CBSE Class 6 English Poorvi • Unit 4: Sports and Wellness
Change of Heart Class 6 Notes, Summary, Theme, Word Meanings, Question Answers and Quiz
Complete student-friendly notes based on the CBSE Class 6 English Poorvi chapter “Change of Heart”.
Chapter at a Glance
Change of Heart Summary in English
The chapter “Change of Heart” is a story about a boy named Prabhat, who always wants to win. He cannot accept defeat and feels terrible whenever he loses. Because of this, he plays only those games in which he is sure of winning. He is especially good at badminton.
One day, a new student named Surya joins Prabhat’s school. Surya is also an excellent badminton player. On the last Friday of the month, the school coach conducts friendly matches during the games period. Prabhat and Surya are chosen to play a badminton match against each other. Prabhat is also given the responsibility of keeping the score.
Prabhat prepares seriously for the match, but Surya remains relaxed. He smiles, jokes and enjoys himself. During the match, Surya plays very well and wins points again and again. However, he is not paying much attention to the scoreboard. Prabhat takes advantage of this and secretly changes the score while Surya is looking elsewhere. In this way, Prabhat wins the match by cheating.
After the match, Prabhat expects Surya to feel sad, but Surya is not upset at all. He simply says that the game was fun and that they should play again. Everyone praises Prabhat for his victory, but Prabhat is unable to sleep that night. He has won, but he does not feel happy because he knows that he has cheated.
The next day, Prabhat sees Surya playing basketball. Surya is not good at basketball and cannot score even once for a long time. Still, he enjoys the game with a happy smile. Prabhat observes Surya for many days and notices that Surya enjoys every game equally, whether he is good or bad at it.
Slowly, Prabhat understands that games are not only about winning or keeping score. The real joy lies in playing, trying one’s best and enjoying every moment. This changes Prabhat’s attitude. He starts playing games for fun, even hide-and-seek, and begins to enjoy badminton without worrying only about winning. Other students also notice the change and say that Prabhat now has great sporting spirit.
कहानी का सारांश हिंदी में
“Change of Heart” कहानी एक लड़के प्रभात के बारे में है, जो हमेशा जीतना चाहता था। वह हार को स्वीकार नहीं कर पाता था। हारने पर उसे बहुत बुरा लगता था, इसलिए वह केवल वही खेल खेलता था जिनमें उसे अपनी जीत पक्की लगती थी। वह बैडमिंटन बहुत अच्छा खेलता था।
एक दिन प्रभात के स्कूल में सूर्या नाम का नया छात्र आया। सूर्या भी बहुत अच्छा बैडमिंटन खिलाड़ी था। महीने के आखिरी शुक्रवार को स्कूल में friendly matches होते थे। प्रभात और सूर्या को एक-दूसरे के विरुद्ध बैडमिंटन मैच खेलने के लिए चुना गया। प्रभात को मैच का स्कोर रखने की जिम्मेदारी भी दी गई।
प्रभात मैच को बहुत गंभीरता से ले रहा था, जबकि सूर्या आराम से हँसते-मुस्कुराते हुए खेल रहा था। सूर्या अच्छा खेल रहा था और लगातार अंक बना रहा था। लेकिन जब सूर्या का ध्यान स्कोरबोर्ड पर नहीं था, तब प्रभात ने स्कोर बदल दिया और cheating करके मैच जीत लिया।
मैच जीतने के बाद भी प्रभात खुश नहीं था। उसे हैरानी हुई कि सूर्या हारने के बाद भी दुखी नहीं था। अगले दिन प्रभात ने देखा कि सूर्या basketball खेल रहा है। सूर्या basketball में अच्छा नहीं था, फिर भी वह खुशी से खेल रहा था। प्रभात ने समझा कि खेल का असली आनंद जीतने में नहीं, बल्कि खेलने और कोशिश करने में है।
धीरे-धीरे प्रभात का स्वभाव बदल गया। वह खेलों का आनंद लेने लगा और हार-जीत की चिंता कम करने लगा। अब उसके साथी भी कहते हैं कि प्रभात में अच्छा sporting spirit आ गया है।
Short Summary
Prabhat always wanted to win and could not accept defeat. He cheated in a badminton match against Surya and won, but he did not feel happy. Surya’s relaxed and cheerful attitude towards losing surprised him. Prabhat observed that Surya enjoyed every game, whether he won or lost. This changed Prabhat’s thinking. He realised that enjoying the game and trying one’s best are more important than winning. This was his true change of heart.
Central Theme of Change of Heart
The central theme of the story is sporting spirit. The chapter teaches that games should be played with honesty, fairness and joy. Winning is not the only purpose of playing. What truly matters is trying one’s best, respecting the opponent and enjoying the game.
The story also highlights self-realisation. Prabhat understands his mistake not through punishment but by observing Surya’s positive attitude. His heart changes when he realises that cheating may bring victory but not real happiness.
