Gujarat Board GSEB Class 8 English Textbook Solutions Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.
Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary
GSEB Class 8 English A Short Monsoon Diary Text Book Questions and Answers
Answer the following questions:
Question 1.
Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24 – 25, August 2 and March 23. Now write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March.
Answer:
June 24 was the first day of monsoon mist. All the birds fell silent as the mist climbed the hills. The author calls the mist melancholy because not only does it conceal the hills, it blankets them in silence too.
On June 25, there was some genuine early monsoon rain. It was warm and humid, contrary to the cold high-altitude weather that the author had been experiencing all year. It s seemed to the author that the plants knew it too, and the first cobra lily reared its head from the ferns. He described the weather as ‘a paradise that might have been’.
On August 2, it rained all night. There had been no storm or thunder. The author experienced a feeling of “being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain”. March 23 marked the end of winter. The blackest cloud he had ever seen spread over Mussoorie and – then it hailed marbles for half an hour, The hailstorm cleared the sky and he saw a rainbow forming.
Question 2.
Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar ?
Answer:
The grandmother asked the children not to kill the Chuchundar because it was considered lucky. She said that it brought money.
Question 3.
What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?
Answer:
The seeds of the cobra lily turning red signified that the monsoons were about to end.
Question 4.
Complete the following sentences:
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because …………… .
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as …………….. .
(iii) The leopard was successful in …………… but had to flee when
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because ………………. .
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when …………………. .
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because ………………… .
Answer:
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because of the mist in the surroundings.
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as a paradise that might have been.
(iii)The leopard was successful in attacking one of Bijju’s cows but had to flee when Bijju’s mother came screaming curses.
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because of their bright colours.
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ground orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and the white butterfly orchids bloom.
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because they have been flooded out of their holes and burrows.
Question 5.
‘Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.’
(i) Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’ ?
Answer:
The word ‘springing’ means ‘to develop suddenly’. The writer says that tin roofs, are prone to developing unexpected leaks.
(ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain?
Answer:
The writer was physically untouched by the rain as the tin roof stopped the rain from leaking in.
(iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Answer:
The writer is in touch with the rain at the same time because he can feel the rain by listening to its drumming sound on the corrugated tin roof.
Question 6.
Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.
Answer:
When there is endless rain for days together, everything becomes damp and soggy. There is no place for anybody to go to. The s hillsides are lush as late monsoon flowers – such as wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and I ground orchids begin to appear.
Question 7.
What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end ?
Answer:
When monsoon begins, the first cobra ; lily appears from the ferns. When the seeds of the cobra lily turn red, it signifies that the monsoon is coming to an end.
Working With Language
Question 1.
Here are some words that are ; associated with the monsoon. Add as many words as you can to this list. Can you find words for these in your languages ?
downpour, floods, mist, cloudy, powercuts, cold, umbrella
Answer:
storm, hail, lightning, thunder, rainbow, raincoat, etc.
Question 2.
Look at the sentences below:
(i) Bijju wandered into the garden in the evening!
(ii) The trees were ringing with birdsong.
Notice the highlighted verbs.
The verb wandered tells us what Bijju did that evening. But the verb were ringing tells us what was happening continually at same time in the past (the birds were chirping in the trees).
Now look at the sentences below. They tell us about something that happened in the past. They also tell us about other things that happened continually, at the same time in the past.
Put the verbs in the brackets into their proper forms. The first one is done for you.
(i) We (get out) of the school bus. The bell (ring) and everyone (rush) to class.
(ii) The traffic (stop). Some people (sit)on the road and they (shout) slogans.
(iii) I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
(iv) She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
(v) We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games.
(vi)The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).
Answer:
(i) We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was rushing to class.
(ii) The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.
(iii) I wore my raincoat, it was raining and people were getting wet.
(iv) She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.
(v) We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.
(vi) The class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.
Question 3.
Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds.
drum, swish, tinkle, caw, drip
(i) Match these words with their correct meanings:
(1) to fall in small drops
(2) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly
(3) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound
(4) harsh sound made by birds
(5) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.)
Answer:
(1) drip
(2) drum
(3) swish
(4) caw
(5) tinkle
(ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above:
1. Ramesh …………….. on his desk in impatience.
2. Rainwater ………………. from the umbrella all over the carpet.
3. The pony ……………… its tail.
4. The …………….. of breaking glass woke me up.
5. The ……………… of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
Answer:
1. drummed
2. dripped
3. swished
4. tinkling
5. cawing
Question 4.
