CBSE Class 4 English Chapter 5: Don't be Afraid of the Dark - NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 4 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 4 English, Chapter 5, titled 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'. It covers the poem's central theme of overcoming the fear of darkness, explaining how children can feel comfortable at night. The solutions break down the poem's meaning, identify opposite words, and clarify word contractions. It also includes interactive sections like 'Let's Talk' and 'Say Aloud' to enhance comprehension and pronunciation. These solutions are designed to help students understand the poem thoroughly, build their vocabulary, and prepare effectively for their exams by offering clear explanations and engaging activities.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 4
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter05 Don't be Afraid of the Dark

Chapter summary

This chapter's NCERT Solutions for Class 4 English focus on the poem 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'. It helps students understand the poem's message about not fearing the night, encouraging them to befriend darkness and think of positive things. The solutions cover comprehension questions, word building activities like finding opposites and expanding contractions, and pronunciation exercises. It aims to build confidence and language skills related to the poem's themes.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the central theme of the poem 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'.
  • Identify and use opposite words related to the poem's context.
  • Recognize and expand common word contractions.
  • Articulate personal feelings and experiences related to fear of the dark.
  • Practice pronunciation of specific English words.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Poem Comprehension
  • Fear of Darkness
  • Night Time
  • Opposite Words
  • Word Contractions
  • Pronunciation Practice
  • Personal Experiences
  • Vocabulary Building

Important topics

  • Understanding the poem's message
  • Overcoming fear of the dark
  • Word building: Opposites and contractions
  • Pronunciation of specific sounds

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Questions and Solutions

Reading is Fun - Question 1

1. What is the poem about?
Solution: The poem 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark' is primarily about children's common fear of the night and the darkness that comes with it. It offers gentle advice and reassurance, suggesting ways to overcome this fear and feel more comfortable when it is dark.

Reading is Fun - Question 2

2. What happens when the day is over?
Solution: When the day comes to an end, darkness begins to spread everywhere. Following this, the moon and the stars start to appear and shine brightly in the night sky.

Reading is Fun - Question 3

3. What does the earth do when the day is over?
Solution: When the day is over and night begins to fall, the earth takes its rest. This signifies a time of quiet and peace after the activities of the day.

Reading is Fun - Question 4

4. What does the poet want us to do at night?
Solution: The poet wants us to be friendly with the night instead of being afraid. The suggestion is to think about our friends and relatives, which can help make the night feel less intimidating and more pleasant.

Reading is Fun - Question 5

5. Are these sentences TRUE or FALSE?
  1. The poet tells the child to be afraid when it is dark.
  2. The poet says that stars will always shine at night.
  3. The poet tells the child to think of friends after it is dark.
Solution: Let's evaluate each sentence based on the poem:
  1. False. The poet actually advises the child *not* to be afraid of the dark.
  2. True. The poem implies that the stars are a comforting presence that shines during the night.
  3. True. The poet suggests thinking of friends as a way to feel better and less scared when it is dark.

Word Building - Question 1

1. Find a word in the poem which is the opposite of — harsh.
Solution: The word in the poem that is the opposite of 'harsh' is 'gentle'. The poem contrasts the harshness of being afraid with the gentleness of being friendly towards the night.

Word Building - Question 2

2. Look at these words in the poem: don't, won't. Here are their full forms: don't – do not, won't – will not. Now, write the full forms of the following words: didn't, shouldn't, wouldn't, couldn't, mustn't.
Solution: Understanding word contractions helps in clear communication. Here are the full forms of the requested words:
  • didn't – did not
  • shouldn't – should not
  • wouldn't – would not
  • couldn't – could not
  • mustn't – must not
These contractions are commonly used in spoken and written English.

Let's Talk - Question 1

1. Are you afraid of the dark? Why?
Solution: This is a personal question, and the answer can vary for each student. For example, one might say: "Yes, I am afraid of the dark because when it's dark, I can't see anything around me, and it feels a bit scary."

Let's Talk - Question 2

2. What do you do when it is dark?
Solution: When it gets dark, students might have different routines. A common response, similar to the poem's suggestion, could be: "When it is dark, I usually lie down on my bed and think about happy things or my friends to feel calm."

Let's Talk - Question 3

3. Have you ever been very frightened? Tell your partner about it.
Solution: This question encourages sharing personal experiences. Here is an example of how a student might answer:

"Yes, I remember one time I was sitting alone in my room. Suddenly, my older brother came in wearing a scary mask. He stood right in front of me and started making horrible laughing sounds. I got so scared that I started crying loudly. I still remember how frightened I was that day."

Say Aloud - Question 1

1. What is the word that starts with 't', rhymes with 'cease', and means to playfully make fun of?
Solution: The word that fits this description is 'tease'. It begins with 't', sounds similar to 'cease' when rhyming, and means to playfully make fun of someone.

Say Aloud - Question 2

2. What is the word that starts with 'c', rhymes with 'near' and 'tear', and means easy to see, hear and understand?
Solution: The word you are looking for is 'clear'. It starts with 'c', rhymes with words like 'near' and 'tear', and signifies something that is easy to perceive through sight, hearing, or understanding.

Say Aloud - Question 3

3. Where did the tip of the tongue touch?
Solution: When pronouncing certain sounds, the tip of the tongue typically touches the teeth ridge, which is the bumpy area just behind your upper front teeth. This is important for forming specific consonant sounds.

Say Aloud - Question 4 & 5

4. Listen and repeat Ca -t 5. Did you hear what your tongue did?
Solution: These are practical exercises for students to perform themselves. When saying 'cat', the tongue moves to form the 'c' sound by touching the back of the mouth, then the 't' sound by touching the ridge behind the upper teeth. Listening to your own pronunciation helps in understanding tongue movements.

Say Aloud - Question 6

6. Say these words and feel what your tongue does when you say- toe, top, tie, ten.
Solution: When you say the words 'toe', 'top', 'tie', and 'ten', pay attention to your tongue. For these words, the tip of your tongue will touch the ridge just behind your upper front teeth to make the 't' sound at the beginning of each word. This helps in understanding the articulation of sounds.

Work in Pairs

Make the 'cough' sound. I came down I coughed "K, k, k, k!" And cough again "K, k, k, k!" Did you hear the 'K' sound at the end of the word 'book'?
Solution: This activity focuses on recognizing the 'k' sound. When you make a coughing sound, it often produces a 'k' sound, like "k, k, k". Similarly, the word 'book' ends with a 'k' sound, even though it's spelled with 'k'. This helps in identifying sounds within words.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing true/false statements about the poem's content.
  • Difficulty in identifying opposite words.
  • Misunderstanding the meaning of word contractions.

Revision tips

  • Read the poem aloud multiple times to grasp its rhythm and message.
  • Focus on understanding the poet's advice on overcoming fear.
  • Practice writing the full forms of contracted words.
  • Discuss your own feelings about the dark with friends or family.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What is the main message of the poem 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'?

Q2. According to the poem, what starts shining when the day is over?

Q3. What does the poet suggest doing at night to feel better?

Q4. Which word is the opposite of 'harsh' as mentioned in the 'Word Building' section?

Q5. What is the full form of 'won't'?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the poem 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'?

The main theme is about overcoming the fear of darkness and learning to feel comfortable and safe at night.

What advice does the poem give for dealing with the dark?

The poem suggests being friendly with the night and thinking about friends and relatives to feel less afraid.

What kind of word exercises are included in this chapter?

The chapter includes exercises on finding opposite words and writing the full forms of contracted words like 'don't' and 'won't'.

Are there any pronunciation activities in this chapter?

Yes, the 'Say Aloud' section includes activities to practice pronunciation and understand how the tongue moves when speaking certain words.

How do these solutions help Class 4 students?

These solutions help students understand the poem's meaning, build vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and gain confidence in discussing their feelings about the dark.

Important links

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