Chapter 9 The Comet- I Important Questions Class 8 It So Happened English
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. What did the note sent by John Macpherson say?
Answer
John Macpherson sent a note to James carrying instruction to visit the former without any delay. Arrangements were made for later’s overnight stay in London.
Question 2. How did Johnson reached Whitehall so soon?
Answer
Johnson’s Ford Cortina brought them to Whitehall in less than 90 minutes.
Question 3. Describe a comet as explained in the story.
Answer
Comets are heavenly bodies that orbit round the sun. They have longish tail brilliantly lit by sunlight.
Question 4. Why was the comet called ‘Comet Dutta’?
Answer
The comet was called ‘Comet Dutta’ according to the accepted practice. The new comet was named after its discoverer.
Question 5. What is the important point the paper makes?
Answer
The important point which the paper made was the possibility of comet Dutta colliding with the Earth or with some asteroid before reaching down.
Question 6. Why does Indrani Debi dislike Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya?
Answer
Indrani Debi disliked Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya because for her, that telescope was like a wretched woman who had ensnared her husband.
Question 7. What did Indrani Debi think about Duttada’s telescope?
Answer
Indrani Debi thought that Duttada’s telescope was like a designing woman who had ensnared her husband. She used to call it Dibya.
Question 8. How did Duttada take his publicity?
Answer
Duttada was not happy with his publicity. Being an introvert, he didn’t like attending numerous receptions and functions organised in his honour. He got so fed up that he began to think that he had not discovered the comet.
Question 9. What were those ‘rare circumstances’ that James was talking about?
Answer
James revealed that there could be some rare circumstances. He said that it might collide with some asteroid before reaching there.
Question 10. What importance did the telescope have in the life of Duttada?
Answer
The telescope marked the fulfillment of the ambition of a lifetime for Duttada?
Question 11. How was the weather in the story?
Answer
The weather was cold. It was a moonless night in December. Doctors have advised Manoj Dutta to take care of himself, so his wife brought him a white woollen pullover.
Question 12. What did Duttada call his telescope?
Answer
Dutta called his telescope Dibya Chakshu.
Question 13. Why do professionals miss to discover new comets according to Duttada?
Answer
Professionals miss to discover new comets because they have pre-assigned programmes of looking at faint star and nebulous galaxies. They miss such insignificant things as comets.
Question 14. How did Duttada manage to buy telescope?
Answer
As an amateur astronomer, Duttada wanted to buy a good telescope. He got ample amount on his retirement so he spent some amount on buying the telescope.
Question 15. What is the important point discussed in James’ paper?
Answer
Important point discussed in James’ paper was that the new comet would collide with the Earth. It was inevitable.
Question 16. Why does Sir John say that James’s paper should not be published?
Answer
Sir John was not in favour of James’s paper to be published because it might raise controversies and panic among masses.
Question 17. How can you say that Indrani Debi was a superstitious lady?
Answer
Indrani Debi was an educated woman but at the same time she was superstitious also. She didn’t welcome the discovery of the new comet. She thought that it would bring calamities on her family as well as on the entire earth.
Question 18. Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?
Answer
His wife was unhappy about the discovery because she believed that comets bring ill-luck, and she wished a good man like Duttada should not be associated with such a discovery.
Question 19. What did Indrani called Duttada’s telescope and why?
Answer
Indrani called telescope Dibya because she thought that telescope was like a designing woman who had ensnared her husband.
Question 20. What did Duttada do to confirm his discovery?
Answer
Duttada re-examined his charts, checked his Dibya for any smudges on optics, did some calculation etc. to confirm his discovery.
Question 21. What the two men finally decide to to?
Answer
The two men finally decided to plan an important secret conference of international experts.
Question 22. What did the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) do after getting the information about the discovery of the new comet?
Answer
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) confirmed the findings and communicated it worldwide. It named the new comet after its discoverer.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Bring out the difference in outlook of Duttada and his wife in respect of the new comet. Who do you think deserves the crown of victory?
Answer
Duttada was an amateur scientist. Star gazing was his hobby. His secret ambition was to discover a new comet. He pursued his hobby firmly. He discovered a comet, heading towards the earth. He knew it could hit and destroy the earth. But the crisis could be averted by exploding a nuclear payload near the comet. This was a sensible and scientific approach. But his wife, Indrani Debi, was a superstitious woman. She went by what the priests said. To avert the ill-effect of the discovery, she organised a yajna. In the end she gave all credit for the safety of the earth to the yajna.
