Maharashtra Board Class 8 English Unit 4 Chapter 4.3 The Bees Solutions

Std 8 English Lesson 4.3 The Bees Question Answer Maharashtra Board

Class 8 English Chapter 4.3 The Bees Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming Up:

 

Question 1. Match the professions with the field of work:

Profession	Field of work
(1) Chief Minister	(a) Business
(2) Magistrate	(b) Transport
(3) Soldier	(c) Construction
(4) Trader	(d) Administration
(5) Builder	(e) Education
(6) Driver	(f) Defence
(7) Teacher	(g) Law

Answer:
(1) Chief Minister – Administration
(2) Magistrate – Law
(3) Soldier - Defence
(4) Trader - Business
(5) Builder - Construction
(6) Driver - Transport
(7) Teacher - Education
In simple words: Matching professions to their fields helps understand different roles in society, like a Chief Minister in administration or a teacher in education.

🎯 Exam Tip: When matching, carefully read both columns and identify the primary function or area of work for each profession. Double-check all pairs.

 

2. Living creatures, birds, animals, insects, etc. are often used in us – as comparisons, because of some special characteristics they hold. Fill in the gaps, choosing words from the brackets to make appropriate comparisons.
(tall / quiet / humble / merry / busy / slippery / fast / sly /slow / big)

 

Question 1. as ___ as a lark
Answer: as merry as a lark
In simple words: A lark is known for its cheerful song, so "as merry as a lark" means very happy and joyful.

🎯 Exam Tip: To answer comparisons, think about the most prominent characteristic of the animal or object mentioned. For a lark, it's its cheerful song.

 

Question 2. as ___ as a snail

 

Question 3. as ______ as a giraffe
Answer: as tall as a giraffe. Giraffes are famously known for their immense height.
In simple words: Giraffes are very tall animals, so "tall" is the perfect word to complete this comparison.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing similes, think about the most prominent and well-known characteristic of the animal or object being described.

 

Question 4. as ______ as a bee
Answer: as busy as a bee. Bees are constantly working, collecting nectar and making honey.
In simple words: Bees are always active and working hard, which is why they are compared to being busy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Similes often highlight a common, easily recognizable trait; for a bee, 'busy' is the most frequent association.

 

Question 5. as ______ as an elephant
Answer: as big as an elephant. Elephants are the largest land animals, making them a symbol of great size.
In simple words: Elephants are huge animals, so "big" is the right word to describe something of great size.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember common animal characteristics used in comparisons, such as an elephant's impressive size.

 

Question 6. as ______ as a mouse
Answer: as quiet as a mouse. Mice are small creatures that move very softly and silently.
In simple words: Mice are tiny and move without making much noise, so they are used to describe something very quiet.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider how the animal moves or behaves to find the most fitting descriptive word for the simile.

 

Question 7. as ______ as an eel
Answer: as slippery as an eel. Eels have smooth, slimy skin, making them very difficult to hold.
In simple words: Eels are hard to catch because they are so smooth and slide easily, making them "slippery."

🎯 Exam Tip: Think about the physical properties or common actions of the animal to accurately complete the simile.

 

Question 8. as ______ as a fox
Answer: as sly as a fox. Foxes are often depicted as clever and cunning animals in stories and folklore.
In simple words: Foxes are known for being smart and tricky, so "sly" is the perfect word to describe them.

🎯 Exam Tip: Many animals have traditional associations; for a fox, 'sly' or 'cunning' are key traits to remember for similes.

 

Question 9. as ____ as a deer
Answer: as fast as a deer. This phrase describes someone moving with great speed, like a deer.
In simple words: It means to be as quick and agile as a deer.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing similes, think about the most prominent characteristic of the animal mentioned.

 

Question 10. as ____ as a worm
Answer: as humble as a worm. This phrase suggests someone is very modest and unassuming, much like a worm.
In simple words: It means to be very modest and not proud, like a worm that stays hidden.

🎯 Exam Tip: Similes often use common animal traits; consider what quality is most associated with the animal.

 

Question 1. Honey-bees live unorganized life like human beings. Discuss what work the following honey-bees do, us per the poem. Write it down in your own words, in your notebook.
(a) King / Emperor bee
(b) Magistrate bees
(c) Merchant bees
(d) Soldier bees
(e) Mason bees
(f) Civilian bees
(g) Porter bees
(h) Judge bee
Answer:
(a) King/Emperor bee – supervises the building of the beehive
(b) Magistrate bees – do corrective work
(c) Merchant bees – go out to trade for nectar
(d) Soldier bees – loot nectar from flowers and protect the hive
(e) Mason bees – build the hive
(f) Civilian bees – make honey from nectar
(g) Porter bees – carry the nectar brought by the other bees
(h) Judge bee – delivers his sentence
Each type of bee plays a crucial role, ensuring the smooth functioning and survival of the entire colony.
In simple words: Different bees have specific jobs, like a king bee supervising, soldier bees protecting, and civilian bees making honey, all working together for the hive.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to list roles, ensure you clearly state the specific duty for each item mentioned in the question, using keywords from the poem.

Complete The Following Choosing The Appropriate Option:

 

Question 1. Human beings can learn from honey bees _______.
(a) How to make food
(b) how to live joyfully
(c) how to lead an organized nation
Answer: (c) how to lead an organized nation
In simple words: Honey bees live in a very structured way, showing us how to organize ourselves effectively as a group.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering questions about lessons from nature, focus on the specific characteristic mentioned (e.g., organization, hard work) and link it directly to human learning.

 

Question 2. The soldier-bees carry home _______.
(a) the velvet buds
(b) nector, looted from flowers
(c) their weapons
Answer: (b) nector, looted from flowers
In simple words: Soldier bees are responsible for bringing back nectar, which is the sweet liquid from flowers, to the hive.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the roles of different types of bees mentioned in the text to correctly identify their tasks.

 

Question 3. The emperor-bee supervises the building of _______.
(a) the beehive
(b) bridges
(c) a tower
Answer: (a) the beehive
In simple words: The emperor-bee, often referring to the queen bee or a leader, oversees the construction and maintenance of the entire beehive.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the hierarchy and responsibilities within a bee colony as described in the passage to answer such questions accurately.

 

Question 4. The _______ bees make honey from nectar.
(a) officers
(b) civilian citizens
(c) magistrates
Answer: (b) civilian citizens
In simple words: The worker bees, referred to here as 'civilian citizens', are the ones who process the collected nectar into honey.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the specific group of bees responsible for each task, especially honey production, as it's a key function of a bee colony.

 

Question 5. The drone is given a death sentence because he _______.
(a) attacked the emperor
(b) killed other bees
Answer: (b) killed other bees
In simple words: Drones are typically expelled or killed by worker bees when they are no longer needed for reproduction or if they pose a threat to the colony.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the specific reasons for the fate of drones in a bee colony, which often relates to their lack of contribution or potential harm during certain seasons.

3. A. Complete The Phrases Using Words From The Poem:

 

Question 3. A. (i) march
Answer: merry march
In simple words: The word 'merry' is used to complete the phrase, suggesting a cheerful and lively march.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing phrases from a poem, always refer back to the original text to ensure accuracy and context.

 

Question 3. A. (ii) tent
Answer: royal tent
In simple words: The word 'royal' completes the phrase, indicating a tent fit for royalty or of grand status.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to adjectives used in the poem as they often provide descriptive details for nouns.

 

Question 3. A. (iii) masons
Answer: singing masons
In simple words: The word 'singing' completes the phrase, describing masons who are singing while they work.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for verbs or participles that describe the action or state of the noun in the poem.

 

Question 3. A. (iv) porters
Answer: poor porters
In simple words: The word 'poor' completes the phrase, indicating porters who are in a state of poverty or hardship.

🎯 Exam Tip: Adjectives often reveal the characteristics or conditions of the characters or objects in a poem.

 

Question 3. A. (v) burdens
Answer: heavy burdens
In simple words: The word 'heavy' completes the phrase, referring to loads or responsibilities that are difficult to carry.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider the emotional or physical weight implied by the words used in the poem.

 

Question 3. A. (vi) executors
Answer: pale executors
In simple words: The word 'pale' completes the phrase, describing executors who appear light in color, possibly due to illness or fear.

🎯 Exam Tip: Adjectives like 'pale' can convey mood, health, or appearance of characters in literary works.

3. B.

 

Question 3. B. (i) Find any two Alliterative lines.
Answer: Which pillage they with merry march bring home. This line beautifully illustrates alliteration with the repeating 'm' sound. Repetition of the sound of the letter
In simple words: Alliteration is when words close together start with the same sound, like 'merry march' where the 'm' sound repeats.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify alliteration, carefully read the lines aloud and listen for the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.

'm'.

The civil citizens kneading up the honey. Repetition of the sound of the letter 'c'.

 

Question (ii) Pick out the line that contains an Onomatopoetic word.
Answer: The singing masons building roofs of gold. The word 'singing' indicates sound. This line beautifully illustrates the concept of onomatopoeia.
In simple words: Find the sentence where a word sounds like what it describes, like 'singing' for the sound of masons.

🎯 Exam Tip: Onomatopoeic words imitate sounds. Look for words like 'buzz', 'hiss', 'bang', 'singing' (if it describes the sound of the action) that directly suggest the sound they represent.

 

Question 3. C.Pick out three tines that create an Imuqe In your mind of bees, busy at work.
Answer:
(i) Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds.
(ii) The singing masons building roofs of gold.
(iii) The civil citizens kneading up the honey. These lines evoke a vivid image of busy activity, similar to bees at work.
In simple words: Identify three lines from the text that make you think of busy bees.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to pick out lines that create an image, focus on descriptive words and actions that paint a picture in your mind.

 

Question 4. A. Refer to a good dictionur which carries phonetic transcriptions printed next to words. The words below are familiar to you. Copy their phonetic transcription from the dictionary and sa it aloud us ou write. (You may take our teacher's help, if needed)
• work
• bees
• boot
• home
• mason
• citizen
• porters
Answer: To answer this question, you would look up each word in a dictionary that provides phonetic transcriptions and then write down the symbols for how each word is pronounced. Practicing these transcriptions aloud helps in understanding pronunciation better.
In simple words: Find the pronunciation symbols for each word in a dictionary and write them down.

🎯 Exam Tip: When dealing with phonetic transcriptions, pay close attention to the specific symbols for vowels and consonants, as they represent precise sounds. Using an online phonetic dictionary can be very helpful.

Stress

Stress is the extra force we use when pronouncing a syllable in a word. For example: In the word 'King-dom' the syllable 'king' is stressed. In the word re-li-gion the second syllable is stressed. Stress upon a syllable can be shown with short vertical line above the syllable that is stressed. For example : com-pu-ter / fa-ther / en-cou-rage

 

Question 4. B. Say the following words aloud and put the stress mark on the stressed syllables:
Answer: To answer this question, you would say each word aloud and identify which syllable naturally receives more emphasis, then mark that syllable with a short vertical line above it. For example, in 'beautiful', the stress is on 'beau'.
In simple words: Speak the words and mark the part of each word that you say with more force.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice saying words naturally to identify stress. Often, the stressed syllable is clearer when you say the word slowly or exaggerate its pronunciation.

 

Question. Identify the correct syllable division for the following words:
1. crea-tures
2. bur-den
3. me-cha-nic
4. e-xe-cu-tor
5. de-li-ve-ring
6. ma-gis-trate
Answer: The correct syllable divisions are provided below. Understanding syllable breaks helps in pronunciation and spelling.
1. crea-tures
2. bur-den
3. me-cha-nic
4. e-xe-cu-tor
5. de-li-ve-ring
6. ma-gis-trate
In simple words: This exercise shows how words are broken into parts, which makes them easier to say and spell.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice breaking down new words into syllables to improve your reading fluency and vocabulary.

5. Project:

Gather information about the following insects. Draw their images or get pictures. On one sheet each. fix the image I picture and below it write the information. Compile these pages and make a file of 'Insects – our friends'. Insects: Bee / Praying mantis / Butterfly Beetle / Wasp / Dragon-fly

Class 8 English Chapter 4.3 The Bees Additional Important Questions And Answers

Complete The Following:

 

Question 1. The honey bees teach us the ______ .
Answer: The honey bees teach us the art of organization and living in order. Their structured society is a great example of teamwork.
In simple words: Honey bees show us how to be organized and live together in a disciplined way.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing sentences, ensure your answer logically fits the context and completes the thought accurately.

 

Question 2. Roofs of gold refer to ______
Answer: the structure of the golden beehive. This imagery highlights the precious and intricate nature of the beehive.
In simple words: The phrase "roofs of gold" describes the shiny, valuable appearance of the beehive, suggesting it's a precious and well-built home for the bees.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about figurative language, identify the literal meaning and then explain what it symbolizes or represents in the context of the poem.

 

Question 3. The death sentence is given to ______
Answer: the drones. In the disciplined society of bees, idleness is not tolerated.
In simple words: Drones, which are male bees that don't work, are given the death sentence because they are seen as unproductive in the bee colony.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the specific roles of different bees (queen, worker, drone) to correctly answer questions about their functions or fates.

 

Question 4. The bee-hive is being built by ______
Answer: the mason bees. These bees are skilled builders, constructing the intricate structure of the hive.
In simple words: The beehive is built by mason bees, who are like the construction workers of the bee world.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the specific types of bees mentioned in the text and their roles, as questions often test this detail.

Answer the following:

 

Question 1. Where does the emperor-bee sit and what does he do?
Answer: The emperor-bee sits in a tent and supervises the building of the bee-hive. This role ensures order and efficiency in the construction process.
In simple words: The emperor-bee stays in a tent and watches over the building of the beehive, making sure everything is done correctly.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering "where" and "what" questions, provide both the location and the action clearly and concisely.

 

Question 2. Analysis/Appreciation Of The Poem
Answer:

• Poem and poet: 'The Bees' by William Shakespeare.
• Theme: The organized, disciplined lives of the bees, with death penalty to those who do nothing. Understanding these elements helps in a deeper appreciation of the poem's message.
• Tone: Reflective and serious: shows admiration for the organization of the bees.
• Structure and stanzas: No separate stanzas; lines of unequal length
• Rhyme and Rhythm: No rhymescheme or rhythm free verse

In simple words: This section breaks down the poem's key features like who wrote it, what it's about, and how it's structured, helping you understand it better.

🎯 Exam Tip: For poem appreciation, always cover the poet, theme, tone, structure, and rhyme scheme to score full marks, using clear bullet points.

• Language and Imagery: Language is old English Vivid images created of the activities of the bees.
• Figures of Speech: Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Inversion.