Category: Class 8

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 2.4 Three Visions for India Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 2.4 Three Visions for India

Class 8 English Chapter 2.4 Three Visions for India Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Read the Preamble of the Constitution of India given in your textbook. Pick out words that refer to the following.

1. Brotherhood
2. Freedom
3. Earnestly and seriously
4. Fair and impartial treatment
5. Having supreme authority
6. Unity and oneness
7. A promise made to oneself

Answer:

1. Brotherhood: fraternity
2. Freedom: liberty
3. Earnestly and seriously: solemnly
4. Fair and impartial treatment: equality
5. Having supreme authority: sovereign
6. Unity and oneness: integrity
7. A promise made to oneself: resolve

2. Finite and Non- finite Verbs:
Verbs are action words. They can be Finite or Non-finite.
Read the sentences below, focusing on the verbs.
(a) I play football.
(b) He plays football.
(c) They play football.
(d) Manish plays football.
We notice that the verb ‘play’ as we change the person (First I Second /Third) or Number (Singular/Plural) of the Subject.
When the use of a verb is limited by the Person or Number of the Noun/Pronoun in the Subject, we call it a Finite Verb.
Now read the sentences below.
(a) I like to play football.
(b) He likes to play football.
(c) They like playing football.
(d) Manish likes to play football.
In the sentences above the verb ‘to play’ or ‘playing’ does not change or take ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ after them, even when we change the Person or Number of the Subject.
to + verb, I verb + ing/verb + en I ed/having + verb + en I ed are not limited by their Subject. Such verbs are called Non-finite Verbs.

1. Complete Dr APJ Abdul Kolum’s profile with information picked from the lesson:
Profile – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
a. Title: …….
b. Profession: ………
c. Branch of science: ……..
d. Important position in Government held: ………..
e. His three visions for India: ……..
Answer:
a. Title: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
b. Profession: Missile scientist.
c. Branch of Science: Physics and Aerospace Engineering.
d. An important position in government-held: 11th President of India.
e. His three visions for India: Freedom, Development, and Standing Up to the rest of the World.

2. Using a dictionary/internet note down the main differences between:

Question a.
a developing nation and a developed nation
Answer:
(i) a developing nation: a country that is poor and whose citizens are mostly agricultural workers, and the average income is very low.
(ii) a developed nation: a country with a lot of industrial activity, high economic growth and where people have high incomes.

Question b.
self-reliant and self-assured
Answer:
(i) self-reliant: not needing help or support from other peoples
(ii) self-assured-having confidence in yourself.

Question c.
our strengths and our achievements
Answer:
(i) our strengths – the qualities and abilities that we have which are an advantage to us, or which make us successful.
(ii) our achievements – our successes or accomplishments.

Question d.
farm and granary
Answer:
(i) farm – a large area used for growing crops/flowers, etc.
(ii) granary – a storehouse for grain

Question e.
a remote-sensing satellite and a natural satellite
Answer:
(i) a remote-sensing satellite – artificial (man-made) satellites with remote sensors which have been launched into space to measure various things.
(ii) a natural satellite – any celestial body in space that orbits around a larger body.

3. Find evidence from the lesson and write in your own words:

Question a.
Indians respect the freedom of others.
Answer:
India has not tried to conquer anyone, or grab their land, culture and history. We have not tried to force our way of life on anyone. This is because Indians respect the freedom of others.

Question b.
It is time to see ourselves as a developed nation.
Answer:
We have been a developing nation ‘ for 50 years. Now we are among the top five nations of the world in terms of GDP we have ten percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling and our achievements are being recognized globally. It is time to see ourselves as a developed nation.

Question c.
We Indians are obsessed with foreign things.
Answer:
We Indians are obsessed with foreign things and we want to have things like foreign TVs, foreign shirts and foreign l technology.

Question d.
In Israel, the media have a positive outlook and self-respect.
Answer:
In Israel, it was the day after Hamas had struck and a lot of attacks, bombardments and deaths had taken place. However, the front page of the newspaper had an inspiring picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert land into an orchid farm and granary. The gory details of the killings, bombardments, deaths, etc. were inside the newspaper, buried among other news. This showed that in Israel the media have a positive outlook and self-respect.

Question e.
India has many amazing success stories.
Answer:
India has many amazing success stories. We are not only the second largest producer of wheat in the world, but also the second largest producer of rice. We are the first in milk production and are number one in remote sensing satellites. We have great personalities like Dr. Sudarshan, who has transformed a tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit.

4. Pick out some sentences from (he Iesson that coney u general truth.
(i) If we are not free, no one will respect us.
(ii) …………
Answer:
(i) If we are not free, no one will respect us.
(ii) We must stand up to the world or no one will respect us.
(iii) Only strength respects strength.
(iv) Military power and economic power-both must go hand in hand.

5. Find out from the Internet the poem Song of Youth’ by Dr APJ Abdul Kulam.
(A) Copy it down in your notebook and write its theme in your own words.
(B) Using information from our school library or the Internet, prepare a
Profile of any great Indian Scientist. (Refer to Activity 1 for points.)

6. Say whether each of the verbs, underlined below, is Finite or Non-finite.

Question a.
We lack the confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation.
Answer:
lack – Finite
to see – Non-finite
developed – Non-finite

Question b.
We stand first in producing milk.
Answer:
stand – Finite
producing – Non-finite

Question c.
I want to live in a developed India.
Answer:
want – Finite
to live – Non-finite

Question d.
We prefer buying imported things.
Answer:
prefer – Finite
buying – Non-finite

Question e.
Indians never try to force their way of life on others.
Answer:
to force – Non-finite

Question f.
Having invaded India, they captured our land.
Answer:
captured – Finite

7. Phrases and Clauses:
Study the underlined groups of words.

(i)
(a) He wore a shirt made of cotton.
(b) He wore a shirt which was made of cotton.

(ii)
(a) Are you sure of your innocence?
(b) Are you sure that you are innocent?

(iii)
(a) This is the exact reason for his failure.
(b) This is exactly why he has failed.

(iv)
(a) Pay careful attention to my words.
(b) Pay careful attention to what I say.

(v)
(a) After finishing his work, he went home.
(b) He finished his work and he went home.

You will notice that all underlined groups of words in sentences marked (a) merely
refer to a concept or expression. They do not contain a Subject or a Main or Principal
Verb. Such a group of words or unit of a sentence is called a PHRASE
Each of the underlined groups of words in sentences marked (bi convey a thought/concept and have a Subject and a Principal or Main Verb.
This unit /part of a sentence is called a CLAUSE.

Say whether the underlined parts of the following sentences are Phrases or Clauses:

(i)
People from all over the world have invaded us.
Answer:
Phrase

(ii)
I believe that Indio had its first vision of freedom in 1857.
Answer:
Clauses

(iii)
It is this freedom that we must respect.
Answer:
Clauses

(iv)
We are a great nation.
Answer:
Phrase

(v)
I want to live in a developed India.
Answer:
Phrase

(vi)
We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them.
Answer:
Clauses

(vii)
We have a 10 percent growth rate in most areas.
Answer:
Phrase

Replace the underlined Phrases with Clauses:

Question a.
Do you know his place of birth?
Answer:
Do you know where he was born?

Question b.
In his absence, the thieves looted his house.
Answer:
When he was absent, the thieves looted his house.

Question c.
I am a citizen of India. I am a citizen.
Answer:
I am a citizen who belongs to India.

Class 8 English Chapter 2.4 Three Visions for India Additional Important Questions and Answers

Complete the webs:

Question 1.

Answer:

Question 2.

Answer:

Simple Factual Activities:

Question 1.
Pick out a sentence from the extract that conveys a general truth.
Answer:
If we are not free, no one will respect us.

Question 2.
What helped Dr. Kalam fix the three visions for India?
Answer:
Dr. Kalam fixed the three visions for India based on the achievements and progress he had witnessed in the history of the nation and during his own career as a missile scientist.

Question 3.
How should we handle our freedom?
Answer:
We should protect and nurture our freedom and build on it.

Write the past tense forms of the following words:

1. grab
2. build
3. conquer
4. try

Answer:

1. grabbed
2. built
3. conquered
4. tried

Rewrite the following sentences as affirmative sentences:

Question 1.
We have not done this to any other nation.
Answer:
We have refused to do this to any other nation.

Question 2.
If we are not free, no one will respect us.
Answer:
We will be respected only if we are free.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
What, do you think, will happen if everyone in the world respected the freedom of others?
Answer:
If everyone in the world respected the freedom of others, there would be complete peace and harmony in the world. There would be no wars and no bloodshed. Everyone would be happy and free to develop his full potential

Question 2.
Pick out two compound words from the passage.
Answer:
self-reliant, self-assured

Question 3.
Do you agree that ‘our media is obsessed only with bad news, failures and disasters’?
Answer:
Yes, I agree. The front pages of all leading newspapers carries only bad news. The good news is carried in very fine print somewhere deep in the paper. It can be very depressing. Only when we read detailed articles or actually visit places can we see the amazing success stories and the development.

Complete the following:

Question 1.
The prerequisite of self-respect is _______.
Answer:
self-reliance.

Question 2.
The foreign stuff we Indians are crazy about is foreign TVs, ______.
Answer:
foreign shirts and foreign technology.

Question 3.
The dream of the fourteen-year-old girl in Hyderabad is _____.
Answer:
to live in a developed India.

Question 4.
Pick out a sentence from the extract that conveys a general truth.
Answer:
Self-respect comes with self-reliance.

Write the antonyms of the following words using prefixes:

1. respect
2. developed
3. inspiring
4. imported

Answer:

1. respect x disrespect
2. developed x undeveloped
3. inspiring x uninspiring
4. imported x exported

Pick out the relative pronouns from the following sentences:

Question 1.
The front page had the picture of a gentleman who had transformed his desert land into an orchid farm.
Answer:
who

Question 2.
It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to.
Answer:
that

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Would you too like to live in a developed India? What will be the advantages?
Answer:
Yes, I too would like to live in a developed India. Then there will be no crowds, no queues, admissions to schools and colleges will be easy, there will be no dearth of natural resources, and everyone will be able to live in luxury.

Do as directed:

Question 1.
Write the root words of the following words : achievement, inspiring
Answer:
achieve, inspire

Question 2.
Use the following phrase in your own sentence : stand up to
Answer:
We must have the courage to stand up to any injustice that we see around us.

Question 3.
Spot the error and rewrite correctly : potentail, self-sustenning
Answer:
potential, self-sustaining

Question 4.
Find out four hidden words from the given word : (Each word should have at least 3 letters.) satellite
Answer:
satellite – state, late, least, steal

Question 5.
Write the anagrams of the following words :
(i) bleats
(ii) asleep
Answer:
(i) bleats – stable, tables
(ii) asleep – elapse, please

Question 6.
Replace the underlined phrase with a clause : After finishing her studies, she ran off to play.
Answer:
After she had finished her studies, she ran off to play.She finished her studies 1 and ran off to play.

Question 7.
Pick out the non-finite verb from the following sentence :
Why are we so embarrassed to recognize our own strength?
Answer:
to recognize

Question 8.
Pick out the pronouns from the sentence :
She replied, “I want to live in a developed India.”
Answer:
She replied, “I want to live in a developed India.”

Question 9.
Rewrite as a negative sentence :
Our media is obsessed with only bad news and failures.
Answer:
Our media is obsessed with nothing but bad news and failures.

Question 10.
Use the following word as a noun and a verb in two separate sentences :
attack
Answer:
(i) The attack came when Aurangzeb had least expected it. (norm)
(ii) Aurangzeb was attacked when he least expected it. (verb)

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 The Worm Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 2.3 The Worm

Class 8 English Chapter 2.3 The Worm Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up:

1. ‘Worms play a very important role; in maintaining ecological balance. They are friends of farmers.’ Form groups and discuss the significance; of worms in the above two roles.
(Point: worms – loosen the soil-bring up fertile soil-turn organic garbage into organic fertilizers-provide/proteins, etc.)
(Students can discuss this as Oral Work.)

2. Think and write down how the following creatures can be useful:

Question a.
DragonFly:
Answer:
eats mosquitoes and flies; controls unwanted insects.

Question b.
Spider:
Answer:
keeps insect population under control.

Question c.
Ants:
Answer:
turn and aerate the soil; help; in seed dispersal.

Question d.
Honeybees:
Answer:
provide honey; help in pollination.

Question e.
Earthworms:
Answer:
loosen the soil; turn organic garbage into fertilizer.

3. Little creatures in nature can also be your teachers. Think and write: what we can learn from the following:

Question a.
Bees:
Answer:
organization; hard work self-sacrifice

Question b.
Ants:
Answer:
team work hard work discipline

Question c.
Spiders:
Answer:
patience perseverance

Question d.
Caterpillars:
Answer:
patience acceptance of change

4. Breeding worms to convert organic waste into fertilizer is called Vermiculture or Vermicomposting.
Find out more about Vermiculture and how you can carry out the same in your garden/backyard to fertilize your plants at home.
(Students can attempt this on their own as a project.)

1. Read the poem aloud and you ill find some old outdated words that we do not use in everyday language now.
However, some writers poets use them to impart an old-fashioned flavour to suit the background of their write-up. Such words are called Archaic words.
Give the modem words for the archaic words from the poem.

1. thy
2. being
3. bestow’d
4. thee
5. thou
6. canst

Answer:

1. thy – your
2. being – life
3. bestow’d – gifted/given as a gift
4. thee – you
5. thou – you
6. cans’t – can

Read any poem I sonnet by William Shakespeare. Pick out archaic words and guess what they mean.

2. The poet uses a device where he directly addresses someone absent or abstarct. Such a device is the Figure of Speech called ‘Apostrophe’.
For example: Turn, turn, thy, hasty, foot aside.

Pick out any two other lines from the poem that on1uin an Apostrophe.
Answer:
(i)Turn, turn thy hasty foot aside
(ii) Let them enjoy their little day
(iii) O do not lightly take away
The life thou canst not give.

3. Think and answer in your own words ¡n your notebook:

Question a.
Why does the poet appeal to us to respect the life of worms?
OR
Why should we take care even of small worms?
Answer:
The poet urges us to remember that every creature on this earth is created by God for some purpose. We must hence respect every creature, big or small, for each has its own role to play in this universe. Besides, we have no right to lightly take away a life which we cannot give back.

Question b.
Why had God created worms? What is their ecological importance?
Answer:
Every creature on this earth is created by God for some purpose. Worms play a very important role in maintaining ecological balance. They loosen and aerate the mud and bring up fertile, nutrient-rich soil. They turn organic garbage into organic fertilizers. Their bodies provide proteins.
Thus, though they are so small, they play a huge role in maintaining ecological balance, and this is the purpose for which God created them.

Question c.
Live and let live’ is a famous proverb. Which lines from the poem support this proverb?
Answer:
The lines from the poem that support the proverb ‘Live and let live’ Eire:

(i) Turn, turn thy hasty foot aside Nor crush that helpless worm
(ii) Let them enjoy their little day
(iii) Do not lightly take away The life thou canst not give

Question d.
Does the poem urge us to protect I only worms ? What is the general message conveyed through the poem?
Answer:
Though the poem is about the worm, the general message is that God has created all the creatures on earth, big ? and small, and every creature has a role to play. All beings have equal rights over the bounties of the earth. No one can take away a life that he/she cannot give.

4. Find from the library or internet other poems composed on tiny Hing creatures. Try to understand the message in each of them.

5. ‘Even small things in nature play a big role. So protect nature!’
Frame some solgans based on the above topic.
Draft a short speech on the abose topic, which you could give at your school assembly.
Use the following steps while drafting.
(1) Greeting
(2) Salutation
(3) Self-introduction
(4) Introduction of the topic
(5) Body of the speech
(6) Conclusion
(7) Expression of gratitude to audience
Answer:

Small But Important

Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends, Good morning. Today is 5th June, World Environment Day, and on this important day I, Smruti Kamath, would like to say a few words on the huge role played by the small things in nature.

Let me begin with the earthworm. The earthworm is rightly called the friend of the farmer for it helps the farmer in immeasurable ways. It not only loosens and turns up the soil, it converts garbage into organic fertilizer too. Those minute creatures, ants, help in aerating the soil and in seed dispersal. Bees, in addition to providing honey, are indispensable in pollination. We owe our food to the work done by these little insects. Dragonflies and spiders keep down the insect population by eating insects. Frogs and fish eat the larvae of mosquitoes.

I could go on and on, extolling the virtues and the uses of every little being on this earth. However, time does not permit me to do this, and I end my speech by requesting all of you here to understand and respect the importance and the place of every little creature on this earth. Thank you.

6. Puruphrase the poem in your own simple language. Write it down in your notebook.
Answer:
In this poem, the poet tells the reader, who is in a hurry, to turn his foot aside so that he does not crush the helpless worm. The reader may be filled with scorn and hatred for the worm, but it was created by God.

The same God who made human beings and all other things that move has also given a portion of His unlimited love to the poor worm.
God has given the sun, the moon and the stars free to all the creatures He created. The grass that grows over the earth was made for worms as well as for human beings. The poet urges the reader to allow the worms to enjoy their brief life with its humble pleasures. He tells us not to take away a life which we cannot give.

7. Frame a pointwise Analysis of the poem ‘The worm’. Use the following points.
Answer:

(a) Poem and poet: ‘The Worm’ by Thomas Gisborne.
(b) Theme: Respect every creature big or small, for each has its own role to play in this universe.
(c) Tone: Serious and thought-provoking in the imperative.
(d) Structure and stanzas: Stanzas of four lines each short lines.
(e) Rhyme and Rhythm: Rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, and so on. The last words of the first and third line and second and fourth line of every stanza rhyme, Rhythm is smooth.
(f) Language and Imagery: Archaic language; no imagery.
(g) Figures of Speech: Apostrophe, Inversion.

Class 8 English Chapter 2.3 The Worm Additional Important Questions and Answers

Complete the following:

Question 1.
The other creations of God that are mentioned in the poem are the sun, _____.
Answer:
the moon, the stars, the earth, blades of grass and humans.

Question 2.
The thought in the last two lines is that _____.
Answer:
we have no right to lightly take away a life that we cannot give back.

Question 3.
Pick out examples of Inversion from the poem.
Answer:
(i) On that poor worm bestow’d
(ii) The sun, the moon the stars He made To all His creatures free.

Writing Skills:

Question 1.
Even small things in nature play a big role. So protect nature Frame some slogans based on the above topic.
Answer:
(i) Nurture nature and get/nurtured by nature.
(ii) All creatures great and small.
The good Lord made them all.
(iii) Take care of one and all.
All creatures great and small.

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 Nature Created Man and Woman as Equals Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 2.2 Nature Created Man and Woman as Equals

Class 8 English Chapter 2.2 Nature Created Man and Woman as Equals Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up

A. Study the pictures given on page 30 of the textbook and note the differences :

Answer:
Set (i) In the first panel a boy is going to school while a girl of the same age is doing household chores. In the next panel, both the boy and the girl are going to school.

Answer:
Set (ii) In the first panel, a woman is trudging along balancing pots of water on her head and a baby on her hip. In the next panel, a woman is teaching children at a school.

B. Now write what you observe in the following two pictures:

Answer:
(i) In the first panel a boy and a man are shown sharing the household chores, leaving the women to do other work.
(ii) In the next panel, men and women are working in an office together at an equal level.

C. Which pictures reflect gender equality? Write their numbers.
Answer:
The pictures on the right-hand side of:
(A) and both the pictures of
(B) reflect gender equality.

D. Write down any two slogans on gender equality.
Answer:
(i) Let’s have peace and unity
For all, give equal opportunity.

(ii) Men and women, Are all the same.
Please stop playing, This discrimination game.

1. A. Find from the lesson words/phrases that mean the following:

Question a.
colours …………
Answer:
Hues.

Question b.
a person who writes for newspapers/magazines …………
Answer:
Journalist.

Question c.
make a difference between ………
Answer:
Discriminate.

Question d.
cryover ………
Answer:
Lament

Question e.
explain in detail ………
Answer:
Throw light on.

Question f.
abilities and qualities ……….
Answer:
Potential

Question g.
same availability ……….
Answer:
Equal Access

Question h.
a person who brings about a social/political change …………
Answer:
Activist.

1. B. Pick out five Compound words from the lesson.
Answer:

• anywhere
• household crystal-clear
• courtyard
• reading room
• middle-aged

2. Answer in your own words:

Question a.
Read and write down 5 points which prove that Tomba, (Lanthoi’s father) firmly believes in gender equality.
Answer:
The facts which prove that Tomba firmly believes in gender equality are:

1. Tomba is supportive of Ashang bis activities as a woman’s rights activist.
2. He advocates the cause of women.
3. He does not discriminate between a man’s work and a woman’s work.
4. He shares equally with Ashangbi in doing the household chores like cooking, washing, etc.
5. He tells Lanthoi that the world is still full of inequalities and they have to find a way to bring equality between men and women.

Question b.
In what ways is Ashangbi different from other women of her community?
Answer:
Ashangbi is different from other women of her community:

• she is a woman’s rights activist
• she is a journalist is different

Question c.
What are the provisions in the Declaration of the United Nations, to ensure equality of men and women?
Answer:
The provisions In the Declaration of the United Nations to ensure equality of men and women are:

• equal access to basic social services including health and education.
• equal participation in political and economic decision-making.
• equal reward for equal work, and
• elimination of discrimination and violence against women.

3. Who said to whom and when / why?

	Who said?	To Whom?	When/why?
………the world is full of inequalities
I want to do something interesting
It is against the will of God
Our home is full of love……..
……….we can affirm along with United Nations that men and women are equal.

Answer:

	Who said?	To Whom?	When/why?
………the world is full of inequalities	Tomba	Lanthoi	When he is discussing gender equality with his daughter.
I want to do something interesting	Lanthoi	Ashangbi	When she wants to discuss something with her mother.
It is against the will of God	Ashangbi	Lanthoi	When she is talking about the subjugation of women.
Our home is full of love……..	Lanthoi	Ashangbi	When she is discussing gender equality with her mother.
……….we can affirm along with United Nations that men and women are equal.	Ashangbi	Lanthoi	When Lanthol asked her about the provisions available to enable women to express their potential and set themselves free from suppression.

4. We have studied in previous classes that Pronouns are nords used instead of Nouns.

We also know about Personal Pronouns like I, you, he, she, my, your, his, her, they etc.
There are other words also which are used in place of nouns.
(i) This, that, these, those point to some noun.
For example: ‘Ihi is a kingfisher.’ Those are herons.’ Such Pronouns are called Demonstrative Pronouns.

(ii) Some pronouns not only replace nouns, but also connect two sentences.
For example : Biology is a science. It studies living organisms.’
Biology is a science which / th studies living organisms.
Some other such pronouns are who, whose, whom etc.
They are called Relative Pronouns.

(iii) Some pronouns are used to ask questions.
For example: What is your name?
Which is your coat?
Who is your coach?
The underlined words are Interrogative Pronouns.

Underline the Pronouns in the following sentences and name their types:

Question 1.
What do you want to do?
Answer:
What do you want to do?
What – Interrogative Pronoun
you – Personal Pronoun

Question 2.
It is because of your father that I feel no inequality.
Answer:
It is because of your father that I feel no inequality.
your, I-Personal Pronoun

Question 3.
This is what your topic means.
Answer:
This is what your topic means.
This – Demonstrative Pronoun;
your-Personal Pronoun

Question 4.
She is fascinated by the small trail, which winds up the mountain.
Answer:
She is fascinated by the small trail, which winds up the mountain.
She – Personal Pronoun
which – Interrogative Pronoun

5. Read the following lines. Imagine it is the beginning of an instance you have experienced. Complete the incident using your imagination. Give it u positise ending. I had often noticed that in my neighbour’s family, the son was greatly pampered, but the daughter was treated unfairly. I could not bear this. So one day I decided to ………….

Continue the write-ups with your own ideas, in about 12 – 15 lines.
Answer:
I had often noticed that in my neighbour’s family, the son was greatly pampered, but the daughter, Meera, was treated unfairly. I could not bear this. So one day I decided to do something about it. I knew that as a young girl, I could not go in and give them advice. It had to be done diplomatically. I decided to make a folder of stories of successful women who had scaled wonderful heights and were greatly respected. I also made a list of women entrepreneurs and their lives. It took me a long time to do this, but it also became my project at school and I got guidance from my teacher and my mother. They asked me to make a power-point presentation too, in addition to the folder. After about three months of hard work. my project was complete.

One afternoon, when I knew that Meera’s mother would be alone at home, I took my presentation and my folder. Pretending that I wanted her opinion on my school project, I showed her the entire presentation. My plan was successful. At the end of two anxious hours, Meera’s mother turned round and hugged me. “I get your message,” she said through her tears. “We have been unfair to Meera. We will rectify it immediately. Thanks, dear.”
I don’t know the marks I will get in school for my project, but according to me, it is already in the A+ category. It has made a positive impact. And that’s enough reward for me.

6. Project :
From your school library or internet collect quotations/slogans promoting gender equality. Make decorative posters with pictures of outstanding women or sketches or illustrations of your choice. With permission, put up the posters in your school surroundings.

Class 8 English Chapter 2.2 Nature Created Man and Woman as Equals Additional Important Questions and Answers

Simple Factual Activities:

Question 1.
Make a list of the beautiful natural surroundings of the house.
Answer:

• A small stream of crystal clear water.
• The green mountains
• A stretch of hundreds of acres of fertile land with yellow mustard flowers.
• A garden in front of the house.
• Many kinds of trees bearing flowers of different colours and fruits.
• Fragrant jasmine.

Question 2.
Write down the ways in which Ashangbi is different from other women of her community.
Answer:

Question 3.
What help did Lanthoi need from her mother?
Answer:
Lanthoi was going to speak on the topic ‘God created men and women as equals’ at her school. She wanted to have some discussion with her mother on the topic.

State what kind of sentences the following are:

Question 1.
Tell me what you want to do.
Answer:
Imperative

Question 2.
Will you spare some time to have a discussion with me ?
Answer:
Interrogative

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Do you think that a woman should have a paid job outside the house or stay at home as a full-time homemaker?
Answer:
I think that depends on the woman and the circumstances. If she is qualified and wants to pursue a career, she should do so. If she wishes to stay at home, she should do that. It is important that she should have the freedom to choose and do as she wishes.

Answer in brief:

Question 1.
What did Lanthoi’s father work as?
Answer:
Lanthoi’s father Tomba is a lawyer and a social wrorker, who advocates the cause of women.

Question 2.
What does Ashangbi feel about Tomba’s views on gender equality?
Answer:
Ashangbi is appreciative of Tomba’s view on gender equality.

Complex Factual Activities:

Question 1.
List the ways in which Tomba contributes towards Ashangbi’s success.
Answer:
The ways in which Tomba contributes towards Ashangbi’s success are:

• Tomba is supportive of Ashangbi’s activities.
• He is always proud of his wife and children.
• In times of need, he helps his wife and children.
• He does not discriminate between a man’s work and woman’s work.
• He shares equally with Ashangbi in doing the household chores like cooking, washing, etc.

Question 2.
Describe how mother explained Lanthoi’s topic for her speech at school.
Answer:
Lanthoi’s topic for her speech was ‘God created men and women as equals.’ Ashangbi explained to Lanthoi that God has sent men and women to our earth to share the joys and sorrows of life equally, to share His blessings and to enjoy the bounty of nature equally. Hence, men and women are equals and should be treated as such.

Question 3.
Write down five points which prove that Tomba firmly believes in gender equality.
Answer:
The facts which prove that Tomba firmly believes in gender equality are:

• Tomba is supportive of Ashangbi’s activities as a woman’s rights activist.
• He advocates the cause of women.
• He does not discriminate between a man’s work and woman’s work.
• He shares equally with Ashangbi in doing the household chores like cooking, washing, etc.
• He tells Lanthoi that the world is still full of inequalities and they have to find a way to bring equality between men and women.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
In olden days, men and women had ‘fixed’ roles to play, and ‘fixed’ jobs to do. Do you think there should be a change in this today?
Answer:
Yes, as society changes and progresses we must change the ‘fixed’ roles and ‘fixed’ jobs too. Today, when women are going out, working and adding to the family income, men too should help in the house. Women have learnt to do many jobs which were earlier done only by men. Men too should learn to do jobs which were earlier done only by women.

