The Wise Parrot

The merchant kept the parrot in a cage of gold because he loved the parrot very much and wanted to give it the best possible home. The golden cage showed how precious and special the parrot was to him. He valued the parrot greatly and wished to keep it safe and comfortable.

The parrot was a favourite pet of the merchant because it was very intelligent and could talk. It was witty, clever, and entertaining. The merchant enjoyed the parrot's company and was charmed by its ability to speak and hold conversations. Its wisdom and sharp mind made it truly special.

The parrot asked the merchant to convey a message to its friends in the forest. It requested the merchant to tell the other parrots that it was living happily in a golden cage and was being well looked after. This was actually a clever trick — the parrot wanted to send a secret signal to its friends about how to help it gain freedom.

After the merchant gave the parrot's message to the parrots in the forest, one of the parrots immediately fell down from the tree as if it were dead. The merchant was surprised and confused by this strange reaction. He did not understand that this was actually a signal — the forest parrot was showing the caged parrot what it needed to do in order to escape.

The caged parrot understood the signal sent by its friends. It pretended to be dead — it fell to the bottom of the cage and lay still, just as the forest parrot had done. The merchant, thinking the parrot had died, opened the cage to take it out. The moment the cage was opened, the parrot quickly flew away to freedom. This shows the parrot's great intelligence and presence of mind.

If I were the merchant, I would think carefully before responding. Although I would feel sad to lose such a wonderful and intelligent companion, I would understand that every living creature deserves to be free. Keeping a bird in a cage, no matter how golden, is not truly kind. I would open the cage and let the parrot go, wishing it well. True love means wanting happiness for others, even if it means letting them go.

Yes, there are many real-life situations where intelligence is more useful than strength. For example, during a chess game, a smaller and physically weaker player can defeat a stronger opponent by using smart strategies and thinking ahead. Similarly, a scientist or a doctor uses their knowledge and intelligence to solve problems that no amount of physical strength can solve. In the story itself, the small parrot used its wit to escape from the cage, which physical strength alone could never have achieved.

According to me, the caged parrot was truly wise. Here are my reasons: First, it did not try to break the cage by force, which would have been impossible. Instead, it used its mind to find a clever solution. Second, it understood the signal sent by the forest parrot immediately and acted upon it without hesitation. Third, it pretended to be dead convincingly enough to fool the merchant into opening the cage. This shows sharp thinking, patience, and the ability to act under pressure — all qualities of a truly wise being. The forest parrot also showed wisdom by sending a clever signal, but the caged parrot's ability to understand and execute the plan makes it the wiser of the two.

The completed paragraph is as follows:

One winter morning, as I stepped out of my home, I saw that the snow was all over the place. While walking uphill towards my shop, I came across a small puppy. Its leg was injured and it was about to collapse. Being in pain it was unable to stand upright. So, I decided to take it home and look after it. With good care, all its pain went away.

A flight of parrots came to the forest.

(Note: This is the example already provided in the textbook.)

I saw a flock of sheep in the fields.

*Explanation:* The correct collective noun for sheep is 'flock'.

A pack of wolves was howling loudly.

*Explanation:* The correct collective noun for wolves is 'pack'.

We gave a bouquet of flowers to the chief guest.

*Explanation:* The correct collective noun for flowers (arranged together) is 'bouquet'.

A swarm of bees hovered around the flowers.

*Explanation:* The correct collective noun for bees is 'swarm'.

An army of ants is moving towards the anthill.

*Explanation:* The correct collective noun for ants is 'army'.

I helped my mother find a bunch of keys.

*Explanation:* The correct collective noun for keys is 'bunch'.

Given: The verb is 'visit' and the subject is 'I'.

Rule: Subject + have/has + past participle of verb

Since the subject is 'I', we use have. The past participle of 'visit' is visited.

Answer: I have visited Delhi many times. It is a city with many historical sites.

Given: The verb is 'draw' and the subject is 'She'.

Rule: Subject + has + past participle of verb (for third person singular — he/she/it)

The past participle of 'draw' is drawn.

Answer: My friend Onshangla is an artist. She has drawn pictures of ten monuments.

Given: The verb is 'buy' and the subject is 'Mr. Joon' (third person singular).

