My Silly Sister: CBSE Class 3 English Unit 8

Summary of 'My Silly Sister'

This story is told by a young boy about his baby sister. He complains to his mother that his sister is "very silly." Why? Because she doesn't know the difference between right and wrong things. She gets excited when she sees pebbles and tries to put them in her mouth, thinking they are food. When her brother gives her a book to read, she tears the pages and laughs. The brother finds this very annoying! He tries to teach her, but she just doesn't understand. When he scolds her and shakes his head in anger, she finds it funny and laughs out loud. The most amusing part for the brother is when the washerman comes to collect clothes. The baby calls out to him playfully, and the brother jokes that his sister thinks the washerman is a schoolmaster who has come to teach her a lesson! Even though he calls her silly, the story shows how much the brother loves his innocent little sister and enjoys her funny, babyish ways.

New Words and Meanings

Silly

Not being wise or serious; foolish.

Pebbles

Small, smooth stones found near rivers or on a beach.

Naughty

Behaving badly or not doing what you are told.

Excited

Feeling very happy and enthusiastic.

Donkey

An animal of the horse family, with long ears, used for carrying loads.

Washerman

A person whose job is to wash clothes.

Why Does the Sister Do 'Silly' Things?

• Action: She tries to put pebbles in her mouth.
  What she thinks: The baby is very small and exploring the world. She sees a small, round pebble and thinks it might be something tasty to eat, just like a sweet.

• Action: She tears the pages of a book.
  What she thinks: She doesn't know that books are for reading. For her, the sound of tearing paper is a fun and exciting game. She is not being naughty, just playful.

• Action: She laughs when her brother scolds her.
  What she thinks: The baby loves her brother. She doesn't understand angry words. When he makes faces and shakes his head, it looks like a funny game to her, so she laughs.

• Action: She plays with the donkey of the washerman.
  What she thinks: The baby is curious about everything. An animal like a donkey is new and interesting to her. Her brother jokes that she thinks it's a game.

The Brother's Hidden Love

• When the brother says his sister is 'silly', he doesn't mean it in a bad way. It's a loving, teasing name he has for her.
• He tries to teach her and protect her. For example, he stops her from eating pebbles because he knows they are not food.
• The brother observes his sister very carefully. He notices all the little, funny things she does, which shows he pays a lot of attention to her.
• The story teaches us that love can be shown in many ways, even through teasing and complaining.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What are the 'silly' things the baby sister does in the story?
  A: Step 1: Recall the actions of the baby sister mentioned by her brother.
  Step 2: List them down. She tries to put pebbles in her mouth. She tears pages from a book. She laughs when her brother gets angry at her. She also gets excited and playful with the washerman.
  Final answer: The silly things the baby sister does are: trying to eat pebbles, tearing pages of books, and laughing when her brother scolds her.

• Q: Why does the brother say his sister thinks pebbles are 'real food'?
  A: Step 1: Think about how babies learn. They learn by touching and tasting things.
  Step 2: The baby sister is too young to know the difference between a stone and a sweet. Since pebbles are small and round, she might think they are something she can eat.
  Final answer: The brother says his sister thinks pebbles are 'real food' because she is a baby and she doesn't know the difference between what can be eaten and what cannot.

• Q: What does the washerman do that the brother finds funny?
  A: Step 1: Remember the part of the story with the washerman.
  Step 2: The washerman brings his donkey to carry away the dirty clothes. The baby sister sees him and shouts at him playfully.
  Step 3: The brother finds it funny and jokes that his sister is treating the washerman like a schoolmaster.
  Final answer: The washerman brings his donkey to take the clothes. The baby shouts at him playfully, and the brother jokes about it, which he finds funny.

• Q: Do you think the brother really believes his sister is silly? Why or why not?
  A: Step 1: Think about the brother's tone in the story. Is he really angry or is he just teasing?
  Step 2: He complains, but he also describes her actions with a lot of detail, which shows he cares. He protects her from eating pebbles. His words are those of a loving, older brother.
  Final answer: No, the brother doesn't really believe his sister is silly. He uses the word 'silly' with love and affection because she is a baby who doesn't understand the world like he does. He finds her actions funny and endearing.

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