NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Unit 4 Sports and Wellness Chapter 01 Change of Heart

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read

Question 1. Which games or sports do you play?
Answer: I love playing many sports and games, such as football, badminton, and carrom.
In simple words: I like to stay active and have fun by playing different indoor and outdoor games.

Exam Tip: Always name your favorite sports directly to make your personal answers simple and clear.

Question 2. Read the questions given below. Talk about them and make a list.
(a) Which games or sports do you play for fun?
(b) Which games or sports do you play for competition?
Answer: Here are my lists:

(a) Sports I play just for fun: Ludo, skipping rope, and badminton.
(b) Sports I play to compete with others: Chess, school football, and running races.
In simple words: We can divide our games into those we play just to enjoy ourselves and those we play to win a match.

Exam Tip: Use simple bullet points or list formats to separate games you play for leisure from competitive sports.

Question 3. How do you feel when you win or lose?
Answer: Winning makes me feel very happy and proud. If I lose, I feel a little sad, but I try to learn what went wrong so I can do better next time.
In simple words: Winning makes us feel excited, while losing can make us sad, but it also helps us learn and improve.

Exam Tip: When discussing feelings, explain both sides (winning and losing) to show a balanced and sportsmanlike attitude.

Question 4. Work in pairs. Tick the correct meaning of the following:
(a) friendly matches
(i) matches played to win a trophy
(ii) matches played without competition
(b) opponent
(i) someone who you compete with
(ii) someone you want to be a partner with
(c) tally of marks
(i) final marks on a report card
(ii) record of points in a game/match
(d) sporting spirit
(i) following all the rules in a game
(ii) being fair and respecting each player in a game
Answer: Here are the correct definitions:

(a) Friendly matches: (ii) matches played without competition
(b) Opponent: (i) someone who you compete with
(c) Tally of marks: (ii) record of points in a game/match
(d) Sporting spirit: (ii) being fair and respecting each player in a game
In simple words: These are common sports terms that explain things like playing friendly games, competing with others, keeping score, and respecting everyone.

Exam Tip: Always read all the choices carefully to pick the meaning that best describes the word in sports.

Let Us Read

Let Us Discuss

Question 1. State whether the following is True or False.
Prabhat would accept losing to anyone easily.
Answer: False. Prabhat hated losing. He only wanted to take part in games where he felt completely sure of his victory.
In simple words: This is false because Prabhat would avoid games unless he knew he would win.

Exam Tip: Read the story's main character description to see how they handle winning and losing.

Question 2. What was special about the last Friday of each month?
Answer: On this day, the coach organized friendly games for the students during their sports hour.
In simple words: It was a fun day because students played friendly sports matches with each other.

Exam Tip: Identify specific calendar days or routines in a story, as they often mark important events.

Question 3. Who was responsible for maintaining the score for the match?
Answer: Prabhat was in charge of keeping track of the scores during the game.
In simple words: Prabhat had the job of writing down the points for the match.

Exam Tip: Look for specific duties assigned to characters in a story to answer 'who' questions.

Question 4. Do you think Prabhat wished to play another match with Surya? Why do you think so?
Answer: No, Prabhat probably did not want to play against Surya again. Prabhat only cared about winning and hated to lose. Since Surya was a very strong player, Prabhat had to cheat just to beat him. He would want to avoid another game so he wouldn't risk losing and feeling bad.
In simple words: Prabhat would not want to play again because Surya was too good, and Prabhat feared losing his winning streak.

Exam Tip: When analyzing a character's motives, think about their personality, like Prabhat's fear of losing.

Let Us Discuss (Part II)

Question 1. How did Surya feel about playing?
Answer: Surya loved playing simply for the fun of it, without worrying about winning or losing. He kept a very cheerful and positive spirit during the entire game.
In simple words: Surya played just to have fun, and he remained happy whether he won or lost.

