Who Did Patrick’s Homework CBSE Class 6 NCERT

English Honeysuckle Book Lesson 1 Explanation,

Summary, Difficult words

CBSE Class 6 English Lesson 1 Explanation Notes

Who Did Patrick’s Homework Class 6 English

Honeysuckle Book Lesson 1 - Detailed explanation of
the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words.
Also, the explanation is followed by a Summary of the
lesson. All the exercises and Question and Answers

Class 6 English (Honeysuckle Book) Chapter 1 - Who

Did Patrick’s Homework?

By Carol Moore

 

 

Who Did Patrick’s Homework Introduction

This is a wonderful story which has presented Magical

realism (which means something that is not magic
but a belief) in a beautiful manner. A boy Patrick who
gets inspired and feels propelled to work hard by an
imaginary elf (a supernatural being). He is not only
able to complete his work rather scores high grades.
able to complete his work rather scores high grades.
This story conveys the message that self help works
wonders.
 

Who Did Patrick’s Homework Summary

Patrick was an active boy who loved outdoor games

like hockey and basketball. He was an enthusiastic
player but somehow was not interested in studies.
Because of his poor interest in studies he shirked work
and was warned strictly by his teacher.
One day Patrick observed his cat playing with a doll.
But when he looked at it closely, he found that it was a
small man-elf (a supernatural being). He was wearing a
woollen shirt, a tall hat and breeches.He was scared of
a cat and needed help. He pleaded (requested) Patrick
to save him and in return he promised to grant him a
wish.
Patrick felt happy and called himself a fortunate one.
He asked the elf to do his homework in return. Though
the elf was not ready for it yet, he offered to do this for
him for 35 days (one semester).
However, a  problem arose when the elf told that he
knew nothing of maths and history. He needed help to
do these subjects.Patrick agreed and brought many
books to read and consult. He sat next to elf and put in
a hard toll to complete the work.
Exactly after 35 days when the semester was over, the
elf went away quietly.Patrick scored grade ‘A’ in all the
subjects.Everyone appreciated him. He became a very
subjects.Everyone appreciated him. He became a very
different person who was hardworking, generous and
an exemplary boy.
Patrick thought it is elf who helped him score high but
in reality, it was Patrick himself  who did all the good
and changed his score.
 

Who Did Patrick’s Homework Lesson and Explanation

PATRICK never did homework. “Too boring,” he said.

He played hockey and basketball and Nintendo
instead. His teachers told him, “Patrick! Do your
homework or you won’t learn a thing.” And it’s true,
sometimes he did feel like an ignoramus. But what
could he do? He hated homework.
Nintendo: a video game 
Ignoramus:  an ignorant person, who lacks education 
Patrick never did his homework because he found it
boring. Instead, he played outdoor games like hockey
and basketball. He also liked to play video games
like Nintendo. His teacher warned him to complete
his homework otherwise, he won’t be able to learn
anything. It was a fact because at times, he used
to feel like an ignorant person who was completely
helpless in this regard. He had no interest in studies
and homework.
Then one day he found his cat playing with a little doll
and he grabbed it away. To his surprise, it wasn’t a doll
and he grabbed it away. To his surprise, it wasn’t a doll
at all, but a man of the tiniest size. He had a little wool
shirt with old fashioned britches and a tall hat much
like a witch’s. He yelled, “Save me! Don’t give me back
to that cat. I’ll grant you a wish, I promise you that.” 
britches: breeches, or short trousers. The writer here
spells it, for fun, to rhyme with the word ‘witch’s’.
grabbed :caught
tiniest :smallest
One day he observed his cat playing with a doll and
was surprised to find that it wasn’t a doll, rather it was
a man of the smallest size. It was wearing a woollen
shirt with an old-fashioned trousers and a tall hat
which made him look like a witch. The doll cried and
requested Patrick to save him and not to send him
back to the cat. In return, the doll promised Patrick to
fulfill his wish.
Patrick couldn’t believe his luck to have the answer to
all of his problems here . He said, “Only if you do all my
homework till the end of the semester, that’s 35 days. If
you do a
good enough job, I could even get A’s.”
Lucky::fortunate          
problems: difficulties   
semester:a half or quarter term in school or university
It was difficult for Patrick to accept that he was
so fortunate to get an answer or solution to all his
difficulties through this tiny man. So he asked him if
he could do his homework till the end of the semester,
that is a period of 35 days to help him score ‘A’
grade.Patrick was thinking that with elf’s help ,he can
grade.Patrick was thinking that with elf’s help ,he can
improve his grades.
The little man’s face wrinkled like a dishcloth thrown
in the hamper. He kicked his legs and doubled his fists
and he grimaced and scowled and  pursed his lips, “Oh,
am I cursed! But
I’ll do it.”
dishcloth: a cloth used for washing dishes
hamper: a basket with a lid
Grimaced,scowled, pursed his lips:his face had these
expressions,showing disgust,anger and disapproval
Wrinkled : slight folds on skin because of old age
Cursed:ill fated
After hearing this, the little man’s face gave a look
of cloth lying in the basket used for washing dishes.
He showed his disapproval for the work by kicking
legs,doubling his fists and making unhappy faces. He
asked if he was that unfortunate to do that task. But
he promised to do the work.
And true to his word, that little elf began to do Patrick’s
homework. Except there was one glitch. The elf didn’t
always know what to do and he needed help. “Help
me! Help me!” he’d say. And Patrick would have to help
— in whatever way.“I don’t know this word,” the elf
squeaked while reading Patrick’shomework. “Get me a
dictionary. No,what’s even better, look up the word and
sound it out by each letter.”
glitch (an informal word): a fault in a machine that
prevents it from working properly;
here, hitch or problem             
elf : a super -natural creature             
elf : a super -natural creature             
squeaked  : cried aloud
And keeping his word, the elf ( super-natural creature)
started doing his home-work. But sometimes, he
needed help as he didn’t know all things.Then Patrick
had to help him. Sometimes while reading Patrick’s
home- work  the elf would  say crying aloud that he
doesn’t know the meaning of that word so give him a
dictionary or something that can help him to identify
the sound of each letter as well as word.
When it came to maths, Patrick was out of luck.
“What are times tables?” the elf shrieked. “We elves
never need that And addition and subtraction and
division and fractions? Here, sit down beside me, you
simply must guide me.” Elves know nothing of human
history,to them it’s a mystery. So the little elf, already a
shouter, just got louder. “Go to the library, I need books.
More and more books. And you can help me read them
too.”
shrieked: gave a short, high-pitched cry
The elf knew nothing of maths. All concepts of maths
were completely strange or odd things for him. Patrick
was unfortunate in this matter. The elf explained
that elves never needed mathematical concepts like
addition,subtraction, division and fractions. So Patrick
had to sit next to him to guide. Even he did not know
anything of human history, it was completely strange
to him. Thus, he screamed at him to visit the library,
get him more books and help him to read as well.
 


