Chapter 15 Ila Sachani: Embroidering Dreams with her feet Solutions

Chapter 15 Ila Sachani: Embroidering Dreams with her feet

Text Book Solutions

Let us do these activities before we read (Page no. 151)

Q1. Look at the given picture and information. Discuss the questions with your teacher and classmates.

Pranav M. Balasubramaniam is from Palakkad in Kerala. Though he was born without both hands, he has excelled as an artist, a singer, and a para-sportsperson.

(a) Do you think Pranav’s task is simple? Why or why not?

Ans: No, Pranav’s task is not simple because he has to use alternative methods and overcome significant challenges to perform activities that most people do with their hands.

(b) How does Pranav’s special ability make you feel?

Ans: Pranav’s special ability is inspiring and makes me feel amazed at his determination and creativity.

(c) What qualities do you think were important for Pranav to become successful?

Ans: The qualities important for Pranav to become successful include determination, resilience, creativity, and a positive mindset.

(d) What message does Pranav’s story give us?

Ans: Pranav’s story gives us the message that with determination and hard work, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve our goals.

Q2. Look at the picture of Kathiawar embroidery. Discuss in pairs.

(a) List the steps you think are needed to create this embroidery.

Ans:

1. 
   Select the fabric.
   
2. 
   Draw the design on the fabric.
   
3. 
   Thread the needle.
   
4. 
   Start embroidering the design with the needle and thread.
   
5. 
   Add embellishments like mirrors or beads if desired.
   
6. 
   Finish the embroidery and trim any excess threads.
   

(b) Discuss if these steps can be done with feet, instead of hands.

Ans: Yes, these steps can be done with feet, but it requires a high level of skill and practice to achieve the precision needed for detailed embroidery.

(c) What efforts would be needed if someone has to embroider with their feet? Do you think it is possible?

Ans: The efforts needed would include developing dexterity and control with their feet, practicing threading the needle, and mastering the movements required for stitching. It is possible with dedication and perseverance, as demonstrated by Ila Sachani.

Let us discuss (Page no. 155)

Q1. Read the paragraphs and write the main idea for each. Then, match the main idea with two supporting details.

Paragraph	Main idea	Two supporting details
1	Introduction to Ila Sachani’s colourful embroidery	(i) Examples of embroidered things (ii) Ila’s use of shiny needle
2	Early challenges and family support	(i) Ila was born with her hands hanging loose (ii) Her mother and grandmother taught her embroidery
3	Determination and learning	(i) Ila accepted the challenge with determination (ii) She learned many styles of embroidery
4	Mastering the craft	(i) Threading a needle was hard (ii) Ila became an expert at a young age
5	Gaining recognition	(i) People in the village admired her work (ii) Government displayed her work at a state exhibition
6	Recognition at a state exhibition	(i) State exhibition opened new doors for Ila (ii) Her creations were purchased by many
7	National recognition and awards	(i) Participated in national exhibitions (ii) Received many awards and honours
8-9	Financial independence and joy	(i) Earned regular income (ii) Proved that challenges can be turned into victories

Let us think and reflect (Page no. 156)

Q1. Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.

Unlike other children, she could not use her hands in the usual way. While other small hands drew figures in the sand or plucked wild flowers, she wondered why she could not join them. She too wanted to hold a chalk in her hands and draw figures on a slate.

(a) Choose the correct option to fill in the blank.
‘Unlike other children’ means that Ila was different.

(b) What could Ila have felt when she could not join others in things they did?

Ans: Ila could have felt sad, left out, and frustrated when she could not join others in activities that required the use of hands.

(c) Complete the following with a suitable reason.
Ila could not draw figures on the slate because she could not use her hands.

Q2. What creative ways did Ila and her family use to overcome the challenges she faced?

Ans: Ila and her family used creative ways such as teaching her to use her feet for embroidery, encouraging her to develop dexterity with her legs for everyday tasks, and supporting her learning of various embroidery styles.

Q3. How did ‘new independence’ help Ila?

Ans: The new independence helped Ila by allowing her to earn a regular income, gain recognition for her talent, and find joy in her work. It boosted her confidence and demonstrated her ability to overcome challenges.

Q4. Why was the first state exhibition an important event in Ila’s life?

Ans: The first state exhibition was important because it brought Ila’s talent to a wider audience, leading to increased recognition, admiration, and opportunities for her work to be purchased, thus transforming her life.

Q5. What does the sentence, ‘art has the power to rise above physical boundaries and touch the soul’, tell us about the power of art?

Ans: The sentence indicates that art transcends physical limitations and can deeply move and inspire people, highlighting the emotional and spiritual impact of artistic expression.

Q6. How can we be helpful and encouraging like Ila’s family and friends when someone faces challenges?

Ans: We can be helpful and encouraging by offering support, recognizing and nurturing their talents, providing opportunities for them to showcase their abilities, and maintaining a positive and motivating environment.

Q7. How can Ila’s story help others to overcome challenges in their lives?

Ans: Ila’s story can inspire others to persevere in the face of challenges, believe in their abilities, and understand that determination and hard work can lead to success and fulfilment despite obstacles.

Let us Learn (Page no. 156)

Q1. Read the words from the text given in Column A. Then, try to understand what they mean by reading the sentences in Column B. Now, match the word to its correct synonym in Column C. There are two extra synonyms given. You may refer to the dictionary.

Column A	Column B	Column C
tiny	The garden was tiny but the park was really big.	small
wonderful	The wonderful artwork made everyone clap.	fantastic
quiet	The quiet library was a better place to study than the noisy classroom.	silent
task	Completing the Science homework was a challenging task as it had many questions.	work
tough	We know that tough times can be overcome if we try sincerely.	difficult

Q2. Unscramble the antonyms of the words in Column A. An example has been given for you.

Example: display – E D I H (H I D E)

(a) tiny – E G H U (H U G E)

(b) wonderful – R E E B L I T R (T E R R I B L E)

(c) quiet – I Y N S O (N O I S Y)

(d) task – S I A E M T P (S I M P L E)

(e) tough – SEYA (E A S Y)

Use these antonyms in sentences of your own.

Ans:

1. 
   The huge elephant walked slowly through the jungle.
   
2. 
   The movie was terrible, and I didn’t enjoy it at all.
   
3. 
   The noisy children played outside the house.
   
4. 
   Solving the puzzle was simple for her.
   
5. 
   The easy task took only a few minutes to complete.
   

Q3. Read the sentences from the text and focus on the highlighted words.

• You will see lots of bright colours.
• There are many lovely things like cushions and bedcovers.
• They taught her to create many beautiful patterns using her feet!
• She learned many styles.
• She received many awards.

(a) The highlighted words tell us about the quantity. Choose what the words show.
(i) Unmentioned quantity
(ii) Large quantity

(To be answered by the students themselves)

(b) Let us now understand what words of quantity tell us.
Fill in the blanks to complete an example for each word of quantity. Hints are given in the brackets.

(i) We saw many buses on the road. (countable noun)
(ii) How much milk do you want? (uncountable noun)
(iii) There is much milk needed. (uncountable noun)
(iv) I need a few examples. (countable noun)
(v) I have little energy left. She picked some flowers. (countable and uncountable nouns)
(vi) I ate a lot of rice. (uncountable noun)

Let us Learn (Page no. 158)

You will listen to a talk about Kathiawar embroidery. As you listen, circle the correct option.

(a) Form

(i) old

(ii) new

(b) Colours

(i) soft

(ii) bright

(c) Stitches

(i) running stitch

(ii) chain stitch

(d) Seen on

(i) children’s caps

(ii) pants

(e) Things used

(i) small mirrors

(ii) shapes of buttons

(f) Designs

(i) elephants and horses

(ii) squares and triangles

Let us speak (Page no. 159)

Q1. In pairs, write down two questions you would like to ask Ila Sachani.

(a) Look at two examples.
Where were you born? Did you go to school?
The Yes/No questions use a rising tone at the end.

(Student’s Activity)

(b) Speak the example questions aloud as a peer activity at least five times.

Ans: (Students’ activity)

(c) Now, take turns to ask your questions to another classmate. Speak clearly and with the correct rising tone as shown in (a).

Ans: (Students’ activity)