Textbook Solutions: Amma | English (Voice Book) Class 8 PDF Download

A. Answer these questions with reference to the context. 

1. 
a. 
Ans: The house mentioned here belongs to the speaker's grandmother.

b. 
Ans: The plaster flakes and falls due to the aging and deterioration of the house.

c. 
Ans: The speaker remembers the sound of their grandmother's footsteps echoing or pausing as they used to during past summer afternoons spent in the house.

2. 
a. 
Ans: The grandmother is evaluating how long the present will last and how soon the past will collapse.

b. 
Ans: The poem does not explicitly state whether the present is better than the past. The line suggests that the grandmother is contemplating the transient nature of time.

c.
Ans: The phrase "the past will collapse" implies that the memories and experiences of the past will fade away or lose their significance over time.

3. 
a. 
Ans: This means that the grandmother's footsteps can be heard, but she herself is never seen. Her presence is felt through the sound of her steps.

b. 
Ans: The person being talked about is the grandmother, who moves around the house, but her physical presence is not visible to the speaker.

c. 
Ans: The poem does not explicitly mention what has happened to the person, but the line suggests that the grandmother's physical abilities may have declined, as indicated by her slow and careful movements.

B. Answer these questions. 

1. 
Ans: The grandmother's footsteps echo because the house mentioned in the poem seems to be in a state of disrepair, with plaster flaking and falling. The empty rooms and halls create an acoustic environment where the sound of footsteps reverberates.

2. 
Ans: The grandmother waits for the monsoons to repair the curtain because the rain provides a respite from the sun and reduces the need for shade. It is likely that the repairs require favorable weather conditions.

3. 
Ans: The speaker remembers spending long summer afternoons in the house, with watered-down walls of khus and refreshing drinks like ice, mango, or lemon. They also remember the circle of watermelon crescents, evoking memories of enjoyable summer experiences.

4. 
Ans: Despite the speaker's claim that "Nothing has changed," it is evident that several changes have occurred. The plaster is flaking and falling, the curtains have been taken down, and there are new tears in the curtains that need mending. These changes indicate the passage of time and the aging of the house.

5. 
Ans: The last line suggests that the grandmother's presence lingers in the house, even though she might not physically be there. The scent of soap, associated with cleanliness, and the image of the starched and white sari symbolize her enduring essence in the empty rooms.

6. 
Ans: From the poem, we learn that the grandmother is aging, has arthritic joints, and carefully moves from room to room. She is observant and evaluates the damage and changes in the house, contemplating the transience of time.

7. 
Ans: This line describes the atmosphere within the house. Despite the emptiness of the rooms and hall, there is a sense of intimacy that permeates the space. It suggests that the house holds memories and emotions, even in its vacant state.

8. 

Ans: The poem refers to the grandmother as 'Amma.' She is depicted as an elderly woman with arthritic joints, carefully moving around the house. She is perceptive and evaluates the changes and damage in the house. Despite physical limitations, she maintains an essence of cleanliness and purity, symbolized by her starched and white sari and the fragrance of soap. She is connected to the past, contemplating the passage of time and the transience of life.