The detailed Poorvi Class 8 Solutions and Unit 1 Wit and Wisdom Chapter 2 A Concrete Example Question Answer serve as excellent models for writing neat exam answers.
A Concrete Example Class 8 Question Answer
Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 2 Question Answer
Class 8 English Chapter 2 A Concrete Example Question Answer
Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read (Ncert Page 17)
I. Read the names of items you usually find in a garden and write their names against each picture given below. garden hose, sapling, hedge, flower beds, flower pot, pebbles, rockery, fence, vine, wheelbarrow
Answer:
(i) Hedge
(ii) Wheel Barrow
(iii) Sapling
(vi) Flower Pot
(v) Fence
(vi) Flower Pot
(vii) Pebbles
(viii) Garden Hose
(ix) Vine
(x) Rockery
II. Work in groups of four. What kind of garden would you like to have? Mention the features that you can include and the reasons for your choice. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
We would like to have a colourful flower garden.
It would include
- Roses, marigolds and sunflowers for their bright colours and fragrance.
- A small fountain in the centre to make the garden peaceful and relaxing.
- Stone benches where people can sit and enjoy nature.
- Bird feeders to attract birds and butterflies.
- A herbal corner with plants like tulsi, mint and aloevera for health benefits.
Reasons for our choice
- Flowers make the garden beautiful and fresh.
- A fountain adds calmness and beauty.
- Herbal plants are useful in daily life.
- Sitting in a natural space helps us relax and reduces stress.
III. Read the title of the poem. What comes to your mind when you read the word ‘concrete’? Does it have more than one meaning? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
When I read the word ‘concrete’, the first thing that comes to my mind is cement or stone, used in building roads, buildings and paths.
Yes, ‘concrete’ has more than one meaning
1. As a material strong, hard building substance (used in roads, buildings, etc.).
2. As an idea something that is real, solid and not imaginary (Example ‘a concrete plan’ means a proper and clear plan).
In the context of this poem, ‘concrete’ might refer to
- The stone garden of Mrs. Jones.
- Also, it might play with the idea of something real and physical, like her garden full of stones, rather than green grass or flowers.
Let Us Discuss (Ncert Pages 19 & 20)
I. Complete the following summary with exact words from the poem. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
The poem describes Mrs. Jones, the speaker’s next-door neighbour, who has a unique garden filled with 1. ………… . Her garden includes a peculiar 2. ………… a pond, and a rockery, along with an unusual 3. ………… that she finds charming. Mrs. Jones plants tiny, 4. ………… plants between the stones, which the speaker thinks must be so small that they are planted with a 5 . ………… One day, Mrs. Jones invites the speaker to see her garden and they discuss a 6. ………… that Mrs. Jones treasures. When the speaker asks where the 7. ………… flower is, Mrs. Jones says that the speaker has been 8. ………… on it all along.
Answer:
1. stones
2. crazy path
3. sundial
4. delicate
5. pin
6. flower
7. lovely
8. standing
II. Select the correct option to fill in the blanks for the following sentences.
Question 1.
The tone of the poem is …………
(i) mocking
(ii) humorous
(iii) mournful
(iv) amusing
(v) light-hearted
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(b) (i), (ii) and (v)
(c) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(d) (ii), (iv) and (v)
Answer:
(d) (ii), (iv) and (v)
Question 2.
The speaker in the poem is …………
(i) Mrs. Jones
(ii) the poet
(iii) a gardener
(iv) a child
Answer:
(ii) the poet
Question 3.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is …………
(i) AABBCC
(ii) ABABCC
(iii) AABCAC
(iv) ABBACC
Answer:
(i) AABBCC (Each stanza has rhyming couplets)
III. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct answer given in the brackets.
Question 1.
The poet uses the word ‘stones’ in all stanzas in order to emphasise her …………(obsession with a stony garden/pride in gardening skills)
Answer:
obsession with a stony garden
Question 2.
The poet uses imagery to describe the features of the garden that help readers ………… (understand Mrs. Jones’ love for plants/visualise the garden’s peculiar nature)
Answer:
visualise the garden’s peculiar nature
IV. Pick examples of alliteration from the poem.
Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of closely connected words.
Examples
- ‘puts little plants’ – the ‘p’ sound is repeated.
- ‘plants them with a pin’ – again, the ‘p’ sound is repeated.
- ‘stood and talked’ – the ‘t’ sound is repeated.
V. A refrain is a repeated line or phrase that appears in each stanza.
Identify the refrain from the poem.
Answer:
Refrain (repeated line) ‘My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones’, (Thris line appears at the beginning of each stanza.)
VI. Irony is a literary device that emphasises the difference between what is expected and what actually happens. It often involves a situation where the outcome is the opposite of what is expected, creating a surprising or a humorous effect. For example, Mrs. Jones’ excitement about her garden contrasts with the speaker’s disappointment on how ordinary it is.
Identify the line(s) from the poem that display(s) situational irony.
Answer:
Situational Irony Example
- “Where is this lovely thing?” I cried.
- “You’re standing on it,” she replied.
This is ironic because the speaker expected to see a beautiful flower but it was so tiny, he was standing on it without noticing.
VII. Complete the following sentences appropriately.
Question 1.
The word ‘concrete’ can refer to ………… in Mrs. Jones’ garden.
Answer:
stones and hard features
Question 2.
The title also has a symbolic meaning, as the poem provides a clear or ‘concrete’ example of Mrs. Jones ………… gardening habits.