And sure enough, I received a cheque in the mail.
Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrase below:
sure enough, colourful enough, serious enough, kind enough, big enough, fair enough, brave enough, foolish enough, anxious enough
1. I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And …………….. …………….. it soon started raining heavily.
Answer:
sure enough
2. The blue umbrella was …………….. ………………. for the brother and sister.
Answer:
big enough
3. The butterflies are ……………….. ……………….. to get noticed.
Answer:
colourful enough
4. The lady was ……………… ………………… to chase the leopard.
Answer:
brave enough
5. The boy was …………….. ……………….. to call out to his sister.
Answer:
anxious enough
6. The man was ……………. ………………… to offer help.
Answer:
kind enough
7. The victim’s injury was …………….. ……………… for him to get admitted in hospital.
Answer:
serious enough
8. That person was …………….. ……………… to repeat the same mistake again.
Answer:
foolish enough
9. He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘……………… ……………. ’.
Answer:
fair enough
Speaking
Question 1.
Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not ? Working with your partner, write down three superstitious beliefs that you are familiar with.
Answer:
Truly speaking, I don’t believe in superstitions. These are blind beliefs. The ignorant and conservative people observe them. Superstitions have no scientific base or proof. The common superstitions are:
(i) ‘13’ is an unlucky number.
(ii) Don’t start a new project on no moon day.
(iii) Don’t go further if a black cat crosses your path.
Question 2.
How many different kinds of birds do you come across in the lesson ? How many varieties do you see in your neighbourhood? Are there any birds that you used to see earlier in your neighbourhood but not now? In groups discuss why you think this is happening.
Answer:
We come across different kinds of birds in this lesson. These are minivets, drongos, treecreepers and crows. We see sparrows, pigeons, and nightingales in our neighbourhood. Earlier we used to see big birds like kites and parrots in our neighbourhood. But these have become extinct now.
The two main reasons for these endangered species are (i) Loss of habitats and (ii) Pollution on a large scale.
Writing
Question 1.
The monsoons are a time of great fun and even a few adventures: playing in the rain and getting wet, wading through knee-deep water on your way to school, water flooding the house or the classroom, powercuts and so on. Write a paragraph describing an incident that occurred during the rains which you can never forget.
Answer:
It was the month of August. It was raining heavily. It was also time for my school. I waded through knee-deep water on my way to school. It kept raining throughout the day. When the last bell rang, the rain stopped. The clouds began to break up, On our way back home, we saw a small puppy struggling to come out of a ditch in which it had fallen. I helped the puppy out erf the ditch. Though my clothes were spoiled, I was happy that I saved a life. Left in the ditch, the puppy would have died.
OR
Write a poem of your own about the ; season of spring when trees are in full I; bloom.
Answer:
My eyes earn see it’s springtime, it’s springtime, it’s springtime
My eyes can see it’s springtime, the grass is so green
The green grass, the flowers, the sunshine and showers
My eyes can see it’s springtime, and I am so glad.
My ears can hear it’s springtime, it’s springtime, it’s springtime
My ears can hear it’s springtime, the birds sweetly sing
The birds sing, the lambs bleat, the frogs croak, the bees buzz
My ears can hear it’s springtime, and I am so glad.
My body feels it’s springtime, it’s springtime, it’s springtime,
My body feels it’s springtime, the air is so Warm.
The warm air, the breezes, no frost and no freezes
My body can feel it’s springtime, and I am so glad
Writing
Write an essay on ‘ A Rainy Day’.
Answer:
This year the summer season was unduly long and extremely hot. It was July and the schools had reopened. The scorching sun and the extreme heat had made life unbearable. Going to school, staying indoors for long or playing on the ground all seemed to be a punishment. One morning, clouds gathered in the sky. There were vivid flashes of lightning. Suddenly it started raining. There was a downpour for a short while but soon it turned s into steady raining. It was time for school. So, we took our umbrellas and set out.
It was refreshing to go out in the cool air. Everyone and everything looked fresh. The trees looked green. The sound of falling rain was pleasing to the ears. Not one minded the inconvenience of wet umbrellas, soaking shoes and wet clothes. The plight of bus travellers was, of course, pitiable. Buses were late and overcrowded. It may be quite pleasant to take a brisk walk in the rain, nobody likes standing in the queue in wet clothes with the drops from other persons’ umbrellas dropping down the back with cold clammy frequency.
