TOPIC 6 OF 17
Extract-Based Questions
🎓 Class 6
English
CBSE
Theory
Ch 2 — Unlikely Best Friends
⏱ ~35 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 — The Unlikely Best Friends
Bloom: L1 Remember
Before you begin the exercises, recall the key ideas:
- Why was Gajaraj? unhappy despite living in royal luxury?
- How did a small dog named Buntee? change the elephant's life?
- What happened when Buntee was taken away, and how was the situation resolved?
Key Expressions from the Chapter
Royal comforts
Luxurious facilities and care fit for royalty
Unlikely friends
Companions nobody would expect to bond together
Missing his friend
Feeling sad and incomplete due to separation from a companion
Removed the rope
Set someone free; released from captivity
Extract-Based Questions
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Extract 1 — Reference to Context
Despite enjoying all the luxuries of a royal household, Gajaraj remained sorrowful because he lacked any true companions. The mahout, though gentle and attentive, offered him fine meals and a refreshing pond to bathe in, yet none of this brought the elephant real happiness…
(i) Complete the analogy: mahout : kind :: Gajaraj : ___
L2 Understand
Answer: (B) sad / lonely — The analogy pairs a character with their defining quality. Just as the mahout is described as kind and caring, Gajaraj is characterised by his sadness and loneliness despite having every material comfort.
(ii) Fill in the blanks: The mahout gave Gajaraj ___ and a ___ in the pond.
L1 Remember
Answer: The mahout gave Gajaraj fine meals (good food) and a bath in the pond. The mahout ensured the elephant was physically well cared for, providing nutritious food and a place to cool off and clean himself.
(iii) What is the difference between a friend and a caretaker, based on this extract?
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: A caretaker, like the mahout, attends to physical needs — providing food, shelter, and grooming. A friend, however, fulfils emotional needs — offering companionship, play, and a sense of belonging. Gajaraj had excellent caretaking but lacked the warmth of a genuine friendship, which is why he remained unhappy. This shows that emotional bonds cannot be replaced by material comforts alone.
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Extract 2 — Reference to Context
The farmer approached the elephant's enclosure and asked gently whether the great animal was pining for his companion. Observing Buntee closely, the farmer noticed the dog had barely touched any food since being brought home, and seemed restless, constantly gazing in the direction of the royal grounds…
(i) The farmer uses the word ___ to refer to the elephant's relationship with Buntee.
L1 Remember
Answer: friend — The farmer recognised that the bond between the elephant and the dog was not merely that of two animals living near each other. He used the word “friend” to acknowledge their genuine emotional connection.
(ii) How did the farmer realise that Buntee was not eating properly?
L2 Understand
Model Answer: The farmer noticed that Buntee had barely touched any food since being brought home. The dog appeared restless and kept looking in the direction of the royal grounds where Gajaraj lived. These clear signs of distress made the farmer understand that Buntee was too sad to eat, having been separated from his beloved companion.
(iii) Why did the farmer decide to remove the rope and release Buntee?
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: The farmer removed the rope because he understood that keeping Buntee tied up was causing the dog genuine suffering. Seeing that Buntee refused to eat and constantly gazed towards the elephant's home, the farmer realised that the dog's happiness lay in being with Gajaraj. It was an act of compassion — he chose the animal's wellbeing over his own desire to keep the dog.
(iv) Complete the analogy: Gajaraj : Buntee :: ___ : farmer
L3 Apply
Answer: (B) mahout — This analogy pairs caretakers with their animals. Just as the mahout was responsible for looking after Gajaraj the elephant, the farmer was the one who had taken Buntee the dog. The relationship is one of human caretaker to animal companion.
Comprehension — Thinking about the Text
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Answer the Following Questions
1. Give two examples from the story that show Gajaraj was delighted to have found a friend in Buntee.
L2 Understand
Model Answer: First, Gajaraj began eating his meals with enthusiasm once Buntee started visiting him regularly — something he had refused to do when he was lonely. Second, the elephant would playfully splash water on the little dog during bath time in the pond, and Buntee would run around happily. These joyful interactions showed that Gajaraj had found the emotional connection he had been missing.
2. How did the mahout recognise that Gajaraj was feeling sad?
L2 Understand
Model Answer: The mahout noticed several signs of Gajaraj's sadness. The elephant had lost interest in food and would barely touch his meals. He also avoided the pond and showed no excitement during bath time. As someone who spent every day with Gajaraj, the mahout could tell that the elephant's behaviour had changed dramatically — he was listless and withdrawn, quite unlike his usual self.
3. Why did Buntee lick the farmer's hand?
L3 Apply
Model Answer: Buntee licked the farmer's hand as a sign of gratitude and affection. When the farmer decided to remove the rope and let Buntee go free, the dog understood this act of kindness. Licking is a dog's way of expressing thanks and trust. It showed that Buntee appreciated the farmer's compassionate decision to let him return to his friend Gajaraj.
4. What was “unlikely” about the friendship between Gajaraj and Buntee?
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: The friendship was considered unlikely for several reasons. First, elephants and dogs are vastly different in size — Gajaraj was enormous while Buntee was a small dog. Second, they belong to completely different species with different habits, diets, and ways of communicating. Third, Gajaraj was a royal elephant living in luxury while Buntee was a common stray. Despite all these differences, they formed a genuine, deep bond. The word “unlikely” emphasises that true friendship does not depend on similarities in appearance, status, or background.
Grammar Workshop 1 — Opposites with Prefixes
Forming Opposites Using Prefixes
Definition
Prefixes are letters added at the beginning of a word to change its meaning. The prefixes un-, in-, dis-, and mis- are commonly used to create opposite meanings.Examples from the chapter: unlikely? = un + likely (not likely), untouched? = un + touched (not touched)
Prefix Rules
un- + word = opposite (unkind, unhappy, untouched)
dis- + word = opposite (disappeared, dislike, disagree)
in- + word = opposite (invisible, incomplete, incorrect)
mis- + word = wrong/bad (misunderstand, mislead, misplace)
Crossword Puzzle — Find the Opposites
Use the clues below to complete the crossword. Each answer is the opposite of the clue word, sometimes formed using a prefix.
Down (Clue = word from story; Answer = its opposite)
- started → ? (8 letters)
- appeared → ? (11 letters, uses dis-)
- sad → ? (5 letters)
- untouched → ? (7 letters, remove un-)
- hate → ? (4 letters)
Across (Clue = word from story; Answer = its opposite)
- unkind → ? (4 letters, remove un-)
- yelped → ? (9 letters)
- awake → ? (6 letters)
- relieved → ? (7 letters)
- missing → ? (5 letters)
Answers:
| # | Clue | Answer (Opposite) | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | started | FINISHED | Down |
| 2 | appeared | DISAPPEARED (dis-) | Down |
| 3 | unkind | KIND (remove un-) | Across |
| 4 | sad | HAPPY | Down |
| 5 | untouched | TOUCHED (remove un-) | Down |
| 6 | hate | LOVE | Down |
| 7 | yelped | WHISPERED | Across |
| 8 | awake | ASLEEP | Across |
| 9 | relieved | WORRIED | Across |
| 10 | missing | FOUND | Across |
Fill in the Paragraph with Crossword Words
Use the answers from the crossword puzzle to complete this paragraph:
When Buntee ___ (2), Gajaraj became very ___ (9). The mahout was ___ (3) to the elephant and tried to help. Gajaraj's food remained ___ (5). Everyone in the palace ___ (6)d the elephant and wanted him to be ___ (4) again. They ___ (7) comforting words to him. Days later, when Buntee was finally ___ (10), Gajaraj's sadness ___ (1) and he could finally rest, no longer lying ___ (8) with worry.
Grammar Workshop 2 — Past Tense (Three Forms)
Grammar Mind Map — Past Tense
Bloom: L3 ApplyFigure: Three forms of the past tense used in “The Unlikely Best Friends”
Verb Forms Table
Study how the chapter uses all three past tense forms:
| Base Form | Simple Past | Past Progressive | Past Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| look | looked | was looking | — |
| give | gave | — | — |
| hate | hated | — | — |
| notice | noticed | — | — |
| go | went | — | — |
| serve | served | — | — |
| tell | told | — | — |
| ask | asked | — | — |
| feel | felt | — | — |
| touch | touched | — | — |
| join | joined | — | — |
| arrive | arrived | — | — |
| throw | threw | — | — |
| miss | — | was missing | — |
| munch | — | was munching | — |
| order | — | — | had ordered |
| follow | — | — | had followed |
| remain | — | — | had remained |
| tie | — | — | had tied |
Fill in the Passage — Choose the Correct Verb Form
Select the correct past tense form (Simple Past / Past Progressive / Past Perfect) for each blank:
1
The mahout ___ (notice) that Gajaraj ___ (be + miss) his meals for three days.
2
Buntee ___ (be + munch) on some scraps when the elephant ___ (look) at him curiously.
3
The farmer ___ (have + tie) Buntee with a rope before he ___ (go) to the market.
4
The king ___ (have + order) the mahout to find the dog. The mahout ___ (ask) the villagers and finally ___ (arrive) at the farmer's house.
5
When Buntee ___ (join) Gajaraj again, the elephant ___ (feel) happy and ___ (throw) water playfully.
