Important Questions For All Chapters – English Class 8
1. Why did King Krishna Deva Raya make Raja Varma the chief minister?
Answer : He was so impressed by Raja Varma’s artistic skill that he impulsively rewarded him with the post of chief minister, despite Raja Varma’s lack of administrative experience.
2. What did the elders do to remove Raja Varma from his post?
Answer : The elders sought Tenali Raman’s help, hoping his wisdom would influence the king to remove Raja Varma without causing a public issue.
3. Why did Tenali Raman appoint a carpenter to cook?
Answer : Tenali Raman wanted to show the king that just as a carpenter can’t cook well, an artist might not be suited for ministerial duties.
4. When did the king realize his mistake?
Answer : The king understood his error when Tenali Raman made the comparison between appointing an artist as a minister and a carpenter as a cook.
5. How did the people feel about Raja Varma’s administration?
Answer : People were unhappy because Raja Varma’s inexperience led to poor decision-making, disrupting governance and causing frustration.
6. How did the king react to the poorly cooked food?
Answer : The king was initially angry and complained, which led Tenali Raman to reveal the purpose behind appointing a carpenter to cook.
7. What was Raja Varma’s reaction after the incident at Tenali’s house?
Answer : Embarrassed and realizing his unsuitability for the role, Raja Varma resigned from the post of chief minister.
8. What lesson does this story teach about appointing people to roles?
Answer : The story emphasizes that roles should align with one’s skills; otherwise, it leads to mismanagement and issues.
9. What does the title “Measure for Measure” imply?
Answer : The title suggests evaluating one’s actions carefully, as misjudgments can have significant consequences.
10. Why did the king not realize Raja Varma’s inexperience sooner?
Answer : The king’s admiration for Raja Varma’s artistry clouded his judgment, leading him to overlook the importance of experience in governance.
11. Why didn’t the people complain directly to the king?
Answer : Out of respect and fear of the king’s attachment to Raja Varma, they hesitated and sought Tenali Raman’s intervention instead.
12. What was Raja Varma known for before being made a minister?
Answer : He was a skilled artist renowned for his portraits and illustrations of mythological figures.
13. What kind of person was Tenali Raman?
Answer : Tenali Raman was wise and clever, often using wit to solve complex issues in the kingdom.
14. How did the king reward Raja Varma before making him chief minister?
Answer : Impressed by his portrait, the king showered him with praise and high regard.
15. Why did Tenali invite the king and courtiers for lunch?
Answer : Tenali Raman set up the lunch with a carpenter as the cook to demonstrate the issue of improper roles.
16. What was the king’s initial impression of Raja Varma’s portrait?
Answer : He was captivated by the lifelike quality, believing it captured his majestic appearance perfectly.
17. How did the people suffer under Raja Varma’s administration?
Answer : His lack of skill led to poor decisions that created disorder and mismanagement in the kingdom.
18. Why was the carpenter asked to prepare the lunch?
Answer : This was a calculated move by Tenali Raman to show that mismatched roles lead to unsatisfactory results.
19. What ultimately made Raja Varma resign?
Answer : He realized his mistake and felt more comfortable returning to his role as an artist after the incident at Tenali’s house.
20. What message does the story leave about leadership?
Answer : It emphasizes that true leadership requires the right skills, experience, and alignment with one’s abilities.
Long Questions
1. Explain the lesson behind the story “Measure for Measure.”
Answer : The story highlights that one’s strengths should align with their responsibilities. Raja Varma, though a talented artist, was unsuitable for governance, leading to chaos. Tenali Raman creatively showed that a carpenter would similarly fail at cooking, teaching that appointments should consider skill and experience to prevent disorder.
2. How does Tenali Raman handle the problem with Raja Varma’s appointment?
Answer : Tenali Raman, knowing the king’s fondness for Raja Varma, orchestrated a harmless yet impactful demonstration by using a carpenter to cook a royal meal. His method allowed the king to see the issue without direct confrontation, proving Tenali’s wisdom in handling sensitive matters.
3. Why did the people approach Tenali Raman for help rather than the king?
Answer : The people feared offending the king, who admired Raja Varma. They trusted Tenali Raman’s tact and wisdom to communicate the issue indirectly. This shows the people’s reliance on Tenali’s influence and his reputation as a problem-solver.
4. What were the consequences of appointing an inexperienced person as a minister?
Answer : Raja Varma’s lack of experience led to poor decisions, causing chaos and dissatisfaction. His inability to handle administration disrupted daily governance, proving that skills in one field (art) do not necessarily transfer to another (administration).
5. How did the incident with the carpenter demonstrate the problem with Raja Varma’s role?
Answer : Just as the carpenter was unfit for cooking, an artist was unsuited for political duties. Tenali’s clever comparison highlighted that roles should match expertise, not admiration or impulse, encouraging the king to reconsider Raja Varma’s position.
6. Do you think the king learned a lesson from this incident? Explain.
Answer : Yes, the king realized that his generosity had clouded his judgment. Tenali Raman’s subtle method helped him understand that appointing based on impulse rather than merit leads to ineffective administration. This likely made him more careful in future appointments.
7. Why did Tenali Raman choose to use humor to resolve the situation?
Answer : Tenali Raman understood that humor often conveys serious messages in a non-threatening way. By setting up a humorous comparison with the carpenter, he could make the king see the error without creating conflict, using humor as a tool to address a delicate issue.
8. Discuss Raja Varma’s reaction upon learning about the carpenter’s incident.
Answer : Raja Varma, realizing the inappropriateness of his role, felt embarrassed and resigned. This reaction shows his humility and acceptance, suggesting that he, too, understood the importance of aligning skills with responsibilities.
9. What do you think would have happened if the king had not learned the lesson?
Answer : If the king hadn’t learned, Raja Varma’s poor decisions could have worsened the kingdom’s governance, leading to further dissatisfaction and potential unrest. The story implies that unchecked decisions in leadership can have serious consequences for the people.
10. In your opinion, could Raja Varma have succeeded as an administrator with training? Why or why not?
Answer : Although Raja Varma was talented, administration requires specific skills and experience. While training might help, governance often needs natural aptitude and decision-making abilities, which he may not possess. The story suggests that success depends on aligning roles with inherent strengths rather than mere training.
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