The streets urchins were having a great time playing in the streets, floating boats on the sides of the roads where water was flowing fast. I wished I could join them. In the class, very few students were attentive. Almost everybody was looking out and watching rain every now and then. Primary class Children were playing with boats in the pool which serves our centre court. Water had gathered ” there. Our school gate and the road had ankle deep water. The municipality had been caught napping. The drainage system was choked. All low lying areas had knee deep water.
It is exhilarating to watch pouring rain and to run about in it. But soon I was happy to return home and change wet clothes.
GSEB Class 8 English A Short Monsoon Diary Additional Important Questions and Answers
Select the most appropriate options as answers and complete the following sentences:
Question 1.
The author could hear Bijju …………………
A. chopping the sticks.
B. crying in the forests.
C. running about on the hillside.
D. singing songs loudly.
Answer:
C. running about on the hillside.
Question 2.
‘A paradise might have been’ is the description of ………………
A. hill station and landscapes.
B. hill station and valley.
C. landscapes and forests.
D. valley and landscapes.
Answer:
B. hill station and valley.
Question 3.
The leopard had to flee at the approach of ………………..
A. a barking dog.
B. Bijju’s mother.
C. the continuous rains.
D. the leeches.
Answer:
B. Bijju’s mother.
Question 4.
Grandmother advised the children not to kill Chuchundars as they………………….
A. are cute.
B. are harmless.
C. bring ill-luck.
D. bring money.
Answer:
D. bring money.
Question 5.
The trees turning grey gives the diarist a feeling of ……………….
A. attractiveness.
B. dreariness.
C. loneliness.
D. loveliness.
Answer:
C. loneliness.
Question 6.
The scarlet minivets are …………………..
A. females.
B. males.
C. insects.
D. animals.
Answer:
B. males.
Question 7.
How do the minivets plan to fly away unnoticed ?
A. Hiding themselves in a leafy tree.
B. Making their brightness dull.
C. Not making any noise.
D. Flying away in dark at night.
Answer:
C. Not making any noise.
Question 8.
Because of the continuous rain at night ……………………
A. the writer cannot sleep.
B. the writer goes to sleep.
C. the writer is greatly frightened.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’.
Answer:
B. the writer goes to sleep.
Question 9.
The synonymous word for ‘a number of’ in the extract is ………………
A. corrugated.
B. downpour.
C. unaccountable.
D. tropical.
Answer:
C. unaccountable.
Question 10.
The writer cannot go out because of ……………..
A. continuous rain.
B. lack of sunlight.
C. being damp and soggy everywhere.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’
Question 11.
The writer spends his time by…
A. pacing the room.
B. counting umbrellas.
C. watching lush hillsides from the window.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’
Say whether the following sentences are True or False:
1. Birds become silent when mist gets down the hill.
Answer:
False
2. With mist all over, the forest becomes deathly still.
Answer:
True
3. Bijju’s cows could not be saved in spite of his mother’s curses.
Answer:
False
4. Flitting scarlet minivets looked like brilliant jewels.
Answer:
True
5. The seeds of cobra lily turning red signify the beginning of heavy rain.
Answer:
False
6. Chuchundars are lucky according to the children’s grandmother.
Answer:
True
7. Winter rain starts in September.
Answer:
False
Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each:
Question 1.
According to the diarist who are the ; seasonal visitors ?
Answer:
According to the diarist, the seasonal visitors are a leopard and several thousand leeches. They arrive when it rains.
Question 2.
Why is there no dearth of food for the insectivorous birds?
Answer:
There is no dearth of food for the insectivorous birds because with rain innumerable insects come up. They are so great in number that insectivorous birds don’t have to hunt around for them. They are never In the want of Insects In this season.
Question 3.
How has lush monsoon growth reached its peak?
Answer:
There is endless rain, so almost at the end of August lush monsoon growth has been in abundance. The seeds of the cobra lily have turned red. There are firm, green and upright ferns. Ground orchids have come up. Wild dahlias of red, yellow and magenta have raised their heads from the rocky crevices. Thus, monsoon growth has reached its peak.
Question 4.
How is the silence within contrasted with the sound of winter rains in the hills ?
Answer:
In the hills, the narrator witnesses endless winter rains. The rain keeps on drumming on the corrugated tin roof. At that time, the narrator has to keep himself shut up in a roonn where he experiences hushed silence. It is very lonely and very quiet. The narrator sitting in the room enjoys a liquid silence, a silence within is contrasted with the noisy rain outside.
Question 5.
What did the leopard do ?
