WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 English Reading Skill Seen Lesson 4 The Great Escape

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 4 The Great Escape

Word meanings:

Part 1

nationalist (ন্যাশনালিষ্ট) – জাতীয়তাবাদী ; founded (ফাউন্ডেড্ ) – প্রতিষ্ঠা করেছিলেন; included (ইনক্লুডে)— অন্তর্ভূক্তি করা; regiment (রেজিমেন্ট) – সেনাদল; confined (কনফাইন্ড) – বন্দী ; narrative (ন্যারেটিভ) – আখ্যান ; courageous (কারেজিয়াস ) – সাহসী; escape (এস্কেপ) – পলায়ন; clutches (ক্লাচেস্) – করল; struggle (স্ট্রাগল)— লড়াই; pale (পেল)—বিবর্ণ, ফ্যাকাশে; reclining (রিক্লাইনিং) – হেলান দিয়ে থাকা; intensely (ইনটেনলি)- গভীর ভাবে; nodded (নডেড) – মাথা নেড়ে সম্মতি জানাল; residence (রেসিডেন্স) – বাসা; wonder (ওয়ান্ডার)- বিস্ময়; subdued (সাবডিউড) – চাপা ; excitement (এক্সাইটমেন্ট) – উত্তেজনা; ailing (এইলিং) – অসুস্থ; additional (অ্যাডিশনাল)—অতিরিক্ত ; excuse (এক্সকিউজ) – অজুহাত; operating (অপারেটিং)— চালানো; broadcasts (ব্রডকাস্টস) —রেডিয়োর বার্তা; means (মিস্‌) – উপায়; drive out (ড্রাইভ আউট) — মোটরগাড়ি চালিয়ে যাওয়া; natural fashion —স্বাভাবিক উপায় ।

Part 2

cabled ( কেবল্ড)—টেলিগ্রাম করেছিল ; freedom struggle — স্বাধীনতা সংগ্রাম; operated (অপারেটেড্) – কাজ করতেন; frontier (ফ্রন্টিয়ার) – সীমান্তবর্তী; introduced (ইনট্রডিউসড্)—পরিচয় করিয়ে দিয়েছিল; baggy (ব্যাগি) —ঢিলেঢালা; fez (ফেজ)—এক ধরনের টুপি; disguise (ডিস্‌গাইজ)—ছদ্মবেশ; identity (আইডেনটিটি)—পরিচয় ; secrecy (সিকেসি) — গোপনীয়তা; asleep (অ্যাস্লিপ) – ঘুমিয়ে পড়া অবস্থায়; spectacles (স্পেকটাকেলস)— চশমা; moonlit (মুনলিট)—চন্দ্রালোকিত; signalled (সিগন্যালড্) – সংকেত দিল; preferred (প্রেফারড)—বেশী পছন্দ করল; comfort (কমফর্ট)—আরাম; blanket (ব্ল্যাংকেট্) — কম্বল।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Class 8 English Reading Skills

Part 3

tiptoed—পা টিপে টিপে চলল; precincts (প্রেসিংট্স)—সীমানা ; thermos (থারমোস) — ফ্লাস্ক; faltered (ফলটারড্)—গোলমাল করল ; put up — আস্তানা নিল; parting (পার্টিং) – বিদায়ী; gait (গ্যেট)—চলনভঙ্গী; disappeared (ডিস্যাপিয়াড)—অদৃশ্য হয়ে গেলেন; clutter (ক্লাটার) – অবিরাম শব্দ।

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 4 The Great Escape Examples

1. Read the texts below and do as directed.

Question 1. Looking pale and thin, with a bushy half-grown beard, Subhas was reclining on his pillows when Sisir, his nephew, entered Subhas’s bedroom that December afternoon. Subhas made him sit to his right on the bed. Looking intensely at Sisir, he said, “Can you do some work for me?”
Sisir nodded.

The task, as it turned out, was to help plan and carry out Subhas’s escape from India. Sisir would have to drive his uncle, in the dead of the night, to a railway station far away from Calcutta.

From his uncle’s residence at Elgin Road, Sisir walked back that night to his own house at 1, Woodburn Park in a state of wonder and subdued excitement.

Answer the questions below:

1. How was Subhas looking when Sisir visited him?
2. What request.did Subhas make to Sisir ?
3. Where did Sisir plan to drive his uncle too?
4. How did Sisir feel after making out the plan of escape?

Answer:

1. Subhas was looking pale and thin with a bushy half-grown beard. He was reclining on his pillows.
2. Subhas requested Sisir to help him plan and carry out his escape from India.
3. Sisir planned to drive his uncle, in the dead of the night, to a railway station far away from Calcutta.
4. Sisir was in a state of wonder and subdued excitement after making out the plan.

2. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statement. Give supporting sentences for each of your answers.

Question 1. Sisir was Subhas’s younger brother.
Answer: False

When Sisir, his nephew, entered Subhas’s bedroom.

Question 2. Sisir agreed to Subhas’s request for helping him to escape.
Answer: True

Sisir nodded

Question 3. Subhas looked healthy and cheerful.
Answer: False

Looking pale and thin, with a bushy half-grown beard, Subhas was reclining on his pillow.

Question 4. Subhas lived at Elgin Road.
Answer: True

From his uncle’s residence at Elgin Road, Sisir walked

Question 5. Sisir lived with Subhas at Elgin Road.
Answer: False

Sisir walked back to his own house at I, Woodburn Park.

3. Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order. Write the numbers in the boxes against each.

1. Subhas asked Sisir to sit to his right on the bed.

2. Sisir agreed to his request.

3. Subhas was reclining on his pillows.

4. Sisir walked back to his home.

5. Sisir came to visit Subhas.

6. Subhas made a request to Sisir.

Answer:

3. Subhas was reclining on his pillows.

5. Sisir came to visit Subhas.

1. Subhas asked Sisir to sit to his right on the bed.

6. Subhas made a request to Sisir.

2. Sisir agreed to his request.

4. Sisir walked back to his home.

4. Match the words in A with their meanings in B.

Answer:

Question 2. The police were keeping watch on Subhas’s house. Though it was normal for a nephew to visit an ailing uncle, Subhas had an additional excuse for meeting his nephew: Sisir was good at operating the radio. He helped Subhas listen to foreign broadcasts.

Subhas and Sisir discussed various means of escape. Finally, they decided to drive out, in the most natural fashion, through the main gate. Sisir owned a German car called the Wanderer, which he and Subhas chose for their journey.

1. Answer the questions below:
2. Who were keeping watch on Subhas’s house?
3. What additional excuse did Subhas have for meeting his nephew?
4. What did Subhas and Sisir decide finally?
5. What was the ‘Wanderer’ referred to in the text?
6. Why did Subhas and Sisir decide to drive out through the main gate?

Answer:

1. The police were keeping watch on Subhas’s house.
2. Subhas had an additional excuse in meeting his nephew Sisir in that he was good at operating radio, and Subhas needed his help in listening to foreign broadcasts.
3. Subhas and Sisir finally, decided to drive out by. car through the main gate.
4. ‘Wanderer’ was a German car owned by Sisir which was used for Subhas’s escape from his house.
5. Subhas and Sisir decided to drive out through the main gate because that would be the most natural way, and nobody would suspect that they were escaping.

2. Choose the correct answers from the list of alternatives given.

Question 1. It was normal for a nephew to-

1. Guard his uncle’s house,
2. Visit an ailing uncle,
3. Operate his uncle’s radio.

Answer: 2. Visit an ailing uncle

Question 2. Sisir helped Subhas in-

1. Listening to foreign broadcasts,
2. Reading out newspapers,
3. Operating television.

Answer: 1. Listening to foreign broadcasts

Question 3. The most natural fashion for escaping was to

1. Hire a taxi,
2. To take a personal car,
3. To drive out through the main gate.

Answer: 3. To drive out through the main gate

3. Write words in A from the text which are opposite in meaning of the words given in B.

Answer:

Question 3. Subhas had cabled Akbar Shah to meet him at Calcutta. Akbar Shah was a co-worker in the freedom struggle against British Raj. He operated in the north-western frontier provinces. He was to help Subhas escape.

Akbar Shah came to Calcutta. He was introduced to Sisir. Together they went to a shop in Central Calcutta where they purchased baggy shalwars (trousers) and a black fez for Subhas’s disguise. Later, Sisir also purchased a suitcase, a bedroll, shirts, and pillows. Subhas was to carry these with him in the journey. Sisir then went to a printer’s shop. He ordered a set of calling cards that read: ‘Muhammad Ziauddin, Travelling Inspector, the Empire of India Life Insurance Co. Ltd.’ This was the false identity with which Subhas was to travel.

On 16th January 1941, Sisir finished his dinner early and drove to Elgin Road around 8.30 pm. He parked the Wanderer at the back of the house.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. Who was Akbar Shah?
2. What items were purchased for Subhas to be carried with him on his journey?
3. What was the real identity of Muhammad Ziauddin?
4. Why do you think Subhas had to put on a false identity?

Answer:

1. Akbar Shah was a co-worker of Subhas in the freedom struggle against British Raj. He operated in the north-western frontier provinces.
2. A suitcase, a bedroll, shirts, pillows, baggy salwars, and a black fez were purchased for Subhas to be carried with him on his journey.
3. Muhammed Ziauddin was no other than Subhas himself in disguise.
4. Subhas had to put on a false identity to deceive the British police to escape from house arrest.

2. Fill in the chart with information from the text.

Answer:

3. Rearrange the sentences in the correct order. Write the numbers in the boxes provided.

1. Akbar was introduced to Sisir.

2. Sisir purchased a suitcase, a bedroll, shirts, and pillows for Subhas.

3. Subhas sent a cable to Akbar Shah.

4. They purchased clothes for Subhas’s disguise.

5. Sisir went to a printer’s shop and ordered for a set of calling cards.

6. Akbar Shah came to Calcutta.

Answer:

3. Subhas sent a cable to Akbar Shah.

5. Sisir went to a printer’s shop and ordered for a set of calling cards.

1. Akbar was introduced to Sisir.

4. They purchased clothes for Subhas’s disguise.

6. Akbar Shah came to Calcutta.

2. Sisir purchased a suitcase, a bedroll, shirts, and pillows for Subhas.

4. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. The main purpose of asking Akbar Shah to come to Calcutta was ___________
Answer: The main purpose of asking Akbar Shah to come to Calcutta was to help Subhas escape.

Question 2. Sisir and Akbar purchased baggy shalwars and a black fez for Subhas from ___________
Answer: Sisir and Akbar purchased baggy shalwars and a black fez for Subhas from a shop in Central Calcutta.

Question 3. The calling cards read ____________
Answer: The calling cards read Muhammad Ziauddin, Travelling Inspector, the Empire of India Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Question 4. Subhas set off his journey on ___________
Answer: Subhas set off his Journey on 16th January 1941.

Question 5. Sisir parked his car ___________
Answer: Sisir parked his car at the back of his hous

5. Find words in the text which are similar in meaning of the following:

1. Independence;
2. Made known;
3. A person that somebody works with;
4. Bought ;
5. False appearance.

Answer:

1. Freedom,
2. Introduced,
3. Co-worker,
4. Purchased,
5. Disguise.

Question 4. Subhas and Sisir hugged the inner wall of the long house corridor and tiptoed down the back stairs to the car. Subhas sat in the back, Sisir drove the car. He started the engine and drove out from 38/2 Elgin Road as he had done on so many past occasions. At Subhas’s Elgin Road residence, the light glowed in his bedroom to give the impression that he was still there. As Calcutta slept, uncle and nephew crossed Howrah Bridge and went beyond the city’s precincts. Subhas poured Sisir coffee from a thermos. They shared a few anxious moments together when the car engine faltered once. It started again and Sisir dashed at high speed through the dark night. At around 8.30 am, they arrived at Bararee, near Dhanbad. They put up at the house of Sisir’s brother, Ashok. Subhas kept his disguise on as Muhammad Ziauddin and said he had come on insurance business, and was given room to rest during the day. They met and talked in the evening and had an early dinner.

Muhammad Ziauddin left alone for Gomoh station which was some distance away. He wanted to catch the Delhi-Kalka Mail from there.

A little further from the house, Sisir picked him up in his Wanderer and drove towards the railway station. They reached Gomoh station in the moonlit night. A sleepy porter collected their luggage.

“I am off-you go back”, Subhas said as parting words. Sisir watched him mount the railway overbridge and walk across it with his usual majestic gait. He disappeared into the darkness towards the platform on the opposite side. The Delhi-Kalka Mail released steam. Sisir heard the rhythmic clutter of the wheels and saw the train lights moving away.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. In which direction did Sisir drive after leaving Elgin Road?
2. Why did Subhas keep the light glowing in his bedroom?
3. Why did Sisir pick Subhas up in his car a little further from Ashok’s house?
4. Why did Subhas leave for Gomoh station?
5. Describe Sisir’s last sight of Subhas.

Answer:

1. After leaving Elgin Road, Sisir drove towards Howrah Bridge and then went beyond the city’s boundary.
2. Subhas kept the light glowing in his bedroom to give the impression that he was still in his bedroom.
3. He did so to show that Muhammad Ziauddin had left the house alone.
4. Subhas left for Gomoh station to catch the Delhi-Kalka Mail from there.
5. Subhas left Sisir in the station and told him to go back. Sisir then watched him walking across the railway over bridge with his usual majestic gait.

2. Write “T” for true and F for false statement. Give supporting sentences for each of your answers.

Question 1. Sisir and Subhas hurriedly an down the corridor and the back stairs.
Answer: False

Subhas and Sisir… and tiptoed down the back stairs to the car.

Question 2. Sisir drove out from Subhas’s Elgin Road residence many times before.
Answer: True

He started the engine and drove out from 38/2 Elgin Road as he had done on so many past occasions.

Question 3. Subhas and Sisir had to face an anxious moment during the road drive.
Answer: True

They shared a few anxious moments together when the car engine faltered once.

Question 4. In Dhanbad, they put up in a hotel.
Answer: False

They put up at the house of Sisir’s brother, Ashoke.

Question 5. Subhas sent off Sisir at Gomoh station.
Answer: True

They reached Gomoh station… …” I am off-you go back”, Subhas said as parting words.

3. Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order. Put the numbers in the boxes.

1. They reached Bararee near Dhanbad.

2. Sisir picked him up in his car on the way.

3. Subhas and Sisir took their seats in the car.

4. They reached Gomoh station.

5. “Subhas left alone for Gomoh station in disguise.

6. Subhas saw off Sisir and boarded the train.

7. They put up at the house of Sisir’s brother, Ashok.

8. They crossed Howrah Bridge.

Answer:

3. Subhas and Sisir took their seats in the car.

6. Subhas saw off Sisir and boarded the train.

1. They reached Bararee near Dhanbad.

7. They put up at the house of Sisir’s brother, Ashok.

5. “Subhas left alone for Gomoh station in disguise.

8. They crossed Howrah Bridge.

4. They reached Gomoh station.

2. Sisir picked him up in his car on the way.

4. Match the words in A with their opposite meanings in B.

Answer: