Class 8 English

Reporting Conversations And Events

Question 1.

Amal: Shall we take a taxi or a bus to go to the exhibition?

Subir: It would be better if we take a bus.

Amal: Shall we go to the next bus stop? That is the terminus. There we would get vacant seats..

Subir: Yes, yes, that’s a good idea.

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 English

You are Amal. Report the above conversation in your own language.

Answer:

I asked Subir if we should take a taxi or a bus to go to the exhibition. Subir suggested that a bus would be better. I proposed to go to the terminus at the next bus stop where we could get vacant seats. Subir readily agreed.

Question 2.

Dulal: Well, Santosh, why are you in such a hurry?

Santosh: I am going to the doctor.

Dulal: Doctor Why?

Santosh: My sister is ill.

Dulal: What is she suffering from?

Santosh: She is running a temperature for the last few days.

Dulal: I hope the case is not serious. Well, I must not detain you any longer. Goodbye.

You are Dulal. Narrate the conversation in your own language.
Answer:

Yesterday I met Santosh. He was in a great hurry. I came to know from him that he was going to a doctor as his sister was running a temperature for the last few days. I consoled him saying that the case might not be serious. I did not detain him and bade him goodbye.

Question 3.

Davy: Do you have any trade now, Mr Faraday?

Faraday: Yes, sir, I am now a bookbinder.

Davy: Do you like to change it?

Faraday: Certainly, I like so

Davy:  Why?

Report the above conversation.
Answer:

Davy asked Faraday if had any trade then. Faraday said that he was then a book binder. On being asked if he wanted to change it. Faraday eagerly expressed his desire to do so. Davy asked him the reason for it.

Question 4. The following conversation took place between D and K on 1-9-95. D writes reports for the school notice board. He reports this news about Shantanu Roy. Write out what he writes.

D-Shantanuda has stood third in the Joint Entrance Examination this year.

K-Who is Shantanuda?

D-An ex-student of our school. He passed the H. S. Examination held in 1995.

K-Is he the first student of the town to have secured such a position?

D-That’s right. We are proud of him.

K-Did you know him before?

D-Not exactly. I came to know of him from my teacher.

K-What sort of a student was he?

D-Brilliant. As a boy he was shy, soft-spoken, simple-minded and determined to learn.

Answer: An Achievement

Students will be glad to learn that Sri Shantanu Roy, an ex-student of our school has stood third in the Joint Entrance Examination this year. He is the first student of this town to secure such a high position.

Shantanu passed the H. S. Examination from our school in 1995. He was a brilliant student. Though a bit shy, soft-spoken and simple-minded, he learnt his studies with determination. We are all proud of him.

Question 5. Report the following:

Swallow: Who are you?

The Statue: I am the Happy Prince.

Swallow: Why are you weeping then? You have quite drenched me.

Answer:

In reply to Swallow’s question as to who he was, the Statue said that he was the Happy Prince. The Swallow then asked him why he was weeping and further added that he had quite drenched him (the Swallow).

Question 6. Write a report using the following points.

Place of incident: Kukrahati near Haldia in Midnapore

Date: June 6.

Incident: Boat capsized in the Hooghly-50 feared dead – 11 bodies recovered so far of them 7 women, 2 children-30 passengers swam ashore.

Cause: Stoppage of regular ferry service boat carrying passenger beyond capacity.

Effect of the incident: Local people angry-rcad blockade put up in protest.

Answer:

A serious boat disaster took place yesterday when an overloaded boat capsized in the river Hooghly at Kukrahati near Haldia in Midnapur. 50 people were reported drowned. 11 bodies have been recovered so far out of which 7 were women and 2 children. 30 persons swam ashore.

According to local information, the stoppage of regular ferry service was the cause of the disaster. The boat was loaded with passengers far beyond its capacity. Angry people put up a road blockade for about 3 hours to air their protest.

Question 7. Write a report using the following points:

Date and time: 2nd October, evening.

Place: Agarpara on B. T. Road.

Incident: A lorry collided with a bus.

Number killed: 2 persons.

Injured: 10 persons including 3 children.

Cause: Speeding lorry tried to overtake the bus collision.

Effect: Injured persons taken to hospital- lorry driver arrested.

Answer:

A serious accident took place on the evening of 2nd October when a lorry collided with a bus at Agarpara on B. T. Road. It is reported that the accident occurred when the lorry, in trying to overtake the bus, lost control and rammed against the bus.

As a result, 2 persons were killed on the spot and 10 persons including 3 children were injured. The injured persons were immediately taken to a nearby hospital. Conditions of three of them are stated to be serious. The police arrested the lorry driver.

Question 8. Write a report on the flood situation following the outlines given:

Date: 12th to 15th August.

Place: Basjhora, Rampur, Khairakuri, Amjora in the District of Birbhum.

Cause:

1. Heavy rainfall for 4 days.
2. River Mayurakshi overflowed.

Damage caused: About 10 thousand people suffered – no death-domestic animals lost crops were damaged.

Rescue and relief work: The government, welfare societies and general public helped the flood-affected people distributed food and clothing.

Answer:

A devastating flood submerged vast areas of Basjhora, Rampur, Khairakuri, and Amjora blocks of the Birbhum District. This was a sequel to the heavy rain that continued for 4 days from 12th to the 15th of August.

The discharge was so heavy that the river Mayurakshi overflowed its banks and submerged large areas on both the sides. The flood caused heavy damage. About 10 thousand people were affected by this.

Mud houses collapsed and standing crops were badly damaged. A large number of domestic animals were washed away. No death has so far been reported. Rescue and relief works were taken up by the Government in full swing.

Food, drinking water and clothing were distributed among the flood-stricken people. Different welfare societies and the general public have joined in this relief operation.

Letter Writing

লক্ষ্য করলে দেখবে চিঠি সব এক রকমের হয় না। মোটামুটিভাবে চিঠিপত্র তিন ধরনের হতে পারে। যথা :

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 English

1. ব্যক্তিগত (Private or Personal) চিঠি — সাধারণত আত্মীয়স্বজন ও বন্ধুবান্ধবদের নিকট লেখা চিঠি।
2. সরকারি (Official) চিঠি — সরকারি বা বেসরকারি অফিস সংক্রান্ত চিঠি।
3. কাজকর্ম সংক্রান্ত (Business or Commercial ) চিঠি – ব্যবসায়- সংক্রান্ত চিঠি ।

Note: এগুলি ছাড়াও Social letters ও Letter to the Press আছে। প্রথমটি সামাজিক চিঠি ও দ্বিতীয়টি সংবাদপত্রে প্রকাশের জন্য চিঠি। এবিষয়ে তোমরা পরে পড়বে।

Letter Writing Private Letters

Private চিঠি কীভাবে লিখতে হয় নীচে তার একটি উদাহরণ দেওয়া হল :

1(Heading)
135, Regent Estate,
Kolkata-700092,
28th December, 2011.

2(Salutation).
My dear Rathin,

3(Body of the letter)

I reached here safely yesterday. The compartment was rather empty, so I had quite a comfortable sleep all night.

My school sits at 10 a.m. and I have to walk a long distance. I shall, therefore, stop here for the present.

With best wishes,

4(Subscription) → Your sincerely,

5(Signature) → Kanai

6(Superscription) or, (Outside address)

উপরের চিঠি হতে জানা যায় যে একটি চিঠির সাধারণত ছয়টি অংশ থাকে, যথা—

1. Heading,
2. Salutation,
3. Body of the letter,
4. Subscription,
5. Signature, ও
6. Superscription. Or, Outside address.

1. Heading ( শিরোনাম )

এটা চিঠির প্রথম পৃষ্ঠায় উপরিভাগে লেখকের ঠিকানা ও তাহার নীচে চিঠি লেখার তারিখ। তারিখ ছাড়া কখনও চিঠি লিখবে না।

ঠিকানায় প্রতি লাইনের প্রথম অক্ষরটি Capital Letter হয়। ঠিকানা লিখতে comma (, ) full stop (.) ইত্যাদির ব্যবহারের কড়াকড়ি আজকাল কিছুটা শিথিল হয়েছে। নীচে ঠিকানা ও তারিখ লিখবার কয়েক রকম উদাহরণ লক্ষ্য করো :

1. 135, Regent Estate,
   Kolkata – 700092.
   28th December, 2004
2. P.O. Bolpur,
   Dist. Birbhum.
   PIN. 731204
   June 15, 2004
3. 135, Regent Estate
   Kolkata – 700092.
   28th December 2004
4. P.O. Bolpur
   Dist. Birbhum
   PIN. 731204
   15-June, 2004

2. Salutation (সম্বোধন )

Heading-এর নীচে কাগজের বামদিকে এক লাইনে এই salutation লেখা হয়। প্রাপকের সাথে লেখকের সম্পর্ক অনুসারে এই সম্বোধন বিভিন্ন রকমের হতে পারে, যেমন—

1. আত্মীয়স্বজন ও ঘনিষ্ঠ বন্ধুর নিকট
   • My dear Son / son,
   • My dear Mother / mother,
   • My dear Father / father,
   • My dear Sister / sister, My dear Brother / brother,
   • My dear Ramesh,
2. সাধারণ পরিচিত লোকের নিকট
   • My dear Mr Bose,
3. অল্প পরিচিত লোকের নিকট
   • Dear Mr Bose,

Note: লক্ষ্য কোরো salutation এর পরে comma (,) বসে।

3. Body of the Letter (মূল চিঠি )

এটা চিঠির বক্তব্য বিষয়। মূল চিঠি সর্বদা salutation-এর দ্বিতীয় word-টির সামান্য নীচে হতে আরম্ভ হয়, এবং প্রথম অক্ষরটি সর্বদা capital letter হয়ে থাকে। বড়ো লেখা হলে ভিন্ন ভিন্ন paragraph -এ ভাগ করে লেখা হয়।

Note: লক্ষ্য কোরো, মূল চিঠির শেষে With best wishes With regards, With love, ইত্যাদি লিখলে এদের শেষ word-টির শেষে comma (,) থাকে।

4. Subscription (উপসংহার )

5. Signature (স্বাক্ষর)

প্রাপকের সাথে লেখকের সম্পর্ক অনুসারে উপসংহার-এ স্বাক্ষর বিভিন্ন রকমের হয়, যেমন-

Subscription: Your affectionate son, or father, or friend, etc.

Signature: কেবলমাত্র, Kanu, Ram, etc.

আত্মীয়স্বজন
ও
ঘনিষ্ঠ বন্ধুর নিকট

Letter Writing Official Letter (সরকারি চিঠি)

অফিস সংক্রান্ত যাবতীয় চিঠিপত্রই Official letters । নীচে একটি Official চিঠির নমুনা দেওয়া হল ঃ

Application for Leave of Absence

The Headmaster
Rampur High School
Rampur

Sir,

As I was attacked with a fever, I could not attend school on Monday last. I would request you kindly to grant me leave of absence for that day.

Rampur
November 19, 2011

Yours obediently,
Suresh Chandra Dutta
Class 8, Roll No. 3

Note:

1. অফিস সংক্রান্ত চিঠিতে প্রথমে প্রাপকের নাম ও ঠিকানা চিঠির প্রথম পৃষ্ঠার উপরের দিকে দিতে হয়।
2. লক্ষ্য কোরো সরকারি চিঠিতে heading, অর্থাৎ ‘লেখকের ঠিকানা ও চিঠি লেখার তারিখ চিঠির নীচের স্বাক্ষরের বাঁদিকে থাকে।
3. গুরুশিষ্য সম্পর্কীয় চিঠিতে বয়োজ্যেষ্ঠকে সম্বোধন করতে Sir বা Madam এবং উপসংহারে Yours obediently বা Yours most obediently লেখা হয়। স্বাক্ষরে পুরা নাম এবং তার নীচে ছাত্রের নিজ শ্রেণির উল্লেখ করা হয়। কিন্তু সাধারণ সরকারি চিঠিতে অপরিচিত লোককে salutation-এ Sir, Madam, Dear Sir অথবা Dear Madam এবং subscription -এ Yours faithfully লেখা হয়। Signature-এ পুরা নাম থাকে।
4. Official চিঠিতে কখনো কোনো অবান্তর কথা লিখতে হয় না। মূল বক্তব্যগুলি সাজিয়ে সংক্ষেপে লিখতে হয়।
5. চিঠির ভাষায় আন্তরিকতা থাকলেও formal হওয়া বাঞ্ছনীয়।

Letter Writing Specimen Letters

Official Letters:

1. Your father has been transferred to some other place. Write a letter to your Headmaster asking for a transfer certificate.

The Headmaster
Naihati Boys’ High School.
Naihati

Sir,

Father has recently been transferred to Murshidabad. So, I shall have to leave this school very soon.

I, therefore, request you to issue me a transfer certificate at an early date. For your information, I have already paid my tuition fee for this month and have returned the books I had borrowed earlier from the school library.

Naihati
3rd June 2009

Yours obediently,
Sanat Sarkar
Class 8, B
Roll No. 8

2. Your sister’s marriage has been settled. Write an application to your Headmaster for granting you leave of absence.

The Headmaster
Raina High School
Raina

Sir,

The wedding ceremony of my sister comes off on Monday next (the 14th June). This will obviously keep me very busy at home for some days.

I, therefore, request you to grant me leave of absence for four days from 13th to 16th June.

Raina
11th June 2009

Yours obediently, Siddhartha Roy
Class 8, A
Roll No. 5

3. Write an application to your Headmaster praying for leave of absence for a few days owing to your illness.

The Headmaster,
R. K. Mission Boys’ Home High School,
Rahara, North 24 Parganas.

Sir,

I beg to state that I was laid up with fever last week. So I could not attend school for five days from 5th to 9th of May.

I, therefore, pray to you to grant me leave of absence for those 5 days.

Rahara,
10 th May, 2011

Your obedient pupil,
Partha Sarkar
Class 8, Sec A

4. Write an application to your Headmaster asking his permission to leave the school early on account of your illness.

The Headmaster,
Kalidhan Institution,
Kolkata-700 026.

Sir,

Most respectfully I beg to state that I feel very unwell on coming to school and I am quite unable to continue attending the class.

I, therefore, pray to you to permit me to leave the school early and allow Sandip to escort (সঙ্গে লইয়া যাওয়া) me home.

Kolkata,
5th June, 2011

Yours obediently,
Sunil Roy
Class 8, Sec B

5. Write an application for a school holiday.

The Inspector of Schools,
Burdwan Division,
Burdwan

Sir,

We, the students of N. J. High School, Burdwan, beg most respectfully to request you to grant us one day’s holiday in honour of your kind visit to our institution.

Burdwan
4th March, 2009

Yours obediently,
Students of N. J. High School

6. Write an application to the Headmaster for introduction of computer course in your school.

14th April, 2010

The Headmaster,
R.K. Mission Boys’ Home High School,
Rahara.

Sir,

I beg to state that computer is the latest scientific miracle. It finds its application in every walk of modern day life. From writing documents to sending them to far off places instantly we need the help of a computer. For storing data it is widely used in schools, colleges, offices, banks, airlines, shops, laboratories, hospitals and libraries. It is, therefore, very necessary that students should have elementary knowledge of computers from the school stage.

I would request you to arrange introduction of computer course in our school.

Yours obediently,
Sunit Roy
Class 8

7. Write a letter to your Headmaster requesting him to allow you to organise a debate competition in your school.

The Headmaster,
Hooghly Collegiate School,
Hooghly.

Sir,

We beg to inform you that we wish to organise a debate competition in our school. Debates stimulate the power of thinking of a person. It trains us to be effective speakers and to develop the habit of making extempore speeches. In a debate, we have to be able to speak on different points and counter points with convincing arguments. To acquire mastery over these, a good deal of training and practice is necessary. With this aim in view, we wish to organise a debate competition in our school on Tuesday, the 8th next. We shall be obliged if you kindly accord your kind permission for that.

1st March, 2007

Yours obediently,
S. Roy Secretary,
Students’ Union.

8. Your club wants to play a friendly football match with another club. Write a letter to the club inviting them.

The Secretary
Udayan Sangha
Bagha Jatin Palli
Kolkata-700 086

Dear Sir,

The members of our club desire to play a friendly football match with your club on 24th June at 4-30 p.m. in our ground. Kindly let me know at an early date if you can accept the proposal.

I am expecting a positive response from you.

Thanking you,

5/1, Sree Colony
Kolkata-700 092
13th June, 2010

Yours faithfully,
Rathin Kundu Secretary
Santi Sporting Club

9. You want to purchase some books. Write a letter to a book-seller placing some order.

The Manager,
Calcutta Book House Pvt. Ltd,
1/1, Bankim Chatterjee Street,
Kolkata-700 073.

