NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English (Honeydew) Chapter 7 When I set out for Lyonnesse; A Visit to Cambridge

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 8TH

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

Class : 8th
Subject : English-1
Chapter : 7
Chapter Name : A Visit to Cambridge

Q1 Which is the right sentence?
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. (iii) To the writer, Cambridge was the real England.

Page : 104 , Block Name : Comprehension Check

Q2 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. (ii) The writer phoned Stephen Hawking's house from outside a phone booth.

Page : 104 , Block Name : Comprehension Check

Q3 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. (ii) Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because he forced the
scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

Page : 104 , Block Name : Comprehension Check

Q4 “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

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

Answer. (i) In the given context, the highlighted words refer to shifting in the wheelchair,
turning the wrist.

Page : 104 , Block Name : Comprehension Check

Q1 (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. (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?

Page : 104 , Block Name : Working With The Text

Q2 Guess the rst question put to the scientist by the writer.

Answer. The writer might have asked the scientist if he had been brave to reach where he had.

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Q3 Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice?
What was it?

Answer. The writer thought that there was a choice. Stephen Hawking could have chosen to
leave everything, and be sad and depressed. He could have sulked. However, he chose to live
creatively knowing the reality of his disintegrating body.

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Q4 “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?

Answer. "l could feel his anguish." What could be the anguish?

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Q5 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. 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 af rmative,
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.

Page : 104 , Block Name : Working With The Text

Q6 Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

the description?

Answer. The most beautiful sentence in the description is, " .you look at his eyes which can
speak, still, and they are saying something huge and urgent...."

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Q7 (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. (i) If 'the lantern' is the man, its 'walls' would be the man's body.
(ii) The incandescence or the inner glow of the man is housed within the thin walls.
(iii) The conclusion that the writer drew from this comparison was that the body exists only
like a case made of shadows. It is just an accessory. It is the soul that matters. Each individual
is what he is from his heart and soul, and not from the body.

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Q8 What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?

Answer. The message that he gave to the disabled was that they should concentrate on what
they were good at.

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Q9 Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?

Answer. When Stephen Hawking said that things such as disabled Olympics were a waste of
time, the writer agreed with him. He remembered the years which he spent trying to play a
Spanish guitar that was considerably larger than he was. He was very happy when he
unstringed it one night. It supports Stephen Hawking's idea that the disabled should only
concentrate on what they are good at, and not take up things unnecessarily.

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Q10 The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?

Answer. The writer expressed his gratitude to Stephen Hawking because he had been an
inspiration for him. He saw him as the embodiment of his bravest self. He felt that if he had
been as brave as Stephen, he would have achieved a lot. He felt he was moving towards that
embodiment that he had believed in for many years. That is why he expressed his greatest
gratitude to him as he had made him realise what great heights he could reach.

Page : 104 , Block Name : Working With The Text

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

Q11 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 nd 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. (i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from
India. (ii) 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.
(iii) There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to nd words on his computer.
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent - it
is hard to tell what.
(v) It doesn't do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you
breathing still.

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

Page : 104 , Block Name : Working With The Text

Q1 Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in
the following box.

(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 Isaac Newton.
(iv) His other problems ____________ into insigni cance 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. (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 insigni cance 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.

Page : 106 , Block Name : Working With The Language

Q2 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.

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

Answer. (i) Reading session
(ii) Smiling face
(iii) Revolving chair
(iv) Walking tour
(v) Dancing doll
(vi) Winning chance

Page : 106 , Block Name : Working With The Language

Q3 Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.
(i) He has two brothers. _______ are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten persons called. _______ of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They _______ cheered the team.
(iv) _______ her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me _______ of it.

Answer. (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.

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Q4 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. (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.

Page : 106 , Block Name : Working With The Language

Q1 Say the following words with correct stress. Pronounce the parts given in colour loudly and
clearly.

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

In a word having more than one syllable, the stressed syllable is the one that is more
prominent than the other syllable(s)
A word has as many syllables as it has vowels.
man (one syllable)
´manner (two syllables)
The mark (´) indicates that the rst syllable in ‘manner’ is more prominent than the other

Answer. DIY

Page : 107 , Block Name : Speaking And Writing

Q2 Underline stressed syllables in the following words. Consult the dictionary or ask the
teacher if necessary.

Answer. DIY

Page : 107 , Block Name : Speaking And Writing

Q3 Writing a notice for the School Notice Board.
Step 1
Discuss why notices are put up on the notice board. What kinds of ‘notices’ have you lately
seen on the board? How is a notice different from a letter or a descriptive paragraph?
Step 2
Suppose you have lost or found something on the campus. What have you lost or found? You
want to write a notice about it. If you have lost something, you want it restored to you in case
someone has found it. If you have found something, you want to return it to its owner.
Step 3
Write a few lines describing the object you have lost or found. Mention the purpose of the
notice in clear terms. Also write your name, class, section and date.
Step 4
Let one member of each group read aloud the notice to the entire class. Compare your notice
with the other notices, and make changes, if necessary, with the help of the teacher.
or

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

Imagine that you are a journalist.

You have been asked to interview the president of the village panchayat.

Write eight to ten questions you wish to ask.

The questions should elicit comments as well as plans regarding water and electricity,
cleanliness and school education in the village.

Answer.

Or
The questions that I would ask the president of the Village Panchayat:
1. What steps will you take for the development of education in your area?
2. What will you do for health facilities?
3. What will you do for roads?
4. What will you do for civil amenities?
5. How will you improve agriculture of your village?
6. What will you do for farmers?
7. What do you plan for female child promotion?

Page : 107 , Block Name : Speaking And Writing

Q1 In the rst stanza, nd words that show
(i) that it was very cold.
(ii) that it was late evening.
(iii) that the traveller was alone.

Answer. (i) The word “rime’ shows that it was very cold.
(ii) The word ‘starlight’ shows that it was late evening.

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Book : Honeydew Ncert Solutions | Chapter-7 English-1

(iii) The word ‘lonesomeness’ shows that the traveller was alone.

Page : 106 , Block Name : Working With The Poem

Q2 (i) Something happened at Lyonnesse. It was
(a) improbable.
(b) impossible.
(c) unforeseeable.
(ii) Pick out two lines from stanza 2 to justify your answer.

Answer. (i) (c) Unforeseeable.
(ii) "No Prophet dust declare Nor did the wisest wizard guess.

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Q3 (i) Read the line (stanza 3) that implies the following. ‘Everyone noticed something, and
they made guesses, but didn’t speak a word’.
(ii) Now read the line that refers to what they noticed,

Answer. (i) All marked with mute surmise.
(ii) My radiance rare and fathomless.

Page : 106 , Block Name : Working With The Poem

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