Chapter 1 The Best Christmas in the World Important Questions Class 8 Honeydew English
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Who won the match?
Answer
Fritz won the match.
Question 2. Who was Hans Wolf?
Answer
Hans Wolf was the officer of Fritz. He was from Dusseldorf. He played a cello in the orchestra.
Question 3. What did the author find in the secret-drawer?
Answer
He found a tin-box cello – taped to the top of that was a piece of lined notepaper in the secret drawer.
Question 4. Where was Mrs. Machpherson living? And why so?
Answer
She was in a nursing home, Burlington house, on the Dorchesten. She was living there because her house caught fire and she got injured.
Question 5. What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer
He found a small black tin box in a secret drawer. Jim’s wife Mrs. Macpherson had put it there. Here name and address were on the envelope inside the box.
Question 6. Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Answer
No, Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He said so because he had learned all about England in his school and in English books.
Question 7. Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?
Answer
Connie Macpherson thought her visitor was her husband, Mr Jim Macpherson.
Question 8. Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree?
Answer
Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts because nobody dies in a game. They were of the opinion that a game does not end in a child becoming orphan or a wife becoming widow.
Question 9. Describe the condition of roll – top box. From where the author found the roll-top box?
Answer
The roll-top box was made up of oak. It was in very bad condition. It brings scorch mark all down one side & one leg is clumsily mended. He found roll – top box from a junk shop in Bridport.
Question 10. What was there inside the tin box?
Answer
Inside the box there was an envelope. The address read: ‘Mrs. Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport Dorset’ and then he took out the letter and unfolded it. It was written in pencil and dated at the top – ‘December 26, 1914’.
Question 11. What did Hans & Jim talk about when they were sharing rum & sausage?
Answer
They talked about their favourite book, ‘Far from the madding crowd’, with Bathsheba, Gabriel Oak, Sergeant Troy and Dorset.
Question 12. What did author do after he read letter?
Answer
After reading letter the author went to Bridport and asked for the address from where the shop keeper got the roll top box.
Question 13. What did Mrs. Macpherson thought about visitors?
Answer
Mrs. Macpherson thought that visitor was her husband Mr. Macpherson. We know that because she said “you told me you had come home by Christmas, dearest,”. “And here you are the best Christmas present in the world. Come close Jim dear, sit down”.
Question 14. Why was the letter written? What was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer
German and British army was fighting a battle. The soldiers were living in their trenches to fight enemy. For soldiers were writing and receiving letter was the only way to be in touch with their family member. The wonderful thing was, in spite of enmity they celebrated Christmas together. This shows that festivals are above all personal enmity.
Question 15. 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.
Question 16. For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
Connie must have kept Jim’s letter for a long time. This is because she told the narrator how she read it quite often every day so that she could feel that Jim was near her.
Question 17. What was written on the tin box?
Answer
‘Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915.’ was written on the tin box.
Question 18. Who was Jim Macpherson?
Answer
Jim Macpherson was a school teacher. He was from Dorset, in the west of England.
Question 19. Why the letter was so special?
Answer
The letter was so special because it was written to Connie Jim’s wife. And the letter explains us about the war and our home. This letter shows that every soldier wants peace and love.
Question 20. Why was the people at nursing home surprised to see visitor?
Answer
The people were surprised because Mrs. Macpherson had no family, no one visits to her so they was happy too to see him there.
Question 21. 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 22. Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?
Answer
The written statement on the letter saying sheet the last letter was from Jim and that should be buried with Mrs. Macpherson. It indicates that Jim didn’t return from war.
Question 23. Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity?
Answer
That sentence is, “You told me You’d come home by Christmas, dearest,” she said, “And here you are. The best Christmas present in the world. Come closer, Jim dear, sit down.”
Question 24. Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and things in common at Christmas.
Answer
The British and the German soldiers smile at each other and wish merry Christmas to each other. They offer that food to each other. They share drinks and laugh at jokes. They play and enjoy a game of football. Thus they become friends on that occasion.
Question 25. Why did the author buy roll top box even though it was in bad condition?
Answer
The Author bought roll top box of bad condition because it cost little money and he could easily restore it by working on it.
Question 26. Describe briefly about Christmas morning on the behalf of letter sent by Jim to Connie.
Answer
Christmas morning was crisp and quiet all about, as beautiful a charming day. It was totally cold and frosty as a Christmas morning should be.