Sir,

I shall be obliged if you kindly send me one copy of each of following books per V.P.P. at an early date:

List of books:

1. A New Course on English (For Class 6) by P. K. De Sarkar-1 copy
2. A New Course on Madhyamik English (for Classes 9 and 10) by P. K. De Sarkar-1 copy
3. A New Step to Geography (for Class 8) by Prof. K. Bose-1 copy

12th March, 2009
9, Chelliadanga Road,
P. O. Asansol,
Dt. Burdwan.

Yours faithfully,
Swapan Ghosh

Letter Writing Private Letters

1. Write a letter to your friend telling him how you spent the Puja holidays.

523, Jodhpur Park
Kolkata-700 068
27th Oct, 2010

My dear Bappa,

Perhaps you have received the picture postcard I had sent to you from Puri. During the last Puja vacation, I spent most of the time at home in Kolkata. The four days of the Durga Puja were very enjoyable. I went round the city and visited the puja pandals with my friends. The beautiful pandals, their decorations and the idols of the goddess Durga were simply charming. After the Puja, we went to Puri and spent a few days there. Visits to the Jagannath Temple, Konarak Mandir and sea bathing were special attractions there. Back home, we celebrated the Kali Puja and the Dewali with much funfare: I had a really free time during the Puja vacation. I read many good books and ate a lot. Studies were also taken care of. I enjoyed the Puja vacation very much.

Hope this finds you well.

Yours ever,
Siddharta

2. The examination results have been just out. Write a letter to your friend enquiring about his results in the examination.

Ambagan
P. O. Maldah
24th March, 2010

My dear Santi,

I hope this letter will find you in good health. Perhaps you will be glad to know that I got 71% marks in the last annual examination. Unfortunately, I could not secure any position. What about you? I heard that you fell ill before the examination, but I am sure, you have done well. I am anxious to know about your results.

Please drop me a letter at your earliest.

Yours ever,
Bhanu

3. You want to buy some books for you. Write a letter to your father asking for some money to buy the books.

Students’ Hostel
B. D. Memorial School Pratapgarh
24-Parganas (South)
2nd Nov, 2009

My dear Father,

Our examination results are just out and you will be glad to learn that I have secured over 72% marks in the examination. My teachers are very happy at my performance.

However, our mathematics teacher has advised me to buy two books on mathematics. He hopes, these will help me to further improve my results.

As the two books will cost around rupees seventy five, I request you kindly to send me the amount as soon as possible.

I hope everyone at home is in good health. With regards to you and mummy,

Yours affectionately,
Ratna

4. You are going on a holiday soon. Write a letter to your friend inviting him to enjoy the summer holidays with you.

21/1, S. P. Mukherjee Road,
Kolkata-700 026.
11th May, 2011

My dear Kanu,

I shall go to Darjeeling with my parents to enjoy the summer holidays there. We shall start in the first week of June and hope to stay there for two weeks. We have also planned to visit Kalimpong and Gangtok during this period. Will you join us to spend the holidays there? We shall be very glad if you accompany us. Please reply immediately.

With best wishes,

Yours ever,
Sumit

5. You are very fond of stamps and have started collecting them. Write a letter to your friend requesting him to collect some stamps for you.

P. O. Berhampur
12th May, 2010

My dear Ashis,

Perhaps you will be glad to know that I have taken up a hobby- the hobby of collecting stamps. I have already collected stamps of different countries.

I remember that your brother often gets foreign stamps in his office. Could you get some for me? I would be glad to exchange some duplicates lying with me.

With best wishes,

Ever yours,
Anju

6. Write a letter to your friend giving him an account of your first day at school.

Burdwan
5th May, 2009

My dear Anil,

The memory of my first day at school is quite fresh in my mind. Father took me to the Headmaster who directed me to my class. It was class 3 to which I had been admitted the previous day. As I took seat in the class, a number of boys gathered around and made enquiries about me. I was a little nervous at first, but soon I began to feel quite at ease. The bell rang and a teacher entered the class. We all stood up. He smiled a little and bade us sit down. As his eyes fell upon me, he came up and asked me my name. He then cheered me with a few words. During the tiffin time, I joined the boys playing in the school compound. I returned home with a pleasant mind.

Hope you are keeping well.

With love,

Yours ever,
Subhas

7. Write a letter to a friend inviting him to join a picnic you are going to arrange.

14, Shyama Pally,
Kolkata-700 032.
3rd Dec., 2009

My dear Sanjoy,

You will be glad to know that we have arranged a picnic on next Sunday, the 14th Dec. at Diamond Harbour. There will be in all about 20 persons in the party. Many of our friends will join the picnic. We shall start from Kolkata at about 7.30 in the morning by a chartered bus. We shall spend the whole day at Diamond Harbour at a suitable place by the riverside. Arrangements for cooking of food and playing music have been made. We would like to have you with us. There will be lots of fun for the whole day and I am sure you will enjoy the outing.

Awaiting a positive reply,

Yours ever,
Sushanta

8. Write a letter to a friend telling him how you enjoyed a picnic.

23, Kalighat Road,
Kolkata-700 026.
21st Dec, 2010

My dear Bimal,

Last Sunday I and some of my friends went to a picnic at Diamond Harbour. We started from the club premises at 7 a.m. in a luxury bus and reached there by 10 a.m. A site near the embankment was selected. It was cleared, and then we had breakfast with cakes, sweets and tea. After breakfast began the work of preparing the meals. We took two cooks from Kolkata and everything was done by them. While the cooking was going on, we had several rounds of tea and pakoras. Benu and Saroj entertained us by singing popular songs. We also enjoyed the music played in my cassette player. At 2 p.m. we had our lunch which comprised rice, dal, vegetable curry, fish curry, meat korma, chutney and sweets. They were well cooked and we relished the items greatly. After some rest we took a walk along the embankment. We also had a short boat trip on the Ganga. We started for the return journey at 5.30 p.m. and reached home by 8 p. m. We enjoyed the picnic very much.

Yours ever,
Subir

9. Write a letter to your friend inviting him to your birthday party.

10. This is Indranath’s reply to Animesh’s letter. Now write within 80 words what Animesh had written to Indranath.

105, R. P. Road,
P. O. Uttarpara,
Dt. Hooghly.
20th May 2009

My dear Indranath,

Our Summer vacation commences on the 6th of June and I have planned to go to Nainital with some of my friends. It will be very nice if you join us in the excursion. Nainital will be very pleasant at this time of the year and I hope we shall have an enjoyable trip.

Please drop me a line about your decision.

Yours ever,
Animesh

11. Write a letter to your friend inviting him on the occasion of the marriage of your sister.

Accepting letter to your friend inviting him on the occasion of the marriage of your sister

12. Your school had organised an excursion. You joined the excursion. Now write a letter to your brother describing it.

19, College Street
Kolkata-700 073
3rd December 2008

My dear brother,

Last weekend our school organised an excursion to Santiniketan by bus. I also joined the party. We left Kolkata at 6 o’clock in the morning. It took us five hours to reach there. It was a beautiful place. I was charmed to see young schoolchildren attending their classes in the shades under big trees, sitting at the feet of their teachers. It was green all around. The atmosphere was very calm and peaceful. We went round the whole compass. We also visited Uttarayan and several other buildings associated with the memory of Tagore. Special mention must be made of Kala Bhavan and China Bhavan where we noticed students learning their lessons with deep devotion. It was a really good educational trip, and I enjoyed it.

How are you? How is Mother? I hope to visit home by the end of this month.

With regards,

Yours truly.
Gopal

13. Write a letter to your friend, telling him how you like to pass the ensuing Christmas- holidays.

15/2, Fern Road
Kolkata-700 019
26th Nov 2008

My dear Kumkum,

Our Christmas holidays commence on the 24th of next month. I have planned to visit Delhi and the nearby areas with my parents and my brother Rabin during this holiday. He is also having a holiday at that time. We shall first go to Delhi, and visit the interesting places there. Our next programme would be at Agra where we can see the Tajmahal and the Fort which are famous tourist spots. From Agra we shall proceed to Jaipur and stay there for three days. We can see the splendour of the famous buildings like City Palace, Amber Palace and Hawa Mahal. Besides, there are the Jantar Mantar, Museum, Sishodia Gardens, etc. This visit will give us an idea of the Royal grandeurs of the old days. We plan to return to Kolkata direct from Jaipur. I feel we shall have a nice time during the holidays.

Hope you are keeping well. With love,

Yours ever,
Sabita

14. Write a letter to your friend living abroad telling him about Durga Puja, the greatest festival of the Bengalees. Draw an envelop and address it to your friend.

135, Regent Estate
Kolkata-700 092
India 9th Sept 2010

My dear Arnold,

I received your letter yesterday. You wanted to know about the Durga Puja in Kolkata. The Durga Puja is the greatest festival of the Bengalees. It is observed in autumn which falls in the months of September and October. In this festival, the goddess Durga and her children Kartick, Ganesh, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped. The goddess is the symbol of strength and power. The Durga Puja festival symbolises the victory of good over evil.
During the Puja days, which usually spans over 3 to 4 days, the deities are worshipped with great pomp and solemnity. Pandals are nicely decorated and illuminated. Thousands of men, women and children attired in colourful dresses take part in the festival. The images are immersed on the fourth day. Schools, colleges, offices remain closed during the period. The festival brings joy and happiness to everybody. We all wait eagerly for these days once every year.

Hope you are keeping well.

Yours sincerely,
Parimal

15. Bimal received a letter from his friend Amal and here is his reply. Now, write the letter that Bimal received.

P.O. Berhampore
Dt. Murshidabad
25th August 2009

Dear Amal,

I received your letter in time. I am glad to know that you want to visit Murshidabad in the last week of October. I shall be there at that time. So, you need not worry. I shall take you to the different places of interest in Murshidabad and I am sure you will enjoy the trip. Please let me know the exact date of your arrival. More when we meet.

With love,

Yours ever,
Bimal

Answer:

Amal Roy
C/O, Sri P. K. Roy
16/2, R. Mukherjee Road
Kolkata-700 069
16th August 2009

My dear Bimal,

Our class test will be over by the end of October, and I wish to visit Murshidabad for a few days after that. I heard that Murshidabad has many interesting tourist spots and I would like to visit them. Will you be at Behrampur then to accompany me?

I shall be glad to hear from you and shall finalise the programme after receiving your letter.

Hope you are keeping well.

With love,

Yours ever,
Amal

16. Write a letter to your friend describing the Annual Sports of your school.

P. O. Behrampur
Dt. Murshidabad
14th Jan., 2006

My dear Ashok,

The annual sports of our school was held on Sunday last at the parade ground. There were many interesting events like 100 m. race, high jump, long jump, relay race, cycle race, etc. The orange race and sack race for the juniors were the most interesting ones. I took part in 100 m. race and high jump and came second in 100 m. race.

There was great excitement among the students. The teachers also encouraged us very much. The tug-of-war between the students and teachers was enjoyed by all. The teachers won the event. The last item was go-as-you-like. The principal of the local college gave away the prizes.

Hope you are keeping well. With love and best wishes,

Yours truly,
Pradip

17. Write a letter to your friend requesting him to spend a week with you at your village home after the annual examination.

8, College Street
Kolkata-700 073
9th March, 2006

My dear Ramen,

I received your letter yesterday. My annual examination will be over by the 20th of this month and I leave for home that very night. Perhaps your annual examination also ends about that time. What is your plan for the holidays? I earnestly request you to come with me to my family at Maldah and spend a week with us. Maldah has many attractions of its own. The ruins of Gour and Pandu are very close to the present town. I shall also take you to Ramkeli, sacred to the memory of lord Sri Chaitanya and the devout brothers, Rupa and Sanatan. They will take you back to the glorious days of Bengal’s past. I have also some friends there. So you will not feel lonely in your new surroundings. In the family too you will not feel ill at ease. My younger brother and sister will like your company. I, therefore, hope you will not decline my request.

Please accept my best wishes and convey regards to your parents.

Ever yours,
Mihir

18. Write a letter to your friend congratulating him on his success in the examination.

Jalpaiguri
15th May, 2011

My dear Pabitra,

I have just learnt of your result in the Annual Examination. My hearty congratulations on your standing first in the examination. You also stood first in all the terminal examinations securing highest marks in all the subjects. This is a great achievement, no doubt. I am really very proud of you and so must be all your friends and relatives. I am sure the result will hearten you to do better in the Madhyamik Examination. You should not be self-complacent and must still try to improve your performance in future.

I am pretty well. I wish you a long and happy life.

Yours sincerely,
Riten

19. Write a letter to your friend telling him how you celebrated the 64th Independence Day in your school.

Burdwan
18th August, 2011

My dear Arun,

The 64th Independence Day was celebrated in our school on Sunday last. The function started in the morning with hoisting of the National Flag by our Headmaster. This was followed by singing of the National Anthem. The Headmaster then gave a short speech stating the importance of the occasion and remembering the great sacrifices made by the freedom fighters. The great advances made by India in different fields such as science, agriculture, industry and commerce during the last 64 years were highlighted by him. But he pointed out that still a lot remains to be done in the field of education, health and family welfare.

He told us about our responsibility as free citizens of India to build a prosperous nation. In the evening, a function was held in the school hall. The students took part in it and sang patriotic songs. The day reminded us of the great task lying ahead of us.

Hope you are keeping well.

Yours ever,
Sanjit

20. Write a letter to your friend giving him a description of the Saraswati Puja and the cultural programme held on that occasion at your school.

25, Raipur Road
Kolkata-700032
15.2.08

My dear Anjan,

You will be glad to know that we celebrated Saraswati Puja at our school in a grand manner. The school hall was nicely decorated with flowers and coloured papers. Beautiful lighting arrangements were also made. The puja was performed in the morning. We offered prayer and took prasad. In the evening a cultural programme was held. Some students sang Rabindrasangeet. Then a drama was performed by the students and it was a grand success. Some two hundred students and their guardians were present on the occasion. The function ended at 10 p.m. I enjoyed the day very much. Hope to here from you soon.

My best wishes to all of you.

Yours ever,
Rohan

21. Write a letter to your friend telling him about the memorable day in your life.

3/2, S.N. Bose Road
13, Chinsurah
4th Dec, ’10

My dear Sukumar,

Received your letter yeasterday. You wanted to know about the most memorable day of my life.

Well, a thing which is sweet lasts long in our memory. Last year, one day after I had returned home in the afternoon, my sister came running to me. She was very excited and handed over to me a letter which had just arrived. Lo and behold! It carried the news of my receiving the National Talent Search Scholarship. My joy then knew no bounds. Even though I expected it, I was not very sure of it. Everybody in the house was very happy. My parents blessed me and urged me to do still better in future. It was the happiest and most memorable day in my life. I was charged with a feeling of great. encouragement to achieve greater success in life.

I am fine. Hope this will find you in good health.

Yours truly,
Ratan

22. Write a letter to your brother about the harmful effect of smoking.

135, Regent Estate,
Kolkata-700092.
5th Aug., 2010

Dear Sandip,

Received your letter. I am glad to know that you have stopped smoking recently. Smoking is harmful to one’s health. It causes diseases like asthma, sore throat and even lung cancer. Even nonsmokers who spend a considerable time in the vicinity of smokers and inhale smoke are not spared. Realising the danger of smoking, an exhaustive campaign against smoking has already been started all over the world. Even selling tobacco products to anyone under 18 years is prohibited by law in many countries. Nowadays smoking in cinema halls, buses, trains and even in any public places is prohibited. A recent move has also been undertaken to prohibit display of smoking scenes in pictures or TV serials. The sooner people become conscious of the bad effect of smoking the better it is. I am so happy to learn that you have got rid of the harmful habit.

Hope you are keeping well.

Yours affectionately,
Partha

23. Write a letter to your father about your preparation. for the Annual Examination.

1/5, Beltala Road
Kolkata-700025
12th Sept., 2011

My dear Father,

I do not hear from you for a long time. Hope you and mother are keeping well. My annual examination comes off in the second week of Dec. next. The preparations have been quite satisfactory and I am confident of doing well in the annual examination. I have taken special care about English in which I could not do so well in the half-yearly examination. I have also practised solving question banks on mathematics, physical science, geography and history. This has helped me to prepare the subjects thoroughly and answer the questions in a proper way. You need not at all worry about my preparations this time. I am sure you will be pleased with my performance.
I am well. Please accept my regards. Love to mother.

Yours ever,
Sandip

24. The following advertisement appeared in The Telegraph on March 10, 2009.

Write an application expressing your willingness to take part in the contest.

CJ-264, Salt Lake,
Kolkata-700 091.
19th March, 2003

The Secretary,
Lake Town Youth Club,
Lake Town,
Kolkata-700 089

Sir,

I am writing this in response to your advertisement in The Telegraph of the 10th instant. I wish to compete in the Rabindra Sangeet. I would, therefore, request you to enlist my name.

I am a student of class 8 of Bidhannagar H. S. School. A certificate from my Headmaster in support of my candidature is enclosed.

Yours faithfully,
Protul Roy

25. The students of your class are going for a two days’ excursion by a reserved bus. Your class teacher will lead the team. You want to join the excursion. Write a letter to your father secking his permission. (Mention money required, the place and date, etc.)

16B, Rathtala Lane,
Maldah 14th November, 2009

My dear Father,

You will be glad to learn that an educational excursion to Murshidabad has been arranged for the students of our class on 3rd December next. The tour will be for two days. A private luxury bus has already been booked for this purpose. Sri Ajoy Samanta, our class teacher, will lead the team. All the students of our class will join the tour. It will be a very nice trip which will take us round the places of historical interest in Murshidabad.

I would request you to permit me to join the excursion. I would also request you to remit Rs.150/- to meet the expenses.

Hope you are all keeping well. Please accept my regards.

Yours affectionately,
Gargi

26. The advertisement appeared in The Statesman on February 20, 2008. Write an application in response to it. If you find any important information missing in the advertisement, mention it in your application. You may participate in one of the contests only.

AB 93, Salt Lake
Kolkata-700 091
February 25, 2008

The Secretary, Rotary Club,
Salt Lake City,
Kolkata-700 064

Sir,

In response to your announcement in The Statesman of the 20th instant, I beg to state that I wish to participate in the Quiz Contest to be held on the 23rd March next. I am a student of Class VIII of Bidhannagar Govt. School. The enclosed certificate from the Headmaster will testify to it. I would request you kindly to enroll my name. I shall also be glad if you send me an information brochure furnishing the following particulars:

1. Venue
2. Time and duration
3. Fees, if any

Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
Anupam Sarkar

27. Here is an advertisement

Learn short-hand and typing in your spare time.
Join the Modern Commercial Centre.
Box 1038. The Statesman.

Now, write an application in response. Note that you will have to ask for some specific information.

15/2, Central Road
Kolkata-700 032
5th April 2008

The Advertiser
Box 1038
The Statesman
Kolkata-700 001

Sir,

I am writing this letter in response to your advertisement in yesterday’s The Statesman. I intend to learn short-hand and typing and would, therefore, like to join your centre. A graduate in science, I am at present working in a private concern as a clerk. I shall be glad if you kindly send me the following information:

1. Usual school hours.
2. Number of days in a week the classes are held.
3. Duration of classes on each day.
4. School fees.
5. Facilities on Saturdays and Sundays.
6. Exact location of the school.

On hearing from you, I shall contact you for finalising the matter. Please send me an early reply.

Yours sincerely,
Somnath Roy

28. Read the notice. Imagine you joined the excursion that took place last month. Now write a letter to your friend describing it.

Annual Excursion

Organised by: Santi Sporting Club
Starting point: Club premises
Date: 6th January
Time: 7-30 a.m.
Travel by: Super luxury bus
Places of visit: Diamond Harbour, Bakkhali
Cost: Rs. 150/- per head (all incl.)
Return: 7th January 8-30 p.m

34, Russa Road
Kolkata-700 026
14th February 2008

My dear Arup,

You will be glad to learn that I went on an excursion last month to Diamond Harbour and Bakkhali. The excursion was organised by Santi Sporting Club, a club of local youths here. We started from the club premises on 6th January early in the morning at 7-30 by a super luxury coach. We spent two full days together, enjoyed every moment of it and returned next day, the 7th at 8-30 p.m. The cost per head was only Rs. 150/- all-inclusive. This, I feel, was not much considering the comfort and enjoyment we had. How I wish you were with us in the trip!

More when we meet,

Yours ever,
Rick

29. The following advertisement came out in The Telegraph on 22nd March, 2005.

For Sale: A 3-roomed flat with two toilets, kitchen at Purbachal, Cluster-8 near stadium, Salt Lake, Kolkata, for outright sale. Contact P. K. Sen, 121, Bidhan Sarani, Kolkata – 700 006

Now, write a letter to the advertiser showing your interest in buying the flat.

14/2, Fern Road
Kolkata-700 019
2nd April, 2005

Dear Sir,

In reply to your advertisement in The Telegraph dated 22nd March last, I would like to inform you that I am looking for a suitable flat. I would, therefore, be glad if you kindly send me the following particulars regarding your flat at an early date:

1. Number of bed rooms with sizes.
2. Size of living room.
3. Size of dining room / space, if any.
4. Total floor area of the flat including the common areas.
5. Orientation of the flat.
6. Width of road in the front.
7. Year of construction.

I would also like to know the price you have fixed for it. On hearing from you, I shall proceed further in this matter.
Awaiting an early reply,

Yours faithfully,
S. N. Roy

30. Read the following advertisement and write a letter in response to it.

A retired Headmaster wishes to coach English to students, in age group 12-14. Candidates should apply in their own hand-writing within seven days to: Mr. Singh, 48 Wood Street, Kolkata-700 007

Mr. Singh
48, Wood Street
Kolkata-700 007
Sir,

12, Nandan Road
Kolkata-700 025
5. 3. 2005

In response to your advertisement in today’s The Statesman, I beg to state that I wish to have coaching from you in English. I am a student of class 8 of Patha Bhaban. My school hours will permit me to have coaching for 2 hours on Tuesday and Friday. I passed the last final examination securing 75% marks in the aggregate. My score in English was 60%. I shall be glad if you kindly take me in. On hearing from you, I shall call on you to finalise the matter.

Yours truly,
Pradip Roy

Letter Writing Complaints And Petitions

1. Write a letter to the Officer-in-Charge of your local police station about your bicycle theft.

3rd January, 2011

The Officer-in-Charge
Shibpur Police Station
P. O. Shibpur.

Sir,

I have to inform you that my bicycle was stolen today between 11 a.m. to 11-30 a.m. from the bicycle stand of the local Gramin Bank. It was duly locked to the stand with lock and key. The cycle is of ‘Raliegh’ make and black coloured.

I would request you to take proper steps so that the bicycle thief is brought to book and the missing cycle is recovered.

4/1, B. M. Lane
Battalà
Dist. Howrah

Yours faithfully,
Saibal Dutta

2. Write a letter to the Municipal authorities complaining about the overflowing drains.

To
The Chairman,
Dum Dum Municipality

Sir,

I regret to inform you that the main road just in front of our house has been flooded with filthy water coming out of the road-side open drains. The drains have been choked and are not cleaned regularly by any scavenger. The whole area has become stinky and polluted. The drains should be cleaned immediately, otherwise epidemic may break out any moment. I would, therefore, request you to do the needful immediately and set things right:

15th June, 2010
3, Motijheel Road
Dum Dum, Kolkata-28

Yours faithfully,
Abhijit Roy

3. The roads in your locality have become bad. Write a letter to the Chairman of the municipality complaining about it.

The Chairman,
Kalna Municipality
Dist. Burdwan

Sir,

The roads in our locality have become a constant source of trouble to us. The surfaces are badly damaged. Pot holes have appeared extensively. Stone-chips and other materials have come out and are lying scattered all over the roads. During rains, the roads become almost a death trap to the pedestrians. The roads need immediate repair.

I, therefore, appeal to you for an immediate action in the matter.

14th June, 2014
Kalna Road
Dist: Burdwan

Yours faithfully,
Amal Roy

4. There is no arrangement for free medical treatment in your locality. Write an application to the Sabhadhipati of your Zilla Parisad praying for establishing a charitable dispensary in your locality.

Το
The Sabhadhipati
Beldanga Zilla Parishad
Dist. Murshidabad

Sir,

I regret to inform you that there is neither any health centre nor any doctor in our locality. The subdivisional town is ten kilometers away from here. Most of the people are poor. They do not get any medical aid when they fall sick. So, I appeal to you to set up a charitable dispensary in our locality. The poor villagers will remain ever grateful to you for this.

21st December, 2014
Village Beldanga
Dist. Murshidabad.

Yours faithfully,
Ratan Pal

5. Write a letter to the Postmaster of your locality complaining about the late delivery of letter.

The Post Master
Kalighat
Kolkata-700 026

Sir,

17, Kalighat Road
Kolkata-700 026
5th Jan, 2015

I regret to say that of late delivery of letters from your post office has become very irregular. Very often letters posted from Kolkata take even 12 to 15 days to reach us. This would be evident from the postal stamps marked on the letters. Recently a letter for a job interview reached me a week after the appointed day, even though it was posted well in advance. You will realise that such delays cause us great inconvenience and loss.

I would, therefore, request you to look into the matter and arrange delivery of letters as promptly as possible.

Yours faithfully,
‘X’

Letter Writing Letters To Newspapers

নিম্নলিখিত নিয়মগুলি লক্ষ্য করবে :

1. The Editer-কে উদ্দেশ্য করে চিঠি লেখা হয়।
2. Salutation (সম্ভাষণ)-এ Sir কথাটি ব্যবহার করা হয়।
3. চিঠিটির Subscription (পরিসমাপ্তি) হয়. সাধারণত Yours truly বা Yours faithfuly দিয়ে।
4. পত্রলেখকের নাম ও ঠিকানা অবশ্যই দিতে হবে, যদিও তা ছাপায় প্রকাশ করা না হয়। নাম ও ঠিকানাবিহীন অর্থাৎ বেনামী চিঠি কখনও পত্রিকায় প্রকাশ করা হয় না।
5. চিঠিটি সংক্ষিপ্ত হওয়া উচিত অথচ মূল বক্তব্য যেন পরিস্কার থাকে।

Letter Writing Specimen

1. Write a letter to the Editor of a Newspaper ventilating your grievance about frequent load-shedding.

2, Ibrahimpur Road,
Kolkata – 700 032.
25th Oct, 2014

The Editor,
The Telegraph,
Kolkata-700 001.

Sir,

Frequent load-shedding in the city and suburbs has made our life miserable. Power-cuts over wide areas for hours together have become a daily feature of our life nowadays. Houses, shops, factories -all reel under acute load-shedding. Students have to study in dim candle light. We have learnt to cook and eat in darkness. The whole industry is paralysed. It seems we are sliding back to the dark age. It is high time the government took suitable measures to restore normalcy in power supply.

Yours faithfully,
T.K. Roy

2. Write a letter to the Editor, of a newspaper complaining against hike in the prices of essential commodities.

The Editor
The Statesman
Kolkata – 700001

63, Bidhan Pally
Titagarh,
30th April, ’14

Sir,

Recently prices of essential commodities have gone up by leaps and bounds. Ordinary rice now sells at Rs. 30, sugar at Rs. 38 and massur dal and mustard oil at Rs. 90 a kilo. Potatoes and onions have reached an alltime high of Rs. 22 and Rs. 40 respectively. Every item is beyond the reach of the common people, and there is no apparent reason for this. There is no sign of relief whatsoever.

It is high time the government took serious measures to bring down the price line of every essential commodity.

Yours truly,
I. B. Roy

3. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper about the noise of loudspeakers at all hours during festivals.

The Editor
The Telegraph Kolkata-700001

Sir,

I wonder how mikes add to the gaiety of our festivals. They blare out nothing but cheap songs at all hours of the day and night. It is difficult to get a wink of sleep at night. You cannot protest. It will be perhaps against public sentiment. The local rowdies are there to bully if you do so.
I should like to request every young citizen to be thoughtful and refrain from using microphones indiscriminately.

23B, Haldarpara Road
Kolkata – 700026
October 19, 2012

Yours faithfully,
Asim Banerji

4. Write a letter to the Editor of an English daily complaining against the random cutting of roadside trees.

The Editor
The Statesman
Kolkata – 700001

P.O. Panagarh
Dt. Burdwan
6th April, 2014

Sir,

Of late, there has been a sudden spurt in felling of roadside trees along the Panagarh Ilambazar Road in the district of Burdwan. It is learnt that widening of the road has been taken up, and cutting down of trees, therefore, has become necessary. Trees are useful and beautiful gifts of nature. Loss of greenery causes environmental pollution. Felling of trees should be kept to the minimum. The loss should be compensated by planting as many trees as possible in new locations.

I would invite attention of the government to this aspect of the road widenning programme..

Yours faithfully,
A. Basu

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 9 Summer Friends

Word meanings:

Stanza 1

Swallow (সোয়ালো)— দোয়েল পাখি; summer bird — গ্রীষ্মকালের পাখি; chimney (চিমনী) – ধুম্রনালী; weather (ওয়েদার)—আবহাওয়া; chirping (চারপিং) – কিচির মিচির করে; notes (নোটস)—গান বা ধ্বনি; for weeks together——কয়েক সপ্তাহ কাল ধরে।

Stanza 2

cold wintry day—ঠাণ্ডা শীতের দিন; guest (গেস্ট) – অতিথি; gay (গে)—খুশি, আনন্দিত; young অল্পবয়সী; follow (ফলো)—অনুসরণকরা।

Stanza 3

dreary (ড্রিয়ারি)—নিষ্প্রভ, বিষণ্ণ ; frost (ফ্রস্ট্) – তুষার; cling (ক্লিং)— লেগে থাকা, জড়িয়ে থাকা; sparrow (স্প্যারো)—চড়ুই পাখি; although – যদিও; crost (ক্রস্ট) — বিচ্ছিন্ন; narrow (ন্যারো) – সংকীর্ণ।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Class 8 English Reading Skills

Stanza 4

sorrow (সরো)—দুঃখ ; mischance (মিচান্স ) – দুর্ভাগ্য; greet (গ্রি) — স্বাগত সম্ভাষণ জানানো; with his sight -এসে, দর্শনে।

Substance:

The poet looks upon the Swallow as a fair-weather friend. In summer when the weather is fine and warm, he comes and chirps, taking shelter in our chimneys.

But with the onset of winter, he leaves us like an opportunist guest and flies away to some warm place seeking comfort.

But the Sparrow does not leave us even in winter. Like a true friend, he stays with us in all occasions in summer and winter, sunshine or frost, in joy and sorrow. The poet desires to have such true friends only.

বঙ্গানুবাদ :

কবি সোয়ালো পাখিকে একজন সুসময়ের বন্ধু বলে মনে করেন। গ্রীষ্মকালে যখন আবহাওয়া উয় এবং ভাল থাকে, সে তখন এসে আশ্রয় নেয় আমাদের চিমনিগুলোতে আর কিচিরমিচির করে। কিন্তু শীত যেই আসে, একজন সুবিধাবাদী অতিথির মতো সে তখন আমাদের ছেড়ে উড়ে চলে যায় কোনো উয় জায়গায় আরামের সন্ধানে। কিন্তু চড়ুই পাখি এমনকি শীতকালেও কখনো আমাদের ছেড়ে চলে যায় না। একজন প্রকৃত বন্ধুর মত শীত, গ্রীষ্ম, রোদ, তুষারপাত, আনন্দ, দুঃখ—সব সময়ই সে আমাদের সাথে থাকে। কবি কেবলমাত্র এরকম প্রকৃত বন্ধুদেরই পেতে আকাঙ্খা করেন।

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 9 Summer Friends Examples

Read the texts below and do as directed.

Question 1. The Swallow is a summer bird;

He in our chimneys when the weather
Is fine and warm, may then be heard
Chirping his notes for weeks together.

Come there but one cold wintry day,
Away will fly our guest the Swallow
And much like him we find the way
Which many a gay young friend will follow.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. Why do you think the Swallow leaves the poet during the winter season?
2. What does the Swallow do in summer?
3. Why does the poet call the Swallow a guest?
4. How is the behavior of a “gay young friend” similar to that of the Swallow?

Answer:

1. The Swallow is a migratory bird that lives in a warm place. So during winter, he goes away in search of a warm place.
2. Being a summer bird, the Swallow stays in the chimney chirping for weeks together.
3. The Swallow is called a guest because he does not live in the chimney permanently but flies away in the winter just like a guest who comes only for a short period.
4. Just like a Swallow who leaves us when the winter sets in, a ‘gay young friend’ also leaves us in times of sorrow and need.

2. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements:

Question 1. The Swallow loves winter.
Answer: False

Question 2. The Swallow takes shelter in the cage.
Answer: False

Question 3. The Swallow is a summer bird.
Answer: True

Question 4. Young friends are considered as temporary friends.
Answer: True

Question 5. The Swallow sings merrily when it rains.
Answer: False

3. Fill in the blanks with words from the text. There may be a few extra words.

List of words: weather, chimneys, guest, wintry, chirping, away, summer, follow.

Question 1. I went to Darjeeling in ________
Answer: Summer

Question 2. A man has been engaged to clean the ________
Answer: Chimneys

Question 3. In spring we can hear ________ of the birds.
Answer: Chirping

Question 4. We have a ________ now at our house.
Answer: Guest

Question 2. In dreary days of snow and frost

Closer to Man will cling the Sparrow
Old friends, although in life we’re crost,
Their hearts to us will never narrow.

Give me the bird give me the friend
Will sing in frost-will love in sorrow-
Whate’er mischance to-day many send,
Will greet me with his sight tomorrow.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What does the Sparrow do in winter?
2. What does the poet feel about the old friends?
3. What type of friend does the poet want?
4. What type of bird does the poet want?

Answer:

1. The Sparrow clings closer to man during winter which means that it remains emotionally attached to man in his sorrow.
2. The poet feels that though old friends get separated, their hearts always remain closer to each other.
3. The poet wants a friend who will stay with him in joy and sorrow.
4. The poet wants a bird like the Sparrow and not the Swallow because, unlike the Swallow, the Sparrow will stay with him forever in both happy and bad times.

2. Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given:

Question 1. The Sparrow accompanies the poet in times of

1. Snow and frost,
2. Rain and water,
3. Sunshine and warmth.

Answer: 1. Snow and frost

Question 2. During winter the Sparrow will

1. Fly away,
2. Cling closer,
3. Dance in frost.

Answer: 2. Cling closer

Question 3. The hearts of old friends will never be-

1. Broad,
2. Narrow,
3. Kind.

Answer: 2. Narrow

Question 4. The poet wants a bird that will

1. Dance in Frost,
2. Enjoy summer,
3. Sing in frost.

Answer: 3. Enjoy summer

3. Find words in the text which are opposite in meaning of the following words:

1. Joyful;
2. Slip off;
3. Wide;
4. Foe;
5. Hate;
6. Bid farewell.

Answer:

1. Dreary,
2. Cling;
3. Narrow;
4. Friend,
5. Love,
6. Greet.

WBBSE Chapter 15 Conjunctions

উপরের sentence-গুলিতে মোটা word-গুলি দুইটি আলাদা sentence-কে অথবা দুইটি ভিন্ন word-কে যুক্ত করেছে বলে এদের Conjunction বলা হয়।, নীচে কিছু Conjunction-এর ব্যবহার লক্ষ্য করো :

Conjunctions Joining

1. Word to word:
   • Noun to Noun:
     • Is that a tiger or a lion?
     • Rathin and Papia will not come here. You and he are both young.
   • Pronoun to Pronoun: You and he are both young.
   • Verb to Verb: The child sit down young.
   • Adv. to Adv.: Slowly and steadily the tortoise won the race.
   • Adj. to Adj.: He is slow but steady.
2. Sentence to sentence:

Note:

1. Unless ও until এই দুইটি Conjunction-ই Negative অর্থ প্রকাশ করে।
2. Until— তক্ষণ পর্যন্ত না । Unless — যদি না।

সুতরাং “হ্যাঁ” অর্থ বোঝাতে এদের সাথে not বসবে না।

Read And Learn More WBBSE Class 8 English Functional Grammar

1. Wait here until I come—আমার আসা পর্যন্ত এখানে অপেক্ষা করো। (until I do not come হবে না।)
2. Unless you work hard you will fail—কঠোর পরিশ্রম না করলে তুমি অসফল হবে। (Unless you do not work hard হবে না; তবে If you do not work hard ব্যবহার হতে পারে।)
3. He worked until I came – আমি আসা পর্যন্ত সে কাজ করেছিল।
4. I shall be ruined unless you help me — যদি তুমি আমায় সাহায্য না করো আমার সর্বনাশ হবে।

If, Unless-এর ব্যবহার

উপরে বলা হয়েছে যে unless শব্দটি একটি Conjunction এবং এটা Negative অর্থ বহন করে।

Unless— যদি না

সুতরাং “হ্যাঁ” অর্থ বোঝাতে এর সাথে not বসবে না।

1. Unless you work hard, you will fail – কঠোর পরিশ্রম না করলে তুমি অসফল হবে।
2. Unless you come in time you will miss the train — সময়মত না আসলে তুমি ট্রেনটি ধরতে পারবে না।

এখানে ‘unless you do not work এবং ‘unless you do not come’ হবে না।

“If” ব্যবহার করেও উপরের sentence-গুলি লেখা যায়। কিন্তু সেক্ষেত্রে not ব্যবহার করতে হবে যথা :

1. If you do not work hard, you will fail.
2. If you do not come in time, you will miss the train.

এইরূপ, নীচের Sentence গুলি লক্ষ্য করো :

1. If you do not feel hungry, you should not eat. Or, Unless you feel hungry, ‘you should not eat.
2. If the drains are not cleaned properly, mosquitoes will grow. Or, Unless the drains are cleaned properly, mosquitoes will grow.

Sentence-লि “” দ্বারা কীভাবে যৌগ করা হয়েছে দেখেঃ

1. Do you feel unwell? Consult a doctor.
   • If you feel unwell, consult a doctor.
2.  You want to save the patient. You should take him to the hospital.
   • If you want to save the patient, you should take him to hospital.

Conjunctions দ্বারা কীভাবে দুইটি sentence-কে যোগ করা যায়, তার আরও কিছু উদাহরণ নীচে দেওয়া হল।

1. And দ্বারা ঃ

• I shall go to school. I shall meet the teacher.
• I shall go to school and meet the teacher.
• He likes mangoes. He likes oranges.
• He likes mangoes and oranges.
• Sita is singing. Roma is dancing.
• Sita is singing and Roma is dancing.

2. But:

• Pranab goes to school. His brother stays at home.
• Pranab goes to school but his brother stays at home.
• Ice is cold. The fire is hot.
• Ice is cold but fire is hot.
• He is poor. He is honest.
• He is poor but honest.
• He worked hard. He failed.
• He worked hard but he failed.

3. If, or else, otherwise, unless it?

• Mind your steps. You will fall down.
• Mind your steps, or you will fall down.
• Mind your steps, otherwise, you will fall down.
• Mind your steps, or else you will fall down.
• Unless you mind your steps, you will fall down.
• If you do not mind your steps, you will fall down.

4. So, as, therefore, because, since, for:

• He was ill. He could not come.
• He was ill, so he could not come.
• As he was ill, he could not come.
• He was ill, therefore he could not come.
• He could not come because he was ill.
• Since he was ill, he could not come.
• He could not come, for he was ill.

5. Though, although, still

• He worked hard. He failed.
• He worked hard, still, he failed.
• Though he worked hard, he failed.
• Or, He failed, though he worked hard.
• Although he worked hard, he failed.

Either-or, Neither-nor

Neither-nor( কোনোটাই নয় )

Neither coffee nor tea, thank you.

Either-or—দুটোর মধ্যে যে-কোনো একটা

Either milk or tea please.

Or follows either.

Nor follows neither.

দুই জনের মধ্যে যে-কোনো একজন অর্থে either-or, এবং কেউ না অর্থে neither-nor ব্যবহৃত হয়।

• Either Mohan or Sunil will go there —— হয় মোহন কিংবা সুনীল সেখানে যাবে।
• Neither he nor his sister can do this—সে কিংবা তার বোন কেউই এটা করতে পারে না।
• Either Roma or her sister is responsible for this—হয় রমা কিংবা তার বোন এর জন্য দায়ী।
• Neither Jayanta nor Bibhas was present there—জয়ন্ত কিংবা বিভাস কেউই ওখানে উপস্থিতছিল না।

Either or এবং Neither nor ব্যবহার করতে লক্ষ্য রেখো, তাদের উভয় অংশের পরই একই জাতীয় Part of speech বসবে। নীচের Sentence গুলি দেখো :

Incorrect: I shall say this either to him or his brother

Correct:

• I shall say this either to him or to his brother.
• I shall say this to either him or his brother.

Incorrect: He may either go to the cinema or to the theatre.

Correct:

• He may go either to the cinema or to the theatre.
• He may go to either the cinema or the theatre.

Incorrect: He neither gave me the book nor its price.

Correct:

• He gave me neither the book nor its price.
• He neither gave me the book nor paid its price.

প্রথম বাক্যে either-এর পরে যদি to এই Preposition থাকে তবে or-এর পরেও to এই Preposition দিতে হবে। অথবা to কথাটিকে either-এর পূর্বে বসিয়ে either ও anaর পরে একই জাতীয় Part of Speech (Pronoun ও Noun) বসাতে হবে।

দ্বিতীয় বাক্যে either-এর পরে go (verb) এবং or-এর পরে to (prep.) বসেছে। এটা ভুল। Either-এর পরে to (prep.) বসাতে হবে। নতুবা to wordটিকে either-এর পূর্বে বসিয়ে either ও or-এর পরে একই জাতীয় Part of Speech the cinema (Noun) ও the theatre (Noun) বসাতে হবে।

তৃতীয় বাক্যে neither-এর পরে যদি gave এই ‘Verb’ টি রাখো, তবে nor-এর পরেও একটি verb দিতে হবে, অথবা gave কথাটিকে neither-এর পূর্বে সরিয়ে neither ও nor-এর পরে book ও price-এই দুটি Noun বসাবে।

WBBSE Chapter 15 Conjunctions Excercise

Question 1. Combine the two sentences into a single one with the following Conjunctions in as many ways as you can. One is done for you. (as, so, therefore, and, because, but, unless, if, until, though.)

I am ill: I cannot play.

Answer:

As I am ill, I cannot play.

I am ill, so I cannot play.

Amal will go there. Subir will go there. He works hard. His brother is idle.

You will fail.

You should work hard.

I shall return.

Wait here.

He tried hard.

He failed.

I shall help him.

He is my friend.

He ran fast.

He could not reach it in time.

You tell me the truth.

I shall punish you.

Question 2. Join the sentences with:
Answer:

1. Neither-nor

I could not do it; You could not do it.

I do not want you; I do not want your brother.

He did not go there; his sister did not go there.

I have not seen him; I have not heard from him.

Answer:

Neither I nor you could do it.

She cannot sing; she cannot paint.

He will not help me; he will not help you.

He will not give me the book; he will not pay its price.

2. Either-or

It must be done by Rana; it must be done by his brother.

Answer:

It must be done either by Rana or by his brother.

Give me a red pen; give me a blue pen.

The boys will play football; the boys will play cricket.

You can buy a radio; you can buy a TV.

You must come; your brother must come.

Dialogue Writing

বাংলায় আমরা যাকে সংলাপ বলি তারই ইংরাজি নাম Dialogue। দুই বা ততোধিক ব্যক্তির মধ্যে যে কথোপকথন হয়, তা লিখিতভাবে প্রকাশ করার নাম Dialogue Writing

Dialogue রচনা করবার সময় কাল্পনিক ব্যক্তিগণের যে ভাবটি বা বিষয়টি নিয়ে কথোপকথন হয়, সেটির উপরই আলোচনা নিবন্ধ থাকা উচিত, কথাবার্তায় আমরা সুদীর্ঘ sentence ব্যবহার করি না। ছোটো ছোটো sentence দিয়ে কথা বলি এবং অনেক সময় একটি মাত্র word দিয়েও মনের ভাব প্রকাশ করা হয়।

সাধারণত dialogue-এ কথায় চলতি ভাষা ব্যবহার করা হয়— সাধু ভাষার প্রয়োগ খুবই কম হয়। কথোপকথনের ভাষা যেন সহজ এবং শুদ্ধ হয়। যতদূর সম্ভব I’ll, they’re we’ve এইরূপ contraction ব্যবহার করা হয় ।

কাল্পনিক dialogue লিখবার সময় পৃষ্ঠার বাঁদিকে প্রত্যেক বক্তার নাম লিখে একটি colon (:)’ অথবা dash (—) চিহ্ন দেওয়া হয় এবং তার পরে উক্তিটি লেখা হয়। প্রত্যেক ব্যক্তির উক্তি নূতন ছত্রে লিখতে হয় ৷ নীচে অল্প কয়েকটি examples দেওয়া হল ।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 English

1. A request for a leave

Amal: May I come in, sir?

Teacher: Yes, what is it, Amal?

Amal: It’s an application for leave, sir.

Teacher: Leave? What for?

Amal: To see my ailing mother at home.

Teacher: Is it? When do you wish to go?

Amal: Tomorrow, sir,

Teacher: For how many days?

Amal: Only four days. I’ll be back on Sunday next.

Teacher: All right, Amal. You may go.

Amal: Thank you very much, sir.

2. Planning a holiday

Siben: Well, Partha, we have a holiday for three days next week. Maybe we can spend a few days at Digha.

Partha: Yes, that’s a good idea. I’ve never been to Digha before. What are the things we may see there?

Siben: The sea beach at Digha, I’ve heard, is simply wonderful. It is also very calm and quiet. Not much else to see.

Partha: That’ll be enough. How do we go there?

Siben: We can take a luxury bus from the Esplanade. It leaves in the morning everyday.

Partha: So we meet at the Esplanade bus stand on Friday at 7 a.m.

Siben: Yes, I shall be there right on time.

3. About a TV program

Dipu: Do you watch Tipu Sultan serial on the TV?

Bani: Yes, I watch it regularly. Isn’t it very interesting?

Dipu: Yes, it is. The photography, the sets, and the acting of Sanjoy Khan as Tipu and Shabaz Khan as Haider is really top-class, aren’t it?

Bani: Yes, what about the battle scenes? Aren’t they realistic?

Dipu: Yes, they are. Actually, the patriotism of Tipu has been truly reflected in the serial.

Bani: I agree with you totally.

4. Between a doctor and his patient

Patient: May I come in, sir? I am in trouble, Doctor.

Doctor: Why, what’s the matter?

Patient: I have been losing appetite and strength for some time.

Doctor: Let me examine you thoroughly. Just lie down here. (The patient lies down and the doctor makes a thorough examination). Well, take these tablets for a week and you’ll be all right.

Patient: Thank you, Doctor.

5. Between two friends about examination.

Bejon: Hello, Amal, how did you do in the examination?

Amal: Not bad, really. But I should have done better in Mathematics.

Bejon: What was wrong with Mathematics? Were the questions very stiff?

Amal: Not really. Perhaps the question paper was a bit lengthy.

Bejon: Couldn’t you answer all the questions?

Amal: No, I could answer only about 80% questions.

Bejon: What about the other subjects?

Amal: I did fairly well in those papers.

Bejon: Then you don’t have to worry. You’ll certainly do well in the examination. Goodbye!

Amal: Thank you very much.

6. Between two friends about the importance of English as a language.

Amal: Well, Bikash, what do you think about the importance of English as a language in our country?

Bikash: I think English is quite necessary for us.

Amal: Why do you think so?

Bikash: Knowledge of the English language is necessary for learning higher science, technology, medicine, economics, and commerce.

Amal: Can’t we learn them in our mother tongue?

Bikash: There are no good books in Indian languages on these subjects.

Amal: Any other reasons for learning English?

Bikash: India is a multilingual state. For proper communication with other states, English is a must.

Amal: Then, do you suggest that English should be the only medium of instruction? Bikash I would say that English may be learnt as an additional language.

Bikash: This would help us to maintain communication with the outside world.

7. Between two friends about a football match witnessed by them.

Shymal: Hello, Subir, did you see the football match between the Town Club and the College team yesterday?

Subir: Of course, I did.

Shymal: It was a wonderful match, wasn’t it?

Subir: Oh! very exciting no doubt but it was a drawn game.

Shymal: Who do you think played better?

Subir: I feel the College team was a better team.

Shymal: I also think so. They should have won by at least two goals.

Subir: The Town Club also missed a few sitters.

Shamal: That’s true. But the College team had better control over the game.

Subir: Yes, bad luck, they could not win the match.

8. A dialogue between two students who have just come out of the examination hall.

Swapan: Well, Kumar, you seem to be very happy. How did you do today?

Kumar: Very nice. I answered all the questions, they were all very easy. I am happy.

Swapan: But I didn’t like the questions, especially the questions on narration change and change of voice. Those are really difficult.

Kumar: Why? Didn’t you attend the class lectures of Mr. Nag? He gave us exercise exactly similar in nature.

Swapan: Sorry, I was absent those days, and couldn’t keep track. Anyway, I hope to get about 65% marks in today’s paper.

Kumar: That’s very good. I expect about 80% marks in today’s paper.

Swapan: Congratulations well in advance.

Kumar: Thank you.

9. Dialogue between two friends about the selection of additional subjects in class 9.

Sunil: We’re in class 9, and we have to choose the additional subject now. What do you propose to take?

Pranab: I’d go for Biology.

Sunil: Biology? Why? What about Mathematics?

Pranab: You know, I’m not so strong in Mathematics. Moreover, I a plan to take up Medicine after the 12 class. So Biology is a must for that.

Sunil: Oh, I see.

Pranab: What about you?

Sunil: I would take up Mathematics as an additional subject. I intend to join the Engineering course after class 12. So Additional Mathematics would be a great help for me.

Pranab: No doubt. That’s a good choice. Let us hope our plans become successful.

10. Dialogue between two friends about late running of trains.

Amal: Hello Barun, glad to meet you after a long time.

Barun: So am I. Where are you going?

Amal: I’m going to Kolkata to meet my uncle; But as usual, 56 Down is running late.

Barun: That’s the normal affair in the Burdwan-Howrah section.

Amal: Really, trains running late by half an hour or so seem to be nobody’s concern!

Barun: Right so. Yesterday, I missed an appointment at my office in Kolkata.

Amal: Why? What happened?

Barun: The 45 Up was held up at Gangpur-some mechanical fault.

Amal: That’s the problem-today it is a mechanical fault, yesterday it was no clearance of the line, and so on.

Barun: Really, late running of trains has become a regular affair. Is there nobody to look into this?

Amal: I doubt. Who cares for the great inconvenience caused to the travellers?

11. A dialogue between a customer and a bookseller.

Bookseller: Welcome, sir. Can I help you?

Customer: Thank you. I want a copy of A New Course on English, Class 8 by P. K. De Sarkar.

Bookseller: Wait a minute, please. [He pulls a copy from the rack.] Here it is, sir.

Customer: How much is it?

Bookseller: It is Rs. 125/-, sir.

Customer (opening his purse): Here it is. [Hands over the money and collects the book.]

Bookseller: Anything else, sir?

Customer: No, thank you.

Dialogue Writing Completion Of Dialogues

অনেক সময় কিছু অসম্পূর্ণ dialogue দেওয়া থাকে এবং ছাত্রকে সেই dialogue টিকে সম্পূর্ণ করতে বলা হয়। Dialogue- এর শূন্যস্থান পূর্ণ করতে হলে প্রথমেই অসম্পূর্ণ dialogue বা conversation- টিকে ভালো করে পাঠ করে নেবে এবং dialogue-এর বিষয়বস্তু সম্পর্কে একটা মোটামুটি ধারণা করে নেবে। প্রশ্ন ও উত্তরবোধক dialogue থাকলে উত্তরটি দেখেই যথাযথ প্রশ্ন বাক্য (question word) দ্বারা ‘শূন্যস্থান পূরণ করা যায়। অনেক সময় উত্তরগুলির মধ্যেই প্রশ্ন বা প্রশ্নের মধ্যে উত্তর দেওয়া থাকে। নীচের উদাহরণগুলি লক্ষ্য করো।

Points to note:

1. The tense for the question will usually be suggested by the tense of the answer, but not always : (সাধারণভাবে প্রশ্ন এবং উত্তর একই Tense-এ হওয়া উচিত।)

Question 1. _______ Mohan recently?
Answer: No, I haven’t seen him for a long time.

Question 2. Mohan recently?
Answer: Yes, I saw him on Monday.

(লক্ষ্য করো উপরিউক্ত দুইটি প্রশ্নের ক্ষেত্রে Tense এক হলেও উত্তরগুলি বিভিন্ন Tense- এ দেওয়া আছে।

2. Questions in the Present Simple Tense are formed with ‘do’ and ‘does’, and those in the Past Simple Tense with did’ : (সাধারণভাবে প্রশ্ন এবং উত্তর একই Tense-এ হওয়া উচিত।)

Question 1. ________ apples? (Does he like)
Answer: Yes, he likes them very much.

Question 2. _________ go there yesterday? (Did you go)
Answer: Yes, I went there yesterday.

উত্তরগুলি যদি শুধুমাত্র ‘Yes’ বা ‘No’ থাকে তবে Question word হিসাবে প্রায়শই ‘who’, ‘which’, ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘whom’, ‘where’, ‘who’

Dialogue Writing Examples

Complete the dialogues by filling in the blanks in the questions:

1. Sita: ________ read this Hindhi book?
Geeta: No, I cannot read Hindi.

Answer: Can (or, Did) you

2. Teacher: ________ your home task?
Student: Yes, I have done it.

Answer: Have you done

3. Amal: ________ like the picture?
Pranab: Yes, I did.

Answer: Did you

4. Rana: _______ know my friend Bapu?
Raja: No, I don’t.

Answer: Do you

5. Father: _________ running in the field.?
Son: Yes, I was (running in the field)

Answer: Were you

6. Chandan: _______ like to go there?
Arun: No, I won’t (like to go there).

Answer: Will you

7. Mother: ______ there at that time?
Son: No, he was not (there at that time).

Answer: Was he

8. Question: _______ your father?
Answer: He is at home.

Answer: Where is

9. Question: _______ you go there?
Answer: I go there to learn spoken English.

Answer: Why do

10. Question: _______ he come?
Answer: He will come by bus.

Answer: How will

11. Question: ________ he come?
Answer: On Monday next.

Answer: When will

12. Question: ________ price of this book?
Answer: Ten rupees.

Answer: What is the

13. Question: _______ give the book?
Answer: I gave the book to my brother.

Answer: Whom did you

14. Question: ______ your pen?
Answer: This one.

Answer: Which one is

15. Question: _______ he live?
Answer: In Delhi

Answer: Where does

Note: In actual conversations, replies are often made in short sentences, without repeating the whole of the sentence. ( প্রকৃত কথোপকথনের সময় আমরা প্রায়ই সম্পূর্ণ sentence ব্যবহার করি না, মাত্র দুই একটি word ব্যবহার করি। )

Complete the dialogues.

1. Shopkeeper: -you-?

Boy: I want some sugar.

Answer:

Shopkeeper: you? What do

Boy: I want some sugar

2. Man: – your name?

Girl: My name is Bina Ghosh.

Man: – live?

Girl: I live in this flat.

Man: – come here?

Girl: I came here yesterday.

Answer:

Man: What is your name?

Girl: My name is Bina Ghosh.

Man: Where do you live?

Girl: I live in this flat.

Man: When did you come here?

Girl: I came here yesterday

3. Father: – doing here?

Son: I’m trying to lift this stone.

Father: – heavy?

Son: Not very heavy.

Father: – you?

Son: thank you. I lift it myself.

Answer:

Father: What are you doing here?

Son: I’m trying to lift this stone.

Father: Is it very heavy?

Son: Not very heavy.

Father: Shall I help you?

Son: No, thank you. I can lift it myself

4. Apurba: – come here ?

Kamal: I came here by bus.

Apurba: – very crowded?

Kamal: No, not so much.

Apurba: -in-hand?

Kamal: A gift for your brother.

Answer:

Apurba: Now did you come here?

Kamal: I came here by bus.

Apurba: Was it very crowded?

Kamal: No, not so much

Apurba: What is in your hand?

Kamal: A gift for your brother

5. Salil: -want here, sir?

Man: I’m looking for a gentleman-Amal.

Salil: Amal?-know- address?

Man: No,

Salil: Well, is he?

Man: He is 24 years old.

Salil: is he?

Man: He is an engineer.

Salil: -? Do you mean Amal Roy? Well, third floor,-flat No. 4

Man: -, sir.

Answer:

Salil: Whom do you want here, sir?

Man: I’m looking for a gentleman, named Asma.

Salil: Amal? Do you know his address?

Man: No, I don’t.

Salil: Well, how old is he?

Man: He is 24 years old.

Salil: What is he?

Man: He is an engineer.

Salil: Engineer? You mean Amal Roy? Well, he lives on the third floor, in flat No. 4.

Man: Thank you, sir.

6. Gargi: Hello!2472-5595 ?

Lipika: -, it is.—you speaking, please?

Gargi: This is Gargi here. You are Lipika I suppose. – you?

Lipika: I’m fine. – you?

Gargi: I’m also fine.

Answer:

Gargi: Hello! Is this 2472-5595?

Lipika: Yes, it is. Who are you speaking to, please?

Gargi: This is Gargi here. You are LipikaI suppose. How are you?

Lipika: I’m fine. What about you?

Gargi: I’m also fine.

7. Suppose Bimal was being interviewed by the Headmaster. Suggest what the Headmaster had said before Bimal gave the answer:

Headmaster: _______________

Bimal: Yes, sir. I haven’t.

Headmaster: _____________

Bimal: I did not feel well last night, sir.

Headmaster: ____________

Bimal: No, sir. This does not happen often. I always come to school with my homework done.

Headmaster: ____________

Bimal: No, sir. I have not been to the doctor.

Headmaster: _________

Bimal: Yes, sir. I will remember.

Answer:

Headmaster: You have ’t done your homework today, I assume.

Bimal: Yes, Sir haven’t.

Headmaster: Why? What’s the matter?

Bimal: I did not feel well last night, sir.

Headmaster: You don ’ do homework quite often, do you?

Bimal: No, sir. This does not happen often. I always come to school with my homework done.

Headmaster: Have you been to the doctor?

Bimal: No, sir. I have not been to the doctor.

8. Complete the following dialogue between a bookseller and a customer.

Book Seller: Can I help you?

Customer: Yes. Can ___ map ______India?

Book Seller: Yes, here _____

Customer: Is it the latest one?

Book Seller: Yes

Customer: How much ________?

Book Seller: Rupees twenty-five.

Customer: Here _______

Book Seller: _________

Answer:

Book Seller: Can I help you?

Customer: Yes. Can I have a map of India?

Book Seller: Yes, here it is.

Customer: How much does it cost?

Book Seller: Rupees twenty-five.

Customer: Here it is.

Book Seller: Thank you very much.

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 1 The Wind Cap Word Meanings

Part 1

lad (ল্যাড) – ছেলে, বালক; sailor (সেলর) — নাবিক; smell (ম্মেল) – গন্ধ; obeyed (ওবেড়) — মেনে চলত; heavy heart —মন খারাপ করে; plough ( প্লাউ ) – লাঙল ; ran over — মাড়িয়ে চলেছিল; turtle (টাটল) – কচ্ছপ ; clod (ক্লড)–ঢেলা, মাটির তাল; safe (সেফ্) নিরাপদ; plucked (প্লাকড্‌ ) – তুলে নিল; bowed (বাওড) – মাথা নীচু করে অভিবাদন করল; kindness (কাইন্ডনেস্) — দয়া; yearned (ইয়ার্ড) – খুব ইচ্ছা করছিল; express (এক্সপ্রেস ) – প্রকাশ করা ।

Part 2

in return —বিনিময়ে ; warning (ওয়ার্নিং) – হুঁশিয়ারী, সতর্কবার্তা ; blink (ব্লিংক) – চোখ পিট-পিটানি ; striped (স্ট্রাইপড়)—ডোরাকাটা; cautions (কশাস্) – হুঁশিয়ারী, সতর্কতা; anchored (অ্যাংকর্ড) নোঙর করা; voyage (ভয়েজ) —সমুদ্রযাত্রা; prevailed (প্রিভেল্ড) – বজায় থাকল; twisted (টুইটেড)— মোচড়ে দিয়েছিল; summon (সামন্) —তলব করা; part with ছেড়ে যাওয়া; prized (প্রাইড) মহামূল্যবান; ashore (অ্যাশোর) – ডাঙায় ফেরা; churning (চার্নিং) – উত্তালভাবে নড়া।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Class 8 English Reading Skills

Part 3

sighted (সাইটেড)—দেখতে পেত ; offshore (অফশোর ) — সমুদ্রের পাড় থেকে কিছুটা দূরে; consequently (কনসিকোয়েন্টলি)—ফলে; twisted — মোচড় খেল; squall (স্কোয়াল) – আকস্মিক প্রবল বাতাস; snapping (স্ন্যাপিং) – আছড়ে পড়া; spars (স্পার্স) মাস্তুলগুলো; rip (রিপ) – ছিঁড়ে ফেলা; unsuccessful (আসাক্সেসফুল) – অসফল grabbed (গ্র্যাবড্)—খামচিয়ে ধরল; flung (ফ্লাং)— ছুঁড়ে দিলেন; spun (স্পান্)—ঘুরপাক খাওয়া; wardrobe (ওয়ারড্রোব) —জামাকাপড়ের আলমারি; tucking (ট্যাকিং) – পরিস্কার ভাঁজ করে বা গুছিয়ে রাখা।

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 1 The Wind Cap Examples

1. Read the texts below and do as directed.

Question 1. There was once a lad who wanted to be a sailor but his mother would not let him go to the sea. “Child, what do you know of sailing?” she would say. “You’re a farmer’s son, you know the turn of the seasons and the smell of the soil but you do not know the sea.”

Now the boy whose name was Jon, had always obeyed his mother. So he went about his farm work with a heavy heart but did not again’ mention the sea.

One day, he had been walking behind the plow. He all but ran over a tiny green turtle on a clod of dirt. He picked the turtle up and set it on his head where he knew it would be safe. When he was done with plowing, Jon plucked the turtle from his head. To his utter surprise, he found that it had turned into a tiny green fairy man that stood upon his palm and bowed.

“I thank you for your kindness, tell me your heart’s desire and I’ll grant it to you for saving my life,” said the fairy. Jon bowed but said nothing. Although his heart yearned to go out to the sea, he did not express his wish.

The green fairy man could read a heart easily. So he said, “I see you wish to go sailing”. Jon’s face answered for him.

Answer the questions below:

1. What was the boy Jon’s ambition?
2. Where was the tiny green turtle?
3. Why do you think Jon thought that the turtle would be safe on his head?
4. What surprised Jon when he plucked the turtle from his head?
5. What and why did the fairy man want to do for the boy?

Answer:

1. Jon’s ambition was to be a sailor.
2. The tiny green turtle lay on the ground mixed up in a clod of dirt.
3. Jon was plowing the field. So he thought that if he put the turtle on his head, there would be no chance of treading over it, and it would remain safe there.
4. Jon was surprised to find that the little turtle had turned into a tiny green fairy man that stood upon his palm.
5. Jon had saved the turtle’s life by placing it on his head, and so the fairy man wanted to grant in gratitude whatever Jon’s heart desired.

2. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given:

Question 1. Jon’s father was a―

1. Teacher,
2. Farmer,
3. Sailor.

Answer: 2. Farmer

Question 2. Mother told the lad that he knew the smell of the

1. Soil,
2. Food,
3. Flower.

Answer: 1. Soil

Question 3. Jon put the turtle

1. In his hand,
2. In his bag,
3. On his head.

Answer: 3. On his head

Question 4. The fairy man could read well a man’s-

1. Face,
2. Heart,
3. Palm.

Answer: 2. Heart

Question 5. The fairy thanked Jon for his-

1. Honesty,
2. Truthfulness,
3. Kindness.

Answer: 3. Kindness

3. Rearrange the sentences in the correct order.

1. Mother would not let him go to the sea.

2. He plucked the turtle from his head.

3. Jon wished to be a sailor.

4. He started doing his farm work in a dejected mood.

5. The fairy man wanted to know Jon’s heart’s desire.

6. The turtle changed to a tiny green fairy man.

7. He picked up a turtle and put it on his head.

Answer:

2. He plucked the turtle from his head.

5. The fairy man wanted to know Jon’s heart’s desire.

1. Mother would not let him go to the sea.

3. Jon wished to be a sailor.

7. He picked up a turtle and put it on his head.

6. The turtle changed to a tiny green fairy man.

4. He started doing his farm work in a dejected mood.

4. Fill in the blanks with words from the text listed below. There are a few extra words.

List of words: sailing, smell, plucked, obeyed, tiny, behind, plow, safe.

