Life Class 8th – Questions and Answers and Summary (NCERT Solutions)

10/05/202327/01/2021 by Mir Afzal

Q. No. 2. What was the moon’s reply?

Ans: The moon laments for it is not blessed with a light of its own. The borrowed light has lifted indelible spots on its surface. It is a lifeless entity. It replied that its life is dependent on others and feels lifeless entity and child of the ocean.

OR

The moon replied that its life is nothing without stars because it borrows its light from them and this borrowed light is the cause of its black spots. Due to this, its life is like a widow. Its life is dependent on others and feels lifeless entity and child of the ocean.

Q.No. 3 What was the ocean’s response?
Ans: The Ocean replied that the idea of life was to realize one’s limitations and maintain one’s dignity in order to contain all bitter experiences and to take them as pearls and rubies. Life is also a penance or renunciation as if it (ocean) is the cause of somebody’s death, it also regrets it by giving them pearls and rain as its salty water creates pearls and creates rain-filled clouds.

OR

To realize one’s limits and maintain one’s dignity; to contain all bitter experiences, taking them like pearls is the idea of life for the ocean.

Q.No 4. What was the earth’s reply to the question put forth to her by the wind?

Ans: For earth, the meaning of life is ‘love’. Earth considers herself the mother of all lives and says that the sympathy of the mother is the gift of life. Earth says that it takes water from clouds, rivers, and streams and distributes everything that sprouts from it, so this taking and giving is life for her.

OR

For the earth, life is love: the flow of affection. The earth gets water from different sources, stores it in pure trust and then distributes among the needy. For the earth, this taking and giving is true life.

Q. No. 5. What was the little girl doing when the wind saw her?

Ans: The little girl was lighting new lamps with the lamp that was already alight in her hand. In other words, she was generously spreading light and joy. Thus, she was giving real meaning to her life.

Q.No. 6. Why was the Wind impressed by the little girl?
Ans. The wind was impressed by the girl because from the words that the girl told her she found the real meaning of life. The girl had left some lamps unlighted. When she was asked the reason for this, she answered that there was no point in lighting them since they had no oil in them. She was lighting only those who were longing to awake and waiting to be lighted. It impressed the wind. The wind understood that helping those who have a strong desire to live is the real meaning of life.

OR

Upon asking why the girl left some lamps unlighted, the girl said that those lamps did not have oil in them. She said that she would light the lamps which have had oil in them.

Here oil symbolizes desire and yearning. She said she loves this play of life. The girl’s philosophical answer impresses the wind.

Q.No. 7. Why did the wind join the girl?

Ans: The wind joined the girl because she was greatly impressed by the girl’s action of lighting the lamps and answer given by her.
The wind understood that helping those who have a strong desire to live is the real meaning of life. Thus the Wind forgot everything and joined her.

OR

The wind joined the little girl because the girl’s answer impressed the wind.

GLOSSARY

captivity = The state of being imprisoned

shroud = a cloth that is used to wrap a dead body (winding-sheet, covering)

confront = to face, meet or deal with a difficult situation (challenge)

penance = an act which shows that you regret what you have done, (atonement, expiation, self-mortification, self-punishment)

rumble = to make a continuous low sound (boom, thunder, roll, roar, resound, reverberate, echo, grumble)

parched = very thirsty (dried up, arid, desiccated, dehydrated, baked, scorched; opp: soaking)

Mamta = motherhood

boon = something that is very helpful and improves the quality of life (blessing, advantage, godsend,

stroke = of luck; opp: curse)

comprehend = to understand (grasp, take in, apprehend, follow, make sense of, decipher, figure out)

meditate = to think deeply (contemplates, think, reflect, deliberate, ruminate, brood mull over, put on one‘s thinking cap)

yearn = to have a strong desire (long, pine, crave, desire, hanker, wish, covet)

renunciation =The act of leaving or abandoning someone or something.

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LANGUAGE WORK

I. Choose appropriate tiller for the following:(Kindly consult your textbook),(Answers Only):

1. He tames because of he

Ans: (c), He is fond of them.

1. He is so lazy that he

Ans: (c), He can seldom complete his work.

1. Whichever way you approach the problem

Ans: (d), It will not be solved.

1. The doctor warns him that unless he gives up smoking

Ans: (d), He will not recover.

II. Write two synonyms of each of the following Words: (Answers Only):

1. Abhor = Hate, Detest, Dislike, Despise

2. Betray = Expose, Reveal, Deceive, Grass

3. Counsel = Advice, Discuss, Guidance, Direction

4. Delight = Please, Satisfy, Pleasure, Happiness, Joy

5. Educate = Amend, Improve, Teach, Instruct

6. Fate = Destiny, Fortune, Luck

7. Generous = Benevolent, Big-hearted, Lavish, Liberal

8. Hasty = Quick, Speedy, Hurried, Swift, Rapid, Fast

9. Intellectual = Knowledgeable, Intelligent, Logical, Scholarly

10. Justice = Fairness, Impartiality, Rightfulness, Uprightness

11. Languid = Lazy, weak, Unhurried, Unenergetic, Relaxed

12. Mend = Aid, Patch, Repair, Fix, Restore

13. Nonsense = Senseless, Gibberish, Babble, Drivel

14. Obstacle = The difficulty, Problem, Complication, Hindrance, Restraint

15. Palatable = Edible, Pleasant, Tasty, Satisfying

16. Queer = Unusual, Unexpected, Odd, Expose, Endanger

17. Religious = Sacred, Spiritual, Holy, Pious, Puritan

18. Sober = Temperate, Moderate, Intoxicated, Serious

19. Transient = Fleeting, Passing, Brief, Temporary, Short-lived

20. Urge =Need, Wish, Impulse, Itch, Craving

GRAMMER WORK

Write the following sentences inserting ‘to’ wherever necessary before the infinitive in brackets:

1. I have no money (lend) you.

Ans. I have no money to lend you.

1. We saw the thief (run).

Ans. We saw the thief running.

1. We heard her (sing).

Ans. We heard her singing.

1. They watched their team (play).

Ans. They watched their team play.

1. He made us (wait) for a long time.

Ans. He made us wait for a long time.

1. Let him (work).

Ans. Let him work.

1. Need I (come) tomorrow?

Ans. Need I to come tomorrow?

1. Do you wish to make (make) a complaint?

Ans. Do you wish to make a complaint?

1. A heard a hen (crow) and got up.

Ans. He heard a hen crowing and got up.

1. How dare you (read my letter? Ans. How dare you to read my letter?

2. It is up to you (increase) your knowledge.

Ans. It is up to you to increase your knowledge.

1. Bid him (go) there.

Ans. Bid him go there.

1. Goodbye! I hope (see) you again. Ans. Goodbye! I hope to see you again.

2. I would like (be) a teacher.

Ans. I would like to be a teacher.

1. He learned (swim) when he was ten years old.

Ans. He learned to swim when he was ten years old.

1. I’m tired. I want (go) to bed.

Ans. I’m tired. I want to go to bed.

1. What have you decided (do)?

Ans. What have you decided to do?

1. We should learn (speak) the truth. Ans. We should learn to speak the truth.

2. Where is Sumaya? I need (ask) her something.

Ans. Where is Sumaya? I need to ask her something.

1. I’m trying (concentrate). Please stop talking.

Ans. I’m trying to concentrate. Please stop talking.

Let’s Write:

1. Write a dialogue (100-150 words) on ‘Life is Gift’.

Shahid: Hello Shabir, how is your life going on?

Shabir: I’m spending my days pretty well.

Shahid: OK Shabir. Now tell me, how were your exams?

Shabir: Oh yes, I’ve done very well. I expect this year I come out as flying colour.

Shahid: Oh that’s great! I wish for your great success. How’s your friend, Mohsin? I’ve not seen him for the last few months.

Shabir: Shahid, as you know our friend had been suffering from Asthma for the last seven years and…..yesterday he died of Asthma.

Shahid: Oh my God! That is terribly sad news. I can’t believe it! I

Shabir: Actually he was living in the pollution-prone area and he was a little careless about his health.
Shahid: Oh yes, it is certainly said that life is a gift and we must take great care of it.

Q. Write the Summary of Life in your own words.

Ans. Summary
There is a dialogue going on between the Wind, The Stars, the Moon, the Ocean, the Cloud, the Earth and the Little Girl. The Wind poses the same question to each one of these. The question is ‘what is life?’ Each of these gives a different answer. The Stars answer that to shine with one’s own brightness is life. In the absence of the moon, they shine brightly and they feel free. Every star feels that it has some power to have millions of companions around. The stars also feel that they are a large family. The Moon complains that she has black spots on her. She is lifeless. She has borrowed light which looks like a shroud. Being the child of the ocean is her lot. For the Ocean, life is penance or renunciation and it is necessary to realize one’s limits and maintain one’s dignity. His salty waters produce pearls and cause rain.

The Cloud says that to rain at the right time and at the right place and to lose itself and give away its being in joy and self-abandon is good, but the real-life is to rain on hills which are in dire need of drops of water. The Earth responds saying that life is love. For her taking and giving is true life. She sustains human beings. After getting tired ultimately the Wind sees a Little Girl who informs her that she is the life of this creation. The Wind sees her lighting some new lamps with the lamp that is alight. On being asked why she has kept some lamps unlighted; the Little Girl says it is no use to light them as they have no oil in them. The Wind likes the game so much that she joins the Little Girl.