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NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 3 Glimpses of the Past are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 3 Glimpses of the Past.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 3 Glimpses of the Past

TEXTUAL EXERCISES

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 45)
1. Look at picture 1 and recall the opening lines of the original song in Hindi. Who is the singer ? Who else do you see in this picture ?
2. In picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons” ?
3. Who is an artisan ? Why do you think the artisans suffered ? (picture 3)
4. Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt ?

Answers
1. The Hindi song’s opening lines are :

The singer is Lata Mangeshker. Others in the picture are Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lai Bahadur Shastri and Smt. Indira Gandhi.
In the picture below there are national leaders who worked tirelessly for the Indepen-dence. They are : Rani Laxmi Bai, Sardar Bhagat Singh, Bahadur Shah Jafar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
2. “Company’s superior weapons” refers to their more efficient guns.
3. An artisan is a person who is skilled in an applied art; a craftsperson. The expert artisans of India worked so well that there was no parallel to their creation. So British goods could not be sold in the country as long as they produced goods. To make them incapable of doing their work, the British cut their thumbs.
4. The first part of picture no. 7 reveals the first sparks of revolt. In it the santhals are seen revolting in 1855. They massacred Europeans and their supporters alike.

WORKING WITH THE TEXT (Page 45)
Answer the following questions.

Question. 1.
Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757 ?

Answer:
Indian princes were indeed short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757. They fought against each other and sought the help of the British. They could not see that this will eventually make the British most powerful. This happened and they had to suffer for their short-sightedness.

Question. 2.
How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes ?

Answer:
Indian princes fought one another. Very often they sought the help of East India Company to do so. As a result they became weak. The company subdued them all one by one.

Question. 3.
Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.

Answer:
The words of Raja Ram Mohan Roy were : “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.”

Question. 4.
In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians ?

Answer:
The British passed a resolution. Under it an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court. British goods were imported into India tax-free. The English prospered on the company’s loot while Indian industries began to die. Even the Governor-General Bentinck reported, “The bones of cotton weavers are bleaching the plains of India.”

Question. 5.
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) Tipu Sultan
(ii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(iii) Lord Macaulay
(iv) Nana Saheb Peshwa and Kunwar Singh

Question. 6.
Mention the following.
(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.
(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.
(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.
(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.

Answer:
(i) Untouchability and child marriage.
(ii) (a) The British passed a resolution under which an Indian could be jailed with-out trial in a court.
(b) The British supported the British industry. To do so they made imports to India tax-free. Consequently Indian industry began to die.
(iii) (a) The British did not care about the needs of Indians.
(b) The farmers were heavily taxed and the thumbs of the artisans were cut.
(iv) (a) Santhals had lost their lands. They became desperate. They revolted and killed the British and their supporters alike.
(b) The white soldiers got huge pay. The Indian soldier was lowly paid. This created discontentment among the soldiers.
(c) Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow was bitter. She had lost her kingdom.
(d) Many landlords were sore. They had lost their lands because of the Britishers’ policies.

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE (Page 45)
In comics what the characters speak is put in bubbles. This is direct narration. When we report what the characters speak, we use the method of indirect narration.
Study these examples.
First farmer : Why are your men taking away the entire crop ?
Second farmer : Your men have taken away everything.
Officer : You are still in arrears. If you don’t pay tax next week. I’ll send you to jail.

• The first farmer asked the officer why his men were taking away the entire crop.
• The second farmer said that their men had taken away everything.
• The officer replied that they were still in arrears and warned them that if they did not pay tax the following week, he (the officer) would send them (the farmers) to jail.

Question 1.
Change the following sentences into indirect speech.
(i) First man : We must educate our brothers.
Second man : And try to improve their material conditions.
Third man : For that we must convey our grievances to the British Parliament.
The first man said that ___
The second man added that ___
The third man suggested that ___

Answer:
The first man said that they must (had to) educate their brothers.
The second man added that they had to try to improve their material conditions also.
The third man suggested that for the education and material conditions of the people they must (had to) convey their grievances to the British Parliament.
(ii) First soldier : The white soldier gets huge pay, mansions and servants.
Second soldier : We get a pittance and slow promotions.
Third soldier : Who are the British to abolish our customs ?
The first soldier said that ___
The second soldier remarked that ___
The third soldier asked ___

Answer:
The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay, mansions and servants.
The second soldier remarked that they got a pittance and slow promotions.
The third soldier asked who the Britishers were to abolish their customs.

SPEAKING AND WRITING (Page 46)

Question 1.
Playact the role of farmers who have grievances against the policies of the government. Rewrite their ‘speech bubbles’ in dialogue form first.

Answer:
Speech bubbles
First farmer : “The English are taking all my crops.”
Second farmer : “Even after taking all my crops they say I have arrears to pay. They threaten to send me to jail.”
First farmer : “Our cotton crop was sold at high price. Now the English force us to give it cheap to them.”
Second farmer : “Then the famines have broken our backs.”
First farmer : “Yes, there are no signs of rain this year too.”
Second farmer : “We grow food but we are dying of hunger.”

Question 2.
Look at the pictures.

(i) Ask one another questions about the pictures.

• Where is the fox ?
• What is the fox thinking ?
• What does she want to know ?
• What happens next ?
• Where is the fox now ?
• How did it happen ?
• Who is the visitor ?
• What’s the fox’s reply ?
• Where is the goat ?
• What is the goat thinking ?

(ii) Write the story in your own words. Give it a title.
____________________________________
____________________________________

Answers
(i)

• The fox is in the well.
• It was an accident.
• The fox is thinking of getting out.
• A goat is the visitor.
• She wants to know if the water is sweet.
• The fox replies that it is very sweet indeed.
• The goat jumps into the well.
• Now the goat is in the well.
• The fox is out of the well now.
• The goat is thinking of her mother’s advice.

She had advised her to be careful while taking the advice of strangers.

(ii) The Fox and the Goat
There was a fox in a forest. Accidentally the fox fell into a well. It did not know how to get out. After some time, there came a goat. The goat peeped into the well. She saw the water and the fox. She asked the fox if the water was sweet. The fox replied that it was very sweet. He added that he had drunk too much. The goat expressed a desire to taste it. The fox asked it to jump into the well. The goat did so. All at once the fox jumped on the goat’s back. From there it jumped out of the well. Then the fox said to the goat ‘Come out when you can ?’ The goat now understood that she had been fooled. She remembered her mother’s advice. The mother had told her to be careful while taking the advice of the strangers.

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Question 3. Read the following news item.
History becomes fun at this school
Mumbai : Students in the sixth grade of a certain school in Navi Mumbai love their history lessons thanks to a novel teaching aid. It is not surprising given the fact that their study material includes comic books and they use their textbooks for reference to put things into perspective. Besides, students are encouraged to tap other sources of information as well. During History classes, students pore over comic strips of historical periods, enact characters of emperors and tyrants, and have animated discussions on the subject. History has become fun.

In the class students are asked to read the comic strip aloud, after which they break up into groups of four, discuss what they have heard and write a summary. Each group leader reads his group’s summary aloud and the whole class jumps into discussion and debate, adding points, disagreeing and qualifying points of view. A sixth grade student says, ‘It’s a lot of fun because everyone gets a chance to express themselves and the summary takes everyone’s ideas into account.’

According to the school principal the comic strip format and visuals appeal to students. A historian feels that using comics in schools is a great idea. Comics and acting help students understand what characters in the story are actually thinking.
(adapted from The Times of India, New Delhi, October 2007)

Based on this news item, write a paragraph on what you think about this new method of teaching History.

Answer:
There is no doubt that this new method of teaching history is novel and interesting. Moreover, the pictures stay in the mind longer than the words. So it will be very useful if the history is taught through comic strips. There is, however, one snag. At present the syllabus is so huge that it may not be possible to do so. Moreover, many students may spend long time in looking at the pictures. They will have fixed ideas about a historic personality. The pictures may give them the ideas which may not be completely true.

Question 4. Find the chapters in your History book that correspond to the episodes and events described in this comic. Note how the information contained in a few chapters of history has been condensed to a few pages with the help of pictures and the ‘speech bubbles’.

Answer:
Attempt yourself.

Question 5. Create a comic of your own using this story.
Once the Sun and the Wind began to quarrel, each one saying that he was stronger than the other. At last they decided to test each other’s strength. A man with a cloak around his shoulders was passing by. The Wind boasted, ‘Using my strength I can make that man take off the cloak.’ The Sun agreed. The Wind blew hard. The man felt so cold that he clasped his cloak round his body as tightly as possible.

Now it was the turn of the Sun which shone very hot indeed. The man felt so hot that he at once removed the cloak from his body. Seeing the man taking off the cloak, the Wind conceded defeat.

Answer:
Attempt yourself with the help of your art teacher.

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A Roadside Stand Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1.
The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain. Which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
Answer:
The lines that bring out the irritation of the passers-by are:
Or if ever aside a moment, the out of sorts
At having the landscape marred….
They complained that the disfigured paint of the stall spoilt the beauty of the landscape, the signposts pointed the wrong way and the stalls were not maintained.

Question 2.
What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Answer:
The people of the roadside stand sat in prayer that some city traffic should stop by and buy their wares so that they could make some money to improve their life beyond mere survival.

Question 3.
The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases the poet uses to show their double standards.
Answer:
The poet uses the word ‘greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey’ and ‘enforcing benefits that are calculated’.

Question 4.
What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it in vain?
Answer:
The poet refers to the tireless longing of the stall owners for some car to stop by and give them an opportunity to make some money. But they wait in vain because the cars just pass by without thinking of the hope and longing of the sad faces peeping from the windows. If at all they stop, it is to ask the way or to take turn.

Question 5.
Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the thought of the plight of the rural people?
Answer:
The lines that express the poet’s insufferable pain are:
I wonder how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

A Roadside Stand – Solved Question Bank

Reference-to-context Exercises
Read the extracts given below.

