Class Eight English Seen Passage Unit 5

Class 8, Unit 5, Lesson 1: The Little Bird by Leo Tolstoy

It was Seryozha's birthday, and he received many presents: tops, hobby-horses and picture books. But the best gift of all was from his uncle. It was a net for catching birds.

A little board was attached to a frame on which a net was stretched. Grain was sprinkled on the board, and then the net was set out in the yard. When a bird flew up and perched on the board, the board would turn over and the net would fall.

Seryozha was so happy he came running to his mother to show her his net.

His mother said, "It's not a nice toy at all. What do you want with little birds? Why do you want to torment them?"

"I'll put them in cages. They'll sing, and I'll feed them." Seryozha got some grain, sprinkled it on the little board and set the net out in the garden. He stood next to it, waiting for birds to come flying down. But the birds were afraid of him and did not come near the net.

Seryozha went in to dinner and left the net in the garden.

When he came to look at it after dinner he saw that the net had fallen and a little bird was thrashing about under it. Seryozha was very excited. He caught the bird and took it into the house.

"Look, Mamma! I've caught a bird. It must be a nightingale.

Oh, how fast its heart is beating."

His mother said, "It's a siskin. Don't torment it. Let it go."

"No, I'll feed it and care for it."

Seryozha put the siskin in a cage, and for two days he fed it grain, changed its water and cleaned the cage. On the third day he forgot about the siskin and did not change its water.

Then his mother said to him, "See? You forgot all about your little bird. I think you had better let it go."

No, I won't forget. I'll give it some fresh water now and clean the cage."

Seryozha stuck his hand into the cage and began cleaning it, but the siskin became frightened and beat its wings against the cage. Seryozha cleaned the cage out and went for water.

His mother saw that he had forgotten to close the little door and called after him, "Close the cage door, Seryozha, or your bird might fly out and hurt itself."

No sooner had she said this than the siskin found the door, spread its wings happily and flew across the room to the window. But it did not see the glass pane. It hit the pane and fell to the windowsill.

Seryozha came running, picked up the little bird and took it back to the cage.

The siskin was alive, but it lay on its breast with its little wings spread out and was breathing jerkily.

Seryozha began to cry.

"Mamma! What'll I do?"

"There's nothing you can do now."

Seryozha did not leave the room that day. He kept gazing at the siskin. The siskin lay on its breast as before, breathing jerkily.

When Seryozha went to bed that night the siskin was still alive.

Seryozha could not fall asleep for a long while. No sooner would he close his eyes than he would imagine the siskin lying there, gasping for breath.

Word Meaning MCQs (10 Questions)

1. What does the word "torment" mean in the passage?

• a) To take care of something
• b) To play joyfully
• c) To feed and protect
• d) To cause suffering or distress 

2. What does "thrashing" mean in the sentence a little bird was thrashing about under it?

• a) Singing beautifully
• b) Resting peacefully
• c) Eating quickly
• d) Struggling and moving violently 

3. What does "perched" mean in When a bird flew up and perched on the board?

• a) Flew away
• b) Dug a hole
• c) Sat or rested on something 
• d) Fell to the ground

4. What does "siskin" refer to in the passage?

• a) A toy
• b) A net
• c) A type of bird 
• d) A glass window

5. What does the phrase "spread its wings happily" mean?

• a) The bird flew freely 
• b) The bird was frightened
• c) The bird was sick
• d) The bird stayed still

6. What does "jerkily" mean in The siskin lay on its breast as before, breathing jerkily?

• a) Slowly and gently
• b) Unevenly and irregularly 
• c) Strongly and confidently
• d) Silently and peacefully

7. What does "pane" mean in the phrase It hit the pane and fell to the windowsill?

• a) A part of the cage
• b) A piece of cloth
• c) A sheet of glass 
• d) A wooden shelf

8. What does "gasping" mean in No sooner would he close his eyes than he would imagine the siskin lying there, gasping for breath?

