8 Lower unit 1Textbook questions

The answers to all the questions from Unit 1 of the "My English Book Eight" textbook.

Unit 1.1: Be The Best

Margin Questions (Page 13)

What is the main difference between a pine tree and a scrub?

Ans. A pine tree is a tall tree that grows on the top of a hill, while a scrub is a small, low plant found in the valley.

What do people like to see along the highway?

Ans. People like to see a bit of grass along the highway to be happy.

What is the message given at the end?

Ans. The message at the end is that it doesn't matter what you are, big or small. The important thing is to be the very best at what you do.

English Workshop (Page 14)

1. Read the words/names given below. Put the big-sized/bigger ones in the big circle and the smaller ones in the small circle.

Big Circle (Bigger things): tree, pine, lake, highway, sun

Small Circle (Smaller things): muskie, bass, bush, scrub, rill, star, trail

3. Find and write the pairs of rhyming words from the poem.

(a) hill – rill

(b) be – tree

(c) grass – bass

(d) make – lake

(e) crew – do

(f) here – near

(g) trail – fail

(h) star – are

4. Complete the following with appropriate words/phrases from the poem.

(1) If you can’t be a pine, be a scrub.

(2) If you can’t be a tree, be a bush.

(3) If you can’t be a muskie then just, be a bass.

(4) If you can’t be a captain, we've got to be crew.

(5) If you can’t be a highway then just, be a trail.

(6) If you can’t be the sun, be a star.

5. Write whether the following are true or false:

(1) All must be the Captains of the teams. - False

(2) A bit of grass can make the highway happier. - True

(3) We win or fail depending upon size or position. - False

(4) A scrub is found at the top of the hill. - False

(5) If your work is not important, don’t do it. - False

(6) Whatever job you have, do your best. - True

Unit 1.2: Androcles and the Lion

Margin Questions (Pages 17-19)

How were the slaves treated at that time?

Ans. Slaves were treated very cruelly. They were starved, often whipped, and had no freedom or rights. They were bound by law to obey their masters.

Where did Androcles seek shelter, after his escape?

Ans. Androcles sought shelter in a forest.

What did the lion seem to tell Androcles?

Ans. The lion's eyes seemed to say, "Please help me."

Why was the lion in pain?

Ans. The lion was in pain because a big thorn had pierced one of its toes. It caused a wound, sore, and swollen.

How did Androcles nurse the lion’s wound?

Ans. Androcles skilfully pulled out the thorn. He then tore a piece of his own clothing to clean and dress the lion's wound every day until it could walk again.

Where did the soldiers put Androcles and the lion after their capture?

Ans. The soldiers put Androcles in chains in a prison, and the lion was put in a cage.

What did Androcles feel after he was brought to the arena?

Ans. After being brought to the arena, Androcles felt weak and dismayed. He knew that it was the last day of his life.

How did the hungry lion change, when he saw his friend?

Ans. When the hungry lion saw its friend Androcles, its rage seemed to melt. It stopped rushing towards him, recognised him, and began to purr and rub its nose against him affectionately.

How did the emperor reward Androcles?

The emperor rewarded Androcles by ordering him to be set free. He also granted Androcles's wish to set the lion free too.

English Workshop (Pages 19-20)

1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

(1) looking out for - (c) trying to search for

(2) face to face - (f) in front of each other

(3) summon up courage - (e) try to be brave

(4) rage melted - (a) anger reduced

(5) be moved by - (d) filled with soft feelings

2. Find from the story the Antonyms of the following.

(1) kind × cruel / wicked

(2) poor × rich / wealthy

(3) slave × master

(4) high × low

(5) punishment × reward

(6) unbound × bound / chained

(7) tender × rough

(8) happy × sad / unhappy

3. Write the reactions that followed each of the actions given below.

(a) Androcles did not like his cruel master, so at the first chance he got, he escaped.

(b) The lion looked at Androcles piteously, so Androcles paused and moved cautiously towards it.

(c) Androcles bandaged the lion’s injured paw, so the lion licked his arm as if to show gratitude.

(d) A hungry ferocious lion was released into the arena, so Androcles was filled with fear.

(e) The lion reached Androcles and began to purr and rub its nose against him.

(f) The emperor asked Androcles what other reward he would like, so he replied that he wanted the lion to be set free too.

