Let us do these activities before we read
QI. Select qualities of a person who uses wit from the box given below. wise, serious, clever, powerful, humorous, stubborn, courageous, observant, charming, creative, punctual, confident, energetic. Now, discuss reasons for your choice of qualities.
Answer:
Qualities of a person who uses wit: wise, clever, humorous, observant, charming, creative, confident. These qualities are chosen because wit involves intelligence (wise, clever), a sense of humour (humorous), attentiveness to details (observant), likability (charming), original thinking (creative), and self-assurance (confident).
QII. Work in pairs and answer the riddles that are given below. Share the answers with your classmates and teacher. I can be a friend or a foe, depending on how you use me. I can bring both joy or pain. What am I? What is always in front of you but can’t be seen? I can be measured, but I cannot be touched. I can be spent, but I cannot be saved. What am I? What has to be shared before you can keep it?
Answer:
Riddle 1: A tongue/words (or fire). Explanation: Words can be used kindly (friend) or harshly (foe), causing joy or pain. Riddle 2: The future. Explanation: The future is always ahead of you but cannot be seen. Riddle 3: Time. Explanation: Time can be measured (hours, minutes) but not touched; it can be spent (used) but not saved. Riddle 4: A secret. Explanation: A secret must be shared (told) to someone else before you can keep it (as a shared confidence).
QI. Why do we seek advice of the elderly in our family? Share your thoughts with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
We seek advice of the elderly in our family because they have more life experience and wisdom gained from years of facing various situations. They have seen different challenges and solutions, so they can guide us with practical knowledge and good judgement. Their advice often helps us make better decisions and avoid mistakes they may have made.
QII. Knowledge is about learning facts and information, while wisdom is about using that knowledge with good judgement. Work in pairs. Read the following situations and classify each one as either 'knowledge' or 'wisdom'. 1. Riya's understanding of plant care helped her grow a healthy vegetable garden in her backyard. 2. Mr. Kumar values time with family over chasing wealth. 3. Karuna's expertise in computer programming helped her develop a successful app. 4. Rohan understood the value of time management and created a timetable to complete his assignments systematically. 5. Ramesh chose to forgive his friend for a misunderstanding. 6. Ms. Vaijayanthi delivered a lecture on Indian Classical music at the cultural festival.
Answer:
1. Knowledge - Understanding plant care involves learning facts about plants. 2. Wisdom - Prioritising family over wealth shows good judgement and values. 3. Knowledge - Computer programming expertise involves learned skills and information. 4. Wisdom - Understanding the value of time and creating a timetable shows applying knowledge with good judgement. 5. Wisdom - Choosing to forgive someone requires good judgement and emotional intelligence. 6. Knowledge - Delivering a lecture on Indian Classical music involves sharing learned information and facts.
QIII. Observe the picture carefully. What do you think might have happened? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
Students should observe the illustration/picture provided in the textbook (typically showing the four young men examining camel tracks on the road). Based on visual clues, they can guess that the men have noticed animal tracks on the ground and are discussing what they observe. They might be travellers who have spotted something unusual about the tracks that tells them about the animal that passed by.
Let us discuss
Q1. Why are qualities like humour and wit important in a person?
Answer:
Humour and wit are important because they help in handling difficult situations lightly, resolving conflicts, building better relationships, and making communication more effective. They also reduce stress and create a positive atmosphere.
Q2. Why do you think kings and queens preferred to have witty people among their courtiers?
Answer:
Kings and queens preferred witty courtiers because they could entertain the court, provide clever advice, solve problems creatively, and diffuse tensions or disagreements with humour and intelligence.
Q3. If you were asked to solve a disagreement between two people, what approach would you take?
Answer:
I would first listen patiently to both sides to understand the issue. Then I would try to find a fair and creative solution that addresses the concerns of both parties, using clear communication and perhaps a touch of humour to ease tension.
Q4. Have you ever been in a situation where a small misunderstanding led to a big problem? How was it resolved?
Answer:
(Sample answer) Yes, once a friend misunderstood my comment and stopped talking to me. I explained my true intention and apologised if I hurt them. We realised it was a minor issue blown out of proportion, and we resolved it by talking openly.
Q1. Complete the following sentences with suitable reasons. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. Shiv Datt said, "I believe it has been over a week, perhaps even longer," because it had been a long time since they left the village. 2. Dev Datt said, "Indeed, we ought to be united in this hope. That is why we press on towards Ujjain," because ___________________________. 3. Har Datt said, "Look there, friends. A camel has passed this way. The tracks are fresh," because ___________________________. 4. Shiv Datt said, "It appears to be a merchant, running as if pursued by trouble," because ___________________________. 5. The merchant said, "How could you possibly know that? The poor creature has been unwell for two weeks now. Surely you are a healer!" because ___________________________. 6. Dev Datt said, "You are free to do as you wish, sir. If the King desires our presence, we shall be waiting under that banyan tree yonder," because ___________________________.