Question 27. How usually the war end? And how should it be end and why?
Answer
Normally, wars end by shedding blood and loses of properties and people. But there a football match resolves the war. As “No one dies in a football match. No children are orphaned. No wives become widows”.
Question 28. Write the character sketch of Mrs. Macpherson.
Answer
Mrs. Macpherson was an old lady. She was hundred and one years old. She was very lovely. She had white silver hair and wrinkles on the skin. But she used candle rather than electricity because according to her, electricity was too expensive.
Question 29. What did the author find in a junk shop?
Answer
The author found a very old 19th century rolled-top desk in a junk shop. It was made of oak. It was in a very bad condition. The roll-top was broken into several pieces. One of the legs was clumsily mended and there were scorch marks down one side.
Question 30. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Answer
Before joining the army, Hans played the cello in the orchestra and Jim was a teacher.
Question 31. How old was Mrs. Macpherson now? Where was she?
Answer
Mrs. Macpherson was a hundred and one year old. She was in a nursing home in Burlington house, on the Dorchester road, on the other side of town.
Question 32. Why do you think the desk had seen sold, and when?
Answer
The desk must have been sold as junk. It might have been sold after the demise of Macpherson.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Do you think the title, of this story is suitable for it? Can you think of any other title(s)?
Answer
The title of the story is perfectly suitable for it as the story revolves around the letter which turns out to be the best Christmas gift in the world for Mrs Macpherson. Mrs Macpherson had written the date and her wish on the letter’s envelope that this letter should be buried along with her after her death. She had lost it but in the end she found it and in its form she found her husband Jim once again. There can be no other title suitable for this story.
Question 2. You are the best Christmas present’. What was the best present? What was its importance?
Answer
On the Christmas eve, the narrator found a tin box carrying letter of captain Macpherson. It had a note which mentioned that his wife wanted the letter to be buried with her when she died. The narrator brought the box to her. When Connie heard him, she thought it was her husband who promised her to return on Christmas. Her wait was too long. She was muddle headed and was admitted to a hospital.
When everyone was merry-making on Christmas, she was sitting brooding over something. She was hopeful that her husband would return. But wait was too long by then, she lost her vision, memory so she mistook the guest to be her husband and considered his arrival to be the best gift. Her wait for her husband show her love and desire to see him back.
Question 3. War is no solution to disputes’. Discuss.
Answer
Wars no longer represent country’s pride. They are generally result of ruler’s ego. There racism takes a toll on the lives of so many from both the side. A common soldier wishes to celebrate the festivals together and think of family first. They want to end the bitter relationship by challenging them in a game.
They expressed their fondness for each other food, drink, places and literature. Wisdom and mutual respect would never cause harm to humanity but the ego does, so before taking extreme steps like war they should think of respect and co-existence. Neither German nor British soldiers were enjoying the game and feast together.
Question 4. 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.
Question 5. Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other, or different from each other? Find evidence from the story to support your answer.
Answer
The soldiers of the two armies are like each other and they are not at all different. Following are some instances from the story to prove:
- Both of them wanted peace, longed for the war to be over and wanted to go home to meet their families.
- Both the armies celebrated Christmas and wished Merry Christmas to each other.
- Both the armies shared their sausage, schnapps and Christmas cake with each other.
- They played a football match and at night shared Christmas carols and hope to unite with the families again.
Question 6. In groups discuss whether wars are good way to end conflicts between countries. Then present your arguments to the whole class.
Answer
Question 7. What kind of presents do you like and why? What are the things you keep in mind when you buy presents for others? Discuss with your partner. (For example, you might buy a book because it can be read and re-read over a period of time.)
Answer
Personally, I am against the practice of exchanging expensive gifts. A rose or a token of affection suits every person and every pocket. This is why some guests offer bouquets or greeting cards alone. In case the gift is essential. It should satisfy some need and have utility. When I go to buy a present I first take into account the liking of my classmate, relative or girl/boy friend.
Extract Based Questions
Extract 1
I removed the roll-top completely and pulled out the drawers. The veneer had lifted almost everywhere it looked like water damage to me. Both fire and water had clearly taken their toll on this desk. The last drawer was stuck fast. I tried all I could to ease it out gently. In the end I used brute force. I struck it sharply with the side of my fist and the drawer flew open to reveal a shallow space underneath, a secret drawer.
Questions
(i) Who is T in the above passage?
(ii) What does ‘It’ denote in the above lines?
