CBSE Class 4 English Marigold – The Giving Tree – CBSE NCERT Study Resources
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.
The author of The Giving Tree is Shel Silverstein. He was a famous American poet, songwriter, and children's author.
The boy first asked the tree for its apples to sell and get money.
The tree felt happy because it loved the boy and wanted to make him happy by giving him what he needed.
The boy made a house from the tree's branches to live in.
The tree gave its trunk to the boy to make a boat when he wanted to sail away.
At the end, only the tree's stump was left, which the old boy used to sit and rest.
The main theme is selfless love and sacrifice. The tree keeps giving to the boy without expecting anything in return.
As the boy grew older, his needs changed from wanting apples and branches to needing a boat and finally just a place to rest.
The tree is called 'The Giving Tree' because it keeps giving everything it has to make the boy happy throughout his life.
The tree showed its love by giving the boy its apples, branches, trunk, and finally its stump to make him happy at every stage of his life.
When the boy became old, he returned to the tree and sat on its stump to rest, showing that he still needed the tree's love.
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.
The boy asked the tree for its leaves to make a crown and play. He also asked for its branches to swing and climb.
The tree felt happy because it loved the boy unconditionally. Giving its apples made the boy happy, and the tree found joy in his happiness.
The boy used the tree's trunk to build a boat so he could sail away and explore the world.
The tree offered its stump as a place for the old man to sit and rest, showing its endless love and care.
- Apples to sell and earn money
- Branches to build a house
The story is called The Giving Tree because the tree keeps giving everything it has to the boy throughout his life, showing selfless love.
The story teaches us about selflessness and unconditional love. It also reminds us to appreciate and care for those who give so much to us.
As the boy grew older, his needs changed from playing (leaves, branches) to earning money (apples), building a house (branches), and finally seeking peace (stump).
The boy took the leaves to make a crown, apples to sell, and branches to build a house when he was young.
The tree felt happy because it could still help the boy by providing its trunk to make a boat, showing its selfless love.
When the boy became old, he returned to the tree to rest on its stump, as he no longer needed anything else.
The tree helped the boy by giving:
- Apples to sell
- Branches to build a house
- Trunk to make a boat
- Stump to sit and rest
The tree felt lonely because the boy stayed away for long periods, only returning when he needed something.
In the end, only the stump of the tree remained, which the old boy used to sit and rest.
The boy showed his gratitude by returning to the tree in his old age and resting on its stump, showing he still valued its presence.
Short Answer (3 Marks) – with Solutions (CBSE Pattern)
These 3-mark questions require brief explanations and help assess understanding and application of concepts.
The boy kept coming back to the Giving Tree because he needed something from it at each stage of his life.
As a child, he played with the tree and ate its apples.
When he grew older, he took its branches to build a house and its trunk to make a boat.
The tree always gave him what he needed, showing unconditional love and selflessness.
The Giving Tree showed its love by giving the boy everything it had.
It gave him its apples to eat, branches to build a house, and its trunk to make a boat.
Even when it had nothing left but a stump, it still offered a place for the boy to sit and rest.
This teaches us about true friendship and sacrifice.
The story teaches us that true relationships are built on giving and care.
The tree gave everything to the boy without expecting anything in return.
It also shows that sometimes people take others for granted, like the boy did with the tree.
We should appreciate and care for those who love us unconditionally.
By the end of the story, the Giving Tree was just a stump.
First, the boy took all its apples to sell.
Then, he cut its branches to build a house.
Later, he cut its trunk to make a boat.
Finally, only the stump remained, showing how much the tree had given up for the boy.
The boy might not have thanked the tree because he was too focused on his own needs.
He didn’t realize how much the tree was sacrificing for him.
This shows that sometimes people forget to be grateful for the love and help they receive.
It reminds us to always appreciate those who care for us.
If I were the Giving Tree, I would have helped the boy but also taught him to be responsible.
Giving everything without limits can make people dependent.
Instead, I would have shared some apples and branches but encouraged him to find other ways to solve his problems.
This way, both the tree and the boy could grow together.
The main theme of The Giving Tree is selfless love and sacrifice. The tree gives everything it has—its apples, branches, and trunk—to make the boy happy, showing unconditional love. It teaches us about generosity and how true happiness comes from giving without expecting anything in return.
The tree shows its love by giving the boy everything he asks for:
- Its apples to sell for money.
- Its branches to build a house.
- Its trunk to make a boat.
The boy keeps returning to the tree because it is his source of comfort and support. As he grows older, he faces challenges, and the tree always helps him. The tree represents a safe place where he feels loved and accepted no matter what.
The story teaches that true relationships are built on selflessness and care. The tree never asks for anything in return, showing pure love. It reminds us to appreciate those who give unconditionally and to be kind in our own relationships.
Although the tree is left as just a stump, it feels happy because it helped the boy. The story shows that real love means putting others' happiness first, even if it means losing a part of yourself.
The boy could have:
- Thanked the tree for its gifts.
- Visited the tree more often just to spend time with it.
- Planted new seeds to grow more trees as a way of giving back.
The story teaches us that nature gives us everything we need, but we should not take it for granted. The boy keeps taking from the tree until it has almost nothing left, showing how overuse can harm nature. It reminds us to be grateful and responsible while using natural resources.
At first, the boy and the tree have a playful and loving relationship where they enjoy each other's company. As the boy grows older, he becomes more selfish, only visiting the tree when he needs something. The tree, however, remains loyal and giving till the end, showing how love can stay strong even when one side takes more than it gives.
If I were the boy, I would:
- Say thank you every time the tree helped me.
- Visit the tree often, not just when I needed something.
- Take care of the tree by watering it and protecting it from harm.
- Plant new trees to give back to nature, just like the tree gave to me.
Long Answer (5 Marks) – with Solutions (CBSE Pattern)
These 5-mark questions are descriptive and require detailed, structured answers with proper explanation and examples.
The relationship between the boy and the Giving Tree evolves from pure joy to selfless sacrifice. In the beginning, the boy plays happily with the tree, climbing its trunk, swinging from its branches, and eating its apples. The tree is happy to provide love and companionship.
As the boy grows older, his needs change. The tree continues to give without expecting anything in return:
- It offers its apples for the boy to sell.
- It gives its branches for the boy to build a house.
- It sacrifices its trunk so the boy can make a boat.
The story The Giving Tree teaches us that kindness and selflessness bring true joy, even if they come at a personal cost. The tree never hesitates to help the boy, no matter how much it has to give up:
- When the boy needs money, the tree suggests he takes its apples to sell.
- When the boy wants a house, the tree offers its branches.
- When the boy desires adventure, the tree gives its trunk to build a boat.
Despite becoming just a stump, the tree is happy to provide shade and rest for the old boy. The story shows that giving without expecting anything in return is the purest form of love. It also reminds us to appreciate and care for those who give so much to us.
The relationship between the boy and the Giving Tree is one of unconditional love and selflessness. The tree acts like a parent or a best friend, always giving without expecting anything in return.
The tree shows its love in many ways:
- It provides shade and a place to play when the boy is young.
- It gives its apples for the boy to sell when he needs money.
- It offers its branches for the boy to build a house when he grows older.
- Finally, it even gives its trunk to make a boat when the boy wants to sail away.
Throughout the story, the tree's love is selfless and enduring, showing that true happiness comes from giving. The boy, however, takes everything without realizing the tree's sacrifices until the end, when he returns as an old man.
The moral lesson of The Giving Tree is about selflessness, gratitude, and the importance of giving without expecting anything in return. The tree represents pure love and sacrifice, while the boy represents human nature, which often takes without appreciating.
Examples from the story:
- The tree gives its apples, branches, and trunk to the boy without hesitation, showing unconditional love.
- The boy, however, keeps taking without thanking the tree or understanding its pain.
- In the end, the tree is left as just a stump, yet it still feels happy to help the boy, teaching us that true happiness lies in giving.
This story reminds us to be grateful for what others do for us and to value relationships over material things. It also teaches that nature gives us everything, and we should protect it instead of exploiting it.
The story The Giving Tree teaches us that true kindness and sacrifice come from selfless love. The tree gives everything it has to make the boy happy, even when it means losing parts of itself.
Here are some examples:
- When the boy is young, the tree gives him shade and a place to play, showing simple kindness.
- Later, it gives its apples so the boy can sell them and earn money, sacrificing its fruit.
- When the boy needs a house, the tree offers its branches, even though it will no longer look beautiful.
- Finally, it gives its trunk so the boy can build a boat, leaving the tree as just a stump.
The story The Giving Tree teaches us that true love and happiness come from giving selflessly, not just taking. The tree gives everything it has to the boy without asking for anything in return, showing the value of generosity.
- When the boy is young, the tree gives him shade, apples, and a place to play.
- As the boy grows, the tree gives its apples for money, branches for a house, and trunk for a boat.
- Even when the tree is just a stump, it still offers the boy a place to rest.
On the other hand, the boy mostly takes from the tree without giving back. This shows that taking without gratitude can leave others with nothing. The story reminds us to appreciate and care for those who give us love and support.
The moral lesson of The Giving Tree is about selflessness and gratitude. The tree represents someone who gives endlessly without expecting anything back, while the boy represents someone who takes without always appreciating the sacrifice.
The story teaches us:
- Selflessness: The tree keeps giving everything it has—its apples, branches, trunk—just to make the boy happy. This shows pure, unconditional love.
