(iii) Pick out two lines from stanza 2 to justify your answer.
3. (i) Read the line (stanza 3) that implies the following. “Everyone noticed something, and they made guesses, but didn’t speak a word’. (ii) Now read the line that refers to what they noticed.
Answers:
1. (i) The word “rime’ shows that it was very cold. (ii) The word ‘starlight’ shows that it was late evening. (iii) The word ‘lonesomeness’ shows that the traveller was alone. 2. (i) Unforeseeable. The relevant lines are: No prophet durst declare Nor did the wisest wizard guess What would be chance at Lyonnesse
Honeydew Poem Chapter 7 When I Set Out For Lyonnesse More Questions Solved
Question 1: What inspired Hardy to write the poem ‘When I set out for Lyonnesse’? Answer: The poet set out for Lyonnesse to supervise renovation work of a church. He writes the poem to celebrate his successful attempt.
Question 2: What does the poet tell about his feelings before he left for Lyonnesse and after his return? Answer: When Hardy left for Lyonnesse, he was shaky. He had a fear that he might fail to do his job there. But nobody could foresee the future. But When he returned, he had glow of joy and satisfaction on his face.
Question 3: What did people notice on poet’s return from the parish? Answer: On his return from the parish, people noticed two things about him. A new glow in his eyes and a crumbled piece of paper sticking out his coat pocket.
Class 8 English Honeydew Poem The School Boy Questions From Textbook
WORKING WITH THE POEM
Question 1: Find three or four words/phrases in stanza 1 that reflect the child’s happiness and joy. Answer: The words/phrases that reflect the child’s happiness are the song of birds and the skylark, and the sound of hunter’s horn.
Question 2: In stanza 2, the mood changes. Which words/phrases reflect the changed mood? Answer: The words/phrases reflecting the child’s mood are:
(a) drives all joy away (b) cruel eye outworn (of the Teacher) (c) sighing and dismay.
Question 3: ‘A cruel eye outworn (stanza 2)’ refers to
(i) the classroom which is shabby/noisy (ii) the lessons which are difficult/uninteresting (iii) The dull/uninspiring life at school with lots of work and no play. Mark the answer that you consider right.
Answer:
(iii)
Question 4: “Nor sit in learning’s bower worn thro’ with the dreary shower’ Which of the following is a close paraphrase of the lines above?
(i) Nor can I sit in a roofless classroom when it is raining. (ii) Nor can I learn anything at school though teachers go on lecturing and explaining.
Answer:
(ii)
Class 8 English Honeydew Poem Chapter 5 The School Boy More Questions Solved
Question 1: What is the mood of the school boy? Answer: The school boy is unhappy.
Question 2: What makes the school boy unhappy? Answer: He has to go to school even in a summer morning when there is so much to enjoy in open fields and forests. Secondly, his teacher is cruel and the lessons are uninteresting.
Question 3: Why does the boy compare himself to a caged bird? Answer: Like a caged bird, the boy is also not free to do any thing at his own will. He wants to lead a life of freedom but he can’t because there are many restrictions on him.
Question 4: What is the poet’s advice to parents of school-going kids? Answer: The poet calls upon the parents to let their kids grow and play joyfully in early years. They should not restrict their natural activities.
Question 5: Why does the school boy compare himself to a plant? Answer: A small child is like a tender plant. If he is suppressed too much, he fails to grow to full size. A tender plant if crushed at the bud-stage, won’t bear any flower or fruit in spring season.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 14 – The Last Bargain Poem
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 14 The Last Bargain Poem are provided here with simple step-by-step explanations. These solutions for The Last Bargain Poem are extremely popular among Class 8 students for English The Last Bargain Poem Solutions come handy for quickly completing your homework and preparing for exams. All questions and answers from the NCERT Book of Class 8 English Chapter 14 are provided here for you for free. You will also love the ad-free experience on Meritnation’s NCERT Solutions. All NCERT Solutions for class Class 8 English are prepared by experts and are 100% accurate.
:
Question 1:
Who is the speaker in the poem?
ANSWER:
The speaker in the poem is a man who is looking for work.
Question 2:
“The king, sword in hand” suggests
(i) wealth
(ii) power
(iii) more power than wealth
Mark the appropriate item in the context of stanza 1.
ANSWER:
“The king, sword in hand” suggests power.
Question 3:
The old man offered the speaker a lot of money.
Why did he turn down the offer?
ANSWER:
The old man offered the speaker a lot of money. However, he turned it down because he realised that money cannot give him what he actually desires. He had not till then realised that what he actually desired was happiness. When the old man was counting the gold coins, the speaker realised that once the money was finished or the work the old man wanted to hire him for was done, he would again be out of work. More than that, he would be bound in this bargain. It did not satisfy him and therefore, he turned it down.
Question 4:
Find in the poem, lines that match the following. Read both one after another.
(i) I have nothing to give you
Except goodwill and cheer.
(ii) Her happiness was no more
Than sorrow in disguise.
(iii) The king’s might was not worth much.
ANSWER:
(i) ‘I hire you with nothing.’
(ii) ‘Her smile paled and melted into tears’.
(iii) ‘But his power counted for naught’.
Question 5:
How did the speaker feel after talking to the child on the beach?
ANSWER:
The speaker felt free after talking to the child on the beach. The child was playing with shells and he ‘hired’ the speaker for nothing. This showed that he did not want any work from the speaker. In turn, he offered to give him nothing but happiness and cheer. This bargain brought him what he could not find with the king, old man, or the fair maid. This was because power, money, and beauty all go away, but happiness is something that stays and does not cost anything either. Happiness is the true asset of any human being. Power, money, and beauty cannot buy everlasting happiness. That is why the speaker was not bound with the child by any terms or conditions. Hence, he felt free after striking that bargain with the child.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 3 Macavity – The Mystery Cat (Poem) Honeydew English
Working with Poem
1. Read the first stanza and think. (i) Is Macavity a cat really? (ii) If not, who can Macavity be?
Answer
(i) No, Macavity is not a cat really.
(ii) Macavity is just a fictional character created by the poet whose actions resemble those of a crook’s.
2. Complete the following sentences.
(i) A master criminal is one who _____________________. (ii) The Scotland Yard is baffled because _____________________. (iii) _____________________because Macavity moves much faster than them.
Answer
(i)A master criminal is one who can defy the law.
(ii)The Scotland Yard is baffled because whenever they reach the scene of crime, they cannot find Macavity.
(iii) Nobody can catch Macavity at the scene of crime because Macavity moves much faster than them.
3. “A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through”. (Jules Verne) Which law is Macavity breaking in the light of the comment above?
Answer
In the light of the above comment, Macavity is breaking the law of gravity.
4. Read stanza 3, and then, describe Macavity in two or three sentences of your own.
Macavity is a ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes and brow deeply lined with thought. While its head is highly domed, its coat is dusty and whiskers are uncombed. It sways its head from side-to-side and it is always wide awake even when one thinks that it is half-asleep. 5. Say ‘False’ or ‘True’ for each of the following statements.
(i) Macavity is not an ordinary cat. (ii) Macavity cannot do what a fakir can easily do. (iii) Macavity has supernatural powers. (iv) Macavity is well-dressed, smart and bright. (v) Macavity is a spy, a trickster and a criminal, all rolled in one.
Answer
(i) True (ii) False Macavity’s power of levitation would make a fakirstare in disbelief. (iii) True (iv) False Macavity is not well-dressed as its coat is dusty out of neglect. Its eyes are sunken, and not bright. (v) True
6. Having read the poem, try to guess whether the poet is fond of cats. If so, why does he call Macavity a fiend and monster?
Answer
Yes, it seems like the poet is fond of cats. He calls Macavity a ‘fiend’ and a ‘monster’ because he might have wanted to portray an evil side. He might have used a cat in order to create a negative character who is a criminal and escapes easily from police. The quick movements of a cat and its mysterious eyes might have influenced him to create this evil character in the form of a cat.
7. Has the poet used exaggeration for special effect? Find a few examples of it and read those lines aloud.
Answer
Yes, the poet has used exaggerations such as the cat’s defiance of gravity and it being called a ‘monster of depravity’ and a ‘fiend’ in order to enhance the mystery surrounding the cat. Since the cat is shown to be super fast as nobody from the Scotland Yard to the flying squad can catch it on the scene of crime, these exaggerations have been used by Eliot to lay stress on this monstrous as well as surprising and mysterious nature of Macavity. Examples: (i) ‘He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair’. (ii) ‘He breaks the law of gravity’. (iii) ‘His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare.’ (iv) ‘He’s a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.’
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 12 – Geography Lesson Poem
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 12 Geography Lesson Poem are provided here with simple step-by-step explanations. These solutions for Geography Lesson Poem are extremely popular among Class 8 students for English Geography Lesson Poem Solutions come handy for quickly completing your homework and preparing for exams. All questions and answers from the NCERT Book of Class 8 English Chapter 12 are provided here for you for free. You will also love the ad-free experience on Meritnation’s NCERT Solutions. All NCERT Solutions for class Class 8 English are prepared by experts and are 100% accurate.
Question 1:
Find three or four phrases in stanzas one and two which are likely to occur in a geography lesson.
ANSWER:
Some phrases that are likely to occur in a Geography lesson are ‘the city had developed the way it had’, ‘it scaled six inches to the mile’, ‘cities where the rivers ran’, and ‘the valleys were populated’.
Question 2:
Seen from the window of an aeroplane, the city appears
(i) as haphazard as on ground.
(ii) as neat as a map.
(iii) as developed as necessary.
Mark the right answer.
ANSWER:
Seen from the window of an aeroplane, the city appears as haphazard as on ground.
Question 3:
Which of the following statements are examples of “the logic of geography”?
(i) There are cities where there are rivers.
(ii) Cities appear as they are not from six miles above the ground.
(iii) It is easy to understand why valleys are populated.
(iv) It is difficult to understand why humans hate and kill one another.
(v) The earth is round, and it has more sea than land.
ANSWER:
Statements (i), (iii), and (v) are examples of “the logic of geography”.
Question 4:
Mention two things that are
(i) clear from the height.
(ii) not clear from the height.
ANSWER:
(i) From the height, it was clear why the country had cities where the rivers ran and why the valleys were populated. It was also clear that the earth was round and that it had more sea than land.
(ii) From the height, it was not clear why the men on the earth found reasons to hate each other. It was also not understandable why men had to build walls across cities and why they had to kill.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8th: Ch 1 The Ant and the Cricket (Poem) Honeydew English
Working with Poem
1. The cricket says, “Oh! What will become of me?” When does he say it, and why?
Answer
The cricket said the given line when it found that its cupboard was empty and winter had arrived. It could not find a single crumb to eat on the snow covered ground and there were no flowers or leaves on the tree. It wondered what would become of it because it was getting cold and since there was nothing to eat, it would starve and die.
2. (i) Find in the poem the lines that mean the same as “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” (Shakespeare).
(ii) What is you opinion of the ant’s principles?
Answer
(i)The lines in the poem that mean the same as “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” are ‘But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend.’
(ii) I agree with what the ant says first that one should save something for the future so that he does not need to borrow or lend. But I don’t agree with the ant’s principle what he told later. If he says he is a friend of cricket then he should also help the cricket at the time of distress. On the other hand I believe that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
3. The ant tells the cricket to “dance the winter away”. Do you think the word ‘dance’ is appropriate here? If so, why?
Answer
The ant told the cricket to “dance the winter away” because when it asked the cricket what it did in the summers and why it had not stored any food for summers, the cricket answered that it sang through the warm and sunny months of summers. Therefore, in reply to this, the ant asked the cricket to “dance” the winter away just like it “sang” all through the summers and did not bother to store food for winters.
4. (i) Which lines in the poem express the poet’s comment? Read them aloud.
(ii) Write the comment in your own words.
Answer
(i) The lines in the poem that express the poet’s comment are “Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true.”
(ii) This comment by the poet means that this poem is indeed a fable as it had a moral behind it. The cricket did not have anything to eat during the winters because it did not bother to store some food during summers. It was negligent and sang all through the summers. The ant, on the other hand, had built a nice home for itself and had stored food so that it would not starve during winters. It worked hard during summers to achieve this. Thus, the moral of the poem is to be prepared for the adverse times and always work hard instead of being negligent.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 10 The Great Stone Face II
Questions:
Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.
Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. __________
Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. _______
The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. _______
When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. ________
The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. ___________
The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. _________
Answers:
True
True
False
True
False
True
Working With the Text (Page 137)
Answer the following questions. Question 1: How was Ernest different from others in the valley? Answer: Ernest was unlike other commoners in the valley. He was a good, simple hearted, noble and thoughtful person. He had been under observation. He did not go with the crowd. He welcomed total strangers as the prophets.
Question 2: Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face? Answer: The poet wrote wonderful songs. He had celebrated the Great stone Face in one of his poems. When Ernest read this poem he became convinced that the poet was like the stone face.
Question 3: What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems? Answer: The poet confessed that he was not worthy to be compared with the Stone Face. His actions did not match with his thoughts.
Question 4: What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face? Answer: Ernest and the poet together went to a meeting place. Ernest addressed the gathering. His words had power and his thoughts had depth. They were the words of life, a life of good deeds and selfless love. The poet was convinced that Ernest – was much nobler than him. Ernest’s face had such a grand expression that he declared that Ernest bore the likeness of the Great 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? (ii) Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true? What did he say about it?
Answer:
(i) Ernest was accepted by common consent exactly like the Great Stone Face. (ii) No, Ernest still was not convinced that the old prophecy had come true. He hoped that some day, a man wiser and nobler than him would come, and would look truly similar to the Great Stone Face.
Working With Language (Page 137)
Question 1: Mark the meaning that best fits the word or a phrase in the story.
(i) (sun) going down
(a) becoming smaller (b) weakening (c) setting
(ii) brightening
(a) making (it) look bright and cheerful (b) lending (it) a special glow (c) causing (it) to appear hopeful
(iii) spacious
(a) lonely and wild (b) big and wide (c) special and important
(iv) prophecy
(a) proverb (b) prediction (c) rumour
(v) marvellous
(a) wonderful (b) surprising (c) shocking
(vi) proclaim
(a) reveal (b) declare (c) shout
(vii) cease
(a) happen (b) stop (c) remain
(viii) (a night’s shelter)
(a) stay (b) safety (c) hospitality
(ix) gazed
(a) wandered about (b) stared at (c) thought of
(x) took on (an expression)
(a) challenged (b) resembled (c) assumed
Answers:
(i) c (ii) a (iii) b (iv) b (v) a (vi) b (vii) b (viii) a (ix) b (x) c
Question 2: (i) Read the following sentences.
(a) I do hope I’ll live to see him. (b) He will come! Fear not, Earnest: the man will come. (c) Gathergold is arriving tomorrow, people said. (d) Blood-and-Thunder starts his journey back to the valley next week, everyone proclaimed. (e) The great man is going to spend his old age in his native town. Notice that in the above sentences, verbs in bold type are in four different forms, denoting four important ways of expressing future time. None of these can be said to be exclusively used to show future time, though each is used to refer to some action in future.
(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. (b) Have you decided where you will go for your higher secondary? Yes, I have. I will go/ am going to the Kendriya Vidyalaya. (c) Don’t worry about the dog. It won’t hurt/isn’t hurting you (d) The weatherman has predicted that it will snow/is snowing in Ranikhet tonight. (e) Swapna can’t go out this evening. Her father will come/is coming to see her.
Answers:
(a) am working (b) am going (c) won’t hurt (d) will snow (e) is coming.
Question 3: (i) Complete these pieces of conversation using will or going to with the verbs Answer:
(a) am going to listen (b) will lend (c) is going to rain (d) will have (e) am going to make (f) will go (g) am going to get, will get
(ii) Let pairs of children take turns to speak aloud the dialogues. Answer: For class activity
Speaking and Writing (Page 139)
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.
flail life
philip puff
flowed deaf
fact tough
fail laugh
fast stiff
Answer:
Attempt yourself.
Question 2: Underline the letter or letters representing / f/in each of the following words.
Question 3: Imagine that you are the poet. You have come to your native valley to meet a famous preacher called Ernest. the incident of your first meeting with him. Answer: I lived so far away from the valley. But I had heard about Ernest’s character and wisdom. One summer day I called on him. I found him reading a book. We sat down together and talked. I found Ernest wise, gentle and kind. Ernest greeted me warmly and called me a ‘gifted guest’ Then I introduced myself as one who wrote the poems Ernest was reading. Ernest compared my face with the Stone Face. He had hoped to see the fulfilment of the prophecy but he was disappointed. I told him I was not worthy of that likeness. I said that my thoughts and actions had no harmony. I went with my host to a meeting place. I heard his address and found depth in his thoughts. In the golden light of the setting sun, Ernest appeared to me exactly like the Great Stone Face. The gathering also agreed with me.
Question 4: (i) Put each of the following in the correct order to construct sentences.
a resident of Noida near Delhi/is visually impaired/George Abraham.
confidence and competitive spirit/and infuses discipline among the participants/It provides.
he has helped/The brain behind the World Cup Cricket, /the disabled to dream.
to the blind school in Delhi/It was a chance visit/that changed his life.
sport is a powerful tool/the disabled/He believes that/for rehabilitation of.
Answer:
George Abraham, a resident of Noida near Delhi, is visually impaired.
It provides confidence and competitive spirit and infuses discipline among the participants.
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.
(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.
MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question 1: What changes come to be seen in Ernest with passing of time? Answer: Ernest was now a man of middle age. His hairs turned white and there were wrinkles across his forehead and furrows in his cheeks. He had become wiser with profound thoughts. The valley people respected him and took his advice on several occasions.
Question 2: Why did Ernest become sad after he examined the poet’s features? Answer: The poet had celebrated the Great Stone Face in one of his poems. When Ernest read that poem he became convinced that the poet had the likeness of the Great Stone Face. But when he met the poet, all his hopes shattered. He found no resemblance between the poet and the Stone Face. This was the reason why he became sad.
Question 3: Why did the poet’s eyes fill with tears? Answer: The poet became sentimental to listen to Ernest. His words had power because they had depth. They were the words of life, a life of good deeds and selfless love. The poet felt that the life and character of Ernest were nobler strain of poetry that he had ever written. His eyes filled with tears and he said to himself that never was there so worthy a sage as that thoughtful face, with the glim of white hair diffused about it.
II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question 1: Give a character-sketch of Ernest. Answer: Ernest was a small boy when he became interested in the Great Stone Face. He felt that the face smiled on him. He wished to love the man with such a face. He was dutiful and helpful to his Mother. He grew up to be a gentle and quiet youth. He regarded the Stone Face as his teacher. He turned to the face for advice. He was not influnced by the common belief that Gathergold or Blood- and-Thunder General had any resemblance with the Stone Face. Even the poet’s face made him sad. And he was right when the poet himself admitted that he wasn’t worthy to be the likeness of the face. Finally, the same poet shouted with joy that Ernest himself was the likeness of the Stone Face. But Ernest remained humble to the last. He kept hoping that some wiser and better man than himself would appear.
Question 2: How did Ernest feel when people hailed him as the likeness of the Stone face? Answer: Ernest was truly noble and humble. His deeds matched with his thoughts. He received the poet warmly. For a while he thought the writer of those poems was truly the greatest and wisest person. The poet and the people ultimately hailed him as the man with the likeness of the Stone Face. But Ernest did not agree with them. He kept hoping that a wiser and better man than himself would appear to make the prophecy true.
Question 3: Describe in brief Ernest’s reaction on three occasions when Gathergold, General Blood-and-Thunder and the poet came to the valley. Answer: The inhabitants of the valley believed the story that one day a man bearing resemblance to the Stone Face would come there. The first one to arrive was a rich merchant Gathergold. The people were greatly excited. But Ernest noticed no resemblance between Gathergold’s face and that of the Stone Face. Likewise he did not agree with the people who welcomed General Blood-and-Thunder as the greatest man. But Ernest almost believed that the poet was the person he had been waiting for. But again he was disappointed. In fact, Ernest himself was accepted as the Prophet.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 9 – The Great Stone Face I
Question 1:
Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.
