A Visit to Cambridge – NCERT Solutions

Q. Which is the right sentence?

1. “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer
   1. Cambridge was a reputed university in England.
   2. England was famous for Cambridge.
   3. Cambridge was the real England.
2. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
   1. From the nearest phone booth.
   2. From outside a phone booth.
   3. From inside a phone booth.
3. Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
   1. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.
   2. He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
   3. He was face to face with a legend.
4. “I felt a huge relief…in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
   1. Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
   2. Standing up, walking.
   3. Speaking, writing.

Answer

1. England was famous for Cambridge.
2. From the nearest phone-booth.
3. He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
4. Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

Q. Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?

Ans. The writer felt nervous because he was doubtful whether he would be granted the interview.

Q. Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?

Ans. He felt excited at the same time because he had been there to see Prof. Hawking for half an hour.

Q. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.

Ans. The writer’s first question might be about Hawking’s disability and how he had accepted it.

Q. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?

Ans. Living creatively with the reality of his weakening body was a choice.

Q. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?

Ans. Prof. Hawking’s mind was full of great ideas but he couldn’t speak them out clearly and forcefully.

Q. 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. Prof. Hawking’s one-way smile.

Q. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?

Ans. The line is “before you like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin, you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man”.

Q. If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?

Ans. The walls of the lantern in Hawking’s case were his skeleton like physical structure.

Q. What is housed within the thin walls?

Ans. The glow of the eternal soul was housed within the thin walls of his body.

Q. What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?

Ans. The writer draws conclusion that the eternal soul is more important than the body.

Q. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?

Ans. Prof. Hawking’s message for the disabled is that they should concentrate on what they are good at. It is foolish to try to copy the normal people.

Q. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?

Ans. The writer spent many years trying to play a big Spanish guitar. One night he loosened the strings joyfully. This incident supports the idea that the disabled people should practise only what they are good at.

Q. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?

Ans. The author felt much inspired after meeting with Stephen Hawking. Therefore he felt grateful to him.

Q. Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.

1. There was his assistant on the line …
2. You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, …
3. There he was, …
4. You look at his eyes which can speak, …
5. It doesn’t do much good to know …

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

Answer

1. There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.
2. 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.
3. There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to find words on his computer.
4. You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent − it is hard to tell what.
5. It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

Q. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.

guide, succeed, chair, travel, pale, draw, true

1. I met a _____ from an antique land.
2. I need special _____ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
3. The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy _____ to Issac Newton.
4. His other problems _____ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
5. The meeting was _____ by the youngest member of the board.
6. Some people say ‘yours _____’ when they informally refer to themselves.
7. I wish it had been a _____ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.

Answer

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

Q. Now make six such phrases using the words given in the box.

read/session smile/face revolve/chair walk/tour dance/doll win/chance

Answer

1. a reading session
2. a smiling face
3. a revolving chair
4. a walking tour
5. a dancing doll
6. a winning chance

Q. Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.

1. He has two brothers. _______ are lawyers.
2. More than ten persons called. _______ of them wanted to see you.
3. They _______ cheered the team.
4. _______ her parents are teachers.
5. How much have you got? Give me _______ of it.

Answer

1. He has two brothers. Both are lawyers.
2. More than ten persons called. All of them wanted to see you.
3. They all cheered the team.
4. Both her parents are teachers.
5. How much have you got? Give me all of it.

Q. Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.

1. My friend has one of the _______ cars on the road. (fast)
2. This is the _______ story I have ever read. (interesting)
3. What you are doing now is _______ than what you did yesterday. (easy)
4. Ramesh and his wife are both _______. (short)
5. He arrived _______ as usual. Even the chief guest came _______ than he did. (late, early)

Answer

1. My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.
2. This is the most interesting story I have ever read.
3. What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.
4. Ramesh and his wife are both short.
5. He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.