Answer:
unusual and detailed
VIII. The title ‘A Concrete Example’ carries both literal and symbolic (metaphorical) meaning. Such word play is called a pun. A pun is a figure of speech that uses words with multiple meanings or words that sound alike but have different meanings, creating a humorous effect.
- I tried arguing with my pencil but it kept making sharp points. (suggests the idea of an actual sharp pencil point and strong argument points)
- My pencil and I had a disagreement but we finally got to the point. (refers to solving an argument and the pencil’s tip)
Let Us Think And Reflect (Ncert Pages 20 & 21)
I. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.
1. My next-door neighbour,
Mrs. Jones, has got a garden full of stones:
A crazy path, a lily pond,
a rockery and, just beyond
A sundial with a strange device,
which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice.
(i) What can be inferred about Mrs. Jones’ taste in gardening from the description of her garden being ‘full of stones’?
Answer:
It shows that Mrs. Jones has a unique or unusual taste in gardening. Instead of using flowers or greenery, she prefers stones and decorative items, which is different from a typical garden.
(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The garden serves as a means to reveal more about Mrs. Jones herself.
Answer:
True
(iii) What does the poet mean by ‘crazy path’?
Answer:
The term ‘crazy path’ refers to a path made of uneven or randomly placed stones. It reflects a fun, creative or disorganised style, suggesting that Mrs. Jones prefers artistic and non-traditional designs.
(iv) What does the sundial with a ‘strange device’ suggest about Mrs. Jones’ personality?
(a) She has a fascination with unusual items.
(b) She prefers traditional garden decorations.
(c) She is uninterested in her garden’s appearance.
(d) She likes modern and expensive items.
Answer:
(a) She has a fascination with unusual items.
II. Answer the following questions.
Question 1.
How does Mrs. Jones feel about her garden? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
Answer:
Mrs. Jones loves her garden and is proud of it. This is clear when the poet says she thinks the sundial is ‘rather nice’ and spends time planting tiny plants between stones. She even invites the speaker to see her garden, showing she enjoys sharing it.
Question 2.
Why do you think the speaker describes the plants as being so small that they could be planted with a pin?
Answer:
The speaker is surprised at how tiny the plants are. Saying they are so small they could be planted with a pin is a humorous way to show how delicate and miniature they look.
Question 3.
What do we get to know about Mrs. Jones-based on her gardening style and her interaction with the speaker?
Answer:
Mrs. Jones is creative, patient and enjoys details. She places tiny plants carefully and decorates her garden with unusual items like a sundial. She is also friendly and enjoys talking about her garden, as she invites the speaker and talks about a flower.
Question 4.
The poem portrays Mrs. Jones in a positive light. Support this statement.
Answer:
Yes, Mrs. Jones is shown as someone with a unique taste, a love for gardening and a cheerful personality. Her garden may be unusual but the speaker respects her efforts. Her patience, creativity and enthusiasm are shown positively.
Question 5.
What does the poem tell us about the way people think differently about the world around them?
Answer:
The poem shows that everyone sees beauty in their own way. Mrs. Jones finds joy in her stone-filled garden and tiny plants, while the speaker finds it unusual. It reminds us to respect others’ choices and see value in different perspectives.
Let Us Learn (Ncert Pages 21-23)
I. Select the appropriate word from the brackets that correctly replaces the underlined word in the sentences from the text.
1. A sundial with a strange device, (unusual, peculiar, new, rare, external)
2. … which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice. (pleasant, superior, agreeable, gentle, charming)
3. They are so delicate… (delicious, fragile, dainty, graceful, weak)
4. “Where is this lovely thing?” I cried. (exclaimed, wept, shouted, announced, whispered)
Answer:
1. peculiar
2. charming
3. dainty
4. exclaimed
II. The ‘sundial’ is referred to as a ‘device’ in the poem. Work in pairs to infer the meaning of ‘device’. Share your thoughts with your classmates and teacher.
Now, match the type of instruments in Column 1 with their definitions in Column 2. Column 3 shows one example of each type of instrument. Add more examples in Column 3.
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 (Example) | ||
| 1. | implement | (v) | something used by hand to make or do something | spade, knife, axe, sickle |
| 2. | tool | (iii) | something that works on being moved by hand | hammer, screwdriver, wrench |
| 3. | equipment | (iv) | a set of necessary items for a particular purpose | cricket bat, helmet, batting gloves, pads. |
| 4. | appliance | (i) | something that is electrical and is used to do work in the house | mixer grinder, washing machine, touster |
| 5. | gadget | (ii) | something small that is mechanical or electronic | mobile phone, laptop, smartwatch, tablet |
III. Complete the table by making new words in Column 1 using the hints given in Column 2. Replace the first letter of the given word to create new words. One example has been done for you.
1.
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 (Hint) |
| nice | (base word) |
| (i) dice | cut into small pieces |
| (ii) rice | grain that we cook |
| (iii) mice | plural of mouse |
| (iv) vice | bad habit |
2.
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 (Hint) |
| soil | (base word) |
| (i) boil | heat something |
| (ii) toil | work very hard |
| (iii) coil | length of wire in a circle |
| (iv) foil | sheets to wrap food items |
Let Us Write (Ncert Page 25)
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:
|
GREENWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL 1st June, 20XX Inauguration of the Herb Garden The Nature Club is pleased to inform the students of Grades 6 to 8 about the inauguration of the Herb Garden in our school campus. The event will take place on 5th June, 20XX at 10:30 a.m. in the school garden area. The garden features a variety of useful herbs such as aloe vera, mint, carom and holy basil. The Principal will inaugurate the garden, followed by a short talk on the benefits of herbal plants. |