CBSE Class 8 English Somebody’s Mother Worksheet Set 01

Fill in the Blanks

Question. Either the principal or the teachers (has/have) to address the parents before the programme begins.
Answer: have
Explanation: 'Teachers' is plural and sits closest to the verb, so we choose 'have'.

Question. The woman put her aged hand on the boy’s strong ________ arm.
Answer: young
Explanation: The strong young boy held her hand firmly so she would not slip on the ice.

Question. The speaker talked ________ fast for the audience to take notes correctly.
Answer: too
Explanation: 'Too fast' means he was talking so quickly that people could not write.

Question. The poem ends with the woman offering a ________ for the boy.
Answer: prayer
Explanation: She thanked God in her quiet room and asked Him to keep the boy safe.

Question. The committee (decides/decide) on the matter after reviewing all the evidence carefully.
Answer: decides
Explanation: The committee acts together as one group, so it takes the verb 'decides'.

Question. The woman was old, ragged and ________ and bowed with the chill of the winter’s day.
Answer: grey
Explanation: Her hair was grey because she was very old, and she was cold from the snow.

Question. ________ the team arrives on time and is fully ready, the judges may consider them for the finals.
Answer: If
Explanation: 'If' shows a condition that must be met before they can join the finals.

Question. The poem compares the children to a flock of ________.
Answer: sheep
Explanation: The boys moved together in a playful group, just like a bunch of sheep.

Question. Neither the dog nor the cats (seem/seems) interested in the new meal.
Answer: seem
Explanation: 'Cats' is plural and closest to the verb, so we use 'seem'.

Question. The boy hoped that someone would help his ________ one day if she were old and lonely.
Answer: mother
Explanation: He wanted strangers to be helpful to his own mother in the future.

Question. ________ he is allergic to nuts, he still eats chocolate bars without reading the ingredients.
Answer: Although
Explanation: 'Although' is used when someone does something even when it could cause trouble.

Question. The woman was portrayed as being ________ and slow.
Answer: aged
Explanation: 'Aged' means she was very old and could only walk slowly.

Question. The museum was crowded with visitors, ________ school students and foreign tourists.
Answer: both
Explanation: 'Both' is paired with 'and' to mention two kinds of visitors.

Question. He behaves ________ he owns the complete company, even though he just joined last month.
Answer: as if
Explanation: 'As if' shows that his actions pretend something that is not true.

Question. Not only the students but also their teacher (is/are) excited about the upcoming trip.
Answer: is
Explanation: 'Teacher' is singular and sits right before the verb, so we pick 'is'.

Question. The boy whispered, “I’ll help you ________, if you wish to go.”
Answer: cross
Explanation: He politely offered to guide her across the cold, wet street.

Question. There (go/goes) the last of the migrating birds, flying in a neat formation.
Answer: go
Explanation: 'Birds' is plural, so we use the plural verb 'go'.

True or False

Question. The street was slippery due to the fresh snowfall.
Answer: True
Explanation: Newly fallen snow melted on the ground and made the pavement very slick.

Question. The boy told his friends that he was anxious about the old woman’s safety after helping her.
Answer: False
Explanation: He was glad and proud that he helped her cross safely.

Question. The poem is composed in couplets, with two lines in each stanza.
Answer: True
Explanation: The poem is written in pairs of rhyming lines called couplets.

Question. The woman was hesitant to accept help and declined to cross the street.
Answer: False
Explanation: She gladly accepted the boy's hand and crossed the street with him.

Question. The old woman was called “meek” and “timid.”
Answer: True
Explanation: She stood very quietly and felt scared to walk into the busy street alone.

Question. The woman prayed for the boy’s kindness when she returned home.
Answer: True
Explanation: Before going to sleep, she thanked God and asked Him to bless the gentle boy.

Question. The snow piled white and deep on the street made it simpler for the old woman to cross.
Answer: False
Explanation: Deep, slippery snow made it very difficult and risky for her to walk.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. Throw light on the silent contrast between the crowd’s indifference and the boy’s quiet action. Explore how the poet subtly shows human behaviour through this contrast.
Answer: The crowd ignores the woman, showing apathy, while the boy quietly helps, highlighting kindness amidst indifference.
Explanation: Most people walked past without caring, but one thoughtful boy stopped and showed pure kindness.

Question. Assertion (A): The old woman stood at the crossing for a long time without moving. Reason (R): She was waiting for someone to help her cross securely.
Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: She was old and scared of slipping on the ice, so she stood still until help arrived.

Question. Bring out the importance of the poet’s repetition of the phrase ‘Somebody’s Mother’. Discuss how this refrain deepens the emotional impact and universal relevance of the poem.
Answer: The repeated phrase ‘Somebody’s Mother’ reminds readers that the woman is someone’s loved one, evoking empathy and universal connection.
Explanation: It tells us that every older person has family who loves them, so we must treat them all with respect.

Question. Arrange the incidents of the poem in the correct order of occurrence: (i) A kind boy saw her and offered help. (ii) Many children passed her by without helping. (iii) The woman stood at the crossing, waiting helplessly. (iv) The woman held the boy’s hand as he led her across. (v) He hoped someone would help his own mother someday. (vi) The boy returned to his friends feeling proud. (vii) The woman prayed for the kind boy.
Answer: (iii) → (ii) → (i) → (iv) → (vi) → (v) → (vii)
Explanation: She waited alone first, boys rushed past, one boy helped her across, he felt happy with friends, and then she prayed for him at home.

Question. Assertion (A): None of the children helped the old woman because they did not notice her. Reason (R): The boys were too occupied playing and enjoying the snow.
Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: The schoolboys were playing and laughing, so they did not look at the waiting lady.

Question. How did the young laddie feel after assisting the old woman?
Answer: He felt happy and satisfied that he had helped the old woman who was somebody's mother.
Explanation: Helping someone in trouble makes our hearts feel light, proud, and happy.

Question. How does the poet display the helplessness of the old woman?
Answer: By describing her as timid, weak, shivering in the cold, and afraid to step into the street alone.
Explanation: She stood shaking in the freezing wind, too scared of the traffic to move forward.

Question. What might have been the emotions of the person whom you helped?
Answer: Gratitude and happiness.
Explanation: When someone helps us when we are stuck, we feel thankful and joyful.

Question. Why did the children not assist her?
Answer: Perhaps they were eager to enjoy their freedom, busy playing, or too nervous to help.
Explanation: The boys were focused on laughing and playing in the snow, so they did not notice her.

Question. What social lesson does the poem convey?
Answer: Society often ignores the vulnerable, but true goodness lies in caring for the elderly and weak.
Explanation: We should never ignore someone who needs help; helping others is true goodness.

Vocabulary Activity - "Guess the Word"

Question. Crowded street : risky :: boy’s help : (a) trouble (b) kindness (c) confusion (d) delay
Answer: (b) kindness
Explanation: The busy road was full of danger, but the boy's loving action was full of kindness.

Question. The old woman : powerless :: The young boy : (a) confused (b) cheerful (c) compassionate (d) proud
Answer: (c) compassionate
Explanation: The old lady had no strength, while the young boy had a caring, compassionate heart.

Question. Poet : theme of empathy :: woman : (a) pride (b) sorrow (c) prayer (d) ignorance
Answer: (c) prayer
Explanation: The poet shares a lesson of love, and the grateful woman shares a prayer for the boy.

Question. Snow : chilly :: woman’s feet : (a) fast (b) slow (c) warm (d) painful
Answer: (b) slow
Explanation: Just as snow is always chilly, the feet of the aged lady were very slow.