- Gratitude: The boy, however, rarely says thank you or realizes the tree's sacrifices until the end. The story reminds us to appreciate those who care for us.
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.
'Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy.'
Based on this, describe how the tree shows her love for the boy in the story. Use examples from the chapter.The tree shows her love for the boy in many ways throughout the story. Here are some examples:
- She lets the boy climb her trunk and swing from her branches when he is young, giving him joy.
- She offers her apples for him to sell when he needs money, showing selflessness.
- Later, she gives her branches so he can build a house, proving her care for his needs.
- Finally, she even lets him cut her trunk to make a boat, sacrificing herself for his happiness.
The tree's love is unconditional, as she keeps giving without expecting anything in return.
The boy's attitude changes as follows:
- As a child, he plays happily with the tree, showing pure love and joy.
- When he grows older, he starts asking for things (like apples, branches, and trunk) to fulfill his needs, becoming more selfish.
- In the end, as an old man, he only wants a quiet place to sit, and the tree (now a stump) still provides.
This shows how the boy shifts from innocent playfulness to taking the tree for granted, but the tree's love remains unchanged.
The story teaches us about selfless love and giving without expectations. Here’s how it applies to real life:
- The tree represents unconditional love, like parents or friends who always support us.
- The boy reminds us not to take people for granted or only think of our own needs.
- We should appreciate and care for those who love us, instead of just asking for help.
In real life, we must learn to give back and value relationships, just like the tree’s endless kindness.
How does the tree feel about giving everything to the boy? Support your answer with examples from the story.
The tree feels happy and fulfilled by giving everything to the boy, even when it has nothing left.
For example, when the boy takes its apples, branches, and trunk, the tree says, 'Take my apples, boy, and sell them' or 'Cut down my trunk and make a boat'.
The tree never complains and always wants the boy to be happy.
In the end, when the tree is just a stump, it still feels joy because the old boy (now a man) sits on it to rest.
The boy in The Giving Tree grows older and his needs change.
List three things the boy asks from the tree at different stages of his life and explain why he needs them.
The boy asks for different things as he grows:
- Apples - As a child, he wants them to sell and get money.
- Branches - As a teenager, he needs them to build a house for his family.
- Trunk - As an adult, he cuts it to make a boat and sail away.
This shows how his needs change from fun to responsibility and adventure.
At the end of The Giving Tree, the old man sits on the tree stump.
What lesson does this teach us about love and giving?
The story teaches that true love means giving without expecting anything in return.
The tree gives everything selflessly, just to make the boy happy.
Even when the tree is just a stump, it still provides comfort by letting the old man sit on it.
This shows that real happiness comes from caring for others, not from keeping things for ourselves.
How does the tree feel about giving everything to the boy? Support your answer with examples from the story.
The tree in The Giving Tree feels happy and fulfilled whenever it gives something to the boy, even though it loses parts of itself. For example:
- When the boy takes its apples to sell, the tree is happy because it helps him earn money.
- When the boy cuts its branches to build a house, the tree is glad to provide shelter.
- When the boy uses its trunk to make a boat, the tree feels joy despite being left as a stump.
The tree's love is unconditional, showing that true happiness comes from giving selflessly.
Compare how the boy's needs change from childhood to old age. What does this tell us about growing up?
The boy's needs change as follows:
- Childhood: He plays around the tree, eats its apples, and enjoys its shade—simple joys.
- Teenage/Adulthood: He asks for money (apples), a house (branches), and a boat (trunk)—material needs.
- Old Age: He only needs a quiet place to sit (the stump), showing he values rest and companionship.
This teaches us that as people grow up, their priorities shift from playfulness to responsibilities, and finally to peace. The story reminds us to appreciate simple happiness.
Do you think the boy was selfish or grateful? Explain with reasons from the story.
The boy's actions show he was selfish because:
- He only visits the tree when he needs something, not to spend time with it.
- He takes everything the tree offers without thinking about its sacrifices.
- He doesn’t say thank you or show appreciation until the very end.
However, in his old age, he realizes the tree’s love and sits quietly with it, showing a hint of gratitude. The story teaches us to value and respect those who care for us.
'Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy.'
Based on this, explain in your own words what the tree's feelings were towards the boy and how it shows the theme of unconditional love.The tree in the story The Giving Tree shows deep affection for the boy right from the beginning. The phrase 'she loved a little boy' tells us that the tree cared for the boy like a parent or a close friend. The tree's love is unconditional, meaning she gives everything to the boy without expecting anything in return.
For example, the tree gives the boy her apples, branches, and even her trunk just to make him happy. This teaches us that true love means giving selflessly and being happy when the other person is happy. The tree never complains, showing that real love has no limits.
The tree helps the boy in different ways as he grows older:
- As a child, she gives him apples to eat and shade to rest under.
- As a teenager, she lets him cut her branches to build a house.
- As an adult, she offers her trunk to make a boat when he wants to sail away.
- Finally, as an old man, she provides a stump for him to sit and rest.
This shows that nature (the tree) always supports humans (the boy) at every stage of life. However, the boy keeps taking without giving back, which teaches us that we should also care for nature and not just use it selfishly.
The ending shows that even when the tree has nothing left to give (just a stump), she still makes the old man happy by being a place for him to sit. This teaches us two important lessons:
- Happiness comes from simple things - The old man doesn't need big gifts anymore, just a quiet place to rest.
- True giving never ends - The tree keeps giving in whatever way she can, proving that love and kindness don't stop even when we have very little left.
The story reminds us that giving makes both the giver and receiver happy, and we should appreciate what others do for us.
Describe how the tree's feelings change each time the boy visits, using examples from the story.
In The Giving Tree, the tree's feelings evolve as the boy grows older.
First visit (childhood): The tree is happy and loves playing with the boy, swinging and resting in its shade.
Second visit (teenager): The tree feels lonely when the boy wants money and takes its apples to sell.
Third visit (adulthood): The tree is sad but willing to help as the boy cuts its branches to build a house.
Final visit (old age): The tree is content even as a stump, providing a resting place for the now-elderly boy.
The tree's unconditional love remains, but its emotions reflect the boy's changing needs.
The tree in The Giving Tree gives everything it has to the boy.
Do you think the boy was selfish or just unaware of the tree's sacrifices? Support your answer with story details.
The boy was likely unaware of the tree's sacrifices rather than purely selfish.
- As a child, he enjoyed the tree's company without realizing its feelings.
- As an adult, he was focused on his needs (money, house, boat) but didn't intentionally hurt the tree.
- In the end, the boy returns to the stump, showing he valued the tree's love.
The story teaches about gratitude—the boy might have acted differently if he understood the tree's perspective earlier.
Imagine the tree could speak to the boy during his final visit.
Write a short dialogue (4-6 lines) showing what the tree might say to express its feelings after giving so much.
Tree: "I’m glad you’re back, old friend. Even as a stump, I can still give you shade."
Boy: "I don’t need anything now—just rest."
Tree: "Take it. My branches, apples, and trunk are gone, but my love isn’t."
Boy: "Thank you for everything."
This dialogue shows the tree’s selflessness and the boy’s late realization of its sacrifices.
The tree in The Giving Tree feels happy to give everything to the boy, even though it keeps losing parts of itself. For example:
- When the boy takes its apples to sell, the tree is happy because it helps the boy earn money.
- When the boy cuts its branches to build a house, the tree is still happy because it provides shelter.
- Even when the tree is just a stump, it feels joy when the old boy sits on it to rest.
The tree's love is selfless, showing that true happiness comes from giving without expecting anything in return.
Dear Tree,
Thank you for giving me your apples, branches, and even your trunk when I needed them. I now realize how much you sacrificed just to make me happy. You never asked for anything in return, and your love was always unconditional. Even though I took so much, you still welcomed me as an old man to rest on your stump. You are the kindest friend I could ever have.
With love,
The Boy
No, the boy was not entirely fair to the tree because:
- He kept taking without thinking about the tree's feelings or needs.
- He did not thank the tree properly or show gratitude until he was very old.
- He never gave anything back, like planting a new tree or taking care of it.
However, the tree never complained because its love was pure. A better friendship would have involved sharing and caring from both sides.
What does this behavior tell us about the boy's relationship with the tree? Support your answer with examples from the story.
The boy's behavior shows that he sees the tree as a constant source of support throughout his life.
1. As a child, he plays with the tree, showing innocent friendship.
2. As a teenager, he takes the tree's apples to sell, showing dependence.
3. As an adult, he cuts the branches and trunk, showing taking without giving back.
4. In old age, he returns just to sit on the stump, showing nostalgia.
The tree's unconditional love contrasts with the boy's changing needs, teaching us about selflessness and gratitude.
Do you think the tree was happy in the end? Give reasons for your answer based on the story.
Yes, the tree was happy in the end because:
1. The tree loved the boy unconditionally and found joy in helping him.
2. Even as a stump, it was useful when the old boy sat on it to rest.
3. The tree's words, 'I am just an old stump... but come and sit down... and be happy', show its contentment.
The story teaches that true happiness comes from giving, not keeping things for oneself.
Write a short dialogue (4-6 lines) between the boy and the tree, showing his regret and the tree's response.
Boy: 'Dear Tree, I’m sorry I took all your apples, branches, and trunk without ever thanking you.'
Tree: 'I gave them gladly because I love you.'
Boy: 'But I was selfish. Can you ever forgive me?'
Tree: 'There’s nothing to forgive. My love for you will never change.'
This dialogue shows the boy's regret and the tree's unconditional love, a key lesson in the story.