CBSE Class 6 English NCERT Solutions: A Tale of Two Birds

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 6 PDF

CBSE Class 6 English 'A Pact With The Sun' introduces 'A Tale of Two Birds,' a story highlighting how environment shapes character. Two baby birds, identical in appearance, grow up in starkly different settings, leading to contrasting personalities and behaviors. One finds a home near a robbers' cave, learning their rough ways, while the other is raised near a rishi's ashram, adopting a gentle and respectful demeanor. The narrative beautifully illustrates the profound impact of companionship and surroundings on an individual's development. Through the birds' experiences and the rishi's insightful commentary, students grasp the story's central message: the company one keeps significantly influences one's actions and speech. These solutions aim to enhance comprehension and understanding of this valuable lesson.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 6
SubjectA Pact With The Sun
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter1. A Tale of Two Birds

Chapter summary

Chapter 1, "A Tale of Two Birds," focuses on the theme that one's environment significantly influences their behavior. The NCERT Solutions cover the story of two identical birds separated by a storm, each ending up in a different environment – one with robbers and the other in a rishi's ashram. The solutions explain the contrasting dialogues of the birds with a stranger and the rishi's explanation of this difference, highlighting the proverb "One is known by the company one keeps."

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the impact of environment and company on behavior.
  • Analyze the contrasting actions and speech of the two birds.
  • Identify the main moral of the story.
  • Improve reading comprehension skills through story analysis.
  • Explain how external influences shape an individual's character.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Separation of baby birds
  • Influence of environment
  • Robbers' cave
  • Rishi's ashram
  • Bird behavior
  • Dialogue and imitation
  • Moral of the story
  • Company and character

Important topics

  • The impact of company on behavior
  • Contrasting character development
  • The rishi's explanation
  • The story's central moral

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

How did the two baby birds get separated?
Solution:

The two baby birds, who were identical twins, were separated due to a natural disaster. One day, a fierce storm struck the forest, causing a large tree where they lived to fall. The strong winds not only destroyed their home but also blew the two young birds away to different locations within the forest, leading to their separation.

Question 2

Where did each of them find a home?
Solution:

After being separated by the strong winds, each baby bird found a new place to live. One of the birds landed near a cave that was the dwelling place of a gang of robbers. The other bird landed a little distance away, outside the peaceful ashram of a rishi (a wise sage).

Question 3

What did the first bird say to the stranger?
Solution:

The first baby bird, having lived with the robbers, had learned their rough language and habits. When a stranger approached the tree, the bird, mistaking him perhaps for a victim, cried out loudly. It urged the stranger to hurry and come inside quickly, warning that someone was under the tree and advising them to seize the visitor's jewels and horse before he could escape.

Question 4

What did the second bird say to him?
Solution:

The second baby bird, which had grown up in the serene environment of the rishi's ashram, spoke in a gentle and welcoming tone. It greeted the stranger warmly and invited him to come inside the ashram to rest. The bird informed the visitor that the rishi would return soon and suggested he drink some cold water and make himself comfortable, reflecting the polite manners learned at the ashram.

Question 5

How did the rishi explain the different ways in which the birds behaved?
Solution:

The rishi, upon hearing the two birds speak so differently despite being twins, smiled and explained the reason to the surprised visitor. He stated that the behavior of individuals is greatly influenced by the company they keep. He pointed out that the first bird had always heard the robbers talking about theft and crime, so it imitated them and spoke of robbing. In contrast, the second bird had always heard gentle conversations at the ashram, and therefore, it repeated what it heard, welcoming people politely.

Question 6

Which one of the following sums up the story best?
  1. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
  2. One is known by the company one keeps.
  3. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Solution:

The line that best summarizes the story "A Tale of Two Birds" is: 'One is known by the company one keeps.' This proverb perfectly captures the central message that the environment and the people (or creatures) one associates with profoundly shape their character, actions, and speech.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the identities or actions of the two birds.
  • Misinterpreting the rishi's explanation.
  • Failing to connect the birds' behavior to the central theme.

Revision tips

  • Reread the story carefully, paying attention to the details of each bird's environment.
  • Compare and contrast the dialogues of the two birds with the stranger.
  • Focus on the rishi's explanation and its connection to the proverb.
  • Discuss the story's moral with classmates to reinforce understanding.

Practice MCQs

Q1. How did the two baby birds get separated?

Q2. Where did the first baby bird find its new home?

Q3. What did the first bird say to the stranger who arrived?

Q4. What was the second bird's reaction to the stranger?

Q5. What moral does the rishi explain through the birds' behavior?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of 'A Tale of Two Birds'?

The main theme of the story is that one's environment and the company one keeps significantly influence their behavior and character.

How did the two baby birds get separated?

The two baby birds were separated during a severe storm when the wind blew down their tree and scattered them to different parts of the forest.

What kind of homes did the two birds find?

One bird found a home near a cave where robbers lived, while the other landed near a rishi's ashram.

Why did the two birds behave so differently?

They behaved differently because they lived in different environments. The bird near the robbers imitated their rough talk, while the bird near the ashram learned to be gentle and welcoming.

Which proverb best summarizes the story?

The proverb that best summarizes the story is 'One is known by the company one keeps'.

How can these NCERT Solutions help Class 6 students?

These solutions help students understand the story's plot, characters, and moral, improving their comprehension and providing clear answers for revision and exam preparation.

Important links

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