Question 1. There was a bad _______ all around the area.
Answer: Smell

Question 2. They all ______ the teacher’s order.
Answer: Obeyed

Question 3. He stood ______ the board and watched everything.
Answer: Behind

Question 4. The children are quite _______ here.
Answer: Safe

Question 5. The _______ girl standing there is my sister.
Answer: Tiny

Question 2. “Since you put me on your head like a hat to keep me safe, I shall give you a different kind of cap in return, the kind sailors most desire. A cap full of wind. But there’s one warning, no human hand will ever be able to take it off.”

Then with a blink, the fairy man disappeared leaving a striped cap behind. Young Jon put the cap on his head and ran home to tell his mother.

“No good will come of the wind cap,” she said. But the lad would have none of her cautions. The very next day, putting on the sailor’s cap, he ran off to the sea. On seeing a ship anchored near the shore, he requested the captain to take him along. Thus began his first-ever sea voyage.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. Why did the fairy man offer Jon something in return?
2. What did the fairy man give to the boy?
3. What was the condition that was associated with the wind cap?
4. What was the mother’s reaction on seeing that cap?
5. What request did the boy make to the captain of the ship?

Answer:

1. The fairy man offered Jon something in return for his kindness in keeping him safe on his head.
2. The fairy man gave the boy a kind of wind cap which the sailors desired most.
3. The condition was that no human hand would ever be able to take it off his head.
4. The mother reacted by saying that no good would come of the wind cap.
5. The boy requested the captain to take him along on a sea voyage.

2. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given.

Question 1. The fairy man vanished leaving behind a-

1. Helmet,
2. Striped cap,
3. Plough.

Answer: 2. Striped cap

Question 2. The cap could be taken off-

1. By no human hand,
2. Only by Jon himself,
3. Only by his

Answer: 1. Only by Jon himself

Question 3. Jon ran off to the sea putting on the

1. Captain’s cap,
2. Sailor’s cap,
3. Security man’s

Answer: 2. Sailor’s cap

Question 4. The ship was

1. Sailing in the mid-sea,
2. Approaching the shore,
3. Anchored near the

Answer: 3. Anchored near the

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

1. Jon ran home putting the cap on his head.

2. He ran off to the sea.

3. His first-ever sea voyage started.

4. He ignored his mother’s cautions

5. He requested the captain to take him on a sea voyage..

6. The fairy man gave Jon a different kind of cap full of wind.

7. He saw a ship anchored near the shore.

Answer:

2. He ran off to the sea.

4. He ignored his mother’s cautions

7. He saw a ship anchored near the shore.

3. His first-ever sea voyage started.

6. The fairy man gave Jon a different kind of cap full of wind.

1. Jon ran home putting the cap on his head.

5. He requested the captain to take him on a sea voyage.

4. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. The cap that sailors desire most is ______
Answer: Kind of cap full of wind

Question 2. For keeping him safe, the fairy man shall offer _______
Answer: A different kind of cap in return

Question 3. The one warning was _________
Answer: That no human hand would ever be able to take off the wind cap

Question 4. Putting the cap on his head Jon went _________
Answer: Home to tell his mother.

Question 5. Seeing a ship near the shore Jon _________
Answer: Requested the captain to take him along

Question 6. Jon began _____________
Answer: His first ever sea voyage

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

1. Appeared
2. Same
3. Old
4. Ended
5. Dislike

Answer:

1. Disappeared
2. Different
3. Young
4. Began
5. Desire

Question 3. “Oh, let me go ashore just for one day,” “he begged the captain when they had sighted land. He promised he would return but the captain was unmoved. However, Jon could not stop dreaming of the land.

One quiet afternoon, he lay fast asleep and fell to dreaming again. Unknown to him, the ship stood offshore from his old farm. In Jon’s dream the seasons turned rapidly and as each turned, so did Jon in his bed. Consequently, the cap on his head twisted round and about. It called up a squall from the clear sky that hit the ship without a warning.

The wind hed been whirling about the boat tearing the sails and snapping the spars. “It’s his fault, “the sailors cried. They shouted in anger and fear and tried to rip the cap off his head.

1. Complete the sentences with information from the text:

Question 1. Jon requested the captain ______________
Answer: Did not allow him to go.

Question 2. Though Jon promised to return, the captain ______________
Answer: Did not allow him to go.

Question 3. In Jon’s dream as the seasons turned,___________
Answer: Jon also turned in his bed.

Question 4. As the cap on his head twisted round___________
Answer: A squall from the clear sky appeared and hit the ship without warning.

Question 5. The sailors tried to rip off the cap ________________
Answer: Off Jon’s head as it was responsible for the wind that was whirling about the boat and creating troubles.

2. Write “T” for true and ‘F’ for false statements. Write supporting sentences for each of your answers.

Question 1. The captain allowed Jon to go ashore.
Answer: False

But the captain remain unmoved.

Question 2. Jon dreamt about the land.
Answer: True

Jon could not stop dreaming of the land.

Question 3. The squall was called up because John was sleeping.
Answer: False

Consequently, the cap on his head twisted it called up a squall

Question 4. A violent storm capsized the ship.
Answer: True

A squall from the clear sky that hit the ship.

Question 5. Jon consciously created the problem for the sailors.
Answer: False

In Jon’s dream the seasons turned…..the cap on his twisted… a squall from the clear sky that hit the ship……

3. Fill in the blanks with words from the text. There are a few extra words.

Question 1. I ________ to help him.
Answer: Promised

Question 2. The _______ of the cricket team scored a century.
Answer: Captain

Question 3. The summer ________ are very hot here.
Answer: Seasons

Question 4. Crime figures are rising ________
Answer: Rapidly

Question 5. Despite all requests he remained _____________
Answer: Unmoved

(List of words: return, seasons, promised, unknown, captain, unmoved, rapidly)

Question 4. Well, they were unsuccessful for it was a fairy cap. They pulled it and twisted it and so the squall became a storm, the mightiest they had ever seen. The captain ordered his men to bring Jon before him. In anger, he grabbed him by the tail of his striped cap, twisted him thrice, and flung him out to the sea. But the winds called up by the cap spun the ship three times around.

As Jon went under the waves, the cap came off his head. Soon the storm stopped, and Jon swam ashore. The cap followed him. When he got to the land, Jon picked up the cap and ran home to his mother and farm.

Again in the winter, when the snow lay heavy on the fields, he began to dream of the sea. Jon went to the wardrobe, got out the fairy cap, and stared at it for a long moment. Tucking it in his shirt, he ran out to the field. He placed the wind cap under a stone where he knew the fairy man would find it. Then he left again for the seas.

For the rest of his life, Jon spent half the year on a ship and half on the shore till at last he owned his own boat and a hundred-acre farm land. From then on he came to be known as Captain Turtle for he was as much at home on the water as he was on the land.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What happened when the sailors tried to pull out and twist the fairy cap?
2. What did the captain do with Jon?
3. How did the storm stop?
4. Where did the boy place his wind cap and why?
5. Why did Jon want to return the wind cap to the fairy man?
6. How did the boy spend the rest of his life?

Answer:

1. When the sailors tried to pull out and twist the fairy cap, the squall became a mighty storm.
2. In great anger, the captain grabbed Jon by the tail of his striped cap, twisted him thrice, and flung him out into the sea.
3. As Jon went under the waves, the cap came off his head, and soon the storm stopped.
4. The boy placed his wind cap under a stone where he knew the fairy man would find it.
5. The cap caused a lot of troubles for him. So he wanted to return the wind cap to the fairy man.
6. For the rest of his life, the boy spent half the year on a ship and half on the shore till at last he owned his own boat and a hundred-acre farm land.

2. Match the words in A with their opposite meaning in B

Answer:

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 2 Clouds

Word meanings:

Part 1

wandered (ওয়ান্ডারড) – ঘুরে বেড়াল ; in search of – খোঁজে; alley (অ্যালি ) – সরু গলিপথ; track (ট্র্যাক) —রাস্তা, পথ; grass-cutter (গ্রাস কাটার) – ঘাস কাটে যে, ঘাসুড়ে; amazed (অ্যামেড ) — অতি বিস্মিত; peculiar (পিকিউলিয়ার)—অদ্ভুত; disappointed (ডিস্যাপয়েন্টেড্)— হতাশ হওয়া; mystified (মিটিফায়েড) হতবুদ্ধি হওয়া; plough (v.) (প্লাউ)—লাঙল দেওয়া; wayfarers (ওয়েফেয়ারাস) – পথচারীরা; satisfactory (স্যাটিফ্যাক্‌টি)—সন্তোষজনক, মনের মতো।

Part 2

exceptionally stupid (এক্সেনালি স্টুপিড)—অস্বাভাবিক রকমের বোকা; lost your mind — মাথা খারাপ হয়েছে; dejectedly (ডিজেটেলি)—নিরাশ হয়ে; haunt (হন্ট)—তাড়া করে বেড়ানো; rumbling (রাম্বলিং)—গর্জন করছিল; flash (ফ্ল্যাশ)–ঝলকানি ; lightning (লাইটনিং) – বিদ্যুৎ; বাজ; dense (ডেন্‌স ) – ঘন; saddened (স্যাডেন্ড)~~ বিমর্ষ হল; slipping away — ফুরিয়ে যাচ্ছিল, শেষ হয়ে যাচ্ছিল; beat down (বেট্‌ ডাউন)—তপ্ত কিরণ দিচ্ছিল; Persian wheel (পারসিয়ান হুইল) – পার্শী জলচক্র; oasis (ওয়েসিস্ ) —- মরুদ্যান; fill (ফিল্) – প্রাণ ভরে।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Class 8 English Reading Skills

Part 3

refreshed (রিফ্রেড)-সতেজ হয়ে, চাঙ্গা হয়ে; hesitated (হেজিটেটেড)—ইতস্তত করল ; suddenly (সাডেলি) —হঠাৎ; fiercely (ফিয়ার্সলি) – প্রবলভাবে; nip (নিপ্) – ঠান্ডা বোধ; draped (ড্রেড)–ঢাকা; scrubbed (স্ক্রাব্‌ড) —ঘষে মেজে ধোওয়া; wisp (উইস্প)—চিতে, দীর্ঘ সরু রেখা।

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 2 Clouds Examples

Read the texts below and do as directed.

Question 1. He wandered far in search of the clouds, down winding paths and alleys, till he reached the old mud hut. There, he turned onto the dirt track. He saw a grass cutter coming from the other direction, a bundle of freshly cut grass balanced on his head. He stopped the man and asked, “Have you seen the clouds there?”
“Clouds?”

The grass-cutter was amazed, as though he had been asked the most peculiar question. “Yes, clouds.” He was disappointed to see that the grass-cutter was still mystified. He walked on until he came upon a farmer plowing his field. He asked him the same question, “Did the clouds come here ?”

The farmer, too, couldn’t make sense of the question. “Clouds ?” he asked.
“Yes, clouds.”

He was asking after the clouds like a man who has lost a child and asks wayfarers if they have seen a child wandering. Perhaps the clouds, too, were lost children and he was going around asking people about them. But no one could give him a satisfactory answer.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What was the boy searching for?
2. Where did he wander in search of the clouds?
3. What question did he ask the grass-cutter?
4. What was the reaction of the grass-cutter on hearing the question?
5. “But no one could give him a satisfactory answer”-Why do you think no one could give him a satisfactory answer?

Answer:

1. The boy was searching for clouds.
2. He wandered down the winding paths and alleys in search of the clouds.
3. He asked the grass-cutter if he had seen the clouds there.
4. The grass-cutter was amazed to hear the peculiar question.
5. The presence of clouds in the sky is a natural phenomenon unknown to human beings. That is why nobody could give him a satisfactory answer.

2. Choose the correct answers from the alternatives:

Question 1. The grass-cutter had on his head a bundle of

1. Straw,
2. Grass,
3. Hay,

Answer: 2. Grass

Question 2. The boy was in search of

1. A lost child
2. His parents,
3. The clouds.

Answer: 3. The clouds

Question 3. The farmer-

1. Could not understand the question,
2. Gave a satisfactory reply,
3. Refused to answer the question.

Answer: 1. Could not understand the question

Question 4. The clouds were as if

1. Lost children,
2. Lost pets,
3. Lost parents.

Answer: 1. Lost Children

3. Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order.

1. He saw a grass cutter coming from the other direction.

2. The grass-cutter was surprised.

3. He reached the old mud hut.

4. He wandered in search of the clouds.

5. He asked the grass cutter if he had noticed the clouds.

6. He turned onto the dirt track.

Answer:

4. He wandered in search of the clouds.

6. He turned onto the dirt track.

2. The grass-cutter was surprised.

1. He saw a grass cutter coming from the other direction.

5. He asked the grass cutter if he had noticed the clouds.

3. He reached the old mud hut.

4. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. He met a grass-cutter who, ___________
Answer: He met a grass-cutter who was coming from the other direction with a bundle of grass on his head.

Question 2. Seeing the grass-cutter mystified he, ___________
Answer: Seeing the grass-cutter mystified he felt disappointed.

Question 3. The farmer could not, ___________
Answer: The farmer could not make sense of the question.

Question 4. He was asking for the clouds as if ___________
Answer: He was asking for the clouds as if he has lost a child.

5. Find words in the passage which have the following meanings:

1. Surprised;
2. Dejected;
3. Confused;
4. Travelers;
5. Walking in a casual way.

Answer:

1. Amazed;
2. Disappointed;
3. Mystified;
4. Wayfarers;
5. Wandering.

Question 2. His mother was the first he had asked in the morning, “Ammaji, where have the clouds gone?” “Who’s gone where ?” Ammaji said, as if he had asked an exceptionally stupid question. “Clouds.”

“Clouds! Have you lost your mind, boy? Hurry up, now. Wash quickly, eat your breakfast, and go to school.”

Dejectedly, he washed his hands and face, ate his breakfast, and left home. But the question still haunted him: Where did the clouds go?

He remembered what he had seen the night before clouds gathering in the dark sky. But when he went to sleep, the sky was clear and full of stars. When he awoke again, he had no idea of the time. All he knew was that it was the middle of the night. Up there in the sky, the clouds were rumbling. In the occasional flashes of lightning, they were dense and black. It looked as if it will be raining. Rain will have ruined his sleep, he knew. When he got up in the morning, he was amazed. The sky was clear and empty! Not a trace of rain in the courtyard. He was surprised and saddened–the clouds had moved across the skies without shedding a drop of rain.

And it saddened him to think that he had fallen asleep. Had he stayed awake, perhaps, the clouds would not have disappeared like that. It would have been the season’s first rainfall.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. Who was the first in the morning he had asked the question?
2. Which question haunted the boy?
3. What did the boy see in the middle of the night?
4. Why was he amazed when he got up in the morning?
5. What did he think when he found that the clouds had disappeared?

Answer:

1. He first asked his mother the question in the morning.
2. The question of where did the clouds go haunted the boy.
3. He saw dense and black clouds up there in the sky rumbling, with occasional flashes of lightning. It looked as if it would be raining.
4. When he got up in the morning, he was ‘amazed to see that the sky was clear and there was no trace of clouds or rain.
5. He thought that had he stayed awake, perhaps, the clouds would not have disappeared, and the season’s first rainfall would have been there.

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

Question 1. The boy’s mother thought that the boy had asked a very intelligent question.
Answer: False

Ammoji said, as if he had asked an exceptionally stupid question.

Question 2. The boy’s mother asked him to go to school.
Answer: True

“Wash quickly”, eat your breakfast, and go to school.

Question 3. The boy was happy to think that he had fallen asleep.
Answer: False

And it saddened him to think that he had fallen asleep.

Question 4. When the boy got up in the morning, he saw that the sky was cloudless.
Answer: False

When he got up in the morning…………sky was clear and empty!

Question 5. The boy’s mother could follow what her son asked.
Answer: True

“Clouds! Have you lost your mind boy?

Question 6. There was no rainfall at all.
Answer: True

The clouds had moved across without shedding a drop of rain.

3. Choose the correct alternatives

Question 1. The mother thought that the boy

1. Had gone mentally unbalanced,
2. Was feeling sleepy,
3. Was feeling ill.

Answer: 1. Had gone mentally unbalanced

Question 2. The boy washed his hands and face-

1. Hurriedly,
2. Sadly,
3. Dejectedly.

Answer: 3. Dejectedly

Question 3. The boy woke up

1. Late at night,
2. In the middle of the night,
3. In the evening.

Answer: 2. In the middle of the night

Question 4. For falling asleep, the boy felt

1. Sad,
2. Comfortable,
3. Happy.

Answer: 1. Sad

4. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. In the morning he asked ______________
Answer: In the morning he asked his mother where the clouds had gone.

Question 2. The boy’s mother told him to ______________
Answer: The boy’s mother told him to wash himself quickly, eat his breakfast, and go to school.

