About the Author
Paul Jennings (1943- ) is an English-born Australian children's writer. His books mainly feature short stories that lead the reader through an unusual series of events that end with a twist. In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal, was published. The present story is an adaptation from one of his notable works.
Let's Share: Pre-Reading Activities
1. Given below are the characteristics of one particular food item: frozen, sweet, of different flavours and colours. Pick out the food item:
Answer: Ice cream
2. Fill in the following table with the names of the food items you eat at major meals:
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|
| Bread, milk, eggs, fruits | Rice, dal, vegetables, fish | Roti, chicken curry, salad |
3. Given a choice, which type of ice cream would you prefer to have?
Answer: I would prefer to have chocolate-flavoured ice cream because it is my favourite flavour and it tastes delicious.
Part 1: Story Text & Bengali Meaning (Pages 2-3)
Well, I came top of the class again. I got one hundred out of one hundred for Maths. And one hundred out of one hundred for English. I have a very sharp brain, the best there is. There isn't one kid in the class who can come near me.
বাংলা অর্থ: আচ্ছা, আমি আবার ক্লাসে প্রথম হলাম। আমি অঙ্কে একশোর মধ্যে একশো পেয়েছি। আর ইংরেজিতে একশোর মধ্যে একশো। আমার খুব তীক্ষ্ণ মস্তিষ্ক আছে, সবচেয়ে ভালো। ক্লাসে এমন একটা বাচ্চাও নেই যে আমার ধারেকাছে আসতে পারে।
Every year I win a lot of prizes: top of the class, top of the school. I won a prize for spellings when I was only three years old. I am a terrific speller. I can spell every word that is.
বাংলা অর্থ: প্রতি বছর আমি অনেক পুরস্কার জিতি: ক্লাসে সেরা, স্কুলে সেরা। আমি মাত্র তিন বছর বয়সে বানানের জন্য পুরস্কার জিতেছিলাম। আমি অসাধারণ বানানবিদ। আমি প্রতিটি শব্দের বানান বলতে পারি।
Some kids don't like me; I know that for a fact. They say I'm a show-off. I don't care. They are just jealous because they are not as clever as me.
বাংলা অর্থ: কিছু বাচ্চা আমাকে পছন্দ করে না; আমি এটা নিশ্চিতভাবে জানি। তারা বলে আমি বড়াই করি। আমি পরোয়া করি না। তারা শুধু ঈর্ষান্বিত কারণ তারা আমার মতো চালাক নয়।
Last week something bad happened. Another kid got one hundred out of one hundred for Maths too. That never happened before—no one has ever done as well as me. A kid called Jerome Dadian beat me. I was sure he cheated. It had something to do with that ice cream. I was sure of it. I decided to find out what was going on.
বাংলা অর্থ: গত সপ্তাহে কিছু খারাপ ঘটনা ঘটল। আরেকটা বাচ্চাও অঙ্কে একশোর মধ্যে একশো পেল। এর আগে কখনও এমনটা ঘটেনি—আমার মতো ভালো কেউ কখনও করেনি। জেরোম ডাডিয়ান নামের এক বাচ্চা আমাকে হারিয়ে দিল। আমি নিশ্চিত ছিলাম যে সে নকল করেছে। এটার সাথে সেই আইসক্রিমের কিছু সম্পর্ক ছিল। আমি সেটা নিশ্চিত ছিলাম। আমি কী ঘটছে তা খুঁজে বের করার সিদ্ধান্ত নিলাম।
Word Nest:
| English Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| terrific | wonderful |
| show-off | a person who tries to impress others by showing how good he/she is |
Activity Solutions: Part 1
Activity 1 Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in the given boxes:
| Correct Order | Sentence |
|---|---|
| (1) | The narrator scored full marks in Maths. |
| (2) | All the students are not as clever as me. |
| (3) | At the age of three, the narrator won a prize for spelling. |
| (4) | The narrator's friends said that the narrator was a show-off. |
| (5) | Last week something bad happened. |
| (6) | The narrator decided to find out what was going on. |
Activity 2 Fill in the blanks with words given in the Help Box. (Some extra words are given)
Help Box: Sharp, top, jealous, near, terrific, beat, show-off
I was at the top of the class. I knew that I had a sharp brain. Other kids of the class are jealous of me. Last week Jerome beat me. I became sad.Activity 3 Answer the following question:
"It had something to do with that ice cream." Why did the speaker think so?
