A Bottle of Dew

(This is a personal response question. A sample answer is given below.)

Once, I worked very hard to prepare for my school's annual science exhibition. I spent several evenings reading books, collecting materials, and building a working model of a water purification system. I practised explaining it many times so that I could present it clearly to the judges and visitors.

(Sample answer based on the context of the previous answer.)

Working hard on the science project helped me learn a great deal about how water is purified. It also improved my confidence in speaking in front of others. My team won the second prize, which made all the effort worthwhile.

(Sample answer.)

It made me feel very proud and satisfied. Even before the results were announced, the sense of having put in my best effort made me feel happy and confident. Hard work gave me a feeling of achievement that I still remember.

Rama Natha believed that there existed a magic potion that could turn ordinary things into gold. He was convinced that if he could find this potion, he would become wealthy without having to work hard on his land. He spent a great deal of time and money searching for this secret.

The sage, Mahipati, helped Rama Natha by giving him a purposeful task. He told Rama Natha to collect five litres of dew from banana plants, but with the condition that he must plant the banana plants himself, look after them himself, and collect the dew with his own hands. This was the sage's clever way of making Rama Natha work hard on his own land.

Yes, Rama Natha will most likely be able to collect the dew, but it will take him many years. The reason is that dew forms only in winter, and collecting five litres of dew drop by drop from banana leaves is a very slow process. However, since Rama Natha is deeply motivated by the hope of getting the magic potion, he will work patiently and diligently until he collects the required amount. In doing so, he will unknowingly build a large banana plantation.

Rama Natha was angry because he had spent six precious years of his life collecting dew, believing it would be turned into a magic potion that could convert things into gold. When he sprinkled a few drops of the water on a copper vessel, nothing happened. He felt cheated and believed that the sage had wasted his time and effort by making a false promise.

Rama Natha and Madhumati created wealth through their own hard work. While Rama Natha planted banana trees, cared for them, and tended to the plantation over six years, his wife Madhumati sold the fruits in the market. The income from selling the bananas accumulated over the years, resulting in a big box full of gold coins. It was their sincere labour and teamwork — not any magic — that created their wealth.

Rama Natha did not 'give up' because he was deeply convinced that a magic potion existed and was determined to find it, no matter how many people cheated him or how much money he spent.

A. What Happened: People promised to tell Rama Natha about the magic potion.
Outcome: They cheated him. They took his money or time but did not actually reveal any magic potion to him.

B. What Happened: Rama Natha was spending a lot of money.
Outcome: Madhumati (his wife) was worried that soon they would be left without any money at all.

A. True — Madhumati was tired and worried because Rama Natha was spending a lot of money in his search for the magic potion.

B. False — Rama Natha was not happy digging his fields; he was only doing it because the sage told him it was necessary to collect the dew for the magic potion.

C. True — The sage played a clever trick on Rama Natha so that he would work hard on his land and discover for himself that hard work, not magic, creates wealth.

The correct answer is (b) B, A, D, C, E.

Justification: First, Rama Natha carefully gave (B) the bottle to the sage. Then the sage smiled (A) and muttered/said something in a low voice (D) over the water. Next, Rama Natha sprinkled a few drops on a copper vessel (C) and then waited (E) to see if the copper would turn to gold.

Seeing that the plant had dried up, the gardener sprinkled some water on it.

*(The word 'sprinkled' is taken from the passage: 'Rama Natha sprinkled a few drops on a copper vessel.' It means to scatter small drops of liquid.)*

Rama Natha must have felt deeply shocked, disappointed, and angry when nothing happened to the copper vessel. He had spent six long and precious years collecting dew, believing it would become a magic potion. When the 'potion' failed to work, he felt cheated and betrayed. He was also frustrated because he thought he had wasted the best years of his life for nothing.

The sage asked Rama Natha to collect five litres of dew from banana plants. However, he set strict conditions: Rama Natha had to plant the banana plants himself, look after them entirely on his own, and collect the dew drops with his own hands. The sage said that dew collected by anyone else or from any other plant would not work for the magic potion.

The sage asked Rama Natha to do everything himself because he wanted Rama Natha to experience the value of hard work firsthand. The sage knew that if Rama Natha planted and tended the banana trees himself, he would unknowingly build a productive plantation. Over the years, this hard work would create real wealth. The sage's intention was to teach Rama Natha that it is sincere personal effort — not magic — that leads to prosperity.

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.

| What he did before meeting the sage | What he did after meeting the sage |
|---|---|
| (i) He spent all his time searching for a magic potion that could turn things into gold. | (i) He understood that hard work, not magic, creates wealth. |
| (ii) He was cheated by many people who promised to tell him about the magic potion, and he wasted a lot of money. | (ii) He worked even harder on his banana plantation and continued to build his wealth through sincere effort. |

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.')*

| Column A | Column B | Meaning of words in Column B |
|---|---|---|
| I | eye | the organ of sight in humans and animals |
| your | you're | short form of 'you are' |
| dew | due | happening at some time in the future; owed |
| son | sun | the star at the centre of our solar system that gives light and heat |
| one | won | past tense of win |
| ate | eight | the number 8 |
| see | sea | a large body of salt water |

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.)*

| Word | Sound of 's' |
|---|---|
| beds | /z/ |
| sand | /s/ |
| clothes | /z/ |
| sea | /s/ |
| was | /z/ |
| keys | /z/ |
| bags | /z/ |
| nose | /z/ |

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

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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.

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*(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.