Chapter 2: Noses & The Little Fir Tree
Humorous Poem by Aileen Fisher & Story on Self-Acceptance and Gratitude for Natural Gifts | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem 'Noses': The funny appearance of the nose sticking out in the middle of the face with two little breathing holes.
- Story 'The Little Fir Tree': Magician Shetty grants four wishes to a little fir tree that disliked its needle-like leaves.
- The four wishes: Green leaves (eaten by goat), golden leaves (stolen by thief), glass leaves (shattered by wind), and back to needles.
- The moral: Nature designs every living creature with perfection; self-acceptance brings true peace.
- Grammar: Prefixes 'un-' and 'im-' to form opposites.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (14 Questions)
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Q1
Reading is Fun • Poem 'Noses'
Why does the poet think the nose is a funny thing? Why is a nose important for our body?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
The poet thinks the nose is funny because it sticks out right in the middle of our face like a handle, showing everything plainly with two little breathing holes right where the breathing goes.
The nose is essential because it acts as our respiratory airway. It filters, warms, and humidifies the air we inhale, while its olfactory receptors enable us to smell delicious food and detect dangerous smoke.
The nose is essential because it acts as our respiratory airway. It filters, warms, and humidifies the air we inhale, while its olfactory receptors enable us to smell delicious food and detect dangerous smoke.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Cites handle comparison and two breathing holes
1.5 M
Explains respiration and smell functions
1.5 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • 'The Little Fir Tree'
Answer the following from 'The Little Fir Tree': (a) Why was the little fir tree sad? (b) Who was Shetty and what reward did he grant the fir tree?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) The little fir tree was sad because it had prickly, needle-like leaves instead of broad green leaves, which made it feel unattractive, and birds never built nests in its branches.
(b) Shetty was a friendly magician who took shelter under the fir tree during a sudden rainstorm. Because the tree kept him completely dry, Shetty rewarded it by granting four wishes.
(b) Shetty was a friendly magician who took shelter under the fir tree during a sudden rainstorm. Because the tree kept him completely dry, Shetty rewarded it by granting four wishes.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Explains unhappiness over needle leaves and lack of nests
1.5 M
Identifies magician Shetty and rain shelter reward
1.5 M
Q3
Reading is Fun • Four Wishes
What happened to the fir tree's three temporary leaf transformations? What did the fir tree finally request for its fourth wish?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
1. Broad Green Leaves: A hungry goat came along and ate all of them up.
2. Sparkling Gold Leaves: A greedy thief crept in at night and stole all the gold leaves.
3. Shining Glass Leaves: A strong evening wind blew, crashing the brittle glass leaves into shattered pieces.
Final Request: For its fourth wish, the fir tree begged to have its original sharp needle-like leaves back, realizing no goat would eat them, no thief could steal them, and no wind could break them.
2. Sparkling Gold Leaves: A greedy thief crept in at night and stole all the gold leaves.
3. Shining Glass Leaves: A strong evening wind blew, crashing the brittle glass leaves into shattered pieces.
Final Request: For its fourth wish, the fir tree begged to have its original sharp needle-like leaves back, realizing no goat would eat them, no thief could steal them, and no wind could break them.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Correct fates for green, gold, and glass leaves
1.5 M
Wise final return to natural needles explained
1.5 M
Q4
Word Building • Opposites with Prefixes
Add prefixes 'un-' or 'im-' to form opposites of: (a) Happy, (b) Polite, (c) Kind, (d) Possible.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) Happy: Unhappy.
(b) Polite: Impolite.
(c) Kind: Unkind.
(d) Possible: Impossible.
(b) Polite: Impolite.
(c) Kind: Unkind.
(d) Possible: Impossible.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Four correct prefix transformations (0.5 M each)
2.0 M
Q5
Reading is Fun • Poem Comprehension
In Unit 2 ('Noses & The Little Fir Tree'), what is the central event in the poem, and what sounds of nature wake the morning world?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Nature & Morning Sounds:
The poem celebrates the break of dawn. Nature awakens with the singing of birds in the trees, the buzzing of honeybees in flower beds, and the gentle morning breeze rustling through green leaves.
The poem celebrates the break of dawn. Nature awakens with the singing of birds in the trees, the buzzing of honeybees in flower beds, and the gentle morning breeze rustling through green leaves.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Awakening of nature described
1 M
Specific sounds (birds, bees) identified
1 M
Q6
Reading is Fun • Story Comprehension
In the prose section of Unit 2, how does the main character overcome self-doubt or an unusual dilemma?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Character Insight:
The character realizes that each individual is uniquely gifted and comparison with others leads to unnecessary unhappiness. With encouragement from loved ones, the character learns self-acceptance and confidence.
The character realizes that each individual is uniquely gifted and comparison with others leads to unnecessary unhappiness. With encouragement from loved ones, the character learns self-acceptance and confidence.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Dilemma identified
1.5 M
Resolution through self-acceptance explained
1.5 M
Q7
Word Building • Antonyms
Find antonyms (opposites) for: (a) Tiny (b) Defeat (c) Selfish (d) Proud.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Antonyms:
• (a) Tiny — Huge / Enormous.
• (b) Defeat — Victory / Win.
• (c) Selfish — Generous / Selfless.
• (d) Proud — Humble / Modest.
• (a) Tiny — Huge / Enormous.
• (b) Defeat — Victory / Win.
• (c) Selfish — Generous / Selfless.
• (d) Proud — Humble / Modest.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 4 opposites correct
2 M
Q8
Let us Write • Creative Expressions
Write two sentences describing how trees help birds, animals, and human beings as depicted in 'Noses & The Little Fir Tree'.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Importance of Trees:
Trees provide delicious fruits, oxygen, and cool shade for human beings and grazing animals. They also offer safe nesting spots and shelter for hundreds of birds and small forest creatures.
Trees provide delicious fruits, oxygen, and cool shade for human beings and grazing animals. They also offer safe nesting spots and shelter for hundreds of birds and small forest creatures.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Benefits to humans and wildlife clearly stated
2 M
Q9
Grammar & Language • Conjunctions (and, but, because)
Join the pairs of sentences using 'and', 'but', or 'because':
(a) She ran fast. She missed the school bus.
(b) We stayed inside. It was raining heavily.
[2 Marks]
(a) She ran fast. She missed the school bus.
(b) We stayed inside. It was raining heavily.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Joined Sentences:
• (a) She ran fast, but she missed the school bus.
• (b) We stayed inside because it was raining heavily.
• (a) She ran fast, but she missed the school bus.
• (b) We stayed inside because it was raining heavily.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Correct use of 'but'
1 M
Correct use of 'because'
1 M
Q10
Talk Time • Imagination & Empathy
If animals and trees could speak our language, what important advice would they give to humans?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Imaginative Advice:
They would urge humans to stop cutting down green forests, keep water bodies clean from plastic pollution, and treat every living creature with care and kindness.
They would urge humans to stop cutting down green forests, keep water bodies clean from plastic pollution, and treat every living creature with care and kindness.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Thoughtful, empathetic environmental message
2 M
Q11
Vocabulary • Rhyming Couplets
Find two rhyming word pairs from the poem in Unit 2.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Rhyming Pairs:
1. Bed - Head (rhyming sound '-ed').
2. Day - Play (rhyming sound '-ay').
1. Bed - Head (rhyming sound '-ed').
2. Day - Play (rhyming sound '-ay').
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Two valid rhyming pairs with sounds identified
2 M
Q12
Grammar • Subject and Predicate
Divide the sentence into Subject and Predicate: 'The little fir tree stood proudly in the green forest.'
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sentence Division:
• Subject: The little fir tree
• Predicate: stood proudly in the green forest.
• Subject: The little fir tree
• Predicate: stood proudly in the green forest.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Subject correctly identified
1 M
Predicate correctly identified
1 M
Q13
Think & Discuss • Life Lessons
What is the core moral lesson of Unit 2 ('Noses & The Little Fir Tree')?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Moral Lesson:
True happiness comes from gratitude, generosity, and valuing our natural surroundings. Greed and vanity only bring discontentment.
True happiness comes from gratitude, generosity, and valuing our natural surroundings. Greed and vanity only bring discontentment.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Clear moral lesson with supporting detail
2 M
Q14
Review Questions • True or False
State True or False:
(a) Nasruddin was famous among his friends for boasting about his archery skills.
(b) Giving without expecting anything in return is true kindness.
(c) A question mark is placed at the end of an assertive sentence.
[3 Marks]
(a) Nasruddin was famous among his friends for boasting about his archery skills.
(b) Giving without expecting anything in return is true kindness.
(c) A question mark is placed at the end of an assertive sentence.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
• (a) True: Nasruddin boasted about his aim.
• (b) True: Selfless giving is the highest virtue.
• (c) False: An assertive sentence ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
• (a) True: Nasruddin boasted about his aim.
• (b) True: Selfless giving is the highest virtue.
• (c) False: An assertive sentence ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
True, True, False with explanations
3 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
Pine Needles in Alpine Snowstorms
Botanists explain that fir and pine trees evolved needle-shaped leaves coated in thick waxy cuticle to withstand sub-zero Himalayan winters, shedding snow easily and minimizing water loss through transpiration.
Analytical Task: How does biological science confirm the moral lesson learned by the Little Fir Tree? Why would broad leaves have killed the fir tree in winter?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
Biological Confirmation: The fable demonstrates that natural adaptations are evolutionary masterpieces. Broad leaves would accumulate heavy snow, breaking branches under sheer weight, and transpire water rapidly in freezing frozen soil, killing the tree through dehydration.
Lesson: Just like the fir tree, every living organism has physical traits shaped by nature to survive its environment. Trying to imitate others leads to vulnerability, while embracing one's natural design ensures strength.
Lesson: Just like the fir tree, every living organism has physical traits shaped by nature to survive its environment. Trying to imitate others leads to vulnerability, while embracing one's natural design ensures strength.
Rubric: 1 Mark for snow shed and transpiration explanation; 1 Mark for connecting adaptation to self-acceptance.