NCERT Solutions for Class 5th English Chapter 5 A. Choose the correct words from the brackets and fill in the blanks — Let us Learn
Book page 57 Updated on2026-09-19
Q1.
Choose the correct words from the brackets and fill in the blanks.
1. My colours match the plants ............... trees. (or/and)
Answer
and — My colours match the plants and trees.
This is the line straight out of the poem: “My colours match the plants and trees.”
The little rule: Use and when you want to put two things together — both of them are true. Use or when you want to give a choice — only one of them.
Here the frog’s colour matches the plants, and it also matches the trees. Both are true at the same time, so we need and. If we wrote “the plants or trees”, it would mean the frog matches only one of them, and we do not know which — and that is not what the poem says.
Two sentences of your own: I bought bananas and apples. · Will you have tea or coffee?
Q2.
2. Would you like to learn about frogs ............... tadpoles? (because/and)
Answer
and — Would you like to learn about frogs and tadpoles?
Why: Frogs and tadpoles are two things put together in one list. And is the word that joins two things in a list. Because is quite different — it gives a reason. “Would you like to learn about frogs because tadpoles?” does not say anything at all, because no reason follows it.
How to test yourself: Read the sentence aloud with each word. If the sentence still makes sense, you have the right one. If it turns into nonsense, try the other.
Your own sentence with because: I like the rainy season because the frogs start croaking at night.
Q3.
3. I hop around happily, ............... I must watch out for snakes! (but/so)
Answer
but — I hop around happily, but I must watch out for snakes!
The little rule: Use but when the second half of the sentence turns the other way — it is the opposite kind of idea. Use so when the second half is the result of the first half.
Hopping around happily is a cheerful idea. Watching out for snakes is a worried idea. The two pull in opposite directions, so we join them with but. If we used so, the sentence would mean “I am happy, and that is why I must watch out for snakes” — which makes no sense.
Compare:
It rained heavily, but we still went to school. (opposite idea)
It rained heavily, so the ground became muddy. (result)
Q4.
4. Frogs swim easily ............... they have webbed feet. (because/or)
Answer
because — Frogs swim easily because they have webbed feet.
The little rule: Use because when you are giving the reason for something. The word because answers the question “Why?”
Ask: Why do frogs swim easily? Answer: They have webbed feet. That is a reason, so because is the joining word. Or would be wrong, since we are not offering a choice between two things.
The four joining words in this exercise, all together: