NCERT Textbook: How the Dog Found Himself a Master! | English Class 6 (Honeysuckle) PDF Download

 Page 1


HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 17
1. DOGS were once their own masters and
lived the way wolves do, in freedom,
until a dog was born who was ill pleased
with this way of life. He was sick and
tired of wandering about by himself
ill pleased: (old-
fashioned way of
saying) not happy
2
Befor Befor Befor Befor Before you r e you r e you r e you r e you read ead ead ead ead
You may know that the dog and the wolf are
closely related. You may also know something
about how over the centuries, human beings have
domesticated and tamed wild animals. Here is a
story about how the dog became a tame animal.
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 2


HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 17
1. DOGS were once their own masters and
lived the way wolves do, in freedom,
until a dog was born who was ill pleased
with this way of life. He was sick and
tired of wandering about by himself
ill pleased: (old-
fashioned way of
saying) not happy
2
Befor Befor Befor Befor Before you r e you r e you r e you r e you read ead ead ead ead
You may know that the dog and the wolf are
closely related. You may also know something
about how over the centuries, human beings have
domesticated and tamed wild animals. Here is a
story about how the dog became a tame animal.
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
Rationalised 2023-24
18 HONEYSUCKLE
looking for food and being frightened
of those who were stronger than he.
2. He thought it over and decided that
the best thing for him to do was to
become the servant of one who was
stronger than anyone on earth, and he
set out to find such a master.
3. He walked and he walked and he met
a kinsman of his, a big wolf who was
as strong as he was fierce.
“Where are you going, Dog?” the Wolf
asked.
“I am looking for someone to take
up service with. Would you like to be
my master, Wolf?”
“I don’t see why not!” the Wolf said,
and this agreed upon, the two of them
went on together.
4. They walked and they walked, and all
of a sudden the Wolf lifted his nose,
sniffed, darted quickly off the path and
into the bushes and crept deeper into
the forest. The Dog was much surprised.
“What’s come over you, master?” he
asked. “What has frightened you so?”
“Can’t you see? There’s a Bear out
there, and he might eat up both of
us — you and me.”
5. Seeing that the Bear was stronger
than the Wolf, the Dog decided to take
up service with him, and he left the
Wolf and asked the Bear to be his
master. The Bear agreed to this readily
kinsman: (old-
fashioned word
for) a relative
fierce: violent;
frightening
take up service
with: become
the servant of
darted: moved
quickly, suddenly
come over you:
affected you
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 3


HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 17
1. DOGS were once their own masters and
lived the way wolves do, in freedom,
until a dog was born who was ill pleased
with this way of life. He was sick and
tired of wandering about by himself
ill pleased: (old-
fashioned way of
saying) not happy
2
Befor Befor Befor Befor Before you r e you r e you r e you r e you read ead ead ead ead
You may know that the dog and the wolf are
closely related. You may also know something
about how over the centuries, human beings have
domesticated and tamed wild animals. Here is a
story about how the dog became a tame animal.
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
Rationalised 2023-24
18 HONEYSUCKLE
looking for food and being frightened
of those who were stronger than he.
2. He thought it over and decided that
the best thing for him to do was to
become the servant of one who was
stronger than anyone on earth, and he
set out to find such a master.
3. He walked and he walked and he met
a kinsman of his, a big wolf who was
as strong as he was fierce.
“Where are you going, Dog?” the Wolf
asked.
“I am looking for someone to take
up service with. Would you like to be
my master, Wolf?”
“I don’t see why not!” the Wolf said,
and this agreed upon, the two of them
went on together.
4. They walked and they walked, and all
of a sudden the Wolf lifted his nose,
sniffed, darted quickly off the path and
into the bushes and crept deeper into
the forest. The Dog was much surprised.
“What’s come over you, master?” he
asked. “What has frightened you so?”
“Can’t you see? There’s a Bear out
there, and he might eat up both of
us — you and me.”
5. Seeing that the Bear was stronger
than the Wolf, the Dog decided to take
up service with him, and he left the
Wolf and asked the Bear to be his
master. The Bear agreed to this readily
kinsman: (old-
fashioned word
for) a relative
fierce: violent;
frightening
take up service
with: become
the servant of
darted: moved
quickly, suddenly
come over you:
affected you
Rationalised 2023-24
HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 19
and said, “Let us go and find a herd of
cows. I’ll kill a cow and then we can
both eat our fill.”
6. They walked on and soon saw a herd
of cows, but just as they were about to
come up to it they were stopped by a
terrible noise. The cows were mooing
loudly and running in a panic in
all directions.
7. The Bear looked out from behind a
tree, and then he too ran hastily deeper
into the forest.
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 4


HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 17
1. DOGS were once their own masters and
lived the way wolves do, in freedom,
until a dog was born who was ill pleased
with this way of life. He was sick and
tired of wandering about by himself
ill pleased: (old-
fashioned way of
saying) not happy
2
Befor Befor Befor Befor Before you r e you r e you r e you r e you read ead ead ead ead
You may know that the dog and the wolf are
closely related. You may also know something
about how over the centuries, human beings have
domesticated and tamed wild animals. Here is a
story about how the dog became a tame animal.
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
Rationalised 2023-24
18 HONEYSUCKLE
looking for food and being frightened
of those who were stronger than he.
2. He thought it over and decided that
the best thing for him to do was to
become the servant of one who was
stronger than anyone on earth, and he
set out to find such a master.
3. He walked and he walked and he met
a kinsman of his, a big wolf who was
as strong as he was fierce.
“Where are you going, Dog?” the Wolf
asked.
“I am looking for someone to take
up service with. Would you like to be
my master, Wolf?”
“I don’t see why not!” the Wolf said,
and this agreed upon, the two of them
went on together.
4. They walked and they walked, and all
of a sudden the Wolf lifted his nose,
sniffed, darted quickly off the path and
into the bushes and crept deeper into
the forest. The Dog was much surprised.
“What’s come over you, master?” he
asked. “What has frightened you so?”
“Can’t you see? There’s a Bear out
there, and he might eat up both of
us — you and me.”
5. Seeing that the Bear was stronger
than the Wolf, the Dog decided to take
up service with him, and he left the
Wolf and asked the Bear to be his
master. The Bear agreed to this readily
kinsman: (old-
fashioned word
for) a relative
fierce: violent;
frightening
take up service
with: become
the servant of
darted: moved
quickly, suddenly
come over you:
affected you
Rationalised 2023-24
HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 19
and said, “Let us go and find a herd of
cows. I’ll kill a cow and then we can
both eat our fill.”
6. They walked on and soon saw a herd
of cows, but just as they were about to
come up to it they were stopped by a
terrible noise. The cows were mooing
loudly and running in a panic in
all directions.
7. The Bear looked out from behind a
tree, and then he too ran hastily deeper
into the forest.
Rationalised 2023-24
20 HONEYSUCKLE
“Now, why did I have to come here!”
said he to the Dog. “It is the Lion who
rules the forest in these parts.”
“The Lion? Who’s he?”
“Don’t you know? He is the strongest
beast on earth!”
“Well, then, I’ll say goodbye to you,
Bear. I want a master who is stronger
than anyone on earth!”
8. And off the Dog went to ask the Lion
to be his master.
The Lion agreed to it, and the Dog
stayed with him and served him for a
long, long time. It was a good life, and
he had nothing to complain of, for there
was no stronger beast in the forest than
the Lion, and no one dared touch the
Dog or offend him in any way.
9. But one day the two of them were
walking side by side along a path that
ran amid bare cliffs when all of a sudden
the Lion stopped. He gave a great roar
and struck the ground angrily with his
paw with such force that a hole formed
there. Then he began to back away very
quietly.
“What is it, Master, is anything
wrong?” asked the Dog, surprised.
“I smell a man coming this way,” the
Lion said. “We’d better run for it or we’ll
be in trouble.”
“Oh, well, then I’ll say goodbye to you,
Lion. I want a master who is stronger
than anyone on earth!”
cliff: a steep, high
rock (often at the
edge of the sea)
dared: to be brave
enough to do
something
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 5


HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 17
1. DOGS were once their own masters and
lived the way wolves do, in freedom,
until a dog was born who was ill pleased
with this way of life. He was sick and
tired of wandering about by himself
ill pleased: (old-
fashioned way of
saying) not happy
2
Befor Befor Befor Befor Before you r e you r e you r e you r e you read ead ead ead ead
You may know that the dog and the wolf are
closely related. You may also know something
about how over the centuries, human beings have
domesticated and tamed wild animals. Here is a
story about how the dog became a tame animal.
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
How the Dog Found
Himself a New Master!
Rationalised 2023-24
18 HONEYSUCKLE
looking for food and being frightened
of those who were stronger than he.
2. He thought it over and decided that
the best thing for him to do was to
become the servant of one who was
stronger than anyone on earth, and he
set out to find such a master.
3. He walked and he walked and he met
a kinsman of his, a big wolf who was
as strong as he was fierce.
“Where are you going, Dog?” the Wolf
asked.
“I am looking for someone to take
up service with. Would you like to be
my master, Wolf?”
“I don’t see why not!” the Wolf said,
and this agreed upon, the two of them
went on together.
4. They walked and they walked, and all
of a sudden the Wolf lifted his nose,
sniffed, darted quickly off the path and
into the bushes and crept deeper into
the forest. The Dog was much surprised.
“What’s come over you, master?” he
asked. “What has frightened you so?”
“Can’t you see? There’s a Bear out
there, and he might eat up both of
us — you and me.”
5. Seeing that the Bear was stronger
than the Wolf, the Dog decided to take
up service with him, and he left the
Wolf and asked the Bear to be his
master. The Bear agreed to this readily
kinsman: (old-
fashioned word
for) a relative
fierce: violent;
frightening
take up service
with: become
the servant of
darted: moved
quickly, suddenly
come over you:
affected you
Rationalised 2023-24
HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 19
and said, “Let us go and find a herd of
cows. I’ll kill a cow and then we can
both eat our fill.”
6. They walked on and soon saw a herd
of cows, but just as they were about to
come up to it they were stopped by a
terrible noise. The cows were mooing
loudly and running in a panic in
all directions.
7. The Bear looked out from behind a
tree, and then he too ran hastily deeper
into the forest.
Rationalised 2023-24
20 HONEYSUCKLE
“Now, why did I have to come here!”
said he to the Dog. “It is the Lion who
rules the forest in these parts.”
“The Lion? Who’s he?”
“Don’t you know? He is the strongest
beast on earth!”
“Well, then, I’ll say goodbye to you,
Bear. I want a master who is stronger
than anyone on earth!”
8. And off the Dog went to ask the Lion
to be his master.
The Lion agreed to it, and the Dog
stayed with him and served him for a
long, long time. It was a good life, and
he had nothing to complain of, for there
was no stronger beast in the forest than
the Lion, and no one dared touch the
Dog or offend him in any way.
9. But one day the two of them were
walking side by side along a path that
ran amid bare cliffs when all of a sudden
the Lion stopped. He gave a great roar
and struck the ground angrily with his
paw with such force that a hole formed
there. Then he began to back away very
quietly.
“What is it, Master, is anything
wrong?” asked the Dog, surprised.
“I smell a man coming this way,” the
Lion said. “We’d better run for it or we’ll
be in trouble.”
“Oh, well, then I’ll say goodbye to you,
Lion. I want a master who is stronger
than anyone on earth!”
cliff: a steep, high
rock (often at the
edge of the sea)
dared: to be brave
enough to do
something
Rationalised 2023-24
HOW THE DOG FOUND HIMSELF A NEW MASTER! 21
WORKING WITH THE TEXT
10. And off the Dog went to join the
man and he stayed with him and
served him faithfully. This happened
long, long ago, but to this day the dog
is man’s most loyal servant and knows
no other master.
A. Discuss these questions in pairs before you
write the answers.
1. Why did the dog feel the need for a master?
(1, 2)
2. Who did he first choose as his master?
Why did he leave that master? (3)
3. Who did he choose next? (5)
4. Why did he serve the Lion for a long
time? (8)
5. Who did he finally choose as his master
and why? (9, 10)
B. A summary of the story is given below. Fill in
the blanks to complete it taking appropriate
phrases from the box.
a dog    stronger than anyone else
the strongest of all    a wolf    the bear
afraid of man    his own master    a lion
This is the story of 
— –––––————————— –,
 who
used to be 
—————————————— 
. He decided
to find a master 
—–––––––———————
.
 
First
he found
 
————————————
 ,
 but the wolf
Rationalised 2023-24