NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 7 - A Visit To Cambridge

Message Conveyed in Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 7 A Visit to Cambridge

Journalist Firdaus Kanga’s ‘A Visit to Cambridge’ is essentially a travelogue that brings to the foreground the exchange of views in a meeting between two ‘differently-abled’ people. One of them is the legendary scientist Stephen Hawking, who was suffering from a neurodegenerative disease that gradually paralysed him over decades and the other is Firdaus Kanga, a writer, and journalist born with brittle bones. 

In the story, both of them discuss their perspectives and the difficulties they face while living their lives in a wheelchair. It also delineates the reaction of others or the so-called ‘normals’ towards disabled individuals. The story emphasises themes such as the lives of differently-abled people, others’ reactions towards them, and how to live life in a wheelchair. The author outlines the message of living a better life and how one should focus on what they are good at and their talent irrespective of the disabilities that one might have.

Comprehension Check

Which is the right sentence?

1. “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer

(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.

(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.

(iii) Cambridge was the real England.

Ans: (iii) Cambridge was the real England.

2. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house

(i) From the nearest phone booth.

(ii) From outside a phone booth.

(iii) From inside a phone booth.

Ans: (ii) From outside a phone booth. 

3. Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because

(i) He wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.

(ii) He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

(iii) He was face to face with a legend.

Ans: (ii) He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesizer.

4. “I felt a huge relief…in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to

(i) Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

(ii) Standing up, walking.

(iii) Speaking, writing. 

Ans: (i) Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

Working With Text

Answer the following questions:

1. (i)  Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?

Ans: The prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking made the writer nervous because Stephen Hawking is a brilliant scientist. He is quadriplegic. He is the writer of a world-renowned book “A Brief History of Time”. He became the descendant of Isaac Newton at the University of Cambridge. To meet with such a great personality, made the writer nervous. 

(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?

Ans: Yes, the writer felt excited as well. He was excited to meet this brilliant disabled scientist who was considered as a descendant of Sir Isaac Newton. He had achieved many milestones in his life. The writer was made aware of many possibilities present before him and he felt stronger because of the meeting. This meeting helped him to reach out which he thought he never could. 

2. Guess the first question put before the scientist by the writer. 

Ans: The writer’s first question to Hawking might have been about his disability, how he had accepted it and how he had been so brave to reach where he had.

3. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it? 

Ans: The writer thought that Hawking had a choice. He could have been depressed about his situation and be sad about his disability. However, he chooses to accept the reality of his disintegrating body and lives his life creatively.

4.“I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?

Ans: Hawking’s mind was full of many great ideas that he wanted to speak out loud. However, he was not able to speak clearly. He fumbled while speaking and spoke in phrases that didn't express his feelings or emotions. His sentences did not have any sentiments. The writer felt that Hawking was anguished by the fact that he could not express everything that he thought of because of his disability. What was really sad was that he used a computer to speak for himself.

5. What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?

Ans: When the writer asks Stephen Hawking if he was disturbed by someone like him. Hawking replied to him very honestly and told him that he was disturbed by the writer. Then, he gave a one-way smile and this is what endeared the writer. The writer felt at that moment that Stephen Hawking was one of the most beautiful men in the world. The writer was himself disabled and felt that it is the soul that matters in a person and not the body. The body is just a mere accessory.

6. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?

Ans: The most beautiful sentence which describes Hawking’s inner glow and makes his disability look irrelevant is: “before you like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin, you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man”.

7. (i) If ‘the lanterns’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?

Ans: The ‘walls’ would be the human body.

(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?

Ans: Light of light is housed within the thin walls 

(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?

Ans: The writer realized that the soul of a man is what matters the most. The body is just an accessory.

8. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?

Ans: Stephen Hawking gave a message to the disabled that they should concentrate on things which they are good at. They should be grateful to God and make the best use of their abilities. They should not set impossible goals for themselves.

9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?

Ans: Stephen Hawking believed that the disabled should concentrate on things they are good at and that events like the disabled Olympics are a waste. The writer agreed with him because he himself tried to play Spanish Guitar for years and failed as it was larger than himself. The writer recalled being very happy when finally one night he unstrung it. 

10. The writer expressed his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is gratitude for?

Ans: The writer felt inspired by Stephen Hawking and expressed his gratitude towards him. He thought that Hawking was a very brave person and he himself could have been as brave as Hawking, he would have achieved so much. He felt stronger after meeting with Hawking and it made him realize that even he could do great things in life.

11. Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.

(i) There was his assistant on the line …

Ans: There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, …

Ans: You get fed up with people asking you to be brave as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.

(iii) There he was, …

Ans: There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to find words on his computer.

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, …

Ans: You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent – it is hard to tell what 

(v) It doesn’t do much good to know …

Ans: It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

Working with Language 

1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.

(i) I met a ____________ from an antique land.

Ans: Traveler

(ii) I need special ____________ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.

Ans: Guidance

(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy ____________ to Issac Newton.

Ans: Successor

(iv) His other problems ____________ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.

Ans: Paled

(v) The meeting was ____________ by the youngest member of the board.