Question 1.
It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.
Answer the following.
(a) The poor are working instead of begging for their bread. (True/False)
(b) The cash and money is flowing to the poor. (True/False)
(c) The cities are in need of some of the __________ .
(d) Besides sinking, the cities without cash flow would be __________ faint.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) money
(d) withering

Question 2.
The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
Answer the following.
(a) The polished traffic in the poem refers to posh cars only. (True/False)
(b) The posh occupants of the cars were annoyed at seeing the wayside stall. (True/False)
(c) The traffic passed by thinking of the journey __________ .
(d) They paid heed to the unsightly __________ shed for a moment.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) True
(c) ahead
(d) roadside

Question 3.
Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,
You have the money, but if you want to be mean.
Answer the following.
(a) The shed sold wild berries in wooden quarts. (True /False)
(b) The shed sold silver squashes. (True/False)
(c) The rich passers-by did not buy his wares because of their __________ .
(d) The shed owner concluded that the rich passers-by had the __________ .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) meanness
(d) money

Question 4.
… but if you want to be mean,
Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.
The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:
Answer the following.
(a) The cross shop owner told the passer-by to keep his money. (True/False)
(b) The country folk are not hurt by the ugly sight their shed creates. (True/False)
(c) The shed owner is hurt at what is left __________ .
(d) The shed owner feels city folk are mean by __________ their money instead of sharing it.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) True
(c) unsaid
(d) keeping

Question 5.
Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand.
And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise.
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.
Answer the following.
(a) The shed is built far from the city. (True/False)
(b) They ask for some of the city’s taxes to feel it in their hands. (True/False)
(c) The kind of life promised to the poor shed owners is one seen in __________ .
(d) By feeling the money in hand, the poor want to know if that would make their progress __________ .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) moving pictures
(d) expand

Question 6.
It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are to be brought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore.
Answer the following.
(a) The news has spread that the relatives of shed owners are being taken together. (True/False)
(b) The wayside shop owners are to be settled next to the __________ .
(c) The new settlement of the shop owners is referred to as a __________ .
(d) Through what means have the shed owners come to know about the settlement?
Answer:
(a) False
(b) theatre
(c) village
(d) news

Question 7.
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.
Answer the following.
(a) The welfare workers are enforcing benefits on the poor settlers. (True/False)
(b) The welfare measures being introduced has deprived the poor of their resourceful ways. (True/False)
(c) The welfare measures have taught the settlers to __________ all day.
(d) By sleeping all day, the villagers’ sleep at night is __________ .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) True
(c) sleep
(d) destroyed

Question 8.
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass.
Answer the following.
(a) The shed owners sit by their open windows sadly. (True/False)
(b) The shed owners join together in an open prayer. (True/False)
(c) What word is used for the sound of the brakes?
(d) The car owners do not stop and help the shed owners by buying their goods. The cars are dubbed as ________ .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) squeal
(d) selfish

Question 9.
Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.
And one did stop, but only to plow up grass,
In using the yard to back and turn around;
And another to ask the way to where it was bound;
And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas
They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?
Answer the following.
(a) One passer-by stopped and enquired about the price of farmers’ goods. (True/False)
(b) One of the cars had stopped to use the __________ to turn his car.
(c) The shed owner was cross when one of the car owners asked if he sold __________ .
(d) In which direction did the car owner ask for directions?
Answer:
(a) True
(b) yard
(c) gas
(d) his destination

Question 10.
And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas
They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?
Answer the following.
(a) The ‘another’ in the passage indicates another shed owner. (True/False)
(b) The amount of gas that the buyer wanted was a ton. (True/False)
(c) Though the shed owner sold gas, he had none at that time. (True/False)
(d) A passing traveller asked the settlers if they could sell him a __________ of gas.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) False
(c) False
(d) gallon

Question 11.
No, in country money, the country scale of gain,
The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owing the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
Answer the following.
(a) Money can never lift up spirits in the country. (True/False)
(b) The voice of the country __________ about the lack of country money.
(c) The poet wants to put the country folk out of their __________ .
(d) The country folk do not have the requisite money to lift their __________ .
Answer:
(a) False
(b) complains
(c) pain
(d) spirits

A Roadside Stand Short Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is the untold sorrow of the owners of the roadside stand?
Answer:
The untold sorrow of the roadside stand owners is that nobody pays attention to the efforts of the country folk to make some money. The city folk just pass by their stalls without helping them to maike some money. Their lives have not progressed at all as they merely earn to survive.

Question 2.
What is the poet’s complaint in the poem?
Answer:
The poet does not complain like passers-by that the landscape has been marred. He is complaining about the lack of opportunity and encouragement to these people in the countryside. He is upset about the sorrow of those who had set up the roadside stall in the hope that people would stop by and some money would tickle into their palms.

Question 3.
Why do country people ask for money?
Answer:
The country people ask for money to improve their lives. They set up stalls on (he roadside in the hope that they would make some money by selling goods of daily use and make their life better, as they had seen in movies and as had been promised by the party in power.

Question 4.
What was the news that was doing the rounds?
Answer:
There was news that the people in power were planning to move all these rural people to the city next to the theatre and the big stores. Their lives would be secured and they would not have to worry about themselves any longer. They were promised that they would soon be pulled out of their poverty.

Question 5.
How would the innocent be soothed out of their wits?
Answer:
The selfish good-doers would outwit the simple innocent people into believing that their intentions and efforts were for their improvement, while they would be seeking their own profits from the labour of these folks.

Question 6.
Why are the cars called ‘selfish’?
Answer:
The poet has used a transferred epithet here. He actually means to call the car owners selfish as they just pass by without a thought for the plight of the owners of the roadside stands and if at all they do stop, it is either to complain or to turn their car round.

Question 7.
What is the sadness that lurks near the open window there?
Answer:
The poet is referring to the disappointed faces that wait in vain at their stall windows for someone to ask for their wares and drop some money in their palm. But their hopes for a better living are belied.

Question 8.
What is the open prayer made by the country folk?
Answer:
The country folk make an open appeal to the city dwellers that they should not be selfish. They expectantly pray for the city cars to stop at their roadside stand and help them lead a better life.

Question 9.
What is the trusting sorrow? What remains unsaid?
Answer:
The country folk trust their rich brethren in the city to come to their help but they feel sad when their trust is breached by the city people through their indifference. Although the city people have said nothing but their silence speaks volumes about their cold and indifferent attitude to the rural poor, who feel hurt by it.

Question 10.
Which things irritated those passers-by who stopped at the roadside stand?
Answer:
The passers-by got irritated by the tastelessly painted roadside stand. The thought that the artless decor of the stand was in disharmony with their surroundings and it had destroyed the scenic beauty of the landscape. Even their ‘N’ and ‘S’ on the signboards was wrongly presented. They did not approve of the things offered for sale.

Question 11.
Why did the people driving along the highway think that the landscape was marred?
Answer:
The people driving along the highway objected to the tastelessly painted roadside stand. They thought that the artless decor of the stand was in disharmony with the surroundings and had destroyed the scenic beauty of the landscape. Although the shed had been recently renovated but it could never impress the city dwellers. They were always critical and felt that these unhygienically maintained roadside stands marred the beautiful mountain scene.

Question 12.
Who actually stopped near the sheds put up by the farmers at the edges of the road?
Answer:
The poet states clearly that three cars stopped but none inquired about the prices of the farmer’s produce. One car stopped to reverse and another asked the way to where it was bound. The third foolishly asked if they could sell it a gallon of gas.

Question 13.
What would be the great relief for the poet in reference to these village folks?
Answer:
The poet says loudly that he would be happy to own the great relief if the pains of these people were removed at one stroke. Obviously, he is much moved by their pathetic plight of life. He wants something to be done to improve their lives economically.

Question 14.
What hope does the poet nurture about himself when he asks that these people should be put at one stroke out of their pain?
Answer:
The poet hopes that these people are put at one stroke out of their pain. The poet wants that the authorities should come to him and offer to put him ‘gently out of my pain’. The poet identifies himself with the village folks as far as their economic conditions are concerned.

Question 15.
What is the poet’s attitude to the good-doers and why is it so?
Answer:
The poet condemns the good-doers for they actually take away the villagers’ freedoms to think for themselves. They force benefits on them which lull them into doing nothing and destroy their peace of mind and their lives. He criticizes them for exploiting the villagers for their own gains.

Question 16.
What different attitudes do the city dwellers display to the country people?
Answer:
The city dwellers are indifferent to the plight of the country people and ignore the stands selling their goods. They get irritated with them for spoiling the landscape with their wrong signboards. They also exploit them for their selfish gains by offering them hollow charity which spoils their lives.

Question 17.
On what occasions do the country people express their anger at the city elite?
Answer:
The country people get angry with the city elite when, despite having money, they do not buy any of their goods. Again when a car stops and asks for gas which they obviously do not have, but does not ask the price of what they are actually selling.

Question 18.
What do the country people want?
Answer:
The country people want a share in the wealth enjoyed by the city people which they also have a right to, so that they can improve their conditions and lead better lives just as those promised by the movies and which the government has denied them.

Question 19.
Why are the country folks disappointed?
Answer:
The country folks have put up a roadside stand to sell their wares to the city dwellers. They desperately hope to earn some city money so that they could support their lives with it. They are disappointed because the city dwellers rush away in their polished cars with their minds focused only on their destination. If ever they pause, they are rather critical in their comments. They complain that the roadside stand had marred the scenic beauty of the landscape.

Question 20.
Bring out the contrast between the urban rich and the rural poor.
Answer:
The urban rich are on the move, they are in a hurry, they are speeding looking ahead. They have no time to inquire about the goods put up by rural poor for sale. On the other hand, the rural poor are standing and pleading for help.

Question 21.
How does the poet describe the double standards of the government and other social service agencies towards the poor rural people?
Answer:
The poet is sad that the government which came into power had many promises for the wellbeing of rural poor folks. But it and other social agencies did nothing for that. These poor rural people put up their roadside stands to sell what they produce. But no passer-by buys them. The poet feels much pain at their poor plight.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poetry

• My Mother at Sixty-six Question Answer
• An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Question Answer
• Keeping Quiet Question Answer
• A Thing of Beauty Question Answer
• A Roadside Stand Question Answer
• Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Question Answer

Class 12 English NCERT Solutions Flamingo Chapter 1 The Last Lesson Free PDF Download

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English

The Last Lesson Textual Questions and Answers

Think-as-you-read Questions

Question 1.
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Answer:
Franz was expected to be prepared with the lesson on ‘participles’. His teacher, M. Hamel, had announced an oral test on participles, but Franz didn’t know anything about the rules of participles.

Question 2.
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Answer:
When he reached the school, Franz was surprised to find everything still and quiet as if it was a Sunday morning. His teacher, M. Hamel, was dressed in his green coat, frilled shirt and black cap he used to wear this formal dress only on special days. Moreover, the last benches of the classroom were occupied by the village elders who looked very’ sad.

Question 3.
What had been put up on the bulletin-board?
Answer:
An order from Berlin had been put up on the bulletin-board. It stated that from the next day only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Question 4.
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school that day?
Answer:
The order from Berlin created an atmosphere of dismay at the school. Everything became quiet and still. Everyone was shocked and upset. The teacher, M. Hamel, was highly depressed. He had put on his finest dress which he used to wear only on special days. Some elders of the village also came to attend the class as a mark of respect to their mother tongue and to the teacher.

Question 5.
How did Franz feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
Answer:
M. Hamel was a very strict teacher. Franz didn’t like him and always wanted to spend his time outside and bunk his class. But when he came to know that it was going to be their last lesson and French would no more be taught to them, he felt a great love for the language and the teacher. He started understanding whatever M. Hamel taught.