Write whether the following statements are True or False:

Question 1.
Lanthoi’s grandmother has narrated many stories about brave queens to her.
Answer:
True

Question 2.
Lanthoi found the topic of pioneer women boring.
Answer:
False

Question 3.
Linthoingambi and Kuranganayani were brave kings.
Answer:
False

Question 4.
Lanthoi has a lot of respect for Ashangbi.
Answer:
True

Complex Factual Activities:

Question 1.
Describe how the role of a mother is honoured and praised.
Answer:
The mother is said to be the fountain of love in the family. This bond of love cannot be compared to anything else in the world. Motherhood has been glorified because of this and therefore women accept the challenges in life to become a mother.

Question 2.
Complete the web showing the achievements of modern women.

Answer:

Write the noun forms of the following words:

• know
• qual
• narrated
• brave

Answer:

• knowledge
• equality
• narration/narrator
• bravery

Activities based on Contextual Grammar:

Question 1.
This bond of love Is beyond comparison with anything else in the world.
(Make the sentence negative.)
Answer:
This bond of love cannot be compared with anything else In the world.

Question 2.
Life is not possible without both women and men.
(Make the sentence affirmative.)
Answer:
Life is impossible without both women and men.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
Have you read stories/biographies of successful women? Did you like them?
Answer:
Yes, I have. I have read about Rani Laxmlbal. I have also read short stories and articles about women like Marie Curie, Sudha Chandran, Annie Besant, Mother Teresa, etc. like them and find them motivating.

Write ‘Yes’ or ‘No’:

Question 1.
Lanthoi finally understands what the topic of the symposium means.
Answer:
Yes

Question 2.
Ashangbi satisfies her daughter’s curiosity.
Answer:
Yes

Question 3.
Lanthoi is unsure and nervous about her presentation.
Answer:
No

Question 4.
The United Nations has affirmed that men and women are equals.
Answer:
Yes

Complex Factual Activities:

Question 1.
Write down the provisions in the Declaration of the United Nations to ensure equality of men and women. OR What social justice does the aegis of the United Nations guarantee?
Answer:
The provisions In the Declaration of the United Nations to ensure equality of men and women are:

• equal access to basic social services including health and education.
• equal participation in political and economic decision-making.
• equal reward for equal work, and
• elimination of discrimination and violence against women.

Question 2.
Describe the vision that meets Lanthoi’s eyes when she rushes outdoor.
Answer:
When Lanthoi rushes outdoors, she is welcomed by the bright morning sun. The blue sky and the range of mountains : appear to meet. Lanthoi is fascinated by a small trail which goes winding up the ; distant purple mountain.

Pick out the subject and predicate:

Question 1.
He extends his helping hand to his wife and children and to the society at large.
Answer:
He-subject
extends his helping hand to his wife and children and to the society at large-predicate

Question 2.
Use the word ‘share’ as a noun and a verb in two separate sentences:
Answer:
(i) The wicked brother wanted his share in the property, (noun)
(ii) The poor woman shared the loaf of bread with her children, (verb)

Writing Skills

Read the following lines. Imagine that it is the beginning of an instance you have experienced. Continue the write-up with your own ideas, in about 12-15 lines and complete the incident using your imagination. Give it a positive ending.
I had often noticed that in my neighbour’s family, the son was greatly pampered, but the daughter was treated unfairly. I could not bear this. So one day I decided to ……………..
Answer:
I had often noticed that in my neighbour’s family, the son was greatly pampered, but the daughter, Meera, was treated unfairly. I could not bear this. So one day I decided to do something about it.

I knew that as a young girl, I could not go in and give them advice. It had to be done diplomatically. I decided to make a folder of stories of successful women who had scaled wonderful heights and were greatly respected. I also made a list of women entrepreneurs and their lives. It took me a long time to do this, but it also became my project at school and I got j guidance from my teacher and my mother.

They asked me to make a power-point presentation too, in addition to the folder. After about three months of hard work, my project was complete. One afternoon, when I knew that Meera’s mother would be alone at home, I took my presentation and my folder. Pretending that I wanted her opinion on my school project, I showed her the entire presentation.

My plan was successful. At the end of two anxious hours, Meera’s mother turned round and hugged me. “I get your message,” she said through her tears. “We have been unfair to Meera. We will rectify l it immediately. Thanks, dear.” I don’t know the marks I will get in ; school for my project, but according to me, it is already in the A+ category. It has made a positive impact. And that’s enough reward for me.

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.4 Revathi’s Musical Plants Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.4 Revathi’s Musical Plants

Class 8 English Chapter 1.4 Revathi’s Musical Plants Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up

1. Discuss in groups and share your answers with the class:

Question 1.
Can you name the famous musician in Emperor Akbar’s court, who could perform miracles, when he sang different Ragas?
Answer:
Tansen

Question 2.
What miracles could he perform with his music?
Answer:
It is said that Tansen could create rain and fire just through his music. If he sang the Raga Deepak, the area around ; him would catch fire. If he sang Megha ; Malhar, it would begin to rain. If he sang an evening raga during daytime, the sunlight i would diminish and it would look like it j was dusk already.

Question 3.
What impact does music have on ! human beings?
Answer:
Music can make human beings happy, sad, nostalgic, mournful, etc. It can soothe them when they are stressed. It can also convey a lot of emotions like love, anger, etc. that may not be conveyed easily through words.

Question 4.
Do you think that music can have an impact on animals, birds and even | plants?
Answer:
Yes, definitely. It has already been proved by Jagdish Chandra Bose that plants respond to music. It is said that cows give more milk if they listen to good music. Our folklore is full of instances of snakes swaying to the music played by snake charmers.

2. Affirmative and Negative sentences:

Read the sentences below and spot the difference in their framing:
1. (a) I could not complete the work.
(b) I failed to complete the work.

2. (a) There is no sense in what you say.
(b) There is hardly any sense in what you say.

3. (a) He said he wouldn’t go.
(b) He refused to go.

You will observe that sentences marked (a) and (b) convey the same meaning. But in all sentences marked (a) there are negative words (no, not, wouldn’t) whereas the ones marked (b) do not have them.
Negative words are those that convey a negative meaning.
For example: never, no, neither, nor, not, cannot, don’t, isn’t, nothing etc.
If a sentence contains Negative words, it is called a Negative Sentence.
If a sentence does not contain any Negative word, it is called Affirmative sentence.

Note: While interchanging Negative and Affirmative sentence, the meaning and tense must not change.
You must use Negative words in the sentence, while transforming from Affirmative to Negative.
You may use words like hardly I fail to I refuse / reject / avoid / prohibit / without / ban etc., while changing Negative sentences to Affirmative.

Say whether the following sentences are Affirmative or Negative ones:

Question 1.
We must avoid hurting others.
Answer:
Affirmative

Question 2.
She didn’t offer me any help.
Answer:
Negative

Question 3.
Never give up hope.
Answer:
Negative

Question 4.
You must keep away from bad company.
Answer:
Affirmative

Question 5.
There is nothing in the bag.
Answer:
Negative

Question 6.
Entry is prohibited, without permission.
Answer:
Affirmative

1. Read the story and complete the following:

Question a.
At first, Revathi’s plants did not look normal and healthy because of _______.
Answer:
they had pale green leaves and their growth was stunted due to insufficient sunlight.

Question b.
When Revathi played her favourite raga, the plants began to move because _____.
Answer:
they liked the music she was playing.

Question c.
Revathi’s grief knew no bounds because _________.
Answer:
she could not find her pot of balsam plants.

Question d.
Revathi was confident of proving her ownership of her pot of plants because________.
Answer:
she knew that her plants loved music and would respond to her favorite raga. They would bend their stems towards her, proving that they were hers.

Question e.
Revathi won the prize for the ‘Best Plant’ because of ______.
Answer:
her plants were the best looking and the healthiest.

2. Answer in your own words:

Question a.
What did Revathi discover about her balsam plants?
Answer:
Revathi discovered that her balsam plants were not only taller and healthier than the other balsam plants, but they had started flowering earlier too. The flowers were big and brightly coloured, and one of the plants had an unusual kind of flower. She also discovered that while the plants liked her favourite tune, they did not like the tune with a quick rhythm.

Question b.
Why did Revathi decide to keep her new knowledge ‘a secret’?
Answer:
Revathi decided to keep her new knowledge a secret perhaps because she felt that it was something only between her and her beloved plants, whom she considered her friends. or perhaps she felt that nobody would believe her if she mentioned that her plants were music lovers.

Question c.
How did the plants respond when Revathi played her favourite tune?
Answer:
When Revathi played her favourite tune on her violin, the plants all bent their stems towards her even though there was no breeze.

Question d.
How did the plants react to the fast rhythmic music?
Answer:
When Revathi played a tune with a quick rhythm, the plants turned away from her as though they did not like what she was playing.

Question e.
How did Revathi prove to the organisers of the competition that the plants truly belonged to her?
Answer:
When Revathi played her favourite tune, the plants bent their stems towards her as though they wanted to touch her in their happiness. This convinced the organisers that the plants were hers.

Question f.
What helped Revathi to claim her plants her belief in magic or the belief in her convictions? Explain your choice.
Answer:
Her belief in her convictions helped Revathi to claim her plants. She was sure that her plants were music lovers and would respond to her favourite raga as they had done before. There was no magic involved. It was a fact.

3. A. An ord chain consists of words of a certain category that begin with the letter, that the previous word has ended with.
Complete the word chain adding Four Nouns from the text.
Music → courtyard → ………
Answer:
music → courtyard → days → surprise → evening → grief.

3. B. Add the appropriate Prefix to make the following words opposite in meaning.

1. continue
2. possible
3. certain
4. definite
5. believe
6. important
7. place
8. known
9. regular

Answer:

1. Discontinue
2. Impossible
3. Uncertain
4. Indefinite
5. Disbelieve
6. Unimportant
7. Displace/Misplace
8. Unknown
9. Irregular

3. C. Use the following expressions to make sentences of your own:

Question 1.
make up one’s mind
Answer:
make up one’s mind – One should think carefully before one makes up one’s mind about anything important.

Question 2.
struck as odd
Answer:
struck as odd: My friend’s continuous laughter on seeing her marks struck me as odd.

Question 3.
knew no bounds
Answer:
knew no bounds: My joy knew no bounds when I saw the little puppy on my bed.

Question 4.
flash across one’s mind
Answer:
Flash across one’s mind: When Sonam saw the tears in Dia’s eyes, it flashed across her mind that there was some problem.

Question 5.
to surmise
Answer:
to surmise: When the teacher saw Naomi crying, she surmised that she had failed ¡n the test.

Question 6.
not to deter
Answer:
not to deter: The loss of a leg did not deter Sudha Chandran from dancing.

4. Imagine there is a ‘Best Plant’ Competition in the locality /colony where you live. Frame a Notice about the same, in the form of an attracti’e poster.
Cover the following points.

Name of the organisation.
Name of the Contest.
Day, Date, Venue.
Who can participate.
Prizes.
Contact details for further enquiry.
Answer:

5. Types of sentences:

Study the following sentences.
Set (A)
Revathi was a student of music.
The flowers were big and brightly coloured; indeed.
They were requested to believe her.
All the above sentences are statements or assertions, and called Assertie or Declarative sentences.

Set (B)
Wasn’t Revathi a student of music?
How can we doubt her?
Do plants have ears?
The above sentences in Set (B) are Questions. They are called Interrogatie sentences.

Set (C)
Please believe me.
Let us rutch the fun.
Sit straight.
Excuse me.
In Set (C) the sentences are either requests, appeals, commands, suggestions etc. Such sentences are called Imperative Sentences.

Set (D)
How big and bright the flowers were!
What a surprise!
Ah, what beautiful music that is!
Set (D) has sentences that express strong feelings. They are called Exclamatory Sentences

State the kinds of the following sentences:

• How happily she played the violin!
• They all bent towards her.
• Don’t play that quick tune.
• She kept the knowledge a secret.
• How can plants enjoy music?
• How proudly did Revathi carry home her prize!
  What could have token my plants?
• The organisers were not convinced.

6. Make the following Negative using the negative words given:

Question 1.
There were a few potted plants in the courtyard. (not many)
Answer:
There were not many potted plants in the courtyard.

Question 2.
They looked healthier than the other plants. (not as healthy as)
Answer:
The other plants did not look as healthy as these plants.

Question 3.
She refused to share her secret. (would not)
Answer:
She would not share her secret.

Question 4.
She went around asking everyone about her plants. (No one / did not)
Answer:
She did not omit anyone when she went around asking about her plants.

7. Make the following Affirmutie using the words given:

Question 1.
There was no breeze. (hardly)
Answer:
There was hardly any breeze.

Question 2.
Their ridicule did not deter her. (failed to)
Answer:
Their ridicule failed to deter her.

Question 3.
Her mother knew nothing about it. (denied)
Answer:
Her mother denied knowing anything about it.

Question 4.
She did not give up. (refuse to)
Answer:
She refused to give up.

8. Imagine that Revathi’s father is abroad on business and she wishes to convey the news of her prize-winning plants. Draft un email for the above subject.
Answer:

Hi Dad,
How are you? How is your trip? Have you done a lot of sightseeing the past weekend? Please don’t forget to send some pics. I wish we could all have been in Paris with you.

I have some excellent news for you. Do you know those potted balsam plants in the corner of our courtyard? Well, I took one pot and gave it a lot of love and care. And guess what! It won the first prize in the ‘Best Plant’ contest in our colony!
But more important than that, Dad, is the fact that I have discovered that my plants love music, especially my favourite raga, Mohanam. They bend towards me when

I play that raga on my violin, and move I away when I play some music with a quick rhythm. No, it is not my imagination; I proved it to the organisers of the contest, and they have praised me for my discovery.I They will certainly talk to you about it when you come back.
Dad, I want to prove my discovery to you too. Please come back soon. Rest everything is fine. Lots of hugs and kisses from all of us.

Revathi.

Class 8 English Chapter 1.4 Revathi’s Musical Plants Additional Important Questions and Answers

Simple Factual Activity:
Fill in the blanks:

Question 1.
The instrument Revathi played was the _____.
Answer:
violin

Question 2.
Revathi’s favourite raga was ______.
Answer:
Mohanam

Question 3.
One day, she saw that there was a pot of ______ plants near the wall.
Answer:
balsam

Question 4.
Revathi decided to participate in the ______ contest to be held in her colony.
Answer:
Best Plant

Question 5.
Use the expression ‘to surmise’ to make a sentence of your own :
Answer:
When the teacher saw Naomi crying, she surmised that she had failed the test.

Pick out the conjunctions in the following sentences:

Question 1.
Her mother said she knew nothing either about the pot or the plants.
Answer:
either…or

Question 2.
The flowers were big and brightly coloured and one of the plants had an unusual kind of flower.
Answer:
and, and.

Complete the table and write who said the given words and to whom:
Answer:

The Words	Who said	To whom
(1) Do plants have ears?	The organisers	Revathi
(2) I know my plants.	Revathi	The organisers

Give reasons:

Question 1.
What shock did Revathi receive on prize distribution day?
Answer:
On prize distribution day, Revathi saw her lost pot of plants on a bench, with the name of a distant neighbour of hers as the competitor. She got a shock when she saw this.

Question 2.
Explain how Revathi planned to convince the organisers that the plants were hers.
Answer:
Revathi knew that her plants were music lovers. She planned to play : the violin and show the organizers how her plants responded to her music and bent their stems towards her. This would convince them that the plants were hers.

Question 3.
The organisers refused to believe that Revathi’s plants were music lovers.
Answer:
The organisers said that plants did not have ears like ours to listen to music. They had never heard of plants enjoying music. Hence, they refused to believe that Revathi’s plants were music lovers.

Punctuate the sentence:

they asked her do plants have ears like ours to enjoy your music
Answer:
They asked her, “Do plants have ears like ours to enjoy your music?”

Underline the nouns in the following sentence :

There was her pot of plants on a bench, with the name of a distant neighbour written on a small piece of cardboard and placed in the soil.
Answer:
There was her pot of plants on a bench, with the name of a distant neighbour written on a small piece of cardboard and placed in the soil.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
What would have been your reaction if you had been in Revathi’s place, and seen someone else’s name on your pot of plants? What would you have done?
Answer:
I would have been furious. I would have gone up to the person whose name was on my plants and shouted at her and tried to make her admit her theft. I would also have complained loudly to the organisers, hoping to shame her into admitting her guilt.

Rewrite the following sentences in the correct order of occurrence in the passage:

1. The organisers were stunned.
2. The neighbour accepted that she had stolen Revathi’s plants.
3. Revathi started playing her favourite raga.
4. Everyone applauded Revathi.

Answer:

1. Revathi started playing her favourite raga.
2. The organisers were stunned.
3. Everyone applauded Revathi.
4. The neighbour accepted that she had stolen Revathi’s plants.

Complex Factual Activities :

Give reasons :

Question 1.
No one suspected that the neighbour had stolen the plants.
Answer:
The neighbour was a regular participant In the competition. Hence, no one suspected that she had stolen the plants.

Question 2.
What is the happy end?
Answer:
In the end, the neighbour admitted j that she had stolen the plants, and that the plants were actually Revathi’s. The plants got the first prize. Everyone applauded Revathi’s discovery. Thus, the end of the story is a happy one.

Activities based on Vocabulary :

Write the noun forms of the following words :

• dejected
• favourite
• applauded
• submitted

Answer:

• dejection
• favour/ favouritism
• applause
• submission

Write the adjective forms of the following words:

• argument
• forgot
• responding
• proudly

Answer:

• argumentative
• forgettable/forgetful
• responsive
• proud

Activities based on Contextual Grammar:

Underline the adverbs in the following sentence:

She felt very dejected but was determined to win her plants back.
Answer:
She felt very dejected but was I determined to win her plants back.

Underline the conjunctions in the following sentence :

The authorities decided that Revathi’s plants deserved the first prize as they were the best-looking and healthy.
Answer:
The authorities decided that Revathi’s plants deserved the first prize as they were the best-looking and healthy.

Personal Response:

What helped Revathi to claim her plants-her belief in magic or her belief in her convictions? Explain your choice.
Answer:
Her belief in her convictions helped Revathi to claim her plants. She was sure that her plants were music lovers and would respond to her favourite raga as they had done before. There was no magic involved. It was a fact.

Grammar

Say whether the following sentences are Assertive, Interrogative, Imperative or Exclamatory:

Question 1.
How happily she played the violin!
Answer:
Exclamatory

Question 2.
They all bent towards her.
Answer:
Assertive

Question 3.
Don’t play that quick tune.
Answer:
Imperative

Question 4.
She kept the knowledge a secret.
Answer:
Assertive

Question 5.
How can plants enjoy music?
Answer:
Interrogative

Question 6.
How proudly did Revathi carry home her prize!
Answer:
Exclamatory

Question 7.
Who could have taken my plants?
Answer:
Interrogative

Question 8.
The organisers were not convinced.
Answer:
Assertive

Do as directed:

Question 1.
Prepare a word register of about 4 words from the lesson for ‘music’.
Answer:
Music – rhythm, tune, violin, raga

Question 2.
Use the phrase ‘pulled up’ in your own sentence :
Answer:
The watchman was pulled up for sleeping when he was on duty.

Question 3.
Spot the error and correct the sentence :That evening, all her friends was going to the prize distribution ceremony.
Answer:
That evening, all her friends were going to the prize distribution ceremony.

Question 4.
Find out four hidden words from the given word : (Each word should have at least 3 letters.) displayed
Answer:
displayed: display, play, plea, leap

Question 5.
Make a pair of sentences to show the difference between two meanings of the following word (homographs) : stem
Answer:
(i) The stem of a plant holds it up to sunlight
(ii) “All your health problems stem from poor eating habits,” said the doctor to Roshan.

Question 6.
Underline the adverbs in the following sentence :
They were slowly moving their stems, bending slightly towards her.
Answer:
They were slowly moving their stems, bending slightly towards her.

Question 7.
Pick out the prepositions in the following sentence :
She had been busy inside the house and had not been to the courtyard.
Answer:
She had been busy inside the house and had not been to the courtyard.

Question 8.
Rewrite using the verb form of the underlined word :
She kept her knowledge a secret.
Answer:
She kept what she knew a secret.

Question 9.
Rewrite using the word ‘normally’ in the sentence:
Plants need light for normal growth.
Answer:
Plants need light to grow normally.

Question 10.
She saw all her plants turn away from her as though they did not like what she was playing.
(Rewrite as an affirmative sentence.)
Answer:
She saw all her plants turn away from her as though they disliked what she was playing.

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 The Pilgrim Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.3 The Pilgrim

Class 8 English Chapter 1.3 The Pilgrim Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up:

Make groups and discuss the following using the given points:

Question a.
What fatal dangers/problems did mankind face centuries ago, but are no longer a threat today?
Answer:
(Points : wild animals – lack of food – certain diseases – climate etc.)

Question b.
Name a few scientists/explorers/ social reformers / inventors / discoverers, who spent most of their lives to find solutions to some major problems/ setbacks that mankind faced.
Answer:
(Points : Alexander Fleming, Edison, Ronald Ross, Christopher Columbus, Wright brothers, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Galileo, Marie Curie, Savitribai Phule, Babasaheb Ambedkar, etc.)

Question c.
Did they themselves suffer from those problems/setbacks?
Answer:
(Points : most did not)

Question d.
What inspired them to spend the best part of their lives to research and share their findings?
Answer:
(Points : a passion for well-being of ! mankind – personal goals and aims – interest in the subject – curiosity – the urge to improve society and help others – etc.)

2. Read and understand the following poetic devices:

(A) If two or more words in the same line convey the some meaning, the Figure of Speech in thut line is called Tautology.
For example: It brought joy and cheer.
They groaned with aches and pains.

(B) ‘Poets often change the proper grammatical order of words in the ¡inc of a poem, in order to make the lines rhyme or to emphasize upon something. The Figure of Speech in such lines is called inersion’ or Anastrophe.’
For example: Up came the sun. Down the hill, it flowed.

(C) When a question is asked in order to create a dramatic effect and not to get an answer, in a line of the poem, the Figure of Speech used is called
Interrogation / Rhetorical Questions:
For example: What is this life, if full of care?
When can their glory fade?

1.Pick out words from the poem to fill in the web diagram. They should be related to the theme in the web.

Answer:

2.The entire poem is metaphorical (Implied comparison).
Match the words in Column A with what they imply in Column B.

Answer:
(1) pilgrim – a dutiful man
(2) journey – life
(3) evening or close of day – old age
(4) chasm, deep and wide – threat to life
(5) building a bridge – solving a problem /getting rid of a threat to life
(6) pitfall – trap
(7) close of day – death

3. A. Read the poem and write 3 qualities of each of the following.

Answer:

3. B. Answer in your own words.

Question a.
Why did the old man have no need to build the bridge, across the chasm?
Answer:
The old pilgrim had already crossed the chasm and would never pass that way again. Hence, the old man had no need to build the bridge across the chasm.

Question b.
What explanation did he give to the fellow- pilgrim for his thoughtful deed?
Answer:
The old man said that though he had already crossed the chasm, there was a fair-haired youth who was about to pass that way. The old man was experienced and was not afraid of the chasm. However, the young man was inexperienced and the chasm could prove to be a pitfall for him.
He too had to cross it at twilight, and the old man was building a bridge to help this youth.

Question c.
What message does the poem convey to all of us?
Answer:
The message that the poem conveys to us is that we must be generous ) and unselfish and think of others. We must try to help others who are not as experienced as we are.

4. A. Note the rhyming words in the first stanza:
way – gray I wide-side- tide / dim -him.
Poet has used a deliberate pattern of lines that rhyme with other lines in the poem or
the stanza. This pattern can be identified by giving the rhyming pairs of words the
same letter of the alphabet.
For example: l stanza of this poem has the pattern AABCCBB
So, AABCCBB is called the Rhyme Scheme of the 1stanza of the poem
‘The Pilgrim’.
Answer:
(i) the 2nd stanza : ddaabb
(ii) the 3rd stanza: eeaaffcc

4. B. Now write the Rhyme Scheme of the 2stanza and 3 stanza
Remember that a line in the 2d or stanza may rhyme with lines in P’ stanza,
too. You may use the sanie letter of the alphabet as used in the 1 stanza.
Answer:
(i) Came at evening, cold and gray. To a chasm, deep and vast and wide.
(The correct prose order Is: Came on a cold and gray evening to a deep and wide and vast chasm.)
(ii) To the fair-haired youth. may a pitfall be.
(The correct prose order is : To the fair-haired youth, It may be a pitfall.)

4. C. Find two lines from the poem that j contain the figure of speech ‘Inversion’.
Answer:
(i) Came at evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, deep and vast and wide.
(The correct prose order is : Came on j a cold and gray evening to a deep and wide and vast chasm.)
(ii) To the fair-haired youth, may a pitfall be.
(The correct prose order is : To the fair-haired youth, it may be a pitfall.)

Pick out one line each that contains the following figures of speech:
(Note: Refer to the next page for the explanation.)

Question a.
Tautology:
Answer:
To a chasm, deep and vast and wide.
The words vast and wide have similar meaning.

Question b.
Personification:
Answer:
A pilgrim, going a lone highway.
The highway is given the human quality of being lonely.

Question c.
Interrogation:
Answer:
Why waste your time in building here?
A question is asked to emphasize an idea.

5. Imagine that you are the fellow – pilgrim and you wish to share your experience of the incident in the poem. Write a short article about it for a magazine / journal. Also convey what change it has brought in our life.

Class 8 English Chapter 1.3 The Pilgrim Additional Important Questions and Answers

Complete the following:

Question 1.
Although he had already crossed the chasm, the pilgrim ________.
Answer:
paused and built a bridge across the waters.

Question 2.
The old pilgrim built the bridge to to __________.
Answer:
help the Inexperienced youth who was following on the same path.

Complex Factual Activities:
Give reasons:

Question a.
The fellow pilgrim was puzzled.
Answer:
The old pilgrim had already crossed the chasm and would never pass that way again. Yet, he was building a bridge across the chasm. The fellow pilgrim could not understand the reason for this and was hence puzzled.

Question b.
What/Who could be the third pilgrim?
Answer:
The third pilgrim could be a young, inexperienced youth.

Analysis/Appreciation Of A Poem
Answer:
(1) Poem and poet: ‘The Pilgrim’ by Will Allan Dromgoole
(2) Theme: Those who have faced the difficulties of life successfully and are experienced must be unselfish and help those who are inexperienced and may face difficulties.
(3) Tone: Serious.
(4) Structure and stanzas: Stanzas of unequal length; 1st stanza – 7 lines; 2nd stanza – 6 lines; 3rd stanza – 8 lines;
(5) Rhyme and Rhythm: 1st stanza – AABCCBB; 2nd stanza – ddaabb; 3rd stanza – eeaaffcc
(6) Language and Imagery: The narrative is direct with some archaic language used; there is a strong underlying message. The descriptions are vivid.
(7) Figures of Speech: Inversion, Tautology, Personification, Interrogation.

Writing Skills:

“Imagine that you are the fellow-pilgrim and you wish to share your experience of \ the incident in the poem. Write a short j article about it for a magazine/journal.
Also convey what change it has brought in your life.
Answer:

The Turning Point

There are certain incidents in one’s life which have an impact on a person and prove to be a turning point in their lives. Let me narrate the incident which shook me awake.

I was on a hike in some hilly places when I had to cross a deep ravine which had a gushing river flowing through it. I managed to cross without any difficulty to my surprise, an old man ahead of me also crossed it nimbly. As I was about to continue on my way, I saw the old man turn back and build a rough bridge across the water. It took a lot of effort and I stood by wondering. Finally, I asked him, “Sir, it is late evening and you Eire not likely to cross this way again. Why are you building a bridge now?”

The old man’s answer floored me. “You confused child,” he said with a smile. “I have completed my journey – true. But behind me is a young boy who is inexperienced.

He will soon reach this chasm, and he may have difficulty in crossing it. I am building this bridge to help him.”
I stood still, amazed at the generosity and unselfishness of the old man, who was putting in the time and effort to help someone he did not even know. He was building a bridge that he would never ever cross.

