Chapter 8


                                                       A Short Monsoon Diary


Comprehension Check (Page 111)

1:Why is the author not able to see Bijju?

Answer: The author could not see Bijju because the hills of Mussoorie were shrouded in a dense mist, which acted like a thick white blanket, hiding everything from view and making it impossible for him to spot or hear Bijju.

2:What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?

Answer: When the mist rises, it hides the hills entirely, wrapping them in a thick white veil. Additionally, the trees that normally echo with bird songs seem lifeless and quiet, as the birds stop chirping, making the forest feel as still as midnight.


Comprehension Check (Page 113)

 1:When does the monsoon season begin, and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?

Answer: In India, the monsoon season typically begins at the end of May. As per the author’s monsoon diaries, Mussoorie first experiences the monsoon mist around June 24 or 25, lasting until August 31 or sometimes mid-September. To prepare for the rains, we usually take umbrellas and raincoats to stay dry and avoid falling ill.


 2:Which hill-station does the author describe in this diary entry?

Answer: In this diary entry, the author writes about the enchanting hill station of Mussoorie.


 3:For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?

Answer: The rain persisted nonstop for eight to nine days. During this time, since venturing outside was difficult due to the wet and soggy conditions, the author spent his hours pacing around his room and watching a few umbrellas bobbing in the rain through the window.


 4:Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?

Answer: To protect themselves from the rain, snakes and rodents leave their holes and burrows and seek refuge in places like roofs, attics, and storage sheds.


 5:What did the author receive in the mail?

Answer: The author received a cheque in the mail.

Working with the text (Page 114)

 1:Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24-25, August 2 and March 23. Now write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March.

Answer: According to Ruskin Bond’s diary, the monsoon begins around June 24-25, when a thick white mist blankets the hills, creating an eerie silence. Nature slowly comes alive as the rains set in, with people, animals, birds, and trees welcoming the season, and the first cobra lily emerges from the ferns. By August 2, people have grown accustomed to the monsoon. The rain drums steadily on corrugated tin roofs, and snakes and rodents leave their burrows to seek shelter in attics, roofs, and godowns to stay dry. By March 23, winter ends and dramatic weather changes occur. Dark clouds fill the sky, leading to a hailstorm, which eventually clears to reveal a brilliant rainbow, showcasing the spectacular beauty of nature.


2:Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?

Answer: The grandmother advised the children against killing the Chuchundar because it was believed to bring good luck and attract wealth.


 3:What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?

Answer: In Nature, signs that the monsoon is nearing its end include the hillsides of Mussoorie turning lush green and the appearance of late-monsoon flowers such as wild balsam, dahlias, begonias, and ground orchids. Additionally, the seeds of the cobra lily gradually turn red, indicating that the rains are drawing to a close.


 4:Complete the following sentences.

(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because __________________.

Answer:(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because the dense mist conceals the hills and the surroundings.

(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as __________________.

Answer:(ii) The writer describes the hill station and valley as a paradise that might have been.

(iii) The leopard was successful in __________________ but had to flee when _____________________________________________________.

Answer:(iii) The leopard was successful in attacking one of Bijju’s cows but had to flee when Bijju’s mother arrived and screamed imprecations.

(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because __________________.

Answer:(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because of their bright colours.

(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when __________________.

Answer:(v) It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when ground orchids, mauve lady’s slipper and the white butterfly orchids bloom.

(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because __________________________.

Answer:(vi) During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because they have been flooded out of their holes and burrows.

 5:‘Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.’

(i) Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’?

Answer:(i)The word ‘springing’ refers to moving suddenly at once. The author uses this word to indicate how the tin roofs are prone to development of sudden unexpected leaking.

(ii) How is the writer untouched by the rain?

Answer:(ii) The author is left physically untouched by rain because he is safe inside his room and the tin roof stops the rain from leaking inside.

(iii) How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?

Answer:(iii) The writer is in touch with the rain at the same time because he can see the rain from inside his room and feel it as it has been drumming on the corrugated tin roof of his house.

 6:Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.

Answer: When rain pours nonstop for several days, the surroundings turn wet and soggy, making it hard for people to step outside. The hillsides flourish with greenery, and late-monsoon flowers like wild balsam, dahlias, begonias, and ground orchids bloom. Snakes and rodents find their burrows flooded and seek refuge in rooftops, attics, and storage sheds to stay dry.


 7:What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?

Answer: The cobra lily marks the monsoon season: its first sprouting from the ferns signals the onset of rains, while the gradual reddening of its seeds indicates that the monsoon is drawing to a close.


Answer by Mrinmoee