If you are searching for Bihar Board Class 8 English Chapter 7 Solutions then you are at the right place. Below we have shared the written solutions with the complete question-answer of chapter 7 – “A Visit to Cambridge” for free. This solution is from the new book of class 8 English – Honeydew.
This chapter is about a meeting between two differently-abled men, Stephen Hawking and Firdaus Kanga, who both use wheelchairs. They talk about life, challenges, and how people treat them. Students will learn about courage, understanding, and respecting everyone.
Bihar Board Class 8 English Chapter 7 Solutions
Contents
| Chapter | Prose 7. A Visit to Cambridge |
| Subject | English (Honeydew) |
| Class | 8th |
| Board | Bihar Board |
COMPREHENSION CHECK
From Page No 97
Which is the right sentence?
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.
Ans: (iii) Cambridge was the real England.
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.
Ans: (ii) From outside a phone booth.
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.
Ans: (ii) He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
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.
Ans: (i) Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
WORKING WITH THE TEXT
Answer the following questions.
1. (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
Ans: Yes, the writer was nervous about meeting Stephen Hawking because he was a world-famous scientist and the author of A Brief History of Time. He was also a professor at Cambridge University, succeeding the great scientist Isaac Newton. Meeting such an extraordinary person made the writer feel nervous.
(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Ans: Yes, the writer was excited because he got to meet Stephen Hawking for half an hour. This meeting inspired him and made him feel stronger. He realized he could achieve great things despite his own disabilities, just like Hawking did.
2. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Ans: The writer might have asked, “How did you overcome challenges to become such a successful scientist?” This question likely came first because the writer admired Hawking’s achievements and wanted to know how he managed despite his physical condition.
3. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
Ans: The writer believed Hawking did have a choice. He could have given up, felt sad, or become depressed because of his disability. Instead, Hawking chose to live bravely and use his mind creatively, despite his body’s limitations.
4. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Ans: Stephen Hawking’s anguish was his struggle to express his brilliant ideas. His disability made it hard for him to speak clearly, and he had to rely on a computer to communicate. This lack of direct expression frustrated him, as his words lacked the emotion he felt.
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?
Ans: When the writer asked if he was disturbing Hawking, the scientist replied honestly that he was, but then gave a warm, one-way smile. This genuine and kind gesture touched the writer deeply. As a disabled person himself, the writer felt that Hawking’s inner strength and soul made him truly beautiful, beyond his physical appearance.
6. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Ans: The most beautiful sentence is: “Before you, like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man.”
7. (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
Ans: The ‘walls’ of the lantern would be the man’s physical body.
(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
Ans: The light of life or the inner glow of the person’s soul is housed within the thin walls.
(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
Ans: The writer concludes that a person’s inner beauty, like their soul and strength, is more important than their physical body. The body is just an outer cover, while the soul defines who a person truly is.
8. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Ans: Stephen Hawking’s message to disabled people is to focus on what they can do well and make the most of their abilities. He advises them to be thankful for what they have and not aim for things that are impossible for them.
9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Ans: The writer mentions trying to play a Spanish guitar that was too big for him and feeling relieved when he stopped trying. This supports Hawking’s idea that disabled people should focus on their strengths instead of struggling with things that don’t suit them, like the writer’s attempt to play the guitar or events like the Disabled Olympics.
10. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
Ans: The writer is grateful to Stephen Hawking for inspiring him. Meeting Hawking showed him that he could achieve great things despite his disability. Hawking’s courage and success gave the writer confidence and hope to aim higher in life.
11. Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.
| A | B |
|---|---|
| Tapping at a little switch in his hand | Trying to find the words on his computer |
| And I told him | I had come in a wheelchair from India |
| That there are people | On which you are too lazy to draw a cheque |
| As if you have a courage account | Smiling with admiration to see you breathing still |
| And they are saying something huge and urgent | It is hard to tell what |
(i) There was his assistant on the line …
Ans: 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, …
Ans: 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, …
Ans: There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to find words on his computer.
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, …
Ans: 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 …
Ans: It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.
WORKING WITH LANGUAGE
1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.
Guide, Succeed, Chair, Travel, Pale, Draw, True
(i) I met a _____ from an antique land.
Ans: I met a traveller from an antique land.
(ii) I need special _____ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
Ans: I need special guidance in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy _____ to Isaac Newton.
Ans: The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy successor to Isaac Newton.
(iv) His other problems _____ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
Ans: His other problems paled into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
(v) The meeting was _____ by the youngest member of the board.
Ans: The meeting was chaired by the youngest member of the board.
(vi) Some people say ‘yours _____’ when they informally refer to themselves.
Ans: Some people say ‘yours truly’ when they informally refer to themselves.
(vii) I wish it had been a _____ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
Ans: I wish it had been a drawn match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
2. Look at the following words.
Walk, Stick
Can you create a meaningful phrase using both these words?
