I have kept the answers short, simple and easy to learn. The answers are based on the questions and activities in the chapter.
A. Reflect and Respond
1. Why should we care for the elderly?
We should care for the elderly because they need love, support and protection.
2. What problems are faced by the elderly?
They may face:
- Poor health
- Weak eyesight and hearing
- Memory problems
- Loneliness
- Difficulty in moving
3. What could be the reasons for these problems?
These problems may happen because of:
- Old age
- Poor health
- Loneliness
- Lack of family support
4. How can we take care of the elderly?
We can:
- Talk to them kindly.
- Help them in daily work.
- Give them medicines on time.
- Spend time with them.
- Take care of their safety.
B. Vocabulary
Meanings
| Word | Easy meaning |
|---|---|
| frail | weak and delicate |
| shuddered | shook because of fear or shock |
| poky | small and uncomfortable |
| forbid | to stop someone from doing something |
| pottering | doing small things slowly |
| winced | showed pain or embarrassment |
C. Reading for Meaning – Vitamin-M
Check Your Understanding – I
1. Why did Grandpa dislike living in the city with his daughter?
Grandpa disliked the city because it was noisy, crowded and busy.
2. Why did Vidya not want her father to go out alone?
She was worried because Grandpa had fallen down and once got lost.
3. Was Ravi in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child?
No. Ravi felt embarrassed when his mother spoke to Grandpa loudly like a child.
4. Would Ravi be able to keep up his promise to his mother?
No. Grandpa went out alone, and Ravi secretly followed him.
D. Grandpa’s Day Out – Flow Chart
- Children’s park
- Peanuts
- Tea stall
- A lady and the vendors
- Tea and bananas/ice cream
- Barber shop
- Bus stop and boarded a bus
Grandpa finally returned home safely and Ravi discovered that he had followed the wrong person onto the bus.
Check Your Understanding – II
1. Was Grandpa lost as feared by Ravi’s mother?
No. Grandpa came home safely.
2. How would Ravi feel after seeing Grandpa?
He felt very happy, relieved and affectionate.
3. Would Ravi’s mother get to know what had happened?
Probably no, because Grandpa did not tell her about Ravi following him.
E. Check Your Understanding – III
1. How does Ravi’s reaction show his feelings for Grandpa?
Ravi was very worried when Grandpa was missing. When he found him safe, he hugged him. This shows that Ravi loved his Grandpa.
2. Why did Grandpa give gifts to everyone?
He was loving and caring. He liked giving happiness to his family.
3. Why did Grandpa give Ravi a detective story?
He knew that Ravi had followed him. The book was a funny hint that Grandpa knew what Ravi had done.
F. Critical Reflection
Extract 1
(i) Emotion shown by Grandpa
D. Wistful
(ii) Grandpa hated the busy city because:
It was noisy and crowded.
(iii) Why did Grandpa come to the city?
He came because he was getting too old to live alone safely.
(iv) “You can even hear a leaf fall” means:
D. Pin drop silence
v) One advantage and one disadvantage of his old house
Advantage: It was peaceful and quiet.
Disadvantage: There was nobody to help him when he fell down.
Extract 2
(i) Tone of Grandpa
C. Calm
(ii) Why was Ravi confused and embarrassed?
He was embarrassed because he had left home and secretly followed Grandpa.
(iii) Why was Ravi’s mother impatient?
She thought Grandpa had forgotten Ravi’s birthday.
(iv) True or False
False.
Grandpa had not forgotten. He gave gifts to children on his own birthday.
(v) Why did Grandpa say he did not know about Ravi’s morning?
Because Ravi had disappeared instead of staying at home with him.
G. Long Answer Questions
1. Give two proofs that Grandpa’s memory was not completely failing.
- He remembered many chess games and famous chess players.
- He remembered to give birthday gifts to everyone.
2. Give two qualities of each character.
Grandfather:
- Intelligent
- Loving
Ravi:
- Caring
- Curious
Ravi’s mother:
- Caring
- Protective
3. Why was Ravi worried about what Grandpa ate at the tea stall?
Grandpa drank sugary tea and ate bananas and ice cream, although his mother had forbidden them.
