The Chair | CBSE Class 6 English Notes

This note covers the story of Mario, his grandfather and the invisible chair: a part-by-part summary, the characters, why the chair is special, how Mario reacts to failure, the contrast between his friends, the themes, the language activities, answers to the questions, the activities, and exam-style questions.

What is this story about?

Overview of the Story

This is a story in which a grandfather helps his grandson, Mario, to distinguish between real and superficial friends.

Mario is a boy who loves to have many friends. He often boasts about his many schoolmates and how friendly he is with everyone.

The Meaning of the Title

The title refers to a very special chair that the grandfather keeps in the attic. This object is used as a tool for a unique test.

Because the chair is invisible, it is rather tricky to sit on. It serves as a way to reveal the true nature of Mario's companions.

Through this magic chair test, Mario learns that true friends are those who care for us. He discovers that a real friend is not someone who takes joy in our bad luck.

Ultimately, the chair helps Mario identify his buddies, such as Guneet, Asma, and Deepa, who support him when he falls. It distinguishes those who care from those who merely make fun of him.

What happens in the story, part by part?

The Bet

Mario is a boy who loves having many friends. He often showed off by talking about his many schoolmates and how friendly he was with everyone.

His grandfather challenges him to a bet involving fruit chaat. He claims Mario does not have as many friends as he thinks, suggesting many are merely companions or partners.

Mario accepts the bet readily. To test his schoolmates, he asks his grandfather for help to determine if they are real friends.

The Invisible Chair

The grandfather goes to the attic to retrieve something. He returns with an invisible chair that is described as being “rather tricky to sit on it.”

The grandfather explains that if Mario takes the chair to school and manages to sit on it, the magic will work. This will reveal his true friends.

Mario, being brave and determined, takes the strange chair to school. During break time, he asks his classmates to form a circle with him in the middle.

The Test at School

Mario attempts to sit on the chair, but because it is hard to see, he misses and falls onto his backside. His classmates laugh at him.

He tries again, calling it a “slight technical problem,” but he misses the seat once more. Despite the laughter and surprised looks, Mario wouldn't give up.

After several attempts and many falls, Mario finally manages to sit. He finds himself hanging in mid-air, experiencing the magic his grandfather mentioned.

True Friends Revealed

Mario discovers that Guneet, Asma, and Deepa are holding him up to prevent him from falling. These three are his buddies.

While these three helped him, many other people he thought were friends did nothing but make fun of him. They enjoyed watching him fall.

Mario realises that true friends are those who care for us rather than taking joy in our bad luck. He leaves school with his three real friends.

That evening, the four children visit the grandfather. The grandfather wins the bet, and they enjoy eating fruit chaat while listening to stories together.

Who are the characters?

Mario

Mario is a boy who loves to have lots of friends. He often showed off by talking about his many schoolmates and how friendly he was with everyone.

He is brave and determined, as he takes the strange invisible chair to school. Even when he falls on his backside, he wouldn't give up.

Mario shows he is strong-willed by repeatedly trying to sit on the chair. He eventually learns the value of true friends through his grandfather's test.

Mario's Grandfather

The grandfather challenges Mario with a bet of a fruit chaat. He tells Mario he is sure that many of his friends are nothing more than companions or partners.

He provides a special chair from the attic to help Mario. He tells Mario, “the magic will work and you’ll be able to tell who your real friends are.”

He is clever for thinking of a way to show Mario that real friends are those who care. He later has the four children visit him, and they have a great time listening to stories and eating a lot of fruit chaat.

Guneet, Asma, and Deepa

These three children are Mario's buddies. They prove to be his real friends during the magic chair test at school.

While others laughed, they were holding him up so he would not fall. Mario feels blessed to know them and considers them friends for life.

Mario's Classmates

Many of Mario's classmates are superficial friends. They do nothing but make fun of him while he struggles with the chair.

They respond with surprised looks and laughter when he misses the seat. They enjoy each and every fall Mario takes.

Why is the chair special?

A Tricky and Invisible Object

The chair is described as a very special chair. It is invisible, which makes it rather tricky to sit on it.

Because the object is impossible to see, Mario faces difficulty when he tries to use it. He misses the seat and falls onto his backside.

Despite these falls, the chair remains a central part of the magic mentioned by the grandfather. Mario is brave and determined to succeed.

A Tool to Find Real Friends

The chair serves as a way to test schoolmates. The grandfather suggests that if Mario manages to sit on it at school, the magic will work.

Once the magic works, Mario will be able to tell who his real friends are. This happens when he finally sits and hangs in mid-air.

The chair reveals that true friends are those who care for us. It distinguishes them from others who made fun of him during his falls.

