Class 8 English / Poorvi / Chapter 2 / A Concrete Example

 

A Concrete Example: Class 8 Questions and Answers

I. Read the names of items you usually find in a garden and write their names against each picture given below.

garden hose, sapling, hedge, flowerbeds, flowerpot, pebbles, rockery, fence, vine, wheelbarrow

II. Work in groups of four. What kind of garden would you like to have? Mention the features that you can include and the reasons for your choice. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer: I would like to have a flower garden. It would have many colourful flowers, green plants, a small fountain, and a few benches. I would also make a walking path in the garden. I like this garden because it looks beautiful, smells nice, and is a peaceful place to relax.

III. Read the title of the poem. What comes to your mind when you read the word ‘concrete’? Does it have more than one meaning? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer: When I hear the word "concrete", I think of cement used to make buildings and roads.

Yes, it has more than one meaning.

1. Concrete means a hard building material made from cement.
2. Concrete also means something clear, real, or specific.

So, the word "concrete" has two meanings.

I. Complete the following summary with exact words from the poem. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

The poem describes Mrs. Jones, the speaker’s next-door neighbour, who has a unique garden filed with 1. _________. Her garden includes a peculiar 2. _________, a pond, and a rockery, along with an unusual 3. _________ that she fids charming. Mrs. Jones plants tiny, 4. _________ plants between the stones, which the speaker thinks must be so small that they are planted with a 5. _________. One day, Mrs. Jones invites the speaker to see her garden, and they discuss a 6. _________ that Mrs. Jones treasures. When the speaker asks where the 7. _________ flwer is, Mrs. Jones says that the speaker has been 8. _________ on it all along.

Answer:

1. stones

2. path

3. device

4. delicate

5. pin

6. flower

7. lovely

8. standing

II. Select the correct option to fill in the blanks for the following sentences.

Question 1.

The tone of the poem is _________

(i) mocking

(ii) humorous

(iii) mournful

(iv) amusing

(v) light-hearted

A. (i), (ii), and (iii)

B. (i), (ii), and (v)

C. (ii), (iii), and (iv)

D. (ii), (iv), and (v)

Answer:

D. (ii), (iv), and (v)

Question 2.

The speaker in the poem is

(i) Mrs. Jones

(ii) the poet

(iii) a gardener

(iv) a child

Answer:

the poet

Question 3.

The rhyme scheme of the poem is

(i) AABBCC

(ii) ABABCC

(iii) AABCAC

(iv) ABBACC

Answer:

(i) AABBCC

III. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct answer given in the brackets.

1. The poet uses the word ‘stones ’ in all stanzas in order to emphasise her _________ (obsession with a stony garden/pride in gardening skills)

2. The poet uses imagery to describe the features of the garden that help readers _________ (understand Mrs. Jones love for plants /visualise the garden’s peculiar nature)

Answer:

1. obsession with a stony garden

2. visualise the garden’s peculiar nature

IV. Pick examples of alliteration from the poem.

Answer:

puts plants, flower for quite a quarter

V. A refrain is a repeated line or phrase that appears in each stanza. Identify the refrain from the poem.

Answer:

My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones.

VI. Irony is a literary device that emphasises the difference between what is expected and what actually happens. It often involves a situation where the outcome is the opposite of what is expected, creating a surprising or a humorous effect. For example, Mrs. Jones’ excitement about her garden contrasts with the speaker’s disappointment on how ordinary it is. Identify the line(s) from the poem that display(s) situational irony.

Answer

“You’re standing on it,” she replied.

VII. Complete the following sentences appropriately.

1. The word ‘concrete’ can refer to _________ in Mrs. Jones’ garden.

Answer:

the stones and hard surfaces

2. The title also has a symbolic meaning, as the poem provides a clear or ‘concrete’

example of Mrs. Jones’ _________ gardening habits.

Answer:

clear or fixed

VIII. The title ‘A Concrete Example’ carries both literal and symbolic (metaphorical) meaning. Such word play is called a pun. A pun is a figure of speech that uses words with multiple meanings or words that sound alike but have different meanings, creating a humorous effect.

I tried arguing with my pencil but it kept making sharp points, (suggests the idea of an actual sharp pencil point and strong argument points)

Answer:

Literal: Garden made of concrete/stones

My pencil and I had a disagreement but we finally got to the point, (refers to solving an argument and the pencil’s tip).

Answer:

Metaphorical: Clear example of Mrs. Jones’ strange gardening style

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,

has got a garden full of stones:

A crazy path, a lily pond, a rockery and,

just beyond A sundial with a strange device,

which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice.

(i) What can be inferred about Mrs. Jones’s taste in gardening from the description of her garden being ‘full of stones’?

Answer:

She prefers minimalism and unusual garden design.

(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.

The garden serves as a means to reveal more about Mrs. Jones herself.

Answer:

True

(iii) What does the poet mean by ‘crazy path’?

Answer:

By the term ‘crazy path', the poet means a path with an odd or irregular arrangement.

(iv) What does the sundial with a ‘strange device’ suggest about Mrs. Jones’ personality?

A. She has a fascination with unusual items.

B. She prefers traditional garden decorations.

C. She is uninterested in her garden’s appearance.

D. She likes modern and expensive items.

Answer:

A. She has a fascination with unusual items.

II. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.

How does Mrs. Jones feel about her garden? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.

Answer:

Mrs. Jones takes pride in her unique garden. She sees beauty in its tiny elements.

Question 2.

Why do you think the speaker describes the plants as being so small that they could be planted with a pin?

Answer:

The speaker describes the plants as being so small that they could be planted with a pin because they are so small and delicate.

Question 3.

What do we get to know about Mrs. Jones—based on her gardening style and her interaction with the speaker?

Answer:

Based on her gardening style and her interaction with the speaker, it is obvious that Mrs. Jones is detail-orientated, eccentric, and values things that others may overlook.

Question 4.

The poem portrays Mrs. Jones in a positive light. Support this statement.

Answer:

Yes, she is shown as someone with a strong taste and passion for gardening. Gardening encourages planting trees.

Question 5.

What does the poem tell us about the way people think differently about the world around them?

Answer:

People find beauty in different things; it encourages respecting varied views.

I. Select the appropriate word from the brackets that correctly replaces the underlined word in the sentences from the text.

1. A sundial with a strange device, (unusual, peculiar, new, rare, external)

2. … which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice, (pleasant, superior, agreeable, gentle, charming)

3. They are so delicate… (delicious, fragile, dainty, graceful, weak)

4. “Where is this lovely thing?” I cried. (exclaimed, wept, shouted, announced, whispered)

Answer:

1. Strange → peculiar

2. Nice → charming

3. Delicate → fragile

4. Cried → exclaimed

II. The ‘sundial’ is referred to as a ‘device’ in the poem. Work in pairs to infer the meaning of ‘device’. Share your thoughts with your classmates and teacher.

Answer:

The word ‘device’ means a piece of equipment that has been designed to do particular work.

Now, match the type of instruments in Column 1 with their definitions in Column 2. Column 3 shows one example of each type of instrument. Add more examples in Column 3.

Answer:

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
1. implement	(iii) something that works on being moved by hand	spade, knife, scissors
2. tool	(v) something used by hand to make or repair	hammer, saw
3. equipment	(iv) a set of necessary items for a particular purpose	cricket bat, helmet, batting gloves, seat belt
4. appliance	(i) something that is electrical and is used to do work in the house	mixer grinder, microwave, toaster
5. gadget	(ii) something small that is mechanical or electronic	mobile phone, laptop, remote control

III. Complete the table by making new words in Column 1 using the hints given in Column 2. Replace the first letter of the given word to create new words. One example has been done for you.

Answer:
(i) dice
(ii) rice
(iii) mice
(iv) vice

Answer:
(i) boil
(ii) toil
(iii) coil
(iv) foil

I. You will listen to a presentation about the wonderful Rock Garden of Chandigarh. As you listen, answer the following questions using one to three exact words from the presentation. (Refer to the NCERT Textbook Page 47 for transcript.)

Question 1.
Where was Nek Chand’s Rock Garden featured?
Answer:
Indian postage stamp

Question 2.
What kind of sculptures does the Rock Garden have?
Answer:
colourful sculptures

Question 3.
How is the Rock Garden divided?
Answer:
three distinct phases

Question 4.
Name any one thing that has been transformed into a piece of art in the Rock Garden.
Answer:
toilet pots (Other valid answers could be: terracotta pots, light fixtures)

Question 5.
Approximately, how many statues border the Rock Garden?
Answer:
5,000 statues

I. The speaker of the poem might have felt sorry for stepping on Mrs. Jones’ flower. When we make a mistake, we must express regret and apologise for our actions.

Question 1.
When we apologise to a friend or a family member, we use informal language.
Take turns to apologise for the following situations and respond to the apology,
(i) You have eaten your brother’s share of sweets.
(ii) You have broken your sister’s flower craft.
(iii) You accidentally spilled ink on your mother’s important documents.
(iv) You forgot to bring your friend’s notebook to the school after borrowing it.

You may use the following phrases given below.

Answer:
(i) Apology: I’m really sorry, I ate your share of sweets. I didn’t mean to hurt your emotions!
Response: That’s alright. These things happen.

(ii) Apology: Please forgive me for breaking your flower craft. I didn’t do it on purpose.
Response: It’s no big deal. I can make another one.

(iii) Apology: Sorry, I didn’t mean to spill ink on your documents, it happened accidentally, Mom. I’m really very sorry!
Response: These things happen. Just be careful next time.

(iv) Apology: I’m sorry for forgetting your notebook. Ill bring it tomorrow for sure!
Response: No problem. Just don’t forget it again!

Question 2.
When we apologise to someone in authority like a Principal or a teacher in a formal setting, we use formal language. Work in pairs and take turns to apologise for the following situations and respond to the apology.
(i) You did not bring an assignment that was due for submission.
(ii) You were late to school for the past three days and had to meet the Principal.
(ill) You did not submit your project work and were asked to explain.

You may use the following phrases given below.

Answer:
(i) Apology: I’m extremely sorry for not bringing the assignment that was due today. I really regret my mistake.
Response: I accept your apology. Please ensure you submit it tomorrow without fail.

(ii) Apology: I owe you an apology for being late to school for the past three days. I assure you that this will never happen again.
Response: I appreciate you saying this, but please make sure you are on time going forward.

(iii) Apology: I really regret not submitting my project work on time. I promise it won’t happen again.
Response: I’m glad you realised your mistake. Make sure to meet the next deadline.

You are a member of the Nature Club of your school. Draft a notice informing the students of Grades 6-8 about the inauguration of the Herb Garden.

Points to remember:

• Mention the purpose of writing, date, time, venue, and any other relevant information— whom to contact, when, and where.
• Use formal language in the third person form.
• Write the notice in a box.

Answer:

GREENFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL
NATURE CLUB
NOTICE

16th May 2025
Inauguration of the School Herb Garden
The Nature Club of Greenfield Public School is pleased to inform all students of Grades 6 to 8 about the inauguration of the new Herb Garden. The event aims to encourage awareness of herbal plants and sustainable gardening.
Date: 20th May 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Venue: School Backyard (behind the science block)

Students interested in volunteering or partici¬pating in plantation activities are requested to contact Mrs. Anita Sharma (Science Department) by 18th May during school hours. All students of Grades 6 to 8 are invited to witness the inauguration and learn about the usefulness of herbs like tulsi, mint, aloe vera, and more.
Let’s grow green and learn together!
Priya Mehta
(Member of the Nature Club)
Class 8-B

I. Amrit Udyan is a garden spread over an expanse of 15 acres around Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. It has multiple attractions that include a specially curated garden for children called Bal Vatika, a treehouse, nature’s classroom, etc. It also has the Bonsai, Herbal-I, Herbal-II, Tactile Garden, Arogya Vanam, and Circular Gardens with a diverse variety of flora and fauna.

