A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th NCERT

We have shared A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th NCERT along with A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th Summary and A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th MCQs and RTC to help the students of class 8th with the gist of the lesson and the type of questions asked after the summary.

MCQs and RTC would help the students with the detail of the lesson so that they could absorb the maximum from the chapter to be ready to write the answers of A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th.

A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th: Summary

The story given below is comprised of a few extracts from the diary of Ruskin Bond. the chapter describes the exhilarating experiences in Mussoorie during monsoons. On the very first day of the rainy season, The hills appear to change when the mist spreads over it and hides them. The other way it changes is the silence that spreads because the birds and the trees stop making any noise.

People prepare for monsoons by completing outdoor needs beforehand. Woman chops sticks, cows are taken out to graze, the house has to be cleaned of the various insects except for chuchundars that people believe bring money to the house, etc. The rain does not stop for eight or nine days. The author doesn’t go out these days because it is damp everywhere. He sometimes gazes at the colorful umbrellas that can be seen outside and the monsoon flowers like dahlias and ground orchids.

Snakes and rodents take shelter in the roofs, and attics, and go downs of people’s houses. Their holes and burrows had been flooded with the water from continuous rains so they took shelter elsewhere.

The monsoon progresses from a mist to a hailstorm which signals the end of the rain. On June 24, a mist covers the hillside which signifies the beginning of the monsoon. On June 25, the early monsoon rains start that are warm and not cold like winter rains. Monsoon flowers also start to blossom.

By August 2, the rains have become steady and it rains night long but there is not a storm or thunder. March 23 marks the last of the winter rains as the skies get clear from the hailstorm and the author is able to see the rainbow.

Ruskin Bond also wrote a beautiful poem on Winter rain. He also added that the season of rain continued for a longer period than usual. Now he feels very lonely in March as the winter ends now and one can see a rainbow.

A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th: NCERT Solutions

Question 1: Why is the author not able to see Biju?

Answer: The author is not able to see Bijju because of the mist that is hovering on the hillside.

Question 2: What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?

Answer: The hills appear to change when the mist spreads over it and hides it. The other way it changes is the silence that spreads because the birds and the trees stop making any noise.

Question 3: When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?

Answer:

The monsoon season starts from the early monsoon rains in late June and ends after August. People prepare for monsoons by completing outdoor needs beforehand. Woman chops sticks, cows are taken out to graze, the house has to be cleaned of the various insects except for chuchundars that people believe bring money to the house, etc.

Question 4: Which hill station does the author describe in the diary entry?

Answer: The author describes Mussoorie in his diary entry.

Question 3: For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do these days?

Answer: The rain does not stop for eight or nine days. The author doesn’t go out in these days because it is damp everywhere. He sometimes gazes at the colorful umbrellas that can be seen outside and the monsoon flowers like dahlias and ground orchids.

Question 4: Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?

Answer:

Question 5: What did the author receive in the mail?

Answer: The author received a cheque in his mail which was not a large pay but was still welcomed by him.

Working with the text

Question 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:

The monsoon progresses from a mist to a hailstorm which signals the end of rain. On June 24, a mist covers the hillside that signifies the beginning of the monsoon. On June 25, the early monsoon rains start that are warm and not cold like winter rains. Monsoon flowers also start to blossom. By August 2, the rains have become steady and it rains night long but there is not a storm or thunder. March 23 marks the last of the winter rains as the skies get clear from the hailstorm and the author is able to see the rainbow.

Question 2: Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the chuchundar?

Answer: The grandmother asks the children to not kill the chuchundar because it was believed that it was lucky for the family as it brought money to the house.

Question 3: What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?

Nature shows many signs that signify the end of the monsoons. The growth of plants during the monsoon season has reached its fullest. The seeds of the cobra lily turn red and the fern starts to take yellow color. Many flowers bloom towards the end of the monsoon season like white butterfly orchids, mauve lady’s slippers, and wild dahlias of various colors. Snakes and rodents sneak into roofs, attics, and godowns of the houses because of continuous rains.

Question 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) the mist that covers the hillside hides him. (ii) “the paradise that might have been”. (iii) catching a dog (iv) their bright colors can be easily seen among the green leaves. (v) ground orchids, Maude lady’s slipper, and white butterfly orchids bloom. (vi) their own holes and burrows get flooded by the rainwater.

Question 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 writer uses the word “springing’ because the tin roofs tend to have unexpected leakages out of nowhere as if the gaps in the roof were springing up. (ii) The writer is untouched by the rains because the continuous rains cannot touch him as he is protected by the roofs. (iii) The writer is in touch with the rain at the same time because the sound of the continuous downpour makes him feel as if the rain has become a part of his house and surroundings.