By using this magic chair test, Mario identifies his buddies, Guneet, Asma, and Deepa. These three friends held him up so he would not fall.

How does Mario react to failure?

Persistence in the face of difficulty

Mario is described as brave and determined when he takes the invisible chair to school. He faces immediate challenges when he tries to sit on it during break time.

Because he has difficulty seeing the chair, he misses the seat and falls straight onto his backside. This failure causes his classmates to have a pretty good laugh.

Instead of being discouraged by the laughter, Mario maintains his resolve. He attempts to sit on the chair again, telling others, “Wait, wait, just a slight technical problem,” as he tries once more.

Overcoming repeated falls

Mario's second attempt also results in him missing the seat. This second failure causes more surprised looks and further laughter from those watching.

Despite these setbacks, Mario wouldn’t give up. He continues to try to sit on the magic chair repeatedly.

He keeps falling to the ground until he finally succeeds. On his next attempt, he does not fall and instead sits hanging in mid-air.

Through this process, he discovers that his three buddies, Guneet, Asma, and Deepa, were holding him up. This success allows him to experience the magic his grandfather described.

What is the contrast between the friends?

The distinction between buddies and others

Mario initially believed he had many friends. However, the magic chair test revealed a clear difference between his real friends and others.

While Mario was attempting to sit on the invisible chair, many people he had thought of as friends did nothing to help him. Instead, they made fun of him by enjoying his falls.

In contrast, three of his buddies, named Guneet, Asma, and Deepa, acted differently. They were holding him up so that he would not fall to the ground.

The meaning of true friendship

The story highlights that true friends are defined by their care for others. Mario learns that a real friend is not someone who takes joy in our bad luck.

The contrast is seen in how people reacted to Mario's falls. While many others simply laughed, his three true friends provided the support he needed.

By the end of the story, Mario understands the value of having good friends. He uses the chair to identify those who are friends for life.

What are the themes?

Theme 1: Distinguishing real friends from companions

The story explores the difference between true friends and those who are merely companions or partners. Mario initially believes he has many friends because he is very friendly with everyone at school.

His grandfather challenges this by betting him a fruit chaat. He says he is sure that many of Mario's schoolmates are not real friends, but only companions or partners.

Theme 2: The meaning of true friendship

A central theme is that true friends are those who care for us. Mario learns this through the magic chair test his grandfather provides.

While many classmates made fun of him during his falls, three specific individuals proved their friendship. Guneet, Asma, and Deepa held him up so he would not fall.

Theme 3: Caring for others during bad luck

The narrative teaches that a real friend is not someone who takes joy in another person's misfortune. Mario realises that true friends do not enjoy seeing others fail.

Many of his classmates enjoyed each and every fall Mario experienced while trying to sit on the invisible chair. This behaviour contrasts with the supportive actions of his three real buddies.

What language activities are included?

Vocabulary and Word Games

The activities before the story include a word grid to find terms related to friendship. Students search horizontally or vertically to locate eight specific words.

The exercises also include word completion tasks. These tasks use meanings to help identify terms for a person one does activities with, an informal word for friends, a person one spends much time with, and school classmates.

A matching exercise is provided to connect characters with their specific actions. This helps students associate names like Guneet, Asma, and Deepa with the act of holding Mario up.

Grammar and Word Structure

Students learn about root words and suffixes. A table is used to divide words into two parts to understand how they are formed.

The activity requires matching root words such as care, laugh, wonder, help, friend, and courage with suffixes like -ing, -al, -ful, -ly, -ed, -tion, -ous, and -ship. Students then use these combinations to create their own sentences.

Adjectives and Descriptions

The lessons cover adjectives, which are defined as words that describe the qualities of a person or a thing. Students practice matching adjectives to suitable nouns; more than one combination is possible, and the table shows one pairing for each adjective.

Finally, a paragraph completion task uses adjective-noun pairings. Students select from a box containing terms like happy boy, amazing stories, and colourful creatures to complete a story about a character named Abhishek.

What are the comprehension questions?

Questions about the Plot

• Was Mario proud of having many friends?
  Yes, Mario was very proud of his many friends. He showed off by talking about how friendly he was with everyone at school.
• What did the grandfather take from the attic?
  The grandfather took a special chair from the attic. This chair was invisible, which made it tricky to sit on.
• What was the bet between the grandfather and Mario?
  The grandfather bet Mario a fruit chaat. He claimed that many of Mario's friends were merely companions or partners rather than real friends.
• How did Mario find his real friends?
  Mario found his real friends when he tried to sit on the invisible chair. While others laughed at his falls, Guneet, Asma, and Deepa held him up so he would not fall.

Questions about Reflection and Language

• What does the phrase “just a slight technical problem” suggest?
  Mario said this when he missed the seat and fell. It shows he was determined and would not give up despite the laughter of his classmates.
• What is the meaning of “friends for life”?
  Friends for life are friends whose friendship lasts throughout life. In the story they are the people who pass the magic chair test, the friends who care for us and do not take joy in our bad luck.
• Do you think the magic chair test was good?
  Sample Answer: Yes, the test was good because it helped Mario distinguish between those who made fun of him and those who were true friends.
• What are some positive qualities of a friend?
  Positive qualities include being loving, honest, kind, and loyal. A friend might also be respectful or an understanding person.

What are the various activities?

Listening and Speaking Activities

The listening task involves hearing Manu talk about her friend, Monika. Students fill in blanks while listening to how Monika helped her feel comfortable in a new school. They learn about their difficult and happy moments together.

For the speaking activity, students work in pairs to discuss positive qualities of a friend. They consider traits such as being loving, honest, kind, or loyal. They must provide reasons for their chosen qualities.

Writing and Exploring Tasks

The writing exercise asks students to read messages Mario wrote to Deepa, Guneet, and Asma. They then complete a message to Guneet by choosing the correct words. Finally, they write their own message to a best friend.

The explore section encourages students to find more stories about friendship from different places. They can also create an acrostic poem to describe their friends using the letters in the word "FRIENDS".

Lastly, students can interview people from different age groups. They ask what friendship means to them to see how viewpoints might change with life experiences.

Glossary

• Attic — a storage space in a house just under the roof where the grandfather finds the special chair.
• Accepted — agreed to, used when Mario agrees to his grandfather's bet regarding his number of friends.
• Readily — without any problem, describing how Mario accepted the bet from his grandfather.
• Showed off — boasted, referring to how Mario talked about having many friends at school.
• Invisible — impossible to see, describing the special chair that Mario takes to school.
• Determined — firm in decision, describing Mario's character as he attempts to sit on the chair.
• Amazing — very surprising, used to describe what Mario's classmates are about to see.
• Companions — people you spend a lot of time with; the grandfather says he is sure many of Mario's friends are nothing more than companions or partners.
• Partners — people with whom one does activities together, mentioned as a distinction from real friends.
• Buddies — informal words for friends, used to describe Guneet, Asma, and Deepa.
• Technical problem — a fault in how something works; Mario calls his missing the invisible seat a slight one.
• Root words — the base words that suffixes (letters added after them) are attached to, such as friend in friendly.

Common errors and misconceptions

• Misconception: Mario had no friends at all at school. Correct: Mario had many schoolmates he called friends, and three of them, Guneet, Asma and Deepa, proved to be real friends, while many of the others only made fun of him.
• Misconception: The bet was about who could eat more fruit chaat. Correct: The bet was about whether Mario had as many friends as he thought he had, and the stake was a fruit chaat.
• Misconception: The chair was a physical object that could be seen. Correct: The chair was invisible, making it tricky to sit on.
• Misconception: Mario sat on the chair successfully on his first attempt. Correct: Mario missed the seat and fell straight onto his backside during his first attempt.
• Misconception: All of Mario's classmates helped him when he fell. Correct: Many others made fun of him and enjoyed each and every fall.
• Misconception: Guneet, Asma, and Deepa were the ones making fun of Mario. Correct: Guneet, Asma, and Deepa were his buddies who held him up so he would not fall.
• Misconception: The magic chair test was used only once. Correct: The four children used the magic chair test on many occasions to find friends for life.

Exam-style questions with model answers

Q1. Mario's grandfather told him, “Mario, I bet you a fruit chaat. You don’t have as many friends as you think you have.” What was the bet about? [2 marks]

1. The bet was about whether Mario had as many friends as he thought he had.
2. The grandfather suggested that many of Mario's friends were nothing more than companions or partners.

Q2. Mario tried to sit on the invisible chair at school but missed and fell. Why did he say, “Wait, wait, just a slight technical problem,”? [2 marks]

1. He called it only a slight problem because he did not want to give up and meant to try again.
2. He used this phrase because he was having difficulty seeing the invisible chair and missed the seat.

Q3. Mario's grandfather said, “Take it. It’s a very special chair. As it’s invisible, it’s rather tricky to sit on it. But if you take it to school and manage to sit on it, then the magic will work...” How did Mario find his real friends using this chair? [3 marks]

1. Mario sat on the chair and was held up by Guneet, Asma, and Deepa so he would not fall.
2. While these three buddies held him, many others who he thought were friends only made fun of him and enjoyed his falls.
3. This showed Mario that true friends are those who care for us rather than taking joy in our bad luck.

