Question Bank of Class Viii (English)
QUESTION BANK OF CLASS – VIII (ENGLISH)
HONEY DEW
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT IN THE WORLD
1. What did the author find in a junk shop?
Answer
The author found a very old 19th century roll-top desk in a junk shop. It was made of oak.It was in a very bad condition. The roll-top was broken into several pieces. One of the legs was clumsily mended and there were scorch marks down one side.
2.What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer
In a secret drawer of a roll-top desk, the author found a small tin box.There was a piece of lined note paper sello-taped to its top. It had, ‘Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes” written on it.
Most likely, it was put there by Mrs. Jim Macpherson, who was Jim’s wife. Her name and address were on the envelope inside the box.
3.Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?
Answer
Jim Macpherson had written the letter to his wife Connie Macpherson on December 26, 1914.
4.Why was the letter written-what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer
Jim wrote the letter to tell his wife about a wonderful thing that had happened on Christmas day. The British and the Germans were engaged in a war, yet on this day, both the troops met in no man's land. It was a thing of wonder because right in the middle of a war, the warring soldiers were making peace.
5. What did the author find in a junk shop?
Answer
The author found a very old 19th century roll-top desk in a junk shop. It was made of oak. It was in a very bad condition. The roll-top was broken into several pieces. One of the legs was clumsily mended and there were scorch marks down one side.
6. What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer
In a secret drawer of a roll-top desk, the author found a small tin box. There was a piece of lined note paper sello-taped to its top. It had, ‘Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes” written on it.
Most likely, it was put there by Mrs. Jim Macpherson, who was Jim’s wife. Her name and address were on the envelope inside the box.
7. Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?
Answer
Jim Macpherson had written the letter to his wife Connie Macpherson on December 26, 1914.
8. Why was the letter written-what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer
Jim wrote the letter to tell his wife about a wonderful thing that had happened on Christmas day. The British and the Germans were engaged in a war, yet on this day, both the troops met in no man's land. It was a thing of wonder because right in the middle of a war, the warring soldiers were making peace.
9. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Answer
Hans Wolf was from Dusseldorf. He played the cello in the orchestra. Jim Macpherson was a school teacher from Dorset.
10. Had Hans Wolf even been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Answer
No, Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He had learned all about England from school and from reading books in English.
THE TSUNAMI
1.How are Meghna and Almas's stories similar?
Answer
Both Meghna's and Almas' families were washed away. Both of them kept floating in the sea for days. Meghna floated in the sea for two days holding on to a wooden door. She was brought to the shore by a wave. Similarly, Almus climbed on to a log of wood and fainted. She woke up in a hospital. Both the girls were traumatised after the incident. While Meghna was seen walking on the seashore in daze, Almus does not talk about the incident to anyone.
2.What are the different ways in which Tilly's parents could have reacted to her behavior? What would you have done if you were in their place?
Answer
Not taking her seriously, Tilly's parents could have tried to calm her down thinking that she had been frightened by something. As a result, they could have been washed away by the tsunami waves.
If I were in their place, I too would have listened to her and realised that there was a danger approaching. Consequently, I too would have rushed away from the beach.
3.If Tilly's award was to be shared, who do you think she should share it with - her parents or her geography teacher?
Answer
If Tilly's award was to be shared, she should share it with her geography teacher who made her aware of tsunami in the first place. It was this awareness that helped her save so many lives.
4.What are the two different ideas about why so few animals were killed in the tsunami? Which idea do you find more believable?
Answer
The first idea is that the animals have a sixth sense. They know when the earth is going to shake. The second idea is that the animals have a more acute sense of hearing. This helps them to hear or feel the earth’s vibration. In this way they sense the coming disaster much before the human beings. So they run away to safer places.
To me the first idea seems more believable. It is so because many animals get an idea of the coming rains. Now rain has nothing to do with the sense of hearing. So it is more sensible to think that nature has provided them some sixth sense which helps them get over the crises.
5.Why did Tilly’s family come to Thailand?
Answer
Tilly’s family had gone to Thailand to celebrate Christmas.
6.How many animals died in the Tsunami?
