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Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary Exercise 115

Solution 1

The author was not able to see Bijju because of the monsoon mist that had covered the surroundings and hence nothing is visible.

Solution 2

When the mist comes up, the birds fall silent. The mist covers the hills and blankets them in silence. The forest becomes deathly still as though it were midnight.

Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary Exercise 117

Solution 1

The monsoon begins in June and ends by the end of August. We prepare for the monsoons by getting our rainwear that includes raincoats, umbrellas and rain shoes ready.

We also make sure that there are no leakages in the roofs of our houses and that windows close easily.

We ensure that the drainage pipes from our terraces, balconies etc of our houses or buildings are all clean so that the rain water can flow through properly.

Solution 2

The author has described Mussoorie in the diary entry

Solution 3

It rained without stopping for eight or nine days. Since there was nowhere to go, the author paced in his room and looked out of the window at a few bobbing umbrellas.

Solution 4

The snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics, and godowns because  they are flooded out of their holes and burrows due to excessive rain.

Solution 5

The author received a cheque in the mail.

Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary Exercise 118

Solution 1

June 24 was the first day of monsoon mist. All the birds fell silent as the mist climbed up the hills. The author calls the mist melancholy because not only does it conceal the hills, it blankets them in silence too. The forest too is deathly still.

On June 25, there was some genuine early monsoon rain. It was warm and humid, contrary to the cold high-altitude weather that the author had been experiencing all year. It seemed to the author that the plants knew it too, and the first cobra lily reared its head from the ferns. He described the weather as 'a paradise that might have been'. 

On August 2, it rained all night the rain drops drumming on the corrugated tin roof. There had been no storm or thunder just a steady swish of a tropical down pour. The author experienced a feeling of "being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain".

March 23 marked the end of winter. The blackest cloud he had ever seen spread over Mussoorie and then it hailed marbles for half an hour. The hailstorm cleared the sky and he saw a rainbow forming.

Solution 2

The grandmother asked the children not to  kill the Chuchundar because it was considered lucky. She said that it brought money.

Solution 3

The seeds of the cobra lily turning red signified that the monsoons were about to end.

Solution 4

(i) Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because of the mist concealing everything in the surroundings.

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

(iii) The leopard was successful in attacking one of Bijju's cows but had to flee when Bijju's mother came screaming curses.

(iv) The minivets are easily noticed because of their bright scarlet colour.

(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 they have been flooded out of their holes and burrows.

Solution 5

(i) The word 'springing' means 'to develop suddenly'. The writer says that tin roofs are prone to developing unexpected leaks.

(ii)The writer was physically untouched by the rain as the tin roof stopped the rain from leaking into his house.

(iii) The writer was in touch with the rain at the same time because he could feel the rain by listening to its drumming sound on the corrugated tin roof.

Solution 6

When there is endless rain for days together, everything becomes damp and soggy. There is no place for anybody to go to. One can only pace the room and look out of the window at a few bobbing umbrellas. The hillsides are lush as late monsoon flowers such as wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids begin to appear.

Solution 7

When monsoon begins, the first cobra lily appears from the ferns. When the seeds of the cobra lily turn red, it signifies that the monsoon is coming to an end.

Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary Exercise 119

Solution 1

(i) We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was  rushing to class.

(ii) The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.

(iii) I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.

(iv) She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.

 (v)  We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while  others  were playing games.

(vi) The class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.

Solution 2

(i)

(a) to fall in small drops - drip

(b) to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly - drum

(c) to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound - swish

(d) harsh sound made by birds - caw

(e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.) - tinkle

(ii)

(a) Ramesh drummed on his desk in impatience.

(b) Rain water dripped from the umbrella all over the carpet.

(c) The pony swished its tail.

(d) The tinkling of breaking glass woke me up.

(e) The cawing of the raven disturbed the child's sleep.

Chapter 8 - A Short Monsoon Diary Exercise 120

Solution 1

(i) I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And sure enough it started raining heavily.

(ii) The blue umbrella was big enough for the brother and sister.

(iii) The butterflies are colourful enough to get noticed.

(iv) The lady was brave enough to chase the leopard.

(v) The boy was anxious enough to call out to his sister.

(vi) The man was kind enough to offer help.

(vii) The victim's injury was serious enough for him to get admitted in hospital.

(viii) That person was foolish enough to repeat the same mistake again.

(ix) He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, 'fair enough.'