NCERT Solutions Class 5 English Santoor Chapter 08 The Decision of the Panchayat

Question 1. Why did the farmer buy the well?
Answer: The farmer had purchased a new field and required a water supply for it. That is why he decided to buy the well.
In simple words: The farmer got a new field and needed water, so he bought the well to use the water from it.

Exam Tip: Always state the reason clearly - here the reason is that he needed water for his new field.

Question 2. Why did the farmer become upset?
Answer: The farmer bought a well from his neighbour, but the neighbour behaved in a tricky way. He would not allow the farmer to take water from the well, even though the farmer had paid for it. This dishonest behaviour made the farmer very angry and sad.
In simple words: The neighbour sold the well to the farmer but then refused to let him use the water in it. This made the farmer upset.

Exam Tip: Look for the word "cunning" - it shows the neighbour was clever in a bad way, trying to trick the farmer.

Question 3. How did the Panchayat solve the problem?
Answer: The Panchayat listened to both sides and then made a clever decision. They said the neighbour had sold only the well itself, not the water inside it. If the water still belonged to the neighbour, then he had to take it out right away. Since removing all the water was impossible, the neighbour had no choice but to let the farmer keep the well with the water in it.
In simple words: The Panchayat said the neighbour must remove the water if he owns it. Since he could not do that, the farmer got to keep the well with the water.

Exam Tip: This solution shows how clever thinking and logic can solve tricky problems - the answer uses the neighbour's own words against him.

Question 4. What was the final judgment given by the Panchayat?
Answer: The Panchayat ordered the dishonest neighbour to either drain out all the water from the well immediately or finish using it up, and then hand over the well to the farmer. This was the final ruling made by the village leaders.
In simple words: The neighbour had to remove or use all the water right away, then give the well to the farmer.

Exam Tip: The judgment was final and had to be followed - this teaches us that the Panchayat's decision was the last word on the matter.

Question 5. Do you think the decision of the Panchayat was correct?
Answer: Yes, the decision made by the Panchayat was fair and just. The neighbour tried to play a tricky game by selling the well but keeping the water. The Panchayat's ruling was smart because it forced the neighbour to choose - either take out the water or let the farmer have it with the water inside. Since taking out all the water was not practical, the farmer got what he had paid for. The solution punished the dishonest behaviour and rewarded honesty.
In simple words: Yes, the decision was right because it stopped the neighbour's trick and gave the farmer what he bought.

Exam Tip: When answering opinion questions, always give a reason to support your answer - here the reason is that it was fair and stopped dishonesty.

Question 6. You have an extra painting box which you wish to share with your friends in the class to complete an activity. Two of your best friends, Radha and Sita, fight for the box. How would you deal with the situation so that you are fair to both of them?
Answer: I would suggest that both Radha and Sita use the painting box together at the same time, sitting side by side. If that is not possible, they could take turns using it one after the other. In this way, both friends would get a chance to use the box fairly, and neither one would feel left out or sad. The box would be shared equally between them, just like the farmer and the Panchayat solved their problem through fair sharing.
In simple words: I would let them use the box together at the same time, or take turns one after the other so both get to use it.

Exam Tip: Show that you understand sharing and fairness - offer practical solutions like taking turns or working together.

Question 7. Who said to whom: a. "I sold only the well, not the water." b. "Remove the water or use it all up immediately." c. "He is not letting me take the water."
Answer:
a. The cunning neighbour said this to the farmer.
b. The village chief said this to the cunning neighbour.
c. The farmer said this to the village chief.
In simple words: The neighbour made an excuse, the chief gave an order, and the farmer complained.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to who is speaking - identifying the speaker shows you understood the story well.

Let us Learn - Vocabulary and Grammar (Pages 96-97)

Question 1. Match the words with their meanings.
Answer: 1 - (f), 2 - (a), 3 - (e), 4 - (c), 5 - (b), 6 - (d)
In simple words: Prospered means to grow wealthy, cunning means clever in a tricky way, worried means very upset, summon means to order someone to come, adamant means refusing to change, and judgment means a decision made by a group.

Exam Tip: Learn word meanings in groups - linking them to the story helps you remember them better.

