NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Unit 5 Culture and Tradition Chapter 03 Ila Sachani Embroidering Dreams with her Feet

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read

Question 1. Look at the given picture and information. Discuss the questions with your teacher and classmates.
(a) Do you think Pranav's task is simple? Why or why not?
(b) How does Pranav's special ability make you feel?
(c) What qualities do you think were important for Pranav to become successful?
(d) What message does Pranav's story give us?
Answer: Here are my thoughts on Pranav's inspiring journey:

(a) No, what Pranav does is extremely difficult. Since he was born without hands, excelling in art, sports, and singing is an amazing achievement. It needs huge willpower, hard work, and creativity. Doing well in even one area is hard, so succeeding in so many areas shows his incredible strength and the massive effort he put in.
(b) Pranav's special talent inspires me and makes me feel motivated. It teaches us that people can do anything if they try hard. His journey shows us that if we stay strong, we can overcome any physical challenges. It helps us think positively about our own goals.
(c) Many qualities helped Pranav succeed. These include his strong determination, his refusal to quit, his deep love for art and sports, and his creative ways of doing tasks. He also worked very hard and had a supportive family to help him.
(d) His life story gives us several key lessons. We must never lose hope when things get hard. We should look at what we *can* do instead of what we cannot do. It also shows us that we should support everyone and that hard work always brings success.
In simple words: Pranav's story teaches us that even without hands, we can do wonderful things like sing, paint, and play sports if we never give up.

Exam Tip: Use simple words like 'determination' and 'resilience' to describe Pranav's strong character and his achievements.

Question 2. Look at the picture of Kathiawar embroidery. Discuss in pairs.
(a) List the steps you think are needed to create this embroidery.
(b) Discuss if these steps can be done with feet, instead of hands.
(c) What efforts would be needed if someone has to embroider with their feet? Do you think it is possible?
Answer: Here is our discussion:

(a) To make this beautiful embroidery, several steps are needed:
1. Draw a sketch on paper or cloth.
2. Choose the right fabric and colorful threads.
3. Set up the cloth tightly in a round hoop.
4. Carefully stitch the outline and then fill the gaps with different threads.
5. Add mirrors or small beads for decoration.
6. Tie off the loose threads and iron the fabric.
(b) Yes, doing this with feet is possible but extremely difficult. One would need to use their toes to draw the design, stretch the cloth, and thread the needle with great care.
(c) It would require years of non-stop practice, extreme patience, and immense strength in the toes. With correct tools, support, and willpower, it is definitely possible, and some talented people have actually done it.
In simple words: While making embroidery with feet is incredibly hard, a person can do it if they practice holding needles and pens with their toes.

Exam Tip: When explaining complex tasks, present the points clearly using numbered steps so your answer looks clean.

Let Us Read

Question

Question. Read the paragraphs and write the main idea for each. Then, match the main idea with two supporting details.
Answer: Here is the completed table of paragraphs and main ideas:

In simple words: This table matches each part of Ila's life story with its main point and two supporting details.

Exam Tip: Matching main ideas with supporting details is a great way to summarize long paragraphs for comprehension exams.

Let Us Think and Reflect

Question 1. Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.
'Unlike other children, she could not use her hands in the usual way. While other small hands drew figures in the sand or plucked wild flowers, she wondered why she could not join them. She too wanted to hold a chalk in her hands and draw figures on a slate.'
(a) Choose the correct option to fill in the blank.
'Unlike other children' means that Ila was _________. (unaware/different/simple)
(b) What could Ila have felt when she could not join others in their activities?
(c) Complete the following with a suitable reason.
Ila could not draw figures on the slate because _________.
Answer:
(a) different
(b) She probably felt very lonely, left out, and sad. She wanted to join her friends but felt unhappy because she was unable to play like them.
(c) her hands hung loose by her sides and she could not hold chalk with her fingers like others.
In simple words: Ila was different from other kids. She felt sad when she could not play, and she couldn't write on a slate because her hands were useless.

Exam Tip: When asked about a character's feelings, look for emotional clues in the passage, like her 'wondering' why she couldn't join others.

Question 2. What creative ways did Ila and her family use to overcome the challenges she faced?
Answer: Ila's family, especially her mother and grandmother, creatively taught her to use her feet for daily tasks. She practiced eating and combing her hair with her legs. They also trained her to do Kathiawar embroidery using her feet. This unique training helped her become a master craftswoman.
In simple words: Ila and her family found a smart way to help her: they trained her to use her feet to sew, eat, and brush her hair.

Exam Tip: Always highlight family support as a key factor in overcoming challenges in biography-based questions.

Question 3. How did 'new independence' help Ila?
Answer: Her new-found independence helped her in three main ways:
* Earning a Living: She was able to earn her own money by selling her embroidery.
* True Happiness: Doing the art she loved brought her immense joy and satisfaction.
* Self-respect: Being able to look after herself made her feel proud and very confident.
In simple words: Independence helped Ila earn her own money, feel extremely proud of herself, and find pure happiness in her work.

Exam Tip: Use bullet points to list distinct benefits (financial, emotional, and social) to make your essay answers well-rounded.

