Practise Class 8 English Chapter 5 – Somebody’s Mother with this easy NCERT Poorvi worksheet. Includes important questions and revision exercises to help students understand the poem, revise key ideas and prepare effectively for tests and exams.
Class 8 English Poorvi
Worksheet – Somebody’s Mother
Poet: Mary Dow Brine
Instructions
- Read each question carefully.
- Answer all questions in complete sentences wherever required.
- Write neatly and clearly.
- Try to answer the questions without looking at the textbook.
Section A – Reading Comprehension
The woman was old and ragged and grey
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.
(a) How is the woman described in the extract?
(b) Why were the woman’s feet slow?
(c) What was the weather like?
(d) Find a word from the extract that means “old”.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
“I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go.”
(a) Who came to help the woman?
(b) What did the boy offer to do?
(c) How did the boy speak to the woman?
(d) Write one quality of the boy shown in these lines.
Section B – Multiple Choice Questions
A. She was waiting for her friends.
B. The street was slippery and there were carriages and horses.
C. She did not know the way.
D. She was looking for her son.
A. They helped her immediately.
B. They called the police.
C. They passed her without helping.
D. They took her home.
A. He had won a game.
B. He had strong feet and could help the woman.
C. His friends praised him.
D. He had reached home early.
A. His school
B. His friends
C. His own mother
D. His teacher
A. She went to school.
B. She prayed for the boy.
C. She met the other boys.
D. She returned to the crossing.
Section C – Very Short Answer Questions
Section D – Short Answer Questions
Section E – Vocabulary
| Words | Meanings |
|---|---|
| 1. ragged | a. hurried |
| 2. throng | b. old and torn |
| 3. heeded | c. a large crowd |
| 4. hastened | d. paid attention to |
| 5. trembling | e. shaking slightly |
- The woman was old and ____________ and grey.
- The street was wet with recent ____________.
- The woman’s feet were aged and ____________.
- The boy had a strong young ____________.
- The woman prayed for the ____________ boy.
| Word | Antonym |
|---|---|
| firm | ________________________ |
| merry | ________________________ |
| kind | ________________________ |
| anxious | ________________________ |
| bent | ________________________ |
Section F – Poetic Devices
(a) “Came the boys like a flock of sheep”
Poetic device: __________________________
(b) “somebody’s mother”
Poetic device: __________________________
(c) “merry troop”
Poetic device: __________________________
| Poetic Device | Example from the poem |
|---|---|
| Simile | ________________________________________ |
| Repetition | ________________________________________ |
| Alliteration | ________________________________________ |
Section G – Grammar and Language
- chill : winter :: heat : ____________
- hurt : harm :: old : ____________
- eyes : glance :: legs : ____________
- wealthy : money :: throng : ____________
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. lend a hand | a. applaud someone |
| 2. get out of hand | b. help someone |
| 3. give somebody a big hand | c. become difficult to control |
| 4. work hand in hand | d. work together |
- The boy was ____________ and helpful.
- The old woman was ____________ and helpless.
- The children were ____________ because school had ended.
- The boy felt ____________ after helping the woman.
Section H – Thinking and Reflection
Why do you think the poet wants us to see the old woman as “somebody’s mother”?
Section I – Creative Writing
Include:
- date and time
- the person you helped
- the situation
- what you did
- the person’s reaction
- your feelings
Section J – Value-Based Questions
Kindness / selfishness / empathy / carelessness / humanity / pride
Answer: ________________________________________________
Helping an elderly person is important because ________________________________________________________.
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
Section K – Higher Order Thinking Questions
Section L – Complete the Story
“I was returning home from school when I noticed an elderly man standing alone near the road. He looked worried because __________________________
Section M – Challenge Questions
A. The woman prayed for the boy.
B. The boy helped the woman cross the street.
C. The other boys passed the woman.
D. The boy thought about his mother.
E. The woman waited at the crossing.
Correct order: ____________________________________________
| Description | Word |
|---|---|
| A large crowd | ________________ |
| To hurry | ________________ |
| To help someone | ________________ |
| Shaking slightly | ________________ |
| Old and torn | ________________ |
Answer Key
Section A
Q1.
(a) She is old, ragged, grey, weak and slow.
(b) Because she was old and weak.
(c) It was cold and snowy.
(d) aged
Q2.
(a) One of the schoolboys came to help her.
(b) He offered to help her cross the street.
(c) He spoke softly and politely.
(d) Kindness.
Section B
Q3. B
Q4. C
Q5. B
Q6. C
Q7. B
Section C
Q8. She was standing at a street crossing.
Q9. They were busy playing and going home after school.
Q10. It means to help someone.
Q11. It makes us realise that the old woman is someone’s loved family member.
Q12. He placed her hand on his strong arm and guided her safely across.
Section D
Q13. The woman was old, poor, weak and slow. She was alone and afraid to cross the slippery street.
Q14. The other boys passed her without helping. The kind boy stopped, spoke to her and safely helped her cross.
Q15. He wanted his friends to understand that the old woman was somebody’s mother, just as his own mother was important to him.
Q16. We should be kind, caring and helpful towards elderly and helpless people.
Q17. The title reminds us that every elderly woman may be somebody’s mother and deserves love and respect.
Section E
Q18. 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a, 5-e
Q19. ragged, snow, slow, arm, noble
Q20.
firm – weak
merry – sad
kind – cruel
anxious – calm
bent – straight
Section F
Q21.
(a) Simile
(b) Repetition
(c) Alliteration
Q22.
Simile – “Came the boys like a flock of sheep”
Repetition – “somebody’s mother”
Alliteration – “merry troop”
Section G
Q23.
1. summer
2. aged
3. walk
4. crowd
Q24. 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d
Q25.
1. kind
2. old
3. merry
4. happy
Section H
Q26. The poet wants us to understand that the old woman is not just a stranger. She is someone’s mother and deserves care and respect.
Q27. She might have remained helpless at the crossing and could have fallen or been hurt while trying to cross.
Q28. I would stop and offer help to the woman instead of passing her.
Q29. I would like to develop kindness because helping others makes society caring and happy.
Section J
Q31. Kindness, empathy and humanity.
Q32. Helping an elderly person is important because they may need support, care and protection.
Q33. Sample answers:
- Help them carry heavy things.
- Help them cross a busy road safely.
- Speak to them politely and offer support.
Section K
Q34. It shows that he was naturally kind and empathetic. He helped because he understood that the woman needed support.
Q35. The sentence connects the old woman with every family. It reminds us that elderly people are loved members of someone’s family.
Q36. Using our strength to help others is important because strength becomes meaningful when it is used with kindness and responsibility.
Section M
Q38. E → C → B → D → A
Q39.
A large crowd – throng
To hurry – hasten
To help someone – lend a hand
Shaking slightly – trembling
Old and torn – ragged
Worksheet
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