Answer
Very few animals died.
7.How many people and animals died in Yala National Park?
Answer
Sixty visitors and two animals.
8.What do people say about the elephants of Yala National Park?
Answer
The elephants ran from the beach an hour before the Tsunami hit the coast.
9.Whatt did the dogs in Galle do?
Answer
The dogs in Galle refused to go to the beach for their regular exercise.
10.WhenIgnasius felt the earth quake,do you think Ignasius immediately worried about a Tsunami?
Answer
No,Ignasius did not think about the Tsunami. He thought that it was just an earthquake.
GLIMPSES OF THE PAST
1.Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (picture 3)
Answer
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative. The artisans suffered because the British were extracting very high taxes from them, which ruined them economically. Moreover, machine-manufactured goods imported from Britain were sold extensively, which ruined the business of the artisans' hand-made goods.
2. Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?
Answer
Yes, the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757.
3.How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?
Answer
The Indian princes were constantly at war with each other. They called the English merchants to help them in their fights. The people had no peace due to such constant fights. The rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one.
4.Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Answer
According to Ram Mohan Roy, “Cows are of different colours, but the colour of their milk is the same. Different teachers have different opinions, but the essence of every religion is the same.”
5.In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?
Answer
The British officers exploited Indians in many ways. They imposed heavy taxes on Indians farmers and reduced import duty on goods manufactured in England and imported to India. Even they cut the thumbs of expert artisans.
6.Name these people
(i)The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
(ii) The person who wanted to reform the society.
(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)
Answer
(i) Kunwar Singh
(ii) Ram Mohan Roy
(iii) Macaulay
(iv) MaulviAhmedulla of Faizabad and Peshwa Nana Saheb
7. Two examples of social practices prevailing then.
Answer
Untouchability and child marriage
8. Two oppressive policies of the British.
Answer
The British decided to do away with import duty on goods manufactured in England. This severely affected Indian industries.
In 1818, they passed Regulation III. Under it, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.
9.Two ways in which common people suffered.
Answer
They lost their old jobs and lands. They were being converted by the British.
10. Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.
Answer
Four reasonsfor the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence were:
→ Indians had become slaves in their own country.
→ The East India Company destroyed Indian industries.
→ There was huge difference in the treatment of the English men and the Indians.
→ The use of grease on the bullet was spoiling the customs of Indians as it was made of the fat of the cows and pigs.
BEPIN CHOUDHERY’S LAPSE OF MEMORY
1.Why did the man stare at BepinBabu in disbelief?
Answer
The man stared at BepinBabu in disbelief because BepinBabu did not recognise him even though he was sure that he knew him and had met him in Ranchi.
2.Where did BepinBabu say he went in October' 58?
Answer
BepinBabu said that he spent the Puja holidays in '58 with a friend in Kanpur.
3. Mention any three (or more) things that ParimalGhose knew about BepinBabu.
Answer
ParimalGhose knew following things about BepinBabu:
→ That BepinBabu slipped near Hudroo falls and hurt his leg.
→ That BepinBabu stayed in a Bungalow because he preferred food by bawarchi.
→ That BepinBabu’s wife died 10 years ago.
4.Why did BepinBabu worry about what ParimalGhose had said?
Answer
BepinBabu continuously worried about what ParimalGhose had said because he had shown that he knew many intimate facts about him. He knew about the bag of books, his wife's death and his brother's insanity. Considering that ParimalGhose knew so much about him, BepinBabu couldn't say with conviction that he was making a mistake about the Ranchi trip.
5.How did he try to decide who was right - his memory or ParimalGhose?
Answer
He tried to decide whether his memory was right or ParimalGhose by looking at his right knee where Parimal had claimed that there would be a cut. There was certainly a mark of an old cut. However, he could not decide if the cut was the result of his fall in Ranchi or due to some incident in his childhood. Then, he decided to ask Dinesh Mukherjee, who according to ParimalGhose was with him in Ranchi. He felt that asking him would put an end to his confusion.
6.Why did BepinBabu hesitate to visit MrMukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Answer
BepinBabu hesitated to visit Mr Dinesh Mukerji because he was afraid of the ruthless sarcasm he would have to face. He felt that if the whole story about Ranchi was false, then MrMukerji would think that he had gone insane.
Being constantly troubled by the incident at the bookshop and having no other meansfor verifying the claims of Primal Ghose, BepinBabu finally decided to ask MrMukerji. However, he decided to phone him because that way his embarrassment wouldn't be visible to the latter.
7.What did MrMukerji say? Did it comfort BepinBabu, or add to his worries?
Answer
Mr. Mukerji, after checking his diary ,said that they had visited Ranchi in October’58.This added to BepinBabu's worries as he could not figure out how he could possibly have forgotten about the trip.
8.Who was Chunilal? What did he want from BepinBabu?
Answer
Chunilal was an old schoolmate of BepinBabu. He had been having a rough time lately and had been coming to see BepinBabu for a job.
9.Why was DrChanda puzzled? What was unusual about BepinBabu's loss of memory?
Answer
DrChanda was puzzled because he had never dealt with a case such as BepinBabu’s. It was outside his field of experience.
The unusual thing about BepinBabu’s case was that he remembered everything in his past except for one particular incident. DrChanda said that BepinBabu must have been to Ranchi. However, due to some unknown reason, the entire episode had slipped out of his mind.
10.Had BepinBabu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
Answer
No, BepinBabu had not really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi. It was a trick played by Chunilal.
THE SUMMIT WITHIN
1. What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?
Answer
Endurance,persistence and will power are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb.
2 Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
Answer
Adventure is risky, but pleasurable. Though it presents great difficulties, mantakes delight in overcoming such hurdles. Everest is the highest, the mightiest, andmany attempts have been made to climb it. According to the author, when thesummit is climbed, there is the feeling of “exhilaration, the joy of having donesomething, the sense of a battle fought and won”. There is a feeling of victory and ofhappiness. The physical conquest of a mountain is only one part of the achievement.It is followed by a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. The experience is not merelyphysical, but it is emotional and spiritual also.
3. What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
Answer
Everest is one of the highest and mightiest mountains drew him towards itself by its beauty, aloofness, ruggedness and the difficulties encountered on the way. Climbing it, would take the last ounce of ones energy as it is a brutal struggle with rock and ice. Once taken up, it cannot be given up half way even when ones life is at stake. The passage back is as difficult as the passage onwards. Once the summit is climbed however there is the feeling of exhilaration, the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won, a feeling of victory and of happiness. All these were reasons why he found it irresistible.
4. One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
Answer
Climbing a peak means endurance, persistence and will power. The demonstration of these physical qualities is exhilarating for a climber. The experience, apart from being merely physical, is also emotional and spiritual. It surely presents great difficulties. However, man takes delight inovercoming obstacles. Therefore, it is not for fame alone that one climbs a mountain. It is actually for the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won, a feeling of victory and of happiness. There is a sense of fulfillment, the satisfaction of a deep urge to rise above ones surroundings, the eternal love for adventure in man.
5. “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.” This awareness defines an emotion mentioned in the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?
Answer
"He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe." This awareness defines the emotion of humility.
6. What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the team on Everest?
Answer
On Everest, a picture of Guru Nanak was left by the author; a picture ofGoddess Durga was left by Rawat; a relic of the Buddha was left by PhuDorji. Apartfrom these ‘symbols of reverence’ there was also the cross that had been buried byEdmund Hillary.
7. What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?
Answer
According to the writer, his experience as an Everester provided him with theinspiration to face life’s ordeals determinedly. It taught him that the conquest of theinternal summit is as worthwhile as climbing the mountain. He also concluded thatperhaps the internal summits are higher than Everest.
8.How did Ahluwalia feel standing on the summit?
Answer
It was an enriching experience for Ahluwalia. He was filled with humility.
9.How does Ahluwalia describe his achievement?
Answer
Ahluwalia experienced a sense of fulfillment. Experience was not just physical but also emotional and spiritual.
10.What are the problems the climbers face as they climb a mountain?
Answer