Answer:
2. Dev Datt said this because they all shared the hope of finding employment and believed they must remain united to achieve their goal of reaching Ujjain. 3. Har Datt said this because he noticed the tracks on the ground and observed that they were fresh, indicating a camel had recently passed that way. 4. Shiv Datt said this because the merchant was running very fast and looked worried and anxious, as if someone or something was chasing him. 5. The merchant said this because the young men accurately described the camel's ailments (lame leg, blind eye, short tail, stomach pain) without having seen it, making him believe they must be healers or had special knowledge. 6. Dev Datt said this because they were innocent and had nothing to hide; they were willing to wait for the King's summons rather than forcefully arguing with the angry merchant.
Let us discuss (Rectification)
Q1. The queen insulted the king by speaking against the quality of his poem.
Answer:
False statement. The queen did not insult the king; she merely yawned out of exhaustion, which the king misinterpreted as disrespect.
Q2. Tenali Rama immediately went to the king and convinced him to talk to the queen.
Answer:
False statement. Tenali Rama did not go immediately; he planned a strategy and used an indirect approach (the paddy seeds story) to make the king realise his mistake.
Q3. The courtiers admired the king’s poem and praised his literary talent.
Answer:
False statement. The ministers avoided the king when he tried to recite his poem, making excuses to leave.
Q4. The ministers in the court were eager to hear Tenali Rama’s idea about paddy cultivation.
Answer:
False statement. The courtiers were sceptical and mocked Tenali Rama's idea, whispering sarcastic remarks.
Q5. The king never realised his mistake and continued to stay angry with the queen.
Answer:
False statement. The king did realise his mistake after Tenali Rama's clever hint and apologised to the queen, reconciling with her.
Let us think and reflect I
Q1(i). Why does the queen believe that only Tenali Rama can help the king understand?
Answer:
The queen believes that only Tenali Rama can help because he is known for his quick wit, cleverness, and ability to solve difficult problems through indirect and wise approaches, unlike others who might fail.
Q1(ii). What does the queen’s statement, “If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen another day”, suggest about her feelings? A. She is angry at the king for overreacting. B. She regrets the unintended misunderstanding. C. She believes the poem was not worth listening to. D. She is worried that the king might punish her.
Answer:
Correct answer: B. She regrets the unintended misunderstanding. Explanation: The queen expresses that she would have chosen a different day if she had known her yawning would cause such a big problem, showing her regret over the unintended misunderstanding.
Q1(iii). How does Tenali Rama’s response reflect his wisdom and problem-solving skills?
Answer:
Tenali Rama's response shows wisdom because he does not rush to confront the king directly. Instead, he says the matter needs a well-planned approach and time, indicating he understands the complexity of human emotions and the need for a subtle, strategic solution rather than a direct confrontation.
Q1(iv). Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option from those given in the brackets. The king’s reaction shows that he is sensitive and _________ (has a lot of faith/takes great pride) in his poetry.
Answer:
Correct option: takes great pride. Explanation: The king was deeply hurt when the queen yawned during his poem recitation because he takes great pride in his poetry and felt disrespected.
Q2(i). Complete the following with a suitable explanation. When the king said, “I let my pride blind me”, he means that ____.
Answer:
He means that his excessive pride or ego prevented him from seeing the truth that the queen's yawning was not intentional disrespect but simply tiredness, causing him to judge the situation unfairly.
Q2(ii). Why does the queen say, “If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us”?
Answer:
The queen says this because she forgives the king and wants to move past the quarrel. She values their relationship more than holding onto the grudge and is happy to reconcile.
Q2(iii). Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option from those given in the brackets. The king acknowledges that his pride clouded his judgement, which shows _________. (intelligence and courage/maturity and self-awareness)
Answer:
Correct option: maturity and self-awareness. Explanation: Accepting one's mistake and recognising that pride caused the problem requires maturity and self-awareness, not just intelligence or courage.
Q2(iv). State any one characteristic that the queen’s response to the king’s apology shows about her.
Answer:
The queen's response shows forgiveness (or graciousness/kindness). Instead of holding a grudge, she readily accepts the apology and offers to leave the quarrel behind.
Let us think and reflect II
Q1. Why was the Vijayanagara Empire considered to be in its ‘Golden Era’ during Krishnadeva Raya’s reign?
Answer:
The Vijayanagara Empire was considered to be in its Golden Era because it was a time when art, literature, and architecture flourished under King Krishnadeva Raya's patronage. He was a great patron of learning, a gifted poet, and his court had eight celebrated poets (Ashtadiggajas).
