CBSE Class 5 English NCERT Solutions: Chapter 20 Malu Bhalu

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

This chapter focuses on the story of Malu Bhalu, a young polar bear, and her journey of learning to swim. The NCERT Solutions for Class 5 English, Chapter 20, provide detailed answers to the questions based on the poem. Students will explore Malu's life in the Arctic, her initial fears, and her eventual mastery of swimming, guided by her parents. These solutions break down the narrative, helping young learners understand the themes of courage, parental guidance, and the importance of learning new skills. They are designed to aid students in comprehending the poem's nuances and preparing effectively for their exams by offering clear and concise explanations for each question.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 5
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 20

Chapter summary

Chapter 20, 'Malu Bhalu', delves into the life of a polar bear cub learning essential life skills. The NCERT Solutions cover questions related to Malu's habitat, her parents' teachings, her desire to explore, and her feelings about learning to swim. The solutions also touch upon the importance of parental support and encourage imaginative responses, particularly for questions related to illustrations. This chapter's solutions help students grasp the narrative and develop their comprehension and creative writing skills.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the habitat and lifestyle of polar bears.
  • Identify the skills Malu learned from her parents.
  • Describe Malu's feelings and desires.
  • Explain the importance of learning new skills.
  • Appreciate the role of parental guidance in learning.
  • Develop imaginative responses to prompts.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Polar bear habitat
  • Learning life skills
  • Parental guidance
  • Courage and fear
  • Exploration and play
  • Comprehension of poetry
  • Character analysis
  • Imaginative writing

Important topics

  • Malu's learning process
  • Parental role in education
  • Overcoming fear
  • Understanding the poem's narrative
  • Creative response to prompts

PDF preview

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Where did the polar bear live with her family?
Solution: The polar bear, Malu, lived with her family in a cozy and cold place called an icy lair, which is a natural shelter found in snowy regions.

Question 2

What did Malu learn to do from her parents?
Solution: Malu learned two very important skills from her parents: how to catch fish, which is their primary food source, and how to swim effectively in the cold waters.

Question 3

Where did Malu want to travel?
Solution: Malu, being a curious young polar bear, wanted to go far away from her home to explore and play in new areas.

Question 4

What was it that Malu's parents wanted her to learn?
Solution: Malu's parents were keen for her to learn the essential skill of swimming, which is crucial for survival and movement in their Arctic environment.

Question 5

Was Malu scared to swim? Did she learn it easily?
Solution: Yes, Malu felt a little scared when she first started learning to swim. However, despite her initial fear, she managed to learn it quite easily.

Question 6

Read the last two stanzas of the poem. Whom does 'she' stand for in both?
Solution: In both of the last two stanzas of the poem, the pronoun 'she' refers to Malu's mother, who is guiding and teaching Malu.

Question 7

See the picture shown below and talk about it.

Disclaimer: Kindly refer the textbook for the image.

Solution: Disclaimer: This is a sample answer. Students are advised to write the answer using their imaginative skills.

Imagine a scene where a young polar bear cub, perhaps named Ronald as in the example, is standing at the edge of the icy water. He looks a bit nervous but also excited about his first swimming lesson. His mother is nearby, encouraging him with a gentle splash. Ronald might take a tentative step into the water, feeling the cold, but with his mother's reassuring presence, he soon finds his balance and starts paddling, discovering the joy of swimming on his own.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Malu's mother with Malu herself when referring to 'she' in the poem.
  • Providing generic answers instead of specific details from the poem.
  • Not elaborating on imaginative prompts as requested.

Revision tips

  • Reread the poem 'Malu Bhalu' to recall the story's events.
  • Focus on understanding Malu's emotions and motivations.
  • Pay attention to how Malu's parents guide her.
  • Practice answering the imaginative question by drawing from the poem's context.
  • Use the provided solutions to check your understanding and refine your answers.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Where did Malu Bhalu and her family live?

Q2. What two main skills did Malu learn from her parents?

Q3. What did Malu want to do that was beyond her immediate surroundings?

Q4. According to Malu's parents, what was the most important skill for her to learn?

Q5. How did Malu react initially to learning to swim?

Q6. In the last two stanzas, who does the pronoun 'she' refer to?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 20 of CBSE Class 5 English about?

Chapter 20, 'Malu Bhalu', is a poem about a young polar bear cub named Malu who learns to swim with the help of her parents.

What kind of questions are covered in these NCERT Solutions?

The solutions cover questions related to Malu's home, the skills she learns, her feelings about swimming, and the role of her parents. There's also a question encouraging imaginative answers based on a picture.

How do these solutions help students?

They provide clear, rewritten answers to each question, helping students understand the poem better, improve their comprehension skills, and prepare for exams.

What is the main theme of the poem 'Malu Bhalu'?

The main themes include learning new skills, overcoming fear, the importance of parental guidance, and the natural curiosity of young ones to explore.

Are the answers in the solutions original?

Yes, the solutions are rewritten to be more detailed and helpful for students, while keeping the original questions and their core answers intact.

Important links

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.