Grade - 8 - Poorvi - Unit - 1 - WIT AND WISDOM - The Wit that Won Hearts - Bookback exercises - NCERT - CBSE

 

Grade-8

 Unit-1

“The Wit that Won Hearts”

Let us discuss (Page:7)

 

Rectify the following false statements from the text.

 

1. The queen insulted the king by speaking against the quality of his poem.

Answer: The queen yawned due to tiredness, not to insult him.

 

2. Tenali Rama immediately went to the king and convinced him to talk to the queen.

Answer: Tenali Rama first planned a clever strategy before acting.

 

3. The courtiers admired the king’s poem and praised his literary talent.

Answer: The courtiers avoided the king and made excuses.

 

4. The ministers in the court were eager to hear Tenali Rama’s idea about paddy cultivation.

Answer: The ministers did not accept it and mocked Tenali Rama.

 

5. The king never realised his mistake and continued to stay angry with the queen.

Answer: The king realised his mistake and apologized.

 

 

Let us think and reflect (Page:7)

 

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

 

1. “… The king thought I was disrespecting his poem and stormed off. Since then, he has not spoken to me. If I had known this would happen I would have chosen another day. Help me, please, Rama. Only you can help the king understand. ”

Rama nodded thoughtfully. “If you like, I will try my best to resolve this matter, Your Highness. But this needs a well-planned approach and I may need time to find the right strategy. ”

 

 (i) Why does the queen believe that only Tenali Rama can help the king understand?

Answer: The queen believes that only Tenali Rama can help because he is witty, wise, and trusted by the king.

 

 (ii) What does the queen’s statement, “If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen another day”, suggest about her feelings?

A. She is angry at the king for overreacting.

B. She regrets the unintended misunderstanding.

C. She believes the poem was not worth listening to.

D. She is worried that the king might punish her.

Answer: B. She regrets the unintended misunderstanding.

 

(iii) How does Tenali Rama’s response reflect his wisdom and problem-solving skills?

Answer: Tenali Rama’s response shows his patience, wisdom, and ability to plan carefully before acting.

 

(iv) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option from those given in the brackets.

The king’s reaction shows that he is sensitive and ___________ (has a lot of faith/takes great pride) in his poetry.

Answer: takes great pride

 

2. That evening, the king approached the queen with a softened expression. “Thirumalambal”, he began, his voice gentle, “I have been foolish. I see now that I overreacted. I let my pride blind me. I’m so sorry. ”

The queen, who had longed for this moment, smiled and replied, “If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us. I would very much like to listen to your poem. ”

 

(i) Complete the following with a suitable explanation.

When the king said, “I let my pride blind me”, he means that ___________

Answer: his pride prevented him from seeing the situation clearly.

 

 (ii) Why does the queen say, “If you like, we can leave this quarrel behind us”?

Answer: The queen says so because she wants to forgive and move on peacefully.

 

(iii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option from those given in the brackets.

The king acknowledges that his pride clouded his judgement, which shows ___________ (intelligence and courage/maturity and self-awareness)

Answer: maturity and self-awareness

 

(iv) State any one characteristic that the queen’s response to the king’s apology shows about her.

Answer: The queen is forgiving and kind-hearted.

 

II. Answer the following questions.

 

1. Why was the Vijayanagara Empire considered to be in its ‘Golden Era’ during Krishnadeva Raya’s reign?

The Vijayanagara Empire was considered to be in its ‘Golden Era’ during Krishnadeva Raya’s reign because under Krishnadeva Raya, art, literature, and architecture flourished. Krishnadeva Raya was a great patron of learning. He was not only an eminent warrior but also a gifted poet.

 

2. How did Tenali Ramakrishna gain a special place in the king’s court?

Tenali Ramakrishna gained a special place in the king’s court both as a poet and witty advisor through his quick wit, humour, and clever solutions to problems.

 

3. How did the quarrel between the king and the queen affect the palace?

The palace became dull, lifeless and lonely as the king stopped seeing the queen.

 

4. What strategy did Tenali Rama use to make the king realise his mistake?

Tenali Rama used a humorous comparison with sowing seeds and yawning to make the king reflect on his actions.

 

5. What was the reaction of the courtiers when Tenali Rama introduced ‘special’ paddy seeds?

When Tenali Rama introduced ‘special’ paddy seeds, the courtiers mocked him and doubted his claim.

 

6. How does the story conclude, and what lesson can be learnt from it?

The king apologizes and peace is restored. The story teaches the value of empathy and wit. It also tells us that pride blinds us.

 

Let us learn (Page:9)

I. Fill in the blanks and complete the paragraph by choosing suitable expressions from the box given below.

My mother is quite witty, and her sense of humour always lightens stressful moments. Once, at a family dinner, an argument began over a minor issue, and 1. ______, making everyone feel uncomfortable. Just as things were getting serious, she made a clever remark and laughter 2. ______ the gathering, making everyone relaxed. The person who started the argument 3. ______. Everyone disapproved of the action and a 4. ______. My 5. ______ to how my mother had saved other situations like this. Without her, such moments would have 6. ______ over the gatherings. I hope that I grow up to be as witty as my mother.

 

Answer:

1. a hush fell over

2. rippled through

3. stormed off

4. murmur swept through the room

5. mind raced back

6. cast a shadow

 

Meanings for better understanding..

·  A hush fell over: Used when a place suddenly becomes very quiet, usually due to tension or surprise.

·  Rippled through: Describes a feeling or sound (like laughter) spreading quickly and smoothly through a group.

·  Stormed off: To leave a place quickly and angrily.

·  Murmur swept through the room: Used when many people start whispering or talking quietly at the same time.

·  Mind raced back: To suddenly and vividly remember past events.

·  Cast a shadow: To spoil a situation or make it feel gloomy and unpleasant.

 

II. The writer uses words like ‘roared’, ‘murmur’ in the text to indicate the sound produced. Fill in the blanks with suitable sound words from the box given below. You may refer to a dictionary.

1. As the teacher began the riddle challenge, a ______ of excitement spread through the classroom.

2. Anaya ______ in relief—she loved riddles more than solving Mathematics problems.

3. Think carefully,’ the teacher began to ______, as she wrote a riddle on the board.

4. When the question was revealed, a few students ______, realising it wasn’t as easy as they had expected.

5. Some exchanged ______, wondering if anyone at all would be able to solve it.

6. Just then, Anaya tapped her book on the desk with a small ______, deep in thought.

7. ‘Ah, I see it now!’ she said stretching with a ______, as if it had taken her great effort.

8. A small breeze made the windows ______, adding to the suspense of the moment.

9. ‘So, what’s the answer?’ the students ______, their voices filled with playful enthusiasm.

10. Leaning forward with a smile, Anaya ______, “Sometimes, the trickiest questions have the simplest answers.”

 

Answers:

1. murmur

2. sighed

3. mumble

4. gasped

5. snickers

6. thud

7. groan

8. rattle

9. roared

10. whispered

 

 

 

Meanings for better understanding..

 

1. Murmur: Usually describes a low, continuous sound of many people talking at once (perfect for a classroom starting an activity).

 

2. Sighed: A common sound made when releasing breath to show relief.

 

3. Mumble: Fits the teacher speaking quietly or to herself while focusing on writing on the board.

 

4. Gasped: A sharp intake of breath often used to show sudden realization or shock.

 

5. Snickers: Represents suppressed or quiet laughter (students doubting each other).

 

6. Thud: The dull sound made by a heavy object (like a book) hitting a surface.

 

7. Groan: A sound of physical or mental effort/strain (stretching after working hard).

 

8. Rattle: A series of short, sharp sounds often made by windows in the wind.

 

9. Roared: Indicates a very loud, enthusiastic, or powerful collective shout.

 

10. Whispered: A very quiet way of speaking, often used to share a "secret" or a final realization.