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NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 7 A visit to Cambridge
Class 8 English Chapter 7 A visit to Cambridge
Textbook Question Answers
Comprehension Check – Page 97
Which is the right sentence?
1. “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.
(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.
Answer – (iii) Cambridge was the real England.
2. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
(i) from the nearest phone booth.
(ii) from outside a phone booth.
(iii) from inside a phone booth.
Answer – (ii) from outside a phone booth.
3. Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
(i) he wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
(iii) he was face to face with a legend.
Answer – (ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
4. “I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
(ii) standing up, walking.
(iii) speaking, writing
Answer – (i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
Working with the Text
Answer the following questions.
1. (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Answer – (i) The writer was nervous at the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking because Hawking was a very renowned and brilliant astrophysicist despite being paralysed and differently abled. He was doubtful whether he would be allowed to meet him or not.
(ii) Yes, the author at the same time felt very excited because he wasn’t expecting that he would be getting an opportunity to have a face-to-face conversation with such a great personality, that too for half an hour.
2. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Answer – The writer might have asked the scientist if he felt relieved and brave for achieving so much despite his disability.
3. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
Answer – Stephen Hawking stated that he had no choice but to remain confined to the wheelchair. The writer felt that living creatively with the reality of his disintegrating body was a choice for him. The author believed that Hawking could have given up on life and felt sorry for himself, but instead, he chose to achieve great things despite his disability.
4. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Answer – Stephen Hawking was a brilliant scientist and had a lot many ideas always flowing in his mind. But he relied on a voice synthesizer to communicate his thoughts without emotion. The writer understood Hawking’s frustration at being unable to express himself fully. Hawking’s reliance on a computer for communication left him feeling distressed.
5. What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
Answer – The writer asked Stephen Hawking if he felt annoyed when someone came to disturb him in his work. Hawking quickly said yes, but then he smiled in a special way that made the writer feel fond of him. The writer thought Hawking was one of the most wonderful people, even though he had a disability. The writer realized that he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world and a person’s soul is what matters most, not their body.
6. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Answer – “Before you like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandesence of a man”. The most beautiful sentence is incandesence of a man.
7. (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
Answer – (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, its ‘walls’ would refer to the structure of the human body.
(ii) The light of life/internal soul is housed within the thin walls.
(iii) The author suggests that deep inside every person, there is a bright and eternal soul. The body is like an accessory that covers this inner light.
8. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Answer – Stephen Hawking stressed that everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, should focus on developing their strengths. He advised that instead of trying to imitate “normal” people unnecessarily they should make the most of available resources.
9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Answer – When Stephen Hawking said that things such as disabled Olympics were a waste of time, the writer agreed with him. He remembered the years which he spent trying to play a Spanish guitar that was considerably larger than he was. He was very happy when he unstringed it one night. It supports Stephen Hawking’s idea that the disabled should only concentrate on what they are good at, and not take up things unnecessarily.
10. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
Answer – Stephen Hawking inspired the author a lot, and he was thankful to him. Seeing how Hawking achieved great things despite his disability showed the author how brave he was. Hawking’s courage inspired the author to see life in a more positive way and not to always complain about his own disability.
11. Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.
(i) There was his assistant on the line …
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, …
(iii) There he was, …
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, …
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know …
| A |
| – tapping at a little switch in his hand – and I told him – that there are people – as if you have a courage account – and they are saying something huge and urgent |
| B |
| – trying to find the words on his computer. – I had come in a wheelchair from India. – on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque. – smiling with admiration to see you breathing still. – it is hard to tell what |
Answer –
(i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.
(iii) There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to find the words on his computer.
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent – it is hard to tell what.
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.
Working with language
1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.
| guide | succeed | chair | travel | pale | draw | true |
(i) I met a ____________ from an antique land.
(ii) I need special ____________ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy ______________ to Issac Newton.
(iv) His other problems _____________ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
(v) The meeting was _____________ by the youngest member of the board.
(vi) Some people say ‘yours ____________’ when they informally refer to themselves.
(vii) I wish it had been a ______________ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
Answer –
(i) I met a traveller from an antique land.
(ii) I need special guidance in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy successor to Isaac Newton.
(iv) His other problems paled into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
(v) The meeting was chaired by the youngest member of the board.
(vi) Some people say ‘yours truly’ when they informally refer to themselves.
(vii) I wish it had been a drawn match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
2. Look at the following words.
| walk | stick |
2. Can you create a meaningful phrase using both these words?
(It is simple. Add -ing to the verb and use it before the noun. Put an article at the beginning.)
..a walking stick
Now make six such phrases using the words given in the box.
| read/session | smile/face | revolve/chair |
| walk/tour | dance/doll | win/chance |
Answer –
| a reading session | a smiling face | a revolving chair |
| a walking tour | a dancing doll | a winning chance |
3. Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.
(i) He has two brothers.________________ are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten persons called. _______________ of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They _________ cheered the team.
(iv) _____________ her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me _________ of it.
Answer – (i) Both
(ii) All
(iii) All
(iv) Both
(v) All
4. Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.
(i) My friend has one of the __________ cars on the road. (fast)
(ii) This is the ___________ story I have ever read. (interesting)
(iii) What you are doing now is ___________ than what you did yesterday. (easy)
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both ______________. (short)
(v) He arrived ___________ as usual. Even the chief guest came_____________ than he did. (late, early)
Answer –
(i) My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.
(ii) This is the most interesting story I have ever read.
(iii) What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short.
(v) He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.
Speaking and Writing
1. Say the following words with correct stress. Pronounce the parts given in colour loudly and clearly.
| camel | balloon |
| decent | opinion |
| fearless | enormous |
| careful | fulfil |
| father | together |
| govern | degree |
| bottle | before |
In a word having more than one syllable, the stressed syllable is the one that is more prominent than the other syllable(s)
– A word has as many syllables as it has vowels.
– man (one syllable) ´manner (two syllables)
– The mark (´) indicates that the first syllable in ‘manner’ is more prominent than the other.
Answer – Try it yourself.
3. Underline stressed syllables in the following words. Consult the dictionary or ask the teacher if necessary.
| artist | mistake | accident | moment |
| compare | satisfy | relation | table |
| illegal | agree | backward | mountain |
Answer-
| artist | mistake | accident | moment |
| compare | satisfy | relation | table |
| illegal | agree | backward | mountain |
3. Writing a notice for the School Notice Board.
Step 1
Discuss why notices are put up on the notice board.
What kinds of ‘notices’ have you lately seen on the board?
How is a notice different from a letter or a descriptive paragraph?
Step 2
Suppose you have lost or found something on the campus.
What have you lost or found?
You want to write a notice about it. If you have lost something, you want it restored to you in case someone has found it. If you have found something, you want to return it to its owner.
Step 3
Write a few lines describing the object you have lost or found. Mention the purpose of the notice in clear terms. Also write your name, class, section and date.
Step 4
Let one member of each group read aloud the notice to the entire class.
Compare your notice with the other notices, and make changes, if necessary, with the help of the teacher.
Surya Uday School
NOTICE
LOST LOST LOST
24th March, 2022
A small black wallet has been misplaced within the school premises, potentially near the cafeteria or playground area. The wallet contains essential ID cards and some cash. We kindly request anyone who may have come across it to please return it to me. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Priya Yadav
VIII – C
Or you can also write the notice for finding something given below-
Surya Uday School
NOTICE
‘A black wallet has been found’
24th March, 2024
A valuable item has been discovered within the school premises. The item, a small black wallet, was found near the cafeteria or playground area. It contains important ID cards and cash. If this belongs to you or if you know the owner, please contact me and claim it. We are eager to reunite the item with its rightful owner as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.
Rupesh Yadav
VIII-B
or
Imagine that you are a journalist.
You have been asked to interview the president of the village panchayat.
Write eight to ten questions you wish to ask.
The questions should elicit comments as well as plans regarding water and electricity, cleanliness and school education in the village.
Answer –
- Can you provide an overview of the current state of water and electricity supply in our village?
- What measures are being taken to ensure consistent access to clean drinking water for all residents?
- Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives aimed at improving water and electricity infrastructure in the village?
- How does the village panchayat plan to address issues related to cleanliness and waste management?
- Are there any specific programs or campaigns in place to promote cleanliness and hygiene practices among villagers?
- What steps are being taken to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of public spaces and sanitation facilities?
- Can you share any recent achievements or progress made in enhancing school education in our village?
- How does the village panchayat support local schools and educators to improve educational outcomes for students?
- Are there any initiatives in place to address challenges such as teacher shortages or lack of educational resources?
- What future plans does the village panchayat have to further enhance the quality of education and learning opportunities for children in our village?
Summary
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