Grammar Workshop 3 — Neither/Nor and Either/Or
Rule 1: Neither…nor (both negative)
Neither + Option A + nor + Option B = NOT this AND NOT that
From the chapter: Neither the finest food nor the spacious pond could make Gajaraj happy.
(Both the food AND the pond failed to cheer him up.)
(Both the food AND the pond failed to cheer him up.)
Rule 2: Either…or (choose one)
Either + Option A + or + Option B = THIS or THAT (one of the two)
From the chapter: The farmer could either keep Buntee tied up or let him go free.
(He had two choices and had to pick one.)
(He had two choices and had to pick one.)
Practice Sentences
Fill in neither…nor or either…or in the blanks:
1
___ Gajaraj ___ Buntee ate anything while they were apart.
2
The mahout could ___ take the elephant to the river ___ bring the dog to the palace.
3
___ the mahout ___ the other caretakers could understand why Gajaraj was so unhappy.
4
Buntee could ___ stay at the farm ___ return to Gajaraj — and he chose Gajaraj.
5
___ size ___ species mattered when it came to their friendship.
Listening — Unlikely Animal Friends
A Leopard and a Cow — An Extraordinary Bond
Read the passage below (or listen to your teacher read it aloud), then complete the exercises that follow:
In a small village in Gujarat, India, an extraordinary friendship developed between a wild leopard and a domestic cow. Every night, the leopard would creep out of the nearby sugarcane fields and approach the cow, who was tethered outside her owner's home. Instead of attacking, the big cat would gently nuzzle the cow and settle beside her. The villagers were initially terrified, but over time they realised the leopard meant no harm. The cow showed no signs of fear either. Wildlife experts suggested that the leopard may have lost its mother as a cub and found comfort in the cow's warmth. This unusual bond continued for several months, astonishing everyone who witnessed it.
Exercise A: Fill in the Blanks
1
The leopard came from the ___ fields.
2
Instead of harming the cow, the leopard would gently ___ her.
3
Experts believed the leopard may have lost its ___ when young.
4
This unusual friendship took place in a village in ___.
Exercise B: Arrange in the Correct Order
A The villagers became less afraid over time.
B A leopard began visiting a cow every night.
C Wildlife experts offered an explanation for the bond.
D The leopard would settle beside the cow peacefully.
E The villagers were initially frightened by the leopard.
Exercise A: 1. sugarcane, 2. nuzzle, 3. mother, 4. Gujarat
Exercise B — Correct order: B, E, D, A, C
Exercise B — Correct order: B, E, D, A, C
- B — The leopard first began visiting the cow.
- E — Villagers were frightened when they first noticed.
- D — They observed the leopard settling beside the cow peacefully.
- A — Over time, the villagers became less afraid.
- C — Finally, wildlife experts provided an explanation.
Speaking — Find Common Ground
Activity: Likes and Dislikes with a Friend
Work with a partner. Find out what you both like and dislike. Then share your findings with the class.
Step 1: Ask your friend these questions:
- What is your favourite food? What food do you dislike?
- What is your favourite game or sport?
- What kind of books or stories do you enjoy?
- What is something you are afraid of?
- What makes you laugh?
Step 2: Fill in a table like this:
| Topic | You | Your Friend | Same or Different? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favourite food | — | — | — |
| Disliked food | — | — | — |
| Favourite game | — | — | — |
| Favourite book type | — | — | — |
| Something scary | — | — | — |
Step 3: Present to the class using sentences like:
“Both Meera and I enjoy reading mystery stories, but we like different sports. Neither of us likes bitter gourd!”
“Both Meera and I enjoy reading mystery stories, but we like different sports. Neither of us likes bitter gourd!”
Writing — My Friend and I
Writing Task — Descriptive Paragraph
Write 6 sentences about your friend. Describe how you are similar to each other and how you are different. Use the linking words given below.
Linking Words to Use
same, different, and, but, both, still, like, unlike, neither, nor, either, or
Word limit: 60–80 words | Format: Descriptive paragraph
Sentence 1: Introduce your friend (name, where you met)
Sentence 2: Something you BOTH enjoy (use "both" or "same")
Sentence 3: Something DIFFERENT between you (use "but" or "unlike")
Sentence 4: Something NEITHER of you likes (use "neither...nor")
Sentence 5: A choice you make differently (use "either...or")
Sentence 6: Why you are still good friends (use "still" or "and")
Sentence 2: Something you BOTH enjoy (use "both" or "same")
Sentence 3: Something DIFFERENT between you (use "but" or "unlike")
Sentence 4: Something NEITHER of you likes (use "neither...nor")
Sentence 5: A choice you make differently (use "either...or")
Sentence 6: Why you are still good friends (use "still" or "and")
Explore — Discover More
Jataka Tales
Ancient Indian stories featuring animals who display human virtues like friendship, wisdom, and sacrifice. Many Jataka tales show bonds between different animals, much like Gajaraj and Buntee. Ask your teacher or visit the library to read more.
