A Bottle of Dew — NCERT Solutions

Rama Natha could have a big banana plantation after six years because the sage had told him he could plant as many banana plants as he wanted. Since Rama Natha was eager to collect five litres of dew as quickly as possible, he planted a large number of banana plants and tended to all of them carefully every day for six years. This consistent care and effort over such a long period naturally resulted in a large, thriving plantation.

The sage made Rama Natha believe there was no magic potion through a practical demonstration. He accepted the bottle of dew from Rama Natha, pretended to mutter a spell over it, and then asked Rama Natha to try it. When Rama Natha sprinkled the water on a copper vessel and nothing happened, he was furious. At that point, the sage called Madhumati forward. She brought a large box filled with gold coins — the money she had earned by selling bananas from their plantation. The sage then explained that it was their six years of hard work, not any magic, that had created this wealth. This real-life proof made Rama Natha understand the truth.

There was a farmer who had a huge coconut plantation. He worked hard and did not depend on luck. Every day was difficult but he did not give up. One day, a man bought a bag of coconuts from him, and promised to pay him the money the next day. Days passed and the man did not pay him anything. The farmer felt cheated. About two months later, he met the same man and asked him about his money. The man said, 'Oh! I had forgotten. Now, I remember buying coconuts from you.' And he paid the money.

(The two extra words not used are: 'spending' and 'market.')

These pairs of words are called homophones — words that sound the same but have different spellings and different meanings.

Here are four sentences, each using both homophones from a pair:

1. (I / eye): I hurt my eye while playing cricket yesterday.

2. (son / sun): Her son loves to play in the sun every afternoon.

3. (see / sea): From the cliff, I could see the vast blue sea stretching to the horizon.

4. (dew / due): The dew on the grass was due to the cold night air.

(Students may write their own sentences; the above are sample answers.)

The correctly matched and completed sentences are:

1. The children submitted their work before the deadline.

2. He did not want to try rock climbing because of his fear of heights.

3. The children ran towards the gate as soon as the bell rang.

4. Nitin was late to school today as there was a traffic jam.

Explanation of connecting words used:

• Before — shows that the submission happened earlier than the deadline (time relationship).
• Because — gives the reason for not wanting to try rock climbing.
• As soon as — shows that running happened immediately when the bell rang.
• As — gives the reason for being late (similar to 'because').

(This is a creative activity. A sample tongue twister is given below.)

Sample tongue twister using the letter 'p':

Peter picked a pack of pretty pink petals from the park.

Sample tongue twister using the letter 's':

Sita sells seashells by the seashore, so Sita surely sells seashells.

Students should try to say their tongue twister slowly at first and then gradually increase their speed. They may choose any letter and create their own tongue twister to share with classmates.

(This is a listening activity based on an audio transcript provided on page 36 of the textbook. Students must listen to the audio/teacher reading the transcript and then number the events. A suggested order based on the typical sequence described in such transcripts is given below as a guide.)

Suggested order:

1. Goes to the market to sell the bananas — 1
2. Meets her friend Kalawati in the market — 2
3. Gives twelve bananas to her friend — 3
4. Gives two bananas to a boy who is hungry — 4
5. Visits her mother and gives her two dozen bananas — 5
6. Visits her neighbour and gifts them a bunch of bananas — 6
7. Chooses to go home as only some bananas were left — 7

(Note: Students should confirm the exact order by listening to the audio or the transcript on page 36, as this activity depends on the listening material.)

Explanation: When 's' comes at the end of a word after a voiced sound (like a vowel or a voiced consonant), it is usually pronounced /z/ (e.g., beds, keys, bags, nose, was). When 's' appears at the beginning of a word or after a voiceless sound, it is usually pronounced /s/ (e.g., sand, sea).

(Sample spoken response for discussion.)

Well, you see, hard work means giving your full effort and attention to whatever task you take up. It is something that requires patience, dedication, and the willingness to keep going even when things are difficult. What I mean is — hard work is not just about working for long hours; it is about working sincerely and not giving up until you achieve your goal.

(Sample spoken response for discussion.)

