NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary

Comprehension Check 

1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?

Ans: The monsoon engulfs the hills of Mussoorie with mist like a white blanket.

2. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?

Ans: The mist covers the whole area like a white blanket and gives a feel of nightfall. This silences the birds since they get an illusion of night and makes the forest still and silent.

3. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?

Ans: The monsoon arrives in India from east and south. It begins around mid of May and reaches the northern part of India around the second week of June. The monsoon withdraws itself around September. We can prepare to face the monsoon by taking out our raincoats, boots and umbrellas and keeping them handy.

4. Which hill station does the author describe in this diary entry?

Ans: The author splendidly describes the beauty of Mussoorie.
 

5. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?

Ans: The heavens rained for around eight or nine days without stopping. Since it was raining the author was bound to stay in his room and looked out of his window at a few umbrellas.

6. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?

Ans: Roofs, attics and Godowns are a few places where snakes and rodents take shelter to protect themselves from rain.

7. What did the author receive in the mail?

Ans: A cheque was received by the author in the mail.

Working with Text  

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.

Ans: June 24 was the day when the monsoon mist appeared. It engulfed the hills and the forests were frozen in utter silence. The showers hit on June 25 and nature welcomed it with open arms, devouring its every drop. The cobra lily also appeared. It rained for a few days and by 2 August people became weary of the monsoon and there was just a tropical downpour. People were forced to stay in their homes and cancel all their plans. Snakes and rodents had to take shelter in attics and godowns. The sky became clearer by March 23 and a rainbow was seen across the clear sky.

2. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?

Ans: Chuchundar was a symbol of luck and hence grandmother refrained the kids from killing it. She said that it brings money to the home of the visitor.

3. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?

Ans: The seeds of cobra lily turn red as monsoon departures. Flowers like wild balsam, begonias and ground orchids also appear.

4. Complete the following sentences.

(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because ____________.

Ans: of the mist in the surroundings.

(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as ___________.

Ans: a paradise that might have been.

(iii) The leopard was successful in ______________but had to flee when ____________.

Ans: attacking one of Bijju’s cows, Bijju’s mother came screaming curses.

(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because ____________.

Ans: of their bright colours.

(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ____________.

Ans: 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 ____________.

Ans: they have been flooded out of their holes and burrows.

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’?

Ans: The roofs develop leaks from unexpected spots during monsoon. The word ‘springing’ means to develop suddenly.

(ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain?

Ans: The tin roof physically stops the rain drops from touching the writer.

(iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?

Ans: The drumming sound of the rain on the corrugated roof announces the presence of the rain without being in physical contact with it. Its presence keeps the writer in touch with the rain at the same time.

6. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.

Ans: The weather and atmosphere become damp and soggy when it rains for days. The roads are full of puddles and algae blooms on rocks and wet, unclean floors. Flowers such as dahlias and begonias also appear. Landslides become a common phenomenon during rains in hilly regions.

7. What is the significance of cobra lilies in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?

Ans: Cobra lily first appears when the monsoon begins and its seeds turn red when the monsoon ends.

Working with Language

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?

Ans: More words are:

Puddles

Hailstorm

Petrichor

Paper boats

Frogs

Words for these in the local language are barish, baad, kohara, baadal, chaata, moosaladhaar barish.

2. 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.

Ans: We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was rushing to class.

(ii) The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout) slogans.

Ans: The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.

(iii) I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.

Ans: I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.

(iv) She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.

Ans: She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.

(v) We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games.

Ans: We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.

(vi) The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).

Ans: The class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.

3. Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds.

(i) Match these words with their correct meanings.

(a) to fall in small drops

Ans: drip

(b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly

Ans: drum

(c) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound

Ans: swish

(d) harsh sound made by birds

Ans: caw

(e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.)

Ans: tinkle

(ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above.

(a) Ramesh ______________on his desk in impatience.

Ans: drummed

(b) Rain water _____________ from the umbrella all over the carpet.

Ans: dripped

(c) The pony ____________its tail.

Ans: swished

(d) The ___________of breaking glass woke me up.

Ans: tinkling

(e) The ____________of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.

Ans: cawing

4. Complete each sentence below by using an appropriate phrase from the ones given below.

(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And _____________it soon started raining heavily.

Ans: sure enough

(ii) The blue umbrella was ______________ for the brother and sister.

Ans: big enough

(iii) The butterflies are _____________ to get noticed.

Ans: colourful enough

(iv) The lady was _____________ to chase the leopard.

Ans: brave enough

(v) The boy was ______________ to call out to his sister.

Ans: anxious enough

(vi) The man was _____________ to offer help.

Ans: kind enough

(vii) The victim’s injury was ______________for him to get admitted in hospital.

Ans: serious enough

(viii) That person was ____________ to repeat the same mistake again.

Ans: foolish enough

(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘___________ ___________.’

Ans: fair enough

Speaking
1. Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not? Working with your partner, write down three superstitious beliefs that you are familiar with.

Ans: No, I don’t believe in superstitions because I consider it a very vague way to predict the future, especially negative events. Three common superstitions in my country are that a black cat crossing the road in front of you means arrival of bad luck, itchy palm signifying arrival of money and a black crow cawing in the periphery of your home means a guest would arrive.

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.

Ans: Minivets, tree creepers, crows and drongos are some of the birds mentioned in the chapter. I have come across birds like sparrows, pigeons and mayna. Earlier we could see some parakeets and ashy prinia. We don’t see them often now because of increased pollution and settlement in the area, the wildlife has deteriorated. The forests are being cut which reduces the shelter and habitat of these birds and is a prime reason for their extinction.

Writing

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, power cuts and so on.

Write a paragraph describing an incident that occurred during the rains which you can never forget.

or

Write a poem of your own about the season of spring when trees are in full bloom.

Ans: My sister and I eagerly wait for rain every year. It’s our tradition to make paper boats and swim them in the puddles that get formed on the road. It is always as thrilling as the first time. We run around with our umbrellas, drenched in water from head to toe trying to make the most of the rainy season. The moments become more special when we are joined by our cousins. The game became even more fun and we did a small boat race too. It’s a memory that I always cherish and revisit.

Or
“Spring”

It’s the time 

when nature enchants mankind.

The flowers dot the earth with colours

and their fragrance intoxicates the air.

After a season of white heaven,

colours dance on earth again.

To welcome love and warmth

into the heart of the mortals again.

Everyone watches in awe

the beauty nature spreads beneath our feet

And it makes us realize

how enchanting life can be again,

after a stagnant, dull period.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 8 A Short Monsoon Diary - Free PDF Download

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Class 8 English Chapter A Short Monsoon Diary

Class 8 English Chapter A Short Monsoon Diary consists of a few extracts from the diary of Ruskin Bond. This chapter describes the author’s experiences about the monsoons in Mussoorie. On the first day of monsoon, the mist covered the hills. And Bijju was calling his sister, but the author could not see him due to heavy fog. The next day the rain was warm and humid. Due to the monsoon, one can see leeches, birds, and leopards. After a few days of continuous raining, it stops, and the sun shines. All the animals, birds, and people are out once again. It rained non-stop for more than a week, which made everything damp. The author also says that this year the monsoon will continue for longer than usual. One can see many seasonal flowers blooming after the monsoon.

During January, Ruskin Bond wrote a poem on winter rain. At that moment, he was feeling very lonely. During March, the winter ends, and a rainbow could be seen. To completely access Class 8 English A Short Monsoon Diary and to read more like this download, join us by downloading the Vedantu learning app from the Google play store.

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