Question 4. Why was the first state exhibition an important event in Ila's life?
Answer: This event was very important because it showed her amazing talent to a large crowd of people. It was the first time she got public praise, which allowed her to show her craft at bigger national shows later. This help her become famous and win several prestigious awards.
In simple words: The exhibition was a big milestone because it made her famous, showed her art to the public, and helped her win national prizes.

Exam Tip: Explain how a single event (like an exhibition) acted as a turning point in a person's life journey.

Question 5. What does the sentence, 'art has the power to rise above physical boundaries and touch the soul', tell us about the power of art?
Answer: This quote shows that true art is not limited by physical body conditions. It has a beautiful way of moving people's feelings deeply. It proves that creative ideas are powerful enough to inspire others, even when the artist has severe challenges. Art unites people through feelings, not just physical talents.
In simple words: It means that beautiful art can touch people's hearts and inspire them, no matter what physical challenges the artist has.

Exam Tip: When explaining a deep quote, use simpler, everyday examples or synonyms to make the abstract meaning clear.

Question 6. How can we be helpful and encouraging like Ila's family and friends when someone faces challenges?
Answer: We can support others in several simple ways:
* Giving kindness: Showing love, care, and cheerfulness to build their confidence.
* Finding solutions: Helping them with physical tasks in creative ways so they can complete them.
* Sharing knowledge: Teaching them new skills that make them independent.
* Including everyone: Inviting them to play games and take part in all activities with us.
* Cheering their wins: Celebrating their efforts and praising them when they succeed.
In simple words: We can help others by being kind, helping them with hard tasks, including them in our games, and praising their hard work.

Exam Tip: Divide your advice into actionable headings (like kindness, inclusion, and help) to make your answer highly structured.

Question 7. How can Ila's story help others to overcome challenges in their lives?
Answer: Her life shows us valuable lessons:
* Hard work wins: Staying strong and trying repeatedly helps us handle the toughest problems.
* Adapt and succeed: Finding creative ways to do tasks can bring wonderful results.
* Family support counts: Having relatives and friends to stand by us makes a huge difference.
* Stay cheerful: A happy, positive attitude helps us face any hard days.
* No limits: Our physical bodies do not limit what we can achieve in life.
In simple words: Ila's story teaches us that we can overcome any hardship if we keep trying, think creatively, and stay happy.

Exam Tip: Summarize the moral of the story as lessons that apply to anyone facing difficulty in life.

Let Us Learn

Question 1. Read the words from the text given in Column A. Then, try to understand what they mean by reading the sentences in Column B. Now, match the word to its correct synonym in Column C. There are two extra synonyms given, You may refer to the dictionary.
Answer: Here are the matched words and synonyms:

In simple words: This matching table pairs common descriptive words (like 'tiny' or 'tough') with their exact synonyms (like 'small' or 'difficult').

Exam Tip: Using context sentences in Column B helps you guess the correct synonym in Column C even if the word is new.

Question 2. Unscramble the antonyms of the words in Column A. An example has been given for you.
Example: display - EDIH ( H I D E)
(a) tiny - EGHU (H _ _ _ )
(b) wonderful - REEBLITR (T _ R _ _ B _ E)
(c) quiet - IYNSO (N _ _ _ S _ )
(d) task - SIAEMTP (P _ ST _ _ _ E)
(e) tough - SEYA (E _ _ _ )
Use these antonyms in sentences of your own.
Answer: The unscrambled antonyms are:
(a) tiny - HUGE
(b) wonderful - TERRIBLE
(c) quiet - NOISY
(d) task - PASTIME
(e) tough - EASY

Here are new, simple example sentences:
* Huge: We saw a huge blue whale swimming in the ocean.
* Terrible: I had a terrible toothache and had to visit the dentist.
* Noisy: The playground gets very noisy when the kids play games.
* Pastime: Gardening is my grandfather's favorite pastime.
* Easy: The math worksheet was very easy and I finished it quickly.
In simple words: Antonyms are opposite words. The opposites of tiny, wonderful, quiet, task, and tough are huge, terrible, noisy, pastime, and easy.

Exam Tip: Ensure that your custom sentences use the unscrambled opposite word (like 'huge' or 'terrible') instead of the original word.

Question 3. Read the sentences from the text and focus on the highlighted words.
• You will see lots of bright colours.
• There are many lovely things like cushions and bedcovers.
• They taught her to create many beautiful patterns using her feet!
• She learned many styles.
• She received many awards.
(a) The highlighted words tell us about the quantity. Choose what the words show.
(i) Unmentioned quantity | (ii) Large quantity
Answer: (ii) Large quantity
In simple words: Words like 'lots of' and 'many' are used to describe a big amount or a large quantity of things.

Exam Tip: Determiners like 'many' and 'lots of' indicate that the noun following them is plural and in a large amount.

Question. (b) Let us now understand what words of quantity tell us. Fill in the blanks to complete an example for each word of quantity. Hints are given in the brackets.
Answer: Here are the completed examples:
(i) We saw many buses on the road.
(ii) How much milk do you want?
(iii) There is some milk needed.
(iv) I need a few examples.
(v) I have little energy left. She picked some flowers.
(vi) I ate some rice.

Here are new, simple example sentences for each quantity word:

* Many (countable):
1. There are many apples in the big basket.
2. I have many friends at my school.

* Much (uncountable):
1. We do not have much water left in our bottle.
2. How much homework do you have tonight?

* Some (both):
1. Can you please give me some clean paper?
2. I would like some sweet strawberries.

* A few (countable):
1. Only a few students were late for the class today.
2. I have a few colorful pens in my pencil box.

* Little (uncountable):
1. There is little sugar left in the jar.
2. She had little interest in watching the movie.

* Some (uncountable):
1. Put some butter on the hot bread.
2. He drank some cold milk after playing.
In simple words: We use 'many' and 'a few' for things we can count (like buses), and 'much' and 'little' for things we cannot count (like milk or energy).

Exam Tip: Remember: 'many' is for countable nouns (like apples, friends), and 'much' is for uncountable nouns (like rain, water, time).

Let Us Listen

Question. You will listen to a talk about Kathiawar embroidery. As you listen, circle the correct option. (refer to page 164 for transcript)
Answer: Here are the correct options based on the listening passage:
a. Form: (i) old
b. Colours: (ii) bright
c. Stitches: (ii) chain stitch
d. Seen on: (i) children's caps
e. Things used: (i) small mirrors
f. Designs: (ii) squares and triangles
In simple words: Kathiawar embroidery is an ancient art form with bright colors, chain stitches, and geometric shapes, often decorated with tiny mirrors on kids' caps.

Exam Tip: Listening keys focus on specific descriptive nouns like 'chain stitch' and 'small mirrors'. Note these down carefully while listening.

Let Us Speak

Question. In pairs, write down two questions you would like to ask Ila Sachani.
(a) Look at two examples. Where were you born? Did you go to school? The Yes/No questions use a rising tone at the end.
(b) Speak the example questions aloud as a peer activity at least five times.
(c) Now, take turns to ask your questions to another classmate. Speak clearly and with the correct rising tone as shown in (a).
Answer: Here are my questions and speaking steps:

(a) Here are two questions we can ask Ila:
1. Did you find it very hard to thread the needle at the beginning?
2. Did your family always encourage you to keep trying?
(b) This is a speaking activity. Practice saying these questions with your friends five times, raising your voice slightly at the end of the question.
(c) This is a classroom partner activity. Take turns asking and answering these questions with your partner.
In simple words: We can practice asking questions like 'Did you go to school?' with a rising tone to learn polite conversation.

Exam Tip: Yes/No questions (like 'Did you...' or 'Is it...') always end with a rising voice tone to sound natural.

Let Us Write

Question. You heard children from different states speak about the art forms from their state. Discuss in pairs which art form you liked the most. Now, write a paragraph with five sentences giving your reasons for liking it.
Answer: I loved the Dhokra metal art from Odisha the most. It is amazing that people have been making these brass figures for over four thousand years. I like how they use a special clay mold and beeswax to shape the metal. The final animal and human figures look beautiful, with lots of tiny details. Each handmade piece is unique, which makes this ancient craft very special.
In simple words: Dhokra is a wonderful, four-thousand-year-old metal art made with clay molds, and every single piece is unique and beautiful.

Exam Tip: Give clear reasons (like its history, material, or unique design) to explain why a particular craft is your favorite.

Let Us Explore

Question. 1. Does anyone in your family or neighbourhood do embroidery? Find out what type of embroidery they do and how they learnt it.
2. Try a simple stitch on cloth with the guidance of a family member.
3. Visit the given link to find out about embroidery types from different parts of India. Share with your teacher and classmates which one you liked the most and why.
Answer: Here is how you can do this exploration:

* Local Embroidery Interview: You can ask your mother, grandmother, or neighbors if they know how to embroider. If they do, ask them which stitches they use (like satin or chain stitch) and who taught them.

* Learning a Simple Stitch:
1. Take a small scrap of cotton cloth and a colorful sewing thread.
2. Ask an elder to help you thread the needle and tie a knot at the end.
3. Try making a basic running stitch by pushing the needle up and down through the cloth in a straight line.
4. Make small, even gaps between each stitch to keep it neat.

* Indian Embroidery Styles: Here are some famous traditional styles:
* Phulkari (Punjab): Beautiful floral designs made using bright silk threads.
* Kantha (West Bengal): Running stitches used to draw pretty birds and animal shapes on fabric.
* Chikankari (Uttar Pradesh): Very delicate and elegant white embroidery done on light cotton clothes.
* Zardozi (Lucknow): Intricate, heavy sewing using gold and silver threads to make royal designs.
* Kutch Embroidery (Gujarat): Bright patterns with tiny mirrors sewn into the fabric.
In simple words: We can learn how to sew a simple running stitch on a cloth, and explore famous Indian crafts like Phulkari from Punjab and Chikankari from Uttar Pradesh.

Exam Tip: Know at least three regional Indian embroidery types (such as Phulkari, Kantha, and Chikankari) for cultural knowledge questions.