KSEEB 8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Summary Questions and Answers

Pre-reading task:

I. What would your reaction be when a stranger speaks to you?
Answer:
I would be very uncomfortable to talk with strangers.

Is it advisable to speak to strangers?
Answer:
It is advisable to refrain from speaking with strangers unless it is necessary.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

Textbook Questions and Answers

I. Comprehension Answer the following questions in two or three sentences each.

Question 1.
What was Arun doing all alone on the platform? Why?
Answer:
Arun was waiting for the north-bound train on the platform. He was alone because his parents felt that he, being 12 years old was big enough to travel on his own.

Question 2.
What normally happens when a train arrives at the platform?
Answer:
Whenever a train arrives at the platform, there is an inferno of heaving and shouting from the agitated passengers

Question 3.
“Are you all alone, my son?” How did Arun react when he heard the voice of a stranger? Why?
Answer:
When Arun heard the voice of the stranger, he looked up to see who it was. He found a lady clad in a white saree, without any ornaments standing near him. She looked so dignified and commanded respect, that he stood up respectfully.

Question 4.
How did the bond between Arun and the stranger develop?
Answer:
During the course of the conversation that they had over tea, Arun felt so comfortable with her that he told her all about his school, friends, and his likes and dislikes. The women seemed to enjoy the way Arun was relishing his snacks and tea that it seemed to cement a bond between them.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

Question 5.
What was the reason behind Arun’s instinctive dislike towards Satish’s mother?
Answer:
Satish’s mother was a large imposing lady. She was impatient and seemed to grumble at everything. She was also suspicious about strangers and constantly kept warning Arun about them. Probably due to these attitudes he developed an instinctive dislike for Satish’s mother.

Question 6.
Why did Arun say “I like strangers”?
Answer:
When Arun compared the two ladies standing near him, he found that the stranger was better and kinder than Satish’s mother. He had also developed an instinctive dislike for Satish’s mother. Therefore, he must have impulsively said that.

Question 7.
How did Satish and Arun react to the advice of Satish’s mother saying “Never talk to strangers”?
Answer:
Arun glared resentfully at her and moved closer to the woman in the white saree. Satish who was standing behind his mother, enjoyed the verbal clash between his friend and his mother.

Question 8.
What did Satish’s mother give and say to Satish as a parting advice?
Answer:
Satish’s mother gave him a bag of fruits, a cricket bat and a box of chocolates and advised him to share them with Arun. She also advised him not to stick his head out of the window and not to eat any rubbish on his way.

Question 9.
Why didn’t Satish’s mother think Arun’s ‘mother’, a very capable person?
Answer:
Satish’s mother thought that Arun’s mother was incapable because she spoke very little and was dressed in a simple white saree wearing no jewels.

Question 10.
How did Arun repay the strange woman for her goodness?
Answer:
Arun expressed his gratitude to the kind woman by kissing her on her cheek.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

II. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
“She drew me out very well”
(i) Who is the speaker?
Answer:
Arun is the speaker.

(ii) What do you mean by the above sentence?
Answer:
It means that she encouraged him to talk freely.

Question 2.
“Yes, I am Arun’s mother”.
(i) Who is the speaker?
Answer:
The lady in a white saree is the speaker.

(ii) What do you think is the reason behind the speaker saying so?
Answer:
She said the above sentence so that Arun wouldn’t be embarrassed to state that he was traveling alone.

Question 3.
“These days one has to be very careful of strangers”.
(i) Who said these words?
Answer:
Satish’s mother said those words.

(ii). Why did the speaker say so?
Answer:
Satish’s mother felt that all stangers were suspicious characters. Therefore she said the above sentence.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

III. Complete the following:

Question 1.
Mention three things that Arun liked about this woman.
Answer:
She was quiet, kind and gentle.

Question 2.
Mention three things that made Arun dislike Satish’s mother
Answer:
Her imposing personality, nagging advice and impatience irritated Arun.

IV. Work in pairs and complete the table:

8th English The Woman on Platform Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary 1

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

V. Listening: (Words describing the two women)

Satish’s mother  Stranger
Large and imposing, impatient, frustrated, suspicious, stern, commanding, demanding, admonishing. Soft spoken, simple, pale face, dark eyes, serene, gentle, quiet, kind, supportive, encouraging, concerned, compassionate.

VI. Speaking:

Question 1.
Why do you think Arun was allowed to travel alone?
Answer:
Arun was allowed to travel alone because being 12 years old, his parents felt that he was old enough to travel alone. Moreover, as it was his second year at the boarding school his parents were confident that he was familiar with the route and wouldn’t get lost.

Question 2.
What might be the reason behind the lady’s adoption of a mother’s role?
Answer:
The lady was probably concerned about the safety of a lonely child on a railway platform, late in the night.

Question 3.
Why do you think the strange ‘mother’ was in a white saree? What would be your reaction when you see a person in white saree especially during night time?
Answer:
The lady could probably be a widow or a Christian missionary. When we see a lady in a white saree in the night she is assumed to be a ghost.

