CBSE Class 8

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

How the Camel Got His Hump NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 1

How the Camel Got His Hump NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

How the Camel Got His Hump Comprehension check – I

Question 1.
What tasks, do you think, were assigned to the dog and the ox?
Answer:
The dog carried the task of fetching and carrying things, and the ox helped man plough fields.

Question 2.
Why did the camel live in the middle of the desert?
Answer:
The camel lived in the middle of the desert because he did not want to work, and did not want to be disturbed by anyone.”

Question 3.
What made the dog, the horse and the ox very angry?
Answer:
The camel did not do his share of work. So, the man made the dog, the horse and the ox do double the amount of work they used to do. This made them furious.

Question 4.
How did the Djinn know the horse was complaining against the camel?
Answer:
The Djinn knew that the horse was complaining against the camel because it was his camel. Moreover, the horse was ranting against “a thing in the middle of the Desert with a long neck and long legs”. The Djinn understood that the horse was talking about his camel.

How the Camel Got His Hump Comprehension check – II

Question 1.
The camel was looking at this own reflection in the pool. What does it suggest to you about the camel?
Answer:
It suggests that the camel was narcissistic, who loved himself more than anything else in the world. His love for himself and idleness characterized him.

Question 2.
The camel said, “Humph ” repeatedly. How did it affect him?
Answer:
When the Djinn came to know that the camel says “Humph” all the time, he gave him a real hump on his back.

Question 3.
What, according to the Djinn, was the use of the “humph ’’?
Answer:
The “humph” would help the camel feel full in his stomach for three days so that he can work without food and make up for lost time.

Question 4.
“…he has never yet learnt to behave ”. In the light of this, what is the writer’s opinion about the camel?
Answer:
The writer believes that the camel is a lazy animal, and does not do his fair share of the work. He finds that all the other animals are very hard-working, whereas the camel sits around all day eating thorns and prickles. According to the writer, the camel spends most of his time in idleness.

How the Camel Got His Hump Exercise Questions and Answers

Discuss the following topics in groups.

Encourage the students to discuss the given questions in groups.

Question 1.
Can this story be factually true?
Answer:
No, this story cannot be factually true. The author is making up a story to entertain the readers. In reality, the camel is a hard-working animal that spends his days helping people who live in deserts. He carries heavy loads and makes their life comfortable. He carries them from one place to another.The hump on the camel’s back stores fat so that he can survive in the hot desert environment of the desert where food is scarce and limited.

Question 2.
What, according to you, is the story about?
Answer:
The story is about how animals began to help human beings in doing work such as ploughing fields, carrying things and going from one place to another. It shows how we are dependent on animals and how each living being on this earth is allotted their share of work and contributes to the world in the best way they can. This is why we should all take our work seriously and do our fair share. It would be unjust to be lazy when there is so much work to be done around us.

The story demonstrates this way of thought by saying that the camel got his hump because he was not willing to do his fair share of the work and to help humans. So, the Djinn gave him a hump so that he did not have to eat for three days and do his work easily. The writer uses the sound that camel makes ‘humph’ and relates it to its hump, saying that there is a connection between the two. However, it is not true, and is merely said for the sake of humour.

Question 3.
What did you do over the weekend? Were you generally active or idle?
Answer:
I met with all my friends over the weekend to plan a getaway on my upcoming birthday. All of us met at a popular restaurant in the city and then headed for my home. There, we all sat and chatted over fresh lime sodas and cucumber sandwiches. We discussed our school and college days. It was a lot of fun. I wish all my weekends could be spent this way.

Question 4.
There are broadly two categories of workers—those who prefer to do today what they can do tomorrow, and those who prefer to do tomorrow what they can do today. Where do you belong?
Answer:
Unfortunately, I belong to those who prefer to do tomorrow what they can do today. I believe that I do most of my things on the last day, as I tend to procrastinate. I am trying to break this habit, but it is not an easy one to get out of. I often get into a lot of trouble for this. I wish I belonged to the group who do their things beforehand.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Comet 2 NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 10

The Comet 2 NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Comet 2 Comprehension check – I

Question 1.
“For a moment James wondered if he had done his sums right. ” Why was James doubtful about his sums and calculations?
Answer:
James was doubtful about his sums and calculations because if they were correct, it would mean that the Earth was going to be hit by a comet. He could not believe that this was possible, especially when the sky appeared quite peaceful as it did that day.

Question 2.
What did the scientists at the conference say about James s “sums ”?
Answer:
The scientists checked and rechecked James’ calculations with the latest observations of Comet Dutta. They later agreed that his predictions were absolutely correct.

Question 3.
Immediate action was needed, the scientists decided. Give one example each of ‘defensive ’ and “offensive ” action mentioned in the text.
Answer:
The “defensive” action suggested by the scientists was that all earthlings should go and live in underground bunkers. The “offensive” action that was decided upon was to deflect Comet Dutta from its path by giving it a push. The scientists were going to place the nuclear payload in a spaceship, and send it to intercept the approaching comet. Then they would detonate it by remote control.

Question 4.
“I am not buying any Christmas presents till December 15. ” What did Sir John mean by that?
Answer:
December 15 was predicted to be the date when Comet Dutta would hit the Earth and destroy it. Sir John was not confident that the Earth and earthlings would survive the collision. So, he did not want to buy Christmas presents before the Earth survived that day.

The Comet 2 Comprehension check – II

Question 1.
What is Duttada expected to do on his return from London?
Answer:
Duttada is expected to perform a yajna on his return from London so that the comet that he has discovered does not cause any ill effects on Earth.

Question 2.
What is his reaction to the proposal?
Answer:
He is full of anger that his family could be so superstitious. He says that it was futile for him to explain anything about comets to them, as they had never even read the elementary books on science.

Question 3.
i. What does “Project Light Brigade” refer to?
Answer:
“Project Light Brigade” refers to the operation of preventing Comet Dutta from colliding with the Earth.

ii. What does Sir John say about the Project in his letter to Duttada in October?
Answer:
Sir John includes a secret message about the Project in his letter to Duttada in October. He tells him in his secret code that the project had begun.

Question 4.
Did Sir John buy Christmas presents on December 15? How didDuttada get to know about it?
Answer:
Yes, Sir John bought Christmas presents on December 15. Duttada got to know about it through an urgent telex message sent by Sir John and brought to him by a special messenger on a scooter from the British Council. It was Sir John’s message that he was confident about buying Christmas presents on December 15.

Question 5.
Why, according to Indrani Debi, had the comet not been disastrous? Do you agree with her?
Answer:
According to Indrani Debi, the comet had not been disastrous because Duttada’s grandson, Khoka, had performed the yajna on his behalf to avert the side-effects of the comet.

Encourage the students to share their own opinions. No, I do not agree with her. The disaster was averted because of the efforts put in by the scientists, and not because of the yajna.

Question 6.
Is Duttada’s general outlook
i. rational?
ii. moral?
iii. traditional?

Choose the right word. Say why you think it right.
Duttada’s general outlook is rational because he does not believe that performing the yajna had stopped the disastrous effects of the comet.

The Comet 2 Exercise Question and Answer

Discuss the following topics in small groups. Write your answers afterwards.

Encourage the students to use their creativity to formulate their individual answers.

