A Visit to Cambridge NCERT Summary & Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 7 

Summary

The chapter begins with the narrator reminiscing about a trip to Cambridge, a city famous for its prestigious university and rich cultural heritage. The narrator is accompanied by his/her friends, who are eager to explore the historical and academic aspects of the city.

Upon arrival, they are struck by the majestic architecture of the university buildings, especially King's College Chapel, which leaves them in awe. The narrator describes the serene atmosphere and the scholarly ambiance that permeates the city.

The group embarks on a guided tour, learning about the illustrious history of Cambridge University, its traditions, and notable alumni. They visit various colleges, libraries, and museums, soaking in the academic and cultural significance of each place.

Throughout the tour, the narrator is captivated by the intellectual legacy of Cambridge and the contributions it has made to education and knowledge. The chapter ends with the narrator expressing admiration and a sense of reverence for the city's legacy and its role in shaping academia and culture.

The chapter essentially highlights the charm and historical importance of Cambridge, focusing on the awe-inspiring architecture, scholarly environment, and the profound impact of the university on knowledge and learning.

A Visit to Cambridge NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

A Visit to Cambridge Comprehension check (Page – 97)

Which is the right sentence?

Question 1.

“Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,

(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.

(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.

(iii) Cambridge was the real England.

Answer:

(iii) Cambridge was the real England.

Question 2.

The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house

(i) from the nearest phone booth.

(ii) from outside a phone booth.

(iii) from inside a phone booth.

Answer:

(iii) from inside a phone booth

Question 3.

Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because

(i) he wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.

(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

(iii) he was face to face with a legend.

Answer:

(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

Question 4.

“I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to .

(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

(ii) standing up, walking.

(iii) speaking, writing.

Answer:

(i) shifting in the wheel-chair, turning the wrist.

A Visit to Cambridge Working With the Text (Page 97)

Answer the following questions:

(i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous ? If so, why?

Answer:

Yes, the author was terrified when he went to see Stephen Hawking because he was tired of people telling him to be courageous. Furthermore, he was confronted by a mythical person.

(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited ? If so, why ?

Answer:

Even though Stephen Hawking was completely paralyzed, he had accomplished much. Being incapacitated, he immediately felt weak all over. But it gave him the strength he needed to achieve better.

Question 2.

Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.

Answer:

"You've been very brave, haven't you?" the writer questioned the scientist.

Question 3.

Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice ? What was it ?

Answer:

The author believes Hawking had a choice. He had to chose to live creatively despite his immobility in order to keep his mind busy.

Question 4.

“I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish ?

Answer:

Hawking's distress stemmed from his inability to find the right words to convey himself on his computer. He was exhausted, which disappointed him. As a result, the writer could see Stephen's misery on his face.

Question 5.

What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world

Answer:

Stephen appreciated the writer's candor. His face expressed unrivaled beauty, and without being emotional, he inquired whether he was irritated when someone came to bother him in his job.

Question 6.

Read aloud the description of the beautiful man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description ?

Answer:

“Before you like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man”. The most beautiful sentence is incandescence of a man.

Question 7.

(i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?

Answer:

Its walls are like a case made of shadows.

(ii) What is housed within the thin walls ?

Answer:

The eternal soul is housed within the thin walls.

(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison ?

Answer:

Each of us is an eternal soul, the body is not such an essential thing.

Question 8.

What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?

Answer:

They should concentrate on their strengths. Handicapped Olympics are a waste of time. They should make the most of what they have and have faith in God.

Question 9.

Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident ? Which idea does it support ?

Answer:

It is important for handicapped persons to avoid going too far, as demonstrated by Hawking's attempt to play a guitar that was too big for him. He was therefore despondent after feeling defeated. One night, in dejection, he destroyed it.

Question 10.

The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for ?

Answer:

The author thanks Stephen for giving him the courage and self-assurance to be bold and live a creative life. Hawking had to make good use of his feeble fingertips on the computer keyboard. This allowed the author to have more time for conversation.

Question 11.

Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.

(i) There was his assistant on the line ……………

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, ………..

(iii) There he was, ……………..

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, …………..

(v) It doesn’t do much good to know ………..

                                                                        A     

• tapping at a little switch in his hand and I told him
• that there are people
• as if you have a courage account
• and they are saying something huge and urgent      

                                                                        B

• trying to find the words on his computer.
• I had come in a wheelchair from India.
• on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.
• smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.
• it is hard to tell what.

Answer:

(i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him. I had come in a wheelchair from India.

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.

(iii) There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand, trying to find the words on his computer.

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent it is hard to tell what.