4. Write in your own words 3 to 4 sentences about each of the following.

(1) The condition of slaves in ancient Rome: In ancient Rome, slaves had a very difficult life. They were considered the property of their masters and had no freedom or rights. They were often starved, whipped, and forced to work tirelessly without any pay.

(2) Qualities of Androcles: Androcles was a kind, gentle, and courteous man. He was brave, as he dared to escape and live in a forest. He was compassionate and helpful, as shown by his act of helping the injured lion despite his own fear.

(3) Even wild animals can be our friends: The story shows that wild animals can be our friends if treated with kindness. The ferocious lion became Androcles's loyal companion because he helped it in its time of pain. This proves that animals can feel gratitude and friendship just like humans.

Language Study (Page 21)

Underline the Auxiliary Verbs in the following sentences.

We have a holiday tomorrow.

Reena is injured badly.

You must wear clean clothes.

She should talk politely.

They did not help me.

A big thorn had pierced the lion’s toe.

The lion was caged.

Androcles did not like his master.

They could not leave him.

He would no longer be a slave.

The slaves were forced to work.

We should show kindness to animals.

Unit 1.3: Trees are the Kindest Things I Know

Margin Questions (Page 23)

How do trees serve birds and animals?

Ans. Trees serve birds and animals by providing shade for sleepy cows and a place for birds to gather and build their nests among the branches.

What do trees offer human being?

Ans. Trees offer humans fruit to eat, wood to build houses, and leaves to burn (on Hallowe'en).

Which part of the trees glow first at sunrise?

Ans. The top parts of the trees are the first to touch the rays of the morning sun.

What do trees do for small kids?

For small kids, trees seem to hum a "drowsy lullaby" when the moon is in the sky, helping them sleep.

English Workshop (Page 24)

1. Pick from the poem words that rhyme with the following words.

(a) fun → begun, sun

(b) no → know, grow, ago

(c) now → cows, boughs

(d) sight → light, night

(e) fly → sky, lullaby

2. Pick from the poem lines that create a picture in your mind.

(a) And in the Spring, new buds of green.

(b) And spread a shade for sleepy cows,

(c) And gather birds among their boughs.

(d) They are the first when day’s begun / To touch the beams of morning sun.

(e) And when a moon floats on the sky

3. The poet refers to trees as the ‘Kindest Things’. From the poem pick out 5 facts which prove the kindness of trees towards others.

They do not harm anyone; they simply grow.

They provide shade for animals like cows.

They provide shelter for birds.

They give us fruit to eat and wood for houses.

They seem to sing a lullaby for sleepy children.

4. Find words that describe the following.

(1) sleepy cows

(2) new buds

(3) morning sun

(4) drowsy lullaby

(5) kindest trees

5. Pick out lines that mean the following.

(1) Trees provide shelter for animals :- And spread a shade for sleepy cows, / And gather birds among their boughs.

(2) Trees provide food for all :- They give us fruit, in leaves above,

(3) Trees are most lovable :- Trees are the kindest things I know.

(4) Trees live a simple life :- They do not harm, they simply grow.

Language Study (Pages 25-26)

1. Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives. 

Read the following sentences. 

Fill in the gap in the table of Degrees of Comparison.

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

(1) kind

kinder

kindest

(2) healthy

healthier

healthiest

(3) near

nearer

nearest

(4) fine

finer

finest

(5) early

earlier

earliest

(6) small

smaller

smallest

(7) fast

faster

fastest

(8) high

higher

highest

2. Adjectives which have more than two syllables (long words) take ‘more’ and ‘most’...

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

(1) ancient

more ancient

most ancient

(2) special

more special

most special

(3) significant

more significant

most significant

(4) advanced

more advanced

most advanced

(5) accurate

more accurate

most accurate

3. Find the examples of Personification from the poem.

Trees are the kindest things I know.

They hum a drowsy lullaby

Unit 1.4: Miss Slippery

Margin Questions (Pages 28-31)

Why could the notebook have fallen from Sayali’s hand? (p. 28)

Ans. The notebook fell from Sayali’s hand because the teacher's angry looks made her legs tremble with fear.

What happened when it was Sayali’s turn to answer? (p. 28)

Ans. When it was her turn to answer, Sayali "went blank." She couldn't remember anything and stood still with her head hanging down in shame.

What did Sayali long for, from her mother? (p. 29)

Ans. Sayali longed for her mother to hold her, comfort her, or even give her a sympathetic pat. 

