NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 includes a News report on the death of Kalpana Chawla along with her biography and a poem. The piece on Kalpana Chawla is titled “An Indian – American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla”. Whereas, the poem is titled “Beauty”. Both the news article and poem help us to realize our worth and define our own ways to succeed. To help you understand the significance of courage and beauty, we have provided summaries of both the story and the poem. In addition, we have given NCERT solutions to all questions in the Writing, Working with the Text, and Working with the Poem sections of the CBSE English textbook Honeysuckle’s Unit 4.
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Table of Contents
You must read First Indian Woman to Go to Space to know more about Kalpana Chawla
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NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 News Report: An Indian – American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla
Kalpana Chawla’s inspiring journey from a Small Town in Karnal, Haryana, to becoming the first Indian-American woman astronaut is a testament to her determination and passion for space exploration. Despite early doubts, she pursued aeronautical engineering, ultimately earning a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. Kalpana made history by launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the space shuttle Columbia, thrilling her family in India and Kennedy Space Center staff.
A naturalized U.S. citizen married to flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison, Kalpana held multiple flying licenses, including for airplanes and gliders. She started her career at NASA as a space research scientist. Then she became an astronaut in NASA through rigorous training in 1994. Kalpana’s 15-day mission aboard Columbia saw her orbit the Earth 252 times, covering 10.45 million kilometers. Her experiments included plant pollination and advanced materials research, with the mission costing about 56 million dollars.
The tragic Columbia disaster brought shock and sorrow to Karnal, where hopeful hearts prayed for a different outcome. Kalpana’s extraordinary achievement inspired millions, proving that dreams can be realized regardless of one’s background or gender. Her message to students in Chandigarh emphasized the path from dreams to success, encouraging future generations to pursue their aspirations with vision and courage. Kalpana’s legacy continues to motivate those who reach for the stars.
Also Read: How to Become a Space Scientist?
Summary of News Report on the Death of Kalpana Chawla
A sad event happened in space. The U.S. Space Shuttle Columbia, with seven astronauts, including Indian-born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, broke apart and caught fire while it was coming back to Earth. This happened on 1st February 2003. Unfortunately, all seven people on board lost their lives. The shuttle lost contact with NASA when it was about to land. It was very high up in the sky and traveling very fast. The shuttle had been in space for 16 days, and the crew did many experiments. This was the 28th time Columbia flew in space, and it was built to fly many more times, but this time something went terribly wrong. It’s a very sad day for space exploration.
Also Read: Indian-American Raja Chari Selected for SpaceX Mission!
Download NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 Important Questions and Answers PDF
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NCERT Solutions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 News Report
Let us now look at solutions to all questions included in the NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 News Report on Kalpana Chawla.
Working with the Text
Ques A. Answer the following questions:
- Where was Kalpana Chawla born? Why is she called an Indian-American?
- When and why did she go to the US? Who did she marry?
- How did she become an astronaut? What gave her the idea that she could be an astronaut?
- What abilities must an astronaut have, according to the journalist?
- Describe Kalpana Chawla’s first mission in space.
- What does Kalpana Chawla say about pursuing a dream? Do you agree with her that success is possible?
Ans:
- Kalpana Chawla was born in a town called Karnal in Haryana, India. She was known as an Indian-American because she married an American citizen. With this marriage, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.
- Kalpana Chawla went to the United States of America to pursue a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering. In the US, she married Jean-Pierre Harrison, a flight instructor.
- She applied for the space shuttle program at NASA. She joined the program as a research scientist. Later on, in 1994 she was selected by this US-based organization to start her training as an astronaut.
- The journalist states that in order to become an astronaut, one must possess a thorough understanding of biology, astrophysics, and aeronautical engineering.
