Plan before you write. There are six clues, so aim for six or seven sentences — one for each clue, in the order given, plus a closing line. Write it as a single paragraph, not as six separate answers, and join the sentences with words like first, then, after that, most of all, finally.
| Clue | What that sentence should contain |
|---|---|
| Time | A definite hour, and what you finish before going out |
| Who | Names, not just “my friends” |
| Games | Two or three, including a rainy-day one |
| Favourite | Name it and give the reason |
| What we gain | Health, teamwork, friendship, fresh air, learning to lose well |
| When we stop | The signal that ends the game — dark, a bell, a mother calling |
The Best Hour of My Day
Every evening at about half past four, as soon as I have finished the homework that is due the next morning, I run down to the little park at the end of our lane. I play with the children of my street — Ritu and Salma from the yellow house, my cousin Arun, and my younger brother, who is six and insists on joining every game. We play kho-kho and cricket on most days, badminton when there is no wind, and carrom on our veranda when it rains. My favourite of them all is kho-kho, because it is fast, everybody in the team gets a turn to run, and one clever chase can change the whole game. Playing together has given us more than exercise: we have learnt to take turns, to trust our teammates, and to shake hands with the other side whether we win or lose. We stop only when the street lights come on and the ball can no longer be seen, and then we walk home together, tired, muddy and perfectly happy.