GSEB Class 9 English Solutions Poem 3 Be the Best

Read the following stanzas and answer the questions.

(1) If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley – but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

Question 1. Write the rhyming words in the stanza.
Answer: The rhyming words in the stanza are hill-rill and be-tree.
In simple words: Look for words at the end of lines that sound alike, like "hill" and "rill" or "be" and "tree."

Exam Tip: Rhyming words often appear at the end of lines in poems and share similar sounds.

Question 2. If you can't be a tree
Answer: If you cannot be a tree, then you should try to be a bush.
In simple words: The poem tells us to be a bush if we can't be a tree.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the conditional statements in the poem, as they guide the advice given.

Comprehension

1. Tick mark the nearest meaning.

Question 1. There is something for all of us here.
(a) Everybody has a scope to become something. ✓
(b) If we become something, we get something.
(c) God has reserved some space for us here in this world.
Answer: (a) Everybody has a scope to become something.
In simple words: This means everyone has a chance to achieve or turn into something important in their lives.

Exam Tip: When choosing the nearest meaning, look for the option that best captures the essence of the original statement without adding new ideas.

Question 2. And the task we must do is the near.
(a) It is certain that we must become something.
(b) We must do something in our neighbouring area.
(c) Decide what we should do or become at the earliest. ✓
Answer: (c) Decide what we should do or become at the earliest.
In simple words: This line means we need to quickly choose what we want to do or be, as the task is close at hand.

Exam Tip: Understand that "the near" in this context refers to urgency or immediacy, not physical proximity.

Question 3. Be the best whatever you are.
(a) We should do our work in the best possible manner.
(b) Put in your best. Don't feel ashamed even if you are a small person. Just do the best. ✓
(c) We should be the best amongst all.
Answer: (b) Put in your best. Don't feel ashamed even if you are a small person. Just do the best.
In simple words: The poet means you should always give your full effort, no matter how small or insignificant your role might seem.

Exam Tip: This line emphasizes the importance of effort and quality over size or status.

2. Fill in the table using the words / expressions from the poem.

3. Answer the questions.

Question 1. What advice does the poet give to people in the first stanza of the poem ?
Answer: In the first stanza of the poem, the poet advises individuals to perform their best at whatever they undertake.
In simple words: The poet's first advice is to always be your best, no matter what job you do.

Exam Tip: When asked for the poet's advice, identify the core message or instruction being conveyed.

Question 2. Why does the poet say ‘We can't all be captains' ?
Answer: The poet states 'We can't all be captains' because not all of us will receive major tasks to perform. Some work is big, and some tasks are small, but we must complete the work assigned to us. There is something for every person to do.
In simple words: Not everyone can be a leader because some jobs are small, and everyone has a role to play. We just need to do our part well.

Exam Tip: Relate this line to the theme of valuing all kinds of work, big or small, and doing one's best in any role.

Question 3. What, according to the poet, decides our victory or failure ?
Answer: According to the poet, our triumph or setback is determined by how diligently we have tried to be the best.
In simple words: The poet says that whether we win or lose depends on how hard we worked to do our very best.

Exam Tip: Focus on the keywords "hard work" and "be the best" as the deciding factors for success or failure in the poem's context.

Question 4. What is the message of the poem ?
Answer: The poem's message is: Whatever you accomplish, strive to be the best. It does not matter the magnitude or insignificance of your work. Your achievement or failure is not determined by the size of your job, but by how diligently you have worked to be the best.
In simple words: The main idea of the poem is to always do your very best, no matter how big or small your job is, because success comes from effort, not the job's size.

Exam Tip: When asked for the message, summarize the core lesson or moral presented throughout the entire poem.

Question 5. Who, according to you, is the best person ? Discuss.
Answer: In my opinion, the best person is the individual who strives hard to be excellent at any task they obtain. They do not worry whether their work is extensive or minor, but they ensure they are the best.
In simple words: I think the best person works really hard to be good at anything they do, without caring if the job is big or small.

