GSEB Class 8 Solutions Unit 1 Dont Be Stupid!

There was a lake in a forest where three big fishes lived. They were called CLEVER, LAZY, and STUPID. They were friends. One day, Clever heard some people talking by the side of (next to) the lake. They were saying, “This lake is full of good fish. We shall come tomorrow with a big net and catch all the fish.” Clever said to himself, "I must tell my friends what I have heard. Our lives are in danger (in fear being killed). We must go far away (at a long distance) from here.” [Will Clever tell this to his friends ?] So Clever went to Lazy and Stupid and told them, “My dear friends, we have to leave this lake. There are some bad men who are planning to catch us. We have to go away quickly." [Now do you think Clever's friends will leave the place ?] But Lazy said, “I have lived here for long and don't want to leave this place. Don't worry, I will be safe here.” And Stupid said, “Big men always make big plans, But what they say, they never do, They talk and talk of this and that, But what they say, they never do.” When Clever heard his friends talk in this way, he became very sad. He said, “My dear friends, I don't want our friendship to come to an end, so let us all leave this lake as soon as possible. We can swim to the sea. We shall be safe there.” But Lazy and Stupid did not want to leave the lake. So Clever said goodbye to them and swam away. Next morning, the men came with big nets and caught all the fish. When Lazy was caught, he lay very still (without movement). After all, he was lazy but not stupid. He did not move at all. When the men saw him, they thought him to be dead. So they took him out of (removed from) the net and threw away on the sand. When nobody was looking at him, Lazy slipped back (went) into the water and was safe (not in danger). [What would happen to Stupid ?] When Stupid was caught, he went on trying to get out of (to move from) the net. The men laughed and said, “We will get a lot of money when we sell this one.” That is the way Stupid lost his life.

Vocabulary

Select the correct answer.

Question 1. When I reached the hall, it was full. The underlined words mean...
(a) All the seats were occupied.
(b) All the people in the hall were fools.
(c) Some people were standing in the hall.
Answer: (a) All the seats were occupied.
In simple words: When the hall was full, it means that every seat was taken. There were no empty places left for more people.

Exam Tip: To answer vocabulary questions, read the sentence carefully to understand the context of the underlined word, then choose the option that best fits that meaning.

Question 2. Both the children looked a like. Here alike means.........
(a) People like children
(b) Similar
(c) Different
Answer: (b) Similar
In simple words: When two children look "alike," it means they look very much the same or quite similar to each other. They share many common features.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to synonyms when choosing word meanings; "alike" directly translates to "similar" in this context.

Question 3. Policeman : Baby, why are you crying here ? Girl: I have lost my way to home. Could you please help me ? Here the underlined word mean ...
(a) The girl has forgotten her way.
(b) The girl has missed the bus.
(c) The girl was lost in the fair.
Answer: (a) The girl has forgotten her way.
In simple words: The phrase "lost my way to home" simply means that the girl has forgotten the correct path to get back to her house. She cannot remember the route.

Exam Tip: For underlined phrases, consider the entire expression and its common usage rather than just individual words to find the correct meaning.

Comprehension

1. Complete the following statements selecting the most appropriate alternatives.

Question 1. This is the story of ..........
(a) three friends
(b) three big men
(c) three fishes
Answer: (c) three fishes
In simple words: This story is about three fish who were also great friends. The main characters of the narrative are these three aquatic creatures.

Exam Tip: Always identify the main characters or subjects of a story to answer general comprehension questions accurately.

Question 2. Stupid lost his life because ...
(a) he followed Clever's advice.
(b) he did not follow Clever's advice.
(c) he was caught in the net.
Answer: (b) he did not follow Clever's advice.
In simple words: Stupid lost his life because he ignored the smart suggestions from Clever. He chose not to listen to the wise counsel given to him.

Exam Tip: In stories with advice, note the outcomes for characters who follow or disregard it, as this often reveals the main lesson.

Question 3. Words of Clever's friends made him
(a) happy
(b) sad
(c) mad
Answer: (b) sad
In simple words: When Clever heard what his friends said, it made him feel very unhappy. Their words caused him to become sad.

Exam Tip: Look for clues about characters' emotions in the text, such as direct statements like "he became very sad."

