The Enormous Turnip – CBSE NCERT Study Resources

Previous Chapter Next Chapter
The Enormous Turnip

Study Materials

3rd

3rd - English (Marigold)

The Enormous Turnip

Jump to Question Sets

Chapter Overview: The Enormous Turnip

This chapter tells the story of an old man who plants a turnip seed, which grows into an enormous turnip. When he tries to pull it out, he realizes it's too big for him to do it alone. He seeks help from his wife, granddaughter, and various animals, teaching the value of teamwork and cooperation.

Key Theme: The importance of teamwork and helping others.

Characters in the Story

  • The Old Man
  • The Old Woman
  • The Granddaughter
  • The Dog
  • The Cat
  • The Mouse

Summary of the Story

An old man plants a turnip seed, and it grows into an enormous turnip. When he tries to pull it out, he cannot do it alone. He calls his wife for help, but even together, they fail. They then ask their granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and finally the mouse to join in. With everyone working together, they successfully pull out the enormous turnip.

Moral: Unity and cooperation can help achieve difficult tasks.

Vocabulary Words

  • Enormous - Very large in size
  • Turnip - A round, white and purple vegetable
  • Pull - To use force to move something toward oneself
  • Granddaughter - The daughter of one's son or daughter

All Question Types with Solutions – CBSE Exam Pattern

Explore a complete set of CBSE-style questions with detailed solutions, categorized by marks and question types. Ideal for exam preparation, revision and practice.

Very Short Answer (1 Mark) – with Solutions (CBSE Pattern)

These are 1-mark questions requiring direct, concise answers. Ideal for quick recall and concept clarity.

Question 1:
Who planted the enormous turnip in the story?
Answer:

The old man planted the enormous turnip.

Question 2:
Why couldn't the old man pull the turnip out alone?
Answer:

The turnip was too big and stuck firmly in the ground, so he needed help.

Question 3:
Who did the old man call first for help?
Answer:

He called the old woman (his wife) first.

Question 4:
Name the animal that joined last to pull the turnip.
Answer:

The mouse joined last to help pull the turnip.

Question 5:
What lesson does the story teach?
Answer:

The story teaches teamwork and how working together helps achieve big tasks.

Question 6:
What sound did the turnip make when it came out?
Answer:

The turnip made a pop sound when it was pulled out.

Question 7:
How did the old man know the turnip was ready to be pulled?
Answer:

He saw its green leaves sticking out of the ground, showing it was fully grown.

Question 8:
What did the family do with the turnip after pulling it?
Answer:

They ate the turnip together, enjoying the fruits of their teamwork.

Question 9:
Why did the old woman hold the old man's waist while pulling?
Answer:

To add more strength and pull the turnip out together.

Question 10:
Which character added the least strength but was still important?
Answer:

The mouse added the least strength, but its help was still crucial for success.

Question 11:
What grew bigger than usual in the story?
Answer:

The enormous turnip grew much bigger than a normal turnip.

Question 12:
How many characters helped pull the turnip in total?
Answer:

Five characters helped: the old man, old woman, granddaughter, dog, cat, and mouse.

Very Short Answer (2 Marks) – with Solutions (CBSE Pattern)

These 2-mark questions test key concepts in a brief format. Answers are expected to be accurate and slightly descriptive.

Question 1:
Who helped the old man pull out the enormous turnip?
Answer:

The old man was helped by his wife, the grandson, the granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and the mouse. They all worked together to pull out the enormous turnip.

Question 2:
Why couldn't the old man pull out the enormous turnip alone?
Answer:

The turnip was too big and strong for the old man to pull out by himself. It needed the combined strength of everyone to finally get it out of the ground.

Question 3:
What lesson does the story The Enormous Turnip teach us?
Answer:

The story teaches us the importance of teamwork and cooperation. When everyone works together, even the biggest challenges can be overcome.

Question 4:
Describe the size of the turnip in the story.
Answer:

The turnip was enormous, meaning it was very large and much bigger than a normal turnip. It was so big that one person couldn't pull it out alone.

Question 5:
Who was the last one to join in pulling the turnip?
Answer:

The mouse was the last one to join. Even though it was small, its help made the difference in pulling out the turnip.

Question 6:
How did the old man feel when he saw the enormous turnip?
Answer:

The old man was surprised and happy to see such a big turnip. He wanted to pull it out to enjoy it with his family.

Question 7:
What did the family do after pulling out the turnip?
Answer:

After pulling out the turnip, the family likely celebrated and enjoyed the turnip together, sharing the fruits of their teamwork.