The Last Lesson Understanding the Text

Question 1.
The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Answer:
People of Alsace and Lorraine were shattered and shocked to read the order that came from Berlin. As per this order French would no more be taught in schools. Only German was to be taught. This order made them realise what they were going to miss. Their basic right to learn the mother tongue was taken away from them. This evoked patriotism and love for mother tongue in them. They were full of remorse and regretted that they had not given importance to their mother tongue earlier.
As a mark of respect to their mother tongue and the French teacher, M. Hamel, the eminent people of the village came to attend the last lesson of M. Hamel. Hauser had brought an old primer. Even the little children were shocked. Franz, who never liked to learn the language, found himself in a state of shock and suddenly started developing a liking for the language as well as for his teacher.

Question 2.
Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?
Answer:
This shows the patriotic fervour and love of French people for their mother tongue. Even a small boy like Franz was very upset at the fact that he would be deprived of his own language. He wondered if the pigeons would also be made to sing in German. In fact, it is a remark on the hollowness of man’s authority. Man can exert authority only on human beings, but not on nature.

The Last Lesson – Solved Question Bank

Reference-to-Context Questions
Read the extract given below.
Question 1.
It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist, and huiried off to school.
Answer the following.
(a) The speaker of these lines is _________ and he is thinking of not going to the class.
(b) Prussian soldiers were in _________ as there was a war going on.
(c) The speaker is in a dilemma about going to school as he has not learnt the _________ .
(d) Find a word similar to ‘withstand’ from the given lines.
Answer:
(a) Little Fran
(b) Alsace
(c) participles
(d) resist

Question 2.
Reading the bulletin, called after me, “Don’t go so fast, bub; you’ll get to your school in plenty of time!’’ I thought he was making fun of me, and reached M. Hamel’s little garden all out of breath.
Answer the following.
(a) Bub here refers to _________ , who was going to school.
(b) The speaker was nervous as he did not learn his lessons and was _________ .
(c) M. Hamel was Bub’s teacher who taught him _________
(d) Find an expression from the extract which means ‘mocking’.
Answer:
(a) Franz
(b) late
(c) French
(d) making fun of

Question 3.
What a thunderclap these words were to me!
Oh, the wretches; that was what they had put up at the town-hall!
My last French lesson! Why, I hardly knew how to write! I should never learn any more! I must stop there, then.
Answer the following.
(a) Hamel’s announcement _________ Franz and he was frightened.
(b) Town hall had a _________ that provided all the information.
(c) ‘Wretches’ here refers to Germans. (True/Folse)
(d) Franz was happy that his studies were over. (True/False)
Answer:
(a) shocked
(b) bulletin-board
(c) True
(d) False

Question 4.
I heard M. Hamel say to me, “/ won’t scold you, little Franz; you must feel bad enough. See how it is! Evety day we have said to ourselves, ‘Bah! I’ve plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.’ And now you see where we’ve come out. Ah, that’s the great trouble with Alsace; she puts off learning till tomorrow.
Answei the following.
(a) Hamel was not _________ with Franz because it was the last lesson.
(b) Franz would feel bad because he always learnt his lessons on time. (True/False)
(c) ‘Ourselves’here refers to all the teachers. (True/False)
(d) Find a word for ‘problem’ from the extract.
Answer:
(a) angry
(b) False
(c) False
(d) trouble

Question 5.
Then, from one thing to another, M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world — the clearest, the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison. Then he opened a grammar and read us our lesson.
Answer the following.
(a) M. Hamel is the speaker and he is overwhelmed with _________ for his language.
(b) ‘French people’ here refers to ‘they’. (True/False)
(c) Here the word‘prison’ means the real prison. (True/False)
(d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as ‘dominate’.
Answer:
(a) love
(b) True
(c) False
(d) enslave

Question 6.
But he had the courage to hear even• lesson to the very last. After the writing, we had a lesson in history, and then the babies chanted their ba, be bi, bo, bu. Down there at the back of the room old Hauser had put on his spectacles and, holding his primer in both hands, spelled the letters with them.
Answer the following.
(a) Hamel was _________ with each and every student.
(b) Old Hauser spelled the letters from the primer. (True/False)
(c) Babies had come to school for the first time so they had to learn alphabet. (True/False)
(d) Find the synonym of ‘bravery’ from the extract.
Answer:
(a) patient
(b) True
(c) False
(d) courage

Question 7.
But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his aim.
Answer the following.
(a) Franz was counting on _________ as he did not wish to be seen by his teacher.
(b) Find the synonym of ‘peaceful’ from the extract.
(c) Who was terrible: the teacher or the ruler.
(d) M. Hamel had called the students on a Sunday. (True/False)
Answer:
(a) commotion
(b) still
(c) The teacher
(d) False

Question 8.
Besides, the whole school seemed so strange and solemn. But the thing that surprised me most was to see, on the back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like ourselves; old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others besides.
Answer the follow-inn.
(a) The school was _________ and solemn because it was the last lesson.
(b) Franz was surprised to see a class full of villagers. (True/False)
(c) The benches were _________ earlier but not today.
(d) Give the synonym for ‘sober’ from the extract.
Answer:
(a) strange
(b) True
(c) vacant
(d) Solemn

Question 9.
Poor man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.
Answer the following.
(a) Franz was sorry for his teacher as he was going to lose his job. (True/False)
(b) Hamel wore Sunday clothes in honor of the _________ .
(c) Old men came for the class in the honor of _________ services.
(d) Pick the antonym of ‘dishonor’.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) last lesson
(c) Hamel’s
(d) honour

Question 10.
I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy! I think, too, that I had never listened so carefully, and that he had never explained everything with so much patience. It seemed almost as if the poor man wanted to give us all he knew before going away, and to put it all into our heads at one stroke.
Answer the following.
(a) The speaker here is _________ .
(b) The speaker felt _________ for not being inattentive in the class.
(c) Hamel was sorry for not being regular with his classes. (True/False)
(d) Find a word from the extract that means ‘the ability to stay calm’ from the extract.
Answer:
(a) Franz
(b) sorry
(c) True
(d) patience

The Last Lesson Short Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Why did Franz think of running away from school that morning? [Delhi 2013]
Answer:
Franz didn’t want to go to school that day because it was a fine warm day. The weather was very fine and there were birds chirping at the edge of the woods. He heard the sound of the Prussian soldiers drilling at the back of sawmill. Moreover, he was already late for the school and had not prepared his lesson on participles. He knew that he would be scolded by the teacher for that. So he wanted to run away from school.

Question 2.
What tempted Franz to stay away from school? [Delhi 2013]
Or
Why did Franz not want to go to school that day? [Delhi 2017]
Answer:
Franz was already late for school. He had not even prepared the topic of participles for which he was going to be tested that day. Moreover, it was a warm day and he was tempted by the chirping of birds and sounds of Prussian soldiers exercising at the back of the sawmill to miss the school that day.

Question 3.
What did Franz see when he passed the town hall? [Delhi 2013]
Answer:
When Franz passed the town hall, he saw a large crowd around the bulletin-board. People had gathered in large numbers and they were all reading the bulletin-board. All the latest news relating to the battle between the French and the Prussians was put up on the bulletin-board. On that day the order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This order was put up on the bulletin-board.

Question 4.
What had Franz counted on to enter class unnoticed?
Answer:
Franz was late for the school that day. But he was quite confident to enter the class unnoticed because usually there was a lot of confusion and noise in the beginning of the school. Every day there was a sound of opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison and teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. So Franz thought that he would take the advantage of the situation and enter the class unnoticed.

Question 5.
What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day? [Delhi 2013]
Answer:
Franz was surprised when he entered the class that day as it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel spoke to him kindly which was contrary to his expectations. M. Hamel was dressed in his formal attire which he did only on special occasions. What surprised Franz most was the fact that the village people were sitting quietly on the last benches.

Question 6.
Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day? [Delhi 2013]
Answer:
Franz was not scolded that day because the scenario in the school had changed. M. Hamel spoke kindly to him and asked him to go to his seat. He blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully and now there was the order from Berlin which had to be followed.

Question 7.
Why was M. Hamel kind to Franz even though he was late for school? [Delhi 2013]
Answer:
It was the last lesson of M. Hamel in the school as the new German teacher was arriving the following day. M. Hamel was sad and sentimental as he was to leave the school after forty years of service as a teacher in French. He was very emotional, kind and understanding. So, he did not scold Franz even though he was late.

Question 8.
What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school? [All Indin 2013]
Answer:
The order from Berlin said instead of French only German had to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order deeply shocked and upset everyone in the school. Everything became quiet and still. The teacher, M. Hamel, had put on his finest dress which he used to wear only on special occasions. All the students were quiet and the back seats of the class were occupied by the village elders.

Question 9.
‘What a thunderclap these words were to me!’ What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator? [Delhi 2013]
Or
Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
Or
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz). What were those words and what was their effect on Franz? [All Indin 2017]
Answer:
When Franz reached the school, he saw a strange stillness in the class. Then the teacher, M. Hamel, announced that it was their last lesson in French and the new German teacher will take the charge on the following day. These words of M. Hamel came as thunderclap to Franz since the announcement was unexpected and sudden for him.

Question 10.
How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson? [Delhi 2013]
Answer:
Franz was not able to accept the fact it was their last lesson in French. He was surprised and at the same time disheartened. He regretted not learning his mother tongue when he had the opportunity. He felt a sudden love for the language and his teacher.

Question 11.
What changes did little Franz undergo after M. Hamel’s announcement?
Answer:
Franz was shocked at M. Hamel’s announcement that it was their last lesson in French. Suddenly he felt his love for his mother tongue and realised that he could hardly write well in French. He was full of remorse and regret for being so careless and unattentive in his class. Moreover, he also developed a liking for his teacher M. Hamel.

Question 12.
What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school? [All Indin 2014]
Answer:
M. Hamel was dressed in his formal dress which he used to wear only on inspection or prize giving days. He was in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and embroidered silk hat.

Question 13.
Why does M. Hamel reproach himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies? [All Indin 2014]
Answer:
M. Hamel not only blamed the parents for the neglect of learning on the part of their children, but also confessed that his personal preferences contributed to the unsatisfactory progress of his students. He sent his students to water the plants and gave them a holiday when he went for fishing.

Question 14.
Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? [Delhi 2014]
Answer:
M. Hamel blamed both parents and children for neglecting the learning of their mother tongue. They always put off learning till the next day. He blamed parents for sending their children to earn money instead of school. He even blamed himself for sending his students to water his plants or to give them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.

