NCERT Solutions For Class 8 English Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary

 The monsoon engulfs the hills of Mussoorie with mist like a white blanket.

 The mist covers the whole area like a white blanket and gives a feel of nightfall. This silences the birds since they get an illusion of night and makes the forest still and silent.

 

 

The monsoon arrives in India from east and south. It begins around mid of May and reaches the northern part of India around the second week of June. The monsoon withdraws itself around September. We can prepare to face the monsoon by taking out our raincoats, boots and umbrellas and keeping them handy.

 

The author splendidly describes the beauty of Mussoorie.
 

The heavens rained for around eight or nine days without stopping. Since it was raining the author was bound to stay in his room and looked out of his window at a few umbrellas.

 

Roofs, attics and Godowns are a few places where snakes and rodents take shelter to protect themselves from rain.

 

A cheque was received by the author in the mail.

The weather and atmosphere become damp and soggy when it rains for days. The roads are full of puddles and algae blooms on rocks and wet, unclean floors. Flowers such as dahlias and begonias also appear. Landslides become a common phenomenon during rains in hilly regions.

Cobra lily first appears when the monsoon begins and its seeds turn red when the monsoon ends.

June 24 was the day when the monsoon mist appeared. It engulfed the hills and the forests were frozen in utter silence. The showers hit on June 25 and nature welcomed it with open arms, devouring its every drop. The cobra lily also appeared. It rained for a few days and by 2 August people became weary of the monsoon and there was just a tropical downpour. People were forced to stay in their homes and cancel all their plans. Snakes and rodents had to take shelter in attics and godowns. The sky became clearer by March 23 and a rainbow was seen across the clear sky.

Chuchundar was a symbol of luck and hence grandmother refrained the kids from killing it. She said that it brings money to the home of the visitor.

The seeds of cobra lily turn red as monsoon departures. Flowers like wild balsam, begonias and ground orchids also appear.

(i) The roofs develop leaks from unexpected spots during monsoon. The word ‘springing’ means to develop suddenly.

(ii) The tin roof physically stops the rain drops from touching the writer.

(iii) The drumming sound of the rain on the corrugated roof announces the presence of the rain without being in physical contact with it. Its presence keeps the writer in touch with the rain at the same time.

(i) of the mist in the surroundings.

(ii) a paradise that might have been.

(iii) attacking one of Bijju’s cows, Bijju’s mother came screaming curses.

(iv) of their bright colours.

(v) ground orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and the white butterfly orchids bloom.

More words are:

Puddles

Hailstorm

Petrichor

Paper boats

Frogs

Words for these in the local language are barish, baad, kohara, baadal, chaata, moosaladhaar barish.

(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.

(i)

(a) drip

(b) drum

(c) swish

(d) caw

(e) tinkle

 

(ii)

(a) drummed

(b) dripped

(c) swished

(d) tinkling

(e) cawing

(i) sure enough

(ii) big enough

(iii) colourful enough

(iv) brave enough

(v) anxious enough

(vi)  kind enough

(vii) serious enough

(viii) foolish enough

(ix) fair enough

No, I don’t believe in superstitions because I consider it a very vague way to predict the future, especially negative events. Three common superstitions in my country are that a black cat crossing the road in front of you means arrival of bad luck, itchy palm signifying arrival of money and a black crow cawing in the periphery of your home means a guest would arrive.

 

Minivets, tree creepers, crows and drongos are some of the birds mentioned in the chapter. I have come across birds like sparrows, pigeons and mayna. Earlier we could see some parakeets and ashy prinia. We don’t see them often now because of increased pollution and settlement in the area, the wildlife has deteriorated. The forests are being cut which reduces the shelter and habitat of these birds and is a prime reason for their extinction.

My sister and I eagerly wait for rain every year. It’s our tradition to make paper boats and swim them in the puddles that get formed on the road. It is always as thrilling as the first time. We run around with our umbrellas, drenched in water from head to toe trying to make the most of the rainy season. The moments become more special when we are joined by our cousins. The game became even more fun and we did a small boat race too. It’s a memory that I always cherish and revisit.

Or
“Spring”

It’s the time 

when nature enchants mankind.

The flowers dot the earth with colours

and their fragrance intoxicates the air.

After a season of white heaven,

colours dance on earth again.

To welcome love and warmth

into the heart of the mortals again.

Everyone watches in awe

the beauty nature spreads beneath our feet

And it makes us realize

how enchanting life can be again,

after a stagnant, dull period.