CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 8 – A Short Monsoon Diary Important Question Answers from Honeydew Book
Class 8 A Short Monsoon Diary Question Answers – Looking for A Short Monsoon Diary Important questions and answers for CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew Book Chapter 8? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practicing Class 8 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 8: A Short Monsoon Diary now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given Text book Questions (NCERT Solutions) to the chapter’s Extract-based Questions and Extra Question Answers
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
- A Short Monsoon Diary Text Book Questions
- A Short Monsoon Diary Grammar Exercises
- A Short Monsoon Diary Extract Based Questions
- A Short Monsoon Diary Extra Question Answers
Related:
- A Short Monsoon Diary Summary, Explanation
- A Short Monsoon Diary MCQs
- A Short Monsoon Diary Character Sketch
Class 8 English A Short Monsoon Diary Text Book Questions – NCERT Solutions
Comprehension Check
1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
Ans. The author is unable to see Bijju because the mist has concealed the hills. Thus, he could only hear Bijju.
2. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?
Ans. The author mentions two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up. First, it conceals the hills. Second, it blankets the singing birds in silence too, because of which the trees that were ringing with birdsong an hour before, are now deathly still as if it were midnight.
3. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?
Ans.The monsoon season begins in the last week of June and continues till the end of August. One generally prepares for the monsoon season by taking out raincoats and umbrellas.
4. Which hill-station does the author describe in this diary entry?
Ans. The author describes Monsoon and some part of the winter season in Mussoorie and Landour in his diary.
5. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?
Ans. It rained for almost eight to nine days straight without a break. The author mentions that there was nowhere to go and he passed his time by pacing up and down in the room and looking out of the window at a few bobbing umbrellas.
6. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
Ans. Snakes and rodents flood out of their holes and burrows, to take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns as their holes and burrows get filled with the water due to the continuous rain in the monsoon season.
7. What did the author receive in the mail?
Ans. The author received a cheque in his mail.
Working with the 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. As the mountains experienced the first day of monsoon mist, somewhere in the last week of June, the birds fell silent and the forest became deathly still as though it were midnight. Not only this, the mist even concealed the hills. The plants sensed it and the first cobra lily reared its head from the ferns. The hills experienced a downpour the entire night before August 3 which helped the author stay awake but couldn’t keep him from sleeping as well. As March arrived, the hills experienced dark clouds sitting over them. It hailed marbles for quite some time, only to leave the sky clear for the rainbow to form
2. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?
Ans.The grandmother warned the children not to kill the Chuchundar as they brought with themselves money and prosperity.
3. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?
Ans. Nature shows quite a few signs to mark the end of monsoon season by the end of August, like the lush monsoon growth reaches its peak. The seeds of the cobra lily turn red. The ferns start turning yellow as against their firm, green and upright state. Ground orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and the white butterfly orchids put on a fashion display on the grassy slopes of Landour. Wild dahlias, red, yellow and magenta, rear their heads from the rocky crevices where they have taken hold.
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 __________________________.
Ans.
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because the dense mist covered the hills making it impossible to see outside.
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as “A paradise that might have been”.
(iii) The leopard was successful in lifting a dog from near the servant’s quarter below the school but had to flee when Bijju’s mother approached screaming imprecations.
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because they are bright red (in case of males) and yellow (in case of females) in colour.
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ground orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and the white butterfly orchids cover the grassy slopes of Landour.
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because their holes and burrows are filled with water.
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. ‘To spring’ means to originate or arise from. The writer has used the word ‘springing’ to denote that although they had shelter over their heads, the water droplets came inside from the tin roof leaks.
(ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain?
Ans.The writer is untouched by the rain because he is at a place covered with tin roofs that prevented the rain from directly affecting him.
(iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Ans. Although sheltered by the tin roof, the writer could be in touch with the rain through the small unaccountable leaks that springed from the tin roof.
6. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.
Ans. Endless rain causes permanent mist to persist. People don’t see the sun for a stretch of days. Everything becomes damp and soggy. One can not go anywhere. The only option left is to pace the room and look outside the window at a few bobbing umbrellas. Snakes and rodents, flood out of their holes and burrows to take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. The shrews blunder about in rooms. The hillsides, however, are lush as monsoon flowers begin to appear.
7. What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?
Ans. The appearance of the cobra lily marks the beginning of the monsoon season. However, when the seeds of cobra lily are turning red, it signifies that the rains are coming to an end.
A Short Monsoon Diary Grammar Exercises
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 |
Ans.
| downpour | Floods | mist | cloudy | Power cuts | cold | umbrella |
| drenched | Rain coat | water | soggy | damp | thunder | mud |
| storm | hail | humid | Rain shower |
2. 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.
Solution-
(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.
| drum | swish | tinkle | caw | drip |
(i) Match these words with their correct meanings.
(a) to fall in small drops
(b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly
(c) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound
(d) harsh sound made by birds
(e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.)
Ans.
(a) to fall in small drops – drip
(b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly- drum
(c) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound – swish
(d) harsh sound made by birds – caw
(e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.) – tinkle
(ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above.
(a) Ramesh ____________ on his desk in impatience.
(b) Rain water ____________ from the umbrella all over the carpet.
(c) The pony ____________ its tail.
(d) The _________________ of breaking glass woke me up.
(e) The ____________ of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
Ans.
(a) Ramesh drummed on his desk in impatience.
(b) Rain water was dripping from the umbrella all over the carpet.
(c) The pony was swishing its tail.
(d) The tinkle of breaking glass woke me up.
