NCERT Solutions for Class 5 EVS Chapter 17 - Across the Wall

Find Out

 1. Is there any place to pay near your house?

Ans. Yes, there is a big park near my house which is a good place for playing.

2. What do people play there? Who plays there?

Ans. People play different games in that park such as badminton, football, cricket, kho-kho, kabaddi etc. Both girls and boys from our area and nearby areas come to play in that park.

3. Do the children of your age also get a chance to play there?

Ans. Yes, I and other children of my age often play there.

4. What other things happen at this place?

Ans. Besides games, people also do other activities in that park, such as yoga, physical exercise, public meetings, morning and evening walks etc.

Tell

1. Has anyone ever stopped you from playing some games? Which games?

Ans. Yes, I was stopped from playing football.

2. Who stopped you and why? What did you do then?

Ans. My mother stopped me from playing football because she said I could get many injuries while playing this game and that is why she did not want me to play this game. I tried to convince her, but when I failed to do so, I called one of my friends from the neighbourhood. She explained and convinced her.

3. Did anyone help you and encourage you to play?

Ans. Yes, my friend from my neighbourhood, my father and my school coach helped and encouraged me to play.

Discuss

1. Do girls and boys different types of games in your school or neighbourhood? If yes, then which games do the boys play and which do the girls play?

Ans. Most of the games are played by both boys and girls. But some games are played by boys only like cricket, hockey, football etc. Girls usually play badminton, kho-kho, basketball etc.

2. Do you think that there is any difference between the games and the way they are played by boys and girls?

Ans. Yes, there is a difference between the way boys and girls play the game. Boys usually play very harshly whereas girls prefer playing smoothly. 

3. Should the game for boys and girls be different? What do you think?

Ans. I think girls are also as talented and hardworking as boys. They can play all the games which are played by the boys. Thus there should not be much difference between the games for boys and girls.

Write

1. Have you ever played as part of a team in your class, school or neighbourhood? Whom did you play with? What game did you play?

Ans. Yes, I played as part of my school team. We played with the team of another school. We played the game of football.

2. What is the difference between playing for yourself and for the team?

Ans. There is a lot of difference between playing for ourselves and for our team. When we are playing for ourselves, we just think of our own victory, we try to prove ourselves as excellent and better than others. We just want to listen to our won praise. But when we are playing for the team, we first understand each other, we create a sense of cooperation with each member of the team, we respect each other, we try to teach others and play unitedly as a single team. We play together and work hard to see the victory of the whole team and get praised.

3. While playing in a team would you like to play for yourself or for the team? Why?

Ans. While playing in a team, I would like to play for the team. This is because I want my team to win. This requires understanding between all the members of the team. It teaches us how to live with unity, love and respect.

4. Is your team like the team Afsana played with at Sholapur or like the Nagpada team? How?

Ans. Our team is like the Nagpada team. This is because the Nagpada very good understanding and cooperation between each member of the team. The members respected and encouraged each other and never insulted any one of his/her weaknesses. We understand that this unity was their strength which was the reason for their success. Similarly, we also want our team to be perfect and successful. Thus our team is just like the Nagpada team.

Discuss

1. Have you ever taken part in a game or competition from your school or area? How did you feel?

Ans. Yes, I had taken part in an interschool football match. I felt very honoured and challenged to play for my school side.

 2. Did you go to some other place to play? What was that place like? How did you like going to that place?

Ans. Yes, we went to Punjab to play a match. That place was very nice. I felt very good to be in a new place.

3. Have you seen matches played between India and other countries? Which ones?

Ans. Yes, I have seen matches between India and some other countries. I have seen cricket, hockey, football and tennis matches.

4. We all know about the cricketers of India, and we all like them. Do people also know and like the Indian players who play some other games? What do you feel about it? Do you know the players of the Indian football or kabaddi team?

Ans. No, the Indian players of the other games are not much known and liked by the people. This is because, the other games have not been able to give much respect, name and success to our country. No, we do not know much about the players of the Indian football or kabaddi team.

Discuss

1. What would happen if girls are not allowed to play games, study or do some other work of their choice?

Ans. If girls are not allowed to play games, study or do some work of their choice, their hidden talent will get suppressed and they will not be able to express themselves. They will also not be able to grow physically strong and this might also affect them mentally.

2. How would you feel if you were not allowed to take part in some game or drama?

Ans. If I were not allowed to take part in some games or drama. I would have left very bad and I would feel discouraged.

3. Have you heard of any women players? Name them and the games they play.

Ans. Some of the women players, I have heard about and the games they play, are as follows:

(i) Sania Mirza: Tennis

(ii) P.T. Usha: Athletics

(iii) Aparna Popat: Badminton

(iv) Anju Bobby George: Long jump

4. In which area other than sports have you heard of women getting recognition?

Ans. The other areas apart from sports, where women have gotten recognition are:

(i) Police Department – Kiran Bedi

(ii) Politics – Indira Gandhi (First Lady Prime Minister of India)

(iii) Politics – Pratibha Patil (First Lady President of India)

(iv) Mountain climbing – Bachandri Pal (The First Indian lady who climbed Mount Everest) 

5. Are these women less known than men? Why?

Ans. No, these women are not less known than the men. These women have brought huge pride and respect to the country in their respective fields.

6. How would you find the world to be, if girls never got a chance to take part in games, drama or dance? How would you feel if such a thing happened to boys?

Ans. If the girls will not get a chance to take part in games drama or dance, there will be no competition or challenges. The world would seem very boring. If such a thing would happen with boys, then also it would be very bad, boring and unfair.

7. Do you know of any woman or girl whom you would want to be like when you grow up?

Ans. I would want to be like Kiran Bedi and serve my country.

 Think and Write

1. The newspaper report said, “Afsana has jumped over the wall. The gender wall that her mother had made.” Think and write in your own words what was this wall. What do you understand by ‘gender bias’?

Ans. The wall being discussed here refers to the wall of gender bias. By gender bias, we understand the difference in the approach of people towards boys and girls. In our country, especially in small villages, people still believe that boys are superior to girls. Boys have the right to study, play, and participate in all types of activities. But girls are meant for household work only. They believe, it is not right to allow girls to go out and study, play or work. But nowadays, people have changed a lot. Girls are also given equal opportunities and respect as boys except in a few small villages.

What we have Learnt

1. Should the games of boys and girls be different? Think and write.

Ans. No, I think there should not be much difference in the games of boys and girls. Girls are also very competent, and hard-working and they can also take challenges very well. Today, there is hardly any field in which the girls have not proven themselves. Thus, girls and boys should be treated properly.

2. If you are made the leader of a team, how will you prepare your team?

Ans. If I would have been the leader of my team, I would prepare my team just like the Nagpada team. For this, I will take care of the following things-

(i) I would encourage them to play with hard work and honesty.

(ii) I would tell them to understand and respect each other and maintain unity.

(iii) They should support each other, never insult each other for their mistakes and play for the whole team.

(iv) They should understand that cooperation and unity is the strength of a team.

(v) I would also ask them to practice and exercise daily.