NCERT English Class 8 | Chapter 2 | Children at work | Question Answer |

COMPREHENSION CHECK I                                                        PAGE 9

1. Velu stood on the platform but he felt “as if he was still on a moving train”. Why?

Answer: Despite standing on the platform, Velu felt “as if he was still moving on a train” because he was exhausted beyond measure. Not only were his legs wobbling but he was also hungry. He had had only some peanuts and a piece of jaggery since he had run away from home two days ago. Clearly, he was tired and dejected.

2. What made him feel miserable?

Answer: Velu felt miserable because he was alone in a railway station that was crowded with people. He had never seen that many people in his life except during the fair that took place in his village once every year. Furthermore, the place was noisy, and the terrible noise added to his misery. 

3. (i) Velu travelled without a ticket. Why?

    Answer: Velu travelled without a ticket as he was penniless. 

    (ii) How did he escape the ticket collector’s attention?

    Answer: Velu travelled in the unreserved and doing so helped him escape the   ticket collector’s attention.

4. Why had Velu run away from home?

Answer: Velu had run away from home to rid himself of the torture he underwent at the hand of his father. Not only would his father beat him, but he would also snatch the money he and his sisters had to spend it on alcohol.

5. Why did he decide to follow the ‘strange’ girl?

Answer: Velu made up his mind to follow the strange girl because he had no idea where to go. As the girl was disappearing into the crowd, he felt that it would not be a bad idea to follow her and see where she took her.

COMPREHENSION CHECK II                                                       PAGE 13

1. Can Velu read Tamil and English? How do you know?

Answer: Velu can’t read English, but he can read Tamil. This is known as even though Velu looks up at the pictures including those of car tyres and pens in the signboards, he doesn’t know what is written as the writing is all in English. However, he is able to read the signs ‘Central Jail’, ‘Sri Rajarajeshwari Prasanna Kalyana Mandapam’ and even one made of flowers that says, ‘Groom: J. V. Vinayagan, Bride: Rani’’ - all of which are written with Tamil letters.

2. “If you are not careful, you will soon be counting bars there,” the girl said.

(i) What is she referring to?

Answer: The girl is making a reference to the Central Jail.

(ii) What does she mean when she says “If you are not careful...”? (She says something a little later which means the same. Find that sentence.)

Answer: By ‘if you are not careful’, the girl means that Velu had to be vigilant and stay alert lest they should get caught by the police. Another sentence that the girl says a little later to convey the same meaning is: Just don’t get caught, that’s all.

3. (i) Where did the girl lead Velu to?

Answer: The girl led Velu to a big garbage bin that was overflowing with rubbish.

    (ii) What did they get to eat?

Answer: While Velu got a vada and a banana to eat, the girl had to manage with just one banana. All were leftovers lying next to the garbage bin that the girl had led Velu to.

4. What work did she do? Think of a one-word answer.

Answer: Rag-picking.

 

COMPREHENSION CHECK III                                                    PAGE 15

1. (i) What material are the ‘strange’ huts made out of?

Answer: The ‘strange’ huts are made out of metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood, and plastic.

    (ii) Why does Velu find them strange?

Answer: Velu finds them strange because he had until then seen huts made of mud and palm leaves.

2. What sort of things did Jaya and children like her collect and what did they do with those things?

Answer: Jaya and children like her collected paper, plastic, glass and such things. They sold the collected items to a person called ‘Jam Bazaar Jaggu’.

3. Is Velu happy or unhappy to find work? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer: Velu is not happy with the work that he has found - that of rag-picking. Nevertheless, he chooses to do the work until he finds a better one.

 

EXERCISE                                                                                                PAGE 16

1. Is Velu a smart boy? Which instances show that he is or isn’t?

Answer: Velu doesn’t come across as a smart boy. He makes a foolish decision of running away from home, travels all the way to a city from a village in a train without holding a ticket, and goes to the extent of rag-picking to sustain himself. Furthermore, he eats leftovers lying next to an overflowing bin, clearly being unaware of the health hazard such an act can pose.

2. Do you think Jaya is a brave and sensitive child with a sense of humour? Find instances of her courage, kind nature, and humour in the text.

Answer: Jaya is indeed a brave and sensitive child with a sense of humour. Although she makes a living out of rag-picking and feeding on leftovers, she goes out of her way to help Velu. Her courage is revealed when she drags Velu to the other side of a bustling road. Moreover, she also cautions Velu to be vigilant in order to not get caught. She also grins while telling him that if he was not careful, he would end up counting bars. She is also kind enough to do her bit to feed Velu. Although they both feed on leftovers, her intent of helping Velu is quite evident. Furthermore, even as Velu looks at the leftovers with distaste, she happily throws Velu a vada and asks him to consume it. She also gives Velu a pair of old shoes and laughs while telling him that they were not farmers but rag-pickers.

3. What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others. Do you find this sentence meaningful in the context of this story? How?

Answer: Indeed, the sentence is meaningful in the context of this story, for rag pickers make a living out of the waste thrown by others. Children like Jaya collect paper, plastic, glass, and the like so they can make a living. Waste collected by them is sold to people like Jam Bazaar Jaggu who in turn sell it to the factory. In other words, there is a large group of people that depends on the waste found inside and strewn around garbage bins to make ends meet.