• a) Sleeping peacefully
• b) Singing loudly
• c) Eating hurriedly
• d) Struggling to breathe 

9. What does "frame" mean in the passage?

• a) A piece of furniture
• b) A type of food
• c) A kind of cloth
• d) A structure that holds something 

10. What does "cage" mean in the passage?

• a) A structure for keeping animals or birds 
• b) A small house
• c) A kind of bag
• d) A bird’s nest

Comprehension and Analysis MCQs

11. What was the best gift Seryozha received on his birthday?

• a) A picture book
• b) A net for catching birds 
• c) A hobby-horse
• d) A toy car

12. Why did Seryozha's mother dislike his new toy?

• a) She preferred books as gifts
• b) She wanted him to study instead
• c) She thought catching birds was cruel 
• d) She was afraid of birds

13. How did the net work?

• a) The net would be thrown over the bird
• b) It caught birds in mid-air
• c) It used glue to hold birds in place
• d) The bird landed on a board, which turned over and trapped it 

14. Why didn't the birds come near the net while Seryozha was watching?

• a) They didn’t like the grain
• b) They were afraid of him 
• c) They were too full to eat
• d) They were sleeping

15. What happened when Seryozha left the net outside?

• a) A bird got trapped 
• b) The net was stolen
• c) It started raining
• d) The wind blew it away

16. What kind of bird did Seryozha catch?

• a) A siskin 
• b) A nightingale
• c) A pigeon
• d) A sparrow

17. Why did Seryozha's mother tell him to let the bird go?

• a) She disliked birds
• b) She wanted to use the cage for something else
• c) She knew he would forget to care for it 
• d) The bird was sick

18. What mistake did Seryozha make while cleaning the cage?

• a) He didn’t feed the bird
• b) He left the cage door open 
• c) He forgot to put water
• d) He dropped the cage

19. What happened when the bird tried to escape?

• a) It hit the window pane 
• b) It flew safely outside
• c) It perched on Seryozha's shoulder
• d) It hid under the bed

20. How did Seryozha feel when the bird was injured?

• a) Happy and excited
• b) Sad and guilty 
• c) Angry and annoyed
• d) Curious and confused

21. What is the main lesson of the story?

• a) Catching birds is a fun hobby
• b) Seryozha was too young to have pets
• c) Playing with nets is dangerous
• d) Animals should be treated with kindness 

Short Answer Questions:

Basic Comprehension (Recall & Understanding)

• 1. What was the occasion for Seryozha receiving gifts?
• 2. What was the best gift Seryozha received?
• 3. How did the net work to catch birds?
• 4. What did Seryozha's mother say about the bird-catching net?
• 5. Why did the birds not come near the net when Seryozha was watching?
• 6. What kind of bird did Seryozha catch?
• 7. How did Seryozha feel when he caught the bird?
• 8. What did Seryozha say he would do with the bird?
• 9. For how many days did Seryozha take care of the bird properly?
• 10. Why did Seryozha's mother tell him to let the bird go?
• 11. What mistake did Seryozha make while cleaning the cage?
• 12. What happened when the bird escaped from the cage?
• 13. How did Seryozha react when the bird got hurt?
• 14. What did the siskin do after hitting the window pane?
• 15. Why couldn’t Seryozha sleep that night?

Critical Thinking & Analysis

• 16. Why do you think Seryozha was so excited about the bird-catching net?
• 17. What lesson was his mother trying to teach him about the birds?
• 18. What does the story teach us about treating animals?
• 19. Why do you think Seryozha forgot about the bird after two days?
• 20. Do you think Seryozha truly cared for the bird? Why or why not?
• 21. What could Seryozha have done differently to take better care of the bird?
• 22. How do you think the bird felt when it was caught?
• 23. How did Seryozha’s feelings about keeping the bird change from the beginning to the end of the story?
• 24. How is the phrase "If you love something, set it free" related to this story?
• 25. What message do you think Leo Tolstoy wanted to convey through this story?

Application & Personal Connection

• 26. Have you ever taken care of a pet or an animal? How did you feel about it?
• 27. If you found an injured bird, what would you do to help it?
• 28. If you had received Seryozha's net as a gift, would you have used it? Why or why not?
• 29. Do you think keeping birds in cages is right? Explain your answer.
• 30. How can we show kindness to animals in our daily lives?

Class 8, Unit 5, Lesson 1: Something Told the Wild Geese by Rachel Field

Something Told the Wild Geese

by Rachel Field

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go.

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered, - "snow".

Leaves were green and stirring,

Berries, lustre-glossed.

But beneath warm feathers

Something cautioned, "frost".

All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spice,

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry.

Short Answer Questions:

Basic Comprehension (Recall & Understanding)

• 1. What is the poem about?
• 2. What does “something” refer to in the poem?
• 3. What time of year is described in the poem?
• 4. What does the phrase "It was time to go" mean?
• 5. How do the wild geese know it is time to leave?
• 6. What are some things in nature that suggest the season is changing?
• 7. What does "Winter in their cry" suggest about the geese?

Critical Thinking & Analysis

• 13. Why do the wild geese leave even though the fields are still golden?
• 14. What feelings or emotions does the poem create?
• 15. Why do you think the poet repeats the line "Something told the wild geese"?
• 16. How does the poem use contrast between summer and winter?
• 17. What do you think the wild geese symbolize in this poem?

Application & Personal Connection

• 18. Have you ever seen birds migrating? How did it make you feel?
• 19. If you were a wild goose, how would you feel about leaving your home for the winter?
• 20. What can we learn from the wild geese about adapting to change?

Class 8, Unit 5, Lesson 1: Green Escape by Joseph Auslander

Green Escape

by Joseph Auslander

I have turned my face

Away from streets and crowds

To a windy place

And clouds.

I have turned from skyscrapers

That scratch out the sky,

From wet newspapers

Always whipping by.

I have taken away my heart,

I will give it again

To be split apart

By wind and rain.

I will stand like a stone

All day in the grass

Where the bees drone

And pass and repass.

I will watch them brush

Gold across their legs,

Hear the bird at hush

Over her eggs.

I will hear the wild swan

Lift high and harsh

His crooked clarion

Across the marsh.

Where the jewel-weed hangs,

Where the spotted stream runs,

Where the green beetle bangs

Bronze on bronze--

Rooted in the deep ground,

The sky tugging at my hair,

There will I be found-

There!

Short Answer Questions: 

Basic Comprehension (Recall & Understanding) 

• 1.What does the speaker turn away from in the poem?
• 2.What does the phrase "a windy place and clouds" suggest about the speaker’s new environment?
• 3.What do skyscrapers do to the sky, according to the poem?
• 4.What natural elements does the speaker wish to be surrounded by?
• 5.How does the speaker describe the movement of the bees?
• 6.What does the speaker say about the bird in her nest?
• 7.Where does the speaker want to be found at the end of the poem?

Critical Thinking & Analysis

• 13.What contrast does the poet create between the city and nature?
• 14.Why does the speaker want to leave the city?
• 15.How does the poet use sensory details to bring nature to life?
• 16.What emotions do you think the speaker feels in nature?
• 17.What do you think the poem suggests about modern life versus natural life?

Application & Personal Connection

• 18.Have you ever wanted to escape to nature? Why or why not?
• 19.How does spending time in nature make you feel?
• 20.If you had to choose between city life and nature, which would you prefer? Explain.

Class 8, Unit 5, Lesson 3: Dancing Bears

Brilliant Silence

Two Alaskan Kodiak bears joined a small circus where the pair appeared in a nightly parade pulling a covered wagon. The two were taught to somersault, to spin, to stand on their heads, and to dance on their hind legs, paw in paw, stepping in unison. Under a spot-light the dancing bears, a male and a female, soon became favourites of the crowd. The circus went south on a West Coast tour through Canada to California and on down into Mexico, through Panama into South America, down the Andes the length of Chile to those southernmost isles of Tierra del Fuego. There a jaguar jumped a juggler, and afterwards, mortally mauled the animal trainer, and the shocked show people disbanded in dismay and horror. In the confusion the bears went their own way. Without a master, they wandered off by themselves into the wilderness on those densely wooded, wildly windy, subantarctic islands. Utterly away from people, on an out-of-the-way uninhabited island, and in a climate they found ideal, the bears mated, thrived, multiplied, and after a number of generations populated the entire island. Indeed, after some years, descendants of the two moved out onto half a dozen adjacent islands, and seventy years later, when scientists finally found and enthusiastically studied the bears, it was discovered that all of them, to a bear, were performing splendid circus tricks.

On nights when the sky is bright and the moon is full, they gather to dance. They gather the cubs and the juveniles in a circle around them. They gather out of the wind at the center of a sparkling, circular crater left by a meteorite which had fallen in a bed of chalk. Its glassy walls are chalk white, its flat floor is covered with white gravel, and it is well-drained, and dry. No vegetation grows within. When the moon rises above it, the light reflecting off the walls fills the crater with a pool of moonlight, so that it is twice as bright on the crater floor as anywhere else in that vicinity. Scientists speculate that originally the full moon had reminded the two bears of the circus spotlight, and for that reason they danced. Yet, it might be asked, what music do the descendants dance to? Paw in paw, stepping in unison what music can they possibly hear inside their heads as they dance under the full moon and the Aurora Australis, as they dance in brilliant silence?

MCQs on Word Meaning (10 questions)

1.What does the word "somersault" most likely mean in the passage?

• a) A forward or backward flip
• b) A slow and steady walk
• c) A way of jumping in the air
• d) A method of pulling a wagon

2.The word "unison" in the passage means:

• a) In perfect harmony or together
• b) In a disorderly manner
• c) At different times
• d) With hesitation

3.The word "mortally" in the passage is closest in meaning to:

• a) Fatally
• b) Accidentally
• c) Slightly
• d) Temporarily

4.What does "disbanded" most likely mean in the passage?

• a) Broke up or separated
• b) Became stronger
• c) Gathered together
• d) Went on vacation

5.The word "subantarctic" in the passage most likely describes:

• a) A region just north of Antarctica
• b) A hot and tropical region
• c) A completely frozen land
• d) A high-altitude mountain range

6.What does "thrived" mean in the sentence: "the bears mated, thrived, multiplied..."?

• a) Grew and flourished
• b) Became extinct
• c) Remained unchanged
• d) Struggled to survive

7.The word "adjacent" in the phrase "adjacent islands" means:

• a) Nearby
• b) Distant
• c) Unreachable
• d) Large

8.What does "speculate" most likely mean in the passage?

• a) To guess or form a theory
• b) To prove with certainty
• c) To perform a circus act
• d) To ignore evidence

9.The word "juveniles" in the passage refers to:

• a) Young bears
• b) Old animals
• c) Circus performers
• d) Scientists

10.What does “brilliant silence” suggest in the last line of the passage?

• a) A bright but quiet atmosphere
• b) A loud and noisy celebration
• c) A moment of confusion
• d) A dramatic performance

MCQs on Passage Comprehension (11 questions)

11.What was the main act performed by the bears in the circus?

• a) Dancing and performing tricks
• b) Fighting with trainers
• c) Hunting for food
• d) Climbing trees

12.What caused the circus to disband?

• a) A jaguar attacked and killed the trainer
• b) The bears ran away into the wilderness
• c) The circus ran out of money
• d) A fire destroyed the circus tent

13.Why did the bears leave the circus?

• a) They wandered off after the circus was abandoned
• b) They were sold to a new owner
• c) They escaped from their cages
• d) They were taken to a zoo

14.What was unusual about the descendants of the two bears?

• a) They continued performing circus tricks
• b) They were unable to survive in the wild
• c) They refused to dance
• d) They became aggressive towards humans

15.What natural feature served as the bears' dancing place?

• a) A meteorite crater
• b) A forest clearing
• c) A frozen lake
• d) A mountain peak

16.Why did the full moon remind the bears of the circus?

• a) It looked like a spotlight
• b) It made a loud noise
• c) It brought back memories of their trainer
• d) It created a warm temperature

17.Why did scientists become interested in the bears?

• a) They noticed the bears were performing tricks
• b) They wanted to hunt the bears
• c) They saw the bears attacking people
• d) They wanted to train the bears for another circus

18.What is the likely reason the bears continued to dance over generations?

• a) They inherited the behavior from their ancestors
• b) They were trained by humans in the wild
• c) They found dancing necessary for survival
• d) They copied other wild animals

19.What does the passage suggest about the bears’ ability to hear music?

• a) They might have imagined it
• b) They listened to human music
• c) They followed bird songs
• d) They communicated through roars

20.Which phrase best describes the bears' life on the island?

• a) Peaceful and independent
• b) Struggling to survive
• c) Constantly migrating
• d) Dependent on human care

21.What is the overall tone of the passage?

• a) Imaginative and mystical
• b) Sad and depressing
• c) Scientific and factual
• d) Angry and critical

Short Answer Questions:

Recall (Basic Understanding)

• 1.What kind of bears joined the circus?
• 2.What did the bears pull in the nightly parade?
• 3.Name one trick the bears were taught.
• 4.Under what did the bears perform their dance?
• 5.Why did the bears become favorites of the crowd?
• 6.Name one place the circus traveled to.
• 7.What happened to the animal trainer in Tierra del Fuego?
• 8.Why did the circus disband?
• 9.Where did the bears go after the circus disbanded?
• 10.How did the bears survive on the island?
• 11.What happened after many generations of bears?
• 12.How did scientists react when they found the bears?
• 13.What did the bears do when the moon was full?
• 14.Where did the bears gather to dance?
• 15.How was the crater formed?
• 16.Why was the crater so bright at night?
• 17.What did the scientists believe about the bears' dancing?
• 18.What natural phenomenon shone above the bears as they danced?
• 19.What question is asked at the end of the passage?
• 20.What do the bears do while dancing?

Understanding (Explaining Concepts)

• 21. Why did the bears become popular among the circus audience?
• 22. What does the phrase “brilliant silence” suggest in the passage?
• 23. How did the bears survive in the wild without human help?
• 24. What was special about the crater where the bears danced?
• 25. Why do scientists think the bears continued dancing for generations?

Class 8, Unit 5, Lesson 4: The Farming Teacher

"This is your teacher today. He's going to show you all sorts of things." With that the headmaster introduced a new teacher. Totto-chan took a good look at him. In the first place, he wasn't dressed like a teacher at all. He wore a short striped cotton work jacket over his undershirt, and instead of a necktie, he had a towel hanging around his neck. As for his trousers, they were of indigo-dyed cotton with narrow legs, and were full of patches. Instead of shoes, he wore workmen's thick two-toed, rubber-soled socks, while on his head was a rather dilapidated straw hat.

The children were all assembled by the pond at Kuhonbutsu Temple.

As she stared at the teacher, Totto-chan thought she had seen him before.

"Where!" she wondered. His kindly face was sun burnt and full of wrinkles. Even the slender pipe dangling from a black cord around his waist that served as a belt looked familiar. She suddenly remembered!

"Aren't you the farmer who works in the field by the stream!" she asked him, delighted.

"That's right," said the "teacher, with a toothy smile, wrinkling up his face.

"You pass my place ev’ry time you go fer yer walks to Kuhonbutsu! That's my field. That one over there full o' mustard blossoms."

"Wow! So you're going to be our teacher today, cried the children excitedly.

"Naw!" said the man, waving his hand in front of his face. "I ain't no teacher! I'm just a farmer. Your headmaster just asked me to do it, that's all."

"Oh yes, he is. He's your farming teacher," said the headmaster, standing beside him. "He very kindly agreed to teach you how to plant a field. It's like having a baker teach you how to make bread. Now then," he said to the farmer, "tell the children what to do, and let's get started."

At an ordinary elementary school, anyone who taught the children anything would probably have to have teaching qualifications, but Mr. Kobayashi didn't worry about things like that. He thought it important for children to learn by actually seeing things done.

"Let's begin then," said the farming teacher.

The place where they were assembled was beside the Kuhonbutsu pond and it was a particularly quiet section--a pleasant place, where the pond was shaded by trees. The headmaster had already had part of a railroad car put there for storing the children's farming implements, such as spades and hoes. The half-car had a peaceful look, neatly placed as it was right in the middle of the plot they were going to cultivate.

The farming teacher told the children to spades and hoes from the car and started them on weeding. He told them all about weeds: how hardy they were; how some grew faster than crops and hid the sun from them; how weeds were good hiding places for bad insects; and how weeds could be a nuisance by taking all the nourishment from the soil. He taught them one thing after another. And while he talked, his hands never stopped pulling out weeds. The children did the same. Then the teacher showed them how to hoe; how to make furrows; how to spread fertilizer, and everything else you had to do to grow things in a field, explaining as he demonstrated.

A little snake put its head out and very nearly bit the hand of Tachan, one of the older boys, but the farming teacher reassured him, "The snakes here ain't poisonous, and they won't hurt you if you don't hurt them."

Besides teaching the children how to plant a field, the farming teacher told them interesting things about insects, birds, and butterflies, about the weather, and about all sorts of other things. His strong gnarled hands seemed to attest that everything he told the children, he had found out himself through experience.

The children were dripping with perspiration when they had finally finished planting the field with the teacher's help. Except for a few furrows that were a bit uneven, it was an impeccable field, whichever way you looked at it.

From that day onward, the children held that farmer in high esteem, and whenever they saw him, even at a distance, they would cry, "There's our farming teacher!" Whenever he had any fertilizer left he would bring it over and spread it on the children's field, and their crops grew well. Every day someone would visit the field and report to the head-master and the other children on how it was doing. The children learned to know the wonder and the joy of seeing the seeds they had planted themselves sprout. And whenever two or three of them were gathered together, talk would turn to the progress of their field.

Terrible things were beginning to happen in various parts of the world. But as the children discussed their tiny field they were still enfolded in the very heart of peace.

MCQs on Word Meaning (10 questions)

1.What does the word "dilapidated" most likely mean in the passage?

• a) Worn out and shabby
• b) Brand new
• c) Expensive and fancy
• d) Unusually bright

2.The word "assembled" in the passage means:

• a) Gathered together
• b) Ran away
• c) Worked separately
• d) Played around

3.What does "toothy" most likely mean in the phrase "toothy smile"?

• a) Showing a lot of teeth
• b) A fake smile
• c) A hidden expression
• d) A forced grin

4.What does "implements" mean in the sentence: "the children's farming implements, such as spades and hoes"?

• a) Tools
• b) Books
• c) Seeds
• d) Clothes

5.The word "nourishment" in the passage most likely refers to:

• a) Nutrients or food for plants
• b) Extra water
• c) The size of the weeds
• d) The color of the soil

6.The word "furrows" in the passage means:

• a) Trenches made in soil for planting
• b) A type of fertilizer
• c) A type of farming insect
• d) The roots of weeds

7.What does "attest" most likely mean in the passage?

• a) Prove or confirm
• b) Hide or cover
• c) Ignore or forget
• d) Make mistakes

8.The word "perspiration" in the passage refers to:

• a) Sweat
• b) Fear
• c) Anger
• d) Rest

9.The word "impeccable" in the sentence "it was an impeccable field" most likely means:

• a) Perfect
• b) Unfinished
• c) Dirty
• d) Tiny

10.The word “esteem” in the passage means:

• a) Respect and admiration
• b) Confusion and doubt
• c) Fear and hesitation
• d) Anger and frustration

MCQs on Passage Comprehension (11 questions)

11.Why was Totto-chan surprised when she saw the new teacher?

• a) He looked like a farmer, not a teacher
• b) He was much younger than expected
• c) He was wearing a school uniform
• d) He was very strict and serious

12.What was the farming teacher’s attitude towards his role?

• a) Humble and modest
• b) Strict and authoritative
• c) Uninterested and bored
• d) Proud and boastful

13.Why did the headmaster choose a farmer to teach the children?

• a) He believed in practical learning
• b) He could not find a qualified teacher
• c) The farmer needed a new job
• d) The children requested a farming lesson

14.What was stored in the railroad car?

• a) Farming tools
• b) Food for the children
• c) Books and notebooks
• d) A collection of seeds

15.Why did the farming teacher talk about weeds?

• a) To explain why they are harmful to crops
• b) To warn the children about dangerous plants
• c) To tell a funny story about his farm
• d) To make the lesson more difficult

16.What happened to Tachan during the farming lesson?

• a) A snake almost bit him
• b) He got lost in the field
• c) He found a rare insect
• d) He accidentally stepped on a crop

17.How did the farming teacher reassure Tachan?

• a) He explained that the snakes were not poisonous
• b) He caught the snake and moved it away
• c) He gave Tachan a special tool
• d) He asked the headmaster to help

18.What did the children learn besides farming?

• a) Information about insects, birds, and weather
• b) How to build a railroad car
• c) How to make their own tools
• d) The history of their school

19.What made the children admire the farming teacher?

• a) His knowledge and experience
• b) His ability to do math quickly
• c) His strict discipline
• d) His wealth and power

20.What did the children do after planting the field?

• a) They regularly checked on the crops and discussed their growth
• b) They forgot about the field
• c) They asked the headmaster to take care of it
• d) They started another new field immediately

21.What is the overall mood of the passage?

• a) Peaceful and inspiring
• b) Sad and gloomy
• c) Suspenseful and scary
• d) Chaotic and confusing

Short Answer Questions:

• 1.What did the headmaster introduce at the beginning of the passage?
• 2.How was the new teacher dressed?
• 3.What did Totto-chan recognize about the teacher?
• 4.What kind of hat was the teacher wearing?
• 5.Where were the children assembled for the lesson?
• 6.What was stored inside the railroad car?
• 7.What did the farmer teach the children?
• 8.What did the farming teacher ask the children to do first?
• 9.Why are weeds a problem for crops?
• 10.What nearly bit Tachan’s hand?
• 11.What did the farming teacher say about the snakes?
• 12.Name two things the farming teacher taught besides planting.
• 13.How did the children feel after finishing their work in the field?
• 14.How did the children show respect for the farming teacher?
• 15.What did the farming teacher do when he had extra fertilizer?
• 16.What did the children do every day after planting the field?
• 17.How did the children feel about watching their plants grow?
• 18.What did the children call their teacher after the lesson?
• 19.Why did the headmaster choose the farmer to teach farming?
• 20.What was the overall feeling among the children at the end of the passage?

Class 8, Unit 5, Lesson 5: We Lost Our Home

Hakkonchandra village was situated to the east of Kaptai dam, in the Ran-gamati district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). A family in that village who belonged to the Boro Hambe clan had a son who was an ivory craftsman and was later recognized and appreciated as one of the very first craftsmen among the Jumma population in the CHT region. His niece is the mother whose story is given here.

It is difficult to say exactly when she was born, but she thinks she is over eighty years old now. She is my grandmother and one of the eyewitnesses of the discussed episode in the history of CHT. Her family was relatively affluent. She had six siblings-three brothers and three sisters. Their family was well-respected in the neighborhood since their father was a schoolteacher. Sushama Chakma was not acquainted with paucity and poverty in the early years of her life. When the northern parts of CHT were submerged permanently due to Kaptai dam, not just the Chakma population but some Hajong, Marma and adi-Bangali residents who had lived for long among us also lost all their possessions. The wealthiest families became displaced people. They had to constantly move from one place to the other. About 50,000 Chakma, Hajong, and Tripuri people had to leave the country and migrate permanently.

Like many others, she lost a secure life and her homeland with her relatives. Her husband had to leave his public service to live like a refugee. Her only possessions were memories of better times and the determination to survive. While moving from one location to another for resettlement in the reserve forest, they spent countless sleepless nights thinking about their uncertain future. Despite the constant struggle to find happiness in pain, the sun never shone for her family.

Comprehension-based MCQs

1.Where was Hakkonchandra village located?

• a) To the east of Kaptai dam 
• b) To the west of Kaptai dam
• c) In the middle of Kaptai dam
• d) To the south of Kaptai dam

2.To which district did Hakkonchandra village belong?

• a) Bandarban
• b) Rangamati 
• c) Khagrachari
• d) Cox’s Bazar

3.What was the profession of the son of the Boro Hambe family?

• a) Farmer
• b) Teacher
• c) Ivory craftsman 
• d) Fisherman

4.How many siblings did Sushama Chakma have?

• a) Five
• b) Six 
• c) Seven
• d) Four

5.What was the occupation of Sushama Chakma’s father?

• a) Craftsman
• b) Fisherman
• c) Schoolteacher 
• d) Farmer

6.Why did people lose their possessions?

• a) Due to floods
• b) Due to a cyclone
• c) Due to an earthquake
• d) Due to the Kaptai dam 

7.How many people had to migrate permanently?

• a) 30,000
• b) 40,000
• c) 50,000 
• d) 60,000

8.What did Sushama Chakma’s husband do before displacement?

• a) Farmer
• b) Craftsman
• c) Fisherman
• d) Public servant 

9.Where did the displaced people resettle?

• a) In the city
• b) In neighboring villages
• c) In the reserve forest 
• d) Near the river banks

10.What did Sushama Chakma lose apart from her home?

• a) Her relatives
• b) Her money
• c) A secure life 
• d) Her education

Word Meaning Questions

11.What does “affluent” mean in the passage?

• a) Wealthy 
• b) Poor
• c) Homeless
• d) Educated

12.What does “acquainted” mean in the passage?

• a) Afraid of
• b) Familiar with 
• c) Unaware of
• d) Suffering from

13.What does “paucity” mean in the passage?

• a) Wealth
• b) Happiness
• c) Poverty 
• d) Strength

14.What does “possessions” mean in the passage?

• a) Skills
• b) Power
• c) Friends
• d) Belongings 

15.What does “displaced” mean in the passage?

• a) Forced to move 
• b) Settled in a new place
• c) Relocated willingly
• d) Given shelter

16.What does “migrate” mean in the passage?

• a) Stay in one place
• b) Travel for a short time
• c) Work in a new field
• d) Move to another place 

17.What does “determination” mean in the passage?

• a) Fear
• b) Weakness
• c) Strong will 
• d) Confusion

18.What does “resettlement” mean in the passage?

• a) Staying in one place
• b) Losing everything
• c) Returning home
• d) Finding a new home 

19.What does “uncertain” mean in the passage?

• a) Not sure 
• b) Very clear
• c) Unimportant
• d) Safe

20.What does “struggle” mean in the passage?

• a) Happiness
• b) Celebration
• c) Hardship 
• d) Wealth

21.What does the phrase “the sun never shone for her family” mean?

• a) They had no happiness 
• b) They moved to a cold place
• c) They became rich
• d) They lived in darkness

Short Answer Questions:

• 1.Where was Hakkonchandra village located?
• 2.In which district was Hakkonchandra village situated?
• 3.What was the profession of the son of the Boro Hambe family?
• 4.Who is the narrator’s grandmother?
• 5.How old does Sushama Chakma think she is?
• 6.How many siblings did Sushama Chakma have?
• 7.What was the profession of Sushama Chakma’s father?
• 8.Was Sushama Chakma’s family rich or poor in her early years?
• 9.What event caused the displacement of many people?
• 10.Name two communities that lost their homes due to the Kaptai dam.
• 11.How many people had to migrate permanently?
• 12.What did Sushama Chakma lose besides her home?
• 13.What happened to the wealthiest families after the dam was built?
• 14.Where did the displaced people try to resettle?
• 15.What did Sushama Chakma’s husband do before becoming displaced?
• 16.What were Sushama Chakma’s only possessions after displacement?
• 17.Why did the displaced people spend sleepless nights?
• 18.What did the narrator mean by “the sun never shone for her family”?
• 19.Did the displacement bring happiness or hardship to the people?
• 20What was the overall impact of the Kaptai dam on the people mentioned in the passage?