Why? – Class 4 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “Why?”, Class 4 English NCERT. This delightful poem teaches children about natural curiosity and the importance of asking questions. It encourages young minds to explore and understand the world around them, showing that it’s perfectly normal to be curious about everything. The poem also helps children understand that while many questions have answers, some mysteries of life remain unexplained.

Summary/Gist of the Poem

The poem “Why?” is about a curious little boy who constantly asks questions about everything he observes in his surroundings. He wants to know why wood floats but lead and marbles sink, why the sun shines, why the wind blows, and why we need to eat and drink. He’s curious about natural phenomena like cloud formation, sunset, and the life cycle of flowers. The poet concludes by saying that while some questions have simple answers, others remain mysteries that even adults can’t explain.

हिंदी में सारांश:
“व्हाई?” कविता एक जिज्ञासु छोटे लड़के के बारे में है जो हर चीज के बारे में लगातार सवाल पूछता है। वह जानना चाहता है कि लकड़ी तैरती क्यों है लेकिन सीसा और कंचे डूब क्यों जाते हैं, सूरज क्यों चमकता है, हवा क्यों चलती है, और हमें खाने-पीने की जरूरत क्यों है। वह बादलों के बनने, सूर्यास्त और फूलों के जीवन चक्र जैसी प्राकृतिक घटनाओं के बारे में भी जिज्ञासु है। कवि निष्कर्ष निकालता है कि जबकि कुछ सवालों के सरल जवाब होते हैं, कुछ ऐसे रहस्य हैं जिन्हें बड़े भी नहीं समझा पाते।

Important Word Meanings

Reading is Fun

Question 1: Name the few things that sink?

Several objects sink in water due to their density being higher than water. Some common examples include:

• Lead – a heavy metal that quickly sinks to the bottom
• Marbles – both glass and stone marbles sink in water
• Metal coins – due to their metallic composition
• Keys – made from dense metals like brass or steel
• Stones – naturally dense material that sinks

Question 2: List three questions that the little boy asks.

In the poem, the curious little boy asks many questions. Here are three important ones:

• Why do we need to eat and drink?
• What makes the clouds and why do they move across the sky?
• Why does the sun sink behind the hills?

Question 3: What type of boy is described in the poem? a)sad b) curious c) brave.

The boy in the poem is definitely curious. This is clearly shown throughout the poem as he constantly asks “Why?” about everything he sees around him. His curiosity drives him to question various natural phenomena, from simple things like why we eat and drink to more complex questions about clouds and sunsets. This natural curiosity is a positive trait that helps children learn and understand the world better.

Let’s Talk

Ram is a curious little boy. He is always asking questions. One day he came home and asked his grandfather questions like: 1. Why can’t we look at the sun during a solar eclipse? 2. Why can’t we touch the sun? 3. Why can’t we go out to play in the dark? Discuss these questions with your teacher and class. Do you know the answers?

Here are the scientific explanations for Ram’s questions:

1. Looking at the sun during an eclipse: During a solar eclipse, even though the sun appears darker, it still emits powerful ultraviolet rays that can severely damage our eyes. These rays can burn our retina (the part of our eye that helps us see) and could cause permanent blindness. That’s why we need special eclipse glasses to view it safely.
2. Touching the sun: The sun is extremely far from Earth – about 150 million kilometers away! Even if we could somehow reach it, the sun’s surface temperature is around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500°C), which is so hot it would instantly vaporize anything that comes near it. The sun is actually a massive ball of very hot gases, not a solid object we could touch.
3. Playing in the dark: It’s unsafe to play in the dark because:
   • We can’t see obstacles or dangers in our path
   • We might trip, fall, or bump into things
   • Other people can’t see us, which could lead to accidents
   • It’s harder to find our way around

Word Building

Question 1: Fill in the blanks with words from the poem which rhyme with the colored words in the sentences.

Here are the rhyming words from the poem:

• “Why is the sky so high?”
• “Do you know the colour of snow? – blow“
• “Have you found who made the clouds? – no rhyming word in given sentences”
• “Put the glass in the sink after you finish your drink“

Question 2: The spellings of these words are jumbled. Put them right and make sentences of your own- wokn, wism, dael, blarme, llihs

Here are the correct spellings and meaningful sentences:

1. wokn → know
   “I know how to solve this math problem.”
2. wism → swim
   “The dolphins swim gracefully in the ocean.”
3. dael → lead
   “The pencil is made of wood and lead.”
4. blarme → marble
   “The beautiful temple floor is made of white marble.”
5. llihs → hills
   “The green hills look beautiful after the rain.”

Let’s Write

Question 1: Why do cats and dogs fight?

Cats and dogs fight because they have different natural behaviors and ways of communicating. Dogs are usually more energetic and social, while cats are more independent and territorial. When they don’t understand each other’s body language, it can lead to conflicts. However, if they grow up together and are properly introduced, many cats and dogs can become good friends!

Question 2: Why do we walk across the road, and not run?

We should always walk and not run across the road for several important safety reasons:

• Walking helps us stay alert and aware of vehicles coming from all directions
• If we run, we might trip and fall on the road, which could be very dangerous
• Walking gives drivers enough time to see us and stop their vehicles
• We can better follow traffic signals and rules while walking

Question 3: Why do people like ice-cream?

People love ice cream for many delightful reasons:

• It comes in many delicious flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry
• Its cold, creamy texture feels refreshing, especially on hot days
• The sweetness makes it a perfect dessert
• It can be enjoyed with various toppings like nuts, fruits, and chocolate chips
• It brings back happy memories of celebrations and special occasions

Question 4: Write down at least two questions using ‘why’?

Here are some interesting ‘why’ questions:

1. Why do rainbows appear after it rains?
2. Why do leaves change their color in different seasons?