Question 15.
Who were sitting on the back benches during M. Hamel’s last lesson? Why? [Delhi 2014.2015]
Answer:
The village’s old and eminent people were sitting on the back benches of the classroom during M. Hamel’s last lesson. They all had come to attend the last lesson of M. Hamel as a mark of love and respect for their mother tongue and the teacher. They were gloomy, feeling guilty and full of repentance to recall that till that day, they had ignored their own language.

Question 16.
What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave the last French lesson?
Answer:
There was complete silence in the class. Everyone was full of regret and remorse. Children as well the village elderly were gloomy and repentant for not giving importance to their mother tongue. The order from Berlin had caused a sea change in the attitude of the people of Alsace and Lorraine to their language.

Question 17.
“He had the courage to hear every lesson to the very last.” What led Franz to make this remark? [Foreign 2013]
Answer:
When Franz came to know that it was his last lesson in French, he felt a great love for his mother tongue. He realised the loss that he was going to suffer. So, a sense of love and interest for his mother tongue emerged in him and he said that he had the courage to hear every lesson to the very last.

Question 18.
How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town? [All Indin 2012|Hots]
Answer:
M. Hamel bade farewell to his students in a very dignified and sad tone. He announced that this was
their last French lesson as an order from Berlin had come that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He urged the students and the people to keep their language alive and close to their heart. ,

Question 18.
What made M. Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson? [All Indin 2014]
Answer:
M. Hamel had been teaching French for the last forty years. His love for his mother tongue was a
reflection of his patriotism. At the end of his last lesson, M. Hamel, overcome with emotions, broke down and could not speak anything with his throat choked. He wrote on the blackboard Vive La France.

Question 20.
What shows M. Hamel’s love for the French language? [Foreign 2013]
Answer:
As a mark of his love for the French language, M. Hamel gave a tribute to his mother tongue in his last lesson. He called it ’the most beautiful language’ in the world, the clearest and most logical. He appealed to the children and the people of the village to keep their mother tongue close to their heart.

Question 21.
What words did M. Hamel write on the board before dismissing the last class? What did they mean? [Delhi 2014.2015]
Answer:
M. Hamel wrote Vive La France which means “Long Live France’. These words described his patriotic feelings and his deep-rooted love for his motherland and mother tongue.

The Last Lesson Long Questions and Answers

Question 1.
The ban on teaching French strengthened the resolve of the French to learn their language. Give evidence from the text to prove/disapprove the above statement.
Answer:
‘The Last Lesson’ clearly brings out the resolve of the French to hold fast to their language. The order from Berlin imposing German language on them made them more determined to respect and learn their language. This was evident in the last lesson of M. Hamel. All the backbenches were occupied by villagers, including old Hauser, former mayor, former postmaster, etc. That day students in the class were quiet and eager to make the best of the last opportunity to learn their mother tongue.

M. Hammel taught the last lesson with immense patience and told his students to safeguard their language. He reminded them that they would be able to liberate themselves only if they kept their language with them. Even the students realised the importance of their language and listened to their teacher carefully. They could not be distracted by beetles or the cooing of the pigeons.

Question 2.
How was the last lesson different from earlier lessons?
Answer:
The last lesson was different from earlier lessons in many ways. It revealed the love and respect of the teacher and students for their mother tongue. M. Hamel spoke very kindly and taught very patiently. He did not scold anybody that day. It seemed as if he wanted to give all that he knew before going away. He was in his best attire and his ‘iron ruler’ was no more in use. This lesson was attended by villagers to show their love and respect for their mother tongue and M. Hamel. The students listened very carefully and everybody was absolutely quiet. Franz was sorry for not learning his lesson. The last lesson was an emotional time which stirred patriotic feelings and awakened the villagers to the importance of their mother tongue.

Question 3.
Justify the title ‘The Last Lesson’.
Answer:
The title ‘The Last Lesson’ is significant and conveys the central theme of the story. The title highlights the fact that sometimes even the most precious things in our lives are taken for granted by us. The people of Alsace never gave much thought or importance to their mother tongue. They did not insist that their children should give it wholehearted attention. They did not encourage regular attendance of their children in French classes. They thought there was plenty of time to learn it. They preferred their children to work and earn rather than learn. They received a severe jolt when orders came from Berlin to ban French and make German compulsory. This brutal order from Prussians made them realise the importance of their mother tongue. So they came in full force to attend M. Hamel’s last lesson. Thus, the title ‘The Last Lesson’ reveals the theme of the story and is fully justified.

Question 4.
Write a character sketch of little Franz.
Answer:
Franz was a typical school boy. He was carefree and hated to go to school. He was afraid of his French teacher M. Hamel’s ‘iron ruler’. He was more interested in spending his time outside the school. Many times, he missed the school and went in search of ‘bird’s eggs’ or watching the Prussian soldiers drilling at the sawmill. He did not realise the importance of learning his mother tongue till the time his country passed into Prussian hands and teaching of French was banned. This came as a thunderbolt to him when he came to school and found it to be his last French lesson. At this point, he lamented the loss of his language. His entire perspective towards the language and the teacher changed. He was surprised to learn and understand everything on the last day and did not find M. Hamel strict during the lesson. He was not able to understand the severity of war and wondered whether “the pigeons would be made to coo in German”. .

Question 5.
Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French. [Delhi 2016]
Answer:
M. Hamel in his last French lesson emphasized the importance of mother tongue and how it binds everybody together. He exhorted all of them to guard their native language though he blamed himself also for neglecting French. He regretted giving them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. He wished he had not sent them often to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. The parents too were not very keen for their children to learn. They preferred to put them to work on a farm or at the mills for a little more money than encourage them to study. But after the announcement, all elders sat quietly at the back of the classroom with regret written large on their faces. M. Hamel appealed to them again to hold fast to their language as that was the key to their freedom.

Question 6.
How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school? [All India 2015]
Or
The day of the last lesson was full of regret and sadness. Describe the events of the day in the classroom in the light of the above remark. [Foreign 2012]
Or
“Order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school.” Comment. [Foreign 2016]
Or
“Everybody in the last lesson is filled with regret.” Comment. [All India 2o15]
Or
The entire classroom, M. Hamel as well as those present in the class, are full of regret. For what and why? [Foreign 2016]
Answer:
The order from Berlin brought a sense of shock and surprise in the class. As per the order, this was the last French class. Alsace and Lorraine had been captured by the Prussians. So only German was to be taught in the schools. This made all the distinguished village elders feel guilty of ignoring their mother tongue. So, they all came to the class to show their love and respect for their mother tongue and French teacher M. Hamel. The entire school was filled with an air of remorse and regret. There was complete silence. The teacher, M. Hamel, was in his best dress and was full of emotions. Even the students in the class, including little Franz, felt remorse for their indifference to their mother tongue. There was an atmosphere of stillness and quietness in the class.

Question 7.
Give a character sketch of M. Hamel. [Foreign 2012]
Answer:
M. Hamel was a teacher at a school in a village in the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. He used to teach French. He had been teaching his mother tongue for the last forty years. He loved his profession from the core of his heart and had a deep sense of respect for the mother tongue. He had always been very particular and strict in imparting the knowledge of the language to his pupils. The news, that French would no more be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and that this was going to be his last lesson, completely shattered a calm and composed M. Hamel. He tried his level best to remain calm and composed but broke down at the end. He felt tormented by the fact . that people had become indifferent to learning French and appealed to them to keep their language alive.

M. Hamel was a patriot in the real sense. He regarded the mother tongue to be a means of holding one’s identity and self-respect. He blamed not only the parents and children but himself also for neglecting French. His concern and love for his country’ is evident at the end of his last lesson, when, he writes on the black board “Vive La France!’ in bold letters.

Question 8.
‘Bah! I have plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.’
Franz was shocked when he heard that it was the last lesson in French and he hardly knew his mother tongue.
Many of us find ourselves in similar situations and regret when all is over. What should we do so that we are able to achieve our goals?
Answer:
Opportunity knocks the door only once. In fact, everyone gets only one chance in life and if it is lost there is no way to redeem it. It is said that hardwork can turn the impossible into possible. But along with that, value for time is very essential. Most of us are in a habit of delaying things. Unless and until we are consistent and regular in our efforts, we cannot achieve our goals. Setting a goal is an easy task but the journey to reach that goal is tedious and demands perseverance, grit and determination. One has to be focused and consistent in one’s efforts.

To achieve our goal in life, we need to understand the importance of time. Like Franz, we should not delay the efforts and sit comfortably thinking that there is enough time. As we know that time and tide wait for no man. So in order to achieve our goals, we need to be vigilant, consistent, punctual, regular, hardworking and a determined person who greatly values time.

Question 9.
The people of Alsace and Lorraine did not understand the importance of learning their language — French. Emphasising the importance and need of learning one’s native language, discuss why one should learn one’s native language.
Answer:
One of the major effects of Westernization is that people have started losing interest in learning their native language. One’s native language is the repository of one’s culture, identity, and way of living. As long as one speaks and communicates in one’s language, one can be proud of oneself. Many Indians who live abroad make it compulsory for their family to speak in their native language at home so as to have a sense of belonging to their country. In fact, the native language binds us with our roots. Every language has its own speciality and the people who speak that language imbibe that speciality. Native language inculcates a sense of pride. A person who doesn’t know his native language is like a slave.

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Prose

• The Last Lesson Question Answer
• Lost Spring Question Answer
• Deep Water Question Answer
• The Rattrap Question Answer
• Indigo Question Answer
• Poets and Pancakes Question Answer
• The Interview Question Answer
• Going Places Question Answer

The 3Ls of Empowerment Summary

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NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 2 The Tsunami are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 2 The Tsunami.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 2 The Tsunami

IMPORTANT PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow choosing the correct options from, among the given ones :

I. In the chaos and confusion, two of his children caught hold of the hands of their mother’s father and mother’s brother, and rushed in the opposite direction. He never saw them again. His wife was also swept away. Only the three other children who came with him were saved. – (Page 25)

Multiple Choice Questions
1. These lines have been taken from the lesson named
(a) Tsunami
(b) The best Christmas present in the world
(c) The Summit Within
(d) This is Jody’s Fawn.

2. Whose children were they
(a) Javed’s
(b) Ignesious
(c) Sanjeev’s
(d) Almas’s.

3. They ran in the opposite direction because of
(a) chaos
(b) Tsunami
(c) confusion
(d) his parents.

Answers
1. (a) Tsunami
2. (b) Ignesious’
3. (c) confusion

II. Almas Javed was ten years old. She was a student of Carmel Convent in Port Blair where her father had a petrol pump. Her mother Rahila’s home was in Nancowry island. The family had gone there to celebrate Christmas. (Page 26)

Questions
1. Who was Almas Javed ?
2. What was his father ?
3. Where had Javed’s family gone and why ?

Answers
1. Almas Javed was a ten year old student of Carmel Convent in Port Blair.
2. Javed’s father owned a petrol pump.
3. Javed’s family had gone to Andaman and Nicobar to celebrate Christmas.

III. “The water was swelling and kept coming in,” Penny Smith remembered. “The beach was getting smaller and smaller. I didn’t know what was happening.” (Page 27)

Multiple Choice Questions
1. The water referred to in the above lines is
(a) the boiling water in a pot
(b) the water of a river
(c) the sea water
(d) none of the above.

2. Penny Smith was
(a) an iron-smith
(b) Tilly’s mother
(c) a teacher
(d) an American woman.

3. Penny is describing a scene from
(a) India
(b) England
(c) America
(d) Thailand.

Answers
1. (c) the sea water
2. (b) Tilly’s mother
3. (d) Thailand.

IV. The family took refuge in the third floor of the hotel. The building withstood the surge of three tsunami waves. If they had stayed on the beach, they would not have been alive. (Page 28)

Questions
1. Which family is being talked of here ?
2. What was threatening their lives ?
3. Where were they before coming to this building ?

Answers
1. It was a family of Smiths.
2. Tsunami was threatening their lives.
3. They were at the sea-beach.

V. Many people believe that animals possess a sixth sense and know when the earth is going to shake. Some experts believe that animals’ more acute hearing helps them to hear or feel the earth’s vibration. They can sense an approaching disaster long before humans realise what’s going on. (Page 29)

Multiple Choice Questions
1. How many senses do the humans have ?
(a) seven
(b) eight
(c) four
(d) five.

2. Animals’ sense of hearing—as compared to human beings—is
(a) better
(b) worse
(c) same
(d) negligible.

3. The word ‘acute’ in the passage means
(a)sharp
(b) small
(c) good
(d) bad.

Answers
1. (d) five
2. (a) better
3. (a) sharp

TEXTUAL EXERCISES

BEFORE YOU READ (Page 24)
Look at the map of the Andaman and Nicobar islands given here.

Now read the sentences below. Rewrite the incorrect ones after correcting the mistakes.
1. Katchall is an island
2. It is part of the Andaman group of islands.
3. Nancowry is an island in the Nicobar group.
4. Katchall and Nancowry are more than a hundred miles apart. (Hint: the scale of the map is given.)
5. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are to the west of India.
6. The Nicobar islands are to the north of the Andaman Islands.

Answers
1. It is correct statement.
2. It is part of Nicobar group of islands.
3. It is correct statement.
4. Katchall and Nancowry are less than a hundred miles apart.
5. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are to the east of India.
6. The Nicobar Islands are to the south of the Andaman Islands.

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 27)
Say whether the following are True or False.
1. Ignesious lost his wife, two children, his father-in-law, and his brother-in-law in the tsunami.
2. Sanjeev made it to safety after the tsunami.
3. Meghna was saved by a relief helicopter.
4. Almas’s father realised that a tsunami was going to hit the island.
5. Her mother and aunts were washed away with the tree that they were holding on to.

Answers
1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Pages 28-29)
Answer the following in a phrase or sentence.
1. Why did Tilly’s family come to Thailand ?
2. What were the warning signs that both Tilly and her mother saw ?
3. Do you think Tilly’s mother was alarmed by them ?
4. Where had Tilly seen the sea behaving in the same strange fashion ?
5. Where did the Smith family and the others on the beach go to escape from the tsunami ?
6. How do you think her geography teacher felt when he heard about what Tilly had done in Phuket ?

Answers
1. Tilly’s family came to Thailand to celebrate Christmas.
2. Both of them saw the sea rise and start to foam, bubble and form whirlpools.
3. No, Tilly’s mother was not alarmed by them.
4. In the video which her geography teacher had shown to the class.
5. They went to the third floor of the hotel to escape from the tsunami.
6. The geography teacher must have felt very pleased and satisfied.

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 30)
Answer using a phrase or a sentence.
1. In the tsunami 1,50,000 people died. How many animals died ?
2. How many people and animals died in Yala National Park ?
3. What do people say about the elephants of Yala National Park ?
4. What did the dogs in Galle do ?

Answers
1. Only a few.
2. 60 people and two animals.
3. They say that they saw them running from the beach. The elephants had sensed it an hour before the tsunami hit the coast.
4. They refused to go to the beach for their daily runs.

WORKING WITH THE TEXT (Page 30)
Discuss the following questions in class. Then write your own answers.

Question. 1.
When he felt the earthquake, do you think Ignesious immediately worried about a tsunami ? Give reasons for your answer. Which sentence in the text tells you that the Ignesious family did not have any time to discuss and plan their course of action after the tsunami struck ?

Answer:
No. When he felt the earthquake, Ignesious did not think about the tsunami. He thought only of the tremors. That was why he took his television off the table and put it on the ground. Ignesious family did not have any time to discuss and plan their course of action. That was why, there was only chaos and confusion. The following sentence tells it clearly.

“In the chaos and confusion, two of his children caught hold of the hands of their mother’s father and mother’s brother and rushed in the opposite directions.” (Page 14)

Question. 2.
Which words in the list below describe Sanjeev, in your opinion ?
(Look up the dictionary for words that you are not sure of.)

Use words from the list to complete the three sentences below.
(i) I don’t know if Sanjeev was cheerful,___or___
(ii) I think that he was very brave,__and___.
(iii) Sanjeev was not heartless,___or___.

Answer:
The words ‘brave’, ‘heroic’ and ‘selfless’ describe Sanjeev, as I feel.
(i) ambitious or brash
(ii) heroic and selfless
(iii) careless or humorous

Question. 3.
How are Meghna and Almas’s stories similar ?

Answer:
Meghna and Almas were both lucky survivors. Meghna was swept away with her parents and seventy seven other people. All but Meghna died. She floated on a wooden door for two days. Relief helicopters did not see her but a wave brought her back to the shore.

Similarly, all the members of the family of Almas Javed were swept away by the tsunami. She climbed a log of wood. She fainted but remained on it for a long time. She was ultimately saved.

Question. 4.
What are the different ways in which Tilly’s parents could have reacted to her behaviour ? What would you have done if you were in their place ?

Answer:
Instead of heeding to Tilly as they did, Tilly’s parents could have ignored her. Alternatively they could have scolded her and asked her to behave. In either case, they would have all died.

There is no doubt that they made the best move. In their place, I am afraid, I might not have been so wise. I might have asked her not to be panicky or make a scene.

Question. 5.
If Tilly’s award was to be shared, who do you think she should share it with—her parents or her geography teacher ?

Answer:
Tilly’s award should be shared with her geography teacher. It was because of him that Tilly could see the coming tsunami before anyone else.

Question. 6.
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. This helps them get over the crises.

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE (Page 31)

Question 1.
Go through Part-I carefully, and make a list of as many words as you can find that indicate movement of different kinds. (There is one word that occurs repeatedly—count how many times !) Put them into three categories.

• fast movement
• slow movement
• neither slow nor fast

Can you explain why there are many words in one column and not in the others ?

Answer

There are more words in column no. 1. The reason is the description of tsunami. Tsunami swept away everything very fast. The other word is ‘rushed’. The people who wanted to escape tsunami had to move very fast. So their movement is described by the word ‘rush’.

Question 2.
Fill in the blanks in the sentences below (the verbs given in brackets will give you a clue).
(i) The earth trembled, but not many people felt the___. (tremble)
(ii) When the zoo was flooded, there was a lot of___and many animals escaped into the countryside, (confuse)
(iii) We heard with__that the lion had been recaptured, (relieve)
(iv) The zookeeper was stuck in a tree and his___was filmed by the TV crew, (rescue)
( v ) There was much__in the village when the snake charmer came visiting, (excite)

Answer
(i) tremors
(ii) confusion
(iii) relief
(iv) rescue
(v) excitement

3. Study the sentences in the columns A and B.

Compare the sentences in A to the ones in B. Who is the ‘doer’ of the action in every case ? Is the ‘doer’ mentioned in A, or in B ?

Notice the verbs in A : ‘was swept away’, ‘was hit’, ‘were washed away’, ‘were found’. They are in the passive form. The sentences are in the Passive Voice. In these sentences, the focus is not on the person who does the action. ,

In B, the ‘doer’ of the action is named. The verbs are in the active form. The sentences are in the Active Voice.

• Say whether the following sentences are in the Active or the Passive voice. Write A or P after each sentence as shown in the first sentence.
  (i) Someone stole my bicycle. A
  (ii) The tyres were deflated by the traffic police. ___
  (iii) I found it last night in a ditch near my house.___
  (iv) It had been thrown there.___
  (v) My father gave it to the mechanic.___
  (vi) The mechanic repaired it for me.___

Answers
(ii) Passive Voice P
(iii) Active Voice A
(iv) Passive Voice P
(v) Active Voice A
(vi) Active Voice A

SPEAKING AND WRITING (Page 32)

Question 1.
Suppose you are one of the volunteers who went to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for relief work after the Tsunami. You work in the relief camps, distributing food, water and medicine among the victims. You listen to the various stories of bravery of ordinary people even as they fight against odds to bring about some semblance of normalcy in their lives. You admire their grit and determination. Write a diary entry.
You may start in this way.
31 December, 2016
The killer Tsunami struck these islands five days ago. But the victims are being brought in even now. Each one has a story to tell…

Answer
… All of them rouse our pity. But a few inspire me too. There is an old woman of about 65. She has survived along with her 8 year-old granddaughter. The people in the camp suggest that the granddaughter be sent to an orphanage. The old lady refuses to listen. She says that she will not let her daughter go away from her. In fact she wants no charity. She is willing to do some useful work to help her granddaughter.

Question 2.
The story shows how a little girl saved the lives of many tourists when a tsunami struck the beach, thanks to the geography lesson that she had learnt at school. She remembered the visuals of a tsunami and warned her parents.

Do you remember any incident when something that you learnt in the classroom helped you in some way outside the classroom ?

Write your experiences in a paragraph of about 90-100 words or narrate it to the whole class like an anecdote.

Answer
The other day I was walking back from school. Suddenly my eyes fell on a cyclist. He seemed to be losing balance. Before I could think of helping him, he had somehow got down the cycle. However, he just left the cycle and lay on the side of the road. He was perspiring and breathing with difficulty. Soon a crowd gathered. I immediately remembered the lesson my biology teacher had taught me. I requested the people to stay away and sent one of them to call a doctor. In the meantime I fanned him to help him get a lot of fresh air. Then very tenderly, I massaged his heart. That was what my teacher had advised me to do. The man felt relief and was breathing easily when the doctor arrived.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 2 The Tsunami help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 2 The Tsunami, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

The Boy Who Drew Cats Summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English:

• The Best Christmas Present in the World Question Answer
• The Tsunami Question Answer
• Glimpses of the Past Question Answer
• Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Question Answer
• The Summit Within Question Answer
• This is Jody’s Fawn Question Answer
• A Visit to Cambridge Question Answer
• A Short Monsoon Diary Question Answer
• The Great Stone Face I Question Answer
• The Great Stone Face II Question Answer

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World

IMPORTANT PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow choosing the correct options from among the given ones :

I. It was going for very little money. I thought I could restore it. It would be a risk a challenge, but I had to have it. (Page 9)

Multiple Choice Questions
1. The speaker of these lines is
(a) the narrator
(b) the author
(c) Jim
(d) Connie.

