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NCERT Class 8 English Chapter 4 Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
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Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
Chapter: 4
HONEYDEW: PROSE
Textbook Questions With Their Answers
COMPREHENSION CHECK – I
Q. 1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
Ans. The man constantly tried to remind Bepin Babu of his visit to Ranchi. He recalled many incidents to make him remember that he had been there in 1958. He also told him some very intimate things that Bepin had told him during their meeting at Ranchi. But Bepin could not remember any of the instance and was very sure that he had not made any such visit. So when Bepin Babu paid for the books and was leaving the shop, the man stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief.
Q. 2. Where had Bepin Babu say he went in October ’58?
Ans. Bepin Babu said that he went in October ’58 to Kanpur in Puja with a friend.
Q. 3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Ans. Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu:
(i) Bepin had no children and his wife had died 10 years ago.
(ii) His brother also died in Ranchi mental hospital.
(iii) Bepin had got a cut in his knee when he had fallen down in Hydro.
COMPREHENSION CHECK – II
Q.1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal had said?
Ans. Bepin Babu worried about what Parimal had said because Parimal was very sure that he had met him at Ranchi. He also knew the intimate details about Bepin Babu. There seemed no reason why he should tell a lie.
Q.2. How did he try to decide who was right-his memory or Parimal Ghose?
Ans. In order to decide who was right-his memory or Parimal Ghose; Parimal decided to contact Dinesh Mukerji as he knew that he was also in Ranchi at that time.
Q. 3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr. Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Ans. Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr. Mukerji because he thought if he had really visited Ranchi at that time, it would be very embarrassing. He finally decided to phone him because then the embarrassment on his face would not show.
Q. 4. What did Mr. Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu or add to his worries?
Ans. Mr. Mukerji said that he had been out of Calcutta twice in 1958. He also confirmed that Bepin Babu that during his trip to Ranchi, Bepin was also there. This made Bepin all confused and worried. He even lost his appetite.
COMPREHENSION CHECK – III
Q. 1. Who was Chunnilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
Ans. Chunilal was Bepin Babu’s school friend. He wanted Bepin Babu to help him about a job as he was going through a rough time.
Q. 2. Why was Dr. Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?
Ans. Dr. Chanda was puzzled on hearing Bepin Babu’s case because he was doing his routine office work and never seemed to forget anything else. How could he forget his particular visit to Ranchi? This was something very unusual.
COMPREHENSION CHECK – IV
Q.1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about his trip to Ranchi?
Ans. No, Bepin Babu hadn’t lost his memory. He had really not been to Ranchi as he was telling. It was a prank played by his school friend Chunni. He had come to Bepin about a job for which Bepin had refused so as a revenge, Chunnilal created such a situation.
Q.2. Why do you think Chunni Lal did what he did ? Chunnilal says he has no money, what is that he does have?
Ans. Chunni Lal did what he did because Begin Baba had not helped Chunni Lal in his tough time. Chunni Lal has no money but he has sharp wits and tricky mind.
WORKING WITH THE TEXT
Q.1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
Ans. Bepin Babu was a serious, honest and hardworking fellow. He went to office regularly. He was doing a responsible job. He was not a good mixer. Being serious minded, he didn’t waste time in idle chat.
Q.2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunnilal ? What was the result of the meeting?
Ans. Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunnilal because he thought Chunnilal might remember something about the ’58 trip. There was no harm in asking him.
After the meeting, Bepin Babu’s condition became miserable.
Q.3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
Ans. Bepin Bahu lost consciousness at Hudroo falls because he had been bewildered by the situation. As he could not remember anything about his visit to Ranchi. He overburdened with thoughts.
Q. 4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out Chunnilal had tricked him?
Ans. When Bepin Babu came to know Chunnilal had tricked him, he must have realised his mistake and regretted that he had not helped Chunilal.
WORKING WITH LANGUAGE
Q. 1. Look at these two sentences:
- He had to buy at least five books to last him through the week.
- Bepin had to ask Chuni to leave.
Had to is used to show that it was very important or necessary for Bepin Babu to do something. He had to choice. We can also use ‘have to’ /’has to’ in the same way.
Fill in the blanks below using had to/ have to/ has to:
(i) I ________ cut my hair every month.
Ans. have to.
