We are here to provide you with the most accurate NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Unit 5, A Different Kind of School with answers to all the questions in the English textbook Honeysuckle. The story, “A Different Kind of School” mentions a boy who visits Miss Beam’s school to have a personal taste of the unique teaching methods. The real aim of this school is not just to teach regular school activities but also to teach thoughtfulness, i.e., kindness to others and being responsible citizens.

WORKING WITH THE TEXT :

A : Put these sentences from the story in the right order and write them out in a paragraph. Don’t
refer to the text.

• I shall be so glad when today is over.
• Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess.
• I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day —at least not much.
• But being blind is so frightening.
• Only you must tell me about things.
• Let’s go for a little walk.
• The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this.

Ans :

Let's go for a little walk.. Only you must tell me about things. I shall be so glad when is over. The bad days can't be half as bad as this. Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess. I don't think I'll mind being deaf for a day- at least not much. But being blind is so frightening.

B : Answer the following questions.

1. Why do you think the writer visited Miss Beam’s school? (1)

Ans :

The author had heard much praise about the distinctive teaching techniques at Miss Beam’s school. Therefore, he decided to visit the school and personally experience these new teaching methods.

2. What was the ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play? (9)

Ans :

In Miss Beam’s school, every child had to take on roles such as being blind, deaf, mute, injured, or lame for a specific day. This was like a ‘game’ that they had to participate in, and it was a significant part of their training

3. “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day…” Complete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it the hardest? (9, 11, 15)

Ans :

“Every term, each child experiences one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day, and one dumb day.” Among these days, the blind day was the most challenging because students had to act as if they were blind without peeking from their blindfolds. They felt as if they might bump into things or be hit at any moment.

4. What was the purpose of these special days? (5, 9)

Ans :

The primary aim of these special days was to provide students with a personal understanding of adversity. Simulating a disability for a day helped them empathize with individuals born with such disabilities and fostered respect for those in need within society. This training aimed to prepare students to become compassionate and responsible individuals.

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE :

A : Match the words and phrases with their meanings in the box below.

Ans :

B : Re-word these lines from the story :

1. I had heard a great deal about Miss Beam’s school.

2. Miss Beam was all that I had expected — middle-aged, full of authority.

3. I went to the window which overlooked a large garden.

4. “We cannot bandage the children’s mouths, so they really have to exercise their will-power.”

Ans :

1. The author received many compliments from folks regarding the various teaching approaches at Miss Beam’s school.

2. The author perceived Miss Beam as a woman in her middle years with a commanding presence.

3. The author glanced out the window and observed a sizable garden.

4. The kids needed to exercise their determination to stay hushed.

C : 1. Given below is a page from a dictionary. Look at it carefully and

(i) find a word which means the same as ghastly. Write down the word and its two meanings.

(ii) find a word meaning a part of the school year.

(iii) find a word that means examination.

Ans :

(i) Ghastly: terrible – causing fear, very bad

(ii) Term: a fixed length of time, a part of the school year

(iii) Test: to look at something to see if it is correct or will work properly, to ask someone questions

2. Now make lists of

(i) all the words on the page (plus any more that you can think of) that begin with terr-

(ii) five words that may follow the last word on the page, that.

(iii) write down your own meaning of the word thank. Then write down the meaning given in the dictionary.

Ans :

(i) Terr: terrace, terrible, terribly, territory, terrify, terror, terrain

(ii) That: boy, house, car, dog, question

(iii) Thank: To express gratitude to someone for help or service or show kindness. In the dictionary: To say we are grateful to someone.

D : A poem for you to read.

All but Blind
All but blind
In his chambered hole
Gropes for worms
The four-clawed Mole.
All but blind
In the evening sky
The hooded Bat
Twirls softly by.
All but blind
In the burning day
The Barn Owl blunders
On her way.
And blind as are
These three to me,
So, blind to Someone
I must be.

Ans:

Read the poem carefully.

A : Make a short list of things you find difficult to do.

Compare your list with the others’ in the class. Can you explain why you find these things difficult to do?

Answer: Activity to be done by yourself.

B : Look at your hands carefully. Now, write down for each finger one action for which that finger is particularly important. For example, the second (or index) finger helps to hold the knife down firmly when cutting.

Ans :

Thumb: It aids in gripping a pen or pencil during writing.

Second finger (Index finger): It assists in holding a knife for cutting vegetables or fruits.

Third finger (Middle finger): It aids in sketching or gripping a paintbrush during painting.

Fourth finger (Ring finger): Used for placing a ring on the finger and supporting other fingers.

Fifth finger (Little finger/Pinky finger): It helps support other fingers and forms a fist.

A Different Kind Of School : Summary

The narrator had heard a lot of good things about Miss Beam and her school. Miss Beam was known for using simple teaching methods in a perfect way.

The narrator visited the school. He posed some questions to the teacher. She told him that she taught nothing special but simple calculations and writing. The boys and girls were taught how to do things independently without any help. Few things were read to them. Interesting talks were held to raise their interest. The main objective and aim of the school was to make students more thoughtful and responsible citizens.

The narrator went to the school gardens which were beautifully maintained. There, he noticed a poor little girl being helped by a boy. He also saw a girl with a crutch. He thought the one was blind and the other was lame. But Miss Beam explained that the school observes one blind, one lame, one deaf, one injured and one dumb day for every child in a term. These activities make the children more thoughtful and concerned.

On a blind day eyes were bandaged of one child and other children helped the blind throughout the day.This game became a great learning for both the blind and their helpers. Thereafter, Miss Beam took the narrator to one of the bandaged girls. The girl shared her feelings and learning with him. She related how she felt scared of being hit at every moment and this feeling was the most painful one. After this experience, the narrator realized that he had also developed a concerned attitude towards the disabled. He told Miss Beam that he was sorry to leave her school. She felt happy to know that the system in her school was good and her teaching style and way of imparting values was marvelous.