CBSE Class 8 English A Concrete Example Worksheet Set 02

Fill in the Blanks

Question. When the speaker asks where this ________ object is, Mrs. Jones points it out.
Answer: lovely
Explanation: The visitor was looking everywhere for the pretty flower that Mrs. Jones talked about.

Question. Mrs. Jones thinks her sundial with an unusual ________ is rather nice.
Answer: device
Explanation: A device is a small tool or object fixed to the sundial to help show time using shadows.

Question. One day, Mrs. Jones invites the narrator to see her stones, and they talk about a ________ for quite a quarter of an hour.
Answer: flower
Explanation: Both neighbours stood in the garden and chatted for fifteen minutes about one special little flower.

Question. The poetic pattern of each stanza in the poem is ________.
Answer: AABBCC
Explanation: In every stanza, the lines rhyme in pairs: two lines rhyme (AA), the next two rhyme (BB), and the last two rhyme (CC).

Question. Mrs. Jones puts ________ plants between the stones in her yard.
Answer: little (tiny/delicate)
Explanation: The plants are very small and grow inside the tiny cracks between the heavy stones.

Question. The poem portrays Mrs. Jones, the speaker's next-door neighbour, who has a unique garden filled with ________.
Answer: stones
Explanation: Instead of having a garden full of grass and big bushes, her garden is covered with lots of stones.

Question. The speaker suggests that Mrs. Jones must grow her tiny plants with a ________.
Answer: pin
Explanation: Normal gardening tools are too large, so the poet jokingly imagines she uses a tiny sewing pin.

Question. Her garden includes an odd ________, a lily pond, and a rockery.
Answer: crazy path
Explanation: A crazy path is a playful garden path made from stones laid out in uneven, winding shapes.

Question. The poet uses the word 'concrete' in the title to indicate both a ________ and a clear example.
Answer: building material (or physical stone)
Explanation: The title is a word joke: concrete means the hard stones in the garden and also a solid, clear example.

Question. Mrs. Jones reveals that the speaker has been ________ on the flower all along.
Answer: standing
Explanation: The funny ending reveals that the visitor had his foot right on top of the tiny plant.

Question. The garden has an unusual ________ that Mrs. Jones finds rather nice.
Answer: sundial
Explanation: A sundial is an ancient instrument placed in the garden that uses the sun's shadow to tell the time.

Question. Mrs. Jones plants little, ________ plants between the stones.
Answer: delicate
Explanation: Delicate means soft, fine, and easily damaged, just like these tiny green seedlings.

Question. The speaker thinks the plants are so tiny that they are planted with a ________.
Answer: pin
Explanation: The poet makes a funny guess that regular gardening trowels are too big for such tiny plants.

True or False

Question. The phrase “My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,” acts as a chorus in the poem.
Answer: True
Explanation: This line repeats at the start of each stanza, acting as a recurring refrain or chorus throughout the poem.

Question. The poem is set in a vegetable patch belonging to Mrs. Jones.
Answer: False
Explanation: The setting is an unconventional flower and stone rockery garden, not a vegetable plot.

Question. The narrator in the poem admires Mrs. Jones's gardening skills.
Answer: False
Explanation: The speaker is mostly puzzled and amused by her strange garden, rather than admiring her skills.

Question. The peculiar yard serves as a primary structural means to reveal more about Mrs. Jones' own eccentric personality.
Answer: True
Explanation: Her unique rockery, crazy path, and tiny hidden flowers mirror her creative and quirky personality.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. What does the word 'delicate' signify in the poem?
Answer: 'Delicate' means something very fine, fragile, or easily damaged, as used to describe the tiny plants nestled between the stones in Mrs. Jones's garden.
Explanation: The little plants are so soft and small that even a gentle touch could harm them.

Question. What is meant by the term 'crazy path' in the context of Mrs. Jones' garden design?
Answer: A 'crazy path' refers to a decorative garden walkway constructed from irregular, randomly fitted paving stones that twist and curve rather than following a straight line.
Explanation: It is a fun stone path that curves and zigzags around the garden instead of going straight.

Question. How does the poet use imagery to help readers picture Mrs. Jones' garden?
Answer: The poet uses sensory, descriptive phrases like 'a garden full of stones', 'a crazy path', 'a lily pond', and 'a sundial with a strange device' to create sharp, vivid visual images of an eccentric stony garden.
Explanation: The poet uses lively words so readers can clearly see the rocks, pond, and sundial in their minds.

Question. What is a 'rockery' as described in the poem?
Answer: A rockery is a specially arranged rock garden where various stones and boulders are decoratively placed, providing crevices for small alpine plants to grow.
Explanation: It is a neat pile of rocks in a garden with pretty little plants growing inside the cracks.

Question. Define 'refrain' in the realm of poetry.
Answer: A refrain is a line, phrase, or group of lines repeated at regular intervals throughout a poem, often at the start or close of stanzas, to reinforce rhythm and central themes.
Explanation: A refrain is a line repeated across different verses of a poem, just like the chorus of your favorite song.

Question. The title 'A Concrete Example' is a wonderful example of a pun. Explain the dual literal and symbolic (metaphorical) meanings implied by the word 'concrete' here.
Answer: Literally, 'concrete' refers to physical building material and the abundant hard stones forming Mrs. Jones's garden. Symbolically, a 'concrete example' is an idiom meaning a clear, undeniable, and tangible demonstration of someone's distinct way of living.
Explanation: The title makes a clever joke because concrete means both hard garden stones and a clear real-life example.

Question. What can be inferred about Mrs. Jones' distinctive taste from the description of her garden being 'full of stones'?
Answer: It reveals that Mrs. Jones possesses an unconventional, creative, and eccentric aesthetic taste. Rather than pursuing traditional lush lawns and flowerbeds, she finds beauty and satisfaction in hard textures, rocks, and miniature greenery.
Explanation: It tells us she likes being different and finds beauty where most people see ordinary rocks.

Question. Explain the idea of situational irony as observed in the final stanza of the poem. Which specific line(s) bring out this effect perfectly?
Answer: Situational irony occurs when the outcome completely contradicts expectations. The speaker enthusiastically searches for a prized 'lovely flower' that took fifteen minutes of discussion, only to hear: "You're standing on it." This climactic line highlights the irony.
Explanation: It is funny and ironic because the visitor searched all over for a tiny flower while stepping on it the entire time.

Question. How does Mrs. Jones' gardening method reflect her personality?
Answer: Her gardening style reflects a patient, imaginative, and quirky personality. She embraces unconventional beauty, values subtle details that others overlook, and takes quiet joy in nurturing life in stony terrain.
Explanation: Planting tiny flowers among rocks shows that she is patient, creative, and sees beauty in unusual things.

Question. Define a refrain. Identify and write down the exact line that serves as the refrain in Reginald Arkell's poem.
Answer: A refrain is a repeated line or phrase used across stanzas in a poem. In this poem, the exact line serving as the refrain is: "My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,".
Explanation: The poet starts each stanza with the exact same line introducing his neighbour.

Question. What is ironic about Mrs. Jones' delight in her garden? Explain with reference to the poem.
Answer: The irony lies in the contrast between Mrs. Jones' immense pride in her garden's delicate flower and the speaker's total failure to even see it, ending abruptly when the speaker realizes he is trampling the very plant she treasures.
Explanation: She is so proud of her tiny flower, yet her guest cannot even spot it and accidentally steps on it.

Question. Based on a thorough critical analysis of Mrs. Jones' gardening habits, her specific choice of features (such as stones, a sundial with a strange device, a crazy path, and minuscule plants), and her final gentle, uncritical interaction with the narrator, what deep insights do we learn about her relationship with nature, her patience, and her outlook towards things that others might dismiss as "meaningless"? Support your reflection with structural evidence from the text.
Answer: Mrs. Jones exhibits a profound, contemplative relationship with nature. By purposefully choosing stones, an irregular 'crazy path', and a 'sundial with a strange device', she rejects rigid gardening norms in favor of individuality. Her devotion to tiny plants that "don't mean anything at all" to outsiders demonstrates immense patience and mindfulness. Finally, her calm revelation ("You're standing on it") shows a gentle, uncritical character who accepts human clumsiness with humor rather than anger.
Explanation: Mrs. Jones does not need a flashy garden to be happy; she lovingly cares for tiny plants and stays calm and kind even when her guest steps on her flower.

Question. Reginald Arkell's poem 'A Concrete Example' highlights how two different individuals (the narrator and Mrs. Jones) perceive the exact same space in vastly contrasting ways. One sees an empty, useless garden of stones with insignificant microscopic plants, while the other nurtures a hidden world of delicate beauty. Relate this theme to the broader human experience: How does this poem comment on the way people think differently about the world around them, and why is it essential to appreciate alternative perspectives in our everyday social interactions?
Answer: The poem serves as an allegory for subjective human perception. The narrator represents conventional society, which evaluates value based on size, grandeur, and immediate visual appeal. In contrast, Mrs. Jones represents an observant, appreciative mindset that cherishes hidden subtleties. In everyday life, this reminds us that no single perspective holds a monopoly on beauty or meaning. Embracing alternative viewpoints fosters empathy, mutual respect, and cultural openness, helping communities appreciate individual uniqueness rather than judging others by rigid standards.
Explanation: People see the world in different ways; by listening to others, we can learn to appreciate small, wonderful things we might otherwise miss.

Question. Draft a formal notice informing the students of Grades VI to VIII about the upcoming launch of the newly developed school Herb Garden.
Answer:
GREENWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL
NOTICE
Date: 18th October 2026
Subject: Inauguration of the School Herb Garden
This is to inform all students of Grades VI to VIII that the Nature Club is inaugurating the newly developed School Herb Garden on Friday, 24th October 2026, at 10:00 AM adjacent to the Science Block. The renowned botanist Dr. S. Raman will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Interested students wishing to volunteer for event management duties may submit their names to the undersigned by 21st October 2026.
Rahul Verma
Secretary, Nature Club
Class VIII-B
Explanation: A notice is a short, polite announcement on a school notice board that gives dates, times, and important details about an upcoming event.

Question. Write a formal conversation between a student and their school Principal, where the student owes an explicit apology for failing to submit a crucial internal project assignment on time.
Answer:
Student: Good morning, Principal Sharma. May I have a moment of your time, please?
Principal: Good morning, Rohan. Yes, please step inside. What is the matter?
Student: Sir, I owe you an explicit apology for failing to submit my internal science project assignment by yesterday's deadline.
Principal: Rohan, punctuality is an essential virtue, and this submission carries substantial internal evaluation weight.
Student: I fully acknowledge my lapse, Sir. I fell ill over the weekend, but I should have informed my class teacher promptly. I assure you that this will never be repeated.
Principal: I appreciate your honesty and accountability. Submit the completed portfolio to your department head by 2:00 PM today.
Student: Thank you very much for your understanding, Sir. I will submit it immediately.
Explanation: This dialogue shows a student politely saying sorry to the Principal, taking responsibility for being late, and promising to do better.

Vocabulary Activity - "Guess the Word"

Question. Word Transmutation: In base word NICE, replace 'N' to mean 'to chop vegetables into small square pieces'.
Answer: DICE
Explanation: When you dice vegetables, you cut them with a knife into neat little cubes.

Question. Word Transmutation: In base word NICE, replace 'N' to mean 'a popular staple grain cooked across Asia'.
Answer: RICE
Explanation: Rice is the common white or brown grain that millions of people eat for lunch and dinner.

Question. Word Transmutation: In base word NICE, replace 'N' to mean 'the plural form of a tiny rodent (mouse)'.
Answer: MICE
Explanation: One small rodent is called a mouse, but when there are two or more, we call them mice.

Question. Word Transmutation: In base word SOIL, replace 'S' to mean 'to bring water to its boiling point or heat up intensely'.
Answer: BOIL
Explanation: When water gets very hot on a stove, it starts to bubble and boil.

Question. Word Transmutation: In base word SOIL, replace 'S' to mean 'to work extremely hard or struggle continuously'.
Answer: TOIL
Explanation: Toil means to work very hard and put in long, difficult physical effort.

Question. Word Transmutation: In base word SOIL, replace 'S' to mean 'thin aluminium sheets utilized to wrap or store food products'.
Answer: FOIL
Explanation: Foil is the shiny, thin silver wrap used in kitchens to keep sandwiches warm and fresh.

Question. Select the best synonym for the underlined word: A sundial with a strange device. [ unusual / new / external ]
Answer: unusual
Explanation: Something strange is uncommon or unusual compared to normal everyday items.

Question. Select the best synonym for the underlined word: ...which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice. [ superior / pleasant / gentle ]
Answer: pleasant
Explanation: When something is nice, it feels pleasant, enjoyable, and lovely.

Question. Select the best synonym for the underlined word: They are so delicate and small. [ fragile / delicious / weak ]
Answer: fragile
Explanation: Fragile things are soft, tender, and easily damaged if mishandled.

Question. Select the best synonym for the underlined word: "Where is this lovely thing?" I cried. [ wept / exclaimed / whispered ]
Answer: exclaimed
Explanation: Here, cried does not mean shedding tears; it means shouting out loud or exclaiming in surprise.

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