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(SCERT)
State Council of Educational Research and Training.
Class : VIII
Subject : Sunbeam English Reader Part III
Chapter : 2
The native land.
1. Read the poem and answer the following questions:
(i) What does the old man ask the poet?
Answer: The old man asks the poet to tell him what his land is like.
(ii) Why does the old man ask the question to the poet?
Answer: The old man asks the question because he is blind and lonely.
(iii) How does the poet address the old man? What does that form of address mean?
Answer: The poet addresses the old man as "Koka". This form of address means "grandfather".
(iv) Why does the poet ask the old man to breathe deep?
Answer: The poet asks him to breathe deep because the warm air will remind him of his childhood friends.
(v) With what does the poet compare the cool breeze on the old man's face?
Answer: The poet compares the cool breeze to the peaceful breath of the land.
(vi) With what does the poet compare the contented gurgling of the little baby?
Answer: The poet compares the contented gurgling of the baby to the soil of which the land is made.
(vii) What does the chorus of the cuckoo and the sparrows do?
Answer: The chorus of the cuckoo and the sparrows is what shapes the native land.
(viii) What are the things that create the soul of the poet's beloved country?
Answer: The soul of the country is created by the distant roll of the bihu dhol, the music of the pepa and gogona, the aroma of pitha and laroo, and the chant of evening prayers in the namghor, masjid, and church.
2. A brief summary of each of the stanzas of the poem has been given below. Match the stanzas with the given summaries. Mention the stanza number alongside the correct summary.
(a) My native land makes me feel as safe and secure as a baby carried on a mother's back.
Answer: Stanza 3
(b) The spirit of my native land can be understood in terms of its unity in family members who have similarities and differences, yet belong to the same family and have the same home, in our native land, our family members practise different religions and.
Answer: Stanza 5
(c) The lonely, blind old man in the street asked me to describe our native.
Answer: Stanza 1
(d) Our native land is rich in its gift of nature and is brought to life by the birds and animals that playfully roam its rich green forests.
Answer: Stanza 4
(e) The touch of our native land is as peaceful as the cool, fresh breeze blowing after a night of thunder and rain.
Answer: Stanza 2
3. Note that the poem is a series of information to a blind man on what his land is like. The girl provides the information by making use of the senses that are very strong in blind persons.
(i) Find out the examples that the poet uses to make the old man feel what his land is like.
Answer: The examples used are the warm air that reminds him of childhood friends and the cool breeze on his face after a night of thunder and rain.
(ii) Find out the examples that the poet uses to make the old man hear the sounds to understand what his land is like.
Answer: The poet uses the contented gurgling of a little baby, the chorus of the cuckoo and sparrows, the distant roll of the bihu dhol, the music of the pepa and gogona, and the chant of the evening prayer.
(iii) Find out the examples that the poet uses to make the old man smell what his land is like.
Answer: The poet uses the heady aroma of the pitha and laroo.
(iv) Was the old man able to guess the season when the poet described what his land was like?
Answer: Yes, the old man would be able to guess the season is Spring (Rongali Bihu) because the poet mentions the chorus of the cuckoo, the blooming of nature, and the specific sounds and smells associated with the Bihu festival.
4.
This question does not carry much importance for your exam.
5.
This question does not carry much importance for your exam.
6.
This question does not carry much importance for your exam.
7. Write a letter to your friend inviting him/her to your house during the Rongali Bihu holiday. Include in your letter what special food items will be made, what rituals will be followed and so on.
Answer:
My dear Rahul,
Nagaon, Assam
May 6, 2026
I hope this letter finds you in good health. As the Rongali Bihu holiday is approaching, I would like to invite you to my house to celebrate it with us. It is the most vibrant time in our native land, and I want you to experience it firsthand.
During your stay, you will get to taste many special food items like pitha and laroo which my mother is preparing. We will also follow our traditional rituals, including taking the traditional bath and seeking blessings from our elders. In the evenings, we can listen to the bihu dhol, pepa, and gogona played in our neighborhood.
I am looking forward to your arrival. Please let me know your travel plans.
Your friend,
Jahan Education
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