Class 8 English a visit to cambridge summary notes Question Answers

Summary A visit to Cambridge

The name of the lesson is ‘A visit to Cambridge’ and its writer name is Firdaus Kanga . In this lesson the writer could move only a wheelchair. He accepted his disability as a warrior.  He made a journey all over the world.  And he proved his ability is the greatest among normal people.

He went to Cambridge and met Mr. Stephen Hawking who is totally paralyzed although he wrote a great book. He thought that disable people should not be worried about their condition and always thinking positive.  If those people get attention towards their ability then they can get easily their goal.

This lesson motivates the disable people also the normal people.

Here are a few points which would help you understand the chapter better:

• A story of a meeting between two extraordinary people. They are both brilliant and full of intellect.
  
• They are, what people call 'disabled'. However, the story here calls them two people who are 'differently abled'.
  
• Stephen Hawking is one of the greatest scientists of our time. He suffers from a form of paralysis that confines him to a wheelchair, and allows him to ‘speak’ only by punching buttons on a computer, which speaks for him in a machine-like voice.
  
• Firdaus Kanga is a writer and journalist who lives and works in Mumbai. He was born with ‘brittle bones’ that tended to break easily when he was a child. He suffered a lot of fractures in his early childhood.
  
• The interaction between them proved fruitful to the extent that it projected the real state of mind of such people.
  
• The psychological aspect has been written very well, describing the simple level of frustration which people feel when they feel claustrophobic, least bothered about people considering them brilliant and sympathising their condition.
  
• Strong sense of expression such as eyes which can speak, still, and they are saying something huge and urgent .
  
• A small thing understood through this chapter is the fact that one can never feel the pain and the agony which a person who is not as capable as other people does.
  

short questions

1.  Who is the author of this lesson?
Ans. The author’s name of this lesson is Firdaus Kanga.

2.What is wrong with his physique?
Ans. He is perhaps a wheelchair bound polio victim.

3.What was his plan behind his visit to Britain?
Ans. His plan behind his visit to England was to write a book about his travels.

4.Who did he contact at Cambridge?
Ans. Firdaus contacted the brilliant but paralytic astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.

5. what makes a disabled person feel stronger?
Ans. Meeting another handicapped person who has achieved something big, makes the disabled person feel stronger and more inspired to do better.

6. Rewrite removing ‘too’- You are too lazy to draw a cheque.
Ans. You are so lazy that you do not draw even a cheque.

7. Who is Firdaus Kanga interviewing?
Ans. Firdaus Kanga is interviewing Stephen Hawking, a renowned scientist.

8. What  is common between  the speaker and the person he is talking to?
Ans. Both are handicapped.  Both have decided to live creatively.

9. what message did Stephen give to disabled people world over?
Ans. He called upon all the disabled people to give wholehearted attention only to what they were capable of doing.  Olympic games organized for the disabled were a waste of time.

10. Use the word ‘waste’ as a noun and as a verb.
Verb- (a) Don’t waste your precious time?
Noun-(b) Watching TV is not all waste of time.

textual questions

Q.1 (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make     the writer nervous? If so, why?
 Ans. Yes, he felt nervous when he went to meet Stephen        Hawking because he was fed up with people asking him to be brave.

(ii)  Did he at the same time feel very excited?  If so, Why?
Ans. Yes, he felt very excited at the same time because Stephen Hawking was also totally paralysed, still he had made great achievement.  This gave him strength to do so still better.

Q.2 Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Ans. “You have been very brave, haven’t you?” said the narrator.

Q.3 Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.”  Does the writer think there was a choice?  What was it?
Ans. Yes, the writer thought that Stephen Hawking had a choice.  He chose to live creatively despite his paralysis.

Q.4 “I could feel his anguish.”  What could be the anguish.
Ans  Stephen’s anguish was that he found it difficult to find the right words on his computer.  Hw felt frustrated and tired.

Q.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  What endeared Hawking to the writer was his frankness.  Without being sentimental or silly, he declared that he was annoyed when somebody came to disturb him in his work.

