A Bottle of Dew – Class 6 English NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for “A Bottle of Dew,” Class 6 English NCERT. This story teaches students the importance of hard work and dedication. Through the journey of Rama Natha, we learn that real success comes from consistent effort rather than searching for magical solutions.

Story Summary

English Summary

“A Bottle of Dew” is a moral tale about Rama Natha, a wealthy landlord’s son who inherits large tracts of land. Instead of managing his inheritance, he becomes obsessed with finding a magic potion that can turn objects into gold. His wife Madhumati worries as their wealth diminishes. A wise sage named Mahipati cleverly guides Rama Natha by asking him to collect dew from banana plants, promising to turn it into a magic potion. Over six years of dedicated work, Rama Natha transforms his empty fields into a prosperous banana plantation. In the end, he learns that his hard work, not magic, has created true wealth.

Hindi Summary (कहानी का सारांश)

“ए बॉटल ऑफ ड्यू” एक नैतिक कहानी है जिसमें राम नाथ नामक एक जमींदार के बेटे की कहानी है। उसे अपने पिता से बड़ी जमीन विरासत में मिलती है, लेकिन वह सोने बनाने का जादुई फॉर्मूला खोजने में अपना समय बर्बाद करता है। एक बुद्धिमान साधु महिपति उसे सही रास्ता दिखाने के लिए एक चाल चलता है। वह राम नाथ को केले के पौधों से ओस इकट्ठा करने को कहता है। छह साल की मेहनत के बाद, राम नाथ को समझ आता है कि असली धन जादू से नहीं, मेहनत से आता है।

Word Meanings

Before We Read Activities

1. Circle the picture that matches with each word

Since this is a visual exercise in the textbook, I can provide you with the correct matches:

• worried – The picture of girl with sad/concerned expression
• plantation – The picture showing many plants growing in rows
• sage – The picture of elderly man in orange robes
• surprise – The picture of boy with shocked expression

2. Think and answer these questions:

(a) Think of a time when you worked hard. What did you do then?

I worked very hard for my final examinations. I made a proper study schedule, woke up early, and studied regularly. I solved many practice papers and took help from my teachers when needed.

(b) How did it help you?

The hard work helped me understand my subjects better. I scored good marks in my exams. It also taught me the value of discipline and regular practice.

(c) How did it make you feel?

Working hard made me feel confident and proud. Even though it was difficult sometimes, seeing the results of my effort made me very happy. It taught me that I can achieve anything if I put in sincere effort.

Let Us Discuss (Part 1)

1. What did Rama Natha believe?

Rama Natha believed there was a magic potion that could turn any object into gold. He spent all his time trying to learn about this potion instead of managing his inherited land.

2. How did the sage help Rama Natha?

The sage helped Rama Natha by cleverly directing him towards productive work. He asked Rama Natha to plant banana trees and collect dew from their leaves, saying it would make a magic potion. This made Rama Natha work hard and develop his land into a profitable plantation.

3. Do you think Rama Natha will be able to collect the dew? Give a reason.

Yes, Rama Natha would be able to collect the dew, but it would take a long time. The reasons are:

• He could plant many banana trees to collect more dew
• He was determined and wouldn’t give up easily
• His wife Madhumati would help him in this task

Let Us Discuss (Part 2)

1. Why was Rama Natha angry?

Rama Natha was angry because after spending six years collecting dew and following the sage’s instructions, the supposed magic potion didn’t turn the copper vessel into gold. He felt cheated and thought he had wasted precious years of his life.

2. How did Rama Natha and Madhumati create wealth?

They created wealth through hard work and smart business:

• Rama Natha cleaned his fields and planted banana trees
• He carefully tended to the plantation
• Madhumati sold the bananas in the market
• They reinvested their earnings to expand the plantation
• Over six years, they built a successful banana business

Let Us Think and Reflect

1. Read the following lines and answer:

(a) Complete the sentence: Rama Natha did not ‘give up’ because…

Rama Natha did not ‘give up’ because he strongly believed in finding the magic potion that could turn things into gold. His determination to find an easy way to wealth kept him going despite people cheating him.

(b) Read the column and write outcomes:

(c) Write whether the following statements are True or False:

• Madhumati was troubled about what her husband did – True
• Rama Natha was very happy digging his fields – False
• The sage wanted to show the right path to Rama Natha – True

2. Answer the following questions:

(a) What did the sage ask Rama Natha to do to make the magic potion?

The sage asked Rama Natha to:

• Plant banana trees and water them regularly with his own hands
• Collect morning dew from the leaves in winter
• Store the dew in a bottle until he had five litres
• Bring the collected dew to him for chanting magic words

(b) Why did the sage ask Rama Natha to do everything himself?

The sage wanted Rama Natha to:

• Learn the value of hard work
• Understand personal responsibility
• Experience the satisfaction of creating something through effort
• Break his habit of looking for easy solutions

(c) How could Rama Natha have a big banana plantation after six years?

Rama Natha developed a big plantation through:

• Regular care and attention to the plants
• Expanding the plantation gradually
• Reinvesting the profits from banana sales
• Working consistently with his wife’s support
• Using his large tract of land effectively

(d) How did the sage make Rama Natha believe that there is no magic potion?

The sage proved it by:

• Letting Rama Natha try the supposed magic potion on a copper vessel
• Showing him that nothing happened to the vessel
• Revealing the box of gold coins earned through their banana business
• Explaining how hard work, not magic, created their wealth

(e) Fill in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ table about Rama Natha:

Let Us Learn

1. Complete the paragraph with given words:

There was a farmer who had a huge coconut plantation. He worked hard and did not depend on luck. Every day was difficult but he did not give up. One day, a man bought a bag of coconuts from him, and promised to pay him the money the next day. Days passed and the man did not pay him anything. The farmer felt cheated. About two months later, he met the same man and asked him about his money. The man said, “Oh! I had forgotten. Now, I remember buying coconuts from you.” And he paid the money.

2. Complete word meanings in Column B:

3. Write sentences using homophones:

Here are four sentences using pairs of homophones:

• I can see the sea from my window.
• The sun shines brightly on my son as he plays.
• My eye noticed that I left my book at home.
• She ate eight apples from the basket.

4. Match phrases and make sentences:

Here are the complete sentences using connecting words:

• The children submitted their work before the deadline.
• He did not want to try rock climbing because of his fear of heights.
• The children ran towards the gate as soon as the bell rang.
• Nitin was late to school today as there was a traffic jam.

5. Create a tongue twister:

Here’s an original tongue twister using the letter ‘b’ like in the example:

Bright blue butterflies brought beautiful blossoms to brother Billy’s birthday.

Let Us Listen

Number the events in correct order:

Based on the sequence of Madhumati’s activities with bananas:

1. Goes to the market to sell the bananas (1)
2. Meets her friend Kalawati in the market (2)
3. Gives twelve bananas to her friend (3)
4. Visits her mother and gives her two dozen bananas (4)
5. Visits her neighbour and gifts them a bunch of bananas (5)
6. Gives two bananas to a boy who is hungry (6)
7. Chooses to go home as only some bananas were left (7)

Let Us Speak

1. Practice ‘s’ sounds in words:

Words with different ‘s’ sounds:

• beds – /z/ sound
• sand – /s/ sound
• clothes – /z/ sound
• sea – /s/ sound
• was – /z/ sound
• keys – /z/ sound
• bags – /z/ sound
• nose – /z/ sound

2. Discussion about hard work:

(a) What does hard work mean to you?

Hard work means putting in sincere effort and dedicating time to achieve our goals. It involves being regular, focused, and not giving up when things get difficult.

(b) Give three reasons why hard work is important:

1. Firstly, hard work helps us develop skills and knowledge that last a lifetime
2. Secondly, it builds character and teaches us patience and perseverance
3. Lastly, hard work is the most reliable way to achieve our goals and dreams

(c) Share three ideas for someone who needs to work hard:

1. To begin with, make a proper schedule and follow it regularly
2. Next, set small, achievable goals and work towards them step by step
3. Finally, stay focused and don’t get discouraged by temporary setbacks

Let Us Write

1. Description of a banana:

Eight sentences about a banana:

1. I like to eat bananas during breakfast as they give me energy for the day.
2. The outer covering of a banana feels smooth and slightly waxy to touch.
3. When ripe, bananas have a sweet and creamy taste.
4. The fruit has a pleasant, fruity smell when it’s perfectly ripe.
5. The outer skin is yellow when ripe and green when unripe.
6. The inner fruit is soft, white, and creamy in texture.
7. Bananas are healthy because they are rich in potassium and vitamins.
8. They make a perfect snack as they are filling and naturally sweet.

2. Script development:

Here’s a simple script based on the story:

Scene 1: Rama Natha’s House

Madhumati: My dear husband, why do you waste time looking for magic potions?
Rama Natha: Don’t worry, once I find it, we’ll be rich beyond imagination!

Scene 2: Meeting the Sage

Rama Natha: O wise sage, please tell me about the magic potion.
Sage: Plant banana trees, collect dew, and bring me five litres.

Scene 3: Six Years Later

Sage: See, your hard work created real wealth, not magic.
Rama Natha: Now I understand the true meaning of success.

Let Us Explore

Varieties of Bananas in India:

Some popular banana varieties grown in India include:

• Dwarf Cavendish – Most widely grown commercial variety
• Robusta – Known for its large fruits
• Red Banana – Special variety with reddish peel
• Nendran – Popular in South India
• Poovan – Known for its sweet taste
• Rasthali – Highly aromatic variety