Question 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, all the areas become damp and wet so people avoid stepping out or doing outdoor activities. The hillsides get covered with late monsoon flowers like dahlias and ground orchids.

Question 7: What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?

The cobra lily signifies both the beginning and end of the monsoon season. It starts to bloom in late June when the early-monsoon rains are just beginning. It also marks the end of the monsoon when its seed starts to turn red.

A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th: Working with Language

Question 1: Here are some words that are associated with the monsoon. Add as many words as you can to this list. Can you find words for these in your languages?

Downpours, floods, mist, clouds, power cuts, cold, umbrella

Answer:

Humid, storm, thunder, leaking, damp, soggy, snow, hailstorm, rainbow.

Question 2: Look at the sentences below. (i) Bijju wandered into the garden in the evening. (ii) The trees were ringing with birdsong.

(i) We (get out) off the school bus. The bell (rings) and everyone (rush) to class. We got off the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was rushing to class. (ii) The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and (shout) slogans. (iii) I (wear) my raincoat. It (rains) 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:

(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 while the rest were drawing.

Question 3: Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds.

Drum, swish, tinkle, caw, drip

(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) harsh sound made by birds. (e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.) (ii) Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above. (a) Ramesh ..……….… on his desk in impatience. (b) Rainwater .……..... 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:

(i) a) drip b) drum c) swish d) caw e) tinkle (ii) i) was drumming ii) dripped iii) swished iv) tinkle v) cawing

Question 4: And sure enough, I received a cheque in the mail. Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrases from the ones given below.

Sure enough, Colourful enough, Serious enough, Kind enough, Big enough, Fair enough, Brave enough, Foolish enough, Anxious enough,

(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 to the hospital. (viii) That person was .……... to repeat the same mistake again. (ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate me for the loss. I said, “.

Answer:

i) sure enough ii) big enough iii) colorful enough iv) brave enough v) anxious enough vi) kind enough vii) serious enough viii) foolish enough ix) fair enough

A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th: Speaking Skills

Question 1: Do you believe in superstitions? Why, or why not? Working with your partner, write down three superstitious beliefs that you are familiar with.

Answer:

Three superstitions I am familiar with: (i) Don’t go forward when a black cat crosses the road. (ii) Keeping footwear upside down leads to family feuds. (iii) If food falls on the bed, one will have bad dreams.

Question 2: How many different kinds of birds do you come across in the lesson? How many varieties do you see in your neighborhood? Are there any birds that you used to see earlier in your neighborhood but not now? In groups discuss why you think this is happening

Answer: We come across different kinds of birds like minivets, drongos, tree creepers, and crows. We see sparrows, pigeons, and nightingales in our neighborhood. Earlier we used to find big birds like kites and parrots but these have become extinct now.

A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th: Writing Skills

Question 1: The monsoons are a time of great fun and even a few adventures: playing in the rain and getting wet, wading through knee-deep water on your way to school, water flooding the house or the classroom, power cuts, and so on.

Write a section describing an incident that occurred during the rains which you can never forget.

Or Write a poem of your own about the season of spring when trees are in full bloom.

Answer:

It was the monsoon season in Delhi. Rains do not come often to Delhi. From the balcony of my house, I was watching the rain

falling on the leaves of trees, balconies of other houses, and puddles in the water. I was a little sad that on such an amazing day, I couldn’t play in the rain. I was sitting there when I heard one of my friends shouting from downstairs. Her voice was not very audible because of the sound of rain. I went down excited anyway. When I went down I saw more of my friends and I was suddenly very enthusiastic. We all jumped into the rain and then started dancing and singing the song “Barso re Megha. After quite some time passed, we all went back with our hearts happy. Mom had prepared Maggi for me. It became one of my fondest memories of the monsoon.

The green in the tree Spoke its tale Of growing from a sapling Beside the village rail. Every passenger of the train Looked at it with wonder As it stood adorned with blossoms And tender green grass. The birds would come chirping Finding shelter in its shade

The girls would come giggling To put flowers on their braid. The green in the tree Spoke its tale Of growing from a sapling Beside the village rail.

A Short Monsoon Diary Class 8th: MCQs and RTC

Read the given passages carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct alternative:

(1)

The rains have heralded the arrival of some seasonal visitors—a leopard, and several
thousand leeches. Yesterday afternoon the leopard lifted a dog from near the servant,s
quarter below the school. In the evening it attacked one of Bijju’s cows but fled at the
approach of Bijju’s mother, who came screaming imprecations. As for the leeches, I shall
soon get used to a little bloodletting every day.

