Question

NCERT Solutions Class 8, English, Honeydew, Prose, Chapter- 4, Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory.

To master this chapter thoroughly and prepare effectively for CBSE exams and competitive tests, it's strongly recommended to utilize NCERT Solutions. These solutions, crafted by subject experts, offer a deep dive into all key concepts of the chapter. They are meticulously designed to match the CBSE syllabus, ensuring comprehensive preparation and invaluable support for your studies.

This article delves into the significance of NCERT solutions for Class 8 English, highlighting their structured approach and practical application for students. It explores why these solutions are crucial for understanding concepts thoroughly and offers insights into the effective strategies students can employ to maximize their learning and retention.

In these NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English, we have discussed all types of NCERT intext questions and exercise questions.

Concepts covered in Class 8 English - Honeydew Prose Chapter 4 Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory, are :

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory, English Language Projects, Rhyme Scheme, Grammar ,Vocabulary, Compound Words, Collocation, Parts of Speech, Writing Skills, View and Counterview, Reading Skills, Unseen Passage Comprehension, Listening Skills, Speaking Skills.

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Answer 1

NCERT Solutions Class 8, English, Honeydew, Prose, Chapter- 4, Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory.

Comprehension Check

1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?

Solution:

The man, Parimal Ghose, was taken aback when Bepin failed to recognise him. He didn’t believe that Bepin had a lapse of memory.

2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October '58?

Solution: Bepin Babu said that in October 58 he was in Kanpur.

3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.

Solution:

Parimal Ghose knew that Bepin Babu’s wife was dead, and his only brother had died in the same year in a Ranchi lunatic asylum. He also knew that Bepin Babu had no children and he was a lover of books.

Comprehension Check

1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?

Solution:

Bepin Babu continuously worried about what Parimal Ghose had said because he had shown that he knew many intimate facts about him. He knew about the bag of books, his wife's death and his brother's insanity. Considering that Parimal Ghose knew so much about him, Bepin Babu couldn't say with conviction that he was making a mistake about the Ranchi trip.

2. How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or Parimal Ghose?

Solution:

He tried to decide whether his memory was right or Parimal Ghose by looking at his right knee where Parimal had claimed that there would be a cut. There was certainly a mark of an old cut. However, he could not decide if the cut was the result of his fall in Ranchi or due to some incident in his childhood. Then, he decided to ask Dinesh Mukherjee, who according to Parimal Ghose was with him in Ranchi. He felt that asking him would put an end to his confusion.

3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?

Solution:

Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr. Mukerji thinking that it would be ridiculous if he had really visited Ranchi. Mukerji would think Bepin Babu had gone mad. Hence, Bepin babu finally decided to phone him.

4. What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?

Solution:

Mr. Mukerji, after checking his diary ,said that they had visited Ranchi in October’58. This added to Bepin Babu's worries as he could not figure out how he could possibly have forgotten about the trip.

Comprehension Check

1. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?

Solution:

Chunilal was an old schoolmate of Bepin Babu. He had been having a rough time lately and had been coming to see Bepin Babu for a job.

2. Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu's loss of memory?

Solution:

Paresh Chanda was a young physician. He had never dealt a case of memory loss. So he was puzzled. He gave a suggestion to Bepin Babu to visit Ranchi again.

Comprehension Check

1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?

Solution:

No, Bepin Babu had not really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi. It was a trick played by Chunilal.

2. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?

Solution:

Chunilal did what he did because Bepin Babu did not help him at a time when he had no money and required a job. However, Bepin Babu did not do anything for him. So he wanted to punish him by rekindling haunting memory of his fall near Hudroo.

Chunilal seems to be a good writer with very fertile imagination. That is what he believes would help him to tide over his bad phase.

Working with Text

1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?

Solution:

The author has described Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. He worked daily in his office. It was a big firm and he was doing a responsible job. He had been with the firm for twenty-five years. He had a reputation for being a tireless, conscientious worker.

2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?

Solution:

Bepin Babu first refused to meet Chunilal. He was in no mood to help Chunilal out of his trouble. But he changed his mind soon. He thought Chunilal might remember something about his trip to Ranchi in 1958.

3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?

Solution:

Bepin Babu might have slipped near Hundroo Falls that made him unconscious.

4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?

Solution:

After finding out that Chunilal had tricked him, Bepin Babu must have been filled with remorse for his 'unfeeling behaviour' towards an 'old friend down on his luck'. He would have realised that he had indeed been a victim of forgetfulness as he had forgotten the meaning of friendship in a time of 'affluence'.

Answer 2

Working With Language 

1. Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to’/ ‘have to’/ ‘has to’.

(i) I ______ cut my hair every month.

(ii) We _______ go for swimming lessons last year.

(iii) She ______ tell the principal the truth.

(iv) They _______ take the baby to the doctor.

(v) We _______ complain to the police about the noise.

(vi) Romit _______ finish his homework before he could come out to play.

(vii) I _______ repair my cycle yesterday.

Solution:

(i) I have to cut my hair every month.
(ii) We had to go for swimming lessons last year.
(iii) She has to tell the principal the truth.
(iv) They had to take the baby to the doctor.
(v) We have to complain to the police about the noise.
(vi) Romit had to finish his homework before he could come out to play.
(vii) I had to repair my cycle yesterday.

2. Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary in the following way.

First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a dictionary.

(Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom).

(To help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.)

(i) at/from close quarters    (close: adjective)

(ii) break into a smile          (break: verb; look under ‘break into something’)

(iii) carry on                        (carry: verb)

(iv) have a clean record     (you may find related meanings under both these words)

(v) beat about the bush     (verb)

Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.

Solution:

Idiom	Meaning
(i) at / from close quarters	from nearby
(ii) break into a smile	smile suddenly
(iii) carry on	continue the task
(iv) have a clean record	clean conduct throughout
(v) beat about the bush	to make guess without proper knowledge;  to make a vague idea.

3. Study the sentences in the columns below.

A	B
I saw this movie yesterday.	I have seen this movie already.
Bepin Babu worked here for a week last year.	Bepin Babu has worked here since 2003.
Chunilal wrote to a publisher last week.	Chunilal has written to a publisher.
I visited Ranchi once, long ago.	I have visited Ranchi once before.

Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms. Answer the following questions about each pair of sentences.

(i) Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place?

Solution: Column B

(ii) Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher?

Solution: Column A

(iii) Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?

Solution: Column B

(iv) Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker's mind?

Solution: Column B

4. Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form correct sentences.

You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning. One sentence has been worked out for you as an example.

Jumbled sentence: vanished/ The car/ seemed to/ into thin/ have/ air.

Ans: The car seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Idiom: vanished into thin air: disappeared or vanished in a mysterious way

(i) Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you want/the bush
Ans: ___________________________________
Idiom: __________________________________

Solution:

Ans: Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
Idiom: beating about the bush - avoiding the main topic, not coming straight to the point

(ii) don't pay/if you/attention/you might/the wrong train/to the announcement/board
Ans: ____________________________________
Idiom: ___________________________________

Solution:

 Ans: If you don't pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.
Idiom: pay attention - listen carefully

(iii) The village/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin
Ans: ______________________________________
Idiom: _____________________________________

Solution:

Ans:The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.
Idiom: pin the crime - place the responsibility of the crime

(iv) Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor's/eat early/that he was
Ans: _______________________________________
Idiom: ______________________________________

Solution:

Ans: Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor's orders to eat early.
Idiom: under doctor's orders - in complete necessity

(v) the student/The teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their lessons/raised/they had revised
Ans: _______________________________________
Idiom: ______________________________________

Solution:

Ans: The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.
Idiom: raised his eyebrows - expressed doubt/surprise

Answer 3

Speaking And Writing

1. What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need?

Solution:

Bepin Babu came to know the truth what Chunilal had done. In fact Chunilal had only played a trick with him to test his friendship. Bepin Babu had a mixed feeling of relief as well as anger. He was happy to know that he had not suffered the lapse of memory. He was a little angry with his friend who was not really helpful. But he had made Bepin feel awkward. He must have decided not to disappoint a friend in need.

2. Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal’s letter and feel ashamed that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck. Now you want to do something for him. Write a letter to Chunilal promising to help him soon.

Or

A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.

Solution:

15th November, 20XX
My Dear Chunilal,
Let me first thank you for your letter dated 10th November. I am really feeling sorry for disappointing you. I can understand your resentment. Now allow me to give you a happy news. I spoke to my friend in Delhi, and he has agreed to engage you as assistant manager in his firm.
Please come to me on Sunday. I shall then introduce you to my friend.

With regards
Yours sincerely
Bepin Choudhury

Or

On March 26, I received a letter from one of my friends. It contained a happy news that I had been granted scholarship from back date. He asked me to call on him in April, so that both would go together to the office of the Superintendent of the school. I was very glad. I even distributed sweets to my neighbours. But when I reached my friend’s house, I found him laughing at me. It was April the first. All Fools Day.’ I got over it soon and admired the practical joke or the prank.