NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Chapter 1 Who Did Patrick’s Homework

NCERT Class 6 English Literature Prose Chapter 1: Who Did Patrick’s Homework? Question And Answers

The chapter ‘Who Did Patrick’s Homework?’ has been written by Carol Moore. The story explains through the character of Patrick that self-help can do wonders.

Patrick thinks up a plan to make an elf his homework and get good grades. However, the elf makes Patrick do his work. As a result, Patrick scores well in his exams and became a good child.

Read And Learn More NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Literature

Patrick and his Homework

Patrick was a school-going boy who never did his homework. He liked playing hockey, basketball, and Nintendo (video games).

He hated doing his homework and his teachers would scold him for it. They would say that if he will not do his homework he won’t learn anything.

NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Chapter 1

Patrick, his Cat, and the Elf

One day, Patrick found his cat playing with a little doll and took it away. But surprisingly, it was not a doll. It was a little man or an elf. He wore a shirt made of wool, old-fashioned pants, and a tall hat.

The little man asked Patrick to save him from the cat in exchange for a wish. Patrick became happy because the little man was the solution to his problems.

Patrick told the elf to do his homework till the end of the semester which was 35 days later. He looked forward to getting an A grade in all his subjects.

Patrick’s Homework and the Elf’s Plan

The elf was very upset but he had made a promise. So, he started doing Patrick’s homework. However, there were many times when the elf did not know what to do and needed Patrick’s help.

When he did not know a word, he asked Patrick to get him a dictionary and read each word. When it came to maths, the elf did not know anything as the elves did not need it

So, he asked Patrick to help him solve the math problems. Further, the elf also made Patrick read books on human history

Patrick Started Working Hard

The elf had become a trouble for Patrick as he kept on complaining about one thing or another. As a result, Patrick was working very hard.

He was studying till late at night and going to school every day. His eyes were puffed and dull because of lack of sleep. Finally, when the last day of school arrived, the elf left Patrick’s house through the back door quietly.

Who Did Patrick’s Homework Question Answers

Patrick Gets A Grades!

Patrick scored A grades in all of his subjects. His parents and friends were amazed, while his teachers praised him. They all wondered about Patrick’s change of behavior.

He became a model kid. He cleaned his room, did his tasks, and also became cheerful. Patrick believed that the elf did his homework, but the truth was that he did his homework himself.

Answer the following questions. 

Question 1. What did Patrick think his cat was playing with? What was it?
Answer: Patrick thought that his cat was playing with a little doll. In reality, it was a little man or an elf who wore a woolen shirt with old-fashioned britches (short trousers) and a tall hat.

Question 2. Why did the little man grant Patrick a wish?
Answer: The little man granted Patrick a wish because he saved the little man from his cat and pulled him out of danger.

Question 3. What was Patrick’s wish?
Answer: Patrick wished that the little man should do all his homework by the end of the semester which was for 35 days.

Question 4. In what subjects did the little man need help, to do Patrick’s homework?
Answer: The little man needed help in English, Mathematics, and History.

Question 5. How did Patrick help him?
Answer: Patrick helped the little man in every way. He guided and assisted the little man in looking up words, solving math problems, and reading out portions from history books. He even visited the library many times and worked till late at night.

Class 6 English Chapter 1 Explanation

Question 6. Who do you think did Patrick’s homework-the little man, or Patrick himself?
Answer: Patrick himself did his homework because the little man tricked him into doing it. He told Patrick to find the meaning of words from a dictionary and help him in history and solve mathematics problems. Patrick had to guide the elf the whole time.

Work With Language

Question 1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with the words or phrases from the box. (You may not know the meaning of all the words. Look such words up in the dictionary, or ask your teacher.

1. Some people find household……….a bore, but I like to help at home.
Answer: chores

2. Who stole the diamond is still a ………..,
Answer: mystery

3. This………. we are going to have a class exhibition
Answer: Semester

4. ……….the elf began to help Patrick.
Answer: True to his word

5. Can you………this word in the dictionary?
Answer: lookup

6. I started early to be on time, but I was. There was a traffic jam!
Answer: out of luck

7. She says she’s got a lot of books, but thinks most of them are borrowed
Answer: between you and me

Question 2. Use the clues given below to complete this crossword puzzle.

