Class -8, English (Honeydew), Chapter -7 (A Visit to Cambridge) Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions

   English

(Honeydew)

Class -8, Chapter -7

(A Visit to Cambridge)

Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions  

-- Summary --

⭐ Summary In English:-

• Stephen Hawking :- Earlier England was important to the author only because there was Cambridge. Now it had a greater appeal for him. He had met Stephen Hawking there during a walking tour. Stephen Hawking is a disabled person. He is the successor of Issac Newton and has his Chair at the university. He is a brilliant astrophysicist. He is also the author of‘A Brief History of Time’. It is the biggest, best-seller of his times.

• Meeting Hawking :- The tour was over. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house. Hawking’s assistant attended the telephone call. He told the assistant that he had come from India. He added that he was on a wheel chair. He mentioned that he wanted to write a book about his travels in Britain. Then he expressed his desire to see Stephen Hawking. The time for his meeting the Professor was fixed. It was from three-thirty to four. The interview began on time. The writer felt that the disabled got fed up with people asking them to be brave. They got stronger on seeing somebody like them, achieving something huge. The computer voice replied that Professor Stephen Hawking hadn’t ever been brave. He had no choice in it.

The writer told him that most people think that the disabled people are chronically unhappy. He asked Hawking if he found this amusing. The voice replied that he found it amusing when people patronised him. The writer’s next question was about himself. He asked whether he felt annoyed when people like him disturbed him. The answer flashed ‘yes’. Hawking smiled after giving this answer. Prof. Hawking appeared to the writer as one of the most beautiful men in the world. However, the writer was shaken by his first glimpse. He seemed only a skeleton then.

• An Inspiration:- The writer asked Hawking’s opinion about the best thing about being disabled. The reply was negative. The writer’s next question was if this didn’t help him discover great kindness in the world. The voice agreed fully with the writer. Like others, the writer also got highly inspired by the answers. This idea didn’t appeal or console Hawking. The question made the writer feel sorry. Others’ admiration of Hawking’s living could not console him. Then the writer asked him about his advice to the disabled people.

• The Advice :- The voice advised the disabled to concentrate on what they are good. They should try nothing beyond it. They must not be over-enthusiastic. Then the writer saw Hawking’s big garden. At last he wheeled out. The writer found his journey successful and inspiring.

⭐ Summary In Hindi :-

• स्टीफन हॉकिंग :- पहले लेखक के लिए इंग्लैंड केवल इसलिए महत्त्वपूर्ण था क्योंकि वहाँ कैंब्रिज था। अब वह, उसके लिए अधिक महत्त्व रखता था। एक दौरे के बीच वह वहाँ स्टीफन हॉकिंग से मिला था। स्टीफन हॉकिंग एक विकलांग व्यक्ति हैं। वे आईजॅक न्यूटन के उत्तराधिकारी हैं और उन्होंने विश्वविद्यालय में उन्हीं के नाम का पद ग्रहण किया है। वे एक माने हुए खगोल भौतिक विज्ञानी हैं। वे ए ब्रीफ हिस्ट्री ऑफ टाईम’ के भी लेखक हैं। यह उस समय की सबसे अधिक बिकने वाली पुस्तक है।

• हॉकिंग से मुलाकात :- दौरा समाप्त हो गया। लेखक ने स्टीफन हॉकिंग के घर टेलीफोन किया। हॉकिंग के सहायक ने टेलीफोन सुना। उसने सहायक से कहा कि वह भारत से आया है। उसने यह जोड़ा कि वह एक व्हील चेयर पर था। उसने बताया कि वह अपनी ब्रिटेन यात्रा पर एक पुस्तक लिखना चाहता था। फिर उसने स्टीफन हॉकिंग से मिलने की इच्छा जाहिर की। प्रोफेसर से मिलने का उसका समय निश्चित हो गया। वह साढ़े तीन से चार बजे तक का था। साक्षात्कार ठीक समय प्रारंभ हुआ। लेखक ने महसूस किया कि विकलांग लोग, उन व्यक्तियों से ऊब जाते हैं जो उन्हें बहादुर बनने के लिए कहते हैं। वे उस समय अधिक बलशाली बन जाते हैं जब वे अपने जैसे किसी विकलांग व्यक्ति को कोई महान उपलब्धि करते देखते हैं। कम्प्यूटर की आवाज़ ने उत्तर दिया कि प्रोफेसर स्टीफन हॉकिंग कभी भी बहादुर नहीं रहा। इसमें उनके पास कोई विकल्प न था।

 लेखक ने उससे कहा कि बहुत से लोग यह सोचते हैं कि विकलांग लोग, सदा दुखी रहते हैं। उसने हॉकिंग से पूछा कि क्या इस विचार पर उन्हें हँसी आती है। आवाज़ ने उत्तर दिया कि उसे बड़ा हास्यास्पद लगता है जब लोग उसे संरक्षण देते हैं। लेखक का अगला प्रश्न अपने बारे में था। उसने पूछा कि क्या उसे उस समय चिढ़ होती है जब लेखक जैसा कोई व्यक्ति उसके काम में विघ्न डालता है। उत्तर मिला, ‘हाँ’। यह उत्तर देने के बाद हॉकिंग मुस्कराया। लेखक को, प्रोफेसर हॉकिंग, संसार भर के सर्वाधिक सुन्दर व्यक्तियों में से एक लगा। फिर भी, उसकी पहली झलक देखकर लेखक को आघात पहुँचा। उस समय वह केवल अस्थि-पंजर लग रहा था।

