Solutions (Answers) of NCERT (CBSE) English Textbook Exercise
Class 8, Honeydew
The Best Christmas Present in the World
Comprehension Check (Important Questions)
Q.1: What did the
author find in a junk shop?
Answer: The author found a
very old 19th century roll-top desk in a junk shop. It was made of
oak. It was in bad condition. So it was being sold at a cheap price.
Q.2: What did he
find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer: In a secret drawer
of a roll-top desk, the author found a small tin box. There was a letter in
that box.
There
was a piece of lined newspaper pasted on the box on which it was hand-written:
“Jim’s last letter received, January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the
time comes.” This clearly indicated that it was placed there by the addressee.
The address on the envelope revealed that it was for Mrs. Jim Macpherson of 12,
Copper Breeches Bridport, Dorset.” So Connie, the wife of Jim Macpherson must
have put it there.
Q.3: Who had written
the letter, to whom and when?
Answer: Jim Macpherson,
captain of the British army, wrote this letter while he was fighting the German
forces. The letter was dated December 26, 1914. It was addressed to his wife
Connie.
Q.4: Why was the
letter written - what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer: The letter was
written to describe a wonderful incident. Mr. Jim Macpherson wanted to share
his feelings of this beautiful incident with his wife. It occurred on the
Christmas day of 1914. The wonderful thing was that the two armies fighting
each other celebrated Christmas together.
Q.5: Do you think
Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?
Answer: Jim Macpherson
never came back from the war. His wife Connie knew about his death. That was
why she kept the letter in a tin box. She wrote on the top of the box that it
was Jim’s last letter.
Q.6: How old was
Mrs. Macpherson now? Where was she?
Answer: Mrs. Macpherson
was now 101 years old. She was in the conservatory of a hospital.
Q.7: Who did Connie
Macpherson think her visitor was?
Answer: Connie Macpherson
thought that her visitor was her husband Jim Macpherson.
Working with the Text (Important Questions)
Q.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 for a long time. She had received it on January 25, 1915. Jim had
written it on December 26, 1914. At that time Jim was an officer, a captain in
the British army. A captain in the army is always a young man and it means
Jim’s wife Connie must have also been young then. In the story she is 101. It
means the letter was about 70 - 75 years old.
There
are hints also. The table containing the letter was found in a junk shop which
is also an indication of its oldness.
Q.3: Why do Jim and
Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you
agree?
Answer: Jim and Hans are
people whose heart is full of kindness. While serving the army they have been a
witness to all the sufferings of war. So it is also natural for them to hate
war. However the problems between the two countries are bound to there. A
non-violent method to resolve these problems is what they desire. It occurs to
them that this method can be to compete in games. So they think that games or
sports are good ways of resolving conflicts.
I
agree that some non-violent method must be found to resolve disputes between
nations.
Q.4: Do you think
the soldiers of the two armies like each other, or different from each other?
Find evidence from the story to support your answer.
Answer: The soldiers of
the two armies like each other and the story is all about it. They like to
greet to each other, play football, eat and drink together. The two captains
talk affectionately about their lives away from the field. They agree that the
problems can be resolved in a non-violent method like - by competing in games
instead of fighting wars.
The
soldiers of both the armies long for peace and are eager to end the war. They
want to go back to their families. Thus, there is much which is common in
between them.
Q.5: Mention the
various ways in which the British and German soldiers become friends and find
things in common at Christmas.
Answer: It was the
Christmas that made the British and German soldiers friends. They were the
Germans who waved a white flag and wished the British a happy Christmas. The
British responded with “same to you.” They were surprised when the Germans
moved further towards them without arms. The British captain was alarmed that
it might be a trick although, it was not.
Then
they came close, shook hands. The Christmas and the ways of celebrating it were
common between the two. They played, they ate and sang carols. The two captains
talked of their families and their own fields of activities when there was no
war. They had the same tender feeling about the same feelings about life. They
did not want to fight. They liked peace and wanted to be with their families as
soon as possible. They wished the disputes between the nations could be
resolved by a non-violent way like playing or competing games.
Q.6: What is
Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it “the best Christmas present in the
world”?
Answer: Connie’s Christmas
present was the letter which the author had brought fro her. However, in her
muddled state she thought that it was not the author but her husband, Jim. She
called the author Jim and made him sit beside her. She kissed him on the cheek.
She thought that her husband had returned after such a long time. So she said
that it was the best Christmas present she had ever received.
Q.7: Do you think
the title of this story is suitable for it? Can you think of any other
title(s)?
Answer: The title of the
story is quite suitable. ‘The Best Christmas Present in the World’ refers to
the present received by the old lady. As otherwise also the story is totally
related to and moves around Christmas. However, it is possible to find
alternate titles like -‘War and Peace’. ‘Christmas Present’ could also be a
title.
really helpful ;p
ReplyDeletereally helpful :D
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