Question 1.
Should a scientist s findings be suppressed if they seem disturbing? Give reasons for and against the topic.
Answer:
A scientist’s findings should be repressed for the larger good and to protect the larger interests of mankind. For example, if a scientific finding can create panic among the masses, it is best to suppress such a finding. However, if the information safeguards the interests of political parties, lobbyists and only some sections of the society, it is best to bring the issue to light. The findings ought to be published if they serve mankind in any way and pave a better future for us.

Question 2.
Do you think ours is a traditional society? What are some of the things we do to be called traditional? Do you find these things useless or useful?
Answer:
Yes, India is a traditional society. We worship idols and even the moon. Our forms of worship resonate with an ancient belief system. Yajnas and poojas are still performed to pacify deities. Many people still believe in astrology and think that stars in the sky affect our behaviours and personalities. A majority of these things do not have any logic behind them, and are remnants of a superstitious society that was largely uneducated. So, most of them are highly useless.

Question 3.
Give two or three examples to show how science has been useful to us.
Answer:
Science has given us many gifts and has made our lives easier. The advancement of science and medicine has helped us to find cures to diseases that were thought to be incurable such as jaundice, tuberculosis and even cancer. Science has given us many miracles.

Also, it is science that has made transport and communication easier. Today it is possible to travel large distances in a very short time. We have so many modes of travel today to choose from. For example, superfast trains, metros and aeroplanes are all gifts of science.

Question 4.
Give one example to show that science has been misused, and as a result been harmful to us.
Answer:
The invention of nuclear bombs is one way that science has proved to be harmful to mankind. It has destroyed whole cities and can be blamed to have taken away countless human lives. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the World War is one example of a negative effect of scientific progress.

Similarly, it has become very easy to make bombs nowadays. For this reason, terrorism is on the rise and has entered the common parlance. It is a curse that has befallen on mankind, and science has made it possible.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Comet 1 NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 9

The Comet 1 NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Comet 1 Comprehension check – I

Question 1.
Why does Indrani Debi dislike Duttada s “hobnobbing ” with Dibya?
Answer:
Indrani Debi dislikes Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya because she is not happy that her husband spends so much time with his telescope, or in her words, his dibya-chakshu. He spent all his spare hours observing the sky with the telescope.

Question 2.
She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling?
Answer:
She is smiling because she knows that her husband was absent-minded about the practical things in life such as wearing a sweater when it’s cold out there.

Question 3.
i. What was Duttada’s secret ambition?
Answer:
Duttada’s secret ambition was to discover a new comet.

ii. What did he do to achieve it?
Answer:
He got an eight-inch telescope installed at the roof of his home, and used his life savings to do so.

Question 4.
What is the difference between a planet and a comet, as given in the story?
Answer:
Like planets, comets also orbit round the Sun but their orbits are highly eccentric. So once in a while a comet comes close to the Sun; it has a longish tail that is lit brilliantly by the sunlight and then it recedes into darkness not to be seen again for years, or for centuries.

Question 5.
Why was Duttada hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon?
Answer:
Duttada was hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon because he knew that the professionals with their pre-assigned programmes would be looking at faint stars and nebulous galaxies. They might miss such an insignificant thing as a comet which they were not expecting to see anyway.

Question 6.
Why does Duttada say— “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet. ”?
Answer:
He says so because the discovery of the comet by him brought him unwelcome publicity. He was an introvert, and suddenly, there were numerous receptions and functions to attend.

Question 7.
Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?
Answer:
His wife is unhappy about the discovery because she believes that comets bring ill-luck, and did not want her husband to be associated with one.

The Comet 1 Comprehension check – II

Question 1.
How did Sir John get hold of James original manuscript?
Answer:
Sir John got hold of James’ original manuscript through his friend Taylor, who is the editor of Nature, the magazine that was going to publish James’ article.

Question 2.
What is the important point the paper makes?
Answer:
The important point the paper makes is that Comet Dutta will collide with the Earth, barring some rare circumstances.

Question 3.
Why does Sir John say that James ’paper should not be published?
Answer:
Sir John says that James’ paper will create a huge panic among the people of the world.

Question 4.
What do the two men finally decide to do?
Answer:
The two men finally decide to organize an international conference in secret to discuss and come up with counter-measures to stop Comet Dutta from colliding with the Earth.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Summit Within NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5

The Summit Within NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Summit Within Comprehension check

Question 1.
Standing on Everest, the writer was
i. overjoyed.
ii. very sad.
iii. jubilant and sad.
Choose the right item.
iii. jubilant and sad.

Question 2.
The emotion that gripped him was one of
i. victory over hurdles.
ii. humility and a sense of smallness.
iii. greatness and self-importance.
iv. joy of discovery.
Choose the right item.
ii. humility and a sense of smallness.

Question 3.
“The summit of the mind” refers to
i. great intellectual achievements.
ii. the process of maturing mentally and spiritually.
iii. overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.
iv. living in the world of thought and imagination.
v. the triumph of mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause.
vi. a fuller knowledge of oneself.
Mark the item(s) not relevant.
vi. a fuller knowledge of oneself.

The Summit Within Working with the text
1. Answer the following questions.

i. What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?
Answer:
The three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb were endurance, persistence and will power.

ii. Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
Answer:
Adventure is pleasurable because man takes delight in overcoming obstacles. It is a symbol of overpowering one’s weaknesses.

iii. What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
Answer:
Mount Everest is the highest, the mightiest and has defied many previous attempts. It takes the last ounce of one’s energy. Climbing the summit would bring immense joy and exhilaration to the writer. When the summit is climbed, there is the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won. There is a feeling of victory and of happiness. It is this that the author found irresistible.

iv. One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
Answer:
Climbing a mountain is followed by a sense of fulfilment. There is the satisfaction of a deep urge to rise above one’s surroundings. It is the eternal love for adventure in man. The experience is not merely physical. It is emotional and spiritual.

v. “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe. ” This awareness defines an emotion mentioned in the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?
Answer:
This awareness refers to the humility one feels on climbing a mountain. One realizes the small position that one occupies in such a vast universe.

vi. What were the “symbols of reverence ” left by members of the team on Everest?
Answer:
The writer left a picture of Guru Nanak on Everest. His teammate Rawat left a picture of Goddess Durga. Phu Dorji left a relic of the Buddha. Edmund Hillary had buried a cross under a cairn (a heap of rocks and stones) in the snow. These are all symbols of reverence.

vii. What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?
Answer:
According to the writer, his experience as an Everester has provided him with the inspiration to face life’s ordeals resolutely.

Question 2.
Write a sentence against each of the following statements. Your sentence should explain the statement. You can pick out sentences from the text and rewrite them. The first one has been done for you.

i. The experience changes you completely.
Answer:
One who has been to the mountains is never the same again.

ii. Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles.
Answer:
Overcoming obstacles bring happiness to man because everyone likes challenges.

iii. Mountains are nature at its best.
Answer:
Mountains are like a communion with nature.

iv. The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying.
Answer:
The journey was not an easy one, but what it offered is beyond words.

v. The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience.
Answer:
Climbing a mountain peak is in reality a spiritual experience.

