Raintree 3 A Fish and a Gift

Summary: A Fish and a Gift

This is a tale of a fisherman and his family. Yusuf's father is a fisherman, and

promises to bring him back a gift from the sea.

While Yusuf waits on the beach for Papa, he remembers the different things

Papa had brought back for him. If it was a jewel-green bottle once, it was a

story another time. Yusuf remembers the story about the sea turtles that his Papa

had saved. Papa always brought a song. Yusuf waits for Papa on the beach

along with his grandmother. They hear the shark siren go off. After he reaches

the shore, Papa finds a Yellowtail fish and a baby shark in the net. He lets the

go. He gets the Yellowtail fish for Yusuf’s Grandmother. We wonder what Papa

has brought back for Yusuf. Papa has brought a lucky shark’s tooth for Yusuf.

This story mainly tells us about the affection Yusuf, Papa and Grandmother

have for each other. It teaches us about how difficult the work of a fisherman is.

It also shows us how Yusuf’s father cares for nature and takes only as much as

he needs from it.  

UNIT 7: A FISH AND A GIFT

Embedded Questions

● because it is early morning and it is a cold day

● Yusuf’s father promises him a fish and a gift.

● Free response

● On a clear day, the sky is blue and the clouds are white

● They had got washed up in a storm.

● because there were sharks nearby

Comprehension

A. 1. c 2. b 3. a 4. b 5. c 6. a

B. 1. The fishermen watch the sun rise. They check their nets. They check their oars. They listen to the

wind. They drag their boats down to the water.

2. Yusuf’s father brought him many things from the sea. Once, he had brought him a shell. Another

time, he brought him a jewel -green bottle washed by the shell. He had once brought him a story

about the sea turtles.

3. Once hundreds of sea turtles had been up in a storm. Yusuf’s father and his men saved those

turtles by sending each of the turtles back to the ocean.

4. Grandma wanted a nice fat yellowtail for her supper. She will be pleased because Yusuf’s father

had caught one in his net.

5. The speaker is talking about the shark that is caught in the net. It is twisting and thrashing in the

net because it wants to escape. Finally, Yusuf’s father lets it go.

C. 1. Suggested answers (Accept any logical answer)

 No, it is not an easy job. – Yusuf’s father gets dressed before sunrise. He pulls on his weather-proof

jacket and the green woollen cap. – They check their nets. They check their oars. They listen to

the wind. They drag their boats down to the water. – Papa’s arms stretch to the oar. His leg braces

against the side of the boat. His neck strains, his back muscles move.

2. Yusuf’s father is a kind man. He is kind and caring towards animals. He sent the turtles home safe.

Even if catching a shark is very difficult, he lets it go because it is not correct to catch shark.

Grammar

A. 2. is shining 3. is raining 4. is waiting 5. is painting

B. 2. were playing; returned 3. was raining; woke up 4. was cooking; rang

5. was making; ran

C. Julia was packing her bag, Emad and Geet 1. were flying paper airplanes, Ishan 2. was having a snack,

and I 3.Was cleaning the blackboard when the school-bell rang last evening.

Vocabulary

A. 2. cheerful 3. colourful 4. spotless 5. harmless 6. fearless

B. 2. brave 3. spotless 4. harmless 5. colourful 6. cheerful

Writing

A. 1. playground: a large open space where we play; school: a place where we learn and study

2. doctor: a person who treats the sick; pilot: a person who flies airplanes

3. pencil: an object that we use to write on paper, it is made of wood with lead inside; crayon: an

object that we use for drawing and colouring, it is made of wax.

Listening

Listening Text:

Grandpa: Good Morning Aarav! You are up early today.

Aarav: I always wake up at 6.30 on Sundays, Grandpa.

Grandpa: That’s very good. But why so early?

Aarav: I go for tennis classes at 7:30.

Grandpa: What do you do in the evenings?

Aarav: I go out to play with my friends after 4 o’clock. Sometimes my parents take me out.

Grandpa: What time do you go to sleep?

Aarav: By 10:00

Grandpa: That’s too late. You must be in bed by 8.30.

Aarav: Grandpa, what time do you go to sleep?

Grandpa: I always go to sleep at 9 o’clock and wake up at 5 o’clock.

Grandpa: Are you ready for tennis? I will come with you today.

Aarav: Yay

Aarav Grandpa

Time Time

Wakes up at 5:30 6:30 Sleeps at 10:00 9:00

Tennis classes 7:30 8:30 Wakes up at 5:00 6:00

Plays with friends 4:00 6:00

Sleeps at 10:00 8:00

Dictionary Work

1. a. a small clock that you wear on your wrist

 b. to look at something and pay attention to it

2. a. a layer of water that rises and falls

 b. move your hand from side to side

3. a. to go away from a place or a person (or) to let a thing stay as it is or in its place (Choose any one

answer)

 b. a period of time away from work or school

4. a. the part of the body that is behind you, between your neck and legs (or) behind (Choose any

one answer)

 b. to a place where someone or something was before 

A FISH AND A GIFT

A. Answer in brief.

1. What does Yusuf’s father do one special Friday?

 Ans: One special Friday, Yusuf’s father gets dressed before sunrise. He pulls on his weather-proof

jacket and the green woollen cap and waves goodbye to Yusuf.

2. What story does Yusuf’s father bring home some days?

 Ans: Some days, Yusuf’s father brings a story about sea turtles on the sand, hundreds washed up

in a storm and how they saved those turtles and sent them back to the ocean.

3. In A Fish and a Gift, when does Papa sing the song?

 Ans: Papa sings the song while he pulls the oars, while he pulls the nets. He also sings the song as

he winds the ropes and as he cycles home.

B. Answer in detail.

1. What does Yusuf wonder while looking at the clear and windless sky? Why?

 Ans: All day long, Yusuf looks at the clear and windless sky and wonders what his Papa will bring

home from the sea. Sometimes he brings a beautiful shell and sometimes he brings a jewel-green

bottle rinsed by the waves.

2. How do they catch the yellowtail and what happens to the little shark that has been caught

with it?

 Ans: When Yusuf’s father, uncle and cousins heave and pull the nets, they find that a little shark

has been caught along with a fat yellowtail. Yusuf’s father untangles the nets till the shark is free

and it jumps back into the waves, leaving only one fat yellowtail in the net.

C. Read the lines and answer the questions.

1. “Today is the day I will catch a fish and bring a gift home for you.”

 a. Who said this and to whom?

 b. Where was he going?

 c. Did he keep his promise?

 Ans: a. Yusuf’s father said this to Yusuf.

 b. He was going to catch fish.

 c. Yes, he got a shark tooth as a gift for Yusuf.

2. “A lucky shark tooth for my boy.”

 a. Who said this and to whom?

 b. What does Yusuf do with his gift?

 c. Did Yusuf’s father always bring expensive gifts? Would the boy be disappointed?

 Ans: a. Yusuf’s father said these words

 b. Yusuf held his gift up to the stars.

 c. No, he did not bring expensive gifts and the boy was happy with whatever his father

got him.