Lesson 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World and The Ant and the Cricket class 8 NCERT English Honeydew book solutions.
Comprehension Check (Page 10)
Question 1 : What sis the author find in a junk shop?
Answer : The author discovered a 19th-century roll-top desk for sale in a junk shop. It was in poor condition, with scorch marks along one side and several broken pieces, including one leg that had been clumsily repaired.
Question 2 : What did he find a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer 2 : The author discovered a hidden drawer beneath the roll-top desk drawer. Inside, he found a small black tin box with a piece of lined notepaper taped to its top. On the notepaper, there was a note written in shaky handwriting: “Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.” It appears that Mrs. Jim Macpherson had placed the letter inside the box, with her full name and address written on the envelope.
Comprehension Check (Page 14)
Question 1 : Who had written the letter, to whom, an when?
Answer 1 : Captain Jim Macpherson of the British Army, who was fighting against the Germans, wrote the letter to his wife Connie on December 26, 1914.
Question 2 : Why was the letter written – what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer 2 : Jim Macpherson wrote to his wife, Connie, describing the remarkable event that took place on Christmas Day. Despite the ongoing war between the British and the Germans, both sides celebrated Christmas by playing a friendly football match together.
Question 3 : What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Answer 3 : Before joining the armed forces, Hans Wolf from Düsseldorf played the cello in an orchestra, while Jim Macpherson was a school teacher from Dorset.
Question 4 : Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Answer 4 : No, Hans had never visited Dorset. He had learned about it in school and read several English books. One of his favorite books was Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.
Question 5 : Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?
Answer 5 : No, it seems that Jim Macpherson never returned home from the war. Perhaps this is why his wife, Connie, had carefully preserved all his letters.
Comprehension Check (Page 15)
Question 1 : Why did the author go to Bridport?
Answer 1 : The author traveled to Bridport to meet Connie Macpherson and deliver the letter addressed to her – Mrs. Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset. He intended to hand over the letter that had been written by her husband, but which the author had inadvertently opened and read.
Question 2 : How old Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?
Answer 2 : Connie Macpherson mistook the visitor carrying the letter for her husband, Jim Macpherson.
Question 3 : Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identify?
Answer 3 : The sentence that reveals the visitor did not try to hide his identity is, “I explained about the desk, about how I had found it, but I don’t think she was listening.” This shows that although the author made an effort to explain how he found the letter in the old roll-top desk, Mrs. Macpherson wasn’t focused on his words; instead, she gently stroked the letter with her fingertips.
Working with the text (Page 16)
Question 1 : For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer 1 :Connie preserved Jim’s letter for a long time. This is evident from the way she told the narrator that she read the letter every day, feeling Jim’s presence with her constantly.
Question 2 : Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when?
Answer 2 : The roll-top desk was put up for sale after Mrs. Jim Macpherson’s house caught fire, forcing her to move to the Burlington House Nursing Home. Most of her belongings were destroyed in the fire and later sold.
Question 3 : Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree?
Answer 3 : Jim and Hans believed that sports and games were effective ways to resolve conflicts because, unlike wars, no one loses their life in a match. Children don’t become orphans, and wives don’t lose their husbands in the way soldiers do in battle. Both Jim and Hans saw war as leading to death, destruction, and sorrow, while playing games offered a peaceful way to settle differences.
I agree with Jim and Hans that playing friendly matches is indeed an ideal way to settle conflicts between two enemy countries, without any loss of life or property.
Question 4 : Do you think the soldiers of the armies are like each other, or different from each other? Find evidence from the story to support your answer.
Answer 4 : The soldiers of both armies shared several similarities, as highlighted in the story:
Both armies yearned for peace, exchanged Christmas carols, and hoped to reunite with their families soon.b
Both armies came together to celebrate Christmas.
They enjoyed happy moments, eating, laughing, drinking, and conversing with each other.
The soldiers played a friendly football match, agreeing that conflicts could be resolved peacefully through games.
They acknowledged the devastating impact of war on families.
Question 5 : Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas.
Answers 5 : Although the British and German soldiers were enemies at war, they shared common human emotions of love and compassion for their families and comrades. Despite being on opposing sides, both groups embraced the festive spirit of Christmas. They celebrated together with a feast, eating, drinking, and enjoying each other’s company. Conversations about Bathsheba, Gabriel Oak, Sergeant Troy, and Dorset brought them closer. They sang Christmas carols and spent quality time together, putting aside their differences. The soldiers played a friendly game of football, hoping that conflicts worldwide could be resolved through such peaceful means. Both Jim and Hans despised war and were fully aware of the suffering it caused their families. They eagerly looked forward to reuniting with their loved ones once the war ended.
Question 6 : What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it’s best Christmas present in the world?
Answer 6 : When the narrator went to deliver her husband’s letter, Connie mistakenly believed him to be Jim Macpherson, her husband, due to her old age and memory loss. She had been eagerly waiting for Jim’s return home for Christmas and considered this visit the best Christmas gift she could receive. Connie cherished the letter because Jim had written that he would return from the war on Christmas. She read it repeatedly, hoping to feel his presence around her. So, when the narrator explained how he had found the letter, Connie was overjoyed, believing that Jim had finally come to visit her after such a long time.
Question 7 : Do you think the title of this story is suitable for it? Can you think of any other titles(s)?
Answer 7 : In my view, the title of the story is perfectly fitting and resonates with the theme throughout. The festive spirit of Christmas is woven into every part of the narrative. The story highlights how the warring soldiers yearned for peace and shared a deep desire to reunite with their families. They experienced a beautiful moment together, sharing food and drinks, conversing freely, and playing a friendly football match. When the narrator visits Connie with the letter from her husband, Jim Macpherson, she mistakenly believes him to be Jim and thanks him for what she sees as the best Christmas present she could ever receive.
