NCERT solutions for इंग्लिश पूर्वी कक्षा ८ chapter * - The Cherry Tree [Latest edition]

Work in pairs and answer the questions that follow. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. Have you ever used a seed or a sapling to grow a plant?
2. What kind of care did the plant need? Who helped you with it?
3. How did you feel when you saw the plant grow?

What kind of trees do people plant in their homes? Why is it important to plant trees?

Name some fruit trees that grow in your region. What type of conditions help these fruit trees to grow?

Arrange the events in order of occurrence in the story. Two have been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.

1. Rakesh discovered that the small, well-rooted twig, had grown into a cherry tree.
2. Rakesh was sent to live with his grandfather in Mussoorie.
3. Rakesh pressed the cherry seed into the soft soil with his thumb. (5)
4. The cherry tree grew quickly after the rains arrived early.
5. Rakesh bought a bunch of cherries and ate most of them.
6. A goat entered the garden and ate all the leaves of the young cherry tree.
7. Rakesh’s parents grew maize, rice, and barley in a village. (1)
8. Rakesh sprinkled water on the cherry tree and surrounded it with pebbles.
9. Grandfather told Rakesh that cherry trees were tough.
10. Rakesh kept rolling the last cherry seed in his mouth.

Do you think the cherry tree would survive? Why do you think so?

Complete the table given below based on your understanding of Part II of the story. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

(i) Substitute the underlined phrase with a correct word from the extract.

The Kho-kho captain changed her strategy quickly and without delay when a new player came in from the opposing team.

(ii) What does Rakesh’s action of rolling the cherry seed in his mouth most likely suggest about his mood at that moment?

1. He is feeling impatient and restless.
2. He is enjoying the taste and the moment.
3. He is bored and has nothing better to do.
4. He is thoughtful and feeling playful.

(iii) Complete the following sentence suitably with reference to Rakesh and his grandfather.

Rakesh’s decision to plant the seed shows that ______.
(he respects and values his grandfather’s advice/he has a close bond with his grandfather and a willingness to learn from him)

(iv) How does the grandfather’s advice reflect his view about luck and effort?

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

(i) Complete the following sentence suitably.

The phrase ‘field-mice sought shelter in the roof of the cottage’ suggests that ______.

(ii) What can be inferred about the cherry tree’s toughness from the line, ‘The cherry tree bent low with the weight of snow’?

1. The weight of the tree was more than the snow.
2. The tree could withstand harsh weather.
3. The tree was growing close to the ground.
4. The snow gave support to the tree.

(iii) How did the early winter affect Grandfather’s mood and storytelling?

(iv) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option.

The comparison of Rakesh’s age to the cherry tree’s age symbolises ______. (the tree’s growth paralleling Rakesh’s own development/the tree standing as a dear one on Rakesh’s birthday)

Why did Rakesh’s parents send him to Mussoorie?

Why did Rakesh let the praying-mantis remain on the branch of the cherry tree?

How is life in the Himalayan foothills described in the story?

What might Rakesh mean when he says, “Is this what it feels to be God?” at the end of the story?

How does the writer describe the relationship between Rakesh and his grandfather?

What can you infer about the connection between humans and nature based on the story?

Imagine Rakesh reflects on his wonderful experience of watching a seed being transformed into a full-grown cherry tree. Write how he must have felt.

Each word list has one word that does not match with the other words. Identify the odd word. 

chop, trim, slice, mince

Each word list has one word that does not match with the other words. Identify the odd word. 

plodded, galloped, scrambled, trudged

Each word list has one word that does not match with the other words. Identify the odd word. 

tender, delicate, soft, smooth

Each word list has one word that does not match with the other words. Identify the odd word. 

stared, peered, pecked, gazed

Each word list has one word that does not match with the other words. Identify the odd word. 

growing, blossoming, progressing, planting

Choose the most suitable taste words given in the box below and write against the food items that follow.

1. tamarind
2. jaggery
3. neem leaves
4. paneer (cottage cheese)
5. lemon
6. pickle
7. a dish of vegetables

Now, use any five taste words and make sentences of your own.

Choose the correct antonyms for the textual words given below from the box. There are two extra words that you will not need.

