NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2: Friendship

Chapter 2 in the NCERT Poorvi textbook spans approximately 18-22 pages and is structured around the central theme of friendship explored through three distinct literary forms. The first text, 'The Unlikely Best Friends', is a 600-word prose narrative about two contrasting characters who form an unexpected bond, teaching students to analyse character traits and plot development. The second piece, 'A Friend's Prayer', is a 16-line poem with AABB rhyme scheme that expresses the emotional depth of true friendship through vivid imagery and poetic devices. The third text, 'The Chair', is a short play script of approximately 300 words featuring three characters, introducing students to dramatic elements like stage directions, dialogue tags, and scene setting. Each text is followed by a set of comprehension questions (4-5 per text), a vocabulary exercise identifying 8-10 challenging words, a dedicated grammar section on tenses with 10-12 practice sentences, and two dialogue writing prompts. The chapter typically requires 6-8 classroom periods to complete and contributes roughly 8-10 marks to the Term 1 examination through a combination of seen passage questions and grammar application. Understanding this structure helps students and parents allocate study time effectively across the 30-35 total questions in the chapter.

The prose section opens Chapter 2 with a narrative about two contrasting personalities who discover common ground. NCERT typically asks 4-5 comprehension questions here, structured as: (1) a factual recall question worth 1 mark asking students to name the two friends or state where they met; (2) an inference question worth 2 marks requiring students to explain why the friendship was 'unlikely' by citing specific character differences from the text; (3) a vocabulary-in-context question asking the meaning of a word like 'reluctant' or 'compatible' as used in a particular sentence; (4) a personal response question worth 3 marks such as 'Do you think different people can be good friends? Support your answer with examples from the story and your own experience'; and (5) a critical thinking question like 'What lesson does this story teach about judging people by appearance?'. Model answers must quote the text directly for evidence (a skill CBSE marks heavily), use complete sentences, and for 3-mark questions, provide at least two distinct points with elaboration. For example, if asked why the friendship was unlikely, a full-marks answer would state: 'The friendship was unlikely because Ravi was outgoing and loved sports while Anil was quiet and preferred reading. The text says Ravi 'never sat still' while Anil 'avoided the playground', showing their opposite natures. Despite these differences, they bonded over a shared interest in collecting stamps, proving that common interests matter more than similar personalities.' This 60-word response quotes text, provides two contrasts, and offers the thematic insight NCERT rewards.

The poem 'A Friend's Prayer' is a 16-line lyrical piece where the speaker addresses their friend, expressing wishes for their happiness, success, and well-being. NCERT questions for poetry sections in CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2 Friendship typically include: (a) identification of rhyme scheme (students must write the scheme as AABB or ABAB after reading the poem carefully); (b) explanation of a specific line's meaning, such as 'May your path be strewn with flowers' — here students must explain the metaphor (path = life journey, flowers = happy moments); (c) identification of poetic devices like simile, metaphor, alliteration, or repetition with quoted examples; (d) extraction of 2-3 adjectives describing the speaker's feelings towards their friend; and (e) a thematic question asking what qualities of friendship the poem celebrates. A strong answer to the thematic question would state: 'The poem celebrates selfless friendship where one person wishes only good things for the other without expecting anything in return. The repeated phrase 'May you' shows the speaker's focus is entirely on the friend's happiness. The poem values loyalty, as seen in the line 'May I stand by you in storm and sun', and genuine care, shown through wishes for both material success and emotional peace.' Students often lose marks by stating only 'the poem is about friendship' without specifying which aspects or qualities, so encourage citing specific lines as evidence. Poetic device questions require the technical term (e.g. 'alliteration'), the quoted example ('strewn with flowers'), and a brief explanation of the effect ('the 's' and 'f' sounds create a soft, gentle tone matching the caring sentiment').

The Chair introduces Class 6 students to drama as a literary form, a genre that appears regularly in CBSE English — Poorvi textbooks from Class 6-8. This short play features three characters engaged in a conversation, with stage directions in italics or brackets indicating actions, tone, or setting. NCERT comprehension questions for drama typically ask: (1) 'Who are the characters?' requiring students to list names and perhaps one identifying trait for each; (2) 'What is the setting?' where students must note both place (e.g. 'a school classroom') and time if mentioned; (3) an inference question about a character's feelings based on their dialogue and stage directions, such as 'How do we know Character A is nervous? Give two examples from the text'; (4) a question testing understanding of stage directions: 'What do the words in brackets tell us?'; and (5) a thematic or plot question like 'What problem do the characters face and how do they solve it?'. When answering drama questions for CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2 Friendship, students must distinguish between dialogue (what characters say) and stage directions (instructions for actors). For instance, if the text reads 'MAYA: (hesitantly) I suppose we could share it', the answer should note both Maya's words and her hesitant manner. A complete answer to 'How do we know Maya is uncertain?' would state: 'Maya is uncertain because the stage direction says 'hesitantly', which means she speaks with doubt. Her words 'I suppose' also show she is not fully confident about her suggestion, unlike a definite statement like 'We will share it.' This demonstrates the character's internal conflict between wanting to be generous and feeling possessive.' Drama questions reward attention to how something is said, not just what is said.