Answer: The speaker thought so because Jerome Dadian, who had never scored full marks before, suddenly scored one hundred out of one hundred in Maths just like him. The speaker was convinced that Dadian must have cheated, and the only unusual thing he could think of was the special ice cream sold by Mr. Peppi.
Answer: The speaker thought so because Jerome Dadian, who had never scored full marks before, suddenly scored one hundred out of one hundred in Maths just like him. The speaker was convinced that Dadian must have cheated, and the only unusual thing he could think of was the special ice cream sold by Mr. Peppi.
Part 2: Story Text & Bengali Meaning (Pages 4-5)
It all started with the ice-cream man, Mr Peppi. He had a van which he parked outside the school. He sold ice cream, all different types. He had every flavour there is. He didn't like me very much. He told me once, "You think you are smart. One day you will be too smart."
বাংলা অর্থ: সবকিছু শুরু হয়েছিল আইসক্রিমওয়ালা, মিস্টার পেপ্পির সাথে। তার একটা ভ্যান ছিল যেটা সে স্কুলের বাইরে পার্ক করত। সে নানা ধরনের আইসক্রিম বিক্রি করত। তার কাছে সব রকমের ফ্লেভার ছিল। সে আমাকে খুব একটা পছন্দ করত না। সে একবার আমাকে বলেছিল, "তুমি নিজেকে স্মার্ট ভাবো। একদিন তুমি বেশি স্মার্ট হয়ে যাবে।"
I just laughed and walked off. I knew he wouldn't do anything. He was too soft-hearted. He was always giving free ice cream to kids who had no money. He felt sorry for poor people.
বাংলা অর্থ: আমি শুধু হেসে চলে গেলাম। আমি জানতাম সে কিছু করবে না। সে ছিল খুব নরম মনের মানুষ। সে সবসময় সেই সব বাচ্চাদের বিনামূল্যে আইসক্রিম দিত যাদের টাকা ছিল না। সে গরিব লোকদের জন্য দুঃখ বোধ করত।
There were a lot of stories going round about that ice cream. People said that it was good for you. Some kids said that it made you better when you were sick. One of the teachers called it 'happy ice cream'. I didn't believe it; it never made me happy.
বাংলা অর্থ: সেই আইসক্রিম নিয়ে নানান গল্প ছড়িয়েছিল। লোকে বলত যে এটা স্বাস্থ্যের জন্য ভালো। কিছু বাচ্চা বলত যে অসুস্থ হলে এটা তোমাকে সারিয়ে তোলে। একজন শিক্ষক এটাকে 'হ্যাপি আইসক্রিম' বলতেন। আমি এটা বিশ্বাস করিনি; এটা কখনও আমাকে খুশি করেনি।
All the same, there was something strange about it. There was a kid at school who had a long nose. When he blew it you could hear it a mile away. Peppi felt sorry for him. He gave him a small green ice cream every morning, for free. Soon the kid's nose became normal.
বাংলা অর্থ: তবুও, এটা নিয়ে কিছু অদ্ভুত ব্যাপার ছিল। স্কুলে একটা বাচ্চা ছিল যার লম্বা নাক ছিল। যখন সে নাক ফোলাতো তখন এক মাইল দূর থেকে শোনা যেত। পেপ্পি তার জন্য দুঃখ বোধ করল। সে তাকে প্রতিদিন সকালে একটা ছোট সবুজ আইসক্রিম বিনামূল্যে দিত। তাড়াতাড়ি বাচ্চাটির নাক স্বাভাবিক হয়ে গেল।
Word Nest:
| English Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| soft-hearted | kind and sympathetic |
| free | without payment |
Activity Solutions: Part 2
Activity 4 Fill in the blanks with information from the text:
(a) Mr. Peppi was an ice-cream man.
(b) Mr. Peppi used to park his van outside the school.
(c) A teacher called the ice cream happy ice cream.
