Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 1 Practice Question Answers - It So Happened (Supplementary Reader)

Q1: How did Velu feel when he stood on the platform?
Ans: Velu felt wobbly as if the train was still moving.

Q2: What did Velu do after getting off the train?
Ans: Velu got off the train and sat on a bench on the platform. He kept his small bundle down and was astonished to see a huge crowd.

Q3: What does Velu see when he opens his eyes?
Ans: Velu heard a voice that asked him if he was new to town. He looked behind and saw a girl of his age standing behind him.

Q4: How did the girl look to Velu?
Ans: Velu sees the girl standing behind her in a long banian that reached her knees. Her hair was stiff and brownish and she was carrying a big sack on one shoulder. Velu noticed her picking up the plastic cups from the floor and stuffing them into her sack.

Q5: What did Velu eat since he had left from his house?
Ans: As Velu had less money, so he ate only peanuts and jaggery for two days.

Q6: What train does Velu board?
Ans: Velu boarded the Kanyakumari Express.

Q7: What did the girl do later?
Ans: After telling Velu to wait, the girl started picking up bottles from the heap and threw them into the sack which she was carrying, and then walked off.

Q8: What did Velu do when he saw that the girl was walking off?
Ans: When Velu saw the girl walking off he felt helpless and so decided to stick to her as she knew the area. He then ran after her.

Q9: How was Velu while sitting at the platform?
Ans: Velu felt miserable and so kept his head down on his knees. He felt exhausted as it had been nearly two days when he ran away from his village.

Q10: What did the horse tell the Djinn?
Ans: The horse was among the three domestic animals working in the desert. He and the other two animals, the dog, and the ox, were upset because they were the only ones working and even the man had asked them to work overtime. So, the horse went to complain about the camel, to the Djinn of All Deserts, that an animal living in the middle of the Desert with a long neck and long legs, has not done any work since Monday morning. He further added that the camel only says “Humph”.

Q11: How did the Djinn respond to the horse's complaint?
Ans: The Djinn assured the horse that he would take care of the matter and teach the camel a lesson. He went to the camel, scolded him for his laziness, and warned him that he would carry the burdens of the world on his back. Despite the camel's nonchalant response, the Djinn cast a magic spell, and a hump grew on the camel's back.

Q12: What was the reaction of the camel to seeing the hump on his neck?
Ans: The camel was initially upset and angry to see the hump on his back. He was proud of his long, slender neck, and the hump ruined his appearance. The camel felt that his neck was spoilt, and he did not like the change.

Q13: Did the camel listen to the Djinn and start working?
Ans: Yes, after the hump appeared on his back, the camel started working. The camel became afraid of the Djinn's power and felt helpless due to the hump. He joined the other domestic animals—the horse, the dog, and the ox—and started carrying heavy loads.

Q14: What did the three animals do after hearing the response of the camel?
Ans: The horse, the dog, and the ox were angry and frustrated after hearing the camel's arrogant response of "Humph." They went to the Djinn of All Deserts and complained about the camel's laziness and unwillingness to work.

Q15: What does Jaya tell Velu about the work she does?
Ans: Jaya tells Velu that she works as a ragpicker. She explains that her job involves collecting materials like paper, plastic, and glass from the garbage. These materials are then sold to Jam Bazaar Jaggu, who further sells them to factories for recycling. Jaya's work contributes to the recycling process and helps in managing waste.

Q16: Who is Velu?
Ans: Velu is an eleven-year-old boy who runs away from his home in Kannur and boards a train to Chennai. He is the protagonist of the story "Children at Work."

Q17: What work did Velu do in his village? Was he happy to get the job Jaya gave him?
Ans: In his village, Velu did work on the landowner's farm, such as weeding and taking cows to graze. He was not happy with his work but was shocked to see children like Jaya engaged in rag-picking. Despite not being happy with the job Jaya offered, he accepted it temporarily, with the intention of finding a better job later.

Q18: How did the girl look to Velu?
Ans: Velu noticed that the girl was standing behind him. She wore a long banian that reached her knees, had stiff brownish hair, and carried a big sack on her shoulder. He observed her picking up plastic cups from the floor and stuffing them into her sack.

Q19: Where do the two children go to?
Ans: Velu and Jaya walk along the road for half an hour and reach a bridge below which dirty water is flowing. Jaya claims they are in Triplicane, an area in Chennai.

Q20: Write the Summary of the story "Children at Work."
Ans: The story "Children at Work" is an excerpt from the book "Trash" by Gita Wolf, Anushka Ravishankar, and Orijit Sen. It follows the journey of Velu, an eleven-year-old boy who runs away from his village to Chennai. He meets a girl named Jaya, who introduces him to the world of ragpicking. Jaya teaches Velu about the work she does, collecting materials from garbage for recycling. Velu, despite his initial reluctance, accepts the job offered by Jaya. The story sheds light on the challenges faced by children engaged in labor and the importance of recycling in managing waste.