Madhu’s Wish – Class 3 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “Madhu’s Wish,” a delightful story that teaches children about the importance of understanding true value and not taking things for granted. This chapter beautifully illustrates how greed can lead to dissatisfaction and the significance of appreciating basic necessities like water.

Story Summary in English

Madhu, a food-loving boy, encounters an old man under a banyan tree. After sharing his lunch, the old man grants him a magical wish. Excited, Madhu wishes for unlimited food. He receives baskets of laddoos, fruits, and savories. However, when he becomes thirsty and needs water, he realizes the importance of water and learns a valuable lesson about being content and appreciating life’s basic gifts.

कहानी सारांश हिंदी में

मधु एक ऐसा लड़का था जो खाने का बहुत शौकीन था। एक दिन, बरगद के पेड़ के नीचे उसने एक बुजुर्ग को अपना खाना बाँटा। बदले में, बुजुर्ग ने उसे एक जादुई इच्छा पूरी करने का वरदान दिया। मधु ने अनगिनत खाद्य पदार्थ माँगे, लेकिन जब उसे प्यास लगी, तो उसे पानी की कीमत समझ में आई। अंततः, उसने समझ लिया कि जीवन में सबसे महत्वपूर्ण चीजें सरल और बुनियादी होती हैं।

Vocabulary List

Let Us Think – Section A: Answers

1. What did Madhu enjoy?

Madhu enjoyed eating various types of foods including laddoos, multiple fruits (grapes, mangoes, apples, bananas, jackfruit, melons, guavas, oranges), and savory snacks like matri, samosas, kachori, potato chips, and vada. He was constantly trying different food items and quickly getting bored with one type of food.

2. Do you think the old man had magical powers? How do you know?

Yes, the old man seemed to have magical powers. This is evident from his ability to grant Madhu a wish where anything he asks for immediately appears from the banyan tree. When Madhu wished for different foods, they appeared instantly in baskets, and when he later wanted water, a jug of water appeared at his request.

3. Why did the tree ask Madhu to ‘think over’ his wish?

The tree asked Madhu to think over his wish because it wanted him to be careful and considerate about what he truly wanted. The magical tree understood that Madhu might not realize the consequences of asking only for food and wanted him to make a more thoughtful and comprehensive wish.

4. Name some of the things that Madhu ate.

Madhu ate a variety of foods, including:

• Sweets: Laddoos
• Fruits: Grapes, Mangoes, Apples, Bananas, Jackfruit, Melons, Guavas, Oranges
• Savory Snacks: Matri, Samosas, Kachori, Potato Chips, Vada
• Drinks: Sharbat, Kheer, Badam Milk

Let Us Think – Section B: Think and Say

1. Have you experienced hiccups?

This is a personal question. Students should share their own experiences with hiccups, perhaps describing when and how they got them.

2. What do you do when you get hiccups?

Possible responses students might give:

• Drink water slowly
• Hold breath for a few seconds
• Ask parents or elders for home remedies
• Breathe deeply and try to relax

3. Do you think water is important? Why do you think so?

Water is extremely important because:

• It helps our body stay hydrated
• Supports all bodily functions
• Helps in digestion
• Regulates body temperature
• Essential for survival

4. If you were in Madhu’s place, what would you wish for and why?

This is an open-ended, creative question. Students might wish for different things like:

• Knowledge and learning
• Helping their family
• World peace
• Health for loved ones

Let Us Learn Section

Part A: Categorizing Food Items

Part C: Describing People

1. Pramod doesn’t share his toys with anyone. He is selfish.

The word selfish describes someone who only thinks about themselves and is unwilling to share or consider others’ feelings.

2. The woman saved the boy from the robber. She is brave.

The word brave means showing courage, being willing to do things that are dangerous or difficult without fear.

3. Advait is always lying in bed and doing nothing. She is lazy.

The word lazy describes someone who avoids work or physical effort and prefers to rest or do nothing.

4. Prerna always wishes everyone in the morning. She is polite.

The word polite means being kind, respectful, and having good manners in how you treat and speak to others.

Part D: Sentence Combining

1. Sentence: I eat an apple. I eat an orange. I eat a peach.

Combined Sentence: I eat an apple, an orange, and a peach.

2. Sentence: I like to watch cartoons. My sister likes to watch movies.

Combined Sentence: I like to watch cartoons, but my sister likes to watch movies.

3. Sentence: Anita plays volleyball. Anju plays volleyball.

Combined Sentence: Anita and Anju play volleyball.

4. Sentence: Dolma wants a new comic book. She has spent all her pocket money on sweets.

Combined Sentence: Dolma wants a new comic book, but she has spent all her pocket money on sweets.

5. Sentence: Rajesh wants to go to the park. He has not finished his homework.

Combined Sentence: Rajesh wants to go to the park, but he has not finished his homework.

Let Us Write Section

Story Completion: Vijaya’s Day

Here’s a possible completion of the story: Each day, Vijaya wakes up early and helps her grandmother with household chores. She sweeps the floor, waters the plants in their small garden, and helps her mother prepare breakfast. After eating, she walks to the village school, greeting her friends and neighbors along the way. At school, she is an attentive student who loves learning and playing with her classmates. In the evening, she returns home, shares stories about her day with her family, and helps her grandfather feed their chickens. Before sleeping, she reads a book and dreams of becoming a teacher someday.

Sentence Completion Exercises

1. Madhu shared his food with the old man because…

…he felt sorry for the hungry old man and wanted to show kindness. Sharing food is a compassionate act that demonstrates empathy and care for others.

2. Madhu was happy because…

…the old man granted him a magical wish to have any food he wanted. The excitement of getting unlimited food made him feel joyful and special.

3. After eating fruits, Madhu asked for savouries because…

…he got bored of eating only sweet fruits and wanted to taste something salty and spicy. His constant desire for variety showed his restless nature.

4. Madhu asked for water because…

…he was experiencing hiccups and felt extremely thirsty. His desperation for water made him realize the true importance of this basic necessity.

Let Us Do: Making a Table Mat

Project Instructions:

• Gather materials: A4 sheet, fruit/vegetable pictures, colored papers, glue, pencil/sketch pen
• Draw fruits or vegetables like apple, mango, or pear
• Tear colored paper into small bits
• Stick colored paper bits onto the drawn fruits
• Cover with a plastic sheet to protect