4. Was it easy for Ravi to follow Grandpa?
No. It was difficult because Ravi had to hide behind bushes, trees and cars and run after Grandpa.
5. “Ravi is a good detective.” Give one argument for and against.
For: He followed Grandpa carefully.
Against: He followed the wrong man onto the bus.
6. Was Grandpa aware that Ravi was following him?
Yes. His gift of the detective book suggests that he knew about Ravi’s actions.
7. Who needs Vitamin-M and why?
Ravi’s mother needs Vitamin-M because she thought Grandpa had forgotten things, but Grandpa remembered many important things.
8. Give an example of age discrimination.
Sometimes people ignore the opinions of old people because they think they cannot understand modern things.
H. Vocabulary and Structures
I. Movement Words and Sound Words
Movement words
- pottering
- twirling
- crouch
- crawl
- creeping
- ducked
- zigzagging
- evicted
- briskly
- sprinting
- jumping
- darted
- trailing
Sound words
- boomed
- thudded
- shrieks
- whirr
- grunted
- snoring
- bustle
Fill in the blanks
- trailing
- bustle
- sprinting
- thudded
- twirling
- crouch
- creeping
- grunted
- darted
- whirr
I. Synonyms
- Dilemma – Quandary
- Dilemma – Predicament
III. Word Table
| Word | Meaning | Part of Speech | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| craftily | cleverly | Adverb | cleverly | honestly |
| dilemma | difficult choice | Noun | problem | certainty |
| furious | very angry | Adjective | angry | calm |
| boomed | spoke loudly | Verb | thundered | whispered |
| humiliation | feeling of shame | Noun | embarrassment | pride |
| attire | clothes | Noun | dress | undress |
IV. Match the following
- embarrassed – (v)
- countered – (iv)
- flushed – (vi)
- stricken – (i)
- gleam – (iii)
I. Prepositions
- through
- over
- near
- in
- along
- towards
J. Interrogative Sentences
A.
The sentences are interrogative sentences.
B.
Sentences 1, 4 and 5 are Yes/No type questions.
C.
Sentences 2 and 3 are Wh-type questions.
D.
There are two types of interrogative sentences:
- Wh-type
- Yes/No type
K. Direct and Indirect Speech
1.
Arvind asked Priya if she helped in taking care of her grandparents at home.
2.
Priya replied that they took turns making sure they were alright.
3.
Priya asked Arvind if he had grandparents living with him.
4.
Arvind said that his parents and he visited his grandpa every weekend.
5.
He asked how they managed their grandparents’ medical needs.
6.
Priya said that they had a schedule for giving medicines and visiting the doctor.
L. Speaking Activity – Sample Answer
I helped my grandfather when he was not feeling well. I gave him water and medicines on time. I also sat with him and talked to him. I learned that elderly people need love, respect and care. This experience made me more responsible
Our Inspiring Elderly
Name: ____________
Class: ____________
Elderly people are an important part of our families. They have a lot of knowledge and experience.
Our grandparents teach us many good things. They tell us stories and guide us in difficult situations. They also teach us good values like honesty, patience and kindness.
They have faced many problems in life but remained strong. Their experiences inspire us to work hard and never give up.
We should respect and care for elderly people. They are an important part of our family and society.
The chapter specifically asks for a four-paragraph article on how elderly people inspire us.
N. Learning Beyond the Text
1. Grandpa’s walking stick
It is the walking stick with the eagle-shaped brass handle.
2. Family photographs
This is a personal activity. You can write:
- When and where the photo was taken.
- Who is in the photo.
- Why the photo is special.
O. The Lost Child
There are no question-answer exercises after the story, but the main idea is important.
Simple summary
A little boy goes to a fair with his parents. He sees many beautiful things like toys, sweets, flowers, balloons and a roundabout.
He keeps moving away from his parents because he is attracted by different things.
