Class 8 English (It so Happened) Chapter 6 Question Answers - The Fight

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. How has Rajpur’s summer been described in the lesson ‘The Fight’?
 Ans. The earth was parched, the grass brown, the trees listless, hardly stirring, waiting for a cool wind or a refreshing shower of rain.

Q2. Why did the pool not dry even in the extreme summer?
 Ans. The pool didn’t dry up like the pools in the plains because the rocks held the water in it.

Q3. How did Suraj try to scare away Ranji? Did he get success in his mission?
 Ans. Suraj tried to scare away Ranji by his strong built and gruff voice. But his effort proved in vain. Ranji, though weaker than Suraj, didn’t feel scared. He came forward bravely and became ready to fight with Suraj.

Q4. Where did the second fight occurred. What was its result?
 Ans. The second fight occurred across waters of the pool. But the two adversaries couldn’t fight for long there. Soon, they became friends because both were tired and needed each other’s help. Ranji promised to teach Suraj the art of swimming and Suraj offered to make Ranji a good wrestler.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. Narrate the episode of the fight between Ranji and Suraj in the forest in about 100‑125 words.
 Ans. Ranji was a thin built boy, fond of swimming. Once he discovered a pool in the forest. It was a hot summer day. He got into the pool. Soon a boy, taller and stronger than him, arrived there. He said that it was his pool and he would swim alone. He tried to frighten Ranji. He called himself a warrior. Ranji stood his ground and proclaimed himself a fighter. The two fought over the right to the pool. Both were tired and exhausted in the very first fight. In the second fight, they faced each other across the pool. They challenged each other. Ranji was decidedly a better swimmer than Suraj. He could dive and swim under water. He established his superiority over his adversary. Now the two agreed to help each other rather than fight. Ranji promised to teach Suraj the art of swimming. Suraj offered to make Ranji a wrestler. They became friends.

Q2. Compare and contrast the character traits of the two adversaries or contestants in the story ‘The Fight’.
 Ans. Suraj was a tall, thickset wrestler. He was a bully. He proclaimed that he was a warrior and he had exclusive right to swim in the pool. He tried to scare Ranji away. But Ranji had a strong feeling of self respect. He accepted the challenge to fight. He thought if he surrendered he would lose his right to the pool for ever. He suffered cuts and bruises. But he went to the pool ready for a second fight. This time he proved his excellence as a swimmer. Suraj got influenced by Ranji’s art of swimming. He also wanted to be a good swimmer. So he agreed to get training from Ranji and in return make Ranji a wrestler.

Q3. In the fight between Ranji and Suraj, who was the winner?
 Ans. Ranji was physically no match for Suraj, the tall wrestler. Yet they fought over the right to use the pool. Ranji suffered cuts and bruises all over his body, but he refused to surrender or accept defeat. In the first round the fight ended in a draw. Next day they faced each other across the pool for a second round of fight. But Ranji this time proved himself a better swimmer than his adversary. They fought together to learn something worthwhile. They suspended the fight after a while and became good friends. Hence neither was the winner.