Gujarat Board GSEB Class 8 English Textbook Solutions Honeydew Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.
Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 8 English Honeydew
Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World
GSEB Class 8 English The Best Christmas Present in the World Text Book Questions and Answers
Comprehension Check – I
Question 1.
What did the author find in a junk shop?
Answer:
The author found a roll-top desk for s sale in a junk shop. It was made of oak wood, but it was in a very bad condition.
Question 2.
What did he find in the secret s drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer:
In the secret drawer of the desk, the author found a small tin box. There was a letter in it. I think the previous owner of the roll-top desk might have put it in there.
Comprehension Check – II
Question 1.
Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?
Answer:
John Macpherson, a captain in the British army, had written that letter, dated Dec. 26, 1914, to his wife Connie. one point. The countries should have better resolved their disputes by playing a football or cricket match because no one dies in a match whereas war leaves behind orphans and widows.
The game was finished, so did the drinks and cakes. Jim told Hans that they hoped to see families as soon as the fighting ended by Christmas next year. The author put the letter back into the envelope and drove into Bridport. He just wanted to hand over the letter to Connie (Mrs Macpherson). Connie was now 101 years old. Her house had caught fire, but she was saved. She was in the conservatory of a nursing home.
The author wished her ‘Happy Christmas’ and gave the letter to her. She recognised the writing of her husband and felt very happy. She mistook the author for Jim who had come home, as promised on Christmas. She kissed the author on the cheek and asked him to read the letter to her. She wanted to listen to the voice of her husband. She said that he (Jim) himself was the best Christmas present to her.
Question 2.
Why was the letter written – what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer:
The letter described a wonderful event. The two armies-the British and the German – fighting against each other celebrated Christmas together.
Question 3.
What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have?
Answer:
Before they joined the army, Hans played the cello in an orchestra and Jim was a teacher.
Question 4.
Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Answer:
No, Hans had never been to Dorset. He had only read about Dorset in Hardy’s novel ‘Ear from the Madding Crowd’.
Question 5.
Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?
Answer:
No, Jim Macpherson never came back from the war. We know this from Connie’s note. There she writes that the letter In the envelope was the last one received from Jim. The letter was written on December 26, 1914. The war went on for another four years. Possibly, Jim was killed In action soon after Christmas.
Comprehension Check – III
Question 1.
Why did the author go to Bridport?
Answer:
The author went to Bridport to meet Mrs Jim Macpherson and deliver Jim’s letter to her.
Question 2.
How old was Mrs Macpherson now? Where was she?
Answer:
Macpherson was 101 years old at the time when the author visited her. She was in a nursing home.
Comprehension Check – IV
Question 1.
Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?
Answer:
Connie thought that the visitor was her own husband, Jim Macpherson.
Question 2.
Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity?
Answer:
That sentence is; I sat down beside her.’ This he did in response to her request and the request was made to Jim!
If the writer wanted to reveal his identity this was the moment, but he let It pass.
Working With The Text
Question 1.
For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Connie had kept Jim’s letter with her till the house was gutted in a fire. She would surely have been feet the letter’s presence until the time she got a bit muddleheaded.
Question 2.
Why do you think the desk had! been sold, and when?
Answer:
The desk must have been sold when Connie’s house had burnt. The table had been damaged by fire as well as water.
Question 3.
Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving; conflicts? Do you agree?
Answer:
Both Jim and Hans were soldiers. Both were warm-hearted. They had seen the sufferings of war. So it was natural for them to hate war. They favoured a peaceful solution to settle disputes. Games or sports, they said, were good ways of resolving conflicts. I also ‘ quite agree with them.
Question 4.
Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other, or different from each other? Find evidence from the story to support your answer.
Answer:
All human beings are alike in many ways. They love peace and hate war. They want to live together. Examples from the story: “Then they were calling out to us from across no man’s land. “Happy Christmas, Tommy! Happy Christmas!” When we had got over the surprise, some of us shouted back, “Same to you, Fritz! Same to you!”
Question 5.
Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas.