The Summit Within Working with language

Question 1.
Fill in the blanks in the following dialogues choosing suitable phrases from those given in the box.
Solved
i. Teacher. You were away from school without permission. Go to the principal at once and submit your explanation.
Pupil: Yes, Madam. But would you help me write it first?

ii. Arun: Are you unwell?
Ila: No, not at all. Why do you ask?
Arun: If you were unwell, I would send you to my uncle. He is a doctor.

iii. Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love at first sight.
David: Is that what makes them so popular in foreign countries?

iv. Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits at a low ebb today?
(Use such in the phrase)
Ashok: I have to write ten sentences using words that I never heard before.

v. Shieba: Your big moment is close at hand.
Jyoti: How should I welcome it?
Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.

Question 2.
Write the noun forms of the following words adding -ance or -ence to each. Solved
Answer:
i. endure – endurance
ii. persist – persistence
iii. signify – significance
iv. confide – confidence
v. maintain – maintainence
vi. abhor – abhorrence

Question 3.
Match words under A with their meanings under B.
Solved
i. remote: far away from means method(s) dominant: most prominent formidable: difficult to overcome overwhelmed: be overcome/overpowered
ii. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with appropriate words from under A. Solved

• There were formidable obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.
• We have no means of finding out what happened there.
• Why he lives in a house remote from any town or village is more than I can tell.
• Overwhelmed by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice.
• The old castle stands in a dominant position above the sleepy town.

The Summit Within Speaking and writing

Write a composition describing a visit to the hills, or any place which you found beautiful and inspiring.
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers.)

 

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

Jalebis NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 8

Jalebis NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Jalebis Comprehension check – I

Question 1.
Why didn’t he pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school?
Answer:
He didn’t pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school because the teacher who collected the fees, Master Ghulam Mohammed, was on leave. So the fees would be collected the next day.

Question 2.
i. What were the coins ‘saying’to him?
Answer:
The coins were ‘saying’ to him to spend the fees money and buy jalebis with them.

ii. Do you think they were misguiding him?
Answer:
Yes, they were clearly misguiding him because it wasn’t the coins talking but his mind.

Question 3.
Why didn’t he take the coins ’advice? Give two or three reasons.
Answer:
He didn’t take the coins’ advice because he was from a well-to-do family that met all his needs. Also, he knew that if he spent his fees money, his teacher Master Ghulam Mohammad would punish him. He was also an honest boy who obeyed his elders.

Question 4.
i. What did the oldest coin tell him?
Answer:
The oldest coin told him to buy the jalebis with the fees money, and then use the scholarship money to pay the fees.

ii. Did he follow his advice? If not, why not?
Answer:
No, he didn’t follow his advice because he was a promising student who had even secured a scholarship of four rupees. He enjoyed considerable prestige at his school as he belonged to a well-to-do family. He had never been beaten by his teachers.

Question 5.
He reached home with the coins in his pocket. What happened then?
Answer:
When he reached home with the coins in his pocket, they kept trying to pursue him to spend the money on the jalebis. When he was having his lunch, they began to shriek. This is when he went to the market to buy jalebis.

Jalebis Comprehension check – II

Question 1.
i. Why didn’t he eat all the jalebis he had bought?
Answer:
He didn’t eat all the jalebis he had bought because he had eaten one too many. His stomach could take no more of them, and that is when he stopped eating them.

ii. What did he do with the remaining jalebis?
Answer:
He distributed the remaining jalebis among the neighbourhood children.

Question 2.
“The fear was killing me. ” What was the fear?
Answer:
The fear of his family discovering that he had spent the fees money on jalebis was killing him. He was scared that since he was unable to digest them, they would sooner or later make him ill. Then, his family would call a doctor and he would tell what he had done to his parents.

Question 3.
“Children s stomachs are like digestion machines. ” What do you understand by that? Do you agree?
Answer:
This means that children can digest almost anything edible. This is because their internal systems work well.
This statement is partially true because children eat with their heart instead of head, and so, their stomachs are conditioned to digest almost all types of food.

Question 4.
How did he plan to pay the fees the next day?
Answer:
He planned to pay the fees the next day with the previous month’s scholarship money.

Question 5.
When it is time to pay the fees, what does he do? How is he disobeying the elders by doing so?
Answer:
When it is time to pay the fees, the boy tucks his bag under his arm, and keeps walking till he reaches the railway station. Over there, he crosses the railway tracks, which his elders had told him never to do. Also, his elders had told him never to spend his fees money on sweets, but he disobeys them on both accounts.

Jalebis Comprehension check – III

Question 1.
What was the consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money?
Answer:
The consequence of buy mg jalebis with the fees money was that the boy was full of remorse and regret. He did not go to school for two days and spent that time at the railway station all alone.

Question 2.
His prayer to God is like a lawyer’s defence of a bad case. Does he argue his case well? What are the points he makes?
Answer:
Yes, he argues his case very well. He says to God that he has always been a very religious boy and has memorized the entire Quraan. He says that he could recite entire ayat-al-kursi for Him. He wants nothing more than the four rupees that he spent on jalebis. Admitting his mistake, he pleads to God to put four rupees in his bag.

He promises to God that if he ever ate sweets with his fees money again, then he would willingly accept a thief’s punishment. He says that his parents pay a lot of money to the chaprasi, and he was after all the nephew of a big officer, and deserved money on that account. He wanted nothing more than four rupees from God’s immense treasury.

Question 3.
He offers to play a game with Allah Miyan. What is the game?
Answer:
The game that he offers to play with Allah Miyan is that he would run up to the signal and He would secretly place four rupees under the big rock. Then he would touch the signal and come back. He would pick up the rock, and discover the money under the rock.

Question 4.
Did he get four rupees by playing the game? What did he get to see under the rock?
Answer:
No, he did not get four rupees by playing the game. When he lifted the rock, he saw a big hairy worm get up, and wriggle towards him.

Question 5.
If God had granted his wish that day, what harm would it have caused him in later life?
Answer:
If God had granted his wish that day, he would have depended on God for the rest of his life for everything. He would have stopped working hard to get what he needed. He wouldn’t have been able to get past any obstacles in life, as he would have prayed and prayed to God to do everything for him. And he would have struck bargains with God to make his wishes come true. Probably, he would have ended up an over-religious, superstitious and complacent individual.

Jalebis Exercise Question and Answer

Work in small groups.

Encourage the students to work in small groups to complete the given exercises.

Question 1.
Select and read sentences that show
That the boy is tempted to eat jalebis:
Answer:
“Those fresh, hot jalebis coming out of the kadhai in the shop over there, they’re not coming out for nothing. Jalebis are meant to be eaten and only those with money in their pocket can eat them, And money isn’t for nothing. Money is meant to be spent and only they spend it, who like jalebis.”
“Tell me honestly now, don’t you feel like eating those hot, hot jalebis
“But then, these jalebis are no common sort of jalebis either. They’re crisp, fresh and full of sweet syrup.”
That he is feeling guilty:
“With every breath came a burp, and with every burp, the danger of bringing out a jalebi or two — the fear was killing me.”
“.. .if the doctor, after feeling my pulse, had declared, Munna has devoured a mound of jalebis, I would simply die.”
“I sat under it and wondered whether there could possibly be a more unfortunate child than me in this world!”
“Now for the crime of eating a few jalebis, for the first time in my life I was absent from school, and crouching in the shade of a tree in a deserted comer of the railway station.
Sitting there under the tree, at first I felt like crying.”
That he is justifying a wrong deed:
“So all right, I admit I made a mistake. I didn’t eat them all by myself, though I fed them to a whole lot of children too, but yes, it was a mistake.”
“If I’d known the scholarship money would be given next month, I would neither have eaten them nor fed them to the others.”