Question 8:
Why is the story called The Enormous Turnip?
Answer:

The story is named after the enormous turnip because it is the central object that brings everyone together and teaches the value of teamwork.

Question 9:
Who helped the old man pull the enormous turnip?
Answer:

The old man was helped by his wife, the granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and the mouse. Teamwork made it possible to pull the turnip.

Question 10:
Why couldn’t the old man pull the turnip alone?
Answer:

The turnip was too big and heavy for one person. It needed the combined strength of everyone to pull it out.

Question 11:
What lesson does The Enormous Turnip teach us?
Answer:

The story teaches us the importance of teamwork and helping others. Even small contributions can lead to big success.

Question 12:
What did the old man plan to do with the turnip after pulling it?
Answer:

He likely wanted to eat or share it, as turnips are nutritious vegetables. The story shows the reward of hard work.

Question 13:
How did the animals help in pulling the turnip?
Answer:

The dog, cat, and mouse joined the chain of helpers. Each added their strength, showing that every effort counts.

Question 14:
What would have happened if the mouse refused to help?
Answer:

The turnip might not have been pulled out! The story shows that even the smallest help is important for success.

Short Answer (3 Marks) – with Solutions (CBSE Pattern)

These 3-mark questions require brief explanations and help assess understanding and application of concepts.

Question 1:
Why did the old man need help to pull out the enormous turnip?
Answer:

The old man needed help because the enormous turnip was too big and heavy for him to pull out alone.
He tried pulling it himself, but it wouldn’t budge.
This shows that teamwork is important to achieve big tasks.

Question 2:
Name all the characters who helped the old man pull out the enormous turnip.
Answer:

The characters who helped were:
1. The old man
2. The old woman
3. The grandson
4. The dog
5. The cat
6. The mouse.
Together, they formed a team to succeed.

Question 3:
How did the mouse help in pulling out the enormous turnip?
Answer:

The mouse joined the chain of helpers by holding onto the cat.
Even though the mouse was small, its effort added just enough strength to finally pull out the turnip.
This proves that every contribution matters.

Question 4:
Describe how the turnip looked when it was finally pulled out.
Answer:

The turnip was enormous in size, much bigger than usual.
It was so huge that it took the combined effort of six characters to pull it out.
The turnip’s size shows how special and surprising nature can be.

Question 5:
What would have happened if the old man had not asked for help?
Answer:

If the old man had not asked for help, the enormous turnip would have stayed stuck in the ground.
No single person could pull it out alone.
The story highlights that seeking help is a smart way to solve problems.

Question 6:
Name the characters who helped the old man pull the turnip and the order in which they joined.
Answer:

The characters who helped were:
1. The old woman
2. The granddaughter
3. The dog
4. The cat
5. The mouse. They joined one by one, adding their strength until the turnip came out.

Question 7:
How did the mouse contribute to pulling out the turnip?
Answer:

The mouse, though small, added its strength to the chain of helpers. Its tiny pull was the final effort needed to free the turnip, proving every contribution matters.

Question 8:
Describe the size of the turnip in the story using examples from the text.
Answer:

The turnip was enormous—so big that the old man couldn't pull it out alone. It needed the combined strength of five helpers, showing it was larger than ordinary turnips.

Question 9:
What would have happened if the mouse refused to help in pulling the turnip?
Answer:

Without the mouse, the team might have failed. The story shows even the smallest help is crucial. The turnip might have stayed stuck, teaching us not to underestimate anyone's role.

Long Answer (5 Marks) – with Solutions (CBSE Pattern)

These 5-mark questions are descriptive and require detailed, structured answers with proper explanation and examples.

Question 1:
Describe the sequence of events in the story The Enormous Turnip and explain how teamwork helped the characters achieve their goal.
Answer:

The story The Enormous Turnip begins with an old man planting a turnip seed, which grows into an enormous turnip. When he tries to pull it out, he realizes it is too big for him alone. He calls his wife for help, but even together, they cannot pull it out. They then call their granddaughter, followed by the dog, the cat, and finally the mouse. Each time a new character joins, they all pull together, but the turnip still does not budge. Finally, when the tiny mouse joins, their combined effort succeeds, and the turnip comes out.

This story teaches the importance of teamwork. Even though the mouse was the smallest, its contribution made the difference. It shows that everyone, no matter how small, has a role to play in achieving a common goal. The story highlights that success often requires collective effort and that every individual's help is valuable.

