The Winner

Given: The clue tells us that a creek is a small body of water.

Meaning: The children are playing beside or very close to a small stream or narrow water body. The line tells us the setting of the game — the children play near a little stream of water in the neighbourhood.

Given: The clue tells us the child has been running very fast.

Meaning: The speaker is so tired from running quickly that she is unable to breathe normally. 'Catching one's breath' means to pause and breathe normally after heavy physical activity. The line shows how energetically the children are playing.

Given: The clue tells us the sky changes colour from blue to black.

Meaning: This line describes the coming of night. As evening progresses, the dark blue sky gradually becomes completely black (night). It signals that it is getting very late and the day is ending. The children must stop playing because it is now night-time.

Given: The clue tells us it is evening time.

Meaning: As it grows dark, the trees are no longer clearly visible. In the dim light of evening, the outlines of the trees become unclear and shadowy, making them appear as if they are moving closer or crowding in. The darkness makes everything look nearer and more mysterious. The children can no longer see clearly, which is another sign that it is time to go home.

The completed passage is as follows:

The children play games in the creek in the neighbour's yard/field. They run so fast that they run out of breath. They continue to play till the evening when the blue sky turns black, and the trees are not clearly visible. They can feel their feet aching, now that it is cold. Finally, they stop playing and go home as it is night.

(Note: The blanks are filled based on the events described in the poem 'The Winner'.)

Correct Option: C. running fast results in being breathless

Justification: The poem clearly states 'We run so fast' just before the speaker says she cannot catch her breath. Running very fast uses up a lot of energy and oxygen, which makes a person breathless. Therefore, the speaker is out of breath because of running fast.

No, the speaker is not alone.

Reason: The poem uses the word 'We' in the line 'We run so fast', which clearly shows that more than one person is running and playing. The speaker is playing with a group of friends or other children. The whole poem describes a group of children playing together near a creek in a neighbour's yard.

The lines are written as:
'I
can't
even
catch
my
breath.'

Each word is placed on a separate line, one below the other, in a broken, slow pattern.

What the pattern tells us: This pattern visually and rhythmically imitates a person who is gasping for breath. When someone is very breathless, they speak in short, broken bursts — one or two words at a time. By placing each word on its own line, the poet makes the reader slow down and read word by word, just as a breathless person would speak. It highlights how exhausted and out of breath the speaker is after running so fast.

The grass is cold because it is evening/night-time.

As the sun sets, the temperature drops and the ground cools down. The grass, which was warm during the day, becomes cold as night approaches. The poem describes this moment when 'blue dark turns to black', confirming that it is late evening and the temperature has fallen, making the grass cold and uncomfortable underfoot.

The children's feet are aching because the grass has become cold in the evening and they have been running and playing for a long time, making their feet tired and cold.

(The cold ground causes discomfort and pain in their feet, and the long hours of play have also made their feet sore.)

Correct Option: A. time for play has ended

Justification: In the poem, 'Night wins!' means that night has arrived and the children must stop their outdoor game. The game is over not because the children are tired or because they want to play indoors, but because darkness has fallen and it is no longer possible or safe to play outside. Night 'wins' by ending the game — it is personified as the final winner who brings the play to a close.

Examples of the broken-line pattern (to show breathlessness or strong emotion):

Example 1:
'I
ran
so
far
I
could
not
speak.'

Example 2:
'She
was
so
happy
she
could
not
stop
smiling.'

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Examples of Personification (giving human qualities to non-living things):

Example 1: The wind whispered secrets through the trees.

Example 2: The stars danced joyfully in the night sky.

Example 3: The old clock grumbled every time it struck midnight.

(Students may write their own creative examples using their imagination. The above are model answers.)

Water Bodies (Word Web):

The central word is: Water Bodies

Other water bodies that can be added to the word web:

1. River — a large, flowing body of water
2. Lake — a still body of water surrounded by land
3. Pond — a small, still body of water
4. Ocean — a vast body of salt water
5. Sea — a large body of salt water, smaller than an ocean
6. Stream — a small, narrow flowing body of water
7. Waterfall — water falling from a height
8. Bay — a body of water partly enclosed by land

(Students should draw a word web with 'Water Bodies' or 'Creek' at the centre and write these names in the surrounding circles. Discuss with your teacher for more examples.)

Note: This is a listening activity. The riddles are meant to be read aloud by the teacher or played as an audio recording. Students must listen carefully and identify the sport described in each riddle.

Instructions for students:
1. Listen carefully to each riddle read by your teacher.
2. Think about the clues given in the riddle — the equipment used, the number of players, the playing field, etc.
3. Write the name of the sport in the correct column of the table.

Sample answers (if the riddles follow common sports):
| Riddle | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Cricket | Football | Kabaddi | Badminton |

(Actual answers depend on the riddles read in class. Fill in the table after listening to your teacher.)

This is a speaking/role-play activity. Below are model dialogues for each situation.

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Situation 1: Coming home late after play

Parent: Riya, it is already 7 o'clock! Why are you so late? I was very worried.
Child: I am sorry, Mamma. We were playing kho-kho near the park and I lost track of time. It will not happen again.
Parent: I understand you enjoy playing, but please come home on time. Always inform me if you are going to be late.
Child: Yes, Mamma. I promise I will.

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Situation 2: Sharing details of the games played

Child: Papa, Papa! You won't believe what happened today at the park!
Parent: Oh! Tell me, what happened? Which games did you play?
Child: We played kho-kho and then hide-and-seek! I was the fastest runner and I tagged three people!
Parent: That sounds wonderful! How many friends were playing with you?
Child: There were eight of us. It was so much fun!
Parent: That's great! Playing together keeps you healthy and happy.

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Situation 3: Bringing a new friend home

Child: Mamma, this is my new friend Arjun. He just joined our school.
Parent: Hello Arjun! Welcome to our home. It is so nice to meet you.
Arjun: Thank you, Aunty. Your house is very nice.
Parent: Thank you, Arjun. Would you like some water or a snack?
Child: We played cricket together today, Mamma. Arjun is a really good batsman!
Parent: Wonderful! You are always welcome here, Arjun.

(Students should practise these dialogues with a partner and perform them in class with expression and confidence.)

Title: My Favourite Time of the Day

Every evening at five o'clock, I rush out of my house to play with my friends. My neighbours Priya, Rohan, and Meena always wait for me near the park. Together, we play many games such as kho-kho, hide-and-seek, and sometimes cricket. My favourite game is kho-kho because it needs speed, teamwork, and quick thinking. Playing together teaches us to cooperate, share, and support each other. We laugh, run, and enjoy every moment. Playing also keeps us fit and healthy. By seven o'clock in the evening, when it begins to get dark, we say goodbye to each other and go back to our homes. I always look forward to this time of the day because it makes me feel happy and refreshed.

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Tips for students:
- Use the clues as a guide to write your own paragraph.
- Write about your real experiences to make the paragraph interesting.
- Use describing words (adjectives) to make your writing lively.
- Give a creative title that matches your paragraph.

This is a research and activity-based task. Below is a model answer.

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Indigenous (Native) Games of India:

| Game | Region/State |
|---|---|
| Kho-Kho | Maharashtra / All India |
| Kabaddi | Punjab / All India |
| Gilli-Danda | North India |
| Pitthu (Seven Stones) | Rajasthan / North India |
| Lagori | Karnataka / South India |
| Kancha (Marbles) | All India |
| Pallankuzhi | Tamil Nadu / Kerala |
| Atya-Patya | Maharashtra |

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Rules of Kho-Kho (Model Example):

1. Two teams of 12 players each participate; 9 players sit/kneel in a row on the field alternately facing opposite directions.
2. One team chases and the other team defends (3 runners at a time).
3. The chaser must tap a sitting teammate and say 'Kho' to pass the chasing role.
4. The chaser cannot change direction; they must run in the direction they are facing.
5. A runner is out if touched by the active chaser.
6. The team that takes the least time to get all opponents out wins.

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Activity: Find out the native games of your own state, learn their rules, and play one game with your classmates under the supervision of your teacher. This will help you appreciate India's rich cultural heritage.