• प्रेरणा :- लेखक ने विकलांग होने में सबसे अच्छी बात क्या है, इस बारे में हॉकिंग की राय पूछी। उसका उत्तर नकारात्मक था। लेखक का अगला प्रश्न था कि क्या इस कारण से उसे संसार में अत्यधिक दयालुता नजर नहीं आती है। आवाज़ लेखक के साथ पूर्णरूप से सहमत हो गई। अन्य व्यक्तियों की भाँति, लेखक ने भी, उत्तरों से काफी प्रेरणा ली। यह विचार हॉकिंग को न ही अच्छा लगा और न ही उसे सांत्वना मिली। इस प्रश्न को पूछने पर लेखक को अफसोस हुआ। दूसरे व्यक्तियों के द्वारा हॉकिंग के जीवित रहने की सराहना किए जाने से उसे कोई सांत्वना नहीं मिली। फिर लेखक ने उससे पूछा कि विकलांग व्यक्तियों के लिए उसकी क्या नसीहत है।

• सलाह :- आवाज़ ने विकलांगों को नसीहत दी कि वे केवल उसी बात पर ध्यान केन्द्रित करें जिसमें वे अच्छे हों, उससे परे नहीं। उन्हें आवश्यकता से अधिक उत्साही नहीं होना चाहिए। तत्पश्चात् लेखक ने हॉकिंग का बड़ा बाग देखा। अंततः वह व्हील-चेयर पर बैठकर बाहर निकल आया। लेखक ने अपनी यात्रा को सफल तथा प्रेरणादायक पाया।

-- Word Meanings --

• Metaphor :- दो समान चीजों की तुलना करना 

• Disembodied :- तोड़ा हुआ 

• Disintegrate :- अलग अलग करना 

• Buoyant :- तैरने वाला 

• Corpse :- लाश, शव 

• Patronise :- संरक्षण देना 

• Twist :- मुड़ना

• Slump :- कमजोरी से मुड़ना 

• Irrelevant :- बेमतलब

• Shadow :- परछाईं , छाया

• Accessory :- वस्तुएं 

• Claustrophobic :- बंद जगह से डरा हुआ 

• Disabled :- दिव्यांग, अपाहिज 

• Unstring :- खोलना 

• Dodge :- कतरा कर निकल जाना 

• Wheel out :- पहियों वाली कुर्सी से चले जाना 

• Journey :- यात्रा, सफर 

• Astrophysicist :- तारों और ग्रहों का अध्ययन करने  

                                 वाला

• Successor :- उत्तराधिकारी

• Torso :- शरीर का उपरी भाग

• Inflection :- बोलते समय सुर में उतार-चढ़ाव

• Cliche :- घिसी-पिटी कहानी

• Gleefully :- खुश होकर

-- NCERT Solutions --

Comprehension Check (Page 104)

Which is the right sentence?

Questions 1.- “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer

(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.

(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.

(iii) Cambridge was the real England.

Answers:- (ii) England was famous for Cambridge.

Question 2.- The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house

(i) From the nearest phone booth.

(ii) From outside a phone booth.

(iii) From inside a phone booth.

Answer:- (i) From the nearest phone-booth.

Question 3.- Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because

(i) He wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.

(ii) He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

(iii) He was face to face with a legend.

Answer:- (ii) He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

Question 4.- “I felt a huge relief…in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to

(i) Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

(ii) Standing up, walking.

(iii) Speaking, writing.

Answer:- (i) Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

Working With the Text (Page 104)

Answer the following Questions.

Question 1.- 

(i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?

(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?

Answer:- 

(i) The writer felt nervous because he was doubtful whether he would be granted the interview.

(ii) He felt excited at the same time because he had been there to see Prof. Hawking for half an hour.

Question 2.- Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.

Answer:- The writer’s first question might be about Hawking’s disability and how he had accepted it.

Question 3.- Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?

Answer:- Living creatively with the reality of his weakening body was a choice.

Question 4.- “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?

Answer:- Prof. Hawking’s mind was full of great ideas but he couldn’t speak them out clearly and forcefully.

Question 5.- What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?

Answer.- Prof. Hawking’s one-way smile.

Question 6:- Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?

Answer:- The line is “before you like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin, you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man”.

Question 7.-

(i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?

(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?

(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?

Answer:-

(i) The walls of the lantern in Hawking’s case were his skeleton like physical structure.

(ii) The glow of the eternal soul was housed within the thin walls of his body,

(iii) The writer draws conclusion that the eternal soul is more important than the body.

Question 8.- What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?

Answer:- Prof. Hawking’s message for the disabled is that they should concentrate on what they are good at. It is foolish to try to copy the normal people.

Question 9.- Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?

Answer:- The writer spent many years trying to play a big Spanish guitar. One night he loosened the strings joyfully. This incident supports the idea that the disabled people should practise only what they are good at.

Question 10.- The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?

Answer:- The author felt much inspired after meeting with Stephen Hawking. Therefore he felt grateful to him.

Question 11.- Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.

(i) There was his assistant on the line…

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave….

(iii) There he was ………

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, ……..

(v) It doesn’t do much good to know…

Answer:-

(i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.

(iii) There he was tapping at a little switch in his hand, trying to find the words on his computer.

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak and they are saying something huge and urgent it is hard to tell what.

(v) It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

- By Durgesh Pandey