Tucket the Bucket
by Kuzhali Manickavel (Mulberry)
We use trowels, watering cans, buckets and spades in the garden. Circle the odd one out in each row.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Quick answers
1. Choose the right answer.
a. Tucket was sad because
i. he was the gardener's favourite bucket. [ ]
ii. he was shiny and new. [ ]
iii. the gardener did not want him anymore. [✓]
b. Tucket blinked and spluttered because
i. he was sad. [ ]
ii. water from the hose fell on him. [✓]
iii. he had a hole in him. [ ]
c. The girl put Tucket in a cozy spot on the veranda because
i. she wanted to protect the rose from too much wind and rain. [✓]
ii. she wanted the rose to be in the wind and the rain. [ ]
iii. Tucket was too dirty to be taken into the house. [ ]
Reference to context
2. "I should throw that bucket away,' the gardener muttered as he tripped over Tucket."
a. List the action words in these lines.
= The action words in these lines are - should throw, muttered, and tripped over.
b. Why did the gardener want to throw Tucket away?
= The gardener wanted to throw Tucket away because it had a hole at the bottom. It was of no use for him.
c. Where did the gardener toss Tucket?
= The gardener tossed Tucket into the corner of the garden.
3. "The girl took Tucket to the veranda."
a. Where did the girl find Tucket?
= The girl found Tucket in the garden.
b. What did she do before she took Tucket to the veranda?
= She cleaned Tucket with the water of the garden hose before she took it to the veranda.
c. What did she do after she put Tucket in the veranda?
= She filled him with dark brown soil and planted a tiny rose inside it.
4. Describe Tucket when he was a new bucket.
= When Tucket was a new bucket, the gardener used to swing him by his strong handle as he went to fetch water. It was his favourite bucket then.
5. Write two sound words from the story.
= Two sound words are - chattered (the chattering of the squirrels) and chirped (the chirping of the birds).
6. What did Tucket do to show his friends that he was happy?
= Tucket winked and smiled to show his friends that he was happy.
7. Why do you think Tucket is happy at the end of the story?
= I think Tucket is happy at the end of the story because he is now of use. He is not useless anymore. He is not lying on the corner of the garden. He is put on the veranda by the little girl. He is helping the little girl taking care of the baby rose. The girl has planted the baby rose inside Tucket.
About the Author :
Kuzhali Manickavel is an Indian writer. Her first book Insects Are Just Like You And Me Except Some Of Them Have Wings was published in 2008. She has also written short stories, which have been published in magazines.