Class 8 English (Honeydew) – Poem: The Ant and the Cricket
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Summary (Easy English)
सारांश (हिंदी)
Questions & Answers (8th Standard – Simple)
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Q1. The cricket says, “Oh! what will become of me?” When does he say it, and why?
Ans: He says this when winter arrives and his cupboard is empty. There is no food outside or at home, so he feels helpless and worried. -
Q2 (i). Find lines matching “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”.
Ans: “But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend.”Q2 (ii). What is your opinion of the ant’s principles?
Ans: The principle is good. It teaches self-reliance and saving instead of depending on others. -
Q3. Is the word “dance” appropriate in “dance the winter away”? Why?
Ans: Yes. It is sarcastic. Since the cricket only enjoyed and sang in summer, the ant taunts him to “keep enjoying” even in winter. -
Q4 (i). Which lines express the poet’s comment?
Ans: “Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true:
Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.”Q4 (ii). Write the comment in your own words.
Ans: The story is true for humans too. Some people behave like the careless cricket; others are hardworking like the ant.
Key Word Meanings (EN → HI)
accustomed to sing — used to singing; आदत होना
famine — severe lack of food; अकाल/भुखमरी
lay nothing by — save nothing; कुछ भी न बचाना
quoth — said (old usage); कहा (पुराना प्रयोग)
miserly — very stingy; कंजूस
cupboard — small storage; अलमारी
trembling — shaking with cold/fear; काँपना
shelter — protection/roof; आश्रय
grain — food seeds; अनाज
wicket — small door/gate; छोटा द्वार
Hard Spellings • Meanings
Practice these for dictation & exams.
| Word | Meaning (EN) | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| accustomed | used to; habitual | आदी, अभ्यस्त |
| starvation | extreme hunger | भुखमरी |
| famine | severe food shortage | अकाल |
| trembling | shaking with cold/fear | काँपना |
| miserly | very stingy | कंजूस |
| shelter | protection; a place to stay | आश्रय |
| cupboard | cabinet for storage | अलमारी |
| borrow | take with promise to return | उधार लेना |
| repay | pay back | वापस चुकाना |
| grain | seeds used as food | अनाज |
| sorrow | sadness | शोक/दुःख |
| wicket | small door/gate | छोटा द्वार |
| quoth | said (old word) | कहा (पुराना) |
| gay (old usage) | happy/bright | प्रसन्न/चमकीला |
| nature | the natural world | प्रकृति |
| scarcity | shortage | कमी |
| folks | people | लोग |
| fable | story with a moral | दंतकथा |
| lend | give temporarily | उधार देना |
| accuse | blame | आरोप लगाना |
Moral & Exam Tips
Moral: Work hard and save for the future. Planning is better than careless enjoyment.
Theme: Prudence & Hard Work Form: Fable (Poem) Tone: Sarcasm towards laziness