(iii) What was the condition of the desk?
(iv) Where did he find a secret drawer?
(v) Find out the word/ phrase that means the same for the given word.
Answer
(i) I is the narrator in the above passage.
(ii) ‘It’ denotes a roll-top desk.
(iii) The desk was damaged with water and fire.
(iv) He found the secret drawer underneath the last drawer which was stuck up badly.
(v) freedom from pain – ease out.
of little depth – shallow.
Extract 2
I should like to be able to tell you that we began it. But the truth, I’m ashamed to say, is that Fritz began it. First someone saw a white flag waving from the trenches opposite. Then they were calling out to us from across no man’s land, “Happy Christmas, Tommy! Happy Christmas!” When we had got over the surprise, some of us shouted back, “Same to you, Fritz! Same to you!” I thought that would be that. We all did. But then suddenly one of them was up there in his grey greatcoat and waving a white flag. “Don’t shoot, lads!” Someone shouted. And no one did. Then there was another Fritz up on the parapet, and another. “Keep your heads down,” I told the men, “it’s a trick.” But it wasn’t.
Questions
(i) What did the writer mean by ‘we began it’?
(ii) What was the symbolic meaning of ‘a white flag'?
(iii) Where were the soldiers sitting?
(iv) What did the German soldiers wish them?
(v) Why did they call each other ‘Fritz’ and ‘Tommy’?
Answer
(i) German soldiers and wished them initiated treaty on Christmas. The writer was feeling ashamed because he wished that he must have started it.
(ii) The white flag is a symbol of peace.
(iii) The soldiers were sitting in the trenches.
(iv) The German soldiers wished them ‘Happy Christmas’.
(v) ‘Fritz’ means a name for a German soldier while ‘Tommy’ means a common name for British soldiers.
Extract 3
“Captain Jim Macpherson,” I replied. “And a Happy Christmas to you too. I’m a school teacher from Dorset, in the west of England.” “Ah, Dorset,” he smiled. “I know this place. I know it very well.” We shared my rum ration and his excellent sausage. And we talked, Connie, how we talked. He spoke almost perfect English. But it turned out that he had never set foot in Dorset, never even been to England. He had learned all he knew of England from school, and from reading books in English. His favourite writer was Thomas Hardy, his favourite book Far from the Madding Crowd. So out there in no man’s land we talked of Bathsheba and Gabriel Oak and Sergeant Troy and Dorset. He had a wife and one son, born just six months ago.
Questions
(i) What did captain tell about himself?
(ii) What did they share with the enemy soldiers?
(iii) What was unusual about Connie?
(iv) What did Hans Wolf tell about his family?
(v) Give the meaning of the following :
- Turned out
- excellent
Answers
(i) Captain introduced himself by revealing that he was a school teacher from Dorset in the west of England.
(ii) They shared mm ration and excellent sausage with the enemy soldiers.
(iii) Captain Jim realized that Connie could speak good English although he never went to England. He learnt all from reading books in English.
(iv) Hans Wolf told that he had a wife and six-month-old son.
(v) 1. Turned out means ‘to develop or end in a particular way’.
2. very good.
Extract 4
The old lady was sitting in a wheelchair, her hands folded in her lap. She had silver white hair pinned into a wispy bun. She was gazing out at the garden. “Hello,” I said. She turned and looked up at me vacantly. “Happy Christmas, Connie,” I went on. “I found this. I think it’s yours.” As I was speaking her eyes never left my face. I opened the tin box and gave it to her. That was the moment her eyes lit up with recognition and her face became suffused with a sudden glow of happiness. I explained about the desk, about how I had found it, but I don’t think she was listening. For a while she said nothing, but stroked the letter tenderly with her fingertips.
Questions
(i) Who was the old lady sitting in a wheel chair?
(ii) What made her eyes lit up?
(iii) What wasn’t she listening to?
(iv) Explain ‘suffused with’.
(v) Change adjective tender into an adverb.
Answers
(i) The old lady, sitting in a wheelchair was Mrs. Macpherson.
(ii) Connie could not recognize. Her eyes were lit up with recognition. Her face became suffused with a sudden glow of happiness.
(iii) Mrs. Macpherson was not listening to what he was telling her.
(iv) ‘Suffused with’ is a glow of happiness that spread over the face of Connie who was too old and weak. She mistook him to be her husband and smiled.
(v) Tenderly.