Answer:
The previous day afternoon, the leopard lifted a dog from near the servants’ quarter below the school. In the evening, it attacked one of Bijju’s cows, but fled as Bijju’s mother came.
Question 6.
Describe the arrival of the minivets.
Answer:
After the rains, there come the scarlet minivets. They flit silently among the leaves like brilliant jewels. Even if they take shelter on leafy trees, they cannot conceal themselves because of their bright colour. Sometimes they plan to go unnoticed by remaining absolutely silent, but they don’t succeed in hiding themselves. A pair of drongos chase them away.
Question 7.
Describe the rain in the first half of August.
Answer:
In the first half of August, it rains continuously. There is no storm, no thunder. It is just the steady swish of a tropical downpour. It stops for a day or so, but again there is endless rain and a permanent mist. The sun is not seen for days together. Everything is damp and soggy.
Answer the following question in five to six sentences:
Question 1.
Write in detail on: ‘The monsoon rain and the winter rain’: Comparisons and Contrasts
Answer:
The summer monsoon brings heavy ’ rains and creates a moisture-rich atmosphere, while the winter monsoon generated long periods of dry and arid conditions. The summer monsoon generally begins in April and lasts through late September, while the winter monsoon arrives in October and ends in March. Rainfall during the summer monsoon s can be very intense and may even cause flash floods. Winter monsoons are usually less powerful than summer monsoons and may bring high winds in addition to dry air.
Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions given below them:
Question 1.
The rains have heralded the arrived of some seasonal visitors – a leopard, and several thousand leeches.
Yesterday afternoon the leopard lifted a dog from near the servants’ quarter below the school. In the evening it attacked one of Bijju’s cows but fled at the approach of Bijju’s mother, who came screaming imprecations.
As for the leeches, I shall soon get used to a little bloodletting everyday.
Other new arrivals are the scarlet minivets (the females are yellow), flitting silently among the leaves like brilliant jewels. No matter how leafy the trees, these brightly coloured birds cannot conceal themselves, although, by remaining absolutely silent, they sometimes c contrive to go unnoticed. Along come a pair of drongos, unnecessarily aggressive, chasing the minivets away.
Questions:
(1) Who were the seasonal visitors ? Why are they called so?
Answer:
A leopard, and several thousand leeches were the seasonal visitors. They are so called because they come out only in the rainy season.
(2) How were Bijju’s cows saved ?
Answer:
Bijju’s mother came screaming curses at the leopard and it ran away without attacking Bijju’s cows.
(3) What will the writer get soon used to ?
Answer:
The writer will get soon used to a little bloodletting by leeches every day.
(4) Why do minivets sometimes contrive to go unnoticed?
Answer:
Minivets sometimes contrive to go unnoticed as they are aggressively chased by drongos.
Question 2.
August 3
The rain stops. The clouds begin to break up, the sun strikes the hill on my left. A woman is chopping up sticks. I hear the tinkle of cowbells. In the oak tree, a crow s shakes the raindrops from his feathers and caws disconsolately. Water drips from a leaking drainpipe. And suddenly, clean and pure, the song of the whistling thrush emerges like a dark sweet secret from the depths of the ravine.
August 12
Endless rain, and a permanent mist. We haven’t seen the sun for eight or nine days. Everything damp and soggy. Nowhere to go. Pace the room, look out of the window at a few bobbing umbrellas. At least it isn’t cold rain. The hillsides are lush as late-monsoon ‘ flowers begin to appear-wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids.
Questions:
(1) What is the crow in the oak doing alter the rain stops?
Answer:
After the rain stops, the crow in the oak shakes the raindrops from his feathers and caws disconsolately.
(2) From where does the song of a thrush come?
Answer:
The song of a thrush comes from the depths of the ravine.
(3) Why hasn’t there been the sun for eight or nine days?
Answer:
There hasn’t been the sun for eight or nine days because of endless rain, and a permanent mist.
(4) Describe the scene outside the room.
Answer:
There seem a few bobbing umbrellas. There isn’t cold rain. The hillsides Eire lush with late-monsoon flowers like wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids.
Question 3.
January 26
Winter Rains in the Hills
In the hushed silence of the house when I am quite alone, and my friend, who was here has gone, it is very lonely, very quiet, as I sit in a liquid silence, a silence within, surrounded by the rhythm of rain, the steady drift of water on leaves, on lemons, on roof, drumming on drenched dahlias and window panes, while the mist holds the house in a dark caress.
