Wonder Book 4

Narrator 1 : Once Motu and Sangita started laughing, they couldn’t stop.
Soon they were laughing uncontrollably. Tears rolled down their
faces. And then it happened. Momos came out of their noses.
They were both directly disqualified.

Narrator 2 : Rashmi could not believe it! Her plan had worked! She was the
winner. She could not wait to find out what prize she had won.

Announcer : Congratulations, young lady. You have won the third annual
Momo Eating Contest.

Thanks to some clever plans, you figured out a way to come from
behind and win. It was an exciting victory.

And now it is time to announce the mystery prize. I think you will
be very happy. You have won a packet of Hajmola. It will help you
digest the momos you have eaten.

Vocabulary

1. Make a sentence using each of these words.
prize hungry strong laughing winner

Comprehension Activities

1 Answer the following questions.
a. How many kids were competing in the Momo Eating Contest?

Write their names.
b. What were the rules of the contest?
c. Did Motu and Sangita get distracted when Rashmi made a funny

face?

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d. What happened when Rashmi told a joke at last?
e. Who won the Momo Eating Contest?
f. What was the mystery prize?
g. If you were the winner of the contest, would you be happy with

the mystery prize?

2 Fill in the blanks using the words given in the box.
a. Rashmi was way .......................... the other two kids.
b. Motu usually ate about .......................... plates of momos in one

sitting.
c. Rashmi decided to say some really .......................... things about

the food.
d. Once Motu and Sangita started .........................., they couldn’t

stop.
e. Momos came out of their ...........................

3 Tick the correct answers and write them on blanks.

a. Each plate had .......................... momos.
i. ten
ii. twenty
iii. fifty

b. Rashmi was eating very ...........................
i. fast
ii. slowly
iii. lazily

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c. Rashmi said that momos looked like big yellow ...........................
i. snails
ii. mice
iii. butterflies
d. Rashmi decided to tell a ...........................
i. story
ii. fairy tale
iii. joke

Think, Pair and Share

Imagine you were Rashmi in the play. How would you win the competition?
What strategies do you apply there. Discuss each other and present your
views in the class.

Leisure Activity

Organize an interesting contest in class. It doesn’t have to be an eating
competition. It can be a balloon blowing competition or a cartoon drawing
competition. Have fun!

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Fantasy

The Wolf Goes to School

Fantasy is a story where magical things happen. It may have strange characters and
fantastic places. In a fantasy world, anything is possible because it does not follow the
natural laws.
Alice in Wonderland is a good example of fantasy. So are the Harry Potter books.

The Wolf Goes 17
to School

Before you proceed

Do you like going to school?
What do you like most about your school?

New Words

leaped - moved suddenly

storytellers - people who tell stories

The Wolf Goes to School

-Becky Bloom

Once upon a time, there was a wolf. He lived in a jungle. One day, he left
the jungle and started walking.
He walked and walked and walked. Then he walked some more. He was
very tired and hungry. His feet started to pain. He did not have much
money.
Then he remembered something. “There is a farm outside this village,” he
thought. “I’ll find some food there… .”
He looked over the farm fence secretly. He saw a pig, a duck and a cow
reading in the sun.

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The wolf had never seen animals read before. He did not believe it. “I’m so
hungry that I am seeing things that are impossible,” he said to himself. But
he really was very hungry so he did not think about it for a long time.
The wolf stood up tall. He took a deep breath … and leaped at the animals
with a howl – “AaaOOOOOooo!”
Chickens and rabbits ran for their lives. But the duck, the pig and the cow
did not budge.
“What is that terrible noise?” complained the cow. “I can’t read my book.”
“Just ignore it,” said the duck.
The wolf did not like to be ignored. “What is wrong with you?” shouted the
wolf. “Can’t you see I am a big and dangerous wolf?”
“I’m sure you are,” replied the pig. “But can’t you go somewhere else? We’re
trying to read. This is a farm for educated animals. Now be a good wolf

A wolf pup’s eyes are blue at
birth. Their eyes turn yellow
by the time they are eight
months old.

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and go away,” said the pig pushing him away.

The wolf had never been treated like this before.

“Educated animals … educated animals!” the wolf repeated to himself.
“This is
something
new. Well

then! I’ll
learn how
to read too.”
And then
he went to
school.

The children
found it
strange to have a wolf in their class. He didn’t try to eat anyone, so the
children got used to him. The wolf was serious and hardworking. He
worked very hard and learned to read and write. Soon he became the best
student in the class.

The wolf was satisfied with himself. He went back to the farm and jumped
over the fence. “I’ll show them,” he thought. He opened his book and began
to read:

“Run, wolf! Run! See, wolf, run.”