(e) The cawing of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
4. And sure enough, I received a cheque in the mail. Complete each sentence below by using an 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 |
(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And ___________ ___________ it soon started raining heavily.
(ii) The blue umbrella was ___________ ___________ for the brother and sister.
(iii) The butterflies are ___________ ___________ to get noticed.
(iv) The lady was ___________ ___________ to chase the leopard.
(v) The boy was ___________ ___________ to call out to his sister.
(vi) The man was ___________ ___________ to offer help.
(vii) The victim’s injury was ___________ ___________ for him to get admitted in hospital.
(viii) That person was ___________ ___________ to repeat the same mistake again.
(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘___________ ___________.’
Ans.
(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And sure enough it soon started raining heavily.
(ii) The blue umbrella was big enough for the brother and sister.
(iii) The butterflies are colourful enough to get noticed.
(iv) The lady was brave enough to chase the leopard.
(v) The boy was anxious enough to call out to his sister.
(vi) The man was kind enough to offer help.
(vii) The victim’s injury was serious enough for him to get admitted in hospital.
(viii) That person was foolish enough to repeat the same mistake again.
(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘fair enough.’
Class 8 English A Short Monsoon Diary Chapter 8 Extract Based Questions
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow-
A. The first day of monsoon mist. And it’s strange how all the birds fall silent as the mist comes climbing up the hill. Perhaps that’s what makes the mist so melancholy; not only does it conceal the hills, it blankets them in silence too. Only an hour ago the trees were ringing with birdsong. And now the forest is deathly still as though it were midnight.
Through the mist Bijju is calling to his sister. I can hear him running about on the hillside but I cannot see him.
Q1. What weather is being talked of?
Ans. Monsoon
Q2. What do birds do when mist arrives?
Ans. The birds fall silent when mist arrives.
Q3. Why is the mist melancholy?
Ans. It hides the hills and covers them in silence.
Q4. What is heard in the trees?
Ans. The trees ring with birdsong and suddenly falls deathly silent.
Q5. Identify the characters in the story. Can they be heard or seen?
Ans. Bijju and his sister. The author can hear him but cannot see him.
B. Some genuine early monsoon rain, warm and humid, and not that cold high-altitude stuff we’ve been having all year. The plants seem to know it too, and the first cobra lily rears its head from the ferns as I walk up to the bank and post office.
The mist affords a certain privacy.
A school boy asked me to describe the hill station and valley in one sentence, and all I could say was: “A paradise that might have been.”
Q1. What weather is experienced in the monsoon rain?
Ans. The monsoon rain makes the weather warm and humid, not that cold.
Q2. Which flower does the writer see on his way to the bank?
Ans. Cobra lily
Q3. How do we see the personification of the cobra lily flower?
Ans. When the writer says that it rears its head from the ferns, we realize that the flower is being personified.
Q4. How does the mist afford privacy?
Ans. The mist blurs visibility and thus, it affords privacy.
Q5. How does the writer describe the hill station?
Ans. He describes it as a paradise that might have been.
C. The rains have heralded the arrival 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 every day.
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 contrive to go unnoticed. Along come a pair of drongos, unnecessarily aggressive, chasing the minivets away.
Q1. Find a synonym for ‘announced’.
Ans. Heralded
Q2. What do ‘imprecations’ mean?
Ans. Curse
Q3. What does the writer mean by – I shall soon get used to a little bloodletting every day?
Ans. He means to say that he shall get used to the blood loss caused by the leeches who stung him everyday.
Q4. Identify the birds talked of in the extract.
Ans. The birds talked of are minivets
Q5. The writer compares the minivets to ________
Ans. brilliant jewels
D. It is the last day of August, and the lush monsoon growth has reached its peak. The seeds of the cobra lily are turning red, signifying that the rains are coming to an end.
In a few days the ferns will start turning yellow, but right now they are still firm, green and upright. Ground orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and the white butterfly orchids put on a fashion display on the grassy slopes of Landour. Wild dahlias, red, yellow and magenta, rear their heads from the rocky crevices where they have taken hold.
Snakes and rodents, flooded out of their holes and burrows, take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. A shrew, weak of eyesight, blunders about the rooms, much to the amusement of the children.
Q1. Which month is talked of?
Ans. The month of August
Q2. How do the cobra lily signify the approaching end of the rains?
Ans. The seeds of the cobra lily turn red to signify the approaching end of the rains.
Q3. Which hill station is the writer describing?
Ans. It is Landour
Q4. Why do the snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns?
Ans. Their holes under the earth are filled with the rain water. So, they flee and seek shelter in these places.
Q5. What is a ‘crevice’?
Ans. A Tiny crack in the surface
Class 8 A Short Monsoon Diary Extra Question Answers
Answer the following questions-
Q1. What makes the mist melancholy?
Ans. It conceals the hills. Everything becomes silent. These two things make mist melancholy.
Q2. Identify the seasonal visitors who arrive with the rains.
Ans. The rains announce the arrival of visitors like —a leopard, and several thousand leeches, Scarlet minivets, drongos.
Q3. What all happens after the rain stops?
Ans. After the rain stops, the clouds start to disintegrate and allow the Sun to be visible. Someone can be heard chopping wood, the tinkle of the cow bells can be heard. The crow sitting on the oak tree can be seen shaking the raindrops off its feathers and cawing. Leaking drainpipes can be seen. Then one gets to hear the whistle of the thrush.
Q4. Which are the varieties of late monsoon flowers that are seen?
Ans. Wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids.
Q5. How does the cobra lily signify the end of rains?
Ans. Its seeds turn red to signify the end of rains.
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