English Class 6 — Poorvi
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Word Power — Key Vocabulary

🎓 Class 6 English CBSE Theory Ch 1 — A Bottle of Dew ⏱ ~38 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]

This English Comprehension assessment will be based on: Word Power — Key Vocabulary
Targeting Comprehension & Recall with Intermediate difficulty.

This CBSE English Grammar Assessment will be based on: Word Power — Key Vocabulary

Assessment Format:
• 10 Randomized Grammar Questions (1 mark each)
• Question Types: Fill in the Blanks, MCQs, Error Identification, Reported Speech, Sentence Completion
Total: 10 Questions, 10 Marks

This English Vocabulary assessment will be based on: Word Power — Key Vocabulary
Targeting Vocabulary & Usage with Intermediate difficulty.

Before You Read — Rama to the Rescue

Bloom: L1 Remember
Think and Discuss:
  1. Can you name some people who help us when we are in trouble? Think about rescue? workers, doctors, firefighters, and the police.
  2. What does the word “rescue” mean? Can you think of situations where someone needs to be rescued?
  3. A man stuck in a burning building, a dog with an injured leg, a tree about to be cut down — who would come to the rescue in each case?
  4. Do you know what a kotwal? is? In some languages, the local policeman is called a thaanedar.

What Would You Do?

Imagine you are home alone and something goes wrong — a strange noise outside, a pipe that starts leaking, or a stray animal that wanders in. Would you:

🤔
Think Quickly
Stay calm and come up with a clever plan to handle the situation on your own.
📞
Call for Help
Ring up a neighbour, a family member, or an emergency number right away.
💪
Solve It Yourself
Try to fix the problem yourself using whatever tools or ideas you have.
💬
Ask a Friend
Talk to a friend and figure out the best course of action together.
ACK
Amar Chitra Katha
This story comes from the famous Indian comic book series Amar Chitra Katha, which has been retelling folk tales, mythological stories, and historical accounts in picture-book form since 1967. The series has introduced generations of Indian children to the rich heritage of Indian storytelling.
Folk Tale Indian Comic Picture Story Class 6 Poorvi

Word Power — Key Vocabulary

wonderverb / noun
To feel curious about something; a feeling of amazement.
“I wonder who is making that noise outside.”
yardnoun
An open area next to a house, often enclosed by a wall or fence.
“The children played in the yard until sunset.”
chatterverb / noun
To talk rapidly about unimportant things; continuous light talk.
“The parrots chatter noisily every morning.”
insteadadverb
In place of something; as an alternative.
“He did not cry; instead, he thought of a plan.”
closelyadverb
In a careful and attentive way; paying close attention.
“She listened closely to every word he said.”
perhapsadverb
Maybe; possibly; used when you are not sure about something.
“Perhaps the thief will try again tomorrow.”
kotwalnoun
A policeman or head of security in a village; similar to a constable.
“Rama was the trusted kotwal of their village.”
sleepyadjective
Feeling tired and ready to fall asleep; drowsy.
“The man pretended to be sleepy so the thief would relax.”

The Story — Rama to the Rescue

1 It was late at night in a quiet village. A man and his wife were getting ready to go to bed. The oil lamp flickered Imagery on the wall, casting long shadows across the small room. Everything seemed peaceful, and the couple was feeling quite sleepy?.
2 Suddenly, the man heard a scratching sound near the back wall. He listened closely? and realised that someone was trying to dig through the mud wall of their house! A thief was attempting to break in. The man’s heart began to beat faster, but instead? of panicking, he quickly thought of a clever plan.
In-Text Check
Read and Think: Why did the man not simply shout for help right away?
3 The man began speaking loudly to his wife. He said they should talk about their precious treasure — all the gold and silver they had hidden. Of course, there was no real treasure at all! It was all part of his trick. He wanted the thief to listen in and believe that something valuable was hidden inside the house.
Man: (speaking loudly) My dear, we have so much treasure hidden away. I wonder? if it is safe. Perhaps? we should move it to a better hiding place.
Wife: (catching on to the plan) Ssssh! Do not speak so loudly. Someone might hear us!
Man: (even louder) No, no, it is fine. But remember, if there is ever danger, you must call out the name “Rama” — he will come running to save us!
4 The wife understood her husband’s clever trick immediately. She realised he was speaking loudly on purpose so that the thief outside would hear everything. The thief, who was busy digging through the wall, paused to listen to the chatter?. He grew excited thinking about the treasure.
5 Just then, the wife played her part brilliantly. She raised her voice and cried out: “Rama! Rama! Come quickly!” Irony The thief, still dreaming of gold, did not understand what was happening. But the village kotwal?, whose name was Rama, heard his name being called from across the yard?.
In-Text Check
Stop and Think: Why is it ironic that the wife calls out the name “Rama”?
6 Rama, the kotwal, was alert and dutiful. He rushed to the couple’s house at once. When he arrived, he discovered the thief crouching near the half-dug hole in the wall. The thief was caught completely off guard — he had been so focused on the promise of treasure that he never expected the police to arrive. Rama seized the intruder, and the couple’s clever plan had worked perfectly. Symbolism
Key Takeaway

This folk tale celebrates quick thinking and teamwork. The husband and wife did not have weapons or strength on their side — they used their intelligence. The story also highlights the importance of having trustworthy community helpers like a kotwal who responds immediately when called upon.

Plot Arc — Freytag’s Pyramid

Exposition Couple at home, ready for bed Rising Action Thief digs into wall; man devises a trick Climax Wife calls out "Rama!" Falling Action Kotwal Rama rushes to the house Resolution Thief is caught; cleverness wins

Character Map

married couple tricks calls for help catches Man Wife Thief Rama (Kotwal)

Story Map

👤
Characters
Man (husband), Wife, Thief, Rama (kotwal)
🏠
Setting
A house in a village, late at night
⚠️
Problem
A thief tries to break into the house through the wall
💡
Solution
The couple tricks the thief by calling out the kotwal’s name, Rama, who comes and catches the thief

Extract-Based Questions (CBQ Format)

📄

Extract-Based Question 1 — The Couple’s Conversation

The man spoke loudly to his wife about their precious hidden treasure. “Ssssh!” the wife whispered. “Someone might hear us!” The man replied even more loudly, telling her that if danger ever came, she should call out “Rama” — for he would arrive at once.
(i) What makes the man begin talking about treasure so loudly?
L2 Understand
Answer: The man hears someone digging through the wall and realises a thief is trying to break in. Instead of shouting in alarm, he cleverly begins a loud conversation about treasure to lure the thief into a trap. He wants the thief to become greedy and stay long enough to be caught.
(ii) When the wife says “Ssssh!”, what does it mean, and why does she say it?
L2 Understand
Answer: “Ssssh” is a sound people make to tell someone to be silent or speak quietly. The wife says it because she is playing along with her husband’s act — she pretends to be worried that someone outside might overhear their conversation about treasure, which makes the whole scene more believable to the thief.
(iii) How can you tell that the wife understood her husband’s plan and listened carefully?
L4 Analyse
Answer: The wife catches on immediately and joins in the act without any confusion. She whispers “Ssssh” at exactly the right moment, adding to the dramatic effect. Later, she calls out “Rama!” at the perfect time. This shows she was paying close attention and understood the trick right from the beginning.
📄

Extract-Based Question 2 — Rama Arrives

The village kotwal, whose name was Rama, heard his name being called from across the yard. He rushed to the house immediately. When he arrived, he discovered the thief crouching near the half-dug hole. “Oh, Oh!” the kotwal exclaimed in surprise.
(i) Fill in the blank: The village _______ heard his name and came running.
L1 Remember
Answer: kotwal
(ii) What does the exclamation “Oh, Oh!” tell us about how the kotwal felt?
L3 Apply
Answer: The exclamation “Oh, Oh!” expresses surprise and shock. Rama was not expecting to find a thief digging into a wall when he arrived. This exclamation shows that even though Rama responded quickly, the scene he discovered was unexpected and startling.
(iii) How can you tell that the kotwal was good at his job?
L4 Analyse
Answer: Rama demonstrates several qualities of a good kotwal: he was alert and on duty even late at night; he responded immediately when he heard his name called; and he caught the thief without any delay. His swift action and attentiveness show that he took his responsibility of protecting the village very seriously.

Comprehension — Thinking About the Story

📚

Answer These Questions

1. Why could the man and his wife not sleep peacefully that night?
L2 Understand
Answer: The couple could not sleep peacefully because they heard scratching sounds near the back wall of their house. A thief was trying to dig through the mud wall to break in. This alarming noise kept them awake and forced them to think of a way to handle the situation.
2. What do you think the thief wished for when he heard about the treasure?
L3 Apply
Answer: When the thief overheard the man talking loudly about gold and silver hidden in the house, he must have felt excited and greedy. He probably wished he could get his hands on the treasure and become rich. This greed made him stay and continue digging instead of running away, which ultimately led to his capture.
3. How did the couple manage to get help without leaving their house?
L4 Analyse
Answer: The couple used a very clever trick. The husband loudly mentioned that if danger came, they should call out the name “Rama.” The wife then shouted “Rama! Rama!” at the top of her voice. Since Rama happened to be the name of the village kotwal, he heard the call and rushed to their house. The couple did not need to leave — their voice carried the message.
4. Do you think cleverness is more useful than strength in difficult situations? Give reasons for your answer.
L5 Evaluate
Answer: Yes, cleverness can often be more valuable than physical strength. In this story, the couple had no weapons and were not physically stronger than the thief. However, they used their intelligence to create a plan that not only protected them but also led to the capture of the thief. A person who thinks quickly can find solutions that brute force alone cannot achieve. That said, both qualities are useful — in this case, it was the combination of the couple’s cleverness and the kotwal’s prompt action that saved the day.

Grammar Workshop 1 — Contractions

What Are Contractions?

A contraction is a shortened form of two words joined together, with an apostrophe (') replacing the missing letters.

Full Form → Contraction: I am → I'm | It is → It's | They are → They're
From the story: “I'm sure there's treasure here” → “I am sure there is treasure here.”

Expand These Contractions

Write the full form of each contraction given below:

ContractionFull Form
What's_______
I'll_______
I'd_______
We'll_______
That's_______
We're_______
Don't_______
You'll_______
Must've_______

Grammar Workshop 2 — Present Progressive Tense

Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense

We use the present progressive tense to describe actions that are happening right now, at the moment of speaking.

Subject + am / is / are + Verb-ing
“The thief is digging through the wall.” — This tells us the action is happening at this very moment.

Present Progressive — Mind Map

Present Progressive I + am + V-ing I am listening. He/She/It + is + V-ing He is digging. We/They + are + V-ing They are sleeping. When to Use Actions happening RIGHT NOW

Fill in the Blanks — Present Progressive

Complete each sentence using the correct form of the present progressive tense. Use the verb given in brackets.

1 The thief _______ through the mud wall. (dig)
2 I _______ to strange sounds outside. (listen)
3 The wife _______ for help loudly. (call)
4 The children _______ in the yard. (play)
5 Rama _______ towards the house. (run)
6 We _______ our homework right now. (do)

Grammar Workshop 3 — Adverbs

What Are Adverbs?

An adverb is a word that gives more information about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs tell us how, when, or where an action happens.

Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective: close → closely | soft → softly | loud → loudly
From the story: “She listened closely to every word.” — The adverb “closely” tells us how she listened.

Adverbs from the Story

closely
In a careful, attentive manner — how someone listens
softly
In a gentle, quiet manner — how someone speaks
loudly
With great volume — how the man spoke on purpose

Exercise A — Match Adjective to Adverb

Convert each adjective into its adverb form and use it in a sentence:

AdjectiveAdverb (-ly)Example Sentence
warm______________
graceful______________
smooth______________
beautiful______________
funny______________
quick______________
hurried______________

Exercise B — Fill in the Adverbs (Story)

Complete this short story by filling in suitable adverbs from the box below:

Word Box
honestly  •  brightly  •  peacefully  •  sweetly  •  angrily  •  slowly  •  tirelessly
The sun shone _______ over the village. The birds sang _______ in the trees. An old farmer worked _______ in his field. When asked about his secret to good crops, he answered _______, saying it was nothing but hard work. In the evening, as the sky turned orange, the farmer walked home _______. His wife had prepared dinner, and they ate _______. Only once did the farmer speak _______ — when he found that the village goat had eaten his flowers!

Grammar Workshop 4 — Exclamatory vs Interrogative Sentences

Two Special Sentence Types

Exclamatory sentences express strong feelings (surprise, joy, anger, pain) and end with an exclamation mark (!). Interrogative sentences ask a question and end with a question mark (?).

Exclamatory: Oh, hum! What a hard day!   |   Interrogative: What should we do?
Exclamatory (!)
Oh, hum! What a hard day!
↔
Interrogative (?)
What should we do?

Punctuate These Sentences

Add the correct punctuation mark (! or ?) at the end of each sentence, and identify whether it is exclamatory or interrogative:

1 What a clever trick that was __
2 How did the kotwal catch the thief __
3 Oh no, the thief is digging into our wall __
4 Where has the thief hidden __

Listening Exercise — Security Guard Announcement

Listen and Fill In

Your teacher will read a security guard’s announcement aloud. Listen carefully and fill in the missing words:

“Good evening, residents. This is your security guard speaking. I want to remind everyone that the main gate will be _______ at 10 PM tonight. Please make sure all your _______ and windows are locked before going to _______. If you notice anything _______, please call the security office _______. Stay safe and have a _______ night.”

Speaking Practice

Activity 1 — Contractions in Speech

Practice saying these contractions aloud with a partner. Notice how we naturally use shortened forms when we speak:

I'm
I am
It's
It is
They're
They are
Don't
Do not

Try making 3 sentences each using contractions, then say the same sentences using the full form. Which sounds more natural in everyday speech?