2. Who said the following sentences ? Write their names.

Question 1.
(1) “We will get a lot of money.”
(2) "We shall come tomorrow with a big net.”
(3) "I will be safe."
(4) "What big men say, they never do."
(5) "This lake is full of fish."
Answer:
(1) Men
(2) Men
(3) Lazy
(4) Stupid
(5) Men
In simple words: Read each sentence from the story carefully. Then, remember which character spoke those specific words during the events to identify the speaker.

Exam Tip: When asked to identify speakers, scan the dialogue in the story and match the quoted lines to the character who uttered them.

Let's Learn More

Read the following paragraphs from the lesson.

(1) There was a lake in a forest where lived three big fish. They were called ! CLEVER, LAZY and STUPID. They were friends. One day, Clever heard some people talking by the side of the lake. They were saying, “This lake is full of good fish. We shall come tomorrow with a big net and catch all the fish.” Clever said to himself, "I must tell my friends what I have heard. Our lives are in danger. We must go far away from here."

So Clever went to Lazy and Stupid and told them, “My dear friends, we have to leave this lake. There are some bad men who are planning to catch us. We have to go away quickly." But Lazy said, “I have lived here for long and don't want to leave this place.”

Answer the following questions.

Question 1. What were the fish called ?
Answer: The fish were called Clever, Lazy, and Stupid. These were the names given to the three friends living in the lake. They were known by these unique names.
In simple words: The names of the fish were Clever, Lazy, and Stupid.

Exam Tip: Always extract names and key details precisely as they appear in the passage to ensure accuracy.

Question 2. Who heard the men talking ?
Answer: Clever heard the men talking. He was the one who listened to their conversation by the lake. Clever overheard their discussion.
In simple words: Clever heard the men talking.

Exam Tip: Identify the specific character linked to each key event or action mentioned in the question.

Question 3. Who did not want to leave the lake ? Why?
Answer: Lazy did not want to leave the lake because he had lived there for a long time. He felt comfortable and safe in his current home. Lazy was unwilling to move from his familiar environment.
In simple words: Lazy did not want to leave the lake because he had lived there for a very long time.

Exam Tip: When a "why" question is asked, ensure your answer includes both the character and the reason for their action or decision.

Answer the questions selecting the correct options.

Question 1. Which of the following was not the name of a fish ?
(a) Clever
(b) Dumb
(c) Lazy
(d) Stupid
Answer: (b) Dumb
In simple words: The story mentions fish named Clever, Lazy, and Stupid. "Dumb" was not one of the names used for any of the fish characters.

Exam Tip: Carefully recall all names and details provided in the passage to distinguish correct options from incorrect ones.

Question 2. Who heard the people talking ?
(a) Clever
(b) Lazy
(c) Stupid
(d) All
Answer: (a) Clever
In simple words: From the beginning of the story, it is clear that Clever was the one who overheard the men talking. He was the only fish present.

Exam Tip: Always refer back to the text to confirm which character performed a specific action, especially at the start of the narrative.

Question 3. Who did not want to leave the lake ?
(a) Clever
(b) Lazy
(c) Stupid
(d) All
Answer: (b) Lazy
In simple words: Lazy specifically said he did not wish to leave the lake. He felt comfortable and safe where he was living.

Exam Tip: Distinguish between characters based on their stated intentions and actions within the story to answer such questions.

Question 4. "We shall come tomorrow with a big net.” Who said this?
(a) Clever
(b) Lazy
(c) Stupid
(d) Men
Answer: (d) Men
In simple words: The men were the ones talking about coming back to catch the fish. This statement came from the humans, not the fish characters.

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to dialogue and identify the speaker correctly, especially when a direct quote is provided in the question.

Question 5. "We have to go away quickly.” Who said this ?
(a) Clever
(b) Lazy
(c) Stupid
(d) Men
Answer: (a) Clever
In simple words: Clever said they needed to leave quickly because he realized the danger. He urged his friends to escape without delay.

Exam Tip: Remember that Clever was the one who first heard the men and understood the urgent need for action, thus he would say this line.

Question 6. "I have lived here for long." Who said this ?
(a) Clever
(b) Stupid
(c) Lazy
(d) Men
Answer: (c) Lazy
In simple words: Lazy made this statement as his reason for not wanting to leave the lake. He explained that he had resided there for a very long time.

Exam Tip: Connect specific lines of dialogue to the character who speaks them, especially if they reveal a character's personality or motivation.

(2) But Lazy and Stupid did not want to leave the lake. So Clever said goodbye to them and swam away. Next morning, the men came with big nets and caught all the fish. When Lazy was caught, he lay very still. After all, he was Lazy but not stupid. He did not move at all. When the men saw him, they thought him to be dead. So they took him out of the net and threw away on the sand. When nobody was looking at him, Lazy slipped back into water and was safe.

Answer the following questions.

Question 1. Who did not want to leave the lake ?
Answer: Lazy and Stupid did not want to leave the lake. They both refused to follow Clever's advice to move to a safer place. Both friends decided to stay put.
In simple words: Lazy and Stupid did not want to leave the lake.

Exam Tip: When a question asks "who," list all characters involved in the action or decision, not just one.

Question 2. Who said goodbye to his friends ?
Answer: Clever said goodbye to his friends. He left them to save himself after they refused to listen to his warning. Clever departed from his companions.
In simple words: Clever said goodbye to his friends.

Exam Tip: Focus on the actions of each character as described in the passage to correctly identify who did what.

Question 3. What did the men do?
Answer: The men came with big nets and caught all the fish. They carried out their plan to capture the fish from the lake. The men performed the task they had planned.
In simple words: The men used big nets to catch all the fish.

Exam Tip: Summarize the main action taken by the group mentioned in the question directly from the text.

Question 4. What did Lazy do when he was caught ?
Answer: When Lazy was caught, he lay very still. He pretended to be dead so the men would release him. Lazy remained motionless.
In simple words: When Lazy was caught, he lay perfectly still.

Exam Tip: Identify the specific action of the named character in the situation described in the question.

Question 5. What did the men think?
Answer: The men thought that Lazy was dead. His trick of lying still made them believe he was no longer alive. They considered him to be deceased.
In simple words: The men thought that Lazy was dead.

Exam Tip: Understand the consequences of a character's actions on other characters' perceptions as described in the story.

Question 6. What did the men do with Lazy ?
Answer: The men took Lazy out of the net and threw him away on the sand. Believing he was dead, they disposed of him outside the water. They removed him from their net.
In simple words: The men took Lazy out of the net and threw him onto the sand.

Exam Tip: Focus on the direct actions performed by the men specifically towards Lazy.

Question 7. What did Lazy do when nobody was looking ?
Answer: When nobody was looking, Lazy slipped back into the water. He took advantage of the opportunity to escape unnoticed. Lazy returned to the lake quietly.
In simple words: Lazy slipped back into the water when no one was watching.

Exam Tip: Note critical moments in the plot where a character's cleverness or quick thinking leads to a favorable outcome.

Answer the questions selecting the correct options.

Question 1. Who said goodbye ?
(a) Men
(b) Stupid
(c) Clever
(d) Lazy
Answer: (c) Clever
In simple words: Clever said goodbye to his friends after they refused to leave the lake. He was the one who departed from them.

Exam Tip: Recall the sequence of events and which character chose to leave, as that character would be saying goodbye.

Question 2. ........ did not want to leave the lake.
(a) Lazy and Clever
(b) Clever and Stupid
(c) Lazy and Stupid
(d) Clever
Answer: (c) Lazy and Stupid
In simple words: Both Lazy and Stupid decided to stay in the lake. They were the ones who did not wish to leave, despite the warnings.

Exam Tip: Be careful to include all characters who share the same action or feeling, especially when multiple options are presented.

Question 3. When Lazy was caught
(a) he lay very still
(b) he shouted
(c) he cried
(d) he escaped
Answer: (a) he lay very still
In simple words: When Lazy was caught, his strategy was to lie perfectly still. This was his clever way of pretending to be dead.

Exam Tip: Remember Lazy's personality and his specific action to trick the men after being caught.

Question 4. Which word in the passage is opposite of 'alive' ?
(a) still
(b) dead
(c) slipped
(d) safe
Answer: (b) dead
In simple words: The opposite of being "alive" is to be "dead." These two words describe complete contrasting states of being.

Exam Tip: When finding antonyms, think about words that mean the exact opposite of the given word within the context of the story.

Word Meanings: