Refugee Blues

 Page 86

2. Where do the narrator and his companion want to go? Why are they unable to do so?

The narrator and his companion want to go to a safe place to live as they were sent out of their country. They are unable to do so because they are not allowed to enter any country.

3. Why did the consul bang on the table? Why was he angry?

The consul banged on the table because the narrator and his companion were attempting to enter the country. He was angry as they did not have any passports.

4. What was the refugee offered by the committee and what did they ask him? What was his reaction?

The refugee was offered a chair by the committee. They asked him to come next year. The refugee reacted by saying where should they go on that day.

5. What did the narrator see at the harbor?

The narrator saw fish swimming at the harbor. The refugee saw singing birds in the woods.

6. What did the refugee see in his dream?

The refugee saw a building with a thousand floors. It has a thousand windows and a thousand doors. Sadly, none of them were theirs.

7. Who is looking for the refugees?

Ten thousand soldiers are looking for the refugees.

8. What is the setting of the poem?

The setting of the poem dates back to the second world war. Jews were driven out of Nazi Germany. Millions of Jews fled seeking refugee around the world. No country was ready to accept them.

9. The poem talks about human rights violations suffered by a pair of German-Jewish people during the second world war. What are the difficulties that they faced?

The right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture are basic human rights.

The pair of German Jewish people were homeless. They had no place. They did not have basic facilities. They were hunted by the German army and nobody gave them shelter. These were the difficulties faced by them.

The Best Christmas Present in the World

Answers to the questions given in the Reading section of the page no. 64 of New Pathways Literature Reader textbook for Class 8

1. Why does the writer feel that it was wrong of him to open the black tin box?

The writer feels that it was wrong of him to open the black tin box because opening. looking and reading personal letters of someone is intrusive and not good-mannered.

2. What job did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have written they were not soldiers?

Hans Wolf was a cello player an orchestra and Jim Macpherson was a school teacher.

3. Do you think Jim MacPherson came back from the war? How do you know this?

No. I do not think that Jim MacPherson came back from the war. When the author met Connie, she was still waiting for the return of Jim. She thought that the author was Jim.

4. Why did the writer feel so guilty that he could not sleep that night?

The writer realized that the letter was very important and valuable to Mrs. Macpherson. He felt so guilty that he could not sleep that night as he had read the personal letter without permission. He wanted to give the letter to the owner as soon as possible.

5. What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it ‘the best Christmas present in the world’?

On Christmas day, the narrator went to visit her to deliver the letter. She thought that the narrator was Jim, her husband. According to her, the return of her husband is a Christmas present. It is the best Christmas present in the world because she had been waiting for him for a long time.

6. If you were in the narrator’s position, would you have told Connie that she was mistaken and that you were not her Jim? Why/Why not?

No. I would not have told Connie that she was mistaken. I knew that she had no family and no visitors at the nursing home. I also knew that she was very old and muddle-headed. I would not have the heart of taking away her happiness by telling the truth.

One Thousand Paper Cranes

 3. Answer the following questions.

a. The war changed the life of Sadako’s family forever. How?

Because of the war Hiroshima was bombed. The blast destroyed Sadako’s home and killed his grandmother. Her father went away to serve in the army. Their barber shop had to be kept under the care of her relatives. She was exposed to the atomic radiation and developed a deadly disease called leukemia.

b. The following qualities made Sadako an engaging person. Give evidence from the text to prove that Sadako was

i. a loving daughter.

It is evident from the text that Sadako was a loving daughter because she helped her mother in household chores and looking after her younger siblings.

ii. a good student.

It is clear that she is good student as she was a skilled runner. She was a member of her class relay team.

iii. a talented girl.

Sadako was a fast runner. She excelled in practice runs. Even the fastest boy could not compete with her. Because of these reasons we know that she was a talented girl.

iv. a positive child.

Even though she was suffering with extreme pain and fighting against a deadly disease she never complained.  This shows that she was a positive child.

v. a caring person.

Soon after the war, Sadako acted responsibly and looked after little children of the family. This shows that she was a caring person.

c. How did Sadako react upon learning that she was suffering from a fatal disease?

Sadako accepted the fact that she got a terrible and fatal disease because of the exposure to radiation. She fought with leukemia bravely. She never complained about her pain or suffering. She believed in the legend of one thousand cranes. She hoped to get well by folding one thousand cranes.

d. Do you think Sadako believed in the thousand crane legend? Give reasons.

Yes. I think that Sadako believed in the thousand crane legend. Soon after receiving the paper cranes, she started to fold paper cranes hoping that the thousand cranes would bring her luck and health.

e. How does Sadako’s strength and hope inspire people after her death?

Sadako’s courage and hope inspired her Bamboo classmates. They wanted to do something for her and began to raise funds to build a memorial for her. Soon, more than three thousand schools had sent donations. Finally, a monument was built in the memory of all the children who lost their lives in the bombing. The monument is a symbol of peace.

Reading 2:

1. Sadako had a strong will to live. Imagine you are Sadako and you have just come to know about your disease. As Sadako, write a page in y our diary, in about 120 words, expressing your feelings and your desire for peace of the world.

Day: Sunday

Date: 04-11-2020

Time: 8.00pm

Dear diary,

Today, I am very sad. For the last few days I have been suffering from cold and stiffness in my neck. The cold has gone but I am still suffering from the stiffness in the neck. My face has swollen. In the hospital, they did several tests. They told me that I got a deadly disease called leukemia. I have only one year to live.

Oh, how much I want to live and run for my team. I want to go to school and have fun with my friends. But sadly, I have to stay in hospital. All this is because of the war. So, they should not be any wars. I wish there is peace in the world.

Good night diary.

Your

Sadako

2. Do you think that Sadako would have lived if she had made one thousand paper cranes? Why or why not?

No. I don’t think that Sadako would have lived if she had made one thousand paper cranes. Leukemia is a very deadly disease and no legend could save her.  

3. You must have seen people believe in good luck charms. Do you have any? Describe the charm and narrate an episode when you used it.

Yes. I have a good luck charm. The is a silver ring presented to me by my grandfather. He blessed me and said that I would get good marks if I wear the ring and write my examinations. I wrote my mid-examinations. I was very worried because that was the first time I wrote the examination online. I wore the ring and true to my grandfather’s words, I got very good marks in the examinations.