Exam Tip: For opinion-based questions, provide a clear statement of your view and support it with reasoning derived from the poem's themes.

(6) Think of someone in your village / town / neighbourhood who has very good qualities. Tell about him / her to the class. (Classroom discussion).

Read the following stanzas and answer the questions.

(1) If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill.
Be a scrub in the valley but be
The best little scrub by the side of the nil;
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

Question 1. Write the rhyming words in the stanza.
Answer: The rhyming words in the stanza are hill-rill and be-tree.
In simple words: The words that sound alike are "hill" with "rill", and "be" with "tree".

Exam Tip: Identify words that have similar ending sounds, typically found at the end of poetic lines.

Question 2. If you can't be a tree
Answer: If you cannot be a tree, then you should try to be a bush.
In simple words: If you're unable to be a tree, be a bush instead.

Exam Tip: Recall the specific instructions from the poem about what to be if you cannot be a larger item.

Question 3. If you can't be a pine,
Answer: If you cannot be a pine, then you should try to be a scrub.
In simple words: The poem advises to be a scrub if you can't be a pine tree.

Exam Tip: Connect each "if you can't be X" statement directly to its corresponding "then be Y" advice in the poem.

Question 4. What does the poet advise if you can't be a pine on the top of the hill?
Answer: If you cannot be a pine on the hill's peak, the poet recommends being a scrub in the valley, but ensure it is the finest scrub by the stream's side.
In simple words: If you can't be a tall pine on the hill, the poet tells you to be a small scrub in the valley, but be the very best scrub by the river.

Exam Tip: Remember that even if you're advised to be something smaller, the emphasis is always on being the "best" version of that smaller thing.

(2) If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass –
But the liveliest bass in the lake !

Question 1. Write the rhyming words in the stanza.
Answer: The rhyming words in the stanza are grass-bass and make-lake.
In simple words: The words "grass" and "bass" rhyme, and "make" and "lake" also rhyme in this part of the poem.

Exam Tip: When finding rhyming words, focus on the sounds at the end of words, especially those at the end of poetic lines.

Question 2. If you can't be a bush
Answer: If you cannot be a bush, then you should try to be a bit of grass.
In simple words: The poem suggests that if you cannot be a bush, you should instead be a small piece of grass.

Exam Tip: Identify the direct instruction given for each scenario, specifically what the poet advises one to become.

Question 3. What does the poet advise if you can't be a muskie?
Answer: If you cannot be a muskie, the poet recommends being a bass, but strive to be the most vibrant bass in the lake.
In simple words: If you can't be a muskie, the poet tells you to be a bass, but to be the liveliest one in the whole lake.

Exam Tip: Always include the qualifier (e.g., "liveliest") when describing what to be, as it reinforces the poem's core message of excellence.

Question 4. What does the poet advise if you can't be a bush?
Answer: If you cannot be a bush, the poet recommends being a bit of grass.
In simple words: The poet suggests that if you are unable to be a bush, you should rather be a bit of grass.

Exam Tip: Carefully read the "if" clauses in the poem to identify the specific alternatives suggested by the poet.

(3) We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of us here,
There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,
And the task you must do is near.

Question 1. Write the rhyming words in the stanza.
Answer: The rhyming words in the stanza are crew-do and here-near.
In simple words: "Crew" rhymes with "do", and "here" rhymes with "near" in this stanza.

Exam Tip: Look for end words that have similar vowel and consonant sounds to identify rhymes.

Question 2. What does the poet say in this stanza?
Answer: In this stanza, the poet mentions that some work is available for everyone to complete, and it does not matter if the work is substantial or minor.
In simple words: The poet says that everyone has some work, big or small, and its size doesn't matter.

Exam Tip: Summarize the main idea of the stanza, focusing on the poet's primary statement about work and its significance.

