Question Answers Class 8 Chapter 3.2 Balbharati English Maharashtra Board

The Kite Festival

English Workshop

1. Give the Antonyms and Synonyms of the words below, choosing from those given.

Synonyms : lustre, rise, victory, competitor, old – fashioned, joyfully, foreign, pause

Antonyms : partner, dullness, start, sorrowfully, drop, modern, native, defeat

Answer:

happily: Synonym – joyfully; Antonym – sorrowfully

traditional: Synonym – old-fashioned; Antonym – modern

halt: Synonym – pause; Antonym – start

triumph: Synonym – victory; Antonym – defeat

exotic: Synonym – foreign; Antonym – native

rival: Synonym – competitor; Antonym – partner

brilliance: Synonym – lustre; Antonym – dullness

2. Say whether the following statements are true or false.

(a) Fibreglass kites led to creating power – driven aeroplanes.

Answer: False – The document states that box-kites, designed over a hundred years ago, likely inspired the creation of power-driven aeroplanes, not fibreglass kites.

(b) In Gujarat, the kite – festival is celebrated to welcome the Spring.

Answer: False – The kite festival in Gujarat, celebrated during Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan, marks the end of winter and the sun’s journey to the northern hemisphere, not the welcoming of Spring (which is associated with Basant).

(c) ‘Uttarayana’ starts from Makar Sankranti onwards.

Answer: True – The document mentions that Makar Sankranti coincides with Uttarayan, when the sun begins its journey to the northern hemisphere.

(d) Kite – flying in Gujarat, is a competive sport – cum – festival.

Answer: True – The document describes kite-flying in Gujarat as a competitive activity where people “cut” each other’s kites, combined with festive celebrations during Makar Sankranti and the International Kite Festival.

(e) The kite – bazar in Ahmedabad, is open day and night for a week.

Answer: True – The document states that the Patang or Kite Bazar in Ahmedabad is open twenty-four hours a day for a whole week.

(f) The special thread for kite – flying is sharpened by adding sugar and glass pieces.

Answer: False – The document mentions that the special thread is made sharp with mixtures of glue and ground glass, not sugar.

3. Using points from the lesson, give the details of the following in a short paragraph for each topic.

(a) Different types of kites.

Answer: Kite-flying has evolved over time, featuring a variety of kites beyond the traditional ones made of kite paper and thin wooden frames. Modern innovations include motorised kites and fibreglass kites, which compete with old-fashioned designs. The document also highlights box-kites, which inspired aeroplane designs over a hundred years ago, and illuminated box-kites called “tukals” that light up the night sky. At the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, exotic kites shaped like eagles and snakes from countries like Japan, the USA, and the UK add to the diversity, showcasing a blend of tradition and creativity.

(b) International Kite Festival at Ahmedabad.

Answer: The International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, organized by the Gujarat State Tourism Corporation, is a grand event held at either the Sardar Patel Stadium or the Police Stadium on January 13 or 14, coinciding with Makar Sankranti. It attracts international kite-flyers who showcase their skills with exotic kites, alongside local champions flying traditional Indian paper kites. Spectators are mesmerized by marvelous shapes like eagles and snakes soaring in the sky. The festival highlights Gujarat’s kite-flying tradition while fostering a global exchange of creativity and expertise.

(c) The kite bazar of Ahmedabad.

Answer: The Patang or Kite Bazar in Ahmedabad is a vibrant marketplace at the heart of the city, open twenty-four hours a day for a week during the kite festival. It draws huge crowds, even in the middle of the night, as people haggle over kites and supplies. Skilled craftsmen demonstrate traditional kite-making techniques and prepare the special sharp thread, coated with glue and ground glass, which is rolled onto reels called “firkees.” The bazar reflects the city’s obsession with kites and is a key feature of the festive celebrations.

4. You have just returned after your first experience of the kite – festival in Gujarat / Ahmedabad. You were thrilled with the festivities.

• Write a short report about the kite – festival for your local newspaper. Give an attractive headline, a dateline and an account of the kite – festive. Write the report in the third person with more use of Passive voice.
• You have a friend who lives abroad. Write a letter to your friend describing how you enjoyed the kite-festival.

Answer:

Newspaper Report and Letter

Newspaper Report

Headline: Skies Ablaze with Kites at Gujarat’s Vibrant Festival

Dateline: Ahmedabad, January 14, 2025

The annual kite festival in Gujarat was celebrated with unmatched enthusiasm as rooftops and terraces across Ahmedabad were thronged by kite-flyers of all ages. Organized by the Gujarat State Tourism Corporation, the International Kite Festival was held at the Sardar Patel Stadium, where exotic kites from Japan, the USA, and the UK were flown alongside traditional Indian designs. The sky was filled with marvelous shapes like eagles and snakes, and sharp threads were used to cut rival kites, accompanied by triumphant cries. The Patang Bazar was bustling day and night, with kites and special threads being sold amid lively haggling. Traditional delicacies were savored, and illuminated tukals were launched into the night sky, adding grandeur to the festivities. Business across the city was halted as this competitive sport-cum-festival was enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Letter to a Friend

Dear [Friend’s Name],

I hope you’re doing well! I just got back from my first-ever trip to the kite festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and I can’t stop talking about it! It happened on January 14, during Makar Sankranti, and the whole city was buzzing with excitement. I stood on a rooftop with tons of people, flying kites and trying to cut each other’s lines-it’s such a thrilling competition! The sky was a riot of colors with kites shaped like eagles and snakes, some even from places like Japan and the USA. At night, they flew glowing box-kites called tukals, which looked magical against the stars. I spent hours at the Patang Bazar, watching craftsmen make kites and sharp threads-it was open all night! The food was amazing too-sweet jalebis and spicy snacks kept me going. I wish you could’ve been there; it was unforgettable! How about you visit next year?

Take care, [Your Name]

5. (A) Verb forms show both, Tense (Present, Past, Future) and Aspect (Progressive, Perfect, Perfect Progressive)

Progressive (Continuous) : be + verb – ing
Present Progressive : He is playing.
Past Progressive : He was playing.
Future Progressive : He will be playing.

Perfect : have / has / had verb – en / ed
Present Perefct : They have played.
Past Perefct : They had played.
Future Perfect : They will have played.

Perfect Progressive : have/has/had + been + verb – ing
Present Perfect Progressive : We have been playing.
Past Perfect Progressive : We had been playing.
Future Perfect Progressive : We shall have been playing.

(B) Underline the verb forms in the following sentences and state their Tense and Aspect.

Answer:

Verb Forms: Tense and Aspect

(i) They are waiting for the right winds.

• Verb: are waiting
• Tense: Present
• Aspect: Progressive

(ii) People were haggling over the price of kites.

• Verb: were haggling
• Tense: Past
• Aspect: Progressive

(iii) Vendors had been selling kites all through the week.

• Verb: had been selling
• Tense: Past
• Aspect: Perfect Progressive

(iv) Skilled craftsmen had demonstrated age-old skills.

• Verb: had demonstrated
• Tense: Past
• Aspect: Perfect

(v) State Tourism Corporation will be organising the International Kite Festival.

• Verb: will be organising
• Tense: Future
• Aspect: Progressive

(vi) Kite-flyers have demonstrated their skills with exotic kites.

• Verb: have demonstrated
• Tense: Present
• Aspect: Perfect