Read the following line from the text and underline all the verbs and identify the form of tense.

Rakesh was on his way home from school when he bought the cherries.

Read the following line from the text and underline all the verbs and identify the form of tense.

Rakesh was looking for Grandfather without finding him in any of his favourite places around the house.

Read the following line from the text and underline all the verbs and identify the form of tense.

Rakesh and Grandfather gazed at the tree as though it had performed a miracle.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of Simple Past, Past Progressive, or Past Perfect Tenses of the verbs given in brackets. One example has been done for you.

(i) I was sitting (sit) with my grandparents in the garden, sharing the wonderful memories from my childhood. As we (ii) ______ (talk), I (iii) ______ (realise) how much wisdom they (iv) ______ (impart) to me over the years. While I (v) ______ (listen) to their stories for hours together, I (vi) ______ (remember) the times we (vii) ______ (spend) together planting flowers and learning about life. By the time I left, the sun (viii) ______ (set), and I (ix) ______ (feel) a deep sense of gratitude for the bond we (x) ______ (nurture) through love, care, and countless memories.

Punctuate the following paragraph appropriately.

every sunday roshni would visit her grandparents house on their farm come sit grandpa would say patting the bench on their porch roshni loved these moments where the world slowed down and stories flowed like magic grandma would bring tea her eyes twinkling with joy im excited to hear about your younger days the adventures the lessons and the memories roshni said eagerly grandpa smiled softly his wrinkled hands resting on the cane ah the old days... when everything was simple and happiness was all we had roshni could feel the warmth of those memories he sat in silence bound not by words but by a timeless bond

You will listen to a conversation between a son and his mother. As you listen, select four true statements from 1–7 given below. (Transcript for teacher on page 201)

1. The mother encouraged her son to deliver a presentation on the Chipko Movement.
2. The son was surprised to know about the Appiko Movement.
3. The son agreed that the Chipko Movement was about people uniting to make an impact.
4. The mother expressed a desire to share more details about Saalumarada Thimakka.
5. The mother was curious to hear about Saalumarada Thimakka.
6. The mother and son were in disagreement about the work of Jadav Payeng.
7. The son found the information on Jadav Payeng wonderful.

Work in pairs. Read aloud the following words from the text. Write the number of syllables in each word. Check your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Now, read the words aloud again with the beats. Check if the number of syllables matches with the number of beats.

Speak about Van Mahotsav Diwas and its significance. Before you speak in the class or assembly, prepare yourself on the following points:

• When is it celebrated?
• Who celebrates it?
• Why is it celebrated?
• How is it celebrated?
• What is the message it conveys?

Complete the article for a magazine on ‘Trees–Our Lifeline’. Use the words and phrases given in the box below.

(i) ______ -by ______ (write your name and class)

Trees are essential for life on Earth. Without them, life as we know (ii) ______. This is the reason why trees are our lifeline. Trees provide us with food, shelter, and even medicine. Trees (iii) ______ and release oxygen, helping us breathe. This process also (iv) ______ and keeps the environment clean. (v) ______, trees give us fruits, nuts, and other foods. Trees also help in (vi) ______ and prevention of soil erosion. (vii) ______, the air would be polluted, and we would struggle to breathe. (viii) ______ would be barren, lacking food, shelter, and life-giving greenery. (ix) ______, trees are true friends. Protecting and planting trees (x) ______ for everyone on Earth. Therefore, we must act now to protect and plant more trees, preserving Earth’s green lifeline for future generations.

Did you know that the banyan tree is the National Tree of India? Our country has age-old banyan trees. Some of them are:

1. The Great Banyan, located in Shibpur, Howrah, near Kolkata.
2. Dodda Aalada Mara, located in Kethohalli village, near Bengaluru.
3. Thimmamma Marrimanu, in Anantapur District in Andhra Pradesh. It was recorded as the largest tree specimen in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989.

Kailash Sankhala, ‘The Tiger Man of India’, was an Indian biologist and conservationist. He carried out a census of the tigers in India in 1971. Later, because of his studies, he was appointed the first director of Project Tiger—an initiative to prevent the extinction of the Indian Tiger. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992.

Now, find more information about such Indian environmentalists and share with your classmates.