Class VIII NCERT English Chapter 1 CBSE How the camel got his … · 2019-08-10 · Class VIII –...

Class VIII – NCERT – English Chapter 1

CBSE How the camel got his Hump

01. How the camel got his Hump 1

Comprehension check

Page No: 3

Question 1:

What tasks, do you think, were assigned to the dog and the ox?

Solution:

Different animals were assigned different tasks. The dog was assigned the task of fetching and

carrying sticks as he was carrying sticks in his mouth. The ox was assigned the task of ploughing

as there was a yoke hanging from his neck

Question 2:

Why did the camel live in the middle of the desert?

Solution:

The camel was the laziest animal who did not want to do any work and help man. So

he lived in the middle of the desert so that he would not get any task. It ate sticks, thorns, and

prickles, and when anybody spoke to it, it said “Humph!” and nothing more.

Question 3:

What made the dog, the horse and the ox very angry?

Solution:

The man told the dog, the horse and the ox that since the camel did not work, he would leave

him alone. But somehow the work assigned to him had to be done So the three of them would

have to work double-time to make up for the work not done by the camel. This made the three

of them very angry.

Question 4:

How did the Djinn know the horse was complaining against the camel?

Solution:

When the other animals were assigned the camel's work the horse complained the Djinn about

the animal who stayed in the desert and did not work. Immediately the Djinn knew that the

horse was complaining against the camel because he was the in charge of all deserts and knew

everything happening in relation to his deserts.


CBSE How the camel got his Hump

01. How the camel got his Hump 2

Page No: 5

Question 1:

The camel was looking at his own reflection in the pool. What does it suggest to you about the camel?

Solution:

The camel was looking at his own reflection in the pool shows that he was proud of his

appearance, especially his back. He liked admiring himself.

Question 2:

The camel said, "Humph" repeatedly. How did it effect him?

Solution:

While the Djinn was trying to remind him for being lazy and avoiding his work, the camel

kept saying “Humph!” repeatedly. Even the Djinn warned him not to say so. His back puffed

up into a big hump as a result of his repeating the word and by not working.

Question 3:

What, according to the Djinn, was the use of the "Humph"?

Solution:

According to the Djinn, as the camel missed his work for three days,he would be able to do

work for three days without eating. The hump would help the camel in storing the food and

use it during his work without eating anything for a long period.

Question 4:

"...he has never yet learnt to behave". In the light of this, what is the writer's opinion about the camel?

Solution:

According to the writer, the camel is still a very lazy animal that is unwilling to work. After he

got the hump, the Djinn asked him to go out of the desert to help the other three animals. It

seems that the camel still did not behave himself and worked lazily in the desert itself. It is for

this reason that he was still unable to complete the pending work of those three missed days;

and he continued carrying the hump and living in the desert.

https://www.ncertbooks.guru/cbse-ncert-solutions-pdf/


CBSE Children at Work

02. Children at Work 1

Page No – 9

Comprehensive Check

Question 1:

Velu stood on the platform but he felt "as if he was still on a moving train". Why?

Solution:

Velu, who had run away from his home to Chennai, catching Kanyakumari Express, stood on

the platform. He had never travelled in a train so he felt as if he was still on a moving train

because his legs were still wobbly and shaky after the journey to Chennai. Usually, the effect of

a moving train stays for some time after the end of the journey.

Question 2:

What made him feel miserable?

Solution:

Velu felt miserable and exhausted because he had run away from his village two days ago fed

up of his drunkard father . He had not eaten anything except some peanuts and a piece of

jaggery for the last two days.And in this big city he does not know what to do.

Question 3:

(i) Velu travelled without a ticket. Why?

(ii) How did he escape the ticket collector's attention?

Solution:

(i) Velu had left his village fed up of his drunkard father who used to snatch away his earning.

So he travelled without a ticket because he had no money to buy a ticket.

(ii) He escaped the ticket collector's attention because luckily the ticket collector did not come

to the unreserved compartment where he was sitting on the floor.

Question 4:

Why had Velu run away from home?

Solution:

Velu belonged to a poor family. He and his sibling had to earn for their living. But his drunkard

father used to beat him every day. His father would also spend the money earned by Velu and

his sisters on drinking. So fed up all such thing he ran away from home.

Question 5:

Why did he decide to follow the 'strange' girl?





Solution:

He decided to follow the 'strange' girl because he did not know where to go and what to do n a

big city like Chennai. At the same time he was extremely hungry and he had not taken anything

for the last two days.

Page No: 13

Question 1:

Can Velu read Tamil and English? How do you know?

Solution:

Velu can read only Tamil but not English. He fails to read the signboards in English. However,

he can read front. Velu read the Tamil sign, Central Jail.

Question 2:

“If you are not careful, you will soon be counting bars there,” the girl said.

(i) What is she referring to?

(ii) What does she mean when she says “If you are not careful...”? (She says something a

little later which means the same. Find that sentence.)

Solution:

(i) She was referring to the Central Jail.

(ii) When she said “If you are not careful...” to Velu, she meant that he should not get caught. All

he had to do to stay away from jail was to not do something stupid and get caught by policemen.

Question 3:

(i) Where did the girl lead Velu to?

(ii) What did they get to eat?

Solution:

(i) The Girl led Velu to the back of a wedding hall where lot of left over of food were thrown.

She was sure that Velu who was starving, could manage to get some food there

(ii) Velu got a banana and a vada, while the girl got only one banana to eat.

Question 4:

What work did she do? Think of a one-word Ans. Solution:

Rag picking.





Page No: 15

Question 1:

(i) What material are the 'strange' huts made out of?

(ii) Why does Velu find them strange?

Solution:

(i) The 'strange' huts were made out of metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood, and plastic.

(ii) Velu found the huts strange because in his village, the houses were made of mud and palm

leaves. The huts he saw were made up of all sorts of things like metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood

and plastic and looked like they could fall any moment.He had never seen the slum area where

the dwellers build their house out of the things which they manage to get.

Question 2:

What sort of things did Jaya and children like her collect and what did they do with those

things?

Solution:

Jaya and children like her collected paper, plastic, glass, and other such things. They sold these

items to Jam Bazaar Jaggu, who further sold it to a factory.

Question 3:

Is Velu happy or unhappy to find work? Give a reason for your Ans.

Solution:

Velu was unhappy to find work because he had not run away from home to dig through

garbage bins. The only work he had ever done was weeding and taking cows out to graze.

However, since he did not know Chennai too well, he decided to work as a ragpicker till the time

he found a better job.

Exercise

Question 4:

Is Velu a smart boy? Which instances in the text show that he is or isn't?

Solution:

Yes. Velu seems to be a smart boy. He makes determination to leave his village at the age of

twelve as he could not stand his father’s beating. When he reaches Chennai, the girl, who is a

ragpicker, tries to help him. Initially, he thinks of not taking her help. However, he is smart

enough to realize that he is very hungry and does not know where to go. Therefore, he follows




the girl. He knows how to read Tamil. When the girl to tell him to eat the banana that she finds

in the garbage, he refuses at first. However, he quickly realizes that he is very hungry and

therefore, eats it. Even though he finds the place and even the girl very strange, he continues to

walk along with her. He tries to understand why she collects rubbish. He knows that he has not

come to the big city to collect rubbish; however, he adjusts to the circumstances and decides to

do the same work till he finds a better job.

Question 5:

Do you think Jaya is a brave and sensitive child with a sense of humour? Find instances of

her courage, kind nature and humour in the text.

Solution:

Jaya is a brave and sensitive child with sense of humour. She was of Velu’e age. She was a

ragpicker and knows how to live in the city. Jaya knows her way around Chennai, which is a

fairly big city. She knows from where to find food. She knows that one has to be careful to not

get caught by the police.

Jaya is also a very sensitive and kind girl as she helps Velu in all possible ways. She gives him a

pair of shoes because his feet burnt in burning sun on far road.

Jaya is also of a humorous nature. When she sees Velu sitting at the platform, she asks him if he

is there to become rich. When Velu is not able to cross the road, she drags him to the other

side of the road and said “What do you think you're doing? Grazing cows? If you stand around

in the middle of the road like that, you'll be chutney.”

Question 6:

What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others. Do you find this sentence

meaningful in the context of this story? How?

Solution:

The story 'Children at work' gives a vivid picture of the plight of the slum dwellers basically the

children. It tells us about the cruel reality that what is thrown out as rubbish can become a

source of living for other. People throw away bottles, paper leftover of food which these

children pick and earn some money. Our waste is valuable and blessing for them as their life

depends on them. Circumstance force them to do such thing.


CBSE The Selfish Giant

03. The Selfish Giant 1

Page No: 20

Question 1:

Why is the Giant called selfish?

Solution:

The Giant is called selfish because he did not allow children to play in the garden. He built a

high wall around his garden. He also put up notice board with a warning on it that no one is

allowed to enter it.

Question 2:

On one occasion the children said: "How happy we are here!" Later they said: "How happy we were

there!"

What are they referring to in both the cases?

Solution:

In the first case, they are referring to the Giant's garden where they would play while returning

from school. They had a great time whenever they played in the garden.

In the second case, they are again referring to the garden; talking about how happy they were

before the Giant stopped them from playing in his garden.

In both the cases, the children are referring to the Giant's garden.

Question 3:

(i) When spring came, it was still winter in the garden. What does winter stand for or indicate here?

(ii) Winter has been presented like a story with its own characters and their activities. Describe the

story in your own words.

Solution:

(i) In the story, winter stands for a negative, desolate and lifeless environment. In this

environment, trees and flowers do not blossom. Here, winter also refers to an atmosphere of

depression and laziness. Since birds did not sing, children did not play and spring did not visit

the garden, winter prolonged its stay in the garden.

(ii) When spring came, the birds did not sing as there were no children. The trees too did not

blossom. At a particular instance, a flower put its head out from the grass. However, when it

saw the notice board put up by the giant, it felt sad and sorry for the children, got back inside

the grass, and went off to sleep. On the other hand, snow and frost were very happy. While the

snow covered the grass, the frost fell on all the trees. They invited the North Wind to stay with

them, and later even the Hail was asked to visit. The Hail rattled the roof of the castle every day




until some of it started breaking, and then it ran round the garden again and again as fast as it

could.

Question 4:

Was the Giant happy or sad over the state of the garden?

Solution:

The Giant was sad over the state of his garden. Neither Winter went nor spring came to his

garden . Snow, frost , hail ,North wind didn't seemed to leave the Gardner. He could not

understand why spring was so late in coming.

Question 5:

What effect did the linnet's song have over Hail and the North Wind?

Solution:

When the linnet sang, the hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind stopped

roaring.

Page No: 24

Question 1:

(i) The Giant saw a most wonderful sight. What did he see?

(ii) What did he realise on seeing it?

Solution:

(i) The Giant saw that the children had entered the garden through a small hole in the wall, and

were sitting on the branches of trees. There was a child on every tree. The trees had covered

themselves with blossoms as they were glad to have the children back. The birds were flying

about and twittering in delight, and the flowers and grass were laughing out loud.

(ii) He realised that spring did not come to his garden because he had prevented the children

from playing in his garden. He realised that he was selfish not to allow the children to play in his

garden.

Question 2:

Why was it still winter in one corner of the garden?

Solution:

In one corner of the garden, there was a tree all covered with frost and snow. The North Wind

was blowing and roaring above it. A little boy was standing in front of it, but could not reach its





branches. As a result, there was still winter in this part of the garden.

Question 3:

Describe the first meeting of the little boy and the Giant.

Solution:

The first meeting of the little boy and the Giant was beneath the tree that was covered with

frost and snow. The Giant took him gently in his hands and put him up into the tree.

The tree at once blossomed, and the birds came and sang on it. The little boy stretched out his

two arms, flung them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him.

Question 4:

Describe their second meeting after a long interval.

Solution:

Their second meeting took place after a long interval; on a winter morning. The Giant was

surprised to see that in the farthest corner of the garden, there was a tree covered with lovely

white blossoms. Its branches were golden, and silver fruit hung down from them. The little boy

stood underneath it. The Giant went towards him in great joy. As he came near the child, his

face grew red with anger when he saw that there were imprints of nails on his palms and feet.

He asks the boy who injured him, so that the giant may avenge him. But the child says they are

the wounds of love, and as the giant allowed him to play in his garden, so would the boy take

the giant to his garden in Paradise.

Question 5:

The Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. What does this sentence indicate about the once

selfish Giant?

Solution:

The sentence indicates the Giant lay dead, all covered with white blossoms. The Giant had been

blessed with paradise after his death. The Giant is no longer selfish and cruel. That is why he is

covered with white blossoms. White colour is a symbol of peace.

Exercise

Question 1:

The little child's hands and feet had marks of nails. Who does the child remind you of? Give a reason

for your Answer.

Solution:

The child reminds one of Jesus Christ. When the Giant met the little child for the second time,




he saw imprints of nails on his palms and feet. When Christ was crucified, nails were dug into

his palms and feet. He had sacrificed his life for humanity, so that the sins of the world would

be washed away. That is why the child told the Giant that those were the wounds of love.



CBSE The Treasure Within

04. The Treasure Within 1

Comprehension Check

Page No: 28

Question 1:

What did Hafeez contractor have nightmares about?

Solution:

Hafeez Contractor got nightmares about appearing for a mathematics examination in which he

did not know anything.

Question 2:

What did the Principal say to him, which influenced him deeply?

Solution:

The principal said to him how his mother toiled hard to bring him up inspite of his father’s

death. She further said that he was grown up and should start taking care of himself. That he

should start giving top priority to his study instead of sports.

Question 3:

"... that year I did not step out onto the field." What was he busy doing that year?

Solution:

being a cricketer he used to keep himself busy with the games. But that he year he did not play

but was busy studying that year. He went for prayers, and just ate and studied.

Question 4:

(i) What "distraction" did Hafeez Contractor create one day?

(ii) Would you have liked to participate in the "distraction" had you been with him?

Solution:

(i) He played chor-police for an hour and even school boy loves distractions very much when

they don't like to study..

(ii) Had I been with Hafeez Contractor, I would have definitely liked to participated in such

distraction.

Page No: 32

Question 1:




Hafeez Contractor wanted to join the police force. Why didn't he?

Solution:

Hefeez Contractor did not join the police force because his mother told him not to. His mother

told him to do his graduation. May be she didn't want to loose him

Question 2:

In the architect's office, Hafeez Contractor was advised to drop everything and join architecture. Why?

Solution:

In the architect’s office somebody was making a technical drawing of a window. Hafeez

observed some lacunae in the drawing and convinced that person. Then Hafeez was asked to

make a drawing for a house which Hafeez did surprisingly well. They were stunned to see

Hafeez’s natural talent and advised him to join architecture.

Question 3:

(i) What was Mrs Gupta's advice to Hafeez contractor?

(ii) What made her advise him so?

Solution:

(i) Mrs. Gupta, who was Hafeez Contractor's teacher in the second and third grades, advised

him to become an architect when he grew up as she could see the hidden talent in him

(ii) She always said to him that he was quite useless in everything, except for his sketches,

which were always very good. Therefore, she advised him to take up architecture.

Question 4:

How did he help fellow students who had lost a button?

Solution:

When his fellow students lost a button, he helped them by cutting a button from chalk, by using

a blade.

Question 5:

Which rules did he break as a school boy?

Solution:

He broke many rules when he was a school boy. He would copy in class during Examination.

Playing jokes and pranks on others. He would have gang fights and plan strategies. He was most





interested in funny pranks. So he often created distractions. He also became a street Romeo.

Question 6:

(i) What is Hafeez contractor's definition of mathematics?

(ii) How would you want to define mathematics? Do you like the subject?

Solution:

(i) Hafeez contractor did like maths. He said that putting design, construction, psychology and

sociology together, and making a sketch from all that is 'mathematics'.

(ii) I would like to define mathematics as the most interesting subject for them who can

understand the magic of calculations. he can never get bored. But for them who don't

understand they may not enjoy it

Exercise

Question 1:

Is it likely that someone who is original and intelligent does not do very well at school? Should such a

learner be called a failure? If not, why not?

Solution:

It is likely that someone who is original and intelligent does not do very well at school. Such a

learner should not be called a failure as everyone has his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

Those who are academically brilliant do well in other fields. Hafeez Contractor was not a very

good student. However, he had the talent for construction, and he is now one of the leading

architects. Each individual has his or her own individual talents, which may or may not be

visible in the academic report. That is why students should be encouraged to showcase their

talents, and work on them. They should not be called failures.



CBSE Princess September

05. Princess September 1

Comprehension Check

Page No: 38

Question 1:

How many daughters did the royal couple have?

Solution:

The royal couple of Siam had nine daughters who they named after the months name.

Question 2:

Why were they named after the months of the year?

Solution:

They were named after the months of the year because the King and the Queen had many

daughters, and it confused the Queen to have to remember so many names.

Question 3:

The King had a peculiar habit. What was it? Why is it called peculiar?

Solution:

The King's peculiar habit was that instead of receiving gifts on his birthday, he gave them. It is

called peculiar because usually, people receive gifts on their birthdays.

Question 4:

(i) What was Princess September's reaction to the loss of her parrot?

(ii) What was her mother's reaction to it?

(iii) What do the reactions indicate about the nature and temperament of each?

Solution:

(i) When she locked the bird inside the cage, it died. Princess September burst into a flood of tears

at the loss of her parrot. She kept crying and nothing comforted her.

(ii) Her mother who did not understand her feelings declared it as nonsense. Very heartlessly

she told her to go to bed without any supper.

(iii) The Princess' reaction indicates that she was a young, sensitive child. That is why she

cried over the loss of her parrot. It was a very important thing for her. The loss of her parrot

filled her with grief.

Her mother's reaction indicates that she was a little harsh. She did not understand her

daughter's grief and console her. She did not think that the dying of the parrot was in any way a




significant incident to shed tears.

Question 5:

What pulled the Princess out of her gloom?

Solution:

The Princess was very depressed and was lying on her bed crying, she saw a little bird hop into

her room. The beautiful song of the little bird broght smile in her face. She wiped her tears and

heard its song. This brought the Princess out of her gloom.

Question 6:

How did the Maids of Honour come to know that the Princess and the bird had become intimate

friends?

Solution:

When the Maids of Honour brought in the princess' breakfast the next morning, they found the

Princess in a happy state of mind. They found a bird eating rice out of her hand, and having its

bath in her saucer. This showed them that the princess and the bird had become intimate

friends.

Question 7:

The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots always repeated themselves. What did they

say?

Solution:

All the old parrots could say what they were taught like 'God save the king' and some of them

could even say 'Pretty Polly' in seven languages. But the new bird was singing songs of its own.

Question 8:

What is the King's opinion about his Councillors? Why did he form that opinion?

Solution:

The King said that the parrots repeating 'Pretty Polly' in seven different languages reminded

him of his Councillors who said the same thing in seven different ways, and meant nothing

whichever way they said it. This was similar to the way the parrots kept repeating what they

had learnt, without knowing the meaning of what they said.





Question 9:

(i) The eight Princesses made an offer to Princess September. What was it?

(ii) Why, in your view, did they do it?

Solution:

(i) The eight princesses were jealous of Princess September. They offered to buy a lovely green

and yellow parrot for Princess September by putting in all their pocket money.

(ii) They did so because they were distressed by the fact that everybody was praising Princess

September's bird, which could sing. Their parrots looked sad and repeated the same things.

They wanted her to have the same pet as they had.

Question 10:

What did the sisters advise the Princess to do about her bird?

Solution:

The jealous sisters with the evil intension to harm the bird, advised the Princess to keep her

bird in a cage so that she could be sure of where it was.

Page No: 43

Question 1:

In the following sentence elaborate the parts given in bold. Under the circumstances it was a very

unfortunate remark for the bird to make.

Solution:

Under the circumstances, After what her sisters advised her to do, the Princess was worried

about the bird. She feared that the bird might forget her or start liking someone else. She felt

that in such a circumstance, she would lose her little pet.

A very unfortunate remark On returning, the bird said that it very nearly did not come back that

night as its father-in-law was giving a party and had wanted it to stay. This was the last thing

that the princess wanted to hear as it only confirmed her fears.

Question 2:

(i) What did Princess September do to ensure the safety of her pet?

(ii) How did the bird react to it?

Solution:

(i) To ensure the safety of her pet, Princess September put it in the cage.

(ii) Bird reacted to it sharply. He didn’t want to be in cage. He wanted full freedom. He did not




like it. It stopped eating and singing.

Question 3:

Why did the bird refuse to be taken out in her cage?

Solution:

The bird is a part of nature. So it can stay happy and carefree when it can enjoy nature freely. Inside

her cage it would not be able to enjoy it in the same way. The rice fields, the lake and the willow

trees would looked quite different when seen through the bars of a cage.

Question 4:

(i) What persuaded Princess September to give the bird his freedom again?

(ii) How did the bird react to it?

Solution:

(i) The Princess found the bird nearly dead in the next morning. He had stopped taking

anything. He had stopped singing at all. It didn't open its eyes even This persuaded the Princess

to give the bird freedom again.

(ii) The bird was filled with happiness. He flew away to the far lands promising that he would

come back and sing for her whenever she wanted.

Question 5:

Princess September kept her window open day and night.

(i) How did it help the bird?

(ii) How did it help the Princess herself?

Solution:

(i) Princess September kept her window open day and night. This helped the bird as it could

come into her room and leave whenever it felt like.

(ii) Sleeping with the window open proved to be very good for the princess as she grew

extremely beautiful because of this reason. The open window took her closer to nature which

helped her to grow naturally

Question 6:

The eight sisters kept their windows shut. How did it affect them?

Solution:

The eight sisters grew extremely ugly and disagreeable. This was because they kept their

windows shut and stayed away from the benefits of Nature.




Page No: 44

Exercise

Question 1:

Are the sisters unkind and cruel? Find evidence in the text to support your idea.

Solution:

Yes, the sisters were unkind and cruel. When they saw that Princess September's bird could

sing and their parrots could only repeat two lines, they became distressed. They even offered to

buy a green and yellow parrot for her. When she denied their offer, they convinced her to put

it in the cage knowing the fact that it will harm the bird. After she had put the bird into the cage,

it stopped eating and singing. When she consulted her sisters, they said it would soon get used

to the cage. They even said that she should be firm, and if it died, then it would be very

ungrateful of it.

If it was obstinate and died, then it would serve it right. When she set the bird free, they mocked

her and said that the bird would never return. All these instances show that they were very

unkind and cruel.

Question 2:

Which, to you, is the most important idea in this story, and why?

(i) importance of music

(ii) value of freedom

(iii) beauty of nature

Solution:

The most important idea in the story is the value of freedom. No one should be denied his

freedom. Absence of freedom suffocates a person, and prevents him from enjoying the beauty

of life in its fullness. The bird in the story was happy flying. It sang beautifully and ate well.

However, when it was caged, it became sad, and did not eat or sing. It said that to sing, it

required its freedom, and if it could not sing, it would die. This indicates that the beauty of

life is in freedom, and not in captivity.

It is true for everyone. One can work and grow properly when gets free space to work.

Restrictions stops the flow of creativity.



CBSE The Fight

06. The Fight 1

Comprehension Check

Page No: 49

Question 1:

In what way is the forest pool different from the one which Ranji knewin the Rajputana desert?

Solution:

The forest pool was clean, cold and inviting, whereas the Rajputana desert had sticky, muddy pools where

buffaloes wallowed and women washed clothes.

Question 2:

The other boy asked Ranji to 'explain' himself.

(i) What did he expect Ranji to say?

(ii) Was he, in your opinion, right or wrong to ask this ?

Solution:

(i) He expected Ranji to apologise to himas he hasd entered the pool without his permission. He wanted him

to leave the pool immediatetly

(ii) He was wrong to ask this because the pool was in the forest and anyone can use it.. It was not his personal

property.

Question 3:

Between Ranji and the other boy, who is trying to start a quarrel? Givea reason for your Ans.

Solution:

Between Ranji and the other boy, the other boy was trying to start a quarrel. When Ranji saw him, he did

not say anything. It was the otherboy who asked Ranji to explain himself. Ranji was prepared to be

friendly, but was taken aback by the boy's hostile tone. He even asked the boy to come and swim with him.

However, the boy said that it was his pool, and started a fight by calling himself a 'warrior'.

Question 4:

"Then we will have to continue the fight," said the other.

(i) What made him say that?

(ii) Did the fight continue? If not, why not?

Solution:

(i) When even after a lot of fighting Ranji refused to leave the pool, the other boy said that they would have



CBSE The Fight

06. The Fight 2

to continue their fight.

(ii) No, the fight did not continue as both of them were tired after the fight. After they decided to continue

the fight, neither of them took the initiative. Then, the other boy said that they would continue the fight the

next day if Ranji dared to come back to the pool.

Page No: 53

Question 1:

What is it that Ranji finds difficult to explain at home?

Solution:

At home, Ranji found it difficult to explain the cuts and bruises that showed on his face, legs and arms. It was

difficult to hide the fact that he had been involved in a fight.

Question 2:

Ranji sees his adversary in the bazaar.

(i) What does he wish to do?

(ii) What does he actually do, and why?

Solution:

(i) When Ranji saw his adversary in the bazaar he wanted to aviod him, he wished to turn away and look

elsewhere. Then being a child, he wished to throw the lemonade bottle at his enemy.

(ii) He actually stood his ground and scowled at the other boy. He did not throw the lemonade bottle because

he did not want to start a fight in the bazaar.

Question3:

Ranji is not at all eager for a second fight. Why does he go back to the pool, then?

Solution:

Ranji left home on the second day rather unwillingly. His body still pained though. Yet he could not refuse a

challenge. To gain his respect, he had to defy his enemy. As long as he fought, he had a right to the pool in the

forest.

Page No: 54

Question 4:

Who was the better swimmer? How do you know it?


CBSE The Fight

06. The Fight 3

Solution:

Ranji was the better swimmer. When the other boy made fun of him by saying that he would not be able to

swim across the pool, Ranji dived straight into the water and surfaced at the other end in a flash. The boy was

amazed at how well Ranji had dived, and later, at how he had swum underwater. He said that he did not

know how to dive or swim underwater, and asked Ranji to teach him both.

Question 7:

Ranji's superiority over the other boy is obvious in the following:

physical strength, good diving, his being a fighter, sense of humor, swimming under water, making a

good point, willingness to help.

Underline the relevant phrases.

Solution:

good diving, swimming under water and willingness to help.

Question 8:

What, according to you, makes the two adversaries turn into good friends in a matter of minutes?

Explain it as you have understood it.

Solution:

The two adversaries admired certain skills in each other, which they themselves lacked. When the other boy

saw how well Ranji dived and swam underwater, he forgot about the fight and asked him to teach him

these skills. Ranji's willingness to help the other boy made their friendship possible. Noticing Ranji's thin

body, the other boy promised him that he would turn him into a wrestler like himself. As a result, in a

matter of minutes, the adversaries turned into good friends.



CBSE The Open Window

07. The Open Window 1

Comprehension Check

Page No: 57

Question 1:

Why had Framton Nuttel come to the "rural retreat"?

Solution:

Framton Nuttel was suffering from nervous breakdown. The doctor had advised him to stay

away from the city life So he had come to the “rural retreat” to undergo a nerve cure in the

peaceful environment .

Question 2:

Why had his sister given him letters of introduction to people living there?

Solution:

His sister had given him letters of introduction to people living there as he did not know anyone

there. She knew that he would not speak to anybody and his nerves would be worse from

moping.

That is why she had given him letters of introduction to all the people she knew there.

Question 3:

What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the niece?

Solution:

The niece told Nuttel that about three years ago Mrs. Sappleton's husband and her two younger

brothers had gone for their day's shooting through the open French window. They never came

back. In crossing the moor to their favourite shooting spot, they were all engulfed in a piece of

bog. It was a wet summer and places that were safe in other years gave way suddenly without

warning. Their bodies were never recovered.

Page No: 60

Question 1:

What did Mrs. Sappleton say about the open window?

Solution:

Mrs. Sappleton said that she hoped Framton did not mind the open window. She told him that

her husband and her brothers would be coming home directly from their shooting, and they


CBSE The Open Window

07. The Open Window 2

always came that way.

Question 2:

The horror on the girl's face made Framton swing around in his seat. What did he see?

Solution:

When Framton turned around, he saw a silhouette of three men and dog in the evening light.

Then a hoarse voice was heard shouting at the dog. The description matched exactly with that

of Vera's description.

Page No: 61

Question 1:

What was the girl's explanation for his lightning exit?

Solution:

The girl said that the spaniel was the reason for his lightning exit. She said that he had a horror

of dogs. She explained that he was once hunted into a cemetery somewhere on the banks of the

Ganges by a pack of pariah dogs. He had to spend the night in a newly dug grave, with the

creatures snarling, grinning and foaming just above him.

Exercise

Question 2:

Is this a mystery story? Give a reason for your Answer.

Solution:

While explaining the mystery behind the open French window, the events narrated by Mrs.

Sappleton's niece manage to create a sense of foreboding. Later, when the three men approach

the open window, the reader (like Framton) can only logically conclude that they were ghosts.

Hence, one can say that this story does contain elements of the mystery.



CBSE Jalebis

08. Jalebis 1

Comprehension Check

Page No: 65

Question 1:

Why didn't he pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school?

Solution:

He did not pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school because Master Ghulam

Mohammed, the teacher who collected the fees was on leave, and it would be collected the next

day.

Question 2:

(i) What were the coins 'saying' to him?

(ii) Do you think they were misguiding him?

Solution:

(i) The coins,which were his inner self, were asking him to buy the jalebis.

(ii) Yes, they were misguiding him. Even though the money was for the payment of fees, they

urged him to spend all on jalebis.Being a kid, he got tempted by the delicious jalebis.

Question 3:

Why didn't he take the coins' advice? Give two or three reasons.

Solution:

He did not take the coins' advice because:

He was an honest boy.

He was studious and had an image to protect in the school. He did not want to get caught doing

wrong things.

Question 4:

(i) What did the oldest coin tell him?

(ii) Did he follow his advice? If not, why not?

Solution:

(i) The oldest coin said that they were trying to tell him something for his own good. It said that

he would get the scholarship money the next day, and with that money he could pay his fees.

Hence, he could very well buy the jalebis with the fees money.

(ii) No, he did not follow its advice. Even though his mouth watered, he remembered the fact


CBSE Jalebis

08. Jalebis 2

that he was among the most promising students at school. In the fourth standard exams, he had

even won a scholarship of four rupees a month. Also, he came from a particularly well- to-do

family and enjoyed considerable prestige. He had never once been beaten. On the contrary, his

teacher had got him to beat the other boys. He thought that for a child of such status, standing in

the middle of the market and eating jalebis was inappropriate. Giving these reasons, he

returned home.

Question 5:

He reached home with the coins in his pocket. What happened then?

Solution:

When he reached home, the coins began to speak again. When he went inside to have lunch,

they began to shriek. He was so thoroughly fed up that he rushed out of the house barefoot and

ran towards the market. Although he was terrified, he quickly asked for a whole rupee worth

of jalebis. The halwai opened up a whole newspaper and heaped a pile of jalebis on it.

Page No: 68

Question 1:

(i) Why didn't he eat all the jalebis he had bought?

(ii) What did he do with the remaining jalebis?

Solution:

(i) He did not eat all the jalebis he had bought because he had a fill of jalebis inside it. He had

eaten so many of them that if anybody pressed his stomach a little, jalebis would have popped

out of his ears and nostrils.

(ii) He distributed the remaining jalebis to the children who had assembled in the gali where he

was eating the jalebis. Even he bought more jalebis with the rest of his fees.and distributed

jalebi.

Question 2:

"The fear was killing me." What was the fear?

Solution:

He realised after eating that he had made a big mistake. The fear was of getting caught and his

parents finding out that he had spent all his fees on eating jalebis. He burped with every breath.

With every burp, there was the danger of bringing out a jalebi or two. This fear was killing him.



CBSE Jalebis

08. Jalebis 3

Question 3:

“Children's stomachs are like digestion machines.” What do you understand by that? Do

you agree?

Solution:

This means that children have a robust digestive ability as they are very active physically.By

morning he had digested all the jalebis he had had. They can digest more than usual diet.

Ye, I do agree, as children do more physical activities which keep their digestive system more

active.

Question 4:

How did he plan to pay the fees the next day?

Solution:

He planned to pay the fees with the previous month's scholarship that he would get the next

day.

Question 5:

“Children's stomachs are like digestion machines.” What do you understand by that? Do

you agree?

Solution:

When it was time to pay the fees, he tucked his bag under his arm and left the school. He kept

walking, praying for some miracle to happen which would save him that one time. He reached

the Kambelpur railway station. The elders had warned him to never cross the railway tracks.

They had also warned him that one must never eat sweets with one's fees money. However, he

had disobeyed them by doing so.

Page No: 72

Question 1:

What was the consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money?

Solution:

The consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money was that for the first time in his life he

was absent from his school.For the first time he disobeyed his parents and did the thing which

his concience wold not allow.


CBSE Jalebis

08. Jalebis 4

Question 2:

His prayer to God is like a lawyer's defence of a bad case. Does he argue his case well?

What are the points he makes?

Solution:

He did not argue well. He was mostly trying to impress God and make promises. He said that he

had memorised the entire namaaz. He even knew the last ten surats of the Quran by heart. He

said that he was a devoted servant of God and needed the fees money. He admitted his mistake.

However, in his defence, he also said that he did not eat all the jalebis. He shared them with

other children. He promised that he would never eat sweets with fees money again and if he

did, then he would deserve a thief's punishment. He said that there was no shortage of anything

in God's treasury. Even the chaprasi got a lot of money for his work. He finally said that he was

the nephew of a big officer and therefore, God should give him the money as he had asked for

only four rupees.

Question 3:

He offers to play a game with Allah Miyan. What is the game?

Solution:

The game was that he would go from where he was standing to the signal. Then, God would

secretly place four rupees under a big rock. Meanwhile, he would touch the signal and come

back. Then, when he would lift the rock and find the four rupees underneath.

Question 4:

Did he get four rupees by playing the game? What did he get to see under the rock?

Solution:

No, he did not get four rupees by playing the game. When he lifted the rock, he saw a big hairy

worm curling, twisting and wriggling towards him.

Question 5:

If God had granted his wish that day, what harm would it have caused him in later life?

Solution:

If God had granted his wish that day, he would never have learnt from his mistake. He would

have continued doing such wrong deeds, believing that God would save him after his

persuasion.


CBSE Jalebis

08. Jalebis 5

Exercise

Question 2:

Discuss the following points.

• Is the boy intelligent? If so, what is the evidence of it?

• Does his outlook on the jalebis episode change after class VIII? Does he see that

episode in a new light?

• Why are coins made to 'talk' in this story? What purpose does it serve?

Solution:

• Yes, the boy was intelligent. In school, he was among the most promising students. In his

fourth standard exam, he had won a scholarship of four rupees a month. He was also going to

get the previous month's scholarship on the day he had to pay his fees. Also, he had never been

absent from school.

• Up to class VIII, he kept wondering what harm it could have possibly caused anyone if God

had sent him four rupees that day. However, later, he came to the conclusion that if God were to

provide all for the asking, then man would still be living in nests such as vultures and crows,

and would not have learnt the art of making jalebis. By this he meant that man would not make

any efforts at all if God gave him everything he wished for.

• Coins are made to 'talk' in the story to show the greedy nature of the boy. His good nature,

which prevented him from spending money on jalebis, comes out in the form of the words

spoken by him. His greed, which was pushing him to get the jalebis and devour them, is brought

out in the words uttered by the coins.



CBSE The Comet - I

09. The Comet – I 1

Comprehension

Check Page No: 77

Question 1:

Why does Indrani Debi dislike Duttada's "hobnobbing" with Dibya?

Solution:

Duttada, spends more time with his telescope trying to find a comet. Indrani Debi dislikes

Duttada's “hobnobbing” with Dibya because for her, that telescope is like a designing woman

who has ensnared her husband.

Question 2:

She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling?

Solution:

She is smiling at the forgetful nature of Duttada. He used to overlook the practical problems of

living. His doctor has told him to take special precautions against the cold. However, he would

not remember to put on a sweater even if it is lying on his bedside chair.

Question 3:

(i) What was Duttada's secret ambition?

(ii) What did he do to achieve it?

Solution:

(i) Being an amature astronomer Duttada's secret ambition was to discover a new comet one

day. He was sure that the professionals would miss out such an insignificant thing like comet as

they must be busy exploring nebulous galaxies.

(ii) He sat every night with his small 8-inch telescope and gazed at the stars, believing that he

would discover a comet one day. he was sure that the scientist would ignore the things

happening in

Question 4:

What is the difference between a planet and a comet, as given in the story?

