TOPIC 2 OF 17
Extract-Based Questions
🎓 Class 6
English
CBSE
Theory
Ch 1 — A Bottle of Dew
⏱ ~38 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]
📖 English Comprehension Assessment
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This English Comprehension assessment will be based on: Extract-Based Questions
Targeting Comprehension & Recall with Intermediate difficulty.
📖 English Grammar Assessment
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This CBSE English Grammar Assessment will be based on: Extract-Based Questions
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
📖 English Vocabulary Assessment
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This English Vocabulary assessment will be based on: Extract-Based Questions
Targeting Vocabulary & Usage with Intermediate difficulty.
Quick Recap — A Bottle of Dew
Bloom: L1 Remember
Before you begin the exercises, recall the key ideas:
- What was Rama Natha constantly searching for throughout the story?
- How did the sage finally help him understand the truth about hard work?
- What transformation did Rama Natha undergo by the end of the narrative?
Key Expressions from the Chapter
Magic potion
A mysterious liquid believed to possess extraordinary powers
Did not give up
Continued trying despite repeated failures and setbacks
Sprinkled the water
Scattered drops of water lightly over the plants
Huge plantation
A large area of land used for growing crops commercially
Extract-Based Questions
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Extract 1 — Reference to Context
Rama Natha devoted all his energy to discovering a magical elixir. People took advantage of his eagerness and tricked him frequently, claiming they could reveal the secret. Yet, he refused to abandon his pursuit…
(i) Complete the sentence: Rama Natha refused to abandon his search because ___
L2 Understand
Answer: Rama Natha refused to abandon his search because he was completely convinced that a magic potion existed and that finding it would solve all his problems without any hard work. His deep-rooted belief in shortcuts blinded him to reality.
(ii) Complete the table showing what happened and its outcome:
L3 Apply
| What Happened | Outcome |
|---|---|
| People claimed they knew about the potion | ? |
| Rama Natha kept paying and searching | ? |
| He met the sage | ? |
Answer:
| What Happened | Outcome |
|---|---|
| People claimed they knew about the potion | They cheated him and took his money |
| Rama Natha kept paying and searching | He became poorer but never found the potion |
| He met the sage | The sage guided him towards the value of honest labour |
(iii) State whether the following are True or False:
L2 Understand
a
Madhumati was troubled by Rama Natha's obsession with the magic potion.
b
Rama Natha was happy digging and watering the plants.
c
The sage wanted to show Rama Natha the correct path in life.
Answers:
- (a) True — Madhumati was deeply concerned because Rama Natha wasted all his time and resources chasing something that did not exist.
- (b) False — He was not genuinely happy digging; he did it only because the sage told him the dew from the plants was needed for the potion.
- (c) True — The sage devised a clever plan to redirect Rama Natha's efforts towards productive work, thereby teaching him the value of hard labour.
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Extract 2 — Reference to Context
With great care, Rama Natha carried the vessel to the wise man. The sage received it with a warm expression, whispered a few words over the liquid, and handed it back…
(i) Arrange the following events (A–E) in the correct order:
L3 Apply
A Rama Natha carefully transported the bottle to the sage.
B The sage instructed him to collect morning dew from the banana leaves.
C Rama Natha realised that hard work itself was the true magic.
D The sage murmured some words over the water and returned the bottle.
E Rama Natha had grown a massive banana plantation over many years.
Correct order: B, A, D, E, C
- B — The sage first gave the instruction to collect dew.
- A — Rama Natha gathered the dew and brought it to the sage.
- D — The sage performed his ritual over the water.
- E — Over time, Rama Natha developed a large plantation through daily effort.
- C — Finally, he understood that persistent effort was the genuine source of his success.
(ii) Fill in the blank with the correct word: The sage ___ some water over the plants.
L1 Remember
Answer: sprinkled — To sprinkle means to scatter drops of liquid lightly. The sage sprinkled the water as part of his demonstration.
(iii) How might Rama Natha have felt at the moment the sage whispered over the bottle? Explain your reasoning.