This incident left an indelible mark on my mind. Since that time, I always try to help others even though it may not be beneficial to me in any way. However, it gives me something immeasurable – peace and happiness. Try it out, won’t you? (indelible – permanent; unfading)

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.2 Dick Whittington and his Cat Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.2 Dick Whittington and his Cat

Class 8 English Chapter 1.2 Dick Whittington and his Cat Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up:

1. Discuss the follow in groups and write the answers:

Question a.
Name the world famous personalities, who reached great heights despite of humble circumstances.
Answer:

• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Abraham
• Lincoln Kalam
• Charlie Chaplin
• Kalpana Chawla

Question b.
Guess the types of hardships they must have faced in their childhood and youth.
Answer:

• poverty
•  lack of support
• social disapproval
• lack of opportunities

Question c.
What strong qualities possessed by them, could have helped them achieve success and fame, all over?
Answer:

• strong will power
• optimism
• sincerity
• hard work

Question d.
How do stories / biographies of such famous people help youngsters?
Answer:

• They help youngsters to look at life positively.
• They inspire the youth.
• They help them find answers to questions.
• They prove that we can do many seemingly impossible things if we really wish to.

2. Syllable: A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that has one ‘owe1 sound and may or may not have consonant sounds before I after it.
Examples of words having:
One syllable: a, I, see, at, on, man, with, thread
Two syllables: mother, seated, giraffe, parrot, active, happy
Three syllables: happiness, wonderful, animal, surprising, adventure, ignorance.
More than three syllables: consequently, encouragement, responsibility, identifying, encyclopedia

Write the numcs of any 5 of your classmates and list how many syllables each name has.
Answer:

• Jal: 1 syllable
• Remo: 2 syllables
• Saira: 2 syllables
• Shailaja : 3 syllables
• Mandakini: 4 syllables
• Ali: 2 syllables

1. A. Arrange the following set of words in alphabetical order in your notebook.
ship, small, successful, scoldings, stone, saving, someone, stood, streets, still, screamed, sot, seemed, saint, share.
Answer:
saint, sat, saving, scoldings, screamed, seemed, share, ship, small, someone, still, stone, stood, streets, successful.

1. B. Remove the Affixes (Prefix and Suffix) and write the Root-word.

1. successful
2. immediately
3. retrace
4. mouser
5. unfriendly
6. fallen
7. unkind
8. wooden
9. luckily
10. belonging

Answer:

1. success
2. immediate
3. trace
4. mouse
5. friendly
6. fall
7. kind
8. wood
9. luck
10. belong

2. A. Find from the story’ one word for the following.

Question a.
a small room just below a sloping roof
Answer:
attic

Question b.
a very narrow passage between buildings
Answer:
alley

Question c.
the highest – ranking officer in the Municipality of a city/town.
Answer:
Mayor

Question d.
the highest ranking official who commands a ship.
Answer:
Captain

Question e.
any animal that catches mice
Answer:
mouser

Question f.
a low constant sound made by cats
Answer:
Purr

2. B. Make sentences of your own using the following expressions.

Question 1.
overcome:
Answer:
We must learn to overcome any difilcultics we come across.

Question 2.
put up with:
Answer:
We had to put up wilhi the noisy behaviour of our neighbours son.

Question 3.
bargain:
Answer:
People In India love to bargain with hawkers.

3. Rearrange the following events us they occur in the story. Put the correct number in the boxes.

Answer:

4. Think and answer:

Question 1.
What decision taken by Dick changed his fortune?
Answer:
On hearing the church bells send out a message to him, Dick decided to retrace his steps and go back to Mr. Fitzwarren’s house instead of running away. This decision changed Dick’s fortune.

Question 2.
What message does this story bring j out for youngsters?
Answer:
The message that this story brings out for youngsters is that we must S not run away from difficulties but face > them bravely.

5. A. Break the words below into syllables us shown in the first one.

1. belonging
2. morning
3. unfriendly
4. citizen
5. anything
6. message
7. difficulty
8. mayor
9. captain
10. elected

Answer:

1. be – long – ing
2. mor – ning
3. un – friend – ly
4. ci – ti – zen
5. an – y – thing
6. mess – age
7. di – ffi – cul- ty
8. ma – yor
9. cap – tain
10. e – lec – ted

5. B. Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives.

Read the sentences.

(i) Yatin is strong.
(ii) Amit is stronger than Yatin.
(iii) Pruvin is the strongest of all.

In sentence (i) the Adjective ‘strong’ is in its simple form. It is called Positive Degree.
In sentence (ii) the Adjective stronger’ refers to a higher degree, when there is a comparison of two nouns. It is called Comparative Degree. (-er is
added to the basic Adjective)
In sentence (iii) the adjective ‘strongest’ refers to the highest degree of comparison of one with more than two nouns. It is called Superlative
Degree. (-est is added to the basic Adjective)

Complete the table of degrees of comparison.

Answer:

Positive	Compa­rative	Super­lative
(1) great	greater	greatest
(2) famous	more famous	most famous
(3) easy	easier	easiest
(4) bad	worse	worst
(5) poor	poorer	poorest
(6) lazy	lazier	laziest
(7) little	less	least
(8) worthy	worthier	worthiest
(9) popular	more popular	most popular

6. Select any one of the famous personalities mentioned in ‘Warming up 1′ on page no. 5. From the library or internet find out their success story. Write ¡tin your own words in about 20 to 30 lines of your notebook. Give your write-up a suitable title.

Class 8 English Chapter 1.2 Dick Whittington and his Cat Additional Important Questions and Answers

Simple Factual Activities :

Complete the following :

Question 1.
Dick lived in a ______.
Answer:
small village in the south of England

Question 2.
_____ treated Dick unkindly.
Answer:
Many of the villagers

Question 3.
The innocent belief ________.
Answer:
that the streets of London were paved with gold made Dick decide to go to London

Question 4.
The carter asked Dick _______.
Answer:
if he was running away from home

Complex Factual Activity:

Question 1.
Describe the hardships that Dick I faced on arriving in London.
Answer:
Dick arrived in London just before ; nightfall. He had no place to sleep, and he finally slept in the corner of a narrow lane. The following morning, Dick woke ( up feeling cold, miserable and hungry. He j begged for food, but people shouted at him | and hit him angrily on his head. He finally collapsed and lay there, too weak to look further for food.

Activities based on Contextual Grammar:

Question 1.
He thought people might treat him more kindly if he were rich. (Identify the modal auxiliary and state its function.)
Answer:
might-indicates possibility

Question 2.
All he could see were dirty streets and lots of unfriendly people.
(Rewrite using ‘nothing’.)
Answer:
He could see nothing but dirty streets and lots of unfriendly people.

Personal Response:

When Dick begged for food, people shouted at him and beat him. Do you think this is right?
Answer:
of course it is not right. We ; should have sympathy when people beg for something, not get angry with them. They must be having a strong reason for begging, of course, if they are lazy, do not work and then beg, it is wrong. Even then, we must not beat them or shout at them.

Complete the following:

Question 1.
Mr. Fitzwarren favoured Dick by ______.
Answer:
ordering the cook to take him into the kitchen, feed him and then find some work for him

Question 2.
Dick had to face two difficulties in Mr. Fitzwarren’s house. They were:
Answer:
(i) the attic where he slept was overrun by rats and mice, preventing him from sleeping.
(ii) the cook was bad-tempered and shouted and screamed at Dick, scolding him and hitting him with a wooden spoon even when he was working as hard as he could.

Question 3.
The cat proved to be very useful because _____.
Answer:
it chased away all the rats and mice, allowing Dick to sleep peacefully

Activities based on Contextual Grammar:

Question 1.
Dick had fallen in front of a house belonging to a rich merchant. (Rewrite using the simple past tense of the underlined verb.)
Answer:
Dick fell in front of a house belonging to a rich merchant.

Question 2.
Dick was able to sleep peacefully.
(Rewrite using the verb ‘slept’.)
Answer:
Dick slept peacefully.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
What do Mr. Fitzwarren’s actions tell us about him?
Answer:
Mr. Fitzwarren’s actions tell us that he was a kind-hearted and just man.
He did not abuse Dick or hit him as the others had done. He offered Dick a home and a living in return for helping the cook with all the pots and pans in the kitchen.

Simple Factual Activities:

Who said the following words:

Question 1.
I can put up with a few scoldings from the cook.
Answer:
Dick

Question 2.
No, it must be his.
Answer:
Mr. Fitzwarren

Question 3.
Only my cat.
Answer:
Dick

Question 4.
Let me put something in for him.
Answer:
Alice

Fill in the blanks:

Question 1.
Dick walked as far as ________.
Answer:
Holloway

Question 2.
The first of November is _______.
Answer:
All Saints’ Day

Question 3.
Dick went back to _____.
Answer:
Mr. Fitzwarren’s house

Question 4.
Mr. Fitzwarren was sending a ship to the _____ to trade.
Answer:
African coast

Complex Factual Activity:

Question 1.
’“Explain in your own words what inspired Dick to return to Mr. Fitzwarren’s home.
Answer:
When Dick sat down on a stone to rest, he heard the church bells ringing. As he listened, it seemed that they were ringing a message for him, telling him that he should go back home, and calling him the Mayor of London.

Pick out the subject and predicate in the following sentences and put them in the correct columns in the table given below :

1. You can then share in the profits.
2. Everyone produced something except for Dick.
3. The two of them walked as far as Holloway.
4. Dick and his cat retraced their steps to Mr. Fitzwarren’s house.

Answer:

Subject	Predicate
(1) You	can then share in the profits
(2) Everyone	produced something except for Dick
(3) The two of them	walked as far as Holloway
(4) Dick and his cat	retraced their steps to Mr. Fitzwarren’s house.

