CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 35 Comprehension Passages

CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 35 Comprehension Passages

1) Solved Passage-1

Read The Following Passage Carefully.

Soon after one in the afternoon, Tom was dressed for dinner. He was grandly dressed and taken to a decorated apartment, where a table was set for one. The furniture was of gold and the room was half filled with noble servers. A chaplain said grace and the Earl of Berkeley tied a napkin round Tom’s neck. There was a taster, who tasted everything, before it was sent to the prince. The Lord Chief Butler was there, standing behind Tom’s chair, watching the conduct of Lord Great Steward and the Lord Head Cook, who stood near. Tom did not know that he had three hundred and eighty four servants—all of them were not in that room, of course!

All those that were present were well drilled to remember that the prince was temporarily mad and to be careful to show no surprise at his behaviour. Very soon Tom acted strangely but those present did not laugh—they only felt sad.

Tom ate with his fingers and no one smiled or even seemed to observe it. He examined his napkins with great curiosity. It was a very delicate and beautiful fabric. He asked it to be removed lest he should spoil it.

It was taken away without a protest and very courteously. Tom looked at the turnips and the lettuce and asked what they were. Was he supposed to eat them? (They had been recently introduced in England from Holland and were very expensive.) When he finished his dessert, he filled his pockets with nuts, but nobody seemed to be disturbed by it. Tom was disturbed because this was the only time he was allowed to do something with his own hands during the meal. He was sure he had done a most improper and unprincely thing!

When his meal ended, a lord came and held before him a broad, shallow, golden dish, with rose water in it to clean his mouth and fingers with. Another lord stood with a napkin for Tom to wipe his mouth and fingers. Tom gazed at the dish for a moment with a puzzled look, then raised it and took a sip. Then he returned it to the waiting lord saying he did not like it very much! He now requested to be taken to his private chamber and was finally left alone. He then thought of the nuts he had brought away from dinner. He enjoyed himself for the first time since he had become a prince, cracking nuts. There was no crowd to watch him, no one to pester him with unwanted service.

Let us leave him, enjoying his nuts!

Adapted from
(The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain)

Points to Remember

1. Read the passage twice to understand the theme and the main idea given in the passage.
2. After reading and understanding it, read the questions based on the passage and search for their answers in the passage.
3. Go through the questions and answers again.
4. Now write down the answers in your own words.
5. Do not give your own opinion or comments.
6. Use the sentence as used in the passage.
7. Answers should be clear, to the point and relevant. Revise your own answers. Give yourself a self-check.

The subject of the passage is a royal dinner eaten by a person called Tom, who is treated so grandly for the first time.

Now answer the following questions :

1. (1) Explain the meaning of following words :

1. Chaplain
2. Grace
3. Pester
4. Unwanted
5. Fabric

Answer:

1. Chaplain — a priest.
2. Grace — a short prayer offered as thanksgiving before a meal.
3. Pester — annoy.
4. Unwanted — not desired, undesirable
5. Fabric — clothing material.

(2) Find words in the passage which mean the opposite of the following.

1. Permanently
2. Rudely
3. Proper
4. Princely
5. Public

Answer:

1. Permanently — temporarily
2. Rudely — courteously
3. Proper — improper
4. Princely — unprincely
5. Public — private

2. Answer briefly:

1. Describe the room which Tom entered.
2. What did Tom not know?
3. Why all those present did not laugh at what Tom did?
4. Describe three things which Tom did, which seemed not to disturb all the people present.
5. Why was Tom sure he had done a most improper and unprincely thing?
6. Which do you think is the biggest blunder made by Tom?
7. Why do you think Tom made so many mistakes?

Answer:

1. The room was beautifully decorated, had furniture made of gold and was almost filled with lords, nobles and servers.
2. Tom did not know that he had under him three hundred and eighty four servants, as they were not all present in the room.
3. They did not laugh, because they were specially told not to do so as the prince had become mad for a short period.
4. Tom ate with his fingers, he asked his napkin to be removed in case he spoilt it. He did not know what a turnip and the lettuce was, and asked if he was supposed to eat them!
5. Tom thought so because the only time he used his own hands during the entire dinner, was to pick up the nuts which he put in his pockets.
6. I think the funniest thing he did was to take a sip of the water in which he was supposed to clean his fingers!
7. Tom made all those blunders because he was not the real prince.

