Chapter 3: Run! & Nasruddin's Aim
Exuberant Poem by Mary Daunt & Humorous Folklore Story on Witty Archery Boasts | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem 'Run!': Escaping the crowded city to run in the rain, under trees, through meadows, and down hillsides.
- Story 'Nasruddin's Aim': Nasruddin boasts of his unbeatable archery skills to his friends.
- The missed shots: Attributing his first miss to 'aiming like the chief guard' and second miss to 'the general'.
- The accidental bullseye: On the third lucky shot, hitting the center and proudly claiming: 'That was MY aim!'
- Grammar: Compound words, rhyming words, and dialogue punctuation.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (14 Questions)
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Q1
Reading is Fun • Poem 'Run!'
Where does the poet urge us to run? Why does she tell us to run away from the city into the countryside?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
The poet urges us to run:
1. Away from the crowded city and into the sun.
2. Out to the country, into the raindrops, beneath trees, down hillsides, and through meadows.
She encourages this so we can escape stuffy, polluted concrete streets, breathe crisp open air, and experience pure, joyful, energetic freedom in nature.
1. Away from the crowded city and into the sun.
2. Out to the country, into the raindrops, beneath trees, down hillsides, and through meadows.
She encourages this so we can escape stuffy, polluted concrete streets, breathe crisp open air, and experience pure, joyful, energetic freedom in nature.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Lists destinations: out to country, raindrops, trees, meadows
1.5 M
Explains contrast between crowded city and healthy nature
1.5 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • 'Nasruddin's Aim'
What was Nasruddin boasting about to his friends? Why did his friends burst into loud laughter after his first shot?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Nasruddin was proudly boasting that no archer could match his skill with the bow and arrow, claiming that the moment he strung the bow and took aim, the arrow never missed its mark.
His friends burst into loud laughter because on his very first attempt, the arrow fell far short of the target and landed harmlessly on the grass.
His friends burst into loud laughter because on his very first attempt, the arrow fell far short of the target and landed harmlessly on the grass.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Describes boast of unmatched archery precision
1.5 M
Explains humiliating miss on first arrow shot
1.5 M
Q3
Reading is Fun • 'Nasruddin's Aim'
How did Nasruddin cleverly defend himself after his first two missed shots? What did he say when the third arrow struck the bullseye?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
First Miss: Nasruddin coolly declared: 'It wasn't my aim! It was the aim of the Chief Guard!'
Second Miss: He waved his hand and exclaimed: 'That was not my aim either; it was how the Chief of Army shoots!'
Third Shot (Bullseye): When luck struck and the third arrow hit dead center, he looked around triumphantly and exclaimed with supreme pride: 'Did you see that? That was MY aim!'
Second Miss: He waved his hand and exclaimed: 'That was not my aim either; it was how the Chief of Army shoots!'
Third Shot (Bullseye): When luck struck and the third arrow hit dead center, he looked around triumphantly and exclaimed with supreme pride: 'Did you see that? That was MY aim!'
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Quotes defenses for guard and army chief misses
1.5 M
Quotes triumphant claim of ownership on bullseye
1.5 M
Q4
Word Building • Compound Words
Combine two words to create meaningful compound words: (a) Play + ground, (b) Sun + beam, (c) Water + fall, (d) Rain + drop.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) Play + ground = Playground.
(b) Sun + beam = Sunbeam.
(c) Water + fall = Waterfall.
(d) Rain + drop = Raindrop.
(b) Sun + beam = Sunbeam.
(c) Water + fall = Waterfall.
(d) Rain + drop = Raindrop.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Four correct compound words formed (0.5 M each)
2.0 M
Q5
Reading is Fun • Poem Comprehension
In Unit 3 ('Run! & Nasruddin's Aim'), 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 3, 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 'Run! & Nasruddin's Aim'.
[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 3.
[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 3 ('Run! & Nasruddin's Aim')?
[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
Boasting vs. True Competence
During sports trials, a student claims he can easily score 10 penalty goals in a row. When he misses the first four kicks, he blames the wet grass, the goalkeeper's gloves, and the referee's whistle.
Analytical Task: How does this student's behavior resemble Nasruddin's wit? What is the healthy difference between witty storytelling and genuine accountability in sports?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
Resemblance to Nasruddin: Both deflect responsibility by attributing personal errors to external individuals or conditions to protect their pride.
Difference between Wit & Accountability: In Nasruddin's folklore, deflecting excuses is humorous theater meant to entertain friends. However, in real sports, honest accountability (analyzing technique, admitting mistakes, practicing humbly) is essential to develop true skill and character.
Difference between Wit & Accountability: In Nasruddin's folklore, deflecting excuses is humorous theater meant to entertain friends. However, in real sports, honest accountability (analyzing technique, admitting mistakes, practicing humbly) is essential to develop true skill and character.
Rubric: 1 Mark for identifying parallel excuse-making; 1 Mark for distinguishing humorous fiction from authentic athletic accountability.