Firstly, I feel that hard work is important because it builds our skills and makes us better at what we do. Secondly, I think hard work is important since it gives us a sense of achievement and self-confidence when we succeed through our own efforts. Lastly, I believe hard work is important as it teaches us discipline and responsibility, which are qualities that help us throughout our lives.

(Sample spoken response for discussion.)

To begin with, it is important that you set a clear goal for yourself so that you know exactly what you are working towards. Next, you could make a daily schedule and follow it consistently, giving time to your work every day without fail. Finally, I think you should remind yourself of your goal whenever you feel like giving up, because staying motivated is the key to working hard and achieving success.

(This activity is based on a picture in the textbook that students must refer to. A sample description with eight sentences is given below.)

1. A banana is a long, curved fruit that is yellow when ripe and green when raw.
2. It has a smooth, thick outer skin that is easy to peel.
3. The inside of a banana is soft, creamy, and white or pale yellow in colour.
4. Bananas are sweet in taste and have a pleasant smell.
5. They are rich in nutrients such as potassium, vitamin B6, and dietary fibre.
6. Bananas grow in clusters called bunches on large banana plants.
7. They are one of the most widely eaten fruits in the world.
8. Bananas can be eaten raw, made into smoothies, used in baking, or cooked as a vegetable when raw.

(This is a creative and performative activity. A sample script outline is given below for guidance.)

Script: A Bottle of Dew

Characters: Rama Natha, Madhumati (his wife), Sage Mahipati, Narrator

Narrator: Once upon a time, there lived a man named Rama Natha who believed in magic. He spent all his time and money searching for a magic potion.

Madhumati: (worried) Rama Natha, please stop this. We are running out of money. Why don't you work on our land instead?

Rama Natha: (determined) No, Madhumati. I know the magic potion exists. Once I find it, we will be rich forever.

Narrator: One day, Rama Natha went to see the wise sage Mahipati.

Rama Natha: (bowing) Sage ji, please tell me the secret of the magic potion.

Sage Mahipati: (calmly) I will help you. But you must collect five litres of dew from banana plants — plants that you grow and tend yourself.

Rama Natha: (worried) But that will take years!

Sage Mahipati: That is the only way.

Narrator: Rama Natha worked hard for six years. He planted banana trees, watered them, and collected dew every winter. Finally, he brought the bottle to the sage.

Sage Mahipati: (muttering over the bottle) Now, try it on a copper vessel.

Rama Natha: (sprinkling drops, then shocked) Nothing happened! You have cheated me!

Sage Mahipati: (smiling, calling Madhumati) Madhumati, please come forward.

Madhumati: (bringing a big box) Here, Rama Natha. Open it.

Rama Natha: (astonished) Gold coins! Where did these come from?

Sage Mahipati: From your hard work. You grew the plantation; Madhumati sold the fruits. This is your real wealth — earned by your own hands, not by magic.

Rama Natha: (humbly) I understand now. Thank you, Sage ji.

Narrator: From that day on, Rama Natha worked even harder and lived a happy, prosperous life.

(Students should rehearse their lines, use appropriate expressions, and present the play with confidence.)

(This is a research-based activity. Students are encouraged to visit the website https://nhb.gov.in/pdf/fruits/banana/ban013 or use other reliable sources. A brief sample answer is given below.)

India is one of the largest producers of bananas in the world. Some important varieties grown in different parts of India are:

1. Cavendish (Robusta) — Grown widely in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh; this is the most commonly sold banana in markets.
2. Rasthali (Silk Banana) — Popular in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh; it is sweet and aromatic.
3. Nendran — Grown mainly in Kerala; it is large, starchy, and used for making banana chips and cooked dishes.
4. Poovan — Grown in Tamil Nadu and Kerala; small and sweet, often used in religious offerings.
5. Grand Naine — Grown in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat; it is a high-yielding variety popular for export.
6. Karpuravalli — Grown in Tamil Nadu; known for its medicinal properties.
7. Amritsagar — Grown in West Bengal; a popular variety in eastern India.

India grows over 20 varieties of bananas, and they are used in many ways — eaten fresh, cooked as vegetables, made into chips, used in sweets, and offered in religious ceremonies.