Class 6 English Poorvi - What a Bird Thought: Summary Q&A and Exercises Solved

Summary of What a Bird Thought

The poem describes a bird’s journey of understanding the world. At first, the bird thinks its world is small, safe, and made of its egg shell. Then, living in a nest, it believes the world is made of straw. When it steps out, it sees leaves and realizes it was blind. Finally, the bird flies far and admits it and its neighbors do not fully know the world. This shows how knowledge grows with experience and there is always more to learn.

Let us discuss

I Read the poem again. Identify the main idea of each stanza. There are two extra sentences are given.

1. The bird steps out into the world. ✕
2. The bird lived happily in a small world. ✔ (Stanza 1)
3. The bird becomes blind due to leaves. ✕
4. The bird flies away as an adult. ✔ (Stanza 4)
5. The bird is unhappy with the straw nest. ✕
6. The bird lived in a cosy nest with its mother. ✔ (Stanza 2)

Main Idea for Each Stanza:

1. Stanza 1: The bird lived happily in a small world.
2. Stanza 2: The bird lived in a cosy nest with its mother.
3. Stanza 3: The bird steps out into the world.
4. Stanza 4: The bird flies away as an adult.

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II Look at the pictures 1–4 and write the matching line from the poem for each.

1. Picture 1 (Egg): "I lived first in a little house,"
2. Picture 2 (Nest with mother): "I lived next in a little nest, Nor needed any other,"
3. Picture 3 (Leaves): "I said the world is made of leaves,"
4. Picture 4 (Flying off branch): "At length I flew beyond the tree,"

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III Answer the following with a word from the poem and check the answers with your partner.

1. What was the shape of the bird’s first house? O V A L
2. What was the bird’s second nest made of? S T R A W
3. What did the bird see when it came out of its nest? L E A V E S
4. What did the bird do at the end? F L E W

Let us think and reflect

I Write whether the following sentences are True or False.

1. The bird changed its house two times. True
2. The neighbours tell the bird about the world. False

II Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below.

1. I thought the world was made of straw,
   And nestled by my mother.
   1. Who lived in the nest along with the baby bird?
      Its mother.
   2. Complete the following by choosing the correct option.
      The bird thought the world was made of straw because _______.
      B. its nest was made of straw
   3. Which word tells us that the baby bird was warm and comfortable?
      Nestled
2. I said the world is made of leaves,
   I have been very blind.
   1. Why did the bird think the world was made of leaves?
      Because when it left its nest, it saw only leaves around.
   2. What does the set of words ‘I said’ mean?
      C. spoke
   3. Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
      The bird felt that it had been very blind because it could not see the leaves from inside the nest.

III Why did the baby bird think that its first world was small, round and blue?

Because the baby bird was inside its egg at first.
The egg was small, round, and had a pale blue shell.
So, the baby bird thought its world was small, round and blue like the egg.

IV Where did the bird go when it fluttered from its straw nest?

The bird flew out among the leaves on the tree.

V What quality did the bird say it had, when it flew away?

The bird said it was "fit for grown-up labours," which means it was ready to work and take care of itself.

VI Who do you think were the bird’s neighbours? Why do you think so? Discuss.

The bird’s neighbours could be other birds or animals living nearby.
They lived close, but they also did not know how the world was made.
This is why the bird says, "neither do my neighbours."

Let us learn

I Let us write some rhyming words. One has been done for you.

Words from the poem	Stanza 1	Stanza 2	Stanza 3	Stanza 4
well	shell	nest	blind	neighbours
New rhyming words	fell	rest	kind	visitors

Now, complete a new stanza with rhyming words at the end of each line.

I fly high and I fly low,
But one thing I surely know.
Whenever I wish to rest,
My little nest is the best.

II The poet uses words like ‘pale’, ‘blue’, ‘round’, ‘straw’ and ‘little’ to describe the bird’s nest.
Read a few more describing words.

pointed green thin brown small wooden hanging round

Now, use the describing words given in the box to create six sentences based on the given picture.

1. The bird lives in a small wooden house.
2. There is a pointed red roof on the nest.
3. A green branch is hanging above the bird's home.
4. The nest looks thin and round from the front.
5. The house has a brown perch for the bird to sit.
6. Leaves from the branch make the nest look green.

Let us listen

You will listen to a short poem. As you listen, fill in the missing words.
You can listen to the poem more than once. (refer to page 102 for transcript)

I’m a parrot, my name is Paro,
My feathers are bright and they glow.
In the morning, I spread my wings,
Fly around and see wonderful things.
Come with me through the skies so blue.
To places old and places new.
Among the trees where the breeze is light,
Many new stories, oh, what a sight!

Let us speak

Speak about which bird you would like to be. Include the following points.