- Kalpana Chawla’s maiden space voyage in the Columbia space shuttle lasted 15 days, 16 hours, and 34 minutes. She traveled 10.45 million kilometers during this time, making 252 earth orbits. A Japanese and a Ukrainian astronaut were on board. For a total cost of about 56 million dollars, the crew carried out tests for producing stronger metals and faster computer chips, as well as experiments like pollinating plants to examine food growth in space.
- Kalpana Chawala says “The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get onto it… Wishing you a great journey.” Yes, I agree with her approach to success. Like her, I also believe that with courage and vision, one can achieve one’s goal.
Ques B. Read the newspaper report to find the following facts about “Columbia’s” ill-fated voyage.
- Date and place of lift-off
- Number of astronauts on board
- Number of days it stayed in space
- Date of the return journey
- Height at which it lost contact
Ans:
- 16th January 2003
- 7
- 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes
- 80
- 1st February 2003
- 200000 feet
Working with Language
Ques A. Match the following:
Unprecedented space tragedy | Something that causes feelings of respect and wonder |
2. Certified flight instructor | Having knowledge of a wide variety of subjects |
3. Space mission | Nowadays, in these times |
4. Super specialisation | A set of jobs to be done in space by a group |
5. Encyclopaedic knowledge | A person with the correct qualifications to teach people to fly planes |
6. Awe-inspiring | A sad accident of a kind that has never happened before in space |
7. In this age | Great expertise in a limited field or a particular subject |
Ans:
Unprecedented space tragedy | f. A sad accident of a kind that has never happened before in space |
2. Certified flight instructor | e. A person with the correct qualifications to teach people to fly planes |
3. Space mission | d. A set of jobs to be done in space by a group |
4. Super specialisation | g. great expertise in a limited field or a particular subject |
5. Encyclopaedic knowledge | b. having knowledge of a wide variety of subjects |
6. Awe-inspiring | a. Something that causes feelings of respect and wonder |
7. In this age | c. Nowadays, in these times |
Ques B. Use the following phrases in these sentences of your own, after finding out their meanings:
Broke apart | Streaked over | Spread across |
Lifted off | Blast off | Went on |
Cheered on | Onboard | Carry on |
Ans:
- The old bridge broke apart in the storm.
- The shooting star streaked over the night sky.
- The news of their success spread across the town.
- The spaceship lifted off into the boundless space.
- The rocket is prepared to blast off into orbit.
- The show went on despite the technical difficulties.
- The crowd cheered long after the team’s victory.
- All passengers were on board, ready for departure.
- Despite the challenges, they resolved to carry on with their mission.
Ques C. We add “un-” to the following words to make antonyms or opposites. For instance: True-Untrue.
- Identified
- Controlled
- Attended
- Successful
- Important
- Educated
- Interesting
- Qualified
- Trained
- Answerable
Ans:
- Unidentified
- Uncontrolled
- Unattended
- Unsuccessful
- Unimportant
- Uneducated
- Uninteresting
- Unqualified
- Untrained
- Unanswerable
Writing
Ques A. Do you have a ‘dream’, or something you very much wish to do? Write a paragraph saying what you want or wish to do. Then say (in another paragraph) how do you think you can make your dream come true.
Ans: My dream is to become a scientist and make discoveries that can help the world. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, and I want to use my knowledge to find solutions to important problems. I imagine myself in a lab, conducting experiments and uncovering new knowledge that can benefit society. This dream gives me a sense of purpose and motivates me to work hard in school to build a strong foundation in science.
To make my dream come true, I know I need to focus on my education. Paying attention in class, asking questions, and doing my homework diligently will help me grasp the concepts I need to become a scientist. I also plan to participate in science fairs and join science clubs to gain hands-on experience and learn from others who share my passion. Also, I will read books and articles about various scientific fields to broaden my understanding.
Ques B. Given below are some words that are spelled differently in British and American English. Fill in the blanks accordingly.