The grammar section of Chapter 2 dedicates 10-12 exercises to tenses, a foundational concept that carries 10-15 marks in CBSE Class 6 English term exams through gap-fills, sentence correction, and paragraph editing. Students must master three primary tenses (past, present, future) and recognise their continuous and perfect forms. Typical NCERT exercises include: (A) identifying the tense of underlined verbs in given sentences — students write 'simple past', 'present continuous', etc.; (B) converting sentences from one tense to another, such as changing 'Meera writes a letter' (simple present) to 'Meera wrote a letter' (simple past) or 'Meera will write a letter' (simple future); (C) filling blanks with the correct tense form of a verb given in brackets; and (D) error correction where one verb in a sentence is in the wrong tense. For CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2 Friendship solutions, answers must show the complete sentence after conversion, not just the changed verb. Common student errors include confusing present continuous (is/am/are + verb-ing) with simple present, or using 'will' with past context. A methodical approach is: (1) identify time indicators (yesterday = past, now = present, tomorrow = future); (2) check for auxiliary verbs (is/are indicate continuous, has/have indicate perfect); (3) ensure subject-verb agreement (he/she/it takes 's' in simple present, 'was' in past continuous); and (4) maintain tense consistency within a sentence unless the meaning requires a shift. For example, the sentence 'She is watering the plants when I arrive yesterday' contains a tense error; the correct version is 'She was watering the plants when I arrived yesterday', aligning both verbs to past time.

CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2 Friendship includes two dialogue writing prompts, typically scenarios like 'Write a dialogue between two friends planning a surprise birthday party' or 'Complete the dialogue where one friend apologises for a mistake'. Dialogue writing is a 5-mark component in CBSE Class 6-8 exams, with marks distributed as: format and presentation (1 mark), relevance to given context (2 marks), language accuracy (1 mark), and natural flow/completeness (1 mark). A complete dialogue must have 6-8 exchanges (each character speaking 3-4 times), use a new line for each speaker, include the speaker's name followed by a colon, and avoid narrative descriptions (no 'he said angrily' — emotions must be clear from the words themselves). For example, if the prompt is 'Write a dialogue between Priya and Sam where Priya asks to borrow Sam's notes and Sam agrees but sets a condition', a model solution would be: Priya: Hi Sam, I missed yesterday's class due to a doctor's appointment. Could I please borrow your Maths notes? Sam: Of course, Priya. I have them right here in my bag. Priya: Thank you so much! I will return them by tomorrow evening. Sam: Actually, I need them back by tonight because I have to revise for the test on Friday. Can you finish by 7 pm? Priya: Yes, definitely. I will just photograph the pages and return the notebook to you by 6:30 pm. Sam: Perfect! That works for me. Let me know if anything is unclear in the notes. Priya: You are a lifesaver, Sam. I really appreciate this. Sam: No problem at all. That is what friends are for! This 8-exchange dialogue demonstrates the CBSE ideal: context is addressed (borrowing notes), a condition is set (time limit), problem is solved (photographing), and the friendship theme is reinforced in the closing line. Students lose marks by writing too few exchanges (4 or less), mixing past and present tense within dialogue, or including unnecessary stage directions.

Each of the three texts in CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2 Friendship introduces 8-10 words that NCERT expects students to understand in context and use correctly. The textbook typically provides a vocabulary exercise after each text asking students to (a) find words from the passage that mean the same as given definitions, (b) use the word in their own sentence, or (c) identify the correct meaning from multiple choices. Words commonly featured in this chapter include: 'reluctant' (unwilling, hesitant), 'compatible' (able to exist together harmoniously), 'strewn' (scattered), 'loyalty' (faithfulness to someone), 'misunderstanding' (failure to understand correctly), 'reconcile' (restore friendly relations), 'cherish' (hold dear, treasure), 'genuine' (truly what it is said to be, authentic), 'accompany' (go somewhere with), and 'concern' (worry, care about). When the question asks for a synonym from the passage, students must write the exact word as it appears in the text, maintaining the same form (if the text has 'scattered', do not write 'scatter'). For sentence construction, NCERT rewards sentences that show clear understanding of meaning rather than memorised textbook sentences. For example, for 'reluctant', a strong original sentence would be: 'Rohan was reluctant to try the new dish because he usually dislikes spicy food' — this shows understanding that reluctant means unwilling, provides context for why, and uses appropriate grammar. A weak sentence would be 'I am reluctant', which shows the word can fit grammatically but does not demonstrate meaning comprehension. Vocabulary questions typically carry 0.5-1 mark each, totaling 3-5 marks per chapter, and appear in both term exams and school tests.

