NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Unit 2 Friendship Chapter 03 The Chair

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read

Question 1. Write two words that come to your mind when you think of friendship.
(a) Now, find some more words that are related to friendship from the grid given below. You can search horizontally or vertically. There are eight words. One word has been marked as an example. The first letter of each word has been given in bold.
(b) Fill in the blanks to complete the words, which mean the same as 'friend' or 'friends' with the help of the meanings.
(c) There are so many words for a friend. What do you call 'a friend' in your own language?
Answer:
Two words that come to mind:
Trust and Care.

(a) Here are the eight words found in the grid:
1. Laughter
2. Helpful
3. Hope
4. Loving
5. Loyal
6. Trust
7. Support
8. Caring

(b) Completed words table:

(c) In Hindi, we call a friend Dost or Mitra.
In simple words: We can find many words for friends, like buddies or partners, and in Hindi we call them Dost.

Exam Tip: Grid puzzles are solved by looking row by row and column by column for letters that form common vocabulary words.

Let Us Discuss

Question 1. Mario was very proud of having so many friends. State whether True or False.
Answer: True
In simple words: Mario felt happy because he believed he had a large number of friends.

Exam Tip: Read the opening paragraph of the story carefully to find character traits and feelings.

Question 2. What did the grandfather take from the attic?
Answer: The grandfather brought down a unique, invisible chair from the attic.
In simple words: The grandfather took a magic chair that nobody could see from the attic.

Exam Tip: Use descriptive words from the passage, like 'invisible' and 'special', to make your answer complete.

Question 3. Will Mario face any challenges?
Answer: Yes, Mario will have a tough time. It is very hard to sit on a chair that cannot be seen, and he might fall down.
In simple words: Sitting on an invisible chair is very hard, so Mario will find it difficult.

Exam Tip: When asked about challenges, explain why the situation is hard for the character.

Question 4. Will Mario be able to use the magic?
Answer: If Mario can successfully sit on this invisible chair at school, the magic will show him who his true friends are. With some help from others, he will be able to use it.
In simple words: Yes, he will be able to use the magic if he sits on the chair and finds his real friends.

Exam Tip: Keep your predictions positive and connect them directly to the magical element of the story.

Let Us Discuss (Part II)

Question 1. Mario successfully sat on the invisible chair on his first attempt. State whether True or False.
Answer: False
In simple words: Mario fell on his back on the first try instead of sitting successfully.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to key details like 'first attempt' to determine if statements are True or False.

Question 2. Fill in the blank with a suitable word.
Mario's grandfather challenged him to a bet of _________.
Answer: fruit chaat
In simple words: The grandfather made a bet with Mario, and the prize was a plate of fruit chaat.

Exam Tip: Double-check food items or prizes mentioned in the story to fill in the blanks correctly.

Question 3. Match the following characters with their action.
Guneet, Asma and Deepa | a. held Mario up, so he wouldn't fall
Many others | b. made fun of Mario's attempts
Answer:
The correct matches are:
1. Guneet, Asma, and Deepa - held Mario up so he would not fall.
2. Many other classmates - laughed at Mario's attempts.
In simple words: Mario's real friends held him up, while the other children just laughed at him.

Exam Tip: Matching characters to actions helps you identify who is helpful and who is not in a story.

Let Us Think and Reflect

Question 1. Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.
(a) "Take it. It's a very special chair. As it's invisible, it's rather tricky to sit on. But if you take it to school and manage to sit on it, then the magic will work and you'll be able to tell who your real friends are."
(i) Fill in the blanks with two words that describe the chair.
The chair is _________ and _________.
(ii) Why was it tricky to sit on the chair?
(iii) Why does Mario's grandfather call the chair 'special'?
(b) "Wait, wait, just a slight technical problem," he said, trying again. But again, he missed the seat, causing more surprised looks and laughter. Mario wouldn't give up.
(i) Fill in the blank with a suitable reason.
Mario says there was a technical problem because _________.
(ii) Mario's friends were very caring and helpful. State whether True or False.
(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
Mario wouldn't give up. This shows he is _________.
a. strong-willed | b. supportive | c. loving | d. hard-working
Answer:
(a)
(i) The chair is special and invisible.
(ii) It was hard to sit on because nobody could see it, making it very difficult to find and balance on.
(iii) The grandfather called it special because it had a magical power to show Mario who his genuine friends were.
(b)
(i) Mario says there was a technical problem because he could not see where the invisible seat was.
(ii) True
(iii) a. strong-willed
In simple words: The magic chair is hard to sit on because it cannot be seen, but it helps Mario find his real friends who never give up on him.

