Solutions Wisdom Paves the English Poorvi Class 8 CBSE Board

Question Answer For All Chapters – English Poorvi Class 8th

Let us do these activities before we read (Page 27)

I Why do we seek advice of the elderly in our family? Share your thoughts with your classmates and teacher.

Answer: We seek advice from the elderly in our family because they have more experience and wisdom. They have faced many situations in life, so they can guide us to make the right choices. Their advice helps us avoid mistakes and teaches us important values like patience, honesty, and hard work.

II Knowledge is about learning facts and information, while wisdom is about using that knowledge with good judgement.
Work in pairs. Read the following situations and classify each one as either ‘knowledge’ or ‘wisdom’. One example has been done for you.

1. Riya’s understanding of plant care helped her grow a healthy vegetable garden in her backyard.
2. Mr. Kumar values time with family over chasing wealth.
3. Karuna’s expertise in computer programming helped her develop a successful app.
4. Rohan understood the value of time management and created a timetable to complete his assignments systematically.
5. Ramesh chose to forgive his friend for a misunderstanding.
6. Ms. Vaijayanthi delivered a lecture on Indian Classical music at the cultural festival.

Answer:

Knowledge	Wisdom
1. Riya’s understanding of plant care helped her grow a healthy vegetable garden.	2. Mr. Kumar values time with family over chasing wealth.
3. Karuna’s expertise in computer programming helped her develop a successful app.	4. Rohan understood the value of time management and created a timetable.
6. Ms. Vaijayanthi delivered a lecture on Indian Classical music.	5. Ramesh chose to forgive his friend for a misunderstanding.

III Observe the picture carefully. What do you think might have happened?
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer: Looking at the picture, it seems that the merchant has lost his camel. He looks worried and is running in haste, while the four young men are calmly watching him. The young men might have observed the camel’s tracks and guessed its condition. The merchant probably thinks they know where his camel is.

Let us discuss (Page 32)

I Complete the following sentences with suitable reasons. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. Shiv Datt said, “I believe it has been over a week, perhaps even longer,” because it had been a long time since they left the village.

2. Dev Datt said, “Indeed, we ought to be united in this hope. That is why we press on towards Ujjain,” because ___________________________.

Answer: Dev Datt said … because he wanted all of them to remain hopeful and united on their journey.

3. Har Datt said, “Look there, friends. A camel has passed this way. The tracks are fresh,” because ___________________________.

Answer: Har Datt said … because he saw the fresh tracks of a camel on the road.

4. Shiv Datt said, “It appears to be a merchant, running as if pursued by trouble,” because ___________________________.

Answer: Shiv Datt said … because he noticed the merchant was running quickly and looked distressed.

5. The merchant said, “How could you possibly know that? The poor creature has been unwell for two weeks now. Surely you are a healer!” because ___________________________.

Answer: The merchant said … because Dev Datt had correctly guessed that the camel was suffering from stomach pain.

6. Dev Datt said, “You are free to do as you wish, sir. If the King desires our presence, we shall be waiting under that banyan tree yonder,” because ___________________________.

Answer: Dev Datt said … because he wanted to show that they were not afraid and were ready to face the King’s judgement.

Let us discuss (Page 36)

I Arrange the following events in order of their occurrence from Scene
II of the play. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

The merchant accuses the four men of knowing a lot about his missing camel. (8)
The King asks the merchant to clearly state his accusation. (3)
Ram Datt explains how he infers from the tracks that the camel is lame. (2)
Shiv Datt reveals that the camel is blind in its right eye. (5)
Har Datt clarifies how he knew that the camel has a short tail. (7)
Dev Datt explains his observation about the camel’s pain and careful movement. (6)
The King praises the young men for their observations and dismisses the merchant’s accusation. (4)
The King makes the four young men his advisers, impressed by their skills. (1)

Let us think and reflect (Page 37-39)

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

1. Dev Datt : Ten days are but a short span in the grand scheme of things.
We may still have many more roads to wander before we
find employment befitting all four of us.
Ram Datt : If only we could secure an audience with the King of Ujjain.
I am confident he would recognise our talents and appoint us to his service.
Shiv Datt : I share your belief.
Dev Datt : Indeed, we ought to be united in this hope. That is why we press on towards Ujjain.
Har Datt : (Pausing thoughtfully) Gaining an audience with the King is no simple task. We need to devise a strategy.

(i) Identify the false statement from the two given below and rectify it.

A. Dev Datt believes that finding employment is an easy task.

B. Ram Datt is confident that the King would recognise their talents.

Answer: (i)False statement → A. Dev Datt believes that finding employment is an easy task.
Rectification: Dev Datt believes that finding employment may take a long time and many struggles.

(ii) What does Ram Datt’s confidence in gaining the King’s recognition tell us about him?

