Reading Comprehension_Class 8

• ENGLISH
• Secondary Education

READING COMPREHENSION

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

I WILL BE ABLE TO:

* explore new words, and match them with their meanings via a ‘Drag and Drop Activity’.

* explore the unseen passage ‘The Missile Man’ and relate to the central idea of the same.

* explore the unseen poem ‘It is only a Little Twig by Amy Lowell’ and relate to the central idea of the same.

* answer the questions based on both the passage and the poem. 

Drag and Drop Activity

identity

fledgling

perched

close-knit

ferrying

devastating

tamarind

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

What gave Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
the idea to design SLV-3?

Why was dinner time special in
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's house?

Why did Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam have to sell tamarind seeds and newspapers?
It was because __________.

1. he wanted to help his family financially after they lost their only source of income
2. that was his family business
3. that paid him and his family the best
4. None of the options

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam remembered his first wages because ___________.

1. he bought a gift for his parents with that money.
2. it was the pleasure of earning his own money that remained embedded in his memory till decades later.
3. he donated that money for supporting the needy.
4. None of the options

There was a great demand for 'Dinamani' because ___________.

1. people liked reading the newspaper in the morning
2. people wanted to know about India's freedom struggle
3. reading newspaper was a status symbol
4. the cost of newspaper was very little

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam sold tamarind seeds because __________.

1. he had plenty of time to spare
2. he had no choice but to sell tamarind seeds only
3. he realised there was a demand for it
4. None of the options

Amy Lowell

It is only a little twig

With a green bud at the end

But if you plant it,

And water it,

And set it where the sun will be above it,

It will grow into a tall bush

With many flowers,

And leaves which thrust hither and thither

Sparkling.

From its roots will come freshness,

And beneath it the grass-blades

Will bend and recover themselves,

And clash one upon another

In the blowing wind.

But if you take my twig

And throw it into a closet

With mousetraps and blunted tools,

It will shrivel and waste.

And, some day,

When you open the door,

You will think it an old twisted nail,

And sweep it into the dust bin

With other rubbish.

 By AMY LOWELL

What will happen to the bush when the wind blows?

1. It will begin to perish.
2. It will shrivel and waste.
3. It will clash with one another.
4. None of the options

Which lines in the poem show that the bush has started to bloom?

1. With many flowers, And leaves which thrust hither and thither, Sparkling.
2. And set it where the sun will be above it, It will row into a tall bush
3. It will shrivel and waste.
4. None of the options

Which word in the poem means 'to become dry and wrinkled'?

1. thrust
2. shrivel
3. rubbish
4. None of the options

What happens to the plant when it is not cared for?

1. It shrivels and dies.
2. It starts flourishing on its own.
3. It gradually becomes a tall tree.
4. None of the options

Write the antonyms of the following words.
1. dullness
2. at one place
3. straight
4. bloom 5. sharp

Write the words which mean the same as the following.
1. a small branch
2. bright
3. a small room
4. a young flower 5. push with a broom

Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the poem.
1. If not taken good care of, the twig looks like a _______.
2. A small twig turns into a tall bush with _______ leaves.
3. The twig will die if thrown into a _______.
4. The _______ give freshness to the twig.

The Hidden Idea

The Hidden Secret!

This simple poem by Amy Lowell is full of wisdom. The poetess talks about the abundance that is hidden in each and everything of nature. This abundance can only be maintained if we follow the laws of nature.

The poetess says if we plant a simple looking twig at the right place where there is enough sunlight, and water it regularly; this twig will grow into a tall bush from whose boughs will hang beautiful flowers in bunches. Its leaves will sparkle in the bright sunlight; from its root emerge freshness and abundant grass will grow beneath it.

Contd.

However, if we keep the same twig and throw it in a closet, with other metal tools, it will wither and become useless dried up piece of wood that we would like throw into a bin.

The wisdom hidden in the poem is our life is like a twig; it will bear flowers only if we plant it in the sol of goodness and water it regularly with our hard work and perseverance. In the sunlight if God’s love for us we will blossom into a fully grown bush.

However, if we throw ourselves into the closet of evil deeds, we will wither up and be discarded as a useless thing.

SUCCESS CRITERIA:
Now, I CAN:
* match words with their meanings via a ‘Drag and Drop Activity’.
* share about the unseen passage ‘The Missile Man’ and relate to the central idea of the same.
* share about the unseen poem ‘It is only a Little Twig by Amy Lowell’ and relate to the central idea of the same.
* answer the questions based on both the passage and the poem.

1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Not sure
4. I need some help.