# Change of Heart

## Overview

The chapter “Change of Heart” follows the story of a boy named Prabhat who is obsessed with winning and hates losing. His perspective changes after playing a match with a cheerful and kind new student named Surya. The story highlights the value of playing games for joy, not just to win, and introduces the concept of sporting spirit. The chapter includes reading comprehension, language usage, vocabulary exercises, writing prompts, and opportunities for reflection and speaking.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Prabhat’s Attitude Towards Games
- Prabhat loved winning and could not handle defeat.
- He avoided playing games where there was a chance he might lose.
- He only participated in games like badminton, where he was confident of winning.

### 2. Entry of Surya
- Surya, a new student, joins the school and is also good at badminton.
- A friendly match is scheduled between Prabhat and Surya.
- Surya is relaxed and playful, unlike Prabhat who is serious and competitive.

### 3. The Match and Cheating
- During the match, Surya focuses more on fun than winning.
- Prabhat takes advantage of Surya’s relaxed attitude and changes the score while Surya isn’t looking.
- Prabhat “wins” the match through dishonest means.
- Surya reacts with kindness, saying he enjoyed the game and would like to play again.

### 4. Change of Heart
- Despite winning, Prabhat doesn’t feel happy.
- He notices Surya playing basketball poorly but with the same cheerful spirit.
- Prabhat begins to observe and learn from Surya’s attitude.
- He realizes that true joy comes from playing wholeheartedly, not just winning.

### 5. Transformation of Prabhat
- Prabhat starts enjoying games without worrying about the outcome.
- He plays hide and seek, jokes while playing badminton, and becomes more fun to play with.
- His classmates notice the change and praise his improved sporting spirit.

### 6. Learning Language through the Story
- Activities included focus on:
- Verbs in past and past perfect tense.
- Noun-verb homophones like “practice” (noun) and “practise” (verb).
- Writing a diary entry from Prabhat’s perspective.
- Using polite words like “please”, “sorry”, and “thank you” in different social situations.

## New Terms and Definitions

| Term | Simple Definition |
|------------------|-------------------|
| opponent | Someone you compete against in a game |
| sporting spirit | Being fair and respectful while playing a game |
| phenomenon | A person with exceptional abilities |
| tally of marks | A record or count of points scored |
| distraction | Something that takes your attention away |
| hopeless | Having no skill or chance of success in something |
| conduct (v) | To organize and carry out an activity |
| on the contrary | Just the opposite |
| anxiety | A feeling of worry or nervousness |
| endurance | Ability to keep going without giving up |

---

## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)
1. **Who did Prabhat play badminton with?**
*Answer*: Prabhat played badminton with Surya.

2. **Why did Prabhat cheat in the match?**
*Answer*: Prabhat cheated because he didn’t want to lose the match.

3. **What surprised Prabhat about Surya after the match?**
*Answer*: Surya was happy and wanted to play again even though he lost.

### Medium (2)
4. **How did Prabhat feel after winning by cheating? Why?**
*Answer*: He felt unhappy because he knew he didn’t win honestly.

5. **What did Prabhat learn from Surya's attitude?**
*Answer*: He learned that enjoying the game is more important than winning or losing.

### Difficult (3)
6. **Explain how Surya’s behaviour influenced a change in Prabhat.**
*Answer*: Surya’s joyful attitude towards playing, regardless of winning or losing, made Prabhat realize the true spirit of sports. Prabhat slowly began playing for fun and became more friendly.

7. **Do you think Prabhat’s initial approach to games was healthy? Why or why not?**
*Answer*: No, because he only played to win and avoided learning from losses, which made him dishonest and unhappy.

8. **What does the story teach us about fairness in competition?**
*Answer*: The story teaches that fairness and enjoyment are more important than just winning. True sportsmanship involves honesty, respect, and fun.

### Very Difficult (2)
9. **How does the story justify the title ‘Change of Heart’?**
*Answer*: The title reflects Prabhat’s emotional transformation—from a win-obsessed boy to someone who values the spirit of the game and enjoys playing for fun.

10. **Why is ‘sporting spirit’ important in real life, beyond games?**
*Answer*: Sporting spirit teaches us to accept wins and losses gracefully, cooperate with others, and maintain fairness, all of which are important in everyday life.

---