CBSE Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 10: The Banyan Tree NCERT Solutions

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

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 6 PDF

This chapter, 'The Banyan Tree,' from the CBSE Class 6 English Honeysuckle textbook, explores the narrator's childhood memories and observations. The NCERT Solutions provide detailed answers to questions based on the text, focusing on the boy's relationship with the banyan tree and a dramatic fight between a mongoose and a cobra. Students will learn about descriptive language, narrative structure, and character actions. These solutions offer clear explanations and step-by-step answers, aiding students in comprehending the story's nuances and preparing effectively for their exams by reinforcing their understanding of the chapter's content and themes.

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Board	CBSE
Class	Class 6
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Honeysuckle - Chapter 10 The Banyan Tree

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for 'The Banyan Tree' (Chapter 10) cover comprehension questions about the boy's experiences with the ancient banyan tree and his interactions with a squirrel. It also delves into a vivid description of a fight between a mongoose and a cobra, analyzing the actions and qualities of the combatants and other spectators. The solutions help students understand narrative details and descriptive passages.

Learning outcomes

Understand the narrator's childhood relationship with the banyan tree.
Identify and describe the actions of the squirrel and its interaction with the boy.
Analyze the qualities and actions of the mongoose and the cobra during their fight.
Describe the roles of the other spectators (crow and myna) in the fight.
Sequence the events of the mongoose-cobra fight.
Answer comprehension questions based on the text 'The Banyan Tree'.

Topics covered

Paper topics

The Banyan Tree as a childhood sanctuary
Boy-squirrel interaction
Description of the banyan tree in spring
The mongoose-cobra fight
Qualities of the mongoose
Qualities of the cobra
Spectators of the fight (crow, myna)
Sequence of actions in a fight
Comprehension of narrative text
Vocabulary related to nature and conflict

Important topics

The boy's relationship with the banyan tree
The mongoose-cobra fight sequence
Analysis of the mongoose's fighting strategy
Analysis of the cobra's fighting strategy
The role of secondary characters/spectators

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Questions and Solutions

A. Complete the following sentences.

1. The old banyan tree "did not belong" to the grandfather, but only to the boy, because_____.

Solution: The old banyan tree did not belong to the grandfather, but only to the boy, because the grandfather was no longer strong enough to climb it. The boy, however, could easily climb and spend time in its branches, making it his personal space.

2. The small gray squirrel became friendly when_____.

Solution: The small gray squirrel became friendly when it realized that the boy was not carrying any weapon like a catapult or an air-gun. This absence of threat made the squirrel feel safe and curious.

3. When the boy started to bring him pieces of cake and biscuit, the squirrel _____.

Solution: When the boy started to bring him pieces of cake and biscuit, the squirrel became bold enough to take the food pieces directly from his hand, indicating a growing trust and comfort.

4. In the spring, the banyan tree_____ and _____ would come there.

Solution: In the spring, the banyan tree was full of small red figs, and birds of all kinds would come there to feed and nest.

5. The banyan tree served the boy as a______.

Solution: The banyan tree served the boy as a reading room. He had made a rough platform in its branches where he could sit comfortably and read books.

6. The young boy spent his afternoons in the tree_____.

Solution: The young boy spent his afternoons in the tree, leaning against its trunk, reading story books and enjoying his time in his leafy sanctuary.

B. Answer the following questions.

1. "It was to be a battle of champions."

(i) What qualities did the two champions have? Pick out words and phrases from the paragraph above this line in the text and write them down.

Mongoose

(a)_____ (a) _____

(b)___ (b) _____

(c)___ (c) _____

Solution: The two champions, the cobra and the mongoose, had the following qualities:

Mongoose:

(a) a great fighter

(b) very clever and swift

Cobra:

(a) skilled and experienced champion fighter

(b) had a broad hood and poisonous teeth

(ii) What did the cobra and the mongoose do, to show their readiness for the fight?

Solution: To show their readiness for the fight, the cobra produced a hissing sound as a challenge. It raised about three feet of its body off the ground and spread its broad hood. The mongoose, in response, bushed its tail, and the long hair on its back stood on end, preparing for the confrontation.

2. Who were the other two spectators? What did they do? (Did they watch, or did they join in the fight?)

Solution: The other two spectators of the fight were a myna and a wild crow. Initially, they sat on a nearby cactus plant to watch the outcome of the battle. However, as the fight progressed, they became involved by trying to seize the cobra for their meal. The crow attempted this and was bitten, while the myna also showed interest before flying away.

3. Read the descriptions below of what the snake did and what the mongoose did. Arrange their actions in the proper order.

Snake's Actions:

tried to mesmerise the mongoose
coiled itself around the mongoose
darted away and bit the cobra on the back
struck again and missed
struck on the side that the mongoose pretended to attack
refused to look into the snake's eyes

Mongoose's Actions:

ceased to struggle
grabbed the snake by the snout
dragged the snake into the bushes
struck the crow
sprang aside, jumped in
pretended to attack the cobra on one side

Solution: Arranging the actions of the snake (cobra) and the mongoose in the proper order of the fight:

The cobra tried to mesmerise the mongoose.
The cobra coiled itself around the mongoose.
The mongoose ceased to struggle.
The mongoose grabbed the snake by the snout.
The mongoose darted away and bit the cobra on the back.
The cobra struck again and missed.
The mongoose pretended to attack the cobra on one side.
The cobra struck on the side that the mongoose pretended to attack.
The mongoose sprang aside and jumped in.
The mongoose dragged the snake into the bushes.
The crow struck the mongoose (this seems to be a misinterpretation in the source, likely referring to the crow's attempt to intervene or the mongoose's reaction to the crow).
The mongoose refused to look into the snake's eyes (this is a quality, not an action in sequence).

*Note: The provided lists seem to mix actions and qualities, and some descriptions might be slightly out of order or unclear in the original source. The sequence above attempts to reconstruct the fight's progression based on typical fight narratives and the provided phrases.*

4. (i) What happened to the crow in the end?

Solution: In the end, the crow got bitten by the cobra during the fight and subsequently fell dead.

(ii) What did the myna do finally?

Solution: Finally, the myna flew down to the ground, looked into the bushes where the mongoose had dragged the snake, gave a shrill cry, and then flew away.

Common mistakes

Confusing the ownership of the banyan tree between the grandfather and the boy.
Misinterpreting the squirrel's initial fear and subsequent trust.
Incorrectly sequencing the actions during the mongoose-cobra fight.
Failing to identify all the spectators and their reactions.

Revision tips

Reread the story focusing on the boy's perspective and his connection to nature.
Pay close attention to the descriptive language used for the fight scene.
Create a timeline of the mongoose-cobra battle to understand the sequence of events.
Practice answering the 'Working With the Text' questions to improve comprehension skills.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why did the old banyan tree "not belong" to the grandfather, but only to the boy?

Q2. What made the small gray squirrel become friendly with the boy?

Q3. Which of these qualities best describes the mongoose in the fight?

Q4. What did the cobra do to show its readiness for the fight?

Q5. Besides the narrator, who were the other two spectators of the fight?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 10 of CBSE Class 6 English Honeysuckle about?

Chapter 10, 'The Banyan Tree,' is about the narrator's childhood memories associated with a large banyan tree and a dramatic fight between a mongoose and a cobra that the narrator witnessed.

What kind of questions are covered in these NCERT Solutions?

These solutions cover 'Working With the Text' questions, which include completing sentences and answering direct comprehension questions about the story and the fight scene.

How do these solutions help students understand the fight scene?

The solutions break down the fight between the mongoose and the cobra, detailing their actions, qualities, and the sequence of events, helping students visualize and comprehend the intense battle.

Are the questions in the solutions the same as in the textbook?

Yes, the questions in these NCERT Solutions are kept the same as in the textbook, ensuring students can practice with the exact problems presented.

What is the significance of the banyan tree in the story?

The banyan tree serves as a personal sanctuary and a place of adventure for the young boy, representing a significant part of his childhood experiences and imagination.

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