Chapter – 05, Today and Tomorrow, Class VI, English Literature, Dav Board, The Best Solutions.

Pre-reading Task

1. Have you ever been punished for not doing your homework? Yes/No

Answer – Yes, I have. I was once punished for forgetting to complete my homework, and I learned the importance of being responsible.

2. Do you know anyone who is always regular in their work? Talk to them and find out the secret of their regularity.

Answer – Yes, one of my classmates is always regular. He told me that his secret is planning his day in advance and never leaving tasks for the last moment. He also avoids distractions like mobile phones while studying.

3. If you are half asleep and your mother tells you to pack your bag before sleeping, will you—

(i) get up and pack it immediately?

(ii) tell her to wait for ten minutes?

(iii) tell her that you will pack it in the morning?

Answer – (i) get up and pack it immediately.

Because I know if I delay, I might forget and get late or punished in the morning.

Word Meaning

Summary in English

The poem emphasizes the importance of acting promptly to perform good deeds rather than delaying them. It urges readers to seize the present moment, as waiting for tomorrow leads to missed opportunities and regret. Each moment carries a duty, and the future is uncertain, so one should act today to accomplish what is possible now.

Summary in Hindi

कविता इस बात पर जोर देती है कि अच्छे कार्यों को तुरंत करना चाहिए, न कि कल के लिए टालना चाहिए। यह पाठकों से वर्तमान क्षण का उपयोग करने और प्रतीक्षा न करने का आग्रह करती है, क्योंकि देरी से अवसर चूक जाते हैं और पछतावा होता है। प्रत्येक क्षण का अपना कर्तव्य है, और भविष्य अनिश्चित है, इसलिए आज ही कार्य करना चाहिए।

Understanding the Poem

A. The poem ‘Today and Tomorrow’ highlights the importance of time. Can you find some famous proverbs based on the same idea? One has been given below.

Answer –

1. Time and tide wait for none.
2. A stitch in time saves nine.
3. Make hay while the sun shines.
4. Procrastination is the thief of time.
5. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

B. Answer the following questions briefly:

1. What sort of man does the poet like?

Answer – The poet likes a man who acts promptly and does not delay doing good deeds.

2. How can we ‘command the present’?

Answer – We can command the present by taking immediate action and using our time wisely.

3. What happens if we throw the hours away?

Answer – If we throw the hours away, important tasks may never be completed, and we may regret it later.

4. Why should we not put off any work/good deed till tomorrow?

Answer – Because the future is uncertain, and delaying may result in missed opportunities or failure to accomplish our goals.

5. Find out the four pairs of rhyming words in the poem.

Answer – say / today

wait / late

today / away

foretell / well

6. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

Answer – The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB.

HOTS

Yesterday is dead, tomorrow is unborn but today is a gift. That’s why it is called ‘present’. How can one make one’s present a worthy gift?

Answer – One can make the present a worthy gift by using every moment productively—learning, helping others, doing good deeds, and not wasting time on meaningless distractions. Living in the moment with purpose makes life meaningful.

Life Skills

Kushal has the habit of procrastination. He gets scolded by his parents and almost all the teachers for being so disorganised. What suggestions can you give him to manage his time?

Answer – Make a daily schedule and follow it.

Break large tasks into smaller ones.

Avoid distractions like mobile phones while studying.

Set deadlines and reward yourself for meeting them.

Use reminders and sticky notes to stay on track.

Start with the most important task of the day.

Values

What according to you is the best way of spending time out of the given options? Give reasons for your choice.

(a) grooming yourself

(b) gaining knowledge

(c) entertaining yourself

(d) teaching someone

(e) helping the needy

Answer – (e) Helping the needy – Because helping others brings happiness, builds empathy, and makes a real difference in someone’s life. It also gives a sense of purpose and teaches us the value of time and kindness.

Writing Skills

1. Write a letter to your brother living in a hostel to maintain a balance between playing games and studying so as to make the most productive use of his time.

Answer – 45, Green Park 

New Delhi 

5 June 20xx 

Dear Brother, 

I hope you’re doing well. I’m writing to remind you how important it is to maintain a balance between playing and studying. While games keep you active and energetic, studies ensure your future. Divide your time wisely. Set a fixed timetable, stick to it, and avoid wasting time on gadgets. 

Remember, time once lost never comes back. Use it well, and success will follow. 

Take care and write back soon. 