When he finally wants to ride the roundabout, he discovers that his parents are missing.
He becomes very frightened and cries for his mother and father.
A kind man tries to make him happy by offering him sweets, balloons, flowers and a ride. But the child refuses everything.
He only wants his mother and father.
Main message
Parents are more important to a child than toys, sweets or other things.
P. Vocabulary – The Lost Child
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| hover | stay near a place |
| hum | sing with closed lips |
| cradle | small bed for a baby |
| shiuli | a type of flower |
| morning service | rituals in a temple |
| gaze | look steadily for a long time |
Q. Poem – I Cannot Remember My Mother
Check Your Understanding
Stanza 1
- The poet remembers his mother while he plays.
- He remembers the tune but not the song.
- Setting: Indoor
Stanza 2
- The poet remembers his mother in the early autumn season.
- He remembers her by the smell of shiuli flowers.
- Setting: Outdoor
Stanza 3
- The poet feels that his mother looks at him from the sky.
- Setting: Outdoor
R. Senses in the Poem
| Stanza | Example | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The tune of some song | Auditory |
| 2 | Smell of shiuli flowers | Olfactory |
| 3 | Blue of the distant sky | Visual |
S. Poetic Devices
1. Two examples of alliteration
- play – playthings
- stillness – spread – sky
2. Example of onomatopoeia
hum
3. Explain imagery.
The poet uses sound, smell and sight to help us imagine his memories of his mother.
4. Why is the poem enjoyable without rhyme?
It is enjoyable because it has beautiful images and deep emotions.
5. What is the tone of the poet?
The tone is sad, loving and nostalgic because he remembers his mother.
6. Effect of the title
The title creates a sad and emotional mood.
7. Why is the line repeated?
It shows that the poet cannot clearly remember his mother, but he still feels her presence.
8. Symbols used
- Humming tune – mother’s love
- Shiuli flowers – mother’s memory
- Sky – mother’s presence
T. Critical Reflection – Poem
Extract 1
(i)
The poet remembers his mother during his playtime.
(ii)
C. It activates memories of the mother.
(iii)
The tune reminds him of his mother while he is playing.
(iv)
True
(v)
He feels his mother’s presence through the tune and memories.
Extract 2
(i)
B. The sky is a symbolic extension of the mother’s presence.
(ii)
D. A sense of serenity
(iii)
True
(iv)
The sky represents the mother’s loving presence.
(v)
The tone is calm and nostalgic because the poet remembers his mother lovingly.
U. Long Answers – Poem
1. What is the emotional impact of the refrain?
It creates a feeling of sadness, love and longing.
2. Connection between mother and:
(i) Shiuli flowers: Their smell reminds him of his mother.
(ii) Humming tune: The tune reminds him of his mother’s loving care.
3. What role does nature play?
Nature helps the poet remember his mother.
4. What does the poem show about the mother-child relationship?
It shows that the love between a mother and child remains strong, even after separation.
V. Sensory Words
Visual
- glowing
- gigantic
- minuscule
- gloomy
- vibrant
- crimson
Auditory
- rustle
- hiss
- sizzle
- deafening
- squeaky
- ear-splitting
Olfactory
- aroma
- stale
- scent
- stinky
- pungent
- fragrant
Tactile
- sticky
- rough
- chilled
- fluffy
- smooth
- slimy
- hairy
Fill in the blanks – Sarojini Naidu passage
- scarlet
- perfumes
- shrill
- flaming
- scents
- essence
- smooth
W. Diary Entry – Sample
Sunday, 10 September 2026
8:00 p.m.
Today I went on a school trip to a beautiful hill station. The air was cool and fresh. I could see green trees and colourful flowers everywhere.
The sound of birds made the place peaceful. The fresh smell of flowers made me very happy. I enjoyed the beautiful view with my friends.
It was a wonderful experience. I will always remember this trip because I felt happy and close to nature.
Note
The Listening activities in the chapter require an audio/teacher transcript. The chapter itself says that the meditation transcript is on page 266, so I have not guessed those answers.
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