NCERT English Class 8 | Chapter 10 | The Great Stone Face – II | Question Answer |

COMPREHENSION CHECK                                                                           PAGE 132

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements. 

1. Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings.

Ans: True

2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar.

Ans: True

3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness.

Ans: False 

4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally.

Ans: True

5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley.

Ans: False 

6. The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses.

Ans: True


WORKING WITH THE TEXT                                                                        PAGE 133

Answer the following questions.

1. How was Ernest different from others in the valley?

Answer: Unlike the other people in the valley, Ernest had a noble demeanour. Not only had he stopped being of undistinguished reputation, but he also earned the fame of having become the wisest person to have ever lived in the valley. Many men came from far to meet and have a conversation with Ernest. He was gentle and spoke with all freely and kindly.

2. Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face?

Answer: Ernest thought the poet was like the Stone Face because the thoughts expressed in his poems were noble enough to have qualities resembling that of the Stone Face.

3. What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems?

Answer: Talking about his thoughts and poems, the poet said that although one could hear in them the remote voice of a delightful song, his life hadn’t corresponded with those thoughts. The poet said that he had had grand dreams, but they had remained dreams. He went on to say that he had lacked faith in his own thoughts.

4. What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?

Answer: When the poet listened to Ernest speak to the people, he realised that Ernest’s words had power and depth.  Furthermore, the words Ernest uttered were powerful and real. The poet also felt that the life and character of Ernest were much nobler than the poems he had written and that there was no sage possessing a mild, sweet and thoughtful face as that had by Ernest. All of this led to the poet proclaiming that Ernest was indeed the Stone Face.

5. Write ‘Ernest’ or ‘Poet’, against each statement below.

(i) There was a gap between his life and his words.

Ans: Poet

(ii) His words had the power of truth as they agreed with his thoughts.

Ans: Ernest

(iii) His words were as soothing as a heavenly song but only as useful as a vague dream.

Ans: Poet

(iv) His thoughts were worthy.

Ans: Poet

(v) Whatever he said was truth itself.

Ans: Ernest

(vi) His poems were noble.

Ans: Poet

(vii) His life was nobler than all the poems.

Ans: Ernest

(viii) He lacked faith in his own thoughts.

Ans: Poet

(ix) His thoughts had power as they agreed with the life he lived.

Ans: Ernest

(x) Greatness lies in truth. Truth is best expressed in one’s actions. He was truthful, therefore he was great.

Ans: Ernest

6.      (i) Who, by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face?


Answer: It was Ernest, who by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face.


(ii) Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true? What did he say about it?


Answer: Despite people agreeing that Ernest had fulfilled the old prophecy, Ernest himself wasn’t convinced. He hoped that there would be someone wiser and better than himself who would come to resemble the Great Stone Face.


WORKING WITH LANGUAGE                                                                      PAGE 133

1.       Mark the meaning that best fits the word or a phrase in the story.

(i) (sun) going down                  (a) becoming smaller

(b) weakening

(c) setting

Answer: (c) setting

(ii) brightening                           (a) making (it) look bright and cheerful

(b) lending (it) a special glow

(c) causing (it) to appear hopeful

Answer: (a) making (it) look bright and cheerful

(iii) spacious                              (a) lonely and wild

(b) big and wide

(c) special and important

Answer: (b) big and wide

(iv) prophecy                              (a) proverb 

(b) prediction 

(c) rumour 

Answer: (b) prediction


(v) marvellous                            (a) wonderful 

(b) surprising 

(c) shocking 

Answer: (a) wonderful

(vi) proclaim                              (a) reveal 

(b) declare 

(c) shout 

Answer: (b) declare

(vii) cease                                   (a) happen 

(b) stop 

(c) remain

Answer: (b) stop

(viii) (a night’s) shelter              (a) stay 

(b) safety 

(c) hospitality 

Answer: (a) stay

(ix) gazed                                   (a) wandered about 

(b) stared at 

(c) thought of 

Answer: (b) stared at

(x) took on                                 (a) challenged (an expression) 

(b) resembled 

(c) assumed

Answer: (c) assumed

2. (i)  Read the following sentences.

(a) I do hope I’ll live to see him.

(b) He will come! Fear not, Ernest; the man will come.

(c) Gathergold is arriving tomorrow, people said.


(d) Blood-and-Thunder starts his journey back to the valley next week, everyone proclaimed. 

(e) The great man is going to spend his old age in his native town.


Notice that in the above sentences, verbs in bold type are in four different forms, denoting four important ways of expressing future time. None of these can be said to be exclusively used to show future time, though each is used to refer to some action in the future.


(ii) Which form of the verb is more natural in these sentences? Encircle your  choice.


Answer:

(a) I’m not free this evening. I will work/am working on a project. am working 

 

(b) Have you decided where you will go for your higher secondary? Yes, I have. I will go/am going to the Kendriya Vidyalaya. am going

(c) Don’t worry about the dog. It won’t hurt/isn’t hurting you. won’t hurt

 

(d) The weatherman has predicted that it will snow/is snowing in Ranikhet tonight. will snow

 

(e) Swapna can’t go out this evening. Her father will come/is coming to see her. is coming


3. (i)  Complete these pieces of conversation using will or going to with the verbs given. 

Answer:

(a) Rani: Why are you turning on the radio? 

Ravi: I am going to listen (listen) to the news.

(b) Rani: Oh, I can’t buy this book. I have no money. 

Ravi: Don’t worry. I will lend (lend) you some.

(c) Rani: Look at those dark clouds.

Ravi: I think it is going to rain (rain).

(d) Rani: What shall we have for dinner? 

Ravi: I can’t decide.

Rani: Make up your mind.

Ravi: All right, then. We will have (have) fried rice and dry beans.

(e) Rani: Why are you filling the kettle with water? 

Ravi: I am going to make (make) coffee.

(f) Rani: We need some bread and butter for breakfast.

Ravi: All right. I will go (go) to the bakery and get some. (Before he goes out, Ravi talks to their father.)

Ravi: I am going to get (get) some bread and butter.

Do you want anything from the bakery?

Father: Yes, I want some salt biscuits.

Ravi: Fine, I will get (get) you a packet.

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9. The Great Stone Face-I Question Answer

10. The Great Stone Face-II Question Answer

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