A Game of Chance Class 6 NCERT Guide

Chapter Overview and Main Idea

The story is set in a village fair, a place full of noise, sweets, toys, shops, and excitement. The narrator goes with his uncle, who warns him not to waste money. The boy notices a shop where a man invites people to try their luck. The rule seems simple: pay a small amount, pick a numbered disc, and win the article with that number. At first, the boy watches others winning beautiful prizes, so he begins to believe that he too can win. This is where the lesson becomes important. The chapter shows that appearances can be misleading. The winners are not ordinary customers; they are people connected to the shopkeeper. The boy loses his money because he trusts what he sees without thinking carefully.

Important Words and Meanings

Game of chance

A game in which winning depends on luck, not skill. In the story, it is used to tempt people into spending money.

Fair

A temporary gathering with shops, rides, food stalls, and entertainment, usually held during a festival or special occasion.

Tempted

Attracted strongly towards doing something, especially when it may not be wise.

Trickery

A dishonest method used to fool someone and gain an advantage.

Disappointment

The unhappy feeling one gets when expectations are not fulfilled.

How the Lucky Shop Trick Worked

1. Step 1: The shopkeeper created excitement — He made the game look simple and interesting. Small prizes, bright objects, and a crowd made the boy curious.
2. Step 2: Helpers pretended to be lucky customers — Some people appeared to pay money and win valuable things. Their success was not real luck; it was planned to attract new customers.
3. Step 3: The narrator trusted what he saw — The boy thought that if others could win, he could also win. He did not ask whether the same people were connected to the shopkeeper.
4. Step 4: The boy lost money and learnt a lesson — When he played, he did not win anything useful. His uncle later explained that the winners were helpers, and the boy understood that greed and blind trust can be dangerous.

Worked Examples for Answer Writing

• Example 1: Question: Why did the narrator want to try the game?
  Step 1: Identify the scene. The narrator was at a fair and saw a shop where people seemed to win prizes.
  Step 2: Notice his feeling. He felt excited and tempted because the game looked easy.
  Step 3: Add the reason. The fake winners made him believe that he also had a good chance.
  Final answer: The narrator wanted to try the game because he saw others winning attractive prizes and thought he could win too.

• Example 2: Question: What lesson did the uncle teach the boy?
  Step 1: Recall what happened. The boy lost money at the lucky shop.
  Step 2: Explain the uncle's point. The uncle told him that the winners were probably the shopkeeper's friends.
  Step 3: State the moral clearly. One should not be greedy or believe everything that looks attractive.
  Final answer: The uncle taught the boy that dishonest people can fool us by creating false appearances, so we must think carefully before spending money.

Exam Tip: Write Clear Moral-Based Answers

In CBSE Class 6 English, answers from this chapter should not only retell events; they should also explain the moral. When you answer, use a simple 3-part pattern: event, reason, lesson. For example, do not write only that the boy lost money. Add that he lost it because he was tempted by false winners, and the lesson is to avoid greed and think wisely. Also avoid saying the game was purely unlucky; the chapter suggests it was planned trickery.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not describe the lucky shop as a fair game. The story shows that it was dishonest and planned.
• Do not blame only bad luck. The boy was fooled because he trusted false appearances.
• Do not write very short moral answers like greed is bad without linking them to the events of the chapter.
• Remember that the uncle is a wise character. He explains the trick and helps the narrator understand the lesson.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why was the narrator excited at the fair?
  A: Step 1: Recall the setting of the story. The narrator had gone to a fair with his uncle.
  Step 2: List what made the fair attractive. There were shops, toys, sweets, and many interesting things to see.
  Step 3: Connect this to the narrator's mood. A young child would naturally feel curious and happy in such a place.
  Final answer: The narrator was excited because the fair was full of colourful shops, attractive objects, and lively activity.

• Q: How did the shopkeeper make the game look attractive?
  A: Step 1: Identify the shopkeeper's method. He displayed prizes and invited people to try their luck.
  Step 2: Notice the false proof. Some people seemed to win good prizes easily.
  Step 3: Explain the effect on customers. This made others believe that they too could win something valuable.
  Final answer: The shopkeeper made the game attractive by showing prizes and using fake winners to create excitement and trust.

• Q: What mistake did the narrator make when he played the game?
  A: Step 1: Find the action. The narrator spent his money on the game of chance.
  Step 2: Find the weakness in his thinking. He believed what he saw without checking whether the game was honest.
  Step 3: Link it to the result. Because of this, he lost his money and felt disappointed.
  Final answer: The narrator's mistake was that he acted in greed and trusted the fake appearance of success without thinking carefully.

• Q: Write the moral of A Game of Chance in your own words.
  A: Step 1: Look at the main incident. The boy was tempted by a game and lost money.
  Step 2: Understand why it happened. Dishonest people used trickery to make the game look fair.
  Step 3: Turn the lesson into a clear statement. We should not be greedy or blindly trust attractive offers.
  Final answer: The moral is that we must use judgement, avoid greed, and remember that things that look easy or lucky may be tricks.

Frequently Asked Questions