Your loving sister, 

Aarushi 

1. Write a short story to illustrate the proverb— ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’

Answer – Once there was a boy named Rohan who noticed a small tear in his school bag. Instead of stitching it right away, he ignored it thinking it was too small to matter. After a week, the tear grew so big that all his books fell out and got damaged during rain. He regretted not repairing it earlier. He then realized that taking early action could have saved his time, books, and trouble.

Moral: A stitch in time saves nine.

Additional Questions and Answers – 01

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What does the poet urge us to do?

(a) Think about tomorrow

(b) Live in the past

(c) Act in the present

(d) Waste time thinking
Answer: (c) Act in the present

2. According to the poet, what is the result of throwing time away?

(a) Happiness

(b) Success

(c) Incomplete deeds

(d) Riches
Answer: (c) Incomplete deeds

3. The poet compares repentance to:

(a) Light

(b) Phantom

(c) Star

(d) Dream
Answer: (b) Phantom

4. What can ‘every moment’ bring, according to the poet?

(a) Pain

(b) Confusion

(c) Duty

(d) Rest
Answer: (c) Duty

5. What should we not wait for, as per the poet?

(a) Yesterday

(b) Today

(c) Tomorrow

(d) Night
Answer: (c) Tomorrow

Short Questions and Answers

1. What is the central theme of the poem?
   Answer: The poem emphasizes the value of the present and encourages immediate action instead of delaying tasks.
2. What does the poet think about ‘tomorrow’?
   Answer: The poet believes tomorrow is uncertain and should not be relied upon to complete important tasks.
3. Why is repentance compared to a phantom?
   Answer: Because repentance haunts us after the opportunity is lost, just like a ghost from the past.
4. What message does the poet give through the phrase “Let’s do the deed today”?
   Answer: The message is to take immediate action and not procrastinate.
5. What does the poet say about every moment?
   Answer: Every moment comes with a responsibility or duty.

Competency-Based Reasoning & Assertion Questions

1. Assertion (A): We should delay good deeds for the right time.
   Reason (R): The future is always more convenient than the present.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation.

(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation.

(c) A is false, but R is true.

(d) Both A and R are false.
Answer: (d) Both A and R are false.
Explanation: The poem advises against delaying good deeds, and the future is not guaranteed.

2. Assertion (A): The poet values the present over the future.
   Reason (R): The present allows us to act and make changes.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation.

(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation.

(c) A is false, but R is true.

(d) Both A and R are false.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation.

Long Answer Questions (50–60 words)

1. Why does the poet insist on doing good deeds today rather than postponing them?
   Answer: The poet emphasizes that tomorrow is uncertain and may never come. Postponing good deeds leads to regret and missed opportunities. Every moment has its duty, and only the present is within our control. Therefore, we should act today to ensure our efforts are not wasted or forgotten.

2. Explain how the poem “Today and Tomorrow” teaches the value of time.
   Answer: The poem teaches that time is precious and fleeting. It encourages readers to take immediate action rather than wait for a perfect moment. By doing tasks today, we avoid future regret and make meaningful use of our present. The poet urges us to be responsible and aware of the importance of every moment.

3. What is the poet’s attitude towards procrastination?
   Answer: The poet has a negative view of procrastination. He considers it a cause of failure and regret. Through the poem, he motivates people to avoid delaying good deeds or important work and stresses that action should be taken in the present, not postponed to an uncertain future.

Additional Questions and Answers – 02

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What is the main theme of the poem?
   a) The value of planning for the future
   b) The importance of acting in the present
   c) The need to avoid hard work
   d) The joy of reminiscing about the past
   Answer: b) The importance of acting in the present
2. What does the poem refer to as a “phantom”?
   a) Hope
   b) Repentance
   c) Duty
   d) Opportunity
   Answer: b) Repentance
3. According to the poem, what happens if we delay good deeds?
   a) They become easier to do
   b) They lead to regret
   c) They are forgotten
   d) They are completed automatically
   Answer: b) They lead to regret
4. What does the poem suggest about the future?
   a) It is predictable
   b) It is uncertain
   c) It is irrelevant
   d) It is guaranteed
   Answer: b) It is uncertain
5. What does the poem imply about every moment?
   a) It is meaningless
   b) It has its own duty
   c) It should be spent resting
   d) It belongs to the past
   Answer: b) It has its own duty
6. What does the poem discourage?
   a) Acting immediately
   b) Waiting for tomorrow
   c) Performing duties
   d) Seizing opportunities
   Answer: b) Waiting for tomorrow
7. What is the consequence of throwing hours away, as per the poem?
   a) Gaining more time
   b) Missing opportunities
   c) Achieving success
   d) Avoiding responsibilities
   Answer: b) Missing opportunities
8. What does the poem urge the reader to command?
   a) The past
   b) The future
   c) The present
   d) The imagination
   Answer: c) The present
9. What does the poem suggest about tasks that can be done today?
   a) They should be postponed
   b) They should be done immediately
   c) They are unimportant
   d) They require planning
   Answer: b) They should be done immediately
10. What does the poem imply about repentance?
    a) It is a rewarding experience
    b) It comes too late
    c) It is avoidable with planning
    d) It is unrelated to actions
    Answer: b) It comes too late

Short Questions and Answers

1. Q: What does the poem urge readers not to talk about?
   A: Tomorrow.
2. Q: What should be done when a good deed is needed, according to the poem?
   A: Do it today.
3. Q: What does the poem call repentance?
   A: A phantom.
4. Q: Why does the poem say repentance comes too late?
   A: Because it belongs to the past.
5. Q: What does the poem say about the present?
   A: We can command it.
6. Q: What does the poem suggest about wasting hours?
   A: It prevents tasks from being accomplished.
7. Q: What is uncertain according to the poem?
   A: The future.
8. Q: What does every moment have, as per the poem?
   A: Its own duty.
9. Q: What does the poem advise against postponing?
   A: Tasks that can be done today.
10. Q: What is the consequence of delaying actions, as per the poem?
    A: Regret or repentance.

Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion)

1. Assertion (A): The poem encourages immediate action on good deeds.
   Reasoning (R): It emphasizes that delaying tasks leads to missed opportunities and regret.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R explains A. The poem urges acting today to avoid the regret of unfulfilled duties.
2. Assertion (A): Repentance is avoidable according to the poem.
   Reasoning (R): By acting in the present, one can prevent the regret of missed opportunities.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R explains A. The poem suggests that acting promptly avoids the “phantom” of repentance.
3. Assertion (A): The poem views the future as unimportant.
   Reasoning (R): The poem states the future is uncertain and focuses on the present’s duties.
   Answer: A is false, R is true. The poem does not deem the future unimportant but highlights its uncertainty, emphasizing present action.
4. Assertion (A): Delaying tasks has no consequences, according to the poem.
   Reasoning (R): The poem warns that throwing hours away leads to unaccomplished tasks and regret.
   Answer: A is false, R is true. The poem clearly states that delaying tasks results in missed opportunities and repentance.
5. Assertion (A): Every moment is significant in the poem.
   Reasoning (R): The poem states that every moment has its own duty to be fulfilled.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R explains A. The poem underscores the importance of each moment’s duty.

Long Questions and Answers

1. Q: How does the poem convey the urgency of acting in the present?
   A: The poem stresses that good deeds should be done today, not postponed to tomorrow, as the future is uncertain. It warns that delaying tasks leads to regret, described as a “phantom” of the past. By urging readers to command the present and fulfill each moment’s duty, it emphasizes the importance of immediate action to avoid missed opportunities. (59 words)
2. Q: Why does the poem describe repentance as a “phantom” of the past?
   A: The poem calls repentance a “phantom” to highlight its elusive and regretful nature, arising when opportunities are missed by delaying actions. It suggests that waiting for tomorrow results in tasks left undone, leading to regret that haunts like a ghost from the past. Acting today prevents this regret, making the present crucial. (56 words)
3. Q: How does the poem’s view of the future influence its message?
   A: The poem portrays the future as uncertain, questioning who can foretell it, to emphasize the need to act in the present. This uncertainty underscores that delaying tasks risks missing opportunities, leading to regret. By focusing on the present’s duties, the poem encourages immediate action to ensure tasks are accomplished without future uncertainties interfering. (57 words)
4. Q: What role does the concept of duty play in the poem’s message?
   A: The poem asserts that every moment has its own duty, urging readers to act promptly to fulfill these responsibilities. By emphasizing that tasks should not be deferred to tomorrow, it highlights duty as a driving force for immediate action, preventing regret and ensuring that opportunities are seized in the present to achieve meaningful outcomes. (55 words)
5. Q: How does the poem warn against the consequences of procrastination?
   A: The poem warns that procrastination, or throwing hours away, results in unaccomplished tasks and regret, termed as repentance, a “phantom” of the past. It stresses that delaying good deeds to tomorrow, which is uncertain, misses present opportunities. By advocating action today, the poem underscores that procrastination leads to irreversible loss and haunting regret. (58 words)