British | American |
Colour | _______________ |
_________________ | labour |
_________________ | traveller |
Counsellor | ________________ |
Centre | ________________ |
_________________ | theater |
_________________ | organise |
Realise | ________________ |
_________________ | defense |
Offence | _________________ |
Ans:
British | American |
Colour | ____color___________ |
________Labor_________ | labour |
____Traveller_____________ | traveler |
Counsellor | ___counselor_____________ |
Centre | ___center_____________ |
___Theatre______________ | theater |
___Organise______________ | organize |
Realise | ____Realize____________ |
__Defence_______________ | defense |
Offence | _____Offense____________ |
You can also check out:
Explore Summary of all Poems of ‘Honeysuckle’ Here:
NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 Poem: Beauty
In this section, we will learn about the importance of beauty in different things around us. Also, we will get to know the answers to all questions in NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 Poem-” Beauty”.
Summary of Poem: Beauty
The poem by E Yeh Shure celebrates the presence of beauty in various aspects of the world. It begins by highlighting how beauty can be observed in the natural world, such as in the sunlight, trees, birds, and even in the process of people working or celebrating their harvest. The poem then emphasizes that beauty can also be heard in the nighttime, through the sounds of wind, rain, and even the heartfelt singing of a person.
However, the poem takes a turn by suggesting that beauty is not only external but also exists within oneself. It is found in one’s good deeds and positive thoughts, which manifest in dreams, work, and even during moments of rest. The overall message of the poem is that beauty is not confined to specific external objects or experiences, but it is a quality that can be found both in the world around us and within our own actions and thoughts.
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Download NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 Important Questions and Answers PDF
NCERT Solutions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Unit 4 Poem
Here are answers to questions included in the Unit 4 Poem of NCERT Class 6 English textbook Honeysuckle. All answers are in accordance with the latest syllabus of CBSE.
Working with the Poem
Ques 1. The poet says, “Beauty is heard in…”
Can you hear beauty? Add a sound that you think is beautiful to the sounds the poet thinks are beautiful.
The poet, Keats, said:
Heard melodies are sweet,
But those unheard are sweeter.
What do you think this means? Have you ever ‘heard’ a song in
your head, long after the song was sung or played?
Ans: The poet, in saying “Beauty is heard in…”, is using metaphorical language to suggest that there are sounds in the world that evoke a sense of beauty or aesthetic pleasure.
Regarding Keats’ quote, “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter,” he is expressing the idea that the imagination can create even more beautiful music than what is actually heard. This implies that the mind’s ability to create something perfect. Also, the poet says that the mind creates an idealized version of melodies that can surpass the enjoyment derived from listening to real-world music.
Yes, I have heard songs in my head for a very long time after they were played or sung. Those are my preferred tunes.
Ques 2. Read the first and second stanzas of the poem again. Note the following phrases.
corn growing, people working or dancing, wind sighing, rain falling, a singer chanting
These could be written as
- corn that is growing
- people who are working or dancing
Can you rewrite the other phrases like this? Why do you think the poet uses shorter phrases?
Ans: Here are some examples of short phrases along with their expanded forms:
- Stars shining – stars that are shining
- River flowing – a river that is flowing
- Children laughing – children who are laughing
- Waves crashing – waves that are crashing
- Birds singing- birds that are singing
Ques 3: Write a paragraph about beauty. Use your own ideas along with the ideas in the poem. (You may discuss your ideas with your partner.)
Ans: Beauty is all around us, in many different forms. It can be seen in colourful flowers, golden sunlight, and smiling faces. It can also be heard in the sweet songs of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves. But, remember, beauty is not just on the outside. It’s in kind words, helping others, and in the happiness that fills our hearts. So, always remember to look for the beauty in the world and in yourself.
Access Notes and NCERT Solutions of all Chapters of ‘A Pact with the Sun’ Here:
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FAQs
Ans: She was born on 17th March 1962.
Ans: Her death anniversary is on 1st February. She lost her life on 1st February 2003 in Texas, USA.
Ans: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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