Across

1. very tired
Answer: Weary

2. had an angry look on the face
Answer: Scowled

3. short trousers
Answer: Breeches

4. a fault in a machine that prevents it from working properly
Answer: Glitch

5. A small and naughty boy-fairy
Answer: Elf

Down

6. work that must be done every day, often boring
Answer: Chores

7. a basket with a lid
Answer: Hamper

8. gave a short, high-pitched cry
Answer: Shrieked

Speaking

Question 1. In the story, Patrick does difficult things he hates to do because the elf pretends he needs help. Have you ever done something difficult or frightening, by pretending about it in some way? Tell your classmates about it.

Answer: Yes, once I was told to participate in a play to be performed on the occasion of the Annual Day of the school in front of teachers, principals, and parents.

I was afraid because I had never performed in front of such a large audience. However, my parents and teachers helped and encouraged me and I played my part perfectly.

Say what you feel about homework. (The words and phrases in the boxes may help you). Do you think it is useful, even though you may not like it? Form pairs and speak to each other.

For example: You may say, “I am not fond of homework.”

Your partner may reply, “But my sister helps me with my lessons at home and that gives a boost to my marks.

(not) be fond of (not) take to (not) develop a liking for (not) appeal to (not) be keen on (not) have a taste for

Answer:

• Rita: I find it very tiresome to do homework on weekdays.
• Sabita: Why is it so? I don’t feel the same.
• Rita: We spend the whole day at school so we already get very little time for ourselves, and we have to do homework too.
• Sabita: That’s true but it’s not too difficult if we have someone to assist us. It also gives a boost to our spirit.
• Rita: Do you have someone to help you?
• Sabita: Yes, my sister helps me. I have developed a liking for doing homework together with her.
• Rita: That’s great. She supports you a lot.
• Sabita: True, you should also ask your mother to assist you.
• Rita: Yes, I’ll do that. Thank you for the suggestion.
• Sabita: You’re welcome and good luck.

Writing

Question 1. This story has a lot of rhyming words, as a poem does. Can you write out some parts of it like a poem, so that the rhymes come at the end of separate lines? For example, Patrick never did homework. “Too boring,” he said. He played basketball, hockey, and Nintendo instead.
Answer:

The following are some rhyming lines:

1. He had a little wool shirt with old-fashioned britches and a high tall hat much like a witch’s.
2. Save me! Don’t give me back to that cat I Save me! Don’t give me back to that cat. I will grant you a wish, I promise you that.
3. He kicked his legs and doubled his fists and he grimaced and scowled and pursed his lips
4. No, what’s even better, look up the word and sound it out by each letter
5. Here, sit down beside me, you simply must guide me.
6. Elves know nothing of human history, to them it’s a mystery
7. So the little man, already a shouter just got louder.

Question 2. Look at these sentences.

1. Too boring,” he said.
2. Cleaned his room, and did his chores. When we speak, we often leave out words that can easily be guessed.

We do not do this when we write unless we are trying to write as we speak (as in the story). So, if we were to write carefully, we would say:

1. Homework is too boring,” he said.
2. He cleaned his room and did his chores.

Answer: Do it yourself.

Question 3. Rewrite the following incomplete sentences carefully, so that the reader does not have to guess what is left out.

1. More And More Books.
2. Too Difficult.
3. Got Up Late, Missed The Bus
4. Solved The Mystery

Answer:

1. More and more books: Patrick must read more and more books to increase his knowledge.
2. Too difficult: The sums are too difficult to be solved by Patrick.
3. Got up late, missed the bus: Patrick could not appear in the exam because he got up late and missed the bus.
4. Solved the mystery: Only scientists could solve the mystery behind the expanding universe.

Question 4. Look at this cartoon by RK Laxman. Read the sentence given below the cartoon. Discuss the following questions with your partner.

Get on with your homework—the sums, the composition, history, geography, chemistry, physics—and stop reading the Lauss Against Child labors!

1. What is it about?
Answer: The cartoon is about a child being overburdened with his homework. He is being monitored by his elders so that he can concentrate on his homework.

2. Do you find it funny? If so, why?
Answer: No, I don’t find it funny because it tells us about the problems in our education system. It is affecting the lives of our children and needs to be addressed. Too much homework is not good for a child’s health.