• Which bird are you? [I am a peacock]

• What do you look like? [I am blue and green in colour. I am a big bird. I have beautiful feathers.]

• Where do you live? [I live in forests and gardens. It is (where) there are lots of trees.]

• What do you do during the day? [I dance in the rain. I also search for food.]

• Do you have any message for humans? [I want to tell the humans to care for nature and protect animals.]

Let us write

I Read how the bird perceived its world.

My world was small, round and light blue at first.
After that my world was warm and comfortable. It was made of straw.
In this world I could only see leaves whenever I stepped out.
In the end, my world became big. It had the sky and the earth as a part of it.

II Now, discuss with your teacher and classmates how you think the world would look to the following.

1. a baby      2. a fish

III Now, write five sentences each, for both 1 and 2, in your notebooks. You can take help from the example given in I.

For a baby:
1. My world is soft and cosy, with blankets around me.
2. I see smiling faces and hear gentle voices.
3. I watch bright colours and toys near my bed.
4. My world smells of milk and powder.
5. When I open my eyes, I feel safe and loved.

For a fish:
1. My world is watery and cool all around me.
2. There are shiny bubbles and wavy plants.
3. I swim with other fish in my pond.
4. I see the stones and sand below me.
5. My world is peaceful and full of gentle light.

Let us explore

I The bird’s first home was made of a shell. Later its home was among leaves and made of straw.

• Look at your home carefully and make a list of all the materials it is made of.
  
  • Bricks
  • Cement
  • Wood
  • Glass
  • Steel
  • Tiles
  • Paint
• Why do you think our homes are not made of straw?
  Our homes are not made of straw because straw is not strong. It cannot keep us safe from weather like rain and wind.
• If you had to own a home of your choice, what would it look like and what materials would you like to use?
  I would like a home with a garden and big windows. I would use bricks, glass and wood for building it.
• How is a home different from a house? Discuss with your classmates and teacher.
  A house is just a building. A home is a place where you live happily with your family.

• Look at the list of some workers who build houses. Find out the work they do and write, as shown in the example. You can think of other workers and add them too.

Workers	Their work
Example: mason	lays bricks and stones
1. painter	paints walls and ceilings
2. electrician	fits wires and lights
3. plumber	fixes water pipes and taps
4. carpenter	makes doors and furniture
5. architect	draws house plans
6. welder	joins iron parts
7. roofer	makes roofs and fixes them

II Look at the different kinds of nests and homes the birds make. Have you seen any? Discuss these type of nests with your teacher and classmates.

• I have seen nests made of sticks in trees like in the first picture.
• Some birds make hanging nests, which look soft and safe.
• I have noticed a bird sitting in a tree hole like the owl in the third picture.
• I saw a nest made from green leaves which looks different and special.
• Each type of nest helps birds to keep their babies safe and comfortable.

The Address by Marga Minco – Summary, Word Meanings, and Q&A for Class 11 English Snapshots

If you're a Class 11 student looking to understand the story The Address by Marga Minco from the NCERT Snapshots textbook, this post is just for you. Here, you'll find a simple and clear summary, important word meanings, and exam-style questions and answers. This guide will help you do well in your school tests and final exams. All answers are written in easy English suited for CBSE and other boards that follow the NCERT syllabus.

Table of Content

• Summary of The Address by Marga Minco
• Word Meaning of The Address by Marga Minco
• Questions and Answers of The Address by Marga Minco
• Important Questions from The Address by Marga Minco
• The Address by Marga Minco – Summary in Hindi
• The Address by Marga Minco – Summary in Urdu
• The Address by Marga Minco – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)</a >

Summary of The Address by Marga Minco

The story The Address is about a young girl who returns to her old home after the war. She wants to find some of her family’s things that were left behind. Before the war, her mother had trusted a woman named Mrs Dorling to keep their valuable items safe. But when the girl visits Mrs Dorling after the war, she does not receive a warm welcome.

Mrs Dorling acts strange and does not want to let her in. Later, the girl visits again when Mrs Dorling is not home. Her daughter opens the door and lets her in. Inside, the girl sees her mother’s things – the tablecloth, cutlery, plates, and other items. But instead of feeling happy, she feels out of place. These objects, once full of warmth, now feel cold and lifeless.

The girl realises that no object can bring back her past. She decides to leave everything behind and not return to the address again. The story shows how war changes everything, even simple things like a spoon or a chair. 

Word Meaning of The Address by Marga Minco

Below are the meanings of some difficult words and phrases from the story The Address. These will help you understand the chapter better.

