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A Short Monsoon Diary

Class 8th English Honeydew CBSE Solution
Comprehension Check Pg-115
  1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
  2. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?…
Comprehension Check Pg-117
  1. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the…
  2. Which hill station does the author describe in the diary entry?
  3. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?…
  4. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
  5. What did the author receive 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…
  2. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the chuchundar?…
  3. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?…
  4. Complete the following sentences. (i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because…
  5. ‘Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of…
  6. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together?…
  7. What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning…
Working With Language
  1. Here are some words that are associated with the monsoon. Add as many words as you can to…
  2. Look at the sentences below. (i) Bijju wandered into the garden in the evening. (ii) The…
  3. Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds. Drum, swish,…
  4. And sure enough, I received a cheque in the mail. Complete each sentence below by using…
Speaking
  1. Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not? Working with your partner, write down…
  2. How many different kinds of birds do you come across in the lesson? How many varieties do…
Writing
  1. The monsoons are a time of great fun and even a few adventures: playing in the rain and…
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…
  2. The ‘poetry of earth’ is not made of words. What is it made of, as suggested in the poem?…
  3. Find in the poem lines that match the following. i) The grasshopper’s happiness never…
  4. Which word in stanza 2 is opposite to the word meaning ‘forst’?
  5. The poetry of earth continues round the year through a cycle of two seasons. Mention each…

Comprehension Check Pg-115
Question 1.

Why is the author not able to see Bijju?


Answer:

The author is not able to see Bijju because of the mist that is hovering on the hillside.



Question 2.

What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?


Answer:

The hills appear to change when the mist spreads over it and hides it. The other way it changes is the silence that spreads because the birds and the trees stop making any noise.




Comprehension Check Pg-117
Question 1.

When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?


Answer:

The monsoon season starts from the earl monsoon rains in late June and ends after the August. People prepare for monsoon by completing outdoor needs beforehand. Woman chops sticks, cows are taken out to graze, the house has to be cleaned of the various insects except for chuchundars that people believe bring money to the house etc.



Question 2.

Which hill station does the author describe in the diary entry?


Answer:

The author describes Mussoorie in his diary entry.



Question 3.

For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?


Answer:

The rain does not stop for eight or nine days. The author doesn’t go out in these days because it is damp everywhere. He sometimes gazes at the colourful umbrellas that can be seen outside and the monsoon flowers like dahlias and ground orchids.



Question 4.

Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?


Answer:

Snakes and rodents take shelter in the roofs, attics and godowns of people’s houses. Their holes and burrows had been flooded with the water from continuous rains so they took shelter elsewhere.



Question 5.

What did the author receive in the mail?


Answer:

The author received a cheque in his mail which was not a large pay but was still welcomed by him.




Working With The Text
Question 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:

The monsoon progresses from a mist to a hailstorm which signals the end of rains. On June 24, a mist covers the hillside that signifies the beginning of monsoon. On June 25, the early monsoon rains start that are warm and not cold like winter rains. Monsoon flowers also start to blossom. By August 2, the rains have become steady and it rains night long but there is not a storm or thunder. March 23 marks the last of the winter rains as the skies get clear from the hailstorm and the author is able to see the rainbow.


Question 2.

Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the chuchundar?


Answer:

The grandmother asks the children to not kill the chuchundar because it was believed that it was lucky for the family as it brought money to the house.



Question 3.

What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?


Answer:

Nature shows many signs that signify the end of the monsoons. The growth of plants of the monsoon season has reached its fullest. Seeds of cobra lily turn red and the fern starts to take yellow colour. Many flowers bloom towards the end of monsoon season like white butterfly orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and wild dahlias of various colours. Snakes and rodents sneak into roofs, attics and godowns of the houses because of continuous rains.



Question 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) the mist that covers the hillside hides him.


(ii) “the paradise that might have been”.


(iii) catching a dog


(iv) their bright colours can be easily seen among the green leaves.


(v) ground orchids, maude lady’s slipper and white butterfly orchids bloom.


(vi) their own holes and burrows gets flooded by the rainwater.



Question 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 writer uses the word ‘springing’ because the tin roofs tend to have unexpected leakages out of nowhere as if the gaps in the roof were springing up.


(ii) The writer is untouched by the rains because the continuous rains cannot touch him as he is protected by the roofs.


(iii) The writer is in touch with the rain at the same time because the sound of the continuous downpour makes him feel as if the rain has become a part of his house and surroundings.



Question 6.

Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together?


Answer:

When there is endless rain for days together, all the areas become damp and wet so people avoid stepping out or doing outdoor activities. The hillsides get covered with late monsoon flowers like dahlias and ground orchids.



Question 7.

What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?


Answer:

The cobra lily signifies both beginning and end of monsoon season. It starts to bloom in late June when the early-monsoon rains are just beginning. It also marks the end of monsoon when its seed start to turn red.




Working With Language
Question 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?


Answer:

Humid, storm, thunder, leaking, damp, soggy, snow, hailstorm, rainbow.



Question 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 the 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 while the rest were drawing.



Question 3.

Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds.


(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.)

(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:

(i) a) drip


b) drum


c) swish


d) caw


e) tinkle


(ii) i) was drumming


ii) dripped


iii) swished


iv) tinkle


v) cawing



Question 4.

And sure enough, I received a cheque in the mail.

Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrase from the ones given below.


(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) sure enough


ii) big enough


iii) colourful enough


iv) brave enough


v) anxious enough


vi) kind enough


vii) serious enough


viii) foolish enough


ix) fair enough




Speaking
Question 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:

Three superstitions I am familiar with:

(i) Don’t go forward when a black cat crosses the road.


(ii) Keeping footwear upside down leads to family feuds.


(iii) If food falls on the bed, one will have bad dreams.



Question 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:

We come across different kinds of birds like minivets, drongos, tree creepers and crows. We see sparrows, pigeons and nightingales in our neighbourhood. Earlier we used to find big birds like kites and parrots but these have become extinct now.



Writing
Question 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, power cuts and so on.

Write a paragraph describing an incident that occurred during the rains which you can never forget.



Or

Write a poem of your own about the season of spring when trees are in full bloom.


Answer:

It was the monsoon season in Delhi. Rains do not come often to Delhi. From the balcony of my house, I was watching the rain falling on the leaves of trees, balconies of other houses and puddles in the water. I was a little sad that on such an amazing day, I couldn’t play in the rain. I was sitting there when I heard one of my friends shouting from downstairs. Her voice was not very audible because of the sound of rain. I went down excited anyway. When I went down I saw more of my friends and I was suddenly very enthusiastic. We all jumped into the rain and then started dancing and singing the song ‘Barso re megha’. After quite some time passed, we all went back with our hearts happy. Mom had prepared Maggi for me. It became one of my fondest memories of monsoon.


OR


The green in the tree


Spoke its tale


Of growing from a sapling


Beside the village rail.


Every passenger of the train


Looked at it with wonder


As it stood adorned with blossoms


And tender green grass under.


The birds would come chirping


Finding shelter in its shade


The girls would come giggling


To put flowers on their braid.


The green in the tree


Spoke its tale


Of growing from a sapling


Beside the village rail.




On The Grasshopper And Cricket - Working With The Poem
Question 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.


Answer:

Poems have a rhyme scheme and are not made of complete sentences. So when they are read aloud, they sound musical. They describe feelings and emotions beautifully through various tools like alliteration and personification. They are very pleasant to listen to or read. The beauty of the poem does not just lie in the order of the word but also how the words are used to describe a given thing. So, the given definition is correct.



Question 2.

The ‘poetry of earth’ is not made of words. What is it made of, as suggested in the poem?


Answer:

The poem suggests that the poetry of earth is made up of the songs of nature. In the summer when birds are tired of the hot sun, the grasshopper spreads cheer. In winters, when there is complete silence from the cold, the cricket’s song spreads warmth. Like that, the poetry of earth never stops.



Question 3.

Find in the poem lines that match the following.

i) The grasshopper’s happiness never comes to an end.

ii) The cricket’s song has a warmth that never decreases.


Answer:

(i) “In summer- he has never done”

(ii) “ The cricket’s song, in warmth increasing ever,”



Question 4.

Which word in stanza 2 is opposite to the word meaning ‘forst’?


Answer:

Warmth



Question 5.

The poetry of earth continues round the year through a cycle of two seasons. Mention each with its representative voice.


Answer:

The first season is summer, represented by grasshopper and the second season is winter, represented by the cricket.