As I pause near a window, the rain stops. And starts again. And the trees, no longer green but grey, menace me with their loneliness.
March 23
Late March. End of winter.
The blackest cloud I’ve ever seen squatted over Mussoorie, and then it hailed marbles for half an hour. Nothing like a hailstorm to clear the sky. Even as I write, I see a rainbow forming.
Questions:
(1) Where is the writer now ? What is he doing?
Answer:
The writer is alone in the house sitting in a liquid silence.
(2) What is the writer surrounded by ? Describe his feelings.
Answer:
The writer is surrounded by the rhythm of rain. He feels the steady drift of water on leaves, on lemons, on roof. It is drumming on drenched dahlias and window panes. And the mist has held the house in a dark caress.
(3) What does the writer see through his window?
Answer:
Through his window, the writer sees the rain stopping and then starting once again. The trees look grey.
(4) Describe the hailstorm.
Answer:
There is the blackest cloud settle over Mussoorie and it hailed marbles for half an hour. Then the sky became quite clear after this.
Vocabulary
Replace the underlined words selecting the most appropriate options from the brackets:
(1) Harry walked through the kitchen and 1 snapped up two cookies on the way.
(stole, ate up, grasped quickly)
(2) You must keep the child from her mother until the mother is infection-free.
(hold away from, keep in touch, keep alert about)
(3) He’s my brother, so I support him all the way.
(completely, closely, thoughtlessly)
(4) The bright light suffused the leaves with a golden glow.
(saturated with, deprived with, made wet with)
(5) The blackest cloud squatted over the city.
(showered over, flew over, settled down over)
Answer:
(1) Harry walked through the kitchen and grasped up two cookies quickly on the way.
(2) You must hold the child away from her mother until the mother is infection-free. !
(3) He’s my brother, so I support him completely.
(4) The bright light saturated the leaves with a golden glow.
(5) The blackest cloud settled down over the city.
Choose the correct words from the brackets and complete the following passages:
Question 1.
(climbing, blankets, silent, melancholy, mist, conceal)
The first day of monsoon ……………..1……………. . And it’s strange how all the birds fall ……………2…………… as the mist comes …………..3………….. up the hill. Perhaps that’s what makes the mist so …………..4………….. ; not only does it …………….5………….. the hills, it ……………6………… them in silence too.
Answer:
1. mist
2. silent
3. climbing
4. melancholy
5. conceal
6. blankets
Question 2.
(tropical, steady, drumming, awake, corrugated, thunder)
All night the rain has been …………….1…………… on the ……………2………….. tin roof. There has been no storm, no ………………3………… , just the ………….4………….. swish of a ……………5…………….. downpour. It helps me to lie ………….6…………… ; at the same time, it doesn’t keep me from sleeping.
Answer:
1. drumming
2. corrugated
3. thunder
4. steady
5. tropical
6. awake
Grammar
Choose the correct Article(s), Conjunction(s) and Preposition (s) and complete the following passages:
Question 1.
It is a good sound to read …………..1…………… -the rain outside, ………….2………….. quiet within – and, ……………..3………… tin roofs are given ………….4………… springing unaccountable leaks, there is ………….5…………… feeling of being untouched by, and …………..6……………. in touch with, the rain.
Answer:
1. by
2. the
3. although
4. to
5. a
6. yet
Question 2.
In ………….1…………….. hushed silence of the house …………….2………….. I am quite alone, ………….3……………. my friend, who was here has gone, it is very lonely, very quiet, ……………4…………….. I sit in a liquid silence, a silence …………..5…………. surrounded …………….6………….. the rhythm of rain.
Answer:
1. the
2. when
3. and
4. as
5. within
6. by
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of verbs given in the brackets and complete the texts:
Question 1.
The blackest cloud I …………1…………. ever …………….1……….. (see) squatted over Mussoorie, and then it …………2………… (hall) marbles for half an horn. Nothing like a hailstorm …………3……….. (clear) the sky. Even as I write, I see a rainbow ………..4…………… (form).
Answer:
1. have, seen
2. hailed
3. to clear
4. forming
Question 2.
All night the rain ………….1…………… (drum) on the corrugated tin roof. There ………..2……………. (be) no storm, no thunder, just the steady swish of a tropical downpour. It helps me ………….3…………… (lie) awake; at the same time, it doesn’t keep me from …………..4…………… (sleep).
Answer:
1. has been drumming
2. has been
3. to lie
4. sleeping
Change the voice of the following:
(1) It blankets them in silence.
