Chapter 4 of 10
Chapter 4: Why? & Alice in Wonderland
Inquisitive Poem on Scientific Curiosity & Classic Lewis Carroll Fantasy Journey down the Rabbit Hole | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem 'Why?': The curious little boy who always asks why wood swims, why lead sinks, and why stars shine.
- Story 'Alice in Wonderland': Alice resting on a riverbank spots a White Rabbit with pink eyes wearing a waistcoat.
- The rabbit pulls out a watch from its pocket and mutters: 'Oh dear, I will be late!'
- Alice tumbles down the deep rabbit hole into a world of enchanted talking animals and magical adventures.
- Grammar: Question words (Why, What, Where, When, Who, How) and vivid descriptive adjectives.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (14 Questions)
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Q1
Reading is Fun • Poem 'Why?'
What kind of person is the little boy in the poem? Name three scientific questions that puzzle his inquisitive mind.
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
The little boy is deeply curious, observant, and inquisitive, always wondering about the natural mechanisms of the world.
Three questions that puzzle him are:
1. Why does wood float and swim on water, while marble and lead sink like stones?
2. Why does the sun sink behind the hills in the evening?
3. Why does the wind blow, and why do clouds fly across the sky?
Three questions that puzzle him are:
1. Why does wood float and swim on water, while marble and lead sink like stones?
2. Why does the sun sink behind the hills in the evening?
3. Why does the wind blow, and why do clouds fly across the sky?
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Characterizes boy as curious and observant
1.0 M
Three specific scientific questions listed
2.0 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • 'Alice in Wonderland'
What was so extraordinary and peculiar about the White Rabbit that made Alice jump to her feet and follow it?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
The White Rabbit was extraordinary because:
1. It had striking pink eyes and could speak English aloud, fretting: 'Oh dear! I shall be too late!'
2. It was dressed in an elegant waistcoat and pulled out a pocket watch from its waistcoat pocket to check the time, a sight Alice had never seen a rabbit do before.
1. It had striking pink eyes and could speak English aloud, fretting: 'Oh dear! I shall be too late!'
2. It was dressed in an elegant waistcoat and pulled out a pocket watch from its waistcoat pocket to check the time, a sight Alice had never seen a rabbit do before.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Mentions talking ability and pink eyes
1.5 M
Details wearing a waistcoat and checking a pocket watch
1.5 M
Q3
Reading is Fun • 'Alice in Wonderland'
Describe Alice's fall down the rabbit hole. What did she wonder about as she drifted downward?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Alice tumbled into a deep, vertical well whose walls were lined with cupboards, bookshelves, and maps. She fell so slowly that she had plenty of time to look around.
As she floated downward, she wondered how many miles she had fallen, whether she would fall right through the center of the earth, and whether people on the other side walked with their heads hanging downward.
As she floated downward, she wondered how many miles she had fallen, whether she would fall right through the center of the earth, and whether people on the other side walked with their heads hanging downward.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Describes slow fall past cupboards and maps
1.5 M
Details thoughts of earth's center and antipodean people
1.5 M
Q4
Grammar & Word Building • Question Words
Fill in the blanks with the correct question words (Why, What, Where, Who, When): (a) ___ is the White Rabbit hurrying? (b) ___ is the name of your English teacher? (c) ___ does the school bell ring for recess? (d) ___ placed the books on the shelf?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) Why is the White Rabbit hurrying?
(b) What is the name of your English teacher?
(c) When does the school bell ring for recess?
(d) Who placed the books on the shelf?
(b) What is the name of your English teacher?
(c) When does the school bell ring for recess?
(d) Who placed the books on the shelf?
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Four correct question words selected (0.5 M each)
2.0 M
Q5
Reading is Fun • Poem Comprehension
In Unit 4 ('Why? & Alice in Wonderland'), 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 4, 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 'Why? & Alice in Wonderland'.
[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 4.
[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 4 ('Why? & Alice in Wonderland')?
[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
Encouraging Scientific Inquisitiveness in Children
Albert Einstein famously declared: 'I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.'
Analytical Task: How does the poem 'Why?' showcase the foundation of scientific discovery? Why should parents and teachers never discourage children from asking endless questions?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
Foundation of Science: Every scientific breakthrough—from Archimedes discovering buoyancy to Newton discovering gravity—began with asking simple 'Why' questions: Why does wood float? Why do apples fall downward?
Why Never Discourage: When children's inquiries are answered patiently, their neural curiosity thrives, fostering analytical thinking and problem-solving. Dismissing questions stifles creative exploration and turns learning into mechanical memorization.
Why Never Discourage: When children's inquiries are answered patiently, their neural curiosity thrives, fostering analytical thinking and problem-solving. Dismissing questions stifles creative exploration and turns learning into mechanical memorization.
Rubric: 1 Mark for connecting poem's queries to genuine scientific inquiry; 1 Mark for cognitive benefits of encouraging children's curiosity.