CBSE Class 8 English Somebody’s Mother Worksheet Set 02

Fill in the Blanks

Question. The boy wished someone would help his ________ if she were ever in need.
Answer: mother
Explanation: He hoped a kind person would help his own mother when she grew old.

Question. A bouquet of roses (was/were) kept on every desk in the staffroom.
Answer: was
Explanation: A bouquet is one single group of flowers, so we use 'was'.

Question. The woman was scared of the ________ in the slippery street.
Answer: carriage wheels
Explanation: Fast horse carriages were on the wet road, and she feared they would knock her down.

Question. She revised the whole syllabus twice, ________ she forget some formulas during the exam.
Answer: lest
Explanation: 'Lest' means 'so that she would not forget' during her exam.

Question. The poem encourages the values of ________.
Answer: kindness
Explanation: The poem teaches children to be polite, loving, and helpful to others.

Question. The old woman paused at the ________, waiting to cross the street alone.
Answer: crossing
Explanation: She stopped at the corner of the road because the snow was slippery.

Question. Mathematics, as well as Physics, (requires/require) deep concentration and daily practice.
Answer: requires
Explanation: 'Mathematics' is treated as a single subject, so it takes the singular verb 'requires'.

Question. The boys came like a flock of ________, laughing and yelling.
Answer: sheep
Explanation: The children ran down the street happily in a crowd, just like fluffy sheep.

Question. ________ the boy was sleepy, he stayed up late to finish his science project.
Answer: Though
Explanation: 'Though' shows he kept working hard even when he wanted to sleep.

Question. The boy who assisted the woman was the ________ of all the group.
Answer: gayest
Explanation: 'Gayest' here means he was the most cheerful and lively boy in the group.

Question. Each of the solutions (was/were) suggested after much research and analysis.
Answer: was
Explanation: 'Each' talks about one solution at a time, so we say 'was'.

Question. The woman stood at the crossing because she was feeling ________.
Answer: timid
Explanation: She felt very shy and scared to cross the dangerous road by herself.

Question. She was ________ worried about losing her journal ________ about missing the deadline.
Answer: not only / but also
Explanation: We use 'not only... but also' when a person is worried about two things together.

Question. The pupils passed the old woman and did not ________ her anxious eyes.
Answer: heed
Explanation: 'Heed' means to pay attention. The busy schoolboys did not notice her fear.

Question. The old woman looked __________ and weak.
Answer: forlorn
Explanation: The poor woman looked lonely, sad, and had very little energy.

Question. The line ‘The street was wet with a recent snow’ suggests a cold and __________ climate, emphasising the woman’s helplessness.
Answer: snowy
Explanation: The weather was chilly with fresh snow, making the street slippery.

Question. The structure of the poem gives a rhythmic flow that reflects both the __________ pace and message.
Answer: story’s
Explanation: The rhythm of the rhyming lines matches the speed of the story and its sweet lesson.

Question. The poem is set on a chilly winter evening.
Answer: cold winter evening
Explanation: The story takes place during a cold evening in the winter season.

True or False

Question. The woman got help from all the boys who were walking down the street.
Answer: False
Explanation: Most of the boys walked past her; only one kind boy stopped to help.

Question. The old woman’s feet were mentioned as “aged and slow.”
Answer: True
Explanation: She was an elder and could only take slow, careful steps on the cold ground.

Question. The woman was old and smartly-dressed when she was at the crossing.
Answer: False
Explanation: Her clothes were old, ragged, and worn out, not smartly-dressed.

Question. The kind boy helped the woman because he thought she was somebody’s mother.
Answer: True
Explanation: He realized that she was a mother loved by her family, just like his own mom.

Question. The schoolboys came down the street with laughter and cheers.
Answer: True
Explanation: School was done for the day, so the children were shouting and laughing in the snow.

Question. The boy wished someone would help his own mother if she were ever old and poor.
Answer: True
Explanation: He showed kindness hoping that others would help his mother when she grew old.

Question. The old woman was frightened of being crowded down by carriage wheels or horses’ feet.
Answer: True
Explanation: The carriages were moving fast, and she was scared of being knocked over.

Question. After helping the woman, the boy returned to his friends feeling gloomy.
Answer: False
Explanation: Helping someone in need made his heart feel cheerful, proud, and happy.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. Illustrate with examples the role of setting and physical description in conveying the woman’s vulnerability. Focus on how the environment enhances the reader’s understanding of her difficulty.
Answer: The cold, snowy and slippery street along with the woman’s ragged appearance emphasise her vulnerability and struggle.
Explanation: The freezing cold wind, slippery snow, and her worn clothes show how hard it was for her to stand there.

Question. Why does the boy refer to the old woman as ‘somebody’s mother’?
Answer: The boy means that even though the old woman is a stranger, she is still loved by someone, just like his own mother.
Explanation: Even though he does not know her name, he knows she is precious to her family.

Question. What qualities of the boy are revealed in these lines?
Answer: Empathy and thoughtfulness
Explanation: He stops playing to help a weak elder, showing how caring and thoughtful he is.

Question. What does the boy wish for his own mother?
Answer: The boy hopes that if his mother is ever old and helpless, someone will help her in his absence.
Explanation: He hopes that when his mother is old and alone, another kind child will hold her hand.

Question. Pick out a phrase from the extract that displays the woman’s physical weakness.
Answer: ‘aged and poor and slow’
Explanation: These words describe that she had little strength and walked with tiny, slow steps.

Question. What lesson does this stanza give us about how we should treat others?
Answer: It teaches us to show kindness and help those in need, remembering that everyone is loved by someone and may need support one day.
Explanation: Always be gentle and help people, because anyone can need a helping hand.

Question. Name the tense and the voice used in the line: ‘God be kind to the noble boy.’
Answer: Present subjunctive mood, active voice
Explanation: This line expresses a warm wish or blessing said directly to God.

Question. Mention one poetic device used in the stanza and explain it.
Answer: Rhyme (aabb) or repetition of ‘somebody’s’ (anaphora)
Explanation: The ends of the lines rhyme together like music, and the word 'somebody's' is repeated for emphasis.

Question. What does the mother’s prayer at the end represent?
Answer: Gratitude for the kindness shown
Explanation: Her prayer shows how deeply thankful she felt toward the polite boy.

Question. Interpret the emotional shift the woman experiences from the beginning of the poem to this moment.
Answer: The woman feels gratitude and relief, changing from helplessness to hope.
Explanation: She started out scared and lonely in the snow, but ended up safe and happy in her home.

Question. Shed light on how the poet uses this stanza to end the message of the poem.
Answer: The stanza closes with a message of kindness and the importance of empathy.
Explanation: The story ends with a sweet prayer to remind us that kindness brings happiness to all.

Question. Why does the poet refer to the old woman as ‘somebody’s mother’?
Answer: To remind readers that she is loved by someone and deserves respect.
Explanation: Even though she is a stranger, she is dear to her family and deserves care from everyone.

Question. What harm could come to the old woman?
Answer: The woman could be trodden upon by a horse cart when she would cross the road.
Explanation: Fast horses and heavy carriages on the slippery street could easily knock her down.

Question. What does the boy do for the aged woman?
Answer: He gently helps her cross the street and comforts her.
Explanation: He held her trembling hand and walked slowly beside her until she was safe.

Question. How was the boy’s attitude towards the old woman different from that of the other boys in the group?
Answer: The other boys hurried past without noticing her, but this boy stopped, understood her difficulty, and helped her safely across.
Explanation: Other children were busy playing, but this caring boy stopped to lend a hand.

Question. Why was the road wet?
Answer: It was wet because of the snow which was melting.
Explanation: Fresh snow had fallen on the ground and started to melt into water.

Match the Following

Question. Match each idiom in Column A with the proper meaning from Column B.

Answer:

Explanation: Idioms are special phrases where the whole group of words has a meaning different from the words on their own.