NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Chapter 9 The Great Stone Face 1

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 9 The Great Stone Face 1

Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.

1. The Great Stone Face stood near where Ernest and his mother lived. ______
Answer - False

2. One would clearly distinguish the features of the Stone Face only from a distance. ______
Answer - True

3. Ernest loved his mother and helped her in her work. ______
Answer - True

4. Though not very rich, Gathergold was a skilful merchant. ______
Answer - False

5. Gathergold died in poverty and neglect. ______
Answer - True

6. The Great Stone Face seemed to suggest that Ernest should not fear the general. ______
Answer - False


Working with Text 

Question 1. (i) What was the Great Stone Face?
(ii) What did young Ernest wish when he gazed at it?

Answer

(i) The Great Stone Face was a work of nature. It was formed on the side of a mountain by some huge rocks. They had been thrown together in such a position so that, when viewed from some distance, they resembled the face of a human face. If the spectator approached too near, the outline of the face would disappear into a heap of gigantic rocks. It was the belief of many people that the valley owed much of its fertility to the kind face of the Great Stone that was continually looking over it.

(ii) Young Ernest gazed at the Great Stone Face. It smiled to him. Ernest wished that it could speak because it looked very kindly. He thought its voice must be pleasant. He would love the man dearly whoever bore such face. 

Question 2. What was the story attributed to the Stone Face?

Answer

The story that was attributed to the Stone Face was that at some future day, a child would be born near there, and he would be destined to become the greatest and noblest person of his time. His face, in manhood, would bear an exact resemblance to the Great Stone Face.

Question 3. What gave the people of the valley the idea that the prophecy was about to come true for the first time?

Answer

There was a rumor in the valley that the great man, who would look like the Great Stone Face, had appeared at last. a young man, named Gathergold had left the valley. He had grown a rich merchant by the time he became old. He had decided to return to his native valley. He had the living likeness of the Great Stone Face. It made the people of the valley think that the prophecy was about to come true for the first time.

Question 4. (i) Did Ernest see in Gathergold the likeness of the Stone Face?
(ii) Who did he confide in and how was he proved right?

Answer