Question 2:
Explain the moral of the story The Enormous Turnip and how it applies to real-life situations.
Answer:

The moral of The Enormous Turnip is that unity and teamwork can help overcome even the biggest challenges. In the story, the turnip was so large that no single character could pull it out alone. However, when everyone worked together—including the smallest creature, the mouse—they succeeded. This teaches us that cooperation and including everyone, regardless of their size or strength, leads to success.

In real life, this lesson applies to many situations, such as group projects in school, sports teams, or even helping at home. For example, when students work together on a project, each person's ideas and efforts contribute to a better result. Similarly, in a family, everyone helping with chores makes the work easier and faster. The story reminds us that no task is too big when we work as a team and value every member's contribution.

Question 3:
Describe the teamwork shown by the characters in The Enormous Turnip and explain why it was important for pulling the turnip.
Answer:

In The Enormous Turnip, the characters demonstrate excellent teamwork to achieve a common goal. The old man tries to pull the turnip alone but fails. Then, he calls the old woman, who joins him, but they still cannot pull it out. Next, the granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and even the tiny mouse join one by one. Each new helper adds their strength, and together, they finally succeed.

Teamwork was important because the turnip was enormous and too big for one person to pull out alone. By working together, they combined their efforts, showing that collaboration can solve big problems. This teaches us that even small contributions matter when everyone works as a team.

Question 4:
How does the story The Enormous Turnip teach us the value of persistence and not giving up? Explain with examples from the story.
Answer:

The story The Enormous Turnip teaches us the importance of persistence through the actions of the characters. When the old man fails to pull the turnip alone, he does not give up. Instead, he seeks help from others, showing determination. Even when the old woman, granddaughter, dog, and cat join and still struggle, they keep trying until the tiny mouse helps, and they succeed.

This shows that persistence means not giving up even when things seem difficult. Every small effort counts, and success comes to those who keep trying. The story encourages us to stay patient and keep working toward our goals, just like the characters did.

Question 5:
Describe the sequence of events in the story The Enormous Turnip and explain the moral lesson it teaches.
Answer:

The story The Enormous Turnip begins with an old man planting a turnip seed. The turnip grows so big that he cannot pull it out alone. He calls his wife for help, but even together, they fail. Next, they ask their granddaughter, then the dog, the cat, and finally the mouse to join them. With everyone working together, they successfully pull out the enormous turnip.

The moral lesson of the story is that teamwork and unity can help overcome big challenges. No matter how small or weak someone may seem, everyone's effort counts. The story teaches us that cooperation and persistence lead to success.

Question 6:
How does the story The Enormous Turnip show the importance of helping others? Give examples from the story to support your answer.
Answer:

The story The Enormous Turnip highlights the importance of helping others through the actions of the characters. When the old man cannot pull the turnip alone, he asks his wife for help. When they still cannot do it, they involve their granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and even the tiny mouse. Each character contributes their strength, no matter how small.

  • The wife helps her husband without hesitation.
  • The granddaughter joins in to support her grandparents.
  • The animals, though small, add their effort to the task.

This shows that helping others, regardless of their size or ability, makes a big difference. The story teaches us that kindness and cooperation bring success.

Question 7:
Imagine you are the old man from The Enormous Turnip. Write a short paragraph describing how you felt when you saw the enormous turnip and what you did next.
Answer:

When I first saw the enormous turnip, I felt very surprised and excited. I had never seen such a big turnip before! I thought, 'This turnip will feed my family for weeks!' But when I tried to pull it out, it wouldn't budge. I felt a little worried because I didn't want to lose such a wonderful turnip. So, I called my wife for help. When we still couldn't pull it out, I didn't give up. I kept asking for help from my granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and even the tiny mouse. I learned that asking for help is not a weakness but a smart way to solve problems.

Case-based Questions (4 Marks) – with Solutions (CBSE Pattern)

These 4-mark case-based questions assess analytical skills through real-life scenarios. Answers must be based on the case study provided.

Question 1:
In the story The Enormous Turnip, the old man needed help to pull out the turnip.

Why do you think he couldn't pull it out alone? What does this teach us about teamwork?

Answer:

The old man couldn't pull out the enormous turnip alone because it was too big and firmly stuck in the ground. Teamwork is important because:

  • Some tasks are too difficult for one person.
  • Working together makes the job easier.
  • Everyone's effort counts, just like how the old man, woman, boy, girl, dog, cat, and mouse helped.

This teaches us that cooperation and unity help achieve big goals.

Question 2:
The turnip in the story grew enormous.

What are the things plants need to grow big and healthy? How can we take care of plants in our garden?

