Sing a Song of People – Class 5 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “Sing a Song of People,” Class 5 English NCERT. This delightful poem teaches children about the diverse nature of city life and helps them understand how different people coexist in urban spaces. It also encourages observation skills and empathy towards others around us.

Summary of the Poem

The poem “Sing a Song of People” paints a vivid picture of city life. It describes various people going about their daily routines – some walking fast, others slow, some using different modes of transport like buses, taxis, and subways. The poet observes people’s different moods, behaviors, and activities, showing how city dwellers, despite being surrounded by crowds, often remain strangers to each other. The poem beautifully captures the essence of urban life with its busy streets, tall buildings, and diverse population.

कविता का सारांश

यह कविता शहरी जीवन का एक जीवंत चित्रण करती है। इसमें विभिन्न लोगों की दैनिक दिनचर्या का वर्णन किया गया है – कुछ तेज चलते हैं, कुछ धीमे, कुछ बस, टैक्सी और मेट्रो जैसे विभिन्न यातायात के साधनों का उपयोग करते हैं। कवि लोगों के विभिन्न मूड, व्यवहार और गतिविधियों को देखता है, यह दर्शाता है कि कैसे शहर के लोग, भीड़ से घिरे होने के बावजूद, अक्सर एक-दूसरे के लिए अजनबी बने रहते हैं। कविता व्यस्त सड़कों, ऊंची इमारतों और विविध जनसंख्या के साथ शहरी जीवन के सार को सुंदर ढंग से प्रस्तुत करती है।

Word Meanings

Reading is Fun

1. Which modes of transport do the people use to move around in the city?

In the poem, people use various modes of transport to move around in the city, including:

• Buses – for public transportation above ground
• Taxis – going round and round the city
• Subway trains – running underneath the ground
• Elevators – for moving up and down in tall buildings

2. What are the things that the people carry with them, while moving around?

According to the poem, people carry:

• Hats – which they wear while going through doors
• Umbrellas – which they use when it rains heavily

3. Where all do you find these very busy people?

In the poem, we find busy people in many different places:

• Walking on sidewalks and streets
• Inside buses and taxis
• In the subway underground
• Inside tall buildings and office spaces
• In stores on the ground floor
• Moving up and down in elevators

4. Where have you seen crowds of people?

Crowds of people can be seen in many places in a city:

• Shopping malls and megastores during sales and festivals
• Railway stations and bus stands during rush hours
• Markets and supermarkets on weekends
• Movie theaters during new movie releases
• Public parks and gardens on holidays
• Religious places during festivals and special occasions

5. Why do you think all these people are in a hurry?

People in the city are often in a hurry for various reasons:

• To reach their workplaces or schools on time
• To attend important meetings and appointments
• To catch buses, trains, or other modes of transport
• To complete their daily tasks and errands within limited time
• To balance their work and personal life in the fast-paced city environment

Language Use

Let’s write the opposites of the following words:

Let’s Listen

1. The people who live in cities often wish they could live in quiet towns. Do you like the place you live in? Tell your partner two things you like and don’t like about the place you live in.

Yes, I like living in my neighborhood. Here are the things I like and don’t like about it: Things I like:

• The area is well-maintained with clean streets and regular garbage collection
• All essential services are nearby – grocery stores, medical shops, vegetable vendors, and parks

• The absence of a proper playground limits outdoor activities for children
• The constant traffic noise from the main road can be disturbing, especially during peak hours

2. Read and listen to these two poems with your partner and find out what are the things that the village child and the city child like.

After analyzing both poems, here’s what each child likes and wishes for: The Village Child:

• Dreams of living in a busy street with more people around
• Feels lonely and wishes for playmates
• Has only birds and flowers for company
• Lives near woods with tall trees

• Dreams of open meadows and seeing lambs
• Wishes to escape the crowded streets and traffic
• Longs for clean air away from city smoke
• Desires to live near woods for peace and quiet

Let’s Talk

1. Find out the following from ten families living in your neighbourhood.

Based on a survey of ten families in the neighborhood: Education Status:

• Most families have 2-4 educated members
• All ten families have access to education
• Total members: 62

• Below 5 years: 5 children
• 5-14 years: 12 children
• 15-20 years: 16 young adults
• 21-50 years: 17 adults
• Above 50 years: 12 elderly members

2. Did you observe that in the poem, the last words in every second and fourth line rhyme with each other? Can you write a four line poem?

Here’s a four-line poem about my life in the city: Though it isn’t quiet within the city,
I like the place where I stay;
Life here is busy but pretty,
With friends and parks to play! Notice how “city” rhymes with “pretty” and “stay” rhymes with “play” at the end of alternate lines.

3. Find out how many people are there in our country. Do we have enough land for all people on this earth? Is there enough food and water for all people?

Here’s what we know about population and resources:

• India’s population is approximately 1.38 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world
• Land availability is becoming a growing concern due to:
  • Rapid urbanization
  • Increasing population density
  • Conversion of agricultural land for housing
• Food and water availability faces several challenges:
  • Uneven distribution of resources
  • Climate change affecting food production
  • Water scarcity in many regions
  • Need for better resource management

Let’s Interview

1. Interview your teacher and get her responses for the following questions.

Here are the responses from my teacher’s interview:

• Why did you become a teacher?
  “Teaching has always been my passion. I love helping young minds grow and learn new things every day.”
• How do you come to school everyday?
  “I drive my own car to school. It helps me arrive on time and carry all my teaching materials easily.”
• Do you have any pets?
  “Not yet, but I’m planning to adopt a dog soon. I’ve already decided to name him Jimmy!”
• What kinds of books do you like to read?
  “I’m particularly fond of mystery and thriller novels. They keep me engaged and help me unwind after a busy day of teaching.”
• What are your hobbies?
  “I enjoy cooking new recipes and crocheting in my free time. These activities help me relax and be creative.”

2. Now write a paragraph about your teacher with the information you have gathered.

My teacher is a passionate educator who chose teaching as her career because she loves helping students learn and grow. Every day, she drives to school in her car, which allows her to transport her teaching materials conveniently. Although she doesn’t have any pets right now, she’s excited about her plan to adopt a dog soon and has already chosen a name – Jimmy! In her free time, she enjoys reading mystery and thriller novels that keep her entertained after a busy day at school. She’s also quite creative, with hobbies like cooking and crocheting that help her relax. Her dedication to teaching and her interesting personal life make her an inspiring role model for all her students.