Exam Tip: When answering comprehension questions, use clues from the story like 'invisible' and 'strong-willed' to describe the characters and objects accurately.

Question 2. Answer the following questions.
(a) What was the bet about?
(b) What happened when Mario sat on the chair for the first time?
(c) How was Mario able to find his real friends?
(d) Do you think the magic chair test was good? Why do you say so?
(e) What does 'friends for life' mean to you?
(f) The grandfather's idea helped Mario find his 'real friends'. Mention any other way that would help you find out who are your 'real friends'.
Answer:
(a) The bet was to see if Mario had as many true friends as he claimed. His grandfather challenged him to prove it by sitting on the magic invisible chair.
(b) The first time Mario tried to sit on the chair, he missed it completely and tumbled to the floor, making everyone laugh.
(c) He found his true friends because three classmates - Guneet, Asma, and Deepa - held him up in the air so he would not fall. The others just stood around and made fun of his falls.
(d) Yes, the test was excellent because it clearly showed who would support Mario in difficult times and who would just laugh at his mistakes.
(e) To me, 'friends for life' means having lifelong buddies who support you through everything, care for you, and stay loyal no matter what.
(f) We can find real friends by seeing who helps us when we are sad or facing a difficult test. True friends stay with us to comfort us, instead of leaving when things get tough.
In simple words: True friends always help you when you fall down, while fake friends will only laugh at your struggles.

Exam Tip: In long-form answers, break down your points clearly for parts (a) to (f) so that the examiner can easily read each section.

Let Us Learn

Question 1. Read the following words from the text.
[friendly, suddenly, talking, carrying, called, showed]
Complete the following table by dividing the words into two parts. One has been done for you.
Answer:
Here is the completed table showing the root words and suffixes:

In simple words: Suffixes are small groups of letters like 'ly', 'ing', or 'ed' that we add to the end of a base word to make a new word.

Exam Tip: To find a root word, look for the main part of the word that can stand alone, then identify the ending suffix.

Question 2. Match the following root words with suitable suffixes. You can use a suffix more than once as shown. Use them to make sentences of your own. One has been done for you.
Answer:
Here is the completed table showing the root words, suffixes, and custom sentences:

In simple words: We can link base words like 'care' or 'wonder' with endings like 'ful' to form descriptive words and use them in sentences.

Exam Tip: Suffix spelling changes are common (e.g., dropping the silent 'e' in 'celebrate' to form 'celebration'). Remember these spelling rules for exams.

Question 3. Read the following lines from the story.
Mario, brave and determined, took the strange invisible chair ...
You have already described the chair. Now, describe what kind of a person Mario is in the image given below.
[Use words from the story. You may also use words of your own.]
Answer:
Here are some words to describe Mario's character based on his actions in the story:
* Brave: Mario shows great courage by trying the tricky invisible chair.
* Curious: He is excited to try out the chair to see if the magic is real.
* Perseverant: He keeps trying and does not give up when others laugh at him.
* Challenging spirit: He proudly accepts the bet made by his grandfather.
* Resilient: He gets right back up after each fall to try again.
* Appreciation: He feels thankful and values the friends who helped him.
In simple words: Mario is a strong, brave, and positive boy who works hard and appreciates his true friends.

Exam Tip: Character traits are shown through a character's actions and words. Always use specific details from the story to support each trait.

Question 4. Match each word (adjective) in Column A with a suitable word (noun) in Column B. You can make more than one combination. One has been done as an example.
Answer:
Here are the corrected pairs and sentences:

In simple words: We can join describing words (adjectives) with naming words (nouns) to make clear sentences.

Exam Tip: Adjectives must fit naturally with the nouns they describe (for example, we say 'heavy rain' but not 'heavy peanuts').

Question 5. Complete the paragraph with suitable adjective-noun pairings. Use the words in the box given below.
[old book, magical adventures, happy boy, amazing stories, fantastic adventures, colourful creatures, old castles]
Once upon a time in a little village, a/an (i) _________ named Abhishek found a/an (ii) _________ in the attic. He read (iii) _________ about fairy lands, (iv) _________ and (v) _________ . Abhishek's eyes got big as he imagined these (vi) _________ . He told his friends about the stories, and they started to have their own (vii) _________ when they played together.
Answer:
Once upon a time in a little village, a/an (i) happy boy named Abhishek found a/an (ii) old book in the attic. He read (iii) amazing stories about fairy lands, (iv) old castles and (v) colourful creatures. Abhishek's eyes got big as he imagined these (vi) magical adventures. He told his friends about the stories, and they started to have their own (vii) fantastic adventures when they played together.
In simple words: This is a short story about a happy boy who found an old book and went on fun adventures with his friends.

Exam Tip: Fill-in-the-blank stories should be read fully once before selecting the words, to ensure that the adjectives fit the context perfectly.

Let Us Listen

Question. You will listen to Manu talk about her friend, Monika. As you listen, fill in the blanks with words that you hear. (refer to page 73 for transcript)
(a) Monika found it _________ when she took admission in the school.
(b) Manu was _________ and helped her in many ways.
(c) So, it was not so _________ for the new girl to adjust in the school.
(d) Both friends experienced difficult and _________ moments together.
(e) Manu is _________ to Monika for making her life easy and finding a friend.
Answer:
(a) Monika found it challenging when she took admission in the school.
(b) Manu was supportive and helped her in many ways.
(c) So, it was not so difficult for the new girl to adjust in the school.
(d) Both friends experienced difficult and joyful moments together.
(e) Manu is grateful to Monika for making her life easy and finding a friend.
In simple words: This story is about Monika finding school hard at first, but adjusting quickly because Manu was a very kind and supportive friend.

Exam Tip: While listening, pay close attention to adjectives describing feelings like 'challenging', 'supportive', and 'grateful' to fill in the missing words.

Let Us Speak

Question. Work in pairs. Read the following qualities of a friend.
[loving, honest, kind, caring, loyal, polite, respectful, team-worker, understanding]
Discuss in pairs. Choose any four positive qualities that you would like your friend to have. Give a reason for your choice. Use the hints given below when you speak.
I feel my friend should be ... because ...
I think the quality I want in my friend is being .... The reason for this is ...
I believe my friend should be ... This is in order to ...
If my friend is ... then ...
Answer:
Here are four qualities that are important in a good friend, explained with reasons:
* I feel my friend should be honest because telling the truth builds deep trust and makes us feel safe.
* I think the quality I want in my friend is being caring. The reason for this is that a caring friend is always ready to look after us when we are having a tough day.
* I believe my friend should be loyal. This is in order to make sure we stay best buddies no matter what difficult situations we face.
* If my friend is understanding, then we can talk about anything easily and we will not have unnecessary fights.
In simple words: We want our friends to be honest, caring, loyal, and understanding so that we can trust them and avoid fights.

Exam Tip: In speaking activities, use transition words like 'because' and 'so' to link your opinions with clear reasons.

Let Us Write

Question. Read the messages that Mario has written to his friends Deepa, Guneet and Asma.
(a) Now, choose the correct word given in brackets to complete Mario's message to Guneet.
Dear Guneet,
I am _________ (thankful to/requesting) God to have you as a _________ (lucky/real) friend for life. When everyone was _________ (laughing at/talking to) me, Deepa, Asma and you showed me that you _________ (care for) me. You are indeed a _________ (blessing/loving) in my life.
Best wishes,
Mario
Answer:
Dear Guneet,
I am thankful to God to have you as a real friend for life. When everyone was laughing at me, Deepa, Asma and you showed me that you care for me. You are indeed a blessing in my life.

