Samacheer Kalvi Class 8 English Solutions Chapter 2 Hobby Turns into A Successful Career

Warm-Up (Text Book Page No. 35)

Question 1. What is the girl doing?
Answer: The girl is painting a picture. Painting helps her express her creativity and imagination.
In simple words: The girl is busy painting.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing an action in a picture, use simple present continuous tense.

Question 2. What is the man doing? Will you like to do it? Why?
Answer: The man is cooking food. I might not like to do it because I want to avoid accidentally cutting my finger while chopping ingredients. Cooking needs a lot of focus and care.
In simple words: The man is cooking. I would not like to do it because I am worried about cutting my finger.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for a personal opinion, clearly state your preference and provide a specific reason.

Question 3. Do you like gardening? Why?
Answer: Yes, I like gardening a lot. It is a wonderful hobby. Gardening provides us with fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers, making it both good for us and a fun way to spend time. It also connects us with nature.
In simple words: Yes, I like gardening. It is a good hobby that gives fresh vegetables and flowers, and it is a fun activity.

🎯 Exam Tip: When stating a preference, always back it up with a positive reason and a relevant benefit.

Question 4. What are the benefits of taking up cycling as a hobby?
Answer: Cycling is truly a great hobby. It is one of the best exercises for both our body and heart. Regular cycling helps to increase our stamina and keeps us fit.
In simple words: Cycling is a good hobby. It is a great exercise for the body and heart, and it helps you get stronger.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the direct health and physical benefits when asked about exercise-related hobbies.

Section - I

Read and Understand (Text Book Page No. 37)

A. Say true or false:

Question 1. Mani's hobby is playing cricket.
Answer: False
In simple words: The statement is not true.

🎯 Exam Tip: For true/false questions, remember to indicate only 'True' or 'False' clearly.

Question 2. Hobbies are unique to people.
Answer: True
In simple words: The statement is correct.

🎯 Exam Tip: Think about whether the statement applies to everyone generally or if there are exceptions before deciding true or false.

Question 3. People have hobbies only to pass the time.
Answer: False
In simple words: The statement is incorrect.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be careful with words like "only" or "always" in true/false questions, as they often make a statement false.

B. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1. Mani imagined a world with
(a) music and musicians
(b) building and sculptures
(c) magic and magicians.
Answer: (c) magic and magicians
In simple words: Mani thought of a world full of magic and people who could do magical things.

🎯 Exam Tip: For character-based MCQs, recall specific details about the character's thoughts or actions.

Question 2. When Mani started writing things, he was unable to
(a) describe them accurately
(b) describe them fluently
(c) describe them imaginatively
Answer: (a) describe them accurately
In simple words: When Mani began writing, he found it hard to explain things precisely.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to what a character struggles with, as this often reveals key plot points or personal traits.

Question 3. Mani feels writing is like
(a) painting the voice
(b) engraving the voice
(c) designing the voice
Answer: (a) painting the voice
In simple words: Mani thought that writing was similar to painting, but instead of colors, it used words to express feelings.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify descriptive phrases or metaphors used in the text to understand how characters perceive things.

Section - II

Read and Understand (Text Book Page No. 39)

A. Say true or false.

Question 1. Ajay Garg is an artist.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always confirm character professions or key attributes from the text.

Question 2. Asha Devi taught Ajay the miniature painting.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note down important relationships and roles of characters in the story, like who teaches whom.

Question 3. Ajay displayed 150 paintings.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct.

🎯 Exam Tip: Specific numbers or figures are often important details in factual questions.

Question 4. Ajay was awarded by the Indian president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct.

🎯 Exam Tip: Important names and awards are key facts to remember from the text.

B. Answer the following questions:

Question 1. What was Ajay gifted with?
Answer: Ajay was naturally blessed with a special talent for painting. This natural skill showed his artistic ability from a very young age.
In simple words: Ajay had a special talent for painting.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about a gift or talent, describe the specific skill and mention if it was natural.

Question 2. How was he honored?
Answer: Ajay was greatly honored when he received a national award for his achievements from the Indian President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in the year 2004. This was a major recognition of his hard work.
In simple words: He got a national award from the Indian President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in 2004.

🎯 Exam Tip: Include all key details like who honored, what award, and when/where it happened.

Question 3. What is Ajay's current goal?
Answer: Ajay's main goal is to bring back and give new life to the old and beautiful art form of traditional Miniature Indian paintings, which is slowly fading away. He wants to keep this unique art alive.
In simple words: Ajay wants to make traditional Miniature Indian paintings popular again, as this art form is slowly disappearing.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about a goal, state the objective clearly and briefly explain its purpose or impact.

Question 4. Is Ajay's hobby become a successful career? How?
Answer: Yes, Ajay's hobby truly became a successful career. This happened because he was able to turn his passion for painting into a professional path that brought him recognition and awards. His dedication transformed his hobby into a livelihood.
In simple words: Yes, his hobby became a successful job because he turned his love for painting into a career.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining how a hobby becomes a career, connect dedication and skill to professional success.

