Class 8 Communicative English Question and Answer
Question 1: Write True or False:
1. Marcus was handsome, but deaf – False
2. We can call Marcus lazy, but not stupid – True
3. Marcus often went with his master for long walks – False
4. Marcus became deaf so that he did not have to hear – False
5. The things Marcus loved most were eating and sleeping – True
6. Marcus became worried to think that he had really gone deaf – True
7. The narrator couldn’t know that Marcus was only pretending to be deaf – False
8. Marcus pretended to be deaf so that he didn’t have to go for any walk – True
9. Marcus didn’t want to be cured of his deafness – False
II Answer Each Question Briefly
Question 1: What was Marcus’s idea of a happy life?
Answer: Marcus wanted a day to consist of sixteen hours of sleep, six hours of rest and two hours of intensive eating. This was his idea of a happy life.
Question 2: Why did Marcus pretend to be deaf?
Answer: Marcus did not like to be called for a walk after breakfast. In order to save himself from this trouble, he pretended to be deaf.
Question 3: How did the narrator come to know that Marcus was not really deaf?
Answer: The narrator noticed that Marcus could hear pretty well any sound related to food. But when he was called for a walk, he would give a confused look. Thus, the narrator came to know that Marcus was only pretending to be deaf.
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Question 4: How did Marcus react when his slyness was found out?
Answer: Both his jaw and tail dropped when he realised that his slyness had been found out.
Question 5: How did the narrator and his wife decide to teach Marcus a lesson?
Answer: The narrator and his wife decided to go silent when Marcus was around. They would go through the actions of speaking, but would not say a word.
Question 6: Why did Marcus come to think that he could really have gone deaf?
Answer: Both the narrator and his wife decided to go silent when Marcus was around. They would go through the actions of speaking, but would not say a word. It made Marcus think that he had really gone deaf.
Question 7: How was Marcus reduced to half his weight?
Answer: Both the narrator and his wife had decided to go silent when Marcus was around. They would never call him for meals. Poor Marcus had to go hungry. He could not have proper sleep also. He began to think that he had really gone deaf. He remained worried as well as hungry. As a result, he was reduced to half of his earlier weight.
Question 8: How was Marcus ultimately cured of his ‘deafness’?
Answer: After keeping Marcus hungry for several days, the narrator at last decided to restore Marcus’s hearing. He said in a loud voice: ‘Come on, Marcus! Time for your walk, boy.’ An expression of great relief appeared over the dog’s face. Now he knew that he was not deaf at all. Never again was he troubled with deafness.
Question 9: What idea of Marcus do you form from this story?
Answer: Marcus was a huge dog of St Bernard breed. He was handsome, but very lazy. His only concern was eating and sleeping. He hated any physical activity. He didn’t want to go for a short walk even. In order to save himself from this trouble, he pretended to have gone deaf. But he would jump up at the slightest sound of food. Thus, he gave himself away. He was paid back in his own coin when both his master and mistress decided to go silent.
III. Answer each of the following in detail:
1. The narrator calls Marcus handsome, lazy and stupid. Do you agree with this description ? Give your reasons.
Answer: There can be no doubt that Marcus was a big handsome dog. He was undoubtedly very lazy also. But he was certainly not stupid. The narrator calls him ‘stupid’ only lovingly. Marcus was, in fact, very intelligent. He was quite successful in his plan, but a little mistake of his gave him away. He forgot that he was deaf and jumped up at the sound of the butcher’s arrival. His trick was found out and he was paid back for it in his own coin. However, we can’t call him stupid. Such occasional stupidities can be committed by even the most clever ones.
2. How does this story illustrate the idea: ‘Sometimes, you have to be a little cruel in order to be kind’ ?
Answer: The narrator stopped calling Marcus for his meals. Poor Marcus had to go hungry now. He also remained worried to think that he could really have gone deaf. He worried himself down to half his weight. It can be alleged that his master was being a bit cruel to him. But if rightly considered, this cruelty was born out of kindness. The narrator wanted to cure Marcus of his pretended deafness. And for that purpose, he had to be a little cruel. Even a mother has to show such cruelty for her child when she lets the doctor cut open an abscess on the child’s body. The child cries in pain, yet the mother lets all that happen. This is what we can call cruelty in kindness.
Word Power
Creatures and their sounds:
- Flies — buzz (given)
- Cats — mew
- Owls — hoot
- Hens — cackle
- Lions — roar
- Apes — gibber
- Oxen — low
- Bees — hum
- Frogs — croak
- Cows — low
- Bulls — bellow
- Mice — squeak
- Birds — chirp
- Cocks — crow
- Bears — growl
- Goats — bleat
- Geese — cackle
- Crows — caw
- Doves — coo
- Sheep — bleat
- Tigers — roar
- Ducks — quack
- Cattle — low
- Lambs — bleat
- Eagles — scream
- Horses — neigh
- Calves — bleat
- Jackals — howl
- Kittens — mew
- Wolves — howl
- Camels — grunt
- Parrots — screech
- Pigeons — coo
- Serpents — hiss
- Swallows — twitter
- Monkeys — gibber
- Sparrows — chirp
- Elephants — trumpet
Grammer in Use
- Question: Are you playing tennis tomorrow?
- Tom’s Reply: Yes, in the afternoon.
- Answer: He is playing tennis in the afternoon. (for sure)
2.
- Question: Are you going out in the evening?
- Tom’s Reply: Possibly.
- Answer: He may go out in the evening. (possibly) = He might be going out in the evening.
3.
- Question: Are you going to get up early?
- Tom’s Reply: Perhaps.
- Answer: He may get up early. (perhaps) = He might get up early.
4.
- Question: Are you working tomorrow?
- Tom’s Reply: No, I’m not.
- Answer: He is not working tomorrow. (for sure)
5.
- Question: Will you be at home at 9 p.m.?
- Tom’s Reply: Maybe.
- Answer: He may be at home at 9 p.m. (possibly) = He might be at home at 9 p.m.
6.
- Question: Are you going to watch the movie?
- Tom’s Reply: I might.
- Answer: He may go to watch the movie. (possibly) = He might go to watch the movie.
7.
- Question: Are you going out in the afternoon?
- Tom’s Reply: Yes, I am.
- Answer: He is going out in the afternoon. (for sure)
8.
- Question: Are you going shopping today?
- Tom’s Reply: Perhaps.
- Answer: He may go shopping today. (perhaps) = He might go shopping today.
Write Well
Suppose one of your friends wants to have a large dog as a pet. What advice would you give him about it ?
Write your advice in the form of an informal letter.
WRITE WELL
(PAGE 76) 18 May 20_ _
Dear Raman
It was great to hear from you. I feel quite pleased to know that you want to have a large dog as a pet. I think that the best breed among large dogs to keep as a pet is St Bernard. But you must remember that a large dog demands a lot of care and training also.
St. Bernards, like all large dogs, must be socialized in order to prevent them from becoming aggressive. The biggest threat is to small children who can get knocked over by the large size of the dog. However, St Bernards are a loyal and affectionate breed. If well socialized, they are very friendly. They can prove very helpful in keeping away thieves, housebreakers and other intruders.
Again, you must remember that it is a big responsibility to keep a large dog as a pet. You must have enough time to look after the dog and take it out for a walk regularly.
With love Yours sincerely Mukesh