Q.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.’

Q.7 (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
Ans. The walls of the lantern are formed by the body.

(ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
Ans.  The eternal soul.

(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparision?
Ans. The writer draws the conclusion that each of us is an eternal soul, the body is not such an essential thing.

Q.8  What is scientist’s message for disabled?
Ans.  Stephen Hawking’s message for the disabled people is that they should concentrate on what they are good at.  Olympics for the handicapped or disabled people are a waste of time.

Q.9  Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Ans. The writer supports Hawking’s idea that the disabled people must not try to overreach themselves.  The writer once tried to play a big guitar.  He felt defeated.  So he destroyed it one night.

Q.10  The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking.  What is the gratitude for?
Ans. The writer expresses his gratitude to Hawking for giving him strength and confidence to be brave and to live creatively.

Class 8 Maths Compound interest Assignemnt

Compound Interest by Using Formula, when it is calculated annually

Case I:

When the interest is compounded annually

Let principal = $ P, rate = R % per annum and time = n years.

Then, the amount A is given by the formula

A = P (1 + R/100)ⁿ

Therefore, compound interest = (amount) - (principal).

1. Find the amount of $ 8000 for 3 years, compounded annually at 5% per annum. Also, find the compound interest.

Solution:

Here, P = $ 8000, R = 5 % per annum and n = 3 years.

Using the formula A = $ P(1 + R/ 100)ⁿ

amount after 3 years = $ {8000 × (1 + 5/100)³}

= $ (8000 × 21/20 × 21/20 × 21/20)

= $ 9261.

Thus, amount after 3 years = $ 9261.

And, compound interest = $ (9261 - 8000)

Therefore, compound interest = $ 1261.

2. Find the compound interest on $ 6400 for 2 years, compounded annually at 7¹/₂ % per annum.

Solution:

Here, P = $ 6400, R % p. a. and n = 2 years.

Using the formula A = P (1 + R/100)ⁿ

Amount after 2 years = [6400 × {1 + 15/(2 × 100)}²]

= $ (6400 × 43/40 × 43/40)

=$ 7396.

Thus, amount = $ 7396

and compound interest = $ (7396 - 6400)

Therefore, compound interest = $ 996.



Case 2:

When the interest is compounded annually but rates are different for different years

Let principal = $ P, time = 2 years, and let the rates of interest be p % p.a. during the first year and q % p.a. during the second year.

Then, amount after 2 years = $ {P × (1 + P/100) × (1 + q/100)}.

This formula may similarly be extended for any number of years.

1. Find the amount of $ 12000 after 2 years, compounded annually; the rate of interest being 5 % p.a. during the first year and 6 % p.a. during the second year. Also, find the compound interest.

Solution:

Here, P = $12000, p = 5 % p.a. and q = 6 % p.a.

Using the formula A = {P × (1 + P/100) × (1 + q/100)}

amount after 2 years = $ {12000 × (1 + 5/100) × (1 + 6/100)}

= $ (12000 × 21/20 × 53/50)

=$ 13356

Thus, amount after 2 years = $ 13356

And, compound interest = $ (13356 – 12000)

Therefore, compound interest = $ 1356.



Case 3:

When interest is compounded annually but time is a fraction

For example suppose time is 2³/₅ years then,

Amount = P × (1 + R/100)² × [1 + (3/5 × R)/100]

1. Find the compound interest on $ 31250 at 8 % per annum for 2 years. Solution Amount after 2³/₄ years

Solution:

Amount after 2³/₄ years

= $ [31250 × (1 + 8/100)² × (1 + (3/4 × 8)/100)]

= ${31250 × (27/25)² × (53/50)}

= $ (31250 × 27/25 × 27/25 × 53/50)

= $ 38637.

Therefore, Amount = $ 38637,

Hence, compound interest = $ (38637 - 31250) = $ 7387.

Compound Interest by Using Formula, when it is calculated half-yearly

Interest Compounded Half-Yearly

Let principal = $ P, rate = R% per annum, time = a years.

Suppose that the interest is compounded half- yearly.