Answer:
The British and the German soldiers belonged to different camps. They were enemies and fighting a war. But after all, they were human beings and therefore they had similar feelings. They shared the festive spirit of Christmas. They got over hatred and played games, feasted and drank like good friends. Both hated war. Both were anxious to go back to their families at the end of war.
Question 6.
What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it ‘the best Christmas present in the world’?
Answer:
Connie thought that Jim had come back home from war. She mistook the author for Jim. She had been waiting for her husband Jim. So the coming home of Jim was the best Christmas present in the world for her.
Question 7.
Do you think the title of this story is suitable for it? Can you think of any other title (s)?
Answer:
Decidedly the title of this story is most suitable. For the old Connie, no other present could have given such joy as the !; coming home of Jim, her husband. Her presumption might be wrong, but she got the greatest happiness of her life. Since the story revolves around Christmas, the alternate; the title of the story could be ‘War and Peace’ or ‘Christmas Gift’. But neither can be a match to the present tide.
Working With Language
1. Look at these sentences from the story:
I spotted It In a junk shop In Bridport …………………. The man said It was made In the early nineteenth century… This one was In a bad condition. The italicised verbs are In the past tense. They tell us what happened In the past, before now.
(i) Read the passage below and underline the verb in the past tense.
A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.
Answer:
A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.
Now look at these sentences:
The veneer had lifted almost everywhere. Both fire and water had taken their toll on this desk.
Notice the verb forms had lifted, had taken (their toll).
The author found and bought the desk in the past.
The desk was damaged before the author found it and bought it.
Fire and water had damaged the desk before the author found it and bought it.
We use verb forms like had damaged for an event in the ‘earlier past’. If there are two events in the past, we use the ‘had….’ form for the event that occurred first in the past.
We also use the past perfect tense to show that something was wished for or expected before a particular time in the past. For example, I had always wanted one…
Discuss with your partner the difference in meaning in the sentences below.
A. When I reached the station, the train left.
B. When I reached the station, the train had left.
(Difference in meaning: In sentence A’, when I reached the station, exactly at the same time the train left. It is almost like-
‘I saw the train leaving’.
In sentence ‘B’, when I reached the station,
I came to know that the train had already left, i.e. a little or much before I reached the station.)
(ii) Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verbs in brackets :
My little sister is very naughty. When she ………… (come) back from school yesterday, she had …………… (tear) her dress. We ………………… (ask) her how it had ……………. (happen). She ……………………. (say) she ……… …….. (have, quarrel) with a boy. She ……….. ………. (have, beat) him in a race and he ………. ……….. (have, try) to push her. She ……. …….. (have, tell) the teacher and so he ……. ………. (have, chase) her, and she ……….. ………… (have, Jail) down and …………. ………….. (have, tear) her dress.
Answer:
My little sister is very naughty. When she came back from school yesterday, she had torn her dress. We asked her how it had happened. She said she had quarrelled with a boy. She had beaten him in a race and he had tried to push her. She had told the teacher and so he had chased her, and she had fallen down and had tom her dress.
(iii) Underline the verbs and arrange them in two columns, Past and Earlier past:
(a) My friends set out to see the caves in the next town, but I stayed at home because I had seen them already.
(b) When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but by that time I had gone out to see a movie!
(c) So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.
(d) By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep!
Answer:
Past Earlier Past
(a) set out, stayed had seen
(b) arrived, came back had left, had gone
(c) sat, ate had packed
(d) returned had fallen
2. Dictionary work:
By the end of the journey, we had run out of drinking water.
Look at the verb run out of in this sentence. It is a phrasal verb: it has two parts, a verb and a preposition or an adverb. Phrasal verbs often have meanings that are different from the meanings of their parts.
Find these phrasal verbs in the story: burn out light-up look on run out keep out
Write down the sentences in which they occur. Consult a dictionary and write down the meaning that you think matches the meaning of the phrasal verb in the sentence.
Answer:
“House number 12 turned out to be – nothing but a burned-out shell ………………. . (destroyed by fire).
That was the moment her eyes lit up with recognition, and her face ………………. . (brightened).
Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered, clapping our hands………..: (Watch something happening without being involved in it or not trying to stop it)
The time came and all too soon when the game was finished, the schnapps and the run and the sausage had long since run out, and we knew it was all over,(Become used up, finished)
Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered clapping our hands and stamping our feet, to keep out the cold as much as anything, (to avoid).
3. Noun phrase
Read the following sentence:
I took out a small black tin box,
- The phrase in italics is a noun phrase.
- It has the noun -box -as the headword, and three adjectives preceding it.
- Notice the order in which the adjectives occur-size (small), colour (black) and We rarely use more than four adjectives before a noun and there is no rigid order in which they are used, though there is a preferred order of modifiers/adjectives lu a noun phrase, as given below:
(4) The table below contains a list of nouns and some adjectives. Use as many adjectives as you can to describe each noun. You might come up with some funny descriptions!
| Nouns | Adjectives |
| elephant | circular, striped, enormous, multicoloured, round, cheerful, wild, blue, red, chubby, large, medium-sized, cold |
| face | |
| building | |
| water |
Answer:
(1) elephant – enormous, striped, wild
(2) face – cheerful, round, chubby
(3) building – circular, large, multicoloured
(4) water – blue, cold
Speaking
Question 1.
In groups discuss whether wars are a good way to end conflicts between countries. Then present your arguments to, the whole class.
Answer:
War means bloodshed, hate and ‘ destruction. It shows the animalism in man. Even the animals fight for some sound reason. But nations go to war to settle some petty! dispute or in the name of religion. War solves no problem. Understanding alone can end differences. All religions condemn greed ‘l and bloody quarrels. Let us learn this great lesson from history.
Question 2.
What kind of presents do you like and why? What are the things you keep in !; mind when you buy presents for others? Discuss with your partner. (For example, you might buy a book; because it can be read and re-read over i; a period of time.)
Answer:
Personally, I am against the practice, of exchanging expensive gifts. A rose or a token of affection suits every person and every pocket. This is why some guests offer bouquets or greeting cards alone. In case the gift is essential, it should satisfy some; need and have utility. When I go to buy a; present, I first take into account the liking I of my classmate, relative or girl/boyfriend.
Writing
Question 1.
Imagine that you are Jim. You have returned to your town after the war. In your diary record how you feel about the changes you see and the events that occur in your town. You could begin like this: 25 December 1919
It’S Christmas today, but the town looks…
OR
Suppose you are the visitor. You are in a dilemma. You don’t know whether to disclose your identity and disappoint the old lady or let her believe that her dear Jim has come back. Write a letter to a friend highlighting your anxiety, fears and feelings.
Answer:
25 December 1919
It’s Christmas today, but the town looks very much different from what I had imagined. It has been ravaged by war. Buildings are in ruins and there is graveyard silence. My own house is in ruins as it was hit by a bomb. The events of war have taken a toll on civilians as well as soldiers. I hate the fighting instinct in us and curse the war-makers (mongers). Can’t we live in peace like brothers?
OR
Answer:
12-A, Block 4,
Dorset
August 10, 1991
Dear Smith,
I am in a dilemma. It seems to be insolvable. I, therefore, seek your help in making a decision. You know I had purchased an old desk. Inside it got a box containing an old letter. It was written by Jim, a British soldier, to; his wife during world war I. I decided to deliver that letter to Mrs Jim at Bridport.
I reached her house. She is 101 years old now. When I gave her the letter, her eyes lit up. She thought I was her long lost husband Jim, who had come home to keep his promise. She was excited and she kissed me. She didn’t listen to what I tried to tell; her about my identity. I don’t know whether or not I should tell t who I am. I only walked away from her quickly.
Question 2.
Given below is the outline of a; story. Construct the story using the outline :
A young, newly-married doctor ………………. freedom fighter ……………. exiled to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the British …………… infamous Cellular Jail ……………. prisoners tortured ……………….. revolt by inmates ……………doctor hanged wife waits for his return …………… becomes old …………… continues to wait with hope and faith.
Answer:
It was the year 1930. India was a British colony. People of India wanted to end this subjugation. They started fighting for freedom. A young, newly-married doctor was implicated in a conspiracy case. He was sent s to Black Waters (Kalapani). It was a group of Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
Many freedom fighters and revolutionaries were sent there for life. They were put in Cellular Jail for a few years. They were subjected to torture. The doctor was hanged. But his wife kept ‘ waiting for the return of her husband. She; grew old. However, her hope and faith did not fade.
GSEB Class 8 English The Best Christmas Present in the World Additional Important Questions and Answers
(A) Select the most appropriate options as answers and complete the following sentences:
Question 1.
The writer bought a roll-top even though It was In a bad condition because …
A. It was too expensive.
B. It was of the early nineteenth century.
C. it was being sold for very little money.
D. it needed repairing.
Answer:
C. it was being sold for very little money.
Question 2.
To whom was the letter written that the narrator found In the box?
A. Connie Macpherson
B. Jim Macpherson
C. Hans Wolf
D. The old man In his slippers
Answer:
A. Connie Macpherson
Question 3.
Tommy Is a name for …………….. .
A. a German soldier.
B. a Junkshop owner.
C. an English soldier.
D. a French soldier.
Answer:
C. an English soldier.
Question 4.
Is called FrItz’.
A. A French soldier
B. A German soldier
C. An English soldier
D. An Italian soldier
Answer:
B. A German soldier
Question 5.
What Is the white flag a symbol of?
A. Declaration of war
B. Continuation of war
C. Peace
D. Warning before firing
Answer:
C. Peace
Question 6.
The Tommies and the Fritzes met on the Christmas Day.
A. the English soil
B. the German soil
C. no man’s land
D. None of these three
Answer:
C. no man’s land
Question 7.
The German soldiers were wearing ………………… uniform.
A. grey
B. white
C. khaki
D. green
Answer:
A. grey
Question 8.
What was Hems Wolf’s pursuit before he joined the army?
A. He was a singer.
B. He was a cello player.
C. He was an actor.
D. He was a dancer.
Answer:
B. He was a cello player.
Question 9.
Hans Wolf had learnt English ……………….. .
A. by reading English books.
B. by taking tuition of English.
C. by attending English speaking classes.
D. None of these three.
Answer:
A. by reading English books.
Question 10.
Goalposts for football were made by…
A. collecting logs of wood.
B. piling greatcoats.
C. piling guns.
D. None of these three.
Answer:
B. piling greatcoats.
Question 11.
What was the suggestion of Hans Wolf for avoiding war?
A. By holding peace talk.
B. By playing football match.
C. By helping one another.
D. By showing kindness.
Answer:
B. By playing football match.
Question 12.
In the game of football ………….. won.
A. Tommies
B. Fritz
C. Connie
D. None of these three.
Answer:
B. Fritz
Question 13.
Why did the narrator go to Bridport?
A. To meet Hans Wolf.
B. To meet Jim Macpherson.
C. To deliver the letter to Connie Macpherson.
D. To visit the port.
Answer:
C. To deliver the letter to Connie Macpherson.
Question 14.
Connie Macpherson’s house was burnt because of ……………………. .
A. an electric short-circuit.
B. the sparks from the fireplace.
C. the candles that she used for light in place of electricity.
D. a German bombardment.
Answer:
C. the candles that she used for light in place of electricity.
Question 15.
When the narrator went to see Connie Macpherson in the nursing home, she took him to be…
A. Hans Wolf.
B. her husband Jim Macpherson.
C. her neighbour.
D. her caretaker in the nursing home.
Answer:
B. her husband Jim Macpherson.
(B ) Say whether the following sentences are True or False:
1. Inside the tin box there was an envelope addressed to Jim Macpherson.
2. The letter was written on the eve of Christmas in 1914.
3. Jim Macpherson was a teacher by profession before he joined the army.
4. Hans Wolfs favourite English writer was Thomas Hardy.
5. Hans Wolf said that their winning the football match was not quite fair.
6. Connie Macpherson wants that the narrator should read the letter to her.
Answer:
1. False
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. True
(C) Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each:
Question 1.