Q2. How did Tenali Ramakrishna gain a special place in the king’s court?
Answer:
Tenali Ramakrishna gained a special place in the king's court because of his quick wit and humour. He was both a poet and a witty advisor, known for his clever solutions to seemingly impossible problems, making him a beloved figure.
Q3. How did the quarrel between the king and the queen affect the palace?
Answer:
The quarrel cast a shadow over the palace. The once cheerful corridors became quiet and forlorn, and a tension hung in the air, affecting the overall atmosphere of the palace.
Q4. What strategy did Tenali Rama use to make the king realise his mistake?
Answer:
Tenali Rama used an indirect strategy. In the court, he introduced 'special' paddy seeds and talked about how the person sowing them could cause problems if they yawned while sowing. This cleverly hinted at the king's own situation with the queen yawning, making the king realise that yawning is natural and not a sign of disrespect.
Q5. What was the reaction of the courtiers when Tenali Rama introduced his ‘special’ paddy seeds?
Answer:
The courtiers reacted with scepticism and sarcasm. They whispered mockingly, wondering if the seeds were magic, and snickers rippled through the court.
Q6. How does the story conclude, and what lesson can be learnt from it?
Answer:
The story concludes with the king apologising to the queen, who forgives him, and their bond is restored. The palace is filled with joy again, and Tenali Rama is rewarded. The lesson learnt is that misunderstandings can be resolved with wisdom and patience, and that pride should not blind us to the truth.
Let us learn I
Q1. Fill in the blanks and complete the paragraph by choosing suitable expressions from the box given below. cast a shadow, murmur swept through the room, hush fell over, mind raced back, stormed off, rippled through. My mother is quite witty, and her sense of humour always lightens stressful moments. Once, at a family dinner, an argument began over a minor issue, and 1. ______?, making everyone feel uncomfortable. Just as things were getting serious, she made a clever remark and laughter 2. ______ the gathering, making everyone relaxed. The person who started the argument 3. ______. Everyone disapproved of the action and a 4. ______. My 5. ______ to how my mother had saved other situations like this. Without her, such moments would have 6. ______ over the gatherings. I hope that I grow up to be as witty as my mother.
Answer:
1. a murmur swept through the room 2. rippled through 3. stormed off 4. hush fell over 5. mind raced back 6. cast a shadow
Let us learn II
Q1. As the teacher began the riddle challenge, a __________ of excitement spread through the classroom.
Answer:
murmur
Q2. Anaya __________ in relief—she loved riddles more than solving Mathematics problems.
Answer:
sighed
Q3. ‘Think carefully,’ the teacher began to ___________?, as she wrote a riddle on the board.
Answer:
mumble
Q4. When the question was revealed, a few students __________?, realising it wasn’t as easy as they had expected.
Answer:
gasped
Q5. Some exchanged ____________?, wondering if anyone at all would be able to solve it.
Answer:
whispered
Q6. Just then, Anaya tapped her book on the desk with a small ___________?, deep in thought.
Answer:
thud
Q7. ‘Ah, I see it now!’ she said stretching with a ___________?, as if it had taken her great effort.
Answer:
groan
Q8. A small breeze made the windows __________?, adding to the suspense of the moment.
Answer:
rattle
Q9. ‘So, what’s the answer?’ the students ___________?, their voices filled with playful enthusiasm.
Answer:
roared
Q10. Leaning forward with a smile, Anaya __________?, ‘Sometimes, the trickiest questions have the simplest answers.’
Answer:
whispered
Let us learn III
Q1. Create new compound words by matching words in Column 1 with those in Column 2. Column 1: (i) quick (ii) soft (iii) common (iv) house (v) book (vi) ill (vii) sky (viii) dance. Column 2: A. hall B. tempered C. spoken D. blue E. store F. sense G. witted H. hold
Answer:
(i) quick-witted (G) (ii) soft-spoken (C) (iii) common-sense (F) (iv) household (H) (v) bookstore (E) (vi) ill-tempered (B) (vii) sky-blue (D) (viii) dance-hall (A)
Q2. Fill in the blanks with the words created in the previous question. Ravi was (i) __________, always speaking calmly even in arguments. He grew up in a lively (ii) __________, where he learned to handle different personalities. His friend Arun, however, was (iii) __________ and often lost his patience. Despite this, Arun admired Ravi’s (iv) __________ thinking. One evening, as they passed a (v) __________, they saw some performers rushing out. Ravi noticed that one of them dropped a (vi) __________ book on the ground. “Is this yours?” he asked. “Oh thank you, young man!” the performer smiled. “It’s a recent purchase from the (vii) ________ round the corner.” True to his nature Arun promptly said to Ravi, “ It’s (viii) ________ that it’s not from a bakery but bookshop!” Ravi smiled and they walked on.
Answer:
(i) soft-spoken (ii) household (iii) ill-tempered (iv) common-sense (v) dance-hall (vi) sky-blue (vii) bookstore (viii) quick-witted
Let us learn IV
Read the sentences from the text and their explanation given in the table below. Sentences from the Text: 1. If you like, I will try my best to resolve this matter. Tenses: Simple Present + Present Modal. Explanation: The condition in the ‘if’ clause may or may not be fulfilled. The present tense is used for a possible future situation.
Answer:
No exercise questions found in this section. The text only provides an explanation table with no blanks or questions to answer.
Let us speak
Q1. When we apologise to a friend or a family member, we use informal language. Take turns to apologise for the following situations and respond to the apology. (i) You have eaten your brother’s share of sweets. (ii) You have broken your sister’s flower craft. (iii) You accidentally spilled ink on your mother’s important documents. (iv) You forgot to bring your friend’s notebook to the school after borrowing it.
Answer:
(i) Apology: "I'm really sorry for eating your share of sweets. I didn't realise you had kept them aside." Response: "It's no big deal. Just ask me next time before taking." (ii) Apology: "Please forgive me for breaking your flower craft. I didn't mean to." Response: "That's alright. I can make another one." (iii) Apology: "Sorry, I didn't mean to spill ink on your important documents. I'll help you get them reprinted." Response: "These things happen. Be more careful next time." (iv) Apology: "I'm sorry about forgetting to bring your notebook to school. I'll bring it tomorrow for sure." Response: "No problem. I managed with my classmate's notes today."
Q2. When we apologise to someone in authority like a Principal or a teacher in a formal setting, we use formal language. Work in pairs and take turns to apologise for the following situations and respond to the apology. (i) You did not bring an assignment that was due for submission. (ii) You were late to school for the past three days and had to meet the Principal. (iii) You did not submit your project work and were asked to explain.
Answer:
(i) Apology: "I am extremely sorry for not bringing the assignment that was due for submission today. I promise it won't happen again." Response: "I accept your apology. Please ensure you submit it tomorrow without fail." (ii) Apology: "I owe you an apology for being late to school for the past three days. I assure you that this will never happen again." Response: "I appreciate you saying this, but please make sure you arrive on time from now on." (iii) Apology: "I really regret not submitting my project work on time. I'll do my best to complete and submit it by tomorrow." Response: "I'm glad you realised your mistake. Make sure you don't delay your work again."
Let us write
Q1. You are a member of the Nature Club of your school. Draft a notice informing the students of Grades 6–8 about the inauguration of the Herb Garden. Points to remember: Mention the purpose of writing, date, time, venue, and any other relevant information—whom to contact, when, and where. Use formal language in the third person form. Write the notice in a box.
Answer:
GREEN VALLEY SCHOOL
NOTICE
Date: 15 January 2025
Inauguration of the Herb Garden
This is to inform all students of Grades 6 to 8 that the Nature Club is organising the inauguration ceremony of the school's new Herb Garden on Friday, 20 January 2025, at 10:00 AM in the school backyard area. The event will include a brief presentation about various herbs and their medicinal uses. All students are invited to attend and explore the garden. For any queries, please contact the undersigned during the lunch break in the Science Lab.
Ravi Sharma
Secretary, Nature Club
Class 8-A
Let us explore
QI. Now, find out about popular gardens in your region and share with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
Students should research popular gardens in their local area, such as botanical gardens, public parks, or heritage gardens. They can gather information about the garden's location, special features, types of plants, and historical significance, then present their findings to the class.
QII. A herbarium is a collection of plant samples preserved for long-term study, usually in the form of dried and pressed plants mounted on paper. Now, collect some fallen flowers and leaves from your neighbourhood. Place them in folds of a newspaper carefully and put a pile of books on them. After one week, take them out and use them to make a card, wall hanging or any other artwork. A sample has been given for your reference.
Answer:
Students should collect fallen leaves and flowers from their neighbourhood, place them between newspaper folds, and put heavy books on top for one week to press and dry them. After drying, they can arrange these pressed plant specimens on a card, wall hanging, or artwork, gluing them carefully and labelling them if desired.
QIII. Read and enjoy the poem. 'A Sea of Foliage' by Toru Dutt.
Answer:
This is a reading activity. The poem describes a garden with various trees including tamarinds, mangoes, palms, seemuls (silk cotton trees), and bamboos. It highlights the beauty of nature, especially when moonlight passes through bamboo gaps and lotus flowers look like silver cups. Students should read the poem silently and appreciate the imagery and descriptive language used by the poet.