Class 6 English Poorvi - Spices That Heal Us: Q&A and Exercises Solved

Let us do these activities before we read.

I A spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf or any other part of a plant used to give taste and colour to our food. Try to recall the names of three spices that are used for cooking in your home. Write them below and share your answers with your teacher.

1. Turmeric
2. Jeera (Cumin seeds)
3. Adrak (Ginger)

II Given below are pictures of some spices. Work in pairs and write what you call them in your language. Their names in English are given in the last column. Share your answers with your teacher.

S.No.	Spice Name in Your Language	Name in English
1	Haldi	Turmeric
2	Methi	Fenugreek
3	Jeera	Cumin seeds
4	Heeng	Asafoetida
5	Dalchini	Cinnamon
6	Laung	Clove
7	Adrak	Ginger
8	Kali Mirch	Black pepper
9	Saunf	Fennel seeds
10	Elaichi	Cardamom

LETTER FROM DAADI

Dear Vikram and Vaibhavi,

Namaste! I am happy to hear you both are better now. I hope the natural cures I shared helped you. Please remember these and share them with your friends. When I was a child, my grandmother taught me these home remedies from the kitchen for common illnesses caused by weather.

Here are some benefits of spices we have in our kitchen:

• Haldi (Turmeric) helps improve energy, digestion, and reduces body pain.
• Methi (Fenugreek) helps control sugar and body weight. Soak seeds overnight and drink the water in the morning.
• Jeera (Cumin seeds) soaked overnight improves digestion and helps cure sleeplessness.
• Heeng (Asafoetida) relieves tummy gas and controls cough and cold.
• Dalchini (Cinnamon) and Laung (Clove) help relieve toothache until you see a dentist.
• Adrak (Ginger) helps with cough, cold, and pain relief.
• Kali Mirch (Black pepper) aids digestion and reduces body pain.
• Saunf (Fennel seeds) and Ajwain (Carom seeds) help with digestion after meals.
• Elaichi (Cardamom) helps digestion, respiratory issues, and cures bad breath.

Always consult an elder before using these remedies. Lots of love and blessings!

Daadi

Let us think and reflect

I Read the given lines and answer the following questions.

‘When I was a child, I learnt them from my grandmother. She used to find cures for most of the weather-related common illnesses in the kitchen.’

1. Where exactly in the kitchen did her grandmother find the cures?
   She found the cures in the kitchen where the spices and herbs were kept.
2. Give one example of weather-related common illnesses.
   Cough and cold is one weather-related common illness.
3. What kind of relationship did the speaker have with her grandmother?
   The speaker had a loving and caring relationship with her grandmother.

II Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.

Daadi soaked methi seeds overnight and drank the water in the morning to manage her sugar level and body weight.

III Circle the spice that is not useful for body pain according to Daadi's letter.

1. Turmeric
2. Fennel seeds
3. Ginger
4. Black pepper

IV Why did Daadi ask Vikram and Vaibhavi to share the natural cures with their friends?

Daadi wanted Vikram and Vaibhavi to share the natural cures so their friends could also benefit from these easy and safe remedies.

V What was Daadi's final advice to Vikram and Vaibhavi?

Daadi advised them to always consult an elder before using these natural cures.

VI How do we know that natural cures are passed from one generation to another?

We know because Daadi learned these cures from her grandmother and now she is sharing them with Vikram and Vaibhavi.

VII Why do you think we should know about the healing properties of spices?

Knowing the healing properties helps us use natural spices safely for health and avoid unnecessary medicines.

Let us learn

I You have read the uses of spices in the letter. Complete the following table with the help of your teacher. You may use the words from the box given below.

Part of the plant: root / bark / leaves / flower buds / fruit / seeds
Texture: rough / soft / silky
Taste: bitter / sweet / sour / salty / spicy

Spice Name	Part of the Plant	Colour	Texture
Turmeric	Root	Orange-yellow	Rough
Fenugreek	Seeds	Light brown	Hard
Cinnamon	Bark	Brown	Rough and dry
Clove	Flower buds	Dark brown	Hard and rough
Black pepper	Fruit (dried seeds)	Black	Hard and rough
Cardamom	Fruit	Light green	Soft and smooth

II Read the sentences given below.

• You may share them with your friends.
• You should try to remember these cures.
• It can help control cough and cold.
• You must consult an elder before you use them.
• I need to soak the methi seeds overnight.
• I used to put heeng water on your tummy.

The underlined words are known as helping verbs. These are called modal verbs or modals. Each modal verb has a different function.