“You’ve got a long way to go,” said the duck. He didn’t even look up. And
the pig, the duck and the cow kept reading. They were not impressed with
the wolf.

The wolf jumped back over the fence. He ran straight to the public library.
He studied for a long time. He read lots of dusty old books. He practised
and practised until he could read without stopping.

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“They’ll be impressed with my reading now,” he thought.

The wolf walked
up to the farm gate
and knocked. He
opened the book
called The Three
Little Pigs and
began to read:

“Once upon a time there were three little pigs. One day their mother
called them and told them-“

“Stop that noise,” said the duck.

“You have improved,” said the pig, “but you still need to work on your style.”

The wolf put his tail between his legs and went away.

What do you think the wolf did next?

But the wolf didn’t give up. He counted the little money he had left and
went to the bookshop. He brought a wonderful new storybook. It was the
first book that he bought!

He was going to read it all day and all night. He was reading every letter
and every line. “I will read well and impress the farm animals,” he thought.

Ding-dong! The wolf rang the bell at the farm gate.

He lay down on the grass and made himself comfortable. Then, he took
out his new book and began to read. He read with confidence and passion.
The pig, the cow and the duck all listened. They did not say one word.
When he finished reading one story, they asked him to read another. So
the wolf kept reading story after story.

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“This is so much fun!” said the duck.
“He is a master,” said the pig.
“Why don’t you join us on our picnic today?” offered the cow.
And so they all had a picnic – the pig, the duck, the cow and the wolf. They

lay in the tall grass. He told stories all afternoon.
“We should all become storytellers,” said the cow suddenly.
“We could travel around the world,” added the duck.
“We can start tomorrow morning,” said the pig.
The wolf lay in the grass. He was happy to have such wonderful friends.

Vocabulary

1. Match the words with their opposite meanings.

started uneducated

satisfied closed

remembered dissatisfied
educated stopped
opened forgot

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2. Fill in the blanks with the words from the text and complete the
paragraph.
He lay down on the grass and ...................... himself comfortable.
Then, he took out his new book and .......................... to read. He read
with ............................ and passion. The pig, the cow and the duck all
............................ They did not say one word. When he ............................
reading one story, they ........................... him to read another. So the
wolf kept ............................ story after story.

Comprehension Activities

1 Answer the following questions.
a. What did the wolf see in the farm?
b. Why did the wolf go to school?
c. Were the animals impressed with the wolf the first time he read?
d. What did the wolf do with the little money that he had?
e. Why did the animals listen to the wolf reading?
f. What did the animals decide to do?
g. What would happen if animals could learn and speak human

languages?

2 Give reasons.
a. Why did the wolf say this?
“I’m so hungry that I am seeing things that are impossible.”

b. Why did the wolf say this?

110 A course in English literature Book - 4

“Can’t you see I am a big and dangerous wolf?”
....................................................................................................
c. Why did the pig say this?
“But can’t you go somewhere else?”
....................................................................................................
d. Why did the duck say this?
“Stop that noise.”
....................................................................................................
e. Why did the cow say this?
“Why don’t you join us on our picnic today?”
....................................................................................................

3 Fill in the blanks with correct words from the text.

a. When the wolf howled ................................ did not budge.
b. The wolf did not like to be .................................
c. The educated animals in the farm were not ..............................

with the wolf.
d. He was reading every ....................... and every ........................
e. We should all become .................................

4 Circle the animals that the wolf wanted to impress.

duck cat cow
rat pig hen

Think, Pair and Share

What would you do if a wolf came to your school to read? Discuss in group
and present the ideas in the class.

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Poetry

Spring Voices
Leisure
The Rain
Mr. Nobody
My Mother Is Not ‘Emploed’

A poem uses words in special ways. The words help you see a picture in your mind.
A poem uses sensory words. Sensory words tell about things that you feel or hear or
smell or taste.
In a poem, words often rhyme. Words that rhyme end with the same sound.
A poem uses words that sound good together. Some words that sound good together
begin with the same sound.
A poem uses words to make rhythm. Lines with few words can make the rhythm fast.
Lines with many words can make the rhythm slow.
What is your favourite poem?
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Spring Voices 18

Before you proceed

Can you tell the names of all seasons?

New Words faith
jumps
Trow - mud
leaps -
Bug -

Spring Voices

“Caw! caw!” says the Crow,”
Spring has come again I know;
For as sure as I am born,
There’s a farmer planting corn.
I shall breakfast there, I trow,
Long before his corn can grow.”
“Quack, quack!” says the Duck,

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“Was there ever such good luck!
Spring has cleared the pond of ice,
And the day is warm and nice,
Just as I and Goodman Drake
Thought we’d like a swim to take.”
“Croak, croak!” says the Frog,
As he leaps out from the bog;
“Spring is near, I do declare,
For the earth is warm and fair.
Croak! croak! croak! I love the spring,
When the little birdies sing.”

Birdie is the child’s word for a baby bird in the poem
but in golf it means the act of getting the ball into the
hole in one shot.

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Vocabulary

1. Guess the word using the images

‹‹ Spring is one of the four seasons and the transition from winter
into and usually occurs during the months of March, April,
May or from the Vernal Equinox(March 20) to the summer
Solstice (June 21). Severe weather most often occurs during the
spring.

‹‹ Many , flowers, plants and bulbs begin to grow during the
spring.

‹‹ Any begins to melt. Animals begin to shed their winter

coats for the warmer weather. Many lay their eggs in the

spring.

‹‹ are being planted during spring.

Comprehension Activities

1 Answer the following questions

a. What is the poem about?
b. What does the farmer do?
c. What type of days are there in spring?
d. How does the frog express happiness?
e. Which activity mentioned in the poem do you like?

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2 List down the activities that happen in the spring
…………………….............................…………………………….
………………………………............................……………….....
…………………………………............................………………..
………………………………...........................…………………..
………………………………….......................................……..

Think, Pair and Share

Many trees, flowers, plants and shoots begin to grow during spring. Birds
lay their eggs. Animals begin to shed their winter coats for the warmer
weather. People enjoy travelling.
Do you really like spring weather or what other else?
Discuss in group and share your experiences with them.

Leisure Activity
Spring is one of the four seasons and the transition from winter into
summer. Many changes can be observed in your environment before
spring starts. Draw and describe the four signs that can be observed
in your surroundings signaling the beginning of spring.

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Leisure 19

Before you proceed

What do you like to do in your free time?
Do you prefer to see the beauty of nature, or do some activity?

New Words

leisure - free time

stare - to look fixedly at something

woods - forests

Leisure

-W. H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

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No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Literary Terms

When two or more words or lines have similar sounds at the end, it is
called rhyme.
Rhyming words are words that sound the same at the ends, such as cat /
hat, or jumping / bumping.
More examples of rhyme:

“Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day.”

“Jumping Jack, Jumping Jack,
Missed a crack and broke his back.”

Write two words that rhyme with the words given below.

a. care ……………………………

……………………………

b. pass ……………………………

……………………………

c. light ……………………………

……………………………

d. dance ……………………………

……………………………

e. can ……………………………

……………………………

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A poet groups lines in poems in different ways. Sometimes, the poet may
put two lines in a group. If the two lines of a poem end with rhyming
words, we call such a pair of lines a couplet.
How has the poet grouped his lines in ‘Leisure’?
How many lines are there in a group?
Do the lines in ‘Leisure’ end in rhyming words?
How many couplets are there in the poem?

Comprehension Activities

Answer the following questions.
a. Do you think the poet is talking about watching nature in the busy

city or in the country, far away from the city? How can you say that?
b. Mention a few things we miss out in our lives when there is no leisure.
c. The poet describes four ways of spending one’s leisure. Which of these

do you like most? Why?

Think, Pair and Share

What activities do you do in your leisure time? Compare your tasks
with your colleges & Share in the class.

Creative Writing

Complete the poem using your own words.

I wish I had .................................................................................................

I wish I had .................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................
............................ magic wand to make all my wishes come true.

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20 The rain

Before you proceed

What are the things you want to do on a rainy day? Discuss with
your classmates.

New Words

clatters - makes a rattling noise

fiery - full of heat; very hot

gushes - flows quickly

lane - narrow road

spout - a pipe or opening

struggles - fights

tramp - a heavy footstep

The Rain -H. W. Longfellow

How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and the heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain!

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How it clatters along the roofs,
Like the tramp of hoofs,
How it gushes and struggles out
From the throat of the overflowing spout!

Across the window pane
It pours and pours;
And swift and wide,
With a muddy tide,
Like a river down the gutter roars
The rain, the welcome rain!

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Vocabulary

1. Find the given words in the word puzzle below.
BEAUTIFUL HEAT POURS WIDE MUDDY
WH Q T Y U I O P
B EAUT I FUL
T AD F GH J KM
GT S AP ZXCV
WR Y UO I MN B
I E QMUDD Y P
DAZCRVNK L
E QWY S E C Z P

2. Now make a sentence using each of the words from above.

Literary Terms

1. Can you find any words in the poem that imitate sounds? Here are
two examples: clatters and tramp. This way of using words that imitate
sounds is called onomatopoeia.

2. Look at the following lines. Say what two things are being compared.
How it (rain) clatters along the roofs
Like the tramp of hoofs
Did you find what two things are compared? Yes, the sound of rain falling
on roofs is compared with the sound made by a horse’s feet. The sound of
rain is like the tramp of hoofs. Such kinds of comparison using like or as is
called simile. A simile helps a writer to describe things clearly.

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Here are some pairs of things. Create interesting similes using them. See
an example first.
The room, hot/ oven
The room was hot like an oven. Everyone was sweating.
a. Raman, happy/ bird in flight
b. The house, quiet/ school at night
c. The boys, sad/ tigers in the cage
d. Quilt, white/ snow

Think, Pair and Share

Which days do you think the best rainy and sunny. have a class discussion
& present the reasons of thinking them best.

Leisure Activity

A poem is given below. Complete the poem by filling in the blanks with
any names you like.
Alphabet poem
A is for Alice who loves drinking and eating,
B is for ................................. who is always cheating.
C is for ................................. who has lots of cats,
D is for ................................. who loves wearing hats.
E is for ................................. who always comes late,
F is for ................................. who drops her plate.
G is for ................................. whose hair is in curls,
H is for ................................. who can’t stand girls.
I is for ................................. who plays football all day,
J is for ................................. who makes things with clay.

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21 Mr. Nobody

Before you proceed

When you make a mistake, do you wish you could put the blame
on someone else? Do you think it is the right thing to do?

New Words
prithee - ‘I pray thee’, an old-fashioned way of saying ‘please’
mislaid - put in the wrong place
blinds - cloth or material pulled down to cover a window
’Tis - It is
ajar - wide open

Mr. Nobody

I know a funny little man.
As quiet as a mouse,
Who does the mischief that is done
In everybody’s house!
There’s no one ever sees his face,
And yet we all agree
That every plate we break was cracked
By Mr. Nobody.

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‘Tis he who always tears our books,
Who leaves the door ajar,
He pulls the buttons from our shirts,
And scatters pins afar;
That squeaking door will always squeak,
For, prithee, don’t you see,
We leave the oiling to be done
By Mr. Nobody.

He puts damp wood upon the fire,
That kettles cannot boil;
His are the feet that bring in mud,
And all the carpets soil.
The papers always are mislaid,
Who had them last but he?
There’s no one tosses them about
But Mr. Nobody.

The finger marks upon the door
By none of us are made;
We never leave the blinds unclosed,
To let the curtains fade,
The ink we never spill; the boots
That lying around you see
Are not our boots—they all belong
To Mr. Nobody.

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Vocabulary

1. Match the words with their opposites.

funny never

agree serious

pull first

always disagree

last push

2. Make a sentence using each of these words. push
funny agree pull always last

Comprehension Activities

1 Answer the following questions.

a. Who is Mr. Nobody? Choose the right answer.

i. He is a strange man who comes and spoils our things when
we are not looking.

ii. There is no such person. It is a funny name given to our
habit of being careless or lazy—then wanting to blame it on
somebody.

b. What does Mr. Nobody do?

c. “We never leave the blinds unclosed…”

i. Who is ‘we’ in this line?

ii. Who then leaves the blinds unclosed?

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2 Who could have said the following lines? The first one has been

done for you.

a. Who has broken my beautiful dinner plate? mother

b. Who has pulled the buttons from my shirt? ....................

c. Why don’t you shut the door? ....................

d. Who has spoiled the carpet? ....................

e. Where is the newspaper? ....................

f. Who has spilt the ink? ....................

Literary Terms

A group of lines in a poem is called a stanza. How many lines are there in
each stanza in ‘Mr. Nobody’? How many stanzas are there?

A poet may write a stanza in a special way by arranging rhyming words at
the end of lines. Such an arrangement creates a pattern in a poem which is
called rhyming pattern or rhyming scheme.

For example: a
Homework sits on top of Sunday b
squashing Sunday flat. a
Homework has the smell of Monday b
homework’s very fat.

The rhyming scheme of the given stanza is abab. Now read the poem
‘Mr. Nobody’ and find the rhyming scheme of each of the stanzas.

Think, Pair and Share

1. Discuss what Mr. Nobody does in your house.
2. What other names can you think of for Mr. Nobody? Here are two

examples — Mr. Untidy and Mr. Cup-breaker. Think at least five more
names & list them down.
1. ........................................................................................................
2. ........................................................................................................
3. ........................................................................................................

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22 My Mother Is Not
‘Employed’

Before you proceed

In what ways do your parents help in your student life?

How much do you respect your mother?

New Words - move with a rushing sound
- clean by rubbing
Swoosh - target or goal
Scrub - dried with heat
Mission - push, drive
Baked
Tuck

My Mother Is Not ‘Employed’

-Kenn Nesbitt

Make tea, make the beds,
Pack lunch, iron my clothes,
Wash shirts, my shorts,
And my smelly socks.
Drive me to school,
Pick me from school,
Meet my teachers,
Worry about my grades.
Buy new shoes;

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The old one has a hole.
Forget to get the shoe polish
Go back to the shop, swoosh!
Pay the bills, fix my teeth,
At the dentist who cares for teeth
Answer the phone, write notes,
Scrub the floor, dust the chairs.
Get me ready, she’s on a mission,
In time for my tennis session.
Drive to the club with me at the back,
An hour’ time and then we are back.
Cook dinner, with delicious bacon,
And soup with sweet baby corn,
Won’t forget a special cookie,
Specially baked for me.
Get me to take a bath,
And my homework math,
All the while mending clothes;
There’s a hole in dad’s pants.
Time for sleep, it’s a starry night,
Kiss me sweet good night,
Tuck me in and say good bye,
Good night and hum a lullaby.

A lullaby, or cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of
music, usually played for or sung to children. The music is
often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in many
countries, and have existed since ancient times.

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When someone asks her
“Are you employed?”
My mum says with a warm smile.
“No, not really”

Vocabulary

1. Chose the suitable words and fill in the blanks.

Delicious, works, happy, unemployed, lullaby
a. Every mother has to do many ……….. at home.
b. According to the poet,the mother is ……..
c. She cooks …………. becon.
d. She hums a ……. every night
e. She is ………. in doing all sorts of tasks.

2. Match the following words with their opposite meanings.

Delicious neglects

forget horrible

cares new

old awake

sleep remember

130 A course in English literature Book - 4

Comprehension Activities

1 Answer the following questions.
a. What is the poem about?
b. What is poet’s motherworried about?
c. Is she skillful for cooking?
d. List down any three tasks she does for the poet.
e. How does the mother feel in doing all the works?

2 Write T for true and F for false statements.
a. The poet’s mother is busy at job.
b. She makes him be ready for school.
c. The poet has to fix his teeth.
d. He does not have any homework.
e. She is jobless at home.

Think, Pair and Share

There are two roles of mother, stay-home mother and working mother.
What type of mother do you prefer and why?
Discuss with pair and share in the class.

Leisure Activity

List down the tasks your mother do at your home.

……………............................................................................………

……………............................................................................………

……………............................................................................………

……………............................................................................………

……………............................................................................………

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Fairy tales

Little Red Riding Hood
Pinocchio
The Little Match-Seller
Hansel and Gretel

A fairy tale, or wonder tale, is a kind of folktale or fable. In these stories we meet
witches and queens, giants and elves, princes, dragons, talking animals, ogres, princesses,
and sometimes even fairies.
Marvelous and magical things happen to characters in fairy tales. A boy may
become a bird. A princess may sleep for a hundred years. Mirrors talk, pumpkins
become carriages, and a genie lives in a lamp.
Many fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time”. They usually end with “They
lived happily ever after.”
What fairy tales have you already read?

Little Red 23
Riding Hood

Before you proceed

Do you always obey your parents?
What would you do if you saw a wolf coming towards you?

Little Red Riding Hood

This is the story of a little girl, her grandma and a big bad wolf.

The little girl lived in a little white house. The house was in a village and the
village was near a forest.

She was a good little girl. Her mother and father loved her very much. Her
grandma loved her
very much, too.

The little girl’s
grandma lived in a
very old house in
the middle of the
forest. The little girl
often went to her
grandma’s house.

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One Christmas, Grandma gave the little girl a beautiful red cloak with a
hood.

“Oh, thank you!” said the little girl.

She wore the cloak all day on Christmas Day, and the next day too. She
wore it all the time, so people gave her a new name. They called her “Little
Red Riding Hood”.

One day her mother said, “Little Red Riding Hood, your grandma is
ill. Go to her house and take her this basket of bread and butter. Walk
quickly to her house. Don’t stop and play. And don’t leave the road. Do you
understand?”

“Yes, Mother,” said Little Red Riding Hood.

Little Red Riding Hood took the basket and ran into the forest.

She walked
very quickly.
She did not
stop and play.
But soon after,
she saw a wolf.

“Hello,” said the
wolf. “How are
you today?”

“I’m very well,
thank you,” she
answered. “But
my grandma is ill. I’m taking this basket of bread and butter to her.”

134 A course in English literature Book - 4

“Are you?” said the wolf. “That’s interesting!”
The wolf was very hungry. He looked at Little Red Riding Hood with his
big hungry eyes.
“Where does your grandma live?” he asked.
“She lives in a little old house in the middle of the forest,” said Little Red
Riding Hood.
“Is it far?”
“No. It’s very near from here.”
“Mmm,” thought the wolf. “Perhaps I can eat this little girl and her grandma.”
“Look over there!” said the wolf. “Can you see those nice flowers? Does
your grandma like flowers? You can go and get some for her.”
“Oh no, I can’t,” said Little Red Riding Hood. “I can’t leave the road.”
“But you can come back to the road later,” said the wolf.
“Yes… that’s true,” said Little Red Riding Hood slowly. “I can. Oh, all right!”
So she walked through the trees to the flowers.
Now the bad wolf ran quickly towards Grandma’s house.
He went to the door and knocked.
“Who is it?” called Little Red Riding Hood’s grandma.
“It’s me, Grandma!” the wolf answered. “It’s Little Red Riding Hood!”
“Open the door and come in, dear.”
“Where are you, Grandma?” called the wolf.
“I’m upstairs in bed, dear. I am ill today and I can’t get up.”

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“I’ve got some nice bread and butter for you,” called the wolf.

He went up the stairs and ran into Grandma’s bedroom. Then he jumped
onto the bed and opened his big mouth and ate her!

The wolf put on one of Grandma’s nightdresses, and got into her bed and
waited. He waited for Little Red Riding Hood.

Little Red Riding Hood got lots of beautiful flowers in the forest.

Then suddenly she remembered her Grandma.

“Oh dear!” she said. “I’m going to be late!”

She ran back to the road, and soon she came to her Grandma’s house. She
stopped when she saw the open door.

“That’s strange,” thought Little Red Riding Hood. “Why is Grandma’s door
open?” And she went in.

The wolf heard Little Red Riding Hood.

“Who is it?” he called.

“It’s me, Grandma! It’s Little Red Riding Hood.”

“I’m upstairs in bed, dear,” called the wolf. “I am ill today and I can’t get up.”

So Little Red Riding Hood went up the stairs.

“Grandma’s voice is very strange today!” she thought. “It’s because she is
ill.”

Little Red Riding Hood went into the bedroom.

“Hello, Grandma,” she said. “I am sorry you are ill today. Look! I’ve got
some nice bread and butter for you. And some beautiful flowers!”

“Thank you, dear,” said the wolf. “Come closer to me, dear.”

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So Little Red
Riding Hood went
to the bed.

“Oh, Grandma,” she
said, “you look
very strange today!”

And suddenly she
was afraid.

“Oh, Grandma,”
said Little Red
Riding Hood, “you’ve got very big eyes today!”

“That’s because I want to see you, my dear,” said the wolf.

“Oh, Grandma,” said Little Red Riding Hood, “you’ve got very big ears
today!”

“That’s because I want to hear you, my dear,” said the wolf.

“Oh, Grandma, you’ve got very big nose today!”

“That’s because I want to smell those beautiful flowers, my dear.”

“Oh, Grandma,” said Little Red Riding Hood, “you’ve got a very big mouth
today, and a lot of very big teeth!”

“Yes, my dear,” said the wolf. “And that’s because I want to eat you!”

And the wolf jumped out of the bed and ate Little Red Riding Hood.

Now the wolf was big and fat and he wanted to go to sleep. He took off
Grandma’s nightdress and put it on the floor.

Then he got back into bed and went to sleep. Soon he began to snore loudly.

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“Zhhhh,” he snored. “Zhhhhh!”

Soon after, Little Red Riding Hood’s father came to the house. He saw the
open door.

“That’s strange,” he thought. “Why is the door open? And what’s that noise?”

“Zhhhhhh,” the wolf snored. “Zhhhhhhh!”

“Grandma’s voice is very strange today,” thought Little Red Riding Hood’s
father.

He went
upstairs to
Grandma’s
bedroom. He
looked at the
bed and saw the
wolf.

“It’s you!” he said.
He knew about
the wolf. All the men in the village wanted to find it and kill it.

“What are you doing in Grandma’s bed? Well, you can’t run away now.”

And he took his knife and killed the wolf.

Then he thought, “Perhaps Grandma is alive!”

So Little Red Riding Hood’s father took his knife and cut open the wolf.
And Little Red Riding Hood jumped out.

“Oh, Father! Quick! Help Grandma,” she said. “She’s in there, in the dark!”

Then Grandma jumped out.

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“Oh! Oh! Where’s that bad wolf?” she said.