1. The Great Stone Face stood near where Ernest and his mother lived. ______
2. One would clearly distinguish the features of the Stone Face only from a distance. ______
3. Ernest loved his mother and helped her in her work. ______
4. Though not very rich, Gathergold was a skilful merchant. ______
5. Gathergold died in poverty and neglect. ______
6. The Great Stone Face seemed to suggest that Ernest should not fear the general. ______
ANSWER:
1. False
The Great Stone Face stood miles away from where Ernest and his mother lived.
2. True
3. True
4. False
Gathergold was very rich.
5. True
6. False
The Great Stone Face seemed to suggest that Earnest should not lose heart, but believe that the man whose face resembled the Great Stone Face would come.
Page No 130:
Question 1:
(i) What was the Great Stone Face?
(ii) What did young Ernest wish when he gazed at it?
ANSWER:
(i) The Great Stone Face was a work of nature. It was formed on the perpendicular side of a mountain by some immense rocks that had been thrown together so that when viewed at a proper distance, they resembled the features of a human face.
(ii) Gazing at the Great Stone Face, young Ernest wished that it could speak because it looked so very kindly that he thought its voice must be pleasant. He also said that if he ever saw a man with such a face, he would love him very much.
Page No 130:
Question 2:
What was the story attributed to the Stone Face?
ANSWER:
The story that was attributed to the Stone Face was that at some future day, a child would be born near there, and he would be destined to become the greatest and noblest person of his time. His face, in manhood, would bear an exact resemblance to the Great Stone Face.
Page No 130:
Question 3:
What gave the people of the valley the idea that the prophecy was about to come true for the first time?
ANSWER:
The people got the idea that the prophecy was about to come true from a rumour that went throughout the valley. The rumour was that the great man, who was to bear a resemblance to the Great Stone Face, had appeared at last. Many years before, a young man named Gathergold had left the valley and settled at a distant seaport. He had set up as a shopkeeper and being sharp in business matters, had become so rich that it would have taken him a hundred years only to count his wealth. In time, he thought of his native valley, and decided to go back there and end his days where he had been born. The people believed that this was the prophesied man.
Page No 130:
Question 4:
(i) Did Ernest see in Gathergold the likeness of the Stone Face?
(ii) Who did he confide in and how was he proved right?
ANSWER:
(i) No, Ernest did not see in Gathergold the likeness of the Stone Face.
(ii) He confided in the Great Stone Face. When everybody else believed that Gathergold resembled the Stone Face, he turned away from the wrinkled shrewdness of that unpleasant face and gazed up the valley, where the Stone Face seemed to say “He will come! Fear not, Ernest; the man will come!” He was proved right when later Gathergold died and was buried. His wealth, which was the body and spirit of his existence, had disappeared before his death. Since the time he lost his gold, it had been generally agreed that there was no likeness between him and the majestic face upon the mountain.
Page No 130:
Question 5:
(i) What made people believe General Blood-and-Thunder was their man?
(ii) Ernest compared the man’s face with the Stone Face. What did he conclude?
ANSWER:
(i) The people believed that General Blood-and-Thunder was their man because he had become a soldier many years before. After a great deal of hard fighting, he became a famous commander. He had lately expressed a desire to return to his native valley as he was old and tired. Preparations of welcoming him were made. It was being said that at last, the likeness of the Great Stone Face had actually appeared. When they saw him, they could see the resemblance and were sure that he was the man as they believed he was the greatest man of that or any other age beyond a doubt.
(ii) When Ernest compared the man’s face with the Stone Face, he concluded that there was no resemblance. If there was such a likeness as the crowd proclaimed, then Ernest could not recognise it.
Page No 130:
Question 1:
Write the noun forms of the following words by adding -ness or -ity to them appropriately. Check the spelling of the new words.
(i)
lofty ______________
(vi)
enormous ______________
(ii)
able ______________
(vii)
pleasant ______________
(iii)
happy ______________
(viii)
dense ______________
(iv)
near ______________
(ix)
great ______________
(v)
noble ______________
(x)
stable ______________
ANSWER:
(i)
lofty loftiness
(vi)
enormous enormity
(ii)
able ability
(vii)
pleasant pleasantness
(iii)
happy happiness
(viii)
dense density
(iv)
near nearness
(ix)
great greatness
(v)
noble nobility
(x)
stable stability
Page No 130:
Question 2:
Add -ly to each of the following adjectives, then use them to fill in the blanks.
perfect
near
kind
pleasant
eager
(i) Why didn’t you turn up at the meeting? We all were _______ waiting for you.
(ii) _________ write your name and address in capital letters.
(iii) I was _________ surprised to see him at the railway station. I thought he was not coming.
(iv) It is _________ believable that I am not responsible for this mess.
(v) He fell over the step and _________ broke his arm.
ANSWER:
(i) Why didn’t you turn up at the meeting? We all were eagerly waiting for you.
(ii) Kindly write your name and address in capital letters.
(iii) I was pleasantly surprised to see him at the railway station. I thought he was not coming.
(iv) It is perfectly believable that I am not responsible for this mess.