Important Points of the Chapter
- Prabhat always wanted to win.
- He could not bear losing, even in small games like marbles.
- He played only those games in which he was sure of winning.
- Prabhat was very good at badminton.
- A new student named Surya joined Prabhat’s school.
- Surya was also an excellent badminton player.
- The school coach conducted friendly matches on the last Friday of every month.
- Prabhat and Surya were chosen to play a badminton match against each other.
- Prabhat was given the responsibility of keeping the score.
- Prabhat prepared seriously, but Surya played in a relaxed and cheerful way.
- Surya played very well and won points again and again.
- Prabhat changed the scoreboard when Surya was looking elsewhere.
- Prabhat won the match by cheating.
- Surya did not feel bad about losing.
- Prabhat could not sleep well because he did not feel happy about his dishonest victory.
- The next day, Prabhat saw Surya enjoying basketball even though he was not good at it.
- Prabhat observed that Surya enjoyed every game equally.
- Prabhat realised that games should be enjoyed for their own sake.
- He understood that winning and losing are not everything.
- Prabhat changed and developed true sporting spirit.
Character Sketch
Prabhat
Prabhat is a competitive boy who always wants to win. In the beginning, he cannot accept defeat and avoids games where he may lose. He even cheats to win a badminton match. However, he is not a bad person. He feels guilty and learns from Surya. By the end, he becomes cheerful, fair and sporting.
Surya
Surya is an excellent badminton player with a positive attitude. He enjoys every game, whether he wins or loses. He does not feel bad after losing and respects the joy of playing. His cheerful behaviour helps Prabhat understand the true meaning of sportsmanship.
Message / Moral of the Story
Difficult Words and Synonyms
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Synonyms / Similar Words | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defeat | Loss in a game or competition | Loss, failure | हार |
| Terrible | Very bad or unhappy | Awful, unpleasant, dreadful | बहुत बुरा |
| On the contrary | Just the opposite | Oppositely, instead, conversely | इसके विपरीत |
| Sensed | Understood or felt something | Realised, felt, noticed | महसूस किया |
| Significant | Important | Important, meaningful, notable | महत्वपूर्ण |
| Conducted | Organised or carried out | Organised, arranged, held | आयोजित किया |
| Friendly match | A match played for practice or fun, not serious competition | Practice match, informal match | मैत्रीपूर्ण मैच |
| Opponent | Someone one competes against | Rival, competitor, challenger | प्रतिद्वंद्वी |
| Scoreboard | A board that shows the score | Score display, score chart | स्कोर दिखाने वाला बोर्ड |
| Phenomenon | Someone with special qualities | Wonder, marvel, extraordinary person | असाधारण व्यक्ति |
| Cheating | Winning or acting dishonestly | Dishonesty, fraud, trickery | धोखा देना |
| Hopeless | Having no skill in something | Unskilled, poor, weak | बहुत कमजोर / अकुशल |
| Kept a close watch on | Observed carefully | Watched, noticed, observed | ध्यान से देखा |
| Tally | A record of points or scores | Count, record, score | अंकों का हिसाब |
| Sporting spirit | Fair and respectful attitude in sports | Fair play, sportsmanship | खेल भावना |
| Observation | The act of watching carefully | Watching, noticing, studying | अवलोकन |
| For its own sake | For the joy or value of the thing itself | For enjoyment, for itself | अपने आनंद के लिए |
| Responsibility | Duty given to someone | Duty, task, charge | जिम्मेदारी |
Grammar Notes from the Chapter
1. Past Perfect Tense
The story uses actions where one action happened before another past action. The earlier action is often written in the past perfect tense.
Example: He had won the game but he did not feel happy.
Here, had won happened before he felt unhappy.
2. Useful Sports Vocabulary
| Word | Use in Sports |
|---|---|
| Opponent | The player or team one plays against |
| Scorekeeper | The person who records points |
| Friendly Match | A match played mainly for practice or enjoyment |
| Sporting Spirit | Fairness, honesty and respect in a game |
Change of Heart Question Answers
1. Who is the main character of the story?
The main character of the story is Prabhat.
2. What was Prabhat’s biggest weakness?
Prabhat’s biggest weakness was that he could not accept defeat. He always wanted to win.
3. Which game was Prabhat really good at?
Prabhat was really good at badminton.
4. Who was Surya?
Surya was a new student in Prabhat’s school. He was an excellent badminton player.
5. What was special about the last Friday of each month?
On the last Friday of each month, the coach conducted friendly matches during the games period.
6. Who was responsible for maintaining the score in the badminton match?
Prabhat was responsible for maintaining the score in the badminton match.
7. How was Surya’s attitude different from Prabhat’s during the match?
Prabhat was serious and focused only on winning, while Surya was relaxed, cheerful and enjoying the game.