Question 3. The boy was surprised and sad to see that ___________
Answer: The boy was surprised and sad to see that the clouds had moved across the skies without shedding a drop of rain.

Question 4. In the middle of the night when the boy woke up, he ___________
Answer: In the middle of the night when the boy woke up, he saw that dense and black clouds were rumbling in the sky with occasional flashes of lightning.

Question 5. If he had stayed awake, the clouds ___________
Answer: If he stayed awake, the clouds perhaps, would not have disappeared and the season’s first rainfall would have been there.

5. Fill in the blanks with words from the text. There are a few extra words:

List of words: occasional, dejectedly, dense, haunted, empty, exceptionally, disappeared, questions.

Question 1. He is an _________ brilliant student.
Answer: Exceptionally

Question 2. I could not answer all the ________ correctly.
Answer: Questions

Question 3. She is still _______ by the memory of the dreadful day.
Answer: Haunted

Question 4. He spent five years in Mumbai, with ________ visits to Pune.
Answer: Occasional

Question 5. The sky was covered with __________ and black clouds.
Answer: Dense

Question 3. Refreshed, he looked around. An old man sat on a wall by the Persian wheel. He looked at the old man, wanting to say something but hesitated. Finally he asked, “Did the clouds come here ?”

The old man looked closely at him and said, “Son, when the clouds come, the earth and the sky know of their coming.”

“But the clouds were here last night and no one got to know.”

The old man said, “It is not enough for the clouds to come. I once lived in a place where it hadn’t rained for ten years.”

“Ten years?” He was open-mouthed.

He sat there listening to his tales. Suddenly, he realized how late it was.

He walked for miles in the sun and dust. He went back by the same dirt track he had taken to come there. The sun was still fiercely hot but when he reached the mud hut, he felt à nip in the air and the earth was damp underfoot.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What did the old man say about the place where he once lived?”
2. Why was the boy open-mouthed before the old man?
3. What was he listening to?
4. How did the boy feel when he reached the mud-hut
5. Why was the earth damp underfoot?

Answer:

1. The old man said that once he lived in a place where it had not rained for ten years.
2. The boy was open-mouthed because he heard an unbelievable tale that in the old man’s place it had not rained for ten years.
3. He was listening to the tales told by the old man..
4. When he reached the mud hut, he felt a nip in the air and the earth under his feet damp.
5. The earth under his feet was damp because the rain had drenched everything.

2. Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.

Question 1. The old man sat on a wall beside-

1. A pond,
2. The Persian well,
3. A big building.

Answer: 2. The Persian well

Question 2. The boy asked the question to the old man-

1. Straightway,
2. Most reluctantly,
3. After some hesitation.

Answer: 3. After some hesitation

Question 3. The clouds were there-

1. The previous night,
2. In the afternoon,
3. In the morning.

Answer: 1. The previous night

Question 4. He felt the earth underfoot-

1. Dusty,
2. Damp,
3. Muddy.

Answer: 2. Damp

3. Complete the chart with words from the text in A to match with words in B.

Question 1.

Answer:

Question 4.

As he neared his village, he saw the roads were wet. Trees that had been standing draped in layers of dust when he had left in the morning now looked freshly bathed. He felt a wave of happiness. He hurried home. He wanted to see how fresh and clean the jamun tree in his courtyard looked.

When he got home, he saw that the rain had changed everything. The jamun tree stood clean and scrubbed, freshly showered, and Ammaji was saying, “That was a good shower, thank God !’

Raindrops were still rolling off the leaves of the jamun. He stood beneath the tree and let them fall on his head and face. He raised his eyes to the sky and saw it clear, without even a wisp of cloud. He had walked so far in the dust and sun in search of the clouds, and in his absence, they had come, shed their rain, and gone away!

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What did the boy see as he neared his village?
2. Why did he feel happy?
3. What did the boy see when he got home?
4. What did the boy do as he stood under the Jamun tree?
5. Why did the clouds shed rain in the absence of the boy?

Answer:

1. As he neared his village, the boy saw that the roads were wet and trees, which had been covered with dust, were now looking freshly bathed.
2. The boy felt happy seeing everything clean and fresh after the shower of rain.
3. He saw that the rain had changed everything. The Jamun tree looked clean and scrubbed after the fresh shower.
4. He stood beneath the tree and let raindrops fall on his head and face.
5. The boy went through much hardship in search of the clouds, and perhaps to give him a surprising reward, the clouds shed rain in his absence.

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

Question 1. Nearing his village, he found the trees looking freshly bathed.
Answer:

Trees that had been now looked freshly bathed.

Question 2. The rain had changed nothing.
Answer:

The rain had changed everything.

Question 3. The boy felt very happy.
Answer:

He felt a wave of happiness.

Question 4. He thanked God for the good shower.
Answer:

…and Ammaji was saying, “That was a good shower, thank God!”

Question 5. It rained when he was away from his village.
Answer:

…and in his absence, they had come, shed. their rain and gone away..

3. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. He saw the roads were wet as ____________
Answer: He saw the roads were wet as he neared his village.

Question 2. Trees that had been covered in ________
Answer: Trees that had been covered in layers of dust now looked freshly bathed.

Question 3. He hurried home to ___________
Answer: He hurried home to see how fresh and clean the Jamun tree in his courtyard looked.

Question 4. Coming home, he saw __________
Answer: Coming home, he saw that the rain had changed everything.

Question 5. His mother said that _________
Answer: His mother said that there had been a good shower and she thanked God for that.

Question 6. In his absence, the clouds, ________
Answer: In his absence, the clouds had come, shed their rain, and gone away.

4. Write words opposite in meaning of the following words, and frame sentences with them.

1. Raised,
2. Happiness,
3. Beneath,
4. Clean,
5. Absence.

Answers

1. Raised – lowered – She lowered her eyes and spoke to the teacher
2. Happiness – Sorrow – He expressed his sorrow -at the news of her death.
3. Beneath – above – The plane was Hying above the clouds.
4. Clean – dirty – The room has become very dirty.
5. Absence – presence – Your presence is requested at the meeting

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 3 An April Day

Word meanings:

Stanza 1

warm (ওয়ার্ম)–উয় seed-time (সিড টাইম) বীজ পোতার সময়; harvest (হারভেস্ট) – শস্য সংগ্রহ; still (স্টিল) নিশ্চল, স্থির; wood (উজ্)—বনভূমি; prings (স্প্রিংস) ফুটে ওঠে, plain (প্লেন) — সমভূমি।

Stanza 2

glades (গ্রেড) তৃণভূমি teeming (টিমিং) পরিপূর্ণ, many folded অনেক স্তরের; foretell (ফোরটেল) -আগে থেকে বলে দেয়; coming on—আগমন, আসা।

Stanza 3

loosend (লুজেন্ড )—আলগা, ঝুরঝুরে; sapling (স্যালিং) – চারাগাছ ; sustenance (সাটেনান্স)—বাঁচার রসদ ; thrives (থ্রাইভস্)— বেড়ে ওঠে; stricken (স্ট্রিকেন)—আর্ত, পীড়িত; drooping (ড্রপিং) – নুয়ে পড়া; revives (রিভাইভ্স) —সজীব হয়ে ওঠে।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Class 8 English Reading Skills

Stanza 4

warbled (ওয়ার্লড্) – কাপানো স্বর; glance (গ্লানস্) – ঝিলিক দেওয়া।

Stanza 5

slope (স্লোপ ) –ঢাল ; shadows (শ্যাডোজ) – ছায়া; hollows (হলোজ্)—গুহাগুলি (এখানে); upland (আপ্‌প্ল্যানড্) ——উচ্চভূমি; glows (গ্লোজ) উজ্জ্বল হয়ে ওঠে।

Substance:

The poet Longfellow here expresses his joy as he enjoys the diverse and beautiful nature in spring in the month of April. The warm sun with the advent of spring brings seed time and harvest. The still wood looks pleasant with the appearance of the first flower.

The open spaces in the wood are filled with flowers, and the clouds indicate the approaching storms. Saplings grow in the soft soil and the winter-stricken bent trees are infused with new life.

The woods are filled with the sweet chirping sounds of birds as they fly with their colourful wings around the woods. The bright sunset covers the silver woods and the caves look shadowy when the highland is lit up.

বঙ্গানুবাদ :

কবি Longfellow এখানে এপ্রিল মাসে বসন্তকালে প্রকৃতির বিচিত্র সৌন্দর্য্য দেখে যে আনন্দ উপভোগ করেন তার কথা বলেছেন। বসন্তের আবির্ভাবে উয় সূর্য্য বীজবপন এবং ফসল কাটার সময় নিয়ে আসে। প্রথম ফুল ফুটে ওঠায় নীরব বনভূমি-তখন খুবই সুন্দর দেখায়। বনভূমির উন্মুক্ত প্রাঙ্গনগুলো সব ফুলে ভরে যায় এবং মেঘেরা আসন্ন ঝটিকার পূর্ব্বাভাস দেয়। কোমল মাটিতে চারাগাছগুলো বাড়তে থাকে। শীতের ঠাণ্ডায় কাতর হয়ে নুয়ে পড়া গাছগুলি আবার নতুন প্রাণ ফিরে পায়। বনভূমিতে রঙ্গীন ডানা মেলে পাখীরা তখন উড়ে বেড়ায় এবং তাদের মধুর কিচির মিচির শব্দে চারদিক ভরে যায়। উজ্জ্বল সূর্য্যাস্ত অরণ্যকে রূপালি আলোয় ভরিয়ে তোলে। উচ্চভূমি আলোকিত হয়ে পাহাড়ের গুহাগুলিকে তখন ছায়াময় করে ফেলে।

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 3 An April Day Examples

Read the texts below and do as directed.

Question 1. When the warm sun, that brings

Seed time and harvest has returned again,

‘T is sweet to visit the still wood, where springs

The first flower of the plain.

I love the season well,

When forest glades are teeming with bright forms, Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell

The coming-on of storms.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What does the warm sun bring?
2. Why is it sweet to visit the wood during springtime?
3. Why does the poet love the season well?
4. What do the many-folded clouds indicate?

Answer:

1. The warm sun brings seed time and harvest.
2. It is sweet to visit the wood in the springtime because the first flower of the plain blooms in the wood during this time and the trees become brighter.
3. The poet loves the season well because the forest glades are filled with bright colourful flowers at this time, and many-folded clouds foretell the coming on of storms.
4. The many-folded clouds indicate the advent of storms.

2. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements.

Question 1. Warm sun brings rain.
Answer: False

Question 2. The first flower of the plain blooms in the still wood.
Answer: True

Question 3. To the poet, it is a pleasure to visit the still wood in summer.
Answer: False

Question 4. The forest glades look very colourful.
Answer: True

3. Find words in the text which mean the following:

Question 1. Cutting and collecting crops
Answer: Harvest

Question 2. Not moving
Answer: Still

Question 3. Small open areas of grass in a wood
Answer: Glades

Question 4. An area of trees, smaller than a forest
Answer: Wood

Question 5. Predict
Answer: Foretell

Question 2. From the earth’s loosened mould

The sapling draws its sustenance and thrives
Though stricken to the heart with winter’s cold,
The drooping tree revives.

The softly-warbled song.
Comes from the pleasant woods, and coloured wings
Glance quickly in the bright sun, that moves along
The forest openings.

When the bright sunset fills
The silver woods with light, the green slope throws
Its shadows in the hollows of the hill;
And wide the upland glows.

1. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. The drooping tree is stricken with
Answer: The drooping tree is stricken with the cold of winter.

Question 2. From the pleasant woods comes
Answer: From the pleasant woods comes the softly-warbled song.

Question 3. The bright sun moves
Answer: The bright sun moves along the forest openings..

Question 4. The bright sunset fills.
Answer: The bright sunset fills the silver woods with light.

2. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements.

Question 1. The saplings get their food from the earth’s loose soil.
Answer: True

Question 2. The silver woods are filled with light at sunrise.
Answer: False

Question 3. The sapling is affected with cold.
Answer: True

Question 4. Birds fly with their white wings.
Answer: False

3. Answer the questions below.

1. From where does the sapling draw its sustenance?
2. What happens to the sapling in winter’s cold?
3. Where does the softly-warbled song come from?
4. What do the coloured wings do?
5. What does the bright sunset fill?

Answer:

1. The sapling draws its sustenance from the loosened mould of the earth.
2. The sapling is stricken with the cold of winter and becomes drooping.
3. The softly-warbled, song comes from the pleasant wood.
4. The coloured wings glance quick in the bright sun.
5. The bright sunset fills the silver woods with light.

4. Fill in the blanks with words taken from the text. There are a few extra words.

List of words: mould, sustenance, pleasant, bright, sapling, shadows, silver, revives.

Question 1. She is watering the ________________lengthened
Answer: Sapling

Question 2. Whenever I look at the picture, it ___________ my old memories.
Answer: Revives

Question 3. The ________________lengthened as the sun went down.
Answer: Shadows

Question 4. He needs a job urgently for his ___________
Answer: Sustenance

Question 5. We had a __________ weather at Digha.
Answer: Pleasant

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 5 Princess September

Word meanings:

Part 1

hop (হপ্)~~লাফ দিয়ে চলা; reflected (রিফ্লেক্টেড)—প্রতিফলিত; still (ষ্টিল) – স্থির; delight (ডিলাইট)— আনন্দ ; stretched out (স্ট্রেচড্ আউট)—বাড়িয়ে দিল; perch (পার্চ) – পাখির বসার দাঁড় ; jealous (জেলাস্)— ঈর্ষান্বিত ; pop (পপ্)–রাখা, ঢোকান; ominously (ওমিনালি) – সতর্কতার সঙ্গে; uneasy (আইজি)—উদ্বিগ্ন; fancy (ফ্যান্সি ) – পছন্দ।

Part 2

tweet (টুইট্ )—পাখির কিচির মিচির শব্দ ; quietly (কোয়ায়েট্‌লি ) – নিঃশব্দে ; thump (থাম্প) –ধুপ-ধুপ করা; risk (রিস্ক)—ঝুঁকি; ‘suspected (সাপেকটেড)—সন্দেহ করল; hopped (হড্)—লাফিয়ে উঠল; ivory (আইভরি) —হাতির দাঁত; prowling (প্রাউলিং) — শিকারের খোঁজে ঘুরে বেড়ান ; supper — নৈশভোজন; instead (ইনষ্টেড্)— পরিবর্তে; dawn (ডন)— ভোর, ঊষা; awakened. (এ্যাওকেড্)—জাগিয়ে তোলা হল; dew (ডিউ)—শিশির; heart’s content (হার্টস কনটেন্ট)—মনের সুখে, হৃদয়ভরে; slip through — বের হয়ে যাওয়া; fond (ফল্ড) – অনুরাগী।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Class 8 English Reading Skills

Part 3

stretched (স্ট্রেড)—বিস্তৃত হয়েছিল; anxious (অ্যাংশাস) – উদ্বিগ্ন; used to – অভ্যস্ত; startled (স্টার্টেড্)— ভীত, ভয়ার্ত; sob (সর্) — দীর্ঘশ্বাস; relief (রিলিফ ) – স্বস্তি; freedom (ফ্রিডম) — স্বাধীনতা; enough ( এনাফ ) — যথেষ্ট; gently (জেন্টলি)—ধীরে ধীরে; sill (সিল্)— চৌকাঠ; day and night—দিবারাত্র; whenever (হোয়েএভার)—যখনই।

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 5 Princess September Examples

Read the texts below and do as directed.

Question 1. Princess September, the daughter of the king of Siam, was very unhappy. She was weeping alone one day in her own room when she saw a little bird hop in. Then the little bird began to sing. He sang a beautiful song all about the lake in the king’s garden and the willow trees reflected in the still- water. When he had finished, the Princess was not crying anymore. That was a very nice song”, she said. “Would you want me to live with you ?” said the little bird.

Princess September clapped her hands with delight. Then the little bird hopped onto the end of the bed and sang her to sleep. When she awoke the next day the little bird was still sitting there, and as she opened her eyes he said good morning. She stretched out the first finger of her right hand so that it served as a perch.

The little bird flew down and sat on it. Then she went through the palace and called on each of the princesses in turn. And, for each of the princesses, the little bird sang a different song.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. Who was Princess September?
2. Why was she weeping?
3. What did the little bird ask her?
4. Why did the princess clap her hand in delight?
5. What did the little bird do for each of the princesses?

Answer:

1. Princess September was the daughter of the king of Siam.
2. She was weeping because she was very unhappy.
3. The little bird asked her if she would want him to live with her.
4. The princess clapped her hand in delight because the bird was ready to stay with her.
5. The little bird sang a different song for each of the princesses.

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

Question 1. Listening to the song of the bird, the princess stopped crying.
Answer: True

When he had finished, the Princess was not crying anymore.

Question 2. The princess did not appreciate the bird’s song.
Answer: False

“This was a very nice song”, she said.

Question 3. As the bird sang, the princess fell asleep.
Answer: True

On to the end of the bed and sang her to sleep.

Question 4. The princess could not find the bird when she woke up the next day.
Answer: False

And as she opened her eyes he said good morning.

Question 5. The little bird sat on the right-hand palm of the princess.
Answer: False

The first finger of her right hand so that it served as a perch.

3. Complete the sentences with information of the text.

Question 1. The princess was weeping alone in her room because _____________
Answer: The Princess was weeping alone in her room because she was very unhappy.

Question 2. The bird sang a beautiful song about _____________
Answer: The bird sang a beautiful song about the lake in the king’s garden and the willow trees that reflected in the still water

Question 3. When the bird finished singing, the _____________
Answer: When the bird finished singing, the Princess was not crying anymore.

Question 4. The bird wished her good morning when _____________
Answer: The bird wished her good morning when the Princess opened her eyes next morning.

4. Fill in the blanks with words from the text. There are a few extra words.

List of words: unhappy, alone, clapped, opened, sleep, beautiful, reflected, finger. girl walking in the garden.

Question 1. I saw a _____________
Answer: Beautiful

Question 2. The baby was all _____________ in the room.
Answer: Alone

Question 3. Her face was __________ in the mirror.
Answer: Reflected

Question 4. The audience cheered and _______ the musicians.
Answer: Clapped

Question 5. She _________ the box and took out the books.
Answer: Opened

Question 2. Suddenly, September heard a tweet-tweet just behind her ear. The bird had come in quietly. September felt her heart go thump-thump against her chest, and she made up her mind to take no more risks. She put up her hand and took hold of the bird. The bird was quite used to this, so he suspected nothing. He was surprised when she carried him to the cage, put him in, and shut the door on him. He hopped up on the ivory perch and said, “What is wrong?”

September said, “Some of Mamma’s cats are prowling about tonight, and I think you are much safer out here.”

“Well, just for this once I don’t mind,” said the little bird, “so long as you let me out in the morning.” He ate a very good supper and began to sing. But in the middle of his song he stopped.

“I don’t know what the matter with me is,” he said, “but I don’t feel like singing tonight.” “Very well,” said September, “go to sleep instead!”

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What made September’s heart go thump-thump against her chest?
2. “She made up her mind to take no more risks”-What were the ‘risks’ involved?
3. What did the princess do with the bird?
4. What excuse did the princess give to justify her action?
5. Why didn’t the bird feel like singing that night?

Answer:

1. Her heart went thump-thump against her chest as she decided to take no more risks, and put the bird in the cage.
2. The risk was that the bird might forget her and go to someone else, if it was, allowed to fly freely.
3. The princess held the bird in her hand and put him into the cage.
4. She said that some of her mother’s cats were moving about in search of prey so the bird would be safe in the cage only.
5. The bird did not feel like singing because he was put in a cage and he was no longer a free living being.

2. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements.

Question 1. The bird came without making any noise.
Answer: True

Question 2. The bird was quite used to remaining in the cage.
Answer: False

Question 3. The bird suspected something wrong.
Answer: True

Question 4. September was very worried about the bird’s safety.
Answer: False

Question 5. The bird sang heartily at night.
Answer: False

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

Answer:

Question 3. She picked up the cage and walked down to the lake round which grew the willow trees. She stood at the edge of the rice fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. “I’ll take you out every day,” she said, “I love you and I only want to make you happy.”

“It’s not the same thing,” said the little bird. “The rice fields and the lake and the willow trees look quite different when you see them through the bars of a cage.”

So she brought him home, again and gave him supper. But he wouldn’t eat a thing. The Princess was anxious. “Perhaps he’ll have got used to his cage by tomorrow,” she thought.

And next day when she awoke she cried out good morning in a cheerful voice. She got no answer. She jumped out of bed and ran to the cage. She gave a startled cry, for there the little bird lay with his eyes closed, and he looked as if he were dead. She opened the door and lifted him out. She gave a sob of relief, for she felt that his little heart was beating still.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What did the princess promise to the bird and why?
2. “It’s not the same thing”-What’s not the same thing?
3. Why did the princess bring the bird home again?
4. Why did the princess run to the cage?
5. Why did the princess give a startled cry?

Answer:

1. The princess promised to the bird that as she loved him and wanted to make him happy, she would take him out every day and walk down to the lake round which grew the willow trees.
2. The rice fields, the lake and the willow trees which the bird saw through the bars of a cage were not the same as the ones he saw while standing at the edge of the rice fields.
3. The princess brought him home again for serving him supper.
4. As the princess did not get any response from the little bird when she bade him good morning, she ran to the cage to see him.
5. The princess gave a startled cry because she found the little bird lying with his eyes closed and looked as if he were dead.

2. Write “T” for true and ‘F’ for false statements. Write supporting sentences for each of your answers.

Question 1. The princess held the bird in her hand and took him to the lake.
Answer: False

She picked up the cage and walked down.

Question 2. The princess got anxious when the bird did not eat anything.
Answer: True

But he would not eat a thing. The princess was anxious.

Question 3. The next morning the princess found the bird lying and making no response.
Answer: True

She got no answer for there the little bird lay with his eyes closed.

Question 4. The princess could not feel the bird’s heart beat.
Answer: False

For she felt that his little heart was beating still.

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

1. She ran to the cage.

2. She got no response from him.

3. She brought the bird out from the cage.

4. She cried out in surprise and fear.

5. The Princess bade the little bird good morning.

6. She felt relieved.

7. She saw the bird lying with his eyes closed as if he were dead.

8. She could feel his heart beating.

Answer:

3. She brought the bird out from the cage.

2. She got no response from him.

6. She felt relieved.

5. The Princess bade the little bird good morning.

1. She ran to the cage.

8. She could feel his heart beating.

4. She cried out in surprise and fear.

7. She saw the bird lying with his eyes closed as if he were dead.

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

Answer:

Question 4. “Wake up, wake up, little bird,” “she said. She began to cry and her tears fell on the little bird. ‘I cannot sing unless I’m free and if I cannot sing, I die”, he said.

“Then take your freedom,” the princess said. ‘I shut you in a golden cage because I loved you and wanted to have you all to myself. But I never knew it would kill you. Go. Fly away among the trees that are round the lake, and fly over the green rice fields. I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.”

She threw open the window and gently placed the little bird on the sill.

“I will come because I love you, little Princess, said the bird. “And I will sing you the loveliest songs I know.

I shall go far away, but I shall always come back, and I shall never forget you.”

Then he opened his wings and flew right away into the blue. September kept her window open, day and night so that the little bird might come into her room whenever he wished.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What was the reason for the Princess shutting the bird in a cage?
2. What did the bird tell the Princess about his captive life?
3. Why was the little bird granted freedom by the Princess?
4. What did the Princess do ultimately?
5. Why did the Princess keep her window open?

Answer:

1. The Princess shut the bird in a golden cage because she deeply loved him and wanted to have him all to herself.
2. The bird said that he could not sing unless he was free, and if he could not sing he would die.
3. The Princess realized that her way of loving the bird by keeping him in the cage and depriving him of his freedom might kill the bird. So she let him free to be happy in his own way.
4. Ultimately, the Princess allowed the little bird to fly away.
5. The Princess kept her window open so that the little bird could come into her room whenever he wished.

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

Question 1. The bird said that he could not sing unless he got freedom.
Answer: True

I cannot sing unless I’m free.”

Question 2. The Princess did not want the bird to live in his own way.
Answer: False

“I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.”

Question 3. Once made free, the bird would never come back to the Princess.
Answer: False

“I will come because I love you, little Princess”, said the bird.

Question 4. The bird was granted freedom.
Answer: True

Then he opened his wings and flew right away into the blue.

Question 5. The Princess hoped the bird would come into her room whenever he wished.
Answer: True

so that the little bird might come into her room whenever he wished.

3. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. As the Princess loved the bird and wanted to have him all to herself, she __________
Answer: As the Princess loved the bird and wanted to have him all to herself, she shut the bird in a golden cage.

Question 2. If the bird is not free, he __________
Answer: If the bird is not free, he cannot sing, and he will die.

Question 3. The bird promised that __________
Answer: The bird promised that he would come and sing her songs. He would never forget her, and would always come back.

Question 4. In order that the bird might come into the room, the Princess ________________
Answer: In order that the bird might come into her room, the princess kept her window open.

4. Frame sentences of your own with the following words:

1. Unless;
2. Myself;
3. Among;
4. Enough;
5. Loveliest;
6. Day and night.

Answer:

1. I sleep with the window open unless it is really cold.
2. I did the work myself without anybody’s help.
3. Among the four brothers, Subir is the most intelligent one.
4. I didn’t have enough money to buy the house.
5. The rose is the loveliest flower of all.”
6. You can hear the traffic noise from your room day and night.

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 6 The Sea

Word meaning:

Stanza 1

hungry (হাংরি)—ক্ষুধার্ত ; grey (গ্রে ) – ধূসরবর্ণ; rolls (রোস্‌) – গড়াগড়ি খায়; beach (বীচ্)—সমুদ্রতীর; clashing (ক্ল্যাশিং)—ঠোকাঠুকি করে; shaggy (শ্যাগি) — রুক্ষ; gnaws (ন্যস্)—অনবরত কামড়ায়, চিবায়; rumbling (রাম্বলিং)—গুড় গুড় শব্দময় ; tumbling (টাম্বলিং)— গড়াগড়ি দিচ্ছে এমন; moans (মোস্‌) –বিলাপ করে; greasy (গ্রীসি) — তৈলাক্ত; paws (প্যজ্) – থাবাগুলি ।

Stanza 2

roars (রোরস্)— গৰ্জ্জন করে ; rocks (রক্স) — টলমল করে ; bounds (বাউন্ডস্) – লাফ দেয়; snuffs (স্না) —নাকের মধ্যে টেনে নেয়; sniffs (স্নি)— শোঁকে; cliffs (ক্লি)—খাড়া উঁচু পাহাড় ; howls (হাউস্‌ )–গর্জন করে; hollos (হলোজ) – উচ্চৈঃস্বরে ডাকে ।

Read And Learn Also WBBSE Class 8 English Reading Skills

Stanza 3

quiet (কোয়ায়েট্)—শান্ত ; dune (ডিউন্) – বালিয়াড়ি; reedy tune (রীডি টিউন) – বাদ্যযন্ত্রের সুর; scarcely (স্কেয়ারলি) – কোনোমতে; snores (স্নোর্স্)—নাক ডাকে।

Substance:

The poet here describes a sea at different times by comparing it to a huge, grey-hungry dog. The sea- dog rolls on the beach the whole day biting and chewing the rolling stones in the wave-like bones, and groans for more.

At night the moon swings in the stormy cloud with the roaring night wind. The sea dog shakes off his wet limbs over the cliffs and howls loud. But in summar in May or June, the mighty sea- dog becomes quiet. Even the grasses on the dune stop playing their high pitch tune. The sea then lies still on the beach.

বঙ্গানুবাদ :

কবি এখানে বিভিন্ন সময়ের সমুদ্রকে একটি বিশাল, ধূসর ও ক্ষুধার্ত কুকুরের সঙ্গে তুলনা করেছেন। সমুদ্র-কুকুর সৈকতের উপর সারাদিন গড়াগড়ি দিয়ে ঢেউয়ের মধ্যে লুটোপুটি খাওয়া পাথরগুলোকে হাড়ের মত চিবোয় আর কামড়ায় এবং আরও হাড়ের জন্য কাতরাতে থাকে। রাত্রিবেলা গর্জনশীল রাতের বাতাসে ঝোড়ো মেঘে চাঁদটা দুলতে থাকে। সমুদ্র-কুকুর তখন তার দেহের ভিজে অঙ্গ-প্রত্যঙ্গ সব তটের পাথরের উপর ঝেড়ে ফেলে এবং তীব্র চিৎকার করে। কিন্তু গ্রীষ্মকালে মে অথবা জুন মাসে শক্তিমান্ সমুদ্র-কুকুর শান্ত হয়ে পড়ে। বালিয়ারির উপরের ঘাসগুলিও তাদের তীক্ষ্ণ সুর বাজানো বন্ধ রাখে (অর্থাৎ নিয়মিত ছন্দে খেলা করে না)। বালির তটে সমুদ্র তখন স্থির হয়ে শুয়ে থাকে।

Reading Skill Seen Lesson 6 The Sea Examples

Read the texts below and do as directed.

Question 1. The sea is a hungry dog,

Giant and grey.

He rolls on the beach all day.

With his clashing teeth and shaggy jaws

Hour upon hour he gnaws

The rumbling, tumbling stones,

And ‘Bones, bones, bones!’

The giant sea dog moans,

Licking his greasy paws.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. What does the sea look like?
2. What does the sea do all day?
3. How has the sea been described in the poem?
4. What does the sea dog moan for?

Answer:

1. The sea looks like a giant, hungry dog grey in colour.
2. The sea rolls on the beach all day.
3. The sea has been described as a huge hungry dog that rolls on the beach all day long with his clashing teeth and shaggy jaws.
4. The sea dog moans for bones.

2. Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given:

Question 1. The sea is compared to a-

1. Fierce lion,
2. Wolf,
3. Hungry dog.

Answer: 3. Hungry dog

Question 2. The sea looks-

1. Blue,
2. GZrey,
3. White.

Answer: 2. GZrey

Question 3. Stones are compared to

1. Bones,
2. Teeth,
3. Nuts.

Answer: 1. Bones

Question 4. The sea dog has-

1. Broken teeth,
2. Rough teeth,
3. Clashing teeth.

Answer: 3. Clashing teeth

3. Complete the sentences with information from the text.

Question 1. With his clashing teeth and rough jaws, the sea ________
Answer: With his clashing teeth and rough jaws, the sea rolls on the beach all day.

Question 2. The hungry sea-dog gnaws ____________
Answer: The hungry sea dog gnaws the rumbling and tumbling stones.

Question 3. When the giant sea dog moans, he ________
Answer: When the giant sea dog moans, he licks his greasy paws.

4. Find words in the text which have the following meanings:

1. The seashore,
2. Rough,
3. The mouth and teeth of a person or an animal,
4. Bites and chews,
5. Very large.

Answer:

1. Beach;
2. Shaggy,
3. Jaws,
4. Gnaws;
5. Giant.

Question 2. And when the night wind roars

And the moon rocks in the stormy cloud,
He bounds to his feet and snuffs and sniffs,
Shaking his wet sides over the cliffs
And howls and hollos long and loud.

But on quiet days in May or June,
When even the grasses on the dune
Play no more their reedy tune,
With his head between his paws
He lies on the sandy shores,
So quiet, so quiet, he scarcely snores.

1. Answer the questions below:

1. Who rocks in the stormy cloud?
2. When does the moon rock?
3. When do the quiet days come?
4. When do the grasses stop playing their reedy tune?
5. What does the sea dog do is May or June?

Answer:

1. The moon rocks in the stormy cloud.
2. The moon rocks in the stormy cloud when the night wind roars.
3. The quiet days come during May and June.
4. The grasses on the dune stop playing their reedy tune during May and June.
5. In May and June the sea dog lies on the sandy shores quietly keeping his head between his paws.

2. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements.

Question 1. The moon rocks in a calm weather.
Answer: False

Question 2. The sea shakes his wet sides over the cliffs.
Answer: True

Question 3. The quiet days come before May.
Answer: False

Question 4. The weather remains calm in May and June.
Answer: True

Question 5. On quiet days the sea seldom snores.
Answer: True

3. Complete the sentences with information of the text.

Question 1. In the stormy cloud the moon ____________
Answer: In the stormy cloud the moon rocks when the night wind roars.

Question 2. In May or June the grasses on the dune ___________
Answer: In May or June the grasses on the dune do not play their reedy tune.

Question 3. In quiet days in May or June, the sea dog lies ________
Answer: In quiet days in May or June, the sea dog lies on the sandy shores quietly keeping his head between the paws.

Question 4. The sea-dog shakes his ________
Answer: The sea dog shakes his wet sides over the cliffs.

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

Answer: