Chapter 6

                                                           UPSIDE DOWN


1. What is the title of the poem and what is its central idea?

Answer: The title of the poem is “Upside Down.” The central idea of the poem is that some small creatures like beetles can easily walk upside down without practice, while human beings find it very difficult even after trying for a long time.


2. What exercise is mentioned in the warmer section?

Answer: The exercise mentioned in the warmer section is Shirshasan, which means standing on one’s head. It is a yoga exercise.


3. Why is Shirshasan called a good exercise?

Answer: Shirshasan is called a good exercise because it helps improve balance, concentration, and blood circulation in the body.


4. What two questions are asked in the warmer activity?

Answer: The warmer activity asks whether students have ever done Shirshasan and what their experience was, and whether some students can do Shirshasan in the class.


5. Who is the speaker in the poem?

Answer: The speaker in the poem is a human being, not an animal.


6. Which creatures are mentioned at the beginning of the poem?

Answer: The poem begins by mentioning beetles and other small creatures.


7. What special ability of beetles is described in the poem?

Answer: The beetles can walk upside down as well as walk flat, which shows their amazing natural ability.


8. Where can beetles crawl according to the poem?

Answer: According to the poem, beetles can crawl on the ceiling.


9. What other surface can beetles climb easily?

Answer: Beetles can easily climb on a wall.


10. Do beetles need practice to walk upside down?

Answer: No, beetles do not need any practice. They can do it without any practice at all.


11. Do beetles face trouble while walking upside down?

Answer: No, beetles face no trouble at all while walking upside down.


12. How long has the speaker been trying to stand on his head?

Answer: The speaker has been trying to stand on his head for a year or even more.


13. Is the speaker successful in standing on his head?

Answer: No, the speaker is not successful in standing on his head.


14. What exactly does the speaker fail to do?

Answer: The speaker fails to stand with his head on the floor, which means he cannot do Shirshasan.


15. How does the poem show the difference between humans and animals?

Answer: The poem shows that animals can do difficult things naturally, while humans need practice and effort and still may fail.


16. What feeling does the word ‘funny’ express in the poem?

Answer: The word ‘funny’ expresses wonder and amusement at how easily creatures can walk upside down.


17. What does the word ‘beetles’ mean according to the glossary?

Answer: The word ‘beetles’ means गुबरैला.


18. What is the meaning of ‘creatures’?

Answer: The word ‘creatures’ means जीव-जन्तु.


19. What does ‘crawl’ mean as given in the glossary?

Answer: The word ‘crawl’ means रेंगना या कुलबुलाना.


20. What is the meaning of ‘ceiling’?

Answer: The word ‘ceiling’ means छत का निचला भाग.


21. What does the word ‘trouble’ mean?

Answer: The word ‘trouble’ means परेशानी या कठिनाई.


22. Explain the meaning of ‘upside down’.

Answer: The phrase ‘upside down’ means उल्टा, with the head down and feet up.


23. What does ‘as well as’ mean?

Answer: The phrase ‘as well as’ means और या तथा.


24. What is the meaning of ‘at all’?

Answer: The phrase ‘at all’ means जरा भी नहीं.


25. What does ‘practice’ mean?

Answer: The word ‘practice’ means अभ्यास, repeated effort to learn something.


26. What is the meaning of ‘still’?

Answer: The word ‘still’ means अब भी या अभी भी.


27. What does the word ‘floor’ mean?

Answer: The word ‘floor’ means फर्श.


28. List any two things that beetles can do.

Answer: Beetles can walk upside down and crawl on the ceiling.


29. Why does the poet compare himself with beetles?

Answer: The poet compares himself with beetles to show how effortless their abilities are compared to human effort.


30. What message does the poem give about practice?

Answer: The poem shows that even with practice, some things are difficult for humans, while nature gives animals special abilities.


31. Is the poem serious or humorous? Give a reason.

Answer: The poem is humorous because it gently makes fun of the speaker’s inability to stand upside down.


32. How does the poem help children enjoy learning?

Answer: The poem uses simple language, rhyme, and funny comparison, making learning enjoyable.


33. What quality of animals is highlighted in the poem?

Answer: The poem highlights the natural skill and balance of animals.


34. Why is the poem suitable for young learners?

Answer: The poem is suitable because it is short, rhythmic, easy to understand, and related to daily observation.


35. What does the poem teach about human limitations?

Answer: The poem teaches that humans have limitations and must accept them with a sense of humor.


36. How does the poem connect with yoga?

Answer: The poem connects with yoga through Shirshasan, which involves standing upside down.


37. What observation skill does the poem encourage?

Answer: The poem encourages children to observe nature carefully.


38. Why does the speaker feel amazed by beetles?

Answer: The speaker feels amazed because beetles can do difficult actions without effort or training.


39. What lesson can children learn from this poem?

Answer: Children learn to appreciate nature, accept their limits, and enjoy learning with curiosity.


40. Summarize the poem ‘Upside Down’ in your own words.

Answer: The poem describes how beetles and small creatures can easily walk upside down, while a human being cannot do so even after trying for a long time. It humorously shows the difference between natural abilities of animals and human effort.

Answer by Mrinmoee