CBSE Class 6 English Assignment Set 01

A. Summary of the chapter-

This chapter is a Japanese folktale.

This is the story of a young woodcutter named Taro. He was very poor. He lived near a lonely hillside with his parents. He went to the forest daily to cut woods. One evening, when he was sitting with his parents, his father wished for a little sake. (Sake is a popular Japanese hot drink that is very costly.) After hearing his father’s wish, Taro decided to increase his working hours so that he could buy some sake for his father. Next day, he started working early. After some time he felt thirsty. Suddenly, he heard a sound of running water in that part of the forest where there was no stream earlier. When he went there and tasted the water, he became surprised. There was sake flowing in that waterfall. He collected it in a pitcher and took it to his father. Soon this story had spread all over the village. Next day, whole villagers gathered near the waterfall to collect the sake but they found only water there. They became very angry. They decided to drown Taro in the same waterfall. When villagers went from there, Taro again went there and found sake there. Actually, the waterfall was magical. It gave Taro sake only because he was a hardworking and obedient son. It gave others water because they were not kind-hearted. When the emperor of Japan heard the story of Taro, he became very pleased with Taro’s behavior. He also wanted to encourage other children to do the same so he rewarded Taro with 20 pieces of gold and also named the most beautiful fountain in the city after Taro.

B. Learn and write the given word meanings-

WORDS - MEANINGS
1. Chopped - Cut into pieces
2. Whistled through - Passed through with a whistling sound
3. Cracks - Narrow gaps/ openings
4. Sake - A popular Japanese drink
5. Expensive - Costly
6. Made his way to - Went to
7. Cupped a little in his hands - Took some water in his hands (as if in a cup)
8. Delicious - Very tasty
9. Pitcher - A pot usually made of mud
10. Greedily - As if desiring more and more
11. Intended - Planned
12. Tricked - Deceived
13. Muttering - Speaking unclearly
14. Sent for - called

C. Learn and write the following question answers-

Question- Why did Taro run in the direction of the stream?
Answer : Taro had never heard or seen a rushing stream in that part of the forest, where he worked. As soon as he heard the sound of running water, he rushed towards it to find what it was. Moreover, he was thirsty and tired so the sound of the water excited him.

Question- How did Taro’s father express his happiness after drinking the sake?
Answer : Taro’s father expressed his happiness by dancing on the middle of the floor after drinking the sake.

Question- Why did the waterfall give Taro sake and others water?
Answer : The waterfall gave Taro sake as it was pleased with Taro’s hardworking nature and obedience to his parents. The magical waterfall did not give others sake because they were selfish and unkind.

Question- Why did the villagers want to drown Taro?
Answer : The news of the magical waterfall had spread all over the village. Therefore, the villagers had come to the waterfall expecting sake flowing in it. When they did not find sake in the waterfall, they became so angry that they wanted to drown Taro in it.

Question- Why did the emperor reward Taro?
Answer : Taro was a very obedient son who honored his parents. The emperor was very pleased with his behavior so he rewarded him with 20 pieces of gold. The emperor also wanted to motivate the other children to do the same so he also named the most beautiful fountain in the city after Taro.

C. Make sentences by using the given words-
1. Woodcutter-
2. Waterfall-
3. Pitcher-
4. Reward-
5. Hardworking-