3. Do you think a cartoon is a serious drawing? Why or why not?
Answer: Yes, a cartoon is a serious drawing because it makes us aware of the problems that persist in our society. The way it conveys its message is humorous, but it makes us think about the issue.

NCERT Class 6 English Literature Prose Chapter 1 Who Did Patrick’s Homework? Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1. What was the warning given to Patrick by his teachers?

1. To submit his completed project file by the end of the semester.
2. To do his homework otherwise, he won’t be able to learn anything.
3. To achieve good grades otherwise, he would be expelled from the school.
4. To prepare a dance performance for the annual function of the school.

Answer: 2. To do his homework otherwise he won’t be able to learn anything

Question 2. Which of the following did the little man not wear?

1. Litde cotton shirt.
2. High tall hat.
3. Old-fashioned breeches.
4. Little wool shirt.

Answer: 1. Little cotton shirt

Question 3. “Help me! Help me!” Who said the following and to whom?

1. They left the cat
2. Patrick to the elf
3. The elf to Patrick.
4. Patrick to his parents

Answer: 3. The elf to Patrick

Question 4. Read the given statements and choose the correct answer.

1. Statement1 Patrick preferred to play video games and basketball.
2. Statement 2 Patrick’s teachers scolded him because he did not like doing his homework.
3. Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect.
4. Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct.
5. Both statements are correct.
6. Both the statements are incorrect.

Answer: 3. Both the statements are correct.

Question 5. What did the elf want in return for the wish?

1. To be freed after 35 days
2. To be protected from the cat
3. For Patrick to help him with the work
4. For Patrick to get A’s on his homework

Answer: 2. To be protected from the cat

Question 6. Oh, am I cursed! But I’ll do it.” How is the elf most likely feeling when he says this?

1. Tired
2. Guilty
3. Scared
4. Helpless

Answer: 4. Helpless

Question 7. I don’t know this word,” the elf squeaked while…………..

1. Looking At The Dictionary.
2. Looking At The Dictionary.
3. Ending The History Text.
4. Looking At The Math Homework.
5. Reading Patrick’s Homework.

Answer: 4. reading Patrick’s homework

Question 8. Read the given statements and choose the correct answer.

1. Statement 1 Patrick saved the elf to make him do the homework.
2. Statement 2 The elf worked very hard and did all of Patrick’s homework.
3. Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect.
4. Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct.
5. Both statements are correct.
6. The statements are incorrect.

Answer: 1. Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect.

Question 9. Arrange the following options in the correct sequence.

1. The Elf agreed to do Patrick’s homework for the entire semester
2. Patrick’s cat was playing with a doll.
3. The Elf made Patrick work very hard.
4. Patrick saved the elf from his cat.
5. Patrick got A grades in the final exams.

Choose the correct answer

1. (1), (2), (3), (5), (4)
2. (4), (3), (2), (5), (1)
3. (2), (4), (1), (3), (5
4. (5), (1), (5), (2), (3)

Answer: 3. (2), (4), (1), (3), (5

Question 10. What Did Patrick Do That Surprised His Parents Very Much?

1. Patrick Decided To Move Out Of The House.
2. Patrick Helped His Mother Cook Dinner.
3. Patrick Got ‘A’ Grades In His Exams.
4. Patrick Named His Cat Crookshanks.

Answer: 3. Patrick Got ‘A’ Grades In His Exams

CBSE Class 6 English Chapter 1 Notes

Question 11. Which word best describes the elf?

1. Shy
2. Helpful
3. Cunning
4. Arrogant

Answer: 2. Cunning

Question 12. What did the elf’s presence do?

1. Forced Patrick into action
2. Revealed Patrick’s ignorance
3. How Patrick the value of honesty
4. Taught Patrick to appreciate hard work

Answer: 4. Taught Patrick to appreciate hard work

Question 13. Which of these best describes the moral of the story?

1. Self-help is the best help
2. All that glitters is not gold
3. An idle brain is the devil’s workshop
4. A bad workman always blames his tools

Answer: 1. Self-help is the best help

Question 14. Patrick’s story is a tale of……..

1. Adventure
2. Mystery
3. Humor
4. Horror

Answer: 3. humour

Extract Based Questions

Question 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

He yelled, “Save me! Don’t give me back to that cat. I’ll grant you a wish, I promise you that.” Patrick couldn’t believe how lucky he was! Here was the answer to all of his problems.

So he said, “Only if you do all my homework till the end of the semester, that’s 35 days. If you do a good enough job, I could even get A’s.”

1. Why did the little man tell Patrick to help him?
Answer: The little man told Patrick to help him because there was a cat who could have killed him.

2. Write about the reason behind Patrick’s happiness.
Answer: Patrick was happy because he found somebody who could do his homework.

Who is ‘He’ in the first line of the extract?
Answer: ‘He’ in the first line ofthe extract is the little man/elf.

…..granted a wish to Patrick.
Answer: The little man (elf).

State whether the following statement is ‘True’ or ‘False’. Patrick was a solution to the little man’s problems.
Answer: False.

Question 2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Finally, the last day of school arrived and the little man was free to go. As for homework, there was no more, so he quietly and slyly slipped out of the back door.

Patrick got his A’s; his classmates were amazed; his teachers smiled and were full of praise. And his parents? They wondered what had happened to Patrick.

1. Why was the little man free to go?
Answer: The little man was free to go because it was the last day of the school and end of the semester.

2. Patrick had promised to let the ego when the semester ended after 35 days. Patrick’s teachers were full of praise. Give a reason.
Answer: Patrick’s teachers were full of praise because he got a grade of ‘A’ in all the subjects and performed well in the class.

3. Find a word from the extract which is the opposite of ‘loudly’.
Answer: The word ‘Quietly’ from the extract is the opposite of ‘loudly’

4. State whether the following statement is True or False. The word ‘slyly’ in the extract means ‘secretly’
Answer: True.

5. They wondered what had happened to Patrick.” ‘They’ in the line refers to ………
Answer: Patrick’s parents

Question 3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Then one day he found his cat playing with a little doll and he grabbed it away. To his surprise it wasn’t a doll at all, but a man of the tiniest size.

He had a little wool shirt with old-fashioned britches and a high tall hat much like a witch’s.

1. What Was The Cat Doing?

1. Playing With A Cat
2. Playing With A Little Doll
3. Sleeping
4. Hiding Under A Table

Answer: 3. Playing With A Little Doll

2. He’s In The First Line Of The Ex Tract Refers To

1. Patrick’S Father
2. The Dog
3. The Elf
4. The Dog
5. Patric

Answer: 4. Patric

3. In Reality, ‘The Doll’ Was A

1. Man With Magical Power
2. Man the biggest Size
3. Man Of The Tiniest Size
4. Man With Long Ears

Answer: 3. Man Of The Tiniest Size

4. The Little Man Wanted To ……

1. Stay With The Cat
2. Rest
3. Be Saved From The Cat
4. Be Left Alone

Answer: 3. Be Saved From The Cat

5. Which Is The Comparative Form Of The Adjective Tiniest’?

1. Tiny
2. Tinnier
3. Tinier
4. Tinny

Answer: 3.Tinier

Question 4. Read The Extract Given Below And Answer The Questions That Follow.

The Little Man’s Face Wrinkled Like A Dishcloth Thrown In The Hamper. He Kicked His Legs And Doubled His Fists And He Grimaced And Scowled And Pursed His Lips. “Oh, Am I Cursed! But I’ll Do It”.

1. Why Did The Little Man’s Face Wrinkle?

1. Because He Was Old.
2. Because The Cat Had Scratched It.
3. Because He Had To Do His Homework.
4. Because He Had To Do Patrick’s Homework.

Answer: 4. Because He Had To Do Patrick’s Homework.

2. The Little Man’s Face Has Been Compared To A

1. Hamper
2. Cat
3. Dishcloth
4. Dishwasher

Answer: 3. Dishcloth

3. Which Of The Following Actions Was Not Done By The Little Man?

1. Throw His Hands.
2. Kicked His Legs.
3. Doubled His Fists.
4. Pursed His Lips.

Answer: 1. Throw His Hands

4. The Word ‘Hamper’ In The Extract Means

1. A Cloth
2. A Basket With A Lid
3. A Shopping Voucher
4. A Bucket

Answer: 2. A Basket With A Lid

5. The Word ‘Grimaced’ And The Word ‘Grimaced’ And ‘Scowled’ Are Used In The Extract To Show

1. Approval
2. Happiness
3. Boredom
4. Disgust And Disapproval

Answer: 4. Disgust And Disapproval

Class 6 English: Who Did Patrick’s Homework Summary

Part 2

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What did the teachers advise Patrick?
Answer: The teachers had advised Patrick to do his homework otherwise he would not be able to learn anything.