2) Solved Passage-2

“Suppose we change the subject,” the March Hare interrupted. “I vote the young lady tell us a story.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know one,” said Alice rather alarmed at the proposal.

“Then the Dormouse shall,” they both cried. “Wake up Dormouse!” And they pinched it on both sides at once. The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. “I wasn’t asleep,” he said in a hoarse, feeble voice. “I heard every word you were saying.” “Tell us a story,” said the March Hare. “Yes, please do,” pleaded Alice. “And be quick about it,” added the Hatter, “Or you’ll be asleep again before it is done.”

“Once upon a time there were three little sisters,” the Dormouse began in a great hurry, “and their names were Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie, and they lived at the bottom of a well.”

“What did they live on?” said Alice, who always took a great interest in questions of eating and drinking. “They lived on treacle,” said the Dormouse, after thinking a minute or two. “They couldn’t have done that, you know,” Alice gently remarked, “for they would have been ill.”

“So they were,” said the Dormouse, “Very ill.”

Alice tried a little to fancy to herself what such as extraordinary way of living would be like, but it puzzled her too much, so she went on. “But why did they live at the bottom of a well?” “Take some more tea,” the March said to Alice very earnestly, “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “So I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hare; “for it is very easy to take more than nothing.”

Question 1. Answer the following questions :

1. How many people are present in the passage given above? Name them.

Answer:

There are 4 people present:

1. March Hare
2. Alice
3. Dormouse
4. The Hatter

2. Which proposal alarmed Alice?

Answer: She was asked suddenly by the March Hare to tell a story.

3. Which two things in the story told by Dormouse are rather absurd?

Answer: In Dormouse’s story, the three sisters lived at the bottom of a well and ate nothing but treacle. Treacle is a golden sweet syrup.

4. Why was Alice offended by March Hare’s remark?

Answer: March Hare asked Alice to have more tea when she hadn’t taken any so far.

5. Explain the last two remarks by Alice and the Hatter in your own words.

Answer: Alice protested against the word “more”. You take more if you have already taken some. Hatter thought you can easily take more even if you had nothing. You cannot take less than nothing.

Question 2. Explain the meaning of the following words :

1. Proposal
2. Hoarse
3. Pleaded
4. Alarmed
5. Offended

Answer:

1. Proposal — suggestion
2. Hoarse — sounding rough and unpleasant
3. Pleaded — requested, begged
4. Alarmed — afraid that dangerous or unpleasant thing might happen.
5. Offended — annoyed

Question 3. The entire passage is in the form of a dialogue. It is written in direct speech. Turn the first speech by the March Hare and Alice’s answer into Reported Speech.

Answer:

March Hare interrupted the conversation going on before and suggested that they changed the subject. He also voted that the young lady told them a story. Alice was alarmed at the proposal and declared that she did not know any story.

Exersise-1

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:—

Geeta works in a shop selling gramophone records. One afternoon a middle-aged woman came in, sat on a stool in front of the counter, and smiled at her brightly. I want a record, dear, ’ she began. ‘One I heard on the radio this morning. ’

‘What was the record called?’ Geeta asked, without much hope. The woman shook her head. I don’t remember. I should know it if I heard it, though. Perhaps if you play me a few records, I shall be able to pick it out.

I have hundreds of records in stock, ’ Geeta pointed out. ‘It would take a very long time to play you even a little of each. Could you hum it to me?’

The woman shook her head again. I can’t even sing the National Anthem in tune. We should only get into a complete muddle ifI were to start humming. ’ She looked quite depressed, as if this reminder of her own lack of musical ability were the last straw. Then suddenly her face brightened.

‘I’ve just remembered something, ’she said. ‘It comes from a play. There’s a girl who speaks very badly, if you see what I mean. But after a time she learns to talk well. Something about what do you call it? Phonetics. ’

This was enough for Geeta. ‘If you ask me, it’s from “My Fair Lady”, ’she said.

‘That’s it, dear. If you’d thought of it sooner, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time. I suppose you are new to the job. ’

Question 1. State whether the following statements are true or false :

1. A sad looking young woman came to Geeta’s shop.

Answer: False

2. Geeta played about twenty records for her.

Answer: False

3. The woman knew she had no musical ability.

Answer: True

4. The woman hummed a tune for Geeta.

Answer: False

5. She was very sorry for having caused so much trouble.

Answer: False

Question 2. Answer the following questions briefly :

1. Was the woman’s order to Geeta clear, precise and fair?

Answer: No, she couldn’t remember the record’s name or hum the tune, making it vague and time-consuming.

2. What request did she make to Geeta?

Answer: She asked Geeta to play multiple records so she could identify the one she heard on the radio.

3. “She looked quite depressed.” Why?

Answer: She felt disheartened realizing her lack of musical ability made it harder to describe the record.

4. Do you think the customer’s last remark was justified? Why/Why not?

Answer: Do you think the customer’s last remark was justified? Why/Why not?

Question 3. Find words in the passage which mean the same as the following :

1. A confused state

Answer: A confused state → “muddle”

2. Disappointed

Answer: Disappointed → “depressed”

3. Science of speech sounds

Answer: Science of speech sounds → “phonetics”

4. Sing with closed lips.

Answer: Sing with closed lips → “humming”

Question 4. Give your opinion of the customer in 20 words.

Answer: 

Opinion of the customer (in 20 words):

The customer was vague, unapologetic, and inconsiderate, expecting Geeta to solve her problem without clear information.

Question 5. Give a title to this passage and state why you have chosen it.

Answer: 

Title and Justification:

Title: “The Forgetful Customer”
Reason: The passage revolves around a customer who forgets the record’s name but expects Geeta to identify it, causing frustration.

Exersise-2

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:—

The reader, by now, will be quite familiar with Parsi Rustomjis name. He first became co-worker and then client. I won his confidence to such an extent that he sought and followed my advice in private domestic matters.

The friend once got into a very bad scrape. Though he kept me informed of most of his affairs, he had studiously kept back one thing. He was a large importer of goods and resorted to smuggling. But he was at the best terms with the customs officials. So no one suspected him.

But theft like quick-silver won ’t be suppressed. Rustomji came to me post-haste and told, ‘Bhai, I have deceived you. My guilt has been discovered. I have smuggled and I am doomed; you alone may be able to save me from this predicament. ” I calmed him, “To save or not to save you is in His hands. I can but try to save you by means of confession. ”

Enquiry revealed that smuggling had been going on for a long time. I told Rustomji that the case should not be taken to the court. It rests with the customs officer to prosecute you or let you go. Rustomji ’s name and fame were at stake, so he said, “I am entirely in your hand. ”

I met the customs officer and apprised him of the whole affair. He said, “You know, I must be guided by the Attorney General and I would advise you to use all your persuasion with him. ”

I entered into a correspondence with the Attorney General. He appreciated my complete frankness. He finally said, “I see you will never take a no for an answer. ”

The case was settled by a compromise. He was to pay a penalty equal to twice the amount he had confessed to have smuggled. Rustomji reduced to writing the facts of the whole case, got the paperframed and hung it up in his office to serve as a perpetual reminder to his heirs and fellow merchants.

The friends of Rustomji warned me not to be taken in by this transitory contrition. When I told Rustomji about this warning he said: ‘What would be my fate if I deceived you?’

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (adapted)

Question 1. Answer the following questions briefly :

1. What was Gandhiji’s profession at the time of the incident?

Answer: Gandhiji was a lawyer (as he handled legal advice and negotiations for Rustomji).

2. No one suspected Rustomji for smuggling because __________.

Answer: He was on good terms with customs officials, so they never checked his imports closely.

3. Was Gandhiji able to win the confidence of the Attorney General? How?

Answer: Yes, by being fully frank in his correspondence and persistently negotiating a fair compromise.

4. What did Rustomji do as a penance for his illegal activities?

Answer: He wrote a confession, framed it, and hung it in his office as a warning to others.

5. How did Rustomji reply to the warnings given to Gandhiji?

Answer: He asked, “What would be my fate if I deceived you?”, implying he wouldn’t betray Gandhiji’s trust.

Question 2. Find words in the passage which mean the same as the ones given below.

• Mischief (para 2) ___________
• Turned to (para 2) ___________
• Informed (para 5) ___________
• Constant (para 7) ___________
• Repentence (para 8) ___________

Answer: 

Question 3. Give a title to this passage and give a reason why you have chosen it.

Answer: Title: “Redemption Through Truth: Gandhiji and the Smuggler’s Penance”

Reason: The passage highlights Gandhiji’s role in guiding Rustomji to confess and reform, emphasizing truth, accountability, and moral redemption.

Exersise-3

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:—

When we visited the volcano, it was in a state of eruption. We stood near the summit on an irregular plane; it was heaped up with stones and cinders and enormous rocks, which had been hurled from the volcano in terrible confusion. From the summit, volumes of smoke and fountains of liquid fire poured forth continuously. The smoke, now white, now an impenetrable black, was accompanied by a deep roar. Fiery stones rained down, and the molten lava moved on with a horrible sound, devouring everything in its path.

We approached the lower end of these lava rivers, where its speed was retarded by a reduced slope. Its dark exterior surface broke up as it moved, and betrayed the liquid fire beneath. By daylight, the fire was only just visible, but its presence was indicated by the white smoke and the tremulous motion of the air above.

1. Choose the correct answer.

Question (1) Where did the author and his party stand?

1. On top of the volcano
2. Very close to the top of the volcano
3. At the foot of the volcano
4. In front of the volcano

Answer: 2. Very close to the top of the volcano

Question (2) What had been thrown out by the Volcano?

1. Stones, burnt-out coal, and rocks
2. Stones, burnt wood and burnt charcoal
3. Hot metal pieces and huge rocks
4. Hot, molten metal

Answer: 1. Stones, burnt-out coal and rocks

Question (3) What colour was the smoke?

1. It was black
2. It was white
3. It was grey
4. It changed colour, once it looked white, then black

Answer: 4. It changed colour, once it looked white, then black

Question (4) What did the hot stones and lava do?

1. It destroyed everything that came in its way
2. It brought to life dead plants
3. It removed all instructions on the way
4. It killed many people

Answer: 1. It destroyed everything that came in its way

Question (5) Why did the river of lava flow at a lesser speed lower down?

1. Because the slope was steep
2. Because the slope was gradual
3. Because the lava was thicker there
4. Because there were many boulders

Answer: 2. Because the slope was gradual

Question 2. Match each of the words/phrases in column A with its synonym in column B:

Answer:

Question 3. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct word from the box :

Devoured     betrayed           confusion     enormous     indicated

1. At a recent BCCI meeting in Mumbai, inspite ofa big crowd, there was no ____________.

Answer: At a recent BCCI meeting in Mumbai, in spite of a big crowd, there was no confusion.

2. The presence of the fire was __________ by the smoke coming out of the fourth floor.

Answer: The presence of the fire was indicated by the smoke coming out of the fourth floor.

3. The terrorist was caught ________ by the people he trusted.

Answer: The terrorist was caught betrayed by the people he trusted.

4. The fury of the nature in Badrinath has __________ thousands of lives and rendered even more people homeless.

Answer: The fury of nature in Badrinath has devoured thousands of lives and rendered even more people homeless.

5. The task was ___________ yet the Indian cricket team succeeded in winning the Trophy.

Answer: The task was enormous, yet the Indian cricket team succeeded in winning the Trophy.

Exercise-4

Read the following poem by Rabindranath Tagore and answer the questions that follow:—

I cannot Remember My Mother
I cannot remember my mother
Only sometimes in the midst of my play
a tune seems to hover over my playthings,
the tune of some song that she used to
hum while rocking my cradle.
I cannot remember my mother
but when in the early autumn morning
the smell of the shiuli flowers float in the air
the scent of the morning service in the temple
comes to me as the scent of my mother.
I cannot remember my mother
Only when from my bedroom window I send
my eyes into the blue distant sky,
Ifeel that the stillness of my mothers gaze on my face
has spread all over the sky.

Question 1. The poet cannot remember his mother because ___________

Answer: She passed away when he was very young, leaving only fragmented sensory memories (songs, scents, gaze).

Question 2. The poet means by “a tune seems to hover over my playthings” that ____________

Answer: His mother’s lullabies linger in his subconscious, resurfacing faintly during play.

Question 3. The significance of shiuli flowers is, ___________ and ____________

Answer:

1. They evoke memories of his mother’s presence during morning temple rituals.
2. Their fragrance symbolizes the poet’s emotional connection to her.

Question 4. Looking at the distant blue sky the poet feels that _________

Answer: His mother’s loving gaze envelops him, merging with the vast, tranquil sky.

Question 5. The repetition of the first line expresses the poet’s feeling of:

1. Loss
2. Regret
3. Nostalgia.

Answer: 3. Nostalgia (a bittersweet longing for the past).

Question 6. The image of the absent mother created by the poet is of a mother who _______

Answer: Was gentle, nurturing, and deeply affectionate, leaving traces in nature’s beauty.

Question 7. Find a word in the poem which means the same as the following:

1. To move about, but keep near (stanza 1) __________
2. A smell, usually pleasing (stanza 2) __________
3. Without motion (stanza 3) __________
4. Far away (stanza 3) ________
5. A long intent look (stanza 3) _________
6. Far away (stanza 3) __________
7. A long intent look (stanza 3) _____________

Answer:

1. To move about, but keep near (stanza 1), hover
2. A smell, usually pleasing (stanza 2), scent
3. Without motion (stanza 3) stillness
4. Far away (stanza 3), stillness
5. A long intent look (stanza 3) gaze
6. Far away (stanza 3) Distant
7. A long intent look (stanza 3) gazed

Exersise-5

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions that follow:—

Cats

1. Attacking from ambush, an African lion charges a band of antelopes and strikes one down with a single sledge hammer blow of its paw. Padding silently through the Indian jungle, a Bengal Tiger stalks an unsuspecting deer. Crouched on a limb, a South American jaguar tenses its muscles, then springs at a passing tapir.
2. Like all members of the cat family, these three big cats are expert trackers and hunters. They must be if they are to eat. They belong to the order of the carnivore— the meat-eating mammals.
3. Cats vary in size from beasts smaller than the domestic tabby to Siberian tigers weighing 270 kilograms (600 pounds) or more. Their coats come in many colours and many striking patterns.
4. No matter where they live, no matter what their size and appearance, all cats are alike in many ways. All have bodies adapted for hunting and killing. All are highly specialised beasts of prey.
5. The male lion is known as the king of beasts because of his dignified appearance, his deep roar, and his regal looking mane. The female with their tawny, black-striped orange coats, are perhaps the most striking and beautiful of all the cats. Tigers appear to be leaner and more lithe than lions. Now lions are found only in Africa, with the exception of a few that still survive in the Girforests of Western India. Tigers chiefly inhabit the forests of Asia, the largest tigers found in Siberia and the smallest inhabiting Malaysia.

Question 1. How does an African lion kill its prey?

Answer: The lion ambushes its prey and delivers a powerful, single blow with its paw to strike down the target (e.g., antelope).

Question 2. What is the difference in the way a Bengal tiger attacks its prey?

Answer: Unlike the lion’s ambush, the Bengal tiger silently stalks its prey (e.g., deer) in the jungle before attacking.

Question 3. In what way all the species of cats are alike each other?

Answer: 

All cats share:

• Bodies adapted for hunting/killing (sharp claws, stealth, strength).
• Classification as carnivores (meat-eaters).
• Specialization as beasts of prey.

Question 4. Give the most striking features of :

1. The male lion :
2. A tiger :

Answer:

1. Dignified appearance, deep roar, and regal mane.
2. Lean, lithe body; black-striped orange coat; largest species in Siberia.

Question 5. Find words in the passage which mean the opposite of the words given below :

1. Suspicious (para 1) _____________________________
2. Herbivora (para 2) _____________________________
3. Novice (para 2) _____________________________
4. Die (para 5) _____________________________
5. Male (para 5) _____________________________

Answer:

1. Suspicious (para 1) suspicious
2. Herbivora (para 2) herbivore
3. Novice (para 2) novice
4. Die (para 5) die
5. Male (para 5) male

Question 6. Find the words in the passage which mean the same as the words given below :

1. A projecting part of the body, e.g., Arm or leg (para 1) ___________
2. Remarkable, impressive (para 3) ________________
3. Majestic (para 5) ________________
4. Supple, agile (para 5) ________________
5. Long hair (para 5) ________________

Answer:

1. A projecting part of the body, e.g., Arm or leg (para 1) projecting body part (arm/leg)
2. Remarkable, impressive (para 3) remarkable, impressive
3. Majestic (para 5) majestic
4. Supple, agile (para 5) supple, agile
5. Long hair (para 5) long hair

Exercise-6

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions that follow:—

When the car had gone and they were left standing alone, staring at the suddenly quiet house, they saw who it was who was to stay on at Mon Repos — a thin elderly man with a white beard and spectacles on his nose. He did not notice them at all for he had a pair of binoculars glued to his eyes and was staring intently into the trees. The girls stared at the trees, too, wondering what he was looking at. There seemed to be nothing there but then they heard a rustle and an ashy grey and russet bird flew out, trailing a long russet tail behind it as it came out of the foliage and around to the back of the house. The man lowered his binoculars with a sigh and drew out a book from his pocket and began to scribble in it.

Lila and her sisters tiptoed around the corner and into the kitchen so as not to disturb him. “What is he doing?” they whispered as they quietly washed the dishes that had been left behind in the sink.

“Who knows? ” Lila shrugged. “He is here to study something, ” the sahib said. “Study what — the birds?’’asked Bela, and Kamal laughed at the idea, it was so ridiculous. “Any way, he won ’t notice us at all — we just have to cook his meals and call him to come and eat them, ” said Lila.

That was what they did. Now that they had not their mother to look after, or Hari or their father, they quietly cooked and marketed and swept and washed for the strange gentleman who never spoke to them, only glanced through his spectacles at the food when they called him for his meals and disappeared for the whole day sometimes, carrying his binoculars over his shoulder and a bag full of books and pencils. Sometimes they ran into him as he stumbled about the marsh, splashing through the mud and reeds, or sitting very quietly on a stone under the trees, staring intently at everything — except people.

He seemed hardly to notice that there were any people in Thul, they did not appear to interest him at all. But he was polite and quiet and gave no trouble at all since he had neither complaints nor demands and so they did not mind his oddities or even giggle at them much except, once when he stepped backwards off the log into the creek with a splash and they had to run to help him up and to retrieve his bag and papers and spread them out on the veranda to dry. Then they noticed that his papers were covered with careful pencil sketches of birds. They were wonderstruck.

“See, he is studying the birds, ” whispered Bela as they knelt on the veranda tiles, carefully separating the wet sheets and spreading them out in the sun.

The strange gentleman came out of his room in dry clothes and stood watching them worriedly. Then, “Thank you, ” he said gratefully and took some money out of his pocket to give Bela and Kamal. “For sweets, ” he said in a mumble, and hurried away in embarrassment.

He looked just as embarrassed when he paid Lila her salary at the end of the month and she whisked out of sight as quickly as possible, then ran round the house and across the creek to their hut, laughing with joy. It was wonderful to earn money. There was enough now to stock their kitchen with rice and tea and sugar, and Lila went every week to the hospital in Alibagh by bus to take some to their father who bought extra milk and fruits for their mother with it. The money made everything possible and Lila hoped the gentleman would stay on and on so that she could continue to earn money.

“But no one stops in the monsoon, ” Kamal said. “Everyone goes away when the monsoon comes. Only we stay. ”

Question 1. Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Name the village in which the story is set. What is the name of the house in which the girls worked?

Answer:

1. Village: Thul
2. House: Mon Repos

2. Who was the new occupant of the house? Why did the girls think he was strange?

Answer:

• Occupant: A thin, elderly man with a white beard, spectacles, and binoculars.
• Reason for strangeness: He ignored people, spent days observing birds/marsh, and rarely spoke.

