Nasruddin’s Aim

A man talking to his friends.

One day, Nasruddin was chatting with his friends.

He began to boast, “No one can match my skill in archery.

I string the bow, take aim, and shoot the arrow...

Wh...o...o...sh.

The arrow is sure to hit right on target.”

Hearing this, one of his friends immediately brought a bow and some arrows.

Giving them to Nasruddin, he said, “Here, Nasruddin! Take this bow and arrows.”

Then pointing towards a target, he said, “Aim at that target and shoot an arrow.”

Man giggling as the arrow fell before hitting the target.

Nasruddin held the bow in his hands, strung it, aimed at the target and shot an arrow.

Wh...o...o...o...o...

The arrow didn’t hit the target! Instead it fell down somewhere in the middle.

“Ha...ha...ha...ha...” His friends started laughing.

They said, “Hey, Nasruddin! Is this your best aim?”

“Oh, no!

Not at all,” said Nasruddin, defending himself. “This wasn’t my aim. It was Azad’s aim.

I just showed you how Azad shoots an arrow.”

Saying this, Nasruddin picked up another arrow.

Once again, he strung the bow, aimed at the target, and shot the arrow.

This time, the arrow fell a little further from where it had fallen before.

Few men standing with one holding a bow in his hand.

But it certainly didn’t hit the target!

They asked Nasruddin, “And this must be how you shoot an arrow!”

“Of course not,” argued Nasruddin.

“Even this aim was not mine. It was the chief guard’s aim.”

Now somebody remarked,

“Well...

Now who’s next on the list?”

Hearing this, all the friends burst out laughing.

Nasruddin didn’t say a word. He quietly picked up one more arrow.

And again... And this time

Nasruddin was really lucky! The arrow hit right on the target!

Man laughing as the arrow hits target

Everybody stared at Nasruddin, their mouths agape in amazement.

Before anyone could say anything, Nasruddin said triumphantly, “Did you see that? It was my aim!”

New words

chatting, archery, string, target, defending, amazement, triumphantly

4Reading is fun

1. What did Nasruddin boast about?

2. Why did Nasruddin take someone else’s name each time he missed the target?

3. Why did Nasruddin say, “It was my aim,” the third time?

4. Do you think Nasruddin was good at archery?

Read and enjoy

Nasruddin Hodja

King and Nasruddin Hodja going on a hunt while riding horse.
One day the king forced Nasruddin Hodja to go on a hunt with him.

King and Nasruddin talking after returning from hunt.
When the hunting party returned in the evening
How did the hunt go?
It was wonderful.

King talking to Nasruddin.
Did you kill any animal?
No

King is irritated by Nasruddin's answers.
Did you chase any animal?
No

King is angry while Nasruddin is smiling.
Did you see any animal?
No

King is angry.
Then why do you say the hunt was wonderful?

Nasruddin is talking.
Oh! My dear, when you go to hunt such dangerous animals.

Nasruddin is happy and King is in surprise.
- It is always marvelous not to come across any!

Be a Nasruddin Hodja Yourself

An old lady walking up the stairs.
Old lady fell from the stairs.
A boy helping the old lady.

Are you hurt?
What would you have done if your grandmother slipped?

Word building

1. Shoot the arrow and hit the target by matching the words with their correct meanings.

Arrow

Chatting

Target

shooting with a bow and arrow

Arrow

Amazement

Target

talking informally

Arrow

Archery

Target

protecting from attack

Arrow

Defending

Target

great surprise

Arrow

Target

Target

happily and proudly

Arrow

Triumphantly

Target

the goal intended to be hit

2. Replace the bold word/words with a word from the quiver and re-write the sentence –

Some words written in a quiver
target, certainly, remarked on

In no time she hit the object she aimed at.

Nasruddin was surely not a good archer.

The teacher said something about his good handwriting. He felt very happy.

A smiling boy

Let’s write

1. This is a picture of Rahul Gupta. Using the clues given, write a paragraph about him in your notebook.


Clues - Indian, cricket, eight hours, practises, eats healthy food, runs two kilometres every day, batsman











2. This is Rajiv’s family. They are a healthy family. See what each one does to remain healthy.

Man exercising with dumbbells Woman performing Yoga Girl is skipping rope Old man is walking Old woman is holding a glass Boy is running

3. Use the words ‘and’ or ‘but’ and make as many sentences as you can about Rajiv’s family.

Example: Grandpa and Grandma get up early in the morning.

Grandpa is walking but Rajiv is jogging.













Fun time

Watch the arrow pierce the apple!

Would you like to see the arrow piercing the red apple?

Bring the page close to your face, touch the star with your nose, and then look at the picture!

Apple and an arrow

Let’s play

1. Fill in the grid with words given below. You can use one word more than once.

Stick, bat/ball, eleven, table, racket, ball, football, stadium, two to four, ground

Name of the game What you play with Where you play it Number of players
cricket
hockey
table tennis
football

2. Using the information in the grid, write a sentence about each game. One has been done for you.

(a) Cricket is an outdoor game.
We play it with a bat and a ball.
There are eleven players in this game.

(b)






(c)






(d)






3. The following words are used in various sports. List them under the sport that they are used in.

(a) googly (b) goal (c) LBW (d) penalty (e) free kick (f) penalty corner

Some words may be used in more than one game.

Hockey Cricket Football
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.

Team time

A Puppet head

You can use an old tennis ball which has lost its bounce, to make the head of a puppet. She looks like a little girl in a skirt nd is very quick and easy to make.

Look at the picture carefully and you will see how she works – your fingers are her arms!

You need –

a tennis ball, needle, wool, coloured cloth.

Method –

A needle and a ball.

1. Start with the head. Make a small hole in the ball and push a long, thick knitting- needle (about size 3), into it.

2. The needle goes in on one side and right across inside the ball to touch the opposite side.

Needle pinned into the ball.

3. The hole needs to be very small, so that it is difficult to push the needle in. In this way it will fit tightly and remain firm when you play with your puppet.

4. Now cut the thick top off an old nylon sock and stretch it tightly round the ball, sewing it together down the back.

Plaits made of wool.

5. Take some coloured wool and stick on the ball. Make plaits. Paint the eyes and lips on the ball.

6. Cut two holes in the coloured cloth to put in your fingers.

Dress of the puppet.

7. Hold the needle in your hand to hold your puppet.

Puppet.

Write two sentences on your puppet.