Practice Assignment 1 | BBC Compacta Solution For Class 8 PDF Download

Read the following poem carefully.

It crept forward.

A spark at first.

Growing into a flame

Then brightening into a blaze.

It crept forward.

Like a panther, stealthily stalking his prey.

Slowly, now , then leaping

Like a beast gone mad.

Leaping, and being doused with water.

Still, relentlessly, on and on it went.

Tearing through, with lightning speed.

It spread.

Its petals fanned out, yellow and orange

And red. The greedy rage-flower.

Advancing its tendrils, announcing their arrival

With a crackle, a hiss, a sizzle and spit.

Tearing along with blinding fury.

Destroying everything in its path.

Hurrying through.

Feeding on dried-up wood and brittle screams

Fire!

Azara Singh; The Hindu

Q1:  Tick  the correct option for each of the following questions/statements.

(a)The fire

(i) increased in intensity gradually 

(ii) burst out suddenly

(iii) burned steadily

(iv) did not advance at all

Ans: (i) increased in intensity gradually.

(b)The poet compares the fire to a panther because it

(i) moved very fast

(ii) was cruel

(iii) advanced quietly at first

(iv) jumped over things in its way

Ans:  (iii) advanced quietly at first.

(c) The fire is called 'greedy' because:

(i) nothing can stop it

(ii) everybody feeds it

(iii) it continues to burn for a long time

(iv) it destroys everything it can find

Ans: (iv) it destroys everything it can find.

(d)The fire burns:

(i) noiselessly

(ii) with a thundering sound

(iii) like a growling animal

(iv) with a variety of sounds

Ans: with a variety of sounds.

(e) Which of the following is NOT an appropriate description of the fire?

(i) fierce 

(ii) destructive 

(iii) relentless 

(iv) controllable

Ans: (iv) controllable.

(f)Which line describes the 'sounds' made by the fire?

(i) 10 

(ii) 13 

(iii) 16

(iv) 20 

Ans: (iv) 20.

(g) Which of the following CANNOT be considered a synonym of the word 'fire'?

(i) spark

(ii) flame

(iii) blaze

(iv) tendrils

Ans: (iv) tendrils.

(h) The expression 'brittle screams' (line 20) most probably refers to:

(i) the noise of cries and panic made by fire victims

(ii) the sound the burning twigs make

(iii) the noises made by animals being preyed on by wild animals like panthers

(iv) noise made by fire fighters busy in dousing a fire

Ans: (iv)  the noise of cries and panic made by fire victims.

2. Given below is the summary of the poem. Complete it by writing the missing word in the space provided.

It takes only a (a) ............................. to start a fire which soon (b) .... -.......................... into a flame

and becomes a (c) ............................ It leaps like a (d) ........................ beast and (e) ........................ .

its helpless preys. It (f) .......................... with lightning speed defying all efforts to (g) ................... .

it. Ignoring its screaming victims, it (h) ................................. everything on its way. 

a) spark

b) grows

c) blazing inferno or similar term that describes a large, intense fire

d) mad

e) devours or consumes

f) races

g) extinguish or put out

h) consumes or destroys

Q3: The poem highlights the 'destructive power' of fire. Is fire only a destructive force? Answer 'Yes' or 'No'. Give reasons to support your answer.

The poem does highlight the 'destructive power' of fire. However, fire is not only a destructive force. Fire can also be used constructively for cooking, generating heat, and powering engines, among other beneficial uses. In controlled environments, fire is an essential tool for human survival and progress. The destructiveness of fire is usually associated with its uncontrolled state, as depicted in the poem.