NCERT Solutions Class 6 English What A Bird Thought | PDF FREE Download
Let us do these activities before we read
Page 85
Q1: Look at the picture and discuss what you see in the picture with your teacher and classmates.
Think of a time when you worked hard. What did you do then?
- How did it help you?
- How did it make you feel?
Also, discuss in groups.
Ans:
I worked hard in my studies. Because I studied regularly and completed my assignments carefully, I got good results in the exams. This made me feel delighted and proud of my efforts.
Q2: Where are the places you see birds? What do you see the birds doing?
Ans: I see birds in parks, gardens, and on tree branches near my house. I often notice them flying, chirping, building nests, preening their feathers and searching for food like worms and seeds.
Q3: Do you want to fly like a bird? Why?
Ans: Yes, I would love to fly like a bird because it would be wonderful to see the world from above. Flying would let me travel freely and reach faraway places quickly.
Q4: What does a baby bird think about its world?
Ans: A baby bird may think its world is small and safe, limited to its nest and the branches around it. It may see its mother as a protector who feeds and cares for it.
Q5: Read the sentences and replace the underlined words with their correct meanings.
Ans:
(a) The colour of the feather was not dark but light.
Answer: light - pale
(b) The butterfly fluttered on to the flower.
Answer: fluttered - moved lightly or quickly
(c) At last, I finished my bird painting after trying many times.
Answer: At last - finally
(d) The pretty flowers were the prize for the gardener's labour.
Answer: labour - hard work
Let us discuss
Page 87
Q1: Read the poem again. Identify the main idea of each stanza. There are two extra given.
(a) The bird steps out into the world.
(b) The bird lived happily in a small world.
(c) The bird becomes blind due to leaves.
(d) The bird flies away as an adult.
(e) The bird is unhappy with the straw nest.
(f) The bird lived in a cosy nest with its mother.
Ans: Stanza 1: (b) The bird lived happily in a small world.
Stanza 2: (f) The bird lived in a cosy nest with its mother.
Stanza 3: (a) The bird steps out into the world.
Stanza 4: (d) The bird flies away as an adult.
Q2: Look at the pictures (a)-(d) and write the matching line from the poem for each.
Ans: (a) "I thought the world was made of straw"
(b) "I said the world is made of leaves"
(c) "I don't know how the world is made"
(d) "I lived next in a little nest"
Q3: Answer the following with a word from the poem and check the answers with your partner.
(a) What was the shape of the bird's first house? _ O _ _ _
Ans: Round
(b) What was the bird's second nest made of? _ _ R _ _
Ans: Straw
(c) What did the bird see when it came out of its nest? L _ _ _ E _
Ans: Leaves
(d) What did the bird do at the end? _ _ _ W
Ans: Flew
Q4: Now, recite the poem aloud along with your teacher and classmates.
Ans: Please recite this poem aloud in class with your teacher and classmates to practise pronunciation and expression.
Let us think and reflect
Page 88, 89
Q1: Write whether the following sentences are True or False.
(a) The bird changed its house two times.
Ans: True
Explanation: The bird first lived in a shell, then in a cosy nest and later in a straw nest. This shows it changed homes more than once as it grew.
(b) The neighbours tell the bird about the world.
Ans: False
Explanation: The bird learned about the world by seeing it itself when it left the nest; the neighbours did not tell it about the world.
Q2: Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below.
(a) I thought the world was made of straw,
And nestled by my mother.
(i) Who lived in the nest along with the baby bird?
Ans: The baby bird lived in the nest along with its mother.
(ii) Complete the following by choosing the correct option.
The bird thought the world was made of straw because __________.
a. it lived in a straw hut
b. its nest was made of straw
c. its mother fed straw to it
d. there was straw all around
Ans: b. its nest was made of straw
Explanation: The baby bird believed the world was made of straw because its immediate world - the nest - was made of straw.
(iii) Which word tells us that the baby bird was warm and comfortable?
Ans: "Nestled" - it means settled snugly and comfortably.
(b) I said the world is made of leaves,
I have been very blind.
(i) Why did the bird think the world was made of leaves?
Ans: When the bird fluttered out of its nest it saw leaves all around, so it thought the world was made of leaves.
