By Jyoti Verma
A Game of Chance NCERT Solution Class 6 English (Honeysuckle book) Chapter Explanation, Video and QnA
A Game of Chance Class 6 English Honeysuckle Book Lesson – Detailed explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words. Also, the explanation is followed by a Summary of the lesson. All the exercises and Question and Answers given at the back of the lesson has been covered.
- Introduction
- A Game of Chance Summary
- A Game of Chance Explanation
- A Game of Chance Question Answers
Class 6 English (Honeysuckle Book) Chapter 8 – A Game of Chance
Introduction – A game of Chance
A Game of chance as the name suggests speaks about the futility of the Lucky Charms or the Bumper Lotteries and so on. It shows in an interesting manner to its readers how the feelings or emotions of the innocent are played with.
Summary of A Game of Chance
Eid fair used to be held in Rasheed’s village for days together every year. Here, tradesmen had a good time to sell their goods. This time Rasheed went to see the fair with his uncle and a servant. A few friends of his uncle met there and took him with them.
Rasheed’s uncle left him to look around the fair with the servant and instructed him neither to buy anything nor to go too far in his absence. Rasheed gave him a word to do the same. Rasheed and the servant took a round of the fair and stopped before the Lucky Shop. It was called Lucky as the shopkeeper of the shop was asking everybody to try their luck just paying 50 paise.
Rasheed noticed an old man won a beautiful clock and sold it back to the shopkeeper for Rupees 15. Then a small boy got a comb but sold it back in 25 paise, in other rounds he won a fountain pen, a wrist watch and a table lamp and gave all the things back to the shopkeeper happily. Rasheed was attracted by all that and he also thought of trying his luck. In every round he received peanuts means very little in return for what he spent.
In the greed of trying his luck, he lost all his money and became a laughing stock.
They came back to the place where his uncle left them with a heavy heart. Soon, uncle came and Bhaiya told everything to him. Seeing that Rasheed was upset, uncle told him that it was not a matter of good luck or bad luck. The winners were friends of the shopkeeper. It was an act of befooling people to attract them towards the game to take money from them. Uncle gave him an umbrella and some other things. He also suggested Rasheed to forget about all those foolish things.
Lesson Explanation – A Game of Chance
Passage – EVERY year on the occasion of Eid, there was a fair in our village. Eid was celebrated only one day but the fair lasted many days. Tradesmen from far and wide came there with all kinds of goods to sell. You could buy anything from a small pin to a big buffalo.
Word Meaning
tradesmen: shopkeepers or people who have goods to sell
far and wide: a large number of distant places
Explanation of the above Passage – Eid fair used to be held in Rasheed’s village every year. For Eid celebration, there was only one day but fair used to be there for many days. It used to be a good opportunity for shopkeepers and merchants as they were able to sell their goods. So they used to come to the fair from distant places. This fair had a variety of everything from small to the big ones.
Passage – Uncle took me to the fair. Bhaiya, who worked for us at home, came with us. There was a big crowd at the fair. Uncle was leading us through the crowd when he met a few of his friends. They wanted him to spend some time with them.
Word Meaning
Leading: giving direction
Explanation of the above Passage – Rasheed’s uncle took him to the fair along with Bhaiya who worked with them at home. It was a crowded place so uncle was directing them to move along in the fair. On the way, his friends met him who wanted to be with him for some time.
Passage – Uncle asked me whether I would like to look around the fair with Bhaiya till he came back. I was happy to do that. Uncle warned me neither to buy anything nor to go too far out while he was away. I promised that I would wait for him.
Word Meaning
Promised: to give one’s word
Explanation of the above Passage – Uncle asked Rasheed if he would like to visit the fair with bhaiya in his absence. It was Rasheed’s choice to visit the fair so he felt happy for that. Uncle instructed him not to buy anything from the fair nor to go too far. Rashid promised to follow the words and wait for him to come back.
Passage – Bhaiya and I went from shop to shop. There were many things I would have liked to buy, but I waited for Uncle to return. Then we came to what was called the Lucky Shop. The shopkeeper was neither young nor old. He was a middle aged man. He seemed neither too smart nor too lazy. He wanted everybody to try their luck. There were discs on the table with numbers from one to ten facing down. All you had to do was to pay 50 paise, pick up any six discs, add up the numbers on the discs and find the total. The article marked with that number was yours.
Word Meaning
Warned: to alert
Explanation of the above Passage – Rasheed along with bhaiya went to each shop. There were many things of his choice which he wanted to buy but he was waiting for his uncle to come back. Then they reached a shop named Lucky Shop. The shopkeeper was a middle aged man neither too young nor too old. He was not lazy if was not very active. He was expecting the visitors to his shop to try their luck. Few discs with numbers 1 to 10 were lying on the table. People could pick up any 6 discs, could add up their numbers and were supposed to match the total count they had to an article marked with the same number. If they were able to do so, the article could be theirs.
Passage – An old man paid 50 paise and selected six discs. He added up the numbers on them and found the total was 15. He was given the article marked 15, which was a beautiful clock. But the old man did not want a clock. The shopkeeper obliged him by buying it back for 15 rupees. The old man went away very pleased.
Word Meaning
Pleased: happy, delighted
Explanation of the above Passage – An old man came there who paid 50 paise to select 6 discs. He added the numbers printed on them and counted the total 15. The shopkeeper gave him an article marked 15.It was a beautiful clock. But the old man had no interest in that clock. The shopkeeper did a favor to him and bought the clock back from him paying Rs.15 to him. The old man felt happy and went away.
Passage – Then a boy, a little older than I, tried his luck. He got a comb worth 25 paise. The shopkeeper looked neither happy nor sad. He bought the comb from the boy for 25 paise. The boy tried his luck again. He now got a fountain pen worth three rupees. Then he tried a third time and got a wristwatch worth 25 rupees. When he tried again he got a table lamp worth more than 10 rupees. The boy was happy and went away with a smile and a good deal of cash.
Word Meaning
Obliged: to do a favour
Explanation of the above Passage – Then a young boy who was a little older than Rasheed came there to try his luck. He was able to get a comb of 25 paise. The shopkeeper had a neutral response to it neither happy nor sad and bought back the comb from him for 25 paise. The boy tried again and was able to get a fountain pen of Rs.3. In the next trial brought him a table lamp of a value more than Rs.10. The boy felt very happy to have such a good deal of his money and went away with a smile.
Passage – I wanted to try my luck too. I looked at Bhaiya. He encouraged me. I paid 50 paise and took six discs. My luck was not too good. I got two pencils. The shopkeeper bought them from me for 25 paise. I tried again. This time I got a bottle of ink, also of little value. The shopkeeper bought that too for 25 paise. I took a chance for the third time. Still luck was not with me.
Word Meaning
Encouraged: to inspire, to motivate
Explanation of the above Passage – Seeing all that, Rasheed was fascinated and wanted to try his luck now. He looked at bhaiya and he also encouraged him. He also paid 50 paise and took 6 discs. He felt as if his luck was not that good as he was able to get only two pencils. He tried again and got a bottle of ink which was again of a very low price. The shopkeeper bought that from him in 25 paise. So, Rasheed took another chance for the third time. But this time his luck again did not support him.
Passage – I had hopes of winning a big prize and continued to try my luck again and again, paying 50 paise each time. But every time I got a trifle. At last I was left with only 25 paise. Again the shopkeeper showed his kindness. He said I could either play once more with 25 paise or settle the account then and there. I played again and the last 25 paise also disappeared.
Word Meaning
a trifle: an object of little value
Trifle: a thing of little value or price
Explanation of the above Passage – He continued his trials in the hope of winning a big prize. He paid 50 paise for each trial and every time he was able to get a little amount. At last he was left with only 25 paise. To this the shopkeeper showed his kindness and offered him either to try once again or settle his account. He chose to play again and lost his 25 paise as well.
Passage – People were looking at me. Some were laughing at my bad luck, but none showed any sympathy. Bhaiya and I went to the place where Uncle had left us and waited for him to return. Presently he came. He looked at me and said, “Rasheed, you look upset. What is the matter?”
Word Meaning
Sympathy: feelings of pity
Explanation of the above Passage – People standing there were noticing him. Some were even laughing at his poor luck. No one showed him sympathy. Finally, he and his bhaiya went to the place where his uncle had left them and had asked them to wait for him. After some time, his uncle reached there and found him upset. He asked Rasheed what was the matter? Why was he sad?
Passage – I did not say anything. Bhaiya told him what had happened. Uncle was neither angry nor sad. He smiled and patted me. He took me to a shop and bought me a beautiful umbrella, biscuits and sweets and some other little gifts. Then we returned home.
Word Meaning
Patted: slapped lightly with love
Explanation of the above Passage – Rasheed did not reply. Bhaiya told him the whole matter. Uncle was very neutral to the issue. He was neither angry nor sad. He gave him a smile and gently stroke on his back to show affection. He even took him to shopping and bought him a beautiful umbrella, biscuits, sweets and some other small gifts. After that they came back home.
Passage – Back home, Uncle told me that the Lucky Shop man had made a fool of me. “No, Uncle,” I said, “it was just my bad luck.”
“No, my boy,” said Uncle, “it was neither good luck nor bad luck.”
“But, Uncle,” I said, “I saw an old man getting a clock and a boy getting two or three costly things.”
“You don’t know, child,” Uncle said, “they were all friends of the shopkeeper. They were playing tricks to tempt you to try your luck. They wanted your money and they got it. Now forget about it, and don’t tell anybody of your bad luck or your foolishness.”
Word Meaning
tricks: to dupe or befool
tempt: to attract
Explanation of the above Passage – On their way back, his uncle told him that Lucky Shop man had made a fool of him. Rasheed denied that and said that it was his bad luck. But uncle explained to him that it was not a matter of good luck or bad luck. To that Rashid said that he noticed an old man getting a clock and a young boy getting two to three expensive things. Then uncle told him that they were all his(shopkeeper’s) friends and were cheating the people. They were playing to attract the people to try their luck. So that they could get money from the customers which they got. He advised him to forget the whole matter and not to speak to anybody of his bad luck or foolishness.
A Game of Chance Class 6 Question and Answers
Complete the following sentences from memory choosing a phrase from those given in brackets.
1.————————————— was held at the time of the Eid festival.
(A big show, A big fair, A big competition)
2.. Tradesmen came to the village with all kinds of goods————————————— .
(to display, to buy, to sell)
3.Uncle told me ————————————while he was away.
(not to buy anything, not to go anywhere, not to talk to anyone)
4.The owner of the Lucky Shop wanted everybody present ——————————————.
(to play the game, to win a prize, to try their luck)
5.The first time I took a chance I got —————————————–— .
(a bottle of ink, two pencils, a trifle)
6. Uncle told me that the shopkeeper had made ————————.
(a fool of me, a good profit, friends with many people)
Answers
A big fair was held at the time of the Eid festival.
Tradesmen came to the village with all kinds of goods to sell.
Uncle told me not to buy anything while he was away.
The owner of the Lucky Shop wanted everybody present to try their luck.
The first time I took a chance I got two pencils.
Uncle told me that the shopkeeper had made a fool of me.
Answer the following questions.
1. Why do you think Rasheed’s uncle asked him not to buy anything in his absence?
A. He asked him so because he didn’t want him to be befooled by anyone and lose his money.
2. Why was the shop called ‘Lucky Shop’?
A. It was called so because the shopkeeper was asking everyone to try their luck.
3. An old man won a clock and sold it back to the shopkeeper. How much money did he make?
A. He made Rs.15.
4. How many prizes did the boy win? What were they?
A. He won 4 prizes; a comb, fountain pen, wrist watch and a table lamp.
5. Why was Rasheed upset?
A. Rasheed was upset because he lost all his money and couldn’t win anything.
6.In what way did the shopkeeper make a fool of Rasheed?
A. The shopkeeper made a fool of Rasheed by tempting him to try his luck.
The words given against the sentences below can be used both as nouns and verbs. Use them appropriately to fill in the blanks.
1. (i) The two teams have ————————————— three matches already. (play)
(ii) The last day’s ————————————— was excellent.
2. (i) She has a lovely ————————————— . (face)
(ii) India ———————————— a number of problems these days.
3. (i) He made his ————————————— in essay-writing. (mark)
(ii) Articles ————————————— ‘sold’ are reserved.
4. (i) The police are ————————————— the area to catch the burglars. (comb)
(ii) An ordinary plastic ————————————— costs five rupees.
5. (i) He gave a ————————————— in answer to my question. (smile)
(ii) We also ————————————— to see him smile.
6. (i) He said he ————————————— to be invited to the party. (hope)
(ii) We gave up ————————————— of his joining the party.
7.(i) The boys put up a good athletic————————————— . (show)
(ii) The soldiers ————————————— great courage in saving people from floods.
8. (i) You deserve a ———————on the back for your good performance. (pat) (ii) The teacher ——————— the child on the cheek to encourage her.
Answers
1- played, play 2- face, faced
3- mark, marked 4- combing, comb
5- smile, smiled 6- hoped, hope
7- show, showed 8- pat, patted
B. Notice the use of ‘there’ in the following sentences.
There was a big crowd at the fair.
There were many things I’d have liked to buy.
Now rewrite the following sentences using ‘there’ in the beginning. Look at the following examples.
I can do nothing to help you. There is nothing I can do to help you.
A man at the door is asking to see you. There is a man at the door asking to see you.
1. This park has beautiful roses.
2. Your story has no fun in it.
3. We have no secrets between us.
4. My village has two primary schools.
5. This problem can be solved in two ways.
Answers
There is a park which has beautiful roses in it.
There is no fun in your story.
There are no secrets between us.
There are two primary schools in my village.
There are two ways to solve this problem.
Fill in the blanks in the paragraph below with words from the box.
| Huge big foolish interesting tiny unlucky last |
There was a ————————————— Eid fair in our village.
We could buy anything from a ————————toy to a ——————— camel.
I went to the fair on its ————————————— day with Uncle and Bhaiya.
We went to the Lucky Shop. It was very——————— .
I tried my luck but did not win any prize. Later, Uncle told me that I was more ——————— than —————— .
Answers
There was a huge Eid Fair in our village.
We could buy anything from a small toy to a big camel.
I went to the fair on its last day with uncle and Bhaiya.
We went to the Lucky Shop. It was very interesting.
I tried my luck but did not win any prize. Later, Uncle told me that I was more foolish than unlucky.
Also See: Class 6 CBSE English Lessons