Summary: Irah’s Flower Garden
Irah is a young girl who, for reasons that are not mentioned in the story, never
learnt to read and write. She is, however, a bright, talented and intelligent girl
whose passions are flowers and gardening. She is selected to be a flower
gardener from Village Cihejo, and is provided help to become a successful
flower gardener. She is happy, but stressed out about a book that she needs to
read in order to learn about growing different flowers in different conditions.
She becomes upset about it, but is too embarrassed to ask for help. When her
friends come over to her house, so that they can all prepare for the upcoming
kite festival, she shouts at them and goes into her room. Irah’s mother realises
that something is wrong. When she spots the book in Irah’s room, she
immediately knows what the problem is.
Irah’s mother speaks to Irah’s friends and requests them to help Irah. Sari,
Irah’s friend, decides to teach Irah secretly at first. But soon, all her friends
pitch in, and they read, write and discuss the book together. Irah gives it her
best and can soon read as well as her friends. She then helps them with the
kite design and illustration. Their kite wins the first prize.
Irah begins to focus on her garden. She reads many books, and increases her
knowledge every day. Her father tells her that the most important thing is that
we are happy with our work, no matter what we do. Soon, her flowers begin to
bloom and are sold in the markets in Jakarta. She sends her friends and family
flowers on birthdays and other occasions. Her dream comes true.
Irah’s story tells us that it is never too late to learn, and we should never be
embarrassed for wanting to learn and become more knowledgeable.
UNIT 6 IRAH’S FLOWER GARDEN
Embedded questions
1. (Answers vary. Suggested answer.)
Irah’s friends can teach Irah to read. Or they can read the book themselves, and tell her the
important points that she might need for the next meeting.
2. Irah is probably embarrassed to learn how to read so late in her life. To make her feel less awkward
about it, Sari plans to teach her in secret until Irah herself is ready to tell others.
3. A ‘classroom’ is not just the room at school. It is also any place where learning takes place. This is
why the sessions between Irah and her friends are called a classroom here. They are not at the
school, but learning is happening through reading, writing and discussion.
4. I think the job of a flower gardener is to grow beautiful and healthy flowers of all kinds, and then
sell them in markets.
Comprehension
A. 1. c 2. b 3. b 4. c 5. c 6. c
B. 1. a. Irah’s mother said these words to Irah’s friends.
b. Irah had to read a book flowers in two months, but she did not know how to read.
c. Irah’s mother suggested that Irah’s friends help her learn how to read.
2. (Suggested answer. Accept all logical answers.)
Yes, Irah’s friends were helpful and understanding. When Irah was sad, she screamed at them. But
they did not take offence. They knew that Irah was going through something. Instead they tried to
find out what distress Irah was in, and did not bring up the kites design until Irah herself said she
was ready.
When Irah’s mother requested Sari to teach Irah, Sari readily agreed. She gave Irah moral support,
and encouraged her to learn. When Irah’s mother requested the rest of her friends to not let Irah
know that they knew about Sari’s classes with her, they happily complied. Only when Irah was no
longer embarrassed about her learning, did they begin attending Sari’s classes with her, and create
a supportive atmosphere of learning.
3. a. Irah’s father said these words to Irah.
b. (Accept all logical answers.)
c. According to Irah’s father, a flower gardener can bring happiness to people’s hearts through
her lovely flowers. Flowers instantly make people happy. If a flower gardener does her job well,
wherever her flowers go, they will only spread joy and happiness.
C. (Suggested answer. Accept all logical answers.)
Irah displays many of these qualities. She is hardworking, as she learns to read and write within three
months, with the help of her friends and family. She is also eager to learn. When she learns to read,
Irah does not stop at the first book. She keeps reading more and improving her knowledge. She is
also very talented. She is not only a good flower gardener but also a talented artist who designs the
prize-winning kite for her village.
D. (Free response.)
Grammar
A. 1. was going 2. is riding 3. are not talking 4. Are you going 5. are you reading
6. was buying
B. 1. are watching 2. are, going 3. were, running 4. are, staying 5. are, doing
6. was climbing
Vocabulary
A. 1. unfriendly 2. unknown 3. impolite 4. invisible 5. incomplete 6. unhealthy
B. 1. unfriendly 2. unhealthy 3. impolite 4. incomplete 5. unknown 6. invisible
Spelling
1. vases 2. sandwiches 3. daisies 4. lotuses 5. activities 6. lives
7. obstacles 8. shelves
Listening
1. b 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. c
Writing
(Suggested answer. Accept all logical answers.)
