Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 4 Solutions: Sports and Wellness

NCERT's Class 6 English textbook Poorvi places three texts under Unit 4, "Sports and Wellness": the story "Change of Heart", the poem "The Winner" and the informational text "Yoga: A Way of Life". This article gives a summary, a deep analysis and complete answers to every exercise of the unit, including the "Let us listen" announcements, the grammar tasks and the "Who Am I?" riddles, based on the NCERT Poorvi Grade 6 textbook (reprint 2026-27). The answers follow the textbook order so that students can match each answer with its question.

Unit 4 Sports and Wellness: overview of the three texts

Unit 4 of Class 6 English Poorvi teaches that sport and exercise are about enjoyment, fairness and well-being, not only about winning. The unit moves from a story about sporting spirit, to a poem about children's evening play, to a text on yoga as a way of keeping body and mind healthy.

What is Unit 4 of Class 6 English Poorvi about?

Unit 4, titled Sports and Wellness, is about the joy and discipline of games and exercise. Through Prabhat's change of attitude, a poem on children's evening play and a text on yoga, NCERT shows that fair play, enjoyment and healthy habits matter more than winning.

Students can compare this unit with the Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 1 solutions, and all subject solutions for the class are listed on the Class 6 NCERT solutions page of Aapbiti. The original unit can be read on the NCERT website, and the contents and preface of the book are in the Poorvi textbook front pages.

1. Change of Heart: summary and deep analysis

"Change of Heart" is the story of Prabhat, a boy who cannot bear to lose, and of Surya, a new student who plays for fun, whose attitude slowly changes Prabhat.

Summary

Part I. Prabhat always wants to win and cannot accept defeat, not even at marbles. If he senses that he will lose, he does not play, and he plays only when he is sure of winning, mostly games he is good at, like badminton. A new student, Surya, who is an excellent badminton player, joins the school. On the last Friday of the month, when the coach conducts friendly matches in the games period, Prabhat and Surya are chosen to play each other, and Prabhat is given the responsibility of keeping the score. Prabhat prepares seriously, while Surya is relaxed and keeps joking, yet Surya wins point after point. Because Surya pays little attention, Prabhat manages to change the scoreboard while Surya is looking elsewhere, and so wins by cheating. Prabhat makes a big thing of his win, but Surya says that it was fun and that they should play again.

Part II. That night Prabhat cannot sleep well and does not feel as happy as he usually does after a win. He is surprised that Surya did not feel bad about losing, and even more surprised when he sees Surya playing basketball the next day, where Surya is so hopeless that he cannot score a basket for ten minutes, yet enjoys the game and smiles throughout. Prabhat keeps a close watch on Surya for some days and finds that Surya is great at some things and terrible at others, but he enjoys everything equally. Prabhat realises that to enjoy a game one does not need a scoreboard, nor does one have to worry about winning or losing, because what matters is trying to do well and enjoying every moment. He begins to change: he plays hide and seek, feels sad when the game ends, and jokes while playing badminton. The other students begin to say that Prabhat has a great sporting spirit.

Characters

Deep analysis

1. The title shows the central change. "Change of Heart" refers to Prabhat's change from a person who cared only about winning to one who enjoys playing. The change happens inside him, which is why the story talks about his feelings more than about the match.
2. Fear of losing spoils enjoyment. Prabhat's fear of defeat made him avoid games he might lose and reduced his joy even when he won. The story suggests that anxiety about results takes away the pleasure of play.
3. Cheating brings no happiness. Prabhat wins by changing the scoreboard but cannot sleep and does not feel happy. The story shows that a win gained by cheating is empty, and that conscience can punish a person better than anybody else.
4. Surya is a foil to Prabhat. A foil is a character who shows another character's qualities by contrast. Surya is relaxed where Prabhat is tense, and he enjoys playing where Prabhat enjoys only winning. The contrast helps Prabhat to see himself.
5. Learning by observation. Prabhat does not learn from a lecture but from watching Surya for some days. This shows that good attitudes can be learnt from the example of others.
6. A scoreboard is not needed for enjoyment. The story says that one does not need to keep a tally of scores to enjoy a game. The word "scoreboard" is also a symbol of Prabhat's earlier attitude, in which numbers mattered more than joy.
7. Sporting spirit. The ending uses the term "sporting spirit", which means being fair and respecting each player in a game. The classmates' praise shows that behaviour, not victory, earns respect.
8. Structure. Part I builds the problem (cheating and false victory), and Part II resolves it (observation and change). The story moves from a clear problem to a realistic change.

Theme: sporting spirit and honesty. Moral: play for enjoyment and fairness, not only for winning, and accept losing gracefully.

Word meanings from the margin

2. Change of Heart: solutions

Every exercise of the story is answered below in the order of the textbook. Answers marked as sample are open-ended, and students should write their own version.

Let us do these activities before we read (p. 103)

I. Games or sports you play (sample). Badminton, cricket, kho-kho and hide and seek.

II. Fun and competition (sample). Games played for fun: hide and seek, cycling, skipping. Games played for competition: kho-kho, badminton, races on Sports Day.

III. Feelings (sample). When I win, I feel happy and proud. When I lose, I feel sad for a while, but I try to learn from it and try again.

IV. Meanings

Let us discuss (p. 106)

1. False. Prabhat could not accept defeat and would not play a game he thought he would lose.
2. On the last Friday of each month, the coach conducted friendly matches in the games period.
3. Prabhat was responsible for keeping the score for the match.
4. (sample). No, I think Prabhat did not wish to play another match with Surya, because he had won by cheating and felt guilty, and he would be afraid of facing Surya's honest play again.

Let us discuss (p. 107)

1. Surya enjoyed playing. He felt relaxed, joked and smiled during games, and he enjoyed even basketball, though he was hopeless at it.
2. Prabhat observed that Surya enjoyed everything equally, whether he was good at it or terrible at it, and that he did not worry about winning or losing.

Let us think and reflect (pp. 108-109)

I. 1.

• (i) Prabhat would play a game only if he was sure of winning.
• (ii) Prabhat was good at playing badminton.
• (iii) This behaviour of Prabhat tells us that he was C. afraid of losing.

I. 2.

• (i) The option that tells us about the way Prabhat was feeling that night is B. unhappy.
• (ii) Prabhat finds Surya's behaviour surprising because Surya did not feel bad about losing, and he enjoyed playing basketball the next day even though he could not score a basket for ten minutes.
• (iii) We can say that Surya's reaction to not winning was different from Prabhat's.

II. Answer the following questions

1. In the beginning Prabhat could not bear to lose, so he took part only in games in which he was sure to win and avoided the others. The fear of losing took away the fun, and he did not enjoy playing for its own sake.
2. Prabhat cheated because he was afraid of losing to Surya, who was playing very well, and he could not accept defeat.
3. Surya played for the joy of the game. He was relaxed, joked and did not mind losing. Prabhat was serious and cared only about winning.
4. No, Prabhat's approach was not healthy. He played only to win, avoided games he might lose and cheated. This brought him stress and unhappiness, and it was not fair to others.
5. Sporting spirit is important because it teaches fairness, respect for opponents, honesty and the ability to accept both victory and defeat gracefully. It makes games enjoyable and builds friendships.
6. The title is suitable because the story is about a change in Prabhat's heart, that is, his attitude. He moves from caring only about winning to enjoying the game, playing hide and seek, joking and earning the praise of a great sporting spirit.

Let us learn (pp. 109-110)

I. Words from consecutive letters (sample)

II. Verbs in the sentences.

1. Everyone was discussing their game and how Prabhat had played so well.
2. He had won the game but he did not feel as happy as he usually did.
3. What was more surprising that Surya had not felt bad about losing.

III. First action (old) and second action (new)

IV. Past perfect forms

1. Prabhat had already finished his homework before going to the badminton match.
2. Surya had played basketball for years before joining the school's badminton team.
3. By the time Prabhat arrived, Surya had already won several matches.
4. The new student, Surya, had never met Prabhat before coming to the school.
5. Before the games period, Prabhat had practised badminton extensively.

Let us listen (pp. 110-111)

I. Pair chosen to play chess (transcript on p. 128). Sarita - Nupur.

II. Notes

Let us speak (pp. 111-112)

The three magic words (sample dialogues).

1. Vani: Could you please take me in your team during the games period?
2. Somiwon: Hitesh, please can you help me with the cleaning of the classroom cupboard?
3. Sumit: I'm sorry, Nupur. That was my fault, as I accidentally spilled water on your desk.
4. Hitesh: I'm sorry, Simran. I forgot to bring your Art file to school.
5. Kriti: Nupur, I'm very sorry for the way I behaved. I apologise. I was out of line.
6. Mohan: Thank you, Hitesh. It means so much to me that you helped me practise for the Inter-House speech competition.
7. Meher: Simran, I truly appreciate your help with the chapter I missed. Thank you.
8. Rima: Gita, I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart because you helped me collect the notebooks from the staff-room.

Let us write (pp. 112-113)

Prabhat's diary (the phrase "I felt very happy" is not needed). Today, I defeated Surya in a badminton match but 1. I do not feel happy about it. He was playing very well and was getting the points easily. I was sure that 2. I will lose the match. So, when everyone was laughing at a joke he cracked, 3. I managed to change the scoreboard. No one noticed the change and 4. everyone congratulated me after my win. What surprised me the most was that he said 5. he had fun playing with me and we should play again. How could he be so relaxed after losing a match? He should have been sad if not crying over his loss! Though 6. I won the match, I did not enjoy as I usually do. It really disturbed me that 7. Surya did not feel bad about losing the match. It is still bothering me.

Let us explore (pp. 113-114)

1. The two bio-sketches have no question. They show two sportspersons from modest backgrounds who rose through hard work. Deepika Kumari, an archer from Jharkhand, practised with homemade bamboo bows and arrows, joined the Tata Archery Academy and won a gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Neeraj Chopra, from Khandra village in Haryana, worked hard for several years, became the first Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in javelin throw, and won a silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
2. Students can visit the links given in the textbook to learn about other Indian sportspersons, such as the Arjuna Awardees.

3. The Winner: meaning and deep analysis

"The Winner" by Georgia Heard is a short free-verse poem about children who play ball in a neighbour's field until night falls and ends the game.

Stanza-wise meaning

Deep analysis

1. The shape of the poem carries meaning. In the second stanza, the words are placed one under another, so that the reader has to pause at each word, as the runner pauses for breath. This is called a visual pattern, and it shows the child's breathlessness.
2. Personification in the title and the last line. "Night wins!" gives night a human action (winning). The textbook itself names this as personification in "Let us learn". The title "The Winner" is therefore a playful surprise, since the winner is not a child but the night.
3. Sensory images. The poem uses sight (the colour change from blue to black), touch (cold grass aching on feet) and the feeling of breathlessness. These make the reader feel the evening.
4. Time is passing. The poem moves from evening to dusk to night in only a few lines. The game does not end because someone wins or loses but because the day ends, so the poem shows play as something enjoyed for its own sake.
5. A link with Change of Heart. In the previous story, Prabhat learns that enjoying the game matters more than winning. In this poem, the children are happy with the game until night ends it, and nobody asks who won.
6. Free verse. The poem has no rhyme and varies the length of lines. This suits the natural and spontaneous nature of children's play.
7. Tone. The tone is lively at the start and calm at the end, and it ends with a gentle note of acceptance when the game is over.

Theme: the joy of play. Message: play brings joy for its own sake, and nature brings the day to a natural end.

Word meanings

4. The Winner: solutions

Let us do these activities before we read (p. 115)

I. The picture (sample). 1. The children are playing, running and blowing bubbles. 2. They are in a park or an open field. 3. It is evening, as the long shadows on the ground show.

II. Your playtime (sample). I go to the park after school at about 5 o'clock. I play with my friends and cousins. The place I go to for playing is the ground near my house. I like playing cricket. Sometimes I come back after the street lights are on.

Let us discuss (pp. 116-117)

I. Meanings of the lines

II. Complete the summary. The children play ball in the evening in the neighbour's field. They run so fast that they run out of breath. They continue to play till the evening when the blue sky turns black, and the trees are not clearly visible. They can feel their feet aching, now that it is cold. Finally, they stop playing and go home as it is night.

Let us think and reflect (pp. 117-118)

I. 1.

• (i) The speaker needs to catch her breath because C. running fast results in being breathless.
• (ii) No, the speaker is not alone. The poem says "we play" and "we run", so she is with her friends.
• (iii) The pattern, in which the words are placed one under another, shows that the children are really out of breath and are gasping between words.

I. 2.

• (i) The grass is cold because the sun has set and it is night (it is also cool and damp in the evening).
• (ii) The children's feet are aching because the grass is cold and they have been running barefoot for a long time.
• (iii) Night wins because A. time for play has ended.

Let us learn (pp. 118-119)

1. What the poet has done, and examples of your own (sample).

2. Water bodies. River, lake, pond, sea, ocean, stream, canal, waterfall, well and reservoir.

Let us listen (pp. 119-120)

Riddles

Your own riddle (sample). I have a bat and a ball, and eleven players on each side. You run between two wickets to score. Which game am I? Ans: Cricket.

Let us speak (p. 121)

Parent and child (sample dialogue for Situation 1). Parent: Why are you so late? I was worried. Child: I am sorry, Mummy. We were playing a match and I did not see the time. Parent: Next time please come home before dark. Child: I will, I promise.

Situation 2: the child shares the details of the games with excitement, and the parent asks questions with interest. Situation 3: the child introduces a new friend, and the parent welcomes the friend with a smile and offers a snack.

Let us write (p. 121)

Paragraph on playtime (sample)

Our Evening Fun. I go out to play at five o'clock every evening. I play with my friends in the park near my house. We play cricket and kho-kho. My favourite game is cricket. By playing together we become fit and learn to share and to cooperate. We finish playing and go home when it starts getting dark.

Let us explore (p. 121)

Indigenous games (sample). Kho-kho, kabaddi, gilli-danda, lagori (seven stones), mallakhamb, and thang-ta of Manipur are some native games of India. In kho-kho, two teams take turns as chasers and defenders. The chasing team sits in a line, and one active chaser tries to touch the defenders while they dodge. Students should learn the full rules from their teacher and play under supervision.

5. Yoga: A Way of Life: summary and deep analysis

"Yoga: A Way of Life" is an informational text that explains what yoga means, who gave it a systematic form, how it benefits the body and mind, and how the WHO mYoga app and International Yoga Day show its global importance.

Summary

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. The word comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to join or to unite, and it stands for the unity of mind and body, thought and action, and harmony between humans and nature. Sage Patanjali presented the tradition in a systematic way in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and described yoga as a means to make the mind quiet and free from all distractions. Yoga is increasingly popular across the world because of its health benefits. The postures (asanas) stretch and strengthen the muscles, increase flexibility, endurance and balance, and reduce body pains such as lower back pain. Breathing techniques and meditation calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and increase concentration. Yoga is also said to boost the immune system, improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and improving circulation, and to help in weight loss by burning calories. The World Health Organization launched the WHO mYoga app on 20 June 2021 as a free and easy-to-use tool of videos and audio files. The text ends by saying that yoga can be started at any time, but the mind has to be with the body, and each stretch should be coordinated with breath and awareness to become a yogic practice. A verse from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika says that asana is described first and should be practised for a steady posture, health and lightness of the body.

Deep analysis

1. Meaning from the word itself. The text begins with the root of the word, "yuj", so that the reader understands the idea of unity before reading about postures. This is a useful way to learn a concept from its origin.
2. Unity at three levels. Yoga joins mind and body, thought and action, and humans and nature. The text suggests that health means balance in all three.
3. Body and mind benefits are linked. The text lists physical benefits (flexibility, endurance, heart health) alongside mental ones (calm, sleep, concentration). It shows that mental well-being and physical fitness support each other.
4. Informational structure. The text moves from definition to history, to benefits (as bullet points), to global recognition and finally to the correct way of practising. A student can use this order to write a paragraph on any topic.
5. Global recognition. The launch of the WHO mYoga app and the United Nations General Assembly's decision on 11 December 2014 to celebrate 21 June as International Yoga Day (as stated in "Let us explore") show that yoga's benefits are accepted worldwide.
6. Practise with awareness. The text warns that doing a posture without the mind present is not enough. It says that each stretch should be coordinated with breath and awareness, so yoga is not only exercise.
7. Link with Unit 4. Sports teach teamwork and fair play, while yoga teaches calm and balance. Both are part of wellness, which is why the unit places them together.

Theme: yoga and well-being. Message: yoga joins body and mind, and regular, mindful practice improves health and calm.

Word meanings from the margin

6. Yoga: A Way of Life: solutions

Let us do these activities before we read (p. 122)

1. What do you know about yoga? (sample). Yoga is a set of exercises, breathing and meditation that keeps the body and mind healthy.
2. 21 June. It is known as International Yoga Day. People do yoga in schools, parks and public places on this day.
3. Words related to yoga (sample). Asana, breath, meditation, calm, balance, posture, flexible, mat.
4. Antakshari (sample chain). yoga, apple, energy, yellow, wellness, strength, healthy, yawn.

Let us discuss (p. 124)

Fill in the blanks. Yoga is a practice that not only improves physical flexibility but also improves mental 1. health and leads to a healthier 2. lifestyle. It involves a series of asanas, which increase muscular 3. strength. Practising yoga also leads to a better body and mind 4. balance and reduces body pain such as the lower back. Moreover, the focus on breathing techniques and meditation makes the mind 5. calm, lessens 6. stress and improves the quality of 7. sleep. This helps to adopt a more positive lifestyle.

Let us think and reflect (p. 124)

1. The aim of yoga is to join and balance the mind and body, to make the mind quiet and free from distractions, and to give overall health and well-being.
2. The idea of unity in yoga comes from the word yuj, meaning to join or unite. It stands for unity of mind and body, thought and action, and harmony between human beings and nature.
3. The launch of the WHO mYoga app shows that yoga is recognised internationally and that the World Health Organization wants people around the world to practise it, which proves its importance.
4. (sample). Regular yoga can make a person calmer and more patient. It improves concentration and reduces anxiety, so the person becomes more focused and positive over time.