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) A Visit to Cambridge
(b) The Tsunami
(c) A Short Monsoon Diary
(d) The Great Stone Face-II
Answer
Answer: (c) A Short Monsoon Diary
Question 2.
What news does the rain bring?
(a) The spring is about to come
(b) About the arrival of some seasonal visitors
(c) About the animal of diseases
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (b) About the arrival of some seasonal visitors
Question 3.
What did the leopard do yesterday afternoon?
(a) Lifted a parrot
(b) Lifted a cat
(c) Lifted a pony
(d) Lifted a dog
Answer
Answer: (d) Lifted a dog
Question 4.
Who did the leopard attack in the evening?

(a) A dog
(b) One of Bijju’s cows
(c) A cat
(d) A parrot
Answer
Answer: (b) One of Bijju’s cows
Question 5.
Which word in the passage means ‘curses’.
(a) imprecations
(b) fled
(c) heralded
(d) approach
Answer
Answer: (a) imprecations

(2)

The first day of monsoon mist. And it’s strange how all the birds fall silent as the mist
comes climbing up the hill. Perhaps that’s what makes the mist so melancholy; not only
does it conceal the hills, it blankets them in silence too. Only an hour ago the trees were
ringing with bird songs. And now the forest is deathly still as though it were midnight.
Through the mist, Bijju is calling to his sister. I can hear him running about on the hillside
but I cannot see him.

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) The Summit Within
(b) A Short Monsson Diary
(c) The Tsunami
(d) The Great Stone Face-I
Answer
Answer: (b) A Short Monsson Diary
Question 2.
What happened on the first day of the monsoon?
(a) There was a lot of rain
(b) There was snow everywhere
(c) Mist had covered the hills
(d) A cold wind was blowing
Answer

Answer: (c) Mist had covered the hills
Question 3.
What change took place in the forest?
(a) The forest was deathly still
(b) The forest was covered with water
(c) The trees got uprooted
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (a) The forest was deathly still
Question 4.
What had happened to the birds?
(a) They started singing
(b) They started chirping
(c) They went to their nests
(d) They stopped singing and were silent
Answer
Answer: (d) They stopped singing and were silent
Question 5.
To Whom is Bijju calling through the mist?
(a) The author
(b) His master
(c) His sister
(d) His father
Answer
Answer: (c) His sister

(3)

All night the rain has been drumming on the corrugated tin roof. There has been no storm, no thunder, just the steady swish of a tropical downpour. It helps me to lie awake; at the same time, it doesn’t keep me from sleeping. It is a good sound to read by—the rain outside, the quiet within—and, although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) A Visit to Cambridge
(b) The Tsunami

(c) A Short Monsoon Diary
(d) This is Jody’s Fawn
Answer
Answer: (c) A Short Monsoon Diary
Question 2.
Why couldn’t the author sleep at night?
(a) Due to heavy rain
(b) Due to noise
(c) Due to sound of raindrops on the corrugated tin roof
(d) Due to sound of birds on the tin roof
Answer
Answer: (c) Due to sound of raindrops on the corrugated tin roof
Question 3.
How is the author untouched by the rain?
(a) The rain is not directly pouring on him
(b) He is in the house
(c) The rain has stopped
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (a) The rain is not directly pouring on him
Question 4.
How is the writer in touch with the rain?
(a) He is walking in the rain
(b) He has no umbrella with him
(c) He is feeling the drops over his body on tin roof.
(d) He is listening to the sound of raindrops
Answer
Answer: (d) He is listening to the sound of raindrops
Question 5.
Which word in the passage means ‘falling noisily’.
(a) steady
(b) dramming
(c) springing
(d) sleeping
Answer

Answer: (b) dramming

(4)

Other new arrivals are the scarlet minivets (the females are yellow), flitting silently among
the leaves like brilliant jewels. No matter how leafy the trees are, these brightly colored birds cannot conceal themselves, although, by remaining absolutely silent, they sometimes contrive to go unnoticed. Along comes a pair of drongos, unnecessarily aggressive, chasing the minivets away.