Word / Phrase	Meaning
War memorial	A place built to remember those who died in war
Muttered	Spoke in a low and unclear voice
Stern	Serious and strict-looking
Beckoned	Made a gesture to call someone over
Maroon	A dark reddish-brown colour
Hanukkah	A Jewish festival celebrated in winter
Cutlery	Knives, forks, and spoons
Woollen table-cloth	A piece of fabric made of wool used on a table
Familiar	Known or recognised
Shabby	Old and in bad condition
Embroidered	Decorated with thread patterns
Mantelpiece	A shelf above a fireplace
Tumult	Noise and confusion
Successor	A person who takes over after someone else
Sunk into	Sat deep in something (like a chair)
Cupped my hand	Shaped my hand like a bowl

Questions and Answers of The Address by Marga Minco

1. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come back.’

Does this statement give some clue about the story? If yes, what is it?

Answer:
Yes, this line gives us a clear clue. It shows that something bad happened in the past, most likely during the war. The woman (Mrs Dorling) thought that the narrator and her family did not survive. This tells us that the story is about someone returning after a long, painful time, looking for something or someone from their past.

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2. The story is divided into pre-War and post-War times.

What hardships do you think the girl underwent during these times?

Answer:
Before the war, the girl and her mother had to give their belongings to Mrs Dorling for safekeeping. It must have been hard to part with those familiar things. During the war, the girl and her mother faced danger, fear, and loss. After the war, the girl returned alone. Her mother had died. She had no proper home, no family, and even when she tried to get her things back, she was not treated kindly. The objects, instead of bringing comfort, made her feel worse. This shows how deeply the war had hurt her life.

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3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?

Answer:
The narrator wanted to forget the address because it reminded her of pain, loss, and the past. Even though her mother’s belongings were in that house, they no longer felt like hers. The house was different, the woman was cold, and the objects brought no happiness. The past could not return, so the narrator chose to let go of it and move on.

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4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.

Answer:
Yes, the story shows how war breaks people’s lives. The narrator lost her home, her mother, and even the comfort of her family’s old things. She was left with memories and sadness. Mrs Dorling, who was once trusted, acted selfishly. People changed. Objects lost their meaning. The story tells how war not only destroys buildings and lives, but also feelings, trust, and memories. It shows the pain people carry, even after the fighting is over.

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Important Questions from The Address by Marga Minco

These questions are based on both facts and understanding. They include Very Short Answer (VSA), Short Answer (SA), and Long Answer (LA) types, as per Class 11 exam pattern.

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Very Short Answer Questions (VSA)
(Answer in one sentence)

1. What did Mrs Dorling wear when the narrator saw her after the war?
Answer: She wore a green coat and opened the door only a little.

2. Who gave Mrs Dorling the family’s belongings?
Answer: The narrator’s mother gave them to Mrs Dorling.

3. What was the narrator’s reaction when she saw the old things in the house?
Answer: She felt like a stranger and wanted to leave.

4. Why was the narrator not recognised by Mrs Dorling’s daughter?
Answer: Because they had never met before and the narrator had changed.

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Short Answer Questions (SA)
(Answer in 30–40 words)

5. Describe the atmosphere in Mrs Dorling’s house when the narrator visited the second time.
Answer: The house felt strange and lifeless. Though the objects were familiar, the warmth was missing. The narrator felt uneasy and disconnected.

6. How does the narrator describe the cutlery at Mrs Dorling’s house?
Answer: She says the spoons, forks, and knives were all silver and once used daily in her own home. Now, they looked dull and out of place.

7. Why did the narrator not tell Mrs Dorling’s daughter who she really was?
Answer: She did not want to talk about the painful past. She also knew that even if she explained, the girl might not understand.

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Long Answer Questions (LA)
(Answer in 100–120 words)

8. Why do you think Mrs Dorling refused to let the narrator in when she first came?
Answer: Mrs Dorling may have felt guilty for keeping the narrator’s family’s things. She might have hoped the family would never return. When the narrator came back, she feared she’d be asked to return the items. Her cold behaviour showed that she didn’t want to deal with the past or take responsibility.

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9. What kind of relationship do you think the narrator’s mother had with Mrs Dorling?
Answer: The narrator’s mother trusted Mrs Dorling enough to give her valuable household items during the war. This shows that they shared some level of understanding. However, it is also possible that the mother was desperate and had no one else to rely on. It wasn’t a close friendship, as the narrator herself barely remembered the woman.

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10. How does The Address show that material things cannot replace lost people and emotions?
Answer: In the story, the narrator sees all the things that once belonged to her family—plates, cutlery, tablecloths—but they no longer bring comfort. Instead of joy, these objects make her feel sad and empty. They remind her of what she has lost—her home, her mother, and a life that is gone. This shows that things cannot bring back feelings, memories, or people. Some losses are beyond repair.

