CBSE Class 5 English Chapter 10 Malu Bhalu - Who Will be Ningthon NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

This chapter, 'Malu Bhalu - Who Will be Ningthon' from the CBSE Class 5 English textbook, delves into a heartwarming poem about a young polar bear named Malu. The NCERT Solutions provide detailed answers to questions related to the poem's narrative, Malu's character, and her journey of learning. Students will explore Malu's life in the icy North Pole, her interactions with her family and friends, and her desire to explore beyond her home. The solutions also cover aspects of character sketching and pronoun usage, reinforcing comprehension and language skills. These solutions are designed to help students understand the poem's themes of courage, learning, and family bonds, making exam revision more effective and engaging.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 5
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	10 Malu Bhalu - Who Will be Ningthon

Chapter summary

Chapter 10, 'Malu Bhalu - Who Will be Ningthon', focuses on a poem about a young polar bear's experiences and growth. The NCERT Solutions cover comprehension questions about Malu's life, her parents' teachings, and her aspirations. It includes exercises on identifying true/false statements, writing a character sketch of Malu, and understanding pronoun usage to avoid repetition. The chapter aims to enhance reading comprehension and writing skills through the engaging story of Malu Bhalu.

Learning outcomes

Understand the narrative and themes of the poem 'Malu Bhalu'.
Identify and describe the characteristics of the main character, Malu Bhalu.
Answer comprehension questions based on the poem.
Differentiate between true and false statements related to the poem's content.
Write a detailed character sketch of Malu Bhalu.
Understand and apply the use of pronouns to avoid repetition in sentences.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Poem Comprehension
Character Analysis
Malu Bhalu
Polar Bear Life
Learning and Adventure
Pronoun Usage
Grammar Exercises
Reading Comprehension
Character Sketch
True/False Statements

Important topics

Understanding Malu's character and motivations
Analyzing the poem's themes of courage and learning
Practicing pronoun usage for sentence clarity
Writing a detailed character sketch
Answering comprehension questions accurately

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Questions and Solutions

Reading is Fun - Question 1

Where did the polar bear live with her family?

Solution: The poem describes Malu Bhalu, a young polar bear, living with her family in a cozy and cold environment. They resided together in an icy lair, which is a cave or shelter made of ice, typical for polar bears in their natural habitat.

Reading is Fun - Question 2

What did Malu learn to do from her parents?

Solution: Malu Bhalu was taught essential survival skills by her parents. From them, she learned how to effectively catch fish, a primary food source in their Arctic environment, and also how to swim, which is crucial for movement and hunting in the water.

Reading is Fun - Question 3

Where did Malu want to travel?

Solution: Malu Bhalu was an adventurous young bear with a curious mind. She didn't just want to stay within her familiar icy surroundings. Her dreams were bigger; she wished to travel and explore the world that lay beyond the vast blue sky, indicating a desire for exploration and discovery.

Reading is Fun - Question 4

What was it that Malu's parents wanted her to learn?

Solution: While Malu's parents taught her various skills, a specific skill they were keen for her to master was swimming. They wanted her to become proficient in swimming, understanding its importance for her safety and ability to find food in the water.

Reading is Fun - Question 5

Was Malu scared to swim? Did she learn it easily?

Solution: Initially, Malu Bhalu felt apprehensive about learning to swim. The vastness of the water and the act of swimming itself seemed daunting. However, despite her initial fear, she proved to be a quick learner and managed to master the skill of swimming quite easily.

Reading is Fun - Question 6

Read the last two stanzas of the poem. Whom does 'she' stand for in both?

Solution: In the context of the poem's final stanzas:

In the first of the last two stanzas, the pronoun 'she' refers to Malu Bhalu herself, describing her actions or feelings.
In the second of the last two stanzas, the pronoun 'she' refers to Malu's mother, indicating her role or actions.

This highlights how pronouns can refer to different individuals within a text.

Use a Chart - True or False & Character Sketch

Malu Bhalu True or False Statements and Character Sketch Attributes

Solution: Here are the evaluations for the True or False statements and a summary of Malu Bhalu's character traits: True or False Statements:

Malu's hair was white. True
Malu was playing with the penguins. False (Malu's friends were seagulls, not penguins mentioned in this context).
Malu was good at catching fish. True
Malu was a brave bhalu. True
Malu did not love her mother. False
Malu's mother was firm. True

Character Sketch Attributes for Malu Bhalu:

Brave
Strong
Hardworking
Eager to learn more
Smart
Caring
Affectionate
Female
Playful
Bold
Fearless
Adventurous
Clever
Young
White (referring to her fur)

These points collectively paint a picture of Malu as a capable and spirited young polar bear.

Use a Chart - Question 1

Now write a detailed character sketch of Malu Bhalu.

Solution: Malu Bhalu is depicted as a young, female polar bear living in the North Pole. She is characterized by her white fur and a playful nature. Malu is intelligent and quick to learn, as shown by her early proficiency in catching fish. She possesses a strong desire to explore and learn new things, including the art of swimming, which she masters with remarkable speed. Malu is also described as bold, fearless, and adventurous, indicating a courageous spirit. Despite her adventurous side, she is also affectionate, suggesting a loving nature towards her family.

Let's Talk - Passage Comprehension Question (i)

Read the following passage carefully. One day Meena plucks a mango and brings it home. Her grandmother gives the larger piece to Raju because he is a boy. Meena protests. After all, she brought the mango and she is the elder of the two. She insists she has a greater right over her share. Her father comes to her help and divides the mango equally. Now answer the questions. (i) Who brought the mango home?

Solution: Based on the passage provided, it was Meena who plucked a mango and brought it home for her family.

Let's Talk - Passage Comprehension Question (ii)

(ii) Why did Meena's grandmother give a larger piece to Raju?

Solution: Meena's grandmother gave a larger piece of the mango to Raju simply because he is a boy. The passage indicates a preference based on gender, which Meena later challenges.

Let's Talk - Passage Comprehension Question (iii)

(iii) Who do you think should have got the larger piece?

Solution: Considering that Meena was the one who found and brought the mango home, and she is also the elder of the two siblings, it is reasonable to believe that Meena should have received the larger piece. Her effort in acquiring the fruit and her age give her a stronger claim to a larger share.

Let's Talk - Question 2

What are the things your mother asks you to do? List the things you like to do and the things you do not like to do.

Solution: This question asks for a personal response based on individual experiences with one's mother. Here is a sample answer, which students can adapt: Things I like to do:

Going to the market with my grandfather.
Playing in the evening.
Surfing on the net for half an hour.

Things I do not like to do:

Polishing my school shoes.
Giving a glass of water to anyone.
Making my bed.
Getting up early.
Arranging books and copies on the shelves.

It's important to note that preferences can vary greatly from person to person.

Let's Write - Question 1 (Pronoun Usage)

Malu lived with Malu's parents in the North Pole. Malu had great fun with Malu's seagull friends. One day, Malu's father told Malu that the hunters had come to trap Malu and Malu's family. Malu knew how to hide very well. Malu shut Malu's eyes and curled up like a ball of snow. The hunters searched for Malu and Malu's family everywhere but in vain. We can avoid repeating the names by using certain other words in their place. Study the table below. Now rewrite the above paragraph using words from the above table.

Solution: The original paragraph repeats the name 'Malu' and 'Malu's' frequently, making it sound repetitive. By using appropriate pronouns from the provided table (like 'her', 'she', 'they', 'them'), we can make the paragraph flow more smoothly. Here is the rewritten version: Rewritten Paragraph: Malu lived with her parents in the North Pole. She had great fun with her seagull friends. One day, her father told her that the hunters had come to trap her and her family. She knew how to hide very well. She shut her eyes and curled up like a ball of snow. The hunters searched for her and her family everywhere but in vain. This revised text effectively uses pronouns to refer back to Malu and her family, improving readability.

Common mistakes

Confusing Malu's feelings or actions with those of her parents.
Incorrectly identifying the referent of pronouns like 'she' or 'her'.
Failing to provide sufficient detail in the character sketch.
Misinterpreting the poem's message about learning and adventure.

Revision tips

Read the poem 'Malu Bhalu' aloud to grasp its rhythm and meaning.
Focus on Malu's emotions and motivations as described in the solutions.
Practice writing character sketches for other characters, using Malu's as a model.
Review the pronoun usage examples to improve sentence construction.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Where did Malu Bhalu live with her family?

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

Q3. What was Malu's ultimate desire regarding travel?

Q4. According to the poem, was Malu initially scared to swim?

Q5. In the last stanza, who does 'she' refer to?

Q6. Which of these is NOT a characteristic attributed to Malu Bhalu in the text?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 10 of CBSE Class 5 English about?

Chapter 10, 'Malu Bhalu - Who Will be Ningthon', is a poem about a young polar bear named Malu Bhalu, her life in the North Pole, and her journey of learning and growing.

What kind of questions are covered in these NCERT Solutions?

The solutions cover comprehension questions about the poem, identifying true/false statements, writing a character sketch of Malu, and understanding the use of pronouns.

How do these solutions help students prepare for exams?

They provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions, helping students understand the poem's content, character development, and grammatical concepts, which is crucial for exam revision.

What are the main themes in the 'Malu Bhalu' poem?

The main themes include courage, the importance of learning new skills, family bonds, and the spirit of adventure.

Are there any grammar exercises in this chapter?

Yes, the chapter includes an exercise on using pronouns (like 'she', 'her', 'they', 'them') to avoid repetition of names, which is a key grammar concept.

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