Chapter 05 A Friend’s Prayer

Text Book Solutions

Let us do these activities before we read (Page no. 52)

Q1. Read the following sentences.

(a) I wish my friend brings idli in her tiffin tomorrow.

(b) I hope my friend and I win the race tomorrow.

(c) May my friend get well soon.

Which of the three sentences (a)-(c) is closest to a prayer? Explain to your teacher and classmates.

Ans:

The sentence closest to a prayer is (c) “May my friend get well soon.” It expresses a wish for someone’s well-being, which is typical of a prayer.

2. What would you pray for your friend? First speak about it and then write it down.

Answer:

I would pray for my friend to always be healthy, happy, and successful in everything they do. I pray that they achieve all their dreams and goals.

Let us discuss (Page no. 53)

1. Read the poem silently. As you read, underline the parts of the poem that you agree with.

(This question need to be answered by the students themselves based on their understanding, here is a sample answer)

Answer:

I agree with the lines:

• 
  “May my friendships always be / The most important thing to me.”
  
• 
  “With special friends I feel I’m blessed, / So let me give my very best.”
  
• 
  “I want to do much more than share / The hopes and plans of friends who care.”
  
• 
  “Let me use my heart to see, / To realize what friends can be.”
  

2. Now, share the details of your underlined parts of the poem in groups and explain why you liked those lines.

(This question need to be answered by the students themselves based on their understanding, here is a sample answer)

Answer:

I underlined the lines:

• 
  “May my friendships always be / The most important thing to me” because it emphasizes the importance of friendships in our lives.
  
• 
  “With special friends I feel I’m blessed, / So let me give my very best” because it highlights the value of having special friends and the effort we should put into maintaining those relationships.
  
• 
  “I want to do much more than share / The hopes and plans of friends who care” because it shows the desire to actively contribute to friends’ lives and support their dreams.
  
• 
  “Let me use my heart to see, / To realize what friends can be” because it suggests that true understanding and appreciation of friends come from the heart.
  

3. Which line was underlined by most people in your group? Share it with your teacher.

(This question need to be answered by the students themselves based on their understanding, here is a sample answer)

Answer:

In our group, most people underlined the line:

• 
  “With special friends I feel I’m blessed, / So let me give my very best” because it resonates with the idea of valuing and cherishing friendships deeply.
  

Let us think and reflect (Page no. 54)

Q1. Complete the summary of the poem by circling the correct highlighted words.

Ans. The poet says a prayer for friendship and friends. She wants that friendship should always be an important part of her complete life. She says that her friendship makes her feel special. She wishes to do the best she can, for her friends. She wants to listen to the wishes of her friends. As a good friend, she prays that she is able to make her friend’s wishes come true. She wants her heart to understand what a true friend is. She prays that she loves her friends as they are. She tells us that a true friend accepts their friend for all their qualities.

Q2. Answer in one word only.

(a) How does the poet feel about special friends?

Ans:

Blessed

(b) What does the poet use to realise what friends can be?

Ans:

Heart

Q3. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below.

(a) I want to do much more than share The hopes and plans of friends who care; I’ll try all that a friend can do To make their wishes come true.

(i) Complete the sentence with the most suitable option.

These lines tell us that the speaker is _______________.

Ans:

b. caring

(ii) How will the speaker make her friends’ wishes come true?

Ans:

By trying hard

(iii) Fill in the blank with a suitable word.

My friends will feel __________ if their wishes come true.

Ans:

happy

(b) Let me use my heart to see, To realise what friends can be, And make no judgements from afar, But love my friends the way they are.

(i) The speaker says that feelings are important to understand friendship. Which line tells us this?

Ans:

“Let me use my heart to see, To realise what friends can be,”

(ii) Complete the sentence with the most suitable option.

These lines tell us that the speaker is _______________.

Ans:

b. thoughtful

(iii) Fill in the blank with one word.

The speaker does not wish to make any ___________. She cares for them just as they are.

Ans:

judgements

Q4. Give one reason why we can say that this poem is a prayer.

Ans:

This poem is a prayer because it expresses a heartfelt wish for the well-being and happiness of the poet’s friends.

Q5. Why does the speaker ‘want to do more’ for her friend?

Ans:

The speaker wants to do more for her friend to show how much she values their friendship and to make her friend’s wishes come true.

Q6. Do you think that the speaker knows about the wishes of her friend? How can we say so?

Ans:

Yes, the speaker knows about the wishes of her friend because she talks about wanting to make their wishes come true, which implies she is aware of what they desire.

Q7. Do you also pray for your friend? What do you wish for? Discuss.

(This question need to be answered by the students themselves based on their understanding, here is a sample answer)

Ans:

Yes, I pray for my friend. I wish for my friend to always be happy, healthy, and successful. I pray that they achieve all their dreams and goals, and that they have the strength to overcome any challenges they face. I also wish for their well-being and hope that they always find support and love in their life.

Let us learn (Page no. 55) 

Q1. The poet says, ‘With special friends I feel I’m blessed’. Select the words that are similar to the meaning of being blessed, from those given below.

• excited
  
• grateful
  
• understood
  
• thankful
  
• relaxed
  

Ans:

grateful, thankful

Q2. Good friends have a lot of qualities. Let us list some.

• 
  loyal
  
• 
  helpful
  
• 
  kind
  
• 
  caring
  
• 
  honest
  

Now, fill in the blanks with the words you just listed above.

(a) My friend is always _____________ to me even when I make a mistake.

Ans:

loyal

(b) My friend shares things with me. She is very _____________.

Ans:

kind

(c) My friend is _____________ because he always supports me.

Ans:

helpful

(d) My friend never lies. She is an _____________ person.

Ans:

honest

(e) My friend and I believe in _____________ for each other.

Ans:

caring

Q3. Think of any three of your friends. Write three sentences on why you like each one of them.

(This question need to be answered by the students themselves based on their understanding, here is a sample answer)

Ans:

1. Riya:

• 
  Riya is always there to listen to me when I need someone to talk to.
  
• 
  She has a great sense of humor and can always make me laugh.
  
• 
  Riya is very supportive and encourages me to do my best in everything.
  

2. Arjun:

• 
  Arjun is incredibly kind and always helps others without expecting anything in return.
  
• 
  He is very reliable and I know I can count on him whenever I need help.
  
• 
  Arjun is very talented in sports and inspires me to stay active and healthy.
  

3. Priya:

• 
  Priya is very creative and has a great eye for art and design.
  
• 
  She is always optimistic and looks at the bright side of things.
  
• 
  Priya is very caring and goes out of her way to make sure everyone feels included and happy.
  

Let us listen (Page no. 56) 

Q1. You will listen to a talk about some outdoor activities that two friends spend their time doing. As you listen, answer the given question in one or two word(s) only. (refer to page 72 for transcript)

(a) What do the two friends purchase and use on the park bench?

Ans:

Comic book

Q2. You will once again listen to the talk about some outdoor activities of the two friends. As you listen, circle the pictures that show these activities.

Ans:

(This question need to be answered by the students themselves based on their understanding, here is a sample answer)

Let us write (Page no. 58) 

Q1. Describe how your friendship with your friend started. 

• First list the answers for — When? Where? How? 

• Then, use your sentences to write a short paragraph of about 80 words. 

• Give a title to your paragraph.

Ans. 

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

When:
We became friends in the summer of 2022.

Where:
We met at the local community center.

How:
We started talking during a summer workshop and discovered we had many common interests.

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

In the summer of 2022, I met my best friend at the local community center. We were both attending a summer workshop and happened to sit next to each other. As we started talking, we quickly discovered that we shared many common interests, such as reading and playing sports. Our conversations flowed naturally, and we began spending more time together. Over the weeks, our bond grew stronger, and we realized that we had found a true friend in each other.

Let us Explore (Page no. 58) 

Q1. There are many quotations about friendship. Read the ones given below.

• “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” • “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.”

(a) What do you think is the meaning of these quotations? Share it with your teacher.

Ans:

“A friend in need is a friend indeed.” This quotation means that a true friend is someone who helps you when you are in trouble or need support. It emphasizes the value of friendship during difficult times, showing that real friends stand by you and offer their help when you need it the most.

“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” This quotation means that a best friend is someone who encourages you to be your best self. They support you, inspire you, and help you grow as a person. A best friend brings out your positive qualities and helps you realize your potential.

(b) Think of an experience in your life with your friend that suits this quotation. Share it with your friends.

Ans:

One experience that suits the quotation “A friend in need is a friend indeed” is when I was struggling with a difficult math assignment. I was feeling very stressed and anxious because I didn’t understand the problems and the deadline was approaching. My friend noticed how upset I was and offered to help me. They patiently explained the concepts to me and guided me through each problem step by step. With their support, I was able to complete the assignment on time and understand the material better. This experience showed me that a true friend is someone who helps you when you need it the most.

An experience that relates to the quotation “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me” happened when I was preparing for a school talent show. I was nervous about performing in front of a large audience, but my best friend encouraged me to participate. They helped me practice, gave me constructive feedback, and boosted my confidence. On the day of the show, their support made me feel confident and ready to perform. As a result, I gave my best performance and felt proud of myself. This experience showed me that my best friend brings out the best in me by encouraging and supporting me.