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SUB: ENGLISH CLASS – VIII

A short Monsoon Diary

Comprehension Check (Page 117)

Questions:

1. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face
the monsoon?
2. Which hill-station does the author describe in the diary entry?
3. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these
days?
4. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
5. What did the author receive in the mail?

Answers:

1. The monsoon season in Mussoorie begins from June 24/25. By August 2, the people are fed
up with rain. It ends by August 31. Then begins winter rains which end by late March. We
take out our raincoats and umbrellas to face the monsoon.
2. Mussoorie
3. It rains non-stop for eight or nine days. The author keeps pacing the room and looking out of
the window.
4. The rodents and snakes take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. They do so because their
holes are flooded with rainwater.
5. The author received a cheque in the mail.

Working With the Text (Page 118)

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: Rains in Mussoorie begin in June and end by March. June 24 is the first day of monsoon
mist which covered the hills and spreads silence. On August 2 it rained all night and made sleeping
difficult. By late March ends winter as well as the rains.
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: Wild balsam, dahlias, begonias, and ground orchids begin to appear. The seeds of cobra
lily are turning red. These signs show that the monsoons are about to end.

Question 4: Complete the following sentences.

Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because__________.
The writer describes the hill station and valley as _________.
The leopard was’ successful in________ but had to flee when
The minivets are easily noticed because _________.
It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when_________.
During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because
_________.
Answer:
dense mist covers and hides the hills.
‘A paradise that might have been.’
killing a dog but had to flee when Bijju’s mother arrived crying curses.
of their bright colours.
they are covered by a variety of flowers.
their holes are flooded with water and these places provide them convenient shelter.

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.’
1. Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’?
2. How is the writer untouched by the rain?
3. How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?

Answer:

i. The word 'springing' is used to show the suddenness with which water starts leaking.
ii. The writer is untouched by the rain because he is inside the room.
iii. He hears the drumming of rain on the tin roof. He also looks out of the window to see the
rains.

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, life becomes difficult. To go out becomes
difficult. One gets bored living in the room all the time. Everything becomes damp and soggy. The
washed clothes do not get dried. Constant rainfall is an invitation for many insects, rodents, and
 snakes to enter the house. It can also cause diseases. The sun is the source of life. If sunlight
doesn’t reach people for a long time, they fall ill.

Question 7: What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning
and end?
Answer: The first cobra lily is seen with the arrival of the monsoon. When its seeds begin to turn
red, it is an indication that the rains are over.

Working With Language (Page 118)

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 verb.
The verb wandered tells us what Bijju did that evening. But the verb was ringing tells us what was
happening continually at same time in the past (the birds were chirping in the trees).
Now look the at 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.

1. We (get out) of the school bus. The bell (ring) and everyone (rush) to class.
2. The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout) slogans.
3. I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
4. She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
5. We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games,
6. The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).

Answer:

1. We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing, and everyone was rushing to
class.
2. The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road, and they were shouting
slogans.
3. I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.
4. She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully,
5. We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were
playing games.
6. 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.).

(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: (i) (1) drip (2) drum (3) swish (4) caw (5) tinkle.
(ii) (1) drummed (2) dripped (3) was swishing (4) tinkle (5) caw

Question 4: And sure enough. I received a cheque in the mail.

Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrase from the ones given 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.
2. The blue umbrella was___ ____ for the brother and sister.
3. The butterflies are___ _____ to get noticed.
4. The lady was___ _____to chase the leopard.
5. The boy was____ ____ to call out to his sister.
6. The man was____ ____ to offer help.
7. The victim’s injury was____ _____ for him to get admitted in hospital.
8. That person was____ _____ to repeat the same mistake again.
9. He told me he was sorry, and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘___ _____.’

Answer:
1. sure enough 4. brave enough 7. serious enough
2. big enough 5. anxious enough 8. foolish enough
3. colourful enough 6. kind enough 9. Fair enough
Extra Question-Answers

Question 1. How can you say that “Plants to know that monsoon rain had come”?
Answer: When monsoon rain (warm & humid) comes the first cobra lily rears its head from the
ferns. So, we can say that “Plants to know that monsoon had come.”

Question 2. Write the name of seasonal visitors that rain heralded.

Answer: The rain heralded the arrival of some seasonal visitors i.e., a leopard, several thousands
of leeches, scarlet minivets, drongos, a tree creeper etc.

Question 3. Where did the author find the leopard and what was he doing there?
Answer: The leopard was near the servant’s quarter below the school, and he was lifting a dog.
In the evening leopard attacked one of Bijju’s cows. He approached Bijju’s mother who was
screaming imprecations.

Question 4. Why can scarlet minivets not conceal themselves under the trees?
Answer: Scarlet minivets (bright red bird like a cuckoo) they flit among leaves like brilliant jewels.
But they cannot conceal themselves. No matter how leafy the tree because they are very bright
in colour.”

Question 5. What were creeper doing at the trunk of tree?

Answer: The creeper was moving rapidly up the trunk of the oak tree. They were snapping up
insects all around. As there is rain so these is no dearth of insectivorous birds.

Question 6. What happened on August 3?

Answer: On August 3, the rain stops the clouds begin to break up, the sun strikes the hills, he
heard the tinkle of cowbells and suddenly, clean & pure the song of whistling thrush emerges like
a dark sweet secret from the depths of the ravine.

Question 7. What were the natural phenomenon which were showing that rains are coming to
an end?
Answer: Lush monsoon growth has reached its peak, the seeds of the cobra lily are turning red,
this all were signifying that rains are coming to an end.

Question 8. Why was author feeling alone on January 26?

Answer: The author was feeling alone in the hushed silence of house because his friend went
away from him. So, it was very lonely and quiet in the silence.

Question 9. What happened in the late March or end of winter?

Answer: At the end of winter, he saw the blackest cloud over Mussoorie and then it hailed marbles
for half an. hour. As he wrote, he saw a rainbow forming.
Question 10. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare
to face the monsoon?
Answer: The monsoon enters India from east and south somewhere around mid of May. It
reaches northern part of the country around second week of June. The monsoon ends around
September. We take out our raincoats and umbrellas to face the monsoon.

Question 11. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
Answer: The snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns in order to save
themselves from rainwater.

Question 12. What is the importance of diary entry? How does it reflect the mood and phases
of the writer?
Answer: Diary entry is a form of literature when one expresses his thoughts without hesitation. A
diary writer makes entries that reflects his mood. He also writes to keep a record of events and
happenings that he would like to remember forever. It is also helpful in understanding the journey
a person goes through.

Question 13. The lesson is a record of personal experiences that is helpful in understanding the
nature. Give your opinion.
Answer: The lesson is a personal account of Ruskin Bond, who described nature and its bounties.
It is a writer’s document that is helpful for any traveller. It gives confidence and detailed account
of the hill station. The weather and miracle of nature is narrated so well, that anyone can feel
association with the surrounding.

Question 14. 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 up
the hills. The author calls 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 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.