Comprehension Exercises | Someone | Walter John de la Mare | Class VIII

 

                          Someone

               by Walter John de la Mare  

Textual Questions:

 

Activity 1

 

Tick the correct alternative:

 

(i) The door was

(a) big

(b) small √

(c) wide

 

(ii) The poet looked

(a) backward and forward

(b) up and down

(c) to left and right √

 

(iii) The busy beetle was tap-tapping in the

(a) wall √

(b) Door

(c) window

 

(iv) The cricket was

(a) singing

(b) whistling √

(c) chirping

 

Activity 2

 

(a) Someone came knocking at the poet’s wee, small door.

(b) There was no stirring in the still, dark night.

(c) The poet heard the screech-owl's call from the forest.

(d) The poet did not know at all who came knocking at his door.

 

 

Activity 3

 

Answer the following question: Who do you think came knocking at the poet's small door?

 

Ans.>  The poet was sure that someone was knocking on his door. Again he could feel something uncanny in the stillness and darkness of the night. Mysterious surroundings prevailed. So the uncertain knocking on the door actually heightens the supernatural atmosphere.

 

 

Activity 4

 

Fill in the following chart with information from the text:

 

Who	Did What
(i) Someone	knocked at the poet’s small door.
(ii) Beetle	tap-tapped on the wall.
(iii) Owl	screeched from the forest.
(iv) Cricket	whistled.

 

 

Activity 5

 

Answer the following questions:

 

(a) What did the poet do after he heard the knocking on the door?

Ans.>  The poet listened, opened the door and looked left and right.

 

(b) What was the night like?

Ans.>  The right was still and dark.

 

(c) Name the insect mentioned in the poem.

Ans.> Beetle and cricket are the insects mentioned in the poem.

 

(d) Why does the poet use the expression ‘at all thrice in the last line of the poem?

Ans.> The poet used the expression ‘at all’ thrice in the last line of the poem to suggest that he did not know who came knocking. But the still, dark night gave him a mysterious feeling that there was someone knocking on the door.

 

 

Activity 6(a)

 

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the given verbs in brackets:

 

(i) The Mayor will go to Pune next week. (go)

 

(ii) By next December, we will stay here for three years. (stay)

 

(iii) Perhaps they will visit Dooars later. (visit)

 

(iv) The boy has been watching television since morning. (watch)

 

Activity 6(b)

 

In the following sentences underline the Phrases and state what kind of Phrases they are:

 

(i) He wanted to speak to his teacher.

=> Prepositional Phrase 

 

(ii) At this moment it's raining hard.

=>  Adverb Phrase

 

(iii) To do well in the competition is my aim.

=> Noun Phrase

 

(iv) They live in a house made of wood.

=>  Adjective Phrase

 

Activity 6(c)

 

In the following sentences underline the Clauses and state what kind of Clauses they are:

 

(i) The child ran away as soon as she saw the strange man.

=> Adverb Clause

 

(ii) I saw an old woman who was carrying a child.

=> Adjective Clause

 

(iii) The dog follows his master wherever he goes.

=> Adverb Clause

 

(iv) We all thought that it would not rain today.

=> Noun Clause

 

Activity 6(d)

 

Change the following sentences from Active to Passive Voice:

 

(i) India won the World Cup in cricket recently.

Ans.>  The World Cup in cricket recently was won by India.

 

(ii) The teacher was teaching English.

Ans.> English was being taught by the teacher.

 

 

(iii) Rani is singing a beautiful song.

Ans.> A beautiful song is being sung by Rani.

 

 

(iv) The wind blew away the rooftops of the houses.

Ans.> The rooftops of the houses were blown away by the wind. 

 

 

 

Activity 7

 

Make meaningful sentences of your own with the following words:

 

(i) wee :  He looked a wee bit confused.

 

(ii) stirring : He felt a stirring of anger.

 

(iii) busy : Are you busy this afternoon?

 

(iv) dewdrops : Dewdrops sparkle in the morning sun.