Class 8 English Question Answers - The World in a Wall

Short Type Questions

Q1: What made it unfortunate for the author when they entered the villa?
Ans: The author found a fat female scorpion and her babies and placed them in a matchbox. Just as the author entered the villa, lunch was being served, which diverted their attention from the scorpions.

Q2: What were the "things" that got increasingly confused?
Ans: The "things" refers to the events that unfolded after the scorpion escaped from the matchbox. The confusion arose when the scorpion landed on Larry's hand, causing him to react with fright and send the scorpion flying down the table.

Q3: Who does Larry refer to as the "silly boy"?
Ans: Larry refers to Roger, the dog, as the "silly boy" when he starts barking hysterically during the chaos caused by the scorpion.

Q4: What does the author's statement "That silly boy...Every matchbox in the house is a death trap" reveal about the boy?
Ans: The statement reveals that the boy, Roger, has a tendency to create chaos or accidents involving matchboxes, which is why the author refers to them as a "death trap."

Q5: What did Roger do during the commotion caused by the scorpion?
Ans: Roger, under the mistaken impression that the family was being attacked, bit Lugaretzia, who was the only stranger in the room, in the ankle.

Long Type Questions

• The author placed the scorpion and her babies in a matchbox and left it on the mantelpiece in the drawing room.
• Larry, unaware of the scorpions, picked up the matchbox and opened it, causing the scorpion to escape onto his hand.
• Larry reacted with fright, sending the scorpion flying down the table, which created panic among the family members.
• Leslie, in a desperate attempt to stop the scorpion, flicked out with his napkin, causing chaos and knocking over his chair.
• Margo screamed and threw a glass of water at the scorpion, inadvertently drenching their mother.
• Mother, bewildered by the sudden chaos, put on her glasses and tried to understand what was happening.
• The scorpion went under Leslie's plate, while the babies scattered all over the table, and Roger, the dog, started barking hysterically.

Q2: How did the author resolve the situation with the scorpions in the end?
Ans:

• After the chaos subsided, the author spent half an hour rounding up the baby scorpions, picking them up in a teaspoon, and returning them to their mother's back.
• The author then carried the scorpions outside on a saucer and reluctantly released them on the garden wall.
• To ensure a peaceful siesta for the scorpions, the author and Roger went to spend the afternoon on the hillside, away from the house.

Q3: Discuss the family's reactions and sentiments towards the scorpions before and after the chaos.
Ans:

• Initially, the author was enthralled by the scorpions and wanted to smuggle them into the house to observe them.
• The family members, including Larry, were unaware of the scorpions until the chaos erupted.
• After the chaos, the family members were simmering with rage and fright, and Leslie even suggested slaughtering the scorpions.
• However, after pleas from the author and the intervention of their mother, the idea of killing the scorpions was dismissed.
• The family members retired to the drawing room, still feeling a mix of anger and fear, while the author released the scorpions outside.

Q4: Describe the incident when the scorpion escaped from the matchbox and the resulting chaos at the dining table.
Ans: The scorpion, along with its babies, escaped from the matchbox and ended up on Larry's hand. Larry panicked and flung the scorpion across the table. Leslie, in an attempt to fend off the scorpion, overturned his chair and flicked his napkin at it. Margo screamed in fear, while Mother, confused by the sudden chaos, tried to see what was happening. In the commotion, Margo accidentally drenched Mother with a glass of water. The scorpion took cover under Leslie's plate, and the babies scattered all over the table. Roger, the dog, started barking hysterically, adding to the panic and confusion.

Q5: How did the family members react to the scorpion incident, and what does it reveal about their personalities?
Ans:

• Larry: Larry was initially intrigued by the scorpions but later became frightened when the scorpion escaped. He panicked and flung the scorpion away, blaming the chaos on the "silly boy." This shows that Larry can be impulsive and prone to overreacting.
• Leslie: Leslie reacted by overturning his chair and trying to fend off the scorpion with his napkin. He suggested hitting the scorpions with a book. Leslie's actions demonstrate a quick and decisive nature in times of crisis.
• Margo: Margo screamed in fear when the scorpion approached her. She also tried to stop its advance by throwing a glass of water, albeit unsuccessfully. Margo's reaction shows her tendency to panic easily and her instinct to defend herself.
• Mother: Mother was bewildered by the sudden chaos and tried to make sense of the situation. She put on her glasses to see better but ended up getting drenched. Mother's reaction portrays her confusion and vulnerability.
• Roger: Roger, the dog, ran around the room barking hysterically, believing that the family was being attacked. His protective instinct led him to bite Lugaretzia. Roger's reaction highlights his loyalty and willingness to defend the family.