KSEEB Solutions for Class 8 English Prose Chapter 5 A Lesson For Nakul

Students can Download English Lesson 5 A Lesson For Nakul Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes Pdf, Activity, KSEEB Solutions for Class 8 English helps you to revise the complete Karnataka State Board Syllabus and to clear all their doubts, score well in final exams.

Karnataka State Syllabus Class 8 English Prose Chapter 5 A Lesson For Nakul

A Lesson For Nakul Gopal Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes

I. Comprehension

Textbook Questions And Answers

III. Answer The Following In Two Or Three Sentences Each:

Question 1.
Why couldn’t Nakul complete his Maths problems in the test?
Answer:
Nakul decided to answer the tough problems first and leave the easy ones for the last ten minutes. But time did not permit him to complete. Hence he couldn’t finish the problems.

Question 2.
How did Akash console him?
Answer:
Akash consoled him telling that it was not the final exam and advised him to write faster the next time set his watch ten minutes ahead so that he could answer all the questions.

Question 3.
What do you mean by the phrase “Don’t be a wet blanket all the time”?
Answer:
It means one should not spoil other’s pleasure or mood by being gloomy.

KSEEB Solutions

Question 4.
What was the opinion of the teachers about Akash?
Answer:
According to teachers, Akash was always cheerful despite his lame leg. He helped everyone in their problems and faced situations courageously with a cheer on his face.

Question 5.
Why was Akash keen on joining the boarding school?
Answer:
Akash was not worried about the problems or untoward situations he would face in the boarding school.

Question 6.
How did Nakul realize that his way of thinking was irritating to others?
Answer:
Nakul overheard his teachers conversation about Akash. He recalled the times when Akash helped Nakul during odd situations, his helping hand his counseling and his pleasing nature. Thereby he realized how his way was irritating others.

KSEEB Solutions

Question 7.
What do you think were the reasons behind Nakul’s anxiety?
Answer:
Nakul’s negative approach to sitaution grumbling nature and his behavior were the reasons behind his anxiety.

Question 8.
How did Akash spread happiness among his friends?
Answer:
Though Akash was lame he was a cheerful boy. He never thought about his weakness. He was very positive in his approach. He helped everyone and made everyone around him cheerful.

Question 9.
What was Akash’s attitude towards life?
Answer:
Akash was an optimist. His grandmother taught him to be always cheerful and helpful to others.

KSEEB Solutions

IV Answer The Following In Five Or Six Sentences Each:

Question 1.
In what ways does Akash help Nakul?
Answer:
Akash was always helpful to Nakul. When Nakul did not do well in his maths paper he encouraged him not to worry there is always a next time. When Nakul was upset if he had written his roll number or his name on his paper, he took him to the teacher and requested the teacher to check his paper.

Nakul was chosen to play an important role in a drama. But he was anxious if he would remember the lines or not. Akash encouraged him telling to practice the lines repeatedly. Akash always boosted his morale when Nakul was down in his spirits.

Question 2.
Was Nakul’s changed attitude towards life worthy of appreciation? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, Nakul by nature was quite negative and uncertain in his approach. He always found problem around him. He was not liked by his friends. He used to irritate everybody around him. After Akash got admitted to his school his attitude towards situations changed. He began to appreciate others food work without feeling jealous. He began to observe others good qualities. His negative approach slowly changed that is truly appreciable.

KSEEB Solutions

V. Read The Extracts From The Lesson And Answer The Questions That Follow:

1. “Huh! It’s easy to say that as you don’t have to worry.”

Question i.
Who said these words?
Answer:
Nakul

Question ii.
Why did he say so?
Answer:
Because he thought its a great problem

KSEEB Solutions

2. “I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

Question i.
Who is the speaker?
Answer:
Nakul

Question ii.
What was the mistake made by him?
Answer:
He thought if he had forgotten to either write his name or roll number on his maths paper.

KSEEB Solutions

3. “Why do you always look at the dark side of things?”

Question i.
Who is the speaker?
Answer:
Akash

Question ii.
What do you mean by the dark side of things?
Answer:
Have a negative approach towards situations.

Question iii.
Why did the speaker say so.?
Answer:
Nakul was always doubtful about his own abilities. He always thought negatively,

KSEEB Solutions

4. “I admire you! Despite your handicap, you are always cheerful!”

Question i.
Who said these words and who is he referring to?
Answer:
Nakul to Akash

Question ii.
Why does the speaker admire him?
Answer:
Because Akash was a cheerful and optimistic boy.

KSEEB Solutions

VII. Writing:

Trials in life can be tragedies or triumphs, depending on how we handle them. Do you agree with this statement? You might have seen many students UkeAkash and Nakul. What do you think was the motivating factor behind the happiness of Akash and self-realization of Nakul? Write a paragraph of about 100 words expressing your views with reference to the text.

When Akash advised Nakul not to be a wet blanket all the time, Nakul felt annoyed He overheard his masters talking about Akash. Nakul looked thoughtful when he heard all this, recalling numerous times when Akash had gone out of his way to help him Nakul admitted himself that Akash’s cheerful, positive outlook was like a bracing tonic which influenced his own way of thinking. His constant grumbling must be irritating to someone who liked to look at the bright side of things.

When Nakul confessed to Akash, he realised the pain Akash suffered yet was cheerful. Thus Nakul realised when a lame handicap could be cheerful, he being well built could also be cheerful if he saw life in an optimistic attitude.

KSEEB Solutions

VIII. Vocabulary

a) Match the idioms given in column A with their meanings in column B 

 A  B
a. in the good books of 1 at a short distance
b. to lose one’s throw 2 at a distance
c. at a stone’s throw 3 to worsen the matter
d. to add fuel to the matter 4 completely
e. to sell like hot cakes 5 to memorize
f. to bell the cat 6 to lose the power of thinking
g. to take by surprise 7 to have a very good sale
h. at arm’s length 8 in favor with
i. through and through 9. to take a lead in a risky step
j. by heart  10. to catch suddenly

Answer:
a – 8, b – 6, c – 2, d – 3, e – 7, f – 9, g – 10, h – 1, i – 4, j – 5

KSEEB Solutions

b) Use these idioms in sentences of your own:
on behalf of (in favor of)
at the mercy of (with kindness)
at home (comfortable)
to keep in the dark (not to be in the knowledge of)
part and parcel (integral part) ups and downs (difficulties)
to spread like wildfire (spread very fast)
by hook or by crook (at any cost)
Answer:

  1. on behalf of: I had to give a welcome speech on behalf of the school.
  2. at the mercy of: The orphan child was left at the mercy of the pedestrian.
  3. at home: I asked my friend to feel at home on her stay at my place.
  4. to keep in the dark: The illness of the mother was kept in dark from the daughter.
  5. part and parcel: Yoga will soon become the part and parcel of the curriculum.
  6. ups and downs: Grow ing children have to face many ups and downs in life.
  7. to spread like wildfire: The news of the death of the renowned politician spread like wildfire throughout the state.
  8. by hook or by crook: Raghav decided to pass the exam by hook or by crook.

KSEEB Solutions

IX. Pronunciation

Pronounce these words:

Here are a few words from the lesson. Split the words and then underline the letters that stand for the vowel sound, declare problem silent mistake constant favorite generous encourage explanation courageous attitude cheerfulness
Answer:

  1. dec-lare
  2. Pro-blem
  3. Si-lent
  4. Mis-take
  5. Cons-tant
  6. fa-vou-rite
  7. ge-ne-rous
  8. en-cou-rage
  9. ex-pla-na-tion
  10. cou-ra-geous
  11. at-ti-tude

KSEEB Solutions

XII. Vocabulary:

A) Look at this sentence from the lesson: “Don’t be a wet blanket all the time!”
Here, the phrase wet blanket means a person who spoils other people’s pleasure because he is gloomy, dull, pessimistic etc. English has several expressions and idioms with the word ‘Wet’.

A) Here are a few of them:

Like a wet rag – of no use, fit to be discarded Wet behind the ears – Lacking experience, immature
Wet through – Soaked in water or any other liquid.
Learn the meanings of the expressions given above by referring a dictionary.

KSEEB Solutions

B) Here are some more idioms:

Fill in the blanks with suitable idioms given in the box. Make the necessary changes: pull through, give up, back out, abide by, apple of one’s eye, come, across, carry out, cry over spilt milk, call a spade a spade, get rid of.

  1. If you join a club you have to __________ its rules.
  2. The youngest son was the _____ the mother’s eye.
  3. He had promised to help me, but _________ at the last moment.
  4. The servant ________ the master’s order.
  5. While reading the life history of reptiles, I ________ a very important detail about their food habits.
  6. An honest man never hesitates to ______.
  7. A man of action never __________.
  8. Thank God, he succeeded in ________ of his bad habits.
  9. Don’t _______ your efforts.
  10. Thanks to the excellent medical treatment, he _________ his illness.

Answer:

  1. abide by
  2. apple of’
  3. backed out
  4. carried out
  5. came across
  6. Call a spade a spade
  7. Cry over
  8. getting rid
  9. give up
  10. pulled through

KSEEB Solutions

A Lesson For Nakul Additional Questions and Answers

I. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

1. “Thanks, Akash! Your’s a real gem!”

Question a.
From which lesson is this line taken?
Answer:
A lesson for Nakul

Question b.
Who is the speaker here?
Answer:
Nakul.

Question c.
Why are exclamatory marks used here?
Answer:
Because Nakul was surprised when he played the role with enjoyment without any stop.

KSEEB Solutions

2. “I admire that plucky little fellow”.

Question a.
Who is the speaker here?
Answer:
Mr.Verghese

Question b.
Whom did he admire?
Answer:
Akash

Question c.
Why did he admire him?
Answer:
Because Akash was cheerful despite his lame leg.

KSEEB Solutions

3. I’m sorry for leaving you in a huff yesterday”.

Question a.
Who is the speaker here?
Answer:
Nakul.

Question b.
Who does ‘you’ refer to?
Answer:
Akash

Question c.
Why did he leave him?
Answer:
Because he had a tiff with Akash regarding the weather on the day of the picnic.

KSEEB Solutions

4. “I admire you despite your handicap”

Question a.
Who is the speaker?
Answer:
Nakul

Question b.
Who was he referring to?
Answer:
Akash

Question c.
What was his handicap?
Answer:
He had a lame leg.

KSEEB Solutions

5. “Though today is grim and grey, remember there’s tomorrow.

Question a.
Who is the speaker here?
Answer:
Akash’s grandmother.

Question b.
To whom was it said?
Answer:
To Akash

Question c.
Why was it said?
Answer:
Because Akash grandmother wanted him to be always brave and glad even though he was handicap. And not to repent about his disability.

KSEEB Solutions

A Lesson For Nakul Summary in English

The writer Neela Subramanian demonstrates how attitudes are responsible in achieving success or failure. Nakul was in class six. He was overconfident and always in a mess. He was not sure if he had finished doing and has not done things. His negative attitudes was hated by all. It annoyed everybody and he was always in trouble.

Akash was Nakul’s classmate. He was an handicap but he was optimistic courageous, generous and a sweet-natured boy. He was liked by all and a favorite to all his teachers for his admirable nature.

Akash would always counsel Nakul and fill him with positive approach. He helped Nakul overcome all odd situations. Thereby Nakul’s outlook on Akash began to change day by day. Initially Nakul hated Akash and felt jealous of Akash’s popularity later as he began to compare his approach towards situations with the positive approach of Akash he started liking him. Also, he overheard his teachers praising Akash and gradually Nakul started liking Akash.

He was glad that he befriended a good person like Akash. He admired his qualities. He asked Akash how could he be so cheerful despite his handicap. Akash replied that his grandmother taught him to accept the reality of life and learn to enjoy it. She had also advised him to spread the smile to others.

KSEEB Solutions

Glossary:

  • annoy: anger
  • awful: extremely bad or unpleasant
  • bracing: supportive, stimulating
  • console: give comfort or sympathy
  • dejectedly: looking depressed
  • fleeting: lasting for only a short time
  • gloomy: sad and depressed
  • mumble: speech that is not heard clearly
  • panic: great fear
  • relieve: lessen anxiety
  • reluctant: unwilling
  • retort quick or angry reply
  • sniff: drawing air in through the nose as one trying not to cry
  • startle: shock or surprise
  • tussle: struggle
  • wheedle: obtain something by being pleasant or flattering.

KSEEB Solutions