Ch 8 A Short Monsoon Diary
Ruskin Bond
Comprehension
Check(Page No: 115)
1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?
Answer– The author could not see Bijju because of the mist that
concealed the hills. So he could hear the voice of Bijju but not see him.
2. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist
comes up?
Answer – When the mist comes up, the hills appear to
change. All the birds sitting on the hills fall silent when the mist comes
climbing up the hill. When the mist comes up, it conceals not only the hills
but blankets them in silence also.
Page No: 117
1. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare
to face the monsoon?
Answer – The monsoon enters India from east and south
somewhere around mid of May. It reaches the northern part of the country around
the second week of June. The monsoon ends around September. We take out our raincoats
and umbrellas to face the monsoon
2. Which hill-station does the author describe in this diary entry?
Answer -In this diary entry, the author describes the beauty of
the lovely hill station named Mussoorie.
3. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author
do on these days?
Answer – It rained without stopping for eight or nine days.
Since there was nowhere to go, the author paced in his room and looked out of
the window at a few bobbing umbrellas.
4. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?
Answer – The snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics
and godowns in order to save themselves from rain water.
5. What did the author receive in the mail?
Answer -The author received a cheque in the mail.
Page No: 118- Working
with Text
1. Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24-25, August 2 and March 23. Now
write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March.
Answer – June 24 is the first day of monsoon mist. The
hills are concealed by the mist. It blankets the hills with a cover of silence.
The real monsoon shower comes on June 25. The whole nature welcomes it. The
first cobra lily rears its head from the ferns. By August 2, the people become
weary of the monsoon. There is no storm, no thunder, just a steady tropical
downpour. People keep in their houses and enjoy the sound of raindrops falling
on their roofs. Snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns.
March 23 heralds the end of winter. The sky starts to become clear after a
hailstorm. And a rainbow starts forming in the clear sky. One can enjoy this
sight of the rainbow which shows the beauty of nature.
2. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?
Answer – The grandmother asked the children not to kill the
Chuchundar because it was considered lucky. She said that it brought money.
3. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to
end?
Answer -Wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids begin
to appear. The seeds of cobra lily are turning red. These signs show that the
monsoons are about to end.
4. Complete the following sentences.
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because __________________.
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as __________________.
(iii) The leopard was successful in __________________ but had to flee when __________.
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because __________________.
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when __________________.
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and
attics because __________________.
Answer
(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because of the
mist in the surroundings.
(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as a paradise that
might have been.
(iii) The leopard was successful in attacking one of Bijju’s cows but
had to flee when Bijju’s mother came screaming curses.
(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because of their bright colours.
(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ground orchids, mauve
lady’s slipper and the white butterfly orchids bloom.
(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and
attics because they have been flooded out of their holes and burrows.
5. ‘Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a
feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.’
(i) Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’?
(ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain?
(iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?
Answer – (i) The word ‘springing’ means ‘to develop suddenly’.
The writer says that tin roofs are prone to developing unexpected leaks.
(ii)The writer was physically untouched by the rain as the tin roof stopped the
rain from leaking in.
(iii) The writer was in touch with the rain at the same time because he could
feel the rain by listening to its drumming sound on the corrugated tin roof.
6. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days
together.
Answer – When there is endless rain for days together,
everything becomes damp and soggy. There is no place for anybody to go to. The
hillsides are lush as late monsoon flowers such as wild balsam, dahlias,
begonias and ground orchids begin to appear.
7. What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon
season, its beginning and end?
Answer -When monsoon begins, the first cobra lily appears
from the ferns. When the seeds of the cobra lily turn red, it signifies that
the monsoon is coming to an end.
Working with Language
2. Put the verbs in the brackets into
their proper forms. The first one is done for you.
(i) We (get out) of the school bus. The bell (ring) and everyone (rush) to
class.
(ii) The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout)
slogans.
(iii) I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
(iv) She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
(v) We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play)
games.
(vi) The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).
Answer
(i) We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing
and everyone was rushing to Class.
(ii) The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road
and they were shouting slogans.
(iii) I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting
wet.
(iv) She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were
listening carefully.
(v) We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes
while others were playing games.
(vi) The Class was quiet. Some children were reading books and
the rest were drawing.
3. (i) Match these words with their
correct meanings.
(a) to fall in small drops
(b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly
(c)to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound
(d) the harsh sound made by birds
(e)ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.)
Answer – (a) to fall in small drops − drip
(b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly − drum
(c) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound − swish
(d) the harsh sound made by birds − caw
(e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.) – tinkle
(ii)
Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above.
(a)
Ramesh ____________ on his desk in impatience.
(b) Rain water ____________ from the umbrella all over the carpet.
(c) The pony ____________ its tail.
(d) The _________________ of breaking glass woke me up.
(e) The ____________ of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
Answer
(a) Ramesh drummed on his desk in impatience.
(b) Rain water dripped from the umbrella all over the carpet.
(c) The pony swished its tail.
(d) The tinkling of breaking glass woke me up.
(e) The cawing of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.
4. Complete each sentence below by
using appropriate phrase from the ones given below.
(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And ___________ ___________ it soon
started raining heavily.
(ii) The blue umbrella was ___________ ___________ for the brother and sister.
(iii) The butterflies are ___________ ___________ to get noticed.
(iv) The lady was ___________ ___________ to chase the leopard.
(v) The boy was ___________ ___________ to call out to his sister.
(vi) The man was ___________ ___________ to offer help.
(vii) The victim’s injury was ___________ ___________ for him to get admitted
in hospital.
(viii) That person was ___________ ___________ to repeat the same mistake
again.
(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said,
‘___________ ___________.’
Answer
(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And sure enough, it
started raining heavily.
(ii) The blue umbrella was big enough for the brother and sister.
(iii) The butterflies are colourful enough to get noticed.
(iv) The lady was brave enough to chase the leopard.
(v) The boy was anxious enough to call out to his sister.
(vi) The man was kind enough to offer help.
(vii) The victim’s injury was serious enough for him to get
admitted in the hospital.
(viii) That person was foolish enough to repeat the same mistake again.
(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘fair
enough.’