carrying a bundle of straw on his hand while riding a horse
(v) He asked him why he was carrying straw on his head. The second man answered that __________.
Answer:
his horse was very old and very weak
(vi) The third foolish man was searching __________ under a street light.
Answer:
his diamond ring (lost somewhere in darkness) under a street light
(vii) According to Birbal, the last two most foolish men in Agra were __________ and __________.
Answer:
the Emperor and himself
(viii) Birbal calls Akbar and himself foolish because __________.
Answer:
he (Akbar) set him such a foolish task and he (Birbal) foolishly carried out his words.
C.4. Under Column ‘A’ below, you will find some words from the play and under Column ‘B’ their meanings. Match the meanings and the words.
Answer:
| (i) puddle | a small pool of water, especially rainwater |
| (ii) bundle | a collection of things tied together |
| (iii) spot | a particular place or area |
| (iv) certainly | without doubt |
| (v) measurement | length and width, etc., found by measuring |
C.5. Read the extract and answer the questions given below. [Textbook Page 55]
(i) What is the third man looking for?
Answer:
The third man is looking for his diamond ring.
(ii) Where has he lost the ring?
Answer:
He has lost the ring somewhere in the darkness.
(iii) How do you know that he is foolish?
Answer:
He has lost his diamond ring somewhere in the darkness but is looking for it under a street light.
C.6. Life Skills
‘A pinch of humour and a dash of wit makes life sweet as sugar’. Do you agree? Discuss with examples. How does wit and humour make life easier?
Answer:
Wit and humour has its own place in life. By using it we laugh ourselves and make those people laugh who are around us. We can enjoy each and every moment of life by using wit and humour. So, be witty and humorous and live life happily. A sense of humour enlivens life. It works as a medicine.
C.7. Speak the word ‘length’.
The letter ‘g’ is silent. When the word ‘length’ is spoken, the ‘g’ sound is not uttered.
Now speak the following words. Circle the silent letter or letters in each of these words.
Answer:
C.8. Work in pairs. Read the questions and their funny answers. [Textbook Page 60]
Question : Why are cooks cruel?
Answer : Because they beat eggs and whip the cream.
Question : What was the first thing Akbar did
after he ascended the throne?
Answer : He sat on it.
Now make some more questions of your own and ask your partner to answer them.
Answer:
Question: Who is stronger—Rohan or Shyam?
Answer: No one but I.
Question: Where does Shahrukh Khan live?
Answer: In his home.
Question: Why are you shedding tears?
Answer: Because there is no water.
C.9. Read what Sweety says about Anuj. [Textbook Page 60]
Do you know any boy or girl in your class who is witty and humorous like Anuj? Write one incident which tells us about his or her wit and humour.
Answer:
My little sister is very witty. One day, my father said, “Why do you sleep in the examination hall? She answered promptly, ‘If a question is difficult to answer, I don’t waste my time. Instead I go to sleep.’
C.10. Read the following clues carefully and then write a story in your note book. Give a suitable title to your story. [Textbook Page 61]
Answer:
Once there was a jester at a king’s court. He entertained the royal couple and the nobles with his wit and humour. One day he committed a grave mistake. The king became very angry and awarded him death sentence. The jester prayed the king for his forgiveness. The courtiers too made requests to the king to show his mercy to the jester. But the king did not listen to anyone. Arrangements were made to hang the jester. Before hanging he was asked to choose the mode of death. The jester replied quickly that he wanted to die of old age. The king laughed at his (jester’s) wit and granted his prayer.
Title of the story—Wit Can Save Life.
Additional Questions:
Question 1.
What task did Akbar assign to Birbal?
Answer:
The emperor asked Birbal to find the five most foolish men in the city of Agra.
Question 2.
What did the man lying in the puddle of water say when asked by Birbal why he didn’t stand up using hands?
Answer:
He said that he couldn’t use his hands. If he changed the position of his hands, he would lose the measurement of the length of cloth his wife wanted.
Question 3.
How did Birbal set him on his feet?
Answer:
Birbal set him on his feet by holding his hair.
Question 4.
How can you say that the second man was also foolish?
Answer:
The second man was also a foolish guy because he was carrying a bundle of straw on head while riding a horse.
Question 5.
How did Birbal judge the three men to be foolish?
Answer:
He judged them to be foolish from their actions.
D
Read it yourself
Clever Fox [Textbook Pages 62 – 63]
Answer:
For self reading.