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: Rama Natha likely felt a mixture of excitement and hope at that moment. Having spent years searching for the magic potion and then months carefully collecting dew, he probably believed his long journey was finally reaching its destination. The sage's ritual would have seemed like a confirmation that the liquid was truly special.
Comprehension — Thinking about the Text
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Answer the Following Questions
1. What task did the sage assign to Rama Natha?
L2 Understand
Model Answer: The sage instructed Rama Natha to grow banana plants and collect the morning dew that gathered on their broad leaves. He was told to bring a full bottle of this dew to the sage, who would then transform it into the magic potion. This task required him to tend the plants daily, water them, and protect them — unknowingly teaching him the discipline of farming.
2. Why did the sage insist that Rama Natha must do everything by himself?
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: The sage insisted on personal effort because he wanted Rama Natha to experience the process of nurturing something from scratch. If someone else had done the work, Rama Natha would never have understood the connection between diligent effort and rewarding results. The sage's true intention was to teach him that prosperity comes from one's own labour, not from magical shortcuts.
3. How was it possible for Rama Natha to develop a large plantation after six years?
L3 Apply
Model Answer: Over six years of tending the banana plants daily — watering them, protecting them from pests, and collecting dew each morning — Rama Natha gradually expanded his garden. As banana plants multiply through suckers (new shoots from the base), a few plants naturally grew into many. His consistent, daily care transformed a small patch into a flourishing plantation, and he also earned money by selling the bananas at market.
4. How did the sage convince Rama Natha that no magic potion actually exists?
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: Rather than directly telling Rama Natha that the potion was a myth, the sage used a practical demonstration. He asked Rama Natha to look at his own hands — now roughened from years of honest labour — and at the vast plantation he had built entirely through his own efforts. The sage then revealed that the bottle of dew had no magical properties at all. The real transformation had happened within Rama Natha himself: he had changed from a lazy dreamer into a hardworking farmer. The evidence of his own success was the most convincing proof.
5. Complete the table showing Rama Natha before and after meeting the sage:
L4 Analyse
| Aspect | Before Meeting the Sage | After Meeting the Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Activity | ? | ? |
| Attitude to Work | ? | ? |
| Source of Income | ? | ? |
| Belief | ? | ? |
Model Answer:
| Aspect | Before Meeting the Sage | After Meeting the Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Activity | Wandered around searching for the magic potion | Woke early to tend plants and collect dew |
| Attitude to Work | Lazy; avoided manual labour; wanted quick results | Hardworking; dedicated to daily farming tasks |
| Source of Income | None; lost money to fraudsters | Earned by selling bananas at the market |
| Belief | Believed in a magic shortcut to wealth | Understood that honest effort creates real prosperity |
Grammar Workshop 1 — Homophones
What Are Homophones?
Definition
Homophones are words that sound the same when spoken aloud but have different meanings and often different spellings. Recognising homophones helps you choose the correct word in your writing.
Common Homophone Pairs from the Chapter
eye
organ of sight
↔
I
first person pronoun
your
belonging to you
↔
you're
you are (contraction)
dew
morning moisture
↔
due
owed / expected
son
male child
↔
sun
the star
one
the number 1
↔
won
past tense of win
ate
past tense of eat
↔
eight
the number 8
see
to observe
↔
sea
large body of water
Fill in the Blanks — Homophone Paragraph
Complete the paragraph by choosing the correct homophone from each pair.
1
_______ (I / Eye) woke up early to collect the morning _______ (dew / due). The _______ (sun / son) was just rising over the hills. _______ (Your / You're) not going to believe what happened next! _______ (One / Won) of the banana plants had grown so tall that _______ (I / Eye) could barely _______ (see / sea) the top. I _______ (ate / eight) a fresh banana and counted — there were _______ (ate / eight) bunches ready for the market!
Write Sentences Using Both Homophones
For each pair, write two sentences — one for each word.
1
dew / due — Write one sentence using “dew” and another using “due”.