Personal Response:

Question 1.
According to you, did Dick do the right thing by running away from Mr. Fitzwarren’s house because of the cook?
Answer:
No, I don’t think that Dick did the right thing. Mr. Fitzwarren was a good man, and Dick was making a decent living. He should have tried to win the cook over and solve his difficulties. If he had run away, he may not have got another job and may have had to beg. Nothing is gained by running away from problems; we must face them and solve them.

Write whether the following statements are True or False:

Question 1.
Dick was happy to send his cat on the ship.
Answer:
False

Question 2.
The cat caught plenty of mice and rats.
Answer:
True

Question 3.
The king was rude to the captain.
Answer:
False

Question 4.
The queen knew all about cats.
Answer:
False

Pick out two adverbs ending in ‘-ly’ from the passage, and write the adjectives in them.
Answer:
Adverbs-immediately, normally, Adjectives in them-immediate, normal

Personal Response:

Do you think that all the animals are 1 important to the environment?
Answer:
Yes, all the animals are certainly j important to the environment. They all have their own place and own duties. ; For example, hawks and eagles control the population of mice, rats and snakes. Lions and tigers keep the number of deer, buffaloes and other such animals in check, j Every animal is important in its own way.

Write the following sentences in the correct order of occurrence in the passage:

1. Dick was knighted by the king and became Sir Richard Whittington.
2. Dick was elected the Mayor of London.
3. The king paid ten times the sum for the cat.
4. “I would give great wealth to own this animal,” said the queen.

Answer:

1. “I would give great wealth to own this animal,” said the queen.
2. The king paid ten times the sum for the cat.
3. Dick was elected the Mayor of London.
4. Dick was knighted by the king and became Sir Richard Whittington.

Give reasons:

Question 1.
The queen was afraid of the cat.
Answer:
The queen was afraid of the cat because she had seen how fiercely it had attacked the rats and the mice.

Question 2.
How much did the king pay for the cat?
Answer:
The king paid ten times the sum for the cat that he had paid for the whole cargo from Mr. Fitzwarren’s ship.

Activities based on Contextual Grammar :

Pick out the verbs from the following sentences and state their tense :

Question 1.
The captain showed Mr. Fitzwarren the gold and jewels he had brought from Barbary.
Mr. Fitzwarren then paid him all: the money he had received for the cat.
Answer:
showed – simple past tense; had brought – past perfect tense
paid – simple past tense; had received – past perfect tense

Personal Response:

Question 1.
What message does this story bring j out for youngsters?
Answer:
The message that this story brings out for youngsters is that we must S not run away from difficulties but face > them bravely.

Do as directed:

Question 1.
Pick out two compound words from the lesson.
Answer:
Two compound words : household, nightfall

Question 2.
Use the adverb ’immediately’ in your own sentence :
Answer:
The teacher immediately asked the tired girl to sit down.

Question 3.
Find out four hidden words from : the given word : (Each word should have at least 3 letters.)
successful
Answer:
successful : success, self, fuel, fuse

Question 4.
Use the following word and its homophone in two separate sentences :ate
Answer:

• The little boy ate the cake very quickly,
• He was eight years old when he got a new cycle.

Question 5.
Underline the adjectives from the following sentence :
He was not only famous, but he was popular too, for he always helped the poor ; with his money.
Answer:
He was not only famous, but he was popular too, for he always helped the poor with his money.

Question 6.
Pick out the conjunction in the following sentence :
Dick work up cold, miserable and very hungry.
Answer:
and

Question 7.
Punctuate :
alas yes came the reply the country is suffering from a plague of rats and mice
Answer:
“Alas, yes!” came the reply. “The country is suffering from a plague of rats and mice.”

Question 8.
Pick out the direct and indirect objects:
He gave me a hundred rupee note.
Answer:
Direct object – a hundred-rupee note
Indirect object – me

Question 9.
Use the following word as a noun and a verb in two separate sentences :
sleep
Answer:

• We should get at least 8 hours of sleep daily, (noun)
• I sleep at 10 pm daily, (verb)

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.1 A Time To Believe Notes, Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 1.1 A Time To Believe

Class 8 English Chapter 1.1 A Time To Believe Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up:

Question 1.
Think, choose and fill up the labels with what a ‘sunrise’ symbolizes.
(jewellery / art / hope / birth / anger / new opportunities / good manners / inspiration/ new achievements / happiness / misery / bright moments / new aims / money / newsurprises)

Answer:

Question 2.
An acrostic is a poem or a write up in which the first letter of each line forms a word, when it is read vertically. Complete the acrostics of BELIEVE and FAITH.

With your benchmate / group, complete the acrostic of BELIEVE and FAITH.
Answer:

1.A. Rearrange the letters to make meaningful words, occurring in the poem.

1. clearmis
2. sowmid
3. tabyue
4. madres
5. laveu
6. downre

Answer:

1. miracles
2. wisdom
3. beauty
4. dreams
5. value
6. wonder

1.B. Write words from the poem that describe the following.

1. sky
2. heart
3. hand
4. beginning

Answer:

1. stardust sky
2. nurturing heart
3. aging hand
4. new beginning

2. Say WHY. . . . .

Question a.
________ the sky has a magical quality.
Answer:
The sky has a magical quality because it has scurrying clouds, twinkling stars and a beautiful moon.

Question b.
_______ even an aging hand has beauty.
Answer:
because it can teach us how to love.

Question c.
_______we should believe that we are strong and courageous.
Answer:
We should believe that we are | strong and courageous so that we can recover after we have gone through difficulties and shocks, and return to our normal lives again.

3. Make a list of any six things that the poet wants us to accept as true.
Answer:
The poet wants us to accept as j true the following things :

• that we have the strength and ( courage to get back to normal after a setback
• that we are never alone
• that life is a gift we must cherish
• that there are wonderful surprises in store for us
• that all our hopes and dreams are within reach
• that great things will happen if we have belief in life and in ourselves

4. Find from the poem, positive qualities to fill up the web.

Answer:

5. Read the lines below.
(A) ‘To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds’.
The above line contain a human characteristic ‘dancing’ given to something
non – human, ‘angels’. The Figure of Speech used in the line is called
‘Personification’.

(B) ‘To believe is to know that
Everyday is a new beginning’.

(C) To believe is to know ………. life is a gift
Lines in poetry, such as the above, state a general truth and can be used as sayings or
quotes etc. They contain the Figure of Speech called Epigram.
Epigram closely resembles a proverb.

Find from the poem three other examples of Epigram.
Answer:
(i) ‘To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us.’
(ii) ‘To believe is to know we are never alone, that life is a gift.’
(iii) ‘To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen.’
(These lines state a general truth.)

6. Divide the class into 5 groups. Each group can prepare a decorative chart / poster using an epigrammatic lines from the poem. You may use calligraphy / painting / or Paint programme on a computer. (With permission, put up these charts in your school.)

Class 8 English Chapter 1.1 A Time To Believe Additional Important Questions and Answers

Complete the following:

Question 1.
One should know and trust _______.
Answer:
One should know and trust that every day is a new beginning, that miracles happen and dreams really do come true.

Question 2.
The two supernatural references in the second stanza _______.
Answer:
The two supernatural references in the second stanza are to angels and to the man in the moon.

Activities based on Poetic Devices/Vocabulary:

Question 1.
Find out an example of Personification from the extract.
Answer:
‘To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds.’ (Here, the angels have been given the human quality of ‘dancing’.)

Question 2.
Pick out examples of Alliteration from the extract.
Answer:
(i) …. and the wisdom of the man in the moon’. (Repetition of the sound of the letter ‘m’.)
(ii) For it is through their teachings, we learn to love. (Repetition of the sound of the letters ‘t’ and T.)

Question 3.
Pick out an example of Repetition from the extract.
Answer:
The words ‘To believe is to ….’ are repeated at the beginning of each stanza. This provides emphasis to the message in the poem and gives rhythm to the stanzas.

Complete the following:

Question 1.
The two qualities that are needed to recover after a shocking event are _________.
Answer:
strength and courage.

Question 2.
The poet advises everybody to ______.
Answer:
have a positive attitude.

Complex Factual Activities:

Question 1.
Explain why ….
…. we should believe that we are strong and courageous,
Answer:
We should believe that we are strong and courageous so that we can recover after we have gone through difficulties and shocks, and return to our normal lives again.

Activities based on Poetic Devices/Vocabulary :

Question 1.
Rearrange the letters to form meaningful words occurring in the extract.

1. gearuoc
2. rissupser
3. gnehtrts
4. irehchs

Answer:

1. courage
2. surprises
3. strength
4. cherish

Question 2.
Write word from the extract that describe the following :
surprises
Answer:
wonderful surprises

Question 3.
Pick out an example of Metaphor from the extract.
Answer:
‘That life is a gift.’ Life is implicitly compared to a gift.

Question 4.
Pick out an example of Repetition from the extract.
Answer:
The words ‘To believe is to ….’ are repeated at the beginning of each stanza. This provides emphasis to the message in the poem and gives rhythm to the stanzas.

Question 5.
Analysis/Appreciation Of The Poem ‘A Time To Believe’
Answer:
Poem and poet: ‘A Time to Believe’ by B.J. Morbitzer.
Theme: To believe in ourselves and to have a positive and optimistic attitude towards life.
Tone: Serious and inspirational.
Structure and stanzas: 4 lines in each stanza, except in the last stanza, which has 5 lines.
Rhyme and Rhythm: No rhyme scheme; the poem is written in free verse.
Language and Imagery: The language is simple and direct. The only instances of Imagery are of ‘angels dancing among the clouds’ and the ‘stardust sky’.
Figures of Speech: Personification, Epigram, Repetition, Metaphor.