Listen, Speak and Write

Class 6 English · Chapter 4: The Unlikely Best Friends · NCERT Poorvi section pp. 49–51

Learn

Listening (an unlikely friendship): the book tells of a cow and a leopard in Vadodara, Gujarat. The cow is said to have cared for the leopard cub like a mother. The grown leopard left the village, but returned at night to sit quietly beside the cow; they relaxed and played together. Villagers were surprised, as the leopard never attacked the cow. Later it stopped coming regularly.

Speaking: you and your friend. Find out your common likes and dislikes. Then tell the class: "My friend and I like to play… Both of us want…", "I like to… but my friend likes to…", "We are different as she is… and I am…".

Writing: six sentences about your friend, showing how you are similar and different. Useful words: same, different, and, but, both, still, like, unlike, neither … nor, either … or. Example: "Both of us love mangoes. Unlike me, Sara is good at drawing. Neither of us likes getting up early!"

Explore and discuss: elephants have held an important place in Indian culture, in history, festivals and temples. Today, as forests shrink, humans and elephants sometimes come into conflict. How can people and elephants live together peacefully? Find and read another Jataka tale about friendship.

Explore: the leopard and the cow, in order.

1. Put the events in order.

Remember

• Unlikely friendships happen in real life too, like the cow and the leopard.
• Use both, same, like for similarities and but, unlike, different for differences.

Quick check

Which word helps compare how two friends are different?

1. unlike
2. both
3. same
4. and

Think about it

Describe one way you and your best friend are alike and one way you are different.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.