Why did Sayali begin crying again? (p. 29)

Ans. She started crying again when her younger brother placed his hand on her arm and asked her about her pain. His kindness moved her to tears.

 

By what name did the girls tease Sayali? (p. 29)

Ans. The girls teased Sayali with the new title ‘Slippery’.

What was Sayali told to do by teacher? (p. 29)

Ans. The teacher told Sayali to see her in the teachers' room after the class.

What two relationships did the teacher offer Sayali? (p. 30)

Ans. The teacher offered to be a sister and a friend to Sayali.

Why did Sayali feel like rejoicing a lot? (p. 30)

Ans. Sayali felt like rejoicing because it was the first time anyone had shown her so much love and accepted her as a sister and a friend. This made her feel overjoyed.

How did Sayali react this time to the teasing? (p. 31)

Ans.  Sayali turned her back on the teasing girls and ignored them completely. 

What responsibilities did the teacher give Sayali? (p. 31)

Ans. The teacher made her responsible for bringing the register, chalk, and duster every morning, and for carrying notebooks to the teachers' room.

What great change had come over, in Sayali’s heart? (p. 31)

Ans. The great change was that her fear and nervousness were gone. They were replaced by confidence, pride, and a sense of miraculous strength.

English Workshop (Pages 31-32)

1. Pick out some Compound words from the lesson.

(1) homework(2) notebook(3) classmates(4) kind-hearted(5) composition(6) whenever

2. (A) Add the proper prefix to make the following words opposite in meaning.

(1) obey × disobey (2) sympathetic × unsympathetic(3) honour × dishonour(4) afraid × unafraid(5) content × discontent

(B) Add suffix to convert the following words to Adjective forms.

laugh - laughable

forget - forgetful

count - countless

move - movable

punish - punishable

thought - thoughtful

care - careful / careless

fear - fearful / fearless

tear - tearful

joy - joyful

3. Find words / expressions from the story which are similar in meaning to.

(1) very expensive - extravagant(2) longing for - yearning(3) could not remember at all - went blank(4) constant - perpetual(5) gather all ones courage - muster the courage(6) filled and increased in size - inflate with pride(7) paining badly - smarting(8) forced to pay a big amount of money - pay through my nose

4. Answer in short, in your own words.

(1) The history teacher had asked them to memorize (WHAT?) - the causes and effects of the Battle of Panipat.

(2) Sayali’s new frock tore (HOW?) - when she fell and came tumbling down the school stairs.

(3) Sayali hugged him tight (WHO?) - her younger brother.

(4) Sayali was called ‘slippery’ (WHY?) - because she would often stumble, even on dry land.

(5) Teacher told Sayali to meet her in the teachers’ room (WHEN?) - after the class.

(6) Teacher asked Sayali to carry the notebooks (WHERE?) - to the teachers' room.

6. Write what expressions does a person use in the following situations.

(1) When a person gets a sudden fright. - "Oh my God!" / "Aah!" / "You scared me!"

(2) When a person is very nervous. - "My heart is pounding." / "I have butterflies in my stomach."

(3) When a person is tensed. - "I'm so stressed out." / "I'm really worried."

Language Study (Pages 33-34)

1. Fill the forms of verbs in the following table.

Present Tense

Past Tense

Past Participle

(1) Break 

Broke

Broken

(Do)

Did 

Done

(3) go

went

gone

(4) come

came

come

(5) sing

sang

sung

(6) buy

bought

bought

(7) drive

drove

driven

(8) fall

fell

fallen

(9) know

knew

known

(10) run

ran

run

(11) see

saw

seen

(12) take

took

taken

3. (ii) Say whether the following sentences are in Continuous Tense or Perfect Tense.

(1) I was entering the class. - Past Continuous Tense

(2) The girls are teasing me. - Present Continuous Tense

(3) I haven’t said a word to you. - Present Perfect Tense

(4) Never before had anyone lavished love on me. - Past Perfect Tense

(5) You are going to be responsible for it. - Present Continuous Tense

(6) According to the teacher, I had dropped the notebook on purpose. - Past Perfect Tense

4. Turn the following sentences into Polite Requests.

(i) Take me to your teacher. 

- Could you please take me to your teacher?

(ii) Tell me something about your school. 

- Would you mind telling me something about your school?

(iii) Give me the details about your extracurricular activities. 

-Would it be possible for you to give me the details about your extracurricular activities?

(iv) Provide me the information about books in your school library. 

- May I request you to provide me with information about books in your school library?