NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 1 - Who Did Patrick's Homework

Page No. 11: 

Working with the Text

Answer the following Questions

(Refer to that paragraph of the text whose number is given against the question. This applies to the comprehension questions throughout the book.)

Q1. What did Patrick think his cat was playing with? What was it really? (2)
Ans: Patrick thought that his cat was playing with a little doll, but it was really a man of the tiniest size, an elf.

Q2. Why did the little man grant Patrick a wish? (2) 
Ans: Patrick saved the tiny man’s life from the cat by not handing him back to the cat. So he promised to fulfill one of Patrick's wishes. 

Q3. What was Patrick's wish? (3) 
Ans: Patrick hated doing homework. Patrick wanted the little man to do all his homework till the end of the semester, which was for 35 days. 

Q4. In what subjects did the little man need help to do Patrick's homework? (5, 6) 
Ans: The little man needed Patrick's help in English, Maths, and human history. Hence, he asked for Patrick’s help while doing the homework on these subjects.

Q5. How did Patrick help him? (7) 
Ans: Patrick sat beside the little man and stayed up late at night to guide him while doing the homework. He brought books from the library and read those books to the little man. 

Q6. Who do you think did Patrick's homework - the little man or Patrick himself? Give reasons for your answer. (9, 10) 
Ans: 

• It was not the little man but Patrick himself who did his homework as the little man did not know anything about English, maths, or human history. Patrick had to consult a dictionary, guide him with Maths, and help him to read too. 
• He stayed up at night and worked hard. Therefore, it was Patrick who did the homework.

Page No. 11: 

Working with Language

A. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with the words or phrases from the box. (You may not know the meaning of all the words. Look such words up in a dictionary, or ask your teacher.)

1.  Some people find household__________________ a bore, but I like to help at home.
2. Who stole the diamond is still a_____________________ .
3. This_________________ we are going to have a class exhibition.
4. _______________ , the elf began to help Patrick.
5. Can you__________________ this word in the dictionary?
6. I started early to be on time, but I was_____________________ . There was a traffic jam!
7. She says she’s got a lot of books, but______________________ I think most of them are borrowed.
Ans:
1.  Some people find household chores a bore, but I like to help at home.
2. Who stole the diamond is still a mystery.
3. This semester, we are going to have a class exhibition.
4. True to his word, the elf began to help Patrick.
5. Can you lookup this word in the dictionary?
6. I started early to be on time, but I was out of luck. There was a traffic jam!
7. She says she’s got a lot of books, but between you and me I think most of them are borrowed.

B: Use the clues given below to complete this crossword puzzle.

Across
1. very tired
2. had an angry look on the face
3. short trousers
4. a fault in a machine that prevents it from working properly
5. a small and naughty boy-fairy

Down
6. work that must be done every day, often boring
7. a basket with a lid
8. gave a short, high-pitched cry
Ans:

Page No. 13: Speaking

In the story, Patrick does difficult things he hates to do because the elf pretends he needs help. Have you ever done something difficult or frightening by pretending about it in some way? Tell your classmates about it.
Or
Say what you feel about homework. (The words and phrases in the boxes may help you.) Do you think it is useful, even though you may not like it? Form pairs and speak to each other.
For example:
You may say, “I am not fond of homework.”
Your partner may reply, “But my sister helps me with my lessons at home, and that gives a boost to my marks.”

Ans:
I: I am not fond of reading books.
My partner: But my brother told me that reading books gives a boost to your vocabulary.
I: My friend is not so keen on scoring good grades in the exams.
My partner: But my sister said that she would assist me in my lessons to score well in the exams.
I: I have not developed a liking for playing football.
My partner: But my cousin assured me that he would help me learn how to play football.
I: My younger brother has taken to playing chess.
My partner: But my brother does not support me in playing indoor games.
I: I have appealed to my Physical Training teacher to allow me a day’s break from the drill session.
My partner: But playing outdoor games can be a boon for your health.
I: I have always had a taste for delicious food.
My partner: But my mother says that I should clean my bare hands with the aid of soap and water before touching the food.

Page No. 13: 

Writing

A: This story has a lot of rhyming words, as a poem does. Can you write out some parts of it like a poem so that the rhymes come at the end of separate lines?
For example:
Patrick never did homework. “Too boring,” he said.
He played baseball and hockey and Nintendo instead.
Ans:
The man of the smallest size
He was sincere and wise
Patrick loved to play sports, not work
He wasted his time and had pending homework
The elf promised to help and wore a tall hat
Patrick saved him from the naughty cat

B: Look at these sentences.
1. “Too boring,” he said.
2. Cleaned his room and did his chores.
When we speak, we often leave out words that can easily be guessed. We do not do this when we write unless we are trying to write as we speak (as in the story).
So, if we were to write carefully, we would say:
“Homework is too boring,” he said.
He cleaned his room and did his chores.
Ans: Read the sentences carefully.

C: Rewrite the following incomplete sentences carefully so that the reader does not have to guess what is left out.
1. more and more books
2. too difficult
3. got up late, missed the bus
4. solved the mystery
Ans:
1. My sister loves reading more and more books.
2. Maths is too difficult to understand.
3. Last Friday, my brother got up late and missed the bus for college.
4. The detective solved the mystery of the crime scene.

D: Look at this cartoon by R.K.Laxman. Read the sentence given below the cartoon. Discuss the following questions with your partner.
What is it about?
Do you find it funny? If so, why?
Do you think a cartoon is a serious drawing? Why or why not?

Ans: It depicts a father’s concern for the betterment and improvement of his son.
Yes, the cartoon exhibits a funny tone. The father orders his son to finish his homework. But he stops the boy from reading the laws against child labor.
A cartoon mostly depicts the day-to-day activities of life with funny images. Although the above cartoon is a serious drawing, it draws our attention to a common problem that affects one and all.