Regular use of DAV Class 8 English Practice Book Solutions Pdf Chapter 10 Reading for Understanding can result in improved reading comprehension and vocabulary.
DAV Class 8 English Practice Book Solutions Pdf Chapter 10 Reading for Understanding
A. Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow:
At seven, when dusk slips over the mountains,
The trees start whispering among themselves.
They have been standing still all day,
But now they stretch their limbs in the dark,
Shifting a little, flexing their fingers,
Remembering the time when
They too walked the earth with men. .
They know me well, these trees:
Oak and walnut, spruce and pine,
They know my face in window,
They know me for a dreamer of dreams,
world-loser, one of them.
They watch me while I watch them grow.
I listen to their whispering,
Their own mysterious diction;
And bow my head before their arms
And ask for benediction.
Question 1.
On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following passage by filling the blanks with one word only:
As the day changes into __________, the trees __________ among themselves. Throughout _____ the day the trees stand _____ but as soon as it is dark, they _____ their branches, shift a little and _____ their boughs and recall the era when they, like _____ , could move on the earth. Standing at his _____, the speaker often observes these trees and so, they, too, know him well. The speaker, just like these trees, is a __________ , world-loser. They listen to their _____ voice and language and bow before them to seek
Answer:
As the day changes into night, the trees whisper among themselves. Throughout the day the trees stand still but as soon as it is dark, they stretch their branches, shift a little and flex their boughs and recall the era when they, like men, could move on the earth. Standing at his window, the speaker often observes these trees and so, they, too, know him well. The speaker, just like these trees, is a dreamer. world-loser. They listen to their whispering voice and language and bow before them to seek thanks.
Question 2.
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions.
1. Which trees are referred to in the poem?
2. What does ‘stretch their limbs, flex their fingers’ refer to?
3. Why does the poet “bow his head before their arms’?
Answer:
1. Oak, walnut, spruce and pine.
2. It refers to the branches and leaves of the tree.
3. The poet bows his head before their arms to say them thanks.
B. Read the poem given below:
LULLABY
1. Little one, don’t be afraid of this big river.
Be safe in these warm arms for ever.
Grow tall, my son, be wise and strong,
But do not take from any man his song.
2. Little one, don’t be afraid of this dark night.
Walk boldly as you see the truth and light.
Love well, my son, laugh all day long,
But do not take from any man his song.
Question 1.
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions:
1. Whom does ‘these warm arms’ refer to in line 2?
2. What does the poet mean by “But do not take from any man his song’?
Answer:
1. These warm arms mean arms of the mother.
2. He would like to listen lullaby only from his mother.
Question 2.
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, complete the table given below:
Answer:
| The speaker his son to | The speaker does not want his son to |
|
|
C. Read the poem given below:
SYMPATHY
1. If I were only a little puppy, not your baby,
mother dear, would you say ‘No’ to me
if I tried to eat from your dish?
Would you drive me off, saying to me, ‘Get away,
you naughty little puppy?
Then go, mother, go! I will never come to you
When you call me, and never let you feed me anymore.
2. If I were only a little green parrot, and not your baby,
mother dear, would you keep me chained
lest I should fly away?
Would you shake your finger at me and say, ‘what
an ungrateful wretch of a bird! It is gnawing
at its chain, day and night?’
Then go, mother, go! ¡ will run away into the woods;
I will never let you take me in your arms again. — Tagore
Question 1.
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, complete the passage by filling the blanks with one word only:
The child asks his mother, if he were a small __________ and not her baby, whether she would _____ him off if he tried to _____ from her dish. If so, the child says he would never _____ his mother him again. He further asks _____ his mother if she would keep him in _____ so that he does not _____ away, if he were a He wants to know if she would _____ him for _____ at his chain night and day. If yes, the child would never come into the _____ of his mother and run away into the _____
Answer:
The child asks his mother, if he were a small ouppu and not her baby, whether she would drive him off if he tried to eat from her dish. If so, the child says he would never let his mother to feed him again. He further asks his mother if she would keep him in cage so that he does not fly away, if he were a varrot. He wants to know if she would shake him for gnawing at his chain night and day. If yes, the child would never come into the arms of his mother and run away into the woods.
Question 2.
Answer the following:
Is the title of the poem appropriate? Explain with reasons.
Answer:
Yes, the title of the poem is appropriate. The child needs sympathy from his mother and not scolding.
D. Read the passage given below:
PEP (PER) UP YOUR LIFE
1. We all have grown up listening to tales of India, trading her valuable spices and silk for gold and silver in the days of yore. So valuable was this trove of spices that travellers from far and wide came in search of it. Though the spice chest Consisted of cardamom, cinnamon, clove … what was worth a king’s ransom was black pepper. This pungent smelling,, sharp tasting tiny dried berry, which we so nonchalantly use in our everyday life, is invaluable, to say the least. A prized possession, its history is splattered with interesting anecdotes and romantic tales of its acquisition.
