Harold : Our Hornbill
by Ruskin Bond (Roots)
Start Here
Look at these pictures of birds. Which of these birds do you like and why? Tell your partner why you like it.
= I like hornbill because of its attractive physical appearance and unique beak.
I like sparrow because of little and cute size and the fugitive nature.
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Read these sentences and put a tick (✓) if they are true and a cross (X) if they are false.
a. Harold had a large body and a small head. [X]
b. Harold lived in the house with his little sister. [X]
c. Harold lived for 12 years. [✓]
d. Harold liked objects that glittered. [✓]
e. Harold would catch tennis balls with his wings. [X]
2. Circle the characters not mentioned in this story.
=
Reference to context
3. In the story, we read about Harold's love for food. From this list of food items, circle the ones that he enjoyed the most.
=
4. "Harold's best friends were those who fed him, and he was willing even to share his food with us, sometimes trying to feed me with his great beak."
a. Who was Harold?
= Harold was author's pet hornbill.
b. Who were his best friends?
= His best friends were those who fed him.
c. What would he try to feed the author?
= He would try to feed the author beetles and similar delicacies.
5. "We always knew when it was going to rain because Harold would start chuckling to himself about an hour before the first raindrops fell."
a. What did Harold do when it rained?
= Harold would start chuckling to himself about an hour before the first raindrops fell.
b. Who in the author's family always got caught in the rain?
= Aunt Ruby always got caught in the rain.
c. When would Harold's chuckle change to an eerie whistle?
= As storm clouds would gather, and gusts of wind would shake the banana trees, Harold would get very excited, and his chuckle would change to an eerie whistle.
6. "The wind would carry the rain into the veranda, and Harold would spread out his wings and dance, tumbling about like a circus clown."
a. How would Harold react when the first drops of rain hit the veranda steps?
= When the first drops of rain hit the veranda steps, Harold would spread out his wings and dance, tumbling about like a circus crown.
b. When would he start roaring with pleasure?
= As the first drops of rain hit the veranda steps, Harold would start roaring with pleasure.
c. Who shared Harold's happiness?
= The author and his grandparents would come out on the veranda and share Harold's happiness.
Reflect and answer
7. How do you think the author and Harold became friends?
= I think the author and Harold became friends by spending time together in various ways. The author used to feed Harold. He occasionally shared a banana with the bird. The author used to throw him the rice balls, and he would catch them in his beak, toss them in the air, and let them drop into his open mouth. The author taught him to catch a tennis ball thrown with some force from a distance of fifteen yards. On one occasion Harold seized a rupee coin from the author and swallowed it neatly. The author also used to enjoy rain with Harold.
8. Does the author sometimes talk about Harold like he is a person? Support your answer with examples from the story.
= Yes, the author sometimes talks about Harold like he is a person.
Eating was a serious business for Harold. If there was any delay, he would summon the author with raucous barks and vigorous bangs of his bill on the woodwork of the kitchen window.
Harold gave much time and thought to his personal appearance. He carried a rough pot on his person and used it very skilfully as an item of his morning toilet.
Harold perfected the trick of catching things. He would have made a great baseball catcher or an excellent slip fielder.
9. What does the author miss about Harold? What does he wish for him?
= Many years later, the author still misses Harold's raucous bark and the banging of his great bill.
The author wishes that if there is a heaven for good hornbills, Harold is getting all the summer showers he could wish for and plenty of tennis balls to catch.
About the Author :
Ruskin Bond (1934-) was born to British parents in Kasauli. He was still a teenager when he was sent to the UK by his mother. He wrote his first novel when he was just 17. The novel became very popular. He decided to come back to India. He has not stopped writing since and has written over 50 books for children.