CBSE Class VIII English (Poorvi) Unit 4: Environment — Waiting for the Rain Questions and Answers

Waiting for the Rain

Unit 4: Environment | Poorvi | Questions and Answers

Let us do these activities before we read

A farmer and his wife enjoy the rain in their field.

I

Have you ever waited for the rains? Why?

Sample answer: Yes, I have waited for the rains after a hot, dry summer, because I wanted cool weather. In the story, Velu and his neighbours waited for the rains because their fields were dry and they could not sow or plough. (Answers will differ from student to student.)

II

How do you feel when it rains after a long time?

Sample answer: I feel happy and relieved. In the story, when Velu felt the first drops of rain after many months, he "ran home, laughing and happy". (Answers will differ from student to student.)

III

Why do you think the farmers wait for the rains?

Farmers wait for the rains because without rain they cannot till the land, and if the land is not tilled, no crop will grow. In the story, the earth became hard, crusted and cracked without rain, so the farmers lived entirely on hope.

IV. 1

Discuss in groups what happens when you wait for something or someone for a long period of time. How do you spend the waiting period?

Sample answer: We keep ourselves busy with small tasks, read, play or talk to friends and family. In the story, Velu woke up early every day, looked at the sky, and visited the weather office to look for answers. (Answers will differ.)

IV. 2

What do you think about?

Sample answer: We think about when the wait will end and what we will do then. In the story, Velu wondered what he had done to deserve this and how he would feed his family. (Answers will differ.)

IV. 3

How do you feel?

Sample answer: We feel hopeful, worried or impatient. In the story, Velu felt hopeful, then dejected, bitter and a little angry. (Answers will differ.)

Let us discuss (Part I)

Velu and other farmers discuss the missing rains.

Velu sees an old woman resting in the shade of a large tree.

I

Complete the table given below. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Columns: What was Said | Who Said | What was Said (to whom) | Who Said (how or in what situation)

What was said	Who said	To whom	Situation
1. It doesn't look encouraging.	Velu	to himself	He looked up at the sky.
2. The rains came all these years without any such consultations…	Velu	to the other farmers	When someone said they should talk to some astrologers who can tell them what will please the heavens.
3. So many favourable conditions but still no rain.	The people at the weather office	to Velu	Velu went to the weather office in the city to ask when the rain would come, and they said they were at a loss themselves.

II

Do you think the old woman would help Velu? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Sample answer: Yes, I think she would help Velu. She was sitting calmly in the shade and was smiling, which shows she was kind and wise. Velu was tired and sad, and she was likely to listen to him and give him good advice. (Answers may differ.)

III

Will Velu's wait continue or will it rain?

Sample answer: I think it will rain soon. The old woman seems wise and she may tell him something hopeful, so Velu's wait may end. (Answers may differ. In the story, the clouds do gather and it begins to rain.)

Let us discuss (Part II)

Velu asks the old woman why she is smiling.

The old woman tells Velu that the land also needs rest.

Velu thinks about the land and what the old woman said.

The old woman walks away and Velu follows later.

Velu is happy as the clouds gather and the rain begins.

I. 1

Velu asked the old woman to stop smiling because _________________.

Velu asked the old woman to stop smiling because he felt there was nothing to smile about without the rains. He was worried about his dry fields and his family.

I. 2

Velu said that it was hard not being able to work since _________________.

Velu said that it was hard not being able to work since he had worked hard throughout the year for nearly six years, and this was the first season that he had not sown or ploughed.

I. 3

Velu was confused when the old lady said that the land needed rest because _________________.

Velu was confused when the old lady said that the land needed rest because he had never thought that the land could get tired or needed rest. He only thought about his own hard work.

I. 4

The old lady said that it was good for the land when it didn't rain as _________________.

The old lady said that it was good for the land when it didn't rain as the land was left alone, undisturbed and resting, so it would spring back into activity, fresh and ready for the crop, when the rains came.

I. 5

Velu ran home laughing and happy because _________________.

Velu ran home laughing and happy because he felt a cool breeze and a tiny drop of rain, and he saw clouds gathering. This showed that the rain was about to come.

Let us think and reflect

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

Extract 1: "...I can't see how talking to astrologers will bring rain."

1 (i)

What does the first line of the extract tell us about Velu's beliefs?

It tells us that Velu does not believe that astrologers can bring rain. He is practical and trusts what he sees and knows from experience, since the rains came all those years without any such consultations.

1 (ii)

Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason. Velu is determined to seek information about the rain because ___________________. (he was at a loss of words/he wants to find a practical solution to the drought affecting his farm)

Velu is determined to seek information about the rain because he wants to find a practical solution to the drought affecting his farm.

1 (iii)

Complete the table with reference to Velu's weather office visit.

Expectation (What I think will happen)	Outcome (What actually happened)
Velu expected that the people at the weather office would tell him when the clouds would gather and bring rain.	The people at the weather office said they could not tell him when it would rain. They said they were at a loss themselves, as there were many favourable conditions but still no rain.

1 (iv)

Complete the following sentence with a suitable option. The absence of rain despite favourable conditions, shows ___________________.
A. lack of astrological knowledge
B. ineffectiveness of farmers like Velu
C. delay in understanding the weather
D. unpredictability of nature

D. unpredictability of nature. The weather office said there were many favourable conditions but still no rain, which shows that nature cannot be predicted.

Extract 2: "The soil, the land, the earth... shouldn't someone let the land rest a bit?"

2 (i)

The old woman's advice was accompanied with a soft tone and a smile. What does that tell us about her?

It tells us that she is gentle, kind, calm and caring. She does not scold Velu. She speaks to him patiently, like a wise elder.

2 (ii)

Fill in the blank with the correct option from those given below. The old woman's advice ___________ Velu, at that moment.
A. failed to impress B. confused C. scared D. made sense to

B. confused. Velu was "a little puzzled" and said, "Rest? Let the land rest? I don't understand."

2 (iii)

State one thing about the old woman when she referred to Velu as 'my son', while offering advice.

When she called Velu 'my son', it showed that she was affectionate and caring towards him, like an elder or a mother. (She was also older and wiser than Velu.)

2 (iv)

Complete the following sentence with a suitable explanation. The 'difficulty' that the old woman mentions is due to the fact that ________________.

The 'difficulty' that the old woman mentions is due to the fact that Velu does not realise that the earth is old and has worked for thousands of years, so it also needs rest.

II. Answer the following questions.

II. 1

How does the old woman convey Nature's wisdom to Velu?

The old woman speaks softly and with a smile. She tells Velu that the earth has worked for thousands of years when people plough, sow and plant, so it needs rest. She says Nature is a mother to all, and takes care to give her children the rest they need. She explains that when the rains do not come, the land lies undisturbed and rests, and it will be fresh and ready for the crop when the rains come.

II. 2

The writer says, 'The fields lay untended…' Why couldn't the farmers tend to their fields in the absence of rain?

The farmers could not tend their fields because the rains did not come. The earth became hard, crusted and cracked, so they could not till the land. Velu said, "Without the rains I can't till the land. If I don't till the land no crop will grow."

II. 3

Support the old woman's perspective that the land needs rest just like people do.

People get tired and need rest after working hard, and so does the land. The old woman says the earth works when we plough, sow and plant, and it has worked for years, centuries and thousands of years. Velu had cultivated his land all year round for nearly six years without a break, so the land needed rest too. When the land lies undisturbed, it recovers and is "fresh and ready" for the next crop.

II. 4

What can be inferred about Velu's character based on his reaction to the drought?

Velu is hardworking, honest and practical. He wakes up early and works all year round. He does not believe that astrologers can bring rain and goes to the weather office to look for a real answer. He loves his land and worries about his family. He feels bitter and dejected during the drought, but he is willing to listen to the old woman and to think about what she said. He is also hopeful, because he hopes for rain every day.

II. 5

What does the story suggest about the life of farmers and their relationship with nature?

The story suggests that farmers work very hard, but their lives depend on nature and on the rains. They wake up early, work all year round and live on hope when the rains fail. The story also suggests that farmers should understand and respect nature. Nature knows what is needed and gives the land the rest it needs.

II. 6

How might the rest and care of land contribute to a balanced and sustainable ecosystem?

When the land is given rest, it recovers and becomes fresh and ready for the next crop, as the old woman says. The chapter's "Let us explore" section adds that leaving land unsown (fallowing) allows it to recover its nutrients and retain moisture. It also helps to avoid the spread of diseases and to control pests. Giving the land rest and care in this way keeps it fertile for the future, so it supports a balanced and sustainable ecosystem.

Let us learn

Crossword with picture and word clues on weather and agriculture.

I

Solve a crossword using picture and word clues. All clues are related to the words from the text that are connected to weather or agriculture.
Down: 1. gentle wind; 2. (picture: lightning); 3. rumbling sound with rain; 4. grains etc. grown in large quantity in fields; 6. (picture: cloud); 7. (picture: rain drops).
Across: 5. collected crops; 8. (picture: sun); 9. prepare and use land for crops; 10. turn up the field soil; 11. plant seed/s.

Down	Answer	Across	Answer
1. gentle wind	BREEZE	5. collected crops	HARVESTED
2. (lightning)	LIGHTNING	8. (sun)	SUN
3. rumbling sound with rain	THUNDER	9. prepare and use land for crops	CULTIVATE
4. grains etc. grown in large quantity in fields	CROP	10. turn up the field soil	PLOUGH
6. (cloud)	CLOUD	11. plant seed/s	SOW
7. (rain drops)	RAIN

All these words appear in the story or its exercises, except that the exact grid positions depend on the crossword layout in the book. Use the answers above to fill the grid.

The farmer in the homophones paragraph, looking at the sky.

II

The text uses words like 'piece,' 'weather,' 'son,' and 'rain'. These words are the same as other words that are spelt differently—peace, whether, sun, and reign. Words that are pronounced the same as other words but differ in meaning or in spelling are called homophones. Now, complete the paragraph by filling in the correct option of homophones given in the brackets.

The farmer looked at the sky and wondered 1. whether the clouds would finally bring rain. He sat down on the ground, breaking a small 2. piece of roti for his meal. The 3. plain fields stretched endlessly before him, completely dry. He thought about how he could 4. sell his last sack of grain to buy some essentials for his family. Without the rains, it didn't 5. seem possible to grow another crop this season. Despite his worries, he smiled, knowing that every farmer hopes for the next 6. rain by nature to bring life back to the land.

III. 1

Choose the correct meanings from the given options for the underlined words or phrases. Being annoyed, she muttered something which nobody heard.
(i) spoke in a low voice (ii) spoke slowly (iii) spoke angrily

(i) spoke in a low voice. Nobody heard her, so she spoke in a low voice.

III. 2

At the new work place, Riya felt forlorn for a week.
(i) upset and irritated (ii) angry and bitter (iii) sad and neglected

(iii) sad and neglected. The chapter defines 'forlorn' as "sad and neglected".

III. 3

When all his friends had gone, he was at a loss because he did not know what to do.
(i) confused (ii) shocked (iii) lonely

(i) confused. He did not know what to do, so he was confused. In the story, the weather office people and Velu were also "at a loss" because they did not know why it did not rain.

III. 4

When the little child saw her father, her eyes sparkled.
(i) glowed dimly (ii) showed joy (iii) opened wide

(ii) showed joy. In the story, the old woman's eyes also sparkled when she smiled.

IV

Match each word (adjective) in Column 1 with a word (noun) that collocates in Column 2. Write the adjective-noun collocation in Column 3. One example has been done for you.
Column 1: 1. favourable, 2. wrinkled, 3. dejected, 4. fragrant, 5. ceaseless, 6. beloved
Column 2: (i) country, (ii) activity, (iii) weather, (iv) skin, (v) garden, (vi) expression

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
1. favourable	(iii) weather	favourable weather
2. wrinkled	(iv) skin	wrinkled skin
3. dejected	(vi) expression	dejected expression
4. fragrant	(v) garden	fragrant garden
5. ceaseless	(ii) activity	ceaseless activity
6. beloved	(i) country	beloved country

V (Part 1)

Underline the verbs and identify the forms of tenses for the following sentences from the text.
1. Oh, it is hard not to be able to work...
2. …I am too old.
3. What are you smiling at, Amma?
4. But my son, that is what I am talking about.
5. The earth has worked for years, centuries…
6. I have worked hard and honestly.

