CBSE Class 8 English Best Christmas Present Worksheet

The narrator purchased a roll top desk from junk shop and he found an old letter inside it. The letter was written by the leader of England Army. In that letter he described an incident of battlefield where on the day of Christmas England and Germany were engaged in a war but on the Christmas morning that Germans wished happy Christmas to English soldiers and same response was given by English also
After reading the letter the author decided to gave the letter to Jim's wife back. He went to meet her where he found Jim's wife waiting for her husband, she mistook the author by understanding him as Jim when the narrator met her. She declared him as the best Christmas present in the world.

Write and learn the following word meanings

Question. Stuck fast 
Answer : shut tight

Question. Trenches 
Answer : long deep ditches in the ground where soldiers hide from the enemy

Question. Spotted 
Answer : saw it ; found it

Question. Lit up 
Answer : became bright with happiness, excitement

Question. Burned out 
Answer : destroyed by fire

Question. Cello 
Answer : a musical instrument like a large violin

Question. Scorch marks 
Answer : burn marks

Question. Scruples 
Answer : feeling that make you hesitate to do something

Question. Muddle headed 
Answer : confused

Question. Standing to 
Answer : taking up positions

Short Question Answers :

Question. Had Hans Wolf even been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Answer : No, Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He had learned all about England from school and from reading books in English.

Question. How old was Mrs Macpherson now? Where was she?
Answer : Mrs. Macpherson was a hundred and one years old. She was in a nursing home in Burlington House.

Question. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Answer : Hans Wolf was from Dusseldorf. He played the cello in the orchestra. Jim Macpherson was a school teacher from Dorset.

Question. Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?
Answer : Connie Macpherson thought that her visitor was her husband, Jim.

Question. Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?
Answer : Jim Macpherson had written the letter to his wife Connie Macpherson on December 26, 1914.

Question. Why did the author go to Bridport?
Answer : The author went to Bridport because that was the address where Mrs. Macpherson lived. He wanted to give that letter back to her.

Long Question Answers :

Question. Why was the letter written−−what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer :Jim wrote the letter to tell his wife about a wonderful thing that had happened on Christmas day. The British and the Germans were engaged in a war, yet on that day, both the troops met in no man’s land. It was a thing of wonder because right in the middle of a war, the warring soldiers were making peace.

Question. Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree?
Answer : Jim and Hans thought that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts because nobody dies in matches. No children are orphaned and no wives become widows.
Due to these reasons, games are good ways for resolving conflicts. Wars only lead to death and devastation.

Question. What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer : The author found a small black tin box in the secret drawer. There was a paper sello-taped to its top. It said, ‘Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes.’
Most likely, it was put there by Mrs. Jim Macpherson, who was Jim’s wife. Her name and address were on the envelope inside the box.

Question. What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it “the best Christmas present in the world”?
Answer : When the narrator came to see Connie and gave her the box, she mistook him for her husband Jim. She thought that Jim had come home for Christmas. This was Connie’s Christmas present. It was the best Christmas present in the world for her because Jim had written in the letter that he would come home on Christmas. She had read that letter several times everyday to feel that he was near her. Now that he was finally there with her, she was extremely happy.