Chapter 12 Waiting for the Rain Question Answer

Waiting for the Rain Question Answer – Let us do these activities before we read (Page 185)

I. Have you ever waited for the rains? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I have been waiting for the rain, especially on scorching summer days. After a long, scorching spell, the rain makes things cool and fresh. It also helps trees and plants develop well.

II. How do you feel when it rains after a long time?
Answer:
When it rains after a long time, I feel great and new. The scent of the first rain, the sound of rainfall, and the cool wind make me feel happy and calm.

III. Why do you think the farmers wait for the rains?
Answer:
Farmers need rain to water their plants. Their farms stay dry without rain, thus they can not grow food. That is why rain is so vital for their lives and their jobs.

IV. Discuss in groups what happens when you wait for something or someone for a long period of time.
1. How do you spend the waiting period?
2. What do you think about?
3. How do you feel?
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer:
1. I try to stay calm and do other activities like reading, listening to music, or just watching the surroundings while waiting.
2. I think about when the person or thing will arrive and whether everything will go as expected.
3. Sometimes I feel anxious or impatient, but I also feel hopeful and excited, depending on the situation.
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Waiting for the Rain Class 8 Question Answer – Let us discuss (Page 188)

I. Complete the table given below. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer:

II. Do you think the old woman would help Velu? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer:
Yes, the old woman helps Velu, but not by bringing him rain. Instead, she gives him a new way to think. She tells him that the land, like people, needs rest, which makes Velu feel better and gives him hope when he feels hopeless.

III. Will Velu’s wait continue or will it rain?
Answer:
Velu will not have to wait long. At the end of the novel, clouds start to form and rain starts to fall, which means that rain has finally come, making Velu happy and relieved.

Class 8 English Waiting for the Rain Question Answer – Let us discuss (Page 191)

I. Complete the following statements given below with suitable reasons.
1. Velu asked the old woman to stop smiling because _________________.
2. Velu said that it was hard not being able to work since_________________.
3. Velu was confused when the old lady said that the land needed rest because _________________.
4. The old lady said that it was good for the land when it didn’t rain as _________________
5. Velu ran home laughing and happy because _________________.
Answer:
1. There was no rain, and he thought there was nothing to grin about at such a hard time.

2. He had been working nonstop for six years and could not stand to do nothing.

3. He never thought of land as something that needed to rest as people do.

4. It gave the soil a break and time to recover after being farmed for so long.

5. He felt the cold breeze and saw showers, which made him realize that the rain he had been waiting for had finally come.

Waiting for the Rain Class 8 Questions and Answers – Let us think and reflect (Pages 191-193)

I. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
1. “…Ican’t see how talking to astrologers will bring rain. ”
He decided to go to the weather office in the city and talk to someone. But the people at the weather office said they couldn’t really tell him when the sky would gather clouds and bring rain. “We are at a loss ourselves!” they exclaimed. “So many favourable conditions but still no rain. Very odd!”
(i) What does the fist line of the extract tell us about Velu’s beliefs?
Answer:
It shows that Velu is a smart and sensible guy. He does not believe in astrology or superstitions.

(ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
Velu is determined to seek information about the rain because ___________________. (he was at a loss of words/he wants to find a practical solution to the drought affcting his farm)
Answer:
he wants to find a practical solution to the drought affecting his farm.

(iii) Complete the table with reference to Velu’s weather offi visit.

Answer:

(iv) Complete the following sentence with a suitable option.
The absence of rain despite favourable conditions, shows _________________.
A. lack of astrological knowledge
B. ineffectiveness of farmers like Velu
C. delay in understanding the weather
D. unpredictability of nature
Answer:
D. unpredictability of nature

2. “The soil, the land, the earth… shouldn’t someone let the land rest a bit?” the old woman said, softly, smiling.
“Rest? Let the land rest? I don’t understand, ” Velu looked at her, a little puzzled.
“Yes, my son, that is the difficulty. You don’t realise that the earth is old…”

(i) The old woman’s advice was accompanied with a soft tone and a smile. What does that tell us about her?
Answer:
It shows that she is smart, kind, and peaceful. She speaks in a gentle, caring, and understanding way.

(ii) Fill in the blank with the correct option from those given below.
The old woman’s advice _________________
Velu, at that moment.
A. failed to impress
B. confused
C. scared
D. made sense to
Answer:
B. confused

(iii) State one thing about the old woman when she referred to Velu as ‘my son’, while offering advice.
Answer:
It shows that the old woman was loving, motherly, and caring toward Velu.

