CBSE Class 6 English Chapter 4 The Old-Clock Shop NCERT Solutions

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

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 6 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Chapter 4, 'The Old-Clock Shop,' from the CBSE Class 6 English Supplementary Reader. It delves into the interactions between Ray, the deaf and dumb shopkeeper, and a visitor who is in dire need of money. The solutions explain Ray's keen observation skills, the visitor's true intentions, and the unique communication methods employed. It also explores Ray's compassionate nature, his willingness to help those in need by lending money against old clocks and watches without acting as a traditional pawnbroker. The solutions clarify the significance of an old watch and how it facilitated a mutually beneficial, albeit unusual, transaction. These explanations are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the story, understand character development, and prepare effectively for their exams by reinforcing comprehension of the chapter's themes and events.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 6
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter 4

Chapter summary

This chapter's NCERT Solutions focus on 'The Old-Clock Shop.' The solutions analyze the initial encounter between Ray, the shopkeeper, and a visitor, highlighting Ray's perceptive abilities despite his disabilities. They explore the visitor's underlying financial distress and the unconventional transaction involving an old watch. Key aspects covered include Ray's charitable approach to lending money and the resolution of the visitor's immediate need. These solutions aid students in understanding character motivations, plot progression, and the story's underlying message of empathy.

Learning outcomes

Understand Ray's perceptive abilities despite being deaf and dumb.
Analyze the visitor's true intentions and financial situation.
Explain the communication methods used between Ray and the visitor.
Describe Ray's compassionate and helpful nature.
Identify the significance of the old watch in the story's resolution.
Comprehend the theme of empathy and helping those in need.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Character analysis of Ray
Visitor's motivations and needs
Communication methods for disabled individuals
Ray's compassionate nature
The concept of lending money vs. pawnbroking
Symbolism of the old watch
Themes of empathy and helping others
Understanding plot and character development

Important topics

Ray's character and communication
Visitor's financial distress
Ray's non-traditional lending practices
The significance of the watch
Themes of empathy and kindness

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

What made Ray think the visitor was not really a shopper?

Solution: Ray, despite being deaf and dumb, possessed a keen sense of judgment about people. He observed that the visitor's eyes lacked friendliness, which, combined with his experience with various customers, led him to conclude that the man was not there to make a purchase.

Question 2

Why do you think he had come to the shop?

Solution: It is likely that the visitor had come to the shop not to buy anything, but because he was in dire need of money and was looking for a way to obtain it, possibly by exchanging an item of value.

Question 3

How did Ray communicate with him?

Solution: Since Ray was both deaf and dumb, he could neither speak nor hear. He communicated with his customers, including this visitor, by writing his messages on a notepad. The visitor also responded by writing his replies on paper, establishing a written dialogue.

Question 4

What do you think the man said to his friend who waited at the door?

Solution: The older man likely conveyed to his younger companion that the shop owner, Ray, was unable to hear or speak. He probably did this by pointing to his own ears and shaking his head from side to side, indicating Ray's deafness and muteness.

Question 5

Ray was not a pawnbroker. Why then did he lend money to people in exchange for their old watches and clocks?

Solution: Ray was not a pawnbroker, which means he did not lend money with the primary intention of making a profit through interest or holding items as security. Instead, he possessed a kind and helpful nature. He couldn't refuse to assist someone who was genuinely in need, and therefore, he lent money in exchange for old timepieces out of compassion.

Question 6

"The watch was nothing special and yet had great powers." In what sense did it have 'great powers'?

Solution: The watch had 'great powers' in a non-material sense. It enabled the older man to obtain money without resorting to harmful actions. Simultaneously, it allowed the shopkeeper, Ray, to avoid any potential physical danger or conflict that might have arisen from the situation. Thus, the watch served as a catalyst for a peaceful and mutually beneficial resolution.

Question 7

Do you think the man would ever come back to pick up the watch?

Solution: It is highly unlikely that the man would return to pick up the watch. He received a sum of money for it that was significantly higher than its actual worth, effectively resolving his immediate financial problem. Having received more than he expected, he would have no reason to reclaim the watch.

Question 8

When did "the unfriendly face" of the visitor turn truly friendly?

Solution: The visitor's unfriendly and perhaps anxious expression transformed into a truly friendly one only after he received the fifty dollar note from Ray. This financial assistance clearly relieved his distress and made him feel grateful and happy.

Common mistakes

Misinterpreting Ray's actions as those of a pawnbroker.
Overlooking Ray's keen observational skills due to his disabilities.
Failing to understand the visitor's desperation for money.
Not recognizing the symbolic importance of the old watch.

Revision tips

Focus on Ray's character: his disabilities and his sharp judgment.
Analyze the visitor's motivations and the reason for his visit.
Understand the unique communication between Ray and the visitor.
Consider why Ray lent money and how it differed from a pawnbroker's service.
Reflect on the 'great powers' of the seemingly ordinary watch.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What initially made Ray suspect the visitor was not a genuine shopper?

Q2. Why did the visitor likely come to Ray's shop?

Q3. How did Ray, who was deaf and dumb, communicate with customers?

Q4. What did the older man convey to his friend waiting at the door about Ray?

Q5. Ray's role in lending money was different from a pawnbroker because:

Q6. The 'great powers' of the watch referred to its ability to:

Q7. Why was it unlikely the man would return for the watch?

Q8. When did the visitor's 'unfriendly face' turn truly friendly?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 4 of the CBSE Class 6 English Supplementary Reader about?

Chapter 4 is titled 'The Old-Clock Shop' and it narrates the story of Ray, a deaf and dumb shopkeeper, and his interaction with a visitor in desperate need of money.

How did Ray, the shopkeeper, communicate with his customers?

Ray, being deaf and dumb, communicated with his customers by writing messages on a notepad. The customers would then write their replies back to him.

Was Ray a pawnbroker?

No, Ray was not a pawnbroker. Although he lent money to people in exchange for old watches and clocks, he did so out of kindness and helpfulness, without charging interest.

What made the visitor's face turn friendly?

The visitor's unfriendly face turned truly friendly after he received a fifty dollar note from Ray, which helped him in his time of need.

What was special about the old watch mentioned in the story?

The old watch was special not for its intrinsic value, but because it facilitated a transaction where the visitor got much-needed money, and Ray, the shopkeeper, was protected from potential harm.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions, helping students understand the story's characters, plot, themes, and the underlying messages of empathy and kindness, aiding in exam preparation.

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