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The Address by Marga Minco – Summary in Hindi

द एड्रेस – हिंदी में सारांश

यह कहानी एक लड़की की है जो युद्ध के बाद अपने पुराने घर लौटती है। वह कुछ सामान वापस लेने आती है जो उसकी मां ने युद्ध से पहले एक महिला, मिसेज डॉरलिंग, को सौंप दिया था।

जब वह पहली बार मिसेज डॉरलिंग के घर जाती है, तो वे उसे अंदर नहीं आने देतीं। कुछ समय बाद वह दोबारा जाती है। इस बार मिसेज डॉरलिंग घर पर नहीं होतीं और उनकी बेटी दरवाजा खोलती है।

लड़की घर में जाती है और वहां अपनी मां का सामान देखती है — चम्मच, प्लेटें, मेज़पोश आदि। लेकिन अब वे चीजें उसे परायी लगती हैं। उन्हें देखकर वह खुश नहीं होती। वह सोचती है कि चीजें भले ही वापस मिल जाएं, बीता हुआ समय और लोग कभी वापस नहीं आते।

आख़िर में वह फैसला करती है कि वह अब कभी उस पते पर वापस नहीं आएगी। यह कहानी दिखाती है कि युद्ध सिर्फ जीवन नहीं, यादें और रिश्ते भी छीन लेता है।

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The Address by Marga Minco – Summary in Urdu

دی ایڈریس – اردو میں خلاصہ

یہ کہانی ایک لڑکی کی ہے جو جنگ کے بعد اپنے پرانے گھر واپس آتی ہے۔ اس کی ماں نے جنگ سے پہلے اپنا قیمتی سامان مسز ڈارلنگ نامی عورت کو دے دیا تھا تاکہ وہ اسے محفوظ رکھے۔

جب لڑکی پہلی بار اس ایڈریس پر جاتی ہے، تو مسز ڈارلنگ اسے گھر میں داخل نہیں ہونے دیتیں۔ کچھ دن بعد وہ پھر جاتی ہے۔ اس بار مسز ڈارلنگ گھر پر نہیں ہوتیں اور ان کی بیٹی دروازہ کھولتی ہے۔

لڑکی گھر کے اندر جاتی ہے اور اپنی ماں کی چیزیں دیکھتی ہے — چمچ، پلیٹیں، میز پوش وغیرہ۔ لیکن ان چیزوں کو دیکھ کر اسے خوشی نہیں ہوتی بلکہ وہ اجنبی محسوس کرتی ہے۔

لڑکی کو محسوس ہوتا ہے کہ چیزیں تو واپس آ سکتی ہیں، لیکن پرانا وقت اور اپنے لوگ واپس نہیں آ سکتے۔ آخرکار وہ فیصلہ کرتی ہے کہ وہ اس ایڈریس پر دوبارہ کبھی نہیں آئے گی۔

یہ کہانی دکھاتی ہے کہ جنگ صرف جسمانی نقصان نہیں کرتی بلکہ دل اور یادوں کو بھی زخمی کرتی ہے۔

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The Address by Marga Minco – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Why did the narrator visit Mrs Dorling's house after the war?</strong >
A. To meet an old friend
B. To ask for help
C. To take back her family's belongings
D. To deliver a letter

2. How did Mrs Dorling behave when she first saw the narrator?</strong >
A. She was excited and welcomed her
B. She looked confused and invited her in
C. She was polite but distant
D. She was cold and did not let her enter

3. What emotion did the narrator feel while seeing her mother's things in Mrs Dorling’s house?</strong >
A. Joy
B. Pride
C. Discomfort
D. Curiosity

4. What item did the narrator not mention seeing in the house?</strong >
A. Silver cutlery
B. Tablecloth
C. Photo album
D. Plates

5. What was the narrator’s final decision after visiting the house?</strong >
A. She would come again
B. She would report Mrs Dorling
C. She would take the items back
D. She would never return

6. What does the title The Address mostly refer to?</strong >
A. A letter from her mother
B. The location of her old house
C. The place where her family's belongings were kept
D. A post-war refugee centre

7. What war is referred to in the story?
A. World War I
B. World War II
C. Civil War
D. Cold War

8. What is the likely reason the narrator’s mother gave the items to Mrs Dorling?</strong >
A. For donation
B. To hide them from soldiers
C. For safekeeping during the war
D. Because she was shifting abroad

9. What did the narrator do when Mrs Dorling’s daughter invited her to sit?</strong >
A. She sat comfortably
B. She looked around and then sat
C. She refused to sit
D. She sat and started talking about her mother

10. Why did the narrator not share her identity with the girl in the house?</strong >
A. She was afraid
B. She forgot to mention
C. She did not want to bring back painful memories
D. The girl was rude

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Answer Key:

1. C

2. D

3. C

4. C

5. D

6. C

7. B

8. C

9. C

10. C

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