1. Who Did Patrick's Homework?

Introduction: This story is about a boy named Patrick who hated doing homework. One day, he found his cat playing with a little doll, which turned out to be an elf! The elf promised to grant a wish if Patrick saved him. Patrick asked the elf to do his homework.

Summary

Patrick never did his homework. He liked playing hockey, basketball, and Nintendo instead. His teachers warned him that he wouldn't learn anything. One day, he saved a tiny man (an elf) from his cat. The elf promised to grant Patrick a wish.

Patrick asked the elf to do all his homework till the end of the semester (35 days). The elf agreed but he didn't know Maths, English or History! He needed help all the time. Patrick had to read books, look up words in the dictionary, and guide the elf. Patrick worked harder than ever before.

Finally, the last day of school arrived. The elf left. Patrick got A's in all subjects. His classmates were amazed, his teachers smiled, and his parents wondered what had happened to him. Patrick had developed a whole new attitude. He became a model kid.

Conclusion: Patrick thought the elf did his homework, but in reality, it was Patrick himself who did it!

Character Sketch

Patrick: A lazy boy who hated homework but loved sports. He was kind-hearted (saved the elf). Later, he became hardworking and a model student.
The Elf (Little Man): A tiny supernatural being who wore a wool shirt and a tall hat. He was true to his word but very nagging. He didn't know academic subjects.

Word Meanings

Nintendo: A video game.
Ignoramus: An ignorant person, who lacks education.
Britches: (Old fashioned word) Breeches or short trousers.
Dishcloth: A cloth used for washing dishes.
Hamper: A basket with a lid.
Grimaced: Made an ugly face (showing pain or disgust).
Glitch: A fault in a machine that prevents it from working properly.
Shrieked: Gave a short, high-pitched cry.
Nag: One who troubles someone all the time by complaining.
Kid: A child (informal).
Chores: Work that must be done everyday, often boring.
Slyly: Secretively.

Question 1:

What did Patrick think his cat was playing with? What was it really?

Ans: Patrick thought that his cat was playing with a little doll. But it was really a man of the tiniest size (an elf).

Question 2:

Why did the little man grant Patrick a wish?

Ans: The little man granted Patrick a wish because Patrick had saved him from the cat and did not hand him back to it.

Question 3:

What was Patrick’s wish?

Ans: Patrick wished that the elf should do all his homework till the end of the semester, that is, for 35 days.

Question 4:

In what subjects did the little man need help, to do Patrick’s homework?

Ans: The little man needed help in English, Mathematics and History.

Question 5:

How did Patrick help him?

Ans: Patrick helped him by consulting a dictionary, reading out meanings of words, guiding him in Arithmetic (addition, subtraction, division, fractions) and reading out portions from History books. He sat beside the little man and stayed up nights to help him.

Question 6:

Who do you think did Patrick’s homework — the little man, or Patrick himself? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: It was Patrick himself who did the homework. The little man did not know anything about the subjects. He made Patrick read the books, look up the dictionary and solve the math problems. The elf only wrote what Patrick told him to write.

Grammar Rules & Definitions

1. The Noun

Definition: A Noun is the name of a person, place, animal, or thing.

Proper Noun: Specific name of a person or place (e.g., Patrick, Nintendo). Always starts with a capital letter.
Common Noun: General name for a class of things (e.g., boy, cat, homework).
Abstract Noun: Name of a quality, idea, or state (e.g., luck, mystery, help).

2. The Sentence

Definition: A group of words that makes complete sense is called a Sentence.

Types of Sentences:

Declarative: Makes a statement. (e.g., Patrick played games.)
Interrogative: Asks a question. Ends with '?'. (e.g., Did he do his homework?)
Imperative: Expresses a command or request. (e.g., Look up the word.)
Exclamatory: Expresses strong feeling. Ends with '!'. (e.g., What a surprise!)

3. Verbs and Tenses

Simple Past Tense: Used to talk about actions that happened in the past.

Often formed by adding -ed to the verb.

play → played
look → looked
ask → asked

Irregular Verbs: Do not follow the -ed rule.

do → did
go → went
think → thought

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