Then, rate = (R/2) % per half-year, time = (2n) half-years, and

amount = P × (1 + R/(2 × 100))²ⁿ

Compound interest = (amount) - (principal).

1. Find the compound interest on $ 15625 for 1¹/₂ years at 8 % per annum when compounded half-yearly.

Solution:

Here, principal = $ 15625, rate = 8 % per annum = 4% per half-year,

time = 1¹/₂ years = 3 half-years.

Amount = $ [15625 × (1 + 4/100)³]

=$ (15625 × 26/25 × 26/25 × 26/25)= $ 17576.

Compound interest = $ (17576 - 15625) = $ 1951.

2. Find the compound interest on $ 160000 for 2 years at 10% per annum when compounded semi-annually.

Solution:

Here, principal = $ 160000, rate = 10 % per annum = 5% per half-year, time = 2 years = 4 half-years.

Amount = $ {160000 × (1 + 5/100)⁴}

=$ (160000 × 21/20 × 21/20 × 21/20 × 21/20)

compound interest = $ (194481- 160000) = $ 34481.

Compound Interest by Using Formula, when it is calculated Quarterly

Interest Compounded Quarterly

Let principal = $ P. rate = R % per annum, time = n years.

Suppose that the interest is compounded quarterly.

Then, rate = (R/4) % Per quarter, time = (4n) quarters, and

amount = P × (1 + R/(4 × 100))⁴ⁿ

Compound interest = (amount) - (principal).

1. Find the compound interest on $ 125000, if Mike took loan from a bank for 9 months at 8 % per annum, compounded quarterly.

Solution:

Here, principal = $ 125000,

rate = 8 % per annum = (8/4) % per quarter = 2 % per quarter,

time = 9 months = 3 quarters.

Therefore, amount = $ {125000 × ( 1 + 2/100)³}

=$ (125000 × 51/50 × 51/50 × 51/50)= $ 132651

Therefore, compound interest $ (132651 - 125000) = $ 7651.

Compound Interest Test sample paper for class 8

1. You invest Rs 5000 at 12% interest compounded annually. How much is in the account after 2 years, assuming that you make no subsequent withdrawal or deposit?

2. Find the amount and the compound interest on Rs 4000 at 10% p.a. for 2½ years.

3. A man invests Rs 5000 for three years at a certain rate of interest, compounded annually. At the end of one year it amounts to Rs 5600. Calculate(i) the rate of interest per annum,(ii) the interest accrued in the second year,(iii) the amount at the end of the third year.

4. A sum of Rs 9600 is invested for 3 years at 10% per annum at compound interest.(i) What is the sum due at the end of the first year?(ii) What is the sum due at the end of the second year?(iii) Find the compound interest earned in two years.(iv) Find the difference between the answers (ii) and (i) and find the interest on this sum for one year.(v) Hence write down the compound interest for the third year.

5. Find the difference between the S.I. and C.I. on Rs 2500 for 2 years at 4% p.a., compound interest reckoned semi-annually.

6. Find the amount and the compound interest on Rs 8000 in 2 years if the rate is 10% for the first year and 12% for the second year.

7. A man invests Rs 6500 for 3 years at 4·5% p.a. compound interest reckoned yearly. Income tax at the rate of 20% is deducted at the end of each year. Find the amount at the end of the third year.

8. Calculate the compound interest for the second year on Rs 8000 invested for 3 years at 10% p.a.

9. Find the sum which amounts to Rs 9261 at 10% p.a. compound interest for 18 months, interest payable half-yearly.

10. On what sum will the compound interest for 2 years at 5% p.a. be Rs 246?

11. On what sum will the compound interest (reckoned yearly) for 3 years at 6¼% per annum be Rs 408·50?

12. A man invests Rs 1200 for two years at compound interest. After one year his money amounts to Rs 1275. Find the rate of compound interest. Also find the amount which the man will get after 2 years correct to the nearest paise.

13. At what rate percent per annum compound interest will Rs 2000 amount to Rs 2315·25 in 3 years?

14. If Rs 50000 amounts to Rs 73205 in 4 years, find the rate of compound interest payable yearly. In what time will Rs 15625 amount to Rs 17576 at 4% per annum compound interest? .

Answers

1. Rs 6272 2. Rs 5082; Rs 1082


3. (i) 12% (ii) Rs 672 (iii) Rs 6952·64


4. (i) Rs 10560 (ii) Rs 11616 (iii) Rs 2016


(iv) Rs 1056, Rs 105·60 (v) Rs 1161·60


5. Rs 6·08 6. Rs 9856; Rs 1856 7. Rs 7227·56


8. Rs 880 9. Rs 8000 10. Rs 2400 11. Rs 2048


12. 6¼%; Rs 1354·69 13. 5% 14. 10%


15. 3 years

Class 8 ENGLISH The Open Window Summary and NCERT QUESTIONS

The Open Window

Framton Nuttel, an eccentric hypochondriac, has moved to the country on his doctor’s advice to effect a cure for a nervous condition from which he suffers. His sister has lived in the area he visits and has given him letters of introduction to his new neighbors. The story concerns his visit to the home of one of these neighbors, a Mrs. Sappleton.

Mr. Nuttel is first met by Mrs. Sappleton’s niece Vera, who entertains him until her aunt is available. Vera, apparently bored with her guest, is graced with an overactive imagination and a sense of mischief. Once she determines that Mr. Nuttel knows nothing about the family and is a very literal-minded fellow, Vera spins a gothic yarn involving her aunt, whom she characterizes as a mentally disturbed widow.

Three years ago, Mr. Sappleton and his two younger brothers-in-law went hunting, leaving the house through a French window, which was left open until their return. However, all three of them were lost in a bog that day, Vera asserts, and their bodies were never recovered. The aunt, driven to distraction by her grief and loss, left the window open thereafter, anticipating that “they will come back some day” with “the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in that window just as they used to do.”

When Mrs. Sappleton finally appears, she explains why the window is open, apparently confirming Vera’s story. Mr. Nuttel then tells Mrs. Sappleton about his nervous disorder and his need to avoid any “mental excitement.” Mrs. Sappleton is clearly bored, but at that very moment she sees her husband and brothers returning from their hunt. Vera appears to be horrified by the sight of them. The nervous Mr. Nuttel is therefore terrified and beats a hasty retreat from the house.

In the closing paragraphs, the issue is clarified. The men had only that day gone hunting, and Vera’s yarn was purely imaginary. Mr. Nuttel has obviously been duped by Vera’s story, but Vera, a habitual liar, does not explain his odd behavior to the others. Instead, Vera invents another story that suggests Mr. Nuttel had once been frightened by “a pack of pariah dogs” in a cemetery “on the banks of the Ganges” and apparently had bolted at the sight of the spaniel accompanying the hunters. Thus, Mr. Nuttel is perfectly victimized by the young girl’s imagination.

The Open Window

1. Why had Framton Nuttel come to the “rural retreat”?

Answer: Framton Nuttel was suffering from some neural disease. He had come to the rural retreat to recuperate from his disease.

2. Why had his sister given him letters of introduction to people living there?

Answer: Framton’s sister lived there about three years ago. She knew some people over there, so she gave letters of introduction. Letters of introduction were to help him establish some identity for himself.

3. What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the niece?

Answer: Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and her two younger brothers went for shooting in summers about three years back. They got trapped in muddy ditch and died.

4. What did Mrs Sappleton say about the open window?

Answer: Mrs. Sappleton said that her husband and her younger brothers had been on a shooting spree and she was expecting them to come back through the window. They always came by that route only. She was waiting for them to come and spoil the décor of the house.

5. The horror on the girl’s face made Framton swing around in his seat. What did he see?

Answer: When Framton swung around he saw a silhouette of three men and dog in the evening light. Then a hoarse voice was heard shouting at the dog.

6. Why did Frampton rush out wildly?

Answer: On seeing three men approaching the house he must have thought of seeing the ghosts of three dead men. He was too afraid to stay there. So he fled from that place.

7. What was the girl’s explanation for his lightning exit?

Answer: The girl said that Frampton was afraid of the dog. Because he had bad experience, of being chased by dogs on the banks of the Ganges. There he ended up spending his night in a graveyard with ferocious animals scaring him throughout the night.

Class 8 Science Crop Production and Management

Amend Education Academy

Crop Production And Management

All living organisms require food. Plants can make their food themselves. Animals including humans can not make their own food. The energy from food is utilized by organisms for carrying out their various body functions, such as digestion, respiration and excretion. We get our food from plants, or animals, or both.

In order to provide food for a large population— regular production, proper management and distribution of food is necessary.

Agricultural Practices

When plants of the same kind are grown and cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. For example, crop of wheat means that all the plants grown in a field are that of wheat. Crops are of different types like cereals, vegetables and fruits. These can be classified on the basis of the season in which they grow. India is a vast country. The climatic conditions like temperature, humidity and rainfall vary from one region to another.

Accordingly, there is a rich variety of crops grown in different parts of the country. Despite this diversity, two broad cropping patterns can be identified. These are:

(i) Kharif Crops:- The crops which are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops. The rainy season in India is generally from June to September. Paddy, maize, soyabean, groundnut, cotton, etc., are kharif crops.

(ii) Rabi Crops:- The crops grown in the winter season are called rabi crops. Their time period is generally from October to March. Examples of rabi crops are wheat, gram, pea, mustard and linseed. Besides these, pulses and vegetables are grown during summer at many places.

Basic Practices of Crop Production

Cultivation of crops involves several activities undertaken by farmers over a period of time. These activities or tasks are referred to as agricultural practices. These activities are listed below.

(i) Preparation of Soil:

The preparation of soil is the first step before growing a crop. One of the most important tasks in agriculture is to turn the soil and loosen it. This allows the roots to penetrate deep into the soil. The loose soil allows the roots to breathe easily even when they go deep into the soil. The loosened soil helps in the\ growth of earthworms and microbes present in the soil.

The process of loosening and turning of the soil is called tilling or ploughing. This is done by using a plough. Ploughs are made of wood or iron. If the soil is very dry, it may need watering before ploughing. The ploughed field may have big pieces of soil called crumbs. It is necessary to break these crumbs with a plank. The field is levelled for sowing as well as for irrigation purposes. The levelling of soil is done with the help of a leveller.

(ii) Sowing:

Sowing is the most important part of crop production. Before sowing, good quality seeds are selected. Good quality seeds are clean and healthy seeds of a good variety. Farmers prefer to use seeds which give a high yield.

Before sowing, one of the important tasks is to know about the tools used for sowing seeds

Traditional Tool: The tool used traditionally for sowing seeds is shaped like a funnel. The seeds are filled into the funnel, passed down through two or three pipes having sharp ends. These ends pierce into the soil and place seeds there.

Seed Drill: Nowadays the seed drill is used for sowing with the help of tractors. This tool sows the seeds uniformly at proper distances and depths. It ensures that seeds get covered by the soil after sowing. This prevents damage caused by birds. Sowing by using a seed drill saves time and labour.

(iii) Adding Manure and Fertilisers

The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilisers. Soil supplies mineral nutrients to the crop. These nutrients are essential for the growth of plants. In certain areas, farmers grow crop after crop in the same field. The field is never left uncultivated or fallow.

Continuous growing of crops makes the soil poorer in certain nutrients. Therefore, farmers have to add manure to the fields to replenish the soil with nutrients. This process is called manuring.

Manure is an organic substance obtained from the decomposition of plant or animal wastes. Farmers dump plant and animal waste in pits at open places and allow it to decompose. The decomposition is caused by some microorganisms. The decomposed matter is used as organic manure.

Advantages of Manure: The organic manure is considered better than fertilisers. This is because

• it enhances the water holding capacity of the soil.
• it makes the soil porous due to which exchange of gases becomes easy.
• it increases the number of friendly microbes.
• it improves the texture of the soil.

(iv) Irrigation

All living beings need water to live. Water is important for proper growth and development of flowers, fruits and seeds of plants. Water is absorbed by the plant roots. Along with water, minerals and fertilisers are also absorbed. Plants contain nearly 90% water. Water is essential because germination of seeds does not take place under dry conditions. Nutrients dissolved in water get transported to each part of the plant. Water also protects the crop from both frost and hot air currents.

The supply of water to crops at different intervals is called irrigation. The time and frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop, soil to soil and season to season.

Sources of Irrigation: The sources of irrigation are— wells, tubewells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams and canals.

Traditional Methods of Irrigation

The water available in wells, lakes and canals is lifted up by different methods in different regions, for taking it to the fields. Cattle or human labour is used in these methods. So these methods are cheaper, but less efficient. The various traditional ways are:

(i) Moat (pulley-system)

(ii) Chain pump

(iii) Dhekli, and

(iv) Rahat (Lever system)

Modern Methods of Irrigation

Modern methods of irrigation help us to use water economically. The main methods used are as follows:

(a) Sprinkler System: This system is more useful on the uneven land where sufficient water is not available. The perpendicular pipes, having rotating nozzles on top, are joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals. When water is allowed to flow through the main pipe under pressure with the help of a pump, it escapes from the rotating nozzles. It gets sprinkled on the crop as if it is raining. Sprinkler is very useful for sandy soil.

(b) Drip system: In this system, the water falls drop by drop just at the position of the roots. So it is called drip system. It is the best technique for watering fruit plants, gardens and trees.

(v) Protection from Weeds

In a field many other undesirable plants may grow naturally along with the crop. These undesirable plants are called weeds.

The removal of weeds is called weeding. Weeding is necessary since weeds compete with the crop plants for water, nutrients, space and light. Thus, they affect the growth of the crop.

Farmers adopt many ways to remove weeds and control their growth. Tilling before sowing of crops helps in uprooting and killing of weeds, which may then dry up and get mixed with the soil. The best time for the removal of weeds is before they produce flowers and seeds. The manual removal includes physical removal of weeds by uprooting or cutting them close to the ground, from time to time. This is done with the help of a khurpi.

Weeds are also controlled by using certain chemicals, called weedicides; these are sprayed in the fields to kill the weeds. They do not damage the crops.

(vi) Harvesting

Harvesting of a crop is an important task. The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting. In harvesting, crops are pulled out or cut close to the ground. It usually takes 3 to 4 months for a cereal crop to mature.

In the harvested crop, the grain seeds need to be separated from the chaff. This process is called threshing. This is carried out with the help of a machine called ‘combine’ which is in fact a combined harvester and thresher.

(vii) Storage

Storage of produce is an important task. If the crop grains are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from moisture, insects, rats and microorganisms. The fresh crop has more moisture. If freshly harvested grains (seeds) are stored without drying, they may get spoilt or attacked by organisms, losing their germination capacity.

Summary

• In order to provide food to our growing population, we need to adopt certain agricultural practices.
• Same kind of plants grown and cultivated at a place constitute a crop.
• In India, crops can be broadly categorised into two types based on seasons -rabi and kharif crops.
• It is necessary to prepare soil by tilling and levelling. Ploughs and levellers are used for this purpose.
• Sowing of seeds at appropriate depths and distances gives good yield. Good variety of seeds is sown after selection of healthy seeds. Sowing is done by seed drills.
• Soil needs replenishment and enrichment through the use of organic manure and fertilisers. Use of chemical fertilisers has increased tremendously with the introduction of new crop varieties.
• Supply of water to crops at appropriate intervals is called irrigation.
• Weeding involves removal of unwanted and uncultivated plants called weeds.
• Harvesting is the cutting of the mature crop manually or by machines.
• Separation of the grains from the chaff is called threshing.
• Proper storage of grains is necessary to protect them from pests and microorganisms.
• Food is also obtained from animals for which animals are reared. This is called animal husbandry.