Class 6 English · Original EZT practice
Neem Baba (Class 6 English Chapter 7): a girl talks to a very old tree
Amber sits under a neem tree and starts a conversation - and the tree answers. In this playful dialogue from Poorvi Unit 3, Nurturing Nature, Neem Baba tells Amber where he was born, the many names he carries, and why people call him a magic tree. Below: a summary, word meanings, comprehension practice and questions. (Note: this is original practice, not a textbook exercise key.)
6 original worked examples, 6 fresh self-check questions and 4 mixed questions, with explained answers. These are not copied textbook exercises, an official chapter index or a full answer key. No affiliation with NCERT is claimed.
Official sources for topic and edition context, checked 22 October 2026:
1. Summary and characters
Amber, who played in the tree's shade as a child, asks the neem tree - Neem Baba - about himself; he tells her he is millions of years old, born somewhere in North India or Myanmar, and that his family spread to many Asian and African countries and even parts of America.
2. The story of the neem's names
Born in India, the tree was given Sanskrit names such as Arishta (the one who cures diseases), Nimba and Nimbaca; the name 'Neem' was given by the Iranians; in Hindi it is Nimb, with other Indian names like Nim, Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond, Nimbe and Nimo.
3. Reading comprehension
Neem Baba says we become well known for what we do - people find the neem useful, so scientists call it 'bitter grace of God', 'nature's gift to man', 'cleanliness-parting tree', 'magic tree' and 'the tree of the twentieth century'.
4. Word meanings
The chapter builds nature vocabulary - shade, thought-provoking, grace, spread, cures - and the many names of one very useful tree.
Choose, solve, check, then try a fresh question.
Before calculating, read the method prompt and name the condition that makes it useful. Write your own attempt. Open the steps only when you need them, and use the check to catch a wrong sign, unit or interpretation. Finish with the fresh question before reading its answer.
Introduce Neem Baba
Choose the method: A friend from Amber's childhood.
EZT practice question
Who is Neem Baba, and how does he know Amber?
Show the worked solution
- Amber speaks to the neem tree she played under as a child.
- The tree answers and recognises her.
- He says, 'I know you. You played in my shade in your childhood.'
Answer: Neem Baba is the neem tree Amber used to play under as a child. He recognises her and says, 'I know you. You played in my shade in your childhood.'
Check: The dialogue form means every answer comes as the tree's own spoken words.
Watch for this: Do not call Neem Baba a person - he is the tree, speaking in a dialogue.
Now try it yourself
Is 'Neem Baba' a dialogue or a poem?
Check your answer
A dialogue - a conversation between Amber and the neem tree.
The whole piece is written as speech between the two.
Trace the neem's origins
Choose the method: Old, and travelled far.
EZT practice question
Where was the neem tree born, and where is its family found today?
Show the worked solution
- Neem Baba says he is millions of years old.
- He was born somewhere in North India or Myanmar.
- His family spread to many Asian and African countries and even parts of America.
Answer: He was born millions of years ago somewhere in North India or Myanmar, and his family spread to many Asian and African countries and even some parts of America.
Check: Amber's own observation - she has seen neem trees almost everywhere - matches this spread.
Watch for this: Do not say the neem comes from America - it reached parts of America; it was born in North India or Myanmar.
Now try it yourself
What has Amber noticed about neem trees?
Check your answer
She has seen them almost everywhere.
That is what makes her ask the tree about himself.
Retell the story of the names
Choose the method: One tree, many names.
EZT practice question
What are the neem's Sanskrit names, and who gave it the name 'Neem'?
Show the worked solution
- Born in India, the tree got Sanskrit names: Arishta, Nimba, Nimbaca.
- The Iranians gave it the name 'Neem'.
- In Hindi it is Nimb; other Indian names include Nim, Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond, Nimbe and Nimo.
Answer: Its Sanskrit names are Arishta, Nimba and Nimbaca. The name 'Neem' was given by the Iranians.
Check: Arishta means 'the one who cures diseases' - the name itself points to the neem's use in medicines.
Watch for this: Do not say Indians named it 'Neem' - the text credits the Iranians with that name.
Now try it yourself
Write any two Indian names of the neem tree other than Nimb.
