A visit to cambridge

NAME :ZOHA SAJJAD HUSSAIN
CLASS:VIII-I
SUBMITTED TO : MANJEET K.
SINGH
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA GOLE
MARKET
MADE BY:

This is the story of a meeting
between two Extraordinary
people, both of
them “differently abled”.

Firdaus
Kanga
is a write and
journalist
from
Mumbai.

Stephan Hawking :-Stephan Hawking is one of the greatest
scientist of our time. He suffers from Paralysis that confines
him to, wheelchair and allows him to ‘speak’ only b punching
buttons on a computer , which speak for him in a machine-like
voice .He wrote a book named “A Brief History Of Time”

 METAPHOR
 PROPELLED
 DISEMBODI
ED
 ANGUISH
 SLUMP
 GLARE
 COMPARISON
 TO DRIVE
 FREED FROM THE BODY.
 SEVERE PHYSICAL & MENTAL
PAIN.
 TO SIT DOWN HEAVILY.
 TO SHINE

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.
► (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.
► (ii) from outside 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.
► (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.
► (i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
Working with Text
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?
Answer
(i) Yes, the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous because
Stephen Hawking was the ablest scientist on the earth. He was the worthy author
of world renouned book “A brief History of Time”. He had become the successor to
Issac Newton at the University of Cambridge. Meeting with such a great personality
made the writer nervous.

(ii) Yes, he felt excited at the same time because it made him stronger to see
somebody like him achieving something huge. This made him aware of the many
possibilities present before him, thereby helping him to reach out further than he
ever thought he could.
2. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Answer
The writer might have asked the scientist if he had been brave to reach where he
had.
3. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a
choice? What was it?
Answer
The writer thought that there was a choice. Stephen Hawking could have chosen to
leave everything, and be sad and depressed. He could have sulked. However, he
chose to live creatively knowing the reality of his disintegrating body.

4. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Answer
Stephen Hawking’s mind was active with many thoughts that he wanted to express.
However, his thoughts came out in phrases, without reflecting his feelings or emotions.
His sentences were mere lines, without any sentiment. The writer felt he could
understand his anguish and frustration at that.
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?
Answer
The writer asked Stephen Hawking if he found it annoying that someone like him came
and disturbed him in his work. To this query, the scientist replied in the affirmative,
frankly and honestly. Then, he smiled his one way smile and this was what endeared
him to the writer. The writer felt that he was looking at one of the most beautiful men
in the world.

6. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful
sentence in the description?
Answer
The sentence describing the inner glow of Hawking’s personality which makes his
physical looks irrelevant is probably one of the most beautiful descriptions of beauty.
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?
Answer
(i) If the lantern is man, its ‘walls’ is the human boy.
(ii) Light of life is housed within the thin walls
(iii) The writer draws a general conclusion that inside our body is the eternal soul.
Everything else is an accessory.

8. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Answer
The scientists Stephen Hawking’s message for the disabled they should concentrate
on what they are good at. They should make the best use of them and thanks God.
9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Answer
When Stephen Hawking said that things such as disabled Olympics were a waste of
time, the writer agreed with him. He remembered the years which he spent trying to
play a Spanish guitar that was considerably larger than he was. He was very happy
when he unstringed it one night. It supports Stephen Hawking’s idea that the
disabled should only concentrate on what they are good at, and not take up things
unnecessarily.

10. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude
for?
Answer
The writer expressed his gratitude to Stephen Hawking because he had been an
inspiration for him. He saw Stephen as the embodiment of his bravest self. He felt that
if he had been as brave as Stephen, he would have achieved a lot. He felt he was
moving towards that embodiment that he had believed in for many years. That is why
he expressed his greatest gratitude to him as he had made him realise what great
heights he could reach.

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

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

guide succeed chair travel pale draw true
2. Now make six such phrases using the words given in the box.
(i) Reading session
(ii) Smiling face
(iii) Revolving chair
(iv) Walking tour
(v) Dancing doll
(vi) 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. Both are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten persons called. All of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They all cheered the team.
(iv) Both her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me all of it.

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

A visit to cambridge

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