 
As a matter of fact, every day in every way that little elf
was a nag! Patrick was working harder than ever and
was it a drag! He was staying up nights, had never felt
so weary, was going to school with his eyes puffed and
bleary.
nag: one who troubles someone all the time by
complaining or asking them to do something
drag (an informal word): something dull and
uninteresting
Weary : extreme tiredness
Bleary.: looking dull because of tiredness
Actually, that little creature was either troubling,
complaining or asking Patrick to do something or
the other all the time. Patrick was not able to sleep
and was awake for nights together. He had never felt
so tired before and was going to school with his dull
looking eyes.
Finally, the last day of school arrived and the elf was
free to go.  As for homework, there was no more, so he
quietly and slyly slipped out the back door.
slyly: secretively
Finally, it was the last day of school and the elf had
complete freedom to go as there was no more
homework to do. So, without speaking anything, in a
secretive manner,  he moved out from the back door.
Patrick got his A’s; his classmates were amazed;
his teachers smiled and were full of praise. And his
parents  wondered what had happened to Patrick? He
was now the model kid who
was now the model kid who
Cleaned his room, did his chores, was cheerful, never
rude, like he had developed a whole new attitude.
kid (an informal word): a child chores: work that must
be done everyday, often boring
attitude: a feeling about someone or something         
amazed: surprised
Patrick scored ‘A” grade. His classmates  were
surprised, teachers were full of appreciation and
parents were trying to know what made him so perfect,
what had happened to him? He became an exemplary
child who cleaned his room himself, did all his work,
became a  happy child who was never rude and
developed a complete new self and look.
You see, in the end, Patrick still thought he’d made that
tiny man do all his homework. But I’ll share a secret,
just between you and me. It wasn’t the elf; Patrick had
done it himself!
Concluding, I would like to say that it was not the
elf but Patrick himself who did his work. The elf just
propelled him to do everything.
 

Who Did Patrick’s Homework Question and Answers

1. What did Patrick think his cat was playing with?

What was it really? 
A.Patrick thought that his cat was playing with a doll.
Actually, it was a small man.
 
2. Why did the little man grant Patrick a wish?
2. Why did the little man grant Patrick a wish?
A:The little man granted him a wish because he saved
him from the cat.
 
3. What was Patrick’s wish?
A.His wish was to get his homework done from the elf.
 
4. In what subjects did the little man need help, to do
Patrick’s homework? 
A.He needed his help in Maths and history.
 
5. How did Patrick help him? 
A. He helped him by getting books for him,explaining
and reading things .
 
6. Who do you think did Patrick’s homework — the little
man,or Patrick himself? Give reasons for your answer. 
A. I think Patrick himself did his homework as elf was
just propelling him to do things. It was Patrick who
was reading,explaining and arranging different things
and helping elf as well to understand the things.
 

Who Did Patrick’s Homework Grammar Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with the

words or phrases given in blue color. (You may not
know the meaning of all the words. Look such words
up in a dictionary, or ask your teacher.)
 
out of luck      
out of luck      
mystery
true to his word           
chores
semester        
between you and me
look up
 
                         
1. Some people find household ———————————— a
bore, but I like to help at home.
2. Who stole the diamond is still a
————————————— .
3. This ————————————— we are going to have a
class exhibition.
4. —————————————, the elf began to help Patrick.
5. Can you ————————————— this word in the
dictionary?
6. I started early to be on time, but I was
———————————.
There was a traffic jam!
7. She says she’s got a lot of books, but
————————————
I think most of them are borrowed.
Answers: 1- chores, 2- mystery, 3- semester, 4- true to
his word, 5- look up, 6- out of luck, 7-between you and
me
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