Check your answer
Any two of Nim, Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond, Nimbe, Nimo.
Neem Baba lists them for Amber.
Explain the tree's fame
Choose the method: Deeds make the name.
EZT practice question
Why do people and scientists know the neem tree so well?
Show the worked solution
- Neem Baba says, 'We become well known for what we do.'
- People find the neem useful.
- That usefulness is why they know it - and why scientists honour it with titles.
Answer: Because of what it does - its usefulness. As Neem Baba says, 'We become well known for what we do. People find us useful and that is why they know us.'
Check: The titles that follow all praise usefulness - grace, gift, magic tree.
Watch for this: Do not credit the tree's age alone - the text ties its fame to its usefulness.
Now try it yourself
Name any two titles scientists give the neem tree.
Check your answer
Any two of 'bitter grace of God', 'nature's gift to man', 'cleanliness-parting tree', 'magic tree', 'the tree of the twentieth century'.
These are the honours Neem Baba mentions.
Draw the lesson
Choose the method: What we do is what we are known for.
EZT practice question
What lesson does Neem Baba's line 'We become well known for what we do' teach us?
Show the worked solution
- The neem is famous because it helps people.
- By the same rule, our own reputation follows our deeds.
- Usefulness and good work make us known - not claims.
Answer: We earn our name by our deeds - usefulness and good work make us known, just as the neem's usefulness made it famous.
Check: Amber's takeaway and ours are the same: do good work and the name follows.
Watch for this: Do not read it as 'talk about your work' - the line says the doing, not the telling, brings fame.
Now try it yourself
What does the Sanskrit name 'Arishta' mean, and why does it suit the neem?
Check your answer
'The one who cures diseases' - it suits the neem because its parts have long been used in preparing medicines.
A name earned by deeds, in miniature.
Match chapter words to meanings
Choose the method: Fix each word to one plain meaning.
EZT practice question
Match: thought-provoking, grace, shade - with their meanings.
Show the worked solution
- thought-provoking - interesting, making you think.
- grace - blessing.
- shade - the cool, dark area under a tree.
Answer: thought-provoking - interesting, making you think; grace - blessing; shade - the cool, dark area under a tree.
Check: 'Bitter grace of God' pairs grace with blessing; Amber played in the tree's shade.
Watch for this: Do not give grace the 'elegance' meaning here - in 'bitter grace of God' it means blessing.
Now try it yourself
The neem's family 'spread' outside India. What does spread mean here?
Check your answer
Grew or extended over a larger area.
The family reached Asia, Africa and parts of America.
Try a mixed set
Choose a method or explanation before opening each answer.
1. Who is Neem Baba?
Show answer and reason
The neem tree Amber played under as a child, who talks with her.
'You played in my shade in your childhood.'
2. Who gave the tree the name 'Neem'?
Show answer and reason
The Iranians.
Sanskrit names came first - Arishta, Nimba, Nimbaca.
3. What does 'Arishta' mean?
Show answer and reason
The one who cures diseases.
Neem parts are used in medicines.
4. Any one scientist's title for the neem?
Show answer and reason
e.g. 'the tree of the twentieth century' (also 'magic tree', 'bitter grace of God').
Fame earned by usefulness.
Try it yourself
Work these on paper before checking any notes. Answers are deliberately not shown here.
- Where was the neem tree born, according to Neem Baba?
- Use 'cure' in a sentence about the neem tree.
- What is the Hindi name of the neem?
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Questions about this practice page
- What is 'Neem Baba' about?
- A conversation between a girl, Amber, and a neem tree, in which the tree tells her about its origin, its many names and its usefulness.
- Where did the neem tree originate?
- It was born millions of years ago somewhere in North India or Myanmar, and its family spread to many Asian and African countries and parts of America.
- What does 'Arishta' mean?
- 'The one who cures diseases' - a Sanskrit name for the neem, pointing to its use in medicines.
- What do scientists call the neem tree?
- Names such as 'bitter grace of God', 'nature's gift to man', 'cleanliness-parting tree', 'magic tree' and 'the tree of the twentieth century'.
- Are these the NCERT exercise questions for Class 6 English Chapter 7?
- No. EZT pages are original practice following the chapter's section order - use them to prepare for the textbook exercises, not as a substitute for your book.