Question 3. 'We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew'. What does this line mean?
Answer: This line means that not all of us may obtain major work to complete, and some of us may also have to perform minor work.
In simple words: This line means that not everyone can be a leader or do big jobs; some of us will have smaller roles to play.

Exam Tip: Explain the analogy of "captains" and "crew" in terms of roles and responsibilities in life.

(4) If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can't be the sun be a star;
It isn't by size that you win or you fail –
Be the best of whatever you are !

Question 1. Write the rhyming words in the stanza.
Answer: The rhyming words in the stanza are trail-fail and star-are.
In simple words: The words that rhyme in this stanza are "trail" and "fail," and "star" and "are."

Exam Tip: Identify pairs of words that share similar sounds, especially at the end of the lines.

Question 2. What does the poet say about success and failure?
Answer: The poet mentions that our triumph or defeat does not rely on the size of the work we perform, but rather on the manner in which we complete it.
In simple words: The poet states that winning or losing isn't about how big our job is, but about how well we do it.

Exam Tip: Highlight that the poem prioritizes quality of effort over the magnitude of the task in determining success.

Question 3. If you can't be the sun, ....
Answer: If you cannot be the sun, then you should try to be a star.
In simple words: The poem tells us to be a star if we can't be the sun.

Exam Tip: Refer to the specific conditional advice given in the poem for different scenarios.

Question 4. then just be a trail.
Answer: If you cannot be a highway, then just try to be a trail.
In simple words: The poet advises that if you cannot be a wide highway, then you should just be a smaller trail.

Exam Tip: Remember that the poem consistently encourages being the best version of a smaller alternative if a larger role is not possible.

Be the Best Summary in Gujarati

જો તમે ટેકરીની ટોચનું પાઇનવૃક્ષ ન બની શકો તો,
ખીણમાં એક ઝાડવું થજો – પણ
ઝરણાના કિનારે સૌથી શ્રેષ્ઠ ઝાડવું થજો;
વૃક્ષ ન થઈ શકો તો એક છોડ થજો.
જો તમે છોડ ન થઈ શકો તો ઘાસનું એક તરણું થજો,
અને કોઈક રાજમાર્ગને વધારે રળિયામણો બનાવજો;
જો તમે મોટી માછલી ન થઈ શકો તો નાની માછલી થજો –
પણ તળાવની સૌથી વધુ જીવંત માછલી થજો!

આપણે બધા જ કપ્તાન ન થઈ શકીએ. આપણે ખલાસી
થવાનું છે,
અહીં આપણા સૌ માટે કંઈક (કામ) તો છે.
કરવા માટે મોટો કામ છે, અને નાના (કામ) પણ છે,
અને તમારે જે (કામ) કરવાનું છે, તે હમણાં જ કરવાનું છે.
જો તમે રાજમાર્ગ ન થઈ શકો તો એક પગદંડી થજો,
જો તમે સૂરજ ન થઈ શકો તો એક તારો થજો;
તમે જીતો કે હારો તેનો આધાર (તમારા કામના) કદ
પર નથી – તમે જે કંઈ છો તેમાં સૌથી શ્રેષ્ઠ થજો ! — ડગલસ મૅલૉક

Word Meanings

best (બેસ્ટ) શ્રેષ્ઠ

pine (પાઈન) એક વૃક્ષ

scrub (સ્ક્રબ) ઝાડવું, છોડ

valley (વૅલિ) ખીણ

rill (રિલ) નાનકડો પ્રવાહ, વહેળિયું, ઝરણું

bush (બુશ) ઝાડવું, છોડ

muskie (મસિક) એક પ્રકારની મોટી માછલી

bass (બાસ) એક પ્રકારની નાની માછલી

lively (લાઇવ્લિ) જીવંત

crew (ક્રૂ) વહાણના ખલાસીઓ

task (ટાસ્ક) કામ

trail (ટ્રેલ) વાટ, પગદંડી