NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 7 A Visit to Cambridge
Comprehension Check (Page 97)
Which is the right sentence?
Question 1:
“Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.
(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.
Answer:
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.
Question 2:
The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
(i) from the nearest phone booth.
(ii) from outside a phone booth.
(iii) from inside a phone booth.
Answer:
(ii) from outside a phone booth.
Question 3:
Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
(i) he wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
(iii) he was face to face with a legend.
Answer:
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
Question 4:
“I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
(ii) standing up, walking.
(iii) speaking, writing.
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
Answer:
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
Working with the text (Page 97-98)
Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
(i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Answer:
(i) The writer felt nervous because he was doubtful whether he would be granted the interview.
(ii) He felt excited at the same time because he had been there to see Prof. Hawking for half an hour.
Question 2:
Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Answer:
The writer’s first question might be about Hawking’s disability and how he had accepted it.
Question 3:
Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
Answer:
Living creatively with the reality of his weakening body was a choice.
Question 4:
“I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Answer:
Prof. Hawking’s mind was full of great ideas but he couldn’t speak them out clearly and forcefully.
Question 5:
What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
Answer:
When the writer asks Stephen Hawking if he was disturbed by someone like him. Hawking replied to him very honestly and told him that he was disturbed by the writer. Then, he gave a one-way smile and this is what endeared the writer.
Question 6:
Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Answer:
The most beautiful sentence which describes Hawking’s inner glow and makes his disability look irrelevant is: “before you like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin, you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man”.
Question 7:
(i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
Answer:
(i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, its ‘walls’ would refer to the structure of the human body.
(ii) The light of life is housed within the thin walls of the external structure.
(iii) The author implies that inside the human body, there is an eternal soul, which is the incandescence of a man. The outer physical structure is nothing more than just an accessory.
Question 8:
What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Answer:
Stephen Hawking gave a message to the disabled that they should concentrate on things which they are good at. They should be grateful to God and make the best use of their abilities. They should not set impossible goals for themselves.
Question 9:
Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Answer:
Stephen Hawking believed that the disabled should concentrate on things they are good at and that events like the disabled Olympics are a waste. The writer agreed with him because he himself tried to play Spanish Guitar for years and failed as it was larger than himself. The writer recalled being very happy when finally one night he unstrung it.
Question 10:
The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is gratitude for?
Answer:
The writer felt inspired by Stephen Hawking and expressed his gratitude towards him. He thought that Hawking was a very brave person and he himself could have been as brave as Hawking, he would have achieved so much. He felt stronger after meeting with Hawking and it made him realize that even he could do great things in life.
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