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NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 8 A short Monsoon Diary
Class 8 English Chapter 8 A short Monsoon Diary
Textbook Question Answers
Comprehension Check – Page 106
1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
Answer- The author couldn’t see Bijju because thick mist covered the hills of Mussoorie like a dense white blanket.
2. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?
Answer- When the mist comes up, it covers and conceals the hills completely like a thick white blanket. Also the mist covers the hillsides with extreme silence, as the birds stop singing.
Comprehension Check – Page 108
1. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?
Answer- The monsoon starts in late June and ends in late August. In the monsoon, we carry umbrellas and raincoats to stay dry and avoid getting sick.
2. Which hill-station does the author describe in this diary entry?
Answer- Mussoorie.
3. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?
Answer- For eight to nine days, it rained without stopping. Since it was wet and soggy outside, he stayed insite his room and watched a few umbrellas bobbing outside his window.
4. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
Answer- The snakes and rodents took shelter in the attics, houses, godowns as all the burrows and holes were filled with rain water.
5. What did the author receive in the mail?
Answer- The author received a cheque in the mail.
Working with the Text
1. Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24-25, August 2 and March 23. Now write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March.
Answer- In Ruskin Bond’s diary, June 24 marks the start of the monsoon mist. The hills disappear under a thick white mist, and everything becomes silent. By June 25, the real monsoon begins, and everyone, including humans, birds, animals, and trees, welcomes it. The first cobra lily appears among the ferns.
By August 2, people are used to the monsoon. Rain drums on the tin roofs of houses steadily, without any storms or thunder. Snakes and rodents come out of their hiding places to seek shelter in roofs, attics, and godowns to avoid getting wet.
On March 23, winter ends with a hailstorm followed by a clear sky. A beautiful rainbow appears, creating one of the most splendid sights of nature.
2. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?
Answer- The grand mother asked the children not to kill the chuchunder as it has been treated lucky and brings in goog fortune and money.
3. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?
Answer- When the lush monsoon growth reaches its peak and seeds of the cobralily turns red, these signs show that monsoons are about to end.
4. Complete the following sentences.
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because ______.
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as ______.
(iii) The leopard was successful in ______ but had to flee when __________________________________________.
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because ______.
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ______.
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because ______________.
Answer-
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because the dense mist conceals the hills and the surroundings.
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as a paradise.
(iii) The leopard was successful in killing a dog but had to flee when Bijju’s mother arrived and shouted curses.
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because of their bright colours.
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when different flowers rear their heads from the rocks.
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because their holes and burrows were filled with rain water.
5. ‘Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.’
(i) Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’?
(ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain?
(iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Answer- (i) The term “springing” is used by the author to describe the sudden and unexpected appearance of how the tin roofs are prone to development of sudden unexpected leaking.
(ii) The writer is untouched by the rain because he is inside a room where the tin roof prevents any leaks from allowing the rain to come inside.
(iii) The writer keeps hearing the rain’s crackling sound on the tin roof, so he feels connected to the rain.
6. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.
Answer- Endless rain for days can lead to floods, landslides, waterlogging in urban areas, crop damage, transportation disruptions etc. Infrastructure like buildings and bridges may incur damage, requiring repairs. Health risks increase with stagnant water providing breeding grounds for disease vectors.
7. What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?
Answer- At the start of the monsoon, the cobra lily pops up among the ferns. By the end of the monsoon, its seeds turn red.
Working with Language
1. Here are some words that are associated with the monsoon. Add as many words as you can to this list. Can you find words for these in your languages?
| downpour | floods | mist | cloudy | powercuts | cold | umbrella |
Answer- Some words associated with the monsoon are – rain, clouds, thunder, lightning, umbrellas, puddles, floods, mist, humidity, greenery, crops, wet, damp etc
For the second part of the question students are advised to exoplore about the avove words in their own language.
2. Look at the sentences below.
(i) Bijju wandered into the garden in the evening.
(ii) The trees were ringing with birdsong.
Notice the highlighted verbs.
The verb wandered tells us what Bijju did that evening. But the verb was ringing tells us what was happening continually at same time in the past (the birds were chirping in the trees).
Now look at the sentences below. They tell us about something that happened in the past. They also tell us about other things that happened continually, at the same time in the past.
Put the verbs in the brackets into their proper forms. The first one is done for you.
(i) We (get out) of the school bus. The bell (ring) and everyone (rush) to class.
We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was rushing to class.
(ii) The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout) slogans.
(iii) I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
(iv) She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
(v) We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games.
(vi) The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).
Answer-
(ii) The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.
(iii) I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.
(iv) She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.
(v) We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.
(vi) The class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.
3. Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds.
| drum | swish | tinkle | caw | drip |
(i) Match these words with their correct meanings.
(a) to fall in small drops
(b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly
(c) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound
(d) harsh sound made by birds
(e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.)
Answer-
(a) Drip
(b) Drum
(c) swish
(d) caw
(e) tinkle
(ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above.
(a) Ramesh ______________ on his desk in impatience.
(b) Rain water ____________ from the umbrella all over the carpet.
(c) The pony __________________ its tail.
(d) The _____________ of breaking glass woke me up.
(e) The ________________ of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
Answer-
(a) Ramesh drummed on his desk in impatience.
(b) Rain water dripped from the umbrella all over the carpet.
(c) The pony swished its tail.
(d) The tinkling of breaking glass woke me up.
(e) The cawing of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
4. And sure enough, I received a cheque in the mail.
Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrase from the ones given below.
| sure enough | colourful enough | serious enough |
| kind enough | big enough | fair enough |
| brave enough | foolish enough | anxious enough |
(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And __________ _____________ it soon started raining heavily.
(ii) The blue umbrella was ____________ ________________for the brother and sister.
(iii) The butterflies are ______________ __________________to get noticed.
(iv) The lady was _____________ __________________to chase the leopard.
(v) The boy was _____________ ________________ to call out to his sister.
(vi) The man was ______________ ________________ to offer help.
(vii) The victim’s injury was ____________ ________________for him to get admitted in hospital.
(viii) That person was____________ ______________ to repeat the same mistake again.
(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss I said, ‘__________________ _________________.’
Answer-
(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And sure enough it soon started raining heavily.
(ii) The blue umbrella was big enough for the brother and sister.
(iii) The butterflies are colourful enough to get noticed.
(iv) The lady was brave enough to chase the leopard.
(v) The boy was anxious enough to call out to his sister.
(vi) The man was kind enough to offer help.
(vii) The victim’s injury was serious enough for him to get admitted in hospital.
(viii) That person was foolish enough to repeat the same mistake again.
(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘fair enough.’
Speaking
1. Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not? Working with your partner, write down three superstitious beliefs that you are familiar with.
Answer- Yes, I do believe in superstitions to some extent. While I rely more on logic and reasoning in most situations, there are certain superstitions that I find intriguing due to cultural or personal beliefs. Some of the superstitions I believe in are-
- Evil Eye (Nazar): Belief in the malevolent influence of envy or admiration, often countered with charms.
- Shani Dosha: Astrological belief in the adverse effects of Saturn’s position in one’s horoscope.
- Finding a four-leaf clover brings good fortune.
2. How many different kinds of birds do you come across in the lesson? How many varieties do you see in your neighbourhood? Are there any birds that you used to see earlier in your neighbourhood but not now? In groups discuss why you think this is happening.
Answer- In the lesson, various types of birds are mentioned, including scarlet, minivets and drongos. In my neighborhood, I often see sparrows, pigeons, crows, and occasionally parrots and mynas. However, there are some birds, like sparrows, that were more common in the past but are now rarely seen. This decline in certain bird populations could be due to factors such as habitat loss, pollution, urbanization, and changes in climate, which have adversely affected their nesting and feeding grounds.
Writing
1. The monsoons are a time of great fun and even a few adventures: playing in the rain and getting wet, wading through knee-deep water on your way to school, water flooding the house or the classroom, powercuts and so on. Write a paragraph describing an incident that occurred during the rains which you can never forget.
Answer- One memorable incident during the monsoon season happened when I was returning home from school with my friends. As the rain poured down relentlessly, we found ourselves stranded near a flooded street. Determined to reach home, we attempted to wade through the knee-deep water. However, the current grew stronger, and we struggled to keep our balance. Suddenly, my friend slipped and fell, prompting a collective gasp from us. With quick thinking, we formed a human chain and managed to pull him to safety. Despite the scare, we laughed nervously as we continued our journey, grateful for each other’s support and the lesson learned about the power of teamwork during challenging times.
or
2. Write a poem of your own about the season of spring when trees are in full bloom.
Answer-
Blossoms of spring
In spring’s bloom, nature wakes,
Trees burst forth, colors take.
Beneath the sky, flowers sway,
Birds sing, in joyful display.
Each petal soft, a gentle kiss,
Air filled with sweet bliss.
Life renewed, stories unfold,
In nature’s springtime hold.
Summary
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