A Visit to Cambridge question answer: Ncert solutions for class 8 english honeydew chapter 7
| Textbook | Ncert |
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | English Honeydew |
| Chapter | Chapter 7 |
| Chapter Name | A Visit to Cambridge ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
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Comprehension Check Which is the right sentence?
Question 1: “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.
(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.
Answer 1: (iii) Cambridge was the real England.
Question 2: The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
(i) from the nearest phone booth.
(ii) from outside a phone booth.
(iii) from inside a phone booth.
Answer 2: (ii) from outside a phone booth.
Question 3: Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
(i) he wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
(iii) he was face to face with a legend.
Answer 3: (ii) He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
Question 4: “I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
(ii) standing up, walking.
(iii) speaking, writing
Answer 4: (i) Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
Working With the Text Answer the following questions.
Question 1: (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Answer 1: (i) Yes, the writer felt nervous on the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking. He was nervous because he was tired of people asking him to be brave. He didn’t want Stephen to treat him like that.
(ii) Yes, he felt excited at the same time because he considered Stephen Hawking his inspiration. He felt that meeting somebody of his own kind would give him strength to meet challenges of life in a better way.
Question 2: Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Answer 2: The writer’s first question to Hawking might have been about his disability, how he had accepted it and how he had been so brave to reach where he had.
Question 3: Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
Answer 3: Although Stephen Hawking stated that he had no choice but to remain confined to the wheelchair. The writer felt that living creatively with the reality of his disintegrating body was a choice for him. Firdaus strongly felt that Hawking could have easily sulked and surrendered to life; rather, he chose to accomplish new heights despite being disabled.
Question 4: “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Answer 4: Hawking’s mind was full of many great ideas that he wanted to speak out loud. However, he was not able to speak clearly. He fumbled while speaking and spoke in phrases that didn’t express his feelings or emotions. His sentences did not have any sentiments. The writer felt that Hawking was anguished by the fact that he could not express everything that he thought of because of his disability. What was really sad was that he used a computer to speak for himself.
Question 5: What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
Answer 5: The writer asked Stephen Hawking if he found it annoying that someone like him came and disturbed him in his work. To this query, the scientist replied in the affirmative, frankly and honestly. Then, he smiled his one-way smile and this was what endeared him to the writer. The writer felt that he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world.
Question 6: Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Answer 6: Most beautiful line of the description is: Before you, like a lantern whose walls are worn, so thin that you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man.
Question 7: (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
Answer 7: (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, its ‘walls’ would refer to the structure of the human body.
(ii) The light of life is housed within the thin walls of the external structure.
(iii) The author implies that inside the human body, there is an eternal soul, which is the incandescence of a man. The outer physical structure is nothing more than just an accessory.
Question 8: What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Answer 8: The message that he gave to the disabled was that they should concentrate on what they were good at.
Question 9: Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Answer 9: Stephen Hawking believed that the disabled should concentrate on things they are good at and that events like the disabled Olympics are a waste. The writer agreed with him because he himself tried to play Spanish Guitar for years and failed as it was larger than himself. The writer recalled being very happy when finally one night he unstrung it.
Question 10: The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
Answer 10: The gratitude is for not treating his disability as a weakness. Hawking overpowers it and emerges as an inspiration for other disabled people.
Question 11: Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.
(i) There was his assistant on the line …
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, …
(iii) There he was, …
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, …
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know …
| A |
| tapping at a little switch in his hand |
| and I told him |
| that there are people |
| as if you have a courage account |
| and they are saying something huge and urgent |
| B |
| trying to find the words on his computer. |
| I had come in a wheelchair from India. |
| on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque. |
| smiling with admiration to see you breathing still. |
| it is hard to tell what. |
Answer 11:
- There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.
- You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account on which you are too
lazy to draw a cheque. - There he was tapping at a little switch in his hand, trying to find the words on his computer.
- You look at his eyes which can speak and they are saying something huge and urgent it is hard to tell what.
- It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.
Working With Language
Question 1: Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.
| guide | succeed | chair | travel | pale | draw | true |
- (i) I met a ____________ from an antique land.
- (ii) I need special ____________ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
- (iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy ____________ to Issac Newton.
- (iv) His other problems ____________ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
- (v) The meeting was ____________ by the youngest member of the board.
- (vi) Some people say ‘yours ____________’ when they informally refer to themselves.
- (vii) I wish it had been a ____________ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
Answer 1: (i) I met a traveller from an antique land.
(ii) I need special guidance in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy successor to Isaac Newton.
(iv) His other problems paled into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
(v) The meeting was chaired by the youngest member of the board.
(vi) Some people say ‘yours truly’ when they informally refer to themselves.
(vii) I wish it had been a drawn match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
Question 2: Look at the following words.
| walk | stick |
Can you create a meaningful phrase using both these words?
(It is simple. Add –ing to the verb and use it before the noun. Put an article at the beginning.)
..a walking stick
Now make six such phrases using the words given in the box.
| read/session | smile/face | revolve/chair |
| walk/tour | dance/doll | win/chance |
Answer 2:
- a reading session
- a smiling face
- a revolving chair
- a walking tour
- a dancing doll
- a winning chance
Question 3: Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.
He has two brothers. ___are lawyers. More than ten persons called. ___ of them wanted to see you.
They_________cheered the team.
her parents are teachers.
How much have you got? Give me__ of it.
Answer 3: (i) He has two brothers. Both are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten persons called. All of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They all cheered the team.
(iv) Both her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me all of it.
Question 4: Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.
(i) My friend has one of the _______ cars on the road. (fast)
(ii) This is the _______ story I have ever read. (interesting)
(iii) What you are doing now is _______ than what you did yesterday. (easy)
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both _______. (short)
(v) He arrived _______ as usual. Even the chief guest came _______ than he did. (late, early)
Answer 4: (i) My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.
(ii) This is the most interesting story I have ever read.
(iii) What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short.
(v) He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.