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NCERT Class 8 English Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary
Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. CBSE Class 8 English Solutions are part of All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NCERT Class 8 English Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary and After, NCERT Class 8 English Textbook of Honeydew and It So Happen. for All Chapters, You can practice these here.
A Short Monsoon Diary
Chapter: 8
HONEYDEW
COMPREHENSION CHECK
Page No – 106
1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
Ans: The author could not see Bijju because of the haze that covered the hills. So he could hear Bijju’s voice but could not see him.
2. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?
Ans: When the mist comes up, the hills appear to change. All the birds sitting on the hills fall silent when the mist comes climbing up the hill. When the mist comes up, it conceals not only the hills but blankets them in silence also.
| COMPREHENSION CHECK |
Page No – 108
1. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?
Ans: The monsoon enters India from east and south somewhere around mid of May. It reaches northern part of the country around second week of June. The monsoon ends around September. We take out our rain coats and umbrellas to face the monsoon.
2. Which hill-station does the author describe in this diary entry?
Ans: In this diary entry, the author describes the beauty of the lovely hill station named Mussoorie.
3. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?
Ans: The heavens rained for around eight or nine days without stopping. Since it was raining the author was bound to stay in his room and looked out of his window at a few umbrellas.
4. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
Ans: The rodents and snakes take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. in order to save themselves from rain water.
5. What did the author receive in the mail?
Ans: 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.
Ans: June 24 is the first day of monsoon mist. The hills are concealed by the mist. It covers the hills with silence. All the birds also become silent when the mist starts covering the hills. The real monsoon shower comes on June 25. The whole nature welcomes it. The first cobra lily rears its head from the ferns. By August 2, the people had become tired of the monsoon. There is no storm, no thunder, just a steady tropical downpour. People keep in their houses and enjoy the sound of raindrops falling on their roofs. Snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. March 23 marks the end of winter. The sky was full of black clouds followed by heavy hail storms which made the sky clear. And a rainbow starts forming in the clear sky.
2. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?
Ans: The grandmother asked the children not to kill the Chuchundar because it was considered lucky. She said that it brought money.
3. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?
Ans: The signs that show that monsoons are about to end are that wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids had begun to appear. The seeds of cobra lily are turning red. These signs show that the monsoons are about to end.
4. Complete the following sentences.
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because ____________.
Ans: Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because of the mist in the surroundings.
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as _____________.
Ans: The writer describes the hill station and valley as a paradise that might have been.
(iii) The leopard was successful in ______________ but had to flee when _____________.
Ans: The leopard was successful in attacking one of Bijju’s cows but had to flee when Bijju’s mother came screaming curses.
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because ___________.
Ans: The minivets are easily noticed because of their bright colours.
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ____________.
Ans: It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ground orchids, mauve lady’s slippers and the white butterfly orchids bloom.
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because __________________.
Ans: During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because they have been flooded out of their holes and burrows.
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’?
Ans: The word “springing” means “to widen or grow suddenly”. The writer says that tin roofs are likely to develop unexpected leaks.
(ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain?
Ans: The writer was physically untouched by the rain as the tin roof stopped the rain from leaking in.
(iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Ans: The writer was in touch with the rain at the same time because he could feel the rain by listening to its thump sound on the grooved or corrugated tin roof.
6. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.
Ans: When there is endless rain for days together, everything becomes damp and soggy. It becomes difficult for anyone to go out. The hillsides are green as late monsoon flowers such as wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids begin to appear.
7. What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?
Ans: The onset of monsoon can be seen when the first cobra lily appears from the ferns.When the seeds of the cobra lily turn red, it signifies that the monsoon is coming to an end.
| 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 | Power Cuts | Cold | Umbrella |
Ans: Rain, water, fog, raincoats, thunder, dampness, lakes etc.
In my language I find the alternative words like the following:
बौछार, बूंदाबांदी, तुषार, धुंध, सीत, छतरी, रेनकोट, आंधी, इत्यादी l
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.
Ans: 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.
Ans: The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.
(iii) I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
Ans: I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.
(iv) She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
Ans: She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.
(v) We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games.
Ans: We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.
(vi) The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).
Ans: 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.
Ans: To fall in small drops – drip.
(b) To make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly.
Ans: To make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly – drum.
(c) To move quickly through the air, making a soft sound
Ans: To move quickly through the air, making a soft sound – swish.
(d) Harsh sound made by birds.
Ans: Harsh sound made by birds – caw.
(e) Ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.)
Ans: Ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.) – tinkle.
(ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above.
(a) Ramesh ____________ on his desk in impatience.
Ans: Ramesh drummed on his desk in impatience.
(b) Rain water ____________ from the umbrella all over the carpet.
Ans: Rain water dripped from the umbrella all over the carpet.
(c) The pony ____________ its tail.
Ans: The pony swished its tail.
(d) The _____________ of breaking glass woke me up.
Ans: The tinkling of breaking glass woke me up.
(e) The _____________ of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
Ans: 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.
Ans: I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And sure enough it soon started raining heavily.
(ii) The blue umbrella was ___________ ___________ for the brother and sister.
Ans: The blue umbrella was big enough for the brother and sister.
(iii) The butterflies are ___________ ___________ to get noticed.
Ans: The butterflies are colourful enough to get noticed.
(iv) The lady was ___________ ___________ to chase the leopard.
Ans: The lady was brave enough to chase the leopard.
(v) The boy was ___________ ___________ to call out to his sister.
Ans: The boy was anxious enough to call out to his sister.
(vi) The man was ___________ ___________ to offer help.
Ans: The man was kind enough to offer help.
(vii) The victim’s injury was ___________ ___________ for him to get admitted in hospital.
Ans: The victim’s injury was serious enough for him to get admitted in hospital.
(viii) That person was ___________ ___________ to repeat the same mistake again.
Ans: 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, ‘___________ ___________.’
Ans: 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.
Ans: No, I don’t believe in superstitions because I consider it a very vague way to predict the future, especially negative events. Three common superstitions in my country are that a black cat crossing the road in front of you means arrival of bad luck, itchy palm signifying arrival of money and a black crow cawing in the periphery of your home means a guest would arrive.
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.
Ans: Minivets, tree creepers, crows and drongos are some of the birds mentioned in the chapter. I have come across birds like sparrows, pigeons and mayna. Earlier we could see some parakeets and ashy prinia. We don’t see them often now because of increased pollution and settlement in the area, the wildlife has deteriorated. The forests are being cut which reduces the shelter and habitat of these birds and is a prime reason for their extinction.
On the Grasshopper and Cricket
| WORKING WITH THE POEM |
1. Discuss with your partner the following definition of a poem.
A poem is made of words arranged in a beautiful order. These words, when read aloud with feeling, have a music and meaning of their own.
Ans: A poem is a creative piece with a rhyme scheme and a musical flow to it. These beautiful arrangement of words beautify and add to the essence of the poem. It carries a metaphorical and deeper meaning which adds to the essence of the poem. Poetry carries an intense passion and puts the imagination of the poet in sync. The words are arranged in separate lines, usually with a repeated rhythm, and often the lines rhyme at the end.
2. ‘The poetry of earth’ is not made of words. What is it made of, as suggested in the poem?
Ans: The poetry of earth finds its rhyme and rhythm by different creatures in nature and the seasons. The music of nature never loses its charm even with changing seasons. Summer and winter are the toughest seasons of the year. Even during summer and winter, the extreme months of the season cycle, the poet finds beauty. The grasshopper jumps around tirelessly during summer while the cricket shrills on the dark winter nights, enhancing the beauty of the season.
3. Find in the poem lines that match the following.
(i) The grasshopper’s happiness never comes to an end.
Ans: In summer luxury — he has never done With his delights.
(ii) The cricket’s song has a warmth that never decreases.
Ans: The cricket’s song, in warmth increasing ever.
4. Which word in stanza 2 is opposite in meaning to ‘the frost’?
Ans: The word ‘frost’ in stanza 2 differs in meaning with the word ‘grassy’. Grassy shows summer and warmer months of the year. It shows the blossoming of new life. The word frost on the other hand has a chilly reference. It represents the colder months of the year where no life sustains itself.
5. The poetry of earth continues round the year through a cycle of two seasons. Mention each with its representative voice.
Ans: Summer and winter continue the poetry of earth throughout the year. The season of summer is portrayed here through the sound of the grasshopper which is found on grassy areas, in full bloom during summer. The voice of the grasshopper turns from hedge to hedge in this season. Quite opposite is the scene in winter when even in a silent, lonely night one can hear the sound of a cricket’s song. Both sounds are characteristic of each season and are appreciated in different ways.
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