2
son / sun — Write one sentence using “son” and another using “sun”.
3
one / won — Write one sentence using “one” and another using “won”.
Grammar Workshop 2 — Word Meanings from the Story
Match the Words to Their Meanings
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example from the Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| promised★ | verb | Gave an assurance that something would happen | People promised to reveal the secret of the potion. |
| spending★ | verb | Using money, time, or energy on something | He was spending all his days searching fruitlessly. |
| cheated★ | verb | Deceived someone dishonestly for personal gain | Dishonest people cheated him by making false claims. |
| luck★ | noun | Success or good fortune that appears to happen by chance | Rama Natha believed his luck would change with the potion. |
| remember★ | verb | To bring a memory or piece of knowledge back to mind | He did not remember how many people had fooled him. |
| huge★ | adjective | Extremely large in size, amount, or degree | His small garden grew into a huge banana plantation. |
| difficult★ | adjective | Requiring much effort or skill to accomplish | The daily labour was difficult but gradually became easier. |
| market★ | noun | A place where goods are bought and sold | He took the ripe bananas to the market to sell them. |
Grammar Workshop 3 — Connecting Words
Match the Phrases Using Connecting Words
What Are Connecting Words?
Connecting words (also called conjunctions) join clauses or sentences together, showing the relationship between ideas. Common connecting words include because, before, as soon as, as, when, after, although.
Join each pair of phrases using the correct connecting word from: because, before, as soon as, as
1
Rama Natha visited the sage / he wanted to find the magic potion.
Connecting word: _______
Connecting word: _______
2
He had to plant the banana saplings / he could collect the dew.
Connecting word: _______
Connecting word: _______
3
The plants grew taller / Rama Natha watered them every day.
Connecting word: _______
Connecting word: _______
4
He collected the dew / the sun rose each morning.
Connecting word: _______
Connecting word: _______
Grammar Workshop 4 — Tongue Twisters & Alliteration
Try This Tongue Twister!
Bunty bhaiya bought a big bunch of bananas
Literary Device — Alliteration
Alliteration
This tongue twister uses alliteration — the repetition of the same consonant sound (/b/) at the beginning of closely placed words. Alliteration creates rhythm and makes phrases memorable. Notice how Bunty, bhaiya, bought, big, bunch, bananas all begin with the b sound.
Active Voice vs Passive Voice
Compare how the same sentence changes in voice:
Active Voice
Bunty bhaiya bought a big bunch of bananas.
Subject does the action
Bunty bhaiya bought a big bunch of bananas.
Subject does the action
→
Passive Voice
A big bunch of bananas was bought by Bunty bhaiya.
Object receives the action
A big bunch of bananas was bought by Bunty bhaiya.
Object receives the action
Active to Passive Transformation Rule
Active: Subject + Verb + Object → Passive: Object + was/were + Past Participle + by + Subject
Active: Rama Natha collected the dew. → Passive: The dew was collected by Rama Natha.
Your Turn — Convert to Passive Voice
1
The sage gave Rama Natha a special task. → _______
2
Madhumati prepared the food every morning. → _______
3
Rama Natha sold the bananas at the market. → _______
Homophones — Mind Map
Bloom: L4 AnalyseFigure: Homophone pairs — same sound, different meanings
Listening — Madhumati's Banana Journey
Put the Events in the Correct Order
After listening to or reading the story, arrange these events from Madhumati's perspective in the order they happened:
A Madhumati saw the banana plantation flourishing.
B Madhumati was worried about Rama Natha's obsession with the magic potion.
C Rama Natha began waking early to tend the banana plants.
D The family started earning money from selling bananas at the market.
E Madhumati learned that the sage had cleverly guided her husband.
Speaking — Sounds and Discussion
The /s/ and /z/ Sounds
Pronunciation Note
The letter s can produce two different sounds: the voiceless /s/ (as in sun) and the voiced /z/ (as in rose). Practise saying these words aloud and notice the vibration in your throat for the /z/ sound.
/s/
sun, see, spend, sage, sell, six, salt, sip
/z/
rose, bananas, please, reason, busy, was, his, nose
Discussion — The Value of Hard Work
Discuss the following questions with a partner or in a group. Use the prompts to guide your response:
1
Do you think the sage was right to deceive Rama Natha?
Prompts: Was it honest? Did the end justify the means? Could he have taught the lesson differently?
Prompts: Was it honest? Did the end justify the means? Could he have taught the lesson differently?
2
Share an experience where hard work helped you achieve something you initially thought was impossible.
Prompts: What was the goal? How long did it take? What kept you going? How did you feel afterwards?
Prompts: What was the goal? How long did it take? What kept you going? How did you feel afterwards?
3
Why do people sometimes prefer shortcuts over honest effort?
Prompts: Is it laziness or something else? What are the risks of shortcuts? What does this story teach us about patience?
Prompts: Is it laziness or something else? What are the risks of shortcuts? What does this story teach us about patience?
Writing Task 1 — Describe a Banana Using Your Senses
Sensory Description — A Banana
Bloom: L6 Create
Prompt: Write 8 sentences describing a banana. Use each of the sense-based prompts given below to guide your writing. Your description should make the reader feel as though they can see, touch, smell, and taste the banana.
Word limit: 80–100 words | Format: Descriptive Paragraph
Sensory Writing Guide
Colour
What colour is the banana? Does it change as it ripens?
Touch
How does the peel feel? Is the fruit soft or firm?
Smell
What does a ripe banana smell like? Is it sweet, mild, or strong?
Taste
Describe the flavour — sweet, creamy, tangy?
Healthy
Why are bananas good for health? Energy, potassium, vitamins?
When
When is the best time to eat a banana? Breakfast, snack, after exercise?
Assessment Criteria
| Criterion | Excellent (5) | Good (3–4) | Needs Work (1–2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensory Detail | All senses addressed vividly | Most senses covered | Only 1–2 senses used |
| Vocabulary | Rich, descriptive adjectives | Some descriptive words | Basic / plain vocabulary |
| Organisation | Flows naturally, well-structured | Mostly organised | Jumbled or repetitive |
| Grammar | Error-free | 1–2 minor errors | Multiple errors |
Writing Task 2 — Write a Script with Dialogues
Dialogue Writing — A Scene from the Story
Bloom: L6 Create
Prompt: Choose any one scene from the story and develop it into a short script with dialogues. You may choose from: (a) Rama Natha meeting the sage for the first time, (b) Rama Natha bringing the bottle of dew to the sage, or (c) The sage revealing the truth to Rama Natha. Include stage directions in brackets.
Word limit: 100–150 words | Format: Dialogue Script
Format Guide
SCENE: [Describe the setting]
[Stage direction describing the action]
CHARACTER 1: (emotion/action) Dialogue line.
CHARACTER 2: (emotion/action) Dialogue line.
[Further stage direction]
CHARACTER 1: Dialogue continues...
[Scene ends with a stage direction or final line]
[Stage direction describing the action]
CHARACTER 1: (emotion/action) Dialogue line.
CHARACTER 2: (emotion/action) Dialogue line.
[Further stage direction]
CHARACTER 1: Dialogue continues...
[Scene ends with a stage direction or final line]
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Competency-Based Questions — Values & Reflection
Context: In this story, a man who spent years chasing a mythical elixir was redirected by a wise sage towards productive farming. Through consistent daily effort, he transformed both his garden and his understanding of what creates real prosperity.
Q1. What does the sage's method of teaching reveal about effective guidance?
L2 Understand
Answer: (B) — The sage understood that simply telling Rama Natha the truth would not change his deeply held beliefs. By making him experience the rewards of labour firsthand, the sage proved that practical engagement is often more powerful than verbal instruction.
Q2. The story uses homophones like “dew” and “due.” Explain how these two words connect thematically to the story's message. (2 marks)
L3 Apply
Model Answer: The word “dew” represents the natural reward of waking early and tending the plants — a symbol of diligence. The homophone “due” means something owed or deserved. Together, they suggest that the prosperity Rama Natha eventually earned was due to him because of his hard work, just as dew naturally appears for those who rise before dawn. The homophones elegantly mirror the story's theme: rewards come to those who earn them.
