How Many Crows? (Mulberry)
The outline of a crow is given in a box on the right. Look closely at the bird shapes given below and find four more outlines that match the crow shape.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Quick answers
1. Put a tick (✓) against the events that happen in the story and a cross (X) against those that do not happen.
a. Akbar asked questions because he did not like to learn things. [X]
b. Birbal could answer the most strange and difficult questions. [✓]
c. The courtiers looked afraid because they did not want to tell Akbar how many crows there were in Agra. [X]
d. Birbal was not worried because he had counted the crows and knew the answer. [X]
Reference to context
2. "The courtiers looked at each other in alarm. What were they to do?"
a. Where were the courtiers gathered together?
= The courtiers gathered together in the Emperor Akbar's hall called the Diwan-i-Khas at the fort in Agra.
b. Why did they look at each other in alarm?
= The looked at each other in alarm because they did not know how many crows were there in all of Agra.
c. What animals and birds did the courtiers know about?
= The courtiers knew about the number of elephants, horses and peacocks.
3. "You shall not bluff your way out of this one, Birbal, my friend. We shall have a proper count to see if you are right."
a. What question had Akbar asked his courtiers that day?
= Akbar had asked his courtiers how many crows were there in all of Agra.
b. According to Birbal, how many crows were there in Agra?
= According to Birbal, there were exactly ten thousand, six hundred and sixty-six crows in all of Agra.
c. Did Akbar believe that Birbal had given the right number? Give a reason for your answer.
= Akbar did not believe that Birbal had given the right number of crows present in all of Agra.
Akbar warned Birbal that he should not bluff his way out of that one. The Emperor also informed that he should ask his men to count the number properly to check whether Birbal is true or not.
Read, reflect and write
4. Why did Akbar meet his courtiers and nobles?
= Akbar met his courtiers and nobles to discuss important matters about his empire.
5. What reason did Birbal give for there being more than ten thousand, six hundred and sixty-six crows?
= According to Birbal, if there were more than ten thousand, six hundred and sixty-six crows, it was possible that their friends and relatives from Delhi and elsewhere many had come to pay them a visit.
6. Do you think Birbal was a clever man? Give a reason for your answer.
= Yes, I think Birbal was very clever man. He was ready with the justification of his answer. He justified his answer such a way that Akbar himself could not hold his laughter. He had no option to end the discussion about the exact number of crows in all of Agra.