Lesson 11 – Midnight Express | Chapter Solution Class 8

Book Name	: Blossom
Subject	: English
Class	: 8 (Madhyamik)
Publisher	: Prof. Nabanita Chatterjee
Chapter Name	: Midnight Express (11th Chapter)

Activity 1

Tick the correct alternative :

(i) Mortimer found the book 

1. at a friend’s place
2. ina book fair
3. in his father’s library

Answer

his father’s library

(ii) The illustration on the page showed

1. a vast sea
2. an empty railway platform
3. a dark library room

Answer

an empty railway platform

(iii) Mortimer was able to read up to

1. page fifty of the book
2. the last page of the book
3. page fifty-five of the book

Answer

page fifty of the book

(iv) Here Midnight Express is

1. an express train
2. a railway station
3. a book

Answer

a book

Activity 2

Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in the given boxes:

1. As a young man, Mortimer was waiting for a train in an empty junction.
2. Mortimer was fascinated by the battered old book.
3. He started to read the story by candlelight.
4. Mortimer stopped at page fifty while reading the story.
5. The illustration of the story frightened Mortimer every time.
6. Mortimer was fascinated by the battered old book.

Answer

• Mortimer found a battered old book.
• He started to read the story by candle light.
• Mortimer was fascinated by the battered old book.
• The illustration of the story frightened Mortimer every time.
• Mortimer stopped at page fifty while reading the story.
• As a young man, Mortimer was waiting for a train in an empty junction.

Activity 3

Answer the following questions:

Why do you think Mortimer never read beyond fifty of the book?

Answer

Mortimer might have felt scared to read beyond fifty of the books he never read it.

Activity 4

Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

1. Mortimer noticed in the lamplight ____
2. The solitary figure faced the ____
3. Walking towards the figure Mortimer was  ____
4. The shadow figure stood ____

Answer

1. Mortimer noticed in the lamplight a dark and solitary figure he knew.
2. The solitary figure faced the black mouth of a tunnel.
3. Walking towards the figure Mortimer was staring into his own face.
4. The shadow figure stood with a candle.

Activity 5

Answer the following questions:

1. When had Mortimer seen the ‘dark and solitary figure’ in his childhood?
2. “Mortimer was shocked.” When was Mortimer shocked and why?
3. What was “steadily gaining” on Mortimer as he stumbled out of the platform?

Answer

1. Mortimer had seen the ‘dark and solitary figure’ on page fifty of the book ‘Midnight Express.’
2. Mortimer was shocked when he saw a dark and solitary figure on the platform. He was shocked because the image look just like him.
3. The footsteps were “steadily gaining” on Mortimer as he stumbled out of the platform.

Activity 6

Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements in the given boxes. Give supporting statements for each of your answers:

1.  Mortimer found the old battered book on the armchair.
2. Mortimer realized that the book was the same one which he had read in his childhood.
3. Mortimer felt immensely afraid of the things happening around him.
4. In the flickering candlelight, the host was seen standing by the table.

Answer

1. False; By the armchair was a small, oak table on which lay a battered old book bound in red leather.
2. True; With a shock he realized it was the same book from his childhood, the book which contained the story of ‘Midnight Express.’
3. True; He was filled with acute dread.
4. False; The shadowy figure stood before Mortimer.

Activity 7

Answer the following questions:

1. To where did Mortimer follow the shadow figure?
2. Why do you think Mortimer’s hands trembled when he turned the pages of the book?
3. “Mortimer tried to grasp the strange cycle of events he was going through” what was the strange cycle of events?
4. Do you think the strange incident that happened to Mortimer would not have occurred if he had not read the book?

Answer

1. Mortimer followed the shadow figure to an upper room where a bright fire was burning.
2. Mortimer was scared because it was the same book that he had read in his childhood.
3. Mortimer realized that it was the same book from his childhood, the book which contained the story of ‘Midnight Express.’ Also the figure looked exactly like him, all these events were strange.
4. It was all in the head of Mortimer, so if he had not read the book, the strange incident would not have taken place.

