Chapter 4 

                                                            THE THREE FISH


1. Q: Who were the three fish in the story, and what were their main characteristics?

Ans: The three fish were Amal, Chatur, and Budhu. Amal acted on time and was careful; Chatur was clever and could handle any situation; Budhu was foolish and never thought before acting.

2. Q: How did the three fish spend their warm day in the river?

Ans: They were enjoying themselves in the river, swimming and relaxing, unaware at first of the danger that was approaching.

3. Q: What did the fishermen plan to do when they saw the river full of fish?

Ans: The fishermen were joyful to see many healthy fish and planned to come the next day to catch as many fish as they could using their nets.

4. Q: How did Amal react when he overheard the fishermen’s conversation?

Ans: Amal immediately suggested that they leave the river quickly to avoid being caught by the fishermen.

5. Q: What was Chatur’s response to Amal’s suggestion to leave?

Ans: Chatur disagreed, saying he didn’t want to leave his birthplace. He believed he could handle the situation and thought that whatever happens will happen, showing confidence in his cleverness.

6. Q: How did Budhu react to the warning from Amal about the fishermen?

Ans: Budhu also refused to leave the river. He did not think carefully and continued to stay in the river with Chatur, ignoring Amal’s warning.

7. Q: What action did Amal take after the other two fish refused to leave?

Ans: Amal left the river with some other fishes, acting fast to save himself from the danger of the fishermen.

8. Q: What happened the next morning when the fishermen returned?

Ans: The fishermen spread their nets in the river and caught Chatur, Budhu, and the other fish who had stayed behind.

9. Q: How did Chatur save himself from being killed by the fishermen?

Ans: Chatur pretended to be dead by lying still in the net. The fishermen thought he was dead and threw him out with other dead fish. He then dragged himself back to the river and jumped in to save his life.

10. Q: What happened to Budhu when the fishermen caught him?

Ans: Budhu struggled in the net instead of staying still. One fisherman saw him, caught him, hit him against a boat, and killed him.

11. Q: Why was Amal considered the cleverest of all the three fish?

Ans: Amal acted fast and left the river immediately when he realized the danger, showing wisdom and quick thinking, which saved his life.

12. Q: How is Chatur described in the story after he saved himself?

Ans: Chatur is described as clever, because although he did not leave the river, he was able to save himself using his intelligence and quick thinking.

13. Q: Why was Budhu called “the foolish one”?

Ans: Budhu was called foolish because he did not listen to the advice of the others, acted without thinking, and as a result, lost his life.

14. Q: What lesson does the story teach about thinking before acting?

Ans: The story teaches that one should think carefully before acting. Acting recklessly without understanding the situation can lead to dangerous consequences.

15. Q: How does the story illustrate the importance of listening to wise advice?

Ans: Amal warned the others, and Chatur found a clever way to save himself. Budhu ignored the advice and suffered. This shows that listening to wise counsel can prevent harm.

16. Q: What role does cleverness play in the survival of Chatur?

Ans: Chatur’s cleverness allowed him to save his life by pretending to be dead, demonstrating that intelligence and presence of mind can help handle difficult situations.

17. Q: How did the fishermen judge which fish were alive or dead?

Ans: The fishermen assumed the fish lying still in the net were dead, and Chatur used this to trick them, while Budhu’s movement revealed he was alive.

18. Q: What does the story suggest about acting fast in dangerous situations?

Ans: The story suggests that acting quickly, like Amal did, is crucial in dangerous situations, as hesitation can lead to harm.

19. Q: How do Amal, Chatur, and Budhu represent different approaches to danger?

Ans: Amal represents quick action, Chatur represents clever thinking, and Budhu represents recklessness without thought.

20. Q: Why did Chatur decide to play dead instead of struggling like Budhu?

Ans: Chatur realized that struggling would alert the fishermen, so he played dead as a clever strategy to survive.

21. Q: What does the river symbolize in the story?

Ans: The river symbolizes the natural home of the fish but also represents situations in life where danger can unexpectedly appear.

22. Q: How does the story highlight the value of friendship?

Ans: Although the three fish were friends, their different actions in the face of danger show that true friendship also involves giving advice and warning each other about risks.

23. Q: What lesson can children learn from Budhu’s fate?

Ans: Children can learn that ignoring advice and acting without thinking can lead to serious consequences, including harm or failure.

24. Q: How does the story define “clever” through Chatur’s actions?

Ans: Cleverness is shown through Chatur’s ability to handle a dangerous situation wisely, using intelligence rather than speed alone to save himself.

25. Q: How does Amal demonstrate both speed and wisdom in the story?

Ans: Amal demonstrates speed by leaving immediately and wisdom by recognizing the threat early, showing that foresight combined with quick action ensures safety.

26. Q: Why did Budhu fail to survive despite being physically strong?

Ans: Budhu failed because he acted recklessly without thinking, demonstrating that physical strength alone is not enough to survive dangerous situations.

27. Q: What does the story teach about taking risks versus being cautious?

Ans: The story teaches that being cautious and assessing the situation, like Amal and Chatur, is safer than taking unnecessary risks, like Budhu.

28. Q: How did the fishermen’s actions create a test of intelligence for the fish?

Ans: By spreading the nets, the fishermen created a dangerous situation where the fish had to either act quickly, think cleverly, or risk being caught, testing their intelligence and survival skills.

29. Q: What role does timing play in the story?

Ans: Timing is crucial: Amal acted at the right moment, Chatur delayed but used clever timing to escape, and Budhu’s poor timing in struggling caused his death.

30. Q: How is “handling a situation” illustrated by Chatur?

Ans: Chatur handles the dangerous situation by staying calm, pretending to be dead, and escaping, showing that clever thinking can control even difficult circumstances.

Answer by Mrinmoee