Samacheer Kalvi Class 10 English Solutions Chapter 6 The Little Hero of Holland

B. Based on your understanding of the story answer the following questions in one or two sentences:

Question 1. What are the little children of Holland, aware of?
Answer: The children of Holland know that the dikes must always be watched carefully. They understand that even a small hole can be very dangerous because it could let the sea flood Holland, so everyone needs to be alert.
In simple words: Children in Holland know dikes need constant checking, as a small hole can cause floods.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering questions about awareness, make sure to state both what is known and the reason for that knowledge.

Question 2. What is the work assigned to Peter's father?
Answer: Peter's father was given the job of tending the gates of the dike. He was responsible for opening and closing these gates whenever ships needed to enter or leave the sea from Holland, making his role crucial for water control.
In simple words: Peter's father managed the dike gates, opening and closing them for ships entering or leaving the sea.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always describe specific job responsibilities clearly, rather than just stating the title of the job.

Question 3. Why did Peter's mother call him?
Answer: Peter's mother called him because she wanted him to go across the dike and give some cakes to his friend, who was blind. She was sending him on a kind errand.
In simple words: Peter's mother called him to take cakes to his blind friend.

🎯 Exam Tip: For simple "why" questions, provide a clear and direct reason from the story.

Question 4. How did Peter spend his time with his blind friend?
Answer: Peter spent some time with his blind friend, telling him about his walk along the dike. He described the sun, the flowers he saw, and the ships sailing far out at sea, sharing his observations to entertain his friend.
In simple words: Peter told his blind friend about his walk, the sun, flowers, and ships at sea.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the details of interaction provided in the story to fully answer how characters spent their time.

Question 5. Why did the father always say 'angry waters'?
Answer: The father always referred to the "angry waters" because the seawater would constantly hit hard against the dikes. This strong and powerful impact made the waters seem threatening and wild.
In simple words: The father called the waters "angry" because the sea always crashed hard against the dikes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the figurative language by relating it to the physical actions or characteristics described in the text.

Question 6. What did Peter see when he stopped near the dikes?
Answer: When Peter stopped near the dikes, he noticed a small hole in the dike. Through this tiny hole, a small stream of water was flowing out, which instantly caused him concern.
In simple words: Peter saw a small hole in the dike with a tiny stream of water flowing from it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be precise about the object seen and its condition, as these details are often crucial to the plot.

Question 7. What were the thoughts of the mother when Peter did not return home?
Answer: Peter's mother thought that he was spending the night with his friend. She decided she would scold him the next morning for staying away from home without her permission, showing her concern mixed with a plan for discipline.
In simple words: Peter's mother thought he was at his friend's house and planned to scold him the next day for not asking permission.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing a character's thoughts, differentiate between their assumptions and their intentions.

Question 8. How did Peter spend his night at the dikes?
Answer: Peter spent the night at the dikes by putting his finger into the hole to stop the leak. He crouched on a stone with his head bent, staying awake even though his eyes were closed. He rubbed his hand, determined to endure the cold and stay throughout the night to save his people.
In simple words: Peter put his finger in the hole and stayed there all night. He crouched on a stone, awake and rubbing his hand in the cold.

🎯 Exam Tip: Include details about the character's actions and mental state to give a complete picture of how time was spent.

Question 9. Who found Peter in the dikes and what did he do?
Answer: A man who was on his way to work heard Peter moaning. He then found Peter clinging to the side of the great wall, exhausted and cold. The man quickly helped Peter and alerted others to the danger.
In simple words: A man going to work heard Peter moaning and found him holding onto the dike wall.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify both the person who found Peter and their immediate action, as both parts are important.

Question 10. How did the villagers mend the hole?
Answer: After hearing the alarm, the villagers quickly brought shovels and rushed to the dike. They then used these tools to mend the hole effectively, working together to repair the damaged wall.
In simple words: The villagers brought shovels and fixed the hole in the dike after hearing the alarm.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the tools or methods used for repair when asked how something was fixed.

