Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory NCERT Solutions | English Class 8 PDF Download

Comprehension Check (Page 62) 

Q1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief? 
 Ans. The man, Parimal Ghose, was taken aback when Bepin failed to recognise him, even though the man was sure they had met in Ranchi. He didn't believe that Bepin had a lapse of memory.

Q2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October’ 58?
 Ans. Bepin Babu said that in October 58 he was in Kanpur, spending the Puja holidays with a friend.

Q3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
 Ans. Parimal Ghose knew that Bepin Babu’s wife was dead, and his only brother had died in the same year in a Ranchi lunatic asylum. He also knew that Bepin Babu had no children, and he was a lover of books.

Comprehension Check (Page 65) 

Q1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
 Ans. Bepin Babu was taken aback to hear the intimate details about his life from Parimal Ghose. There seemed no reason why he should tell a lie. He wondered if he really had forgotten about his visit to Ranchi.

Q2. How did he try to decide who was right— his memory or Parimal Ghose?
 Ans. In order to resolve the puzzle about his visit to Ranchi, Bepin Babu decided to contact Dinesh Mukerji. Parimal had said that Mukerji was also in Ranchi at that time.

Q3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr. Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
 Ans. Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr. Mukerji, thinking that it would be ridiculous if he had really visited Ranchi. Mukerji would think Bepin Babu had gone mad. Hence, Bepin Babu finally decided to phone him.

Q4. What did Mr. Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries? 
 Ans. Mr Mukerji didn’t reply clearly. But he said that he had been to Ranchi twice. He was not sure about the trip. Bepin Babu exactly wanted to know. It made Bepin Babu more puzzled. He lost his appetite.

Comprehension Check (Page 68) 

Q1. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
 Ans. Chunilal was an old friend of Bepin Babu, who went to school with him. He had been having a rough time lately and wanted a favour from Bepin Babu in his job.

Q2. Why was Dr. Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu's loss of memory?
 Ans. Dr. Paresh Chanda was a young physician. He was puzzled because he had never dealt with a case of memory loss before. What was strange about Bepin Babu’s situation was that he could remember everything from his past except for one specific event. He suggested Bepin Babu to visit Ranchi again. 

Comprehension Check (Page 70) 

Q1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
 Ans. No, he had not lost his memory and forgotten about a trip to Ranchi. It was a trick played by Chunilal. 

Q2. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?
 Ans. Chunilal was upset because Bepin Babu, who used to be his friend, didn’t help him when he needed it. Chunilal didn’t have much money, but he had a creative mind. He decided to play a trick on Bepin Babu to get back at him. He created a false memory to make Chunilal doubt his mental sanity. In the letter, Chunilal says he did this because Bepin didn’t help him when he was in trouble.

Working with the Text (Page 70) 

Q1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
 Ans. Bepin Babu was a serious, honest and hardworking fellow. He went to the office regularly. He was doing a responsible job. He was not a good mixer. Being serious-minded, he didn't waste time in idle chat.

Q2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?
 Ans. Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunilal because he started doubting whether he really had lost his memory or not. He thought that Chunilal might be able to clear up his confusion. So he decided to meet him to figure out what had actually happened.

Q3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hundroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
 Ans. Bepin Babu might have slipped near Hundroo Falls, which made him unconscious.

Q4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
 Ans. Bepin Babu's first reaction was that he regretted having refused to help Chunilal. He saw through Chunilal's trick to test him, and learnt a lesson. He likely felt a mix of shock, anger, and embarrassment.

Working with Language (Page 71)

 Q1. 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. 
 Ans. have to

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

(iii) She _______________ tell the principal the truth.
 Ans. had to

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

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

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

(vii) I __________________ repair my cycle yesterday. 
 Ans. had to

Q2.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)

Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.

Ans. Idiom Meaning

(i) at/from close quarters  - from nearby
(ii) break into a smile - smile suddenly
(iii) carry on - continue the task
(iv) have a clean record - clean conduct throughout
(v) beat about the bush -  to make guess without proper knowledge; to make a vague idea.

 Q3. Study the sentences in the columns below:

Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms. Write the following questions about each pair of sentences.

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

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

(iii) Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?
 Ans. Column B

(iv) Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker's mind?
 Ans. Column A 

Q4. 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. Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
Idiom: beating about the bush—talk vaguely

(ii) don't pay/If you/attention/you might/the wrong train/to the announcement board.
Ans. If you don't pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.
Idiom: Pay attention: be careful

(iii) The villagers/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin.
Ans. The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.
Idiom: Pin the crime on (implicate the wrong person)

(iv) Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor's/eat early/that he was.
Ans. Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under a doctor's order to eat early.
Idiom: Under one’s order (doctor’s): under the instruction of someone

(v) the students/The teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their lessons/raised/ they had revised.
Ans. The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons. (showed his assessment).
Idiom: Raised the eyebrows—to feel annoyed: showing annoyance.

Speaking and Writing (Page 73)

Q1. What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need?
 Ans. Bepin Babu came to know the truth about what Chunilal had done. In fact, Chunilal had only played a trick with him to test his friendship. Bepin Babu had a mixed feeling of relief and anger. He was happy to know that he had not suffered the lapse of memory. He was a little angry with his friend, who was not really helpful. But he had made Bepin feel awkward. He must have decided not to disappoint a friend in need.

Q2. Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal's letter and feel ashamed of that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck. Now you want to do something for him. Write a letter to Chunilal promising to help him soon.
 Or
 A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.

Ans. 15th November,
20XX My Dear Chunilal,
Let me first thank you for your letter dated 10th November. I am really feeling sorry for disappointing you. I can understand your resentment.
Now allow me to give you some good news. I spoke to my friend in Delhi, and he has agreed to engage you as assistant manager in his firm.
Please come to meet me on Sunday. I shall then introduce you to my friend.
With regards
Yours sincerely
Bepin Choudhury
Or
On March 26, I received a letter from one of my friends. It contained the good news that I had been granted a scholarship since I was young. He asked me to call on him in April, so that both would go together to the office of the Superintendent of the school. I was very glad. I even distributed sweets to my neighbours. But when I reached my friend’s house, I found him laughing at me. It was April the first. All Fools Day.’ I got over it soon and admired the practical joke or the prank.