NCERT Solutions Poorvi Chapter 5 A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers — Let us learn
Book page 194 to 196 Updated on2026-09-05
Q1.
Match the prefixes with their meanings and the root words to create a new word in the table given below. An example has been done for you. (Prefixes: re-, mal-, un-, anti-, extra-, ex-, de- | Meanings: badly, wrongly; beyond, outside; opposed to, against; former; lacking, not; remove; do again | Root Words: questionable, activate, define, functioning, service, ordinary, social)
Answer
The example joined extra- (beyond, outside) to ordinary to give Extraordinary. Matching the rest the same way:
1. Prefix
2. Meaning
3. Root Word
4. New Word
re-
do again
define
redefine
mal-
badly, wrongly
functioning
malfunctioning
un-
lacking; not
questionable
unquestionable
anti-
opposed to; against
social
antisocial
extra-
beyond, outside
ordinary
Extraordinary (example)
ex-
former
service
ex-service (as in ex-servicemen)
de-
remove
activate
deactivate
Why a prefix is worth learning: one prefix unlocks dozens of words. Once you know that de- means ‘remove’, you can read defrost, derail, decode and deforest without a dictionary.
Q2.
Now, complete the paragraph by using the new words created in the table. Soldiers undergo (i) extraordinary training to prepare for their challenging duties. They learn to (ii) ____________ explosives and handle (iii) ____________ equipment with precision. They stand as a powerful force against (iv) ____________ elements, displaying (v) ____________ bravery. (vi)________ members often share their experiences to inspire new recruits. Their service can continually (vii) ____________ the essence of commitment and sacrifice.
Answer
Soldiers undergo (i) extraordinary training to prepare for their challenging duties. They learn to (ii) deactivate explosives and handle (iii) malfunctioning equipment with precision. They stand as a powerful force against (iv) antisocial elements, displaying (v) unquestionable bravery. (vi) Ex-service members often share their experiences to inspire new recruits. Their service can continually (vii) redefine the essence of commitment and sacrifice.
Tip: read the whole sentence before choosing. ‘Deactivate explosives’ and ‘malfunctioning equipment’ both fit the idea of danger handled calmly; ‘ex-service members’ must be a person, so only ex- works there.
Q3.
Find words associated with ‘brave’ by filling in the missing vowels in the boxes given below. (V _ L _ _ N T | C _ _ R _ G _ | V _ L _ _ R | G _ L L _ N T | H _ R _ _ C | F _ _ R L _ S S | B _ L D | D _ R _ NG | _ N D _ _ N T _ D)
Answer
In the box
Word
What it means
V _ L _ _ N T
VALIANT
Very brave (used of Ananda's “valiant soldiers”, page 188)
C _ _ R _ G _
COURAGE
The strength to face danger or pain
V _ L _ _ R
VALOUR
Great bravery, especially in battle
G _ L L _ N T
GALLANT
Brave and noble — “this gallant soldier” in Ekka's citation
H _ R _ _ C
HEROIC
Like a hero; extremely brave
F _ _ R L _ S S
FEARLESS
Without fear
B _ L D
BOLD
Willing to take risks
D _ R _ NG
DARING
Adventurous, ready to do risky things
_ N D _ _ N T _ D
UNDAUNTED
Not discouraged by difficulty or danger — “clearing bunker after bunker with undaunted courage”
Check it yourself: count the letters in the box before you write. VALIANT has 7, GALLANT 7, UNDAUNTED 9 — if your word does not fill the boxes exactly, it is the wrong word.
Q4.
Fill in the blanks with the correct opposite words of ‘brave’ from the box to complete the following sentences. (fear, cowardly, timid, afraid) 1. Ajay’s ____________ refusal to stand up for his friend was disappointing to everyone.
Answer
Ajay's cowardly refusal to stand up for his friend was disappointing to everyone.
Why this word: the blank comes before a noun (‘refusal’), so an adjective is needed — and cowardly is the adjective that carries blame. It is the exact opposite of ‘brave’ when someone chooses not to act.
Q5.
2. The ____________ child hid behind his mother, too scared to meet the new teacher.
Answer
The timid child hid behind his mother, too scared to meet the new teacher.
Careful:timid is shy and easily frightened — it describes a nature, not a fault. Do not confuse it with cowardly, which blames.
Q6.
3. Anjali’s ____________ of heights prevented her from climbing the tall ladder.
Answer
Anjali's fear of heights prevented her from climbing the tall ladder.
Why: the blank follows the possessive ‘Anjali's’ and is followed by ‘of’, so a noun is needed. Of the four words in the box, only fear is a noun.
Q7.
4. Sushma felt ____________ as she entered the dark, abandoned building alone.
Answer
Sushma felt afraid as she entered the dark, abandoned building alone.
Tip: after ‘felt’ we need an adjective describing the feeling at that moment. Afraid works after a verb like felt / was / seemed, but it is not used before a noun — we say “an afraid child”? No; we say “a frightened child”.
Q8.
Read the following sentences from the text and divide them into two parts. An example has been done for you. 1. I aspire to be courageous like him when I join the army!
Answer
Part 1
Part 2
I aspire to be courageous like him
when I join the army!
This is the example the book has already done. Part 1 makes complete sense on its own — it is the main clause. Part 2 begins with when and cannot stand alone — it is the subordinate clause, and it tells us the time.
Q9.
2. They exchange letters and share their feelings of gratitude for the freedom they enjoy because of the sacrifices made by the bravehearts of the country.
Answer
Part 1
Part 2
They exchange letters and share their feelings of gratitude for the freedom they enjoy
because of the sacrifices made by the bravehearts of the country
Part 1 is complete in itself. Part 2 begins with because of and gives the reason.
Q10.
3. Though seriously wounded in this encounter, he continued to fight alongside his comrades.
Answer
Part 1
Part 2
he continued to fight alongside his comrades
Though seriously wounded in this encounter
Here the dependent part comes first in the sentence. It begins with though and shows contrast; the main clause is “he continued to fight alongside his comrades”.
Tip: to find the main clause, cover each part in turn and ask, “Does this make complete sense by itself?” ‘Though seriously wounded in this encounter’ leaves you waiting — so it is the subordinate part, wherever it stands.
Q11.
4. The sacrifices of the soldiers make monuments like the National War Memorial extremely important so that we should never forget the cost of freedom.
Answer
Part 1
Part 2
The sacrifices of the soldiers make monuments like the National War Memorial extremely important
so that we should never forget the cost of freedom
Part 2 begins with so that and gives the purpose.
The pattern to remember:when → time, because → reason, though → contrast, so that → purpose. These joining words are called subordinating conjunctions, and the part they introduce is the subordinate clause.
Q12.
Combine the following pairs of sentences using suitable subordinating conjunctions given in the box below. (because, unless, when, where, though) 1. Wasi burst into tears. He heard the good news.
Answer
Wasi burst into tears when he heard the good news.
Why ‘when’: the two actions happened at the same moment, so we need the conjunction of time. (You could also write “When he heard the good news, Wasi burst into tears.”)
Q13.
2. Himani was very nervous. She delivered a great presentation.
Answer
Though Himani was very nervous, she delivered a great presentation.
Why ‘though’: the second fact is surprising after the first — nervousness usually spoils a presentation. That surprise is contrast, and though is the contrast word.
Q14.
3. This is the place. I was born.
Answer
This is the place where I was born.
Tip:where joins a clause to a word naming a place — the place, the village, the school, the fort.
Q15.
4. The students performed very well. They studied diligently.
Answer
The students performed very well because they studied diligently.
Why ‘because’: the second sentence explains the reason for the first.
Q16.
5. Water the plants. They will die.
Answer
Unless you water the plants, they will die.
(It can also be written the other way round: “The plants will die unless you water them.”)
Why ‘unless’:unless means ‘if… not’. The plants will die if you do not water them — that is a condition, and unless is the conjunction the box gives for it. Note that we do not add another ‘not’: “Unless you do not water the plants” is wrong.
Q17.
Complete the following sentences with suitable main clause or subordinate clause. 1. Farheen was late to work because ________________.
Answer
Farheen was late to work because her bus broke down near the railway crossing.
What to add: after because, give a reason — and make it a full clause with its own subject and verb.
Q18.
2. The dog started barking when ________________.
Answer
The dog started barking when a stranger pushed open the gate.
Q19.
3. She completed the marathon although ________________.
Answer
She completed the marathon although she had hurt her ankle at the eighth kilometre.
Why this works:although needs a contrast — something that should have stopped her but did not.
Q20.
4. ________________ while they were hiking in the mountains.
Answer
The friends spotted a herd of ibex while they were hiking in the mountains.
Careful: here the blank comes first, so what you supply is the main clause — it must make complete sense on its own.
Q21.
5. Abhishek received a promotion after ________________.
Answer
Abhishek received a promotion after he completed the flood-relief project on time.
Q22.
6. ________________ before the deadline approached.
Answer
The team submitted the entire report before the deadline approached.
Q23.
7. We waited in the car until ________________.
Answer
We waited in the car until the rain stopped.
Q24.
8. ________________ as the waves rushed to the shore.
Answer
The children shrieked with delight as the waves rushed to the shore.
The rule behind all eight: a sentence needs exactly one part that can stand alone. If the blank follows a joining word (because, when, although, after, until), fill in a subordinate clause; if the joining word comes after the blank (while, before, as), fill in a main clause.