Textual Questions & Answers of 'Princess September' of Class-VIII

 

Princess September

W. Somerset Maugham

Textual Questions & Answers

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Activity 1

Tick the correct alternative:

 

1. When the little bird hopped into Princess September’s room, she was –

a. Clapping her hands

b. Crying alone 

c. Sleeping in her bed 

Ans: b. crying alone

 

2. The little bird perched on the –

a. Finger of the Princess 

b. Branch of the willow tree 

c. Window 

Ans: a. finger of the Princess

 

3. The sisters of Princess September –

a. Loved her 

b. Were envious of her 

c. Hated her 

Ans: b. were envious of her

 

4. Princess September was advised to –

a. Let the bird go free 

b. Hand the bird over to her sisters 

c. Put the bird in a cage 

Ans: c. put the bird in a cage 

 

Activity 2

Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in the given boxes:
 
1.  All sisters came together to advise Princess September.  [ 4 ]
 
2.  Princess September was crying alone in her room.  [ 1 ]
 
3. A little bird hopped on to the end of the Princess’s bed.  [ 2 ] 
 
4. Princess September feared that the bird might forget her.  [ 6 ]
 
5. The bird sang a beautiful song.  [ 3 ]
 
6. The Princess was advised to put the bird into a cage.  [ 5 ]
 
 

Activity 3

Answer the following question:

1. How do you think Princess September spent her days when the bird was away?

Ans: When the bird went away, Princess September must have felt very lonely. She spent her time thinking about the little bird and eagerly waiting for him.

 

Activity 4

Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
 

1. The little bird was surprised when September carried him to the cage, put him in, and shut the door on him.

 

2. At dawn, the little bird wished to be let out from the cage because he wanted to have a good fly while the dew was still wet on the ground.

 

3. Princess September told the bird he was better off in the cage because he had a beautiful golden cage and he would have three meals a day.

 

4. The bird told the Princess that it could not sing as he wanted to see the trees and the lake and the green rice growing in the fields.

 
 

Activity 5

Answer the following questions:
 

1. ‘So he suspected nothing.’ - Who is ‘he’? Why did he not suspect anything?

Ans: Here ‘he’ refers to the little bird. The bird did not suspect anything because it used to sit on the hands of the princess.

 

2. Why did the little bird stop in the middle of his song?

Ans: The bird stopped in the middle of his song because the bird did not like being confined in the cage.

 

3. How did he try to free himself from the cage?

Ans: The bird tried to slip through the bars of the cage, but he couldn’t. He also tried to beat against the door but all was in vain.

 
 

Activity 6

Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements in the given boxes. Give supporting statements for each of your answers.

 

1. The little bird was happy to see the rice fields and the lake from within the cage.
Ans: False ,       Supporting Statement: “The rice fields and the lake and the willow trees look quite different when you see them through the bars of a cage.”
 
2. When the bird did not eat a thing, Princess September grew anxious.
Ans: True ,       Supporting Statement: “The princess was anxious.”
 
3. The next morning Princess found the bird hopping around the cage.
Ans: False ,       Supporting Statement: “She gave a startled cry, for there the little bird lay with eyes closed, and she looked as if he were dead.”
 
4. The bird was granted freedom.
Ans: True ,      Supporting Statement: “Then take your freedom.” the Princess said.”
 
 

Activity 7

Answer the following questions:
 

1. How did Princess September try to make the little bird happy?

Ans: Princess September tried to make the little bird happy by taking it for a walk around the lake and the green rice-fields.

 

2. Why did the Princess give ‘a sob a relief’?

Ans: The Princess gave ‘a sob a relief’ as she heard the little bird’s heart still beating.

 

3. Why was the little bird granted freedom by the Princess?

Ans: The Princess realized that the little bird was not happy in the cage and she loved the bird enough to let it be happy in its own way.

 

4. “Then he opened his wings and flew right away into the blue.” Would the little bird return to the Princess again? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: I think the little bird would come back to the Princess because it loved the princess and he also promised that he would never forget her.

 
 

Activity 8(a)

In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do not have a subject or a predicate and do not have a finite verb and do not make complete sense:

 
1. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
 
2. The sun rises in the east.
 
3. The farmer lived in a house made of straw.
 
 

Activity 8(b)

In the following sentences, underline the group of words that do the work of an Adjective:
 
1. He was a man full of hope.
 
2. A necklace of great value was stolen.
 
3. This is a table made of wood.
 
 

Activity 8(c)

In the following sentences, underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adverb:
 
1. The bird stood in the corner of his cage.
 
2. He spoke in a confident manner.
 
3. It’s raining at this moment.
 
 

Activity 8(d)

In the following sentences, underline the groups of words that do the work of a Noun:
 
1. Travelling by train gives me great pleasure.
 
2. The child refused to answer my question.
 
3. He wanted to go home.
 
 

Activity 8(e)

In the following sentences underline and identify the phrases:
 
1. The wind blew with great speed.
Ans: with great speed : Adverb phrase
 
2. The king wore a crown made of diamond.
Ans: made of diamond : Adjective phrase
 
3. The little girl did not know what to do.
Ans: what to do : Noun phrase
 
4. She is a lady of great patience.
Ans: of great patience : Adjective phrase
 
 

Activity 8(f)

In the following sentences, underline groups of words that have a Subject and a Predicate and form parts of the main sentences and have Finite verbs:

 
1. He was surprised when she carried him to the cage.
 
2. He drew a picture which was very beautiful.
 
3. I did not go to school as I was unwell.
 
4. Indian cricket team is confident that it will win the match.
 
 

Activity 8(g)

In the following sentences, underline the main parts of the sentences that are Independent and circle the clauses that depend on the main parts:

 
i. Although he was unwell, he went out.
 
ii. He is a king who is very powerful.
 
iii. Rani said that she had met my brother.
 
iv. When she was hungry, the baby cried out.
 

Independent	Dependent
he went out.	Although he was unwell,
He is a king	who is very powerful
Rani said	that she had met my brother
the baby cried out.	When she was hungry,

 
 
 

Activity 9

Replace the underlined words with their antonyms:
 
1. The boy wrote a different story.
Answer: The boy wrote the same story.
 
2. The mother placed the child gently on the bed.
Answer: The mother placed the child rudely/roughly on the bed.
 
3. On hearing the news he felt very uneasy.
Answer: On hearing the news he felt very easy.
 
4. The gate was opened by the porter.
Answer: The gate was closed by the porter.

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