Activity 8 (a)

In the following sentences, underline the verb forms which show that the person denoted by the Subject is doing something. Circle the verb forms which show that something is being done to the person denoted by the Subject:

1. I am writing a letter.
2. A letter is being written by me.
3. The gatekeeper was opening the gate.
4. The gate was being opened by the gatekeeper.

Answer

1. I am writing a letter.
2. A letter is being written by me.
3. The gatekeeper was opening the gate.
4. The gate was being opened by the gatekeeper.

Activity 8 (b)

Identify the voice of the following sentences and fill in the chart given below:

1. The artist is painting a picture.
2. A song is being sung by Shiela.
3. The boy was flying a kite.
4. Football was being played by the children.

Active Voice	Passive Voice

Answer

Active Voice	Passive Voice
The artist is painting a picture.	A song is being sung by Shiela.
The boy was flying a kite.	Football was being played by the children.

Activity 8 (c)

Match column A with column B:

Column A	Column B
i. Mother is cooking food for us.	a. Trees were being planted by the children.
ii. Father is baking a cake.	b. A lesson was being learnt by the students.
iii. The children were planting the trees.	c. Food is being cooked by Mother for us.
iv. The students were learning a lesson.	d. A cake is being baked by the father

Answer

Column A	Column B
i. Mother is cooking food for us.	c. Food is being cooked by Mother for us.
ii. Father is baking a cake.	d. A cake is being baked by the father.
iii. The children were planting the trees.	a. Trees were being planted by the children.
iv. The students were learning a lesson.	b. A lesson was being learnt by the students.

Activity 8 (d)

Change the voice of the following sentences:

1. The girl is watching a film.
2. Rahul is driving a car.
3. The author was writing a novel.
4. The man was buying vegetables.

Answer

1. A film is being watched by the girl.
2. A car is being driven by Rahul.
3. A novel was written by the author.
4. Vegetables were being bought by the man.

Activity 9

Find words in the passage which mean the following:

1. A passage built underground to allow a railway/ bus to go through a hill.
2. To be very afraid of something.
3. Shaking of the body .
4. The sound that a door sometimes makes when we open it.

Answer

1. Tunnel
2. Panic
3. Trembled
4. Creaking

Activity 10 (a)

Suppose you find yourself alone in a railway station at night. Write a paragraph in about eighty words describing your experience.

Answer

I still remember that night when I was alone in a railway station. It was one of the most horrible experiences I have ever had. There was there literally pin-drop silence. I had missed the train and that is why I was left all alone. I sat on the bench waiting for the next train to arrive. I was so scared that I couldn’t even move even though I wanted to go to the washroom. I tried to close my eyes but I felt someone touching my feet and when I opened my eyes it was a dog. I started imagining horror things even though I wanted to think good things. But my mind started wandering somewhere else. Then I felt relieved when there was an announcement which said that the next train was about to arrive in the next half an hour. When I still think of that night, I get goosebumps.

Activity 10 (b)

Write an imaginary conversation between you and your friend discussing the advantages of visiting a library regularly.

Answer

You: Hey, Ravi, have you ever thought about going to the library more often?

Ravi: Not really, I usually just use my phone for information.

You: Well, libraries have their own benefits. They provide a peaceful space for studying without distractions.

Ravi: That sounds nice. Anything else?

You: Libraries have a wide range of books in both Bengali and English, allowing us to explore different subjects and cultures.

Ravi: That’s interesting. What about resources?

You: Librarians are there to help us find reliable sources and guide us in our research.

Ravi: That could be helpful.

You: Absolutely! And libraries often organize cultural events and activities, connecting us with our community and promoting a love for reading.

Ravi: I hadn’t thought about that. Maybe I should visit the library more often.

You: It’s worth a try, Ravi! You might discover new interests and gain knowledge while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Ravi: Thanks for sharing. I’ll definitely check out the library soon.

You: You’re welcome, Ravi! Happy reading and exploring at the library!