Q3. Analyse why Rama Natha was easily cheated by people before meeting the sage. What character trait made him vulnerable? (3 marks)
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: Rama Natha's vulnerability came from his blind belief in shortcuts. He was so desperate to find an easy path to wealth that he lost the ability to think critically about the claims people made. His eagerness made him gullible — he could not distinguish between genuine guidance and fraud. The sage was different because he did not promise instant results; instead, he channelled Rama Natha's determination into meaningful effort, proving that the same persistence, when directed wisely, could achieve real success.
HOT Q. Do you agree with the saying “There is no substitute for hard work”? Support your answer with examples from the story and from your own life. (5 marks)
L5 Evaluate
Hint: Consider these points in your answer:
- How did Rama Natha's life change once he started working consistently?
- What happened when he relied on others' false promises versus his own effort?
- Can you think of a personal example where dedication paid off?
- Are there situations where smart planning is equally important alongside hard work?
- What role does patience play in achieving long-term goals?
Explore — Beyond the Chapter
Blue Java Banana
The Blue Java banana (also known as the “Ice Cream Banana”) has a remarkable blue-silver peel when unripe and tastes remarkably like vanilla custard. It grows in tropical regions and can tolerate cooler temperatures. Research where this variety is found and what makes it unique among the hundreds of banana types worldwide.
Banana Varieties of India
India is the world's largest producer of bananas. From the tiny Elaichi (cardamom banana) of the south to the red Sevvazhai of Tamil Nadu and the cooking Nendran of Kerala, India grows over 20 distinct varieties. Create a chart listing five varieties, their regions, and their special uses.
Folk Tales About Hard Work
Many cultures have stories that teach the value of effort. The Aesop fable about the ant and the grasshopper, the Indian tale of the farmer who searched for gold under his field, and this story of the bottle of dew all share the same wisdom. Find and compare two such stories from different traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions — A Bottle of Dew
What exercises are in A Bottle of Dew Class 6 English Poorvi?
A Bottle of Dew exercises include extract-based comprehension questions with model answers, Thinking about the Text questions on the story's themes and characters, four grammar workshops covering homophones, word meanings from context, connecting words (conjunctions), and tongue twisters with alliteration. There are also listening, speaking, and two writing tasks.
What are homophones in A Bottle of Dew grammar exercises?
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. In the A Bottle of Dew grammar workshop, students learn pairs like dew/due, son/sun, and would/wood. Understanding homophones helps students avoid spelling errors and improves their vocabulary for CBSE Class 6 English exams.
What connecting words are taught in A Bottle of Dew?
The connecting words (conjunctions) taught in A Bottle of Dew exercises include and, but, or, so, because, although, and while. Students learn to use these words to join sentences smoothly. For example, joining short sentences about Rama Natha's journey using appropriate connectors to create complex sentences.
What writing tasks are given in A Bottle of Dew exercises?
There are two writing tasks in the A Bottle of Dew exercises. Writing Task 1 asks students to describe a banana using all five senses in a short paragraph. Writing Task 2 requires students to write a script with dialogues based on the story, which can be enacted in class. Both tasks develop descriptive and creative writing skills.
What is alliteration in the tongue twisters section of A Bottle of Dew?
Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words. In the A Bottle of Dew grammar workshop, students practice tongue twisters that use alliteration, such as repeated 's' or 'p' sounds. This literary device makes language playful and memorable, and appears in poetry and prose throughout the Poorvi textbook.
How to answer extract-based questions from A Bottle of Dew?
To answer extract-based questions from A Bottle of Dew, first read the given passage extract carefully. Identify the context by locating where it appears in the story. Answer factual questions directly from the extract, inference questions by reading between the lines, and analysis questions by explaining the author's purpose or literary technique used in that passage.
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