The Best Christmas Present in the World Class 8 Worksheet English Honeydew Chapter 1

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1: What did the author find inside the small black tin box?
(a) A roll-top desk made of oak
(b) A note with the address of Mrs. Jim Macpherson
(c) A secret drawer underneath the roll-top desk
(d) A letter dated December 26, 1914
Ans: (c)
The author found a secret drawer underneath the roll-top desk, inside which was a small black tin box.

Q2: What was the condition of the roll-top desk when the author first saw it?
(a) Brand new
(b) Good condition
(c) Bad condition with bum-marks
(d) Antique
Ans: (c)
The text mentions that the roll-top desk was very old, made of oak, and in bad condition with bum-marks down one side.

Q3: When did Jim's last letter, found in the black tin box, get received?
(a) December 26, 1914
(b) January 25, 1915
(c) Christmas Eve
(d) January 1, 1915
Ans: (b)
The note on the tin box indicates that Jim's last letter was received on January 25, 1915.

Q4: What did the soldiers from both sides do on Christmas morning in the no man’s land?
(a) Continued fighting
(b) Exchanged gifts and greetings
(c) Ignored each other
(d) Played football
Ans: (b)
The text describes how the soldiers on both sides greeted each other and celebrated Christmas together.

Q5: Who was the officer in command mentioned in Jim's letter?
(a) Hans Wolf
(b) The author
(c) Connie
(d) Jim Macpherson
Ans: (d)
Jim Macpherson was the officer in command mentioned in the letter.

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: The roll-top desk was made of ________________.
Ans: oak
The text mentions that the roll-top desk was very old and made of oak.

Q2: Jim's last letter was received on ________________.
Ans: January 25, 1915
The note on the black tin box indicates the date of Jim's last letter.

Q3: Jim and Hans suggested resolving disputes through a ________________ or cricket match.
Ans: football
The soldiers suggested resolving disputes through a football or cricket match instead of war.

Q4: Connie mistook the author for ________________.
Ans: Jim
Connie mistook the author for her husband, Jim, when he delivered the letter.

Q5: The soldiers celebrated Christmas together in the ________________.
Ans: no man’s land
The text mentions that the soldiers celebrated Christmas in the no man’s land.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Describe the condition of the roll-top desk when the author first saw it.
Ans: The roll-top desk was very old, made of oak, and in bad condition with bum-marks down one side.

Q2: What surprising event occurred on Christmas morning in the no man’s land according to Jim's letter?
Ans: Soldiers from both sides exchanged gifts and greetings, waving a white flag and celebrating Christmas together.

Q3: Who was the officer in command during the Christmas celebration in the no man’s land?
Ans: Jim Macpherson was the officer in command during the Christmas celebration.

Q4: How did Connie react when the author delivered Jim's last letter?
Ans: Connie mistook the author for Jim, kissed him on the cheek, and asked him to read the letter.

Q5: According to Jim's letter, what suggestion did he and Hans Wolf have for resolving disputes between countries?
Ans: They suggested resolving disputes through a football or cricket match instead of war, as no one dies in a match, unlike in war, which leaves behind orphans and widows.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: What did the author spot in Bridport?
Ans: A junk shop was spotted by the author in Bridport.

Q2: What did the author see in Bridport?
Ans: A nineteenth-century roll-top desk made from oak was noticed by the author in Bridport.

Q3: What did he buy in the junk shop in Bridport?
Ans: The roll-top desk was burnt and disintegrated into several pieces but he still got it along with another table with a clumsy leg.

Q4: What did the author do with the desk?
Ans: Since the desk was in bad condition, the author tried to renovate it on Christmas Eve. He started by pulling out the drawers and removing the roll-top.

Q5: Was the author able to open all the drawers? What did he find when he opened all the drawers? 
Ans: He tried pulling out all the drawers gradually but the last drawer was struck and he had to forcibly pull it out. On opening the drawer, he discovered a small black tin box and a sello-taped piece of lined note paper.

Q6: What did the paper read? How the author felt about opening the box?
Ans: The paper stated the letter to be Jim’s last and instructed the reader to bury it with her when the time comes. He felt bad for opening such a personal letter, which his curiosity provoked him to do.

Q7: What did the author find inside the tin box?
Ans: An envelope with a letter was present inside the tin box. The addressee was mentioned as Mrs Jim Macpherson who lived on 12 Chopper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset and was dated as 26 December 1914.

Q8: Who was Connie? Why the writer of the letter mentioned he was happy?
Ans: Connie was the addressee and the letter writer’s wife. The writer of the letter was excited to tell her about a playful event that happened while he was serving at the war and wanted to share that through the letter.

Q9: Who wrote the letter? What occasion has he mentioned in the letter?
Ans: Jim wrote the letter. He wrote about a wonderful Christmas celebration he and his friends had with the German forces.

Q10: What did Jim tell about someone looking from the trenches?
Ans: There was someone who was waving a flag from the trenches, opposite them. As they approached closer the people on the other side exchanged greetings for the festive season.