(ii) We _______ go for swimming lessons last year.
Ans. had to.
(iii) She ______ tell the principal the truth.
Ans. had to.
(iv) They ________ take the baby to the doctor.
Ans. had to.
(v) We _______ complain to the police about the noise.
Ans.had to.
(vi) Romit _______ Finish his homework before he could come out to play.
Ans. has to.
(vii) I ________ repair my cycle yesterday.
Ans. had to.
Q. 2. Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary, in the following way:
First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in dictionary.
(Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom.
To help you, we have put in bold the word
under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.)
Ans. (i) At/from close quarters: to stand near someone to observe something about him.
(ii) Break into a smile: to pass an instant smile to a person.
(iii) Carry on: To continue.
(iv) Have a clean record: To keep something for reference clearly.
(v) Beat about the bush: Not to say something exactly.
Q. 3. Study the sentences in the columns below:
| A | B |
| 1. I saw this movie yesterday. | I have seen this movie already. |
| 2. Bepin Babu worked here for a week last year. | Bepin Babu has worked here since 2003. |
| 3. Chunilal wrote to a publisher last week. | Chunilal has written to a publisher. |
| 4. I visited Ranchi once, long ago. | I have visited Ranchi once before. |
Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms (see- have seen, and so on). Answer the following questions about each pair of sentences.
(i) Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place?
Ans. (i) Column B tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place.
(ii) Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher?
Ans.(ii) Colunm A suggests so.
(iii) Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?
Ans.(iii) Colunm B suggests so.
(iv) Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker’s mind?
Ans.(iv) Column B suggests so.
Q. 4. Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form correct sentences:
You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.
One sentence has been worked out for you as an example.
Jumbled sentence: vanished / The car / seemed to / into / thin / have / air.
Ans: The car seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Idiom: vanished into thin air. disappeared or vanished in a mysterious way.
(i) Stop / and tell me / beating about / what you want / the bush
Ans. Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
Idiom: Beating about the bush-Not to say something exactly.
(ii) don’t pay / If / you attention / you might / the wrong train / to the announce – ment / board.
Ans. If you don’t pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.
Idiom: Pay attention: to be attentive or careful towards something that is being done or spoken.
(iii) The villagers / tried / the crime / on the young woman / to pin
Ans. The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.
Idiom: To pin the crime: to accuse someone for the crime.
(iv) Bepin Babu / orders to / telling people / under / loved / doctor’s / eat early / that / he was
Ans. Bepin Babu loved telling people that he has under doctor’s orders to eat early.
Idiom: To eat early: to eat something frequently or at quick intervals.
(v) The students / the teacher / his eyebrows / when / said that / all their lemons / raised/ they had visited
Ans. The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had visited all their lemons.
Idiom: raised his eyebrows: to look at someone in surprise or anger.
SPEAKING AND WRITING
Q. 1. What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need?
Ans. I think Bepin Babu must have regretted his selfish attitude, after he came to know the truth. He was not angry with his friend for a playing such a trick on him. He had learnt a lesson from the situation that he could have helped a friend in need.
Q. 2. Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal’s letter and feel ashamed that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck. Now you want to do something for him. Write a letter to Chunilal promising to help him soon.
Ans.
Kolkata
August 31, 201…
Dear Chunilal,
I received your letter. Through it, I came to know that you had played a prank upon me. First I felt very bad to think how a friend could play such a prank on me as this could also affect my health. Then I realised my mistake and I felt sorry for my own attitude. You told me that you were going through a tough time and you wanted me to help you about your job. But I didn’t help you at all. Now I would feel pleasure to help you.
Please let me know about the same.
Yours
Bepin Choudhary
Or
A prank is a childish trick. Do you pin remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.
Ans. Once one of my friends invited me to his birthday party. In the evening, I got ready and went to his house with a gift. When I reached his house, he was not there. He had gone to his grandmother’s home. I asked his mother about his birthday celebration. His mother replied that it was not his birthday. I soon realised that I had been pranked. I returned to my home, for I could do nothing except enjoying the prank.
