“A King’s Tale” is a lesson of Textbook “Blossom” approved by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education for the Students of Class 8. Here all the Activity Questions are done by English teachers.
Activity 1
Tick the correct alternative:
(i) During the reign of King Uther-Pendragon, the people of Britain lived a
(a) peaceful √
(b) disturbed
(c) unhappy life.
Answer: During the reign of King Uther-Pendragon, the people of Britain lived a peaceful life.
(ii) Merlin, the prophet, and Sir Ulfius, the brave knight, were trusted by the
(a) opponents of the king
(b) members of the royal family √
(c) counsellors of the king.
Answer: Merlin, the prophet and Sir Ulfius, the brave knight, were trusted by the members of the royal family.
(iii) The royal baby was to be brought up by
(a) Sir Ulfius
(b) Merlin
(c) Sir Ector √
Answer: The royal baby was to be brought up by Sir Ector.
(iv) After the passing away of King Uther-Pendragon, there was
(a) lawlessness √
(b) prosperity
(c) development in Britain
Answer: After the passing away of King Uther- Pendragon, there was lawlessness.
Activity 2
Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in given boxes:
(1) Sir Ector promised to obey Merlin and Sir Ulfius. [6]
(2) King Uther-Pendragon was loved by his people. [1]
(3) There was trouble in Britain after the king and queen died. [4]
(4) Lady Igraine was the beautiful wife of King Uther- Pendragon. [2]
(5) The two trusted counsellors placed in Sir Ector’s hands the royal baby. [5]
(6) The royal baby was born to King Uther-Pendragon and Lady Igraine. [3]
Activity 3
Answer the following question:
1.) Why do you think Merlin and Sir Ulfius entrusted Sir Ector with the baby of the king and queen?
Answer: Sir Ector was the trustworthy and a loyal subject of the king so Merlin and Sir Ulfius thought that he was the right choice to take care of the royal baby.
Activity 4
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
1.) After King Uther- Pendragon, Britain had no king because none of the fighting barons had managed to become the king.
2.) The magnificent sword was fixed on a large stone in a churchyard.
3.) Arthur was eighteen when he succeeded in lifting the sword for the first time.
4.) The beautiful arm that rose from the water held a sword set with rubies and emeralds.
Activity 5
Answer the following questions:
1.) What was written upon the stone on which the sword was fixed?
Answer: “Whoever pulls out this sword is by right of birth,the king of England.” – was written upon the stone on which the sword was fixed.
2.) What happened on the bright May morning?
Answer: On the bright May morning, Arthur lifted the sword easily.
3.) Why did Arthur need a new sword?
Answer: King Arthur needed a new sword because he had lost his royal sword in a battle.
Activity 6
Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements in the given boxes. Give supporting statements for each of your answers:
1.) The people of England were unhappy during Arthur’s rule. [False]
Supporting Statement: King Arthur could gift peace and prosperity to England.
2.) Merlin took King Arthur to the gilded pavilion on his birthday. [False]
Supporting Statement: On the wedding day, Merlin took him to a richly gilded pavilion, painted crimson and dark blue.
3.) Fifty people could sit at the Round Table. [True]
Supporting Statement: In the middle of the room was a huge, round oak table, richly carved, capable of seating fifty people.
4.) The goodness and the kindness of the knights were known all over the country. [True]
Supporting Statement: The stories of their goodness and kindness spread throughout the country.
Activity 6
Answer the following questions:
1.) Who, according to Merlin, could possess the Excalibur?
Answer: According to Merlin, only an honest and fearless knight who protects the common people can possess the Excalibur.
2.) Describe the pavilion where the round table was placed?
Answer: The pavilion was richly gilded, painted crimson and dark blue. The floor was marbled. In the middle of the room was a huge, round, oak table, richly carved, capable of seating fifty people.
3.) What did King Arthur’s devoted knights promise?
Answer: King Arthur’s devoted knights promised that they would help the helpless, be gentle to the weak and to punish the wicked.
4.) Why did King Arthur smile when he was informed that the Excalibur was taken back into the lake by a beautiful arm?
Answer: King Arthur smiled when he was informed that the Excalibur was taken back into the lake by a beautiful arm because he had done his duty and realized that the Excalibur was back to its original place.