8. How did Prabhat win the badminton match?
Prabhat won the match by cheating. He changed the scoreboard while Surya was looking elsewhere.
9. How did Surya react after losing the match?
Surya did not feel bad after losing. He said that the game had been fun and that they should play again.
10. Why could Prabhat not sleep well that night?
Prabhat could not sleep well because he had won by cheating and did not feel truly happy about his victory.
11. What surprised Prabhat about Surya?
Prabhat was surprised that Surya did not feel bad after losing and enjoyed playing games even when he was not good at them.
12. What did Prabhat observe about Surya?
Prabhat observed that Surya was good at some games and poor at others, but he enjoyed every game equally.
13. What lesson did Prabhat learn from Surya?
Prabhat learnt that one should enjoy a game for its own sake. Winning and losing are not as important as trying well and enjoying the game.
14. How did Prabhat change at the end of the story?
Prabhat started enjoying games without worrying only about winning. He began playing hide-and-seek and joked while playing badminton.
15. What did other students say about Prabhat at the end?
Other students said that it was good fun playing with Prabhat and that he had a great sporting spirit.
16. Why did Prabhat cheat in the beginning?
Prabhat cheated because he was afraid of losing. He wanted to win at any cost because losing made him feel terrible.
17. Was Prabhat’s approach to games healthy in the beginning? Why?
No, Prabhat’s approach was not healthy because he played only to win and could not enjoy games. He avoided games where he might lose.
18. Why is sporting spirit important?
Sporting spirit is important because it teaches fairness, respect, honesty, teamwork and the ability to accept both victory and defeat gracefully.
19. Explain how the title “Change of Heart” is suitable.
The title is suitable because Prabhat’s attitude changes completely. In the beginning, he thinks only about winning, but later he learns to enjoy games and respect the spirit of sports.
20. What is the main message of the story?
The main message is that honest effort and enjoyment are more important than winning by unfair means.
Textbook Exercise Style Answers
Let Us Discuss
- Prabhat would accept losing to anyone easily. — False
- What was special about the last Friday of each month?
The coach conducted friendly matches during the games period on the last Friday of each month. - Who was responsible for maintaining the score?
Prabhat was responsible for maintaining the score. - Do you think Prabhat wished to play another match with Surya?
No, he probably did not wish to play again because he knew Surya was a strong player and he had won only by cheating.
Think and Reflect Answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Prabhat would play a game only if ________. | he was sure of winning |
| Which game was Prabhat good at? | Badminton |
| Prabhat’s behaviour tells us that he was ________. | afraid of losing |
| How was Prabhat feeling that night? | Unhappy |
| Surya’s reaction to not winning was ________ Prabhat’s. | different from |
Diary Entry Completion
The following is a completed version of Prabhat’s diary entry based on the phrases given in the textbook.
Saturday
17 August 20XX
8:00 p.m.
Today, I defeated Surya in a badminton match but I do not feel happy about it. He was playing very well and was getting the points easily. I was sure that I will lose the match. So, when everyone was laughing at a joke he cracked, I managed to change the scoreboard. No one noticed the change and I won the match.
What surprised me the most was that he said he had fun playing with me and we should play again. Though everyone congratulated me after my win, I did not enjoy as I usually do. It really disturbed me that Surya did not feel bad about losing the match.
Quick Revision Box
- Prabhat always wanted to win.
- He was afraid of losing.
- Surya was a new student and an excellent badminton player.
- Prabhat cheated by changing the scoreboard.
- Surya did not feel sad after losing.
- Prabhat felt guilty and could not sleep well.
- Surya enjoyed every game, even when he was not good at it.
- Prabhat learnt that games should be enjoyed for their own sake.
- The story teaches honesty, fairness and sporting spirit.
Interactive Quiz: Change of Heart
Choose the correct answer. Your score will appear at the end.
1. Who always wanted to win?
2. Which game was Prabhat really good at?
3. Who was the new student in Prabhat’s school?
4. What happened on the last Friday of each month?
5. Who was responsible for keeping score in the match?
6. How did Prabhat win the badminton match?
7. How did Surya feel after losing?
8. Why could Prabhat not sleep well that night?
9. What did Prabhat learn from Surya?
10. What does “sporting spirit” mean?
FAQs on Change of Heart
What is the story Change of Heart about?
The story is about Prabhat, who changes from a boy obsessed with winning into someone who learns true sporting spirit.
Who teaches Prabhat the real meaning of games?
Surya indirectly teaches Prabhat the real meaning of games through his cheerful and sporting attitude.
Why is the title Change of Heart suitable?
The title is suitable because Prabhat’s thinking changes. He stops focusing only on winning and learns to enjoy games fairly.
What is the moral of Change of Heart?
The moral is that honesty, enjoyment and sporting spirit are more important than winning by unfair means.

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