Lesson 5 – Princess September | Chapter Solution Class 8

Activity – 1

Tick the correct alternative:

(i) When the little bird hopped into Princess September’s room, she was

1. clapping her hands
2. crying alone
3. sleeping in her bed

Answer

sleeping in her bed

(ii) The little bird perched on the

1. finger of the Princess
2. branch of the willow tree
3. window

Answer

finger of the Princess

(iii) The sisters of Princess September

1. loved her
2. were envious of her
3. hated her

Answer

were envious of her

(iv) Princess September was advised to

1. let the bird go free
2. hand the bird over to her sisters
3. put the bird in a cage

Answer

put the bird in a cage

Activity – 2

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

1. All the sisters came together to advise Princess September.
2. Princess September was crying alone in her room.
3. A little bird hopped onto the end of the Princess’s bed.
4. Princess September feared that the bird might forget her.
5. The bird sang a beautiful song.
6. The Princess was advised to put the bird into a cage.

Answer

1. Princess September was crying alone in her room. (2)
2. A little bird hopped onto the end of the Princess’s bed. (3)
3. The bird sang a beautiful song. (5)
4. Princess September feared that the bird might forget her. (4)
5. All the sisters came together to advise Princess September. (1)
6. The Princess was advised to put the bird into a cage. (6)

Activity 3

Answer the following question:

How do you think Princess September spent her days when the bird was away?

Answer

Princess September spent her time thinking about the little bird. She thought that he might forget it.

Activity 4

Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

1. The little bird was surprised when ____
2. At dawn, the little bird wished to be let out from the cage because ____
3. Princess September told the bird he was better off in the cage because ____
4. The bird told the Princess that it could not sing as ____

Answer

1. The little bird was surprised when September carried him to the cage, put him in and shut door on him.
2. At dawn, the little bird wished to be let out from the cage because he wanted to have a good fly while the dew was still wet on the ground.
3. Princess September told the bird he was better off in the cage because he had a beautiful golden gate.
4. The bird told the Princess that it could not sing as he wanted to see the trees and the lake and the green rice growing in the fields.

Activity 5

Answer the following questions:

1. ‘So he suspects nothing.’ Who is ‘he’? Why did he not suspect anything?
2. Why did the little bird stop in the middle of his song?
3. How did he try to free himself from the cage?

Answer

1. Here ‘he’ refers to the little bird. The little bird didn’t suspect the Princess as he was used to September’s holding him that way.
2. The bird stopped in the middle of his song because he felt stuck in the cage. He didn’t feel free there.
3. The bird tried to slip through the bars of the cage, but he couldn’t. He also tried to beat against the door but all was in vain.

Activity 6

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

1. The little bird was happy to see the rice fields and the lake from within the cage.
2. When the bird did not eat a thing, Princess September grew anxious.
3. The next morning Princess found the bird hopping around the cage.
4. The bird was granted freedom.

Answer

1. False; The rice fields and the lake and the willow trees look quite different when you see them though the bars of cage.
2. True; The princess was anxious.
3. False; She gave a startled cry, for there the little bird lay with eyes closed, and he looked as if he were dead.
4. True; “Then take your freedom, “ the Princess said.

Activity 7

Answer the following questions:

1. How did Princess September try to make the little bird happy?
2.  Why did the Princess give a “sob a relief”?
3. Why was the little bird granted freedom by the Princess?
4. “Then he opened his wings and flew right away into the blue.” Would the little bird return to the Princess again? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer

1. The princess picked up the cage and walked down to the lake around which grew the willow trees. She stood at the edge of the rice fields and showed the little bird everything that it wanted to see.
2. When the Princess heard the little bird’s heart still beating, she gave a sob a relief.
3. The Princess realized that the little bird was not happy in the cage and she loved it enough to make it free and be happy.
4. I think the little bird would come back to the Princess because it loved the princess and he also promised that he would never forget her.

Activity 8 (a)

In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do not have a subject or a predicate and do not have a finite verb and do not make complete sense:

1. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
2. The sun rises in the east.
3. The farmer lived in a house made of straw.

Answer

1. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
2. The sun rises in the east.
3. The farmer lived in a house made of straw.

