NCERT Textbook: Change of Heart | English Class 6 (Honeysuckle) PDF Download

 Page 1


Change of h eart Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Which games or sports do you play? 
 2. Read the questions given below. Talk about them and make a list. 
 (a) Which games or sports do you play for fun? 
 (b) Which games or sports do you play for competition? 
 3. How do you feel when you win or lose?
 4. Work in pairs. Tick the correct meaning of the following:
 (a) friendly matches
  (i) matches played to win a trophy
 (ii) matches played without competition
 (b) opponent
  (i) someone who you compete with
 (ii)  someone you want to be a partner with 
 (c) tally of marks
	 	(i)	 final 	marks	on	a	report 	card
 (ii)  record of points in a game/match
 (d) sporting spirit
  (i) following all the rules in a game
 (ii)  being fair and respecting each player in a game
SPORTS AND WELLNESS
Unit 4
Unit 4.indd   103 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
Page 2


Change of h eart Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Which games or sports do you play? 
 2. Read the questions given below. Talk about them and make a list. 
 (a) Which games or sports do you play for fun? 
 (b) Which games or sports do you play for competition? 
 3. How do you feel when you win or lose?
 4. Work in pairs. Tick the correct meaning of the following:
 (a) friendly matches
  (i) matches played to win a trophy
 (ii) matches played without competition
 (b) opponent
  (i) someone who you compete with
 (ii)  someone you want to be a partner with 
 (c) tally of marks
	 	(i)	 final 	marks	on	a	report 	card
 (ii)  record of points in a game/match
 (d) sporting spirit
  (i) following all the rules in a game
 (ii)  being fair and respecting each player in a game
SPORTS AND WELLNESS
Unit 4
Unit 4.indd   103 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
104
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Prabhat always wanted to win. His parents, 
teachers, and friends said that he did not 
know how to accept defeat. The fact was that 
he could not bear losing, not even at marbles. 
He felt so good when he won that he never 
wanted to give up that feeling. On the contrary, 
losing made him feel terrible. He thought that 
losing was the worst thing that could happen 
to anyone. 
If Prabhat sensed that he would lose a game, 
he would not play it. He would take part only 
when he was sure of winning, even if the game 
lasted only for a minute. You could not stop 
him from playing the kind of games he was 
really good at, like badminton.
A new student joined Prabhat’s school, and 
his name was Surya. Surya was an excellent 
badminton player. Prabhat waited for the last 
Friday of the month. Last Friday was significant . 
This was when the coach conducted friendly 
matches in the games period. The teams were 
decided on Monday and it was no surprise 
when Prabhat and Surya were chosen to play 
a round against each other. Prabhat was given 
the responsibility of keeping score for their 
match. On one hand, Prabhat prepared for the 
match with great seriousness. Surya, on the 
other hand, seemed relaxed, not taking the 
things seriously at all. He walked about the 
defeat: loss
terrible : 
unhappy
on the contrary : 
just the opposite
sensed: had 
known
significant : 
important
conducted: 
organised
Unit 4.indd   104 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
Page 3


Change of h eart Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Which games or sports do you play? 
 2. Read the questions given below. Talk about them and make a list. 
 (a) Which games or sports do you play for fun? 
 (b) Which games or sports do you play for competition? 
 3. How do you feel when you win or lose?
 4. Work in pairs. Tick the correct meaning of the following:
 (a) friendly matches
  (i) matches played to win a trophy
 (ii) matches played without competition
 (b) opponent
  (i) someone who you compete with
 (ii)  someone you want to be a partner with 
 (c) tally of marks
	 	(i)	 final 	marks	on	a	report 	card
 (ii)  record of points in a game/match
 (d) sporting spirit
  (i) following all the rules in a game
 (ii)  being fair and respecting each player in a game
SPORTS AND WELLNESS
Unit 4
Unit 4.indd   103 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
104
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Prabhat always wanted to win. His parents, 
teachers, and friends said that he did not 
know how to accept defeat. The fact was that 
he could not bear losing, not even at marbles. 
He felt so good when he won that he never 
wanted to give up that feeling. On the contrary, 
losing made him feel terrible. He thought that 
losing was the worst thing that could happen 
to anyone. 
If Prabhat sensed that he would lose a game, 
he would not play it. He would take part only 
when he was sure of winning, even if the game 
lasted only for a minute. You could not stop 
him from playing the kind of games he was 
really good at, like badminton.
A new student joined Prabhat’s school, and 
his name was Surya. Surya was an excellent 
badminton player. Prabhat waited for the last 
Friday of the month. Last Friday was significant . 
This was when the coach conducted friendly 
matches in the games period. The teams were 
decided on Monday and it was no surprise 
when Prabhat and Surya were chosen to play 
a round against each other. Prabhat was given 
the responsibility of keeping score for their 
match. On one hand, Prabhat prepared for the 
match with great seriousness. Surya, on the 
other hand, seemed relaxed, not taking the 
things seriously at all. He walked about the 
defeat: loss
terrible : 
unhappy
on the contrary : 
just the opposite
sensed: had 
known
significant : 
important
conducted: 
organised
Unit 4.indd   104 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
Sports and Wellness
whole time, smiling and cracking jokes about all 
sorts of things. But on Friday, at the badminton 
court, Surya was a real phenomenon. He won 
points again and again, laughing and joking all 
the time. However, Surya was paying so little 
attention to the match that Prabhat managed 
to change the scoreboard while his opponent 
was looking elsewhere.
Prabhat managed to win by cheating. He 
made a big thing of his win, but it did not 
matter to Surya.
“It’s been fun. We should play again some 
other time,” said Surya.
phenomenon: 
someone who 
has special 
qualities
105
Unit 4.indd   105 13-Jun-24   10:59:40 AM
Page 4


Change of h eart Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Which games or sports do you play? 
 2. Read the questions given below. Talk about them and make a list. 
 (a) Which games or sports do you play for fun? 
 (b) Which games or sports do you play for competition? 
 3. How do you feel when you win or lose?
 4. Work in pairs. Tick the correct meaning of the following:
 (a) friendly matches
  (i) matches played to win a trophy
 (ii) matches played without competition
 (b) opponent
  (i) someone who you compete with
 (ii)  someone you want to be a partner with 
 (c) tally of marks
	 	(i)	 final 	marks	on	a	report 	card
 (ii)  record of points in a game/match
 (d) sporting spirit
  (i) following all the rules in a game
 (ii)  being fair and respecting each player in a game
SPORTS AND WELLNESS
Unit 4
Unit 4.indd   103 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
104
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Prabhat always wanted to win. His parents, 
teachers, and friends said that he did not 
know how to accept defeat. The fact was that 
he could not bear losing, not even at marbles. 
He felt so good when he won that he never 
wanted to give up that feeling. On the contrary, 
losing made him feel terrible. He thought that 
losing was the worst thing that could happen 
to anyone. 
If Prabhat sensed that he would lose a game, 
he would not play it. He would take part only 
when he was sure of winning, even if the game 
lasted only for a minute. You could not stop 
him from playing the kind of games he was 
really good at, like badminton.
A new student joined Prabhat’s school, and 
his name was Surya. Surya was an excellent 
badminton player. Prabhat waited for the last 
Friday of the month. Last Friday was significant . 
This was when the coach conducted friendly 
matches in the games period. The teams were 
decided on Monday and it was no surprise 
when Prabhat and Surya were chosen to play 
a round against each other. Prabhat was given 
the responsibility of keeping score for their 
match. On one hand, Prabhat prepared for the 
match with great seriousness. Surya, on the 
other hand, seemed relaxed, not taking the 
things seriously at all. He walked about the 
defeat: loss
terrible : 
unhappy
on the contrary : 
just the opposite
sensed: had 
known
significant : 
important
conducted: 
organised
Unit 4.indd   104 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
Sports and Wellness
whole time, smiling and cracking jokes about all 
sorts of things. But on Friday, at the badminton 
court, Surya was a real phenomenon. He won 
points again and again, laughing and joking all 
the time. However, Surya was paying so little 
attention to the match that Prabhat managed 
to change the scoreboard while his opponent 
was looking elsewhere.
Prabhat managed to win by cheating. He 
made a big thing of his win, but it did not 
matter to Surya.
“It’s been fun. We should play again some 
other time,” said Surya.
phenomenon: 
someone who 
has special 
qualities
105
Unit 4.indd   105 13-Jun-24   10:59:40 AM
Poorvi—Grade 6
Let us discuss
 1. State whether the following is True or False.
  Prabhat would accept losing to anyone easily.  
 2. What was special about the last Friday of each month? 
 3. Who was responsible for maintaining the score for the match? 
 4. Do you think Prabhat wished to play another match with  
Surya? Why do you think so? 
II
On that day , everyone was discussing their game and how Prabhat 
had played so well. Surprisingly , Prabhat could not sleep well that 
night. He had won the game but he did not feel as happy as he 
usually did. What was surprising was that Surya did not feel bad 
about losing. What was more surprising was that Prabhat saw 
106
Unit 4.indd   106 13-Jun-24   10:59:41 AM
Page 5


Change of h eart Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Which games or sports do you play? 
 2. Read the questions given below. Talk about them and make a list. 
 (a) Which games or sports do you play for fun? 
 (b) Which games or sports do you play for competition? 
 3. How do you feel when you win or lose?
 4. Work in pairs. Tick the correct meaning of the following:
 (a) friendly matches
  (i) matches played to win a trophy
 (ii) matches played without competition
 (b) opponent
  (i) someone who you compete with
 (ii)  someone you want to be a partner with 
 (c) tally of marks
	 	(i)	 final 	marks	on	a	report 	card
 (ii)  record of points in a game/match
 (d) sporting spirit
  (i) following all the rules in a game
 (ii)  being fair and respecting each player in a game
SPORTS AND WELLNESS
Unit 4
Unit 4.indd   103 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
104
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Prabhat always wanted to win. His parents, 
teachers, and friends said that he did not 
know how to accept defeat. The fact was that 
he could not bear losing, not even at marbles. 
He felt so good when he won that he never 
wanted to give up that feeling. On the contrary, 
losing made him feel terrible. He thought that 
losing was the worst thing that could happen 
to anyone. 
If Prabhat sensed that he would lose a game, 
he would not play it. He would take part only 
when he was sure of winning, even if the game 
lasted only for a minute. You could not stop 
him from playing the kind of games he was 
really good at, like badminton.
A new student joined Prabhat’s school, and 
his name was Surya. Surya was an excellent 
badminton player. Prabhat waited for the last 
Friday of the month. Last Friday was significant . 
This was when the coach conducted friendly 
matches in the games period. The teams were 
decided on Monday and it was no surprise 
when Prabhat and Surya were chosen to play 
a round against each other. Prabhat was given 
the responsibility of keeping score for their 
match. On one hand, Prabhat prepared for the 
match with great seriousness. Surya, on the 
other hand, seemed relaxed, not taking the 
things seriously at all. He walked about the 
defeat: loss
terrible : 
unhappy
on the contrary : 
just the opposite
sensed: had 
known
significant : 
important
conducted: 
organised
Unit 4.indd   104 13-Jun-24   10:59:39 AM
Sports and Wellness
whole time, smiling and cracking jokes about all 
sorts of things. But on Friday, at the badminton 
court, Surya was a real phenomenon. He won 
points again and again, laughing and joking all 
the time. However, Surya was paying so little 
attention to the match that Prabhat managed 
to change the scoreboard while his opponent 
was looking elsewhere.
Prabhat managed to win by cheating. He 
made a big thing of his win, but it did not 
matter to Surya.
“It’s been fun. We should play again some 
other time,” said Surya.
phenomenon: 
someone who 
has special 
qualities
105
Unit 4.indd   105 13-Jun-24   10:59:40 AM
Poorvi—Grade 6
Let us discuss
 1. State whether the following is True or False.
  Prabhat would accept losing to anyone easily.  
 2. What was special about the last Friday of each month? 
 3. Who was responsible for maintaining the score for the match? 
 4. Do you think Prabhat wished to play another match with  
Surya? Why do you think so? 
II
On that day , everyone was discussing their game and how Prabhat 
had played so well. Surprisingly , Prabhat could not sleep well that 
night. He had won the game but he did not feel as happy as he 
usually did. What was surprising was that Surya did not feel bad 
about losing. What was more surprising was that Prabhat saw 
106
Unit 4.indd   106 13-Jun-24   10:59:41 AM
107
Sports and Wellness
Surya playing basketball the next day. Surya 
was so hopeless at it that he could not score a 
basket for ten minutes. Yet, he enjoyed playing 
the game. His happy smile never left his face.
Prabhat kept a close watch on Surya for 
some days. He was great at some things, 
terrible at others but what was common was 
the enjoyment. He enjoyed everything equally. 
As Prabhat went on with his observation, he 
realised that to enjoy a game, you did not need 
a scoreboard to keep a tally of your scores. 
Neither did you have to worry about winning 
and losing. You needed to enjoy the game for 
its own sake. What matters is trying to do well, 
and enjoying every moment of it.
Prabhat learnt something through the 
observations every day, soon realising the 
change in himself. He had even begun playing 
hide and seek, and felt sad whenever it was 
about to end. He also started joking while 
playing badminton. Soon, the other students 
started talking amongst themselves, “Good fun 
playing	with	Prabhat,	that	fellow	definitely has 
a great sporting spirit.”
Let us discuss
 1. How did Surya feel about playing?
 2. What was it about Surya that Prabhat observed?
kept a close 
watch on: 
observed
hopeless: 
having no skill 
in something
Unit 4.indd   107 13-Jun-24   10:59:41 AM