Dreams and Discoveries
Lesson 1: My Brother’s Great Invention (Prose)
Before the Text
Q1. I am a concept invented by ancient Indian mathematicians. Without me, modern calculations would be impossible. Who am I?
Ans. Zero.
Q2. I am an ancient Indian practice, now popular worldwide. I focus on physical and mental well-being. What am I?
Ans. Yoga.
Q3. What would the world be like without inventions and discoveries?
Ans. Life would be difficult and limited; we wouldn’t have electricity, transport, medicine, or communication.
Q4. Fill the grid with qualities of an inventor.
Ans. Creative, Curious, Determined, Imaginative, Innovative, Risk-taking.
Let Us Discuss
Q1. Complete the cause-and-effect table.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Anand set up his burglar alarm to work when the door opened softly. | Papa was soaked and got angry. |
| Anita avoided responsibility. | Anand alone faced consequences. |
| They watched Back to the Future. | Anand was inspired to make a time machine. |
| Papa said “NO” to the time machine. | Anand felt crestfallen but still believed in it. |
Q2. Did Anand keep his promise not to use the time machine?
Ans. No. He tried to use it secretly when his parents went out.
Q3. Arrange events in correct order.
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Anita wakes Anand, hearing someone at the door.
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The door swings open; Boppa enters.
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Anand misleads Boppa into his room.
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Strange noises come from the time machine.
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Mrs. Sharma, her husband, and Dr. Mohan unlock the door.
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Boppa disappears; only his green scarf is found.
Let Us Think and Reflect
Extract 1
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When Anita says “let me put you in the picture,” what does she mean?
Ans. She wants to introduce the situation to the readers. -
What does “tinkering” mean?
Ans. Dismantling and creating or improving gadgets. -
Which trait suits Anand best?
Ans. Creative and experimental. -
Compare Anita’s view of Anand with his own view.
Ans. Anita thinks Anand is bothersome and careless. Anand thinks he is a scientist and genius.
Extract 2
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Why was Anita angry with Anand?
Ans. Because he misled the thief into his own room. -
Which action shows Anand’s presence of mind?
Ans. Diverting the thief to buy time to think of a plan. -
Cause of strange noises?
Ans. Anand’s time machine getting activated. -
Atmosphere of the scene?
Ans. C. Tense and suspenseful.
Character Traits Table
| Character | Traits | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anand | Bothersome | Gets on Papa’s nerves with inventions. |
| Anand | Creative | Loves tinkering with gadgets. |
| Anand | Confident | Says, “Nothing will go wrong this time.” |
| Anita | Responsible | “We’re old enough to look after ourselves.” |
| Anita | Curious | “But how does the alarm know…?” |
| Anita | Careful | “Now clean up this mess before anyone gets home.” |
Onomatopoeia Matching
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Crash → sudden loud sound of breaking
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Humming → continuous low and soothing sound
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Hissed → whispered angrily
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Hammering, sawing, clattering → constant loud construction noises
Comprehension Qs
Q1. What prompted Anand to create the burglar alarm?
Ans. A series of thefts in the colony.
Q2. How did Papa become the target of the alarm?
Ans. He opened the door softly, which triggered the alarm.
Q3. How did family react to Anand’s inventions?
Ans. Papa got angry, Ma felt concerned, Anita was cautious, but Anand remained confident.
Q4. How was Anand during inventing binges?
Ans. Restless, noisy, and careless, dismantling household items.
Q5. Why did Mr. Sharma not believe Anand?
Ans. Because time machines seemed imaginary and impossible.
Q6. What might have happened to Boppa?
Ans. Either he escaped unnoticed or was transported by the time machine.
Lesson 2: Paper Boats (Rabindranath Tagore – Poem)
Q1. Complete the summary.
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Stream
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Village
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Strange
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Shiuli
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Night
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Clouds
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Float
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Dreams
Q2. Theme of the poem?
Ans. Innocence, imagination, playfulness. (Option iv: 1, 2, 4)
Q3. The setting is a natural, outdoor environment. True or False?
Ans. True.
Q4. Tone and mood?
Ans. Gentle and wishful; Thoughtful.
Q5. Examples of alliteration.
Ans. “Blooms of the dawn,” “Fairies of sleep.”
Q6. Fill in blanks.
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Repetition: “Day by day” and “one by one.”
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Imagery: “White bulging sails” and “midnight stars.”
Think and Reflect
Q1. Why does the poet write his personal details?
Ans. So strangers who find the boats may know him.
Q2. How does the poet show child’s imagination?
Ans. By imagining clouds as playmates and fairies sailing his boats.
Q3. How does imagination and reality mix?
Ans. The real paper boats float on the stream; imagination makes them carry flowers, dreams, and fairies.
Lesson 3: North, South, East, West (Travel Postcards – C.G. Salamander)
Table of Shaana’s Travels
| Place | Activities / Description |
|---|---|
| Thajiwas Glacier, Kashmir | White and blue ice, snowball fights. |
| Himachal Pradesh | Birds chirping, mountains, bears (or Appa’s snoring!). |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Thick forests, treehouse, hope to see red pandas. |
| Sundarbans, West Bengal | Wetlands, mangroves, crocodiles, snake, flooding. |
| Gujarat (Desert) | Hot, colourful clothes, surprise test. |
| Narmada River | Rafting adventure, fast scary waters. |
| Goa | Plateaus, hills, tunnels, beaches. |
| Chennai & Puducherry | Surfing, rough waves. |
| Olaikaadu Beach | Diving, collecting pebbles. |
Think and Reflect
Q1. Why was Amma sad about Sundarbans?
Ans. Because frequent floods affected the land and people.
Q2. Which line shows Shaana’s nervousness?
Ans. “I hope crocodiles and the lonely snake don’t follow us home.”
Q3. Assertion/Reason about missing friends.
Ans. A. Both are true, and reason correctly explains assertion.
Q4. Feeling when Shaana says “I never knew such a place existed”?
Ans. D. Wonder.
Q5. Why did Shaana stay awake in Goa?
Ans. She loved looking out at the plateaus.
Q6. Change in attitude towards tunnels?
Ans. From fear to comfort (Option A).
Q7. What do her observations on snow and flooding show?
Ans. Signs of climate change and environmental concerns.
Q8. What does her travel show about India?
Ans. Diversity of landscapes – glaciers, deserts, wetlands, plateaus, beaches.
Q9. What might Shaana have learnt from her travels?
Ans. Curiosity, respect for nature, geography of India, and cultural diversity.
Q10. Why presented as postcards?
Ans. To make it personal, lively, and show a child’s voice.
Summary
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My Brother’s Great Invention – Anand’s failed burglar alarm and time machine bring humour and suspense, showing creativity and risks of inventions.
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Paper Boats – Tagore celebrates childhood imagination, innocence, and the blending of dreams with reality.
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North, South, East, West – Shaana’s postcards highlight India’s geographical and cultural diversity through travel experiences.