CBSE Class 5 English NCERT Solutions: Crying - My Elder Brother

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

CBSE Class 5 English, Chapter 4, 'Crying' and 'My Elder Brother', offers solutions that explore the emotional journey in the poem 'Crying', highlighting how expressing feelings can lead from sadness to happiness. The solutions for 'My Elder Brother' focus on the relationship between Munna and his elder brother Bhaiya, examining their different personalities and the elder brother's sense of responsibility. These explanations help students understand the text better, analyze characters like Munna and Bhaiya, and build their vocabulary. The aim is to strengthen comprehension and analytical abilities, ensuring students can effectively grasp the chapter's themes and prepare well for their assessments by reinforcing key concepts.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 5
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter04 Crying - My Elder Brother

Chapter summary

This chapter's NCERT Solutions for Class 5 English focus on two distinct parts: the poem 'Crying' and the story 'My Elder Brother'. The solutions for 'Crying' help students understand the poet's perspective on expressing emotions, suggesting a cathartic release through crying followed by happiness. The solutions for 'My Elder Brother' explore the relationship between two brothers, highlighting themes of responsibility, sibling dynamics, and the contrast between playfulness and studiousness. The exercises cover comprehension, vocabulary, and character analysis, providing a thorough understanding of both texts.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the emotional arc presented in the poem 'Crying'.
  • Analyze the characters of Munna and Bhaiya in 'My Elder Brother'.
  • Identify and explain the themes of responsibility and sibling relationships.
  • Practice vocabulary building through word formation exercises.
  • Answer comprehension questions based on the provided texts.
  • Differentiate between various emotional states like sadness, happiness, and anger.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Poem: Crying
  • Emotional expression
  • Sadness and happiness
  • Story: My Elder Brother
  • Sibling relationships
  • Responsibility
  • Timetables
  • Character analysis
  • Vocabulary building
  • Word formation (-ness suffix)
  • Feeling words
  • Comprehension

Important topics

  • Understanding emotional expression in 'Crying'
  • Character comparison: Munna vs. Bhaiya
  • Themes of responsibility and duty
  • Vocabulary: '-ness' suffix and feeling words
  • Story comprehension: 'My Elder Brother'

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Questions and Solutions

Let's Read - Question 1

1. According to the poet, should you cry a little or should you cry a lot?
Solution: The poet suggests that it is beneficial to cry a lot. This is because crying a lot can help release pent-up emotions, leading to a feeling of relief and eventual happiness.

Let's Read - Question 2

2. What can you do after crying a lot?
Solution: After crying a lot, the poet suggests that you can then laugh heartily. This indicates a transition from sadness to a state of joy and relief.

Let's Read - Question 3

3. (i) Read the first two lines of the poem. Is the mood happy? sad? angry? jealous? upset? (ii) In the last few lines the mood of the poet has changed. What is it now? Very happy angry cheerful sad jealous
Solution:

(i) The mood conveyed in the first two lines of the poem, which typically describe the act of crying, is sad or upset.

(ii) In the last few lines of the poem, the mood changes significantly. It becomes very happy and cheerful, as the poet describes opening the window and laughing.

Let's Read - Question 4

4. Are these sentences right or wrong?

(i) The poet says you must not cry much.

(ii) The poet says that you should cry till your pillow is soaked.

(iii) The poet says that after crying you should open the window and laugh so that people will see that you are happy.

(iv) The poet says that you should open the window and show people that you are crying.

Solution:

(i) Wrong. The poet actually suggests crying a lot, not avoiding it.

(ii) Right. The poem implies crying intensely until one's pillow is soaked, signifying a significant emotional release.

(iii) Right. The poem describes opening the window and laughing to show that one is now happy after the crying is done.

(iv) Wrong. The poet advises showing happiness by laughing, not showing continued sadness by crying.

Let's Talk - Question 1

1. Where do you cry? What are the things that make you cry?
Solution: This question asks for personal experiences. Typically, children might cry in front of their parents or caregivers when they feel hurt, sad, or upset. Common reasons for crying include falling down and getting hurt, being disturbed by siblings, or feeling sad about something that happened.

Let's Talk - Question 2

2. Can you cry when you are happy?
Solution: While the poem 'Crying' focuses on crying out of sadness and then transitioning to happiness, it is possible for people to cry tears of joy when they are extremely happy. However, in the context of the poem and general understanding, crying is primarily associated with sadness.

Let's Talk - Question 3

3. Which are the things that make you happy? In what way do you show your happiness?
Solution: This question prompts a personal response. Things that make people happy can vary widely, such as receiving gifts, going to parties, achieving something, or spending time with loved ones. Happiness is often shown through smiling, laughing, jumping, clapping, or engaging in joyful activities.

Word Building - Question 1

The word happiness ends in -ness and comes from the word happy. Write three words that end in the same way. Which words do they come from?

-----ness;-----

-----ness;-----

----- ness;-----.

Solution: This exercise focuses on forming abstract nouns by adding the suffix '-ness' to adjectives. Here are three examples:
  1. Cleverness comes from the word clever.
  2. Ugliness comes from the word ugly.
  3. Neatness comes from the word neat.
These words describe a state or quality. For example, 'cleverness' refers to the quality of being clever.

Let's Write - Question 1

1. Fill in the blanks with the exact feeling word.

(i) The tourists were ______ to see the beautiful Taj Mahal. (amazed, shocked, worried)

(ii) The lights went out suddenly. I was alone and ______. (worried, shocked, frightened)

(iii) He has been ill for a long time and his parents were ______. (unhappy, worried, angry)

(iv) The shopkeeper was " ______ when he saw his safe wide open with all his money missing. (unhappy, shocked, angry)

Solution: This exercise helps in understanding and using appropriate words to describe emotions.
  1. The tourists were amazed to see the beautiful Taj Mahal. 'Amazed' fits best as it describes wonder and admiration.
  2. The lights went out suddenly. I was alone and frightened. 'Frightened' accurately conveys the fear of being alone in the dark.
  3. He has been ill for a long time and his parents were worried. 'Worried' describes the anxiety parents feel when their child is sick for an extended period.
  4. The shopkeeper was shocked when he saw his safe wide open with all his money missing. 'Shocked' best describes the sudden disbelief and distress upon discovering such a loss.

Reading is Fun - Question 1

1. What are the things that Munna liked to do?
Solution: Munna was a playful child who enjoyed activities like playing various games, flying kites, and drawing pictures of birds and animals. These were his preferred ways to spend his time.

Reading is Fun - Question 2

2. What did Bhaiya do all day?
Solution: Bhaiya, the elder brother, was very studious. He spent his entire day studying. This involved reading books and diligently practicing writing by repeating words and sentences multiple times to ensure he learned them well.

Reading is Fun - Question 3

3. Why was Munna not happy with the time table that Bhaiya made for him?
Solution: Munna was unhappy with the timetable because it was very strict and focused heavily on studies and discipline. It left little to no time for the playful activities and games that Munna loved, such as playing kabaddi or volleyball.

Reading is Fun - Question 4

4. How do you think Munna felt when his brother was so strict with him? Why was Bhaiya so strict with him?
Solution: Munna likely felt disappointed and perhaps a bit frustrated or sad because his brother's strictness curbed his desire to play. Bhaiya was strict because he was responsible and understood the importance of studies. He wanted Munna to focus on learning and not waste time, possibly also considering their father's hard-earned money and the value of education.

Reading is Fun - Question 5

5. Whose character do you like more—Munna's or Bhaiya's?
Solution: This question asks for a personal opinion. However, a common perspective is to appreciate Bhaiya's character more. He is seen as responsible, dutiful, and aware of the value of education and his father's efforts. He takes his role as an elder brother seriously, focusing on Munna's future, even if it means being strict.

Let's Talk - Question 1

1. Do you have a timetable at school? How many periods are there for the following subjects and activities in one week?

English 6, Hindi 5, Maths 5, Science 4, Social Studies 4, Games 2, Art 2, Craft 1, Music 1, Dance 1, Any other activity.

Solution: This question requires students to refer to their own school's timetable. The provided numbers (English 6, Hindi 5, Maths 5, Science 4, Social Studies 4, Games 2, Art 2, Craft 1, Music 1, Dance 1) are examples of how periods might be allocated in a week. Students should compare these with their actual school schedule.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the poet's advice on crying with prolonged sadness.
  • Misinterpreting the characters' motivations in 'My Elder Brother'.
  • Difficulty in applying vocabulary-building rules correctly.
  • Struggling to connect the poem's message with the story's themes.

Revision tips

  • Read the poem 'Crying' aloud to understand its rhythm and emotional flow.
  • Discuss the characters of Munna and Bhaiya with a friend or family member to explore different perspectives.
  • Pay close attention to the 'Word Building' section to reinforce grammar and vocabulary skills.
  • Use the 'Let's Talk' and 'Let's Write' sections to practice expressing your own thoughts and feelings related to the texts.

Practice MCQs

Q1. According to the poem 'Crying', what should you do after crying a lot?

Q2. In the poem 'Crying', which of these is NOT a suggested mood after crying?

Q3. What did Munna like to do most in the story 'My Elder Brother'?

Q4. Why was Munna unhappy with the timetable made by Bhaiya?

Q5. Which word ending in '-ness' comes from the word 'ugly'?

Q6. What feeling word best describes the tourists seeing the Taj Mahal?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main message of the poem 'Crying' in Chapter 4?

The poem 'Crying' suggests that crying can be a healthy way to release sadness, and after crying, one can feel better and even laugh heartily, indicating a shift towards happiness.

Who are the main characters in the story 'My Elder Brother'?

The main characters are Munna, a playful younger brother, and Bhaiya, his studious and responsible elder brother.

What does the story 'My Elder Brother' teach about responsibility?

The story highlights the responsibility of an elder brother towards his younger sibling, emphasizing the importance of studies and proper conduct, as shown by Bhaiya's strictness.

How do the NCERT Solutions for Chapter 4 help Class 5 students?

These solutions provide clear answers and explanations for all textbook questions, helping students understand the poem's emotions, the story's characters and themes, and build their vocabulary.

What kind of vocabulary exercises are included in this chapter?

The chapter includes exercises on forming words by adding the suffix '-ness' to root words (like happy, clever, ugly, neat) and identifying appropriate feeling words for different situations.

Can students relate their own experiences to the texts in Chapter 4?

Yes, the 'Let's Talk' sections encourage students to share their own experiences with crying, happiness, and sibling interactions, making the learning process more personal and engaging.

Important links

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