Ans: A walking stick
Now make six such phrases using the words given in the box.
Read/session, Smile/face, Revolve/chair, Walk/tour, Dance/doll, Win/chance
Ans:
(i) A reading session
(ii) A smiling face
(iii) A revolving chair
(iv) A walking tour
(v) A dancing doll
(vi) A winning chance
3. Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.
(i) He has two brothers. _______ are lawyers.
Ans: He has two brothers. Both are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten persons called. _______ of them wanted to see you.
Ans: More than ten persons called. All of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They _______ cheered the team.
Ans: They all cheered the team.
(iv) _______ her parents are teachers.
Ans: Both her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me _______ of it.
Ans: How much have you got? Give me all of it.
4. Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.
(i) My friend has one of the _______ cars on the road. (Fast)
Ans: My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.
(ii) This is the _______ story I have ever read. (Interesting)
Ans: This is the most interesting story I have ever read.
(iii) What you are doing now is _______ than what you did yesterday. (Easy)
Ans: What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both _______. (Short)
Ans: Ramesh and his wife are both short.
(v) He arrived _______ as usual. Even the chief guest came _______ than he did. (Late, early)
Ans: He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.
SPEAKING AND WRITING
1. Say the following words with correct stress. Pronounce the parts given in colour loudly and clearly.
Camel, Balloon, Decent, Opinion, Fearless, Enormous, Careful, Fulfil, Father, Together, Govern, Degree, Bottle, Before
Ans: Here’s how to stress the syllables (the part in bold is pronounced louder):
- Ca-mel
- Ba-lloon
- De-cent
- O-pi-nion
- Fear-less
- E-nor-mous
- Care-ful
- Ful-fil
- Fa-ther
- To-ge-ther
- Go-vern
- De-gree
- Bo-ttle
- Be-fore
2. Underline stressed syllables in the following words. Consult the dictionary or ask the teacher if necessary.
Artist, Mistake, Accident, Moment, Compare, Satisfy, Relation, Table, Illegal, Agree, Backward, Mountain
Ans: The stressed syllable is underlined:
(i) Artist
(ii) Mistake
(iii) Accident
(iv) Moment
(v) Compare
(vi) Satisfy
(vii) Relation
(viii) Table
(ix) Illegal
(x) Agree
(xi) Backward
(xii) Mountain
3. Writing a notice for the School Notice Board.
Step 1
Discuss why notices are put up on the notice board. What kinds of ‘notices’ have you lately seen on the board? How is a notice different from a letter or a descriptive paragraph?
Ans: Notices are put up on the school notice board to share important information with students, teachers, or staff. They are short, clear, and to the point, meant for everyone to read quickly. Examples of notices include announcements about school events, lost and found items, or exam schedules.
A notice is different from a letter because it’s not personal and doesn’t address one person. It’s also different from a descriptive paragraph because it’s brief, uses simple language, and focuses on giving information or instructions, not describing something in detail.
Step 2
Suppose you have lost or found something on the campus. What have you lost or found?
Ans: Let’s say: I have lost my scientific calculator in the school library.
You want to write a notice about it. If you have lost something, you want it restored to you in case someone has found it. If you have found something, you want to return it to its owner.
Ans:
NOTICE
Date: 24 May 2025
LOST – SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR
I have lost my black Casio scientific calculator in the school library on 23rd May during the lunch break. It has my name, Ankit Verma, written on the back with a blue pen.
Whoever finds it is kindly requested to return it to the undersigned or submit it to the school office.
Name: Ankit Verma
Class: 9th B
Step 3
Write a few lines describing the object you have lost or found. Mention the purpose of the notice in clear terms. Also write your name, class, section and date.
Step 4
Let one member of each group read aloud the notice to the entire class. Compare your notice with the other notices, and make changes, if necessary, with the help of the teacher.
Ans: Students do by yourself.
Or, Imagine that you are a journalist. You have been asked to interview the president of the village panchayat. Write eight to ten questions you wish to ask. The questions should elicit comments as well as plans regarding water and electricity, cleanliness, and school education in the village.
Ans: Here are ten questions to ask the president of the village panchayat:
- What steps is the panchayat taking to provide clean drinking water to every household in the village?
- Are there any plans to fix the frequent electricity cuts in the village?
- How is the panchayat ensuring that the village streets and public areas stay clean?
- What measures are in place to improve the condition of the village school?
- Are there plans to provide better facilities, like books and desks, for students in the school?
- How does the panchayat plan to manage waste and prevent littering in the village?
- Is there a plan to install solar panels or other sources for reliable electricity in the village?
- What is being done to educate villagers about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene?
- Are there any new programs to support teachers and improve teaching in the village school?
- How will the panchayat involve villagers in these plans for water, electricity, cleanliness, and education?