Answer: (ii)Ram Datt’s confidence shows that he is hopeful, optimistic, and believes in their talents.

(iii) Complete the sentence given below with the correct option from those given.

In the line, ‘That’s why we press on towards Ujjain’, the phrase ‘press on’ refers to __________.
A. walking with heavy steps
B. moving forward with determination
C. slowing down frequently for rest
D. stopping briefly to save time

Answer: ‘Press on’ refers to → B. moving forward with determination.

(iv) Har Datt says, “We need to devise a strategy.” What can be inferred about Har Datt’s character from his statement?
A. He is doubtful of their abilities and wants to give up.
B. He is eager to rush into the palace without preparation.
C. He is cautious and thoughtful, preferring to plan ahead.
D. He relies on others to make decisions for the group.

Answer: C. He is cautious and thoughtful, preferring to plan ahead.

2. King : (To the four men) You have demonstrated remarkable intelligence and the ability to see beyond the obvious. Such minds are rare and highly valued in my court. I extend to you the honour of becoming my advisers. Your counsel shall guide my decisions, and your wisdom shall be a beacon for my kingdom. What do you say to my offer?

Ram Datt: (Stepping forward) Your Highness, it is an honour we had not dared to dream of.

(i) Select the option that is true for both Assertion (A) and Reason (R).
(A): The Merchant left the court feeling humbled and ashamed.
(R): The King commanded that the four wise men join his court.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Answer: B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

(ii) Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct option.
The line, ‘See beyond the obvious’ means that the men had the ability to ______.
A. challenge common beliefs with reasoning
B. interpret information in traditional ways
C. notice details that others might overlook
D. predict what is going to happen in the future

Answer: C. notice details that others might overlook

Because the four men carefully observed small clues (like tracks, leaves, and mosquito bites) and understood what they meant about the camel.

(iii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
Ram Datt described the King’s offer as ‘an honour we had not dared to dream of’ because ___________.

Answer: he had never imagined such honour from the King.

(iv) How does the King’s offer to the four men reflect his values as a ruler?

Answer: The King’s offer to the four men reflects that he is a fair and wise ruler who values intelligence, observation, and wisdom over wealth or appearance. It shows that he rewards true talent, listens carefully, and respects good judgement.

II Answer the following questions.

1. What does the dusty road leading to Ujjain tell us about the challenges of the young men’s journey?

Answer: The dusty road shows that their journey was long, tiring, and difficult, yet they continued with determination in search of work.

2. Why did the merchant become suspicious of the four men? What does this tell us about him?

Answer: The merchant became suspicious because the four men described his camel’s condition without having seen it.This shows that he was quick to judge, doubtful, and lacked patience to understand the truth.

3. How do the four young men’s observations about the camel serve as a turning point in the play?

Answer: Their sharp observations proved their wisdom and intelligence, which impressed the King. This became the turning point because it changed their fate from being travellers in search of work to becoming the King’s advisers.

4. Why did the King believe the four young men and not the merchant?

Answer: The King believed them because their reasoning was logical, clear, and based on evidence, while the merchant’s accusation was baseless and emotional.

5. How does the capability of the four young men make them suitable to become advisors?

Answer: They were observant, thoughtful, wise, and intelligent. Their ability to notice small details and think deeply made them suitable to advise the King in important matters.

6. Why does the merchant feel ashamed for accusing the four young men of stealing his camel? Explain in your own words.

Answer: The merchant felt ashamed because he had wrongly accused innocent men without proof. When the King praised their wisdom and dismissed his complaint, he realised his mistake and felt embarrassed for being unjust.

Let us learn (Page 39)

I Complete the sentences by filling in the noun form of the textual words given in the brackets.

1. Some word games need a lot of thought and _________________. (deduce)

2. We need to make close _________________of animals in order to understand their behaviour. (observe)

3. A detailed _________________ of the documents shows a lot of errors. (scrutinise)

4. You should not make any false _________________against anyone. (accuse)

5. She was given an award in _________________of her contribution to literature. (recognise)

Answer: 1. deduction 2. observation 3. scrutiny 4. accusation 5. recognition

II Match the expressions in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. 1-17 2-2

Now, make sentences using any five of the expressions from Column 1.

Answer:

Column 1	Column 2
1. with all our hearts	(vi) complete sincerity
2. to be precise	(iv) exact and accurate
3. gain an audience with	(v) meeting or hearing someone
4. catch his breath	(vii) to pause or rest for some time
5. erupts in applause	(ii) starts cheering together
6. grand scheme of things	(viii) overall plan of life in a larger context
7. taken aback	(i) surprised
8. more than meets the eye	(iii) hidden information that is not obvious

Here are five sentences using expressions from Column 1:

We accepted the King’s offer with all our hearts.
The journey took ten days, or to be precise, ten days and two nights.
The young men hoped to gain an audience with the King of Ujjain.
After running so fast, the merchant stopped to catch his breath.
The hall erupted in applause when the King praised the four wise men.

III Match the different meanings of ‘face’ and ‘bear’ with the correct usage in the sentences given in the table below. (n. stands for the word noun and v. stands for the word verb.)

Answer:

Meaning	Correct Sentence
Word: Face
(n.) the front part of a person’s head	(iii) She has a round, smiling face.
(v.) to be positioned with the face or front towards	(i) Ravi turned to face his father, when he was called.
(v.) to deal with a difficult task or situation	(iv) We should be ready to face life’s challenges.
(n.) the front or surface of a thing	(ii) The face of the clock was painted red and blue.
Word: Bear
Meaning	Correct Sentence
(v.) tolerate	(iv) I can’t bear the sound of vehicles honking.
(v.) accept	(iii) Riya agreed to bear the responsibilities with confidence.
(n.) a large heavy mammal	(ii) I spotted a bear on a wildlife safari.
(v.) produce; give birth to	(i) The trees that I planted in my garden took a long time to bear fruit.

IV Match the highlighted words in the sentences in Column 1 with the functions they express in Column 2.

Answer:

Sentence	Function
1. I will gladly pay your fee if you can cure it.	(ix) willingness
2. You must have stolen it and sold it off.	(vii) necessity
3. You shall come with me to face the King!	(x) command
4. How could you possibly know that?	(i) expression of disbelief
5. I am confident he would recognise our talents…	(v) logical conclusion
6. A camel with a long tail would have fended off these pests…	(ii) imagined (hypothetical) possibility
7. They may tell us more than meets the eye.	(viii) prediction
8. May your wisdom shine upon Ujjain…	(vi) wish or hope
9. Indeed, we ought to be united in this hope.	(iii) moral obligation or advice
10. We need to devise a strategy.	(iv) challenge
11. You speak of my camel as if it stood before you…	(xi) possibility

V Complete the following story with modal verbs in the box given below by using the clues from the functions given within brackets.

An old man, known for his wisdom, lived in a small village. One day, a young boy asked him, “How 1. _______ (ability) I become wise like you?” The old man smiled and said, “Wisdom 2._______ (necessity) be earned through patience. You 3. _______ (suggestion) listen, more than you speak.” The boy thought for a while and replied, “It 4. _______ (weak possibility) take years, but I’ll try.” The old man nodded. “You 5._______ (obligation) learn from your mistakes too. Wisdom 6. _______ (possibility) come slowly, but it always arrives for those who seek it.” The boy knew he 7. _______ (ability) become wise if he followed the old man’s advice.

Answer:

1. can
2. must
3. should
4. might
5. need to
6. may
7. could

VI Rewrite the following sentences using appropriate modal verbs. You may take clues from the highlighted words. One example has been done for you.
1. It is advisable for you to think before you speak.
You should think before you speak.
2. It is unnecessary to worry about things beyond your control.
3. It is not possible for a person to gain experience without taking risks.
4. It is essential to treat others with kindness, even when they disagree with you.
5. It is not allowed to interrupt when someone else is speaking.

You need not worry about things beyond your control.
A person cannot gain experience without taking risks.
You must treat others with kindness, even when they disagree with you.
You must not interrupt when someone else is speaking.

Let us listen

I You will listen to four people sharing their thoughts on why they enjoy witty characters in stories. As you listen, match statements 1–6 given below to the speakers (i)–(iv). There are two statements you do not need. (Transcript for teacher on page 48)

Speaker (i): I love witty characters because they make serious situations funny! Even when things seem tense, they always have a clever response. Such characters never panic, think fast, and solve problems in the smartest way. I wish I could think that quickly!

Speaker (ii): Witty characters are the best because they make stories exciting. I especially like how they turn ordinary moments into something memorable. It makes me feel like intelligence and humour are just as powerful as strength.

Speaker (iii): I enjoy witty characters because they always have an answer for everything! They use humour instead of fighting, and that’s really wonderful. Even in folktales, they prove that smart thinking can win over force. It makes me laugh but also teaches me to stay calm in tricky situations.

Speaker (iv): Witty characters add charm to a story. Their intelligence keeps the reader engaged, and their humour makes learning fun. Whether it’s a folktale or a modern one, a clever character always stands out. I often feel that wit and wisdom go hand-in-hand!

Answer:

1. (ii)
2. (iv)
3. (iv)
4. (iii)
5. (ii)
6. (i)

Let us speak (Page 43)

I The way in which a word is stressed in a sentence can change its meaning.
Read the following examples.

Now, work in pairs. Take turns to say the following sentences aloud by stressing on the highlighted words. Share the meanings of the sentences with each other and teacher.