English HONEYDEW - CLASS 8 - CHAPTER 4: BEPIN CHOUDHURY’S LAPSE OF MEMORY

WORKING WITH TEXT

1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?

ANSWER: Bepin Babu has been described as a hardworking and talented person. In his workplace, he worked every day. He works for a big firm and was doing a responsible job. He’d worked for this firm for twenty-five years and had a reputation for being a hardworking and conscientious employee.

2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?

ANSWER: Chunilal would often see Bepin Babu, requesting him to help him find a job. Bepin Babu, on the other hand, declined to meet with him. That day, however, he changed his mind and decided to meet Chunilal and ask him if he remembers his Ranchi visit. Chunilal, on the other hand, confirmed Bepin Babu’s visit to Ranchi. Bepin Babu, bewildered by this, sought the advice of a professional doctor and seek therapy for his memory loss.

3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?

ANSWER: Bepin Babu passed out near Hudroo Falls after realizing that this was the only spot that could help him remember his earlier journey to Ranchi in 1958. However, he had no recollection of any of the events and shortly fell against a boulder near Hudroo, breaking his hip by accident.

4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?

ANSWER: When Bepin Babu realized that he had been deceived by Chunilal, he felt really bad for not helping Chuni in his hour of need. He regretted not assisting Chunilal and knew that he had fallen victim to amnesia, having forgotten the real meaning of friendship during his riches.

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE

Look at these two sentences.

* He had to buy at least five books to last him through the week.

* Bepin had to ask Chuni to leave.

Had to is used to show that it was very important or necessary for Bepin Babu to do something. He had no choice. We can also use “have to’/ ‘has to’ in the same way.

Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to’/have to’/ ‘has to’.

(i) I _________________ cut my hair every month.

(ii) We _______________ go for swimming lessons last year.

(iii) She_______________ tell the principal the truth.

(iv) They_____________ take the baby to the doctor.

(v) We________________ complain to the police about the noise.

(vi) Romit_________________ finish his homework before he could come out to play.

(vii) I _________________ repair my cycle yesterday. ——————– Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory

ANSWER:

(i) I have to cut my hair every month.

(ii) We had to go for swimming lessons last year.

(iii) She has to tell the principal the truth.

(iv) They had to take the baby to the doctor.

(v) We have to complain to the police about the noise.

(vi) Romit had to finish his homework before he could come out to play.

(vii) I had to repair my cycle yesterday.

2. Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary in the following way.

First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a dictionary.

(Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom).

To help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.)

(i) at/from close quarters (close: adjective)

(ii) break into a smile (break: verb; look under “break into something”)

(iii) carry on (carry: verb)

(iv) have a clean record (you may find related meanings under both these words).

(v) beat about the bush (verb) (verb)

ANSWER:

(i) at/from close quarters –stay nearby or close by.

(ii) break into a smile –to smile suddenly.

(iii) carry on –to continue with some task or work.

(iv) have a clean record –to have clean conduct or track record.

(v) beat about the bush – to make rough guesses without proper knowledge.

3. Study the sentences in the columns below.

A	B
I saw this movie yesterday.	I have seen this movie already.
Bepin Babu worked here for a week last year.	Bepin Babu has worked here since 2003.
Chunilal wrote to a publisher last week.	Chunilal has written to a publisher.
I visited Ranchi once, long ago.	I have visited Ranchi once before.

Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms.

Answer the following questions about each pair of sentences.

(i) Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place?

(ii) Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher?

(iii) Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?

(iv) Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker’s mind?

ANSWER:

(i) Column B

(ii) Column A

(iii) Column B

(iv) Column B

4. Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form correct sentences.

You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.

One sentence has been worked out for you as an example.

Jumbled sentence: vanished/ The car/ seemed to/ into thin/ have/ air.

Ans: The car seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Idiom: vanished into thin air: disappeared or vanished in a mysterious way

(i) Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you want/the bush

Ans: _______________________________________________________