A Visit to Cambridge Ch 7 Class 8 Honeydew English

byMr. Chandan

 NCERT Solution : A Visit to Cambridge Chapter 7 English Honeydew

Comprehension Check, Page - 100

Which is the right sentence ?

1. "Cambridge was my metaphor of 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:
(ii) England was famous for cambridge.

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:
(i) from the nearest phone booth.

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:
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

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:
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

Working with the text

Answer the following questions.

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:
(i) The writer felt nervous because he was doubtful whether he would be granted the interview.
(ii) He felt excited at the same time because he had been there to see professor Stephen Hawking for half an hour.

2. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Answer:
The writer's first question might be about Hawking's disability and how he had accepted it.

3. Stephen Hawking said, "I've had no choice." Does the writer think there was a choice ? What was it ?
Answer:
Living creatively with the reality of his weakening body was a choice.

4. "I could I feel his anguish." What could be the anguish ?
Answer:
Professor Hawking's mind was full of great ideas but he couldn't speak them out clearly and forcefully.

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:
Professor Hawking's one way smile.

6. Read aloud the description of 'the beautiful' man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description ?
Answer:
The line is "before you like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin, you glimpse only the light inside , is the incandesence of a man".

7. (i) If 'the lantern' is the man, what would its 'walls' be ?
(ii) What is the housed within the thin walls ?
(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from the comparison ?
Answer:
(i) The walls of the lantern in Hawking's case were his skelton like physical structure.
(ii) The glow of the eternal soul was housed within the thin walls of his body.
(iii) The writer draws conclusion that the eternal soul is more important than the body.

8. What is the scientist's message for the disabled ?
Answer:
Professor Hawking's message for the disabled is that they should concentrate on what they are good at. It is foolish to try to copy the normal people.

9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident ? Which idea does it support ?
Answer:
The writer spent many years to play a big Spanish guitar. One night he loosened the strings joyfully. This incident supports the idea that the disabled people should practise only what they are good at.

10. The writer epresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for ?
Answer :
The author felt much inspired after meeting with Stephen Hawking. Therefore he felt grateful to him.

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 have 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,...
NCERT Solution for English Class 8 Honeydew

Answer:
  1. There was his assitant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.
  2. 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.
  3. There he was tapping a little switch in his hand, trying to find the words on his computer.
  4. You look at his eyes which can speak and they are saying something huge and urgent it is hard to tell what.
  5. It doesn't do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

NCERT Solution of Other Chapters :-

Previous Post Next Post