Best wishes,
Mario
In simple words: Mario is writing a sweet thank-you note to Guneet for standing by him and helping him when others laughed.

Exam Tip: Personal letters or messages should always have a warm tone, expressing gratitude for specific kind actions.

Question. Now, write your own message to your best friend. You may take ideas from the story, 'The Unlikely Best Friends' and the poem, 'A Friend's Prayer'.
Answer:
Dear Alisha,
I feel so happy to have you as my best friend. Your kind help and love mean a lot to me. Whenever I am having a tough day, I know you will be there to make me smile and cheer me up. Your honesty and care have shown me what a real friend is. Thank you for always standing by me and making my days so much happier.

Best wishes,
Nancy
In simple words: This is a short letter thanking a best friend for always being helpful, honest, and caring.

Exam Tip: When writing a letter to a friend, keep your language informal, warm, and highly appreciative.

Let Us Explore

Question 1. Find out more stories about 'Friendship'. It could be from your state, other states or other countries too. You can share them with your class.
Answer:
Here are two wonderful stories about friendship:

1. Lord Krishna and Sudama:
This is a famous story about two childhood friends. Sudama was very poor, while Krishna was a king. When Sudama visited Krishna, he only had a tiny bag of rice to give him as a present. Krishna welcomed his old friend with great joy and respect. He ate the simple food happily and quietly helped Sudama's family become very rich. This teaches us that real friends do not care about money, they only care about love.

2. Razzak Khan and Santosh Singh:
This is a real-life story from Chhattisgarh about two friends from different religions. Razzak Khan, who was Muslim, helped perform the final prayers for his Hindu friend Santosh Singh. He made sure everything was done according to Santosh's religious customs and looked after his family. This shows that true friendship does not have any boundaries and is about staying together in hard times.
In simple words: These stories show that real friendship is based on deep love and respect, and it does not care about money or religion.

Exam Tip: When sharing historical or real-life stories in exams, focus on the moral lesson at the end to make your answer impactful.

Question 2. Describe your friends by filling in the blanks with suitable words. This is known as an acrostic poem.
F __________
R __________
I __________
E __________
N __________
D __________
S __________
Answer:
Here is an acrostic poem describing friends:
F - Friendly
R - Reliable
I - Incredible
E - Encouraging
N - Nice
D - Dear
S - Supportive
In simple words: An acrostic poem is a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a special word, like FRIENDS.

Exam Tip: When writing acrostic poems, select simple, positive adjectives that start with the correct letters.

Question 3. Complete the following task by talking to different people of different age groups as mentioned in the table. You may divide the class into groups to do the following:
What does friendship mean to you? | 50+ (Age Group) | [Response]
What does friendship mean to you? | 31 to 49 (Age Group) | [Response]
What does friendship mean to you? | 20 to 30 (Age Group) | [Response]
What does friendship mean to you? | 12 to 19 (Age Group) | [Response]
After gathering responses:
✓ Discuss: similarities and differences across age groups.
✓ Reflect: how viewpoints on friendship may change with age and life experiences.
✓ Present: a summary of the group's responses, emphasising key themes or unique insights.
Answer:
Here is a completed table with responses from different age groups about what friendship means to them:

Similarities and Differences Across Age Groups:
* Similarities: In all age groups, people believe that trust, loyalty, and helping each other are the most important parts of friendship.
* Differences: Younger people focus more on playing, fitting in, and having fun. Adults focus more on getting help with work and family. Older people value long-term memories and quiet companionship.

How Friendship Changes with Age:
* Children and Teenagers: They want friends to play with and share school secrets.
* Young Adults: They use friendship to understand themselves and find their path in life.
* Middle-Aged Adults: They need friends who understand work stress and family duties.
* Older Adults: They want friends who share their long history and offer quiet love and support.
In simple words: No matter how old we are, we always need friends, but what we do with them changes from playing games when we are young to sharing life stories when we are old.

Exam Tip: When summarizing group discussions, highlight common themes (like trust and support) that are shared across different viewpoints.