How did the author find Jim’s letter? What did it contain?
Answer:
The author found Jim’s letter in a small black tin box, put in the drawer of an old table. Jim’s letter was addressed to his wife. He was a British soldier but he was glad to have celebrated Christmas together s with the German soldiers. He had narrated the whole event in the letter and promised to come back home before next Christmas.
Question 2.
Jim talks about an incident that had just happened at the front. What was it?
Answer:
England and Germany were at war with each other. Both the armies were in their respective trenches, either waiting to shoot or hying to avoid being shot at. But on Christmas, a strange development took ‘ place. The German soldiers came out of their; hiding places and called out ‘Happy Christmas’. They were unarmed and they waved a white; flag. The British soldiers led by captain Jim; Macpherson were all too eager to celebrate ‘ the festival together.
Question 3.
Who are Fritz and Tommy in the story?
Answer:
Fritz and Tommy are the names s given to the German and the British soldiers respectively.
(D ) Answer the following questions in four to Jive sentences each:
Question 1.
Describe in brief the author’s meeting 5 with Connie.
Answer:
Connie or Mrs Macpherson was 10 is years old. When the author took Jim’s letter to her in a nursing home, she became very excited. Her eyes lit up and she mistook the author for her husband. She kissed his s cheek. She said that she had been reading his letter every day. But she wanted to hear his voice. She had made a Christmas cake j; also for him as he had promised to come home. She thought that he was back home. She called his presence at home as the best Christmas present for her in the world.
Question 2.
What had happened to Mrs Macpherson? Describe her condition.
Answer:
Mrs Macpherson lived alone after her husband (Jim Macpherson) went to join the British army during the First World War. She spent many lovely years after the war. One day her house caught fire. But she was saved by the firemen. From then on she had been in a mu-sing home. She had grown extremely old and couldn’t walk on herself. And her life got confined to a wheelchair.
(E ) Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions given below them:
I.
I should like to be able to tell you that we began it. But the truth, I’m ashamed to say, is that Fritz began it. First, someone saw a white flag waving from the trenches opposite. Then they were calling out to us from across no man’s land, “Happy Christmas, Tommy! Happy Christmas!” When we had got over the surprise, some of us shouted back, “Same to you, Fritz! Same to you!” I thought that would be that.
We all did. But then suddenly one of them was up there in his grey greatcoat and waving a white flag. “Don’t shoot, lads!” someone shouted. And no one did. Then there was another Fritz up on the parapet, and another. “Keep your heads down,” I told the men, “it’s a trick.” But it wasn’t.
Questions :
(1) What was Jim ashamed of?
Answer:
Jim was ashamed that the soldiers from the opposite army initiated to wish his soldiers ‘Happy Christmas’. It would have been better if his army had started it first.
(2) What does the expression ‘When we had got over the surprise’ mean?
Answer:
‘When we had got over the surprise’ means ‘Till we came out of the surprise’.
(3) What did the waving of a white flag indicate?
Answer:
The waving of a white flag Indicated peace, I.e.. n0 fighting now’.
(4) What thought came into the mind ! of Jim?
Answer:
Jim thought that indication of ‘no fighting’ from the opposite army was a trick.
Question 2.
“Ah, Dorset,” he smiled. “I know this place. I know it very well.” We shared my num ration and his excellent sausage. And, we talked, Connie, how we talked. He spoke almost perfect English. But it turned out that he had never set foot in Dorset, never even been to England.
He had learned all he knew of England from school and from; reading books in English. His favourite writer was Thomas Hardy, his favourite book Far ! from the Madding Crowd. So out there in no man’s land, we talked of Bathsheba and; Gabriel Oak and Sergeant Troy and Dorset.
He had a wife and one son, born just six months ago. As I looked about me there were huddles of khaki and grey everywhere, all over no man’s land, smoking, laughing, talking, drinking, eating. Hans Wolf and I shared what was left of your wonderful Christmas cake Connie. He thought the marzipan was the; best he had ever tasted. I agreed. We agreed about everything, and he was my enemy. There never was a Christmas party like it, Connie.
Questions:
(1) How did they celebrate Christmas?
Answer:
They celebrated Christmas with rum s ration and exchanging sausage.
(2) Where did they celebrate Christmas?
Answer:
They celebrated Christmas on ‘no man’s land’.
(3) What was the topic of talks between Jim and Hans Wolf?
Answer:
The characters of the novel ‘Far from l the Madding Crowd’ by Thomas Hardy was \ the topic of talks between Jim and Hans Wolf.
(4) What did Jim share with Hans?
Answer:
Jim shared the Christmas cake prepared by his wife Connie with Hans Wolf.
Question 3.
I folded the letter again and slipped it carefully back into Its envelope. I kept awake all night. By morning I knew what I had to do. I drove into Bridport, just a few miles away. I asked a boy walking his dog where Copper Beeches was. House number 12 turned out to be nothing but a burned-out shell, the roof gaping, the windows boarded up.
I knocked at the house next door and asked 1f anyone knew the whereabouts of a Mrs Macpherson. Oh yes. said the old man In his slippers, he knew her well. A lovely old lady, he told me, a bit muddle-headed, but at her age, she was entitled to be, wasn’t she? A hundred and one years old. She had been in the house when It caught fire. No one really knew how the fire had started, but it could well have been candles. She used candles rather than electricity because she always thought electricity was too expensive.
The fireman had got her out just in time. She was In a nursing home now, he told me, Burlington House, on the Dorchester road, on the other side of town.
Questions:
(1) ‘I knew what I had to do.’ What had the narrator to do?
Answer:
The narrator had to find out the whereabouts of Connie Macpherson and deliver the letter to her.
(2) In what condition was the house found by the narrator?
Answer:
When the narrator reached the house no. 12, he found that it had turned out to be nothing but a burned-out shell, the roof gaping and the windows boarded up.
(3) What do you understand by the word ‘muddle-headed’ in reference to Connie Macpherson?
Answer:
Here the word ‘muddle-headed’ in reference to Connie Macpherson indicates that she was not in a stable state of mind.
(4) Why did Connie Macpherson use candles in place of electricity?
Answer:
Connie Macpherson used candles in place of electricity as she thought that electricity was rather too expensive.
(Vocabulary)
(A) Replace the underlined words selecting the most appropriate options from the brackets:
(1) I eased out of the parking lot because it was adjacent to a very busy street. (made it easy, moved out carefully, drove in)
(2) Drug abuse takes quite a toll on the lives of people. (brings adverse effects, spoils health, causes a great damage)
(3) We could have beaten them in last week’s game, but they just got the better of us from the start. (got control over, proved weak, stayed away)
(4) I thought the meeting turned out really well! (ended up, was arranged, happened)
(5) When they reached mid-sea, their supplies ran out. (were provided, became less, got exhausted)
Answer:
(1) I moved out of the parking lot carefully because it was adjacent to a very busy street.
(2) Drug abuse causes a great damage on the lives of people.
(3) We could have beaten them in last week’s game, but they just got control over us from the start.
(4) I thought the meeting ended up really well!
(5) When they reached mid-sea, their supplies got exhausted.
(B) Choose the correct words from the brackets and complete the following passage:
Question 1.
(armies, terrible, happened, together, distant, nothing) Dearest Connie, by Christmas time next year, this war will be …1…. but a …2… and ….3… memory. I know from all that …4… today how much both …5… long for peace. We shall be …6… again soon, I’m sure of it.
Answer:
1. nothing
2. distant
3. terrible
4. happened
5. armies
6. together
Question 2.
(sides, unwillingly, saluted, drifting, soldier, forget) “I think that is what every …1…. wants, on both ….2…..,” Heins Wolf said. “Take care, Jim Macpherson. I shall never ….3….. this moment, nor you.” He …..4…. and walked away from me slowly, …..5….., I felt. He turned to wave just once and then became one of the hundreds of grey-coated men 6. back towards their trenches.