Section - III

Read and Understand (Text Book Page No.41)

A. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1. Mani's grandfather noticed it and helped him by reading ............
Answer: bedtime stories
In simple words: His grandfather helped him by reading stories before sleep.

🎯 Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks, recall the specific word or phrase that fits the context from the story.

Question 2. Ajay mastered the techniques of ..........................
Answer: Preparing colours and brushes
In simple words: Ajay became very good at getting colors ready and using brushes for painting.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the specific skills or methods a character learns or becomes proficient in.

Question 3. Ilavazhagi won her first match against ..........................
Answer: her father
In simple words: She won her first game against her dad.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember important "firsts" or significant events for characters in the story.

B. Choose correct synonyms for the italic word.

Question 1. Writing is a unique hobby
(a) common
(b) beneficial
(c) uncommon
(d) separate
Answer: (c) uncommon
In simple words: A synonym means a word with a similar meaning. 'Unique' means being one of a kind, which is similar to 'uncommon'.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding synonyms, choose the option that has the closest meaning to the given word in its context.

Question 2. Ajay started to paint happily.
(a) depressed
(b) joyfully
(c) unhappily
(d) sadly
Answer: (b) joyfully
In simple words: 'Happily' means doing something with happiness or joy, so 'joyfully' is a good synonym for it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider the emotional tone of the word when looking for its synonym to ensure a precise match.

Question 3. Miniature paintings depict Indian culture.
(a) warp
(b) portray
(c) twist
(d) falsify
Answer: (b) portray
In simple words: 'Depict' means to show or represent something, and 'portray' has the same meaning, especially when talking about art.

🎯 Exam Tip: For verbs like 'depict', consider which option best describes the action of showing or representing something.

C. Choose correct antonyms for the italic word.

Question 1. Ajay suffered an injury.
(a) sorrow
(b) endure
(c) hurt
(d) mourn
Answer: (b) endure
In simple words: An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. 'Suffered' means to experience something bad, while 'endure' means to bear or tolerate something, often for a long time.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding antonyms, look for words that express the direct opposite action or state of the given word.

Question 2. Ajay mastered the techniques of painting.
(a) skilled
(b) proficient
(c) unskilled
(d) experienced
Answer: (c) unskilled
In simple words: 'Mastered' means to become very good or skilled at something. So, the opposite would be to be without skill, or 'unskilled'.

🎯 Exam Tip: For words related to skill, the antonym often involves adding a prefix like 'un-' or 'dis-'.

Question 3. Ilavazhagi won the world championship in
(a) win
(b) succeed
(c) defeat
(d) well-skilled
Answer: (c) defeat
In simple words: 'Won' means to be successful in a competition. The opposite of winning is to lose or to 'defeat'.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding the antonym of a verb like 'won', think about the opposite outcome of the action.

D. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1. What happened to Ajay at the age of three?
Answer: When Ajay was three years old, he had an accident and got an injury in his ears. Even after treatment, this injury caused him to become permanently deaf. This event changed his life significantly.
In simple words: At age three, Ajay got hurt in his ears. This made him permanently deaf.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the main event and its direct consequence when answering questions about character misfortunes.

Question 2. What did Asha Devi teach Ajay?
Answer: Asha Devi taught Ajay the ancient and precious art form known as "Traditional Indian Miniature Painting." She helped him learn this detailed technique, keeping the art alive. This was a very specialized skill she passed on.
In simple words: Asha Devi taught Ajay how to do "Traditional Indian Miniature Painting."

🎯 Exam Tip: Be specific about the type of skill or knowledge imparted when asked about a teacher-student relationship.

Question 3. Why writing is beneficial according to Mani?
Answer: According to Mani, writing is very good because it helps him think about things beyond everyday matters and broaden his understanding. It also makes him feel more passionate about his own life and motivates him to learn new things. Writing gives him a sense of freedom.
In simple words: Mani thinks writing helps him think bigger, makes him feel more excited about life, and helps him learn new things.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining benefits according to a character, use direct quotes or paraphrases that reflect their exact perspective.

E. Answer the following question in 100 words.

Question 1. How did Ajay's father find his son's talent?
Answer: Ajay Kumar Garg is a skilled young artist who lives in Jaipur, India. At the age of three, he suffered an injury in his ears, which left him permanently deaf despite many treatments. One day, his father bought him a paint set to play with. Ajay started to paint joyfully, using walls and floors as his canvases. His father observed how happy he was while painting and how much time he spent on it. Soon, he realized that Ajay had a natural talent for art. This simple gift of a paint set helped his father discover Ajay's hidden artistic ability. His keen observation helped Ajay find his path.
In simple words: Ajay became deaf at age three. His father bought him a paint set. Ajay happily painted on walls and floors. His father saw how much he loved it and realized Ajay had a special talent for painting.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing a discovery, detail the sequence of events that led to it and the role of key individuals.