1. The words given in Column A are helping verbs. Match the helping verbs in Column A with their functions in Column B.

Column A	Functions (Column B)
(i) may	B. suggestion
(ii) should	D. advice
(iii) can	E. ability
(iv) must	C. compulsion
(v) need to	F. necessity
(vi) used to	A. past habit

2. Complete the following dialogues with any four modals from the table given above. (Use a modal only once.)

Ajay: Anand had fever last week. He (i) must rest.

Suman: Yes, he (ii) should.

Ajay: He (iii) may take good care or he will fall ill again.

Suman: Yes, we (iv) need to remember how effective grandmother's natural cures are.

✓ Let us listen

You will listen to the benefits of Tulsi (Holy Basil), a common herb. As you listen, complete the fact sheet given below. (refer to page 102 for transcript)

THE WONDER HERB
1. Name	Tulsi   Family: basil
2. First found in	north central India
3. Now found	everywhere in India
4. Known as	The Queen of herbs
5. Can decrease levels of	glucose and cholesterol
6. Used to treat disorders of	breathing and digestion
7. Is used to make	mouth wash and toothpaste
8. We can have Tulsi leaves by	eating them raw or adding them while making tea

Let us speak

1. Daadi told Vikram and Vaibhavi about many spices. Choose one spice and introduce yourself as that spice to the class.

Answer: I choose Ginger. Hello everyone! My name is Ginger. I am the root part of the plant. I have a light brown color and a rough texture. My taste is spicy and strong. I have been used in cooking for thousands of years. I help people when they have cough, cold, and pain. You can use me in tea or as a spice in food.

2. Before you speak, make a spicy headband for the spice you chose. Follow the steps given below.

• Cut out strips of paper 2 inches wide.
• Join two ends to make a band that can fit your head.
• Make a small card with a picture of the spice. Colour it.
• Attach the card on your headband.

Use the headband while introducing yourself as the spice.

3. Mention the following while speaking.

• your name
• part of the plant
• colour
• texture
• taste
• benefits

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Let us write

I Vikram's grandmother shared two natural cures to cure his cough in her earlier letter. It was kept outside and a few drops of rain fell on it. Some of the words got washed away by the rain. Help Vikram complete the natural cures. Use the phrases given in the box below. There are two phrases that you do not need.

Phrases: some leaves of basil, for cough, the mixture, for high fever, you can have it, grind to get, amount of honey, a piece of fresh ginger, home remedy

Natural Cures for Cough

1. To prepare this home remedy, you just need ginger and honey. First, take a piece of fresh ginger, grate it and take the juice from it. Take about two teaspoons of this juice and add about two and a half teaspoons of amount of honey to it. Mix it properly. Warm the mixture slightly on very low heat for a minute. Then you can have it about three to four times a day to get relief from cough. Have patience to see the effect as natural cures with ginger and honey might take some time to show results.

2. To prepare the second home remedy for cough, take about 10 grams of each— long pepper, dried ginger and basil leaves. Add four to six small cardamoms and grind to get a fine powder. If you take this powder with an equal amount of honey, it will give you relief from cough.

II Now, write a short paragraph on Tulsi based on the completed fact sheet in ‘Let us listen’.

Tulsi, also called Holy Basil, is a very special herb that belongs to the basil family. It was first found in north central India and now grows almost everywhere in India. People call it the Queen of herbs because it has many health benefits. Tulsi can help lower sugar and cholesterol levels in the body. It is used to treat problems related to breathing and digestion. Tulsi is also used to make mouthwash and toothpaste to keep teeth and gums healthy. We can eat Tulsi leaves raw or add them to tea while making it, which helps calm the mind and protect us from pollution.

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Let us explore

I Now that you have read about many spices, can you guess the spices based on the riddles given below?

1. When your tummy felt funny
I was used by your granny
I made you fit and fine
And brought back your smile.
Who am I?
Answer: Ajwain (Carom seeds)

2. I come from under the ground
Thousands of years, I've been around.
For cooking you use me daily
From cold I can cure you surely.
Who am I?
Answer: Ginger (Adrak)

II Fill in the blanks to complete the riddle below. Write another riddle of your own and ask your family members to guess the spice.

1. Brownish- yellow in colour,
2. Bitter and spicy to taste,
I help everyone, to control their weight
Who am I?
Answer: Fenugreek (Methi)

My riddle:
I am small and round,
Green or black in colour found.
I add flavour to every dish,
And cure cough with my wish.
Who am I?
(Answer: Black pepper)

III Close your eyes and learn about spices by smelling and feeling them. The teacher may also provide a few different spices to try.

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.