NCERT Class 8 English Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World
Comprehension check (Page-10)
Question 1.
What did the author find in a junk shop ?
Answer:
The author found a roll-top desk in a junk shop.
Question 2.
What did he find in a secret drawer ? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer:
He found a small tin box there. It had been placed there by Ms. Macpherson as I think.
Comprehension check (Page-14)
Question 1.
Who had written the letter, to whom, and when ?
Answer:
Jim Macpherson wrote the letter to his wife, Connie, on the Christmas Eve from the battlefield.
Question 2.
Why was the letter written–what was the wonderful thing that had · happened?
Answer:
The letter was written to describe an unusual thing/event happened on the Christmas eve at the battlefield.Both the enemies celebrated the eve in the ferocity of war. They enjoyed together German drinks and sausage. And their carols were praised by each other. It was the wonderful event that had happened on the battlefield.
Question 3.
What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Answer:
Jim Macpherson was a school-teacher whereas Hans Wolf used to play a cello in the orchestra.
Question 4.
Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset ? Why did he say he knew it ?
Answer:
No, he had never been to Dorset. He learned about the place from school and reading books in English
Question 5.
Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war ? How do you know this ?
Answer:
Jim Macpherson did not return from the war. On tin box, it was written in a clumsy handwriting : “Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.” This line supports our answer
Comprehension check (Page – 15)
Question 1.
Why did the author go to Bridport ?
Answer:
The author went to Bridport in search of Mrs. Connie Macpherson.
Question 2.
How old was Mrs. Macpherson now ? Where was she ?
Answer:
Mrs. Macpherson was 101 years old. She was in a Nursing Home situated at Dorchester Road named as Burlington House. The place was on the other side of the town.
Comprehension check (Page – 16)
Question 1.
Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?
Answer:
Connie Macpherson thought her visitor was her own husband, Jim Macpherson.
Question 2.
Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity
Answer:
The sentence ‘I said I was a friend come to visit Mrs. Macpherson to bring her a Christmas present’ shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity.
Working With the Text (Page-16)
Question 1.
For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
I think she must have kept Jim’s letter till their house caught fine.
The reasons are :
The roll-up desk was of early 19th century, the date on the letter i.e., 26th Dec. 1914 and moreover she was now 101 years old. All these reasons support my answer.
Question 2.
Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when ?
Answer:
The desk, I think, must have been sold when the house got fire. As it was badly burnt,it must have been sold to a junk dealer by Mrs. Macpherson. She left then the place to live in a Nursing Home.
Question 3.
Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts ? Do you agree?
Answer:
As no one dies in a game or sport, it can be a right way to resolve conflicts between the two nations or societies. Sports netive make children orphan and nor make wives widows. I agree to this concept of resolving conflicts. It would be better for the entire humanity.
Question 4.
Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other, or different from each other ? Find evidence from the story to support your answer.
Answer:
Soldiers are like each other and they are not at all different. Both wanted peace and harmony. They enjoyed wine and meat together, celebrated Christmas on the battlefield. Moreover they played football. At night they applauded each other by singing carols. Hans Wolf also narrated that each soldier must wish the fight to end soon and they wanted to go homes. Even they wanted to resolve the conflicts by sports.
Question 5.
Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas.
Answer:
The Germans wished Happy Christmas to the British soldiers. After that they thought of having a party at no-man’s land with schnapps and sausages. The British responded it bravely and warm-heartedly. They became friends and shared each others goodwill and time of peace by enjoying, eating, laughing, drinking and talking. Besides, they played football that was won by the Germans by two goals to one.
Question 6.
What is Connie’s Christmas present ? Why is it “the best Christmas present in the world” ?
Answer:
Jim’s last letter was Connie’s Christmas present. He was away on the front. She had been waiting for his return. Unfortunately her house caught fire and she had lost everything. So, after so many years when she got her husband’s letter on the Christmas Eve, she lost in memory. So it is the best Christmas present in the world ‘for her’.
Question 7.
Do you think the title of this story is suitable for it ? Can you think of any other title(s)?
Answer:
The entire story resolves around the letter that belongs to Mrs. Macpherson. It is really valuable for Connie Macpherson as it turns out to be the best Christmas gift for her. Nothing can be thought beyond the letter. Some other titles may be : An extra ordinary Christmas present, the most adorable Christmas present.
MCQs Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
Who does ‘Tommy’ refer to ?
(a) Germans
(b) Britishers
(c) Shepherds
(d) Indian
Answer:
(b) Britishers
Question 2.
I began work on it on Christmas Eve. What does ‘it refer to ?
(a) garage
(b) desk
(c) raincoat
(d) letter
Answer:
(b) desk
Question 3.
Which date was written at the top of the letter ?
(a) 26 December, 1914
(6) 26 December, 1919
(c) 26 December, 1910
(d) 26 December, 1929
Answer:
(a) 26 December, 1914
Question 4.
Who wrote the letter and to whom ?
(a) Jim to Connie
(b) Connie to Hans
(c) Connie to Morris
(d) Jim to Hans
Answer:
(a) Jim to Connie
Question 5.
What was Jim doing before joining the army ?
(a) Painter
(b) Architect
(c) School teacher
(d) Cello player
Answer:
(c) School teacher
Question 6.
Where was football match played between both the armies ?
(a) in a football ground
(b) in a trench
(c) on the war field
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(c) on the war field
Question 7.
Where was Burlington House situated at ?
(a) on Lincoln road
(b) on Dorchester road
(c) on Henry road
(d) on Clyodd road
Answer:
(b) on Dorchester road