Elephants in Indian Culture
Elephants hold a special place in Indian heritage — from Lord Ganesha to the royal elephants of Mysore and Jaipur. Research how elephants have been companions to humans for centuries and what makes them such intelligent, emotional creatures.
Tarra and Bella — A Real-Life Story
At The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, USA, an elephant named Tarra formed an extraordinary friendship with a stray dog named Bella. Their bond became world-famous. Search online to watch videos and learn about this real-life example of unlikely friends.
Competency-Based Questions — Literature
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CBQ Set — Friendship and Empathy
The great elephant stood motionless in his enclosure, refusing every morsel of food. His caretaker tried everything — the choicest fruits, the freshest water — but nothing worked. It was only when a small, scruffy dog wandered in and began eating scraps near his feet that something shifted in the elephant's eyes…
Q1. What does the phrase “something shifted in the elephant's eyes” suggest?
L2 Understand
Answer: (B) — The phrase suggests that after days of sadness and apathy, the elephant experienced a change in emotion upon seeing the dog. His eyes reflected renewed curiosity and the beginning of a connection that would eventually blossom into friendship.
Q2. Why do you think the elephant responded to the dog but not to the mahout's efforts? (2 marks)
L3 Apply
Model Answer: The mahout provided physical care — food, water, and grooming — but Gajaraj's need was emotional. The dog offered something different: unprompted companionship without expectation. Buntee simply wandered in and stayed, offering the kind of casual, genuine presence that fulfilled the elephant's longing for a friend.
Q3. The story uses contrast to highlight themes. Identify one contrast and explain what it teaches us. (3 marks)
L4 Analyse
Model Answer: One major contrast is between Gajaraj's enormous size and Buntee's tiny stature. Despite being vastly different physically, they formed the deepest bond in the story. This contrast teaches us that true friendship is not about matching appearances, social status, or physical attributes — it is about emotional connection and mutual affection. The bigger lesson is that differences between individuals should never be a barrier to genuine relationships.
HOT Q. If the farmer had not returned Buntee, what do you think would have happened to both animals? Justify your answer with evidence from the story. (4 marks)
L5 Evaluate
Hint: Consider how both animals reacted to the separation — Gajaraj refused food and Buntee was restless. Think about what prolonged grief could do to their health. Use specific details from the story (the elephant's refusal to eat, the dog's constant gazing towards the palace) to support your prediction. Also consider whether the mahout or the king would have intervened differently.
Frequently Asked Questions — The Unlikely Best Friends
What exercises are in The Unlikely Best Friends Class 6?
The exercises include extract-based comprehension questions, Thinking about the Text questions on themes and characters, three grammar workshops covering opposites with prefixes, past tense verb forms, and neither/nor and either/or usage. There are also listening, speaking, writing, and explore activities plus competency-based questions.
How do prefixes form opposites in English Class 6?
Prefixes like un-, im-, dis-, and in- are added to the beginning of words to create their opposites. For example: happy becomes unhappy, possible becomes impossible, agree becomes disagree, and visible becomes invisible. The Unlikely Best Friends exercises teach students to recognise common prefix patterns for forming antonyms in CBSE Class 6 English.
What are the three forms of past tense taught in Class 6?
The three verb forms taught are: base form (present), past simple, and past participle. For example: eat/ate/eaten, go/went/gone, and see/saw/seen. Regular verbs add -ed (walk/walked/walked) while irregular verbs change form completely. Students practise converting verbs from the story into all three forms.
How to use neither/nor and either/or in Class 6 English?
Neither/nor is used to express two negative options: Neither Gajaraj nor the other elephants were happy. Either/or presents two choices: Either feed the dog or let him go. These correlative conjunctions always work in pairs and must be followed by parallel structures. Students in Class 6 learn to construct sentences using both pairs correctly.
What is a competency-based question in NCERT Class 6 English?
Competency-based questions (CBQs) test higher-order thinking beyond simple recall. They present a passage extract and ask students to analyse, infer, and evaluate. In The Unlikely Best Friends, CBQs may ask students to predict what would happen if Buntee never returned, or to compare this friendship with human friendships. These align with CBSE's CBE framework.
What writing task is given in The Unlikely Best Friends exercises?
The writing task asks students to write about their own friend using the prompt My Friend and I. Students describe their friend, explain how they met, what they enjoy doing together, and why this friendship is special. The task develops descriptive and personal writing skills while connecting to the unit theme of friendship.
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