CBSE Class 4 English NCERT Unit 4: "Why?" & "Alice in Wonderland"

Summary of the Poem: "Why?"

The poem "Why?" is about a curious young boy who is always asking questions about the world around him. He wants to know the reason behind everything he sees. He is not satisfied with just knowing that something happens; he wants to know why it happens.

Some of his questions are scientific, like:

• Why do wood and coal burn?
• Why do we eat and drink?
• Why do lead and marble sink in water?
• Why does the sun shine and the wind blow?

He also wonders about everyday things, like what makes the clouds and why they cross the sky. The poem shows that this boy is very observant and has a strong desire to learn. The main idea of the poem is to celebrate curiosity. It teaches us that asking questions is not naughty or silly; it is a sign of an intelligent and active mind. It's the first step towards discovering new things and understanding science and nature.

Summary of the Story: "Alice in Wonderland"

This story is about a girl named Alice who is sitting with her sister by a river and feels a bit bored. Suddenly, she sees a White Rabbit with pink eyes run past her. This wasn't just any rabbit! It was wearing a blue coat, had a big watch, and was talking to itself, saying, "Oh dear! I will be too late!"

Burning with curiosity, Alice runs after the rabbit and follows it down a large rabbit-hole. After falling for a long time, she lands in a strange hall with many locked doors. On a glass table, she finds a tiny golden key. The key fits into the smallest door, and when she looks through it, she sees the most beautiful garden she has ever seen! But she is too big to fit through the door. Then, she finds a bottle with a label that says "DRINK ME". This story is a small part of a bigger adventure that shows the power of imagination and the exciting things that can happen when you are curious.

How to Understand a Poem and a Story

1. Step 1: Read with Focus — Read the poem or story slowly one time. Then, read it again, perhaps even reading it aloud. This helps you notice more details and enjoy the rhythm of the words.
2. Step 2: Find the Main Idea — After reading, ask yourself: 'What is this mostly about?' For the poem "Why?", the main idea is curiosity. For "Alice in Wonderland", it's about adventure and a magical world.
3. Step 3: Get to Know the Characters — Think about the main people or animals in the text. What are they like? The boy in the poem is 'curious'. Alice is 'adventurous' and 'curious'. The White Rabbit is 'in a hurry'.
4. Step 4: Learn New Words — When you find a word you don't know (like 'hastily' or 'marble'), circle it. Try to guess its meaning from the sentence, and then look it up in a dictionary. This helps you build your vocabulary.
5. Step 5: Ask Your Own Questions — Just like the boy in the poem, ask your own questions about the text. Why did Alice follow the rabbit? Why do you think the boy was so curious? This makes reading more fun and helps you think deeper.

Key Lessons from Unit 4

• Curiosity is Your Superpower: It is excellent to be curious and ask 'Why?'. This is how we learn about science, nature, and the world.
• Imagination is a Wonderful Tool: Stories like "Alice in Wonderland" show that our minds can create amazing worlds. Reading helps your imagination grow.
• Pay Attention to Details: Alice noticed the rabbit was special because it had a watch and a coat. The boy in the poem noticed that lead sinks. Observing details helps us discover interesting things.
• Build Your Word Bank: This unit introduces new words like 'curious', 'marble', 'hastily', and 'delight'. Learning and using new words makes you a better reader and speaker.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What kind of boy is described in the poem "Why?" Give one example of a question he asks. A: Step 1: Recall the main theme of the poem. The poem is about a boy who is always asking questions. Step 2: Use an adjective to describe him based on this trait. A boy who asks many questions is 'curious'. Step 3: Look back at the poem to find one of his specific questions. For example, he asks why lead and marble sink. Final answer: The poem describes a very curious boy. One example of a question he asks is, "Why do lead and marble sink?"
• Q: What was so different about the rabbit that Alice saw? A: Step 1: Think about a normal rabbit. Normal rabbits don't wear clothes or talk. Step 2: Recall the details from the story about the rabbit Alice saw. It had a watch and was wearing a coat. Step 3: Remember what the rabbit was doing. It was talking to itself. Final answer: The rabbit that Alice saw was different because it could talk, it was wearing a waistcoat (a coat), and it was carrying a watch.
• Q: What does the word 'curious' mean? Use it in a sentence of your own. A: Step 1: Define the word 'curious'. It means having a strong desire to know or learn something. Step 2: Think of a situation where someone would want to know something. For example, seeing a strange box or hearing a new sound. Step 3: Create a sentence using the word 'curious' in that context. Final answer: The word 'curious' means eager to learn or know something. A sentence using it is: The little cat was curious about the red ball.
• Q: Why couldn't Alice get into the beautiful garden at first, even though she had the key? A: Step 1: Recall what Alice found. She found a tiny golden key on a glass table. Step 2: Remember which door the key opened. It opened a very small, little door. Step 3: Compare Alice's size to the door's size. Alice was a normal-sized girl, but the door was tiny. Final answer: Alice couldn't get into the garden at first because the door was too small for her to fit through.

Frequently Asked Questions