Shiv was sitting on his study table and was staring at his books. His sister, Sanya, noticed him and asked, “What’s wrong, Shiv?”
शिव अपनी स्टडी टेबल पर बैठा हुआ अपनी किताबों को घूर रहा था। उसकी बहन सान्या ने उसे देखा और पूछा, “क्या हुआ शिव?”
Shiv sighed, “My exams are next week, Sanya. I feel so anxious! What if I forget everything? What if I fail?”
शिव ने आह भरते हुए कहा, “अगले सप्ताह मेरी परीक्षाएं हैं, सान्या। मुझे बहुत चिंता हो रही है! क्या होगा अगर मैं सब कुछ भूल गया? क्या होगा अगर मैं फेल हो गया?”
Sanya chuckled, trying to cheer him up, “No way, Shiv! You always do well, and you will do well this time too.” Shiv gave her a weak smile, but the nervous feeling in his stomach didn’t go away.
सान्या ने उसे खुश करने की कोशिश करते हुए हंसते हुए कहा, “नहीं, शिव! तुम हमेशा अच्छा करते हो, और इस बार भी अच्छा करोगे।” शिव ने उसे एक हल्की मुस्कान दी, लेकिन उसके पेट में घबराहट की भावना दूर नहीं हुई।
The next day at school, Shiv’s teacher, Mr Richard, noticed him looking distracted in the class. During lunch, Mr Richard approached him. “Shiv, you look a bit tense. Is everything okay?” Shiv hesitated but then shared his worries, “I have exams next week, sir, and I feel so nervous. I’m scared I won’t remember everything, and everyone expects me to do well.”
अगले दिन स्कूल में, शिव के शिक्षक, श्री रिचर्ड ने देखा कि वह कक्षा में विचलित दिख रहा था। दोपहर के भोजन के दौरान, श्री रिचर्ड उसके पास आए। “शिव, तुम थोड़े तनाव में दिख रहे हो। क्या सब ठीक है?” शिव ने झिझकते हुए, लेकिन फिर अपनी चिंताएँ साझा कीं, “अगले सप्ताह मेरी परीक्षाएँ हैं, सर, और मैं बहुत घबराया हुआ हूँ। मुझे डर है कि मैं सब कुछ याद नहीं रख पाऊँगा, और हर कोई मुझसे अच्छे प्रदर्शन की उम्मीद करता है।”
Mr Richard nodded thoughtfully. “Exams can certainly bring anxiety, Shiv, but remember, being nervous is normal. Let me share something with you: success is not only about studying hard but also about being diligent and organised.”
श्री रिचर्ड ने सोच-समझकर सिर हिलाया। “शिव, परीक्षाएँ निश्चित रूप से चिंता ला सकती हैं, लेकिन याद रखें, घबराहट होना सामान्य है। मैं आपसे कुछ साझा करना चाहता हूँ: सफलता केवल कड़ी मेहनत से पढ़ाई करने से नहीं बल्कि मेहनती और संगठित होने से भी मिलती है।”
“What do you mean, sir?” Shiv asked, sounding curious.
“आपका क्या मतलब है, सर?” शिव ने उत्सुकता से पूछा।
Mr Richard smiled. “Instead of focusing on everything at once, try organising your study time. Make a simple plan, reviewing a few topics each day. By breaking it into steps, your anxiety will lessen, and you will feel more confident.”
श्री रिचर्ड मुस्कुराए। “सब कुछ एक साथ करने के बजाय, अपने अध्ययन के समय को व्यवस्थित करने का प्रयास करें। एक सरल योजना बनाएं, हर दिन कुछ विषयों की समीक्षा करें। इसे चरणों में विभाजित करने से आपकी चिंता कम हो जाएगी, और आप अधिक आत्मविश्वास महसूस करेंगे।”
Shiv thought about this, and Mr Richard’s words started to make him feel a bit calmer.
शिव ने इस बारे में सोचा, और मिस्टर रिचर्ड के शब्दों से उसे थोड़ा शांति महसूस होने लगी।
For the next few days, Shiv followed Mr Richard’s advice.
अगले कुछ दिनों तक शिव ने मिस्टर रिचर्ड की सलाह का पालन किया।
He organised his study schedule, reviewing a few pages at a time.
उन्होंने अपना अध्ययन कार्यक्रम व्यवस्थित किया और एक बार में कुछ पृष्ठों की समीक्षा की।
Each small step made him feel more in control, and his confidence began to grow.
प्रत्येक छोटे कदम से उसे अधिक नियंत्रण का अहसास होने लगा और उसका आत्मविश्वास बढ़ने लगा।
Shiv felt a newfound confidence when he finished his preparation for exams. He felt grateful for the advice that had helped him stay calm and focused.
शिव ने परीक्षा की तैयारी पूरी करने के बाद एक नया आत्मविश्वास महसूस किया। वह उस सलाह के लिए आभारी था जिसने उसे शांत और केंद्रित रहने में मदद की थी।
He realised that diligence, working steadily every day, was helping him overcome his fear.
उन्होंने महसूस किया कि प्रतिदिन लगन और लगातार काम करने से उन्हें अपने डर पर काबू पाने में मदद मिल रही है।
On the day of his first exam, Shiv felt much calmer.
अपनी पहली परीक्षा के दिन शिव को बहुत शांति महसूस हुई।
He took a deep breath, remembered Mr Richard’s advice, and wrote his exam with ease.
उसने गहरी सांस ली, मिस्टर रिचर्ड की सलाह को याद किया और आसानी से अपनी परीक्षा दी।
When he returned home that evening, he felt relieved. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought!” he told Sanya. “Creating a study plan really helped.”
उस शाम जब वह घर लौटा, तो उसे राहत महसूस हुई। “यह उतना बुरा नहीं था जितना मैंने सोचा था!” उसने सान्या से कहा। “एक अध्ययन योजना बनाने से वास्तव में मदद मिली।”
A week later, Shiv was thrilled when he received his exam results. Not only had he done well, but he had also exceeded his own expectations.
एक हफ़्ते बाद शिव को जब अपना परीक्षा परिणाम मिला तो वह बहुत खुश हुआ। उसने न सिर्फ़ अच्छा प्रदर्शन किया था, बल्कि अपनी उम्मीदों से भी बढ़कर प्रदर्शन किया था।
Shiv’s accomplishment taught him something important that week: anxiety can feel big, but it shrinks when you take small, organised steps.
शिव की उपलब्धि ने उन्हें उस सप्ताह एक महत्वपूर्ण बात सिखाई: चिंता बड़ी लग सकती है, लेकिन जब आप छोटे, व्यवस्थित कदम उठाते हैं तो यह कम हो जाती है।
| Moral of the Storyकहानी की नीति |
| Shiv learned that managing anxiety through small, organised steps helped him feel confident and calm. The story shows that when we approach challenges with a steady. organised mindset, we can overcome our worries.शिव ने सीखा कि छोटे-छोटे, संगठित कदमों के ज़रिए चिंता को नियंत्रित करने से उन्हें आत्मविश्वास और शांति महसूस करने में मदद मिली। कहानी दिखाती है कि जब हम चुनौतियों का सामना स्थिर और संगठित मानसिकता के साथ करते हैं, तो हम अपनी चिंताओं पर काबू पा सकते हैं। |
Worksheet Activities
1. Build your vocabulary:
Below are words from the story with their meanings. Find and circle them in the story:
| a. Anxious | Feeling worried or nervous about something |
| b. Chuckled | A quiet, light laugh |
| c. Diligent | Working continuously |
| d. Steadily | Moving at a consistent speed |
| e. Accomplishment | Something achieved with effort and hard work |
Now, use these words in sentences of your own:
a. Anxious – I felt anxious before my first stage performance.
b. Chuckled – Grandpa chuckled when I told him a funny joke.
c. Diligent – She is a diligent student who always completes her homework on time.
d. Steadily – The tortoise moved steadily and won the race.
e. Accomplishment – Winning the painting competition was my greatest accomplishment.
2. Tick (✓) the correct answers:
a. Why was Shiv feeling anxious at the beginning of the story?
i. He had too much homework
ii. He was worried about his upcoming exams ✓
iii. He wanted to play instead of study
b. What advice did Mr Richard give to Shiv?
i. To study everything in one go
ii. To organise his study time ✓
iii. To ignore his nervousness
c. What did Shiv learn from creating a study plan?
i. That he didn’t have to study much
ii. That it helped him feel calm and prepared ✓
iii. That exams are not important
d. How did Shiv feel after his exams were over?
i. Relieved and proud ✓
il. Anxious
iii. Tired and disappointed
3. Reference to context:
1. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought!”
a. What event is Shiv referring to?
Answer: Shiv is referring to his experience of giving his exam.
b. How did creating a study plan affect Shiv’s experience of the exam?
Answer: Creating a study plan helped Shiv feel calm, confident, and prepared for the exam.
2. “Instead of focusing on everything at once, try organising your study time. Make a simple plan, reviewing a few topics each day.”
a. Who gave Shiv this advice, and why?
Answer: Mr Richard gave Shiv this advice because he noticed Shiv was anxious about his upcoming exams.
b. How did Shiv react after hearing this advice?
Answer: Shiv followed the advice, created a study schedule, and gradually gained confidence.
3. “What if I forget everything? What if I fail?”
a. Who is feeling worried, and what is he worried about?
Answer: Shiv is feeling worried about forgetting what he studied and failing in the exams.
b. How did Sanya respond to the speaker’s worries?
Answer: Sanya encouraged him by saying he always does well and would do well this time too.
4. Fill in the blanks with the help of the clue box:
| Clue Box | organised | steadily | accomplishment | anxious | diligent |
a. Shiv felt anxious about his exams at first.
b. Mr Richard advised Shiv to be diligent with his study schedule.
c. Shiv realised that working steadily every day helped him overcome his fear of exams.
d. By studying daily, Shiv realised the value of being organised.
e. Receiving good marks gave Shiv a feeling of accomplishment.
5. Long answer type questions:
a. How did Mr Richard’s advice help Shiv overcome his anxiety about exams?
Answer: Mr Richard’s advice helped Shiv understand that anxiety is normal and can be managed by organising study time into smaller parts. By following this plan, Shiv gradually felt more confident, studied effectively, and overcame his fear.
b. Why is being diligent and organised important when we face a challenging task like exams?
Answer: Being diligent ensures steady effort, and being organised helps manage time and tasks efficiently. Together, they reduce stress, improve preparation, and increase the chances of success in challenging situations like exams.
6. Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS):
What might have happened if Shiv remained nervous about his exams until the day of the exam?
Answer: If Shiv had remained nervous, he might have been unable to concentrate, forgotten what he had studied, and underperformed in the exams. His fear could have overwhelmed his confidence and affected his results.
7. Write T for true and F for false:
a. Shiv felt relaxed about his exams after following Mr Richard’s advice. [T]
b. Sanya tried to cheer Shiv up. [T]
c. Mr Richard noticed that Shiv was focused in class. [F]
d. Shiv created his study plan after talking with Mr Richard. [T]
e. Shiv was anxious before giving his exam. [T]
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