NCERT Class 6:Honey Suckle:Fair Play

 

Textual Questions and Exercises

 

Q1. Match the sentences under I with those under II.

I	II
1. Jumman and Algu were the best of friends.	3. In the absence of one, the other took care of his family.
2. Jumman’s aunt transferred her property to him.	4. The condition was that he would be responsible for her welfare.
3. The aunt decided to appeal to the panchayat.	2. She wanted justice.
4. Algu was unwilling to support the aunt.	5. The bond of friendship between him and Jumman was very strong.
5. Jumman was very happy to hear Algu’s name as head Panch.	1. He believed that his friend would never go against him.

 

Q2. Who says this to whom and why?

1. “My wife knows best how to run the house.”

 Ans. Jumman said this to his aunt because he was shameless and had grown tired of her. she had asked him for a monthly allowance to set up a separate kitchen, but he didn’t want to give her money.

 

2. “But is it right, my son, to keep mum and not say what you consider just and fair?”

Ans.Jumman’s aunt said this to Algu because she had gone to Algu for help, but Algu had politely refused her plea as he could not go against his firend, Jumman.

 

3. “What have you to say in your defence?”

 Ans. Algu said this to Jumman because he was made the head Panch by the aunt so he asked Jumman to say in his defence regarding his mistreatment of the aunt.

 

4. “I can’t pay you a penny for the wretched beast you sold me.”

Ans. Samjhu Sahu said this to Algu because Algu demanded payment for the bullock he had sold to Samjhu.

 

5. “Victory to the panchayat. This is justice.”

Ans. Algu said this over and over again in front of the village because he was happy that Jumman had not deviated from the path of justice in spite of the enmity between them.

 

Q3. “Then the situation changed.” What is being referred to?

Ans. The situation being referred to is Jumman and his family’s behaviour towards his aunt. Jumman’s aunt had transferred her property to him on the understanding that he would look after her. The arrangement worked well for a couple of years but after a couple of years, Jumman and his family grew tired of her. He became as indifferent to her and his wife too grudged even the little food that the old lady wanted everyday.

 

Q4. When Jumman’s aunt realised that she was not welcome in his house, what arrangement did she suggest?

 Ans. When Jumman’s aunt realised that she was not welcome in his house she suggested that Jumman should give her a monthly allowance so that she could set up a separate kitchen.

 

Q5. What was the villagers’ reaction when the aunt explained her case to them?

 Ans. When the aunt explained her case to the villagers, some sympathised with her, others laughed at her and a few others advised her to make it up with her nephew and his wife.

 

Q6. Why was Jumman happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch?

 Ans. Jumman was happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch because Algu was his best friend so he would never go against him.

 

Q7. “God lives in the heart of the Panch.” the aunt said. What did she mean?

 Ans. She meant that a Panch was always unbiased and would not kill his conscience for the sake of friendship. Everybody is equal before him. The justice delivered was the justice delivered by God.

 

Q8. What was Algu’s verdict as head Panch? How did Jumman take it?

 Ans. Algu’s verdict as head Panch was that Jumman had to pay his aunt a monthly allowance, or else the property would go back to her. Jumman felt betrayed and became Algu’s enemy.

 

Q9. Algu found himself in a tight spot. What was his problem?

 Ans. One of Algu’s fine pair of bullocks died, and he sold the other to Samjhu Sahu on the understanding that Sahu would pay the price of the bullock in a month’s time. The bullock died within a month and Sahu refused to pay Algu.

 

Q10. Why was Algu upset over Jumman’s nomination as head Panch?

 Ans. Algu was upset because he was his friend no more after Algu had given a verdict in favour of Jumman’s aunt. Jumman was Algu’s enemy and wanted revenge.

 

Q11. What was Jumman’s verdict as head Panch? How did Algu take it?

 Ans. Jumman’s verdict as head Panch was that that since the bullock did not suffer from any disability or disease when Sahu bought it, although the death was unfortunate Algu could not be blamed for it. Therefore, Sahu would have to pay Algu the price of the bullock. Algu could not contain his feelings on the verdict. He stood up and said loudly over and over again, “Victory to the panchayat. This is justice. God lives in the heart of the Panch.”

 

Q12. Which of the following sums up the story best?

(i) “I also know that you will not kill your conscience for the sake of friendship.”

(ii) “Let no one deviate from the path of justice and truth for friendship or enmity.”

(iii) “The voice of the Panch is the voice of God.”

Give a reason for your choice.

Ans. (ii) “Let no one deviate from the path of justice and truth for friendship or enmity.”

This sentence sums up the story best because both Algu and Jumman gave verdict without keeping any friendship nor enmity.

 

Working with Language

 

Q1. Replace the italicised portion of each sentence below with a suitable phrase from the box. Make necessary changes, wherever required.

 

look after	swallow	make it up	keep mum
go into	my heart sank	as ill luck would have it
a tight spot	take chances	ease one’s conscience

 

1. The best way to avoid an unnecessary argument is to remain silent.

Ans. The best way to avoid an argument is to keep mum.

 

2. Unfortunately, the train I was trying to catch was cancelled.

Ans. As ill luck would have it, the train I was trying to catch was cancelled.

 

3. He has been told not to take risks while driving a car through a crowded street.

Ans. He has been told not to take chances while driving a car through a crowded street.

 

4. The patient needs to be properly taken care of.

Ans. The patient needs to be properly looked after.

 

5. Why don’t the two of you end your quarrel by shaking hands?

Ans. Why don’t the two of you make it up by shaking hands?

 

6. I was in a difficult situation till my friends came to my rescue.

Ans. I was in a tight spot till my friends came to my rescue.

 

7. When I saw a pile of dirty dishes, I felt very disappointed.

Ans. When I saw a pile of dirty dishes, my heart sank.

 

8. I will examine the matter carefully before commenting on it.

Ans. I will go into the matter carefully before commenting on it.

 

9. They criticised him in the meeting but he accepted without protest all the criticism.

Ans. They criticised him in the meeting but he swallowed all the criticism.

 

10. It will free me from worry to know that I had done nothing wrong.

Ans.It will ease my conscience to know that I had done nothing wrong.

 

Q2. Look at the following phrases and their meanings. Use the phrases to fill in the blanks in the sentences given below.

Phrases	Meanings
1. set up	put in place or start
2.set aside	save or keep for a particular purpose
3.set down	write or record
4.set out	start on a journey
5.set in	begin and seem likely to continue

 

1. Why don’t you set down your ideas on paper?
2. A fund has been set up for the soldiers’ families.
3. We should set aside a little money every month.
4. You should buy some woolens before winter set in.
5. They set out on the last stage of their journey.