Textbook Solutions: The Night the Ghost Got In | Gul Mohar Class 8: Book Solutions, Summaries & Worksheets PDF Download

Before You Read

Q1: The writer has mentioned the events that come later in the story right at the beginning because ...
​Ans: To create curiosity and suspense for the reader by revealing the climax first and then narrating how it all happened.

Q2: Read paras 3 and 4. What are the characters feeling? Write in one word.
​Narrator: Curious
Mother: Frightened
Herman: Terrified
​Ans: Each character reacts differently—narrator with curiosity, mother with fear, and Herman with terror.

Q3: Why has the writer put quotes around “got through”? Is the writer trying to clarify one action from another?
​Ans: Yes. The quotes highlight the unusual use of the phrase—Mother “got through” to Mr Bodwell not in the usual sense of a phone call, but by smashing his window and shouting across.

Q4: Something is very unusual and funny in the first sentence of para 10. Can you tell what it is?
​Ans: The police arrive in overwhelming numbers for what they think is a burglary—so many vehicles and officers for just one house, which makes the scene comic.

Q5: Underline the words that describe the activity of the police. What do they make you think?
​Ans: Words: banging, shot streaks, stabbed, tromping, yanked open, ransack, strumming.
They make the police seem more disruptive and chaotic than helpful, adding to the humour.

Q6: The police are perhaps thinking that ...
​Ans: The family is eccentric or hysterical, because they find no burglars and only confusing explanations.

Q7: The narrator’s explanation because ...
​Ans: He tries to explain truthfully, but his answers (like the guinea pig sleeping on a zither) make him appear absurd, so the police remain doubtful.

Q8: The policeman says “who else” because …
Options:
a. the other policemen lost their guns, too.
b. they are afraid to face the old man again.
Ans: b. they are afraid to face the old man again.

Grandfather had already attacked them with force and a gun; none of the policemen dared to confront him again alone.

Understanding the Text

A| Complete this table that connects the characters to their fears and reactions.

Ans: 

B| Answer these questions. 

Q1: What made the narrator realise that the noises were being made by a ghost and not a burglar?
Ans: The narrator initially thought that the strange noises in the house were caused by a burglar. However, he noticed something unusual: the footsteps were moving in a circle around the dining table repeatedly, and then they went upstairs heavily. Despite hearing these heavy steps, he could see no one anywhere in the house. This made him realise that no ordinary human could move in such a mysterious way, and he became convinced that the noises were being caused by a ghost. The invisible movement and the strange pattern of the footsteps made the narrator sure that it was supernatural, not a thief.

Q2: If there was a ghost in the house, was it responsible for the hullabaloo in the house? If not, then who was/were?
Ans: Although a ghost might have caused a little confusion at first, it was not responsible for the chaos in the house. The real hullabaloo was created by people reacting to the strange events. The narrator panicked and acted nervously, Herman and his mother added to the confusion, the Bodwells (family friends) joined in with their own reactions, the policemen behaved in odd and funny ways, and even the Grandfather’s actions added to the commotion. So, the disorder in the house was caused by everyone’s overreaction to the ghostly noises, not the ghost itself.

Q3: Sometimes unexpected behaviour can create a lot of humour. Give two such examples of unexpected behaviour of the policemen.
Ans: In the story, the policemen behaved in ways that were completely unexpected, which made the situation humorous:

• One policeman started strumming the zither as though it were a toy, showing a lack of seriousness at a moment when everyone was panicking. This was funny because instead of helping, he treated the situation like a game.
• Another policeman accused the narrator of being “nekked” and his mother of being “historical.” These strange remarks were completely unrelated to the actual problem, creating absurdity and humor.

Q4a: What does this statement by Mrs Bodwell tell us about her neighbours?
Ans: Mrs Bodwell’s statement shows that the neighbours were easily panicked and tended to overreact to disturbances. Even a small or strange noise could make them jump to conclusions and create unnecessary alarm.

Q4b: How do you think the Bodwells feel at this moment?
Ans: The Bodwells were shocked, alarmed, and irritated because they had been disturbed in the middle of the night. The unexpected chaos made them anxious and frustrated.

Q4c: Do you think the way the narrator's mother communicated with her neighbour was clever or practical had there been real burglars in the house? Why or why not?
Ans: No, it was neither clever nor practical. Smashing a window with a shoe could have been dangerous and would alarm the neighbours without solving the problem. If there had really been burglars, it might have made the situation worse.

Q5a: How does the narrator's mother's account of the noises differ from what the narrator heard?
Ans: The narrator heard ordinary footsteps, but his mother described them in an exaggerated way as “whooping and carrying on,” making the situation sound much more dramatic than it really was.

Q5b: Can you tell what mistake his mother was making here?
Ans: She was mistaking normal household noises for exaggerated burglar activity. Her imagination made the situation seem worse than it actually was.

Q5c: What do you think was the policemen's opinion on the matter? Why did they think so?
Ans: The policemen thought the family was being hysterical. They saw that all doors and windows were locked and there was no sign of a burglar, so they concluded that the chaos was caused by the family’s overreaction.

Q6a: Why does the narrator say that he shouldn't have said the truth?
Ans: He shouldn’t have told the truth about the guinea pig sleeping on the zither because it made the police suspicious of his sanity. They found it hard to believe and thought he was joking or being strange.

Q6b: Give one more example from the text where saying the truth did not help the narrator.
Ans: When he told the policeman, “I live here,” the officer did not believe him and even pointed a gun at him. The truth only made him seem more suspicious.

Q7a: Why does the reporter ask what is the 'real lowdown'?
Ans: The reporter asks because the events sounded too strange and confusing. He wants to know the actual facts behind the chaos.

Q7b: Is there anyone else who has the same question in mind?
Ans: Yes, the policemen also doubted the family’s story and were trying to figure out what really happened.

Q7c: What do you think the reporter concludes from the narrator's frank answer?
Ans: The reporter dismisses the narrator’s explanation as nonsense. He thinks the narrator’s story is unreliable and strange.

Q8a: Was grandfather aware that the men in his attic were policemen and not 'deserters'?
Ans: Yes, grandfather was fully aware that they were policemen.

Q8b: If he was aware, then why did he pretend that they were deserters and attack them?
Ans: He did it for mischief. He enjoyed creating drama and excitement, treating the situation like a game.

Q8c: What does it tell us about grandfather's character?
Ans: Grandfather was eccentric, playful, and loved to create chaos. He enjoyed surprising people and making life more entertaining with his mischievous behavior.

Appreciating the Text

Q1: Sometimes humour does not need to be explained or pointed out. It becomes apparent from the actions of the characters. Read these lines from the text and match them to the reason why they are funny. 

Ans:

Q2: 'The Night the Ghost Got In' is an example of deadpan comedy or dry humour. It means that the excitement and fun become apparent from the neutral tone of the narration. Here, the part of a sensible person is played by the narrator and his plain description of extraordinary events evokes laughter. Here are two examples: 
a. The ghost that got Into our house on the night of November 17, 1915, raised such a hullabaloo of misunderstandings that / am sorry I didn't just let it keep on walking, and go to bed. 
b. "What was all that running around downstairs?" said mother. So she had heard the steps, too! We just looked at her. 
​The story is filled with such 'deadpan' observations. Find as many as you can. 

Ans: Examples include:

• “I am sorry, therefore, as I have said, that I ever paid any attention to the footsteps.”
• “Burglars!” shouted Mother, though she feared ghosts even more.
• “It was true that a pet guinea pig we once had would never sleep anywhere except on the zither, but I should never have said so.”
• “What was the idee of all them cops tarryhootin’ round the house last night?”

Grammar and Usage

Q1: This passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Underline the error, correct the tense, and write the answer.

On Monday, just as I am trying to wind down after a long day at work,
the telephone rings. "Is that you, Sumita?" someone asked on the phone.
"Yes, this is me," I was replying. "This is Susan. I need to talk to you now,"
she said. Susan was a quiet girl who never wants to disturb
her friends, so I say, "Of course, Susan.
I am not hearing from you for over a month. Is everything all right?"
"Oh, I'm fine," she said. "But I am needing a favour from you.
I rode down a deserted lane when I saw a cat and its kittens
in distress. I don't know if they are abandoned but I felt I must do
something. You know a lot about cats, so I think I would ask you for
advice." "Anytime, Susan. In fact, I was volunteering at a cat shelter
for six weeks now and are really enjoying the work. I will certainly help."

Ans:

1. am → was
2. asked → was asking
3. was replying → replied
4. wants → wanted
5. say → said
6. am not hearing → had not heard
7. am needing → needed
8. rode → was riding
9. are → were
10. would ask → will ask
11. was volunteering → have been volunteering
12. are → am

Q2: Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verbs given in brackets.

1. Good morning. Today, I am going to talk (talk) about the future of technology in our country.
2. Technology will change (change) much more in the next 50 years than it has in the past century.
3. We will break (break) new ground in artificial intelligence.
4. In the coming decade, we will master (master) the technology used in micro surgeries.
5. Research will continue (continue) on machines that can predict our needs.
6. We will develop (develop) more sophisticated technology on augmented reality.
7. By the year 2030, robots will become (become) a household presence.
8. I will show (show) you a short video that demonstrates my points.
9. After that, we will throw open (throw open) the topic for discussion.