(v) He fell over the step and nearly broke his arm.
Page No 131:
Question 3:
Complete each sentence below using the appropriate forms of the verbs in brackets.
(i) I _________ (phone) you when I _________ (get) home from school.
(ii) Hurry up! Madam _________ (be) annoyed if we _________ (be) late.
(iii) If it _________ (rain) today, we _________ (not) go to the play.
(iv) When you _________ (see) Mandal again, you _________ (not/recognise) him. He is growing a beard.
(v) We are off today. We _________ (write) to you after we _________ (be) back.
ANSWER:
(i) I will phone you when I will get home from school.
(ii) Hurry up! Madam will be annoyed if we are late.
(iii) If it rains today, we will not go to the play.
(iv) When you see Mandal again, you will not recognize him. He is growing a beard.
(v) We are off today. We will write to you after we are back.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary
Comprehension Check (Page 115)
Questions:
Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?
Answers:
The author could not see Bijju because of the mist that concealed the hills. He could only hear his voice but could not see him.
When the mist comes up, it covers the hills and spreads silence.
Comprehension Check (Page 117)
Questions:
When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?
Which hill-station does the author describe in the diary entry?
For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?
Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
What did the author receive in the mail?
Answers:
The monsoon season in Mussorie begins from June 24/25. By August 2, the people are fed up with rain. It ends by August 31. Then begins winter rains which end by late March. We take out our rain coats and umbrellas to face the monsoon.
Mussoorie
It rains non-stop for eight or nine days. The author keeps pacing the room and looking out of the window.
The rodents and snakes take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. They do so because their holes are flooded with rain water.
The author received a cheque in the mail.
Working With the Text (Page 118)
Question 1: Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24-25, August 2 and March 23. Now write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March. Answer: Rains in Mussoorie begin in June and end by March. June 24 is the first day of monsoon mist which covered the hills and spreads silence. On August 2 it rained all night and made sleeping difficult. By late March ends winter as well as the rains.
Question 2: Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar? Answer: The grandmother told the children not to kill the Chuchundars because they brought good luck and money.
Question 3: What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end? Answer: By the end of the monsoon the greenery is at its peak. The seeds of the cobra lily turn red. A rainbow is formed in the sky.
Question 4: Complete the following sentences.
Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because__________ .
The writer describes the hill station and valley as _________ .
The leopard was’ successful in________ but had to flee when
The minivets are easily noticed because _________ .
It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when_________.
During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because _________.
Answer:
dense mist covers and hides the hills.
‘A paradise that might have been.’
killing a dog but had to flee when Bijju’s mother arrived crying curses.
of their bright colours.
they are covered by a variety of flowers.
their holes are flooded with water and these places provide them convenient shelter.
Question 5: ‘Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.’
Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’?
How is the writer untouched by the rain?
How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Answer:
The word ‘springing’ is used to show suddenness with which water starts leaking.
Because he is inside the room.
He hears the drumming of rain on the tin roof. He also looks out of the window to see the rains.
Question 6: Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together? Answer: A long spell of rain makes life miserable. One is closed up in his room. Everything becomes damp and soggy. Rodents, snakes and insects enter the house for shelter.
Question 7: What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end? Answer: At first cobra lily appears with the arrival of the monsoon. When the cobra seeds begin to turn red, it indicates the rains are coming to an end.
Working With Language (Page 118)
Question 1: Here are some words that are associated with the monsoon. Add as many words as you can to this list. Can you find words for these in your languages?
Answer: rain, water, fog, raincoats, thunder, dampness, lakes etc. In my language I find the alternative words like the following: बौछार , बूंदाबांदी , तुषार, धुंध , सीत , छतरी, रेनकोट , आंधी , इत्यादी l
Question 2: Look at the sentences below. (i) Bijju wandered into the garden in the evening. (ii) The trees were ringing with birdsong. Notice the highlighted verb. The verb wandered tells us what Bijju did that evening. But the verb was ringing tells us what was happening continually at same time in the past (the birds were chirping in the trees). Now look the at sentences below. They tell us about something that happened in the past. They also tell us about other things that happened continually* at the same time in the past.
Put the verbs in the brackets into their proper forms. The first one is done for you.
We (get out) of the school bus. The bell (ring) and everyone (rush) to class.
The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout) slogans.
I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games,
The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).
Answer:
We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was rushing to class.
The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.
I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.
She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully,
We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.
The class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.
Question 3: Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds.
drum swish tinkle caw drip
(i) Match these words with their correct meanings.
to fall in small drops.
to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly.
to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound.
harsh sound made by birds.
ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.).
(ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above.
Ramesh _______ on his desk in impatience.
Rain water_____ from the umbrella all over the carpet.
The pony______ its tail.
The_____ of breaking glass woke me up.
The_____ of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
I saw thick black clouds in the sky and___ ____ it soon started raining heavily.
The blue umbrella was___ ____ for the brother and sister.
The butterflies are___ _____ to get noticed.
The lady was___ _____to chase the leopard.
The boy was____ ____ to call out to his sister.
The man was____ ____ to offer help.
The victim’s injury was____ _____ for him to get admitted in hospital.