Answer:
1. soldier
2. sides
3. forget
4. saluted
5. unwillingly
6. drifting
(Grammar)
(A) Choose the correct Article(s), Conjunction (s) and Preposition(s) and complete the following passage:
Question 1.
Then, someone, I don’t know ….1…, brought ….2… a football. Greatcoats were dumped ….3….. piles to make goalposts, …..4…. the next thing we knew it was Tommy …..5….. Fritz out in the middle of no man’s land. Hans Wolf and I looked ….6…. and cheered.
Answer:
1. who
2. out
3. in
4. and
5. against
6. on
Question 2.
The time came, …1…. all too soon, ….2….. the game was finished, the schnapps and ….3…. rum and the sausage had long since run ….4….., and we knew it was all …..5….. I wished Hans well and told him I hoped he would see his family again soon, ….6… the fighting would end and we could all go home.
Answer:
1. and
2. when
3. the
4. out
5. over
6. that
(B) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate
forms of verbs given in the brackets and complete the texts:
Question 1.
I removed the roll-top completely and pulled out the drawers. The veneer …1…. (lift) almost everywhere – it looked like water damage to me. Both fire and water …2…. clearly ….2…… (take) their toll on this desk. The last drawer …3….. (stick) fast.
Answer:
1. had lifted
2. had taken
3. was stuck.
Question 2.
We ….1….. all ….1….. (stand) to in our trenches yesterday morning, Christmas morning. It …..2….. (be) crisp and quiet all about, as beautiful a morning as I ….3….. ever …3….. (see), as cold and frosty as a Christmas morning should be.
Answer:
1. were, standing
2. was
3. have seen
(C) Change the voice of the following:
(1) I had wanted one, but they were far too expensive.
(2) I removed the roll-top completely and pulled out the drawers.
(3) One of the Germans was waving a bottle above his head.
(4) What are we waiting for?
(5) I shall never forget this moment,
(6) We exchanged carols for a while.
(7) I knocked at the house next door.
Answer:
(1) One had been wanted by me, but they were far too expensive.
(2) The roll-top was removed completely and the drawers were pulled out by me.
(3) A bottle was being waved by one of the Germans above his head.
(4) What is being waited for by us?
(5 ) This moment will never be forgotten by me.
(6) Carols were exchanged by us for a while.
(7) The house next door was knocked at by me.
(D) Rewrite as directed:
(1) This one was in a bad condition. (Turn into Negative.)
(2) It would be a risk, a challenge. but I had to have It. (Use ‘Though’.)
(3) Both fire and water had clearly taken their toll on this desk. (Use ‘Not only …. but also’.)
(4) It was as beautiful a morning a.s ¡‘ve ever seen. (Change the Degree.)
(5) What are we waiting for? (Turn into Assertive.)
(6) There never was a Christmas party like It, Connie. (Turn into Affirmative.)
(7) He saluted and walked away from me slowly. (Make it Simple.)
Answer:
(1) This one was not in a good condition.
(2) Though It would be a risk, a challenge, I had to have it.
(3) Not only fire but also water had clearly taken their toll on this desk.
(4) rye is never seen more beautiful a morning than It was.
(5) We are waiting for nothing,
(6) It was an unprecedented Christmas party, Connie.
(7) SalutIng me, he walked away from me slowly.
Letter Writing
I hope all is well in your new city. Everything here is passing by so quickly, and the summer months are almost gone. It’s only been a little while since you left, but everything already feels different. Even though it’s profoundly sad that you don’t live just a bus ride away anymore, I really do hope that your new life is going well. It’s so exciting that you’re moved in and ready to start college! It must be so surreal.
Have you settled in already? And do you like your neighbourhood? It must be nice staying in an apartment instead of a dorm. So much more space. And a kitchen! Hope you aren’t too homesick either. Can’t believe we’re graduated and on our way to the real world!
A reunion has already been talked about, so look forward to the winter break. We’re thinking about a road trip with a bunch of us, and it would be great if you tagged along. Location suggestions are welcome!
Again, I hope all is well with you. And let me know if you ever need anything. I’m a letter or a phone call away. We all miss you tons, Ankit! Have a fun time in school, and stay safe. Please write back when you get this. I’d love to hear all about how everything is going.
Much love,
Eesha
The Best Christmas Present in the World Summary in English
The Best Christmas Present in the World Summary:
The author went to a junk shop in Bridport. He noticed a roll-top desk. It was very old and made of oak. It was in a bad condition. It had burn-marks down one side. Since it was cheap, the author decided to buy it and get it repaired. He began working on it on Christmas Eve. He removed the roll-top. It had suffered much damage due to fire and water. He pulled out the upper drawers. The one at the bottom was jammed. He hit it hard with his first and pulled it out. He found a secret drawer underneath and wherein he found a small black tin box.
There was a note on it that said: “Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915.” The writer of the note also wished to bury the box in her grave. Out of curiosity, he opened the box. Inside it he found an envelope with the address: “Mrs Jim last letter, received January 25. 1915.” The writer of the note also wished to bury the box In her grave. Out of curiosity, he opened the box. Inside it he found an envelope with the address: “Mrs Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport. Dorset.”
The letter was dated Dec. 26. 1914. The letter had been written by Jim to his wife Connie. He was a soldier, set against the Germans during the First World War. Jim wrote to her that he was very happy because something wonderful had happened. The soldiers on both sides of the no man’s land were In their trenches.
It was Christmas morning, cold and frosty Jimletter, received January 25. 1915.” The writer of the note also wished to bury the box In her grave. Out of curiosity, he opened the box. Inside it, he found an envelope with the address: “Mrs Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport. Dorset.” The letter was dated Dec. 26. 1914. The letter had been written by Jim to his wife Connie. He was a soldier, set against the Germans during the First World War. Jim wrote to her that he was very happy because something wonderful had happened.
The soldiers on both sides of the no man’s land were In their trenches. It was Christmas morning, cold and frosty Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset.” The letter was dated Dec. 26, 1914. The letter had been written by Jim to his wife Connie. He was a soldier, set against the Germans during the First World War. Jim wrote to her that he was very happy because something wonderful had happened. The soldiers on both sides of the no man’s land were in their trenches. It was Christmas morning, cold and frosty.
Jim saw the German soldiers waving a white flag. They were calling out the English soldiers to say Happy Christmas. It was a big surprise to be greeted like friends by the enemies. But it was true, not a trick. The English soldiers also wished them in return. One of the German soldiers proposed to celebrate the festival. Jim was the officer in command. He allowed his men to join the Germans.
Grey coats and khaki coats mingled in the middle. In the time of war, they were making peace. The name of the German officer in command was Hans Wolf. Before joining the army he played the cello in an orchestra. Jim had been a school teacher in Dorset. Hans said that he knew Dorset well. In fact, he had read about that place in Hardy’s novel, Ear from the Madding Crowd.
The soldiers from the rival camps smoked, laughed, drank and feasted. Hans said that he liked the marzipan, the sweet covering on Jim’s bread. Jim wrote in the letter, that he had never seen or imagined a Christmas Party like that. They played football /also. Both agreed on one point. The countries should have better resolved their disputes by playing a football or cricket match because no one dies In a match whereas war leaves behind orphans and widows.
The game was finished, so did the drinks and cakes. Jim told Hans that they hoped to see families as soon as the fighting ended by Christmas next year. The author put the letter back into the envelope and drove Into Bridport. He just wanted to hand over the letter to Connie (Mrs Macpherson). Connie was now 101 years old. Her house had caught fire, but she was saved.
She was In the conservatory of a nursing home. The author wished her ‘Happy Christmas’ and gave the letter to her. She recognised the writing of her husband and felt very happy. She mistook the author for Jim who had come home, as promised on Christmas. She kissed the author on the cheek and asked him to read the letter to her. She wanted to listen to the voice of her husband. She said that he (Jim) himself was the best Christmas present to her.