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
Read the passages carefully and answer the questions that follow:
PASSAGE – 1
“What are you saying, Mr. Choudhury? You had a fall in Hudroo and cut your right knee. I brought you iodine. I had fixed up a car for you to go to Netarhat the next day, but you couldn’t because of the pain in the knee. Can’t you recall anything? Someone else you know was also in Ranchi at that time. Mr. Dinesh Mukerji. You stayed in a bungalow. You said you didn’t like hotel food and would prefer to have your meals cooked by a bawarchi. Mr. Mukerji stayed with his sister. You had a big argument about the moon landing, remember? I’ll tell you more: you always carried a bag with your books in it on your sight-seeing trips. Am I right or not?”
Questions
(a) Who says the above lines to whom?
Ans. Parimal Ghose says the above lines to Bepin Choudhury.
(b) “You had a fall in Hudroo and cut your right knee.”
(i) Who is you here?
Ans. Bepin Choudhury is ‘you’ here.
(ii) What two things did the other person say he did for him then?
Ans. 1. Parimal Ghose brought him iodine.
2. He had fixed up a car for him to go to Netarhat the next day.
(c) With whom did Mr. Mukerjee stay with?
Ans. Mr. Mukerji stayed with his sister.
(d) On what topic did they have argument?
Ans.They had argument about the moon landing.
(e) Name the lesson and the author.
Ans. The name of the lesson is- ‘Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory’ The name of the author is Satyajit Roy.
PASSAGE – 2
Was he losing his mind? But how could that be? He was working daily in his office. It was a big firm, and he was doing a responsible job. He wasn’t aware of anything ever going seriously wrong. Only today he spoke for half an hour at an important meeting. And yet…
And yet the man knew a great deal about him. How? He even seemed to know some intimate details. The bag of books, wife’s death, brother’s insanity… The only mistake was about his having gone to Ranchi. Not a mistake; a deliberate lie. In ’58, during the Pujas, he was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi’s place. All Bepin Babu had to do was write to —- по, there was no way of writing to Haridas. Bepin Babu suddenly remembered that Haridas had left with his wife for Japan some weeks ago, and he didn’t have his address.
Questions
(a) ‘Was he losing his mind ?”
(i) Who is ‘he’ here?
Ans. Bepin Choudhury is ‘he’ here.
(ii) How was he sure that nothing was wrong with his mind?
Ans. He was sure that nothing was wrong with his mind because he had been regularly doing job in his office. Even that day, he had spoken for half an hour at a meeting.
(b) Where did Bepin remember he was in ’58?
Ans. Bepin remembered that he was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi’s place in ’58.
(c) Why could he not call Haridas Bagchi?
Ans. He could not call Haridas Bagchi because he remembered that Haridas had left with his wife for Japan some weeks ago and he did not have his address.
(d) Who is ‘the man’ referred to in the para?
Ans. Parimal Ghose is ‘the man’ referred to in para.
PASSAGE – 3
Bepin Babu leaned forward anxiously.
“As far as I can make out,” said Dr. Chanda, “And I think you’re of the same opinion —- you must have been to Ranchi, but due to some unknown reason, the entire episode has slipped out of your mind. What I suggest is that you go to Ranchi once again. The sight of the place may remind you of your trip. This is not impossible. More than that I cannot do at the moment. I’m prescribing a nerve tonic and a tranquilizer. Sleep is essential, or the symptoms will get more pronounced.”
Bepin Babu felt somewhat better the next morning.
After breakfast, he rang up his office, gave some instructions and then procured a first class ticket for Ranchi for the same evening.
Questions
(a) Did Dr. Chanda think that Bepin Babu had been to Ranchi?
Ans. Yes, Dr. Chanda thought that Bepin Babu had been to Ranchi.
(b) What did he suggest him to do?
Ans. He suggested him to go to Ranchi.
(c) Why did he suggest so?
Ans. He suggested him so because he thought that the sight of the place might remind him of his trip.
(d) What other things did he prescribe?
Ans. He prescribed him a nerve tonic and a tranquilizer.
(e) What did Bepin Babu do next morning?
Ans. Next morning, after breakfast, Bepin Babu rang up his office, gave some instructions and then procured a first
class ticket for Ranchi for the same evening.
PASSAGE – 4
Back home, he rang up Dr. Chanda and asked him to come over. Then, after a shower, he got into bed with an ice bag clamped on his head. Just then the servant brought him a letter which someone had left in the letter box. A greenish envelope with his name in red ink on it. Above the name it said ‘Urgent and Confidential’. In spite of his condition, Bepin Babu had a feeling that he ought to go through the letter. He tore open the envelope and took out the letter. This is what he read —–
Questions
(a) From where had Bepin come back home?
Ans. Bepin had come back home from Ranchi.
(b) What does ‘clamped’ mean?
Ans. ‘Clamped’ means-appliance for holding things together tightly.
(c) Describe the envelope of the letter that servant had brought him.
Ans. The envelope of the letter was greenish with his name in greenish written on it.
(d) What was written above the name?
Ans. Above the name it was written– ‘Urgent and Confidential’.
(e) Who had written the letter?
Ans. Chunilal had written the letter.
(f) What did Bepin do on receiving the letter?
Ans. On receiving the letter, Bepin tore open the envelope and took out the letter to read.
SOME OTHER QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION
Q. 1. Name the market where Bepin Babu used to drop in.
Ans. Kalicharan’s New Market.
Q. 2. How does Bepin like to spend his free time?
Ans. Bepin likes to spend his free time spending in reading thrillers, crime and ghost stories.
Q. 3. Why was Bepin reluctant to call Dinesh Mukerji?
Ans. Bepin was reluctant to call Dinesh Mukerji as he thought Dinesh would make a ruthless sarcasm over the issue.
Q. 4. What argument did Chunni give to make Bepin believe that he was in Ranchi in ’58?
Ans. Chunilal said that he had booked tickets for him for Ranchi.
Q. 5. Who was Paresh Chanda ? Why did Bepin go to him?
Ans. Paresh Chanda was a young physician. Bepin went to him because he assumed that something wrong had happened with his memory.
Q. 6. “I’m finished. There’s no hope left”.
(a) Who said this?
Ans. Bepin Babu said this.
(b) Why did he tell so?
Ans. He told so because his mind was overburdened with the thought whether he had gone to Ranchi in ’58 and he was even found unconscious beside a boulder.
Q. 7. What tricks did Chunnilal use to befool Bepin Babu and play a prank on him?
Or
How did Chunnilal’s prane work out?
Ans. (i) Chunni Lal asked his neighbour to play the part of the man who met Bepin Babu in New Market.
(ii) Dinesh Mukerji was also not well– disposed towards Bepin, so he also agreed to play against him.
(iii) Chunnilal used the mark on Bepin’s knee he got when he tripped on a rope in Chandpal Ghat in 1939.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Tick (✓) the correct option
1. Who was the man who met Bepin Choudhury in New Market?
(a) Parimal Ghose.
(b) Parimal Ghost.
(c) Parimal Ghose.
(d) Parem Ghose.
Ans.(c) Parimal Ghose.
2. Which month in ’58 was the man talking about?
(a) November.
(b) December.
(c) October.
(d) September.
Ans. (c) October
3. How did the man know intimate details about Bepin Babu?
(a) He had read them in a book written by Bepin.
(b) Chunnilal might have told him everything about Bepin.
(c) Bepin had met him at Ranchi and told about himself.
(d) He enquired from the market.
Ans. (b) Chunnilal might have told him everything about Bepin.
4. He had a reputation for being a tireless, conscientious worker. Who is ‘He’ here?
(a) Parimal Ghose.
(b) Chunilal.
(c) Dinesh Mukerji.
(d) Bepin Choudhury.
Ans. (d) Bepin Choudhury.
5. In which street did Dinesh Mukerji live?
(a) Katchal street.
(b) Golcunda street.
(c) Beninandan street.
(d) None of these.
Ans. (c) Beninandan street.
6. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
(a) Chunnilal told that Bepin earlier worked in a travel agency.
(b) Paresh Chanda was an old physician.
(c) Two Gujarati gentlemen discovered Bepin Babu lying unconscious beside a boulder.
(d) The servant brought Bepin a letter.
Ans. (b) Paresh Chanda was an old physician
MAKE SENTENCES
Use the following words in sentences of your own:
(i) ridiculous.
(ii) injury.
(iii) reputation.
(iv) appetite.
(v) confidential.
(vi) uncon- scious.
Ans. (i) ridiculous: The ridiculous behaviour of the guest was unwelcomed by the host.
(ii) injury: He met with a car accident and had an injury on his head.