2. The cultivation of pepper is probably as old as civilisation itself. Ancient Sanskrit literature mentions it as does the Bible. There are no confirmed records of its origin but wild forms of the present pepper can be traced to places in South India and Myanmar. Though, today it is cultivated in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Brazil, its stronghold is still India. Evidences suggest that early Roman Empire procured plenty of pepper from India as did the countries of Egyp.
3. Alexander is said Lo have introduced pepper Lo European countries following his conquest of India. It was so precious that it was literally called black gold worth more than its weight in gold.
4. One of the most widely known virtues of pepper is its preservative ability. A few whole peppers in rice, grains or meat can prevent them from spoiling. The mummies of Pharaohs in Egyptian pyramids are said to have been preserved using black pepper and salt.
5. On the medicinal front, pepper is extensively used in Ayurvcdic, Unani and Siddh.a systems of medicine. Using black pepper for fighting cold is a grandma.. handed down remedy. Besides, it is also said to have anti-ageing properties. Ageing occurs because the rate of replacement of old dead ceJls by new ones starts diminishing. Consumption of pepper is said to reduce the rate of this degeneration. It also has the power to remove poison and is used to treat poisonous insect-bites. It also keeps away dental cavities, foul breath, toothaches and pain in gums.
6. Pepper is amongst the countless Indian treasures which we must cherish. So next time, when you are served a dish with whole black pepper, don’t consider it a garnishing and remove it while eating. Go ahead and bite into it, it is miniscule power packed, winning formula!
Question 1.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions:
1. What does the author mean by the phrase ‘worth a king’s ransom’ in para 1?
Answer:
It means black paper was as valuable as a king.
2. List three characteristics (appearance, taste) which the author associates with black pepper.
Answer:
- If has pungent smell.
- Sharp taste
- Very small
3. Give two points to prove that cultivation of pepper dates back to times immemorial.
Answer:
- Ancient Sanskrit literature and Bible mention about the cultivation of pepper.
- It’s wild forms are present in South India and Burma.
4. List two uses of pepper.
Answer:
- It prevents grain from being spoiled.
- The mummies were preserved.
5. Write three medicinal qualities of pepper.
Answer:
- It can reduce poison from the body.
- It has anti-aging properties.
- It is useful in cold.
6. What is the synonym given to pepper according to its value/worth?
Answer:
Countless Indian treasures.
7. Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
Answer:
- scattered/full of (paral): splattered
- obtained (para 2): procured
E. Read the passage given below:
STRESS BUSTERS
1. The adage ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ was perhaps said precisely for the twenty-first century. In a world of cut-throat competition where the sky’s the limit, we are fast on the superhighway to exhaustion. Stress from work is one of the leading malaises that is affecting more and more people everyday.
2. Stress is the way our bodies and minds react to something which upsets our normal balance in life. There are different kinds of stress but work-related stress is fast catching the attention of doctors as an increasing number of students and young professionals are becoming victims of this disease. Stress causes physical and emotional problems that may damage both your health and your performance at work. Acute stress can lead to heart attacks, certain types of cancer and depression. Headaches, sleeplessness, nausea, lack of concentration, memory loss are all symptoms of stress. A principal indication of stress is an escalation in your pulse rate. If you are suffering from constant aches and pains, chronic fatigue. palpitations, anxiety or overeating, it’s time to meet OU1 doctor.
3. According to psychologists, the fast pace of life has changed the psyche of the people. There is a constant need to perform, whereby people need to work much harder taking up tough challenges and burning mid-night oil.
4. There are numerous ways of beating stress. While some involve changes in your life-style, others are simple tasks. The first thing is lo change your thinking mode into positive and relaxing thoughts. Reassure yourself and dispel all negative feelings. When going gets tough, open that secret door to your inner self, pursue that hobby you had cast aside in favour of youi ambitions. Slow down. Relax. Adopt a leisurely manner and try doing things at a slower pace. Believe that ‘laughter is the best medicine’. It has been medically proven that when we laugh, it gives us a sense of well-being thus, helping to reduce the level of stress.
5. Be amiable and socialise with others. If you are under Stress, don’t stay at home alone. Go out with family, indulge in sports, yoga or meditation and just relax!
Question 1.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the questions that follow:
1. List two diseases that are triggered by stress.
Answer:
(i) Heart attack
(ii) Certain types of cancer and depression.
2. Mention two symptoms of stress.
Answer:
(i) Memory loss
(ii) Lack of concentration
3. Give two reasons why stress-related problems have increased in recent times.
Answer:
(i) Competition has increased and people have lot of stress at working places.
(ii) People need to perform constantly.
4. List two ways to beat stress.
Answer:
(i) Change thoughts into positive direction.
(ii) Believe in laughter.
Question 2.
Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
Answer:
1. proverb, saying (para 1): Adage
2. friendly (para 5): Amiable
F. Read the passage given below:
THE UMBRELLA STORY
1. The umbrella season is here. Whether it is the scorching heat of the su&s rays you want to shield yourself from or, in a few days from now, the pouring rain you want to get away from, the umbrella is going to be your handy companion.
Did you ever ponder as to when the simple yet extremely useful umbrella came into being?
2. The word umbrella comes from the latin word ‘umbra’ meaning ‘shade’ or shadow’. The basic umbrella was invented four thousand years ago. The earliest umbrellas, also called ‘parasol’, were made to shade the user from the sun and were in use in ancient Assyria. China, Egypt and Greece.
3. In eighteenth century, umbrella ribs were made of baleen, whale bone, which tended to lose its elasticity when thoroughly soaked, and cracked and broke if not properly dried. Soon, these ribs and stretches came to be fashioned out of brass or iron.
4. Umbrella covers were usually made of cotton, canvas, gingham or silk. Oil or wax was applied to repel rain, but warm sunlight quickly spoilt the benefil Besides, oiled or waxed umbrellas carried under the arm or over the shoulder in accepted fashion, soon ruined the owner’s clothings. Sometimes, leather was also used as a covering but its weight multiplied considerably when wet. Then caine cloth woven of alpaca wool, imponed from South America. which was naturally water repellent and light weight, but very expensive.
5. The Chinese were probably the first to waterproof the umbrella for use in the rain; they used wax and lacquer (a type of paint) co repel the rain. The umbrellas were also made from oiled paper because oil repels water. The frames of the umbrellas were made from mulberry bark or bamboo. There was even a distinct segregation in the manner the umbrellas were used. Red and yellow umbrellas were used by royalty, and blue umbrellas were used by the common people.
6. Samuel Fax, an English inventor and manufacturer, invented the steel-ribbed umbrella in 1852. After that. compact collapsible umbrellas were the next major technical innovation in umbrella manufacture, over a century later.
Question 1.
On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following statements:
Answer:
1. Parasol, earliest umbrella, was invented for shade from the sun and were in use in ancient Assyria. China. Egypt and Greece.
2. Umbrella ribs made of whale bones were not long-lasting because then lose the elasticity and cracked and broke if not properly dried.
3. An oiled or waxed umbrella could prove to be useful because
(i) it repels rain
(ii) it provides shade in sunlight
Question 2.
Complete the following table with relevant information from the passage you have just read:
Answer:
Question 3.
Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
1. burning (para 1) : __________
2. to think (para 1) : __________
3. destroy/spoil (para 4) : __________
4. division (para) : __________
Answer:
1. burning (para 1) : scorching
2. to think (para 1) : ponder
3. destroy/spoil (para 4) : ruin
4. division (para) : segregation
G. Read the passage given below:
HABITS
1. We are ail creatures of habits. Our habits reflect who we are. We first make our habits, and then our habits make — or break us. Our habits become. either the best of servants.., or the worst of masters.
2. A habit is defined as a pattern of behaviour or practice acquired by frequent repetition Not all habits are wrong or undersirabl In fact, most habits are good. We dress in the morning, tie shoes and write our naines, not out of focused concentration, but by sheer habit. Some habits are however, annoying and undesirable, ranging from nervousness to overeating, anxiety, consta throat clearing, knuckle-cracking, fingernail-biting and even negative thinking.
3. Every year, millions of rupees are spent needlessly by people on buying books, tapes, going to counsellors for breaking these undesirable habits. However, a well thought out plan and a little resistance can break these habits just as surely as you formed them. To overcome a bad habit, you need to become aware of it. In a small notebook, jot down the habits you want to change and analyse them. Then, pick one bad habit and work on it. Exercise is another way to get rid of annoying habits. As you become healthier, you are less likely to fall back into old habits. Yet another way is to pursue a creative hobby. Finding new ways of helping others can also help. Lastly, start working on improving your habits today. Delay will make your problem even tougher.
Question 1.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage, complete the following:
Answer:
1. ‘First we make habits, and then habits make – or break us’. By ‘make – or break us’ the author means good habits become the best servants and bad habits become the worst masters.
Question 2.
Mention any four undesirable habits listed in the above passage.
Answer:
(i) Anxiety
(iij Constant throat clearing
(iii) Knuckle cracking
(iv) Fingernail-biting
Question 3.
Which four ways have been suggested for getting rid of undesirable habits?
Answer:
(i) Become aware
(iij Jot down the habits in a small note book
(in) Analyse them
(in) Pick one bad habit and work on it
Question 4.
Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
1. obtain (para 2) : __________
2. irritating (para 2) : __________
3. opposition (para 3) : __________
Answer:
1. obtain (para 2) : acquired
2. irritating (para 2) : annouina
3. opposition (para 3) : resistance