Let us learn (p. 125)

1. Practice (noun) or practise (verb)

1. (i) It is important to have a regular practice of stretching every morning to stay flexible.
2. (ii) I practise yoga every day to keep my mind and body healthy.
3. (iii) The teacher said you can join the school hockey team but it requires a lot of practice to improve your skills.
4. (iv) Our athletics coach asked us to practise running on grass to strengthen our grip while running.
5. (v) I practise deep breathing exercises when I feel stressed to calm myself down.
6. (vi) Developing a good habit of eating fruits and vegetables should be a daily practice.

2. Advice and advise (sample). My teacher gave me good advice about sleeping on time. Her advice helped me a lot. The doctor advised me to drink more water. I advise you to do yoga every morning.

II. Words with the letter A, using Y, R, E, N, G, O (sample). yoga, organ, orange, angry, anger, range, near, gear, year, yearn, ago.

Let us listen (p. 126)

Four true statements (transcript on p. 129)

Let us speak (p. 126)

Yoga thoughts (sample). If you have tried yoga: I practise yoga because it keeps me calm. My favourite thing about yoga is the breathing exercise. I feel relaxed after a yoga session because my mind is quiet. The one thing in yoga that I want to practise is the tree pose, because it improves balance. If you have not tried yoga yet: I wish to practise yoga because it will make me fit. I hope that once I begin practising yoga, I will sleep better. The kind of exercise I want to try is breathing exercise, because it helps in calming the mind.

Let us write (p. 127)

The Benefits of Yoga (sample). Yoga is important because it keeps both the body and the mind healthy. One benefit of yoga that interests me is that it improves concentration. Practising yoga can help people reduce stress and sleep better. A popular yoga pose is the tree pose because it improves balance. Yoga is not just physical exercise; it also calms the mind. Finally, yoga can be a great way to stay fit and happy throughout life.

Let us explore (p. 127)

1. Do you know? This part gives information: seals of the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation dating back to 2700 BC suggest that yoga was practised in ancient India, and on 11 December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly, with 193 members, accepted the proposal to celebrate 21 June as International Yoga Day.
2. Two asanas and their benefits (sample). Tadasana (mountain pose): improves posture and balance. Vrikshasana (tree pose): improves balance and concentration. Students may visit the websites given in the textbook, such as the United Nations page on the International Day of Yoga, to learn more. Practise any asana only with a teacher's guidance.

7. Who Am I? solutions (p. 130)

The textbook ends the unit with four riddles.

8. Comparing the three texts and preparing for exams

All three texts of Unit 4 show that wellness comes from enjoyment and balance: Prabhat finds joy when he stops caring only for victory, the children enjoy play until night comes, and yoga joins body and mind. This pattern gives a ready answer for most comparison questions.

Likely exam questions with model answers

1. Why did Prabhat cheat in the badminton match? He was afraid of losing to Surya, who played very well, and could not accept defeat.
2. What did Prabhat realise by observing Surya? He realised that to enjoy a game one does not need a scoreboard or worry about winning or losing, and that what matters is trying to do well and enjoying every moment.
3. What is sporting spirit? Sporting spirit is being fair and respecting each player in a game.
4. Why is the title "Change of Heart" suitable? The story is about the change in Prabhat's attitude from caring only about winning to enjoying the game.
5. How does the poem show that the children are out of breath? The words are placed one below the other, so the reader has to pause as the runner pauses for breath.
6. What is personification in "The Winner"? "Night wins!" gives night a human action, which is called personification.
7. What does the word "yoga" mean? It comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means to join or to unite, and it stands for the unity of mind and body.
8. Short notes: past perfect tense (had + third form of the verb, for the first of two past actions), practice and practise (noun and verb), advice and advise (noun and verb).

Study tips

1. Read each text once for the story or poem and once for the analysis.
2. Learn the word meanings and use each word in a sentence of your own.
3. Write the open-ended answers (Let us speak, Let us write) in your own words, as the samples only show the format.
4. Practise the grammar exercises (past perfect, practice and practise, advice and advise) again without looking at the answers.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Surya in "Change of Heart"?

Surya is a new student at Prabhat's school and an excellent badminton player who plays for the enjoyment of the game, and whose relaxed attitude makes Prabhat change.

Who wrote the poem "The Winner"?

The poem "The Winner" is by Georgia Heard, as credited in the NCERT Class 6 Poorvi textbook.

Which pair was chosen to play chess in the "Let us listen" task?

According to the announcement in the textbook transcript, the chess match was to be played between Sarita and Nupur.