Summary: The Four Strings Band
Riya, her mother and her grandmother live together. The grandmother has
been unwell, and all the money that the family had saved has gone into
grandmother’s medicines. The money box is empty, and grandmother hardly
ever leaves her room. Riya loves to play the violin, as did the grandmother
when she was a little girl. Riya and her friends often play music for the
grandmother.
One day, as she is playing the violin, Riya remembers how when Grandmother
was little, she used to play the violin at parties, and sometimes people would
leave money for her on the table. Riya gets an idea. She immediately runs to
Grandmother’s room and shares it with her. Grandmother is supportive too
and asks Riya to ask her friends right away.
Riya’s idea is to form a band with her friends in order to perform at events, and
in some way contribute to the family money box. Soon, Riya, Sara, Arshi and
Harsh begin to practise every day. With the help of their music teacher and
Riya’s aunt, they prepare a song. They call themselves the Four Strings Band.
Sara’s mother invites them to play at a party for Sara’s great grandparents and
the anniversary of their bakery. At first, the band members are quite nervous
and can’t seem to begin to play in front of so many people. Then,
Grandmother encourages Riya to play just like she plays for her. The band
begins to play. They make mistakes but they keep playing and begin to enjoy
themselves. People get up and dance. Later that night, Sara’s mother gives
them an envelope with money in it. The four band members divide it into four
equal shares. Riya puts her share into the money box.
UNIT 7: THE FOUR STRINGS BAND
Embedded Questions
1. (Free response.)
2. (Free response.)
3. ‘Playing like a real band’ here probably means continuing playing together even through mistakes.
Playing like a real band means focusing less on correctness and more on enjoying yourself with
your band, your instrument and your audience.
Comprehension
A. 1. There was no money in the box because all the money had been spent on Grandmother’s
medicines and treatment.
2. Grandmother liked it when Riya played the accordion. Here are examples from the text:
Grandma liked it when my friends Sara, Arshi and Harsh came home with me, because we played music
for her.
Even at the concert, Grandmother enjoys herself and nods her head with the beats.
3. Riya remembered how her grandmother used to play the violin at parties and people would enjoy
it so much that they would give her money. That is how she got an idea to start a band and use
that money to help her family.
4. Grandmother said these words to Riya. She wants Riya to ask her friends Sara, Arshi and Harsh if
they would like to form a band together.
5. The first job that the Four Strings band got was to play at a party for Sara’s great-grandparents, on
the fiftieth anniversary of their bakery.
6. Riya put her money in the money box for her family.
B. 1. Yes, I think Riya came from a musical family. She remembered how her grandmother also played
the violin. That is probably how she got inspired to take up the instrument too. Even Riya’s aunt
played the guitar. Her family not only played instruments, but also enjoyed listening to music.
Riya’s grandmother enjoyed hearing Riya and her friends play music for her. Riya’s mother, aunt
and grandmother—all enjoyed listening to the Four Stings Band’s music.
2. a. ‘We’ refers to the members of the Four Strings Band—Sara, Arshi, Harsh and Riya.
b. They stood there frozen because there were a lot of people present at the party. They had to
play in front of so many grown-up people, and they were all looking at the four of them. The
Four Strings Band couldn’t find the courage to begin the concert.
c. Riya’s grandmother gave them the final push. She reminded Riya to play just like she played
for her at home. This inspired Riya to pick up her violin, which in turn inspired the other three
members to do the same. Soon they began playing and started enjoying themselves.
3. (Answers vary. Accept all logical answers.)
4. Riya went to sleep with a smile on her face, because she had managed to fill up the money box
again. She was happy because she was able to help her family financially, while doing something
that she loved. This tells us that she loved her family very much. She was a kind and compassionate
child, who understood her family problems very well, and instead of demanding expensive things
for herself, looked for ways to make things better for the entire family.
C. 1. Riya and her grandmother share a very special bond. In spite of the age difference, they get along
very well. Grandmother loves hearing Riya and her friends play music. She encourages Riya to form
a band with her friends, and makes her believe in her own abilities. Even though she has been too
sick to step out of her room, she makes an effort to attend the Four Strings Band’s first concert, and
shows her full support. When it looks like Riya might not be able to play because of stage fright,
Grandmother whispers her words of encouragement and tells her to play just like she has been
playing for the family.
Riya’s love for her grandmother is clear from the beginning. She feels sad about her grandmother
not being well and finds the house to be empty and quiet. Her motivation for forming the band is
to help her family financially. She knows that they need money to treat her grandmother, and she
does her bit to contribute.
2. (Suggested answer. Accept all logical answers.)
I think Riya’s mother is also an important character in the story. Although she does not have any
lines in the story, it is clear that she loves and supports Riya in every way. The family clearly has
financial problems. But Riya’s mother encourages Riya to play music and spend time with her
friends. She hears Riya’s band practise and tells them that anyone would be lucky to have them
play for them. At their first concert, she supports them and dances to their music. Her love and
support helps Riya be the kind child that she is.
Grammar
A. (Answers vary. Accept all suitable answers.)
B. 1. Rashi will watch cartoons tomorrow.
2. No, Rashi’s father will water the plants tomorrow.
3. Rashi’s brother will cook lunch for the family tomorrow.
4. No, Rashi’s sister will work on her science project.
5. Rashi’s mother will visit a friend tomorrow.
Vocabulary
1. then than 2. tell tale 3. their there 4. loose lose 5. hear here
Punctuation
1. “Stop, don’t move,” he said.