Solution:

Like planets, comets also orbit round the Sun, but their orbits are highly eccentric. Once in a

while, a comet comes close to the Sun. It has a longish tail that is lit brilliantly by the sunlight,

and then it recedes into darkness, not to be seen again for years or for centuries.


CBSE The Comet - I


Question 5:

Why was Duttada hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon?

Solution:

Duttada was hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon because he knew that the

professionals with their pre-assigned programmes would be looking at faint stars and hazy

galaxies. They might miss such an insignificant thing as a comet, which they would not be

expecting to see. Amateurs had often discovered new comets, which the professionals had

missed.

Question 6:

Why does Duttada say - “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet.”?

Solution:

Duttada says that he almost wish he has not discovered the comet because it has brought in

unwelcome publicity for him. There are numerous receptions and functions which he has to

attend. He is an introvert and such a lifestyle is not to his liking.

Question 7:

Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?

Solution:

His wife is unhappy about the discovery because she believes that comets bring ill-luck, and she

wishes a good man like Duttada is not associated with such a discovery.

Page No: 80

Question 1:

How did Sir John get hold of James' original manuscript?

Solution:

James' original manuscript was to be published in 'Nature'. Sir John got hold of it as the editor of

'Nature' was his friend.

Question 2:

What is the important point the paper makes?

Solution:

The important point that the paper makes is that Comet Dutta would collide with the earth.



CBSE The Comet - I


Question 3:

Why does Sir John say that James' paper should not be published?

Solution:

Sir John said that the paper should not be published because if the news of the inevitable

collision became known to the world, it would result in panic.

Question 4:

What do the two men finally decide to do?

Solution:

Two men decide to call a secret meeting of experts within a week’s time to think over and find

the solution to the imminent problem.



CBSE The Comet - II

10. The Comet – II 1

Comprehension Check

Page No: 83

Question 1:

"For a moment James wondered if he had done his sums right." Why was James doubtful

about his sums and calculations?

Solution:

James was doubtful about his sums and calculations when he looked up from his window and

saw a star-studded night sky. He knew that somewhere amongst those stars was Comet Dutta,

which was heading for a collision with the earth. It was hard for him to believe the calamity of

the future on such a peaceful night.

Question 2:

What did the scientists at the conference say about James's 'sums'?

Solution:

After rechecking James’ sum for the umpteenth time the scientist arrived at the horrifying

conclusion that James was right. There was just a feeble chance of the comet scraping through

the earth’s atmosphere. Even then also it would cause great damage.

Question 3:

Immediate action was needed, the scientists decided. Give one example each of

'defensive' and 'offensive' action mentioned in the text.

Solution:

The defensive action discussed by the scientists was to live in underground bunkers. The

offensive action was to marginally deflect Comet Dutta from its path by giving it a push. This

could be done by placing nuclear payload in a spaceship, sending it to intercept the approaching

comet and detonating it by remote control.

Question 4:

“I am not buying any Christmas presents till December 15.” What did Sir John mean by

that?

Solution:

When Sir John said he was not buying any Christmas presents, he meant that he was not very

sure about their success in the operation. December 15 was the date of the operation and if the

experiment failed, the comet would hit the earth.

https://www.ncertbooks.guru/cbse-ncert-solutions-pdf/.


CBSE The Comet - II


Page No: 87

Question 1:

What was Duttada expected to do on his return from London?

Solution:

Duttada was expected to perform a shanti yajna arranged by his wife, Indrani Devi, on his

return from London. This yajna was to be performed to pacify the supposed evil spirit behind

the comet.

Question 2:

What is his reaction to the proposal?

Solution:

Duttada reacted very angrily to the proposal and said that it was all superstition. So he refused

to participate in the yajna as he does not believe in such superstitions.

Question 3:

(i) What does 'Project Light Brigade' refer to?

(ii) What did Sir John say about the Project in his letter to Duttada in October?

Solution:

(i) When the scientist got cofirmed that the comet is going to collide with our earth, they

joined their hand to save the earth. ‘Project Light Brigade’ refers to the plans to deflect the

comet’s path by nuclear explosion.

(ii) In his letter to Duttada in October, Sir John said that the charge of the Light Brigade had

begun and that they hoped for the best. It meant that the spaceship with the payload had been

launched on time.

Question 4:

Did Sir John buy Christmas presents on December 15? How did Duttada get to know

about it?

Solution:

Yes, Sir John bought Christmas presents on December 15.

Duttada got to know about it in the letter that Sir John had written to him. It said that he was

confident of buying Christmas presents on December 15, indicating that the project was


CBSE The Comet - II


successful.

Question 5:

Why, according to Indrani Debi, had the comet not been disastrous? Do you agree with

her?

Solution:

According to Indrani Debi, the comet had not proved to be disastrous because of the yajna that

had been performed in their house. No, the yajna had no impact upon the comet.

The project undertook by the scientists prevented the comet from colliding with the earth,

thereby saving the earth and all its inhabitants from destruction.

Question 6:

Is Duttada's general outlook

(i) rational?

(ii) moral?

(iii) traditional?

Choose the right word. Say why you think it right.

Solution:

Duttada’s general outlook is rational. He is a scientist and he has a scientific outlook. He knows

what the Comets are. He knows that there is no connection between the appearance of comets

and misfortunes of the earth. He proved his point by not performing the yajna.


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