NCERT solutions for English Poorvi Class 8 chapter * - Bibha Chowdhuri: The Beam of Light that Lit the Path for Women in Indian Science [Latest edition]

Work in pairs. What qualities do you associate with a scientist? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Complete the word web given below.

Some pictures of women scientists are given below. What do you know about their work? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Arrange the following events from Bibha Chowdhuri’s life in the correct order of occurrence. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) honoured her legacy by renaming a star in the constellation Leo—HD 86081—as ‘Bibha’.
2. She became the first woman faculty member at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
3. Bibha Chowdhuri was born in pre-independent India.
4. The Government of India declared a chair professorship in Bibha’s name.
5. She joined the University of Manchester under the guidance of the celebrated Nobel Laureate, Patrick M.S. Blackett.
6. She was nominated for a Nobel Prize by Erwin Schrödinger.

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

(i) Why is the mention of Patrick M.S. Blackett, a Nobel Laureate, significant in this extract?

(ii) What can be inferred about the public perception of women scientists in the 1940s from the title given to her by the press ‘India’s New Woman Scientist’?

1. Women scientists were widely accepted and celebrated at that time.
2. The world was still doubtful about the capabilities of women scientists.
3. Women scientists were as common and renowned as men in the 1940s.
4. Women were not allowed to study sciences or pursue scientific careers.

(iii) In the phrase ‘celebrated Nobel Laureate,’ the word ‘celebrated’ refers to all of the following EXCEPT someone who is ______.

1. famous and highly respected
2. frequently seen in public
3. renowned for their achievements
4. well-regarded in their field

(iv) Complete the following sentence suitably.

The phrase ‘She has an eye for Cosmic Rays’ suggests that ______.

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

(i) What can be inferred about the challenges faced by women scientists today, as compared to Bibha Chowdhuri’s era?

1. Women scientists no longer face any barriers.
2. The challenges remain, but progress has been made.
3. The struggles have become more difficult over time.
4. The struggles are the same as they were for Chowdhuri.

(ii) The phrase ‘Bibha Chowdhuri’s legacy lives on’ suggests that ______.

(iii) Why is Bibha Chowdhuri referred to as a ‘beacon’ and a ‘beam of light’ in the extract?

(iv) State whether the following sentence is a fact or an opinion.

Bibha Chowdhuri was the beacon, the ‘beam of light’ whose story continues to inspire young women.

Why is Bibha Chowdhuri considered a pioneer in the field of science?

What does Bibha Chowdhuri’s nomination by Erwin Schrödinger tell us about her abilities?

Bibha Chowdhuri never worked for awards or recognition. Support this statement with evidence from the text.

How does the renaming of a star as ‘Bibha’ serve as both a literal and symbolic recognition of her contributions to science?

How do the roles of women in ISRO today reflect broader changes in societal attitudes towards women in STEM in India?

What is the writer’s purpose of highlighting the contributions of Bibha Chowdhuri and other modern women scientists?

How might this text help shape people’s perception of the role of women in other traditionally male-dominated fields?

Complete the crossword puzzle by filling in the antonyms from the clues given below in the table. You may refer to the text.

Substitute the underlined phrase in the sentence with the suitable words from the box given below.

They are considered to be the first people to start the online markets.

Substitute the underlined phrase in the sentence with the suitable words from the box given below.

A scientist who studies matter, energy, light, etc.

Substitute the underlined phrase in the sentence with the suitable words from the box given below.

Most of my friends are my classmates and are my age.

Substitute the underlined phrase in the sentence with the suitable words from the box given below.

We first welcomed all the famous and important people in folk song for the award ceremony.

Substitute the underlined phrase in the sentence with the suitable words from the box given below.

My brother finally succeeded in his business because of his continuous efforts and determination.

Substitute the underlined phrase in the sentence with the suitable word from the box given below.

We should remove all the things that block our way in achieving success.

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

member + ______ = ______ 

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

govern + ______ = ______

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

partner + ______ = ______

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

child + ______ = ______ 

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

citizen + ______ = ______

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

entertain + ______ = ______

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

brother + ______ = ______

Make word by adding suitable suffix -ship, -ment, and -hood to the word given below.

agree + ______ = ______

The grid given below has acronyms for the following. Circle the acronyms in the grid.

1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2. All India Institute of Medical Sciences
3. Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy
4. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
5. World Health Organization

Complete the following news report with the passive form of verbs given in the box below. (Remember that the verb must agree with the subject.)

Last year, significant advancements in medical science 1. ______ in leading medical journals when a new vaccine for malaria 2. ______. The vaccine 3. ______ through several clinical trials and results 4. ______ in those journals. During the trials, blood samples 5. ______ regularly from participants to monitor their immune response. The amount of antibodies produced 6. ______ carefully to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Read the following report of an experiment. Rewrite the report using passive verbs wherever necessary.

I conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of light on plant growth. I placed various plants under different light conditions and measured their growth over several weeks. I recorded data daily to track the height of each plant. At the end of the experiment, I analysed the results and found that plants exposed to natural light grew significantly taller than those under artificial light. I concluded that sunlight plays a crucial role in plant development. I presented my findings to the class, highlighting the importance of light in enhancing photosynthesis and overall plant health.

You may begin like this.

An experiment was conducted...

Read the instructions given in the box on landing of Chandrayaan. Complete the passage by choosing the correct answer from the options given.

Chandrayaan’s landing mission involves several key steps. First, the spacecraft 1. ______ towards the Moon from the Earth. Then, it 2. ______ to enter the Moon’s orbit. After reaching the Moon’s orbit, the spacecraft’s path 3. ______ for landing. Next, the spacecraft 4. ______ as it nears the Moon’s surface. Finally, the rover 5. ______ to explore the surface and collect valuable data.

(i) 

1. launched
2. were launched
3. was launched
4. is launched

(ii)

1. position
2. was positioned
3. is positioned
4. has positioned

(iii)

1. adjusted
2. was adjusted
3. is adjusted
4. were adjusted

(iv)

1. slowed down
2. was slowed down
3. is slowed down
4. were slowed down

(v)

1.  is released
2. has released
3. were released
4. was released

You will listen to a podcast about Artificial Intelligence. As you listen, answer the following question by selecting the correct option. (Transcript for teacher on page 251)

What is one of the key benefits of AI in the healthcare sector?

You will listen to a podcast about Artificial Intelligence. As you listen, answer the following question by selecting the correct option. (Transcript for teacher on page 251)

How did AI play a crucial role during the global pandemic?

You will listen to a podcast about Artificial Intelligence. As you listen, answer the following question by selecting the correct option. (Transcript for teacher on page 251)

What example was given regarding AI’s role in renewable energy?

You will listen to a podcast about Artificial Intelligence. As you listen, answer the following question by selecting the correct option. (Transcript for teacher on page 251)

What does AI offer to teachers in the field of education?

You will listen to a podcast about Artificial Intelligence. As you listen, answer the following question by selecting the correct option. (Transcript for teacher on page 251)

What is one of the user-friendly features that AI is enhancing for people with disabilities?

Form a group of five. Conduct a panel discussion on the topic, ‘Evaluating the Impact of Mobile Phones—Beneficial or Harmful’. Each student will take on one of the following roles.

• Moderator (initiates and directs the flow of the discussion inviting the speakers to share their views on the subject; at the end sums up the points of discussion and thanks the members of the group)
• Principal (opposed to—focus on discipline in school)
• Teacher (in favour of—partially in favour, educational use with limitations)
• Parent (opposed to—concerned about health and social effects on children)
• Student (in favour of—highlighting the benefits like connectivity and learning)

You may use the cues given below and add your own ideas when speaking.

Your school recently hosted the Zonal Science Exhibition, in which teams of students from 25 schools participated enthusiastically. As the student editor, write a report on the exhibition to be published in your school magazine. Use the cues given below with your own ideas to compose this report.

• Who was the organiser and who hosted the exhibition?
• When (date and time) and where was it held?
• Why was it held?
• Who participated?
• Who was the Chief Guest?
• What were the competitions held? For example: Science Quiz, Science Models, etc.
• What were the topics of models exhibited? Give details.
• Which team got the trophy for best exhibit?
• What were the observations of the Chief Guest and other visitors?

Points to remember:

1. Write the report in past tense, passive voice, and third person.
2. Follow proper format with a headline, reporter's name, and three paragraphs.

In the recent times, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are changing the way students learn. Let us know more about them.

• Augmented reality (AR) enhances a person’s environment by adding digital elements to what can be seen in real time, usually through a smartphone camera.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers a fully immersive experience, replacing the real world with a simulated one.
• Through AR and VR, the students can see and interact with things that they could not interact with in real life. This enables younger students to understand difficult ideas easily.
• To keep up with the times, NCERT has developed the e-Pathshala AR (Augmented Reality) App under the aegis of MHRD, Government of India.
• This App aims to enable students to go beyond textbooks and four walls of the classrooms and learn concepts by directly experimenting rather than only through reading and memorisation.
• This revolutionary effort will change most students from passive listeners to active learners.
• This effort is in line with the Prime Minister’s Digital India vision to empower varied sectors using technology and addressing the triple need of skill, scale, and speed.

Gear up for the new age education!

https://ciet.ncert.gov.in/ar-vr

The Government of India has come out with a new set of National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation known as ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar’.

The objective of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) is to recognise the notable and inspiring contribution made by the scientists, technologists, and innovators individually or in teams in various fields of science, technology, and technology-led innovation.

1. Vigyan Ratna (VR) award will recognise lifetime achievements and contributions made in any field of science and technology.
2. Vigyan Shri (VS) award will recognise distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology.
3. Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) award will recognise and encourage young scientists up to the age of 45 years, who have made an exceptional contribution in any field of science and technology.
4. Vigyan Team (VT) award to be given to a team comprising three or more scientists/researchers/innovators, who have made an exceptional contribution working in a team in any field of science and technology.

A glimpse of women pioneers from different fields.