Exam Tip: Contrast the attitudes of Surya and Prabhat to highlight the lesson's main theme of sporting spirit.

Question 2. What was it about Surya that Prabhat observed?
Answer: Prabhat saw that Surya had fun in every game, no matter who won. Surya's joy did not depend on the scoreboard. He was happy playing everything, even games he wasn't great at. Seeing this made Prabhat understand that playing is about enjoying the sport itself, not just winning.
In simple words: Prabhat noticed that Surya was always happy because he focused on having fun instead of just winning.

Exam Tip: Explain what a character learns from observing another, as this shows character development.

Let Us Think and Reflect

Question 1. Read the lines given below and answer the questions.
(a) If Prabhat sensed that he would lose a game, he would not play it. He would take part only when he was sure of winning, even if the game lasted only for a minute. You could not stop him from playing the kind of games he was really good at, like badminton.
(i) Complete the sentence suitably.
Prabhat would play a game only if _________.
(ii) Which game was Prabhat good at playing?
(iii) Select the most suitable option to complete the sentence.
This behaviour of Prabhat tells us that he was _________.
a. good at the game | b. sure to win | c. afraid of losing
(b) Surprisingly, Prabhat could not sleep well that night. He had won the game but he did not feel as happy as he usually did. What was surprising was that Surya did not feel bad about losing. What was more surprising was that Prabhat saw Surya playing basketball the next day.
(i) Select the one option that tells us about the way Prabhat was feeling that night.
a. hurt | b. unhappy | c. afraid | d. focused
(ii) Why does Prabhat find Surya's behaviour 'surprising'?
(iii) Fill in the blank by choosing the most suitable option given in the bracket.
We can say that Surya's reaction to not winning was _________. (similar to/as serious as/different from) Prabhat's.
Answer:
(a)
(i) he was sure of winning.
(ii) He was good at playing badminton.
(iii) c. afraid of losing
(b)
(i) b. unhappy
(ii) Prabhat found Surya's attitude shocking because even though Surya lost the match, he was not sad at all. Instead, he happily went on to play basketball the very next day.
(iii) different from
In simple words: Prabhat only played when he knew he would win, and he was surprised that Surya stayed happy even after losing.

Exam Tip: When analyzing multiple-choice options, eliminate answers that contradict the character's direct actions in the story.

Question 2. Answer the following questions.
(a) How did Prabhat's attitude towards winning and losing affect his enjoyment of games in the beginning?
(b) Why do you think Prabhat cheated in the beginning to win the badminton match against Surya?
(c) How did Surya's attitude differ from Prabhat's?
(d) Do you think Prabhat's approach to games was healthy? Why or why not?
(e) Why do you think sporting spirit is important?
(f) Explain how the title of the story, 'Change of Heart', is suitable.
Answer:
(a) At first, Prabhat's obsession with winning ruined his fun. He only played games he knew he could win, which stopped him from trying new things. His fear of losing made playing feel stressful instead of fun.
(b) Prabhat cheated because he hated the idea of losing. He wanted to keep his winning record so badly that his fear of defeat drove him to be dishonest during the match.
(c) Surya focused entirely on having fun, while Prabhat only cared about the score. Surya stayed happy even when he lost, but Prabhat felt anxious and unhappy unless he came out on top.
(d) No, his approach was unhealthy. It made him anxious and drove him to cheat. A healthy way to play is to enjoy the game, respect the rules, and use losses as a way to learn.
(e) Sporting spirit matters because it teaches us to be fair, respect others, and enjoy ourselves. It builds team skills, keeps games friendly, and helps us handle setbacks in life gracefully.
(f) The title is perfect because Prabhat undergoes a deep personal transformation. He starts as a selfish player who only cares about winning. By watching Surya, he learns that the real joy of sports is in playing fairly and having fun, which represents a true change of heart.
In simple words: Prabhat learned that focusing solely on winning is stressful and leads to cheating, whereas Surya's sporting spirit showed him that enjoying the game is what truly matters.

Exam Tip: Use direct contrasts between the two characters to answer questions about their different attitudes.

Let Us Learn

Question 1. Make as many words as possible using consecutive letters, without changing the order of the letters, from the words in the boxes. One has been done for you.
Answer: Here are the words formed using consecutive letters without changing their order:

BADMINTON: BAD, ADMIN, MINT, IN, TON, ON
PHENOMENON: PHENOM, NOMEN, HEN, NO, MEN
BASKETBALL: BASK, ASK, BALL, ALL, KET

Additional word puzzles:
INFORMATION: INFORM, FORM, INFO, AT, TION, IN
COMPUTER: COMPUTE, PUTER, PUT, TER, COMP
EDUCATION: EDUCATE, CATION, CAT, DU, CAT
In simple words: We can find smaller hidden words inside long words by looking at letters that sit next to each other.

Exam Tip: When looking for hidden words, read the big word left-to-right to spot smaller three-letter and four-letter words easily.

Question 2. Read the following sentences and circle the verbs.
(a) Everyone was discussing their game and how Prabhat had played so well.
(b) He had won the game but he did not feel as happy as he usually did.
(c) What was more surprising was that Surya had not felt bad about losing.
Answer: The verbs in the sentences are:
(a) was discussing, played (or had played)
(b) had won, did feel, did
(c) was, was, had felt, losing
In simple words: Verbs are action words that show what the characters in the sentences are doing.

Exam Tip: Look for both main action verbs (like 'played' or 'feel') and helping verbs (like 'was' or 'had') when identifying verbs in a sentence.

Question 3. Arrange the circled verbs as the first action (old action) or second action (new action). One has been done for you.
Answer: Here is the table arranging the verbs:

In simple words: When two things happen in the past, the past perfect tense (had + verb) shows the older action, and the simple past shows the newer action.

Exam Tip: Use 'had' with the past participle for the action that happened first, and simple past for the action that happened second.

Question 4. Fill in the blanks with the past perfect form of verbs given within the brackets.
(a) Prabhat _________ already _________ his homework before going to the badminton match. (finish)
(b) Surya _________ basketball for years before joining the school's badminton team. (play)
(c) By the time Prabhat arrived, Surya _________ already _________ several matches. (win)
(d) The new student, Surya, _________ Prabhat before coming to the school. (never meet)
(e) Before the games period, Prabhat _________ badminton extensively. (practice)
Answer:
(a) had already finished
(b) had played
(c) had already won
(d) had never met
(e) had practiced
In simple words: We use 'had' followed by the third form of the verb to show that an action was completed before another event in the past.

Exam Tip: Past perfect is always constructed using 'had' plus the past participle form of the verb (like 'had played' or 'had won').

Let Us Listen

Question 1. You will listen to an announcement. As you listen, circle the pair that was chosen to play chess. (refer to page 128 for transcript)
Rima - Dhiraj | Gita - Hitesh | Sarita - Nupur
Answer: Sarita - Nupur
In simple words: Sarita and Nupur were the two students selected to play the chess match.

Exam Tip: Listen closely for names mentioned right after sports activities like 'chess' to find the selected pair.

Question 2. You will once again listen to the announcement. As you listen, fill in the notes with important details.
Answer: Here is the completed sports details table:

In simple words: This table lists the key details from the school sports announcement, including match timings, scores, and organizers.

Exam Tip: Listen for specific numbers (like 'three matches' or '2nd and 3rd periods') and names (like 'Vani') during the listening passage.

Let Us Speak

Question 1. Look at the situations given below. In pairs, take turns to use the three magic words—‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’—for the situations given below. Use the prompts given in the table to learn how to thank and apologise properly.
Answer: Here are polite ways to handle each situation using the magic words:

1. Vani (asking to join a team): 'Hey everyone, could you please include me in your sports team today? I would love to play with you.'
2. Somiwon (asking Hitesh for help): 'Hitesh, could you please help me clean up the classroom cupboard? I really need a hand.'
3. Sumit (apologizing to Nupur for spilled water): 'Nupur, I am so sorry. I accidentally knocked over my water bottle on your desk. It was my mistake.'
4. Hitesh (apologizing to Simran for the art file): 'Simran, I am very sorry. I forgot to bring your art file to school today. I will bring it tomorrow.'
5. Kriti (apologizing to Nupur for being rude): 'Nupur, I am so sorry for speaking rudely to you earlier. I behaved badly and want to apologize.'
6. Mohan (thanking Hitesh for speech practice): 'Hitesh, thank you so much for helping me practice for the speech competition. Your support made a big difference!'
7. Meher (thanking Simran for catching up on lessons): 'Simran, I am so grateful to you for explaining the school lessons I missed when I was sick. Thank you so much.'
8. Rima (thanking Gita for fetching notebooks): 'Gita, thank you for helping me bring the heavy notebooks from the staff-room. You are a great friend!'
In simple words: These dialogues show us how to be polite by saying 'please' for help, 'sorry' for mistakes, and 'thank you' for kindness.

Exam Tip: Always specify the situation and address your friends by name to make your polite dialogues sound natural and sincere.

Let Us Write

Question. Prabhat managed to change the scoreboard while Surya was looking elsewhere. Yet, he did not feel so happy that night. Unable to sleep, he decided to write down his feelings in his diary. Complete it with the help of the phrases given in the box below.
Answer: Here is Prabhat's completed diary entry:

Saturday, 17 August 20XX 8:00 p.m.
Today, I defeated Surya in a badminton match but (i) I do not feel happy about it. He was playing very well and was getting the points easily. I was sure that (ii) I will lose the match. So, when everyone was laughing at a joke he cracked, (iii) I managed to change the scoreboard. No one noticed the change and (iv) I won the match. What surprised me the most was that he said (v) he had fun playing with me and we should play again. How could he be so relaxed after losing a match? He should have been sad if not crying over his loss!
Though (vi) everyone congratulated me after my win, I did not enjoy as I usually do. It really disturbed me that (vii) Surya did not feel bad about losing the match. Is it because I changed the score? I do not understand myself. Let me sleep now. I feel that it may make me feel better.
Goodnight!
In simple words: Prabhat felt guilty and unhappy in his diary because he cheated to win the match, while Surya remained completely happy and relaxed.

Exam Tip: In diary entries, write in the first person ('I') to express the character's private feelings and honest regrets.

Let Us Explore

Question 1. Read the brief bio-sketches of sportspersons from India.
Answer: Here are the summaries of these great Indian sportspersons:

Deepika Kumari: She is a famous archer from Jharkhand. Her father drove an auto-rickshaw and her mother worked as a nurse. As a child, she practiced target practice by throwing stones at mangoes, and used bows made of bamboo. She later trained at the Tata Archery Academy and won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Neeraj Chopra: He is a brilliant young athlete from Khandra village in Haryana, raised in a farming family. He made history as the first Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in the javelin throw. Through years of dedication, he became only the second Indian ever to win an individual Olympic gold medal, achieving this success at just 23 years old.
In simple words: Deepika Kumari grew up practicing with stones and bamboo bows, while Neeraj Chopra worked hard from a farming village to win an Olympic gold medal.

Exam Tip: Highlight key obstacles each athlete overcame to show how hard work leads to high achievements in life.

Question 2. Visit the links to know more about other Indian sportspersons.
Answer: This is an outdoor internet research activity. Students can look up sportspersons like Mary Kom, Milkha Singh, or P.V. Sindhu on the school computer to learn about their struggles and victories.
In simple words: You can use a computer or tablet to search for famous Indian sports heroes and learn about their inspiring life stories.

Exam Tip: When researching athletes online, note down their native state, their sport, and their main medals to present to your class.