Question 4.
Imagine that the stranger in a white saree is a ghost. How will you change the ending of the story?
Answer:
She would turn into a ghost and attack Aran, Satish and his mother. Seeing this the others would flee.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

VII. Rearrange according to the sequence of the lesson:

1. I looked straight into the eyes of the woman who held my hand, and she smiled in a gentle understanding way.

2. I had already forgiven her for lying; and besides, I had taken an instinctive dislike to Satish’s mother.

3. She stood there on the busy platform; a pale sweet woman in white, and I watched her until she was lost in the milling crowd.

4. Now tired of this game and of ambling about the platform, I sat down on my suitcase and gazed dismally across the railway-tracks.

5. She drew me out very well, and I had soon forgotten than we were strangers.

6. She allowed me to share the benefit of her advice, as the probably didn’t think my “mother” a very capable person.

7. We placed ourselves at the open windows, and the two women stood outside on the platform talking up to us.

8. She told a coolie to look after my suitcase, and then she led me away down the platform.

9. I looked from Satish’s mother to the woman who had given me tea and sweets and then back at Satish’s mother.

10. Satish was standing behind his mother, grinning at me, delighting in my clash with his mother.
Answer:

  1. – 4,
  2. – 8,
  3. – 5,
  4. – 2,
  5. – 9,
  6. – 10,
  7. – 7,
  8. – 6,
  9. – 1,
  10. – 3

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

VIII. We use reporting verbs which summarise what was communicated while we change the speech. Some of the verbs which are commonly used are:
Warn, ask, answer, promise, sympathise, refuse, regret, explain, request, blame, advise, apologise, order, greet, suggest, invite, encourage, say, congratulate, declare, announce, instruct etc.
Write appropriate statements as response to the questions with the help of the examples and clues given.
8th English The Woman on Platform Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary 2
8th English The Woman on Platform Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary 3
advise: She advised me to wash my hands before eating.
regret: The student regretted the mistake he had committed.
invite: The girl invited me to her house.
warn: The mother warned me not to go out of the house in the night.
enquire: The stranger enquired about the whereabouts of my residence. The stranger enquired where my house was.
request: The girl requested me to lend her my book.
exclaim: The boy exclaimed with sorrow that his pet parrot has died.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

IX. Read the conversation and complete the following:

1. (i) Ranani told Sorru that their iaesv servant had a tendency to steal things.
(ii) Somu asked Ramani if anything was missing.
(iii) Rarnani answered that he had stolen one of their blankets.
(iv) Somu farther asked her which one and Ramani replied that it was the one they had taken from Hotel Palm Beach.

2. (i) The child told the balloon man that he wanted a balloon which he could release into the air.
(ii) The balloon man asked him for the colour of the balloon he wanted/ The balloon man asked him which colour balloon he wanted.
(iii) The child asked him which colour balloon would take him up with it.
(iv) The balloon man told him that it was not the colour of the balloon but what was inside it, that made it go up.

3. (i) Father asked Ashwin why he was late from school the previous day.
(ii) Ashwin replied that there was a friendly football match between their school and GL K. Public School.
(iii) Father asked why he hadn’t informed them earlier.
(iv) Ashwin replied that the phone at home . kept ringing but nobody picked up the phone.

4. (i) The man scolded the servant for becoming very lazy those days.
(ii) He questioned him why he didn’t get the breakfast ready by 8 O’clock.
(iii) The servant apologized to him respectfully and explained that he couldn’t prepare the breakfast on time because he got up very late.
(iv) The man asked him if he hadn’t set the alarm before going to bed.
(v) The servant answered humbly that he had forgotten to wind the clock.

5. (i) The applicant replied that the earlier job didn’t meet with his requirements.
(ii) The employer further enquired what salary he expected at this place.
(iii) The applicant told him that he was expecting ₹ 5000 per month.
(iv) The employer concluded by saying that they could pay him just ₹ 3000 per month.

6. (i) A customer went up to a sales man and asked for a good cap.
(ii) The sales man asked him politely what type of cap he wanted.
(iii) The customer replied that he wanted one that covered the face.
(iv) The sales man on hearing the request said that what he wanted wasn’t a cap but a mask.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

X. Writing:

5.00 p.m to 7.00 p.m: Reached Ambala station; paced up and down the platform for sometime,

7.00 p.m to 9.00 p.m: Browsed through books at the book-stall, watched the behaviour of the passengers.

9.00 p.m to 11.00 p.m: Fed biscuit pieces to stray dogs. Observed trains arriving, passengers rushing about, the nervous Ticket collector and then the silence.

11.00 p.m to 12.00 p.m: Met a lady in a white saree, who looked dignified, commanding respect; offered me samosa, jalebies and tea; Satish came along with his mother. The stranger introduced herself as my ‘mother’ to them. Satish’s mother kept talking all the time about the train delay, to be wary of strangers etc.

Train arrived and we boarded the train. Satish was given fruits, a cricket bat and chocolates. His mother advised Satish to share the sweets with me and not to eat any rubbish on the way. The ‘mother’ held my hand. I let her do it. As a token of gratitude for her kindness to a lonely boy on a railway platform, I kissed her on her cheek when the train was about the leave.

XI. Pronunciation:

Mark the stress for the following words:

ag’itated,       am’bling,             in‘femo
sere’nity        co‘mmanded,      suspi’cion
impo’sing      con’tradicted       pa’tronizing

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

Grammar

XII. Direct and Indirect speech :
Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech.

(i) He said, “Amuda was dancing.”
Answer:
He said that Amuda had been dancing.

(ii) My servant says, “Tea is ready.”
Answer:
My servant says that tea is ready.

(iii) “I never eat meat,” he explained.
Answer:
He explained that he never eats meat.

(iv) “I have found a flat,” he said.
Answer:
He said that he had found a flat.

(v) She said,” We will discuss the matter tomorrow”.
Answer:
She said that they would discuss the matter the next day.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

Additional Questions with Answers

Rewrite as directed

Question 1.
Arun is the best bowler in the class, (into other degrees on camparison)
Answer:
Arun is better than any other bowler in the class. – Comparative degree.
No other bowler in the class is as good as Arun. – Positive degree.

Question 2.
Arun fed broken biscuits to the stray dogs. (Change the voice)
Answer:
Broken biscuits were fed to the stray dogs by Arun.
The stray dogs were fed broken biscuits, by Arun.

Question 3.
She ordered samosas, jalebee and tea. (Change the voice)
Answer:
Samosa, jalebee and tea were.ordered by her.

Question 4.
Read the statement and answer the questions that follow:
1. “Come on, this is empty.’ What was empty?
Answer:
The compartment was empty.

2. Where were they going ?
Answer:
They were going back to their boarding school.

Question 5.
Change into indirect speech:
“Did you know that we have a new Head Master this year,” said Satish to Arun.
Answer:
Satish asked Arun if he knew that they have a new Head Master that year.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

II. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1.
Arun was waiting for the north-bound train at the ______________ station.
Answer:
Ambala

Question 2.
You are traveling alone, (add a suitable question tag)
Answer:
Aren’t you?

Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
How did Arun spend his time at the railway station?
Answer:
Most of the time Arun spent by pacing up and down on the platform. He browsed through the books that he saw at the book-stall. He also fed broken biscuits to stray dogs.

Question 2.
What do you think might have been the intention of the stranger on the platform when she befriended Arun?
Answer:
She appeared to be genuinely concerned about a lonely child at night on a railway platform. She was probably worried about his safety and stayed with him till his train arrived.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

Question 3.
Why does Arun remember the lady whom he met on the platform?
Answer:
Arun was moved by the kindness that he experienced from the stranger and cherished those memories. Arun’s reminiscence can be summarized in the famous proverb ‘Actions speak louder than words’. He was touched by her actions and therefore remembered her so vividly.

The Woman on Platform Lesson Summary in English

It’s a fascinating story of how encounters with strangers at times, can leave a lasting impression.

Arun from a boarding school was waiting on platform 8 at Ambala station for his train which was due to arrive at 12 midnight. He was travelling alone as his parents felt that, being 12 years old, he was big enough to travel alone. He spent his time pacing up and down on the platform and observing the behaviour of the people.

He befriended a lady clad in a simple white saree and with no jewellery. She enquired of him; if he was traveling alone and about the time his train was due. As there was another hour for the train to arrive, she asked Arun to have something to eat with her. Though he was reluctant and shy at the j beginning, he was impressed by her kindness and dignity that he obliged.

She asked a coolie to take care of his luggage while they had something to eat. She bought him samosas, jalebies and tea. Arun I felt very comfortable with her that he told her all about his school, friends, his likes and dislikes. She spoke very little and seemed to enjoy the way he ate so hungrily that it seemed to cement their relationship.

They returned to the platform, where he met his classmate Satish who had come with his mother. She was a large imposing woman. During the course of the conversation, the lady in the white saree stated that she was Arun’s mother. Arun disliked the imposing and suspicious attitude of Satish’s mother. He felt more drawn towards the lady in the white saree.

The train finally arrived and the boys boarded the train. Satish was loaded with fruits and sweets. When the guard blew the whistle the ‘mother’ held his hand.Overcome with emotion and to express his gratitude to that lady who had fed a lonely boy on t a station-platform, he kissed her on her cheek.

8th English The Woman on Platform 8 Lesson Notes Question Answer Summary

The Woman on Platform Lesson Word in English

  • encounter = a meeting, especially sudden or hostile
  • nervous = afraid, not confident.
  • gazed = to look long and steadily at something
  • dignity = a calm or a serious manner or style.
  • suspicion = the feeling or thought, without certain proof that somebody is guilty of something imposing =
  • impressive in appearance and manner.
  • obviously = easily seen or understood. Seen
  • grinning = to smile widely especially with the mouth open.
  • clanged = a loud ringing sound of metal being struck
  • resignedly = having or showing patient acceptance of something unpleasant
  • bustling = to move or make somebody move in a busy or hurried way.

 8th Standard English Notes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *