Part I — A Lonely Elephant
This English Comprehension assessment will be based on: Part I — A Lonely Elephant
Targeting Comprehension & Recall with Intermediate difficulty.
This CBSE English Grammar Assessment will be based on: Part I — A Lonely Elephant
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: Part I — A Lonely Elephant
Targeting Vocabulary & Usage with Intermediate difficulty.
Before You Read
Bloom: L2 Understand- Why are friends important in your life? What kinds of things do you enjoy doing together with your friends?
- How does being with a good friend make you feel? Try completing these sentences:
• “With my friend I ___”
• “With my friend I feel ___” - The title of this story is “The Unlikely Best Friends.” What does the word unlikely mean? Can you think of two creatures or people who would be an unexpected pair of friends?
Look at the title again. The story is about “unlikely” friends. Which two animals do you think could form a surprising friendship? Write down your guess before you begin reading.
Key Vocabulary Preview
This story is from Unit 2 “Friendship” in Poorvi (Class 6). It tells the heartwarming tale of an unexpected bond between an elephant and a dog who become inseparable companions, teaching us that true friendship goes beyond differences in size, species, or background.
Part I — A Lonely Elephant
Gajaraj? the elephant occupied the finest booth? in the royal stables?. The king had a deep affection for this magnificent creature and had issued orders that he should be given the very best care at all times.
Yet despite all the royal comforts surrounding him, Gajaraj was unhappy. He had no companion to share his days with. The mahout? who looked after him was a kind man — he served Gajaraj his meals on time, scrubbed him clean during daily baths, and ensured his shelter was comfortable. He was an excellent caretaker, but a caretaker is not quite the same as a friend. Personification
“If only I had a companion to spend time with,” Gajaraj thought to himself, gazing out at the empty courtyard. He wished for someone to play with, someone who would be by his side not out of duty, but out of genuine affection. Personification
An Unexpected Visitor
One evening, when the sun had already set and the stable was quiet, a stray? dog wandered into the building. The poor animal looked weary and famished, as though it had been roaming for days without a proper meal. It stood hesitantly near the entrance, sniffing the air. Imagery
Gajaraj noticed the little visitor and felt a wave of sympathy. Using his long trunk?, he gently nudged some of his food towards the dog. The dog’s tail began to wag? with excitement. It gobbled up the offering eagerly and then, feeling safe and full, curled up near the elephant and drifted off to sleep. Personification
The following morning, the mahout arrived at the stable and spotted the dog. He did not chase it away. Instead, he observed that Gajaraj seemed cheerful for the first time in a long while — the elephant clearly enjoyed having the little creature around. The mahout smiled and tossed a few crumbs? to the dog, letting it stay.
A Friendship Blossoms
When it was time for Gajaraj’s daily bath, the dog accompanied? him to the river. The elephant, in a playful mood, splashed? water all over the dog using his trunk. The dog yelped? in protest — it clearly did not enjoy being showered like that! The mahout could not help but laugh at the amusing scene. Imagery
On the walk back to the stable, Gajaraj reached down with his trunk, gently lifted the dog, and placed it on his broad back. The dog was absolutely delighted? — perched high up on the elephant’s back, it looked around with bright eyes, enjoying the ride as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Imagery
1. What activities did Gajaraj and the dog enjoy doing together?
2. Why do you think the farmer embraced his dog so warmly?
The Separation
A farmer who happened to pass by the stable one day recognised the dog at once. “Buntee!” he called out. The dog immediately dashed towards the man, and the farmer hugged? him tightly. He told the mahout that this was his pet who had gone missing, and that he had been searching everywhere for him. The mahout had no reason to object.
The farmer tied a rope around Buntee’s neck and said, “Come along, Buntee, it is time to go home.” But the moment the farmer began to pull the rope, Buntee understood what was happening — he was being taken away from his dearest friend. The dog let out a painful yelp?, and Gajaraj winced? at the sound. Neither the farmer nor the mahout noticed that both the elephant and the dog had tears in their eyes. Personification Imagery
Do you think Buntee will be happy living at the farmer’s house? Will the two friends meet again? What might happen next?
Part II — Refusing to Eat
The next morning, the mahout brought Gajaraj his favourite dishes, but the elephant did not touch a single morsel. The mahout assumed it was just a slight? stomach upset. But when evening came and Gajaraj still refused to eat, the mahout began to worry. He examined the elephant’s belly carefully — there was nothing physically wrong.
Another full day passed with no food consumed. The mahout was truly alarmed now. He pressed Gajaraj’s stomach, checked his eyes, inspected his trunk — everything appeared normal. Then a thought struck him: “Could he be missing that dog?” Personification
Meanwhile, at the farmer’s home, Buntee had also stopped eating from the moment he was brought back. He lay in a corner, listless and miserable?, ignoring his food bowl entirely. The farmer watched his pet with concern and slowly began to understand. He remembered how happy Buntee had looked perched on the elephant’s back, riding along without a care in the world.
Together Again
“Are you missing your friend that much?” the farmer asked gently, kneeling beside Buntee. The dog looked up with sorrowful eyes. The farmer made up his mind. “If your friend means so much to you, then go to him,” he said softly, and removed the rope from Buntee’s neck.
Though weakened from days without food, Buntee sprang? to his feet with sudden energy. He licked the farmer’s hand once in gratitude, then turned and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He did not stop until he reached the royal stable.
The moment Gajaraj saw Buntee, he lifted the little dog with his trunk and gave him a joyous? swing through the air. The mahout, greatly relieved?, quickly brought out food. “Both of you eat first,” he said warmly. And for the first time in days, both the elephant and the dog ate their meals with obvious satisfaction?. Imagery
The farmer, who had followed Buntee to the stable, watched the reunion with a contented smile. The mahout turned to him and said, “It is not just Gajaraj who has gained a companion today. I believe I have found a good friend as well.” And with that, he embraced the farmer warmly. Both men laughed, understanding at last just how powerful a bond of friendship can be. Personification
Personification: Throughout the story, both Gajaraj and Buntee display distinctly human emotions — loneliness, joy, grief, and gratitude. They think, feel, and even weep like human beings, which allows young readers to connect deeply with the animal characters.
Imagery: The author paints vivid pictures using sensory details — the dog being splashed with water and yelping, the small dog perched atop the enormous elephant, and the tearful parting. These images make the story come alive in the reader’s imagination.
Character Relationship Map
Bloom: L4 AnalyseFigure: Character relationships in “The Unlikely Best Friends” — Click on any character circle for details
Word Power — Vocabulary Builder
Bloom: L1 RememberCompetency-Based Questions — Literature (Part I)
Competency-Based Questions — Literature (Part II)
Frequently Asked Questions — The Unlikely Best Friends
What is The Unlikely Best Friends about in Class 6 Poorvi?
The Unlikely Best Friends is a heartwarming story from NCERT Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 2. It tells the tale of Gajaraj, a lonely elephant in a sanctuary, who forms an unexpected friendship with Buntee, a stray dog. Despite their huge size difference, they become inseparable companions. When Buntee is temporarily taken away, Gajaraj stops eating, showing how deep their bond truly is.
Who are Gajaraj and Buntee in The Unlikely Best Friends?
Gajaraj is a large elephant living in an animal sanctuary who feels lonely despite being surrounded by other animals. Buntee is a small stray dog who wanders into the sanctuary and befriends Gajaraj. Their friendship is remarkable because of the vast difference in their size and species, yet they develop a genuine emotional connection based on companionship and mutual affection.
What is the moral of The Unlikely Best Friends?
The moral of The Unlikely Best Friends is that true friendship knows no boundaries of size, species, or appearance. The story teaches Class 6 students that genuine emotional connections can form between the most unexpected companions. It also highlights the importance of empathy, loyalty, and how loneliness can be overcome through friendship.
What literary devices are used in The Unlikely Best Friends?
The Unlikely Best Friends uses personification (animals displaying human emotions like loneliness and joy), contrast (the size difference between elephant and dog emphasises the theme), imagery (vivid descriptions of the sanctuary and animals), and symbolism (the friendship represents acceptance beyond differences). These devices help convey the emotional depth of the story.
Why does Gajaraj stop eating in The Unlikely Best Friends?
Gajaraj stops eating when Buntee the dog is taken away from the sanctuary. This shows the depth of his attachment to his friend. The elephant's refusal to eat is a powerful emotional response that demonstrates genuine grief at the separation. When Buntee is brought back, Gajaraj immediately resumes eating, proving that their friendship is essential to his wellbeing.