Activity 2 — Discuss Home Safety

Talk with your partner or group about what you would do in each situation. Use the prompts below:

  1. You hear a strange noise at the door late at night. What would you do first?
  2. Your neighbour’s house has a water leak while they are away. How would you help?
  3. You spot smoke coming from a nearby building. What steps would you take?
  4. A stray animal enters your home and won’t leave. How would you handle it safely?

Remember: Use complete sentences, speak clearly, and listen to your partner’s ideas before responding.

Writing Craft — Retell the Story

Writing Task

Imagine you are the man from the story. The next morning, you meet your neighbour and tell him everything that happened the previous night. Write a short paragraph (60–80 words) retelling the story from the man’s point of view.

Planning Your Writing

Use the five question words to organise your thoughts before writing:

📅
When?
Late last night, just as we were about to sleep
🏠
Where?
At our house in the village
🔎
What?
A thief tried to break in through the wall
💡
How?
We tricked the thief by calling out Rama, the kotwal’s name
🤔
Why?
Because we needed help quickly and could not leave the house

Format Guide

First-Person Retelling (60–80 words)

• Begin: “You won’t believe what happened last night!”
• Describe what you heard (the thief digging).
• Explain the plan you came up with (the treasure talk).
• Tell how your wife helped (calling out Rama).
• Describe the outcome (the kotwal arriving, the thief being caught).
• End with how you feel now (relieved, proud, grateful).

Word limit: 60–80 words   |   Tense: Past tense   |   Voice: First person (“I”)

Sample Response

Writing Rubric

CriteriaGood (3)Average (2)Needs Work (1)
Content All five W’s covered; complete retelling Most details included; minor gaps Important parts missing; incomplete story
Organisation Clear beginning, middle, and end; logical flow Mostly organised; one or two jumps Events are jumbled or hard to follow
Expression Vivid language; natural first-person voice Simple but clear expression Sentences are unclear or awkward
Accuracy No spelling/grammar errors; correct tense 1–2 minor errors Several errors that affect meaning

Explore — Emergency Awareness

🌞
Emergency Numbers
Find out the important emergency numbers in India. 112 is the all-in-one emergency number. 100 is for police, 101 for fire, and 102 or 108 for ambulance. Write these down and keep them near your phone.
🛠️
Home Safety Plan
Discuss with your family: What would each person do if there was a fire, a break-in, or a medical emergency? Create a simple family safety plan with roles for each family member.
🤝
Community Helpers
Just like Rama the kotwal, many people in our community keep us safe. Can you name five community helpers and describe what they do? Think about security guards, traffic police, doctors, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions — Rama to the Rescue

What is Rama to the Rescue about in Class 6 English Poorvi?

Rama to the Rescue is a graphic story from NCERT Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 1 Fables and Folk Tales. It tells how a village couple cleverly outsmarts a thief. When the thief breaks into their home, the wife begins calling out Rama's name which happens to be the name of the village Kotwal (guard). Rama hears his name being called, rushes over, and catches the thief. The story demonstrates the power of quick thinking and presence of mind.

What grammar topics are covered in Rama to the Rescue exercises?

The Rama to the Rescue exercises cover four grammar topics: contractions (short forms like don't, can't, I'm), present progressive tense (actions happening now, using is/are + verb-ing), adverbs (words that describe how actions are done, like quickly, silently), and exclamatory versus interrogative sentences (difference between statements of surprise and questions).

What is a contraction in English grammar as taught in Rama to the Rescue?

A contraction is a shortened form of two words joined together with an apostrophe replacing the missing letters. Examples from the Rama to the Rescue exercises include don't (do not), can't (cannot), I'm (I am), and won't (will not). Contractions are commonly used in informal speech and writing. Learning contractions helps Class 6 students understand both formal and informal English.

What is present progressive tense in Class 6 English?

Present progressive tense (also called present continuous) describes actions happening right now. It is formed using is/am/are + verb-ing. In the Rama to the Rescue exercises, students practice sentences like 'The thief is climbing the wall' and 'Rama is running towards the house.' This tense is important for describing ongoing actions in stories and everyday communication.

How does the wife save the family in Rama to the Rescue?

The wife saves the family by cleverly calling out the name Rama when the thief breaks in. Since Rama is also the village Kotwal's (guard's) name, he hears the call and comes running to their aid. The wife's quick thinking turns a dangerous situation into a safe one. This demonstrates the story's theme that presence of mind and cleverness can be more powerful than physical strength.

What is a plot arc in the context of Rama to the Rescue?

A plot arc (Freytag's Pyramid) shows the structure of a story in five stages: exposition (introduction of characters and setting), rising action (tension builds as the thief appears), climax (the most exciting moment when Rama arrives), falling action (the thief is caught), and resolution (the family is safe). Understanding plot arcs helps Class 6 students analyse how stories are constructed.

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