CBSE Class 5 English NCERT Solutions: Chapter 17 Topsy-Turvy Land

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

This chapter, 'Topsy-Turvy Land,' from the CBSE Class 5 English curriculum, explores a whimsical world where everything is upside down. The NCERT Solutions provided here break down the poem, helping students understand the contrasting descriptions of Topsy-Turvy Land and our own. Key concepts include identifying inversions in daily activities, such as children going to school at night, buses traveling on the sea, and people wearing hats on their feet. The solutions also touch upon rhyming words and wordplay, enhancing language skills. These solutions are designed to clarify the poem's imaginative scenarios and aid students in grasping the nuances of language and comparison, making exam revision more engaging and effective.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 5
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 17

Chapter summary

Chapter 17, 'Topsy-Turvy Land,' presents a humorous contrast between a topsy-turvy world and our normal reality. The NCERT Solutions focus on understanding this contrast by analyzing the poem's descriptions of inverted actions and situations. Students will learn to identify and articulate these differences, comparing how things are done in the topsy-turvy land versus our own. The exercises also involve recognizing rhyming words and understanding word families, reinforcing vocabulary and phonetic awareness.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the concept of a 'topsy-turvy' world.
  • Identify contrasting actions and situations described in the poem.
  • Compare and contrast the topsy-turvy land with our own land.
  • Recognize and use rhyming words from the poem.
  • Improve comprehension skills by analyzing poetic descriptions.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Understanding Topsy-Turvy Land
  • Comparing Topsy-Turvy Land with Our Land
  • Identifying Inverted Actions
  • Rhyming Words
  • Vocabulary Building
  • Poetic Comprehension
  • Creative Imagination

Important topics

  • Comparison of Topsy-Turvy Land and Our Land
  • Identifying Contrasting Scenarios
  • Rhyming Words and Sound Play
  • Understanding Poetic Descriptions

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

When do children go to school in Topsy-turvy Land?
Solution: In the whimsical world of Topsy-Turvy Land, the normal routine is reversed. Unlike our land where children attend school during the day, in Topsy-Turvy Land, children go to school at night.

Question 2

In the poem, if buses travel on the sea, then where do the boats travel? How should it rightly be?
Solution: The poem playfully describes a topsy-turvy scenario where buses travel on the sea. Following this topsy-turvy logic, the poem suggests that boats travel up and down the streets. However, in reality, as the poem points out, boats should rightly be found sailing in still water, such as rivers, lakes, or the sea, not on streets.

Question 3

The Topsy Turvy land is very different from our land. Let's draw a comparison by filling in sentences wherever needed.

Topsy-turvy Land

Our land

  1. People walk on their heads.

(i)

  1. _____
  2. The buses run on land.
  3. They wear their hats on feet.
  4. _____
  1. Boats sail in the sea.
  2. _____
  1. People pay for what they don't get. (v) ____
Solution: This question asks us to compare the topsy-turvy land with our own land by filling in the missing parts of the comparison table. Here is the completed comparison:

Topsy-turvy Land | Our land

  1. People walk on their heads. | (i) People walk on their feet.
  1. The buses run on the sea. | (ii) The buses run on land.
  1. They wear their hats on feet. | (iii) They wear their hats on head.
  1. Boats run on the streets. | (iv) Boats sail in the sea.
  1. People pay for what they don't get. | (v) People pay for what they get.

Question 1: Fun with sounds

Fun with sounds

pleasure treasure measure

wear tear

stare where

planned canned scanned strand

topsy-turvy hurly-burly curly-whirly

Solution: This section focuses on identifying words that rhyme or have similar sounds. Here are the groupings based on the provided words:

Words that rhyme:

  • pleasure, treasure, measure
  • wear, tear
  • stare, where
  • planned, canned, scanned, strand

Words that sound similar or are related in rhythm:

  • topsy-turvy, hurly-burly, curly-whirly
This exercise helps in developing listening skills and understanding the musicality of language.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the descriptions of Topsy-Turvy Land with our own.
  • Difficulty in identifying the correct rhyming pairs.
  • Misinterpreting the inverted actions presented in the poem.

Revision tips

  • Read the poem aloud to better visualize the topsy-turvy world.
  • Create your own list of topsy-turvy actions and compare them to the poem.
  • Practice saying the rhyming words together to improve pronunciation and recall.
  • Focus on the comparison table to clearly distinguish between the two worlds.

Practice MCQs

Q1. In Topsy-Turvy Land, when do children go to school?

Q2. According to the poem, if buses travel on the sea, where do boats travel?

Q3. In Topsy-Turvy Land, people walk on their:

Q4. What do people wear on their feet in Topsy-Turvy Land, according to the poem?

Q5. Which of these word pairs rhymes?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of Chapter 17, 'Topsy-Turvy Land'?

The main theme of Chapter 17 is to explore a whimsical world where everyday actions and objects are reversed or upside down, contrasting it with our normal reality.

How do these NCERT Solutions help Class 5 students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to the questions based on the poem, helping students understand the concepts, identify contrasts, and learn rhyming words effectively for their studies.

What kind of comparisons are made in the chapter?

The chapter makes comparisons between the topsy-turvy land and our own land, highlighting differences in how people walk, where buses and boats travel, and how items like hats are worn.

Are there any exercises on sounds or rhymes in this chapter?

Yes, the chapter includes a 'Fun with sounds' section that lists and groups rhyming words, helping students develop their phonetic awareness and vocabulary.

What is the significance of the 'Topsy-Turvy Land' concept?

The concept of 'Topsy-Turvy Land' is significant for encouraging creative thinking and imagination in young learners by presenting familiar things in an unfamiliar, humorous way.

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