A Friend’s Prayer Textbook Questions (NCERT Solutions)
Let us do these activities before we read.
1. Read the following sentences.
(a) I wish my friend would bring idli in her tiffin tomorrow.
(b) I hope my friend and I win the race tomorrow.
(c) May my friend get well soon.
Which of the three sentences (a)-(c) is closest to a prayer? Explain to your teacher and classmates.
Ans. ‘May my friend get well soon’, is closest to a prayer as it’s a sincere wish for someone’s recovery.
2. What would you pray for your friend? First, speak about it and then write it down.
Ans. May they have all the success they crave for. May they live a healthy life. May they never have any problems. May they walk on a virtuous path. May happiness always be with them.
Let us discuss
1 Read the poem silently. As you read, underline the parts of the poem you agree with.
Ans. I agree with every part of the poem.
2. Now, share the details of your underlined parts of the poem in groups and explain why you liked those lines.
Ans. I agree with every part of the poem as it vividly tells how friendship works and what friends should do for each other.
3. Which line was underlined by most people in your group? Share it with your teacher.
Ans.
Let me use my heart to see,
To realise what friends can be,
And make no judgements from afar,
But love my friends the way they are.
These lines suggest that friends shouldn’t judge one another and try to understand their situation. In friendship, one should use heart, not mind.
Let us think and reflect.
1. Complete the summary of the poem by circling the correct highlighted words.
The poet says a prayer for/speech on friendship and friends. She wants friendship should always be an important part of her complete life/ school days. She says that her friendship makes her feel brave/special. She wishes to do the best she can, for her friends. She wants to clap for/ listen to the wishes of her friends. As a good friend, she prays/imagines that she can make her friend’s wishes come true. She wants her heart/mind to understand what a true friend is. She prays that she loves her friends as they are/when they are happy. She tells us that a true/correct friend accepts their friend for all their qualities.
Ans. Prayer for, complete life, special, listen to, prays, heart, as they are, true.
2. Answer in one word only.
(a) How does the poet feel about special friends?
Ans. Blessed
(b) What does the poet use to realise what friends can be?
Ans. Heart
3. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions below.
(a) I want to do much more than share
The hopes and plans of friends who care;
I’ll try all that a friend can do
To make their wishes come true.
(i) Complete the sentence with the most suitable option.
These lines tell us that the speaker is _______________.
a. clever
b. caring
c. curious
d. calm
Ans. b. caring
(ii) How will the speaker make her friends’ wishes come true? (by trying hard/by working a lot)
Ans. By trying hard
(iii) Fill in the blank with a suitable word.
My friends will feel __________ if their wishes come true.
Ans. happy
(b) Let me use my heart to see,
To realise what friends can be,
And make no judgements from afar,
But love my friends the way they are.
(i) The speaker says that feelings are important to understanding friendship. Which line tells us this?
Ans. Let me use my heart to see
(ii) Complete the sentence with the most suitable option.
These lines tell us that the speaker is _______________.
a. helpful
b. thoughtful
c. cheerful
d. hopeful
Ans. b. Thoughtful
(iii) Fill in the blank with one word.
The speaker does not wish to make any ___________. She cares for them just as they are.
Ans. Judgments
4. Give one reason why we can say that this poem is a prayer.
Ans. The poem is all about wishes, wants and desires towards friends. Words like ‘May’, ‘wishes’, wants’, ‘let’, and ‘try’ add prayer elements to the poem.
5. Why does the speaker ‘want to do more’ for her friend?
Ans. The speaker wants to do more than sharing their hopes and plans. She wants to actively participate in making their wishes come true.
6. Do you think that the speaker knows about the wishes of her friend? How can we say so?
Ans. Yes, the poetess knows about her friend’s wishes and wants to actively participate in fulfilling their dreams.
7. Do you also pray for your friend? What do you wish for? Discuss.
Ans. I wish my friends to live their lives happily. I hope their wishes get fulfilled and they get the success they crave.