The Donkey - Class 4 English NCERT Solutions

Get complete solutions for "The Donkey," Class 4 English NCERT. This poem describes the simple, often misunderstood nature of a donkey, encouraging children to view animals with kindness and empathy. The page provides answers, vocabulary, and extra questions to help students understand the poem’s message and prepare for exams.

Summary of the Poem

English Summary:

The poem "The Donkey" by Margaret S. Russell is a short, sweet piece about kindness towards animals. The speaker in the poem talks about how they would treat a stubborn donkey. Instead of using force or punishment ("wallop"), they would choose to be kind and offer the donkey hay and corn. The poem suggests that with proper care and nourishment, the donkey would become "the best donkey that ever was born." This simple poem teaches children about the importance of kindness and proper care for animals.

Hindi Summary:

"द डॉनकी" कविता मार्गरेट एस. रसेल द्वारा लिखी गई एक छोटी और मधुर रचना है जो जानवरों के प्रति दयालुता के बारे में बात करती है। कविता में वक्ता बताता है कि वह एक जिद्दी गधे के साथ कैसा व्यवहार करेगा। बल या सजा ("वैलप") का उपयोग करने के बजाय, वह दयालु होने और गधे को घास और मक्का देने का विकल्प चुनेगा। कविता सुझाव देती है कि उचित देखभाल और पोषण के साथ, गधा "अब तक का सबसे अच्छा गधा" बन जाएगा। यह सरल कविता बच्चों को जानवरों के प्रति दयालुता और उचित देखभाल के महत्व के बारे में सिखाती है।

Vocabulary List

Answers to the Exercises

Fun time

1. Complete what is missing in these drawings. What work do these men or women do?

A policeman directs traffic
He keeps law and order in the city.

An ice-cream man sells ice cream
He makes children happy with cold treats.

A wrestler fights in matches
He demonstrates strength and skill in the ring.

A milkman delivers milk
He brings fresh dairy products to homes.

A grocer sells groceries
He provides various food items to customers.

Picture Story

Match pictures to the text and give an ending to the story by drawing the sixth picture. Give it a title.

The correct order of the pictures based on the given text would be:

1. "He is young." (Picture of a small donkey)
2. "I am sad." (Picture of the donkey looking sad)
3. "He is heavy." (Picture of the donkey carrying a heavy load)
4. "They are strong." (Picture of two people helping the donkey)
5. "I am happy now!" (Picture of the donkey looking happy)
6. (Students should draw their own picture to conclude the story)

A possible title for this story could be "The Donkey's Journey" or "Helping Hands for a Happy Donkey".

Additional Short Answer Questions

1. What does the speaker in the poem say they would not do to the donkey?
   The speaker says they would not wallop (hit or beat) the donkey.
2. What would the speaker give to the donkey instead of punishing it?
   The speaker would give the donkey some hay and corn.
3. Why do you think the speaker chooses to be kind to the donkey?
   The speaker likely chooses to be kind because they believe kindness is more effective than punishment and it's the right way to treat animals.
4. What does the poem suggest will happen if the donkey is treated well?
   The poem suggests that if treated well, the donkey will become "the best donkey that ever was born".
5. How does this poem teach about animal care?
   The poem teaches about animal care by showing that animals respond better to kindness and proper feeding than to force or punishment.
6. What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?
   The rhyme scheme of this poem is ABCB (go-no, corn-born).
7. How might the message of this poem apply to dealing with people?
   The message of kindness and proper care could also apply to dealing with people, suggesting that kindness and meeting basic needs is more effective than force or punishment.
8. Why do you think the poet chose a donkey for this poem?
   The poet might have chosen a donkey because donkeys are often stereotyped as stubborn, making the message of kindness more impactful.
9. What does the word "wallop" mean in this context?
   In this context, "wallop" means to hit or beat forcefully.
10. How does the tone of the poem change from the first to the second stanza?
    The tone changes from a question about potential punishment to a positive statement about kindness and care.
11. What is the significance of the phrase "the best donkey that ever was born"?
    This phrase suggests that with proper care and kindness, the donkey will become exceptionally good, emphasizing the positive effects of good treatment.
12. How does the structure of the poem contribute to its message?
    The poem's simple structure with short lines and a clear contrast between potential negative and positive actions makes its message easy for children to understand.
13. What moral lesson can be drawn from this poem?
    The moral lesson is that kindness and proper care are more effective than force or punishment in dealing with animals (and by extension, people).
14. How might this poem encourage children to think about their treatment of animals?
    By presenting a clear choice between punishment and kindness, the poem encourages children to consider the effects of their actions on animals and choose kindness.
15. What does this poem suggest about problem-solving?
    The poem suggests that when faced with a problem (like a stubborn donkey), it's better to address the underlying needs (food) rather than resorting to force.