Answer:

Plants need the following to grow big and healthy:

  • Sunlight for making food.
  • Water to stay hydrated.
  • Nutrients from the soil.
  • Air (carbon dioxide) for photosynthesis.

To take care of plants in our garden, we should:

  • Water them regularly.
  • Remove weeds around them.
  • Add compost or fertilizer to the soil.
  • Protect them from pests.

Just like the old man cared for the turnip, we must nurture plants with love!

Question 3:
In the end, even the tiny mouse helped pull the turnip.

Why is it important to include everyone, no matter how small they are? Relate this to real-life situations.

Answer:

Including everyone, no matter how small, is important because:

  • Every person (or animal) has unique strengths.
  • Small contributions add up to big success, like the mouse's help made the difference.

In real life:

  • In a group project, every student's idea matters.
  • At home, even small chores by children help the family.

The story teaches us that no effort is too small—everyone counts!

Question 4:
The turnip in the story grew very big.

What are the things plants need to grow healthy and strong? List them and explain briefly.

Answer:

Plants need a few important things to grow healthy and strong:

  • Sunlight - Helps plants make their own food.
  • Water - Keeps the plant hydrated and helps in growth.
  • Soil - Provides nutrients and support to the roots.
  • Air - Plants need carbon dioxide from the air to make food.

In the story, the turnip grew enormous because it got all these things in the right amount!

Question 5:
Imagine you are the little mouse in the story.

How would you feel when everyone thanked you for helping to pull out the turnip? Write a short paragraph explaining your feelings.

Answer:

If I were the little mouse, I would feel very happy and proud because even though I am small, my help made a big difference.
When everyone thanked me, I would realize that no matter how tiny you are, you can still be important.
It would teach me that every effort counts, and helping others is a wonderful feeling.
Just like in the story, the mouse's small strength was the final push needed to pull the enormous turnip out!

Question 6:
In the story The Enormous Turnip, the old man needed help to pull the turnip out.

Why do you think he asked for help instead of pulling it alone? What does this teach us about teamwork?

Answer:

In the story, the enormous turnip was too big for the old man to pull out alone. He asked for help because some tasks are too difficult to do by ourselves. Teamwork makes hard work easier and faster.

This teaches us that:

  • Working together helps us achieve big goals.
  • Everyone has strengths, and combining them leads to success.
  • Asking for help is a smart thing to do when needed.
Question 7:
The turnip in the story grew very big.

What are the things plants need to grow healthy and strong? How is this similar to how we grow?

Answer:

Plants need a few important things to grow big and healthy, just like the enormous turnip:

  • Sunlight – for energy to make food.
  • Water – to stay fresh and help nutrients move.
  • Good soil – to provide minerals and support roots.
  • Air – for breathing (carbon dioxide for leaves).

Similarly, we need:

  • Healthy food for energy.
  • Water to stay hydrated.
  • Exercise and rest to grow strong.
  • Love and care from family, just like plants need care.
Question 8:
At the end of the story, everyone enjoys the turnip together.

Why is sharing important? How does it make people feel?

Answer:

Sharing is important because:

  • It shows kindness and makes others happy.
  • It brings people closer, just like the family and animals in the story.
  • Everyone gets to enjoy something good together.

Sharing makes people feel:

  • Loved – when we share, we show we care.
  • Thankful – the person receiving feels grateful.
  • Joyful – happiness grows when shared, like the big turnip meal!
Question 9:
In the story The Enormous Turnip, the old man needed help to pull the turnip out.

Why do you think he couldn't pull it out alone? What does this teach us about teamwork?

Answer:

The old man couldn't pull the enormous turnip alone because it was too big and heavy for one person. Teamwork is important because when people work together, they can achieve things that are impossible alone. In the story, even the little mouse helped, showing that every effort counts!

Question 10:
The story The Enormous Turnip shows how different characters helped each other.

List the characters in the order they joined to pull the turnip. What would have happened if the mouse refused to help?

Answer:

The characters joined in this order:
1. The old man
2. The old woman
3. The granddaughter
4. The dog
5. The cat
6. The mouse

If the mouse refused to help, they might not have pulled the turnip out! Even small help is important in teamwork.

Question 11:
In The Enormous Turnip, the turnip was so big that everyone had to work together.

Can you think of a real-life situation where people need to work as a team like in the story? Explain with an example.

Answer:

Yes! For example, in a school project, if students work together, they can finish faster and better. One student can research, another can write, and another can draw pictures. Just like in the story, teamwork makes big tasks easier!

Chat on WhatsApp