(v) It does not do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

A Visit to Cambridge Working With Language (Page 99)

Question1.

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.

(i) I met a …………………… from an antique land.

(ii) I need special …………………. in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.

(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy ………………….. to Issac Newton.

(iv) His other problems ……………………. into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.

(v) The meeting was ………………… by the youngest member of the board.

(vi) Some people say ‘yours ……………………’ when they informally refer to themselves.

(vii) I wish it had been a …… …………….. match.

We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.

Answer:

(i) traveller

(ii) guidance

(iii) successor

(iv) paled

(v) guided

(vi) truly

(vii) drawn

Question 2.

Look at the following words.

• walk

• stick

Can you create a meaningful phrase using both these words ?

(It is simple. Add -ing to the verb and use it before the noun. Put an article at the beginning.). …………..a walking stick. Now make six such phrases using the words given in the box.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 7 A Visit to Cambridge 3

Answer:

(i) a reading session

(ii) a smilling face

(iii) a revolving chair

(iv) a walking tour

(v) a dancing doll

(vi) a winning chance

Question 3.

Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.

(i) He has two brothers. ……………… are lawyers.

(ii) More than ten persons called. …… of them wanted to see you.

(iii) They …………….. cheered the team.

(iv) …………….. her parents are teachers.

(v) How much have you got ? Give me …………… of it.

Answer:

(i) He has two brothers. Both are lawyers.

(ii) More than ten persons called. All of them wanted to see you.

(iii) They all cheered the team.

(iv) Both her parents are teachers.

(v) How much have you got ? Give me all of it.

Question 4.

Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.

(i) My friend has one of the …………… cars on the road. (fast)

(ii) This is the ………………. story I have ever read. (interesting)

(iii) What you are doing now is ……………… than what you did yesterday. (easy)

(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both ………………… (short)

(v) He arrived ……….. as usual. Even the chief guest came ………. than he did. (late, early)

Answer:

(i) My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.

(ii) This is the most interesting story I have ever read.

(iii) What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.

(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short.

(v) He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.

Question 1.

Say the following words with correct stress. Pronounce the parts given in black loudly and clearly.

camel         balloon

decent        opinion

fearless      enormous

careful        fulfil

father          together

govern        degree

bottle          before

In a word having more than one syllable, the stressed syllable is the one that is more prominent than the other syllable(s)

A word has as many syllables as it has vowels.

man (one syllable)

manner (two syllables)

The mark (‘) indicates that the first syllable in ‘manner’ is more prominent than

the other.

Answer:

Read the words with the stress-mark very carefully to know which syllable is more prominent than the other.

Question 2.

Underline stressed syllables in the following words. Consult the dictionary

or ask the teacher if necessary.

Answer:

artist, mistake, accident, moment, compare, satisfy, relation, table, illegal, agree, backward, mountain

Question 3.

Writing a notice for the School Notice Board.

Step 1 : Discuss why notices are put on the notice board. What kinds of ‘notices’ have you lately seen on the board? How is a notice different from a letter or a descriptive paragraph?

Step 2 : Suppose you have lost or found something on the campus. What have you lost or found? You want to write a notice about it. If you have lost something, you want it restored to you in case someone has found it. If you have found something, you want to return it to its owner.

Step 3 : Write a few lines describing the object you have lost or found. Mention the purpose of the notice in clear terms. Also write your name, class, section and date.

Step 4: Let one member of each group read aloud the notice to the entire class. Compare your notice with the other notices, and make changes, if necessary, with the help of the teacher.

Answer:

N. K. JAIN MEMORIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

NOTICE

Found, a fountain pen, metallic body, with red-ink filled in, found in school auditorium on Tuesday in VII period. Owner may collect it from the undersigned providing identification marks.

Sushant XII D

17-4-20xx

OR

(i) Imagine that you are a journalist.

(ii) You have been asked to interview the president of the village panchayat.

(iii) Write eight to ten questions you wish to ask.

(iv) The questions should elicit comments as well as plans regarding water and electricity, cleanliness and school education in the village.

Answer:

(i) Which steps have you taken to improve cleanliness of the surrounding?

(ii) How can you improve the life of innocent people without school education ?

(iii) What is the cause of lack of drinking water resources? How can you improve it?

(iv) Mention the status of your village with comparison to others.

(v) How can you indulge the people in saving electricity and using bio-gas?

(vi) Where do you feel the bio-gas plants are maintained?

(vii) What about your sport persons in the village ?

(viii) How can you force the authorities for the cemented road link to the nearby cities?

(ix) How can you recycle the garbage and waste of animals for the betterment of the village-folk ?