2. The ‘it’ in the first sentence refers to
(a) a country
(6) a chair
(c) a desk
(d) a letter.

3. The temptation to buy it was
(a) a risk
(b) a challenge
(c) the quality
(d) the cheap price.

Answers
1. (a) the narrator
2. (c) a desk
3. (d) the cheap price.

II. There was something in there. I reached in and took out a small black tin box. Sello- taped to the top of it was a piece of lined notepaper, and written on it in a shaky handwriting : “Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. (Page 10)

Questions
1. What does the word ‘something’ refer to ?
2. What was the sello taped thing ?
3. Where was the letter found ?
4. Whom was the letter addressed to ?

Answers
1. ‘Something’ refers to the tin box.
2. The sello taped thing was the piece of a newspaper.
3. The letter was found in the tin box. ,
4. The letter was addressed to Jim’s wife.

III. When we had got over the surprise, some of us shouted back. “Same to you, Fritz ! Same to you !” I thought that would be that. We all did. But then one of them was up there in his grey greatcoat and waving a white flag. (Page 11)

Multiple Choice Questions
1. ‘We’ in the first line refers to
(a) French soldiers
(b) the British soldiers
(c) Jim and Connie
(d) the narrator and his friend.

2. ‘Same to you’ here means
(a) Happy Christmas
(b) good feelings
(c) we are same
(d) we are fine.

3. ‘I thought that would be that’. It means that I thought that
(a) it was all
(b) it was a mistake
(c) it was a joy
(d) it was dangerous.

4. The phrase ‘got over’ means
(a) passed
(b) overcame
(c) excited
(d) got out.

Answers
1. (b) the British soldiers
2. (a) Happy Christmas
3. (a) it was all
4. (b) overcame

IV. “Ah, Dorset,” he smiled. “I know this place. I know it very well.” We shared my rum ration and his excellent sausage. And we talked, Connie, how we talked. He spoke almost perfect English. But it turned out that he had never set foot in Dorset, never even been to England. (Page 12)

Questions
1. Who was it that smiled ?
2. How did he know Dorset ?
3. Who is Connie ?
4. Find a phrase in the passage which means ‘so happened’.

Answers
1. It was Hans Wolf that smiled.
2. He had read about Dorset in Hardy’s novels.
3. Connie is Jim’s wife.
4. turned out.

V. Our boys gave them a rousing chorus of While Shepherds Watched. We exchanged carols for a while and then we all fell silent. We had had our time of peace and goodwill, a time I will treasure as long as I live. (Page 13)

Multiple Choice Questions
1. The phrase ‘our boys’ refers to
(a) the students
(b) German soldiers
(c) some British soldiers
(d) the author’s sons

2. Who prompted these boys to sing ?
(a) their boss
(b) their commander
(c) their friends
(d) the German soldiers.

3. Carols are sung on
(a) Christmas
(b) Good Friday
(c) Holi
(d) Diwali.

Answers
1. (c) some British soldiers
2. (d) the German soldiers.
3. (a) Christmas

VI. I folded the letter again and slipped it carefully back into its envelope. I kept awake all night. By morning I knew what I had to do. I drove into Bridport, just a few miles away. I asked a boy walking his dog where Copper Beeches was. (Page 14)

Questions
1. Who had written the letter ?
2. Whom was the letter addressed to ?
3. Why did he drive to Bridport ?
4. Why did he keep awake all night ?

Answers
1. The letter was written by Jim.
2. The letter was addressed to Jim’s wife Connie.
3. He drove to Bridport because he wanted to give that letter to Connie.
4. He kept awake all night thinking about the contents of the letter he had read.

VII. As I was speaking her eyes never left my face. I opened the tin box and gave it to her. That was the moment her eyes lit up with recognition and her face became suffused with a sudden glow of happiness. I explained about the desk, about how I had found it, but I don’t think she was listening. (Page 15)

Multiple Choice Questions
1. The speaker of the above passage is
(a) the author
(b) the narrator
(c) Jim
(d) Hans Wolf.

2. The lady being talked to, is
(a) Connie
(b) the matron
(c) Hans Wolf’s wife
(d) none of the above three.

3. The lady was not listening because
(a) she was sick
(b) she was deaf
(c) she was too happy
(d) she had recognised the speaker

Answers
1. (b) the narrator
2. (a) Connie
3. (c) she was too happy

TEXTUAL EXERCISES

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 10)
1. What did the author find in a junk shop ?
2. What did he find in a secret drawer ? Who do you think had put it in there ?

Answers
1. The author found a very old 19th century roll-top desk in a junk shop. It was made of oak. It was in a bad condition. So it was being sold at a cheap price.

2. In a secret drawer of the roll-top desk, the author found a small tin box. There was a letter in that box.

There was a piece of lined newspaper pasted on the box. On it, these words were written : “Jim’s last letter received January 25,1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.” This clearly indicated that it was placed there by the addressee. The address on the envelope revealed that it was for Mrs. Jim Macpherson of 12, Copper Breeches Bridport, Dorset.” So Connie, the wife of Jim Macpherson must have put it there.

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 14)
1. Who had written the letter, to whom, and when ?
2. Why was the letter written—what was the wonderful thing that had happened ?
3. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers ?
4. Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset ? Why did he say he knew it ?
5. Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war ? How do you know this ?

Answer
1. Jim Macpherson was a captain of the British army. He wrote this letter while fighting the German forces. The letter was dated December 26, 1914. It was addressed to his wife Connie.

2. The letter was written to describe a wonderful incident. It occurred on the Christmas day of 1914. The wonderful thing was that the two armies fighting against each other had celebrated Christmas together.

The initiative was taken by the Germans. First they shouted ‘Happy Christmas’ to the English from the no man’s land. The English responded with “same to you”. This encouraged the Germans. They waved a white flag and crossed the no man’s land to reach the English camp.

Once together, they were very happy. They ate, drank and played a football match. Ultimately when they parted, they did so with a heavy heart.

3. Hans Wolf played the cello in the orchestra when he was not a soldier. Jim Macpherson was a teacher in Dorset when not a soldier.

4. No. Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He had been reading English books. Hardy was his favourite author. Hardy’s novel ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ was his favourite book. This book describes Dorset. So Hans Wolf said he knew Dorset well.

5. Macpherson never came back from the war. His wife Connie knew about his death. That was why she kept the letter in a tin box. She wrote on the top of the box that it was Jim’s last letter.

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 15)
1. Why did the author go to Bridport ?
2. How old was Mrs Macpherson now ? Where was she ?

Answer
1. The author went to Bridport in search of Mrs. Jim Macpherson. He wanted to give her back her important letter.
2. Mrs. Macpherson was now 101 years old. She was in the conservatory of a nursing home.

COMPREHENSION CHECK (Page 16)
1. Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was ?
2. Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity ?

Answer
1. Connie Macpherson thought that her visitor was her husband Jim Macpherson.
2. The sentence in the text is—“I explained about the desk, about how I found it.”

WORKING WITH THE TEXT (Page 16)

Question. 1.
For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter ? Give reasons for your Answer.

Answer.
Connie had kept Jim’s letter for a long time. She had received it on January 25, 1915. Jim had written it on December 26, 1914. At that time Jim was an officer, a captain in the English army. A captain in the army is always a young man. It means that Jim’s wife Connie must have also been young. In the story she is 101. It means the letter was about 70¬75 years old.

There are hints also. The table containing the letter was found in a junk shop. Again it indicates its oldness.

Question. 2.
Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when ?

Answer.
The desk must have been sold when Connie’s house had burnt. The table had been damaged by fire as well as water. The fireman must have used water to douse the flames of the burning table.

Question. 3.
Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts ? Do you agree ?

Answer.
Jim and Hans are people whose heart is full of human kindness. Serving the army, they have been a witness to all the sufferings of war. So it is natural for them to hate war. However the problems between two nations are bound to be there. A non-violent method to resolve these problems is what they desire. It occurs to them that this method could be to compete in games. So they think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts.

I agree that some non-violent method must be found to resolve disputes between nations.

Question. 4.
Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other, or different from each other ? Find evidence from the story to support your Answer.

Answer.
The soldiers of the two armies are like each other. The story is all about it. They like to greet each other. They play football. They eat and drink together. The two captains talk affectionately about their lives away from the field. They agree that the problems can be resolved by playing games instead of fighting wars.

The soldiers of both the armies are eager for the war to end. They want to go back to their families. Thus, there is much which is common between them.

Question. 5.
Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas.

Answer.
It was the Christmas that made the British and German soldiers friends. The Germans waved a white flag and wished the British a happy Christmas. The British responded with ‘same to you.” They were surprised when the Germans moved further towards them without arms. The British captain was alarmed that it might be a trick. But it wasn’t so.

Then they came close. They shook hands. The Christmas and the ways of celebrating it were common between the two. They played, they ate and they sang carols. The two captains talked of their families. They talked of their own fields of activity when there was no war. They had the same tender feelings about life. They did not want to fight. They wanted peace. They wanted to be with their families as soon as possible.

Question. 6.
What is Connie’s Christmas present ? Why is it “the best Christmas present in the world” ?

Answer.
Connie’s Christmas present was the letter which the author had brought for her. However, in her muddled state she thought that it was not the author but her Jim. She called the author Jim and made him sit beside her. She kissed him on the cheek. For her, her husband had returned after such a long time. So she said that it was the best Christmas present she had ever got.

Question. 7.
Do you think the title of this story is suitable for it ? Can you think of any other title(s) ?

Answer.
The title of the story is Quite suitable. ‘The Best Christmas Present in the World’ refers to the present for the old lady. Otherwise also the story is woven around Christmas. However, it is always possible to find alternate titles. For example, ‘War’ can be another title. The story is after all an anti-war story. ‘Christmas’ could also be a title because the story narrates two important Christmas days.

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE (Page 17)

Question. 1.
Look at these sentences from the story.
I spotted it in a junk shop in Bridport… The man said it was made in the early nineteenth century… This one was in bad condition…

The italicised verbs are in the past tense. They tell us what happened in the past, before now.

(i) Read the passage below and underline the verbs in the past tense.
A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.

Answer
— A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.

• Now look at these sentences. –
  The veneer had lifted almost everywhere. Both fire and water had taken their toll on this desk.
• Notice the verb forms had lifted, had taken (their toll).
  The author found and bought the desk in the past.
  The desk was damaged before the author found it and bought it.
  Fire and water had damaged the desk before the author found it and bought it.

1. We use verb forms like had damaged for an event in the ‘earlier past’. If there are two events in the past, we use the ‘had’… form for the event that occurred first in the past.
2. We also use the past perfect tense to show that something was wished for, or expected before a particular time in the past. For example. I had always wanted one…
3. Discuss with your partner the difference in meaning in the sentences below.
   When I reached the station, the train left.
   When I reached the station, the train had left.

The first sentence means that the speaker was able to get the train. The second sentence means that he missed it. In fact, the first sentence gives the idea as if the train was only waiting for the speaker to get to the station. It left as soon as he reached there. In the second sentence, there was no sign of the train when the speaker reached the station.

(ii) Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
My little sister is very naughty. When she (a)__(come) back from school yesterday, she had (b)___(tear) her dress. We (c)__(ask) her how it had (d)___(happen). She (e)__(say) she (f) __(have, Quarrel) with a boy. She (g)___(have, beat) him in a race and he (h)___(have, try) to push her. She (i)__(have, tell) the teacher and so he (j)__ (have, chase) her, and she (k)___(have, fall) down and (l)__ (have, tear) her dress.

Answer
(a) came
(b) torn
(c) asked
(d) happened
(e) said
(f) had Quarreled
(g) had beaten
(h) had tried
(i) had told
(j) had chased
(k) had fallen
(l) had torn.

(iii) Underline the verbs and arrange them in two columns, Past and Earlier past.
(a) My friends set out to see the caves in the next town, but I stayed at home, because I had seen them already.
(b) When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but by that time I had gone out to see a movie !
(c) So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.
(d) By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep !

Answer
(a) My friends set out to see the caves in the next town, but I stayed at home, because I had seen them already.
(b) When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but by that time I had gone out to see a movie !
(c) So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.
(d) By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep !

2. Dictionary work
By the end of the journey, we had run out of drinking water.
Look at the verb run out of in this sentence. It is a phrasal verb : it has two parts, a verb and a preposition or an adverb. Phrasal verbs often have meanings that are different from the meanings of their parts.

• Find these phrasal verbs in the story.
  burn out
  light up
  look on
  run out
  keep out

Write down the sentences in which they occur. Consult a dictionary and write down the meaning that you think matches the meaning of the phrasal verb in the sentence.

Answer
1. No. 12 turned out to be nothing but a burnt out shell, the roof gaping. (Page 14)
Meaning : ‘Burnt out’ here means ‘completely destroyed by fire’.
2. That was the moment her eyes lit up with recognition and her face suffused with a sudden glow of happiness. (Page 15)
Meaning : ‘Lit up’, here means ‘became bright with happiness’.
Note : ‘Burned out’ and ‘burnt out’, both are correct.
3. Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered. (Page 12)
Meaning : ‘Looked on’ here means ‘continued to look’ i.e., went on observing as long as they played.
4 .…the schnapps and the rum and the sausage had long since run out. (Page 13)
Meaning : ‘Run out’ here means ‘consumed’.
5. Hans wolf cheered clapping our hands and stamping our feet to keep out the cold as much as anything (Page 12)
Meaning : ‘Keep out’ here means ‘be away from’.

3. Noun phrase

• Read the following sentence.
  I took out a small black tin box.
  – The phrase in italics is a noun phrase.
  – It has the noun—box—as the head word, and three adjectives preceding it.
  – Notice the order in which the adjectives occur—size (small), colour (black) and material (tin) of which it is made.
  – We rarely use more than four adjectives before a noun and there is no rigid order in which they are used, though there is a preferred order of modifiers/adjectives in a noun phrase, as given below.
  

Answer
Read and learn yourself.

4. The table below contains a list of nouns and some adjectives. Use as many adjectives as you can to describe each noun. You might come up with some funny descriptions !

Answer
1. a wild, large elephant.
2. a cheerful, round chubby face.
3. a cheerful, circular, multicoloured large brick building.
4. enormous, multicoloured, cold water.

SPEAKING (Page 19)

Question 1.
In groups discuss whether wars are a good way to end conflicts between countries.Then present your arguments to the whole class.

Answer
Wars are never a good way to end conflicts between countries. It is because wars are devastating. They ruin humanity. They can only harm us. A large number of men and women are killed. Many families are destroyed. If we try to find a peaceful solution of the conflicts, the countries would flourish. There would always be peace. Countries will be strong.

Question 2.
What kind of presents do you like and why ? What are the things you keep in mind when you buy presents for others ? Discuss with your partner.
(For example, you might buy a book because it can be read and re-read over a period of time.)

Answer
Whenever we buy presents we keep various factors in mind. First its utility, then durability and then price. We also think of giving the maximum benefit of the present to the person concerned.

WRITING (Page 20)

Question 1.
Imagine that you are Jim. You have returned to your town after the war. In your diary record how you feel about the changes you see and the events that occur in your town. You could begin like this
25 December, 1919
It’s Christmas today, but the town looks…
Or
Suppose you are the visitor. You are in a dilemma. You don’t know whether to disclose your identity and disappoint the old lady or let her believe that her dear Jim has come back. Write a letter to a friend highlighting your anxiety, fears and feelings.

Answer
It’s Christmas today but the town looks gloomy. It’s so natural. This town has lost many of its great sons in the war. The hearts of the people who know them, are burdened with sorrow. They cannot feel cheerful. They know that it’s Christmas. They see the beautiful cold weather and the crisp frosty morning associated with it. They see the beauty but they can’t feel it.

The politicians have visited the town. They have praised the bravery of the dead. They have raised their statues. They have honored their parents. Yet, how can they compensate the loss of a child, a husband or a brother ? War is the most dreadful thing I know of. How I wish an end of all wars ! The problems are bound to be there. Man should find some peaceful way to resolve these problems. Perhaps one world Government will be a good idea. But how to reach it ?
Jim ,

Or

23 Dorset
20 May, 1920
My dear Tom

A recent happening has so surprised me that I can’t help sharing it with you. You know I always wanted a roll-top desk. At last I got a second hand one from a junk shop. I decided to restore it on the 24th December. In the process I came upon a letter in one of the drawers.

It was a very old letter written in early twentieth century. The writer was a captain Jim of the British army. It was kept in a box with the words : Jim’s last letter received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.” The address on the envelope was “Mrs Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport.” I decided to search the lady to whom this letter belonged.

I found her in a conservatory. She was a little confused. She looked at me vacantly. But when I gave her the letter, her eyes lit up. She thought that I was Jim. She made me sit beside her and kissed me. She said that she had got that day the best Christmas present in the world. I tried to tell her who I was and how I had found her letter. But she was not listening.

Now I was in a dilemma. Shall I force my identity on her and disappoint her ? Or shall I let her believe that her dear Jim had come back ? I thought and thought. Then I decided to do the latter. I walked away from her Quietly after sometime.
Michael

Question 2.
Given below is the outline of a story. Construct the story using the outline.
A young, newly married doctor___freedom fighter___exiled to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the British___infamous Cellular Jail __ prisoners tortured___revolt by inmates___doctor hanged___wife waits for his return___becomes old__continues to wait with hope and faith.

Answer
This story belongs to the early 20th century. The young Indians wanted to be free. Ironically, most of them had had Western and English education. One such person was a young doctor named Kripal Singh. He was married and had a good practice. One day he came in contact with freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad. He joined their party.

The struggle required money. So he was involved in an attack on a government bank. He was caught. He was tried in court and sent to exile in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Together with others of his type, he was kept in infamous Cellular Jail. There the prisoners were tortured. The doctor could not stand it. He revolted against the prison authorities. He was hanged there.

Back in India, his wife knew nothing. Meanwhile the country became free in 1947. The lady expected her husband to come back but how could he ? She is now very old. Still she is convinced that Kripal Singh would come back. She continues to wait with hope and faith.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

The Mysterious Picture Summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English:

• The Best Christmas Present in the World Question Answer
• The Tsunami Question Answer
• Glimpses of the Past Question Answer
• Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Question Answer
• The Summit Within Question Answer
• This is Jody’s Fawn Question Answer
• A Visit to Cambridge Question Answer
• A Short Monsoon Diary Question Answer
• The Great Stone Face I Question Answer
• The Great Stone Face II Question Answer

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1 Three Questions are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1 Three Questions.

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1 Three Questions

IMPORTANT PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct option :

[I]

Question 1.
Many wise men came to the king, but they all answered his questions differently. The king gave no reward.      (Page 7)
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
The wise men wished to get
(a) some amount of money
(b) a handsome sum of money
(c) the land owned by the king
(d) the treasure buried under the temple
Answer.
(b) a handsome sum of money

Question 2.
Their answers to his questions were
(a) inappropriate
(b) different
(c) irrelevant
(d) to the point
Answer.
(b) different

Question 3.
The king’s reaction was
(a) undesirable
(b) humiliating
(c) justified
(d) instant
Answer.
(c) justified

Question 2.
“You are tired,” said the king. “Let me take the spade and work in your place.”   (Page 9)
Question 1.
Who is ‘you’ in the above extract ?
Answer.
‘You’refers to the hermit.

Question 2.
Why did the king offer to work ?
Answer.
The king offered to work because he felt that the hermit was very tired.

Question 3.
What does it show about the king’s character ?
Answer.
It shows the king’s compassion.

Question 3.
“Here comes someone running, said the hermit.”          (Page 10)
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
The hermit drew the king’s attention
(a) to the axe kept nearby
(b) towards the bearded man
(c) towards the evil bodyguard
(d) to the seeds to be sown
Answer.
(b) towards the bearded man

Question 2.
The bearded man was
(a) stabbed by the king
(b) God-fearing
(c) the king’s enemy
(d) wearing a long robe
Answer.
(c) the king’s enemy

Question 3.
Both the hermit and the king
(a) slept for long
(b) nursed the wounds of the bearded man
(c) told tales
(d) were not surprized to meet the man
Answer.
(b) nursed the wounds of the bearded man

[II]

Question 4.
“Now if I live, I will serve you as your most faithful servant and will order my sons to do the same. Forgive me !”          (page 12)
Question 1.
Who is the speaker of the above lines ?
Answer.
The speaker was an injured bearded man whom the king had helped. The king had saved his life.

Question 2.
Who was he speaking to ?
Answer.
He was speaking to the king.

Question 3.
Why was he making such a promise ?
Answer.
He felt greatly indebted to the king. In order to repay the king’s goodness, he was making that promise.

