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Anitha had an uneasy feeling of who that classmate could be.
Time to answer
‘Did he tell the person’s name?’

‘He said someone called Nandini,’ her mother replied. A. Choose the correct option.

Anitha closed her eyes for a moment. She couldn’t understand what was happening. The 1. Who are the main characters in the story?
person whom she had ridiculed for coming late had actually saved her father’s life. Anitha, Nandini and Principal Anitha and Nandini

She could not sleep well that night. She started hating herself. Anitha, Anitha’s father and Nandini Anitha and Anitha’s father

By the next morning, a change had come over her. 2. Why didn’t Anitha have many friends?

She rushed to the school and found Nandini standing by the Her classmates didn’t like her boasting about coming first in class.
library.
Her classmates were jealous of her intelligence and knowledge.
‘Nandini,’ she spoke hesitantly. ‘I want to apologise.’
Her classmates liked Nandini more than her.
‘Why?’ Nandini was surprised.
Her classmates did not trust her.
‘I mocked you yesterday. You saved my father’s life 3. How was Nandini different from Anitha?
and I ridiculed you for coming late. Why didn’t you

tell me?’ ‘You didn’t give me a chance,’ Nandini said. Nandini was less intelligent than Anitha.
Later that day, the Principal called the students for a Nandini was always ready to help others with their homework.
special assembly.
Nandini dreaded the examinations but Anitha did not.
‘Students, I have to tell you something,’ he said.
‘Learning Science and Maths is not education. Nandini did not care about coming first in class unlike Anitha.
Education should make a person a good human 4. Which of the following statements conveys the message of the story?

being. A good student need not come first in class Real education brings prosperity in life.
but should have a good character. I am glad to say
Nandini is one such student. She has saved a person’s Real education makes you more intelligent than others.
life yesterday even though she had to sacrifice her Real education helps you to learn, cultivate and develop good values in life.
exam for it. We are proud of you, Nandini.’ Real education imparts knowledge and wisdom.

Everyone clapped, but Anitha clapped the loudest. 5. Which of the following adjectives best describe Nandini?
When she went home that day she offered to drop many of her classmates at their homes.
proud and arrogant lazy and careless
She started smiling at her classmates. She helped them with their homework and shared

whatever she had. Within weeks people gathered around Anitha the way they flocked to self-centred and disrespectful humble and benevolent
Nandini. Soon Anitha and Nandini became best friends. B. Answer these questions.

Someone asked Anitha the reason for her change. 1. Why was Anitha envious of Nandini? How did she console herself?

‘I have understood that it is not for knowledge alone that my parents are sending me to 2. Why was Anitha glad when Nandini did not arrive for the English exam?
school. More importantly, I have to learn to become a good human being. Nandini made 3. Describe the scene at Anitha’s house when she reached home.
me realise that,’ Anitha replied with a smile. 4. Why did Anitha apologise to Nandini?

—Cyril Antony George

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