Now, find out about popular gardens in your region and share with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
Popular Garden in My Region
Name of the Garden: Lalbagh Botanical Garden
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Key Attractions:

• Spread over 240 acres in the heart of the city
• Houses over 1,800 species of plants, trees, and herbs
• Glass House inspired by London’s Crystal Palace, used for flower shows
• Lake, fountain, and ancient trees that are over 100 years old
• A rock formation believed to be more than 3,000 million years old

Children’s Attractions:

• Open spaces to play
• A walking path and informative boards for plant education
• Beautiful flower arrangements during annual flower shows

Educational Value:

• Excellent for school field trips and nature studies
• Promotes awareness about biodiversity and plant conservation

You can also choose these gardens if you are in different cities:

• Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden, Patna
• Hanging Gardens, Mumbai
• Mughal Gardens, Srinagar
• Eden Gardens, Kolkata (historical park, not the stadium)
• Nehru Zoological Park and Gardens, Hyderabad

II. A herbarium is a collection of plant samples preserved for long-term study, usually in the form of dried and pressed plants mounted on paper.
Now, collect some fallen flowers and leaves from your neighbourhood.
Place them in folds of a newspaper carefully and put a pile of books on them. After one week, take .them out and use them to make a card, wall hanging or any other artwork. A sample has been given for your reference.

Answer:
My Herbarium Activity
I collected some fallen flowers and leaves from my neighbourhood garden and nearby park. The types of leaves and flowers I picked up included: Gulmohar leaf, Hibiscus flower, Mango leaf, Bougainvillaea petal and Neem leaf.

Steps I followed:

• I carefully placed each flower and leaf between the folds of newspaper.
• I put a pile of heavy books on top to press them.
• I left them untouched for one week.

How I used them: After a week, I took out the dried plant samples and used them to make a handmade greeting card for Teacher’s Day.

• I glued the pressed hibiscus and bougainvillaea petals on the front.
• I used the mango leaf as a border.
• I decorated it with a handwritten message: “Thank You for Helping Me Grow!”

What I learned:

• I learned how to preserve plant samples carefully.
• I realised how nature can be used in art.
• This activity helped me understand the meaning of a herbarium and appreciate the beauty of dried flowers and leaves.

Answer:
Do it yourself.

MCQs from "A Concrete Example

1. Who is the poet of A Concrete Example?

a) Ruskin Bond
b) Harindranath Chattopadhyay
c) Rabindranath Tagore
d) R.K. Narayan

Answer: b) Harindranath Chattopadhyay

2. What kind of garden did Mrs. Jones have?

a) Flower garden
b) Vegetable garden
c) Concrete garden
d) Butterfly garden

Answer: c) Concrete garden

3. What was unusual about Mrs. Jones' garden?

a) It had rare flowers.
b) It had only trees.
c) Everything was made of concrete.
d) It was underwater.

Answer: c) Everything was made of concrete.

4. What was the garden surrounded by?

a) Wooden fence
b) Concrete wall
c) Iron gate
d) Bamboo fence

Answer: b) Concrete wall

5. What material were the flowers made of?

a) Plastic
b) Stone
c) Wood
d) Concrete

Answer: d) Concrete

6. What does the poem mainly describe?

a) A magical forest
b) A concrete garden
c) A flower market
d) A city park

Answer: b) A concrete garden

7. Which literary device is used in the title A Concrete Example?

a) Simile
b) Metaphor
c) Pun (play on words)
d) Personification

Answer: c) Pun (play on words)

8. What was the bird in the garden made of?

a) Clay
b) Iron
c) Concrete
d) Plastic

Answer: c) Concrete

9. How does the garden appear to the reader?

a) Natural and lively
b) Strange and artificial
c) Dark and scary
d) Empty and dull

Answer: b) Strange and artificial

10. What feeling does the poem create?

a) Humour and surprise
b) Fear and sadness
c) Anger and hatred
d) Mystery and suspense

Answer: a) Humour and surprise

11. What was the fountain made of?

a) Marble
b) Concrete
c) Metal
d) Glass

Answer: b) Concrete

12. Why is the garden called a "concrete" garden?

a) It is very clear.
b) It is made entirely of concrete.
c) It is very large.
d) It is full of flowers.

Answer: b) It is made entirely of concrete.

13. Which of these was NOT made of concrete?

a) Flowers
b) Bird
c) Wall
d) Real butterfly

Answer: d) Real butterfly

14. What is the tone of the poem?

a) Serious
b) Humorous
c) Tragic
d) Angry

Answer: b) Humorous

15. What message does the poem indirectly give?

a) Nature is beautiful and cannot be fully replaced by artificial things.
b) Concrete is better than nature.
c) Gardens are useless.
d) Buildings should be colourful.

Answer: a) Nature is beautiful and cannot be fully replaced by artificial things.

Short- Questions Answers 

1. Who owned the garden described in the poem?
Answer: Mrs. Jones owned the garden described in the poem.

2. What was special about Mrs. Jones' garden?
Answer: Everything in the garden was made of concrete.

3. What were the flowers made of?
Answer: The flowers were made of concrete.

4. Why is the garden called a concrete garden?
Answer: It is called a concrete garden because all its parts were made of concrete.

5. What feeling does the poem create in the reader's mind?
Answer: The poem creates a feeling of amusement and surprise.

6. What is the meaning of the word "concrete" in the title?
Answer: It means both a building material and something real or specific.

7. What literary device is used in the title of the poem?
Answer: The title uses a pun, or play on words.

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Long Questions' Answers 

1. Describe Mrs. Jones' garden.

Answer:
Mrs. Jones' garden was very unusual. Everything in it was made of concrete. The flowers, birds, fountain, and other objects were not real but concrete models. The garden looked neat and attractive, but it lacked the beauty and life of a natural garden.

2. Why is the garden considered unusual?

Answer:
The garden is considered unusual because gardens normally contain real plants, flowers, and birds. In Mrs. Jones' garden, everything was made of concrete. This makes the garden different and humorous.

3. What is the central idea of the poem?

Answer:
The central idea of the poem is that artificial things cannot completely replace nature. The poet humorously describes a garden made entirely of concrete to show the difference between natural and man-made beauty.

4. How does the poet create humour in the poem?

Answer:
The poet creates humour by describing a garden where everything is made of concrete. Readers find it amusing because gardens are usually full of living plants and animals, not concrete objects.

5. Explain the title "A Concrete Example."

Answer:
The title has a double meaning. "Concrete" refers to the building material used in the garden. It also means something real or specific. This clever use of words makes the title interesting and humorous.

6. What message does the poem give about nature?

Answer:
The poem suggests that nature is beautiful and valuable. Even though the concrete garden may look attractive, it cannot match the freshness, colour, and life of a real garden.

7. Compare a natural garden with Mrs. Jones' garden.

Answer:
A natural garden contains real flowers, plants, birds, and insects. It is full of life and movement. Mrs. Jones' garden, on the other hand, is made entirely of concrete. It may look beautiful, but it has no life or natural beauty.

8. Why might Mrs. Jones have chosen to make everything from concrete?

Answer:
Mrs. Jones may have chosen concrete because it is strong and lasts a long time. Concrete objects do not need watering or special care. However, they cannot provide the beauty and freshness of real plants and flowers.

9. What do you think about Mrs. Jones' garden? Give reasons.

Answer:
I think Mrs. Jones' garden is creative and interesting. It shows imagination and effort. However, I would prefer a natural garden because real flowers, trees, and birds make the environment lively and pleasant.

10. What lesson do we learn from the poem?

Answer:
We learn that nature is precious and cannot be fully replaced by artificial objects. The poem also teaches us to appreciate natural beauty and enjoy the living world around us.