Class 8 English Chapter 7 Question Answers - A Visit to Cambridge

Q1: Who is Firdaus Kanga?
Ans: Firdaus Kanga is a writer and journalist who lives and works in Mumbai. Kanga was born with ‘brittle bones’ that tended to break easily when he was a child.

Q2: The author had an appointment for only half an hour, so why did he stay there for some more time?
Ans: Despite the scheduled half-hour appointment, Stephen Hawking invited the author to have tea and enjoy his garden, leading to the author's extended stay.

Q3: What did Mr. Hawking reply when he asked, “A lot of people seem to think that disabled people are chronically unhappy”?
Ans: Mr. Hawking responded, after a pause, that he found it amusing when people patronized him with such assumptions.

Q4: Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think that was a choice? What was it?
Ans: The writer believed there was a choice. While Hawking had no choice regarding his physical condition, he chose how to approach life creatively and positively despite his circumstances.

Q5: Describe the emotions of the author at the end of the chapter.
Ans: The author felt an embodiment of his bravest self and imagined Stephen Hawking waving at him as he left. He realized that his journey was fulfilled with a remarkable interview.

Q6: How did the author say goodbye to Mr. Hawking?
Ans: Unsure of what gesture to make, the author gently touched Hawking's shoulder before wheeling out of his presence on a summer evening.

Q7: “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Ans: The anguish referred to Hawking's struggle to express himself effectively through his computerized communication device. He felt frustrated by his inability to convey his thoughts as freely as he would have liked.

Q8: The author asked Hawking that he had been an inspiration beyond clinched for me, what Hawking replied to it?
Ans: Hawking replied that such admiration doesn't necessarily provide much comfort when his own physical condition feels constricted, akin to a claustrophobic room.

Q9: Describe the environment of Stephen’s Garden.
Ans: Stephen's garden was vast, almost park-like, but meticulously managed by him. He navigated through it in his motorized wheelchair, creating a unique and tranquil environment.

Q10: Why was there silence in the garden?
Ans: The garden's silence was attributed to the strong sunlight that made communication difficult. The sunlight caused the letters on Hawking's communication device to disappear, leading to a quiet atmosphere.

Q11: The prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking made the writer nervous. Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Ans: Yes, the writer felt very excited because meeting someone like Stephen Hawking, who achieved greatness despite his physical limitations, provided inspiration and strength to the writer.

Q12: Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Ans: The writer's first question might have been about Hawking's perspective on his disability and how he managed to overcome challenges.

Q13: “A first glimpse of Hawking is shocking.” Why?
Ans: A first glimpse of Hawking is shocking because he appeared three-dimensional, unlike the static images usually seen in magazines and newspapers.

Q14: Why was the author watching his wrist?
Ans: The author watched his wrist to keep track of time during the interview, ensuring that each of the thirty minutes was well-utilized.

Q15: What endeared the scientist to the writer, so he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
Ans: The scientist's honest admission that he did get annoyed when disturbed, coupled with his unique smile, endeared him to the writer. This authenticity and grace made the scientist appear beautiful in the writer's eyes.

Q16: Read aloud the description of the 'beautiful' man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Ans: The sentences describing the inner glow of Hawking's personality which makes his physical looks irrelevant is probably one of the most beautiful descriptions of beauty.

Q17: Who was Stephen Hawking?
Ans: Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest scientists of our time. He suffered from a form of paralysis that confined him to a wheelchair and allowed him to ‘speak’ only by punching buttons on a computer, which spoke for him in a machine-like voice.

Q18: What was the thing that makes the author feel stronger?
Ans: The only thing that makes the author feel stronger is encountering individuals similar to him, achieving something significant, akin to experiencing a surge of strength.

Q19: The author had an appointment for only half an hour, so why did he stay there for some more time?
Ans: Despite the scheduled half-hour appointment, Stephen Hawking invited the author to have tea and enjoy his garden, leading to the author's extended stay.

Q20: How did the author say goodbye to Mr. Hawking?
Ans: Unsure of what gesture to make, the author gently touched Hawking's shoulder before wheeling out of his presence on a summer evening.