NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 9 The Comet – I It So Happened English
Comprehension Check
1. Why does Indrani Debi dislike Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya?
Answer
Indrani Debi disliked Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya because for her, that telescope was like a designing woman who had ensnared her husband.
2. She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling?
Answer
She was smiling at the forgetful nature of Duttada. He used to overlook the practical problems of living. His doctor had told him to take special precautions against the cold. However, he would not remember to put on a sweater even if it was lying on his bedside chair.
3. (i) What was Duttada’s secret ambition? (ii) What did he do to achieve it?
Answer
(i)Duttada’s secret ambition was to discover a new comet one day.
(ii) He sat every night with his small 8-inch telescope and gazed at the stars, believing tha the would discover a comet one day.
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. 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.
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 hazy galaxies. They might miss such an insignificant thing as a comet, which they would not be expecting to see. Amateurs had often discovered new comets, which the professionals had missed.
6. Why does Duttada say – “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet.”?
Answer
Duttada said that he almost wished he had not discovered the comet because it brought in unwelcome publicity for him. There were numerous receptions and functions which he had to attend. He was an introvert and such a lifestyle was not to his liking.
7. Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?
Answer
His wife was unhappy about the discovery because she believed that comets brought ill-luck, and she wished a good man like Duttada was not associated with such a discovery.
Page No: 80
1. How did Sir John get hold of James’ original manuscript?
Answer
James’ original manuscript was to be published in ‘Nature’. Sir John got hold of it as the editor of ‘Nature’ was his friend.
2. What is the important point the paper makes?
Answer
The important point that the paper made was that Comet Dutta would collide with the earth.
3. Why does Sir John say that James’ paper should not be published?
Answer
Sir John said that the paper should not be published because if the news of the inevitable collision became known to the world, it would result in panic.
4. What do the two men finally decide to do?
Answer
Two men decided to call a secret meeting of experts within a week’s time to think over and find the solution to the imminent problem.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 8 Jalebis It So Happened English
Comprehension Check
1. Why didn’t he pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school?
Answer
He did not pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school because Master Ghulam Mohammed, the teacher who collected the fees was on leave, and it would be collected the next day.
2. (i) What were the coins ‘saying’ to him? (ii) Do you think they were misguiding him?
Answer
(i)The coins were asking him to buy the jalebis.
(ii)Yes, they were misguiding him. Even though the money was for the payment of fees, they urged him to spend all on jalebis.
3. Why didn’t he take the coins’ advice? Give two or three reasons.
Answer
He did not take the coins’ advice because:→ He was an honest boy. → He was studious and had a image to protect in the school. → He did not want to get caught doing wrong things.
(i)The oldest coin said that they were trying to tell him something for his own good. It said that he would get the scholarship money the next day, and with that money he could pay his fees. Hence, he could very well buy the jalebiswith the fees money.
4. (i) What did the oldest coin tell him? (ii) Did he follow his advice? If not, why not?
Answer
(ii)No, he did not follow its advice. Even though his mouth watered, he remembered the fact that he was among the most promising students at school. In the fourth standard exams, he had even won a scholarship of four rupees a month. Also, he came from a particularly well-to-do family and enjoyed considerable prestige. He had never once been beaten. On the contrary, his teacher had got him to beat the other boys. He thought that for a child of such status, standing in the middle of the market and eatingjalebis was inappropriate. Giving these reasons, he returned home.
5. He reached home with the coins in his pocket. What happened then?
Answer
When he reached home, the coins began to speakagain. When he went inside to have lunch, they began to shriek. He was so thoroughly fed up that he rushed out of the house barefoot and ran towards the market. Although he was terrified, he quickly asked for a whole rupee worth of jalebis. The halwai opened up a whole newspaper and heaped a pile of jalebis on it.
Page No: 68
1.(i) Why didn’t he eat all the jalebis he had bought? (ii) What did he do with the remaining jalebis?
Answer
(i) He did not eat all the jalebis he had bought because he had eaten so many of them that if anybody pressed his stomach a little, jalebis would have popped out of his ears and nostrils.
(ii) He distributed the remaining jalebis to the children who had assembled in the gali where he was eating the jalebis.
2. “The fear was killing me.” What was the fear?
Answer
The fear was of getting caught and his parents finding out that he had eaten so many jalebis. He burped with every breath. With every burp, there was the danger of bringing out a jalebi or two. This fear was killing him.
3. “Children’s stomachs are like digestion machines.” What do youunderstand by that? Do you agree?
Answer
This means that children have a robust digestive ability. They can digest more than usual diet.
4. How did he plan to pay the fees the next day?
Answer
He planned to pay the fees with the previous month’s scholarship that he would get the next day.
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 was time to pay the fees, he tucked his bag under his arm and left the school. He kept walking, praying for some miracle to happen which would save him that one time. He reached the Kambelpur railway station. The elders had warned him to never cross the railway tracks. They had also warned him that one must never eat sweets with one’s fees money. However, he had disobeyed them by doing so.
Page No: 72
1. What was the consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money?
Answer
The consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money was that for the first time in his life he was absent from his school.
2. His prayer to God is like a lawyer’s defence of a bad case. Does heargue his case well? What are the points he makes?
Answer
He did not argue well. He was mostly trying to impress God and make promises. He said that he had memorised the entire namaaz. He even knew the last ten suratsof the Quran by heart. He said that he was a devoted servant of God and needed the fees money. He admitted his mistake. However, in his defence, he also said that he did not eat all the jalebis. He shared them with other children. He promised that he would never eat sweets with fees money again and if he did, then he would deserve a thief’s punishment. He said that there was no shortage of anything in God’s treasury. Even thechaprasigot a lot of money for his work. He finally said that he was the nephew of a big officer and therefore, God should give him the money as he had asked for only four rupees.
3. He offers to play a game with Allah Miyan. What is the game?
Answer
The game was that he would go from where he was standing to the signal. Then, God would secretly place four rupees under a big rock. Meanwhile, he would touch the signal and come back. Then, when he would lift the rock and find the four rupees underneath.
4. Did he get four rupees by playing the game? What did he get to seeunder 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 curling, twisting and wriggling towards him.
5. If God had granted his wish that day, what harm would it have causedhim in later life?
Answer
If God had granted his wish that day, he would never have learnt from his mistake. He would have continued doing such wrong deeds, believing that God would save him after his persuasion.
Excercise
2. Discuss the following points.
• Is the boy intelligent? If so, what is the evidence of it? • Does his outlook on the jalebis episode change after class VIII? Does he see that episode in a new light? • Why are coins made to ‘talk’ in this story? What purpose does it serve?
Answer
• Yes, the boy was intelligent. In school, he was among the most promising students. In his fourth standard exam, he had won a scholarship of four rupees a month. He was also going to get the previous month’s scholarship on the day he had to pay his fees. Also, he had never been absent from school.
• Up to class VIII, he kept wondering what harm it could have possibly caused anyone if God had sent him four rupees that day. However, later, he came to the conclusion that if God were to provide all for the asking, then man would still be living in nests such as vultures and crows, and would not have learnt the art of making jalebis. By this he meant that man would not make any efforts at all if God gave him everything he wished for.
• Coins are made to ‘talk’ in the story to show the greedy nature of the boy. His good nature, which prevented him from spending money on jalebis, comes out in the form of the words spoken by him. His greed, which was pushing him to get the jalebisand devour them, is brought out in the words uttered by the coins.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 7 The Open Window It So Happened English
solution
1. Why had Framton Nuttel come to the “rural retreat”?
Answer
Framton Nuttel had come to the “rural retreat” to undergo a nerve cure.
2. Why had his sister given him letters of introduction to people living there?
Answer
His sister had given him letters of introduction to people living there as he did not know anyone there. She knew that he would not speak to anybody and his nerves would be worse from moping. That is why she gave him letters of introduction to all the people she knew there.
3. What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the niece?
Answer
The niece told Nuttel that about three years ago Mrs Sappleton’s husband and her two younger brothers had gone for their day’s shooting through the open French window. They never came back. In crossing the moor to their favourite shooting spot, they were all engulfed in a piece of bog. It was a wet summer and places that were safe in other years gave way suddenly without warning. Their bodies were never recovered.
1. What did Mrs Sappleton say about the open window?
Answer
Mrs Sappleton said that she hoped Framton did not mind the open window. She told him that her husband and her brothers would be coming home directly from their shooting, and they always came that way.
2. The horror on the girl’s face made Framton swing around in his seat. What did he see?
Answer
When Framton turned around, he saw a silhouette of three men and dog in the evening light. Then a hoarse voice was heard shouting at the dog.
Page No: 61
1. What was the girl’s explanation for his lightning exit?
Answer
The girl said that the spaniel was the reason for his lightning exit. She said that he had a horror of dogs. She explained that he was once hunted into a cemetery somewhere on the banks of the Ganges by a pack of dogs. He had to spend the night in a newly dug grave, with the creatures snarling, grinning and foaming just above him.
Excercise
1. Is this a mystery story? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer
While explaining the mystery behind the open French window, theevents narrated by Mrs Sappleton’s niece manage to create a sense of foreboding. Later, when the three men approach the open window, the reader (like Framton) can only logically conclude that they were ghosts. Hence, one can say that this story does contain elements of the mysterious.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 6 The Fight It So Happened English
Comprehension Check
Page No: 49
1. In what way is the forest pool different from the one which Ranji knewin the Rajputana desert?
Answer
The forest pool was clean, cold and inviting, whereas the Rajputana desert had sticky, muddy pools where buffaloes wallowed and women washed clothes.
2. The other boy asked Ranji to ‘explain’ himself. (i) What did he expect Ranji to say? (ii) Was he, in your opinion, right or wrong to ask this question?
Answer
(i)He expected Ranji to apologise to him and immediately leave the pool.
(ii)He was wrong to ask this question because the pool was in the forest. It was not his personal property.
3. Between Ranji and the other boy, who is trying to start a quarrel? Givea reason for your answer.
Answer
Between Ranji and the other boy, the other boy was trying to start a quarrel. When Ranji saw him, he did not say anything. It was the otherboy who asked Ranji to explain himself. Ranji was prepared to be friendly, but was taken aback by the boy’s hostile tone. He even asked the boy to come and swim with him. However, the boy said that it was his pool, and started a fight by calling himself a ‘warrior’.
4. “Then we will have to continue the fight,” said the other. (i) What made him say that? (ii) Did the fight continue? If not, why not?
Answer
(i)When even after a lot of fighting Ranji refused to leave the pool, the other boy said that they would have to continue their fight.
(ii)No, the fight did not continue. After they decided to continue the fight, neither of them took the initiative. Then, the other boy said that they would continue the fight the next day if Ranji dared to come back to the pool.
Page No: 53
1. What is it that Ranji finds difficult to explain at home?
At home, Ranji found it difficult to explain the cuts and bruises that showed on his face, legs and arms. It was difficult to hide the fact that he had been involved in a fight.
2. Ranji sees his adversary in the bazaar. (i) What does he wish to do? (ii) What does he actually do, and why?
Answer
(i)When Ranji saw his adversary in the bazaar, he wished to turn away and look elsewhere. Then, he wished to throw the lemonade bottle at his enemy.
(ii)He actually stood his ground and scowled at the other boy. He did not throw the lemonade bottle because he did not want to start a fight in the bazaar.
3. Ranji is not at all eager for a second fight. Why does he go back to the pool, then?
Answer
Ranji left home on the second day rather unwillingly. His body still pained again. Yet he could not refuse a challenge. To gain his respect, he had to defy his enemy. As long as he fought, he had a right to the pool in the forest.
Page No: 54
4. Who was the better swimmer? How do you know it?
Answer
Ranji was the better swimmer. When the other boy made fun of him by saying that he would not be able to swim across the pool, Ranji dived straight into the water and surfaced at the other end in a flash. The boy was amazed at how well Ranji had dived, and later, at how he had swum underwater. He said that he did not know how to dive or swim underwater, and asked Ranji to teach him both.
7. Ranji’s superiority over the other boy is obvious in the following:
physical strength, good diving, his being a fighter, sense of humour, swimming under water, making a good point, willingness to help.
Underline the relevant phrases.
Answer
good diving, swimming under water and willingness to help.
8. What, according to you, makes the two adversaries turn into good friends in a matter of minutes? Explain it as you have understood it.
Answer
The two adversaries admired certain skills in each other, which they themselves lacked. When the other boy saw how well Ranji dived and swam underwater, he forgot about the fight and asked him to teach him these skills. Ranji’s willingness to help the other boy made their friendship possible. Noticing Ranji’s thin body, the other boy promised him that he would turn him into a wrestler like himself. As a result, in a matter of minutes, the adversaries turned into good friends.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 5 Princess September It So Happened English
Comprehension Check
1. How many daughters did the royal couple have?
Answer
The royal couple had nine daughters.
2. Why were they named after the months of the year?
Answer
They were named after the months of the year because the King and the Queen had many daughters, and it confused the Queen to have to remember so many names.
3. The King had a peculiar habit. What was it? Why is it called peculiar?
Answer
The King’s peculiar habit was that instead of receiving gifts on his birthday, he gave them. It is called peculiar because usually, people receive gifts on their birthdays.
4. (i) What was Princess September’s reaction to the loss of her parrot? (ii) What was her mother’s reaction to it? (iii) What do the reactions indicate about the nature and temperament of each?
Answer
(i) Princess September burst into a flood of tears at the loss of her parrot. She kept crying and nothing comforted her.
(ii) Her mother declared it as nonsense, and said that she should go to bed without any supper.
(iii) The Princess’ reaction indicates that she was a young, sensitive child. That is why she cried over the loss of her parrot. It was a very important thing for her. The loss of her parrot filled her with grief. Her mother’s reaction indicates that she was a little harsh. She did not understand her daughter’s grief and console her. She did not think that the dying of the parrot was in any way a significant incident to shed tears.
5. What pulled the Princess out of her gloom?
Answer
When the Princess was lying on her bed crying, she saw a little bird hop into her room. She wiped her tears and heard the beautiful song that the bird sang. This brought the Princess out of her gloom.
6. How did the Maids of Honour come to know that the Princess and the bird had become intimate friends?
Answer
When the Maids of Honour brought in the princess’ breakfast, they saw the bird eat rice out of her hand, and have its bath in her saucer. This showed them that the princess and the bird had become intimate friends.
7. The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots always repeated themselves. What did they say?
Answer
All the old parrots could say ‘God save the king’ and some of them could even say ‘Pretty Polly’ in seven languages.
8. What is the King’s opinion about his Councillors? Why did he form that opinion?
Answer
The King said that the parrots repeating ‘Pretty Polly’ in seven different languages reminded him of his Councillors who said the same thing in seven different ways, and meant nothing whichever way they said it. This was similar to the way the parrots kept repeating what they had learnt, without knowing the meaning of what they said.
9. (i) The eight Princesses made an offer to Princess September. What was it? (ii) Why, in your view, did they do it?
Answer
(i) The eight princesses offered to buy a lovely green and yellow parrot for Princess September by putting in all their pocket money.
(ii) They did so because they were distressed by the fact that everybody was praising Princess September’s bird, which could sing. Their parrots looked sad and repeated the same things. They wanted her to have the same pet as they had.
10. What did the sisters advise the Princess to do about her bird?
Answer
The sisters advised the Princess to keep her bird in a cage so that she could be sure of where it was.
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
Under the circumstances
After what her sisters advised her to do, the Princess was worried about the bird. She feared that the bird might forget her or start liking someone else. She felt that in such a circumstance, she would lose her little pet.
A very unfortunate remark
On returning, the bird said that it very nearly did not come back that night as its father-in-law was giving a party and had wanted it to stay. This was the last thing that the princess wanted to hear as it only confirmed her fears.
2. (i) What did Princess September do to ensure the safety of her pet? (ii) How did the bird react to it?
Answer
(i) To ensure the safety of her pet, Princess September put it in the cage. (ii) Bird reacted to it sharply. He didn’t want to be in cage. He wanted full freedom. He did not like it.
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 it was not the same thing as flying. It said that the rice fields, the lake and the willow trees looked quite different when seen through the bars of a cage.
4.(i) What persuaded Princess September to give the bird his freedom again? (ii) How did the bird react to it?
Answer
(i) The Princess found the bird nearly dead in the next morning. He had stopped taking anything. He had stopped singing at all. This persuaded the Princess to give the bird freedom again.
(ii) The bird was filled with happiness. He flew away to the far lands promising that he would come back and sing for her whenever she wanted.
5. Princess September kept her window open day and night. (i) How did it help the bird? (ii) How did it help the Princess herself?
Answer
(i) Princess September kept her window open day and night. This helped the bird as it could come into her room and leave whenever it felt like.
(ii) Sleeping with the window open proved to be very good for the princess as she grew extremely beautiful because of this reason.
6. The eight sisters kept their windows shut. How did it affect them?
Answer
The eight sisters grew extremely ugly and disagreeable. This was because they kept their windows shut.
Page No: 44
Excercise
1. Are the sisters unkind and cruel? Find evidence in the text to support your idea.
Answer
Yes, the sisters were unkind and cruel. When they saw that Princess September’s bird could sing and their parrots could only repeat two lines, they became distressed. They even offered to buy a green and yellow parrot for her. When she denied their offer, they talked her into putting her bird in the cage. After she had put the bird into the cage, it stopped eating and singing. When she consulted her sisters, they said it would soon get used to the cage. They even said that she should be firm, and if it died, then it would be very ungrateful of it. If it was obstinate and died, then it would serve it right. When she set the bird free, they mocked her and said that the bird would never return. All these instances show that they were very unkind and cruel.
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 most important idea in the story is the value of freedom. No one should be denied his freedom. Absence of freedom suffocates a person, and prevents him from enjoying the beauty of life in its fullness. The bird in the story was happy flying. It sang beautifully and ate well. However, when it was caged, it became sad, and did not eat or sing. It said that to sing, it required its freedom, and if it could not sing, it would die. This indicates that the beauty of life is in freedom, and not in captivity.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 4 The Treasure Within It So Happened English
1. What did Hafeez contractor have nightmares about?
Answer
Hafeez Contractor got nightmares about appearing for a mathematics examination in which he did not know anything.
2. What did the Principal say to him, which influenced him deeply?
Answer
The principal said to him how his mother toiled hard to bring him up inspite of his father’s death. She further said that he was grown up and should start taking care of himself. That he should start giving top priority to his study instead of sports.
3. “… that year I did not step out onto the field.” What was he busy doing that year?
Answer
He was busy studying that year. He went for prayers, and just ate and studied.
4. (i) What “distraction” did Hafeez Contractor create one day? (ii) Would you have liked to participate in the “distraction” had you been with him?
Answer
(i) He played chor-police for an hour and even school boy loves distractions very much.
(ii) Had I been with Hafeez Contractor, I would have definitely liked to particulate in the distraction.
Page No: 32
1. Hafeez Contractor wanted to join the police force. Why didn’t he?
Answer
Hefeez Contractor did not join the police force because his mother told him not to. His mother told him to do his graduation.
2. In the architect’s office, Hafeez Contractor was advised to drop everything and join architecture. Why?
Answer
In the architect’s office somebody was making a technical drawing of a window. Hafeez observed some lacunae in the drawing and convinced that person. Then Hafeez was asked to make a drawing for a house which Hafeez did surprisingly well. They were stunned to see Hafeez’s natural talent and advised him to join architecture.
3. (i) What was Mrs Gupta’s advice to Hafeez contractor?
(i) Mrs. Gupta, who was Hafeez Contractor’s teacher in the second and third grades, advised him to become an architect when he grew up.
(ii)She always said to him that he was quite useless in everything, except for his sketches, which were always very good. Therefore, she advised him to take up architecture.
4. How did he help fellow students who had lost a button?
Answer
When his fellow students lost a button, he helped them by cutting a button from chalk, by using a blade.
5. Which rules did he break as a school boy?
Answer
He broke many rules when he was a school boy. He would copy in class during Examination. Playing jobs and pranks on others. He would have gang fights and plan strategies. He was most interested in funny pranks. So he often created distractions. He also became a street Romeo.
6. (i) What is Hafeez contractor’s definition of mathematics? (ii) How would you want to define mathematics? Do you like the subject?
Answer
(i)He said that putting design, construction, psychology and sociology together, and making a sketch from all that is ‘mathematics’.
(ii) I would like to define mathematics as the science of numbers, quantity and space. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry are some of its branches.
Excercise
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 not?
Answer
It is likely that someone who is original and intelligent does not do very well at school. Such a learner should not be called a failure as everyone has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Those who are academically brilliant do well in other fields. Hafeez Contractor was not a very good student. However, he had the talent for construction, and he is now one of the leading architects. Each individual has his or her own individual talents, which may or may not be visible in the academic report. That is why students should be encouraged to showcase their talents, and work on them. They should not be called failures.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 3 The Selfish Giant It So Happened English
Page No: 20
1. Why is the Giant called selfish?
Answer
The Giant is called selfish because he did not allow children to play in the garden. He built a high walls around the garden. He also put up notice board with a warning on it.
2. On one occasion the children said: “How happy we are here!” Later they said: “How happy we were there!” What are they referring to in both the cases?
Answer
In the first case, they are referring to the Giant’s garden where they would play while returning from school. They had a great time whenever they played in the garden. In the second case, they are again referring to the garden; talking about how happy they were before the Giant stopped them from playing in his garden. In both the cases, the children are referring to the Giant’s garden.
3. (i) When spring came, it was still winter in the garden. What does winter stand for or indicate here? (ii) Winter has been presented like a story with its own characters and their activities. Describe the story in your own words.
Answer
(i)In the story, winter stands for a negative, desolate and lifeless environment. In this environment, trees and flowers do not blossom. Here, winter also refers to an atmosphere of depression and laziness. Since birds did not sing, children did not play and spring did not visit the garden, winter prolonged its stay in the garden.
(ii)When spring came, the birds did not sing as there were no children. The trees too did not blossom. At a particular instance, a flower put its head out from the grass. However, when it saw the notice board put up by the giant, it felt sad and sorry for the children, got back inside the grass, and went off to sleep. On the other hand, snow and frost were very happy. While the snow covered the grass, the frost fell on all the trees. They invited the North Wind to stay with them, and later even the Hail was asked to visit. The Hail rattled the roof of the castle everyday until some of it started breaking, and then it ran round the garden again and again as fast as it could.
4. Was the Giant happy or sad over the state of the garden?
Answer
The Giant was sad over the state of his garden. He could not understand why spring was so late in coming.
5. What effect did the linnet’s song have over Hail and the North Wind?
Answer
When the linnet sang, the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind stopped roaring.
Page No: 24
1. (i) The Giant saw a most wonderful sight. What did he see? (ii) What did he realise on seeing it?
Answer
(i)The Giant saw that the children had entered the garden through a small hole in the wall, and were sitting on the branches of trees. There was a child on every tree. The trees had covered themselves with blossoms as they were glad to have the children back. The birds were flying about and twittering in delight, and the flowers and grass were laughing out loud.
(ii)He realised that spring did not come to his garden because he had prevented the children from playing in his garden. He realised that he was selfish not to allow the children to play in his garden.
2. Why was it still winter in one corner of the garden?
Answer
In one corner of the garden, there was a tree all covered with frost and snow. The North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. A little boy was standing in front of it, but could not reach its branches. As a result, there was still winter in this part of the garden.
3. Describe the first meeting of the little boy and the Giant.
Answer
The first meeting of the little boy and the Giant was beneath the tree that was covered with frost and snow. The Giant took him gently in his hands and put him up into the tree. The tree at once blossomed, and the birds came and sang on it. The little boy stretched out his two arms, flung them round the Giant’s neck, and kissed him.
4. Describe their second meeting after a long interval.
Answer
Their second meeting took place after a long interval; on a winter morning. The Giant was surprised to see that in the farthest corner of the garden, there was a tree covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were golden, and silver fruit hung down from them. The little boy stood underneath it. The Giant went towards him in great joy. As he came near the child, his face grew red with anger when he saw that there were imprints of nails on his palms and feet. The Giant asked the little boy who had wounded him, and told him that he would slay the one who had done so. The child answered that those were the wounds of love. Kneeling before the little child in awe, the Giant asked him who he was. The child smiled at the Giant, and said to him that since he had let him play once in his garden, that day he would come with him to his garden, which was paradise.
5. The Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. What does this sentence indicate about the once selfish Giant?
Answer
The sentence indicates the Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. The Giant had been blessed with paradise after his death. The Giant is no longer selfish and cruel. That’s why he is covered with white blossoms. White colour is a symbol of peace.
Excercise
1. The little child’s hands and feet had marks of nails. Who does the child remind you of? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer
The child reminds one of Jesus Christ. When the Giant met the little child for the second time, he saw imprints of nails on his palms and feet. When Christ was crucified, nails were dug into his palms and feet. He had sacrificed his life for humanity, so that the sins of the world would be washed away. That is why the child told the Giant that those were the wounds of love.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 2 Children at Work It So Happened English
Comprehension Check
1. Velu stood on the platform but he felt “as if he was still on a moving train”. Why?
Answer
Velu stood on the platform but felt as if he was still on a moving train because his legs were still wobbly and shaky after the journey to Chennai. Usually, the effect of a moving train stays for some time after the end of the journey.
2. What made him feel miserable?
Answer
Velu felt miserable and exhausted because he had run away from his village two days ago and had not eaten anything except some peanuts and a piece of jaggery for the last two days.
3. (i) Velu travelled without a ticket. Why? (ii) How did he escape the ticket collector’s attention?
Answer
(i) Velu travelled without a ticket because he had no money to buy a ticket.
(ii) He escaped the ticket collector’s attention because luckily the ticket collector did not come to the unreserved compartment.
4. Why had Velu run away from home?
Answer
Velu had run away from home because his father used to beat him everyday. His father would also spend the money earned by Velu and his sisters on drinking.
5. Why did he decide to follow the ‘strange’ girl?
Answer
He decided to follow the ‘strange’ girl because he did not know where to go and what to do.
Page No: 13
1. Can Velu read Tamil and English? How do you know?
Answer
Velu can only read Tamil but not English. He failed to read the signboards in English. However, he can read front. Velu read the Tamil sign, Central Jail.
2. “If you are not careful, you will soon be counting bars there,” the girl said. (i) What is she referring to? (ii) What does she mean when she says “If you are not careful…”? (She says something a little later which means the same. Find that sentence.)
Answer
(i) She was referring to the Central Jail.
(ii) When she said “If you are not careful…” to Velu, she meant that he should not get caught. All he had to do to stay away from jail was to not do something stupid and get caught by policemen.
3. (i) Where did the girl lead Velu to? (ii) What did they get to eat?
Answer
(i) The Girl led Velu to the back of a wedding hall. (ii) Velu got a banana and a vada, while the girl got only one banana to eat.
4. What work did she do? Think of a one-word answer.
Answer
Rag picking.
Page No: 15
1. (i) What material are the ‘strange’ huts made out of? (ii) Why does Velu find them strange?
Answer
(i) The ‘strange’ huts were made out of metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood, and plastic.
(ii) Velu found the huts strange because in his village, the houses were made of mud and palm leaves. The huts he saw were made up of all sorts of things and looked like they could fall any moment.
2. What sort of things did Jaya and children like her collect and what did they do with those things?
Answer
Jaya and children like her collected paper, plastic, glass, and other such things. They sold these items to Jam Bazaar Jaggu, who further sold it to a factory.
3. Is Velu happy or unhappy to find work? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer
Velu was unhappy to find work because he had not run away from home to dig through garbage bins. The only work he had ever done was weeding and taking cows out to graze. However, since he did not know Chennai too well, he decided to work as a ragpicker till the time he found a better job.
Excercise
1. Is Velu a smart boy? Which instances in the text show that he is or isn’t?
Answer
Yes. Velu seems to be a smart boy. He makes determination to leave his village and could stand his father’s beating. When he reached Chennai, the girl, who was a ragpicker, tried to help him. Initially, he thought of not taking her help. However, he was smart enough to realize that he was very hungry and did not know where to go. Therefore, he followed the girl. He knew how to read Tamil. When the girl told him to eat the banana that she found in the garbage, he refused at first. However, he quickly realized that he was very hungry and therefore, ate it. Even though he found the place and even the girl very strange, he continued to walk along with her. He tried to understand why she collected rubbish. He knew that he had not come to the big city to collect rubbish; however, he adjusted to the circumstances and decided to do the same work till he found a better job. 2. Do you think Jaya is a brave and sensitive child with a sense of humour? Find instances of her courage, kind nature and humour in the text.
Answer
Jaya is a brave and sensitive child with sense of humour. She was of Velu’e age. She was a ragpicker and knew how to live in the city. Jaya knew her way around Chennai, which is a fairly big city. She knew from where to find food. She knew that one has to be careful to not get caught by the police.
Jaya was also a very sensitive and kind girl as she helped Velu in all possible ways. She gave him a pair of shoes because his feet burnt in burning sun on far road.
Jaya was also of a humorous nature. When she saw Velu sitting at the platform, she asked him if he was there to become rich. When Velu was not able to cross the road, she dragged him to the other side of the road and said “What do you think you’re doing? Grazing cows? If you stand around in the middle of the road like that, you’ll be chutney.”
3. What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others. Do you find this sentence meaningful in the context of this story? How?
Answer
Yes, this story shows that what one throws away as waste might be valuable to others. The empty bottles, paper and items of plastic are thrown out by the people. The ragpickers earn their living by collecting them. Those who store rubbish become very rich people for them. The waste is valuable and a blessing for them and their life depends upon it.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: How The Camel Got His Hump It So Happened English
Comprehension check
1. What tasks, do you think, were assigned to the dog and the ox?
Answer
The dog was assigned the task of fetching and carrying sticks, while the ox was assigned the task of ploughing.
2. Why did the camel live in the middle of the desert?
Answer
The camel lived in the middle of the desert because it did not want to work. It ate sticks, thorns, and prickles, and when anybody spoke to it, it said “Humph!” and nothing more.
3. What made the dog, the horse and the ox very angry?
Answer
The man told the dog, the horse and the ox that since the camel cannot work, he would leave it alone and the three of them would have to work double-time to make up for the work not done by the camel. This made the three of them very angry.
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 he was the in charge of all deserts and knew about everything happening in relation to his deserts.
Page No: 5
1. The camel was looking at his own reflection in the pool. What does it suggest to you about the camel?
Answer
The camel’s looking at his own reflection in the pool shows that he was proud of his appearance, especially his back. He liked admiring himself.
2. The camel said, “Humph” repeatedly. How did it affect him?
Answer
When the camel said “Humph!” repeatedly despite the Djinn’s warning, his back puffed up into a big hump.
3. What, according to the Djinn, was the use of the “humph”?
Answer
According to the Djinn, the hump was useful for storing his food and using it during continuous work for many days.
4. “…he has never yet learnt to behave”. In the light of this, what is the writer’s opinion about the camel?
Answer
According to the writer, the camel is still a very lazy animal that is unwilling to work. After he got the hump, the Djinn asked him to go out of the desert to help the other three animals. It seems that the camel still did not behave himself and worked lazily in the desert itself. It is for this reason that he was still unable to complete the pending work of those three missed days; and he continued carrying the hump and living in the desert.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: On the Grasshopper and Cricket (Poem) Honeydew English
Working with Poem
1. Discuss with your partner the following definition of a poem. A poem is made of words arranged in a beautiful order. These words, when read aloud with feeling, have a music and meaning of their own.
Answer
Poem is supposedly an artistic piece which contains a speech as well as a song, and is usually rhythmical and metaphorical. These beautiful arrangement of words beautify and add to the essence of the poem. Poems are supposedly read aloud to feel the intense passion and emotion with which they have been composed. The rhyming words in a poem puts various ideas and imaginations of the poet in sync. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, a poem can be defined as a piece of writing in which the words are chosen for their sound and the images they suggest, not just for their obvious meanings. The words are arranged in separate lines, usually with a repeated rhythm, and often the lines rhyme at the end.
2. ‘The poetry of earth’ is not made of words. What is it made of, as suggested in the poem?
‘The poetry of earth’ is not made of words, but of the song and the rhythm produced by grasshoppers and crickets in various seasons. The music of the nature never loses its charm even with changing seasons. Summer and winter are the toughest seasons of the year. In summer it is extremely hot and in winter it is very cold. So in these two seasons there are rare songs of joy and music on earth. But here the poet points to the poetry of earth during summer and winter. In summer, the grasshopper seems to be excitedly hopping around, tirelessly, while even in lonely and dark winter nights, one can identify the shrill voice with which the insect cricket sings.
3. Find in the poem lines that match the following.
(i) The grasshopper’s happiness never comes to an end. (ii) The cricket’s song has a warmth that never decreases.
Answer
(i) In summer luxury — he has never done With his delights,
(ii) The cricket’s song, in warmth increasing ever,
4. Which word in stanza 2 is opposite in meaning to ‘the frost’?
Answer
The word ‘frost’ in stanza 2 differs in meaning with the word ‘grassy’. Frost has a chilly reference which means a degree or state of coldness sufficient to cause the freezing of water. This meaning lacks a green live feeling which is present in the word ‘grassy’. Grassy means something which is like grass or pertains to grass.
5. The poetry of earth continues round the year through a cycle of two seasons. Mention each with its representative voice.
Answer
The poetry of earth continues round the years through the summer and the winter. In summer, the grasshopper’s voice represents the poetry of the earth. While in winter the cricket’s song represents the poetry of the earth.