2. Uma said, “Let us go outside and play.”
3. “What a beautiful painting!” Murli exclaimed.
4. “How are you today?” Mira asked Arshi.
5. The teacher said, “Open your notebooks, please.”
6. “Happy, birthday, Sunil!” said Swati.
Writing
(Suggested answer. Accept all logical answers.)
Riya: I have an idea. How about we start our own band?
Sara: Do you think it’s a good idea? We are just children.
Riya: I spoke to Grandma. She said that we could definitely do this together.
Arshi: But what if we don’t sound good like a real band?
Harsh: It’s alright. We can practise until we sound better.
Sara: But who will help us with selecting what kind of music to play?
Riya: We can ask our music teacher. I’m sure she will help us.
Arshi: I am scared of playing in front of people.
Sara: It’s okay to be scared, I think. We are only kids. It’s okay if we are not perfect.
Harsh: Okay, let us do this then. So, what shall we name the band?
Riya: How about the Fantastic Four?
Harsh: It should be something that tells a bit about us and the music that we play.
Sara: How about the Four Strings Band? It fits well because there are four strings in Riya’s violin,
and there are four of us!
Riya: I love it!
Arshi: It’s perfect!
Listening
Sample 1
How many speakers are there? three
The speakers just had their meal.
The speakers sound angry.
Sample 2
How many speakers are there? two
The speakers are friends.
The speakers sound sad.
Sample 3
How many speakers are there? one
The speaker is watching a cricket match.
The speaker sounds excited.
Listening Text
Sample 1
Prateek: I did not like this restaurant at all. The food was terrible. Did you enjoy your food, Mita?
Mita: Not at all! The rice was undercooked. And a bowl of soup should not cost so much! What
about you, Sarthak?
Sarthak: I agree too. I will never come back to this place again.
Sample 2
Amit: Hi Aman, why do you look so worried?
Aman: Hi Amit, I am going to a vet. My cat is not well. He seems tired all the time and does not eat
anything.
Amit: Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear that. How long has he been sick for?
Aman: It’s been a week. I am quite worried.
Sample 3
Club MCC need four runs to win. Rameez is now at the crease. Raja bowls. Rameez hits the ball high
in the air! Zaheer is running towards the boundary, his eyes firmly on the ball. Will Zaheer be able
to catch the ball? To be honest, it looks too close to tell at this point. All eyes are on Zaheer right
now. The ball is still too high in the air. Is it going to be a six? Yes! It’s a six! Zaheer had no chance of
catching that ball. Rameez has hit the winning runs. Club MCC win the finals!
THE FOUR STRINGS BAND
A. Answer in brief.
1. Who were Riya’s friends and which instruments did they play?
Ans: Riya’s friends were Sara, Arshi and Harsh. Sara played the bongo drums, Harsh played the
flute and Arshi played the guitar.
2. How did the The Four Strings Band start?
Ans: To start the The Four Strings Band, their music teacher helped them pick out pieces they
could all play together. Riya’s aunt, who played the guitar, helped them practise.
B. Answer in detail.
Did the guests and Sara’s great-grandparents enjoy the band’s music? How do you know? What did
Riya and her friends do with the money?
Ans: Yes, everyone danced merrily to the band’s music. Afterwards, everybody clapped and shouted.
Sara’s great-grandfather and great-grandmother thanked them. They said that The Four Strings Band
had made their party something they would always remember. Riya and her friends divided the
money equally among themselves.
C. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. “That’s when I had an idea. I could help fill up the money jar again!”
a. Who had an idea and what was it?
b. What did she want to do with the money?
c. Was she successful in fulfilling her idea?
Ans: a. Riya had an idea to start a musical band.
b. She wanted to fill up the money jar and help the family, as all the money had been spent
on her grandmother’s medicines.
c. Yes, she started the band along with her friends.
2. “Let me brush your hair, Grandma.”
a. Who brushed Grandma’s hair and why?
b. What did she do while brushing Grandma’s hair?
c. What did Grandma think of the idea?
Ans: a. Riya brushed Grandma’s hair as she needed an excuse to talk to her grandmother/Her
grandmother was ill.
b. She told Grandma about her idea of starting a musical band.
c. Grandma thought that it was a great idea and that the kids could really do it.
D. Answer in brief. (Think and answer)
1. How do we know that Riya was a helpful and considerate child?
Ans: When Riya realised that all the money that her mother had saved, was spent for her
grandmother’s medicines, she found a way to help the family by starting a band.
2. How did Riya gain confidence to start the band and pay in the party?
Ans: Riya’s grandmother assured her that she could do it. When Riya and her friends were too
scared to play, Riya’s grandmother gave them confidence and asked them to play as they had
played in front of her. This removed the fear from their minds.
E. Answer in detail. (Think and answer)
How can we say that the whole community stood by The Four Strings Band and supported them?
Ans: Sara’s mother gave them their first job. She asked them to play at a party for Sara’s
great-grandparents. Even when the band played and made mistakes, people kept on dancing. Riya’s
mother and aunt smiled at them every time they danced by. Afterwards, everybody clapped and
thanked them for a wonderful party and showed the community spirit.
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