(iii) reputation: The reputation of the business was at stake.
(iv) appetite: She is very petite as she has a low appetite.
(v) confidential: The matter is confidential and not to be brought to the notice of the public.
(vi) unconscious: She fell down and was unconscious when she learnt about the demise of her son.
The Last Bargain
HONEYDEW: POEM
Textbook Questions With Their Answers
WORKING WITH THE POEM
Q. 1. Who is the speaker in the poem?
Ans. The speaker in the poem is a man who is looking for work.
Q. 2. “The King, sword in hand’ suggests
(i) Wealth.
(ii) Power.
(iii) More power than wealth.
Mark the appropriate item in the context of stanza-I.
Ans. (iii) More power than wealth.
Q. 3. The old man offered the speaker a lot of money. Why did he turn down the offer?
Ans. He turned down the offer because he did not want that he should work for money. Money could not bind him to do work for any person. He did not want to be under the bondage of money.
Q. 4. Find in the poem lines that match the following. Read both one after another.
(i) I have nothing to give you except goodwill and cheer.
Ans. “I hire you with nothing.”
(ii) Her happiness was no more than sorrow in disguise.
Ans. Her smile paled and melted into tears and she went back alone into the dark.
(iii) The king’s might was not worth much.
Ans. But his power counted for naught.
Q. 5. How did the speaker feel after talking to the child on the beach?
Ans. The speaker felt that now he was a free man, not under the bondage of anything, neither power, money nor smile or emotion.
COMPREHENSION STANZAS
Read the stanzas carefully and answer the questions that follow:
STANIA – 1
“Come and hire me”.I cried, while in the morning I was walking on the stone -paved road. Sword in hand the King came in his chariot.He held my hand and said, “I will hire you with my power,” But his power counted for naught, and he went away in his chariot.
Questions
(i) Who first met the person looking for work?
Ans. The king met the person looking for work.
(ii) What did the king go away in?
Ans. The king went away in a chartist.
(iii) Where was the person walking?
Ans. The person was walking on a stone-paved road.
STANZA – 2
In the heat of the mid-day the houses stood with shut dours.I wandered along the crooked lane.An old man came out with his bag of gold. He pondered and said, “I will hire you with my money.” He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.
Questions
(i) Write a deserching word for ‘lane’.
Ans. crooked.
(ii) What did the old man come with?
Ans. The old man came with a bag of gold.
(iii) What time of the day is it?
Ans. It is mid-day.
STANZA – 3
It was evening. The garden hedge was all oflower.The fair maid came out and said, “I will hire you with a smile.”Her smile paled and melted into tears, and she went back alone into the dark.
Questions
(i) What did the fair maid want to hire the person for?
Ans. The fair maid wanted to hire the person for her smile.
(ii) Complete the sentence:
The garden hedge was all ________.
Ans. a flower.
(iii) What did she do after she had a paled smile?
Ans. After she had a paled smile and tears on her face, she went back alune into the dark.
STANZA – 4
The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke waywardly. A child sat playing with shells. He raised his head and seemed to know me and said, “I hire you with nothing.” From henceforward that bargain struck in child’s play made me a free man.
Questions
(i) What was the child playing with?
Ans. The child was playing with shells.
(ii) Who made the person a free man?
Ans. The child made the person a free man.
(iii) Who is the poet of the poem?
Ans. Rabindranath Tagore is the poet of the poem.
SOME OTHER QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION
Q. 1. What is a bargain?
Ans. A bargain is an agreement in which both the parties promise to do something for each other
Q.2. What is the person later, hired for? Who hires him?
Ans. Later, a child hires him for nothing.
Q.3. Contrast the bargain made to a child with others that hire him.
Ans. The child hires the man for nothing. Other people promised to hire him against power, money and changing emotions. So when he is offered a job against nothing, he is happy to do it for he feels he is a free man then.
MAKE SENTENCES
Frame sentences of your own from the following words:
(a) pounded.
(b) paled.
(c) a flower.
(d) glistened.
Ans. (a) pondered: I pondered over the matter but could not find a solution.
(b) paled: Since Ram had fever, he had a paled face.
(c) a flower: My garden is a flower during spring season.
(d) glistened: The sun glistened on the wet land creating a panoramic view.
