By Ruchika Gupta
NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle book Chapter 1 Who Did Patrick’s Homework Summary, Explanation, and Question Answer
Who Did Patrick’s Homework – Here is Class 6 English Honeysuckle Book Lesson 1 Who Did Patrick’s Homework Summary and Detailed explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words. All the exercises and Question and Answers given at the back of the lesson has been covered.
Who Did Patrick’s Homework Class 6 Chapter 1
By Carol Moore
- Who Did Patrick’s Homework Introduction
- Who Did Patrick’s Homework Summary
- Who Did Patrick’s Homework Explanation
- Who Did Patrick’s Homework Question Answers
Who Did Patrick’s Homework Introduction
This is a wonderful story that has presented Magical realism (which means something that is not magic but a belief) in a beautiful manner. A boy Patrick who gets inspired and feels propelled to work hard by an imaginary elf (a supernatural being). He is not only able to complete his work rather scores high grades. This story conveys the message that self help works wonders.
Who Did Patrick’s Homework Summary
Who Did Patrick’s Homework Summary – Patrick was an active boy who loved outdoor games like hockey and basketball. He was an enthusiastic player but somehow was not interested in studies. Because of his poor interest in studies, he shirked work and was warned strictly by his teacher.
One day Patrick observed his cat playing with a doll. But when he looked at it closely, he found that it was a small man-elf (a supernatural being). He was wearing a woolen shirt, a tall hat, and breeches. He was scared of a cat and needed help. He pleaded (requested) Patrick to save him and in return, he promised to grant him a wish.
Patrick felt happy and called himself a fortunate one. He asked the elf to do his homework in return. Though the elf was not ready for it yet, he offered to do this for him for 35 days (one semester).
However, a problem arose when the elf told that he knew nothing of maths and history. He needed help to do these subjects. Patrick agreed and brought many books to read and consult. He sat next to the elf and put in a hard toll to complete the work.
Exactly after 35 days when the semester was over, the elf went away quietly. Patrick scored a grade ‘A’ in all the subjects. Everyone appreciated him. He became a very different person who was hardworking, generous, and an exemplary boy.
Patrick thought it is of who helped him score high but in reality, it was Patrick himself who did all the good and changed his score.
Who Did Patrick’s Homework Explanation
Passage: PATRICK never did homework. “Too boring,” he said. He played hockey and basketball and Nintendo instead. His teachers told him, “Patrick! Do your homework or you won’t learn a thing.” And it’s true, sometimes he did feel like an ignoramus. But what could he do? He hated homework.
Word Meaning
Nintendo: a video game
Ignoramus: an ignorant person, who lacks education
Explanation of the Passage – Patrick never did his homework because he found it boring. Instead, he played outdoor games like hockey and basketball. He also liked to play video games like Nintendo. His teacher warned him to complete his homework otherwise, he won’t be able to learn anything. It was a fact because at times, he used to feel like an ignorant person who was completely helpless in this regard. He had no interest in studies and homework.
Passage – Then one day he found his cat playing with a little doll and he grabbed it away. To his surprise, it wasn’t a doll at all, but a man of the tiniest size. He had a little wool shirt with old-fashioned britches and a tall hat much like a witch’s. He yelled, “Save me! Don’t give me back to that cat. I’ll grant you a wish, I promise you that.”
Word Meaning
britches: breeches, or short trousers. The writer here spells it, for fun, to rhyme with the word ‘witch’s’.
grabbed: caught
tiniest: smallest
Explanation of the Passage – One day he observed his cat playing with a doll and was surprised to find that it wasn’t a doll, rather it was a man of the smallest size. It was wearing a woollen shirt with an old-fashioned trousers and a tall hat which made him look like a witch. The doll cried and requested Patrick to save him and not to send him back to the cat. In return, the doll promised Patrick to fulfill his wish.
Passage – Patrick couldn’t believe his luck to have the answer to all of his problems here . He said, “Only if you do all my homework till the end of the semester, that’s 35 days. If you do a
good enough job, I could even get A’s.”
Word Meaning
Lucky: fortunate
problems: difficulties
semester: a half or quarter term in school or university
Explanation of the Passage – It was difficult for Patrick to accept that he was so fortunate to get an answer or solution to all his difficulties through this tiny man. So he asked him if he could do his homework till the end of the semester, that is a period of 35 days to help him score ‘A’ grade. Patrick was thinking that with elf’s help ,he can improve his grades.