(2) Bijju is calling to his sister.
(3) The mist affords a certain privacy.
(4) A school boy asked me to describe the hill-station.
(5)The rains have heralded the arrival of some seasonal visitors.
(6) A woman is chopping up sticks.
(7) We haven’t seen the sun for eight or nine days.
Answer:
(1) They are blanketed in silence by it.
(2) His sister is being called to by Bijju.
(3) A certain privacy is afforded by the mist.
(4) I was asked to describe the hill-station by a school boy.
(5) The arrival of some seasonal visitors has been heralded by the rains.
(6) Sticks are being chopped up by a woman.
(7) The sun hasn’t been seen by us for eight or nine days.
Turn the following dialogue into s indirect speech:
Question 1.
The nephews said, “Sir, the bird’s education has been completed.”
“Does it hop?” the Raja enquired.
“Never!” said the nephews.
“Does it fly?”
“No.”
Answer:
The nephews reported to the Raja respectfully that the bird’s education had been completed. The Raja enquired if it hopped. t, The nephews replied loudly that it never hopped. Then the Raja enquired further if it s flew. Once more the nephews replied negatively.
Question 2.
Prometheus: Zeus must be very angry l with me.
Epimetheus: I know, you promised not to .steal the fire, and you did.
Prometheus: Mortals needed it. Fire is useful for them.
Epimetheus: Yes, but we must be very careful.
Answer:
Premetheus shared his feelings with Epimetheus that Zeus must be very angry i with him. Epimetheus told him that he knew that and giving the reason, he told that he had promised not to steal the fire, yet he \ had done it. Premetheus explained that he had stolen the fire as mortals had needed it and told further that fire was useful for them. Epimetheus agreed with Prometheus’s argument and accepted that they must be very careful.
Rewrite as directed:
(1) Not only does the mist conceal the hills, it blankets them in silence too.,
(Use ‘both’.)
(2) I can hear him running about on the hillside.
(Change the Voice.)
(3) They sometimes contrive to go unnoticed.
(Use ‘without’.)
(4) It doesn’t keep me from sleeping.
(Turn into Affirmative.)
(5 ) Water drips from a leaking drainpipe.
(Turn into Complex.)
(6) The seeds of the cobra lily are turning red, signifying that the rains are coming to end. (Turn into Simple.)
(7) It is very lonely, very quiet.
(Turn into Exclamatory.)
Answer:
(1) The mist does both conceals the hills and blankets them in silence.
(2) He can be heard running about on the hillside by me.
(3) They sometimes contrive to go without being noticed.
(4) It hardly deprives me of sleeping.
(5) Water drips from a drainpipe which is leaking.
(6) The seeds of the cobra lily are turning red signifying the coming end of the rain.
(7) How lonely and quiet it is !
A Short Monsoon Diary Summary in English
A Short Monsoon Diary Summary:
These are the diary entries by the famous writer Ruskin Bond for ten different days spreading across a period of ten months of the year. Here he tells us about the nature of silent miracles and life’s little joys and regrets. June 24 was the first day of monsoon mist. The mist was saddening. It concealed the hills and spread silence. The birds stopped singing suddenly. June 25 brought early monsoon rain. It became warm and humid. The mist, in a way, afforded some privacy. A boy asked him to describe the hill station and the valley.
Ruskin only said that it could have been a paradise. The rain marked the arrival of- some seasonal visitors like a preying leopard and a large number of leeches. Then there are new arrivals of minivets flitting around and some drongos chasing those minivets. Insectivorous birds find a lot of insects to feed on.
The diary of August 2 mentions the steady swish of a tropical downpour drumming on the corrugated tin roof keeping the writer from sleeping. The diary note of August 3 gives a brief description of the activities on the hillside after the rain stops and the song of the whistling thrush from the depths of the ravine. In the diary note of August 12, endless rain and longlasting mist is described. The hillsides are lush with monsoon flowers. The diary of August 31 tells as about the lush monsoon growth which reaches its peak.
Changes of colour in different flowers and plants suggest the end of monsoon. Snakes and other rodents also come out as their holes and burrows are submerged. Chuchundars also start running about rooms. October 3 diary suggests the onset of winter rain. There is snow at higher altitudes. After an evening hailstorm, the sky and hills turn golden with sunlight. The note of January 26, relates the winter rains in the hills. After steady rain, the mist pervades all over. The diary entry of March 23 marks the end of winter and the forming of a rainbow.