Chapter 2 of 20
⬅️ Ch 1: First Day at School Ch 3: I am Lucky! ➡️
NCERT Class 2 English • Classic CBSE

Chapter 2: Haldi’s Adventure

Encounter with Smiley the Giraffe, Reading Books & School Joy | CBSE Session 2026–27

Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
  • Story comprehension: Haldi meets Smiley, an extraordinary giraffe wearing big glasses and holding a book.
  • Smiley loves reading books and discussing stars, trees, birds, and school lessons.
  • Haldi rides on Smiley's tall back to reach her school before the morning bell.
  • The thrill of learning, reading, and discovering wonder in everyday life.
HaldiSchoolHaldi rode on Smiley's back and reached school on time!

All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (16 Questions)

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Q1 Reading is Fun • The Meeting
Where was Haldi going when she met the giraffe?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Haldi was walking to her school.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Going to school correct 1 M
Q2 Reading is Fun • The Surprise
Why did Haldi stare at the giraffe with surprise?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Haldi stared at him because she had never seen a giraffe who wore big spectacles and held an open book in his hand.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Never seen such a giraffe 1 M
Wearing glasses and holding book described 1 M
Q3 Reading is Fun • Reaching School
How did Haldi reach her school without being late?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• She climbed onto the giraffe's back. Smiley ran with long fast strides, and Haldi reached the school playground just as the bell rang.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Rode on giraffe's back 1 M
Reached before the bell rang 1 M
Q4 Talk Time • What Do You Learn?
What are some exciting things Haldi learns about at school?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Haldi learns about the stars, the trees, the birds, and different animals.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Stars and trees named 1 M
Birds and animals named 1 M
Q5 Word Building • Compound Words
Combine two words to make a compound word:
(a) Play + ground = _______
(b) Class + room = _______
(c) Sun + shine = _______
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Play + ground = Playground
(b) Class + room = Classroom
(c) Sun + shine = Sunshine
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Playground 1 M
(b) Classroom 1 M
(c) Sunshine 1 M
Q6 Describing Words • Adjectives
Pick the correct describing word for each:
(a) A _______ giraffe (tall / short)
(b) A _______ morning (wonderful / salty)
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) A tall giraffe.
(b) A wonderful morning.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) tall 1 M
(b) wonderful 1 M
Q7 Opposites Drill
Write the opposite of:
(a) Late × _______
(b) Fast × _______
(c) Morning × _______
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Late × Early / On time
(b) Fast × Slow
(c) Morning × Evening
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Early 1 M
(b) Slow 1 M
(c) Evening 1 M
Q8 Animal Fact • Giraffe Anatomy
What is special about a giraffe's neck and tongue?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Answer:
• A giraffe has the longest neck in the animal kingdom, allowing it to eat tender leaves from tall treetops.
• It also has a long, tough bluish tongue that helps it strip leaves without getting hurt by thorns.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Longest neck to reach treetops 1 M
Long tongue adaptation explained 1 M
Q9 Grammar • Pronouns (I, You, She)
Fill in with [I, You, She]:
(a) Haldi is a smart girl. ___ loves school.
(b) Smiley said, 'Whenever ___ see me, you will smile.'
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) She loves school.
(b) 'Whenever you see me, you will smile.'
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) She 1 M
(b) you 1 M
Q10 Spelling Check
Correct the spelling of these words from the chapter:
(a) ADVENTUR = _______
(b) GIRAFFE = _______
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) ADVENTURE
(b) GIRAFFE (already correct, or G-I-R-A-F-F-E)
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) ADVENTURE 1 M
(b) GIRAFFE verified 1 M
Q11 Sentence Construction
Make a sentence using the word 'adventure'.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sample Sentence:
• Exploring the forest trail with my uncle was an exciting adventure.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Meaningful sentence with 'adventure' 2 M
Q12 Feelings and Expressions
Why was the giraffe named 'Smiley'?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• He was named Smiley because he had a cheerful personality, wore a pleasant grin, and made everyone who met him smile happily.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Cheerful personality 1 M
Brought smiles to everyone 1 M
Q13 Days of the Week Link
On which days did Haldi go to school?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Haldi went to school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (and Saturdays), while Sunday was her holiday.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Weekday school days named 2 M
Q14 True or False
State True or False:
(a) Haldi missed her school bell because she talked to Smiley.
(b) Smiley loved reading storybooks.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) False. She reached school exactly on time on Smiley's back.
(b) True. Smiley was very fond of books and learning.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) False with reason 1 M
(b) True 1 M
Q15 Chapter Reflection
What is the moral of 'Haldi’s Adventure'?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Summary:
• School is a magical place where curiosity, reading, and friendship turn every day into a joyful adventure of discovery.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Joy of learning and school adventure emphasized 2 M
Q16 Reading is Fun • Smiley the Giraffe
What was the giraffe's name, and what unusual things was he wearing in 'Haldi's Adventure'?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The giraffe's name was Smiley.
• He was wearing big glasses and held a book in his hand, which looked very amusing and friendly to Haldi.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Smiley the giraffe 1 M
Glasses and book in hand 1 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study

Haldi's Morning Encounter

As Haldi walked to school one morning, she met a tall giraffe. The giraffe wore big spectacles and held a book in his hand. He smiled and said: 'Good morning, Haldi! My name is Smiley. Whenever you see me, you will smile.' Haldi stared at him because she had never seen a giraffe wearing spectacles before.

Analytical Task: What was the giraffe's name? What was unusual about his appearance? Why did Haldi say she loved school?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
1. The giraffe's name was Smiley.
2. Unusual appearance: He wore big spectacles and held a book in his hand, unlike any normal wild animal.
3. Haldi loved school because she learned exciting things about stars, trees, birds, and animals every day.
Rubric: 1 M for Smiley + 1 M for spectacles and book + 1 M for Haldi's school learning reasons
⬅️ Ch 1: First Day at School Ch 3: I am Lucky! ➡️