Activity 8 (a)
In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adjective:
1.) The king is wearing a crown which is made of gold.
2.) He walked on the path that was stony.
3.) He has a friend who is very helpful.
| The groups of words that you have underlined do the work of an Adjective and contain Subjects and Predicates of their own. Such a group of words is called an Adjective Clause. An Adjective Clause is introduced by a Relative Pronoun and so it is called a Relative Clause. |
Activity 8 (b)
In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adverb:
1.) He returned home when it was raining.
2.) The knight fought in a manner which was brave.
3.) The student could not understand the lesson as he was not present in the class.
| The groups of words that you have underlined do the work of an Adverb and contain Subjects and Predicates of their own. Such a group of words is called an Adverb Clause. |
Activity 8 (c)
In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do the work of a Noun:
1.) I expect that he will come.
2.) That you behave like this, hurts me.
3.) Mother was very happy that her child had succeeded.
| The groups of words that you have underlined do the work of a Noun and contain Subjects and Predicates of their own. Such a group of words is called a Noun Clause. |
Activity 8 (d)
Underline the Clauses the following sentences and state what kind of clauses they are:
1.) He was a man whom everyone admired.
Answer: Adjective / Relative clause
2.) I hope that my uncle will visit me.
Answer: Noun clause
3.) He could not walk further as he was tired.
Answer: Adverb clause
4.) They live in a place where it is always cold.
Answer: Adverb clause
5.) My friends took me to a garden which was very beautiful.
Answer: Adjective / Relative clause
6.) The artist hoped that he would win an award.
Answer: Noun clause
Activity 9
Find words in the passage that mean the following:
1.) To care for someone or something – Protect
2.) the state of being successful – Succeeded
3.) having great love and being loyal – Devoted
4.) died – Perished
Activity 10 (a)
Imagine you are Merlin, the wise counselor to King Arthur. Write a paragraph in about eighty words on the advices you would have given the king in his times of trouble.
Answer:
In times of troubles, only the trustworthy people can be counted on. I would advise my King to never give up in any situation. I would tell him to follow the path that has been laid down many years ago. I would also advise my king to be firm and take proper action with a pragmatic attitude. I would advise him not to be hasty in making decisions and think twice before coming to the conclusion. Beyond everything else, I would assure him that I will be there for him no matter how the time gets.
Activity 10 (b)
Write a summary of the following passage:
Long ago during the reign of Khalifa Haroon-ul-Rashid, there lived a businessman called Ali. One day Ali went on a pilgrimage. He had five hundred gold coins which he put in a jar and filled the jar with oil. Ali left the jar with his neighbour Abdul. While Ali was away, one day, Abdul ran out of cooking oil in his house. He took out some oil from Ali’s jar. As Abdul was pouring the oil several gold coins fell out from the jar. He became greedy. Abdul took out all the oil and the gold coins from Ali’s jar. Then he replaced the oil in the jar from an oil-trader. Ali returned several months later. He did not find his coins. Abdul said he knew nothing of it. Ali went to the Khalifa. Khalifa Haroon-ul-Rashid heard Ali’s complain. But there was no proof against Abdul. The Khalifa called an oil merchant.He tasted the oil and said it was two months old. Ali had been gone for seven months. He could not have put that oil in the jar. So, Abdul was caught. Ali got back his coins. (190 words)
Answer:
This tale is of greed and its effects. During the reign ofKhalia Haroon-ul-Rashid, there was a businessman named Ali. One day Ali went on a pilgrimage. He had five hundred gold coins which he put in a jar and filled the jar with oil. He left the jar with his neighbor called Abdul. One day Abdul ran out of cooking oil so he took out some oil from Ali’s jar. As Abdul was pouring the oil, several gold coins fell out from Ali’s jar. His greediness overpowered him and he took out all the oil and the gold coins. He replaced the oil in the jar from an oil-trader. When Ali returned after several months, he found that there were no coins. He asked Abdul but Abdul played the trick and said that he knew nothing. The matter was taken to the King. The king called an oil merchant. The merchant tasted the oil and said that it was two months old and Ali had been out for several months. The trick played by Abdul didn’t work and finally he was caught. Ali got his gold coins back.
Give question answer of class 08
Lesson 08 . The happy princes.
by Oscar Wilde.