(ii) What does the set of words 'I said' mean?
a. flew
b. shouted
c. spoke
d. cried
Ans: c. spoke
Explanation: "I said" here means the bird spoke or stated something about what it saw.
(iii) Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
The bird felt that it had been very blind because it could not __ __ __ the leaves from __ n __ __ __ e the nest.
Ans: See, Inside
Q3: Why did the baby bird think that its first world was small, round, and blue?
Ans: The baby bird was inside an egg shell at first. From inside the shell, the view was small, round and blue, so it thought its whole world was like that.
Q4: Where did the bird go when it fluttered from its straw nest?
Ans: When the bird fluttered from its straw nest, it flew onto the branches and beyond the tree and saw many leaves around.
Q5:What quality did the bird say it had when it flew away?
Ans: The bird said it was "quite fit for grown-up labours," meaning it felt strong and ready to do the tasks of an adult bird, such as flying and finding food.
Q6: Who do you think were the bird's neighbours? Why do you think so? Discuss.
Ans: The bird's neighbours were probably other birds or small animals living in the same tree or nearby trees. This is likely because many birds build nests close to one another and share the same surroundings.
Let us learn
Page 89
Q1: Let us write some rhyming words. One has been done for you.
Now, complete a new stanza with rhyming words at the end of each line.
I fly high and I fly low,
But one thing I surely k __ __ __,
Whenever I wish to rest,
My little nest is the __ __ __t.
Ans:
I fly high and I fly low,
But one thing I surely know,
Whenever I wish to rest,
My little nest is the best.
Q2: The poet uses words like 'pale', 'blue', 'round', 'straw' and 'little' to describe the bird's nest.
Read a few more describing words.
Now, use the describing words given in the box to create six sentences based on the given picture.
(a) ..........................................
(b) ..........................................
(c) ..........................................
(d) ..........................................
(e) ..........................................
(f) ..........................................
Ans:
(a) The bird has green feathers.
(b) The small bird is sitting on a thin branch.
(c) The nest is hanging on the brown tree.
(d) The wooden tree has pointed leaves.
(e) The bird's nest is round in shape.
(f) The leaves are green and pointed.
Let us listen
Page 90
Q1: You will listen to a short poem. As you listen, fill in the missing words. You can listen to the poem more than once. (refer to page 102 for transcript)
I'm a parrot, my name is Paro,
My feathers are __ __ __ g __ __ and they glow.
In the morning, I spread my wings,
___ ___ ___ around and see wonderful things.
Come with me through the skies so ___ l ___ ___,
To places old and places new.
Among the ___ ___ e ___ ___, where the breeze is light,
Many new s t __ __ __ ___ s, oh, what a sight!
Ans:
I'm a parrot, my name is Paro,
My feathers are bright and they glow.
In the morning, I spread my wings,
Fly around and see wonderful things.
Come with me through the skies so blue,
To places old and places new.
Among the trees, where the breeze is light,
Many new stories, oh, what a sight!
Let us speak
Page 90
Speak with your classmates about which bird you would like to be. Include the following points.
(Sample Answer)
• Which bird are you? [I am .................]
Ans: I am a peacock.
• What do you look like? [I am ................. in colour. I am a big/small bird. I have .................].
Ans: I am bright blue and green in colour. I am a big bird. I have a long, beautiful tail with eye-like patterns and a small crest on my head.
• Where do you live? [I live in ................. It is (where) .................]
Ans: I live in the forests and gardens in India.
• What do you do during the day? [I ................. I also .................]
Ans: During the day, I walk on the ground looking for food like insects and plants. I also spread my long tail feathers to show my beauty.
• Do you have any message for humans? [I want to tell the humans .................]
Ans: I want to tell humans to protect trees and animals so birds like me can live happily and safely.
Let us write
Page 91
Q1: Read how the bird perceived its world.
My world was small, round, and light blue at first. After that, my world was warm and comfortable. It was made of straw. In this world, I could only see leaves whenever I stepped out. In the end, my world became big. It had the sky and the earth as a part of it.
Ans:
When the bird was a baby, it thought the nest and the egg around it were its whole world, so the world seemed small, round and blue. Later the bird's world changed to a warm, comfortable nest made of straw. As it grew and flew out, the bird's world became very big, including the sky, trees and the earth.
Q2: Now, discuss with your teacher and classmates how you think the world would look to the following.
