Chapter 7 – A Visit to Cambridge

Content Structure

• A. Word meanings
• B. Exercise questions and answers
  • Comprehension Check
  • Working with the text
  • Working with language
  • Speaking and writing
• C. Additional questions and answers
  • Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
  • Fill in the blanks
  • True or false
  • Match the following
  • Short-type questions & answers
  • Long-type questions & answers
• D. Grammar practice with answers

A. Word meanings

Word	Meanings
Astrophysicist	A person who studies space, stars, and planets.
Torso	Full of energy and joy
Incandescence	The middle part of your body (chest and belly)
Accessory	A bright light
Inflection	The way a person’s voice goes up and down when talking.
Cliche	A phrase or idea used too much
Claustrophobic	A place that feels too small and tight
Gleefully	Very happy
Propelled	Pushed or moved forward
Disembodied	Without a body
Disintegrating	Breaking into small pieces
Exhaustion	Very tired
Buoyant	Can float
Patronise	Talk down to someone
Dimensional	Related to size or shape
Exhilaration	Feeling very happy
Claustrophobic	Fear of small spaces
Embodiment	A clear example of a quality or idea
Grinning	Smiling big

B. Exercise questions and answers

Comprehension Check

Which is the right sentence?
1. “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.
(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.
Ans:
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.

2. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
(i) from the nearest phone booth.
(ii) from outside a phone booth.
(iii) from inside a phone booth.
Ans:
(iii) from inside a phone booth.

3. Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
(i) he wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
(iii) he was face to face with a legend.
Ans:
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

4. “I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
(ii) standing up, walking.
(iii) speaking, writing.
Ans:
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

Working with the text

Answer the following questions.

1. (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Ans:
(i) Yes, the writer was nervous because Stephen Hawking was a famous scientist, and he wasn’t sure what to say. He was also afraid he might ask the wrong questions.
(ii) Yes, he was very excited because Stephen Hawking was so famous, and it was a big chance to meet him.

2. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Ans: The first question the writer might have asked the scientist could be, “How do you keep working even though it’s hard?”

3. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
Ans: The writer believed that Stephen Hawking had a choice. He could have given up and felt sorry for his condition, however, he chose to keep working and became a famous scientist.

4. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Ans: The anguish was that Stephen Hawking was trapped in his body. He had a brilliant mind but couldn’t move or speak easily, which made his life very hard.

5. What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
Ans: The writer felt that Stephen Hawking was beautiful because of his strong mind, intelligence, and determination to keep going, even though his body was weak and he couldn’t move or speak easily. His strength and bravery made him stand out as someone truly amazing.

6. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Ans: “Before you, like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man.” This means that Stephen Hawking’s body was weak, but his mind shone brightly, just like the light inside a glowing lantern.

7. (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
Ans:
(i) The walls are his weak body that cannot move.
(ii) Inside the lantern is his bright, powerful mind.
(iii) He means that even though Stephen Hawking’s body was weak, his intelligence and spirit were very strong.

8. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Ans: His message is to focus on what you are good at and not feel sad about what you can’t do. Think about your abilities, not your disabilities.

9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Ans: The writer talks about the guitar incident because it shows how he felt when the guitar was too big for him to play. It made him feel sad, just like disabled people feel when they can’t do something. This shows that everyone has things they can’t do, but we should focus on what we can do.

10. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
Ans: The writer is thankful because meeting Stephen Hawking inspired him. He learned that having a disability doesn’t mean life is over, a person’s mind and spirit are more important than how the body works.

11. Complete the following sentences, taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.
(i) There was his assistant on the line …
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, …
(iii) There he was, …
(iv) You look at his eyes, which can speak, …
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know …

A	B
tapping at a little switch in his hand	trying to find the words on his computer.
and I told him	I had come in a wheelchair from India.
that there are people	on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.
as if you have a courage account	smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.
and they are saying something huge and urgent	it is hard to tell what.

Ans:
(i) There was his assistant on the line, and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.
(iii) There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand, trying to find the words on his computer.
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent, it is hard to tell what.
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

Working with language

1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.

guide	succeed	chair
travel	pale	draw

(i) I met a ________ from an antique land. (traveler)
(ii) I need special __________ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject. (guidance)
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy _________ to Issac Newton. (successor)
(iv) His other problems ________ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap. (paled)
(v) The meeting was __________ by the youngest member of the board. (chaired)
(vi) Some people say ‘yours _________’ when they informally refer to themselves. (truly)
(vii) I wish it had been a __________ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least. (drawn)

2. Look at the following words.

walk

stick

Can you create a meaningful phrase using both these words?
(It is simple. Add -ing to the verb and use it before the noun. Put an article at the beginning.)
..a walking stick

Now make six such phrases using the words given in the box.

read/session	smile/face	revolve/chair
walk/tour	dance/doll	win/chance

Ans:
1. A reading session
2. A smiling face
3. A revolving chair
4. A walking tour
5. A dancing doll
6. A winning chance

3. Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.

(i) He has two brothers. are _________________ lawyers. (both)
(ii) More than ten persons called. _____________ of them wanted to see you. (all)
(iii) They ________________ cheered the team. (all)
(iv) _______________ her parents are teachers. (both)
(v) How much have you got? Give me _____________ of it. (all)

4. Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.
(i) My friend has one of the cars on the road. (fast)
(ii) This is the story I have ever read. (interesting)
(iii) What you are doing now is than what you did yesterday. (easy)
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both. (short)
(v) He arrived as usual. Even the chief guest came than he did. (late, early)
Ans:
(i) My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.
(ii) This is the most interesting story I have ever read.
(iii) What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short.
(v) He arrived as late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.

Speaking and writing

1. Underline stressed syllables in the following words. Consult the dictionary or ask the teacher if necessary.

artist	mistake	accident	moment
compare	satisfy	relation	table
illegal	agree	backward	mountain

Ans:

artist	mistake	accident	moment
compare	satisfy	relation	table
illegal	agree	backward	mountain

3. Writing a notice for the school notice board.

Step 1	(i) Discuss why notices are put up on the notice board. (ii) What kinds of ‘notices’ have you lately seen on the board? (iii) How is a notice different from a letter or a descriptive paragraph?
Step 2	(i) Suppose you have lost or found something on the campus. What have you lost or found? (ii) You want to write a notice about it. If you have lost something, you want it restored to you in case someone has found it. If you have found something, you want to return it to its owner.
Step 3	(i) Write a few lines describing the object you have lost or found. Mention the purpose of the notice in clear terms. Also write your name, class, section and date.
Step 4	(i) Let one member of each group read aloud the notice to the entire class. (ii) Compare your notice with the other notices, and make changes, if necessary, with the help of the teacher.

Ans:

or
Imagine that you are a journalist. You have been asked to interview the president of the village panchayat. Write eight to ten questions you wish to ask. The questions should elicit comments as well as plans regarding water and electricity, cleanliness, and school education in the village.
Ans:
1. How does the village get clean drinking water?
2. How do you keep the village clean?
3. How do you stop water pollution?
4. Are there enough toilets for everyone?
5. Are all children in the village going to school?
6. Can we get computers in schools?
7. How do you help poor students?
8. What do you do when the power goes out?
9. Do schools have enough teachers?
10. Is there enough electricity for all homes?

C. Additional questions and answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. How does Stephen Hawking talk?
(a) With his hands
(b) By writing on paper
(c) By punching buttons on a computer
(d) By whispering

Ans: (c) By punching buttons on a computer

2. Where does Firdaus Kanga live?
(a) London
(b) Mumbai
(c) New York
(d) Delhi

Ans: (b) Mumbai

3. What problem does Stephen Hawking have?
(a) He cannot hear
(b) He cannot see
(c) He suffers from paralysis
(d) He forgets things

Ans: (c) He suffers from paralysis

4. Who is the author of A Brief History of Time?
(a) Albert Einstein
(b) Isaac Newton
(c) Stephen Hawking
(d) Galileo Galilei

Ans: (c) Stephen Hawking

5. Who answered the phone when the writer called Stephen Hawking’s house?
(a) His assistant
(b) Stephen Hawking himself
(c) A friend
(d) A student

Ans: (a) His assistant

6. How much time does the assistant give for the meeting?
(a) 10 minutes
(b) 20 minutes
(c) 30 minutes
(d) 1 hour

Ans: (c) 30 minutes

7. Why did the writer want to meet Stephen Hawking?
(a) To ask for his autograph
(b) To write about his travels in Britain
(c) To invite him to India
(d) To give him a book

Ans: (b) To write about his travels in Britain

8. At what time did Stephen Hawking agree to meet the writer?
(a) 2:00 to 2:30 PM
(b) 3:00 to 4:30 PM
(c) 3:30 to 4:00 PM
(d) 5:00 to 5:30 PM

Ans: (c) 3:30 to 4:00 PM

9. Who said, “The only thing that makes you stronger is seeing somebody like you, achieving something huge”?
(a) Isaac Newton
(b) Firdaus Kanga
(c) Albert Einstein
(d) Stephen Hawking

Ans: (b) Firdaus Kanga

10. Who said, “I haven’t been brave”?
(a) Firdaus Kanga
(b) Stephen Hawking
(c) Isaac Newton
(d) Albert Einstein

Ans: (b) Stephen Hawking

11. When did the writer meet Stephen Hawking?
(a) In the morning
(b) At night
(c) In the evening
(d) In the afternoon

Ans: (d) In the afternoon

12. Who was the most beautiful man in the world according to the writer?
(a) A scientist in Cambridge
(b) Stephen Hawking
(c) A famous writer
(d) The tour guide

Ans: (b) Stephen Hawking

13. Who was like a photograph?
(a) The writer
(b) The tour guide
(c) Stephen Hawking
(d) Isaac Newton

Ans: (c) Stephen Hawking

14. What was the color of Hawking’s shirt?
(a) White
(b) Black
(c) Pale blue
(d) Red

Ans: (c) Pale blue

15. How does the writer describe Hawking?
(a) Like a strong wall
(b) Like a bright lantern
(c) Like a dark shadow
(d) Like a closed book

Ans: (b) Like a bright lantern

16. What was the problem with Hawking’s voice synthesizer?
(a) It was too loud
(b) It stopped working often
(c) It had no emotion or tone
(d) It spoke too fast

Ans: (b) It had no emotion or tone

17. What did the writer struggle with as a child?
(a) Playing football
(b) Playing a Spanish guitar
(c) Writing stories
(d) Painting pictures

Ans: (b) Playing a Spanish guitar

18. How was Stephen Hawking’s garden?
(a) Small and full of flowers
(b) Dry and without plants
(c) Like a park
(d) Covered with stones

Ans: (c) Like a park

19. What did Stephen Hawking offer to the writer?
(a) Snacks
(b) Coffee
(c) A tour of the university
(d) Tea

Ans: (d) Tea

20. How did the writer feel as he left?
(a) Excited
(b) Relieved
(c) Emotional but strong
(d) Disappointed

Ans: (c) Emotional but strong

Fill in the blanks

1. The meeting took place in the city of _____________. (Cambridge)
2. Stephen Hawking is a famous __________________. (Physicist)
3. Stephen Hawking talks using a ______________. (Computer)
4. The writer struggled as a child to play a ___________________. (Spanish guitar)
5. Stephen Hawking likes a _______________. (Sense of humor)
6. Firdaus Kanga was born with _______________ bones that broke easily. (Brittle)
7. Kanga felt _______________ when talking to Hawking, as he had to wait for Hawking to reply. (Guilty)
8. Hawking’s eyes seemed to say things that were _________ to understand. (Hard)
9. Hawking’s voice sounds like a _______________________. (Machine)

True or false

1. Stephen Hawking is a journalist and writer. (False)

2. Stephen Hawking met with Kanga for 2 hours. (False)

3. Stephen Hawking was a professor. (True)

4. Hawking thinks about the Olympics; it was a waste of time. (True)

5. Kanga called Stephen Hawking from her personal mobile phone. (False)

6. Hawking thought Kanga was the best man in the world. (False)

7. The writer compares Hawking’s body to a small, tight room. (True)

8. After the meeting, Kanga felt that was a waste of time. (False)

9. Hawking was met with Kanga in a public park. (False)

10. Hawking and Kanga both were inspirations for real normal people. (True)

Match the following

Column A	Column B
(i) Stephen Hawking	a) Very happy
(ii) Firdaus Kanga	b) England
(iii) Gleefully	c) A Brief History of Time
(iv) Cambridge	d) A writer and Journalist

Ans:

Column A	Column B
(i) Stephen Hawking	c) A Brief History of Time
(ii) Firdaus Kanga	d) A writer and Journalist
(iii) Gleefully	a) Very happy
(iv) Cambridge	b) England

Short-type questions & answers

1. Who was Stephen Hawking?
Ans: Stephen Hawking was a famous scientist known for studying space, time, and black holes. He suffered from paralysis and could not speak properly, so he used a computer to write and speak.

2. Who was Firdaus Kanga?
Ans: Firdaus Kanga is a writer and journalist from Mumbai. He was born with brittle bones that broke easily, so he always used a wheelchair to move around.

3. How were Hawkings and Kanga similar?
Ans: Stephen Hawking and Firdaus Kanga both suffered from physical disabilities that affected their movement. They both used wheelchairs, but they didn’t let their disabilities stop them from reaching their dreams.

4. How did Stephen Hawking communicate?
Ans: Stephen Hawking could not speak or move on his own due to his condition. Instead, he used a special computer system that allowed him to type out words. The computer then spoke those words for him so he could communicate with others.

5. Why did Kanga express interest in meeting with Hawking?
Ans: Kanga went to England to visit Cambridge. He learned about Professor Hawking and wanted to meet him because he was amazed by how much Hawking had achieved, even though he had a disability.

6. How much time did Kanga take to meet Hawkings?
Ans: Kanga’s meeting with Stephen Hawking was originally scheduled for 30 minutes, from 3:30 to 4:00 PM, at Hawking’s house. However, they ended up talking for a whole hour because they had many interesting things to discuss and share with each other.

7. Why did Kanga think Hawking was the best man in the world?
Ans: Kanga believed Hawking was the best man in the world because he was amazed by Hawking’s smartness and all he had achieved, even though he had physical difficulties.

8. Why was Kanga’s body compared to a small, tight room?
Ans: Kanga compared Hawking’s body to a small, tight room because his condition made it difficult for him to move freely. Even though he was physically limited, Hawking stayed confident and achieved many great things.

9. Why were Hawking and Kanga both an inspiration for other normal people?
Ans: Hawking and Kanga both had physical disabilities, but they didn’t let them stop them from doing amazing things. They showed everyone that even with physical challenges, people can still achieve their dreams and do great things

10. What was saw in Hawking’s eyes?
Ans: When Kanga spoke to Hawking, he saw that his eyes showed deep thoughts and emotions. They revealed a lot of wisdom and feeling, even though he couldn’t speak like others.

Long-type questions & answers

1. What discipline does the writer give us after meeting Hawking’s personality?
Ans: Kanga went to England to visit Cambridge, but after hearing about Professor Hawking’s struggles, he wanted to meet him. When Kanga met Hawking, he realized that his true personality was different from what he had imagined from photographs. Hawking used a switch in his hand to control a computer, which helped him speak and write. Even though he communicated through a machine, his eyes expressed deep thoughts and emotions. Despite his physical challenges, Hawking achieved amazing things. Kanga described him as a “glimpse of light,” like a lantern, and was deeply inspired by his strong character and determination.

2. How did the author arrange a meeting with Stephen Hawking in England?
Ans: Firdaus Kanga was born with brittle bones that broke easily, so he used a wheelchair. He was a writer and journalist. While in Cambridge, England, he learned about Stephen Hawking, who also had physical disabilities but had achieved great success. Kanga was inspired by Hawking’s story and wanted to meet him. He called Hawking’s office from a phone booth and spoke to his assistant, who arranged a half-hour meeting in the afternoon, from 3:30 to 4:00 PM.

3. Why was the writer emotional after the meeting with Hawking?
Ans: The writer felt emotional after meeting Stephen Hawking because he was deeply inspired by Hawking’s struggles and strong personality. He described Hawking’s body as a “small, tight room” but admired how he did everything like a normal person, without allowing his physical disability to affect his confidence. Although Hawking communicated using a computer, his deep thoughts and emotions were reflected in his eyes. The writer also noticed that Hawking looked different from his photographs. Seeing how Hawking had overcome so many challenges in life made the writer feel both emotional and happy after the meeting.

D. Grammar practice with answers

1.Complete each sentence by using the correct form of the adjective in brackets.
(i) This book is than that one. (interesting)
(ii) I feel today than I did yesterday. (happy)
(iii) The sun is today than it was yesterday. (bright)
(iv) Today is the day of the year. (cold)
(v) The giraffe is the animal in the zoo. (tall)
(vi) The blue dress is than the red one. (pretty)
(vii) This puzzle is the of them all. (hard)
(viii) That mountain is the one in the country. (high)
(ix) This chair is the in the room. (comfortable)
Ans:
(i) This book is more interesting than that one.
(ii) I feel happier today than I did yesterday.
(iii) The sun is brighter today than it was yesterday.
(iv) Today is the coldest day of the year.
(v) The giraffe is the tallest animal in the zoo.
(vi) The blue dress is prettier than the red one.
(vii) This puzzle is the hardest of them all.
(viii) That mountain is the highest one in the country.
(ix) This chair is the most comfortable in the room.

2. Fill in the blanks with ‘all’ or ‘both.

(i) ____________ _ of my parents love me very much. (both)
(ii) ______________ the apples in the basket are red. (all)
(iii) __________ the students in our class have to do their homework. (all)
(iv) _____________ of my socks got wet in the rain. (both)
(v) We saw three butterflies, and ____________ of them were colorful. (all)
(vi) There are three books on the table, and I have read ___________ of them. (all)
(vii) My dad bought two ice creams, and we ate ___________ of them. (both)

Related Links

• CBSE 8 Maths Chapter 2 Linear Equations in One Variable Solutions
• CBSE 8 Maths Chapter 1 Rational Numbers Solutions
• CBSE 8 English Authors Name
• Ancient Education System of India Solutions
• Jalebis Solutions
• The fight Solutions
• Princess September Solutions
• The treasure within Solutions