KSEEB 8th English The Broken Gate Lesson Lesson Notes Summary Questions and Answers
Pre-reading tasks:
Read the following sentences and write down what you would do in these situations:
a. The teacher asks those students to stand up who have not completed the notes.
Answer:
If I have not completed the notes, I would stand up.
b. A friend asks if he can copy your answers while writing a test.
Answer:
I would be reluctant to show it to him,
c. You have borrowed your friend’s notebook and lost it.
Answer:
I would make a copy of the notes for him.
d. You find a one thousand rupee note in the corridor of the school.
Answer:
I would hand it over to the Principal.
e. You promised your parents that you would clean your room, but you watched your favourite program on TV instead.
Answer:
I would feel guilty and ashamed with my behaviour. I would apologise and complete the task.
f. The shop keeper charges you for three cricket bats when you have bought only two cricket bats.
Answer:
I would inform him about the mistake and ask for a refund.
Textbook Questions and Answers
I. Comprehension:
A. Answer in two / three sentences each:
Question 1.
Why did the old man Twinkle need a boy?
Answer:
The old man Twinkle needed a boy to help him in his shop. He needed a boy who could drive Jenny, his pony, to take his goods in a cart for deliveries.
Question 2.
When did all the boys go to Mr. Twinkle and what did Mr. Twinkle say?
Answer:
The boys went to Mr. Twinkle in the evening after school. Mr. Tinkle asked them to play in the yard, as he was busy. He told them that he would call them after a while.
Question 3.
What did all the boys do in front of the house?
Answer:
The boys saw an enormous wooden yard gate swinging to and fro in the wind. So they climbed on it. They pretended to ride it like a horse and make it gallop.
Question 4.
What did all the boys decide to tell the old man if he asked about the broken gate?
Answer:
The boys decided to say nothing to Mr. Twinkle about the broken gate and pretend ignorance.
Question 5.
Why didn’t Jack go back home with the other boys?
Answer:
Jack couldn’t go back home with the other boys because he was worried about the . broken gate. He stayed back to see if he could fix it.
Question 6.
How did the gate break down according to Jack?
Answer:
According to Jack, the gate broke down while he was swinging on it. When Mr. Twinkle frowned at his answer, Jack reluctantly told the truth.
Question 7.
Jack started in surprise. What made Jack stare at Mr. Twinkle in surprise?
Answer:
Jack knew that he was not taller or clever than his friends. Therefore when Mr. Twinkle announced that he had selected Jack for the job, Jack stared at Mr. Twinkle in surprise.
Question 8.
Who was finally chosen to help the old man Twinkle? Why?
Answer:
Jack was finally chosen to help the old man Tinkle because he found Jack loyal, brave enough to own up when things went wrong and was truthful.
Question 9.
What is Jack doing now?
Answer:
Jack is now the head of the shop.
B. Answer in five / six sentences each:
Question 1.
How did the boys break the gate?
Answer:
Four boys had approached Mr. Twinkle for a job. Jack the smallest had also gone along. As Mr. Twinkle was busy, he asked them to play in the yard till they were called. In the yard the boys saw a huge yard gate swinging in the breeze. They all decided to ride it like a horse. All the boys climbed on it. The gate being old, could not hold the weight of the boys and broke.
Question 2.
Why did Jack think they ought to tell about the broken gate to the old man Twinkle?
Answer:
Jack, probably being brought up well, with good moral discipline told his friends that it was cowardly not to inform Mr. Twinkle about the broken gate. His mother had also said that it was right to own up at once, when a thing went wrong or when a mistake was committed. Therefore Jack felt that they ought to tell about the broken gate to Mr. Twinkle.
Question 3.
What qualities of Jack do you like the most?
Answer:
Jack was a brave boy. He was also simple, unassuming, truthful and a responsible boy. He was also loyal to his friends. I like all these qualities of Jack.
Question 4.
How would Jack overcome his weaknesses according to Mr. Twinkle?
Answer:
According to Mr. Twinkle, Jack would grow up taller, if he daily ate the pudding prepared by his wife. The nourishment that he would receive would make his brains grow too and he would become clever. As for his old clothes, Jack could buy new ones . with the money he would get as pocket money. Mr. Twinkle felt that with all these, Jack could easily overcome his weaknesses.
Question 5.
What made Mr. Twinkle choose Jack for the job?
Answer:
Mr. Twinkle wanted someone for the job who would be loyal, brave and truthful. Mr. Tinkle found that loyalty in Jack when he defended his friends. He exhibited bravery and truthfulness when he owned up to Mr. Twinkle about the broken gate. Therefore Jack was selected for the job.
C. Answer in ten / fifteen sentences each:
Question 1.
How did Jack win the heart of Mr. Twinkle?
Answer:
With his simplicity, braveiy and loyalty Jack won over the heart of Mr. Twinkle. Jack wore very simple clothes and so was his mannerism. He exhibited bravery and truthfulness when he courageously told Mr.Twinkle the truth. Loyalty was exhibited when he tried to defend his friends. By exhibiting those inherent qualities unknowingly, he won over the heart of Mr. Twinkle.
Question 2.
How did a helper boy become an owner of the shop?
Answer:
Once, a poor boy went to Mr. Twinkle along with his friends, who were seeking a job. While they were waiting for Mr. Twinkle to call them, they played in the yard and rode on the yard gate like a horse. But the weight of the boys being too heavy, the gate collapsed. During the interview with Mr. Twinkle none of the boys spoke about the gate.
They pretended to be unaware about the gate. Jack was unable to go back home with his friends because he was guilty about the gate. He later owned up to Mr. Twinkle about the gate. Mr. Twinkle appreciated his honesty, loyalty, and bravery. He was offered the job as a helper. Those qualities made him the owner of the shop later.
II. Activities:
Question 1.
“Honesty is the best policy” Write a paragraph about this topic.
Answer:
It is true that honesty is the best policy. Today, we see many things around us which are not honest. Many persons are dishonest. Dishonesty may shine for some time. It may earn money, power and followers. But all this is for a short time. Honesty is courageous, dishonesty is a coward. Honesty is bound to shine after the night of dishonesty. There is no place for dishonest people on the earth.
They lose the battle in the end. Only an honest person can win a place in the hearts of people. Double-faced men get temporary respect but they are thrown out of people’s hearts. Dishonesty cannot face the reality. It has to say hundred lies to hide one act of dishonesty. Therefore, honesty is the best policy.
Question 2.
Your teacher will read aloud a story of “The Angel and the Wood cutter”. Listen carefully and re-write it in form of dialogues.
Begin the story like this and complete it:
Answer:
Once upon a time there was an honest wood cutter. One day while he was cutting a branch of a tree, his axe fell into the river .when he cried out, an angel appeared:
Angel: “Why are you crying?”
Wood cutter: “My axe has fallen into the river.”
The Angel went down into the stream and reappeared with a golden axe.
Angel: “Is this your axe?”
Wood cutter: “No, it is not mine.
The angel went into the stream once again and brought a silver axe.
Angel: Is this your axe?
Woodcutter: No. it is not mine. My axe is a simple one
The angel went into the stream once again and reappeared with a wooden axe.
Angel: Is this your axe?
Woodcutter: Yes, this is my axe. Thank you for helping me to get
(happily) it back
Angel: I am the goddess of this river. I am pleased with your honesty. As a reward for vour honesty. I am gifting you the other two axes as well.
So saying, the angel gives the golden and the silver axe also to the wood cutter and disappears.
III. Class activity
a. Stage a role play of the above situation: Class activity
b. Read to know: Class activity
Additional Questions with Answers
I. Choose the correct answer from the four options given and answer the questions:
Question 1.
the boys liked to w ork for Mr. Twinkle because,
(a) they could cheat him, for he was old.
(b) He paid them a good salary.
(c) He was generous and kind.
(d) The shop was near their school.
Answer:
(c) He was generous and kind.
Question 2.
Jack was chosen for the job by Mr. Twinkle because
(a) He was their relative.
(b) He was the cleverest boy of the town
(c) He was loyal, truthful and brave
(d) He could ride a pony
Answer:
(c) He was loyal, truthful and brave
The Broken Gate Lesson Summary in English
‘Honesty will always be rewarded’ is the message of the lesson.
Mr. Twinkle wanted a helper in his shop. He wanted someone who could ride his pony Jenny, as most of his goods were taken around In his cart. Mr. Twinkle therefore, put up a notice outside his shop regarding the job offer, especially for boys who could work after school hours. A few boys who saw this notice decided to give it a try. Along with them was Jack, the smallest of all the boys and probably the poorest, for he wore ragged clothes.
When they approached Mr. Twinkle for the job, he asked them to play in the yard for sometime as he was busy. He said that he would call for them. So the boys went into the yard. There they saw an enormous yard gate swinging in the breeze. They decided to ride it like a horse. All the boys climbed on to the gate.
The gate could not hold their weight as it was old and it broke away at the hinges. They decided not to tell Mr. Twinkle anything about the broken gate but not Jack. He told them that it was cowardly not to own up a mistake.
Mr. Twinkle called them in and interviewed them one by one. When he questioned them about the broken gate, they pretended to be unaware of it. The boys were sent away, stating that they would be informed about his choice later. All the boys went home except Jack.
He went up to the gate to see if he could fix it. Mr.Twinkle called him and asked him if he was one of the boys who had come for the job. Jack replied that as he was small in stature, not clever enough and had only ragged clothes, he was unfit for the job.
Mr. Twinkle then asked him if he knew anything about the broken gate. In order to defend his friends, Jack said that the gate broke when he was swinging on it. Mr. Twinkle did not believe his answer so Jack told him the truth. Jack also asked Mr. Twinkle not to be harsh with those boys but to offer the job to one of them as they were really good. Then Mr. Twinkle told Jack that he had selected him.
Jack was assured that with a little nourishment, he would grow taller and cleverer. Mr. Twinkle also told him that he could buy good clothes with the pocket money that he got. Later, he told Jack the reason for selecting him. Jack was appreciated for his courage, honesty as well as loyalty.
Jack, today is the head of the shop, all because he was honest about a broken gate.