The detailed Poorvi Class 8 Solutions and Unit 2 Values and Dispositions Chapter 5 Somebody’s Mother Question Answer serve as excellent models for writing neat exam answers.
Somebody’s Mother Class 8 Question Answer
Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 5 Question Answer
Class 8 English Chapter 5 Somebody’s Mother Question Answer
Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read (Ncert Page 70)
I. Recall a time you helped someone.
Write two words describing
1. What were your feelings after you did so?
2. What might have been the feelings of the person whom you helped?
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
1. My feelings after helping someone
- Happy
- Proud
2. Feelings of the person I helped
- Grateful
- Relieved
II. Work in pairs. Read the words given below. Circle the words you would associate with an elderly person and underline the words you would associate with a school student. Share the reasons for your choices with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
Circle the words you associate with an elderly person: worried, trembling, bent, grey, slow
Reason : These words describe physical and emotional states often seen in old age, like weakness, slowness, grey hair and feeling anxious or worried.
Underline the words you associate with a school student: strong, hastening, firm, merry, guide, helpful
Reason : These words reflect energy, quick movement, cheerfulness and the ability to help or support others-qualities usually found in young students.
III. Read the lines.
The woman was old and ragged and grey
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
Select the suitable meaning of ‘ragged’ as used in these lines.
There are other four meanings given below.
Discuss with your classmates and teacher.
1. (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby
- a ragged jacket
2. Having an outline, an edge or a surface that is not straight or even
- a ragged coastline
3. Not smooth or regular; not showing control or careful preparation
- I could hear the sound of his ragged breathing.
- Their performance was still very ragged.
4. (Informal) very tired, especially after physical effort
- The elderly man was ragged after climbing the stairs.
Answer:
The suitable meaning of ‘ragged’ as used in the lines is
1. (of clothes) old and torn; synonym: shabby
- Because the poem describes the woman’s appearance, ‘ragged’ here means her clothes were worn out and torn, showing poverty and neglect.
The other meanings do not fit because
- talks about uneven edges (not about clothes or appearance).
- refers to something not smooth or controlled (like breathing or performance).
- means tired after effort, which is different from describing torn clothes.
Let Us Discuss (Ncert Pages 73 & 74)
I. Arrange the events of the poem in the correct order of occurrence. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
1. The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.
2. The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.
3. A group of schoolboys passed by, playing and laughing.
4. The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.
5. The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
6. The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.
7. The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm and he guided her safely across the street.
8. The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would help her one day.
Answer:
Correct Order: 2 →3 → 6 →4 → 7 → 1 →8 → 5
2. The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.
3. A group of schoolboys passed by, playing and laughing.
6. The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.
4. The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.
7. The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm and he guided her safely across the street.
1. The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.
8. The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would help her one day.
5. The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
II. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the options given in the brackets.
1. The central theme of the poem is …………. (kindness and empathy/adventure and courage)
Answer:
kindness and empathy
2. The tone of the poem is ………… (humorous and playful/sympathetic and hopeful)
Answer:
sympathetic and hopeful
3. The poem is written in couplets with …………lines in each stanza. (four/two)
Answer:
two
4. The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the …………(narrative and emotions/story’s pace and message)
Answer:
story’s pace and message
5. The poem follows a rhyme scheme of …………. (AABB/ABAB)
Answer:
AABB
III. Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices
1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Repetition
Answer:
1. Simile ‘Came the boys like a flock of sheep’
2. Alliteration ‘Her aged hand on his strong young arm’ (repetition of the ‘h’ sound)
3. Repetition ‘somebody’s mother’ is repeated for emphasis and emotional appeal.
IV. Complete the following sentences appropriately explaining the imagery.
Question 1.
The poem uses imagery to describe scenes of a bustling street. We know this by the phrase ………….
Answer:
‘Of human beings who passed her by’
Question 2.
The line ‘The street was wet with a recent snow’ suggests a cold and …………
weather, emphasising the woman’s helplessness.
Answer:
slippery
V. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
The poet repeats the phrase ‘Somebody’s mother’ because it ………….
Answer:
reminds readers that every stranger could be someone’s loved one, deserving of care and kindness
VI. Complete the analogy.
The old woman : vulnerable and neglected :: The young boy : …………
Answer:
supportive and compassionate
Let Us Think And Reflect (Ncert Pages 74 & 75)
Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
1. The woman was old and ragged and grey
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.
(i) What does the phrase ‘ragged and grey’ refer to?
(a) The woman’s emotional state that day.
(b) The woman’s old and worn-out appearance.
(c) The weather conditions of the particular day.
(d) The colour of the street and the surroundings.
Answer:
(b) The woman’s old and worn-out appearance.
(ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
The woman was ‘bent’ with the chill of the Winter’s day because she was ………… .
Answer:
old, frail andunable to bear the cold
(iii) Identify the fact and opinion from the following sentences.
A. The street was wet with recent snow. …………
Answer:
A. Fact
B. The woman was too weak to cross the street on her own. …………
Answer:
B. Opinion
(iv) Why do you think the woman’s feet were described as ‘aged and slow’?
Answer:
The woman’s feet were described as ‘aged and slow’ because she was elderly, weak and likely in poor health, which made it difficult for her to walk quickly or steadily-especially on a slippery, snowy street.
2. He guided the trembling feet along.
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.
(i) What does the contrast between the ‘trembling feet’ of the old woman and the ‘firm and strong’ feet of the boy emphasise?
Answer:
The contrast highlights the difference in age, strength and ability between the old woman and the young boy. It also emphasises the boy’s compassion and sense of responsibility in using his strength to help someone weaker.
(ii) Fill in the blaink given below by selecting the correct option from the brackets.
- The poem tells us that the boy was ‘proud’ that his feet were strong.
- This tells us that the boy was ………… (arrogant about being strong/grateful for his ability to help)
Answer:
grateful for his ability to help
(iii) What is the boy most likely to tell his friends on getting back?
(a) I’m so glad I could help her.
(b) I’m worried about her safety.
(c) I’m surprised she forgot to thank me.
(d) I’m thankful for all your support.
Answer:
(a) I’m so glad I could help her.
(iv) Rectify the false sentence given below.
The young boy’s actions were driven by a logical decision.
Answer:
The young boy’s actions were driven by kindness and empathy, not just logic.
Answer the following questions.
Question 1.
What might be the old woman’s fears as she waited for a long time at the crossing?
Answer:
The old woman was likely afraid of slipping on the snowy street, being hurt by carriage wheels or horses’ feet and not receiving any help from the people around her. Her timid and anxious behaviour shows her fear of crossing alone due to her age and weakness.
Question 2.
How does the poet show the helplessness of the old woman? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
Answer:
The poet shows her helplessness by describing her as ‘old and ragged and grey’, with ‘aged and slow’ feet, standing ‘alone, uncared for’ at a busy street. She is too timid to move, afraid of the traffic and ignored by passersby, including playful children who ‘nor offered a helping hand’.
Question 3.
Why does the boy decide to help the old woman? What does this tell us about him?
Answer:
The boy decides to help the old woman because he recognises her as somebody’s mother and imagines someone helping his own mother if she were ever in that situation. This shows that the boy is kind-hearted, empathetic, thoughtful and has a strong sense of compassion and responsibility.
Question 4.
How was the boy’s approach towards the old woman different from that of the other boys in the group?
Answer:
While the other boys rushed past the old woman, ignoring her plight, the young boy paused, spoke gently and offered his help. He didn’t follow the crowd but instead acted out of empathy and understanding, setting an example of true kindness.
Question 5.
Justify the appropriateness of the title of the poem.
Answer:
The title ‘Somebody’s Mother’ is appropriate because it reminds readers that every elderly person is valued and might be a loved one to someone. The title reflects the poem’s central theme: treating all people with respect, kindness and dignity, especially the elderly, as they could be somebody’s mother.
Question 6.
What does the poem suggest about the role of empathy and humanity in society?
Answer:
The poem emphasises that empathy and humanity are essential virtues in society. It shows how a small act of kindness can deeply impact someone’s life and leave a lasting impression.
The young boy’s simple gesture teaches us to look beyond ourselves and care for others, especially the vulnerable.
Let Us Learn (Ncert Pages 76 & 77)
I. The grid given below has the antonyms of the words from the text.
Locate these words in the grid horizontally, vertically and diagonally. One example has been done for you. You may refer to a dictionary.
Answer:
II. Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with the underlined phrases in Column 2.
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | ||
| 1. | hastened | (iii) | The students worked quickly to complete the project and submit it on time. |
| 2. | heeded | (vi) | The stranded people were brought to safety because they paid attention to our advice. |
| 3. | stir | (i) | The mother heard the baby move slightly in the cradle at night. |
| 4. | lend | (ii) | It is our duty to give support to the poor. |
| 5. | piled | (iv) | All the boxes were kept in a heap at one place. |
| 6. | offered | (v) | They came forward to help us when we were in need. |
III. In the poem, the poet uses the idiom ‘lend a hand’ which means ‘help somebody’. Some more idioms using ‘hand’ are given in Column 1. Match these idioms with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | ||
| 1. | get out of hand | (iv) | become difficult to control |
| 2. | try your hand at something | (i) | do something new |
| 3. | give somebody a free hand | (iv) | become difficult to control |
| 4. | give somebody a big hand | (ii) | applaud somebody |
| 5. | work hand in hand | (iii) | work together |
| 6. | have your hands full | (v) | be very busy |
IV. Complete the following analogy by filling in the blanks with the correct words from the poem.
1. ………… : winter : heat : summer
2. hurt : ………… :: old : aged
3. whispered : shouted :: humble : …………
4. eyes : ………… :: legs : walk
5. having a lot of money : wealthy :: densely packed people: …………
Answer:
1. chill
2. harm
3. proud
4. glance
5. throng
Let Us Write (Ncert Page 80)
I. Write a diary entry of a day you helped someone in need.
Remember to include the following points while writing it.
- Start with a sentence describing the day.
- Mention whom you helped.
- Explain the situation in which the other person needed help.
- Add the place and time of the day when the situation arose.
- Describe how you helped the other person.
- Describe the reaction of the person you helped.
- Mention how you felt during and after helping the person.
- Conclude by mentioning why you would do something like this again.
You may begin like this
26th April 20XX, Saturday 8:00 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today, I feel was a special day…
Answer:
26th April 20XX, Saturday 8:00 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today, I feel was a special day – a day that made me realise how a small act of kindness can bring a big smile to someone’s face.
In the afternoon, around 4 p.m., I was walking back . home from the stationery shop when I saw an old man trying to carry a heavy bag of vegetables across the busy road near our local market. He looked tired and a bit confused by the traffic. Many people passed by, but no one stopped to help him.
Without thinking twice, I rushed over and offered to carry his bag and help him cross the road. He smiled weakly and nodded. I held his hand and slowly guided him across the street. After we crossed safely, he looked at me with so much gratitude and said, “God bless you, beta.”
That moment filled my heart with joy. During the entire walk back home, I couldn’t stop smiling. I felt proud, not in a boastful way, but in a warm and peaceful way like I had done something truly right.
I would definitely do something like this again because I now understand that helping others not only makes them happy but also brings a special kind of happiness to your own heart.
Goodnight Diary
[Your Name]