Q4. Mario is described as a boy who "loved to have lots of friends" and "showed off a lot" by talking about his many schoolmates. Based on his actions and his grandfather's bet, what kind of person is Mario? [3 marks]

1. Mario is a boy who is proud of having many friends and boasts about being friendly with everyone.
2. He is brave and determined because he takes the strange invisible chair to school to test his friends.
3. He is also a person who is willing to accept a bet readily from his grandfather.

Q5. After the test, Mario, Guneet, Asma, and Deepa went to see Mario's grandpa. Describe what happened during this visit and what happened to their friendship afterwards. [4 marks]

1. The four children went to see the grandfather because the grandfather had won the bet.
2. They had a great time eating a lot of fruit chaat and listening to stories.
3. From that time on, the children used the magic chair test on many different occasions.
4. Whoever passed the magic chair test became friends for life.

Q6. Mario's grandfather tells him, “Take it. It’s a very special chair. As it’s invisible, it’s rather tricky to sit on it. But if you take it to school and manage to sit on it, then the magic will work...”. How does this chair help Mario distinguish between real and superficial friends? [5 marks]

1. The chair is invisible, which makes it difficult and tricky for Mario to sit on it successfully at school.
2. When Mario falls repeatedly, many people he thought were friends do nothing but make fun of him and enjoy his falls.
3. Three of his buddies, Guneet, Asma, and Deepa, show they are real friends by holding him up so he would not fall.
4. This physical support prevents him from falling and allows him to finally experience the magic his grandfather had been talking about.
5. The test shows that true friends are those who care for us rather than being someone who takes joy in our bad luck.

Q7. During the break time at school, Mario tries to sit on the invisible chair, but he misses and falls onto his backside, causing his classmates to laugh. Describe the different reactions Mario receives from his peers and how he eventually finds his true friends. [5 marks]

1. When Mario first misses the seat, his classmates have a pretty good laugh at his expense during the break time.
2. As he continues to miss the seat and fall, he receives more surprised looks and laughter from many of his classmates.
3. Many people whom Mario had thought of as friends do nothing but make fun of him, enjoying each and every fall.
4. Guneet, Asma, and Deepa act differently by holding him up so that he would not fall to the ground.
5. These three buddies are the ones who help him successfully sit hanging in mid-air, proving they are his real friends.

Q8. In the story, Mario learns that "true friends are those who care for us" and that a friend is not someone who "takes joy in our bad luck." Using the events of the story, explain the theme of friendship and how the characters' actions reflect this. [6 marks]

1. The theme explores the difference between real friends and those who are merely companions or partners.
2. Mario initially believes he has many friends, but the chair test reveals many are superficial.
3. Superficial friends are shown through those who laugh and enjoy watching Mario fall to the ground.
4. Real friends are demonstrated by Guneet, Asma, and Deepa through their physical support of Mario.
5. The characters' actions prove that true friendship involves caring for someone during difficult moments.
6. The story concludes that those who pass such a test can become friends for life.

Key takeaways

• Mario was a boy who loved having many friends and often boasted about how friendly he was with everyone at his school.
• Mario's grandfather challenged him to a bet involving fruit chaat, claiming Mario did not have as many real friends as he thought.
• The grandfather provided Mario with a special, invisible chair from the attic to help him identify his true friends.
• Sitting on the invisible chair was described as being “rather tricky” because the object was impossible to see.
• During break time, Mario attempted to sit on the invisible chair in front of his classmates but fell to the ground several times, first onto his backside.
• Guneet, Asma, and Deepa acted as true friends by holding Mario up so that he would not fall while sitting in mid-air.
• Many other people whom Mario considered friends did nothing but make fun of him while he was falling.
• The four children celebrated by eating fruit chaat and listening to stories after the grandfather won the bet.

Test yourself

What did Mario's grandfather bet him?

The grandfather bet Mario a fruit chaat, asserting that many of Mario's friends were merely companions or partners.

Where did the grandfather find the special chair?

The grandfather went to the attic, which is a storage space in a house just under the roof, to get the chair.

Why was it difficult for Mario to sit on the chair?

It was difficult because the chair was invisible, making it “rather tricky to sit on it”.

How did Mario's classmates react when he first fell?

His classmates had a pretty good laugh when he missed the seat and fell straight onto his backside.

What happened when Mario finally managed to sit on the chair?

He sat hanging in mid-air because Guneet, Asma, and Deepa were holding him up so he would not fall.

How did the other classmates behave during Mario's attempts?

Many others who Mario thought were friends did nothing but make fun of him and enjoy each and every fall.

What lesson did Mario learn about true friends?

Mario learned that true friends are those who care for us and would not take joy in our bad luck.

What did the children do after the grandfather won the bet?

The four children went to see the grandfather, where they had a great time eating fruit chaat and listening to stories.