54 Bala Road
Cihejo Village
Indonesia 3275030.
15 September 2018
My dear Grandmother,
How are you? How is your health? Thank you for your letter wishing me good luck with my garden.
The garden is now full of flowers. My flowers are selling well in the markets in Jakarta. It makes me
very happy. My parents are also happy. I am grateful to my friends, as they were the ones who taught
me how to read and write. I have started reading lot of books. Most of them are about flowers, how to
grow them and how to take care of them, and so on.
I am growing your favourite flowers, carnations, too! I am sending a fresh bouquet of carnations with
this letter. Hope you like it.
Parents send their regards. Do visit us soon. I am very excited to show you the garden.
Your loving granddaughter,
Irah
Listening Text
Once upon a time, there was a giant who had a beautiful garden. It had lovely trees, covered with
flowers of all shapes, colours and sizes. The giant was away, visiting his friend in a faraway country.
Every day after school, the children in the neighbourhood would gather at his garden, and play there
all day until their mothers called them home in the evening.
One fine day, the giant returned home, only to find his garden full of cheerful children. He became
angry and shouted at them, “This is my garden. You cannot play here. Go back to your own houses!”
The children, sad and terrified, went home, never to return. The giant was happy to have his garden
back.
Months passed. Soon, it was time for the spring season. Trees began to blossom, and there were
beautiful flowers everywhere, except at the giant’s garden. One by one, all seasons came to pass, but
it stayed winter in his garden.
One morning, the giant heard the birds chirping in his garden. Spring had finally come to his garden.
When the giant went out into the garden, he saw the reason—some children had snuck into the
garden and were playing there. Before he could get angry, the giant saw a small boy trying to reach
the low branches of a tree. The giant was moved by the sight. He lifted the little boy and placed him
gently in the branches. Then, the giant turned to the children and said, “I was selfish to turn you away.
This garden belongs to all the children now.”
And so spring returned to the garden once more.
IRAH’S FLOWER GARDEN
A. Answer in brief.
1. What happened when Irah’s friends came to talk about the kite?
Ans: When Irah’s friends came to talk about the kite, she became angry and shouted that she did
not want to help them. She told them to go away and ran crying to her room.
2. How did Irah’s friends help her?
Ans: Irah’s friends taught her in turns, to read, to write and to take dictation. In the end, the book
about flowers was read and discussed in the ‘classroom’ by all.
B. Answer in detail.
1. Who is Irah and what does she have to do to become a flower-gardener and be ready for the next
meeting?
Ans: Irah is a young girl from the village Cihejo in Indonesia. She has been selected to become a
flower gardener. She has been given a book with all the information about what flowers to grow,
what kind of fertilisers to use, what kind of soil to prepare for them, and so on. She has to study
the book within three months so that she is ready for her next meeting.
C. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. “Oh, how can I grow roses if I do not know how to take care of them? If only I could read that book!”
a. Who is worried?
b. Why did she have to grow roses?
c. Why was she worried?
Ans: a. Irah is worried.
b. She has been selected to become the flower-gardener.
c. She could not read, so she could not read the book that taught how to take care of
plants.
2. “I don’t want to help you,” she shouted, “go away!”
a. Whom did Irah not want to help?
b. What did she do?
c. What was the real problem?
Ans: a. Irah did not want to help her friends to make a kite.
b. She shouted at them to go away and ran crying to her room.
c. Ira was in trouble and was angry. She did not know how to read and could not read the
book on growing and looking after flowers.
D. Answer in brief. (Think and answer)
1. Which are the values that the lesson Irah’s Flower Garden teaches us?
Ans: This lesson teaches us the value of self-improvement and helpfulness. It also teaches us that
nothing is impossible if we set our minds to it.
2. How did learning to read and write made Irah’s life better?
Ans: Irah’s garden was full of flowering plants and it made people happy. Her flowers found a
market in Jakarta. She started reading many books on flowers. She had become a successful
flower gardener.
E. Answer in detail. (Think and answer)
What was so special about Irah’s friends and how did they help her?
Ans: Irah’s friends were special. They helped her without making her feel bad that she did not know
how to read or write. Initially, they acted as if they knew nothing about it. Irah’s best friend Sari started
teaching her how to read. Slowly as she gained confidence, Irah did not mind that all her friends knew
about her learning and they all taught her in turns.
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