5.3 A Courage that Saved Lives
Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six English.
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About the chapter
This lesson is a news report about Kareena Thapa, a brave 17-year-old girl from Amravati. When a fire broke out in a flat, she stopped an LPG cylinder from exploding. Her courage saved 70 families. She was given the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by the President of India.
Key points
- Kareena Thapa is from Amravati, Maharashtra.
- She broke the lock of the flat and threw buckets of water on the fire.
- She pulled out the LPG cylinder before it could explode.
- Her quick thinking saved 70 families.
- She received the award on Veer Bal Din from President Droupadi Murmu.
- Message: courage and presence of mind can save many lives.
Words to remember
- exemplary – very good; worth copying
- averted – stopped from happening
- cognizance – notice; attention
- commemorate – to remember with respect
- plaque – a flat metal or wooden plate given as an honour
- (i) To notice or recognize officially — cognizance
- (ii) A large building with flats — apartments
- (iii) A dangerous situation — disaster
- (iv) Showing great bravery — exemplary
- (v) A written document of achievement — certificate
- Quick thinking — she acted at once in danger.
- Courage — she risked her life to save others.
- Presence of mind — she broke the lock and pulled out the cylinder.
- Selflessness — she thought of 70 families before herself.
- Determination — she kept throwing water till the fire was controlled.
- (i) Kareena Thapa belongs to the city of — (c) Amravati
- (ii) She saved — (b) 70 families from danger.
- (iii) Kareena stopped the explosion of a/an — (b) LPG cylinder
- (iv) The award was given by the — (a) President
- (v) The award ceremony was organised on the occasion of — (c) Veer Bal Din
- (vi) Veer Bal Din commemorates the sacrifice of the sons of — (b) Guru Gobind Singh
- Person: Kareena Thapa, a 17-year-old girl from Amravati.
- Time: The award was given on 26 December 2024 (Veer Bal Din).
- Location: Jai Amba apartments, Kathora area, Amravati; award at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
- Event: She put out a fire and pulled out an LPG cylinder before it exploded.
- Result: 70 families were saved. She received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
- Other detail: She was one of 17 children honoured. The award has a medal, a plaque and a certificate.
- EXHIBITED — Row 1, across
- EXEMPLARY — Column 1, down
- AVERTED — diagonally, from row 4 column 4
- DISASTER — Column 10, down
- QUICK — Row 11, backwards
- SACRIFICE — Row 13, across
This is a creative activity. Students should make their own grid.
Words from this lesson students may hide: COURAGE, BRAVERY, PURASKAR, PRESIDENT, CYLINDER, RESCUE, AWARD, MEDAL, PLAQUE, HONOURED, CERTIFICATE.
Sixty Students Honoured at School Annual Day
By : (your name) · Date : (date) · Place : (your town)
Our school celebrated its Annual Day on Friday. About sixty students were given prizes for studies, sports and cultural activities.
The programme began at 5 pm with lamp lighting and the school prayer. The Group Education Officer was the chief guest. The Principal read the annual report.
The ‘Best Student of the Year’ trophy was given to a Grade Eight student. The kabaddi team got medals for winning the taluka championship. Winners of the essay, drawing and elocution competitions got certificates.
The programme ended with a cultural show and a vote of thanks.
This exercise asks for the current year’s awardees, and these change every year. Students should look up the latest names from newspapers or official government websites and fill in the table themselves.
| Award | Given for | Where to find the current list |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arjuna Award | Outstanding performance in sports over four years | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (yas.gov.in) |
| 2. National Bravery Award | Acts of exceptional courage by children | Indian Council for Child Welfare |
| 3. Padma Bhushan | Distinguished service of a high order in any field | padmaawards.gov.in — announced on Republic Day |
| 4. Nari Shakti Puraskar | Exceptional work for the empowerment of women | Ministry of Women and Child Development — given on International Women’s Day |
This is a collection activity. Students should cut out and bring their own headlines.
Notice while reading headlines: they are usually very short, often leave out a, an, the and the verb is/are, and use the present tense even for past events — for example, “Amravati girl among 17 heroes awarded PM’s Bal Puraskar”.
This is a listening activity. Students should present using the four points given: title of the news, new words learnt, information found interesting, and their own opinion on it.
(Your name)
Grade Six
(Your school and town)
2 January 2025
Dear Kareena Tai,
Many congratulations on receiving the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar! Our whole class clapped when our teacher read the news.
You were very brave. There was fire and smoke, but you did not run away. You threw water on the fire and pulled out the LPG cylinder. Because of you, seventy families are safe today.
You have taught me that courage means doing the right thing even when we are afraid. I will try to be alert and brave like you.
Please give my regards to your parents.
With admiration,
(Your name)
This is a craft activity. Students should prepare their own flipbook.
Pages to include: a photograph and name · date and place of birth · the sport played · early struggles · major achievements and records · awards received · one inspiring quotation.