“Everything’s all right now,” said Little Red Riding Hood’s father. “The wolf
is dead.”

So Grandma had a
cup of tea and some
nice bread and butter.

Then Little Red Riding
Hood and her father
went home to their
little white house.
Little Red Riding
Hood ran to her
mother and told her
everything.

“But it’s all right now!” she said.

“Yes,” said her father. “But Little Red Riding Hood, do not talk to wolves
again. And do not leave the road when you go through the forest. Do you
understand?”

“Yes, mother.”

After that, Little Red
Riding Hood always
stayed on the road.
And she never saw a
wolf again.

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Vocabulary

1. Write the opposite words for the words given below.

a. near ...............................................
b. old ...............................................
c. leave ...............................................
d. upstairs ...............................................
e. alive ...............................................

2. Fill in the blanks with the opposite meanings of the words given in
Exercise 1.

a. The forest is very ......................... away from the town.
b. My uncle looks very ..........................
c. I am going to ......................... at my uncle’s house.
d. Hari came ......................... to find the bulb.
e. When the doctor reached the room, the patient was already

..........................

Comprehension Activities

1 Answer the following questions.
a. Where was Little Red Riding Hood going?
b. Why did she leave the road?
c. What did the wolf do to Grandma?

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d. Why was Little Red Riding Hood surprised to see the creature
on her Grandma’s bed?

e. How did the father save Little Red Riding Hood and her
Grandma?

f. Do you think Little Red Riding Hood would ever disobey her
parents?

2 Choose the right answer.

a. Little Red Riding Hood was a

helpful girl.

naughty girl.

bad girl.

b. She had a basket full of

fruits.

bread and butter.

vegetables.

c. The wolf ate her

father.

mother.

grandmother.



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d. The wolf was

sleeping on Grandma’s bed.

sitting on the dining table.

watching television.

e. The father took a knife and cut open

the wolf.

Little Red Riding Hood.

sheep.

3 Write the names of the characters below their pictures.

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Literary Terms

‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is a fairy tale. Here are some characteristics
of a fairy tale. Which of the following qualities are found in the story?
Tick against the right sentence.

 It includes magic and magical characters.
 It often begins with “Once upon a time” and ends with “happily

ever after”.
 It has good/nice characters as well as bad/mean characters.
 There are some animal characters.
 There are some royal characters (king or queen/ prince or princess).
 The problem of the characters is often solved by magic.
 Good is usually rewarded and evil is punished.
 It takes place in a forest.
 It takes place in an old palace.
Stories do have some bad characters. The protagonist or hero/heroine

of a story fights with the bad characters. The main bad character in
a story is called an antagonist. Who is the antagonist in ‘Little Red
Riding Hood’?

Think, Pair and Share

What would red riding Hood’s father do if he did not find the wolf on
the bed? Discuss in group and present your ideas in the class.

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24 Pinocchio

Before you proceed

Have you ever told a lie? How did you feel after telling the lie?
Is telling lies a good habit or a bad habit?

NpueppwetW - oradtsype of toy

peeked - looked

Pinocchio

There was once a kind old man named Geppetto. He lived in a little house
with his goldfish, Cleo and his cat, Figaro. He also had another friend. His
name was Jiminy Cricket. He lived in the house, too.
Geppetto could make wonderful things out of wood. One day he made a
puppet that looked just like a boy. He called the puppet Pinocchio.
“I wish Pinocchio was a real boy,” he said. “It would be fun to have a son.”
A good fairy heard Geppetto’s wish. That night she came to his house when
everyone was sleeping. She touched Pinocchio with her wand.
Suddenly, the little wooden puppet came to life. And what did Pinocchio

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do first? He tried to take
Cleo out of the goldfish
bowl!

“No, no, Pinocchio!”
cried Jiminy Cricket.
“Put that fish right back!”

The noise woke up
Geppetto. He could not
believe his eyes. There
was his wooden puppet
– singing and dancing.

The old man was so
happy. He hugged
Pinocchio. “My son!” he
said. “My own little wooden son!”

Geppetto wanted to cook breakfast for Pinocchio. But there was nothing
to eat.

“Let me go out and buy some food, father,” said Pinocchio.

“My, my! What a good boy you are!” said Geppetto. The old man gave
Pinocchio some money and a list of things to buy.

Jiminy Cricket was not sure that Pinocchio was a good boy. “I will just
follow him and see,” he said to himself.

Pinocchio walked happily down the street. It was fun to be out in the big
world by himself.

A boy named Lampwick was also out by himself. Lampwick was not a
good boy. He told stories that were not true. He even stole things.

