Change of Heart Textbook Questions (NCERT Solutions)
Let us do these activities before we read.
1. Which games or sports do you play?
Ans. I love to play hide and seek, table tennis, basketball and badminton.
2. Read the questions given below. Talk about them and make a list.
(a) Which games or sports do you play for fun?
(b) Which games or sports do you play for competition?
Ans.
(a) hide and seek
Table tennis
(b) badminton
Basketball
3. How do you feel when you win or lose?
Ans. I feel happy when I win a game.
4. Work in pairs. Tick the correct meaning of the following:
(a) friendly matches
(i) matches played to win a trophy
(ii) matches played without competition
(b) opponent
(i) someone who you compete with
(ii) someone you want to be a partner with
(c) tally of marks
(i) Final marks on a report card
(ii) record of points in a game/match
(d) sporting spirit
(i) following all the rules in a game
(ii) being fair and respecting each player in a game
Ans.
(a) (ii) matches played without competition
(b) (i) someone who you compete with
(c) (ii) record of points in a game/match
(d) (ii) being fair and respecting each player in a game
Let us discuss.
1. State whether the following is True or False.
Prabhat would accept losing to anyone easily.
Ans. False
2. What was special about the last Friday of each month?
Ans. The coach would organise matches in the game period on Fridays, while the teams were decided on Monday.
3. Who was responsible for maintaining the score for the match?
Ans. Prabhat was given the responsibility of maintaining the score for the match.
4. Do you think Prabhat wished to play another match with Surya? Why do you think so?
Ans. Prabhat didn’t wish to play another match with Surya because he knew Surya was a better player and he couldn’t accept defeat. Although Prabhat had cheated, he was well aware that, in reality, he lost the match against Surya.
Let us discuss.
1. How did Surya feel about playing?
Ans. He didn’t mind losing the game. He has a sportsman spirit to appreciate Prabhat’s game, and unlike Prabhat, he wanted to play another game with Prabhat even after losing. Surya didn’t feel terrible and was on the basketball court after losing a match the previous day.
2. What was it about Surya that Prabhat observed?
Ans. Prabhat observed that Surya didn’t feel terrible after losing the game. He was on the basketball court, not even able to score a basket, but was enjoying the game. He was happy to play the game rather than think about winning it.
Let us think and reflect.
1. Read the lines given below and answer the questions.
(a) If Prabhat sensed that he would lose a game, he would not play it. He would take part only when he was sure of winning, even if the game lasted only for a minute. You could not stop him from playing the kind of games he was good at, like badminton.
(i) Complete the sentence suitably.
Prabhat would play a game only if ____________________.
(ii) Which game was Prabhat good at playing?
(iii) Select the most suitable option to complete the sentence.
This behaviour of Prabhat tells us that he was ________________.
a. good at the game
b. sure to win
c. afraid of losing
Ans.
(i) Prabhat would play a game only if he was sure to win.
(ii) Badminton
(iii) c. afraid of losing
(b) Surprisingly, Prabhat could not sleep well that night. He had won the game but he did not feel as happy as he usually did. What was surprising was that Surya did not feel bad about losing. What was more surprising was that Prabhat saw Surya playing basketball the next day.
(i) Select the one option that tells us about the way Prabhat was feeling that night.
a. hurt
b. unhappy
c. afraid
d. Focused
(ii) Why does Prabhat find Surya’s behaviour ‘surprising’?
(iii) Fill in the blank by choosing the most suitable option given in the bracket.
We can say that Surya’s reaction to not winning was____________________ (similar to/as serious as/different from) Prabhat’s.
Ans.
(i) b. unhappy
(ii) Prabhat found Surya’s behaviour surprising because unlike him, Surya didn’t feel bad about losing the game. He was on the basketball court the next day.
(iii) We can say that Surya’s reaction to not winning was different from Prabhat’s.
2. Answer the following questions.
(a) How did Prabhat’s attitude towards winning and losing affect his enjoyment of games in the beginning?
Ans. Prabhat never enjoyed playing the game; in fact, he always thought about winning the game. He used to play the games he was good at, he didn’t want to experience the new games. He wasn’t enjoying the game but playing it for the sake of winning.
(b) Why do you think Prabhat cheated to win the badminton match against Surya?
Ans. Prabhat was good at badminton and Surya was a new student who was also good at it. Prabhat couldn’t accept defeat especially when it was the game he was good at and desperately waiting for. He didn’t want to experience the terrible feeling after losing the game.
(c) How did Surya’s attitude differ from Prabhat’s?
Ans. Prabhat was serious while preparing for the match while Surya was relaxed and cracking jokes. Prabhat cheated to win the game while Surya kept the sportsman spirit. Not only did he appreciate his game, but he also wanted to play another game with him. The day after the match, Surya accepted his defeat. He enjoyed playing the basketball game even though he was terrible at it.
(d) Do you think Prabhat’s approach to games was healthy? Why or why not?
Ans. No, Prabhat’s approach towards the game wasn’t healthy, rather it was competitive. He even cheated to win the game because he couldn’t take defeat.
(e) Why do you think sporting spirit is important?
Ans. The sporting spirit is necessary to keep the integrity of the game. It’s important to respect the game and its players. The players should learn how to lose gracefully. It is Surya who has a sporting spirit and loses the game gracefully, unlike Prabhat, who cheated to win the game.
(f) Explain how the title ‘Change of Heart’ is suitable.
Ans. ‘Change of Heart’ is an apt title for the story. Prabhat realised the changes in himself after he observed Surya. Although Surya didn’t win the match, he still enjoyed the game, unlike Prabhat. Prabhat couldn’t accept defeat so he would only play the games he would win, while Surya not only appreciated Prabhat’s game but would like to play another game with him. It was Surya who changed Prabhat.