3. Give two reasons why Lila and her sisters did not laugh at the strange behaviour of their new employer.

Answer:

• He was polite and undemanding, causing no trouble.
• His oddities were harmless (e.g., studying birds, stepping into the creek accidentally).

4. When did the girls realise that their employer really studied the birds?

Answer:

When they saw his pencil sketches of birds after rescuing his wet papers from the creek.

5. Their employer looked embarrassed twice while dealing with the girls. When and why? What does it tell you about him?

Answer:

1. When: After falling into the creek, he thanked them and gave money “for sweets.”
2. Why: Paying Lila her salary made him awkward.
3. Reveals: He was shy, socially inept, but kind and grateful.

Question 2. Which words in the passage mean the same as :

1. Absurd: ___________________
2. Strangeness, peculiar: ___________________
3. Struck with astonishment: ___________________
4. Damage: ___________________

Answer:

1. Absurd: absurd
2. Strangeness, peculiar:  strangeness, peculiar
3. Struck with astonishment:  struck with astonishment
4. Damage: recover 

Question 3. Change the conversation between Lila and her sisters from Direct to Indirect Speech:—

Begin from: “What is he doing?” _______________ till “call him to come and eat them,” said Lila

Answer:

Original (Direct):

“What is he doing?” they whispered… “Who knows?” Lila shrugged. “He is here to study something,” she said. “Study what — the birds?” asked Bela… “Anyway, he won’t notice us at all — we just have to cook his meals and call him to come and eat them,” said Lila.

Indirect Speech:

They whispered what he was doing. Lila shrugged and replied that she didn’t know, adding that he was there to study something. Bela asked if he was studying the birds. Lila said that he wouldn’t notice them at all and they only had to cook his meals and call him to eat.

Question 4. Make sentences of your own of the following words. Do not use them in the same way as used in the passage.

Notice, whisked, mind

Answer:

• Notice: The teacher asked the class to notice the subtle changes in the experiment.
• Whisked: She whisked the eggs vigorously to make fluffy omelets.
• Mind: Do you mind if I open the window?

Exercise-7

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions that follow:—

The saving of certain wild animals from extinction has for many been a problem for zoologists and other specialists, but more recently the problem has became so acute, and has received so much publicity, that most people are now concerned about it. This may at first seem strange because one of the most satisfying developments of the last few years has been the passing of strict laws to protect wild animals and the consequent decline in the hunting of big game for sport. Why is it, then, that some rare wild animals are still threatened with extinction and even some of the less rare ones are rapidly declining in number?

One reason is the ‘march of civilisation. ’ When an area is wholly cleared of vegetation to make room for new towns, factory sites or hydroelectric plants, the natural home of several is destroyed. The displaced animals must either migrate to another area or perish. Even the clearing of land for a road or an airfield may involve ‘pushing back’ the jungle, and the smaller the area in which wild animals compete for a living, the smaller the number that can hope to survive. Civilisation brings, too, swift and easy transport and so assists those who are determined to break the various protective laws. Thieves can elude the game wardens, shoot an elephant for its tusks, a rhinoceros for its horn, or a deer for its meat, and be miles away from the site of the crime before the dead or dying victim is even discovered.

It is sad to reflect that civilisation which can bring so many benefits to people who have previously known only hunger and misery, brings also facilities for the heartless criminals who, for material gain, will slaughter some harmless animals and threaten the disappearance of its kind from the earth forever.

Question 1. Three words are given below. Give the meaning of each word as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrases will be accepted.

1. developments
2. consequent
3. reflect

Answer:

1. Progress or changes (e.g., strict laws for animal protection).
2. Resulting (e.g., decline in hunting due to laws).
3. To think deeply (e.g., on the irony of civilisation’s impact).

Question 2. Answer the following questions briefly and in your own words.

1. “This may at first seem strange.” To what does the word ‘this’ refer?

Answer: Public concern about animal extinction despite strict anti-hunting laws.

2. Why does the author think ‘this’ may seem strange?

Answer: Because laws should logically reduce extinction threats, yet animals are still declining.

3. How does modem transport threaten the survival of wild animals?

Answer: It enables poachers to quickly escape after illegal hunting (e.g., killing elephants for tusks).

4. Using a single sentence for each, give the meaning of:

1. ‘pushing back’ the jungle
2. Compete for a living

Answer: 

1. ‘Pushing back’ the jungle: Clearing natural habitats for human infrastructure (roads, towns).
2. Compete for a living: Animals struggling to survive in shrinking habitats with limited resources.

5. What is the sad reflection that the author makes in the last paragraph of the passage?

Answer: Civilisation aids both human progress and heartless wildlife crimes, endangering species.

6. How can the thieves escape being caught after killing an animal?

Answer: They use fast transport to flee before authorities discover the crime.

7. What is the choice left before animals who are displaced from their homes?

Answer: Migrate to new areas or die.

Question 3. Find words in the passage which mean the same as :

1. Reducing
2. Helps
3. Live
4. Cruel

Answer:

1. Decline (para 1)
2. Assists (para 3)
3. Survive (para 2)
4. Heartless (para 4)

Question 4. Give a title to this passage and state why you have chosen it.

Answer:

“Civilisation’s Double-Edged Sword: Progress vs. Wildlife Extinction”

Reason: The passage contrasts civilisation’s benefits (laws, development) with its role in habitat destruction and poaching.

Exercise-8

Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow

One Night
As I lie on my bed and look outside
Through the window on my right
I stare and admire the beauty
And calmness of the night
Which seems perfectly right
And it feels as if all my goals
are within sight.
I appreciate the speeding winds
which are making the trees sway
And just when I say to myself
“Oh! What a day!’
The fragrance of that air mixed
with traces off reshness and change
Help me to bring to life all my dreams.
And before I know, it already starts to rain
And just then I say to myself
Now, nothing will be the same,
“It’s time for much needed change.”
The first drops of water that fall on my face
seem like a perfect embrace
It completely rejuvenates all my senses
Awakens and energises my soul
After which I am all set to face the world
I celebrate all the good and bad
Things that happen to me today
And regret about what went astray
Although regretting doesn ’t make much sense.
And it’s much later that I realise
what it meant
Even in that wrong years ago
was a hidden right
And maybe because of that I am
Where I am tonight.
Then I take one deep breath
And put all my thoughts to rest
And simply hope for the best.

Question 1. Find words in the passage which mean the same as the following.

1. To value
2. Sweet smell
3. Doing something enjoyable
4. To feel sorry for something
5. Gone wrong

Answer:

1. Appreciate (line 7)
2. Fragrance (line 10)
3. Celebrate (line 17)
4. Regret (line 19)
5. Astray (line 19)

Question 2. Fill in the blanks

The poet, lying in bed at night felt at _________ and thought he could easily achieve _____________. He was just going to say that it was a ______________ it started ______________. The Poet is _______ and _____________ by the rain and he feels as if ___________ by the rain. He remembers the ____________ and __________ things that occurred that day and something that went __________. putting _________ aside, the poet, that everything will turn out to be ____________ in the end.

Answer:

The poet, lying in bed at night felt at ‘peace’ and thought he could easily achieve ‘his goals’ when it started ‘raining’. He was just going to say that it was a ‘perfect day’ but was interrupted by the rain and feels as if ‘reinvigorated’ by the rain. He remembers the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ things that occurred that day and something that went ‘astray’. Putting ‘regrets’ aside, the poet ‘hopes’ that everything will turn out to be ‘right’ in the end.

Question 3. Explain the phrases (1) perfectly right (2) within sight (3) set to face, in your own words.

Answer:

(1) Perfectly right: The night feels harmonious and ideal, as if everything is in balance.

(2) Within sight: The poet feels his goals are achievable and clearly visible (metaphorically near).

(3) Set to face: Prepared or energized to confront life’s challenges.

Question 4. Do you think the title is appropriate? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer:

Title Appropriateness:

Yes, “One Night” is fitting because:

Focus on a Single Moment: The poem captures reflections and transformations during one night.

Symbolism: The night represents introspection, change (rain), and hope.

Universal Appeal: Everyone relates to nights of deep thought and realization.