Chapter 13 of 15
Chapter 13: The Longest Step
Footsteps, Handspans, Fingers, Cat & Mouse Distance Puzzle | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Measuring length and distance using body parts (fingers, handspan, pace/footsteps).
- Comparing distances: who takes the longest step (deer vs rabbit vs elephant).
- The Cat, Rat, and Milk Bowl puzzle: estimating who reaches the milk first.
- Understanding why non-standard body measurements differ between a child and an adult.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (18 Questions)
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Q1
Textbook Exercise • Animal Steps
Three friends — an elephant, a deer, and a rabbit — walk in a park. Who takes the longest step? Who takes the shortest step?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Answer:
• The elephant has huge long legs and takes the longest step.
• The rabbit hops with small bounds and takes the shortest step.
• The elephant has huge long legs and takes the longest step.
• The rabbit hops with small bounds and takes the shortest step.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Elephant: longest step
1 M
Rabbit: shortest step
1 M
Q2
Textbook Exercise • Measuring with Handspans
Rajat measures the classroom study desk using his handspan. His desk is 6 handspans long. His teacher measures the same desk and finds it is 4 handspans long. Why did the teacher get a smaller count?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Explanation:
• The teacher is an adult, so her handspan is much bigger than Rajat's child handspan.
• Because the teacher's handspan is longer, fewer handspans are needed to cover the same length.
• The teacher is an adult, so her handspan is much bigger than Rajat's child handspan.
• Because the teacher's handspan is longer, fewer handspans are needed to cover the same length.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Teacher's handspan is larger explained
1 M
Fewer units needed for longer measure
1 M
Q3
Textbook Exercise • Measuring with Steps (Paces)
How can you measure the distance between the classroom door and the teacher's blackboard without using a measuring tape?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Answer:
• You can measure it by walking normally and counting your footsteps (paces) heel-to-toe from the door to the blackboard.
• You can measure it by walking normally and counting your footsteps (paces) heel-to-toe from the door to the blackboard.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Footsteps / paces method described
1 M
Counting from start to end point explained
1 M
Q4
Textbook Activity • Measuring School Items
Which body unit (fingers, handspan, or footsteps) is most suitable to measure:
(a) The thickness of your pencil
(b) The length of your school math book
(c) The length of your school playground
[3 Marks]
(a) The thickness of your pencil
(b) The length of your school math book
(c) The length of your school playground
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Thickness of a pencil: Fingers.
(b) Length of a math book: Handspan.
(c) Length of a playground: Footsteps (paces).
(a) Thickness of a pencil: Fingers.
(b) Length of a math book: Handspan.
(c) Length of a playground: Footsteps (paces).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Fingers
1 M
(b) Handspan
1 M
(c) Footsteps
1 M
Q5
Body Proportion Investigation
Is your forehead longer than your palm? Measure with your fingers and compare.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Answer:
• Forehead height is usually about 3 to 4 fingers.
• Palm length is usually about 6 to 8 fingers.
• Therefore, the palm is longer than the forehead.
• Forehead height is usually about 3 to 4 fingers.
• Palm length is usually about 6 to 8 fingers.
• Therefore, the palm is longer than the forehead.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Finger measurement comparison
1 M
Palm identified as longer
1 M
Q6
Footprint Length Comparison
Who will have a longer foot: you or your father? How can you verify this at home?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Answer:
• Father's foot will be longer.
• You can verify this by standing side-by-side on paper and tracing your foot outlines, or placing your heel against your father's heel.
• Father's foot will be longer.
• You can verify this by standing side-by-side on paper and tracing your foot outlines, or placing your heel against your father's heel.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Father's foot identified
1 M
Heel-to-heel or tracing verification method
1 M
Q7
Pencil Length Drill
An eraser is 2 fingers long. A new wooden pencil is equal to 4 erasers placed end-to-end. How many fingers long is the pencil?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Calculation:
• 1 eraser = 2 fingers
• Pencil = 4 erasers = 4 × 2 = 8 fingers long.
• 1 eraser = 2 fingers
• Pencil = 4 erasers = 4 × 2 = 8 fingers long.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Multiplication 4 × 2 shown
1 M
8 fingers correct
1 M
Q8
Ribbon Comparison
Priya has a red ribbon that is 5 handspans long. Sneha has a blue ribbon that is 7 handspans long (measured using Priya's hand). Whose ribbon is longer and by how many handspans?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Solution:
• Red ribbon = 5 handspans
• Blue ribbon = 7 handspans
• Since 7 > 5, the blue ribbon is longer.
• Difference = 7 - 5 = 2 handspans longer.
• Red ribbon = 5 handspans
• Blue ribbon = 7 handspans
• Since 7 > 5, the blue ribbon is longer.
• Difference = 7 - 5 = 2 handspans longer.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Blue ribbon identified
1 M
Difference of 2 handspans calculated
1 M
Q9
Cat & Mouse Puzzle Variation
In the cat and mouse game, if the rat is 4 steps away from the cheese and the cat is 9 steps away, how many steps head start does the rat have?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Solution:
• Cat distance = 9 steps
• Rat distance = 4 steps
• Head start = 9 - 4 = 5 steps.
• Cat distance = 9 steps
• Rat distance = 4 steps
• Head start = 9 - 4 = 5 steps.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Subtraction 9 - 4 shown
1 M
5 steps correct
1 M
Q10
Hands-on Activity • Nose to Ear
Guess the distance between your nose and your ear in fingers. Check with your hand.
