Maharashtra Board Class 5 English Chapter 12 Count your Garden Solutions

English Balbharati Std 5 Digest Chapter 12 Count Your Garden Textbook Questions And Answers

Question 1. The following things are mentioned in the poem. Classify them as happy and sad things.
flowers - falling leaves
• golden hours – clouds
• stars - shadows
• smiles - tears
Answer: Here is the classification of the things mentioned in the poem as happy or sad:
Happy Things:
• flowers
• golden hours
• stars
• smiles
Sad Things:
• falling leaves
• clouds (often associated with gloom or rain)
• shadows
• tears
The poem encourages us to focus on the positive aspects of life, much like counting the happy things in our garden.
In simple words: We classify things from the poem into two groups: happy ones like flowers and smiles, and sad ones like falling leaves and tears.

🎯 Exam Tip: When classifying items, consider the common emotions or associations linked with each word. For poems, context often helps determine the intended feeling.

Question 1. The following things are mentioned in the poem. Classify them as happy and sad things.
Answer:

In simple words: The poem categorizes various elements into those that bring joy, such as flowers and friendships, and those that evoke feelings of sorrow, like falling leaves and the passage of time.

🎯 Exam Tip: When classifying items from a poem, ensure you list all relevant examples under the correct categories to show a thorough understanding of the text and its themes.

Question 1. Name a few other things that people often count. (At least 5.)
Answer:1. Parents' help
2. Teacher's guidance
3. Loyal friends
4. Our inner strength (confidence)
5. Faith in God.
In simple words: Beyond simple objects, people often value and rely on intangible things like support from family, guidance from teachers, strong friendships, personal confidence, and spiritual belief.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to list examples, try to think broadly and include both concrete and abstract concepts if appropriate to show comprehensive understanding.

Group Work

Question 1. Discuss how you will measure the worth of –
• a book
• a sports event
• a friend
• a journey.
Answer:
1. A book:
A book is a storehouse of information. It helps us to know the meanings of difficult words. It tells us interesting things and provides us happiness. It is an ideal companion/friend especially when we are lonely. A book's worth can be measured on the basis of the knowledge it has and the joy it provides. A good book can transport you to different worlds and expand your imagination.

2. A sports event:
A sports event provides us different/varied experiences. It sometimes brings forth our competitive spirit. We witness joy in victory and sorrow in loss. We learn to be humble in victory and take defeat with a smile. We learn to give our best. The worth of a sports event can be measured by the enjoyment it provides and the lessons it imparts. Such events teach us about teamwork and perseverance.

3. A friend:
A friend is a gift from God. Someone who is by our side through happy and sad times, through our smiles and tears. A friend's worth can be measured when he/she displays the values of love and care and never leaves our side when we are in distress and helps us in every way he/she can. True friends offer unwavering support and understanding.

4. A journey:
A journey can teach us so much. As we travel, we see various sights and scenes which broaden our perspective and understanding of the world. Every journey offers unique opportunities for growth and discovery.
In simple words: The worth of different things like books, sports, friends, and journeys is measured by the knowledge, joy, support, and new experiences they provide, enriching our lives in various ways.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing the 'worth' of abstract concepts, focus on the benefits, lessons, and emotional value they provide. Use descriptive language to elaborate on each point.

You may find the following pairs useful in your discussion.

difficult words – interesting things/knowledge

defeats - enjoyment

quarrels – sharing feelings and thoughts, problems

obstacles – learning new things, seeing new sights.

English Balbharati Std 5 Answers Chapter 12 Count Your Garden Additional Important Questions And Answers

Activity

Question 1. Complete the web diagram using
(a) naming words i.e., nouns from the poem
(b) words associated with emotions
Answer:
a. The naming words (nouns) from the poem are:
- flowers
- friends
- stars
b. (The web diagram for words associated with emotions is not provided in the source content.)
In simple words: For part (a), the diagram shows specific nouns from the poem like flowers, friends, and stars. Part (b) would involve identifying and listing words related to feelings or emotions from the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to complete a diagram based on a poem, carefully identify the requested categories (e.g., nouns, emotions) and extract relevant words directly from the text. If a part is missing, acknowledge it.

Words Associated with Emotions:

• joy
• smiles
• tears

Reading Skills, Vocabulary And Grammar

Read the following poem and answer the questions given below:

Question 1. Complete the following:
(a) Count your garden ............
(b) Count your life by ...............
Answer:
(a) by the flowers
(b) smiles, not tears. These are positive ways to measure your experiences.
In simple words: The poem suggests measuring your life by positive things like flowers and smiles, not by sadness.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing sentences from a poem, ensure your answers directly reflect the phrases or ideas used by the poet.

Question 2. What is the central idea of the poem?
Answer: The central idea of the poem is that we should learn to look at the brighter side of life and always count our blessings, focusing on the good things we have.
In simple words: The main message of the poem is to always be positive and appreciate what you have.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify the central idea, look for the main message or lesson the poet is trying to convey throughout the entire poem.

Question 3. According to the poet, how should we count our garden?
Answer: According to the poet, we should count our garden by the flowers in it, symbolizing the beautiful and positive aspects.
In simple words: The poet says we should count the good things, like flowers, in our life's garden.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to specific phrases in the poem that directly answer "how" or "what" questions to ensure accuracy.

Question 4. What should we not remember at all?
Answer: We should not remember the dark clouds at all, meaning we should forget about sad or difficult times.
In simple words: We should forget about sad or bad memories and focus on the good.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked what to avoid, identify the negative elements or actions the poem advises against.

Question 5. What should we do joyfully on every birthday?
Answer: On every birthday, we should joyfully count our age by friends and not by the years that pass. This perspective helps us appreciate the positive relationships in our lives.
In simple words: On our birthday, we should focus on the friends we have, not just how many years have gone by.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering questions about personal reflection or advice, ensure your answer directly addresses the "what" and "why" from the text.

Question 6. Explain the line: Count your life by smiles, not tears.
Answer: The above line means that there will be happy times and sad times in our lives. We should count our blessings by the happy times and not those which moved us to tears. It encourages a positive outlook, focusing on joy rather than sorrow.
In simple words: This line means we should remember the happy moments and good experiences in our life, rather than dwelling on the sad or difficult ones.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a proverb or a line, first state its direct meaning and then elaborate on its deeper implication or message.

Question 7. Match the rhyming words:

🎯 Exam Tip: When matching rhyming words, say the words aloud to hear their sounds and identify the pairs that rhyme. Always present your answer clearly, often in a matched list or table.

Question 8. Give another title to the poem.
Answer: Another suitable title for the poem could be "The Joy of Living" or "A Positive Outlook". These titles reflect the poem's message of focusing on happiness and friendship.
In simple words: A good new title for the poem would be something that shows its main idea of being happy and counting good things, like "Happy Life" or "Friends and Smiles".

🎯 Exam Tip: When suggesting an alternative title, ensure it captures the main theme or central message of the poem. Provide a brief justification for your choice.

Question 9. How do you react when you are disappointed?
Answer: When I am disappointed, I think of the times when things were good. I speak to my parents and share my problems with them. I try to smile and face the situation bravely. It's important to remember that setbacks are a part of life and can be overcome with a positive attitude.
In simple words: When I feel disappointed, I remember good times, talk to my parents about my problems, and try to stay positive and brave.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about personal reactions, provide a thoughtful and constructive response that shows emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills.

Writing Skills

Question 1. Your friend is disappointed that he/she is not selected in the school sports team for an inter-school competition. Write a letter to motivate her/him.
Answer:A/1 Delta,
90 Feet Road,
Ghatkopar (W),
Mumbai - 400 086
2nd July, 2015

Dear Ram/Rama,

We haven't written to each other for a long time. How are you doing? Hope you are fine. Aunty told me that you are upset that you were not selected in the school cricket team. Remember my friend, small disappointments are just that, 'small'. We should not get upset about little things.

Why don't you look at the brighter side? The match schedule is clashing with the school picnic. Imagine the fun we will have at the picnic. You can utilize the time to work on your game too. Take help from experts if need be, so that the next time you cannot be ignored by anyone. This letter aims to provide comfort and encouragement during a tough time.
In simple words: This is a letter written to a friend who is sad about not being selected for a sports team. It encourages them to look at the positive side, like the school picnic, and to use the time to improve their skills for future opportunities.

🎯 Exam Tip: For letter writing, remember to include the sender's address, date, salutation, clear body paragraphs with encouraging words, and a suitable closing. Focus on empathy and practical advice.

So cheer up and smile. Count your blessings.
Be happy always my friend.
Give my love and regards to all at home.
Yours lovingly,
XYZ.

Count Your Garden Summary In English

Summary:

'Count your Garden' is a beautiful poem which inspires us to look at the brighter side of life and be happy instead of looking at anything negative and regretting or feeling sorry for the same and at the same delve time not dwelling in the past. The poet has explained this by giving some beautiful examples.

The poet encourages us to count our garden by the beauty of the flowers and not by the falling leaves. In our life, there are happy moments and sad moments. The happy moments (golden hours) should be cherished while the unhappy moments should not be remembered at all.

At night, we must admire the starry sky and not the shadows on the ground. We should count our life by the moments which brought a smile on our face and not those w to tears. The poet finally says that on our birthday, we should not count our age by the passing years but the number of friends we have. We should learn to count our blessings and be grateful for all the good things we are blessed with and consider ourselves lucky for having what we have.

Meanings:

1. golden hours (phr) – happy moments

2. shadows (n) – gloom/something producing unhappiness