Ans: Chaired

(vi) Some people say ‘yours ____________’ when they informally refer to themselves.

Ans: Truly

(vii) I wish it had been a ____________ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.

Ans: Drawn

2. Make six phrases using the words given in the box.

Ans:

i. Reading session

ii. Smiling face

Iii.Revolving chair

iv. Walking tour

v. Dancing doll

vi. Winning chance

3. Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.

(i) He has two brothers. _______ are lawyers.

Ans: Both

(ii) More than ten people called. _______ of them wanted to see you.

Ans: All

(iii) They _______ cheered the team.

Ans: All

(iv) _______ her parents are teachers.

Ans: Both

(v) How much have you got? Give me _______ of it.

Ans: All

4. Complete each sentence using the right form of adjectives given in the brackets.

(i) My friend has one of the _______ cars on the road. (fast)

Ans: fastest

(ii) This is the _______ story I have ever read. (interesting)

Ans: most interesting

(iii) What you are doing now is _______ than what you did yesterday. (easy)

Ans: easier

(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both _______. (short)

Ans: Short

(v) He arrived _______ as usual. Even the chief guest came _______ than he did. (late, early)

Ans: late, earlier

Speaking and Writing

1. Underline stressed syllables in the following words. Consult the dictionary or ask the teacher if necessary

Ans:

Artist

Mistake

Accident

Moment

Compare

Satisfy

Relation

Table

Illegal

Agree

Backward

Mountain

2. Writing a notice for the School Notice Board.

Step 1

Discuss why notices are put up on the notice board. What kinds of ‘notices’ have you lately seen on the board? How is a notice different from a letter or a descriptive paragraph?

Step 2

Suppose you have lost or found something on the campus. What have you lost or found? You want to write a notice about it. If you have lost something, you want it restored to you in case someone has found it. If you have found something, you want to return it to its owner.

Step 3

Write a few lines describing the object you have lost or found. Mention the purpose of the notice in clear terms. Also write your name, class, section and date.

Step 4

Let one member of each group read aloud the notice to the entire class. Compare your notice with the other notices, and make changes, if necessary, with the help of the teacher.

or

Imagine that you are a journalist. You have been asked to interview the president of the village panchayat. Write eight to ten questions you wish to ask. The questions should elicit comments as well as plans regarding water and electricity, cleanliness and school education in the village.

Ans:

or

The questions which I wish to ask the president of the Village Panchayat are:

• What are your plans for the development of education in your area?

• How will you improve the healthcare facilities?

• What will you do to promote cleanliness in the area?

• What plans do you have for improving agriculture in the village?

• Do you plan to promote female children in any way?

• Will you do anything for farmers?

• Will you work for the betterment of the infrastructure of the village?

• What have you planned for civil amenities?

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 7 A Visit to Cambridge

Class 8 English Chapter A Visit to Cambridge

Class 8 English Chapter A Visit To Cambridge is a story written by a journalist Firdaus Kanga. He had traveled all over the world. Firdaus Kanga was also handicapped, but he never let that become his disability in any way. This is the reason why he became an inspiration to the people around him. In this story, the author shares one of his experiences in England. The author describes the experience of his visit to Cambridge University, where he got a chance to interview Stephen Hawking. We all know that Stephen Hawking is a disabled person. 

Stephen Hawking was a famous astrophysicist who was also the successor of Isaac Newton's chair at Cambridge University's physics department. Stephen Hawking was also the author of the renowned book, 'A Brief History Of Time', and his time's biggest best-seller. He called Stephen Hawking's assistant and told him that he had come all over the way from India, and he was in a wheelchair. He also proposed his wish to write a book based on his travels in England and his desire to meet that famous personality, Stephen Hawking. His assistant fixed a meeting for the author from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The author became very surprised by seeing that a machine was supporting his body. However, the author managed himself and at first asked him about his courage. To read more, download, Honeydew Class 8 Chapter 7 pdf now

NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 7 – Free PDF Download

A visit to Cambridge is a very motivating story. This is also very important for your exams. So NCERT Solutions For Class 8 English a Visit To Cambridge would prove very helpful for you. We have interacted with millions of students throughout India, so we know and understand the chapters in which students may face problems and tend to skip that chapter during exam pressure. But as the best online teaching academy in India, we can assure you that if you access the Vedantu's Class 8 Honeydew Chapter 7 Solution and learn and modify your answers according to it, then you would be able to achieve the desired marks even in this chapter. After going through it thoroughly, you will be confident enough about this chapter. This will also help you to learn how to answer any other question from this chapter by yourself. So download the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English chapter 7 PDF from the link as provided below.   

NCERT Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter-wise Solutions

• Chapter 1 - The Best Christmas Present in the World

• Chapter 2 - The Tsunami

• Chapter 3 - Glimpses of the Past

• Chapter 4 - Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory

• Chapter 5 - The Summit Within

• Chapter 6 - This is Jody’s Fawn

• Chapter 7 - A Visit to Cambridge

• Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary

• Chapter 9 - The Great Stone Face – I

• Chapter 10 - The Great Stone Face – II

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