(d) The kid with the long nose was given a small green ice cream every morning.
(b) Mr. Peppi used to park his van outside the school.
(c) A teacher called the ice cream happy ice cream.
(d) The kid with the long nose was given a small green ice cream every morning.
Activity 5 Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
(a) What did Mr. Peppi sell?
Answer: Mr. Peppi sold ice cream of all different types and flavours from his van parked outside the school.
(b) How did the speaker know that Mr. Peppi was a soft-hearted person?
Answer: The speaker knew that Mr. Peppi was a soft-hearted person because he was always giving free ice cream to kids who had no money and he felt sorry for poor people.
(c) What was special about the green ice cream?
Answer: The green ice cream was special because it had the power to make a long nose become normal. Mr. Peppi gave it to a kid with a long nose every morning, and soon his nose became normal.
(d) Why did the speaker want to do better than everyone else in the class?
Answer: The speaker wanted to do better than everyone else in the class because he had a very sharp brain and was proud of being the best. He believed no one else was as clever as him.
Answer: Mr. Peppi sold ice cream of all different types and flavours from his van parked outside the school.
(b) How did the speaker know that Mr. Peppi was a soft-hearted person?
Answer: The speaker knew that Mr. Peppi was a soft-hearted person because he was always giving free ice cream to kids who had no money and he felt sorry for poor people.
(c) What was special about the green ice cream?
Answer: The green ice cream was special because it had the power to make a long nose become normal. Mr. Peppi gave it to a kid with a long nose every morning, and soon his nose became normal.
(d) Why did the speaker want to do better than everyone else in the class?
Answer: The speaker wanted to do better than everyone else in the class because he had a very sharp brain and was proud of being the best. He believed no one else was as clever as him.
Part 3: Story Text & Bengali Meaning (Pages 6-7)
I knew where Peppi kept his van at night. I waited until about eleven o'clock at night. Then I crept out of the house and down to Peppi's van. There was no one around when I reached the van. I forced the door open and shone my torch around inside. I had never seen so many tubs of ice cream before.
বাংলা অর্থ: আমি জানতাম পেপ্পি রাতে তার ভ্যান কোথায় রাখে। আমি রাত প্রায় এগারোটা অবধি অপেক্ষা করলাম। তারপর আমি বাড়ি থেকে চুপিচুপি বেরিয়ে পেপ্পির ভ্যানের কাছে গেলাম। আমি যখন ভ্যানে পৌঁছালাম তখন আশেপাশে কেউ ছিল না। আমি জোর করে দরজা খুললাম এবং ভেতরে আমার টর্চ জ্বাললাম। আমি আগে কখনও এতগুলি আইসক্রিমের টব দেখিনি।
There were apple and banana, cherry and mango, blackberry and watermelon and about fifty other flavours. Right at the end of the van were four bins. It was just as I thought. These were his special flavours. Each one had a writing on the top.
বাংলা অর্থ: সেখানে আপেল আর কলা, চেরি আর আম, ব্ল্যাকবেরি আর তরমুজ আর প্রায় পঞ্চাশটা অন্য ফ্লেভার ছিল। ভ্যানের একেবারে শেষ প্রান্তে চারটে বিন ছিল। ঠিক যেমনটা আমি ভেবেছিলাম তেমনই। এগুলো ছিল তার বিশেষ ফ্লেভার। প্রত্যেকটির উপরে কিছু লেখা ছিল।
This is what they said: HAPPY ICE CREAM for cheering people up. NOSE ICE CREAM for long noses. PIMPLE ICE CREAM for removing pimples. SMART ICE CREAM for getting smart. Now I knew his secret. Dadian had been eating smart ice cream; that's how he got one hundred for Maths.
বাংলা অর্থ: সেগুলোতে এই লেখা ছিল: হ্যাপি আইসক্রিম—মানুষকে খুশি করার জন্য। নোজ আইসক্রিম—লম্বা নাকের জন্য। পিম্পল আইসক্রিম—ব্রণ দূর করার জন্য। স্মার্ট আইসক্রিম—বুদ্ধিমান হওয়ার জন্য। এবার আমি তার রহস্য জানতে পারলাম। ডাডিয়ান স্মার্ট আইসক্রিম খাচ্ছিল; এভাবেই সে অঙ্কে একশো পেয়েছিল।
Thereafter I decided to finish off the matter. I put some sand that I carried with me into every bin in the van, except for the smart ice cream. Next, I looked at the smart ice cream. I decided to eat some. Not that I needed it—I was quite smart already. Anyway, I gave it a try. I ate the lot. Once I started I couldn't stop. It tasted good. It was delicious.