Rule: Subject + has + past participle of verb

The past participle of 'buy' is bought.

Answer: Mr. Joon has bought a new car.

Given: Two subjects — 'I' and 'my brother'. Verbs are 'complete' and 'revise'.

Rule: 'I' takes have; 'my brother' (third person singular) takes has.

Past participle of 'complete' = completed; past participle of 'revise' = revised.

Answer: I have completed my homework and my brother has revised for his test.

Given: The verb is 'write' and the subject is 'They' (plural).

Rule: Plural subjects take have. Past participle of 'write' is written.

Answer: They have written letters to their friends.

After escaping from the golden cage, the parrot decided to fly away to the deep green forest where it was born. Its wings, though a little stiff from being in the cage for so long, soon found their old rhythm. The cool breeze felt wonderful against its feathers.

As it flew over the treetops, it heard familiar voices calling out to it. Its old friends — the very parrots who had helped it escape — were waiting on the branches of a tall mango tree. There was great joy and celebration as the parrot landed among them.

'We missed you so much!' chirped one parrot.

'I missed you all too,' said the wise parrot. 'But now I am free, and I will never take my freedom for granted again.'

From that day on, the parrot lived happily in the forest. It taught the younger birds how to think cleverly and stay safe. Whenever any bird was in trouble, they would come to the wise parrot for advice. And the parrot always helped them — not with force, but with wisdom.

The merchant, though sad at first, soon understood that a bird belongs in the sky, not in a cage. He smiled whenever he heard parrots calling in the distance, knowing that somewhere among them was his clever, wise friend — finally free and truly happy.

Note: The pictures of bird feeders are referred to in the textbook. Based on common bird feeders made from easily available household materials, the following materials can be identified:

1. Plastic bottle — A used plastic bottle with small holes cut into the sides can be turned into a bird feeder. It is lightweight and easy to hang.
2. Coconut shell — A dried coconut shell can be hollowed out and filled with seeds. It is a natural and eco-friendly option.
3. Cardboard or paper cup — These can be used to hold seeds and grains temporarily.
4. Wooden plank or tray — A flat piece of wood can serve as a simple platform feeder.
5. Clay pot or earthen bowl — These can hold water or seeds for birds.

All these materials are easily available at home and can be reused to help birds find food.

Activity Instructions:

Materials needed: One empty plastic bottle, a wooden stick or pencil, a piece of string, seeds/millets/grains, scissors or a cutter (use with adult help).

Steps:
1. Take a clean, empty plastic bottle.
2. With the help of an adult, cut two small openings on opposite sides of the bottle, large enough for a bird to reach in.
3. Push a wooden stick or pencil through the bottle just below each opening — this will serve as a perch for the birds to sit on.
4. Fill the bottom of the bottle with seeds, millets, or grains.
5. Tie a strong string around the neck of the bottle.
6. With the help of your parents, hang it on a tree branch, balcony railing, or any safe outdoor location.
7. Check and refill it regularly.

Observation: Watch which birds visit your feeder. Note down their names, colours, and behaviour in your notebook.

This activity helps us care for birds and appreciate nature around us.

Here are interesting facts about two birds:

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Bird 1: Flamingo

1. Flamingos are famous for their bright pink colour. They get this colour from the food they eat — tiny pink and orange algae and shrimp.
2. Flamingos often stand on one leg. Scientists believe they do this to keep warm and to rest one leg at a time.
3. They live in large groups called 'flamboyances' or 'colonies'.
4. Baby flamingos are born white or grey. They turn pink only after a few years.
5. Flamingos are found in India, especially in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, where thousands of them gather every year.

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Bird 2: Weaver Bird

1. The weaver bird is famous for building one of the most skilfully woven nests in the bird world. It weaves its nest using grass, leaves, and twigs.
2. The male weaver bird builds the nest to attract a female. If the female does not like the nest, the male tears it down and builds a new one!
3. Weaver birds are found widely across India and Africa.
4. Their nests are usually hanging from the tips of tree branches, which keeps them safe from predators like snakes.
5. They are small, yellow-coloured birds and are often seen in large, noisy groups.

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These facts show how unique and wonderful each bird species is. Learning about birds helps us understand and protect nature better.