Question 5.
The most important business is to do that person good, because we were sent into this world for that purpose alone.    (Page 13)
Question 1.
The hermit’s advice was
(a) to do good to the people
(b) to do important work
(c) to do hard work
(d) to do good to the person who needs your help at the moment
Answer.
(d) to do good to the person who needs your help at the moment

Question 2.
No one is sure
(a) if he would get time to meet someone else
(b) if he will live
(c) what is in store for him
(d) whether the future is bright for him
Answer.
(a) if he would get time to meet someone else

Question 3.
To do good is
(a) the only work for you
(b) the main purpose of our life
(c) greatly admired by gods
(d) liked by even the devils
Answer.
(b) the main purpose of our life

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

Comprehension Check (Page 10)
Question 1.
Why did the king want to know answers to three questions ?
Answer.
The king wanted to be always successful. For this purpose, he wanted to know the answers to three questions.

Question 2.
Messengers were sent throughout the kingdom
(i) to fetch wise men.
(ii) to find answers to the questions.
(iii) to look for the wise hermit.
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.
Mark your choice.
Answer.
(iv) to announce a reward for those who could answer the questions.

Comprehension Check (Page 14)
Complete the following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in the box.

1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions, …………..
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men ……………
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable …………..
4. The king requested the hermit …………
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound, ………………

Answers.

1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions but their answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.
2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise men to help the king act at the right time.
3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a timetable and follow it strictly.
4. The king requested the hermit o answer three questions.
5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound but the bleeding would not stop.

Answer the following questions :
Question 1.
Why was the king advised to go to magicians ? (Imp.)
Answer.
Some people said that the magicians could look into the future. If one knows the future it is easy to decide the right time for doing something. The king wanted to know the right time to begin something. So some people advised the king to go to magicians.

Question 2.
In answer to the second question, whose advice, did the people say, would be important to the king ?
Answer.
In answer to the second question the wise men had given different answers. Some said that the king’s councillors were the people whose advice was important. Others thought the priests were more important. A few others chose the doctors. Some said that the advice of the soldiers would be important to the king.

The hermit’s answer was the best. He said that the person present with the king was the only important person. His advice would be important.

Question 3.
What suggestions were made in answer to the third question ?
Answer.
In answer to the third question, some said science was the most important affair. Others chose fighting and yet others advocated religious worship.

The hermit’s answer was the best. He said that the most important affair is to do good to the person before you. The hermit believed that man was sent on the earth for this purpose alone.

Question 4.
Did the wise men win the reward ? If not, why not ?   (V. Imp.)
Answer.
No, the wise men did not win the reward. It was so because none of their answers could satisfy the king.

Question 5.
How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man ?   (V. Imp.)
Answer.
The king and the hermit removed the man’s clothing. They saw that there was a wound in his stomach. The king washed the wound. Then he covered it with his handkerchief. Yet the blood kept on flowing. So the king redressed the wound. At last the bleeding stopped. The man felt better. Now he wanted to drink something. The king gave him fresh water. After this, they carried him into the hut and put him on the bed.

Question 6.
(i) Who was the bearded man ?
(ii) Why did he ask for the king’s forgiveness ?
Answer.

1. The bearded man was the king’s sworn enemy. The king had killed his brother and seized his property. He wanted to avenge his murdered brother by killing the king.
2. The king had washed the bearded man’s wound. He had covered the wound with his handkerchief. He redressed his wound because the blood kept on flowing. The bearded man felt grateful to the king. Therefore he asked for his forgiveness.

Question 7.
The king forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness ? (Imp.)
Answer.
To show his forgiveness, the king promised to help the bearded man. He promised to send his servants and his own doctor to look after him. The king also promised to give him back his property.

Question 8.
What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions ? Write each answer separately. Which answer do you like most, and why ? (V. Imp.)
Answer.
The hermit’s answer was that ‘Now’ is the best time to begin work. For, nobody knows whether he will have any time in the future or not. The king had just put his questions, when he pitied the hermit. Later on it proved to be the best time. Had he not done so and gone back, his enemy would have killed him.

Answering the second question, the hermit said that the people present were the best. They alone should be listened to. For, these are the only people whom one can consult at once.

To do good to the people present is the most important thing. It was the hermit’s reply to the third question. According to the hermit, man was sent on the earth for this purpose alone.
I like the answer to the first question most. It is most logical.

Working with Language

Question 1.
Match items in List A with their meanings in List B.

Use any three of the above words change the form of the word.
Answer.

Question 2.
Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the word given in brackets.   (Imp.)
He has ………. to help me. Do you think he will remember his ……. ?  (promise)
He has promised to help me. Do you think he will remember his promise ?
(i) The ……….. said that only fresh evidence would make him change his ……. (judge)
(ii) I didn’t notice any serious ……….. of opinion among the debaters, although they ………. from one another over small points. (differ)
(iii) It’s a fairly simple question to ……….. , but will you accept my …….. as final ? (answer)
(iv) It isn’t ……… that …………… should always be the mother of invention. (necessary)
(v) Hermits are ………. men. How they acquire their ………… no one can tell.  (wise)
(vi) The committee ………….. has to make Jagdish captain of the team. The ……….. is likely to please everyone.  (decide)
(vii) Asking for ………. is as noble as willingness to …………. .  (forgive)
Answers.

1. The judge said that only fresh evidence would make him change his judgement.
2. I didn’t notice any serious difference of opinion among the debaters, although they differed from one another over small points.
3. It’s a fairly simple question to answer, but will you accept my answer as final?
4. It isn’t necessary that necessity should always be the mother of invention.
5. Hermits are wise men. How they acquire their wisdom no one can tell.
6. The committee has decided to make Jagdish captain of the team. The decision is likely to please everyone.
7. Asking for forgiveness is as noble as willingness to forgive.

Speaking and Writing

Question 1.
Imagine you are the king. Narrate the incident of your meeting the hermit. Begin like this :
The wise men answered my questions, but I was not
satisfied with their answers. One day I decided to go
and meet the hermit…
Answer.
… I put on ordinary clothes. I started for the woods, in which the hermit lived. I left my horse with my bodyguard. Then, I went to the hermit’s hut alone. I saw the hermit digging the ground. The hermit greeted me but continued digging. I told him the purpose of my visit. The hermit listened to me. Without speaking anything he busied himself again in digging. I felt the hermit was tired. I offered to do his work for him. He agreed, I began to dig the ground.

Question 2.
Imagine you are the hermit. Write briefly the incident of your meeting the king. Begin like this : (Imp.)
One day I was digging in my garden. A man in
ordinary clothes came to see me. I knew it was the
king …
Answer.
I greeted the king. He asked me three questions. He wanted to know the right time to do the right thing. He wanted to know who were the people he needed most. He also wanted to know the affairs which were most important. I made no reply. Then the king saw that I was tired. He offered to do my work. I gave him my spade. He worked till sunset.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1.
Why was the king anxious to know the answers to his questions ?
Answer.
The king wanted to know the answers to his three questions. He felt that if he knew them, he would never fail in his attempts.

Question 2.
The hermit told the king the purpose of human life. What was it ? What was the king’s aim of life before meeting the hermit ?   (V. Imp.)
Answer.
The hermit told the king that the purpose of life was to help others. Success in whatever he did, was the king’s aim of life before meeting the hermit.

Question 3.
Why did the king go alone and in ordinary clothes to meet the hermit ?
Answer.
The king went alone and in ordinary clothes because he knew that the hermit saw no one but simple people.

Question 4.
Why did the king dig the ground ?
Answer.
The king dug the ground to help the hermit.

Question 5.
Why did the hermit let the king work till sunset ?
Answer.
The hermit let the king work till sunset to save his life.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1.
What was the hermit’s answer to the second question : ‘Which people should be listened to’ ? Justify the answer.   (V. Imp.)
Answer.
The hermit’s answer to the second question was that the king should listen to the people who were with him at that particular moment. It was correct because according to the hermit man’s only duty is to help his fellowmen. So if there is someone before us who needs our help, our foremost duty is to help him.

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Read the statements given below and choose the correct option :

Question 1.
The answers to the three questions will enable :
(i) the hermit to go to the king
(ii) the king to lead a peaceful life
(iii) the king to be always successful
(iv) the subjects to lead a good life
Answer.
(iii) the king to be always successful

Question 2.
The king was not satisfied with the answers as :
(i) they were lengthy
(ii) they all were different
(iii) they were dull
(iv) they served no purpose
Answer.
(ii) they all were different

Question 3.
The king went to see the hermit in ;
(i) his cage
(ii) simple clothes
(iii) his cave
(iv) a hurry
Answer.
(ii) simple clothes

Question 4.
The king dug the beds
(i) because he loved gardening
(ii) to help the hermit
(iii) to pass time
(iv) to get his answers
Answer.
(ii) to help the hermit

Question 5.
The wounded man was
(i) a friend of the hermit
(ii) a friend of the king
(iii) an enemy of the hermit
(iv) an enemy of the king
Answer.
(iv) an enemy of the king

Question 6.
The king dressed the wounds of :
(i) the hermit
(ii) his guard
(iii) the horse
(iv) the bearded man
Answer.
(iv) the bearded man

Question 7.
The bearded man was the :
(i) relative of the king
(ii) friend of the king
(iii) king’s sworn enemy
(iv) guard of the king
Answer.
(iii) king’s sworn enemy

Question 8.
The bearded man asked for :
(i) water
(ii) property
(iii) forgiveness
(iv) money
Answer.
(iii) forgiveness

Question 9.
The king ‘had done him’ wrong as :
(i) he had killed his brother
(ii) he had killed his sister
(iii) he had seized his property
(iv) Both (i) and (iii)
Answer.
(iv) Both (i) and (iii)

Question 10.
The king sent a/an to look after him.
(i) doctor
(ii) anaesthetic
(iii) quack
(iv) servant
Answer.
(i) doctor

Question 11.
The king was happy that
(i) he had won a friend
(ii) he had killed his enemy
(iii) his action had pleased the hermit
(iv) his enemy was wounded
Answer.
(i) he had won a friend.

Question 12.
The answers of the hermit
(i) satisfied the king
(ii) failed to satisfy the king
(iii) confused the king
(iv) amused the king
Answer.
(i) satisfied the king.

We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1 Three Questions help you. If you have any query regarding NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1 Three Questions, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

The Dear Departed Part 1 Question and Answers

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English:

• Three Questions Question Answer
• A Gift of Chappals Question Answer
• Gopal and the Hilsa-Fish Question Answer
• The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom Question Answer
• Quality Question Answer
• Expert Detectives Question Answer
• The Invention of Vita Wonk Question Answer
• Fire: Friend and Foe Question Answer
• A Bicycle in Good Repair Question Answer
• The Story of Cricket Question Answer