Question 2. What news was published in the Ananda Bazaar Patrika two days later?
Answer
The news was Calcutta Man Discovers New Comet Shri Manoj Dutta, a resident on the northern outskirts of Calcutta has claimed to have discovered a new comet. He has seen the comet on the last two nights and has informed the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Bangalore of its whereabouts.
Question 3. Dedication and commitment are the key traits for success. Comment.
Answer
Manoj Dutta was so obsessed with the idea of discovery a comet. He spent his retirement amount on buying a telescope. He was so engrossed in his work that he ignored his health and spent endless night on observing the changes in the sky. He also knew that other discoverers might end up doing their duty that they might ignore the important activity in the sky. So his dedication and commitment was beyond expectations that made him successful too.
Question 4. Explain the point which Duttada gave in favour of the arrival/sight of comets?
Answer
Duttada cited some points in favour of the arrival of comets such as:
- There is no co-relation whatsoever with the arrival of a comet and the calamities on the earth.
- Comets have nothing harmful about them. They can pass harmlessly by causing no anxiety to anybody.
Question 5. One should own responsibility for his actions. Who was more responsible – Sir John or Dr. James and how?
Answer
Dr. James had investigated everything and wanted to widespread the news of collision Sir John however wanted to dilute the news as it might Jake everyone panicky. Subsequently, he wanted to call a secret conference, of international experts to take necessary step to avert the danger, so he reacted according to the need of hour. Dr. James was efficient in his research but Sir John acted in a more responsible way. So one should be honest but he should act in everyone’s favour.
Question 6. What were James Forsyth’s predictions’? What did he mean by rare circumstances?
Answer
James Forsyth predicted that the effect of the collision between the comet and the earth would be terrific. Their assessment was based on the calculations. The collision was unavoidable unless the comet split up near the sun and disappeared. Or it might collide with some other comet before reaching the earth. Otherwise, the comet would take ten months to hit the earth. These were the two rare circumstances.
Question 7. (i) What was Duttada’s secret ambition?
(ii) What did he dqto achieve it?
Answer
(i) Duttada’s secret ambition was to buy a good telescope and to have enough of spare time to watch the stars.
(ii) Duttada was a keen observer of star$ in the sky. For that he wanted to buy an upgraded telescope. After retirement he got sufficient funds. Then he bought a telescope and he started gazing at the stars without caring for his wife and health.
Question 8. What was Duttada’s hobby and secret ambition? How did he succeed in his adventure?
Answer
Duttada was an amateur astronomer. Star gazing was his hobby. But he had a scientific attitude. His secret ambition in life was to discover a comet or a shooting star. After his retirement he got the funds to buy a telescope and leisure enough to watch the stars. He named his eight-inch telescope Dibya-chakshu. He was successful in search. He discovered a comet heading towards the earth. It was called Dutta comet.
The news spread world over. James Forsyth predicted that the comet would collide with the earth and destroy it. Dutta’s wife, Indrani Debi, was afraid that the comet would cause ruin. She arranged a Yajna to pacify the evil spirit behind the comet. But the world scientists prepared a plan to make a nuclear explosion and deflect the comet from its path. The operation was named Project Light Brigade. It was successful. The world was saved. But Indrani Debi gave all credit to the holy yajna she got performed.
Question 9. Why was Duttada hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon?
Answer
Duttada knew that professional astronomers have to follow their organization’s guidelines to look for faint stars and nebulae. They don’t pay attention to insignificant things like comet. All the comets had been discovered by amateur astronomers till date. So Duttada was hopeful of discovering a new comet.
Question 10. How does the new comet create a commotion in the world? How was the disaster averted at last?
Answer
Duttada took up star gazing as a hobby. His secret ambition was to discover a new comet. He used a small telescope and discovered a comet heading towards the earth. James Forsyth calculated that the comet would hit the earth in ten months. Comet Dutta created a commotion and panic among the scientists. Sir John Macpherson prepared a secret plan to give a push to the deadly comet. It was called Project Light Brigade. The operation was successful and the disaster was averted. But Duttada’s wife attributed the safety of the earth to the yajna she had performed.