NCERT solutions for English Poorvi Class 8 chapter * - Spectacular Wonders [Latest edition]

Look at the pictures given below and sort them into natural and man-made wonders.

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5.	6.	7.	8.

Natural: ______, ______, ______, and ______

Man-made: ______, ______, ______, and ______

Which of the previous wonders—man-made or natural—are more appealing and why? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Work in pairs. Write down two wonders of nature that have amazed you. Discuss what makes them impressive. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Work in groups of four. Complete the web chart given below with words that you associate with the phrase, ‘Nature’s Power’. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Complete the information in the table given below. 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) Replace the underlined phrase with one from the extract.

India is the birthplace of several rare species of flora and fauna that thrive in its diverse ecosystems.

(ii) What does the phrase ‘nature’s unusual side’ suggest about the phenomena described?

(iii) Complete the similarity by choosing the correct option.

spark : imagination : : ______ : ______.

1. inspiration; creativity
2. wonder; amazement
3. effort; reward
4. knowledge; books

(iv) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.

Some natural phenomena can surprise people.

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

(i) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.

The writer’s most likely purpose to introduce the information about the Chandipur Beach phenomenon with a question is to ______. (engage the reader’s curiosity and create a sense of suspense/draw the reader to learn more about the unusual phenomenon/set the tone for the surprising nature of the content that follows)

(ii) Select the option that is correct for both Assertion (A) and Reason (R).

(A): Chandipur Beach in Odisha is known for its unique feature of the sea disappearing.
(R): The tides retreat drastically, exposing the Chandipur beach.

1. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
3. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
4. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

(iii) What does the term ‘unique’ suggest about the beach in Balasore?

1. very popular
2. one of its kind
3. ancient place
4. far from city

(iv) What does the writer want to convey with the use of the phrase ‘playing hide-and-seek with its visitors’?

How are the living root bridges a boon for the local people of Meghalaya?

Why is the Lonar Crater Lake considered a remarkable and rare site?

What might be the writer’s purpose of highlighting the awe-inspiring natural wonders of India?

The writer uses descriptive language and introductory questions for some of the natural phenomena. What impact does it have on the readers?

Which of these unusual phenomena did you find the most interesting and why?

Fill in the blanks with the correct expressions from the text given in the box below.

1. I have read many stories ______.
2. Do you know when this little town ______?
3. His hard work has helped him ______.
4. There are no simple solutions to the ______ of traffic jams.
5. He opened the ancient wooden box and stared at the treasure ______.
6. The garden is ______ in spring with lots of beautiful flowers in bloom.

Select the correct synonyms from the box given below that match the list of words in 1–5. You may refer to a thesaurus.

1. mysterious, puzzling, baffling
2. mighty, gigantic, huge
3. breath-taking, stunning, awe-inspiring
4. peaceful, calm, tranquil
5. unusual, peculiar, foreign

Match the binomials in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

Use the binomials given in Column 1 in sentences of your own.

Fill in the blanks using present participle or past participle form of the verbs in the box given below.

1. The ______ marble monument looks even more spectacular in the moonlight.
2. The ______ view of the Himalayas from Darjeeling attracts visitors from all over the world.
3. The Sun Temple in Konark features intricately ______ stone wheels and walls.
4. ______ at a height of 182 m, the Statue of Unity is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
5. The ______ islands of the Andaman and Nicobar offer some of the cleanest beaches in India.

Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentence. Write ‘G’ for gerund and ‘P’ for participle in the space provided.

Dancing is a great way to express emotions.

Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentence. Write ‘G’ for gerund and ‘P’ for participle in the space provided.

Travelling can broaden your perspective.

Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentence. Write ‘G’ for gerund and ‘P’ for participle in the space provided.

The falling leaves signalled the arrival of autumn.

Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentence. Write ‘G’ for gerund and ‘P’ for participle in the space provided.

She enjoys cooking new recipes for her family.

Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentence. Write ‘G’ for gerund and ‘P’ for participle in the space provided.

Reading helps improve your vocabulary.

Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentence. Write ‘G’ for gerund and ‘P’ for participle in the space provided.

He watched the shimmering stars in the night sky.

Underline the gerunds and participles in the following sentence. Write ‘G’ for gerund and ‘P’ for participle in the space provided.

Forgetting the keys inside, Kanchan locked the door.

Combine the following pairs of sentence using a participle or gerund. You may use the clues given in bracket.

Nitesh entered the room. He saw his friend sitting in the corner. (participle)

Combine the following pairs of sentence using a participle or gerund. You may use the clues given in bracket.

Smitha walked carelessly. She slipped on the doormat. (participle)

Combine the following pairs of sentence using a participle or gerund. You may use the clues given in bracket.

Sleep for eight hours. It is good for health. (gerund)

Combine the following pairs of sentence using a participle or gerund. You may use the clues given in bracket.

Ranjith felt happy about the result. He called his parents. (participle)

Combine the following pairs of sentence using a participle or gerund. You may use the clues given in bracket.

Father encouraged Meena. Meena joined the course. (gerund)

You will listen to a brother and sister discuss a natural phenomenon. As you listen, mark the four true statements from 1–6 given below.

1. The brother was taken aback to see the posted pictures.
2. The brother admitted to not knowing about his sister’s favourite picture.
3. The sister stated that the rainbow mountain was like any other mountain.
4. The brother was aware of the reason for the formation of colours on the mountain.
5. The brother was surprised to learn about the mountain being covered with snow till recently.
6. The sister understood nature’s role in the beauty of the mountain.

Work in groups of four. Make a presentation on a place of interest in and around your region that people like to visit. You may use the following guidelines to make your presentation.

Guidelines:

1. Slides 1–2: Choose any popular place of interest in your region.
2. Slides 3–4: Mention where it is located and how to reach there.
3. Slides 5–6: Describe the attractions of the place, why it is popular and explain its historical importance, if any.
4. Slides 7–8: List out weather conditions, local food, customs, and language.
5. Slides 9–10: Suggest the best time of the year to visit and why you recommend this place.

You just read vivid descriptions of the natural wonders of our country. Write a descriptive essay for your school magazine describing anything from nature that attracted your attention. It may be an object, a place, or an event experienced by you. Remember to give a title to your essay.

Use proper format and content organisation—begin with a title, include introduction (one paragraph), body (two to three paragraphs), and conclusion (one paragraph).

Man-made Wonders

Some micro-planktons in the sea are bioluminescent. Have you seen any other life form that has this quality? Identify the insect given below and find out what it is called in your language. Look out for it when you visit a field or a place with a wetland.