CLASS 8 · POORVI · CHAPTER 1

Wit and Wisdom

Student-friendly answers for The Wit that Won Hearts, A Concrete Example, and Wisdom Paves the Way.

28 worked answersOriginal sample responses

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The Wit that Won Hearts

Textbook pages NCERT Poorvi, Class 8, Unit 1

Question Before Reading I–II

Choose qualities of a witty person, answer the riddles, and discuss why wit can be useful.

Steps only

Choose positive thinking qualities; use each riddle's clue.

Answer

Qualities: clever, wise, observant, humorous, creative. Riddles: words, future, time, secret.

Question Let us Discuss I

Correct the five false statements about the quarrel between the king and queen.

Steps only

The king misunderstood the queen's yawn; Rama helped him see it was natural.

Answer

The queen was tired, the courtiers avoided the poem, Rama planned a solution, and the king apologised.

Question Let us Think and Reflect I–II

Explain the queen's feelings, Rama's strategy, the king's apology, and the story's message.

Steps only

Rama uses a harmless example to show the king that yawning is natural.

Answer

The queen regrets the misunderstanding. Rama plans wisely; the king is proud of his poem, then recognises his mistake and apologises. The story teaches patience and fair judgement.

Question Let us Learn I–II

Complete the paragraph with expressions and choose sound words for the riddle scene.

Steps only

Choose expressions that fit the events, then match sound words to the action.

Answer

murmur swept; laughter rippled; stormed off; hush fell; mind raced back; cast a shadow. Sound words vary by sentence.

Question Let us Learn III

Match the word parts and use the resulting compounds in the paragraph.

Steps only

Join the matching word parts to make familiar compounds.

Answer

quick-witted, soft-spoken, common sense, household, bookstore, ill-tempered, sky-blue, dance hall.

Question Let us Learn IV–VI

Identify if-clauses, match conditional sentences, and complete the examples.

Steps only

Use present/will for a real future, past/would for imaginary, and past perfect/would have for unreal past.

Answer

Pairs: C, E, F, A, B, D. Sample: if you do not listen; if they had hurried; You will be tired; she would tell us; She would have passed; I would help others.

Question Let us Listen I–II

Answer the questions about the scholar and order the story events using the teacher transcript.

Steps only

Rama uses a bundle of sticks and rope to outwit the arrogant visitor.

Answer

Thick; arrogant. Order: 5, 8, 2, 3, 7, 1, 6, 4.

Question Let us Speak and Let us Write I

Practise question intonation and write a narrative about teamwork or kindness.

Steps only

Use rising tone for yes/no questions and falling tone for wh-questions.

Answer

Rising: yes/no questions; falling: wh-questions. A narrative should tell what happened and what you learned.

Question Let us Write II

Write a notice announcing the inauguration of the school's herb garden.

Steps only

State who is invited, what is happening, and when and where.

Answer

Write a formal notice with the event, date, time, venue, and contact person.

Question Before Reading: discuss in pairs

Why are wit and humour useful, why might rulers value witty advisers, and how could you resolve a disagreement?

Steps only

Listen to both sides, identify the misunderstanding, and suggest a fair solution. Wit can ease tension and offer new ideas.

Answer

Listen to both sides, identify the misunderstanding, and suggest a fair solution. Wit can ease tension and offer new ideas.

Question Let us Explore

Create an original five-line limerick with a surprising last line, then share a story and its theme.

Steps only

Write five playful lines with a twist; then name a story, state its theme, and share one interesting part.

Answer

Write five playful lines with a twist; then name a story, state its theme, and share one interesting part.

A Concrete Example

Textbook pages NCERT Poorvi, Class 8, Unit 1

Question Before Reading

Name items in a garden and describe the kind of garden you would like.

Steps only

Use the garden-item word bank; describe features you would enjoy.

Answer

Items: hose, sapling, hedge, flower beds, pot, pebbles, rockery, fence, vine, wheelbarrow. Personal garden answers vary.

Question Let us Discuss I–III

Complete the poem summary and identify its tone, speaker, and rhyme scheme.

Steps only

(1) stones (2) path (3) sundial (4) delicate (5) pin (6) flower (7) lovely (8) standing. Tone: humorous; speaker: neighbour; rhyme: AABBCC.

Answer

(1) stones (2) path (3) sundial (4) delicate (5) pin (6) flower (7) lovely (8) standing. Tone: humorous; speaker: neighbour; rhyme: AABBCC.

Question Let us Think and Reflect

Explain why the speaker misunderstands Mrs. Jones's garden and what makes the ending funny.

Steps only

The flower is so small that the speaker has been standing on it.

Answer

The speaker cannot see the tiny flower among the stones and discovers they are standing on it.

Question Let us Learn I–II

Choose synonyms and match implement, tool, equipment, appliance, and gadget to their meanings.

Steps only

Pick a word with a similar meaning and match each object type to its use.

Answer

strange—peculiar; nice—pleasant; delicate—fragile; cried—exclaimed. Implement iii; tool v; equipment iv; appliance i; gadget ii.

Question Let us Learn III

Replace the first letter to make new words from nice and soil using the clues.

Steps only

Change only the first letter to fit each clue.

Answer

NICE: rice, mice, vice. SOIL: boil, toil, coil, foil.

Question Let us Listen and Let us Speak

Answer the listening questions about Nek Chand’s Rock Garden, then give examples of informal and formal apologies.

Steps only

Rock Garden: Indian postage stamp; colourful sculptures and mosaics; three phases; recycled objects such as terracotta pots and broken toilet pots; about 5,000 statues. Apologies should clearly name the mistake and how it will be fixed.

Answer

Question Let us Write and Let us Explore

Write a notice for a herbarium activity and explain one way to learn about a garden or preserve leaves.

Steps only

Include event details in the notice; preserve only fallen leaves for the herbarium.

Answer

Write a clear notice with date, time, venue, and contact. Press fallen leaves between newspaper sheets.

Question Let us Explore III

Describe how the poem “A Sea of Foliage” creates a picture of a garden.

Steps only

The poem uses varied plants, colours, and comparisons to create a calm, beautiful garden scene.

Answer

The poem uses varied plants, colours, and comparisons to create a calm, beautiful garden scene.

Wisdom Paves the Way

Textbook pages NCERT Poorvi, Class 8, Unit 1

Question Before Reading I–III

Why do people seek advice from elders, and how can knowledge differ from wisdom?

Steps only

Knowledge is information; wisdom is using it well.

Answer

Elders share experience. Wisdom means making a thoughtful choice with what we know.

Question Let us Discuss II

Sort the six examples into knowledge or wisdom.

Steps only

Knowledge is a subject or skill; wisdom is a thoughtful decision.

Answer

Knowledge: 1, 3, 6. Wisdom: 2, 4, 5.

Question Let us Discuss I

Put the events from Scene II in the correct order.

Steps only

The merchant accuses them, the king questions them, and each man explains a clue.

Answer

8, 3, 2, 5, 7, 6, 4, 1.

Question Let us Think and Reflect I–II

Explain the four men's observations, the merchant's accusation, and why the king trusts them.

Steps only

The four men use tracks and plants as evidence to explain what happened.

Answer

They are observant and logical. The merchant wrongly suspects them, but the king recognises their reasoning and appoints them advisers.

Question Let us Learn I–III

Complete noun forms, match expressions to meanings, and match uses of face and bear.

Steps only

Use noun endings and match each idiom or word to its meaning in context.

Answer

deduction, observations, scrutiny, accusations, recognition. Idioms: vi, iv, v, vii, ii, viii, i, iii. Face: 2,4,1,3; bear: 4,3,2,1.

Question Let us Learn IV–VI

Match modal functions, complete the story, and rewrite the sentences using modals.

Steps only

Pick the modal that expresses the clue in brackets.

Answer

V: can, must, should, might, need to, may, could. VI: need not worry; cannot gain; must/should treat; must not interrupt.

Question Let us Listen and Let us Speak

Match each speaker's reason for liking witty characters and practise sentence stress.

Steps only

Listen for each speaker's reason, then stress the contrasting word.

Answer

(i) 6;
(ii) 1;
(iii) 4;
(iv) 2 and 3. Stress changes the focus of the sentence.

Question Let us Write and Let us Explore

Write a complaint letter about a damaged road and outline how to stage the play.

Steps only

Use a formal letter layout and explain the road problem, its effects, and the action needed.

Answer

Write to the Commissioner asking for potholes and stagnant water to be fixed. For the play, assign roles, rehearse, prepare props and costumes, check sound and lights, then perform.

Question Before Reading III

Look at the picture before the play and suggest what may have happened. Explain which visible details support your idea.

Steps only

Describe visible details, then make a reasonable prediction supported by them.

Answer

Describe visible details, then make a reasonable prediction supported by them.