CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 6: The Hundred Dresses-II NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This section provides NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 10 English, Chapter 6, titled 'The Hundred Dresses-II'. It delves into themes of individuality, talent, and overcoming differences, inspired by the story of Wanda Petronski. The solutions also explore the real-life example of Wangari Maathai and her environmental activism, highlighting the importance of perseverance and community effort in achieving significant goals. Students will find detailed explanations and answers to comprehension questions, encouraging critical thinking about character development and social issues. These solutions are designed to aid students in understanding the chapter's nuances and preparing effectively for their examinations by reinforcing key concepts and analytical skills.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 10
SubjectWords and Expressions
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 6

Chapter summary

Chapter 6, 'The Hundred Dresses-II', focuses on the aftermath of Wanda Petronski's situation and the recognition of her talent. The NCERT Solutions cover comprehension questions related to the story and introduce a real-world example of Wangari Maathai's environmental work, emphasizing themes of perseverance, innovation, and the human connection to nature. The exercises encourage students to reflect on individual uniqueness and collective action.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the themes of individuality and talent in 'The Hundred Dresses-II'.
  • Analyze the character development of Wanda Petronski and her impact.
  • Explore the real-world example of Wangari Maathai's environmental efforts.
  • Identify the importance of perseverance and community in achieving goals.
  • Develop critical thinking skills through comprehension questions.
  • Appreciate the connection between humans and the environment.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Individuality and Talent
  • Empathy and Understanding
  • Environmental Activism
  • Perseverance
  • Community Action
  • Resource Management
  • Human-Environment Relationship
  • Character Analysis
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Wangari Maathai's Work

Important topics

  • Themes of 'The Hundred Dresses-II'
  • Wangari Maathai's Environmental Efforts
  • Developing Forestry Techniques
  • Human Connection to Nature
  • Significance of Perseverance

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Questions and Solutions

Let's Begin: Survey on Talents

Conduct a survey in the class to find out the different talents that your classmates have and discuss these so as to appreciate each other.
Solution:

To conduct this survey, you should first prepare a list of potential talents or ask classmates to suggest them. Then, approach each classmate and ask them about their unique skills or hobbies, such as drawing, singing, dancing, writing, playing a musical instrument, sports, or even specific academic strengths. Record their responses. After gathering the information, facilitate a class discussion where each student can share their findings. This process helps in recognizing and appreciating the diverse talents present within the class, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

(Note: The actual survey and discussion need to be conducted by the students themselves.)

Reading Comprehension: Text I - Wangari Maathai's Work

You have read how Wanda was passionate about her talent and pursued it in spite of so many hurdles. Wangari Mathai, the Nobel Prize winner, is another person who fought a battle to save the environment. She had a humble start but she dreamt big and succeeded. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: When we said we wanted to plant fifteen million trees, a forester laughed and said we could have as many seedlings as we wanted because he was convinced that we could not plant that many trees. Before too long, he had to withdraw that offer because we were collecting more trees than he could give away free of charge. But we didn't have the money. We decided that we could produce the seedlings ourselves. We would go and collect seeds from trees, come back and plant them the way women planted other seeds – beans, corn, and other grains. And so the women actually developed forestry management techniques, using "appropriate technology" to fit their needs. Here is the basic method – take a pot, put in the soil, and put in the seeds. Put the pot in an elevated position so that the chickens and the goats don't come and eat the seedlings. Ordaining all the inventive techniques that the women developed, for example, sometimes trees produce seeds carried by the wind. These germinate in the fields with the first rain. It was very interesting to see a woman cultivating a field with a small container of water. But, she was cultivating weeds! She had learned that among these weeds were also tree seedlings and that she could pick the seedlings and put them in a container. In the evening, she went home with several hundred seedling trees! These techniques developed by the women became extremely helpful. We planted more than twenty million trees in Kenya alone. In other African countries, we have not kept records. Trees are alive, so we react to them in very different ways. Quite often, we get attached to a tree, because it gives us food and fodder for our fires. It is such a friendly thing. When you plant a tree and you see it grow, something happens to you. You want to protect it, and you value it. I have seen people really change and look at trees very differently from the way they would in the past. The other thing is that a lot of people do not see that there are no trees until they open their eyes, and realise that the land is naked. They begin to see that while rain can be a blessing, it can also be a curse, because when it comes and you have not protected your soil, it carries the soil away with it. And this is rich soil in which you should be growing your food, then they see the immediate relationship between a person and the environment. It is wonderful to see that transformation, and that is what sustains the movement! (Source: 'Speak Truth to Power' Wangari Mathai)
Solution:

The forester laughed because he was highly skeptical about Wangari Maathai and her group's ability to plant fifteen million trees. His experience likely led him to believe that such a large-scale project was unfeasible for the group, hence his dismissive reaction.

Question 1.

A forester laughs when Wangari Mathai says that they wanted to plant 15 million trees. Why did the forester react in this manner?
Solution:

The forester reacted with laughter because he was convinced that Wangari Mathai and her group lacked the capacity and resources to successfully plant such a vast number of trees. His skepticism stemmed from his professional experience, which suggested the goal was overly ambitious for the group.

Question 2.

What role does money play in the given extract?
Solution:

In the given extract, money plays a crucial role as a limiting factor. Although Wangari Maathai's group initially aimed to collect seedlings offered by the forester, they faced a challenge because they did not have the necessary funds to acquire them. This financial constraint motivated them to develop their own methods for producing seedlings, demonstrating resourcefulness in the face of economic limitations.

Common mistakes

  • Misinterpreting Wanda's character or motivations.
  • Overlooking the connection between the fictional narrative and real-world examples.
  • Failing to grasp the significance of environmental conservation themes.
  • Providing superficial answers to comprehension questions without deep analysis.

Revision tips

  • Reread 'The Hundred Dresses-II' to fully grasp Wanda's situation and the other characters' reactions.
  • Summarize the key events and character arcs in your own words.
  • Pay close attention to the details in the Wangari Maathai passage and its connection to the chapter's themes.
  • Practice answering the comprehension questions, focusing on providing well-reasoned and detailed responses.
  • Discuss the chapter's themes, such as individuality and environmentalism, with classmates.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why did the forester initially laugh at Wangari Maathai's group's goal of planting 15 million trees?

Q2. What problem did Wangari Maathai's group face after the forester withdrew his offer of seedlings?

Q3. How did the women in Wangari Maathai's group develop forestry management techniques?

Q4. What is a key reason people become attached to trees, according to the passage?

Q5. What realization does the passage suggest people have about the environment when they 'open their eyes'?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of Chapter 6, 'The Hundred Dresses-II'?

The chapter explores themes of individuality, recognizing talent, and the impact of empathy, building upon the narrative of Wanda Petronski and introducing real-world examples of perseverance like Wangari Maathai's environmental work.

How do the NCERT Solutions for this chapter help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to comprehension questions, helping students understand the chapter's content, themes, and the significance of the provided real-world examples, aiding in exam preparation.

What real-world example is discussed in relation to the chapter?

The chapter includes information about Wangari Maathai, a Nobel Prize winner, and her efforts in environmental conservation, specifically tree planting and sustainable land management.

What skills are developed by studying these NCERT Solutions?

Students can enhance their reading comprehension, analytical skills, understanding of literary themes, and awareness of environmental issues through these solutions.

Are the questions in the source document the same in these solutions?

Yes, the questions from the source document are preserved exactly as they were, ensuring students are practicing with the original problems.

How are the solutions presented?

Each solution is rewritten to be clearer and more detailed than the original, providing step-by-step explanations where applicable and elaborating on the reasoning behind the answers.

Important links

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