Question 2.
Discuss the following points.
Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers.

(i) Is the boy intelligent? If so, what is the evidence for it?
Answer:
Yes, the boy is intelligent. He receives a scholarship, and is loved and appreciated by his teachers. He is a promising student, and had never been caned until that point. Besides, he explains his temptation to buy jalebis by making us believe that it was the coins that tempted him, and the mistake wasn’t his at all.

(ii) Does his outlook on the jalebis episode change after class VIII? Does he see that episode in a new light?
Answer:
Yes, his outlook on the jalebis episode changes after Class 8. He realizes that if God had given him what he wanted back then, he would never have worked hard to achieve anything in life.

(iii) Why are coins made to talk in the story? What purpose does it serve?
Answer:
The coins are made to talk to show us how children imagine being tempted. They may not understand that the source of all temptation is their head. So, they put this blame on something outside them.

 

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 4

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-I

Question 1.
Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
Answer:
The man stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief because Bepin Babu failed to recognize him even though he had spent a considerable amount of time with him in Ranchi in the year 1958.

Question 2.
Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October ‘58?
Answer:
Bepin Babu says that he went to his friend’s house in Kanpur in October 1958.

Question 3.
Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Answer:
Parimal Ghose knew that Bepin Babu had no children, and that his wife had died ten years ago. He also knew that his brother had died insane, and that is the reason he did not want to visit the mental hospital in Ranchi in 1958.

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-II

Question 1.
Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
Answer:
Bepin Babu worried about what Parimal Ghose had said because he seemed to know so much about him and this made him very uncomfortable. This made Bepin Babu doubt himself.

Question 2.
How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or Parirrtal Ghose?
Answer:
Bepin decided to call his friend, Dinesh Mukerji to decide who was right—his memory or Parimal Ghose.

Question 3.
Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Answer:
Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr Mukerji because he would have mocked him for his lapse of memory. He would think that Bepin Babu was going mad. Moreover, he did not want to be at the receiving end of Dinesh’s sarcastic remarks. He finally decided to phone him because his mind was occupied with the thoughts of what Parimal had told him. He did not want to make a fool of himself by talking to Dinesh directly. So, he decided it was better to call him.

Question 4.
What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?
Answer:
Mr Mukerji said that he had gone out of town twice in the year 1958: once in February to Krishnanagar to attend his nephew’s wedding, and the second time to Ranchi with Bepin Babu himself. It added to Bepin Babu’s worries.

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-III

Question 1.
Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
Answer:
Chunilal was one of Bepin Babu’s friends who had been out of job. He’d been having a rough time lately and had come to Bepin Babu to see him about a job.

Question 2.
Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu s loss of memory?
Answer:
Dr Chandra was puzzled because he had never come across a case as strange and bizzare as that of Bepin Babu. The unusual thing about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory was that Bepin Babu remembered everything except the one week that he had spent at Ranchi.

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-IV

Question 1.
Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
Answer:
No, Bepin Babu had not really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi. It was Chunilal who made him believe so with his prank.

Question 2.
Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?
Answer:
Chunilal was hurt that Bepin Babu had been ignoring him, and did not help him in his time of need. Chunilal says that even though he has no money, he does have imagination.

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Working with the text

Question 1.
The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
Answer:
Bepin Babu is a serious and hardworking man. He had worked with his firm for twenty-five years, and had never shirked responsibilities. He was always working when he was at his desk. He had a reputation for being a tireless, conscientious worker.

Question 2.
Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?
Answer:
Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunilal because he thought that Chuni would know something about the ’58 trip to Ranchi. He decided to ask him about it. The meeting left Bepin Babu even more perplexed as Chunilal also confirmed that he had indeed gone to Ranchi in ’58. In fact, it was Chunilal who had helped him get train tickets.

Question 3.
Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
Answer:
I believe that Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls because he fell down there in a state of confusion.

Question 4.
How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate creative answers.)
Answer:
Sample answer: Initially, Bepin Babu must have been very angry at Chunilal when he found out that he had been tricked by him. But soon, he must have felt embarrassed about his behaviour and the whole situation. Later, he might have admired Chunilal’s imagination.

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Working with language

Question 1.
Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to 7 ‘have to 7 ‘has to ’
Solved

1. I have cut my hair every month.
2. We had to go for swimming lessons last year.
3. She had to tell the principal the truth.
4. They have to take the baby to the doctor.
5. We have to complain to the police about the noise.
6. Romit has to finish his homework before he could come out to play.
7. I had to repair my cycle yesterday.

Question 2.
Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary in the following way.
First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a dictionary.
(Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom).
To help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.)
i. at/from close quarters (close: adjective)
ii. break into a smile (break: verb; look under ‘break into something)
iii. carry on (carry: verb)
iv. have a clean record (you may find related meanings under both these words)
v. beat about the bush (verb)
Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.
i. a situation of being very or uncomfortably close to someone or something
ii. burst into a smile
iii. to continue to do something
iv. to have a clean reputation
v. discuss a matter without coming to the point

Question 3.
Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms. Answer the following questions about each pair of sentences.
i. Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place?
ii. Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher?
iii. Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?
iv. Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker ’s mind?
Answer:
i. Bepin Babu has worked here since 2003.
ii. Chunilal wrote to a publisher last week.
iii. I have seen this movie already.
iv. I have visited Ranchi once before.

Question 4.
Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form correct sentences.
You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.

i. Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you Want/the bush
Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
Meaning: talking about irrelevant matters

ii. don’t pay/Ifyou/ attention/you might/the wrong train/to the announcement/board
If you don’t pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train. Meaning: to be attentive to something

iii. The villager s/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin
The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.
Meaning: to try to implicate falsely

iv. Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor ’s/eat early/that he was
Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor’s orders to eat early.
Meaning: under doctor’s instructions

v. the students/The teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their lessons/raised/they had revised
The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.
Meaning: showed surprise or annoyance

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Speaking and writing
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate individual answers.)

Question 1.
What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friendfor playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need? Sample answer:
Answer:
I believe that after reading Chunilal’s letter, Bepin Babu must have felt very angry at him for making him go through so much. But after thinking deeply about this, he must have felt very guilty and embarrassed. He must have tried to justify Chunilal’s actions in his head, and would have thought ways of helping his friend out. He would have called Chunilal, and apologized after all this.

Question 2.
Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal’s letter and feel ashamed that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck. Now you want to do something for him. Write a letter to Chunilal promising to help him soon.
Or
A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Open Window NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 7

The Open Window NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Open Window Comprehension check – I

Question 1.
Why had Framton Nuttel come to the “rural retreat”?
Answer:
Framton Nuttel came to the “rural retreat” to cure his nerves. He was a bundle of nerves, and needed some rest and fresh air.

Question 2.
Why had his sister given him letters of introduction to people living there?
Answer:
His sister used to live there four years ago, and knew some people. She told him to meet people there instead of moping so that he felt at ease. This is why she gave him letters of introduction to people living there.

Question 3.
What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the niece?
Answer:
The niece told Framton Nuttel that three years back, her aunt’s husband along with her two ‘ young brothers went off for their day’s shooting, but they never came back. She said that in crossing the moor to their favourite shooting ground they were engulfed in a dangerous bog. Their bodies were never recovered, as well as that of their little brown spaniel that had gone with them.

The Open Window Comprehension check – II

Question 1.
What did Mrs Sappleton say about the open window?
Answer:
Mrs Sappleton apologized to Nuttel for the open window, and told him that her husband and brothers would be home directly from shooting. She said that they always came in this way.

Question 2.
The horror on the girl s face made Framton swing around in his seat. What did he see?
Answer:
Framton turned and saw that in the deepening twilight three figures were walking across the lawn towards the window. They all carried guns under their arms, and one of them was carrying a white coat over his shoulders. A tired brown spaniel was following them. As they approached towards the house, one of them began to sing: “I say, Bertie, why do you bound?”

The Open Window Comprehension check – III

Question 1.
Why did Framton rush out wildly?
Answer:
Framton rushed out wildly because he thought that he had seen the ghosts of Mrs Sappleton’s husband and two brothers. He was already nervous, and this shot up his anxiety levels. This is why he left Mrs Sappleton’s place as fast as he could.

Question 2.
What was the girl’s explanation for his lightening exit?
Answer:
The girl tells her aunt that Framton was terrified of dogs because one time he was hunted into a cemetery somewhere on the banks of the Ganges by a pack of dogs. She said that he had to spend the night in a newly dug grave with the scary dogs snarling and grinning and foaming just above him. This is why, she claimed, Framton left at lightning speed.

The Open Window Exercise Question and Answer
Discuss in small groups.

Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers.

Question 1.
Is this a mystery story? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, this is a mystery story because it is only at the end that we discover the truth. We as readers are as gullible as Framton himself. We believe and invest in the story of the niece as much as he does. We feel sympathetic towards Mrs Sappleton when we see her telling Frampton about her husband’s shooting excursion.

We are equally engulfed in the mystery behind what happened to the three men and why their bodies were never discovered. It is only at the end that we realize that the men are not ghosts and that the niece has made up the story.

Question 2.
You are familiar with the ‘irony’of the situation in a story. Which situation in ‘The Open Window ’are good examples of the use of irony?
Answer:
The story is full of irony. Irony is when we expect something, but its opposite happens. For instance, we know that Frampton has come to the neighbourhood to treat his nerves. However, we are certain that he would leave the place even more anxious than he was when he came. This is so because of the effect that the niece’s story has on him.

Similarly, it is ironic that the three men arrive home while Framton is still there. They could have easily arrived after he had left, and the niece’s story would not have had any effect on him. Another example of irony in the story is that Mrs Sappleton also talks about the open window to Framton, and inadvertently supports her niece’s story.

Question 3.
Which phrases/sentences in the text do you find difficult to understand? Select a few and guess the meaning of each. Rewrite a simple paraphrase of each.

1. Phrase/Sentence: Framton Nuttel endeavoured to say something which should duly flatter the niece of the moment without unduly discounting the aunt that was to come.
Paraphrase: Framton Nuttel tried to have a pleasant conversation with the niece without disregarding the aunt who he was going to meet soon.

2. Phrase/Sentence: … engulfed in a treacherous piece of bog.
Paraphrase: … stuck terribly in the marshes that were full of danger.

3. Phrase/Sentence: Here the child’s voice lost its self-possessed note and became falteringly human.
Paraphrase: At this point, the child’s voice was no longer composed, and sounded a little disturbed and overwhelmed.

4. Phrase/Sentence: She rattled on cheerfully …
Paraphrase: She continued to chat happily …

5. Phrase/Sentence: announced Framton, who laboured under the tolerably widespread delusion that total strangers and chance acquaintances are hungry for the least detail of one’s ailments and infirmities, their cause and cure.
Paraphrase: said Frampton, who was under the impression that complete strangers and chance acquaintances are dying to know the smallest details about our health and illnesses, their symptoms and cures.

6. Phrase/Sentence: Romance at short notice was her specialty.
Paraphrase: She had the gift of recounting stories at the drop of a hat.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Fight NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 6

The Fight NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Fight Comprehension check

Question 1.
In what way is the forest pool different from the one which Ranji knew in the Rajputana desert?
Answer:
The pools in the Rajputana desert were sticky and muddy, because buffaloes wallowed and women washed clothes in them.

Question 2.
The other boy asked Ranji to ‘explain ’ himself

i. What did he expect Ranji to say?
Answer:
He expected Ranji to apologize for swimming in his pool.

ii. Was he, in your opinion, right or wrong to ask this question?
Answer:
Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate individual answers. In my opinion, he was wrong to ask that question because the pool belonged to nobody. It was a shared resource. But the boy was arrogant and did not want the “villagers” to use his pool.

Question 3.
Between Ranji and the other boy, who is trying to start a quarrel? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
The other boy is the one trying to start a quarrel. When Ranji offers the boy to join him in swimming, he acts haughtily and tells him that he had not invited Ranji there,and it was his pool. Later he says that he is a warrior who does not take replies from “villagers”.

Question 4.
“Then we will have to continue the fight, ” said the other.
i. What made him say that?
Answer:
Both the boys were tired of fighting and could not fight any further. They knew that neither of them will budge from their position and leave the pool. So, they decided to continue the fight the next day.

ii. Did the fight continue? If not, why not?
Answer:
No, the fight did not continue because they were too tired to fight any further. Also, they decided to postpone the fight for the next day.

The Fight Comprehension check

Question 1.
What is it that Ranji finds difficult to explain at home?
Answer:
Ranji finds it difficult to explain the cuts and bruises that showed on his face, leg and arms. It was difficult to conceal the fact that he had been in an unusually violent fight.

Question 2.
Ranji sees his adversary in the bazaar.

i. What does he wish to do?
Answer:
On seeing his adversary in the bazaar, at first Ranji wishes to turn away and look elsewhere. Then he wishes to his second to throw his lemonade bottle at him.

ii. What does he actually do, and why?
Answer:
He stands his ground, and scowls at his adversary.

Question 3.
Ranji is not at all eager for a secondfight. Why does he go back to the pool, then?
Answer:
He goes back to the pool because he does not want to concede his defeat in front of his enemy. If he did not turn up at the pool, it would be an acknowledgement of his defeat. He wanted to gain the respect of his enemy by fighting with him to the last.

Question 4.
Who was the better swimmer? How do you know it?
Answer:
Ranji was the better swimmer because even his enemy appreciated his swimming skills, and wanted to learn how to dive from him. Ranji also tries to teach Suraj how to swim under water.

Question 5.
What surprises the warrior?
Answer:
Ranji’s excellent swimming skills surprise the warrior. He was amazed when Ranji dived straight into the water, cutting through it like a knife, and surfacing with hardly a splash.

Question 6.
Now that they are at the pool, why don’t they continue the fight?
Answer:
They do not continue the fight because they get busy swimming and Suraj who was keener to have the fight wants to learn how to dive from Ranji. In this way, they become friends and stop fighting.

Question 7.
Ranji s superiority over the other boy is obvious in the following:
physical strength, good diving, him being a fighter, sense of humour, swimming under water, making a good point, willingness to help , Underline the relevant phrases.
Answer:
physical strength, good diving, his being a fighter, sense of humour, swimming under water, making a good point, willingness to help

Question 8.
What, according to you, makes the two adversaries turn into goodfriends in a matter of minutes? Explain it as you have understood it.
Answer:
Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers. The two adversaries turn into good friends when they realize each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Ranji earns Suraj’s respect with his wonderful swimming skills. And Ranji realizes that behind Suraj’s tough exterior is a vulnerable child who is willing to befriend him if he teaches him how to dive. When the two learn that they have much to offer each other, they decide that it is better to be friends than adversaries.

The Fight Exercise Question and Answer

Discuss the following topic in small groups.

Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers.

Question 1.
Is fighting the only way of resolving differences of opinion? What else can be done to reach a mutually acceptable settlement?
Answer:
No, fighting is the worse way to resolve differences of opinion. The world is full of different types of people. There are bound to be differences of opinion. We cannot go on fighting with each other. The best way to resolve a conflict is by engaging in meaningful discussion and seeing things from another person’s point of view.

A mutually acceptable settlement can happen only when the parties involved in a quarrel accept each other’s opinion without feeling a need to blame each other. When’everyone accepts their mistakes, and allows for differences in opinion, any conflict can be resolved. We need to see each other as an extension of our own selves instead of hating each other. Everyone is vulnerable in their own way.

Even a stopped clock tells the correct time two times a day. So, sometimes we need to agree to disagree and not take things personally. We should allow for and appreciate differences of opinion if we want to live peacefully in this world.

Question 2.
Have you ever been in a serious fight only to realize later that it was unnecessary and futile? Share your experience/views with others frankly and honestly.
Answer:
Yes, every time I have a fight with anyone, I realize the futility of the fight. I find it deeply unnecessary. Once I fought with a very dear friend over a trivial matter. She said some things that hurt me. So, instead of telling her that I was hurt, I also said things I knew would hurt her. We stopped talking. I had an uneasy feeling throughout the day.

I felt miserable because I wanted to talk to her, and tell her things. But she would not even look at me. Then, I thought that there is no use of fighting, and that I must apologize to her. I did so, and we quickly made up. I was so relieved. How could I have let her go so easily! I am glad that the fight did not last very long. After all, she knew all my secrets.

Question 3.
Why do some of us find it necessary to prove that we are better than others? Will you be amused or annoyed to read the following sign at the back of the car in front of you? I may be going slow but I am ahead of you.
Answer:
It is possible that most people find pleasure in proving that they are better than others. It is in reality a trait that almost all human beings possess. We all get a boost to our self-esteem or self-worth when we feel that we are better than the other person in any way. It helps us deal with feelings of insecurity and makes us feel better about ourselves.

People do it different ways, and some are quite open about it. The sign mentioned in the question is quite creative. It would amuse me if I came across such a sign, because it is not meant to belittle those who read it, but is merely a humourous quote. I would not mind waving to such a person and telling them that I find the sign funny.

 

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

Princess September NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 5

Princess September NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Princess September Comprehension check

Question 1.
How many daughters did the royal couple have?
Answer:
The royal couple had nine daughters.

Question 2.
Why were they named after the months of the year?
Answer:
They were named after the months of the year because the Queen found it confusing to remember so many names.

Question 3.
The King had a peculiar habit. What was it? Why is it called peculiar?
Answer:
The King used to give presents on his birthday, instead of receiving them. It is called peculiar because traditionally, people receive presents on their birthday.

Question 4.
i. What was Princess September’s reaction to the loss of her parrot?
Answer:
On coming to know that her parrot had died, Princess September burst into a flood of tears and was inconsolable. She would not stop crying, no matter what the Maids of Honour told her.

ii. What was her mother’s reaction to it?
Answer:
Her mother thought that it was all nonsense and told the Maids of Honour to let the Princess go to bed without supper.

iii. What do the reactions indicate about the nature and temperament of each?
Answer:
Their reactions indicate that the Princess did not take well to tragedy and grief. She was kind and sympathetic. She loved her parrot. On the other hand, the Queen comes across as cold and reckless. She does not seem to care much about her children.

Question 5.
What pulled the Princess out of her gloom?
Answer:
A little bird came out of nowhere and hopped into the Princess’ room. Then he began to sing a beautiful song all about the lake in the King’s garden and the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water and the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches that were reflected in it.

Question 6.
How did the Maids of Honour come to know that the Princess and the bird had become intimate friends?
Answer:
The Maids of Honour came to know that the Princess and the bird had become intimate friends because the bird ate rice out of the Princess’ hand and he had his bath in her saucer.

Question 7.
The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots always repeated themselves. What did they say?
Answer:
The old parrots could say ‘God save the king’ and some of them could say ‘Pretty Polly’ in at least seven Oriental languages.

Question 8.
What is the King’s opinion about his Councillors? Why did he form that opinion?
Answer:
The King thought that his Councillors say the same thing in seven different ways and it never means anything in any way they say it. He probably formed that opinion because he was not happy with their advice on different matters pertaining to the kingdom.

Question 9.
i. The eight Princesses made an offer to Princess September. What was it?
Answer:
The eight Princesses wanted to put their pocket-money together to buy Princess September a lovely green and yellow parrot.

ii. Why, in your view, did they do it?
Answer:
They did this out of jealousy. They did not want Princess September to have a bird that sag so beautifully, and who was better than their parrots.

Question 10.
What did the sisters advise the Princess to do about her bird?
Answer:
The sisters advised the Princess to buy a cage for her bird and lock him inside it.

Princess September Comprehension check

Question 1.
In the following sentence elaborate the parts given in bold. Under the circumstances it was a very unfortunate remark for the bird to make.
Answer:
The circumstances being referred to here is the absence of the bird. He explains it to the Princess by saying that his father-in-law insisted that he stay, and he almost did not come back. He returned only because he knew that the Princess would be anxious. The truth was that the Princess was quite worried about the little bird and was thinking of putting him in a cage for his safety.

Question 2.
i. What did Princess September do to ensure the safety of her pet?
Answer:
Princess September put the little bird in a cage to ensure his safety.

ii. How did the bird react to it?
Answer:
At first the bird thought that it was a joke. But when the Princess told him that it was just for one night, he agreed. The next morning, he called her at the top of his’voice to be let out. When Princess September explained her actual intention to him, he tried to slip through the bars and beat against the door of the cage. Later, the bird did not eat or sing as a form of protest and kept asking the Princess to let him out.

Question 3.
Why did the bird refuse to be taken out in her cage?
Answer:
The bird refused to be taken out in her cage because he did not want to see the world through the bars of a cage.

Question 4.
i. What persuaded Princess September to give the bird his freedom again?
Answer:
When Princess September saw that the bird refused to eat, or sing, she grew anxious. She greeted him in the morning in a cheerful voice, but got no answer. She looked at the cage and found that the bird lay at the bottom, on his side, with his eyes closed, and he looked as if he were dead. This terrified her and she decided to give the bird his freedom again.

ii. How did the bird react to it?
Answer:
The bird told the Princess that he loved him dearly, and that he would come to meet her. He said that he would never forget her, and would always return to her. Then he opened his wings and flew away to enjoy the bounties of Nature.

Question 5.
Princess September kept her window open day and night.
i. How did it help the bird?
It helped the bird in visiting Princess September whenever he felt inclined to do so.
ii. How did it help the Princess herself?
Answer:
It helped the Princess grow extremely beautiful because of the fresh air that came through the window. And when she was old enough, she married the King of Cambodia and was carried on a white elephant all the way to the city in which the King lived.

Question 6.
The eight sisters kept their windows shut. How did it affect them?
Answer:
The eight sisters became ugly and disagreeable as they kept their windows shut. As a result, their hands in marriage were given away to the King’s Councillors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.

Princess September Exercise Question and Answer

Discuss the following questions in small groups. Write their answers later.
Encourage the students to discuss the given questions in groups.

Question 1.
Are the sisters unkind and cruel? Find evidence in the text to support your idea.
Answer:
Yes, the sisters were unkind and cruel. They kept their own parrots in cages, and advised Princess September to lock her little bird in a cage as well. They put feelings of mistrust in the Princess’ heart. They told her to “pop” the bird in the cage when he came back to her. They tried their best to destroy the friendship between the bird and Princess. They planned a strategy to do this, and were initially successful.

When she did as they had asked her to, they told her that the bird would get used to the cage in a while and would forget that he was ever free. Also, when she went to them for advice on how to make the bird eat, they called him “ungrateful” for refusing to eat, and also said that it would serve him right if he died.

Question 2.
Which, to you, is the most important idea in this story, and why?
i. importance of music
ii. value of freedom
iii. beauty of nature
Answer:
The main theme of the story is the value of freedom. It illustrates that even love takes a second place to freedom. The bird can only sing when it is free. It is the only thing that makes him happy. He has a desire to see the blue sky, water, green grass and trees. The freedom to do so is dearer to him than everything else in the world. He almost dies with the lack of freedom. Similarly, all living beings are given their free will by the Maker. It is wrong to take that away from them. We must uphold the values of freedom and liberty. Without them, life would never have the same meaning as with them.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Great Stone Face 2 NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 10

The Great Stone Face 2 NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Great Stone Face 2 Comprehension check

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.

1. Ernest s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. True
2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. True
3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. False
4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. True
5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. False
6. The poet realized that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. True

The Great Stone Face 2 Working with the text

Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
How was Ernest different from others in the valley?
Answer:
Ernest was different from others in the valley because he was wise in his thoughts, gentle in his speech and pure and kind in his bearing. He was noble and respected by one and all. He believed in simple truths and had a clean heart.

Question 2.
Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face?
Answer:
Ernest thought that the poet was like the Stone Face because he had not forgotten the Great Stone Face, and had celebrated it in a poem. His poetry had touched Ernest’s heart.

Question 3.
What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems?
Answer:
The poet did not think himself worthy of the likeness between him and the Great Stone Face. He said that his poems can be heard in the distant voice of a heavenly song. But his life had not corresponded with his thoughts. He had grand dreams, but they had been only dreams. Sometimes he lacked faith in his thoughts.

Question 4.
What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?
Answer:
As the poet sat listening to Ernest speak with his heart, he felt that the life and character of Ernest were a nobler strain of poetry than he had ever written. His eyes filled with tears and he said to himself that never was there so worthy a sage as Ernest. It was then that the resemblance between Ernest and the Great Stone Face struck him. So, he proclaimed that Ernest was the Stone Face.

Question 5.
Write ‘Ernest’or‘Poet’, against each statement below.
i. There was a gap between his life and his words.
ii. His words had the power of truth as they agreed with his thoughts.
iii. His words were as soothing as a heavenly song but only as useful as a vague dream.
iv. His thoughts were worthy.
v. Whatever he said was truth itself.
vi. His poems were noble.
vii. His life was nobler than all the poems.
viii. He lacked faith in his own thoughts.
ix. His thoughts had power as they agreed with the life he lived.
x. Greatness lies in truth. Truth is best expressed in one s actions. He was truthful, therefore he was great.
Answer:
i. Poet
ii. Ernest
iii. Poet
iv. Poet
v. Ernest
vi. Poet
vii. Ernest
viii. Poet
ix. Ernest
x. Ernest

Question 6.
i. Who, by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face?
Answer:
Ernest turned out to be like the Great Stone Face.

ii. Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true? What did he say about it?
Answer:
No, Ernest did not believe that the old prophecy had come true. He did not say anything, but went on to finish his lecture. After that he took the poet’s arm, and went home. He thought that one day some wiser and better man than himself would by and by appear, bearing a resemblance to the Great Stone Face.

The Great Stone Face 2 Working with language

1.  i. c. setting
ii. c. causing (it) to appear hopeful
iii. b. big and wide
iv. b. prediction
V. a. wonderful
vi. b. declare
vii. b. stop
viii .a. stay
ix. b. stared at
X. c. assumed

Question 2.
ii. Which form of the verb is more natural in these sentences? Encircle your choice.
a. I’m not free this evening. I will work/am working on a project.
Answer:
am working

b. Have you decided where you will go for your higher secondary? Yes, I have. I will go/am going to the Kendriya Vidyalaya.
Answer:
b. will go

c. Don’t worry about the dog. It won’t hurt/isn’t hurting you.
Answer:
c. won’t hurt

d. The weatherman has predicted that it will snow/is snowing in Ranikhet tonight.
Answer:
d. will snow

e. Swapna can’t go out this evening. Her father will come/is coming to see her.
Answer:
e. is coming

Question 3.
i. Complete these pieces of conversation using will or going to with the verbs given.
Solved
a. Rani: Why are you turning on the radio?
Ravi: I am going to listen (listen) to the news.

b. Rani: Oh, I can’t buy this book. I have no money.
Ravi: Don’t worry. I will lend (lend) you some.

c. Rani: Look at those dark clouds.
Ravi: I think it is going to rain (rain).

d. Rani: What shall we have for dinner?
Ravi: I can’t decide.

Rani: Make up your mind.
Ravi: All right, then. We will have (have) fried rice and dry beans.

e. Rani: Why are you filling the kettle with water?
Ravi: I am going to make (make) coffee.

f. Rani : We need some bread and butter for breakfast.
Ravi: All right. I will go (go) to the bakery and get some.
(Before he goes out, Ravi talks to their father.)
Ravi: I am going to get (get) some bread and butter. Do you want anything from the bakery?

Father : Yes, I want some salt biscuits.
Ravi: Fine, I will get (get) you a packet.

ii. Let pairs of children take turns to speak aloud the dialogues.
Encourage the students to form pairs and take turns to speak aloud the given dialogues.

The Great Stone Face 2 Speaking and writing

Question 1.
Each of the following words has the sound /f/ as in feel. The words on the left have it initially. Those on the right have it finally. Speak each word clearly.
Answer:
Encourage the students to pronounce the given words clearly.

Question 2.
Underline the letter or letters representing /f/ ineach of the following words.
(Solved)
Answer:
file; slough; faint; lift; cough; defence; afford; enough; photograph; staff; tough; aloof; affront; philosophy; sophistry

Question 3.
Imagine that you are the poet. You have come to your native valley to meet a famous
preacher called Ernest. Narrate the incident of your first meeting with him.
Answer:
I had heard a lot of things about a man called Ernest in the Great Stone Face Village. I thought that it would be worthy of my time and go and meet him. But I did not want to reveal my identity to him, as I did not want him to pretend.

I saw it like a spiritual adventure. I would meet a man whose actions are noble and coincide with his words. When I went to his simple abode, I knocked at the door. An old man with the most radiant and kind face greeted me. I told him that I was a traveller and was looking for a place to stay for the night. He readily agreed. I must confess that this man has the most pleasant and the kindest face I have ever seen.

This meek and gentle man has the soul of an angel. He is as innocent as a baby, and as wise as a sage. We spoke at length about profound matters in the simplest of ways. I noticed that I could pour my heart over to him. My communion with him is as close I could have ever reached to God. And I am glad that I took this journey and came to meet him. I know that I have found a lifelong friend and mentor in him.

Question 4.
i. Put each of the following in the correct order to construct sentences.
Answer:

• a resident of Noida near Delhi,/is visually impaired/George Abraham,
  George Abraham, a resident of Noida near Delhi is visually impaired.
• Confidence and competitive spirit/and infuses discipline among the participants/It provides
  It provides confidence and competitive spirit and infuses discipline among the participants.
• He has helped/The brain behind the World Cup Cricket,/the disabled to dream The brain behind the World Cup Cricket he has helped the disabled to dream.
• To the blind school in Delhi/It was a chance visit/that changed his life It was a chance visit to the blind school in Delhi that changed his life.
• Sport is a powerful tool/the disabled/He believes that/for rehabilitation of He believes that sport is a powerful tool for rehabilitation of the disabled.

ii. Now rearrange the sentences above to construct a paragraph.
Answer:
George Abraham, a resident of Noida near Delhi is visually impaired. The brain behind the World Cup Cricket he has helped the disabled to dream. It was a chance visit to the blind school in Delhi that changed his life. He believes that sport is a powerful tool for rehabilitation of the disabled. It provides confidence and competitive spirit and infuses discipline among the participants.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

The Treasure Within NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 4

The Treasure Within NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Treasure Within Comprehension check

Question 1.
What did Hafeez Contractor have nightmares about?
Answer:
Hafeez Contractor had nightmares about appearing for a maths examination where he did not know anything.

Question 2.
What did the Principal say to him, which influenced him deeply?
Answer:
When Hafeez approached eleventh standard, the Principal called him and told him that he would no longer take care of him, and that he would have to start studying. He tried to make Hafeez realize that his mother had brought him up after so much trouble and that the time had come for him to rise to the occasion and study.

Question 3.
“… that year I did not step out onto the field. ” What was he busy doing that year?
Answer:
Hafeez was busy studying that year. In that year, he did not waste any time. He went for prayers, ate and studied. That is all he did that year.

Question 4.
i. What “distraction ” did Hafeez Contractor create one day?
Answer:
Hafeez created a “distraction” by playing ‘chor-police’ for one hour so as to avoid studying. ‘Chor-police’ is a popular game among school children in India.

ii. Would you have liked to participate in the “distraction ” had you been with him? Encourage the students to formulate their own answers.
Answer:
Yes, I would have definitely liked to participate in the “distraction” had I been with him, but I would have finished my studies first.

The Treasure Within Comprehension check

Question 1.
Hafeez Contractor wanted to join the police force. Why didn’t he?
Answer:
Hafeez Contractor did not join the police force because his mother told him not to. She wanted him to complete his graduation first and then get a job.

Question 2.
In the architect’s office, Hafeez Contractor was advised to drop everything and join architecture. Why?
Answer:
Hafeez Contractor seemed to understand the basics of architecture instinctively. He was a natural. He was able to spot a significant inaccuracy in the drawing of one of the architects at his brother-in-law’s office. He was asked to draw a house. He drew it so brilliantly that his brother-in-law was impressed. This, is why he advised Hafeez to drop everything and join architecture.

Question 3.
i. What was Mrs Gupta s advice to Hafeez Contractor?
Answer:
Mrs Gupta’s advised Hafeez Contractor to become an architect when he grew up.

ii. What made her advise him so?
Answer:
She saw Hafeez’s sketches and could see that he had the drawing skills to become an ‘ architect later in life. This is why she advised him so.

Question 4.
How did he help fellow students who had lost a button?
Answer:
When his fellow students lost a button, Hafeez would cut a button for them from chalk, using a blade.

Question 5.
Which rules did he break as a school boy?
Answer:
As a school boy, Hafeez used to be interested in games, running around, and playing jokes and pranks on others. He would copy in class during exams. He would try to get hold of the examination paper that had been prepared and study it, as he could not remember things that had been taught to him in class.

Every Saturday he would have no lunch and collect money from 40 to 50 students to buy movie tickets. On his way back, he would eat to his heart’s content. He used to be the leader of a gang that would have gang fights and plan strategies. Such things used to interest him more than academics.

Question 6.
i. What is Hafeez Contractor’s definition of mathematics?
Answer:
According to Hafeez Contractor, putting design, construction, psychology and sociology together and making a sketch from all that is ‘mathematics’.

ii. How would you want to define mathematics? Do you like the subject?
Answer:
Mathematics is an abstract science of number, quantity, and space, either as abstract concepts (pure mathematics), or as applied to other disciplines such as physics and engineering. Yes, I like the subject very much.

The Treasure Within Exercise Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions.

Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate answers for the given questions.

Question 1.
Is it likely that someone who is original and intelligent does not do very well at school? Should such a learner be called a failure? If not, why?
Answer:
Yes, it is very likely that someone who is original and intelligent does not do very well at school. Such a person should be called a learner. This is so because being good in academics does not guarantee that a person is going to be successful. There are various kinds of intelligence such as visual, mathematical, linguistic, logical, musical, interpersonal, and so on. Academic excellence only goes on to show that a person is hard-working and applies themselves well. A person who is good at academics may end up doing an ordinary job, and a person who is not as good may end up becoming extraordinary.

An intelligent person may have some learning disabilities, and may not be able to perform well in academics. Besides, each individual has their own strengths and weaknesses. We can never judge a person basis their academic performance. There have been several examples of people who have dropped out of school and still proved their genius to the world. This list includes people such as Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

Question 2.
Who, in your view, is an ‘unusual’learner?
Answer:
An ‘unusual’ learner is someone who does not learn in the same way as everybody else. This means that the typical forms of learning do not work with such a learner. They may have a photographic or visual memory, which means that they may remember pictures and images better than written text. Similarly, if someone has an artistic bent of mind, they may see and learn things in a more creative manner.

Question 3.
What can schools do to draw out the best in unusual learners? Suggest whatever seems reasonable to you.
Answer:
Each learner has different needs and aptitude. And all of us have a learning curve, which differs from person to person. Schools must understand this before they design a curriculum. They need to ensure that their modes of teaching cater to students with different types of intelligences. They should design a diverse curriculum.