Question 2. Which line from the story shows that Patrick may have felt bad about not doing his homework?
Answer: The line ‘and it true, sometimes he did feel like an ignoramus’ shows that Patrick may have felt bad about not doing his homework

Question 3. What did Patrick grab from the cat?
Answer: Patrick grabbed the little man from the cat.

Question 4. Why did Patrick feel lucky?
Answer: Patrick felt lucky because he had found a solution for his homework which could be done by the elf.

Question 5. Was the little man happy about Patrick’s request to do his homework?
Answer: No, the little man was not happy about Patrick’s request, but he had no choice and had to agree to do it

Question 6. Do you think the little man was true to his word?
Answer: Yes, the little man was true to his word because he started doing Patrick’s homework even though he did not want to do it.

Question 7. For how long did the little man (elf) stay at Patrick’s home?
Answer: They stayed at Patrick’s home till the end of the semester which was a full 35 days.

Question 8. When did the little man leave Patrick?
Answer: The little man left Patrick when the last day of school arrived because he had been promised to be freed after 35 days

Question 9. Did Patrick’s plan work? State ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Give a reason for your answer, competency Based
Answer: No, Patrick’s plan did not work as the elf made Patrick do his homework himself.

Question 10. “But I’ll share a secret, just between you and me.” Who is ‘I’ in the sentence above?
Answer: ‘I’ in the sentence given above is the author of the chapter, Carol Moore.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Write about the little man’s reaction when he came to know that he had to do Patrick’s homework.
Answer: The little man’s face wrinkled after he came to know that he had to do Patrick’s homework till the end of the semester for 35 days. He kicked his legs. His face had expressions showing anger and disapproval. He felt that he was cursed.

Question 2. What was the little man’s reaction to Mathematics?
Answer: The little man disliked Mathematics and never used timetables because elves never needed them.

Moreover, he did not know addition, subtraction, division, and fractions. He got frustrated and told Patrick to sit near him and help him solve the sums

Question 3. How did Patrick help the little man in doing his homework?
Answer: To help the little man, Patrick visited the library to get books and read them.

He looked for words in a dictionary to find their meaning.

Patrick was working harder and was studying till late at night. He was going to school regularly with his eyes puffed and bleary

Question 4. Why did Patrick call the elf ‘a nag’?
Answer: Patrick called the elf a nag because he had to work harder than ever.

He had to help and guide the elf in every subject. He felt weary and had to stay up nights to complete his homework

Long Answer-Type Questions

Question 1. What kind of change occurred in Patrick’s behavior? What was his parents’ and teacher’s reaction to the change?
Answer: There was a complete change in Patrick’s behavior. He became a model kid. He got a grade ‘A’ in all the subjects and his classmates were amazed to see it.

His teachers became happy and were full of praise for Patrick. His parents wondered and could not believe the change in him. He became more responsible towards his work and studies.

He cleaned his room and did his household chores. He was now a cheerful kid and he was not rude to anyone. He had developed a whole new attitude.

Question 2. What do we learn from the story? ‘Who did Patrick’s homework’?
Answer: We learn from the story that one should always believe in one’s own ability. Human beings have the potential to do everything, but they always depend on others.

Patrick depended on the little man, but he made Patrick work hard and get good marks.

Patrick was capable enough but needed guidance and encouragement which was provided by the little man. So, one should always believe in one’s potential.

Question 3. ‘God helps those who help themselves’. Justify the statement regarding the chapter.
Answer: The given statement is true about the chapter because God cannot come to our rescue directly. We have to help ourselves.

God only shows us the right path and we have to follow it with full devotion. In this chapter, Patrick meets the elf who promises to help him in solving his problems.

The elf tricked Patrick into completing his homework. The elf under the guise that he did not know English, Maths, and History, made Patrick study.

He showed Patrick that he could do his homework by himself. Thus, by following the guidance and path shown, we can help ourselves become better versions of our past selves.