Question 1.
Which were the new animals during the monsoon?
(a) Scarlet minivets
(b) New crops
(c) New fruits
(d) Some insects
Answer
Answer: (a) Scarlet minivets
Question 2.
Why couldn’t the birds hide?
(a) They were very naughty
(b) They were very bright
(c) They were making a lot of noise
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (b) They were very bright
Question 3.
Who came along with the minivets?
(a) A pair of drongos
(b) Some birds Some
(c) Insects
(d) butterflies
Answer
Answer: (a) A pair of drongos
Question 4.
Who are scarlet minivets?
(a) An insect that is seen during the rainy season
(b) A kind of butterfly

(c) A kind of bird
(d) Bright red bird like a cuckoo
Answer
Answer: (d) Bright red bird like a cuckoo
Question 5.
Which word in the passage means ‘to hide.
(a) conceal
(b) silent
(c) contrive
(d) unnoticed
Answer
Answer: (a) conceal

(5)

In a few days, the ferns will start turning yellow, but right now they are still firm, green, and upright. Ground orchids, mauve lady’s slippers, and white butterfly orchids are put on a fashion display on the grassy slopes of Landour. Wild dahlias, red, yellow, and magenta,
rear their heads from the rocky crevices where they have taken hold. Snakes and rodents
flooded out of their holes and burrows, and take shelter in roofs, attics, and godowns. A shrew, weak of eyesight, blunders about the rooms, much to the amusement of the children.

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) A Vist to Cambridge
(b) A Short Monsoon Diary
(c) The Great Stone Face-I
(d) The Tsunami
Answer
Answer: (b) A Short Monsoon Diary
Question 2.
Which animals take shelter in roofs, attics, etc?
(a) Rodents
(b) Snakes
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Insects
Answer
Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)

Question 3.
Who blunders in the rooms in the rainy season?
(a) Rat
(b) Snake
(c) Chuchunder
(d) Insect
Answer
Answer: (a) Rat
Question 4.
Which all flowers were displayed on hills?
(a) Ground orchids
(b) Magenta dahlias
(c) Wild dahlias
(d) All of these
Answer
Answer: (d) All of these
Question 5.
The rodents live in:
(a) dens
(b) nests
(c) burrows
(d) stables
Answer
Answer: (c) burrows

(6)

August 3:
The rain stops. The clouds begin to break up, and the sun strikes the hill on my left. A woman is chopping up sticks. I hear the tinkle of cowbells. In the oak tree, a crow shakes the raindrops from his feathers and caws disconsolately. Water drips from a leaking drainpipe. And suddenly, clean and pure, the song of the whistling thrush emerges like a dark sweet secret from the depths of the ravine.

Question 1.
Name the lesson.
(a) A Visit to Cambridge
(b) The Great Stone Face-I
(c) The Summit Within
(d) A Short Monsoon Diary

Answer
Answer: (d) A Short Monsoon Diary
Question 2.
When does the rain stop?
(a) On Aug. 1
(b) On Aug. 2
(c) On Aug. 3
(d) On Aug. 4
Answer
Answer: (c) On Aug. 3
Question 3.
What does the sun strike on the left of the writer?
(a) The hill
(b) The valley
(c) The mountain
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (a) The hill
Question 4.
What happens to the clouds?
(a) The clouds began to roar
(b) The clouds began to break up
(c) The clouds brought rain
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (b) The clouds began to break up
Question 5.
What is a woman doing?
(a) Chopping up sticks
(b) Cooking food
(c) Washing clothes
(d) Warming herself near the fire
Answer
Answer: (a) Chopping up sticks

(7)

August 12:
Endless rain, and a permanent mist. We haven’t seen the sun for eight or nine days.
Everything was damp and soggy. Nowhere to go. Pace the room, and look out of the window at a few bobbing umbrellas. At least it isn’t cold rain. The hillsides are lush at late-monsoon flowers begin to appear—wild balsam, dahlias, begonias, and ground orchids.

Question 1.
Who is the writer of the lesson ‘A Short Monsoon Diary’?
(a) Chetan Bhagat
(b) John Wright
(c) William Wordsworth
(d) Ruskin Bond
Answer
Answer: (d) Ruskin Bond
Question 2.
How was the weather?
(a) Rainy
(b) Endless rain and permanent mist
(c) Summer
(d) Winter
Answer
Answer: (b) Endless rain and permanent mist
Question 3.
For how long did it rain without stopping?
(a) For 2-3 days
(b) For 4-5 days
(c) For 8-9 days
(d) For so many days
Answer
Answer: (c) For 8-9 days
Question 4.
What are the hillsides lush with :
(a) fruits
(b) monsoon flowers
(c) seasonal vegetables
(d) beautiful leaves
Answer

Answer: (b) monsoon flowers
Question 5.
Which are monsoon flowers?
(a) Wild balsam
(b) Begonias
(c) Dahlias
(d) All of these
Answer
Answer: (d) All of these

Conclusion

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