Chapter 1

                                                      A Tale of Two Birds


1.Who were the main characters in the story?

Answer: The main characters were a mother bird, her two young ones, a king, a rishi, and a gang of robbers.


2.Where did the mother bird and her young ones live?

Answer: They lived in a tall, shady tree in a forest where the mother bird took care of her chicks day and night.


3.What happened to the mother bird?

Answer: The mother bird was killed during a big storm when a heavy branch fell on the nest.


4.How did the storm affect the baby birds?

Answer: The strong wind blew the two baby birds away to different parts of the forest, separating them from each other.


5.Where did the first baby bird land after the storm?

Answer: The first bird landed near a cave where a gang of robbers lived.


6.Where did the second baby bird land?

Answer: The second bird landed outside a rishi’s ashram a little distance away.


7.How did the baby birds grow up in their new homes?

Answer: Each bird adapted to its environment. The one near the robbers learned to imitate their language and behavior, while the one near the rishi grew gentle and kind.


8.What kind of person was the rishi?

Answer: The rishi was a wise and holy man who treated visitors kindly and taught valuable lessons about behavior and company.


9.What did the king notice when he came near the robbers’ cave?

Answer: He heard a voice telling the robbers to hurry and take his jewels and horse, which surprised him.


10.How did the king react to hearing the voice from the tree?

Answer: He was amazed and hurried away on his horse, realizing something unusual about the birds.


11.What did the first bird say to the robbers?

Answer: The first bird repeated what it had learned from the robbers, telling them to take the king’s jewels and horse quickly.


12.What did the second bird say to the king at the rishi’s ashram?

Answer: The second bird politely welcomed the king, offered him cold water, and invited him to rest inside the ashram.


13.How were the two birds similar?

Answer: Both birds looked alike in appearance and came from the same nest.


14.How were the two birds different?

Answer: They behaved differently due to the influence of the environments they grew up in—one imitated robbers, the other learned goodness from the rishi.


15.What lesson does the rishi give about the behavior of the birds?

Answer: The rishi said, “One is known by the company one keeps,” highlighting how surroundings influence behavior.


16.Why did the first bird not talk to its sibling anymore?

Answer: The first bird had learned to behave like the robbers and could no longer communicate in the way the second bird did.


17.How did the king come to know the true story of the birds?

Answer: He learned the story after meeting the rishi, who explained why the birds behaved differently.


18.How did the robbers’ environment influence the first bird?

Answer: The first bird mimicked the robbers, learning their language and instructions about stealing.


19.How did the rishi’s environment influence the second bird?

Answer: The second bird adopted polite, kind, and helpful behavior, welcoming strangers and acting gently.


20.What did the king observe about the forest from this experience?

Answer: He realized the forest is full of surprises and that appearances can be deceiving.


21.What is the moral of the story?

Answer: The story teaches that the company one keeps influences behavior and character. Surroundings shape who we become.


22.Which proverb best sums up the story?

Answer: “One is known by the company one keeps.”


22.Why did the story emphasize the different behaviors of the birds despite their similarity?

Answer: To show that upbringing and environment have a strong impact on personality and actions.


23.What does the story tell us about the influence of bad company?

Answer: Being around bad company can lead to learning wrongful behavior and values.


24.What does the story tell us about the influence of good company?

Answer: Being in a good environment nurtures kindness, helpfulness, and positive habits.


25.How does the story relate to human society?

Answer: It illustrates that people’s behavior and values are influenced by the company they keep, just like the birds.


26.Why is environment important in shaping personality?

Answer: It provides experiences, examples, and habits that we imitate, shaping our choices and character.


27.What would likely happen if the first bird had grown near the rishi instead of the robbers?

Answer: It would have behaved like the second bird—polite, helpful, and kind.


28.What would likely happen if the second bird had grown with the robbers?

Answer: It would have adopted the robbers’ cunning and stealing habits, like the first bird.


29.How can this story be applied to education or upbringing?

Answer: It teaches parents and teachers that children must be raised in a good environment to develop positive habits and morals.


30.Why did the king believe the two birds were brothers?

Answer: Because they looked alike and were both born in the same nest.


31.Why did the first bird imitate the robbers’ speech?

Answer: Because it had grown hearing only the robbers’ language and instructions.


32.Why did the king feel surprised at the ashram?

Answer: He was surprised to hear one bird talk politely while the other imitated robbers, despite their identical appearance.


33.What lesson can leaders learn from this story?

Answer: Leaders can see the importance of environment and influence on behavior, guiding people toward positive habits.


34.How does the story show the importance of mentorship?

Answer: The second bird learned goodness from the rishi, showing that a good mentor shapes character positively.


35.Why is this story titled “A Tale of Two Birds”?

Answer: Because it revolves around two sibling birds and contrasts their behaviors, emphasizing the moral lesson.


36.How does the story highlight cause and effect?

Answer: The storm caused separation, which led to each bird’s exposure to different environments, ultimately shaping their personalities.


37.Could the birds have behaved differently if they were together after the storm?

Answer: Yes, if they stayed together, they might have influenced each other and adopted similar behaviors.


38.What message does the story give about choices and habits?

Answer: Habits are formed by surroundings, and individuals should choose environments that encourage good behavior.


39.How can this story help in understanding human character and society?

Answer: It teaches that people are influenced by friends, society, and surroundings, and that nurturing environments produce better behavior and ethics.

Answer by Mrinmoee