NCERT Solutions for Class-4 Chapter-12 Story: The Scholar’s Mother Tongue
In Akbar’s court, a Pundit who mastered many different languages walked in. He challenged everyone at the court to name his mother tongue. Nobody could name his mother tongue. Now the task was up to Bribal. In order to find the truth, Birbal sneaked into the Pundit’s room at night and troubled the Pundit in his sleep with a feather. Irritated, the Pundit yelled out in his mother tongue. The next day Birbal informed King Akbar that the Pundit’s mother tongue was Telugu. King Akbar inquired how he knew for sure. Birbal simply stated, “In times of difficulty, a person speaks only in his mother tongue.”
Download the NCERT Solutions for The Scholar’s Mother Tongue in PDF
Reading is Fun
Who came to Akbar’s court?
A Pundit came to Akbar’s court.
What did he claim to know?
The Pundit claimed that he knew many languages.
How did he challenge everybody?
The Pundit challenged everybody to name his mother tongue.
Let’s talk
What is your mother tongue?
My mother tongue is Kanarese, also known as Kannada.
(Note: Students should attempt the above question on their own.)
Tell the class a joke in your mother tongue.
(Note: Students should attempt the above question on their own.)
Do you know any other language? Do you know a joke in English? Tell your friends.
(Note: Students should attempt the above question on their own.)
Let’s listen
Listen to your favourite advertisement on the radio or T.V. Repeat it with stress on the words. Act, draw, and write the advertisement.
(Note: Students should attempt the above question on their own.)
Say aloud
Tick () the words which end with the sound id. Say each word aloud. 
| accepted |  |
answered | |
| completed | |
challenged | |
| find | |
licked | |
| irritated | |
failed | |
| cried | |
surprised | |
| celebrated | |
fried | |
| accepted |  |
answered | |
| completed | |
challenged | |
| find | |
licked | |
| irritated | |
failed | |
| cried | |
surprised | |
| celebrated | |
fried | |
Word building
Make a class dictionary with words from the story. Try to find suitable words for them in your mother tongue. Say these words aloud. Then make sentences with those words in your class dictionary.
| Words in English | Sentences |
| Converse | Sheetal conversed on the phone for hours. |
| Tickle | I felt a tickle between my shoulders. |
| Mastery | Jade achieved mastery in pottery. |
| Fluent | She was now fluent in French. |
| Irritated | I was irritated with the growing crowd. |
| Surprised | Mom surprised everyone with gifts. |
| Accepted | Sheryl accepted the challenge boldly. |
Write all the words that show you are happy.
For Example: Hurray Ha! Ha!
Add more
a) Glad b) delighted c) joyful
Tick () the right answer.
| i) I visited the court of Akbar’ means |  |
| (a) You always live there. | |
| (b) You came there for a short time. | |
| (c) You were born there. | |
| ii) To imitate someone means to | |
| (a) copy someone | |
| (b) tease, someone. | |
| (c) make someone angry |
| i) I visited the court of Akbar’ means |  |
| (a) You always live there. | |
| (b) You came there for a short time. | |
| (c) You were born there. | |
| ii) To imitate someone means to | |
| (a) copy someone | |
| (b) tease, someone. | |
| (c) make someone angry |
Look and fill in the columns. One has been done for you.
| quiet quietly | sad ___ |
| fluent ___ | fierce ___ |
| angry ___ | gentle ___ |
| quiet quietly | sad sadly |
| fluent fluently | fierce fiercely |
| angry angrily | gentle gently |
Match the words in the Column with words.
| A | B |
| King Teacher Doctor Bus driver Lawyer |
Children Patients Courtiers Clients Passengers |
Play this game with a friend. Pick up what you want from any basket. Add a or an before it.
Now say the sentences below, using these things –
Neena: Can I have ______, please?
Rahul: Yes, here you are
Jeevika: Can I have _______, please?
Nikhil: No, sorry. You can’t have that.
Make more sentences using words from the baskets.
Neena: Can I have an orange, please?
Rahul: Yes, here you are
Jeevika: Can I have an apple, please?
Nikhil: No, sorry. You can’t have that.
More sentences using words from the baskets are written as follows:
Can you bring me a glass of water?
Could you please pass me a banana from the basket?
Will you get a bat and a ball from the shop?
Would you like an ice cream for dinner?
I want to carry a raincoat and an umbrella for the trip.
Let’s Share
How did Birbal find out about the Pundit’s mother tongue?
Birbal quietly entered the Pundit’s room when he was sleeping. He tickled him with a feather, he whispered onto his ear. Pundit woke up suddenly from sleep and shouted in his mother tongue. Finally, Birbal came to know about Pundits mother tongue.
Act this out with your friends and make it into your class play.
(Note: Students should attempt the above question on their own.)
The Truth Balloon
Suppose you are going on a camping holiday. What are the four most important things you will carry with you? Choose from the tags attached to the hot air balloon.
a) First aid
b) Food packets
c) Money
d) Water bottles
Fun – time
Crossword Fun
India is a country of many languages. Let’s see if you know what the people of the states in this crossword puzzle speak. The clues are given below. The first letter of each answer has been filled in for you.
Across
1. This language is spoken in Orissa
2. It is spoken in Karnataka
4. The people of Assam speak this language
7. This language is used in Andhra Pradesh
8. You can hear this spoken in Maharashtra
Down
3. The people of Kerala speak this language
5. This is our national language
6. The language of the Goan people
7. This is spoken in Tamil Nadu
9. It is widely spoken in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere
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