বাংলা অর্থ: তারপর আমি বিষয়টা শেষ করে দেওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নিলাম। আমি আমার সাথে আনা কিছু বালি ভ্যানের প্রতিটি বিনে ঢেলে দিলাম, শুধু স্মার্ট আইসক্রিম ছাড়া। এরপর, আমি স্মার্ট আইসক্রিমের দিকে তাকালাম। আমি কিছু খাওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নিলাম। এমন নয় যে আমার দরকার ছিল—আমি আগেই যথেষ্ট বুদ্ধিমান ছিলাম। যাইহোক, আমি একবার চেখে দেখলাম। আমি পুরোটাই খেয়ে ফেললাম। একবার শুরু করার পর আমি থামতে পারিনি। এটার স্বাদ ভালো ছিল। এটা সুস্বাদু ছিল।
At last, I left the van and went home to bed, but I couldn't sleep. To tell the truth, I didn't feel too good. I think I have made a mistake. It is the next day now. Something is happening to me. I don't feel quite as smart. I have been trying to do a reel hard sum. It is wun and wun. What duz wun and wun make? Iz it three or iz it for?
বাংলা অর্থ: শেষ পর্যন্ত, আমি ভ্যান ছেড়ে বাড়ি গিয়ে বিছানায় শুলাম, কিন্তু ঘুমোতে পারলাম না। সত্যি বলতে, আমার খুব একটা ভালো লাগছিল না। আমার মনে হয় আমি ভুল করে ফেলেছি। এখন পরের দিন। আমার সাথে কিছু একটা ঘটছে। আমি তেমন বুদ্ধিমান বোধ করছি না। আমি একটা খুব শক্ত অঙ্ক করার চেষ্টা করছি। এটা এক আর এক। এক আর এক যোগ করলে কত হয়? এটা কি তিন নাকি এটা চার?
Word Nest:
| English Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| delicious | having a very pleasant taste |
| crept | moved slowly and quietly |
| secret | something kept hidden |
Activity Solutions: Part 3
Activity 6 Fill in the chart with information from the text:
| Type of Ice cream | Special quality |
|---|---|
| (a) Nose Ice Cream | for long noses / helped to make long noses normal |
| (b) Smart Ice Cream | helped to become smart |
| (c) Happy Ice Cream | for cheering people up |
| (d) Pimple Ice Cream | cured pimples / for removing pimples |
Activity 7 Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
(a) What did the speaker find inside Mr. Peppi's ice cream van?
Answer: Inside Mr. Peppi's van, the speaker found many tubs of ice cream of different flavours like apple, banana, cherry, mango, and about fifty other flavours. At the end of the van, he found four special bins labelled Happy Ice Cream, Nose Ice Cream, Pimple Ice Cream, and Smart Ice Cream.
(b) What secret about Dadian did the speaker come to know?
Answer: The speaker came to know that Jerome Dadian had been eating Smart Ice Cream, and that was how he scored one hundred out of one hundred in Maths.
(c) Rewrite the last paragraph in normal English with correct spellings.
Answer: I have been trying to do a real hard sum. It is one and one. What does one and one make? Is it three or is it four?
(d) Why do you think there are peculiar spellings in the last paragraph? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The peculiar spellings in the last paragraph show that the speaker has lost his intelligence. He had eaten the entire tub of Smart Ice Cream, but instead of making him smarter, it had the opposite effect. His brain has become so dull that he cannot even spell simple words or solve the easiest sum like one plus one.
Answer: Inside Mr. Peppi's van, the speaker found many tubs of ice cream of different flavours like apple, banana, cherry, mango, and about fifty other flavours. At the end of the van, he found four special bins labelled Happy Ice Cream, Nose Ice Cream, Pimple Ice Cream, and Smart Ice Cream.