Other possible titles could be “The Best Christmas Gift” or “When a Christmas Wish Comes True.”
Working with language (Page 17-19)
Question 1 : Look at these sentences from the story.
I spotted it in a junk shop in Birdport…. The man said it was made in the early nineteenth century…. This one was in a bad condition…
The italicised verb are in the past tense. They tell us what happpend in the past, before now.
(i) Read the passage below and underline the verbs in the past tense.
A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.
Answer:
A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hour later the police arrested the man. they held him and then freed him.
(i) Fill in the blanks using the correct from verbs in brackets.
My little sister is very naughty. When she __________ (come) back from school yesterday. she had ________ (tear) her dress. We _______ (ask) her now it had ______ (happen). She ______ (say) she ______ _________ (have, quarrel) with a boy. she ___ _____ (have, beat) him in race and he ______ ______ (have, try) to push her. She ______ ______ (have, tell ) the teacher and so he ______ _______ have, chase) her, and she _____ ______ (have, fall) down and ______ _______ (have, tear) her dress.
Answer:
My little sister is very naughty. When she came back from school yesterday. she had torn her dress. We asked her now it had happened. She said she had quarrelled with a boy. She had beaten him in a race and he had tried to push her. She had told the teacher and so he had chased her, and she had fallen down and has torn her dress.
(ii) Underline the verbs and arrange them in two columns, Past and Earlier past.
1. My friend set out the to see the caves in the next town, but I stayed at home. because I had seen them already.
2. When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but that time I had gone out to see a movie!
3. So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.
4. By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep!
Past Earlier past
Answer:
1. My friends set out to see the caves in the next town, but I styed at home, because I had seen them already.
2. When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but by that time I had gone out to see a movie!
3. So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.
4. By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep.
| Past 1. set, out, stayed 2. arrived, came 3. sat, ate 4. returned | Earlier past had seen had left, had gone had packed had fallen |
Question 2 :
Dictionary work
By the end of the journey, we had run out of drinking water.
Look at the verb run out of in this sentence. it is phrasal verb: it has two parts, a verb and a preposition or an adverb. Phrasal verbs often have meanings that are different from the meanings of their parts.
Find these phrasal verbs in the story.
burn out
light up
look on
run out
keep out
Write down the sentences in which they occur. Consult a dictionary and write down the meaning that you think matches the meaning of the verb phrasal verb in the sentence.
Answer:
Burn out: “House number 12 turned out to be nothing but a burned -out shell, the roof gaping, the windows boarded-up.” – This line implied that the house was destroyed by fire.
Look on: “Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered, clapping our hands and stamping our feet, to
keep out the cold as much as anything.” – This line implies that both Jim and Hans watched and cheered each other while playing a football match.
Speaking (Page 19)
Question 1:
In groups discuss whether wars are a good way to end conflicts between countries. Then present your arguments to the whole class.
Answer:
War brings immense hatred and devastation, revealing the darker and unjust side of humanity. Often, nations engage in war over trivial matters such as territorial disputes or religious differences. The soldiers who fight leave behind their families, turning their children into orphans and their spouses into widows when they sacrifice their lives for their country. Thus, war is far from an ideal solution to conflicts, leading only to tremendous loss of life and property.
Question 2 :
What kind of presents do you like and why? What are the things you keep in mind when you buy presents for others? Discuss with your partner. (For example, you might buy a book because it can be read and re-read over a period of time.)
Answer:
Personally, I am not in favor of exchanging expensive gifts. However, if we wish to express gratitude through a present, a simple bouquet of flowers can serve as a meaningful gesture of affection. This is why, on formal occasions, many guests choose to bring flower bouquets as tokens of their warm feelings.
Writing (Page 20)
Question 1:
Imagine that you are Jim. You have returned to your town after the war. In your diary record how you feel about the changes you see and the events that occur in your town. You could begin like this
25 December 1919
It’s Christmas today, but the town looks…….
Or
Suppose you are the visitor. You are in a dilemma. You don’t know whether to disclose your identify and disappoint the old lady or let her believe that her dear Jim has come back. Write a letter to a friend highlights your anxiety, fears and feelings.
Answer:
25 December 1919
It’s Christmas today, but the town feels nothing like it usually does. War has left it in ruins, with buildings destroyed and everything reduced to rubble. My own house is nearly burned down by the relentless bombardments. These events have taken a severe toll on the lives of both soldiers and civilians alike. I am filled with disgust for the chaos around me and feel a deep anger toward those who fuel these wars. More than anything, I long for peace and brotherhood, not just among my countrymen, but with people across the borders as well.
Question 2:
Given below is the outline of a story. Construct the story outline.
A young, newly married doctor ________ freedom fighter _______ exiled to the Andaman and Nicobar islands by the British _______ infamous Cellular Jail ______ prisoners tortured _______ revolt by inmates _____ doctor hanged _______ wife waits for his return ______ becomes old ______ continues to wait with hope and faith.
Answer:
In the year 1929, when India was under the British Raj, the English education system enlightened the minds of a few people. Gradually people started thinking progressively and were fighting hard to free the country from British rule. At that time, a young, newly-married doctor was framed in a conspiracy case and sent to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was located in the Bay of Bengal. He was a freedom fighter who was exiled to the infamous Cellular Jail for a few years. He, along with other prisoners in this jail, was subjected to inhuman torture due to the revolt made by the inmates. One fine day, he was hanged. But his wife kept waiting for his return until she grew old. However, she never lost her hope and faith and continues to wait for her husband to return someday.