After reviewing hundreds of student answer sheets, certain error patterns emerge consistently in Chapter 2 responses. First, for comprehension questions, students often provide opinions without text evidence. If asked 'Why was the friendship unlikely?', answering 'Because they were different' earns 0-1 marks out of 2; the full-marks answer requires quoting specific differences from the text ('Ravi loved sports while Anil preferred reading, as shown when the text states…'). Second, in poetry analysis, students write vague statements like 'the poem is nice' instead of identifying specific qualities such as 'the poem celebrates selfless care, shown through the repeated wish for the friend's happiness without mentioning the speaker's own needs'. Third, tense conversion errors occur when students change only the main verb but ignore auxiliary verbs — converting 'She is dancing' to 'She will dancing' instead of 'She will dance' (forgetting that future tense uses 'will + base form', not 'will + continuous'). Fourth, dialogue writing submissions often include narrative intrusions: 'Amit said angrily, I will not help you' mixes reported and direct speech formats; the correct format is simply 'Amit: I will not help you!' with the emotion conveyed through words or punctuation. Fifth, vocabulary sentences repeat textbook phrasing verbatim, which CBSE examiners penalise as rote learning rather than genuine understanding. Sixth, students ignore mark allocation, writing 2-line answers for 3-mark questions (which require at least 50-60 words and 2-3 distinct points). Seventh, handwriting and presentation suffer when students rush; CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2 Friendship solutions submitted as homework should be legible, with proper margins and underlining of key terms. Teachers report that these mechanical aspects influence scoring, particularly when answers are borderline. Finally, students skip the instruction to 'answer in complete sentences', offering one-word or fragmented responses that lose presentation marks even if content is correct.

The 2024-25 CBSE Class 6 English question paper (Term 1) allocates 20 marks to the literature/textbook section, of which Chapters 1-4 of the Poorvi textbook collectively contribute content for 10-12 marks. Chapter 2 specifically can appear as: (1) a 3-mark comprehension passage from one of the three texts with 2-3 short questions; (2) a 2-mark question asking students to identify and explain a poetic device from 'A Friend's Prayer'; (3) a 2-mark vocabulary question with two words from the chapter for which students must provide meanings and sentences; (4) a 5-mark dialogue writing question with a friendship-related scenario similar to the practice prompts in the chapter; or (5) a 3-mark grammar section asking students to identify or correct tenses in 4-6 sentences. The paper follows a difficulty gradient: 40% recall (direct textbook questions), 40% understanding (rephrased questions requiring comprehension), and 20% application (using chapter concepts in new contexts). For example, a recall question would be 'Who are the two friends in 'The Unlikely Best Friends'?' (direct from text), an understanding question would be 'Why did their friendship surprise others?' (requires inference from text details), and an application question would be 'Write a dialogue where one friend helps another overcome a fear' (uses dialogue writing skills taught via Chapter 2 but in a new scenario). Students who thoroughly solve the NCERT exercises in CBSE Class 6 English — Poorvi Chapter 2 Friendship gain exposure to all three levels, building exam readiness. School periodic tests (10 marks, monthly) usually draw 2-3 marks from this chapter, typically one comprehension question and one grammar question, while the term-end exam may include a combination worth 8-10 marks. Literature questions almost always require quoting or referencing the text; generic answers without specifics receive partial credit only. CBSE marking schemes for Class 6 literature emphasise 'relevance and text support' as a key parameter.

Parents often ask how to help a Class 6 student with English literature when they themselves may not recall NCERT specifics. The most effective strategy is not solving answers for your child but rather implementing a structured practice routine. First, have your child read each text aloud once; this builds fluency and reveals comprehension gaps (if they stumble over words or cannot explain what they just read, they need a vocabulary or comprehension intervention). Second, after reading, ask them to summarise the text in 3-4 sentences without looking at the book — this checks retention and understanding. Third, go through NCERT questions together, but pause before each question and ask your child to predict what the question is testing (factual recall? inference? opinion?); this meta-cognitive awareness improves answer quality. Fourth, for grammar exercises on tenses, have your child explain the rule first, then apply it — if they cannot articulate why 'I will went' is wrong ('because will takes base form of verb, not past form'), they are mechanically doing exercises without understanding. Fifth, for dialogue writing, act it out verbally before writing; this reveals whether the conversation sounds natural and covers all required points. Sixth, use CBSETUTOR.ai for instant doubt resolution: your child can photograph any NCERT question they are stuck on and receive a step-by-step explanation matched to CBSE marking standards, available 24×7 at ₹999/month for all Class 6-12 subjects — far more cost-effective than hiring a subject tutor for one chapter. Seventh, check written answers against model solutions but do not let your child simply copy them; make them rewrite in their own words to build genuine skill. Eighth, maintain a vocabulary notebook where your child writes each new word from Chapter 2, its meaning, and one original sentence — review this weekly. Ninth, time practice answers: 2-mark questions should take 3-4 minutes, 5-mark questions should take 8-10 minutes; this builds exam time management. Finally, praise effort and improvement rather than perfection; a child who moves from 5/10 to 7/10 on chapter tests is progressing well, and confidence at this stage matters as much as marks.

While students at Class 6 level are not explicitly tested on inter-textual analysis, developing awareness of how all three texts in Chapter 2 explore different facets of the same theme builds deeper literary appreciation and prepares students for higher-order questions in Classes 9-10. 'The Unlikely Best Friends' emphasises that true friendship transcends surface differences — the two characters have opposite personalities yet bond over shared interests, teaching the lesson that compatibility is about values, not temperament. 'A Friend's Prayer' shifts from narrative to lyrical mode, expressing the emotional and aspirational dimension of friendship; the speaker wishes well for the friend without self-interest, highlighting selflessness and empathy as core friendship qualities. 'The Chair' introduces conflict resolution within friendship — the characters face a dilemma (limited resource, multiple people wanting it) and must negotiate, compromise, and maintain the relationship despite disagreement, teaching that healthy friendships involve respectful disagreement and problem-solving. When taken together, these three texts present friendship as multi-dimensional: it is built on common ground (The Unlikely Best Friends), sustained by care and goodwill (A Friend's Prayer), and tested through challenges requiring maturity (The Chair). A student who grasps these connections can answer broad questions like 'What does Chapter 2 teach us about friendship?' with nuanced, multi-point responses rather than generic statements. For example: 'Chapter 2 teaches that friendship is not about being similar but about sharing values, as shown when Ravi and Anil connect over stamps despite opposite personalities. It also shows that true friends wish the best for each other selflessly, as the prayer in the poem asks for the friend's happiness without mentioning the speaker's needs. Finally, it demonstrates that friends may disagree but can resolve conflicts through communication and compromise, as seen when the characters in 'The Chair' negotiate a solution.' This 85-word response synthesises all three texts and would earn full marks for any thematic question. Encouraging your child to make such connections during study sessions builds critical thinking muscles that serve them throughout secondary school.

Many Class 6 students encounter their doubts during evening homework hours when parents may be unavailable or when a concept requires explanation beyond the textbook's scope. CBSETUTOR.ai serves as an on-demand tutor specifically designed for CBSE Classes 6-12, with every NCERT textbook — including the complete Poorvi syllabus — embedded in its knowledge base. If your child is stuck on a question like 'Explain the line May your path be strewn with flowers from A Friend's Prayer', they can photograph the question and receive an explanation that breaks down the metaphor (path = life, strewn with flowers = full of happiness), identifies the poetic device (metaphor), and shows how to structure a 2-mark answer with appropriate length and terminology. The platform recognises CBSE answer expectations: it emphasises quoting text, using complete sentences, and matching answer length to mark value — the same standards a school teacher applies. For grammar doubts, students can ask 'Why is I will went wrong?' and receive not just the correction (I will go) but the underlying rule (future tense uses will + base form of verb, not will + past form). For dialogue writing, the AI can review a draft your child has written, point out if the exchange count is insufficient or if the scenario has not been fully addressed, and suggest natural-sounding alternatives. The subscription is ₹999 per month for access to all subjects across Classes 6-12, with a 3-day free trial requiring no credit card. This is substantially more cost-effective than hiring a private English tutor (typically ₹400-600 per hour in Indian metros) while providing availability every evening, weekend, and during exam preparation. Parents report that having instant access reduces homework friction — instead of arguments over 'I don't understand this', the child queries the AI, receives a clear explanation, and proceeds independently. This builds self-reliance while ensuring the answer quality meets NCERT standards, unlike random internet searches that may provide non-CBSE-aligned or overly complex explanations unsuitable for Class 6 level.