(iv) Complete the following sentence with a suitable explanation.
The ‘difficulty’ that the old woman mentions is due to the fact that _________________
Answer:
People like Velu do not get that the earth needs to relax after being used all the time.

II. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
How does the old woman convey Nature’s wisdom to Velu?
Answer:
The old woman says that the soil needs time to heal, just like people do. She is the earth, and she shows that it has worked for hundreds of years and needs to be able to breathe and heal.

Question 2.
The writer says, The fields lay untended…’ Why couldn’t the farmers tend to their fields in the absence of rain?
Answer:
The ground got dry, cracked, and hard when it did not rain. It was not able to plow, plant seeds, or cultivate any crops. So, the farmers could not take care of their farms.

Question 3.
Support the old woman’s perspective that the land needs rest just like people do.
Answer:
Like people who labor all the time get tired, the soil also gets tired from being cultivated all the time. Letting it sit helps it get back nutrients and water. This break helps the crops grow better later on.

Question 4.
What can be inferred about Velu’s character based on his reaction to the drought?
Answer:
Velu works hard, is honest, and has a strong connection to his land. When he can not work, he feels helpless and scared. His actions prove that he is responsible and sensible, even though he was impatient at first.

Question 5.
What does the story suggest about the life of farmers and their relationship with nature?
Answer:
The narrative indicates that farmers are well aware of how nature works. Rain is one of the natural phenomena that keeps them alive. It also says that farmers need to learn to respect the cycles of nature, which include times of rest.

Question 6.
How might the rest and care of land contribute to a balanced and sustainable ecosystem?
Answer:
Resting the ground keeps the soil from being too dry, keeps moisture in, and helps keep it fertile. This approach helps crops grow in a healthy way and makes sure they will be productive for a long time, which is good for the environment.

Waiting for the Rain Question Answer Class 8 – Let us learn (Pages 193-197)

I. Solve a crossword using picture and word clues. All clues are related to the words from the text that are connected to weather or agriculture.

Answer:

II. The text uses words like ‘piece,’ “weather,’ ‘son,’ and ‘rain’. These words are the same as other words that are spelt differently— peace, whether, sun, and reign.
Words that are pronounced the same as other words but differ in meaning or in spelling are called homophones.
Now, complete the paragraph by filling in the correct option of homophones given in the brackets.

The farmer looked at the sky and wondered 1. ________________ (weather/whether) the clouds would fially bring rain. He sat down on the ground, breaking a small 2. ________________ (piece/peace) of roti for his meal. The 3. ________________ (plain/plane) filds stretched endlessly before him, completely dry. He thought about how he could 4. ________________ (sell/cell) his last sack of grain to buy some essentials for his family. Without the rains, it didn’t 5. ________________ (seam/seem) possible to grow another crop this season. Despite his worries, he smiled, knowing that every farmer hopes for the next 6. ________________ (rain/reign) by nature to bring life back to the land.
Answer:
1. whether
2. piece
3. plain
4. sell
5. seem
6. rain

III. Choose the correct meanings from the given options for the underlined words or phrases in the following sentences.
1. Being annoyed, she muttered something which nobody heard.
(i) spoke in a low voice
(ii) spoke slowly
(iii) spoke angrily
Answer:
(i) spoke in a low voice

2. At the new work place, Riya felt forlorn for a week.
(i) upset and irritated
(ii) angry and bitter
(iii) sad and neglected
Answer:
(iii) sad and neglected

3. When all his friends had gone, he was at a loss because he did not know what to do. .
(i) confused
(ii) shocked
(iii) lonely
Answer:
(i) confused

4. When the little child saw her father, her eyes sparkled.
(i) glowed dimly
(ii) showed joy
(iii) opened wide
Answer:
(ii) showed joy

IV. Match each word (adjective) in Column 1 with a word (noun) that collocates in Column 2. Write the adjective-noun collocation in Column 3. One example has been done for you.