(a) a baby
(b) a fish
Ans:
(a) Baby (Written in first person)
I am surrounded by relatives who love and care for me. Everyone gives me attention and I feel safe. My mother feeds me and looks after me. I like soft blankets, toys and lullabies. As I grow, more places like parks and classrooms will become part of my world.
(b) Fish
I live in water and feed on water plants and small animals. I swim with other fish and enjoy hiding among plants. I must be careful of fishing nets and bigger fish that may eat me. My home is the water where I move, eat and rest.
Q3: Now, write five sentences each, for both (a) and (b), in your notebooks. You can take help from the example given in 1.
Ans:
(a) A Baby
My world is small, cosy and filled with soft blankets and toys.
I see the faces of my parents and they make me feel safe and loved.
My world is made up of warm bottles of milk and gentle lullabies.
As I grow, my world expands to include colourful picture books and playful sounds.
Soon my world will include new places like the park and the neighbourhood where I can explore and learn.
(b) A Fish
My world is a small tank or pond filled with clear water and pebbles.
I see the shimmering light that filters through the water and makes patterns.
My world has plants and hiding places where I can rest.
When I swim near the surface, I sometimes see humans who feed me.
In a bigger pond or lake, I can swim more freely and meet other fish.
Let us explore
Page 91, 92
Q1: The bird's first home was made of a shell. Later, its home was among leaves and made of straw.
- Look at your home carefully and make a list of all the materials it is made of.
Ans: My home is made of bricks, cement, steel (for rods), wood and glass for windows.
- Why do you think our homes are not made of straw?
Ans: Our homes are not made of straw because straw would not be strong enough to keep us safe in rain, wind or storms. Straw is also easily flammable and would not protect us from cold or heavy weather.
- If you had to own a home of your choice, what would it look like and what materials would you like to use?
Ans: I would like a home made of strong bricks and cement, with wooden doors and good windows. It would have a garden and a roof that keeps the home cool in summer and warm in winter.
- How is a home different from a house? Discuss with your classmates and teacher.
Ans: A home is a place where family members live together with love and care; it feels comfortable and safe. A house is the physical building or shelter made of bricks, wood or stone. In short, a house becomes a home when people live in it and care for one another.
- Look at the list of some workers who build houses. Find out the work they do and write, as shown in the example. You can think of other workers and add them too.
Ans:
Q2: Look at the different kinds of nests and homes the birds make. Have you seen any? Discuss these types of nests with your teacher and classmates.
Ans: Traditional Nest in a Tree
Description: A nest of twigs, leaves, and other plant materials. It is typically found in the branches of trees.
Birds: Common birds like robins, sparrows, and pigeons build such nests.
Personal Observation: It is often built safely among the branches where the eggs are protected.
Hanging Nest
Description: These nests are suspended from branches and are made of woven grass and other flexible materials.
Birds: Birds like weaver birds and orioles make these intricate hanging nests.
Personal Observation: They are interesting because of the careful weaving and are usually hung where leaves give extra cover.
Cavity Nest
Description: A nest built inside a hole in a tree trunk or wall.
Birds: Woodpeckers, owls and some parrots use tree cavities for nesting.
Personal Observation: These nests give good protection from weather and predators. Look for trees with holes; they may be homes for such birds.
Leaf Nest
Description: A nest made by folding or stitching leaves together.
Birds: Tailorbirds and some warblers build these clever leaf nests.
Personal Observation: They are neat and hidden inside dense foliage, showing skillful use of natural materials.
Discussion with Classmates
Types of Birds: Talk about which birds build each type of nest and why.
Construction Techniques: Discuss how birds use weaving, stitching, or cavities to make nests that suit their needs.
By discussing these nests, you learn how birds adapt their homes to protect their eggs and young.
FAQs on NCERT Solutions: What a Bird Thought
| 1. What is the main message or moral of "What a Bird Thought" by Olive Beaupré Miller? |  |
| 2. Why does the bird in the poem think humans are cruel? | |
| 3. What is ironic about the bird's conclusion in this NCERT poem? | |
| 4. How does the poet use the bird as a narrator to make a point about human nature? | |
| 5. What literary devices does Olive Beaupré Miller use in "What a Bird Thought" to convey meaning? | |
