The Wit that Won Hearts Question Answer Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 1

The detailed Poorvi Class 8 Solutions and Unit 1 Wit and Wisdom Chapter 1 The Wit that Won Hearts Question Answer serve as excellent models for writing neat exam answers.

The Wit that Won Hearts Class 8 Question Answer

Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 1 Question Answer

Class 8 English Chapter 1 The Wit That Won Hearts Question Answer

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read (Ncert Page 1)

I. Select qualities of a person who uses wit from the box given below.

Now, discuss reasons for your choice of qualities.
Answer:
Qualities of a witty person are:

• wise
• clever
• humorous
• observant
• creative
• confident

Reasons for choosing these qualities

• Wise A witty person needs to think smartly before speaking or solving problems.
• Clever Wit means using quick and smart thinking, which comes from being clever.
• Humorous Wit often makes people laugh or smile, so having a good sense of humour is important.
• Observant A witty person notices small things around them that others may miss.
• Creative Witty people think of fun and new ways to solve problems.
• Confident To speak or act with wit in front of others, a person must feel sure of themselves.

II. Work in pairs and answer the riddles that are given below. Share the answers with your classmates and teacher.

Question 1.
I can be a friend or a foe, depending on how you use me. I can bring both joy or pain. What am I?
Answer:
Words (or Speech)

Question 2.
What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?
Answer:
The Future

Question 3.
I can be measured but I cannot be touched. I can be spent but I cannot be saved. What am I?
Answer:
Time

Question 4.
What has to be shared before you can keep it?
Answer:
A Secret

Discuss In Pairs (Ncert Page 2)

Question 1.
Why are qualities like humour and wit important in a person?
Answer:
Humour and wit help people stay happy, solve problems smartly and make others feel comfortable. These qualities also help in turning serious situations into lighter ones.

Question 2.
Why do you think kings and queens preferred to have witty people among their courtiers?
Answer:
Kings and queens preferred to have witty courtiers because they brought humour, offered clever advice and approached problems with creativity. Their presence made the court more lively and helped in managing complex situations with wisdom and tact.

Question 3.
If you were asked to solve a disagreement between two people, what approach would you take?
Answer:
I would first listen to both sides calmly, understand their views and then try to make them understand each other. I would speak kindly and look for a solution that makes both feel respected.

Question 4.
Have you ever been in a situation where a small misunderstanding led to a big problem? How was it resolved?
Answer:
Yes, once I had a fight with a friend because of a small joke. We stopped talking but later we both talked honestly and said sorry. It helped clear things up and we became friends again.

Let Us Discuss (Ncert Page 7)

1. Rectify the following false statements from the text.

Question 1.
The queen insulted the king by speaking against the quality of his poem.
Answer:
The queen did not insult the king; she was simply tired and yawned while he was reciting his poem, which the king misunderstood.

Question 2.
Tenali Rama immediately went to the king and convinced him to talk to the queen.
Answer:
Tenali Rama planned a clever strategy and used wit in court to make the king realise his mistake.

Question 3.
The courtiers admired the king’s poem and praised his literary talent.
Answer:
The courtiers avoided listening to the king’s poem and made excuses.

Question 4.
The ministers in the court were eager to hear Tenali Rama’s idea about paddy cultivation.
Answer:
The ministers were doubtful and sarcastic about Tenali Rama’s idea and did not take it seriously at first.

Question 5.
The king never realised his mistake and continued to stay angry with the queen.
Answer:
The king realised his mistake after Rama’s witty act and apologised to the queen.

Let Us Think And Reflect (Ncert Pages 7-9)

I. Read the extracts and answer the following questions.

1. “… The king thought I was disrespecting his poem and stormed off. Since then, he has not spoken to me. If I had known this would happen I would have chosen another day. Help me, please, Rama. Only you can help the king understand.” Rama nodded thoughtfully. “If you like, I will try my best to resolve this matter, Your Highness. But this needs a well-planned approach and I may need time to find the right strategy.”

(i) Why does the queen believe that only Tenali Rama can help the king understand?
Answer:
The queen believed only Tenali Rama can help because he is known for his intelligence, wit and problem-solving skills. She trusts that his clever thinking can make the king realise the truth without hurting his feelings.

(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:
(b) She regrets the unintended misunderstanding.

(iii) How does Tenali Rama’s response reflect his wisdom and problem-solving skills?
Answer:
Tenali Rama doesn’t rush into action. He listens carefully, understands the situation and says he needs time to think of the right strategy. This shows his thoughtful approach and his ability to handle delicate matters wisely.

(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:
takes great pride

2. That evening, the king approached the queen with a softened expression. ‘Thirumalambal’, he began, his voice gentle, “I have been foolish. I see now that I overreacted. I let my pride blind me. I’m so sorry.” The queen, who had longed for this moment, smiled and replied, “If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us. I would very much like to listen to your poem.”

(i) Complete the following with a suitable explanation.
When the king said, “I let my pride blind me,” he means that, …………
Answer:
When the king said, “I let my pride blind me,” he means that he allowed his ego to take over, which stopped him from understanding the real reason behind the queen’s yawn and made him act unfairly.

(ii) Why does the queen say, “If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us?”
Answer:
The queen saids this because she values peace and forgiveness more than holding onto anger. She wanted to end the misunderstanding and move forward with love and respect.

(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:
maturity and self-awareness

(iv) State any one characteristic that the queen’s response to the king’s apology shows about her.
Answer:
The one characteristic that queen’s response showed that she was kind-hearted and forgiving.

II. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
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’ during Krishnadeva Raya’s reign because it saw great progress in art, literature and culture. The kingdom was rich, peaceful and well-governed and the king encouraged talented poets, artists and scholars.

Question 2.
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 through his wit, intelligence and clever problem-solving skills. His ability to use humour and wisdom to handle difficult situations made him one of the king’s most trusted advisors.

Question 3.
How did the quarrel between the king and the queen affect the palace?
Answer:
The quarrel created tension and sadness in the palace. The once cheerful and united royal court became quiet and divided and even the courtiers felt uncomfortable during the king’s presence.

Question 4.
What strategy did Tenali Rama use to make the king realise his mistake?
Answer:
Tenali Rama cleverly used a story about special paddy seeds to show the king that yawning is a natural action and not a sign of disrespect. He gave an example of how a person yawning while sowing seeds could ruin the harvest, just like how the queen’s yawn was misunderstood. This made the king realise that he had taken the queen’s yawn too seriously and had overreacted.

Question 5.
What was the reaction of the courtiers when Tenali Rama introduced his ‘special’ paddy seeds?
Answer:
At first, the courtiers laughed and made fun of Tenali Rama’s claim. Some joked that the seeds might grow without water or were from the moon. But later, when Rama explained his point cleverly, everyone laughed genuinely and appreciated his wisdom.

Question 6.
How does the story conclude and what lesson can be learnt from it?
Answer:
The story concludes with the king realising his mistake and apologising to the queen. They forgive each other and move forward with love and respect. The lesson we learn is the importance of understanding, humility and the value of resolving conflicts through kindness and reflection.

Let Us Learn (Ncert Pages 9-12)

I. Fill in the blanks and complete the paragraph by choosing suitable expressions from the box given below.


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 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. murmur swept through the room
2. laughter rippled through
3. stormed off
4. hush fell over.
5. mind raced back
6. cast a shadow

II. The writer uses words like ‘roared’, ‘murmur’, in the text to indicate the sound produced. Fill in the blanks with suitable sound words from the box given below. You may refer to a dictionary.

1. As the teacher began the riddle challenge, a ………… of excitement spread through the classroom.
Answer:
roar

2. Anaya ………… in relief-she loved riddles more than solving Mathematics problems.
Answer:
sighed

3. ‘Think carefully,’ the teacher began to ………… as she wrote a riddle on the board.
Answer:
whisper

4. When the question was revealed, a few students……….. realising it wasn’t as easy as they had expected.
Answer:
gasped

5. Some exchanged ………… wondering if anyone at all would be able to solve it.
Answer:
murmurs

6. Just then, Anaya tapped her book on the desk with a small ………… deep in thought.
Answer:
thud

7. ‘Ah, I see it nowl’ she said stretching with a……….. as if it had taken her great effort.
Answer:
groan

8. A small breeze made the windows ………… adding to the suspense of the moment.
Answer:
rattle

9. ‘So, what’s the answer?’ The students ………… their voices filled with playful enthusiasm.
Answer:
mumbled

10. Leaning forward with a smile, Anaya ………… “Sometimes, the trickiest questions have the simplest answers.”
Answer:
snickered

III. As you have learnt, a compound word is formed when two or more words are combined to create a new word with a distinct meaning. These are of three types: closed compounds (sunlight, courtroom), hyphenated compounds (well-planned) and open compounds (paddy seeds).

1. Create new compound words by matching words in Column 1 with those in Column 2.

Answer:
(i) quick-witted (G) – Hyphenated compound: someone who thinks and responds quickly.
(ii) soft-tempered (B) – Hyphenated compound: someone with a gentle nature.
(iii) common-sense (F) – Hyphenated compound: practical judgment or sound reasoning.
(iv) household (H) – Closed compound: relating to a home or people living in a home.
(v) bookstore (E) – Closed compound: a shop that sells books.
(vi) ill-spoken (C) – Hyphenated compound: someone who speaks rudely or uses improper language.
(vii) sky-blue (D) – Hyphenated compound: a light blue colour like that of the sky.
(viii) dancehall (A) – Closed compound: a place for dancing or music events.

2. 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-tempered
(ii) household
(iii) ill-spoken
(iv) quick-witted
(v) dance hall
(vi) sky-blue
(vii) bookstore
(viii) common-sense

IV. Read the sentences from the text and their explanation given in the table below.

In sentence 1 ‘If you like’ is the subordinate clause (if clause) and ‘I will try my best to resolve this matter’ is the main clause.
Identify the subordinate and main clauses in sentences 2 and 3.
Now, match the subordinate clauses (if clauses) in Column 1 with the appropriate main clauses in Column 2 to make complete sentences.

	Column 1		Column 2
(i)	If I had a magic wand,	A.	We will go to the theatre.
(ii)	If it rains tomorrow,	B.	I would sneak into the secret room.
(iii)	If you had listened carefully,	C.	I would give myself wings.
(iv)	If you finish your homework,	D.	The boys would have woken up on time.
(v)	If 1 were invisible,	E.	We will stay indoors and play board games.
(vi)	If the alarm had rung,	F.	You would have solved the puzzle.

Answer:
Sentence 2
Complete Sentence If, by chance something were to go wrong, our farmers would suffer.

• Subordinate (If) Clause If, by chance something were to go wrong
• Main Clause our farmers would suffer

Sentence 3
Complete Sentence If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen another day.

• Subordinate (If) Clause If I had known this would happen
• Main Clause I would have chosen another day
  (i)-C, (ii)-E, (iii)-F, (iv)-A, (v)-B, (vi)-D

V. Complete the following sentences appropriately with either the main clause or the subordinate clause (if clause).

Question 1.
Your teacher will be unhappy if ………….
Answer:
you don’t complete your homework on time

Question 2.
They would have caught the train if ………….
Answer:
They had left the house earlier

Question 3.
You will feel tired ………….
Answer:
if you continue to stay up late every night

Question 4.
If she knew the answer, ………..
Answer:
she would raise her hand to respond

Question 5.
She would have passed the test …………
Answer:
if she had studied harder

Question 6.
If I had a million rupees, …………
Answer:
I would build a library for children

VI. Complete the following sentences. One example is done for you.

Question 1. If I were a tree, I would play with the wind and talk to the birds.
Question 2. If I were the Head Teacher of my school, ……….. .
Answer:
I would organise a weekly creativity hour for all students

Question 3. If I were a bird, ………… .
Answer:
I would fly across mountains and oceans to explore the world

Question 4.
If I were a magician, …………
Answer:
I would make sadness disappear from people’s lives

Question 5.
If I had studied harder, …………
Answer:
I would have scored better in the exam

Let Us Speak (Ncert Pages 13 & 14)

I. While asking questions, it is important to use the appropriate tone to convey the correct meaning.

Question 1.
‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions have a rising tone at the end.
Are you coming home?

Question 2.
‘-Wh’ questions have a falling tone at the end. When will you come home?
This rise and fall in tone is called intonation. Now, work in pairs and mark the intonation in the questions given below.
Take turns to practise by saying them aloud with the correct intonation.
(i) Is this your cat?
(ii) What is the name of your cat?
(iii) Will you be going to your village?
(iv) Why are you going to your village?
(v) Is this where you live?
(vi) Where do you live?
(vii) Can I meet your parents?
(viii) How are your parents?
(ix) Do you have any plans for tomorrow?
(x) What are you going to do tomorrow?
Answer:
Do it yourself.

II. ‘What’, ‘Why’, ‘When’, ‘How’, ‘Where’ and ‘Who’ are the words used to ask questions. These words are called question words. Let us use these words and make some questions.

While making questions, remember the correct word order.

• Who is the cleverest character in the story? (Correct)
• Who the cleverest character is in the story? (Incorrect)

Work in pairs and take turns to ask and answer questions about a trip that you are planning. Remember to use the correct intonation while asking these questions.
Here are some prompts for you.

• The destination (Where…)
• Purpose (Why…)
• Mode of transport (How…)
• Duration (When…)
• Travel companions (Who…)
• Activities (What…)

Now, work in pairs and take turns to ask and answer the questions about witty characters in folktales or stories you have read. Use the correct intonation while asking questions.

For example Your favourite character in the folktale (Who…?)
Who is your favourite character in the folktale?

Question 1.
The name of the witty character (Who…?)
Answer:
Who is the witty character in the folktale?

Question 2.
The reason for her/his wit being important in the story (Why…?)
Answer:
Why is the character’s wit important in the story?

Question 3.
The most famous trick or clever idea she/he used (What…?)
Answer:
What is the most famous trick or clever idea the character used?

Question 4.
The time period or setting of the folktale/story (When…?)
Answer:
When is the story set?

Question 5.
The way she/he used her/his intelligence to solve a problem (How…?)
Answer:
How did the character use their intelligence to solve a problem?

Question 6.
The location where the story takes place (Where…?)
Answer:
Where does the story take place?

Let Us Write (Ncert Pages 15 & 16)

A narrative essay is written on a personal experience or an imagined experience.

1. Read the narrative essay given below.

A Lesson in Responsibility
One bright Monday morning, I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping loudly. For once, I wasn’t late for school. My uniform was neatly laid out and my homework was already packed in my bag. I felt proud of myself for being so organised. But little did I know, the day would still teach me an important lesson.

During the morning assembly, our teacher, Mrs. Rao, announced a surprise Science quiz. My heart skipped a beat. I had studied the chapter a week ago but I had forgotten to revise it over the weekend. As I sat at my desk with the question paper in front of me, I froze. The questions looked familiar, yet I couldn’t recall the answers clearly.

I tried my best to focus but it wasn’t enough. Later, when the results were announced, I scored much lower than I expected. Disappointed, I spoke to Mrs. Rao after the class. She smiled and said, “It’s not about how much you know but how consistently you prepare. Small efforts add up every day.”

Her words stayed with me. From that day on, I made it a habit to revise my lessons regularly, even if there wasn’t an immediate test. Responsibility isn’t just about being on time or finishing tasks-it’s about being ready for what’s unexpected.

Now, work in pairs and check ( ✓ ) if the following features are present in the narrative essay.

1. Introduction

• The essay begins with a clear and engaging opening.
• The introduction sets the context for the narrative.
• The central idea or purpose is clear.

2. Body of the essay

• Events are narrated in a logical sequence.
• Descriptive details are used.
• Characters and settings are clearly described.
• The narrator’s emotions or thoughts are shared.
• The essay includes a challenge or a problem or a turning point.

3. Conclusion

• The essay ends with an outcome.
• A lesson or a message is clearly stated.

4. Writing Style

• The tone is personal and engaging.
• First person narration is used (for example, ‘l’, ‘my’).

5. Language

• The essay uses simple and clear language.
• Grammar, punctuation and spellings are correctly used.

Note A narrative essay focuses on sharing a personal experience to convey a specific lesson, a reflection or an idea. It has an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
Now, write a narrative essay based on any one of the situations given below.

• The Day I Learnt the Value of Teamwork
• A Small Act of Kindness that Made a Difference

Answer:
A Small Act of Kindness That Made a Difference
It was a cold winter evening and I was walking home from school when I noticed an elderly man standing near the bus stop. He looked confused and tired. Many people passed by, too busy or in a hurry to stop. I hesitated for a moment but then decided to walk up to him.
“Do you need help, Sir?” I asked gently. He looked at me with tired eyes and replied, “I can’t remember which bus takes me to Lakeview Street. I’ve just come from the clinic and I feel a little dizzy.”
I quickly checked my phone for the bus routes and found the right number. I offered to wait with him until his bus arrived. I even gave him my bottle of water when he said, he felt thirsty. We talked for a few minutes and he shared how he used to be a teacher. His face lit up while speaking about his students.

When the bus finally came, he smiled and said, “Thank you, young man. People like you give me hope in today’s world.” His words warmed me more than any jacket could. I waved goodbye and watched as the bus drove away.
That day, I realised that kindness doesn’t always mean doing something big. Sometimes, just stopping to help and offering a few kind words can make a real difference in someone’s life. And that moment, though small, changed me too – it taught me to look up, notice others and care.