| Book Name | : Blossom |
| Subject | : English |
| Class | : 8 (Madhyamik) |
| Publisher | : Prof. Nabanita Chatterjee |
| Chapter Name | : Summer Friends (9th Chapter) |
Activity 1
Tick the correct alternative:
(i) The swallow comes to the poet in
- spring
- summer
- winter
Answer
summer
(ii) Many young friends follow the behaviour of the
- sparrow
- pigeon
- swallow
Answer
swallow
(iii) The sparrow accompanies the poet in times of
- snow and forest
- rain and thunder
- sunshine and warmth
Answer
snow and frost
(iv) The poet wants a friend who will be like
- swallow
- sparrow
- nightingale
Answer
swallow
Activity 2
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
- The swallow chirps for weeks together when the weather ____.
- In a cold day, the swallow____.
- Even when old friends are separated, their hearts ____.
- The poet wishes for a bird that will ____.
Answer
- The swallow chirps for weeks together when the weather is fine and warm.
- In a cold day, the swallow flies away.
- Even when old friends are separated, their hearts never become narrow.
- The poet wishes for a bird that will sing in frost and love in sorrow.
Activity 3
Answer the following question:
Why do you think the swallow leaves the poet during the winter season?
Answer
Swallow is a summer bird, so it can’t stand the bitter cold of the winter season, leaving the poet during the winter.
Activity 4
Fill in the following chart with information from the text:
| Who | Does what | When |
| (i) | Chirping his notes | |
| (ii) The sparrow | ||
| (iii) Old friends | ||
| (iv) A true friend of the poet | The poet had the mischance |
Answer
| Who | Does what | When |
| (i) The swallow | Chirping his notes | In fine and warm weather |
| (ii) The sparrow | Clings closer to the man | In dreary days of snow and frost |
| (iii) Old friends | Never narrow their hearts | Even when they are separated |
| (iv) A true friend of the poet | Greets him | The poet had the mischance |
Activity 5
Answer the following questions:
- What does the swallow do in summer?
- How is the behaviour of a “gay young friend” similar to that of the swallow?
- What type of friend does the poet want?
- Who does the poet like- the swallow or the sparrow? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
- The swallow chirps his notes for the week together in summer.
- The swallow flies away in winter times in the same way ‘a gay young friend’ also leaves his friend alone in the time of difficulty.
- The poet wants a friend who is like a sparrow who will never leave in times of difficulty.
- The poet likes the sparrow because the sparrow never leaves the man even when there are difficult times.
Activity 6 (a)
Read the following sentences. Identify noun clauses, Adjective clauses and Adverb clauses and fill in the chart given below:
- I expect that I shall get a prize
- the umbrella which has a yellow handle is mine.
- When I was younger I used to fly kites.
- I remember house where I was born.
| Noun Clause | Adjective Clause | Adverb Clause |
Answer
| Noun Clause | Adjective Clause | Adverb Clause |
|---|---|---|
| that I shall get a prize | – | – |
| – | which has a yellow handle | – |
| – | – | When I was younger |
| – | where I was born | – |
Activity 6 (b)
Change the following sentences into indirect speech:
- The sailor said to us, “There will be a storm.”
- The teacher said to the student, “Did you come to school yesterday?”
- The tired guest said to the host, “Please give me a glass of cold water.”
- Rita said, “How happy I am!”
- My grandmother said, “May you live long!”
Answer
- The sailor told us that there would be a storm.
- The teacher asked the student if he had come to school the previous day.
- The tired guest requested the host to give him a glass of cold water.
- Rita exclaimed that she was very happy.
- My grandmother wished that I might live long.
Activity 7
Make meaningful sentences of your own with the following words:
- Guest :
- Dreary :
- Narrow :
- Mischance :
Answer
- We had many guests last night at our home.
- I have been feeling dreary for many days.
- It is a narrow lane.
- You can count on me in the time of mischance.
Activity 8 (a)
Write a short story in about eight words using the following hints. Give a suitable title to the story:
a farmer finds a snake almost dead from cold – brings it home – warms it – saves its life – the snake is about to bite the farmer’s son – the farmer chases away the snake.
Answer
Once upon a time, there lived a poor and kind farmer. One day when he was going home, he found a snake almost dead with cold. He picked it up and brought it home. He warmed it and saved its life. He didn’t think about the risk involved in saving the life of the snake. One day, the snake was about to bite the farmer’s son. It was then the farmer realized his mistake. He then chased the snake away from him.
Activity 8 (b)
Suppose you have a bird that talks and plays with you. Write a paragraph in about eighty words on how you spent a day with the bird during your summer vacation.
Answer
During my summer vacation, I had the incredible joy of spending a day with a talkative and playful bird companion. We embarked on an adventure-filled day, exploring the lush green landscapes and basking under the warm sun. The bird’s melodic chirps echoed through the air as we played games of catch and soared through the clear blue skies. We shared stories and laughter, creating cherished memories. Together, we discovered hidden treasures in nature, enjoyed a picnic by a sparkling stream, and marvelled at the beauty of blooming flowers. It was a day of pure bliss, a delightful escape from the mundane, and a bond formed between a human and a feathered friend that would last a lifetime.