That person was____ _____ to repeat the same mistake again.
He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘___ _____’.
Answer:
sure enough
big enough
colourful enough
brave enough
anxious enough
kind enough
serious enough
foolish enough
Fair enough
Speaking (Page 120)
Question 1: Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not? Working with your partner, write down three superstitious beliefs that you are familiar with. Answer: Truly speaking, I don’t believe in superstitions. These are blind beliefs. The ignorant and conservative people observe them. Superstitions have no scientific base or proof. The common superstitions are: (i) 13 is an ominous number. (ii) Don’t start a new project on Saturday. (iii) Stop if a black cat crosses your path.
Question 2: How many different kinds of birds do you come across in the lesson? How many varieties do you see in your neighbourhood? Are there any birds that you used to see earlier in your neighbourhood but not now? In groups discuss why you think this is happening. Answer: We come across different kinds of birds in this lesson. These are minivets, drongos, tree creepers and crows. We see sparrows, pigeons, and nightingales in our neighbourhood. Earlier we used to see big birds like kites and parrots in our neighbourhood. But these have become extinct now.
Writing (Page 121)
Question 1: The monsoons are a time of great fun and even a few adventures: playing in the rain and getting wet, wading through knee-deep water on your way to school, water flooding the house or the classroom, power cuts and so on. Write a paragraph describing an incident that occurred during the rains which you can never forget. (See NCERT Text Book Page 121) Or Write a poem of your own about the season of spring when trees are in full bloom. Answer: Attempt it yourself.
MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED
I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question 1: What is a diary? What do the extracts from Ruskin Bond’s diary portray? Answer: A diary is a record of personal experiences/events that occur in one’s life. It is written day after day over a long period of time. The extracts from Ruskin Bond’s diary portray monsoon season and the changes that occur as the rains progress from June to March.
Question 2: How does the author describe the first day of monsoon mist? Answer: On the first day of monsoon mist all the birds suddenly fall silent and with it absolute silence is spread. The hills got hidden by the mist. The forest is deadly still as though it were midnight.
Question 3: How does the author describe the scarlet minivets? Answer: The scarlet minivets are seen during rainy season. They flit silently among the leaves like brilliant jewels. No matter how leafy the trees, these brightly coloured birds cannot hide themselves.
Question 4: Why couldn’t the author sleep on August 2 night? Answer: On August 2 it rained throughout the night. The rain had been drumming on the corrugated tin roof. There had been a steady swish of a tropical downpour. The author, therefore, couldn’t sleep.
Question 5: What happened on August 12? Answer: Heavy downpour started on August 12. The rain continued for eight or nine days. Everything got damp and soggy. The author had to stay inside during these days.
Question 6: Name the flowers that you come across in the lesson. Answer: Wild balsom, dahlias, begonias, ground orchids, cobra lilies etc.
II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question 1: Who are the seasonal visitors? How does the author describe them? Answer: The seasonal visitors are a leopard, several thousand leeches and different kinds of birds. The leopard created nuisance. It lifted a dog from near the servants’ quarter below the school. In the evening, it attacked one of Bijju’s cows. The scarlet minivets flitted silently among the leaves like brilliant jewels. No matter how leafy the trees, these brightly coloured birds could not conceal themselves. There was also a pair of drongos. They looked aggressive and chased the minivets away. A tree creeper moved rapidly up the trunk of the oak tree, snapping up insects, all the way.
Question 2: Sum up the main ideas of the author’s Monsoon Diary in about 100 words. Answer: The writer was in Mussoorie, a hill station in U.P. The first day of monsoon brought mist. The birds got silent and the hills became invisible. On June 25, came the early monsoon rain. He described the hill station as A paradise’ that might have been’ to a school boy. With the onset of the monsoon one could see leopards and leeches and the colourful minivet birds. There was no dearth of insects for the birds to eat. On August 2, it rained heavily and non-stop. The roofs began to leak. The rain stopped on August 3. The sunlight fell on the hills and the song birds began to sing. On August 12, there was heavy downpour and mist for more than a week. Everything was damp. Meanwhile wild flowers began to appear. August 31 saw the greenery at its peak. Snakes and rodents came out of their flooded holes and hid in roofs or godowns. Winter rain, hailstones and snow came on October 3. The author couldn’t go outside and he felt very lonely in his room. Late March saw the end of winter. He received a cheque in the mail.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 7 – A Visit To Cambridge
Page No 104:
Question 1:
Which is the right sentence?
“Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.
(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.
ANSWER:
(iii) To the writer, Cambridge was the real England.
Page No 104:
Question 2:
Which is the right sentence?
The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
(i) from the nearest phone booth.
(ii) from outside a phone booth.
(iii) from inside a phone booth.
ANSWER:
(ii) The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house from outside a phone booth.
Page No 104:
Question 3:
Which is the right sentence?
Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
(i) he wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
(iii) he was face to face with a legend.
ANSWER:
(ii) Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
Page No 104:
Question 4:
“I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
(ii) standing up, walking,
(iii) speaking, writing
ANSWER:
(i) In the given context, the highlighted words refer to shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
Page No 104:
Question 1:
Answer the following questions.
(i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
ANSWER:
(i) Yes, the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking made the writer nervous. He was to meet a great personality and that too one who had achieved greatness despite his disabilities. Clearly, it was a big moment, a great honour for the writer. So it is not surprising that he was nervous at the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking.
(ii) Yes, he felt excited at the same time because it made him stronger to see somebody like him achieving something huge. This made him aware of the many possibilities present before him, thereby helping him to reach out further than he ever thought he could.
Page No 104:
Question 2:
Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
ANSWER:
The writer might have asked the scientist if he had been brave to reach where he had.
Page No 104:
Question 3:
Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
ANSWER:
The writer thought that there was a choice. Stephen Hawking could have chosen to leave everything, and be sad and depressed. He could have sulked. However, he chose to live creatively knowing the reality of his disintegrating body.
Page No 104:
Question 4:
“I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
ANSWER:
Stephen Hawking’s mind was active with many thoughts that he wanted to express. However, his thoughts came out in phrases, without reflecting his feelings or emotions. His sentences were mere lines, without any sentiment. The writer felt he could understand his anguish and frustration at that.
Page No 104:
Question 5:
What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
ANSWER:
The writer asked Stephen Hawking if he found it annoying that someone like him came and disturbed him in his work. To this query, the scientist replied in the affirmative, frankly and honestly. Then, he smiled his one way smile and this was what endeared him to the writer. The writer felt that he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world.
Page No 104:
Question 6:
Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
ANSWER:
The most beautiful sentence in the description is, “…you look at his eyes which can speak, still, and they are saying something huge and urgent….”
Page No 105:
Question 7:
(i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
ANSWER:
(i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, its ‘walls’ would be the man’s body.
(ii) The incandescence or the inner glow of the man is housed within the thin walls.
(iii) The conclusion that the writer drew from this comparison was that the body exists only like a case made of shadows. It is just an accessory. It is the soul that matters. Each individual is what he is from his heart and soul, and not from the body.
Page No 105:
Question 8:
What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
ANSWER:
The message that he gave to the disabled was that they should concentrate on what they were good at.
Page No 105:
Question 9:
Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
ANSWER:
When Stephen Hawking said that things such as disabled Olympics were a waste of time, the writer agreed with him. He remembered the years which he spent trying to play a Spanish guitar that was considerably larger than he was. He was very happy when he unstringed it one night. It supports Stephen Hawking’s idea that the disabled should only concentrate on what they are good at, and not take up things unnecessarily.
Page No 105:
Question 10:
The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
ANSWER:
The writer expressed his gratitude to Stephen Hawking because he had been an inspiration for him. He saw him as the embodiment of his bravest self. He felt that if he had been as brave as Stephen, he would have achieved a lot. He felt he was moving towards that embodiment that he had believed in for many years. That is why he expressed his greatest gratitude to him as he had made him realise what great heights he could reach.
Page No 105:
Question 11:
Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.
(i) There was his assistant on the line …
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, …
(iii) There he was, …
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, …
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know …
A
tapping at a little switch in his handand I told himthat there are peopleas if you have a courage accountand they are saying something huge and urgent
.
B
trying to find the words on his computer.I had come in a wheelchair from India.on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.it is hard to tell what.
ANSWER:
(i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.
(iii) There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to find words on his computer.
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent − it is hard to tell what.
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.
Page No 106:
Question 1:
Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.
guide
succeed
chair
travel
pale
draw
true
(i) I met a _______________ from an antique land.
(ii) I need special _____________ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy ________________to Isaac Newton.
(iv) His other problems ______________ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
(v) The meeting was ____________ by the youngest member of the board.
(vi) Some people say ‘yours ___________’ when they informally refer to themselves.
(vii) I wish it had been a ___________ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
ANSWER:
(i) I met a traveller from an antique land.
(ii) I need special guidance in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy successor to Isaac Newton.
(iv) His other problems paled into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
(v) The meeting was chaired by the youngest member of the board.
(vi) Some people say ‘yours truly’ when they informally refer to themselves.
(vii) I wish it had been a drawn match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
Page No 106:
Question 2:
Make six phrases using the words given in the box.
read/session
smile/face
revolve/chair
walk/tour
dance/doll
win/chance
ANSWER:
(i) Reading session
(ii) Smiling face
(iii) Revolving chair
(iv) Walking tour
(v) Dancing doll
(vi) Winning chance
Page No 106:
Question 3:
Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.
(i) He has two brothers. _________ are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten persons called. _________ of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They ____________ cheered the team.
(iv) ___________ her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me ___________ of it.
ANSWER:
(i) He has two brothers. Both are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten persons called. All of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They all cheered the team.
(iv) Both her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me all of it.
Page No 107:
Question 4:
Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.
(i) My friend has one of the ____________cars on the road. (fast)
(ii) This is the ______________ story I have ever read. (interesting)
(iii) What you are doing now is _____________ than what you did yesterday. (easy)
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both ____________. (short)
(v) He arrived __________as usual. Even the chief guest came___________ than he did. (late, early)
ANSWER:
(i) My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.
(ii) This is the most interesting story I have ever read.
(iii) What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short.
(v) He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.