(b) What secret about Dadian did the speaker come to know?
Answer: The speaker came to know that Jerome Dadian had been eating Smart Ice Cream, and that was how he scored one hundred out of one hundred in Maths.
(c) Rewrite the last paragraph in normal English with correct spellings.
Answer: I have been trying to do a real hard sum. It is one and one. What does one and one make? Is it three or is it four?
(d) Why do you think there are peculiar spellings in the last paragraph? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The peculiar spellings in the last paragraph show that the speaker has lost his intelligence. He had eaten the entire tub of Smart Ice Cream, but instead of making him smarter, it had the opposite effect. His brain has become so dull that he cannot even spell simple words or solve the easiest sum like one plus one.
Grammar Activities - Let's Learn & Do
Let's Learn About Linkers:
Read the following sentences:
I waited until about eleven o'clock at night. Then I crept out of the house and down to Peppi's van.
It was delicious. At last I left the van and went home to bed.
In the above sentences 'Then' and 'At last' connect one sentence to the previous one. Such words are called Linkers.
Activity 8(a) Underline the words which connect the sentences to the previous ones:
(i) I put some sand that I carried with me into every bin in the van, except for the smart ice cream. Next I looked at the smart ice cream.
(ii) Dadian had been eating smart ice cream; that's how he got one hundred for Maths. Thereafter, I decided to finish off the matter.
(ii) Dadian had been eating smart ice cream; that's how he got one hundred for Maths. Thereafter, I decided to finish off the matter.
Activity 8(b) Using the linkers from the Help Box, fill in the blanks:
Help Box: Finally, next, at first, then, thereafter
At first a piece of open ground is to be selected. Next the soil is to be tilled. Then a seed is to be planted. Thereafter the sapling is to be watered daily. Finally green leaves appear.Activity 8(c) In each of the following sentences supply a verb in agreement with the subject:
(i) Neither Raja nor Rani was invited to the party.
(ii) Two thirds of the building has been completed.
(iii) The dancer and the musician are great friends.
(iv) Mother along with her daughters is attending the programme.
(ii) Two thirds of the building has been completed.
(iii) The dancer and the musician are great friends.
(iv) Mother along with her daughters is attending the programme.
Activity 9 Make meaningful sentences of your own with the following words:
crept : The cat crept silently towards the mouse without making any noise.
secret : My best friend told me a secret about his surprise birthday plan.
special : My mother cooked a special dinner for us on Sunday.
decided : After thinking for a while, I decided to join the school football team.
secret : My best friend told me a secret about his surprise birthday plan.
special : My mother cooked a special dinner for us on Sunday.
decided : After thinking for a while, I decided to join the school football team.
Writing Skills
Activity 10(a) Using the following hints write a story in about sixty words:
The Hare and the Tortoise
A hare always boasted about how fast he could run. He often teased a tortoise for his slow speed. One day, they decided to run a race. The hare ran swiftly and was soon far ahead. He saw the tortoise far behind and decided to take a nap midway. When he woke up, he was shocked to see the tortoise much ahead near the finish line. The hare leaped with all his might, but it was too late. The tortoise had already won the race.
Activity 10(b) Write a paragraph in about sixty words on what an ice cream peddler does after finishing selling all his ice creams:
After finishing selling all his ice creams, the ice cream peddler first counts the money he has earned during the day. Then he cleans his cart or van and checks the stock for the next day. He goes to the supplier to buy more ice cream tubs and refill his cart. After a long and tiring day of work, he finally returns home to his family, rests for a while, and prepares for the next day's business.
Let's Work Together
Project Making a Pen-Stand with Ice Cream Sticks:
Form four groups. Take 140 ice cream sticks. Make 14 bundles with the sticks, there being 10 sticks in each bundle. You can use adhesive to fix the 10 sticks in each bundle together. Fix 4 bundles to form a square. Attach 2 more bundles in the hollow at the middle of the square. The base of the pen-stand is formed. Now attach 4 bundles on 4 corners of the square. Fix 4 bundles horizontally against the 4 standing bundles. Your pen-stand is ready.
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