Class 8 NCERT Solutions English Chapter 1: The Best Christmas Present in the World
The Best Christmas Present in the World Exercise 10
Solution 1
The author found an early nineteenth century roll-top desk in the junk shop. It was made of oak. It was in a very bad condition. The roll-top was broken into several pieces. One of the legs was clumsily mended and there were scorch marks all down one side. It was being sold for very little money. The author bought it in order to restore it.
Solution 2
The author found a small black tin box in the secret drawer. There was a piece of lined note paper sello-taped to its top. It had, ‘Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes” written on it in shaky handwriting.
‘Most likely, it was put there by Mrs. Jim Macpherson, who was Jim’s wife. Her name and address were on the envelope inside the box.
The Best Christmas Present in the World Exercise 14
Solution 1
Jim Macpherson had written the letter to his wife Connie Macpherson on December 26, 1914.
Solution 2
Jim wrote the letter to tell his wife about a wonderful thing that had happened on Christmas day. The British and the Germans were engaged in a war, yet on this day, both the troops met in no man’s land. They greeted each other Happy Christmas, requested both sides not to shoot and shared their drinks, food and life stories with each other. They even played a football match together. Both sides agreed about everything even though they were at war with each other.
It was a thing of wonder because right in the middle of a war, the warring soldiers were making peace.
Solution 3
Hans Wolf was from Dusseldorf. He played the cello in the orchestra. Jim Macpherson was a schools teacher from Dorset in the west of England.
Solution 4
No, Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset or to England. He had learned all about England from school and from reading books in English.
Solution 5
No, it is most likely that Jim Macpherson did not come back from the war. The notepaper sello-taped to the tin box clearly stated that the letter contained in the box was the “last letter” from Jim and it had to be buried with the recipient of the letter when the time came. This was perhaps the last that Connie heard from Jim.
Besides the contents of the letter describe how both the German and British armies were in their trenches on Christmas day, when all of a sudden they decided to make peace in ‘no man’s land’ just for that day and the fighting stopped, cries of ‘don’t shoot lads ‘were heard and both sides came together shared food, drink, stories and even played a foot ball match together. During the match Hans told Jim that he hoped the war would also be resolved by a football match. After the game and celebrations were over and both sides had to return to their trenches Jim wished Hans well and told him he hoped he would see his family soon and that the fighting would end and they could all go home. All this indicates that the war was still in progress when he wrote his last letter.
The Best Christmas Present in the World Exercise 15
Solution 1
Solution 2
Mrs. Macpherson was a hundred and one year old. She was in a nursing home in Burlington house, on the Dorchester road, on the other side of town.
The Best Christmas Present in the World Exercise 16
Solution I - 1
Connie Macpherson thought that her visitor was her husband, Jim.
Solution I - 2
The sentence which shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity is, ‘I explained about the desk, about how I had found it, but I don’t think she was listening.’
Solution 1
Solution 2
Solution 3
Jim and Hans thought that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts because nobody dies in matches. No children are orphaned and no wives become widows. Due to these reasons, games are good ways for resolving conflicts. Yes I do agree with this statement. Wars only lead to heart break, separation, pain, suffering, death and devastation.
Solution 4
Solution 5
Solution 6
When the narrator came to see Connie and gave her the box, she mistook him for her husband Jim. She thought that Jim had kept his promise and come home for Christmas. This was Connie’s Christmas present. It was the best Christmas present in the world for her because Jim had written in the letter that he would come home on Christmas. She had read that letter several times everyday to feel that he was near her and truly believed that he would one day return to her. Now that he was finally there with her, and she could hear his voice again she was extremely happy.
Solution 7
Yes, the title of the story is suitable for it. The spirit of Christmas is the theme that prevails throughout the story. The message of Christmas –peace and good will to all is brought out so clearly through the story. It was on a Christmas day, in the middle of a raging war, that two warring troops made peace. The moment of peace that the soldiers shared with each other was the best Christmas present for them. Again, it was on a Christmas day that the narrator went to see Mrs Macpherson. He went to return her husband’s letters to her. The letter was precious to her, but even more precious was her delusion that the narrator was her husband Jim, who she believed had returned as promised on a Christmas day. This was the best Christmas present in the world for her.
Suitable titles could be “A Christmas wish comes true!”, “Someday at Christmas…””The Christmas Message”.
The Best Christmas Present in the World Exercise 17
Solution 1
(i) A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.
(ii) My little sister is very naughty. When she came (come) back from school yesterday, she had torn (tear) her dress. We asked (ask) her how it had happened (happen). She said (say) she had quarrelled (have, quarrel) with a boy. She had beaten (have, beat) him in a race and he had tried (have, try) to push her. She had told (have, tell) the teacher and so he had chased (have, chase) her, and she had fallen (have, fall) down and had torn (have, tear) her dress.
(iii)
(a) My friends set out to see the caves in the next town, but I stayed at home, because I had seen them already.
(b) When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but by that time I had gone out to see a movie!
(c) So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.
(d) By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep!
|
Past |
Earlier past |
|
Set out |
had seen |
|
stayed |
had left |
|
arrived |
had gone |
|
came |
had packed |
|
sat |
had fallen |
|
ate |
|
|
returned |
|
Solution 2
(i) burn out: destroy totally
House number 12 turned out to be nothing but a burned-out shell, the roof gaping, the windows boarded-up.
(ii) light up: brighten up
That was the moment her eyes lit up with recognition and her face became suffused with a sudden glow of happiness.
(iii) look on: watched
Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered, clapping our hands and stamping our feet, to keep out the cold as much as anything.
(iv) run out; finished / got over
The time came, and all too soon, when the game was finished, the schnapps and the rum and the sausage had long since run out, and we knew it was all over.
(v) keep out: keep away/prevent
Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered, clapping our hands and stamping our feet, to keep out the cold as much as anything.
The Best Christmas Present in the World Exercise 19
Solution 4
|
Noun |
Adjective |
|
elephant |
enormous, wild, large, medium sized, cheerful . |
|
face |
round, cheerful, chubby |
|
building |
multi-coloured, blue, red, large, medium-sized |
|
water |
blue, cold |