The Unlikely Best Friends Textbook Questions (NCERT Solutions)
Let us do these activities before we read.
1. Friends are an important part of our lives. Why do you think so? Share your ideas with your friend. What do you do when you are with your friends and how do you feel?
Now, complete the following sentences by writing in the shapes given below. Share your completed sentences with your classmates and teacher. One has been done for you.
Ans.
1. With my friend
i. I play
ii. I laugh
iii. I eat
2. With my friend
i. I feel happy
ii. I feel relaxed
iii. I feel safe
Let us discuss
1. Talk about the things that Gajaraj and Buntee did together. Now, write in the shapes given below. One has been done for you.
Ans. Buntee and Gajaraj
Played
Ate
Bathed
Laughed
2. Why did the farmer hug Buntee?
Ans. The farmer was extremely happy to see his lost pet Buntee and so, he hugged it.
3. Do you think Buntee will leave Gajaraj and go home with the farmer?
Ans. No, I think that Buntee will live with Gajaraj forever because they have a strong bond of friendship between them.
4. Why did Gajaraj not eat his food?
Ans. He did not eat food because he was missing Buntee.
5. Who were friends at the end of the story?
Ans. Gajaraj and Buntee were friends. Also, the mahout and the farmer became friends.
Let us think and reflect
1. Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.
(a) In spite of royal comforts, Gajaraj was sad because he had no friends. The mahout, or elephant trainer, was the only one he ever interacted with. The mahout was a kind man who served Gajaraj food, and gave him a bath in the elephant pond daily. He was a good caretaker, but not a friend.
(i) Complete with one word:
mahout : kind : : Gajaraj : ___________
Ans. sad
(ii) The mahout was a good caretaker because he gave _________to Gajaraj and a ______ in the pond.
Ans. food, bath
(iii) What do you think is the difference between a friend and a caretaker?
Ans. A caretaker takes care of one’s needs while a friend shares an emotional bond of love and affection.
(b) “Are you missing your friend?” asked the farmer remembering the happy look on Buntee’s face while sitting on the elephant’s back. “I cannot see you go hungry,” said the farmer, “If you miss your friend so much, go to him.” The farmer removed the rope with which he had tied the dog.
(i) The farmer uses the word __________________ to refer to the elephant.
Ans. friend.
(ii) How did the farmer know that Buntee was hungry?
Ans. He knew this because Buntee had not eaten for several days.
(iii) Why did the farmer remove the rope with which he had tied Buntee?
Ans. He removed the rope to free Buntee and allowed him to go to his friend.
(iv) Complete with one word:
Gajaraj : Buntee : : __________ : farmer
Ans. mahout
2. Give two examples to show that Gajaraj was very happy to have a friend.
Ans. Gajaraj was happy to have a friend. This can be verified from the following –
i. He also noticed that Gajaraj seemed to like the company.
ii. The elephant picked up the dog with his trunk and gave him a joyous swing.
3. How did the mahout come to know that Gajaraj was sad?
Ans. Gajaraj refused food and did not eat his favourite meal. His digestion and stomach were fine, so, the mahout realized that he was sad.
4. Why do you think Buntee licked the farmer’s hand?
Ans. Buntee klicked the farmer’s hand to thank him for granting it freedom to go to his friend.
5. What was ‘unlikely’ about the friendship of Gajaraj and Buntee?
Ans. Gajaraj was a royal elephant while Buntee was a normal dog. This gap of status made it unlikely for them to be friends.