C. Based on your understanding of the story answer the following question in about 100-150 words.

Question 1. Narrate in your own words the circumstances that led Peter to be a brief little hero.
Answer: This story is about a young boy named Peter who saved his country from a terrible flood. Peter was a small boy living in Holland, a land protected by dikes. One day, his mother sent him to visit his blind friend, asking him to take some cakes. Peter walked across the dikes, spent time with his friend, and started back home in the evening, wanting to return before dark. On his way, he heard a trickling sound and discovered a small hole in the dike with water leaking out. Realizing the great danger this posed to his homeland, he quickly put his finger into the hole to stop the water flow. He stayed there all night, enduring the cold, with his finger becoming numb. He did not sleep, continuously pushing his finger into the hole. In the morning, a villager found Peter, exhausted but still holding back the water. The villager quickly called for help, and other villagers arrived with shovels, working together to repair the dike. Because of Peter's brave and selfless action, Holland was saved from being flooded, and he became known as the "Hero of Holland." His quick thinking and courage made him a real hero.
In simple words: Peter, a small boy, was sent on an errand. On his way home, he found a leak in a dike and used his finger to stop the water. He stayed there all night in the cold. A villager found him, and the community came to fix the dike. Peter's brave act saved Holland from flooding, making him a hero.

🎯 Exam Tip: When narrating a story, ensure you include the main characters, the setting, the problem, the hero's action, and the outcome to make it complete.

D. Identify the character / speaker:

Question 1. 'I want you to go across the dike and take these cakes to your friend, the blind man'
Answer: Peter's Mother
In simple words: Peter's mother spoke these words.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the context and specific instructions given in the dialogue to identify the speaker.

Question 2. I am glad they are so strong?
Answer: Peter
In simple words: Peter said this.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the speaker by matching the emotion or observation expressed in the dialogue with the character's typical traits or situation.

Question 3. 'Holland shall not be drowned while I am here'.
Answer: Peter
In simple words: Peter bravely said this.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for strong declarations or promises within the dialogue to pinpoint a character's resolve and identity.

Question 4. 'What's the matter?' he called. "Are you hurt?'
Answer: Passer-by
In simple words: A person passing by asked this.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a new character enters a scene and speaks, they are often identifiable by their role or sudden appearance.

Question 5. 'Tell them to come quickly!'
Answer: Peter
In simple words: Peter shouted this.

🎯 Exam Tip: Urgent or commanding phrases usually come from characters actively involved in the central conflict or emergency.

E. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

One afternoon in early fall when Peter was eight years old, his mother called him from his play, "Come, Peter," she said. "I want you to go across the dike and take these cakes to your friend, the blind man. If you go quickly, and do not stop to play, you will be home again before dark." The little boy was glad to go on such an errand, and started off with a light heart.

He stayed with the poor blind man a little while to tell him about his walk along the dike and about the sun and the flowers and the ships far out at sea. Then he remembered his mother's wish that he should return before dark and, bidding his friend goodbye, he set out for home.

Question 1. What did Peter's mother want him to do?
Answer: Peter's mother wanted him to go across the dike and take some cakes to his blind friend. This was an important task for him to do.
In simple words: Peter's mother wanted him to take cakes to his blind friend across the dike.

🎯 Exam Tip: For passage-based questions, find the exact sentence in the text that directly answers the question.

Question 2. What did Peter's mother advise him to do?
Answer: Peter's mother advised him not to stop and play, and to make sure he returned home before it got dark. She wanted him to complete his errand quickly.
In simple words: His mother told him not to play and to come home before dark.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify specific instructions or warnings given by characters as their advice.

Question 3. Why was the little boy glad?
Answer: The little boy was glad because he was given a special task to meet his blind friend. He was happy to help and go on this errand.
In simple words: Peter was happy to go on the errand to meet his blind friend.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for words describing emotions (like "glad") and the immediate preceding or following text that explains the reason.

Question 4. What did the little boy tell his friend?
Answer: The little boy told his friend about his walk along the dike. He described the sun, the flowers he saw, and the ships sailing far out at sea, sharing his observations to entertain his friend.
In simple words: He told his friend about his walk along the dike, the sun, flowers, and ships at sea.

🎯 Exam Tip: Extract all relevant details from the passage about what was communicated, not just a single item.

Question 5. What did the little boy remember?
Answer: The little boy remembered his mother's wish that he should return home before it got dark. This thought prompted him to leave his friend and head back home.
In simple words: He remembered his mother wanted him to be home before dark.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked what a character remembered, locate the part of the passage where a past instruction or event is recalled.