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Chapter 1.6 The Peacock and the Crane

Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Read the following sentences carefully and choose the correct meanings.

Question a.
The peacock had gorgeous tail like no other bird.
1. No other bird had a tail. [ ]
2. The Peacock’s tail was more beautiful than any other bird’s. [ ]
3. All birds had gorgeous tails. [ ]
Answer:
2. The Peacock’s tail was more beautiful than any other bird’s. [✓]

Question b.
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.
1. You cannot use feathers to make birds. [ ]
2. You can judge something by its outward beauty. [ ]
3. Something that looks beautiful may not really be useful. [ ]
Answer:
3. Something that looks beautiful may not really be useful. [✓]

2. Read the story aloud (or present it) in groups of three – the narrator, the peacock and the crane.

Question 1.
Read the story aloud (or present it) in groups of three – the narrator, the peacock and the crane.

3. Imagine you are the Crane. What actions and words of the Peacock would you not like’? Write about it in short.

Question 1.
Imagine you are the Crane. What actions and words of the Peacock would you not like’? Write about it in short.
Answer:
I didn’t like the way the peacock scoffed at my colourless and dull feathers, calling it pale, and the way he flaunted his colourful tail to make me feel inferior.
I also did not like the way he boasted about his colourful feathers and the remark that he was dressed like a king.

4. Discuss what a friendly and good- natured peacock would say to a crane. Write his speech. (5-8 lines)

Question 1.
Discuss what a friendly and good- natured peacock would say to a crane. Write his speech. (5-8 lines)
Answer:
Hello dear friend crane, people call me gorgeous and praise my colourful feathers. But I understand that it is not our outward appearance which matters. What matters are our innate abilities and our inner beauty. I am proud of the fact that you, my friend crane, can fly and scale such great heights and enjoy the beauty of the earth in all its magnificence. Go bird! Explore the world.

5. Find one more example which shows that a beautiful appearance is not enough.

Question 1.
Find one more example which shows that a beautiful appearance is not enough.
Answer:
We as individuals may have extremely beautiful appearance. But if we don’t have a heart to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others, how can we call ourselves beautiful? Inner beauty too is important.

6. List five adjectives and five nouns from the story.

Question 1.
List five adjectives and five nouns from the story.
Answer:

7. Find five adjectives that end with (a) – ‘ful’ and (b) – “less’ then write the antonym of each.

Question 1.
Find five adjectives that end with (a) – ‘ful’ and (b) – “less’ then write the antonym of each.
Answer:

8. Start a collection of proverbs. A proverb is a short, well-known sentence or phrase that gives advice or tells you what is generally true. For example, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ means ‘If one does something in time or immediately, it saves a lot of work later’. A proverb is also known as a saying. Here are some proverbs for your collection.

1. Appearances can be deceptive.
2. Do not judge by appearance; a rich heurt may be under a poor coat.
3. All that glitters is not gold.
4. You can’t tell a book by its cover.
5. Clothes do not make the man.

Answer:

1. Try, try till you succeed.
2. Slow and steady wins the race.
3. Still waters run deep.
4. Make hay while the sun shines.
5. Pride goes before a fall.

9. Visit a library. This story is a fable. Find two more fables. Share them with your friends.

Question 1.
Visit a library. This story is a fable. Find two more fables. Share them with your friends.

Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
How was the peacock in the story unique?
Answer:
The peacock in the story was unique as he had a gorgeous tail like no other bird.

Question 2.
Why did the peacock spread his own colourful tail?
Answer:
The peacock spread his own colourful tail to show off and for the crane to see and admire.

Question 3.
Which line in the extract tells us that the peacock was extremely pompous?
Answer:
The line: ‘I am dressed like a king!’ tells us that the peacock was extremely pompous.

Question 4.
What did the crane compare the peacock to?
Answer:
The crane compared the peacock to any other cock.

Question 5.
What did you learn from this fable?
Answer:
I learnt from this fable that our physical appearance has very little significance as compared to our capacities, capabilities, abilities and our inner strength.

Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following extract and answer the questions given below.

Question 1.
State whether the following statements are true or false:
a. The peacock was extremely humble and polite.
b. The crane’s feathers shone in all colours of the rainbow.
Answer:
a. False
b. False

Question 2.
Who does the fable deal with?
Answer:
The fable deals with the conceited peacock and the crane.

Question 3.
What tells us that the peacock was extremely boastful?
Answer:
The peacock spread its shiny feathers in all colours of the rainbow for crane to see and admire. He also compared it to the crane’s pale feathers. He added that he was dressed like a king. This tells us that he was extremely boastful.

Question 4.
How did the crane react to the peacock’s criticism?
Answer:
The crane agreed with the peacock that his feathers were pale but added that he could fly high above, among the clouds and stars. He could see the beauty of the earth in all its glory, while the peacock lived down there just like any other cock.

Question 5.

Question a.
What did the peacock scoff at?
Answer:
The peacock scoffed at the crane’s colourless and dull feathers.

Question b.
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds. (Separate the subject and predicate)
Answer:
Subject:
Fine feathers Predicate: don’t make fine birds

Question c.
Find the odd word: other, own, my, so
Answer:
so: The rest are used as adjectives.

Question 6.
Complete the list of adjective words associated with nature:
Answer:
a. bird               Bird
b. ……………………. Rainbow
c. …………………….. Clouds
d. …………………….. Stars

Language Study

Do as directed:

Question 1.
There was once a very conceited peacock who had a gorgeous tail like no other bird.
(State the parts of speech of the underlined words.)
Answer:
once, very: Adverbs conceited, gorgeous: Adjectives

Question 2.
Look at my feather. (State the type of sentence)
Answer:
Imperative sentence.

Question 3.
I am dressed like a king! (Pick out the article)
Answer:
a

Question 4.
That’s true. (Pick out the contraction and state what it stands for.)
Answer:
that’s : that is

Question 5.
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds. (Add a question tag)
Answer:
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds, do they?

Make sentences using the following phrases.

1. to be conceited: We should not be conceited as it mars our beauty, our personality.
2. to admire: I admire our freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the sake of our motherland.
3. to boast: India can boast of the progress it made in the last few years in the field of science and technology.

Question 7.
Give the noun forms of:
Answer:
a. conceited : conceit
b. dull : dullness
c. see : sight
d. admire : admiration
e. pale : paleness
f. true : truth
g. high : height

Question 8.
Give the adjective forms of:
Answer:
a. beauty : beautiful
b. glory : glorious

Letter writing:

Write a letter to your friend who is friendless and all alone because your classmates consider her to be arrogant and proud.

A/1934 Prakruti Sadan,
Sahara Road,
Andheri (East),
Mumbai – 400 099
20th June, 2016.

Dear Rita,
I know it is funny writing to you! After all we meet in school everyday.
I am writing this letter as a continuation of the conversation we had yesterday, wherein you said you were depressed because not many in the class are friendly to you.
Dear friend, remember the real reason lies in your nature. Not to me, but to many, you appear as a person filled with excessive pride. I know they are wrong, but at the same time it is important to come across as a friendly and approachable person.
The way we deal with people and our choice of words, all contribute towards our acceptance by others.
Please don’t misunderstand me, but your words and your actions sometimes forces others to conclude that you are an extremely arrogant and proud girl. So, one way to make more friends is to change your nature.
Remember, I am and will always be your friend.
With love.

Your friend,
XYZ

Summary in English

The peacock boasted of having the most gorgeous tail, which shine in all colours of the rainbow, but that too has its own limitations.
The crane possessed colourless and dull feathers, but he was not affected by the peacock’s display of its colourful tail. He was fully aware of its inner potential and what he was capable of. Unlike the peacock, he could fly high above, among the clouds and stars and witness the beauty of the earth in all its splendour.

Introduction:

“The Peacock and the Crane’ through the character of a proud peacock conveys the moral: ‘Fine feathers don’t make fine birds’. In other words, our external appearance has no value if we lack beauty and strength within.

Aware of his blessings, he could happily take the peacock’s criticism in his stride.
Let us remember to develop our self-esteem and self-confidence by understanding that it is not how we look, but what we are capable of, which makes all the difference.

Glossary:

1. conceited (adj) – very proud, vain, arrogant
2. gorgeous (adj) – beautiful, magnificent, stunning
3. scoffed (v) – laughed at rudely and scornfully
4. dull, pale (adj) – not bright
5. glory (n) – beauty and splendour
6. fine feathers don’t make fine birds (phr) – good looks or flashy clothes may not be very important after all.
7. pompous (adj) – exhibiting self-importance