Passage – The little man’s face wrinkled like a dishcloth thrown in the hamper. He kicked his legs and doubled his fists and he grimaced and scowled and pursed his lips, “Oh, am I cursed! But
I’ll do it.”
Word Meaning
dishcloth: a cloth used for washing dishes
hamper: a basket with a lid
Grimaced, scowled, pursed his lips: his face had these expressions, showing disgust, anger and disapproval
Wrinkled : slight folds on skin because of old age
Cursed: ill fated
Explanation of the Passage – After hearing this, the little man’s face gave a look of cloth lying in the basket used for washing dishes. He showed his disapproval for the work by kicking legs, doubling his fists and making unhappy faces. He asked if he was that unfortunate to do that task. But he promised to do the work.
Passage – And true to his word, that little elf began to do Patrick’s homework. Except there was one glitch. The elf didn’t always know what to do and he needed help. “Help me! Help me!” he’d say. And Patrick would have to help — in whatever way.“ I don’t know this word,” the elf squeaked while reading Patrick’s homework. “Get me a dictionary. No, what’s even better, look up the word and sound it out by each letter.”
Word Meaning
glitch (an informal word): a fault in a machine that prevents it from working properly; here, hitch or problem
elf : a super -natural creature
squeaked : cried aloud
Explanation of the Passage – And keeping his word, the elf ( super-natural creature) started doing his home-work. But sometimes, he needed help as he didn’t know all things. Then Patrick had to help him. Sometimes while reading Patrick’s home- work the elf would say crying aloud that he doesn’t know the meaning of that word so give him a dictionary or something that can help him to identify the sound of each letter as well as word.
Passage – When it came to maths, Patrick was out of luck. “What are times tables?” the elf shrieked. “We elves never need that And addition and subtraction and division and fractions? Here, sit down beside me, you simply must guide me.” Elves know nothing of human history, to them it’s a mystery. So the little elf, already a shouter, just got louder. “Go to the library, I need books. More and more books. And you can help me read them too.”
Word meaning
shrieked: gave a short, high-pitched cry
Explanation of the Passage – The elf knew nothing of maths. All concepts of maths were completely strange or odd things for him. Patrick was unfortunate in this matter. The elf explained that elves never needed mathematical concepts like addition, subtraction, division and fractions. So Patrick had to sit next to him to guide. Even he did not know anything of human history, it was completely strange to him. Thus, he screamed at him to visit the library, get him more books and help him to read as well.
Passage – As a matter of fact, every day in every way that little elf was a nag! Patrick was working harder than ever and was it a drag! He was staying up nights, had never felt so weary, was going to school with his eyes puffed and bleary.
Word Meaning
nag: one who troubles someone all the time by complaining or asking them to do something
drag (an informal word): something dull and uninteresting
Weary : extreme tiredness
Bleary.: looking dull because of tiredness
Explanation of the Passage – Actually, that little creature was either troubling, complaining or asking Patrick to do something or the other all the time. Patrick was not able to sleep and was awake for nights together. He had never felt so tired before and was going to school with his dull looking eyes.
Passage – Finally, the last day of school arrived and the elf was free to go. As for homework, there was no more, so he quietly and slyly slipped out the back door.
Word Meaning
slyly: secretively
Explanation of the Passage – Finally, it was the last day of school and the elf had complete freedom to go as there was no more homework to do. So, without speaking anything, in a secretive manner, he moved out from the back door.
Passage – Patrick got his A’s; his classmates were amazed; his teachers smiled and were full of praise. And his parents wondered what had happened to Patrick? He was now the model kid who
Cleaned his room, did his chores, was cheerful, never rude, like he had developed a whole new attitude.
Word Meaning
kid (an informal word): a child chores: work that must be done everyday, often boring
attitude: a feeling about someone or something
amazed: surprised
Explanation of the Passage – Patrick scored ‘A” grade. His classmates were surprised, teachers were full of appreciation and parents were trying to know what made him so perfect, what had happened to him? He became an exemplary child who cleaned his room himself, did all his work, became a happy child who was never rude and developed a complete new self and look.
Passage – You see, in the end, Patrick still thought he’d made that tiny man do all his homework. But I’ll share a secret, just between you and me. It wasn’t the elf; Patrick had done it himself!
Explanation of the Passage – Concluding, I would like to say that it was not the elf but Patrick himself who did his work. The elf just propelled him to do everything.
Who Did Patrick’s Homework Question Answers
1. What did Patrick think his cat was playing with? What was it really?
A.Patrick thought that his cat was playing with a doll. Actually, it was a small man.
2. Why did the little man grant Patrick a wish?
A:The little man granted him a wish because he saved him from the cat.
3. What was Patrick’s wish?
A.His wish was to get his homework done from the elf.
4. In what subjects did the little man need help, to do Patrick’s homework?
A.He needed his help in Maths and history.
5. How did Patrick help him?
A. He helped him by getting books for him, explaining and reading things .
6. Who do you think did Patrick’s homework — the little man,or Patrick himself? Give reasons for your answer.
A. I think Patrick himself did his homework as elf was just propelling him to do things. It was Patrick who was reading,explaining and arranging different things and helping elf as well to understand the things.
Who Did Patrick’s Homework Grammar Exercises
A. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with the words or phrases given in blue color. (You may not know the meaning of all the words. Look such words up in a dictionary, or ask your teacher.)
out of luck |
mystery |
true to his word |
chores |
semester |
between you and me |
look up |
1. Some people find household ———————————— a bore, but I like to help at home.
2. Who stole the diamond is still a ————————————— .
3. This ————————————— we are going to have a class exhibition.
4. —————————————, the elf began to help Patrick.
5. Can you ————————————— this word in the dictionary?
6. I started early to be on time, but I was ———————————.
There was a traffic jam!
7. She says she’s got a lot of books, but ————————————
I think most of them are borrowed.
Answers: 1- chores, 2- mystery, 3- semester, 4- true to his word, 5- look up, 6- out of luck, 7-between you and me
B. Use the clues given below to complete this crossword puzzle.
Across
Across
1. very tired
2. had an angry look on the face
3. short trousers
4. a fault in a machine that prevents it from working properly
5. a small and naughty boy-fairy
Down
6. work that must be done everyday, often boring
7. a basket with a lid
8. gave a short, high-pitched cry
Across
1. very tired : WEARY
2. had an angry look on the face :SCOWLED
3. short trousers :BREECHES
4. a fault in a machine that prevents it from working properly : GLITCH
5. a small and naughty boy-fairy : ELF
Down
6. work that must be done everyday, often boring : CHORES
7. a basket with a lid :HAMPER
8. gave a short, high-pitched cry :SHRIEKED
This story has a lot of rhyming words, as a poem does. Can you write out some parts of it like a poem, so that the rhymes come at the end of separate lines?
For example: Patrick never did homework. “Too boring,” he said. He played baseball and hockey and Nintendo instead.
1.To his surprise it wasn’t a doll at all
2. He had a little wool shirt with old-fashioned britches and a high tall hat much like a witch’s
3. Don’t give me back to that cat. I’ll grant you a wish, I promise you that.
4. “Only if you do all my homework until the end of the semester, that’s 35 days. If you do a good enough job, I could even get A’s.
5. He kicked his legs and doubled his fists and he grimaced and scowled and pursed his lips, “Oh, am I cursed! But I’ll do it.”
6. “Help me! Help me!” he’d say. And Patrick would have to help — in whatever way.
7. No, what’s even better, look up the word and sound it out by each letter.”
8. Here, sit down beside me, you simply must guide me.”
9. Elves know nothing of human history, to them, it’s a mystery
10. So, the little elf, already a shouter, just got louder.
11. As a matter of fact, every day in every-the way that little elf was a nag! Patrick was working harder than ever and was it a drag!
12. He was staying up nights, had never felt so weary,was going to school with his eyes puffed and bleary
13. As for homework, there was no more, so he quietly and slyly slipped out the back door
14. Cleaned his room, did his chores, was cheerful, never rude, like he had developed a whole new attitude
B. Look at these sentences. 1. “Too boring,” he said. 2. Cleaned his room, did his chores. When we speak, we often leave out words that can easily be guessed. We do not do this when we write, unless we are trying to write as we speak (as in the story).
So, if we were to write carefully, we would say: “Homework is too boring,” he said. He cleaned his room and did his chores.
C. Rewrite the following incomplete sentences carefully, so that the reader does not have to guess what is left out.
- more and more books
- too difficult
- got up late
- solved the mystery
A. 1. more and more books: The elf asked for more and more books to read and complete the work.
2 too difficult: The puzzle is too difficult to solve.
3. got up late:, missed the bus: Patrick got up late and missed the bus.
4. solved the mystery: Patrick solved the mystery and scored “A” grade.