1. Oh, it is hard not to be able to work... Simple Present Tense (is).
2. …I am too old. Simple Present Tense (am).
3. What are you smiling at, Amma? Present Progressive Tense (are smiling).
4. But my son, that is what I am talking about. Present Progressive Tense (am talking). The word "is" in "that is what" is in Simple Present.
5. The earth has worked for years, centuries… Present Perfect Tense (has worked).
6. I have worked hard and honestly. Present Perfect Tense (have worked).

V (Part 2)

Now, fill in the blanks with the correct form of Simple Present, Present Progressive or Present Perfect tenses of the verbs given in brackets.

Ravi (i) is (be) a farmer who (ii) practises (practise) crop rotation on his land. Each season, he (iii) plants (plant) different crops to maintain the soil's health. This year, he (iv) is growing (grow) legumes, which help restore the nutrients in the soil. Over the years, Ravi (v) has learnt (learn) that planting the same crop repeatedly (vi) depletes (deplete) the soil, making it less fertile. By rotating crops, he (vii) keeps (keep) the land productive and fertile. He (viii) has seen (see) a noticeable improvement in his yields since adopting this method. Now, Ravi (ix) is sharing (share) his knowledge with other farmers, explaining how crop rotation (x) benefits (benefit) both the soil and their harvests.

Mala enjoys playing near a puddle on a rainy afternoon.

VI

Study the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text. (The, all, any, many, every, this, five, six, some, a little, her, a, his are determiners.) Now, fill in the blanks by choosing the correct determiner from those given in the brackets.

It was 1. a (a/an) rainy afternoon, and 2. the (a/the) sky was thick with dark clouds. Mala noticed a large puddle quickly forming in front of 3. her (her/their) house. Excited, she called for her brother to join her, knowing that both of them always loved playing in 4. the (a/the) rain. While jumping from 5. one (some/one) puddle to another, Mala spotted 6. a few (few/a few) snails slowly creeping along the wet sidewalk and pointed them out to her brother. With 7. every (each/every) jump, the sound of both 8. their (her/their) squeals and laughter was heard through the soft patter of raindrops. Though they were fully drenched 9. neither (either/neither) of the siblings minded it. It had been a perfect rainy day.

Note: In blank 9, the sentence reads "...fully drenched 9. ________ siblings minded it". The determiner neither fits, because it means not one of the two.

Let us listen

I. 1

Listen to the weather forecast. As you listen, fill in the blanks with the exact word you listen to. Delhi will mostly have a ___________ sky with light rain.

cloudy. The forecast says Delhi is expected to have a generally cloudy sky with light rain.

I. 2

Moderate rain is likely to happen in ___________.

Mumbai. The forecast says the sky will be generally cloudy with moderate rain in Mumbai.

I. 3

Kolkata is likely to have a maximum temperature of around ___________ °C.

34. The minimum will be 28 °C and the maximum will be around 34 °C.

I. 4

There is a chance of a ___________ in Chennai.

thunderstorm. The forecast mentions a possibility of thunderstorm in Chennai.

I. 5

Bengaluru will have a ___________ temperature of 29 °C.

maximum. The forecast says the temperature will rise to a maximum of around 29 °C.

I. 6

Taking an ___________ is advisable because of the weather conditions.

umbrella. The forecast ends with "Don't forget to carry your umbrellas!"

Let us speak

I

Here is a tongue twister about 'weather'. Practice saying it as fast as you can.
Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not, whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot, we'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.

This is a speaking activity. Read the tongue twister slowly at first, and then say it faster. Note that "weather" (the condition of the atmosphere) and "whether" (used for choices) sound the same, so they are homophones. Practise it with a partner and see who can say it fastest without making mistakes.

II

Rain has arrived after a long dry spell on the Earth. Imagine the Rain and the Earth have a conversation. Work in pairs and present the role-play. You may use the hints in the table given below.

Sample role-play, using the hints given in the chapter:

Rain: Greetings, Earth! It's been a while since we've met. How have you been?

Earth: Hello Rain! I am so glad to see you. I feel so relieved that you have arrived at last!

Earth: Why did it take you so long to come?

Rain: I had a long journey from the Earth up to the sky and back again to you. I am happy to be here now.

Earth: Thank you for the gift of water! You are so important to me. Farmers need you for their crops, and plants and animals need you to survive.

Rain: How can you use the gift I brought, my rain water?

Earth: It will help the crops grow and fill the rivers, and all living things will be refreshed.

Earth: How do you feel about being on Earth?

Rain: I enjoy being here very much. It makes me happy to see the green fields and the happy people.

Earth: Please join the celebration of the rivers, forests and people of Earth!

Rain: Thank you for the invite. I promise to return on time next year.

(Answers will differ from pair to pair.)

Let us write

Letter

You have observed the difficulties faced by the people in your neighbourhood due to scarcity of water especially during the summer months. Write a letter to the Councillor of your Municipal ward, requesting her/him to set up a rain water harvesting unit. Provide suggestions to address the issue.

Sample letter, following the format and layout given in the chapter:

12, Green Park Colony
Ward No. 44
[Name of City]

16 October 2026

The Municipal Councillor
Ward No. 44
[Municipal Office Address]

Subject: Request to Install a Rainwater Harvesting Unit in Ward No. 44

Dear Madam,

I am writing to draw your attention to the shortage of water in our neighbourhood, especially during the summer months. Many families have to wait for long hours or walk far to get water.

The main cause is that the water supply is not enough for the number of people living here. As a result, people face daily difficulties, and children and senior citizens suffer the most.

I request you to set up a rainwater harvesting unit in our ward. I also suggest that the rainwater from the roofs of public buildings and schools be collected and stored, and that residents be encouraged to save water.

I hope you will take action on this soon. Thank you for your time and attention.

Yours sincerely,
(Signature)
(Name of the sender)

The letter follows the tips in the chapter: it uses formal language, short sentences, states the purpose clearly and gives relevant details. (Answers will differ from student to student.)

Let us explore

Rain falling on the sea and on a village, as shown at the end of the chapter.

I

Rest is very important for us to function in a proper manner. Even the Earth needs rest. This is known as fallowing. Read the facts given below related to fallowing.

This is a reading task. The key facts from the chapter are:

• A fallow year refers to leaving the land without sowing for one, or several vegetative cycles.
• This is done to allow the land to recover its nutrients and retain moisture. It also helps to avoid spreading of diseases and controlling pests.
• The sustainable land management method has been applied for centuries, wherein a field is divided into two halves. One half is planted with crops while the other remains unplanted. Then, the process is reversed in the following year.

II

Find out from your Vocational Education teacher about Agriculture as a vocation and other related vocations, such as horticulture, etc.

This is an activity. Students ask their Vocational Education teacher about agriculture as a vocation and related vocations such as horticulture, and note down what they learn to share with the class. The chapter does not give any details about these vocations. (Answers will differ.)

III

India's rich tradition of meteorological knowledge includes indigenous forecasting systems, grounded in ancient wisdom. These provide sophisticated methods for predicting climate, calculating rainfall, and issuing early warnings. References to rain and weather are found in numerous ancient texts, including the Rigveda, Shrimad Bhagavad, Parashara Samhita, Panini's Ashtadhyayi, and Meghmala. These texts offer insights into rainfall patterns and seasonal changes.

This is an information box with no question to answer. The main points are:

• India has a rich tradition of meteorological knowledge, including indigenous forecasting systems based on ancient wisdom.
• These systems provide methods for predicting climate, calculating rainfall and issuing early warnings.
• Ancient texts such as the Rigveda, Shrimad Bhagavad, Parashara Samhita, Panini's Ashtadhyayi and Meghmala refer to rain and weather, and give insights into rainfall patterns and seasonal changes.

IV

Meteorological Services for Agriculture in India

This is an information box with no question to answer. The main points are:

• The primary objective of the Agricultural Meteorology Division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is to minimise the impact of adverse weather on crops and to use crop-weather relationships to boost agricultural production.
• Besides forecasts and advisories, several other weather related services are also provided.
• For detailed information, students can visit the link given in the chapter: https://mausam.imd.gov.in/responsive/servicesMetEnvironment.php