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When Lampwick saw Pinocchio, he said, “Aha! I bet I can trick that wooden
head.”

“Hi, friend,” said Lampwick. “What do you have there?”

“Money,” said Pinocchio. “I am going to buy food.”

“Why not buy candy?” said Lampwick. “It tastes better.”

“No, no! Pinocchio. Don’t listen,” called Jiminy Cricket.

Pinocchio paid no attention. He followed Lampwick to the candy store.

“Where did you get so much money?” asked the man in the candy store.

“My father gave it to me,” said Pinocchio.

“To buy candy?” asked the
man.

“Yes, to buy candy.”

This was not true.
Suddenly, Pinocchio’s
nose started to grow
longer. He took his
candy out of the store as
fast as he could.

“Let me hold the bag,” said
Lampwick. “It will be
safer with me. I’m bigger.”

Pinocchio held out the
bag of candy. To his
surprise, Lampwick grabbed it and ran away. That was the end of the candy!

“What happened?” asked Jiminy. “Where is your father’s money?”

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“I lost it,” said Pinocchio.

Right away his nose grew still longer!

“You did not lose the money,” said Jiminy. “You used it for candy. Well, at
least take what is left and buy a little food for Geppetto.”

Do you think Pinocchio will buy food for his father and take it home this
time?

As he walked toward home, Pinocchio held the bag of food in front of his
face. He did not want anyone to see his long nose.

A clever old fox and a thin, hungry cat were hiding by a bridge.

“Look at that little wooden head,” said the hungry cat. “He has a bag of food.”

“Hello, my fine lad,” said the fox. “You look like a boy who might want to
see a puppet show.”

“A puppet show!” cried Pinocchio. “Oh, yes. I certainly would. How can I
get in?”

“I have a ticket,” said the fox. “If you give us your food, I will give you my
ticket. That is your bag of food, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes,” said Pinocchio.

Another lie! His nose grew
longer again. But he didn’t
care. He had his ticket.

“Better not tell any more
lies,” said Jiminy Cricket.

“You already have too
much nose for a puppet of
your size.”

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“Step up! Step up!” called the man waiting at the ticket stand. Pinocchio
stepped up. He gave the man his ticket.

“This is not a ticket,” said the man. “It’s just a piece of paper. Go away, little
boy, and take your long nose with you.”

Poor Pinocchio!

He had no money, no food, no ticket. He sat down on a box and began to
cry.

Just then a man peeked out of the tent. The man was Stromboli, the puppet
master.

“My, my!” said Stromboli. “A puppet without any strings. Can you do
anything but cry, little puppet?”

“I can dance and sing,” said Pinocchio.

“Show me,” said Stromboli.

Pinocchio danced. He sang. He even stood on his head.

“You don’t need any strings,” said Stromboli. “Come with us. You will be the
star of our show.”

“Don’t listen, Pinocchio,” said Jiminy. “Go home to Geppetto.” But Pinocchio
did not want to go home. He wanted to be a star.

The show started, and Pinocchio began to dance.

“Look! No strings!” he called. Everybody cheered.

But other puppets had strings. Pinocchio’s long nose got caught in those
strings. He crashed to the floor. Everybody started to laugh.

Suddenly Pinocchio was very unhappy. He did not like to have people
laugh at him.

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“I am not such a great star after all,” he said. “I want to go home to Geppetto,”
he said.

“Oh, no! You are not going home,” said Stromboli. “You belong to me now.
This bird cage will be your home, my little long-nosed friend.”
“Help!” called Pinocchio from inside the cage. “Let me out!”
Jiminy could not help. He was too small. But he could get help.
Jiminy ran quickly to Geppetto’s house.
“Geppetto!” he called. “You must come save Pinocchio. Stromboli, the
puppet master, has put him in a cage.”
The old man followed Jiminy down the dark street. He was carrying a
lantern in his hand. They found Pinocchio in his cage in Stromboli’s tent.
“Don’t worry, my son,” said Geppetto. “I will help you.” He opened the cage

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and lifted Pinocchio out.
Suddenly, Stromboli came running.
“Thief!” he cried. “That is my puppet.”
“Run, Pinocchio!” shouted Geppetto.
Pinocchio ran. Geppetto ran, too. But the old man did not see the open
trunk. He fell into it.
“Aha! Now I have you!” shouted Stromboli in a terrible voice.
“I will save you, Father!” called Pinocchio.
Quickly he went up a ladder to where the puppets were hanging.
Pinocchio dropped the puppets – strings and all – onto Stromboli. The
puppet master could not move. Geppetto was safe!
Fast as they could, Geppetto, Pinocchio and Jiminy ran off towards their
home.

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