Chapter 7: Fair Play

English
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Chapter 7: Fair Play

Class: VI
Exercise number: 1

Question a

Match the sentences under I with those under II.

I
1. Jumman and Algu were the best of friends.

Jumman’s aunt transferred her property to him.
The aunt decided to appeal to the panchayat.
Algu was unwilling to support the aunt.
Jumman was very happy to hear Algu’s name as head Panch.

He believed that his friend would never go against him.
She wanted justice.
In the absence of one, the other took care of his family.
The condition was that he would be responsible for her welfare.
The bond of friendship between him and Jumman was very strong.

Answer a

I	II
1. Jumman and Algu were the best of friends.	3. In the absence of one, the other took care of his family.
2. Jumman’s aunt transferred her property to him.	4. The condition was that he would be responsible for her welfare.
3. The aunt decided to appeal to the panchayat.	2. She wanted justice.
4. Algu was unwilling to support the Aunt.	5. The bond of friendship between him and Jumman was very strong.
5. Jumman was very happy to hear Algu’s name as head Panch.	1. He believed that his friend would never go against him

Question b

Who says this to whom and why?

"My wife knows best how to run the house."
"But is it right, my son, to keep mum and not say what you consider just and fair?"
"What have you to say in your defence?"
"I can’t pay you a penny for the wretched beast you sold me."
"Victory to the panchayat. This is justice."

Answer b

Jumman said this to his aunt because he was shameless and was very tired of her.
Jumman’s aunt said this to Algu. She had gone to Algu for help but Algu refused to do so. As Jumman was his friend and he could not go against him that’s why he did not want to go to the panchayat.
Algu said this to Jumman. The aunt made Algu the head Panch and Algu said this to question Jumman about his mistreatment with the aunt.
Samjhu Sahu said this to Algu when Algu asked for his payment for the bullock that he had sold to him. Sahu refused to make the payment because the bullock had died within a month.
Algu said this again and again in front of the village because he was happy that Jumman was not deviated from the path of justice in spite of the enmity between them.

Question c

Answer the following questions.

"Then the situation changed." What is being referred to? (2)
When Jumman’s aunt realised that she was not welcome in his house, what arrangement did she suggest? (3)
What was the villagers’ reaction when the aunt explained her case to them? (4)
Why was Jumman happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch? (6)
"God lives in the heart of the Panch." the aunt said. What did she mean? (6)
What was Algu’s verdict as head Panch? How did Jumman take it? (7, 8)
Algu found himself in a tight spot. What was his problem? (9)
Why was Algu upset over Jumman’s nomination as head Panch? (12, 13)
What was Jumman’s verdict as head Panch? How did Algu take it? (14, 15)
Which of the following sums up the story best?

(i) "I also know that you will not kill your conscience for the sake of friendship."

(ii) "Let no one deviate from the path of justice and truth for friendship or enmity."

(iii) "The voice of the Panch is the voice of God." Give a reason for your choice.

Answer c

The situation being referred to is Jumman’s behavior towards his aunt. Jumman’s aunt transferred her property to him on the thought and understanding that he would look after her. After a couple of years, Jumman and his family were very tired of her. He started behaving very differently with his aunt as his wife grudged with him for the little food that the old lady wanted every day.

When Jumman’s aunt realised that she was not welcome in his house she suggested that Jumman should give her a monthly allowance so that she can make a separate kitchen for herself.

Some villagers sympathized with her, some laughed at her for making this decision and a few others advised her to be with her nephew and his wife. These were the reactions of the villagers when the aunt explained her case.

Jumman was happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch because Algu was his best friend and he knew that in any case he would never go against him.

"God lives in the heart of the Panch." By this, Jumman’s aunt meant the Panch was impartial and a Panch never had a friend or an enemy and he treats everyone equally. Whatever justice is delivered, it is the justice delivered by God.

As head Panch, Algu’s verdict was that Jumman had to pay monthly allowance to his aunt and if he doesn’t do this, then the property would go back to her. Jumman did not take the verdict well. Algu and Jumman were seldom seen together from that day. The bond of friendship that they had between them was broken and Jumman felt betrayed by him and became Algu’s enemy. Now, all he wanted was to take revenge from him.

Algu’s one pair of bullocks died and he sold the other one to Samjhu Sahu on the understanding that he would pay for the bullock that he bought from him in a month’s time. Sahu refused to pay Algu because the bullock died within a month.

The bond of friendship between Algu and Jumman was broken because Algu gave a verdict in the favor of Jumman’s aunt. After this Jumman became Algu’s enemy and wanted to take revenge. This was the reason why Algu was upset over Jumman’s nomination as head Panch.

Jumman’s verdict as head Panch was that when Sahu bought the bullock from Algu, the bullock did not have any disability or disease so Algu could not be blamed for its death. Therefore, Sahu will have to pay Algu for the bullock that he had bought.

Algu could not control his feelings of joy when he heard Jumman’s decision. He stood up and said loudly over and over again, "Victory to the panchayat. This is justice. God lives in the heart of the Panch."

(ii) "Let no one deviate from the path of justice and truth for friendship or enmity."

This sentence sums up the story best. In the story, we see justice being done in spite of friendship or enmity. Algu delivered a just judgment even though he was friends with Jumman, and Jumman did the same, although he had become Algu’s enemy.

Question a

Replace the italicised portion of each sentence below with a suitable phrase from the box. Make necessary changes, wherever required.

look after	swallow	make it up	keep mum
go into	ease one’s conscience	as ill luck would have it
a tight spot	take chances	my heart sank

The best way to avoid an unnecessary argument is to remain silent.
Unfortunately, the train I was trying to catch was cancelled.
He has been told not to take riskswhile driving a car through a crowded street.
The patient needs to be properlytaken care of.
Why don’t the two of you end your quarrelby shaking hands?
I was in a difficult situationtill my friends came to my rescue.
When I saw a pile of dirty dishes, I felt very disappointed.
I will examinethe matter carefully before commenting on it.
They criticised him in the meeting but he accepted without protest all the criticism.
It will free me from worryto know that I had done nothing wrong.

Answer a

The best way to avoid an argument is to keep mum.
As ill luck would have it,the train I was trying to catch was cancelled.
He has been told not to take chances while driving a car through a crowded street.
The patient needs to be properly looked after.
Why don’t the two of you make it up by shaking hands?
I was in a tight spot till my friends came to my rescue.
When I saw a pile of dirty dishes, my heart sank.
I will go into the matter carefully before commenting on it.
They criticized him in the meeting but he swallowed all the criticism.
It will ease my conscience to know that I had done nothing wrong.

Question b

Look at the following phrases and their meanings. Use the phrases to fill in the blanks in the sentences given below.

set up	—	put in place or start
set aside	—	save or keep for a particular purpose
set down	—	write or record
set out	—	start on a journey
set in	—	begin and seem likely to continue