Birbal's wit is a hit - Expressions English - Class 6 - English

Find words of phrases in the text that tell that Shaukat Ali was scared of what the Emperor would do to him.
a.            ____________________________________________________
b.           ______________________________________________________
c.            _______________________________________________________
d.           _______________________________________________________
e.            ______________________________________

Shaukat Ali was now trembling, like a leaf in the wind.
‘Go fetch a bag full of the best lime to the court,’ thundered the Emperor.
Relieved that his life was spared, Shaukat went to a nearby shop that sold lime. He didn’t have the slightest hint of what awaited him.
‘Have you started making pickle for the entire neighbourhood?’ asked the shopkeeper, jovially.
‘Of course not! I’m only following the Emperor’s command.’ Shaukat Ali was now worried and frightened.
‘Then it can’t be disobeyed,’ said Mahesh Das. He was observing the entire episode. ‘I know that you haven’t asked for it, yet I would like to give you a piece of advice. It may come handy.’
‘Alright, but be quick,’ Shaukat Ali said, his voice now a croak.

a.       Shaukat Ali was trembling because he was ________________.
(i) ill                                                               (ii) feeling cold
(iii) afraid                                                     (iv) feeling feverish

b.       Shaukat Ali was relieved when he heard that the Emperor wanted him to go and buy a bag full of ______________ .
(i) paan                                                         (ii) ghee
(iii) beetle leaves                                      (iv) lime

c.       Shaukat Ali told the shopkeeper that he was only following the Emperor’s _________
(i) request                                                   (ii) command
(iii) plea                                                        (iv) instructions

d.       Mahesh Das was ____________ the entire episode.
(i) looking at                                               (ii) studying
(iii) trying to understand                       (iv) observing

e.       ‘I know that you haven’t asked for it.’ What is ‘it’ in this line?
(i) paan                                                         (ii) lime
(iii) ghee                                                       (iv) advice

Why did Mahesh Das ask Shaukat to drink a bowl of ghee?

What punishment did the Emperor have in mind for Shaukat Ali? Do you think it was a fair punishment?

Why do you think the Emperor conferred the title of ‘Birbal’ on Mahesh Das?

By the time the episode ended, the Emperor was in high spirits. Give a reason to support your answer.

Do you think the Emperor had a soft corner for Birbal? What do you think he would have done, if it was someone else who had asked Shaukat to consume a bowl of ghee?

Many times we wait for the right time to ask or say something to people, like our parents or teachers. What do you think stops us from speaking right away?

Add an affix to each of the following words to make new words.

Notice the interesting phrases used in the sentences.
a. Shaukat gulped it all at one go.
b. Gita blew out the candles at one go.
Frame two sentences using these phrases.

Fill the blanks in the following sentences with fond of/ have a taste for so as to make perfect sense.
a. I am ______________ sweets but I know that they are not good for health.
b. My trip to Singapore has given me ______________ foreign travels.
c. Ritika ______________ silk. She can make out the real stuff just by a mere touch.
d. Being ______________ something doesn’t mean that you can go on eating it. You know that fried food can cause weight gain.
e. Although my father is very ______________ my brother, he does not spare him when he is in the wrong.

How is the word trudged used in the story ‘Birbal’s Wit is Hit’ – as a noun or verb?
Give a reason to support your answer.

Now look up the word skip in the dictionary and write the meaning that is opposite to the meaning of the word trudge.

You have already learnt that a sentence is a group of words arranged in a manner that makes complete sense. Pick out a sentence from the story that belongs to each of the following categories and write. You may modify the sentence but the idea should be picked from the story.

‘Have a big bowl full of pure ghee before you go to the Royal Court,’ said Mahesh Das.

1. Who makes this suggestion to whom?

2. What does this moment tell you about the wisdom inherent in traditional practices?

3. Why was this advice given?