8 short questions with answers, suitable for 5 marks each, covering "The Best Christmas Present in the World" and "The Ant and the Cricket" for CBSE Class 8 English:
The Best Christmas Present in the World
1.Question: Describe the condition of the roll-top desk the narrator bought. What did he hope to find in it, and what did he actually discover?
Answer: The roll-top desk was in a poor state, described as "badly damaged." It had several broken pieces, scorch marks, and was missing a veneer. The narrator hoped to restore it for his work. Instead of anything valuable, he found a secret drawer containing a small black tin box with a folded letter inside.
2.Question: What details in Jim's letter reveal the camaraderie and shared humanity between the British and German soldiers during the Christmas truce?
Answer: Jim's letter describes how the soldiers from both sides came out of their trenches, met in no man's land, and exchanged Christmas greetings. They shared schnapps and rum, sang carols like "Silent Night," and even played a football match. This highlights their shared humanity, transcending the animosity of war.
3.Question: Why did Connie keep Jim's letter for so many years? What does this reveal about her character and her feelings for Jim?
Answer: Connie kept Jim's letter because it was the last she had heard from him and a precious reminder of their time together, especially the extraordinary Christmas truce. This reveals her deep love, unwavering hope for his return, and her sentimental nature. The letter served as a tangible link to her husband and a cherished memory.
4.Question: When the narrator calls the letter "the best Christmas present in the world," what does he truly mean? Explain your understanding of this statement.
Answer: The narrator calls the letter "the best Christmas present in the world" not because of its monetary value but because of the profound human connection and the powerful message of peace and goodwill it conveyed. It represented a moment of shared humanity amidst the horrors of war and the enduring love between Jim and Connie. For Connie, it was the return of her beloved husband, even if only in spirit.
The Ant and the Cricket
5.Question: Contrast the lifestyles and attitudes of the ant and the cricket in the poem. What does this contrast highlight?
Answer: The ant is depicted as industrious, prudent, and forward-thinking, diligently working and storing food during the summer in preparation for winter. In contrast, the cricket is portrayed as lazy, carefree, and improvident, focused only on singing and enjoying the present without considering the future. This contrast highlights the importance of responsibility, planning, and hard work versus the dangers of negligence and short-sightedness.
6.Question: Analyse the ant's final words to the cricket: "Ants never borrow; ants never lend." What does this statement imply about the ant's values and its perspective on the cricket's situation?
Answer: The ant's statement reflects its strong belief in self-reliance and the consequences of one's actions. It implies that the ant values hard work and personal responsibility and is unwilling to support those who do not prepare for themselves. The ant's response, though seemingly harsh, underscores the poem's moral lesson about the need for foresight.
7.Question: The poet calls the story a fable and claims it is "true." In what sense can this poem be considered a fable, and how might it be "true" for human beings?
Answer: The poem is a fable because it uses animal characters to convey a moral lesson about human behaviour. It teaches the importance of planning for the future and the consequences of idleness. The poet claims it is "true" because the characteristics and situations depicted in the poem are often reflected in human society. Some people, like the ant, are diligent and responsible, while others, like the cricket, are careless and face hardship as a result.
8.Question: If the cricket had followed a different approach during the summer, how might the outcome of the story have been different? What does this suggest about the power of individual choices? Answer: If the cricket had spent the summer gathering food and building shelter instead of just singing, it would have been prepared for the winter and would not have had to beg the ant for help. This suggests the significant power of individual choices and the impact they can have on one's future. The cricket's initial choices led to its hardship, while different choices could have resulted in a comfortable winter.
