CBSE Class 8 English Spectacular Wonders Worksheet Set 02

Fill in the Blanks

Question. The park is ________ in spring with lots of beautiful flowers in bloom.
Answer: in full glory
Explanation: "In full glory" means that the flowers look as bright, fresh, and beautiful as possible.

Question. The Sun Temple in Konark features finely ________ stone wheels and walls.
Answer: carved
Explanation: "Carved" means skilled artists cut beautiful designs into hard stone using chisels and hammers.

Question. His hard work has aided him ________.
Answer: to no end
Explanation: "To no end" is an expression that means something helped a person very much.

Question. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason. The writer's most likely purpose to present the information about the Chandipur Beach phenomenon with a question is to ________.
Answer: engage the reader's curiosity and create a sense of suspense
Explanation: Asking a fun question makes readers curious so they want to keep reading to find the answer.

Question. The ________ marble building looks even more spectacular in the moonlight.
Answer: glowing
Explanation: "Glowing" means shining with a soft, bright light in the dark night.

Question. There are no easy solutions to the ________ of traffic jams.
Answer: age-old problem
Explanation: An "age-old problem" is a trouble that people have faced for many years.

Question. ________ at an elevation of 182 m, the Statue of Unity is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Answer: Standing
Explanation: "Standing" tells us how tall the giant statue rises upright into the sky.

Question. I have read many tales ________.
Answer: to name a few
Explanation: "To name a few" is used when you have a big list of things, but you only mention two or three.

Question. Do you know when this tiny town ________?
Answer: came into existence
Explanation: "Came into existence" means when the town was first built or created long ago.

Question. The valley of flowers is in ________ province.
Answer: Uttarakhand
Explanation: The Valley of Flowers is a famous high-altitude national park situated in Uttarakhand.

Question. ________ at an altitude of 182 m, the Statue of Unity is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Answer: Standing
Explanation: "Standing" describes how tall the giant statue rises upright into the sky.

True or False

Question. The brother admitted to not knowing about his sister's preferred picture.
Answer: True
Explanation: The brother honestly told his sister that he did not know which picture she liked best.

Question. The sister claimed that the rainbow mountain was like any other mountain.
Answer: False
Explanation: She knew the mountain was extraordinary because of its colorful mineral stripes.

Question. Identify whether the following statement is true or false. Some natural phenomena can amaze people.
Answer: True
Explanation: Nature does amazing things, like making water glow or beaches vanish, which surprises everyone.

Question. The brother was aware of the cause for the formation of colours on the mountain.
Answer: True
Explanation: The brother understood that natural minerals in the earth created the bright colors.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. How did the Lonar Crater Lake come into being?
Answer: The Lonar Crater Lake in Maharashtra was formed when a meteorite struck the Earth thousands of years ago. The impact made a nearly circular crater in the hard basalt rock. Over time, water collected in this crater and formed a saline lake.
Explanation: A big rock falling from outer space smashed into the ground and made a giant bowl that filled with salty water.

Question. What does the word 'unique' suggest about the beach in Balasore?
Answer: It suggests that the beach is one of its kind.
Explanation: "Unique" means very special because there is no other beach quite like it nearby.

Question. Why are the Sundarbans important both ecologically and traditionally?
Answer: The Sundarbans are ecologically important because their dense mangrove roots protect the coast from erosion and shelter wildlife like the Bengal tiger. Culturally, they are closely connected to the livelihoods, traditions, and beliefs of local people.
Explanation: The thick roots protect the land from big storms, keep animals safe, and help local villagers make a living.

Question. Describe the Valley of Flowers and what makes it unique.
Answer: The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand is a high-altitude meadow covered with nearly 600 kinds of flowering plants, including orchids, poppies, and daisies. It looks like a colorful carpet against Himalayan mountains and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explanation: It is a magical mountain park full of hundreds of rare, colorful flowers blooming together.

Question. What makes the Lonar Crater Lake and Magnetic Hill fascinating examples of natural wonders?
Answer: Lonar Crater Lake is fascinating because it is a rare circular crater formed in volcanic basalt rock by a meteorite crash. Magnetic Hill is fascinating because the layout of the surrounding mountains tricks our eyes, creating an optical illusion where cars appear to roll uphill.
Explanation: One shows the power of a space rock crash, while the other plays a clever trick on our eyes.

Question. What causes the glowing waters of Kerala, and why are they valuable?
Answer: The waters glow because tiny marine organisms called microplankton produce light through bioluminescence. They are important because they support eco-tourism, boost the local economy, and teach visitors about coastal ecosystems.
Explanation: Tiny creatures in the water make their own blue sparkles at night, attracting happy visitors from everywhere.

Question. How are the living root bridges a blessing for the local people of Meghalaya?
Answer: They allow safe crossing over swollen waterways during monsoon rains, unlike weak bamboo bridges that easily wash away or rot.
Explanation: Heavy rains flood the streams, but these living root bridges stay strong and never wash away.

Question. What makes Chandipur Beach in Odisha so strange?
Answer: During low tide, the sea moves back by about 2–5 km, exposing a wide stretch of seabed that allows people to walk far out. The water then returns during high tide, creating a daily disappearing and reappearing spectacle.
Explanation: The sea water walks far away from the beach twice a day, letting you walk on the dry seabed.

Question. Why are the living root bridges of Meghalaya considered extraordinary?
Answer: They are grown rather than built. Local villagers guide and weave the roots of rubber trees across streams until they form strong bridges that require no cement or steel and can last for centuries.
Explanation: People grow these bridges from living tree roots instead of building them with metal or bricks.

Question. What does the writer want to convey with the use of the phrase 'playing hide-and-seek with its guests'?
Answer: The sea appears and disappears due to changing tides, creating a playful and mysterious effect for the visitors.
Explanation: Just like in a game of hide-and-seek, the ocean rolls away out of sight and then returns.

Question. What happens at Magnetic Hill, and why do people find it puzzling?
Answer: Vehicles left in neutral at a marked spot appear to move uphill on their own. People find it mysterious because it seems to defy gravity, but it is actually an optical illusion caused by the shape of the surrounding slopes.
Explanation: The road slopes gently downward, but the mountains around it trick your eyes into thinking the car is rolling upward.

Question. Why is the Lonar Crater Lake considered an extraordinary and rare site?
Answer: It is the only crater in India formed by a meteorite impact in basaltic rock, is the third largest crater of its kind in the world, and holds a unique saline lake.
Explanation: It is super rare because a falling meteorite crashed right into hard volcanic basalt stone.

Question. Which of these wonders-man-made or natural-are more attractive and why?
Answer: Natural wonders are often considered more appealing because they are created by nature over millions of years without human help, displaying incredible beauty, power, and peacefulness.
Explanation: Natural wonders show how powerful the Earth is and how beautiful wild places can be.

Question. Write down two wonders of nature that have astonished you and discuss what makes them impressive.
Answer: 1. The Grand Canyon (USA): A massive valley carved by the Colorado River showing colorful rock layers. 2. Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights): Glowing colorful sky lights caused by solar winds and Earth's magnetic field.
Explanation: Giant carved valleys and dancing night lights show us how amazing our planet is.

Question. How do the Glowing Waters of Kerala, the Sundarbans, and Chandipur Beach show the variety of India's natural wonders?
Answer: They range from tiny glowing plankton in Kerala's backwaters to a massive tiger-inhabited mangrove forest in West Bengal and a dramatic shifting seashore in Odisha, showing the immense diversity of ecosystems in India.
Explanation: India has everything from sparkling blue water and thick tiger forests to magical moving ocean shores.

Question. What might be the writer's goal of highlighting the awe-inspiring natural wonders of India?
Answer: To showcase India's unique landscapes, spark curiosity, and encourage people to appreciate and preserve the environment.
Explanation: The writer wants everyone to feel proud of our nature and help keep it safe and clean.

Question. What might be the writer’s goal of highlighting the awe-inspiring natural wonders of India?
Answer: To showcase the stunning allure of nature in India and demonstrate how diverse topographies enrich the country's beauty.
Explanation: The author wants us to feel proud of India's amazing geography and learn to protect our natural wonders.

Question. Mention a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Answer: The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand.
Explanation: The Valley of Flowers is officially protected as a world treasure because of its stunning botanical beauty.

Question. Which endangered species are found here?
Answer: The estuarine crocodile, Bengal tiger, and Indian python.
Explanation: These rare and threatened animals find safety and food inside the dense mangrove swamps of Sundarbans.

Question. The writer uses descriptive language and introductory questions for some of the natural phenomena. What effect does it have on the readers?
Answer: It makes the text more interesting and engaging, drawing readers into the landscapes, and sparks their curiosity about strange natural wonders.
Explanation: Exciting words and fun questions paint pictures in our heads and make reading enjoyable.

Match the Following

Question. Complete the details in the table given below.

Explanation: This table matches each famous natural sight of India with where it is located and what makes it special.

Question. Match the binomial expressions in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.

Explanation: Binomials are pairs of words joined by "and" or "or" that have fixed, common meanings in English.

Vocabulary Activity - "Guess the Word"

Question. Select the word that matches: quiet, calm, tranquil
Answer: serene
Explanation: "Serene" means peaceful and completely quiet, like a calm lake without any ripples.

Question. Select the word that matches: breath-taking, dazzling, awe-inspiring
Answer: spectacular
Explanation: "Spectacular" means so grand and wonderful that it catches everyone's eyes.

Question. Select the word that matches: mighty, enormous, huge
Answer: colossal
Explanation: "Colossal" means gigantic or extraordinarily large, like a massive mountain.

Question. Complete the word pair relationship: spark : imagination : : wonder : ________
Answer: amazement
Explanation: A small spark starts imagination, just like feeling wonder leads to great amazement.

Question. Select the word that matches: mysterious, confusing, baffling
Answer: enigmatic
Explanation: "Enigmatic" means full of mystery and difficult for anyone to figure out.

Question. Select the word that matches: uncommon, peculiar, foreign
Answer: exotic
Explanation: "Exotic" describes unusual, colorful plants or animals that come from far-off lands.