B1: Friendships
Do you fight with your friends? Why do you get angry sometimes?
I get angry when:
- My friends take my things without asking.
- They don’t include me in games.
- They tease me in front of others.
- They break promises.
I also get angry when:
- My best friend sits with someone else.
- Someone blames me for something I didn’t do.
B.3: Swaminathan’s Friends – Web Chart
Pea
Mani
Somu
Rajam
Shankar
B.4: Who said to whom?
‘Sir, please let us go out.’
→ Somu to the Tamil teacher
‘What is wrong with you, you little rogues?’
→ Mani to Swaminathan, Pea, and Shankar
‘No—I didn’t, you—’
→ Pea to Swaminathan
‘They call me Rajam’s tail.’
→ Swaminathan to Mani
‘He, Pea—wrote—TAIL—Big Tail—on the blackboard.’
→ Swaminathan to Mani and others
B.5: Story Ladder Completion
Swaminathan entered the class.
Everyone giggled.
He saw that “Tail” was written on the blackboard.
He got angry and slapped Pea and Shankar.
Mani and Somu took them to a quiet place in the field.
Instead of resolving the problem, they started fighting.
The Headmaster came and separated them.
B.6: Answer the following questions.
(i) Do you think Shankar or Pea had written the word ‘Tail’ on the blackboard? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer – It’s not clear who wrote it. Both deny it, and no proof is given. It may have been a prank by someone else. Swaminathan acted out of anger and suspicion.
(ii) How did Swaminathan feel when he saw the word ‘Tail’ written on the blackboard?
Answer – He felt embarrassed, angry, and ashamed. His face turned red and he acted out emotionally.
B.7: Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow.
(i) ‘What is wrong with you, little rogues?’
(a) Who are rogues?
Answer – Swaminathan, Pea, and Shankar
(b) Why are they fighting with each other?
Answer – They were fighting after Swaminathan accused them of mocking him.
(c) Where is the fight going on?
Answer – The fight is going on in the classroom and later in the field.
(ii) ‘And who dares to talk about Rajam here?’
(a) Who is Rajam?
Answer – Rajam is a classmate and Swaminathan’s close friend.
(b) Who talked about Rajam?
Answer – Swaminathan talked about Rajam.
(c) How are Mani and Rajam related?
Answer – Mani and Rajam are sworn enemies (they dislike each other strongly).
B.8. Life Skills
Do you think Swami was right in slapping Pea and Shankar? Had you be in his place, how would you have reacted?
Would you have—
(i) ignored the word ‘Tail’ written on the board?
(ii) laughed along to avoid arguement or fight?
(iii) talked to your classmates and resolved the matter peacefully?
(iv) complained to your teacher?
Explain with reasons.
Answer – No, Swaminathan was not right in slapping Pea and Shankar.
If I were in his place, I would have:
(iii) Talked to classmates and resolved the matter peacefully
(iv) Complained to the teacher
Physical violence is never a solution. Talking it out or seeking help from a teacher is always better.
B.9. Value Based Question
In Indian Culture, the teacher/guru is considered next only to God. Do you approve of Somu and Mani’s attitude towards their Tamil teacher? How should students behave with their teachers?
Answer – No, I do not approve of how Somu and Mani behaved.
Even if students are angry or emotional, they should always show respect to their teachers.
Teachers should be spoken to politely. Fighting in front of a teacher shows lack of discipline and poor character.
B.10. Find out words from the passage which mean the same as the following.
You may unjumble the words given in the Aid Box to help you.
AID BOX
m r a b r e s s a d e
m p d e o n u i n a m
i l g g e g
e e r c f i
(i) to feel confused and ashamed __________________________
(ii) a place of lawlessness __________________________
(iii) to laugh softly __________________________
(iv) violent, angry __________________________
Answer –
(i) to feel confused and ashamed → embarrassed
(ii) a place of lawlessness → pandemonium
(iii) to laugh softly → giggle
(iv) violent, angry → fierce
B.11. Swaminathan told Mani that everyone called him ‘Rajam’s tail’. This is an idiomatic expression. It means that he always followed Rajam wherever he went like a tail. Given on the next page are some idiomatic expressions. Match them with their meanings and use them in the sentences given below appropriately.
Idiomatic Expression Meaning
cast a sly look to think seriously
sworn enemies people who can never be friends
scratch his chin to look at someone cunningly
(i) Raminder and Subhash are _________________________________. They never even look in each other’s direction.
(ii) The fox ________________________________ at the bird and hid in the bushes.
(iii) __________________________________, the contestant answered the question after a long pause.
Answer – Match the idioms:
cast a sly look → to look at someone cunningly
sworn enemies → people who can never be friends
scratch his chin → to think seriously
Use in sentences:
(i) Raminder and Subhash are sworn enemies.
(ii) The fox cast a sly look at the bird and hid in the bushes.
(iii) Scratching his chin, the contestant answered the question after a long pause.
B.12: Project Work (Sample Content)
(i) (i) Work in groups. Talk to your friend about words that convey positive feelings of love, respect, admiration and consideration. As a class effort, hang a big chart, titled ‘Power of Words’ in the class. Add to the list as often as possible.
Power of Words:
Examples to hang on the class chart:
- Thank you
- You’re amazing!
- Sorry
- May I help you?
- Great job!
- Please
- Excuse me
- You can do it!
(ii) Helping Hands—Encourage and guide the children to work in pairs and trace their hands on colourful glazed papers. Discuss what we can do with our hands to help others and our friends.
Helping Hands:
We can help others by:
- Sharing books or pencils
- Helping a friend in classwork
- Picking up dropped items
- Cheering up someone who’s sad
- Playing kindly with everyone
B.13. Read aloud these expressions and notice when we use them.
Now work with your partner. Complete the conversation given below using expressions from above.
Student : __________________________ did you drop this money?
Lady : __________________________
Student : I said, ‘Did you drop this money?’
Lady : Drop what?
Student : I’ve found this money. Is it yours?
Lady : I’m a little deaf. I could not hear what you said. Some money? Yes, that’s mine. I must have dropped it.
Student : Please take the packet.
Lady : Oh! __________________________ much.
Student : __________________________
Answer – Student: Excuse me, did you drop this money?
Lady: I beg your pardon?
Student: I said, ‘Did you drop this money?’
Lady: Drop what?
Student: I’ve found this money. Is it yours?
Lady: I’m a little deaf. I could not hear what you said. Some money? Yes, that’s mine. I must have dropped it.
Student: Please take the packet.
Lady: Oh! Thank you very much.
Student: You’re welcome.
B.14
(i) Look at the words given in the box and complete the following word webs by matching the names of the characters with the qualities they show through their behaviours in the story. Some words may go in both the webs. Some words may not be used at all.
Answer – Swami:
- emotional
- unhappy
- angry
- irrational
- loud
- scared
Mani:
- harsh
- angry
- proud
- loud
- irrational
(ii) Describe the fight between Mani and Somu in your own words.
Mani accused Pea and Shankar. Somu tried to calm things but later argued with Mani. Mani got aggressive and slapped Somu. The fight escalated with hitting and kicking. Their fight shocked the younger boys and even the Headmaster.
(iii) At the end of the story, all the friends follow the Headmaster to his room. What do you think happened after this? Discuss with your partner.
After reaching the Headmaster’s room, all the boys probably got a strict warning. The Headmaster might have tried to calm them down and encourage them to stop fighting and be friends again. It likely ended with a lesson on friendship and respect.