CBSE 8th English- Honeydew

Comprehension Check (Page 136)

Questions:

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.

1. Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. __________
2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. _______
3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. _______
4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. ________
5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. ___________
6. The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. _________

Answers:

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

Working With the Text (Page 137)

Answer the following questions.Question 1:How was Ernest different from others in the valley?Answer:Ernest was unlike other commoners in the valley. He was a good, simple hearted, noble and thoughtful person. He had been under observation. He did not go with the crowd. He welcomed total strangers as the prophets.

Question 2:Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face?Answer:The poet wrote wonderful songs. He had celebrated the Great stone Face in one of his poems. When Ernest read this poem he became convinced that the poet was like the stone face.

Question 3:What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems?Answer:The poet confessed that he was not worthy to be compared with the Stone Face. His actions did not match with his thoughts.

Question 4:What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?Answer:Ernest and the poet together went to a meeting place. Ernest addressed the gathering. His words had power and his thoughts had depth. They were the words of life, a life of good deeds and selfless love. The poet was convinced that Ernest – was much nobler than him. Ernest’s face had such a grand expression that he declared that Ernest bore the likeness of the Great Stone Face.

Question 5:Write ‘Ernest’ or ‘Poet’, against each statement below.

(i) There was a gap between his life and his words.(ii) His words had the power of truth as they agreed with his thoughts.(iii) His words were as soothing as a heavenly song but only as useful as a vague dream.(iv) His thoughts were worthy.(v) Whatever he said was truth itself.(vi) His poems were noble.(vii) His life was nobler than all the poems.(viii) He lacked faith in his own thoughts.(ix) His thoughts had power as they agreed with the life he lived.(x) Greatness lies in truth. Truth is best expressed in one’s actions. He was truthful, therefore he was great.

Answer:

(i) Poet           (ii) Ernest         (iii) Poet       (iv) Poet         (v) Ernest(vi) Poet         (vii) Ernest      (viii) Poet     (ix) Ernest       (x) Ernest

Question 6:

(i) Who, by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face?(ii) Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true? What did he say about it?

Answer:

(i) Ernest was accepted by common consent exactly like the Great Stone Face.(ii) No, Ernest still was not convinced that the old prophecy had come true. He hoped that some day, a man wiser and nobler than him would come, and would look truly similar to the Great Stone Face.

Working With Language (Page 137)

Question 1:Mark the meaning that best fits the word or a phrase in the story.

(i) (sun) going down

(a) becoming smaller(b) weakening(c) setting

(ii) brightening

(a) making (it) look bright and cheerful(b) lending (it) a special glow(c) causing (it) to appear hopeful

(iii) spacious

(a) lonely and wild(b) big and wide(c) special and important

(iv) prophecy

(a) proverb(b) prediction(c) rumour

(v) marvellous

(a) wonderful(b) surprising(c) shocking

(vi) proclaim

(a) reveal(b) declare(c) shout

(vii) cease

(a) happen(b) stop(c) remain

(viii) (a night’s shelter)

(a) stay(b) safety(c) hospitality

(ix) gazed

(a) wandered about(b) stared at(c) thought of

(x) took on (an expression)

(a) challenged(b) resembled(c) assumed

Answers:

(i) c          (ii) a          (iii) b      (iv) b(v) a         (vi) b         (vii) b      (viii) a(ix) b        (x) c

Question 2:(i) Read the following sentences.

(a) I do hope I’ll live to see him.(b) He will come! Fear not, Earnest: the man will come.(c) Gathergold is arriving tomorrow, people said.(d) Blood-and-Thunder starts his journey back to the valley next week, everyone proclaimed.(e) The great man is going to spend his old age in his native town.Notice that in the above sentences, verbs in bold type are in four different forms, denoting four important ways of expressing future time. None of these can be said to be exclusively used to show future time, though each is used to refer to some action in future.

(ii) Which form of the verb is more natural in these sentences? Encircle your choice.

(a) I’m not free this evening. I will work/am working on a project.(b) Have you decided where you will go for your higher secondary? Yes, I have. I will go/ am going to the Kendriya Vidyalaya.(c) Don’t worry about the dog. It won’t hurt/isn’t hurting you(d) The weatherman has predicted that it will snow/is snowing in Ranikhet tonight.(e) Swapna can’t go out this evening. Her father will come/is coming to see her.

Answers:

(a) am working(b) am going(c) won’t hurt(d) will snow(e) is coming.