Question 2. Write a note on Illavalaghi:
Answer: Ilavazhagi is an inspirational figure who achieved her dreams despite many challenges. Her father, a district-level carrom champion, introduced her to the game by letting her listen to the sounds of strikers and coins on the carrom board. He often took her to local clubs to practice. After winning her first match against her father, Ilavazhagi gained immense confidence. This confidence drove her to win the Asia Cup, SAARC Cup, and eventually the world championship. She accumulated numerous trophies and became the women's singles world champion in the 2008 Indian National Carrom Championship. Her deep passion for carrom was the key to her success. She showed that passion and hard work can overcome obstacles.
In simple words: Ilavazhagi achieved her dreams in carrom. Her father helped her learn. She gained confidence after beating her father in a match. She won many cups, including the world championship in 2008, because of her passion.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing a note about a person, include their background, key achievements, and the qualities that led to their success.

Vocabulary (Text Book Page No. 42)

Singular and Plural.

Write the plural form of the given words:

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize irregular plural forms as they do not follow standard rules, such as "radius" to "radii" or "datum" to "data."

Compound Words (Text Book Page No. 44)

A. Match the following compound words and write them:

🎯 Exam Tip: Compound words are formed by joining two or more words. Practice combining words and identifying their new meanings.

B. Choose the best answer to make a compound word:

Question 1. Which can be placed after 'soft'?
(a) play
(b) ware
(c) run
(d) cycle
Answer: (b) ware
In simple words: When 'ware' is put after 'soft', it makes the compound word 'software'.

🎯 Exam Tip: To form compound words, try each option to see which one creates a recognized and meaningful word.

Question 2. Which can be placed before 'light'?
(a) try
(b) sun
(c) horse
(d) cat
Answer: (b) sun
In simple words: When 'sun' is placed before 'light', it forms the compound word 'sunlight'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Think about words that commonly combine with the given word to form a new, single concept.

Question 3. Which can be placed after 'safe'?
(a) chair
(b) guard
(c) shop
(d) van
Answer: (b) guard
In simple words: Adding 'guard' after 'safe' makes the word 'safeguard', which means to protect something.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider the meaning of the resulting compound word to ensure it makes sense in common usage.

Question 4. Which can be placed after 'blue'?
(a) cane
(b) print
(c) see
(d) land
Answer: (b) print
In simple words: When 'print' is placed after 'blue', it creates the compound word 'blueprint', which is a plan or design.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify common prefixes or suffixes that combine to form familiar compound words.

Question 5. Which can be placed after 'water'?
(a) food
(b) stick
(c) fall
(d) out
Answer: (d) out
In simple words: If you put 'out' after 'water', it makes the word 'water-out', often used to describe when water is removed.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider different types of compound words, including those with a hyphen or as two separate words that function as one term.

Listening (Text Book Page No. 44)

Questions on passage and answers.

Note: The listening passage is given on page no. 226

Question 1. What is philately?
Answer: Philately is the hobby of collecting and studying postage stamps. It involves more than just collecting; it is also about the history and design of stamps. This hobby can teach a lot about different countries and cultures.
In simple words: Philately is the hobby where people collect and learn about postage stamps.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define technical terms clearly and briefly explain their associated activities or importance.

Question 2. What is Numismatics?
Answer: Numismatics is the hobby of collecting coins from different countries. It also involves studying the history and art of currencies. This hobby helps in understanding different economic periods.
In simple words: Numismatics is the hobby of collecting and studying coins from various countries.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining hobbies, state the item collected and briefly mention what is studied about it.

Question 3. Do you know where the rarest and the most beautiful shells are found?
Answer: The rarest and most beautiful seashells are typically found in tropical marine regions such as the Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, and Mediterranean areas. These regions are known for their rich marine life and diverse species. Divers often explore these waters to find unique specimens.
In simple words: The rarest and prettiest shells are found in warm ocean areas like the Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, and Mediterranean regions.

🎯 Exam Tip: For geographical questions, name specific regions accurately and mention any relevant environmental details.

Question 4. Painting can help unleash your creative side. How?
Answer: Painting is an excellent way to unleash creativity because it helps to calm our minds and improves our ability to concentrate better. By focusing on colors and shapes, it allows hidden artistic talents to emerge. It gives a free space for imagination.
In simple words: Painting helps your creative side by relaxing your mind and making you focus better.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining how an activity helps, link its effects (e.g., relaxation, focus) to the outcome (e.g., creativity).

Question 5. What is your friend's hobby? How does it differ from yours? Discuss and write.
Answer: My friend's hobby is web-browsing, which is quite different from my hobby of gardening. Web-browsing is an amazing activity because with just a few clicks, we can learn about places thousands of kilometers away. We can also easily share all this wonderful information with our friends. In contrast, gardening connects me with nature, involves physical work, and yields tangible results like plants and flowers. Both hobbies offer unique ways to learn and grow. While web-browsing is more about digital exploration, gardening is about natural creation.
In simple words: My friend loves web-browsing, which is different from my hobby of gardening. Web-browsing lets him learn about far-off things and share information. Gardening helps me connect with nature and grow plants.

🎯 Exam Tip: When comparing hobbies, describe each one distinctly and then highlight specific points of contrast or similarity.

Speaking (Book Page No. 45)