CBSE Class VIII English Poorvi Unit 2 Verghese Kurien - I Too Had a Dream Questions and Answers

Verghese Kurien - I Too Had a Dream

Let us do these activities before we read

I. Arrange the worldwide means of communication given below in the timeline provided. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

• 1. telephone
• 2. email
• 3. postcard
• 4. telegraph
• 5. mobile phone
• 6. carrier pigeons

Figure 1: Traditional and modern means of communication shown in the textbook.

Chronological Order Timeline:

1. Carrier pigeons
2. Telegraph
3. Postcard
4. Telephone
5. Mobile phone
6. Email

II. Work in pairs and discuss the following things. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. The reasons for change in the means of communication over the years.
2. The means of communication that you prefer to use and the reason for your choice.
3. Communication through social media: its benefits and precautions that one should take against its misuse.

1. Reasons for change: Technological advancement, the need for faster message delivery, increased convenience, global connectivity, and reduced cost over time.
2. Preferred means of communication: Smartphone/Instant Messaging or Email, because it enables instant connection across long distances, allows rich media sharing, and keeps a written record.
3. Social Media Communication:
   • Benefits: Connects people worldwide instantly, facilitates knowledge sharing, provides quick news updates, and builds communities.
   • Precautions: Avoid sharing personal or sensitive data publicly, do not share unverified news, protect account privacy, and report online harassment or misuse.

Let us discuss

Figure 2: Dr. Verghese Kurien and his legacy in Anand, Gujarat.

I. Identify which of the following statements are facts and which are opinions. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. "But speaking on the telephone only gives us an immediate but fleeting joy." — Opinion
2. "I started my working life soon after our country became independent." — Fact
3. "To be quite honest, service to our nation's farmers was not the career I had envisioned for myself." — Fact
4. "I knew I could make a more meaningful contribution by working here in Anand, Gujarat." — Opinion
5. "...values that I saw in my mentor and supporter here in Anand-Tribhuvandas Patel." — Fact
6. "Life is a privilege, and to waste it would be wrong." — Opinion
7. "I hope that you, too, will discover, as I did, that failure is not about not succeeding." — Opinion
8. "...the magnificent ceremony in which the President awarded me the Padma Vibhushan in 1999?" — Fact

Let us think and reflect

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

Extract 1:
"In today's fast-paced world we have become so addicted to instant communication that we prefer to use a telephone. But speaking on the telephone only gives us an immediate but fleeting joy. Writing is different. Writing even if it is a letter-not only conveys our present concerns and views of the events taking place around us but it becomes a possession that can be treasured and re-read over the years, with great, abiding pleasure."

(i) Fill in the blank given below by selecting the correct option from the brackets:
When the writer refers to a 'fast-paced world', he is speaking of a world where communication happens quickly but lacks depth.

(ii) Select the option that applies correctly to both Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
(A): Writing letters can be treasured and re-read over the years.
(R): Speaking on the telephone provides long lasting joy.
Answer: C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.

(iii) Identify whether the statement given below is true or false:
The writer feels that letter-writing is a class apart from other kinds of writing.
Answer: False. (The writer states that writing, even if it is a simple letter, is special compared to instant telephone calls).

(iv) Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the given extract?
Answer: C. The Lasting Joy of Written Words

Extract 2:
"Your grandmother too made an important choice. She knew, in those early days, life in Anand could not offer even the simple comforts that we take for granted today. However, she ardently supported my choice to live and work in Anand. That choice of your grandmother to stand by me has given me an everlasting strength, always ensuring that I shouldered my responsibilities with poise."

(i) How can we say that the grandmother shared her husband's dedication to a greater cause?
She willingly gave up simple modern comforts to live in Anand and ardently supported his decision to serve the dairy farmers.

(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from the two given in brackets:
The fact that the writer (grandfather) praises his wife tells us that he truly values her role in his life.

(iii) Complete the following sentence with the correct option from those given below:
Based on the information in the extract, we can infer that the grandmother had all of the following traits EXCEPT
Answer: C. comforting (While encouraging, understanding, and thoughtful fit, comforting is not explicitly highlighted as a primary trait in contrast to her strong support and sacrifice).

(iv) Select the phrase that conveys- 'showed grace under pressure and carried out my duties with dignity and confidence'.
Answer: "shouldered my responsibilities with poise"

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What event does Dr. Kurien refer to when he mentions receiving the Padma Vibhushan?
   He refers to the magnificent ceremony held in Delhi in 1999, where the President of India awarded him the Padma Vibhushan in the presence of his grandson.
2. How did Dr. Kurien's decision to join the cooperative in Anand affect his life?
   It completely transformed his life, leading him to put aside other career options (like metallurgy, the army, or going to the US) to devote his life to serving India's dairy farmers.
3. Dr. Kurien's decision to work in Anand reveals his values and sense of duty. Explain.
   It shows his humility, personal integrity, selflessness, and commitment to the common good by choosing to empower small farmers over personal wealth or prestige.
4. Why did Dr. Kurien write the letter to his grandson?
   He wrote it to share lasting memories, explain his life choices, and pass down valuable core principles to inspire his grandson and future generations to work for the larger good of the nation.
5. According to Dr. Kurien "life is a privilege and it is wrong to waste it". What is your opinion on this?
   I agree completely. Life gives us capabilities and opportunities, so using our talents to help others and contribute positively to society makes our life meaningful.
6. What message does Dr. Kurien want to convey about selfless service and its long-term impact on the society?
   He conveys that true failure is not putting in your best effort for the common good. Selfless service creates lasting institutions, empowers communities, and brings true personal fulfillment.

Let us learn

I. Replace the underlined words in each sentence with the correct synonym from the box:
[essential | swift | lifelong | momentary | useful | splendid]

1. He received the award in a magnificent ceremony. → splendid
2. I felt a fleeting joy when I received the appreciation for my song. → momentary
3. With today's instant communication, we can share information across the world in seconds. → swift
4. Our school focuses on the core values-collaboration, innovation, and unity. → essential
5. My teacher's advice on time management is a valuable reminder of the importance of planning. → useful
6. Reading books and listening to music can give abiding pleasure that will last forever. → lifelong

II. Match the expressions from the text in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.

Column 1	Column 2
1. in all humility	(iv) being humble and having no feeling of self-importance
2. hold their heads high	(vi) be confident and have a positive feeling
3. to be quite honest	(i) to speak in a truthful way
4. to the best of your ability	(ii) doing something using all your skills, talents, and knowledge
5. looked at in awe	(iii) observed with great respect and wonder
6. somewhere deep down	(v) in the innermost part of the self

III. Make as many words as you can out of the following words.

1. community: city, toy, tune, unity, mutiny, cot
2. important: part, port, tan, ant, map, trap, pin, pit, art, mat
3. magnificent: cat, net, mat, fine, gain, coin, giant, magic
4. satisfied: sit, sat, tie, ties, fast, date, side, fist
5. generation: gear, rate, ration, neat, gate, nation, iron, tone
6. achievement: chat, hit, ache, meet, team, time, heat, machine

IV. Let us play a word game—antakshari.
Follow the clues to write synonyms and antonyms:

1. (i) major (synonym) → IMPORTANT
2. (ii) problem (synonym) → TROUBLE
3. (iii) uneven (antonym) → EVEN
4. (iv) related to post office → POSTAL
5. (v) our moral duty → RESPONSIBILITY
6. (vi) related to time → TEMPORARY / SECOND
7. (vii) prosperous (synonym) → RICH / SUCCESSFUL
8. (viii) related to being alive → LIVING

V. Read the sentences below and insert either an em dash (—) or an en dash (–) suitably.

1. The conference will be held from March 15–March 20. (En dash for date range)
2. I have lived in Kanpur–Raipur for five years now. (En dash for connection/range)
3. The artist—known for her vibrant paintings—will be showcasing her work in Guwahati. (Em dash for parenthetical info)
4. The scores for the final match were 2–3. (En dash for scores)
5. My favourite snacks—samosas, pakoras, and jalebis—are all from India. (Em dash for extra detail)
6. The train journey from Belagavi–Bengaluru takes less than ten hours. (En dash for route)
7. I just finished reading the book—it was absolutely amazing! (Em dash for emphasis/thought change)
8. The event will take place on September 1–September 5. (En dash for date range)

VI. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct word from the options given in the brackets.

1. Please remember to bring your (your/you're) assignment book.
2. The team celebrated their (their/they're) victory after the match.
3. It's (its/it's) important to stay hydrated during the hot summer days.
4. I can't believe you're (your/you're) going to the mango festival today.
5. The students said they're (they're/their) excited for the field trip tomorrow.
6. The tree lost its (its/it's) leaves in the winter.

VII. Complete the following sentences with suitable prepositional phrases.

1. The children played happily in the park.
2. Nisha placed the vase on the wooden table.
3. We discussed the project in great detail.
4. Preethi found the lost book under her bed.
5. The cat slept on the soft cushion.

VIII. Rearrange the following jumbled words and phrases into meaningful sentences.

1. Jumbled: barked/at the strangers/the dog/loudly/the house/walking by
   Sentence: The dog barked loudly at the strangers walking by the house.
2. Jumbled: wrote/my classmate/during the/a story/summer vacations
   Sentence: My classmate wrote a story during the summer vacations.
3. Jumbled: enjoyed/under the trees/they/by the lake/a picnic
   Sentence: They enjoyed a picnic under the trees by the lake.
4. Jumbled: in his/grandfather's room/hung/he/the painting
   Sentence: He hung the painting in his grandfather's room.
5. Jumbled: studied/with great determination/for/students/the/exam
   Sentence: The students studied for the exam with great determination.

Let us listen

I. After listening to the passage about Evelyn Glennie, match the words given in Column 1 with their meanings given in Column 2.

Column 1	Column 2
1. percussionist	(i) a person who plays drums and similar instruments
2. impaired	(v) damaged or weakened
3. vibrations	(iv) physical sensations caused by sound
4. determination	(ii) the ability to keep going despite difficulties
5. gradual	(iii) slow and steady over time

II. Listen to the passage once again and state whether the statements given below are true or false.

1. Evelyn Glennie became deaf suddenly. — False (Her loss of hearing was gradual).
2. Her headmistress ignored the signs of her hearing loss. — False (Her headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist).
3. Ron Forbes was a percussionist who helped Evelyn. — True
4. Evelyn used her skin and bones to sense music. — True
5. She gave up on music after her diagnosis. — False (She was determined to continue her music).

III. Answer the following questions in one or two words.

1. How did Evelyn turn her disability into strength?
   Through determination / sensing vibrations.
2. What role did Ron Forbes play in her life?
   Percussion mentor / spotted potential.
3. What lessons can we learn from Evelyn's story about how to treat others who have different abilities or challenges?
   Encourage potential / equal empathy.

Let us speak

I. Read aloud the given words with the correct syllable stress according to the part of speech given in the brackets.

• PROduce (noun) — PRO-duce
• proDUCE (verb) — pro-DUCE
• CONtract (noun) — CON-tract
• conTRACT (verb) — con-TRACT
• PROject (noun) — PRO-ject
• proJECT (verb) — pro-JECT
• CONtent (noun) — CON-tent
• conTENT (verb) — con-TENT
• REfuse (noun) — RE-fuse
• reFUSE (verb) — re-FUSE

II. Read aloud the words given below with the 'shuh' or 'zhuh' sound.

• 'Zhuh' sound (/ʒə/): measure, leisure, enclosure, exposure, seizure, composure
• 'Shuh' sound (/ʃə/): reassure, ensure, fissure, unsure

III. Chunk the stanzas with (/) or (//) and read it aloud.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might
have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow-
you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man.

Life is queer/ with its twists and turns,//
As everyone of us/ sometimes learns.//
And many a fellow turns about/ when he might have won/ had he stuck it out.//
Don't give up/ though the pace seems slow—//
you may succeed/ with another blow.//
Often the goal is nearer/ than it seems/ to a faint and faltering man.//

Let us write

I. Write a letter to your grandparents thanking them for the valuable lessons they have taught you. Include how their wisdom has shaped your values and behaviour in life.

15, Rosewood Apartments
MG Road, Bengaluru
12 October 2026

Dearest Dada and Dadi,

I hope this letter finds you both in great health and spirits. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for all the wonderful values and life lessons you have taught me over the years.

I will always treasure the stories you shared during my vacations and your acts of kindness toward our neighbors. Watching you care for others with honesty and dedication has taught me the true meaning of integrity and empathy. Your guidance has shaped how I interact with my friends and teachers every day.

Inspired by your actions, I have volunteered to lead our school's community cleanliness campaign. I hope to make you proud by serving society just as you have always done.

With fondest love and respect,

Yours lovingly,
Ananya

Let us explore

Figure 3: Key Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions in India.

I. Research more information about the Revolutions (White, Green, and Blue Revolutions). Share your findings with your classmates and teacher.

• White Revolution (Operation Flood): Led by Dr. Verghese Kurien. Transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the world's largest milk producer by empowering small dairy farmers through cooperatives like Amul.
• Green Revolution: Spearheaded by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. Introduced high-yielding seed varieties, modern irrigation, and fertilizers, drastically increasing food grain production (wheat and rice) to ensure national food security.
• Blue Revolution: Led by Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri. Focused on modernizing aquaculture and commercial fisheries to boost productivity, enhance exports, and improve fishermen's livelihoods.

II. Find out more about Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) with the help of the link provided.

Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS): Operating under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, JSS provides non-formal vocational skill training directly to rural non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts. It aims to foster local entrepreneurship and socio-economic upliftment.

III. Financial Literacy Discussion Questions

Figure 4: Key concepts of Financial Literacy.

1. The importance of learning about money and saving from a young age. Share one example.
   Learning early helps form responsible spending habits and prepares us for future security. Example: Putting a portion of pocket money into a piggy bank or savings account to buy necessary books later.
2. Imagine you received some money as a gift. How would you decide whether to save it, spend it, or invest it? What factors would you consider?
   I would consider whether I need something urgently (needs vs. wants), save a portion for future requirements, and put the rest into a long-term deposit or investment.
3. If you were in charge of planning a small event at school with a limited budget, how would you manage the money?
   I would create a detailed budget list, prioritize essential items (decorations/snacks), compare prices from different vendors, and keep a small emergency fund reserve.
4. Why is financial literacy important for everyone?
   It prevents debt, allows individuals to manage personal household budgets, aids long-term financial security, and empowers individuals to make informed choices.