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The distance from the tip of the nose to the ear in a 7-year-old child is approximately 4 to 6 fingers.
• The distance from the tip of the nose to the ear in a 7-year-old child is approximately 4 to 6 fingers.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Reasonable estimate (4-6 fingers)
1 M
Q11
Why Standard Units Matter
Why can carpenters and tailor uncles not use only handspans to make tables and shirts?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Explanation:
• Everyone's hands and bodies are different sizes.
• If a tailor used handspans, clothes would turn out too big or too small. They use a standard measuring tape (centimetres/metres) so measurements are exact for everyone.
• Everyone's hands and bodies are different sizes.
• If a tailor used handspans, clothes would turn out too big or too small. They use a standard measuring tape (centimetres/metres) so measurements are exact for everyone.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Variation in body sizes explained
1 M
Need for standard measuring tape explained
1 M
Q12
Walking Race • Steps Counting
Tarun walks across the verandah in 18 steps. His younger sister walks the same verandah in 26 steps. Who took more steps, and why?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Explanation:
• The younger sister took more steps (26 steps vs 18 steps).
• Reason: Her legs are shorter, so each of her steps covers a smaller distance, requiring more steps to cross the verandah.
• The younger sister took more steps (26 steps vs 18 steps).
• Reason: Her legs are shorter, so each of her steps covers a smaller distance, requiring more steps to cross the verandah.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Younger sister identified
1 M
Shorter stride length reason provided
1 M
Q13
True or False
State True or False:
(a) A handspan is the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when stretched open.
(b) An ant takes longer steps than a dog.
[2 Marks]
(a) A handspan is the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when stretched open.
(b) An ant takes longer steps than a dog.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) True. That is the exact anatomical definition of a handspan.
(b) False. An ant has tiny legs and takes microscopically small steps compared to a dog.
(a) True. That is the exact anatomical definition of a handspan.
(b) False. An ant has tiny legs and takes microscopically small steps compared to a dog.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) True
1 M
(b) False with reason
1 M
Q14
Chapter Reflection
What have you learned about measuring distances in Chapter 13?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Summary:
1. Distances can be measured using natural units like fingers, handspans, and footsteps.
2. Larger objects take fewer measurement units; smaller units take more counts.
3. Because human body sizes vary, standard tools like rulers and measuring tapes ensure universal precision.
1. Distances can be measured using natural units like fingers, handspans, and footsteps.
2. Larger objects take fewer measurement units; smaller units take more counts.
3. Because human body sizes vary, standard tools like rulers and measuring tapes ensure universal precision.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Non-standard units named
1 M
Inverse unit-count relationship
1 M
Need for standard units
1 M
Q15
Quick Quiz Problem
Which is longer: 10 finger widths or 1 full handspan?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• 1 full handspan is generally longer than 10 finger widths placed side-by-side.
• 1 full handspan is generally longer than 10 finger widths placed side-by-side.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
1 full handspan identified
1 M
Q16
Textbook Story • Step Race
An elephant, a deer, and a rabbit had a walking race across the clearing. Who took the longest step and who took the shortest step?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The elephant took the longest step because of its massive legs.
• The rabbit took the shortest step among the three.
• The elephant took the longest step because of its massive legs.
• The rabbit took the shortest step among the three.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Elephant longest step
1 M
Rabbit shortest step
1 M
Q17
Textbook Measurement • Handspan Desk Test
Rajat measures his study table using his handspan. It measures 8 handspans long. His father measures the same table and gets 5 handspans. Why are their counts different?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Handspan is a non-standard unit of length. Father's hand is larger and longer than Rajat's small hand, so fewer adult handspans are needed to cover the same length.
• Handspan is a non-standard unit of length. Father's hand is larger and longer than Rajat's small hand, so fewer adult handspans are needed to cover the same length.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Handspan varies by person's size
1 M
Father's hand is bigger
1 M
Q18
Textbook Activity • Finger Distance
Measure the distance between your nose and your chin using your fingers. How many fingers long is it?
[1.5 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• For a Class 2 child, the distance between nose and chin is usually about 3 to 4 fingers long.
• For a Class 2 child, the distance between nose and chin is usually about 3 to 4 fingers long.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Realistic 3-4 fingers measure
1.5 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
Cat and Mouse Distance Investigation
In the NCERT picture, a bowl of fresh milk sits between a cat and a little mouse. A girl uses her fingers to measure distance on the page. From the rat's nose to the milk bowl is 3 fingers. From the cat's paw to the milk bowl is 5 fingers. The rat is 2 fingers away from its underground hole.
Analytical Task: Who is closer to the milk bowl: the cat or the rat? Will the rat reach the milk bowl or its safety hole first? What will happen if the cat runs twice as fast?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
1. The rat is closer to the milk bowl (3 fingers vs 5 fingers for the cat).
2. The rat will reach its hole first because the hole is only 2 fingers away.
3. If the cat runs twice as fast, it covers distance rapidly, but the smart rat can quickly jump into its hole 2 fingers away and stay safe!
2. The rat will reach its hole first because the hole is only 2 fingers away.
3. If the cat runs twice as fast, it covers distance rapidly, but the smart rat can quickly jump into its hole 2 fingers away and stay safe!
Rubric: 1 M for rat closer to milk + 1 M for hole distance comparison + 1 M for cat speed reasoning