Question 2. Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions (in, at, by, after, before, under, with, to, for). A preposition can be used more than once.
(i) The farmer went _____ the village chief to explain his problem.
Answer: to
In simple words: Use "to" when showing direction or who you are going toward.

Exam Tip: "To" is used for direction and for showing who receives an action.

Question 3. The neighbour was standing _____ the well, blocking the way.
Answer: by
In simple words: Use "by" to show someone is near or beside something.

Exam Tip: "By" means close to or beside a place or thing.

Question 4. The villagers tried to reason _____ the cunning man.
Answer: with
In simple words: Use "with" when you are trying to talk or work together with someone.

Exam Tip: "With" shows you are doing something together with another person.

Question 5. The decision was made _____ careful consideration of both sides.
Answer: after
In simple words: Use "after" to show something happens later, following another action.

Exam Tip: "After" shows time order - one thing happens, then another thing follows.

Question 6. There lived a farmer _____ the small village.
Answer: in
In simple words: Use "in" when talking about a place that is contained or enclosed, like a city or village.

Exam Tip: "In" is used for being inside a place or area.

Question 7. The Panchayat members listen to both the sides _____ coming to decision.
Answer: before
In simple words: Use "before" when one action must happen first, then another action follows.

Exam Tip: "Before" shows time order - listen first, then decide.

Question 8. The villagers gathered the Panchayat _____ the banyan tree.
Answer: under
In simple words: Use "under" to show something is below or beneath something else.

Exam Tip: "Under" means below - the people gathered in the shade below the tree.

Question 9. The neighbour was punished _____ his dishonesty.
Answer: for
In simple words: Use "for" to show the reason or cause of something.

Exam Tip: "For" is used to show why something happened - the reason for the punishment was dishonesty.

Question 10. The chief listened carefully _____ both the farmer and the neighbour.
Answer: to
In simple words: Use "to" when you are giving attention to someone who is speaking.

Exam Tip: "Listen to" is a fixed phrase - you always use "to" after listen.

Question 11. The villagers agreed to meet _____ a later time to discuss the issue.
Answer: at
In simple words: Use "at" when talking about a specific time of day or a specific moment.

Exam Tip: "At" is used for specific times - "at 5 o'clock", "at noon", "at a later time".

Question 12. The farmer decided to buy a well _____ buying his third field.
Answer: before
In simple words: Use "before" to show that one action happened first, then another action came after.

Exam Tip: "Before" shows time order - he bought the well first, then bought the third field later.

Question 13. Rearrange the events in the correct order.
1. Sam sat by a small stream to rest and enjoy the peaceful sound of the water.
2. Sam felt grateful for the time he spent in nature.
3. Sam decided to go for a walk in the forest near his house.
4. Sam walked along the narrow path, listening to the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling.
5. After resting, Sam continued his walk, feeling refreshed.
Answer: 3 - 4 - 1 - 5 - 2
In simple words: First he decided to walk, then he walked and heard birds, then he sat to rest by the stream, then he felt fresh and kept walking, and finally he felt happy about it.

Exam Tip: When arranging events, think about what happens first in a story - the beginning, middle, and end.

Let us Speak (Pages 98-99)

Question 1. Look at the pictures and answer: What do you think will happen next? Sit in small groups and discuss. One student from each group will narrate the ending to the whole class.
Answer: The coconut will fall inside the house where the boy lives. The boy will run inside to show it to his mother. However, the neighbour will also want the coconut back because it came from his tree. The neighbour will come to talk with the boy's mother about getting his coconut returned to him. Perhaps the boy's mother might give it back, or she might work out a fair way to share the fruit with the neighbour's family.
In simple words: The coconut falls in the boy's house, the neighbour wants it back because it is from his tree, and they will have to decide who gets to keep it.

Exam Tip: When predicting what happens next, think about what the characters might do - look at their past actions to guess their future ones.

Let us Write (Page 100)

Question 1. Imagine you are the farmer. Write a letter to your friend about the incident and the decision of the Panchayat. You may begin as follows: My dear friend, Something happened last week, which I want to tell you. I wanted to buy a well...
Answer:

My dear friend, Something happened last week, which I want to tell you. I wanted to buy a well. I am doing well with my present farm. There was a well nearby, so I bought that well. The next day, the man from whom I had purchased the well did not allow me to draw water from the well. He told me that he had sold me only the well, and not the water in it. So, I appealed to the Panchayat to solve this matter. On a particular day, the Panchayat met to discuss the matter and take a decision. My neighbour insisted that he would not change his stand. The Panchayat told him to empty the well and take the water in it, as the water belonged to him. Since this could not be done, I won the case. I am very thankful to the village chief for his wise decision. Hope you and your family members are doing well. With best wishes,
Your friend ________________
In simple words: I bought a well but my neighbour would not let me use the water. The Panchayat said he had to remove the water if he owned it. Since he could not do that, I got to keep the well.

Exam Tip: In formal letters, include the greeting, main story with details, and a closing - make it sound friendly but respectful.

Question 2. Read the following sentence: Water is priceless. It means that water is valuable. It is so valuable that you cannot put a price on it. The 'less' at the end of the word is a suffix. Complete the following by adding the suffix 'less' to the given words.
Answer:
1. Use + less = Useless
2. Care + less = Careless
3. Hope + less = Hopeless
4. Fear + less = Fearless
5. Colour + less = Colourless

Sentences:
1. Useless: That old broken toy is useless and cannot be played with anymore.
2. Careless: His careless mistake in the exam caused him to lose marks.
3. Hopeless: The situation looked hopeless, but the doctor gave the patient some medicine.
4. Fearless: The fearless soldier stood guard even in the darkest night.
5. Colourless: The water in the glass was colourless and clear.
In simple words: The suffix "less" means without - useless means without use, careless means without care, and so on.

Exam Tip: Learn suffixes in groups - "less" always means "without something".

Let us Listen (Pages 101-102)

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

A long time ago, in a small village of West Bengal, there lived a kind and wise man named Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He loved to talk to people about God and taught that all religions are like rivers - they may take different paths, but they all lead to the same ocean. He lived a simple life, wearing plain clothes and eating very little, but his smile and loving words made everyone feel special. One day, a curious young boy named Naren came to meet him. Ramakrishna saw something special in Naren and became his teacher. He taught Naren about courage, kindness, and how to find peace within. Naren later grew up to become the famous Swami Vivekananda, spreading his teacher's wisdom to the world. Even today, Ramakrishna's teachings inspire many people everywhere.

Question 1. Where was Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa born?
(a) A colony in Kolkata
(b) A small village in West Bengal
(c) A mountain in the Himalayas
(d) A forest in Kerala
Answer: (b) A small village in West Bengal
In simple words: He was born in a small village, not a big city or mountains.

Exam Tip: Read the passage carefully - the answer is stated directly in the very first sentence.

Question 2. Who was the curious boy that became Sri Ramakrishna's student?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Swami Vivekananda (Naren)
(c) Rabindranath Tagore
(d) Sri Aurobindo
Answer: (b) Swami Vivekananda (Naren)
In simple words: The boy's name was Naren, and he later became known as Swami Vivekananda.

Exam Tip: Look for name clues in the passage - Naren is mentioned as the student, and he is also called Swami Vivekananda later.

Question 3. What kind of life did Sri Ramakrishna live?
(a) A life full of luxury
(b) A simple and loving life
(c) A life of traveling
(d) A secretive life
Answer: (b) A simple and loving life
In simple words: He wore plain clothes, ate very little, and treated everyone with love.

Exam Tip: Words like "simple" and "plain clothes" in the passage help you find the answer.

Question 4. What did Sri Ramakrishna compare religions to?
(a) Trees in a forest
(b) Stars in the sky
(c) Rivers flowing to the ocean
(d) Books in a library
Answer: (c) Rivers flowing to the ocean
In simple words: All religions are different like different rivers, but they go to the same place - the ocean - just like all religions lead to God.

Exam Tip: This comparison teaches an important lesson - look for the exact word "rivers" in the passage.

Question 5. What did Sri Ramakrishna teach Naren?
(a) To find a teacher
(b) To become wealthy
(c) To travel the world
(d) To find peace
Answer: (d) To find peace
In simple words: He taught Naren about courage, kindness, and finding peace inside yourself.

Exam Tip: The passage mentions the words "courage, kindness, and how to find peace" - peace is one of the three things mentioned.

Did You Know?

The Banyan tree is the national tree of India. It can live for over 200 years and grow to cover several acres of land. Its roots grow down from the branches and become new trunks, making it look like a forest all by itself!

Let us Do (Pages 103-104)

Question 1. Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions. The Neem Tree

You must have seen a neem tree near your house, or near the school, or beside the road. Almost everyone can recognise a neem tree. The neem is a magic medicine tree because almost every part of the tree is used for medicine. Sometimes, sick people are given neem juice to drink. People use the twigs of the neem tree as a toothbrush to clean their teeth. Burn some dry neem leaves inside the house and see the mosquitoes disappear! When you store winter clothing or blankets, keep dry neem leaves between them. This helps keep away insects. When you store rice, keep dry neem leaves at the bottom of the rice bin. This keeps pests away.

Question 2. Where can you find neem trees?
Answer: Neem trees grow in many places - near your home, along roadsides, inside school grounds, and many other locations. They are found almost everywhere.
In simple words: You can find neem trees near houses, schools, and roads almost anywhere.

Exam Tip: Look for location words in the passage - "near", "beside", and other place words help answer "where" questions.

Question 3. Why do you think 'neem' is called a magic tree?
Answer: The neem tree is called magic because nearly every single part of the tree serves a useful purpose and has medicinal qualities. The leaves, twigs, juice, and other parts can all be used as medicine to help sick people and keep homes clean and free from pests.
In simple words: The neem is magic because every part of it - leaves, twigs, juice - can be used for healing and keeping homes safe.

Exam Tip: When asked "why", always give a reason - here the reason is that almost every part has a use.

Question 4. What happens when dry neem leaves are burnt?
Answer: When you burn dry neem leaves inside a house, the smoke drives away all the mosquitoes. They cannot stand the smell and leave the area, making the home mosquito-free.
In simple words: Burning neem leaves makes mosquitoes go away because they dislike the smell.

Exam Tip: The word "disappear" in the passage means the mosquitoes leave or vanish.

Question 5. Why do people put neem leaves in clothes and rice containers?
Answer: People place dried neem leaves inside storage spaces because the leaves protect stored items. The strong smell and properties of neem leaves keep insects and pests away, so stored clothes and rice stay safe and clean throughout the season.
In simple words: Neem leaves keep insects and bugs away from stored clothes and food.

Exam Tip: When asked "why", find the purpose or reason - here the reason is protection from insects.

Question 6. How are neem twigs used?
Answer: People use the small branches of the neem tree as a natural toothbrush. They chew on the twigs to clean their teeth thoroughly. This practice is very old and people have used neem twigs for dental care for many centuries.
In simple words: Neem twigs are used like a toothbrush to clean your teeth naturally.

Exam Tip: Look for the word "toothbrush" in the passage - it directly tells you how the twigs are used.

Question 7. Find the meaning of the word 'disappear' from the following options:
(a) Appear
(b) Vanish
(c) Grow
(d) Fly
Answer: (b) Vanish
In simple words: Disappear means to go away or vanish - the opposite of appear.

Exam Tip: Look at the word parts - "dis" means opposite, so "disappear" means the opposite of "appear".

Question 8. Find the word in the passage which means 'a short stick':
(a) Tree
(b) Part
(c) Twig
(d) Leaf
Answer: (c) Twig
In simple words: A twig is a small thin branch or stick from a tree.

Exam Tip: The passage uses the word "twigs" when talking about small branches used as toothbrushes.

Question 9. Point out 11 differences in the two pictures given below. Work in pairs and write down the differences in your notebook.
Answer:

The 11 differences are:

1. The rays of the sun are different in number or style.
2. The branches of the Tulsi plant are more in one picture than the other.
3. The flowers of the Tulsi plant are different.
4. The branching pattern of the Tulsi plant differs.
5. One picture has more leaves on the Tulsi plant.
6. The footwear worn by the woman is different in the two pictures.
7. The colour pattern of the fan is different.
8. One picture has one fewer step in the staircase.
9. The design of the saree worn by the woman is different.
10. The style and shape of the woman's hair bun is different.
11. The woman's front hair style or fringe is different.

In simple words: Look carefully at small details like sun rays, leaves, shoes, stairs, clothes, and hair - there are many small changes between the two pictures.

Exam Tip: For spot-the-difference activities, check every section of the picture systematically - top, middle, bottom - to find all differences.