Activity 8(b)

In the following sentences, underline the group of words that do the work of an Adjective:

1. He was a man full of hope.
2. A necklace of great value was stolen.
3. This is a table made of wood.

Answer

1. He was a man full of hope.
2. A necklace of great value was stolen.
3. This is a table made of wood.

Activity 8(c)

In the following sentences, underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adverb:

1. The bird stood in the corner of his cage.
2. He spoke in a confident manner.
3. It’s raining at this moment.

Answer

1. The bird stood in the corner of his cage.
2. He spoke in a confident manner.
3. It’s raining at this moment.

Activity 8(d)

In the following sentences, underline the groups of words that do the work of a Noun:

1. Travelling by train gives me great pleasure.
2. The child refused to answer my question.
3. He wanted to go home.

Answer

1. Travelling by train gives me great pleasure.
2. The child refused to answer my question.
3. He wanted to go home.

Activity 8(e)

In the following sentences underline and identify the phrases:

1. The wind blew with great speed.
2. The king wore a crown made of diamond.
3. The little girl did not know what to do.
4. She is a lady of great patience.

Answer

1. Adverb phrase
2. Adjective phrase
3. Noun phrase
4. Adjective phrase

Activity 8(f)

In the following sentences, underline groups of words that have a Subject and a Predicate and form parts of the main sentences and have Finite verbs:

1. He was surprised when she carried him to the cage.
2. He drew a picture which was very beautiful.
3. I did not go to school as I was unwell.
4. Indian cricket team is confident that it will win the match.

Answer

1. He was surprised when she carried him to the cage.
2. He drew a picture which was very beautiful.
3. I did not go to school as I was unwell.
4. Indian cricket team is confident that it will win the match.

Activity 8 (g)

In the following sentences, underline the main parts of the sentences that are Independent and circle the clauses that depend on the main parts:

Answer

1. Although he was unwell (dependent), he went out. (Independent)
2. He is a king (Independent) who is very powerful. (Dependent)
3. Rani said (Independent) that he had met my brother. (Dependent)
4. When she was hungry, (Dependent) the baby cried out. (Independent)

Activity 8 (f)

In the following sentences, underline groups of words that have a Subject and a Predicate and form parts of the main sentences and have Finite verbs:

1. He was surprised when she carried him to the cage.
2. He drew a picture which was very beautiful.
3. I did not go to school as I was unwell.
4. Indian cricket team is confident that it will win the match.

Answer

1. He was surprised when she carried him to the cage.
2. He drew a picture which was very beautiful.
3. I did not go to school as I was unwell.
4. Indian cricket team is confident that it will win the match.

Activity 9

Replace the underlined words with their antonyms:

1. The boy wrote a different story.
2. The mother placed the child gently on the bed.
3. On hearing the news he felt very uneasy.
4. The gate was opened by the porter.

Answer

1. The boy wrote a same story.
2. The mother placed the child rudely on the bed.
3. On hearing the news he felt very easy.
4. The gate was closed by the porter.

Activity 10(a)

Suppose you are a member of an organization that works for the prevention of cruelty to animals. You come across a monkey in chains being made to perform tricks. You watch it for some time till it suddenly starts talking to you about its sorrow.

Now write an imaginary conversation which takes place between you and the monkey longing for its freedom.

Answer

Me: (Approaching the monkey gently) Hello, little monkey. I see you’re in chains. Are you feeling sad?

Monkey: (Looking at me with sad eyes) Yes, I’m very sad. These chains take away my freedom.

Me: I understand how hard it must be for you. How did you end up here?

Monkey: Humans captured me from my home in the forest. They want me to perform tricks, but I want to be free.

Me: I’m so sorry they took you away from your family and your home. Is there anything I can do to help you?

Monkey: Please, tell others about my situation. Speak up for animals like me. We deserve to be free and not treated this way.

Me: I promise, little monkey, I will do my best to raise awareness about your plight and the importance of treating animals with kindness. No one should take away your freedom.

Monkey: Thank you, kind human. Your help means a lot. Together, we can make a difference and give all animals a better life.

Me: You’re welcome, little one. I won’t stop fighting for your freedom and the well-being of all animals. We’ll work together to make the world a better place.

In this simple conversation, the focus remains on the monkey’s longing for freedom and the commitment of the human to help and advocate for animals’ rights.

Activity 10(b)

Suppose you have to obey the orders of someone from morning to night. You are not allowed to act according to your own will. Write a paragraph in about eighty words describing your feelings in this situation.

Answer

Being compelled to follow someone’s orders from morning till night, without the freedom to act according to my own will, fills me with a sense of helplessness and frustration. Every decision and action dictated by another erodes my autonomy and individuality. The absence of personal choice leaves me yearning for independence and control over my own life. I long for the chance to express my own desires, make decisions based on my judgment and experience the fulfilment that comes from acting in alignment with my own values and aspirations.