NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 provide a complete guide for students to understand the poem Somebody’s Mother by Mary Dow Brine. This chapter teaches values like kindness, empathy, and helping others. Using these solutions, students can easily answer all the questions from the chapter and learn important lessons.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5

The poem tells the story of an old woman who is struggling to cross a snowy street. Many children pass her by without helping. At last, a kind boy helps her safely. The poem highlights the importance of empathy and humanity in our daily lives.

Somebody’s Mother Question Answers

Here are all the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5:

Working with the Poem

Question 1. Arrange the events of the poem in the correct order of occurrence.
Solution:

1. The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.

2. A group of schoolboys passed by, playing and laughing.

3. The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.

4. The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.

5. The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm, and he guided her safely across.

6. The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.

7. The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would help her one day.

8. The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.

Question 2. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option from the brackets.

1. The central theme of the poem is __________. (kindness and empathy / adventure and courage)
   Solution: kindness and empathy.

2. The tone of the poem is __________. (humorous and playful / sympathetic and hopeful)
   Solution: sympathetic and hopeful.

3. The poem is written in couplets with __________ lines in each stanza. (four / two)
   Solution: two.

4. The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the __________. (narrative and emotions / story’s pace and message)
   Solution: story’s pace and message.

5. The poem follows a rhyme scheme of __________. (AABB / ABAB)
   Solution: AABB.

Poetic Devices

Question 3. Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices:

1. Simile: “Like a flock of sheep”

2. Alliteration: “Proud that his own were firm and strong”

3. Repetition: “Somebody’s mother”

Imagery

Question 4. Complete the following sentences explaining the imagery:

1. The poem uses imagery to describe scenes of a bustling street.
   Solution: We know this by the phrase “Down the street, with laughter and shout, glad in the freedom of school let out.”

2. The line ‘The street was wet with a recent snow’ suggests a cold and __________ weather, emphasizing the woman’s helplessness.
   Solution: slippery.

Theme and Values

Question 5. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason:

The poet repeats the phrase Somebody’s mother because it __________.
Solution: reminds us that every elderly person is someone’s loved one and deserves respect.

Question 6. Complete the analogy:

The old woman: vulnerable and neglected :: The young boy: __________.
Solution: helpful and kind.

Extract-based Questions

Question 7. Read the extract and answer the questions:

“The woman was old and ragged and grey
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.”

(i) What does ‘ragged and grey’ refer to?
Solution: The woman’s old and worn-out appearance.

(ii) The woman was ‘bent’ with the chill of the Winter’s day because she was __________.
Solution: weak and old.

(iii) Identify the fact and opinion:
A. The street was wet with recent snow. Fact
B. The woman was too weak to cross the street on her own. Opinion

(iv) Why were the woman’s feet described as ‘aged and slow’?
Solution: To show her helplessness and old age.

Question 8. Read the extract and answer the questions:

“He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.”

(i) What does the contrast between the ‘trembling feet’ of the old woman and the ‘firm and strong’ feet of the boy emphasize?
Solution: The difference in age and strength.

(ii) The poem tells us the boy was ‘proud’ because he was __________.
Solution: grateful for his ability to help.

(iii) What is the boy most likely to tell his friends on getting back?
Solution: “I’m so glad I could help her.”

(iv) Rectify the false statement: The young boy’s actions were driven by a logical decision.
Solution: The young boy’s actions were driven by kindness, not logic.

Question 9. What might be the old woman’s fears as she waited for a long time at the crossing?
Solution: She feared falling or being hurt by carriages or horses.

Question 10. How does the poet show the helplessness of the old woman?
Solution: The poet describes her bent posture, aged feet, and hesitation to move on the slippery street, showing her vulnerability.

Question 11. Why does the boy decide to help the old woman?
Solution: The boy remembers his own mother and hopes someone would help her one day. This shows he is kind and empathetic.

Question 12. How was the boy’s approach different from the other boys?
Solution: Unlike the others, he stopped, offered help, and guided the woman safely.

Question 13. Justify the title of the poem.
Solution: The title Somebody’s Mother emphasizes that elderly people are loved and deserve care, just like the boy’s mother.

Question 14. What does the poem suggest about empathy in society?
Solution: The poem highlights that helping others and showing empathy strengthens human relationships.

Vocabulary and Grammar

Question 15. Match words from the text with meanings:

• Hastened: moved quickly

• Heeded: paid attention

• Stir: move

• Lend: give support

• Piled: stacked

• Offered: presented

Question 16. Idioms with ‘hand’:

• Lend a hand: help somebody

• Get out of hand: become difficult to control

• Try your hand at something: do something new

• Give somebody a free hand: allow full freedom

• Give somebody a big hand: applaud somebody

• Work hand in hand: work together

• Have your hands full: be very busy

Question 17. Words ending in “-ed”

/ɪd/ sound: ragged, aged, waited, heeded
/d/ sound: offered, guided, whispered
/t/ sound: paused

Writing Activity

Question 18. Write a diary entry about helping someone.
Solution (Sample):

26 April 20xx, Saturday 8:00 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today was a special day. I helped an elderly lady carry her shopping bags at the market. She was struggling and looked tired. I offered to carry her heavy bags to her home. She smiled and thanked me warmly. I felt happy and proud to help her. This experience reminded me that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. I will always try to help people in need.

These NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 provide complete answers for every question in the chapter, including Somebody’s Mother Question Answers and Somebody’s Mother solutions, making it easier for students to revise and understand the poem thoroughly.