Answer:

V. Underline the verbs and identify the forms of tenses for the following sentences from the text.
1. Oh, it is hard not to be able to work…
2. …I am too old.
3. What are you smiling at, Amma?
4. But my son, that is what I am talking about.
5. The earth has worked for years, centuries…
6. I have worked hard and honestly.
Answer:
1. Oh, it is hard not to be able to work…
(Simple Present)
2. …I am too old. (Simple Present)
3. What are you smiling at, Amma? (Present Progressive)
4. But my son, that is what I am talking about. (Present Progressive)
5. The earth has worked for years, centuries… (Present Perfect)
6. I have worked hard and honestly. (Present Perfect)

The forms of tenses in the given statements are Simple Present Tense (1 and 2), Present Progressive Tense (3 and 4) Present Perfect Tense (5 and 6).
Now, fill in the blanks with the correct form of Simple Present, Present Progressive or Present Perfect tenses of the verbs given in brackets.
Ravi (i) __________ (be) a farmer who (ii) __________ (practise) crop rotation on his land. Each season, he (iii) __________ (plant) different crops to maintain the soil’s health. This year, he (iv) __________ (grow) legumes, which help restore the nutrients in the soil. Over the years, Ravi (v) __________ (learn) that planting the same crop repeatedly (vi) __________ (deplete) the soil, making it less fertile. By rotating crops, he (vii) __________ (keep) the land productive and fertile. He (viii) __________ (see) a noticeable improvement in his yields since adopting this method. Now, Ravi (ix) __________ (share) his knowledge with other farmers, explaining how crop rotation(x) __________ (benefit) both the soil and their harvests.
Answer:
(i) is
(ii) practices
(iii) plants
(iv) will grow
(v) has learnt
(vi) depletes
(vii) keeps
(viii) has seen
(ix) is sharing
(x) benefits

VI. Study the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text.

• The rains came all these years without any such consultations.
• So many favourable conditions, but still no rain.
• Every day they hoped that the rains would come.
• But this year turned out to be diffrent.
• This is the fist season in fie, no, six years that I have not sown, nor ploughed.
• We ought to talk to some astrologers.
• I have only done what any hard-working farmer would do.
• Velu looked at her, a little puzzled.
• She takes care to give her children the rest they need…
• Velu felt a cool breeze on his back.

The highlighted words or phrases that come before a noun but do not describe them are called determiners.
Let us learn the use of some common determiners.

• Articles: a, an, the
  These are used to introduce nouns.
• Demonstrative Determiners: this, that, these, those
  These are used to point out specifi items.
• Possessive Determiners: my, our, your, his, her, its, their, one’s
  These indicate ownership or relationship.
• Defiite Numeral Determiners: one, two, three, etc.
  These specify exact quantities.
• Indefiite Numeral Determiners: some, any, no, all, much, many, few, less, several, little and few
  ‘Some’ is used in affiative sentences, while ‘any’ and ‘no’ are used in negative and interrogative sentences.
  ‘All’ refers to the entirety of a group.
  ‘Much’ and ‘many’ denote large quantities of uncountable and countable nouns, respectively.
  ‘Few’ indicates a small number, ‘less’ refers to a smaller quantity, and ‘several’ means more than two but not many.
  ‘Little’ means not much, ‘few’ means not many. Use ‘a little’ and ‘a few’ to convey a positive sense.
• Distributive Determiners: each, every, either, neither
  ‘Each’ refers to individual items or people, ‘every’ refers to all items or people collectively.
  ‘Either’ means one of two options and ‘neither’ means not one of the two options.

Now, fill in the blanks by choosing the correct determiner from those given in the brackets.

It was 1. ________ (a/an) rainy afternoon, and 2. ________ (a/the) sky was thick with dark clouds. Mala noticed a large puddle quickly forming in front of 3. ________ (her/their) house. Excited, she called for her brother to join her, knowing that both of them always loved playing in 4. ________ (a/the) rain. While jumping from 5. ________ (some/one) puddle to another, Mala spotted 6. ________ (few/a few) snails slowly creeping along the wet sidewalk and pointed them out to her brother. With 7. ________ (each/every) jump, the sound of both 8. ________ (her/their) squeals and laughter was heard through the soft patter of raindrops. Though they were fully drenched 9. ________ (either/neither) siblings minded it. It had been a perfect rainy day.
Answer:
1. a
2. the
3. her
4. the
5. one
6. a few
7. each
8. her
9. neither

Class 8 English Chapter 12 Question Answer – Let us listen (Page 197)

I. Listen to the weather forecast. As you listen, fill in the blanks with the exact word you listen to. (Refer to NCERT Textbook Page 204 for Transcript)
1. Delhi will mostly have a ___________ sky with light rain.
2. Moderate rain is likely to happen in ___________.
3. Kolkata is likely to have a maximum temperature of around
___________ °C.
4. There is a chance of a ___________ in Chennai.
5. Bengaluru will have a ___________ temperature of 29 °C.
6. Taking an ___________ is advisable because of the weather conditions.
Answer:
1. cloudy
2. Mumbai
3. 34
4. thunderstorm
5. maximum
6. umbrella

NCERT Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 12 Question Answer – Let us speak (Page 198)

I. Here is a tongue twister about ‘weather’. Practice saying it as fast as you can.
Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not, whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot, well weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.
Answer:
Practise it yourself.

II. Rain has arrived after a long dry spell on the Earth. Imagine the Rain and the Earth have a conversation. Work in pairs and present the role-play.
You may use the hints in the table given below.
You may start the conversation in the following way.
Rain: Greetings, Earth! It’s been awhile since we’ve met. How have you been?
Earth: Hello Rain! I am so glad to see you.
To continue the conversation, use the hints given below.

Answer:
Sample Role-play Script
Rain : Greetings, Earth! It’s been a while since we’ve met. How have you been?
Earth : Hello Rain! I am so glad to see you.
I’ve been dry and tired. Eveiything on me — the trees, the rivers, the crops — they’ve all been waiting for you.
Rain : I’m truly sorry I took so long. My journey from the ocean to the sky and back to you is long and sometimes unpredictable. But I’ve finally arrived!
Earth : Thank you for returning. Your water brings life to my soil. Crops will grow, rivers will flow, and the forests will bloom again.
Rain : I promise to return regularly and on time next year. Ill continue to bring your people and plants the water they need.
Earth : You’re always welcome, Rain.
Come, let’s celebrate with the rivers, forests, and all the people. You are a blessing to us all.
Rain : I’m glad I can help. I’ve missed being here too.

• Use voice modulation to show emotion (joy, relief, gratitude).
• Practise with a partner and present it in front of the class.
• Add gestures or simple props if desired for a fun performance.

Class 8th English Chapter 12 Waiting for the Rain Question Answer – Let us write (Page 199)

I. You have observed the difficulties faced by the people in your neighbourhood due to scarcity of water especially during the summer months. Write a letter to the Councillor of your Municipal ward, requesting her/him to set up a rain water harvesting unit. Provide suggestions to address the issue.

Remember to

• use formal language
• keep sentences short and to the point
• state the purpose clearly and concisely
• give relevant details

Format and Layout:

Answer:
45 Rose Avenue
Shastri Nagar
New Delhi – 110056

24 May 20XX

The Municipal Councillor
Ward No. 29
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
New Delhi – 110040
Subject: Request to Install a Rainwater Harvesting Unit in Ward No. 45
Dear Madam
I am writing to let you know about the serious lack of water that people in our neighborhood are experiencing, especially in the heat.
This lack of water is due to rain that does not fall regularly, too much use, and bad storage systems. Because of this, we have a hard time getting enough water to drink, cook, and clean every day. People have to rely on water tankers, which are often late and cost a lot of money.
I respectfully ask that you set up a rainwater collection device in our area. This technology will help us gather and store rainwater, use less groundwater, and make sure we always have enough water. Public awareness initiatives and getting people involved in the community can help this endeavor even more. Rooftop collection systems, recharge pits, and community tanks are all wonderful places to start.
We look forward to your quick action and help in making our ward’s water use more efficient and friendly to the environment.

Yours sincerely
Mayank Mohit

Waiting for the Rain Class 8 NCERT Solutions – Let us explore (Pages 199-200)

I. Rest is very important for us to function in a proper manner. Even the Earth needs rest. This is known as fallowing.

Read the facts given below related to fallowing:

• A fallow year refers to leaving the land without sowing for one, or several vegetative cycles.
• This is done to allow the land to recover its nutrients and retain moisture. It also helps to avoid spreading of diseases and controlling pests.
• The sustainable land management method has been applied for centuries, wherein a field is divided into two halves—one is planted with crops while the other remains unplanted. Then, the process is reversed in the following year.

II. Find out from your Vocational Education teacher about Agriculture as a vocation and other related vocations, such as horticulture, etc.
Answer:
Question from the student to their Vocational Education Teacher: What are some jobs that have to do with farming?
What the teacher should say: In addition to farming, jobs related to agriculture include:

• Horticulture: The practice of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and decorative plants.
• Dairy farming: The rearing of animals such as cows and buffaloes to obtain milk.
• Poultry farming: Raising birds like chickens and ducks to produce eggs and meat.
• Sericulture: The process of producing silk by rearing silkworms.
• Apiculture: The activity of keeping bees to produce honey.
• Agri-business: Buying and selling agricultural products such as tools, seeds, and fertilizers.
• Soil conservation: Efforts made to protect the soil and improve its fertility.