NCERT Textbook: The Unlikely Best Friends | English Class 6 (Honeysuckle) PDF Download

 Page 1


The Unlikely 
Best Friends
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share 
your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your 
friends and how do you feel?
  Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given 
below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and 
teacher. One has been done for you.
 2. The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 
 (a) What can be the meaning of ‘unlikely’? Discuss in groups, and then 
discuss with your teacher.
 (b) Can you think of some unlikely friends? Share your answer with 
your teacher.
With my friend
I _____________
play
With my friend
I feel
_____________
happy
FRIENDSHIP
Unit 2
Unit 2.indd   39 13-Jun-24   11:52:12 AM
Page 2


The Unlikely 
Best Friends
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share 
your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your 
friends and how do you feel?
  Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given 
below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and 
teacher. One has been done for you.
 2. The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 
 (a) What can be the meaning of ‘unlikely’? Discuss in groups, and then 
discuss with your teacher.
 (b) Can you think of some unlikely friends? Share your answer with 
your teacher.
With my friend
I _____________
play
With my friend
I feel
_____________
happy
FRIENDSHIP
Unit 2
Unit 2.indd   39 13-Jun-24   11:52:12 AM
40
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Gajaraj, the elephant, lived in the best booth of 
the royal stables. The king was fond of Gajaraj, 
and he had ordered that the elephant should 
be well looked after.
In spite of royal comforts, Gajaraj was sad 
because he had no friends. The mahout, or 
elephant trainer, was the only one he ever 
interacted with. The mahout was a kind man 
who served Gajaraj food, and gave him a bath 
in the elephant pond daily. He was a good 
caretaker , but not a friend.
“I wish I had a friend I can play with,” 
thought Gajaraj. One late evening, a dog 
strayed into the stable. Gajaraj could see that 
the visitor was tired and hungry. He pushed 
booth : 
rectangular 
space
stables : living 
spaces for 
animals
interacted with : 
communicated 
with
strayed : came 
by mistake
Unit 2.indd   40 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
Page 3


The Unlikely 
Best Friends
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share 
your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your 
friends and how do you feel?
  Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given 
below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and 
teacher. One has been done for you.
 2. The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 
 (a) What can be the meaning of ‘unlikely’? Discuss in groups, and then 
discuss with your teacher.
 (b) Can you think of some unlikely friends? Share your answer with 
your teacher.
With my friend
I _____________
play
With my friend
I feel
_____________
happy
FRIENDSHIP
Unit 2
Unit 2.indd   39 13-Jun-24   11:52:12 AM
40
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Gajaraj, the elephant, lived in the best booth of 
the royal stables. The king was fond of Gajaraj, 
and he had ordered that the elephant should 
be well looked after.
In spite of royal comforts, Gajaraj was sad 
because he had no friends. The mahout, or 
elephant trainer, was the only one he ever 
interacted with. The mahout was a kind man 
who served Gajaraj food, and gave him a bath 
in the elephant pond daily. He was a good 
caretaker , but not a friend.
“I wish I had a friend I can play with,” 
thought Gajaraj. One late evening, a dog 
strayed into the stable. Gajaraj could see that 
the visitor was tired and hungry. He pushed 
booth : 
rectangular 
space
stables : living 
spaces for 
animals
interacted with : 
communicated 
with
strayed : came 
by mistake
Unit 2.indd   40 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
Friendship
some of the food he was munching towards 
the dog. The visitor wagged his tail, looked up 
at the elephant to convey his thanks, and then 
turned his full attention to the food in front 
of him. As soon as he finished eating, he fell 
asleep.
The next morning, the mahout found the 
stray dog in the stable. He did not mind the dog. 
He also noticed that Gajaraj seemed to like the 
company. So, he threw some crumbs to the dog, 
which the animal accepted wagging his tail.
When the elephant went out for a bath, 
the dog accompanied his friend. Plunging into 
the water, the elephant gave himself a shower 
using his long trunk, as the dog watched. 
The elephant took a trunkful of water and 
playfully splashed the water on his friend. The 
dog yelped for he hated taking showers. The 
mahout laughed. 
munching: 
chewing
wagged: moved 
from side to side
convey: 
communicate
accompanied: 
went with 
someone
plunging : 
jumping in
trunk : long nose
yelped : cried
splashed : threw
crumbs: small 
pieces of food
41
Unit 2.indd   41 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
Page 4


The Unlikely 
Best Friends
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share 
your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your 
friends and how do you feel?
  Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given 
below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and 
teacher. One has been done for you.
 2. The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 
 (a) What can be the meaning of ‘unlikely’? Discuss in groups, and then 
discuss with your teacher.
 (b) Can you think of some unlikely friends? Share your answer with 
your teacher.
With my friend
I _____________
play
With my friend
I feel
_____________
happy
FRIENDSHIP
Unit 2
Unit 2.indd   39 13-Jun-24   11:52:12 AM
40
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Gajaraj, the elephant, lived in the best booth of 
the royal stables. The king was fond of Gajaraj, 
and he had ordered that the elephant should 
be well looked after.
In spite of royal comforts, Gajaraj was sad 
because he had no friends. The mahout, or 
elephant trainer, was the only one he ever 
interacted with. The mahout was a kind man 
who served Gajaraj food, and gave him a bath 
in the elephant pond daily. He was a good 
caretaker , but not a friend.
“I wish I had a friend I can play with,” 
thought Gajaraj. One late evening, a dog 
strayed into the stable. Gajaraj could see that 
the visitor was tired and hungry. He pushed 
booth : 
rectangular 
space
stables : living 
spaces for 
animals
interacted with : 
communicated 
with
strayed : came 
by mistake
Unit 2.indd   40 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
Friendship
some of the food he was munching towards 
the dog. The visitor wagged his tail, looked up 
at the elephant to convey his thanks, and then 
turned his full attention to the food in front 
of him. As soon as he finished eating, he fell 
asleep.
The next morning, the mahout found the 
stray dog in the stable. He did not mind the dog. 
He also noticed that Gajaraj seemed to like the 
company. So, he threw some crumbs to the dog, 
which the animal accepted wagging his tail.
When the elephant went out for a bath, 
the dog accompanied his friend. Plunging into 
the water, the elephant gave himself a shower 
using his long trunk, as the dog watched. 
The elephant took a trunkful of water and 
playfully splashed the water on his friend. The 
dog yelped for he hated taking showers. The 
mahout laughed. 
munching: 
chewing
wagged: moved 
from side to side
convey: 
communicate
accompanied: 
went with 
someone
plunging : 
jumping in
trunk : long nose
yelped : cried
splashed : threw
crumbs: small 
pieces of food
41
Unit 2.indd   41 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
42
Poorvi—Grade 6
On their way home, the elephant picked up 
the dog with his trunk and placed him on his 
back. The dog was delighted to get a ride.
A farmer passing by saw the dog. “Buntee,” 
he yelled. The dog ran to him. The farmer 
hugged the dog and told the mahout that he was 
looking for his dog ever since he disappeared 
from his house. He was glad he found him now. 
The mahout had no objection to the farmer 
taking the dog home. The farmer tossed a 
rope round the neck of the dog, saying, “Come 
Buntee, let’s go home.”
Let us discuss
disappeared : 
was not seen
delighted : 
happy
hugged: held 
closely
 1. Talk about the things that Gajaraj and Buntee did together. Now, write 
in the shapes given below. One has been done for you.
Buntee and
Gajaraj
_____________
played
 2. Why did the farmer hug Buntee?
 3. Do you think Buntee will leave Gajaraj and go home with the farmer?
Unit 2.indd   42 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
Page 5


The Unlikely 
Best Friends
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share 
your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your 
friends and how do you feel?
  Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given 
below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and 
teacher. One has been done for you.
 2. The title of the chapter is ‘The Unlikely Best Friends’. 
 (a) What can be the meaning of ‘unlikely’? Discuss in groups, and then 
discuss with your teacher.
 (b) Can you think of some unlikely friends? Share your answer with 
your teacher.
With my friend
I _____________
play
With my friend
I feel
_____________
happy
FRIENDSHIP
Unit 2
Unit 2.indd   39 13-Jun-24   11:52:12 AM
40
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
I
Gajaraj, the elephant, lived in the best booth of 
the royal stables. The king was fond of Gajaraj, 
and he had ordered that the elephant should 
be well looked after.
In spite of royal comforts, Gajaraj was sad 
because he had no friends. The mahout, or 
elephant trainer, was the only one he ever 
interacted with. The mahout was a kind man 
who served Gajaraj food, and gave him a bath 
in the elephant pond daily. He was a good 
caretaker , but not a friend.
“I wish I had a friend I can play with,” 
thought Gajaraj. One late evening, a dog 
strayed into the stable. Gajaraj could see that 
the visitor was tired and hungry. He pushed 
booth : 
rectangular 
space
stables : living 
spaces for 
animals
interacted with : 
communicated 
with
strayed : came 
by mistake
Unit 2.indd   40 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
Friendship
some of the food he was munching towards 
the dog. The visitor wagged his tail, looked up 
at the elephant to convey his thanks, and then 
turned his full attention to the food in front 
of him. As soon as he finished eating, he fell 
asleep.
The next morning, the mahout found the 
stray dog in the stable. He did not mind the dog. 
He also noticed that Gajaraj seemed to like the 
company. So, he threw some crumbs to the dog, 
which the animal accepted wagging his tail.
When the elephant went out for a bath, 
the dog accompanied his friend. Plunging into 
the water, the elephant gave himself a shower 
using his long trunk, as the dog watched. 
The elephant took a trunkful of water and 
playfully splashed the water on his friend. The 
dog yelped for he hated taking showers. The 
mahout laughed. 
munching: 
chewing
wagged: moved 
from side to side
convey: 
communicate
accompanied: 
went with 
someone
plunging : 
jumping in
trunk : long nose
yelped : cried
splashed : threw
crumbs: small 
pieces of food
41
Unit 2.indd   41 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
42
Poorvi—Grade 6
On their way home, the elephant picked up 
the dog with his trunk and placed him on his 
back. The dog was delighted to get a ride.
A farmer passing by saw the dog. “Buntee,” 
he yelled. The dog ran to him. The farmer 
hugged the dog and told the mahout that he was 
looking for his dog ever since he disappeared 
from his house. He was glad he found him now. 
The mahout had no objection to the farmer 
taking the dog home. The farmer tossed a 
rope round the neck of the dog, saying, “Come 
Buntee, let’s go home.”
Let us discuss
disappeared : 
was not seen
delighted : 
happy
hugged: held 
closely
 1. Talk about the things that Gajaraj and Buntee did together. Now, write 
in the shapes given below. One has been done for you.
Buntee and
Gajaraj
_____________
played
 2. Why did the farmer hug Buntee?
 3. Do you think Buntee will leave Gajaraj and go home with the farmer?
Unit 2.indd   42 13-Jun-24   11:52:13 AM
Friendship
II
Only when the farmer pulled the rope did the 
dog realise that he was being taken away from 
his friend. He yelped, the elephant winced, but 
neither the farmer nor the mahout noticed that 
the two friends were in tears.
The next day at lunch time the mahout 
served Gajaraj his favourite food. When the 
mahout came back after finishing his other 
chores, he was surprised to see that the food 
had remained untouched.
winced: shrunk 
back in pain or 
distress
chores : daily 
duties
realise : 
understand
43
Unit 2.indd   43 13-Jun-24   11:52:14 AM