NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English

A Short Monsoon Diary NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8

A Short Monsoon Diary NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

A Short Monsoon Diary Comprehension check I

Question 1.
Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
Answer:
Monsoon mist has descended the hills which has reduced visibility. This is the reason that the author can hear Bijju but is unable to see him.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

Question 2.
What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?
Answer:
Mist blankets the hills in silence. Mist is usually associated with the word ‘melancholy’. All birds return to their home and stay silent as soon as the mist comes up. The author experiences a deathly silence throughout the forest. Monsoon rain comes with the coming of monsoon mist. This also marks the arrival of some creatures such as leopard, leeches, scarlet minivets and drongos. Some plants such as cobra lily also begin to bloom.

A Short Monsoon Diary Comprehension check II

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 begins with the coming of the monsoon mist. This begins to happen around June. The first early monsoon rain makes the weather warm and humid. It also marks the arrival of different creatures such as leopards, leeches, scarlet minivets and drongos. Monsoon season ends by August. They leave the valley filled with lush-green ferns and grass. Snakes and rodents too fill the place.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

Question 2.
Which hill-station does the author describe in this diary entry?
Answer:
The hill station described in this diary entry is Mussoorie. The weather during the rainfall of monsoon and winter season is described in the text.

Question 3.
For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?
Answer:
It rained for eight or nine days continually. The author has not been able to see the sun for all these days. The valley is damp and soggy and the author cannot go out of the house.
The author spends his time pacing in the room and looking out of the window. He sees few people carrying umbrellas and some late-monsoon flowers from there.

Question 4.
Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
Answer:
Due to the heavy rains, the holes of snakes and rodents get flooded. This is why they take shelter in the roofs, attics and godowns of the houses.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

Question 5.
What did the author receive in the mail?
Answer:
Author receives a cheque in the mail. The amount is less but the author seems happy about it.

A Short Monsoon Diary 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 author observes a deathly silence in the forest as soon as the mist falls. The weather becomes warm and humid with the coming of early-monsoon rain. Plants begin to bloom and creatures such as leopards, leeches, scarlet minivet and drongos arrive to the valley. Then, the author says that the valley gets covered with permanent mist and endless rains pours but the weather remains warm. The hillsides are filled with lush-green flowers.

Due to the flooding of the holes and burrows, snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. With the coming of October, the winter rain comes in. Snow is seen at high altitudes. The tree turns grey as the leaves shed because of the winter rain. Late March witnesses the end of winter. A hailstorm clears the sky and the author sees a rainbow forming in the sky.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

Question 2.
Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?
Answer:
The grandmother believed on the superstition that Chuchundars are lucky and bring money. This is why grandmother stops them from killing the Chuchundars.

Question 3.
What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?
Answer:
The seeds of cobra lily start turning red. The author also says that the ferns will soon start to turn yellow. These changes indicate that monsoon is about to end.

Question 4.
Complete the following sentences.
Solved

  1. Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because mist has descended the hillside.
  2. The writer describes the hill station and valley as a paradise that might have been.
  3. The leopard was successful in lifting a dog from near the servant’s quarter, but had to flee when Biiiu’s mother came screaming imprecations.
  4. The minivets are easily noticed because they are brightly coloured birds.
  5. It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ground orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and white butterfly orchids fill the grassy slopes of Landour.
  6. During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because their burrows and holes get flooded with rainwater.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

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 ’?
Answer:
The word ‘springing’ is used because the leaks are unpredictable and can spring at any point during the rain.

ii. How is the writer untouched by the rain?
Answer:
The writer is untouched by the rain because he remains sleeping in his room when it rains.

iii. How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Answer:
The writer remains in touch with the rain because he feels the drumming of the rain on the corrugated tin roof. This helps him to lie awake. The writer feels the sound of the rain.

Question 6.
Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.
Answer:
If it rains endlessly for days, the places might get flooded with water. This can cause destruction as the houses or people might drown in the flood. Dangerous reptiles such as snakes or rodents can also harm people. Moreover, the flood can give rise to many diseases ultimately leading to the death of people.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

Question 7.
What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?
Answer:
The blooming of cobra lily marks the beginning of the monsoon season. When the seeds of cobra lily start turning red, it is an indication that monsoon rains are about to end.

A Short Monsoon Diary 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? downpour floods mist cloudy power cuts cold umbrella
Answer:
Words which can be added to the list are: raincoats, drizzle, thunderstorm, drainage, humidity, fog, storms, shower

Question 2.
Now look at the sentences below. Put the verbs in the brackets into their proper forms.
i. The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout) slogans.
The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.

ii. I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.

iii. She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.

iv. We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games. We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.

v. The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).
The class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

Question 3.
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.)
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.
Solved
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.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

Question 4.
Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrase from the ones given below.
Solved

  1. I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And sure enough it soon started raining heavily.
  2. The blue umbrella was big enough for the brother and sister.
  3. The butterflies are colourful enough to get noticed.
  4. The lady was brave enough to chase the leopard.
  5. The boy was anxious enough to call out to his sister.
  6. The man was kind enough to offer help.
  7. The victim’s injury was serious enough for him to get admitted in hospital.
  8. That person was foolish enough to repeat the same mistake again.
  9. He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘fair enough.’

A Short Monsoon Diary Speaking

Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not? Working with your partner, write down three superstitious beliefs that you are familiar with.
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers.)

Question 1.
No, I don’t believe in superstitions. Superstitions are false beliefs that have been perpetrated by our elders. They are not supported by any scientific reasons. Some of the superstitions that I have heard of are:

  • It is an ill omen if a cat crosses your way. People usually think that something bad is about to happen.
  • It is said that someone might die if a dog cries.
  • People also say that if your left palm itches then you are about to get some money.

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:
Some of the birds mentioned in the chapter are scarlet minivets and drongo. I see different kinds of birds in my neighbourhood such as parrots, pigeons, crows,.eagles and white pigeons.
Earlier I used to see sparrows but now they are very rare. This is happening due to change in weather conditions. Global warming is changing the weather constantly. Increase in temperature might be one of the reasons of extinction or reduction in the number of sparrows.

A Short Monsoon Diary Writing

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.
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate their own answers.)
Or
Write a poem of your own about the season of spring when trees are in full bloom.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary

A Short Monsoon Diary Spring

Winter’s gone away, and summer’s had a good run,
Spring is near now, and it’s the right amount of sun.
The flowers will all bloom,
And there’s will be no gloom,
Green will be the colour of the season,
Giving us all the more reason,
To be happy and celebrate,
And have fun before it’s too late.

 

error: Content is protected !!