NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 4
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-I
Question 1.
Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
Answer:
The man stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief because Bepin Babu failed to recognize him even though he had spent a considerable amount of time with him in Ranchi in the year 1958.
Question 2.
Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October ‘58?
Answer:
Bepin Babu says that he went to his friend’s house in Kanpur in October 1958.
Question 3.
Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Answer:
Parimal Ghose knew that Bepin Babu had no children, and that his wife had died ten years ago. He also knew that his brother had died insane, and that is the reason he did not want to visit the mental hospital in Ranchi in 1958.
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-II
Question 1.
Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
Answer:
Bepin Babu worried about what Parimal Ghose had said because he seemed to know so much about him and this made him very uncomfortable. This made Bepin Babu doubt himself.
Question 2.
How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or Parirrtal Ghose?
Answer:
Bepin decided to call his friend, Dinesh Mukerji to decide who was right—his memory or Parimal Ghose.
Question 3.
Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Answer:
Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr Mukerji because he would have mocked him for his lapse of memory. He would think that Bepin Babu was going mad. Moreover, he did not want to be at the receiving end of Dinesh’s sarcastic remarks. He finally decided to phone him because his mind was occupied with the thoughts of what Parimal had told him. He did not want to make a fool of himself by talking to Dinesh directly. So, he decided it was better to call him.
Question 4.
What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?
Answer:
Mr Mukerji said that he had gone out of town twice in the year 1958: once in February to Krishnanagar to attend his nephew’s wedding, and the second time to Ranchi with Bepin Babu himself. It added to Bepin Babu’s worries.
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-III
Question 1.
Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
Answer:
Chunilal was one of Bepin Babu’s friends who had been out of job. He’d been having a rough time lately and had come to Bepin Babu to see him about a job.
Question 2.
Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu s loss of memory?
Answer:
Dr Chandra was puzzled because he had never come across a case as strange and bizzare as that of Bepin Babu. The unusual thing about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory was that Bepin Babu remembered everything except the one week that he had spent at Ranchi.
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Comprehension check-IV
Question 1.
Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
Answer:
No, Bepin Babu had not really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi. It was Chunilal who made him believe so with his prank.
Question 2.
Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?
Answer:
Chunilal was hurt that Bepin Babu had been ignoring him, and did not help him in his time of need. Chunilal says that even though he has no money, he does have imagination.
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Working with the text
Question 1.
The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
Answer:
Bepin Babu is a serious and hardworking man. He had worked with his firm for twenty-five years, and had never shirked responsibilities. He was always working when he was at his desk. He had a reputation for being a tireless, conscientious worker.
Question 2.
Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?
Answer:
Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunilal because he thought that Chuni would know something about the ’58 trip to Ranchi. He decided to ask him about it. The meeting left Bepin Babu even more perplexed as Chunilal also confirmed that he had indeed gone to Ranchi in ’58. In fact, it was Chunilal who had helped him get train tickets.
Question 3.
Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
Answer:
I believe that Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls because he fell down there in a state of confusion.
Question 4.
How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate creative answers.)
Answer:
Sample answer: Initially, Bepin Babu must have been very angry at Chunilal when he found out that he had been tricked by him. But soon, he must have felt embarrassed about his behaviour and the whole situation. Later, he might have admired Chunilal’s imagination.
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Working with language
Question 1.
Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to 7 ‘have to 7 ‘has to ’
Solved
- I have cut my hair every month.
- We had to go for swimming lessons last year.
- She had to tell the principal the truth.
- They have to take the baby to the doctor.
- We have to complain to the police about the noise.
- Romit has to finish his homework before he could come out to play.
- I had to repair my cycle yesterday.
Question 2.
Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary in the following way.
First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a dictionary.
(Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom).
To help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.)
i. at/from close quarters (close: adjective)
ii. break into a smile (break: verb; look under ‘break into something)
iii. carry on (carry: verb)
iv. have a clean record (you may find related meanings under both these words)
v. beat about the bush (verb)
Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.
i. a situation of being very or uncomfortably close to someone or something
ii. burst into a smile
iii. to continue to do something
iv. to have a clean reputation
v. discuss a matter without coming to the point
Question 3.
Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms. Answer the following questions about each pair of sentences.
i. Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place?
ii. Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher?
iii. Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?
iv. Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker ’s mind?
Answer:
i. Bepin Babu has worked here since 2003.
ii. Chunilal wrote to a publisher last week.
iii. I have seen this movie already.
iv. I have visited Ranchi once before.
Question 4.
Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form correct sentences.
You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.
i. Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you Want/the bush
Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
Meaning: talking about irrelevant matters
ii. don’t pay/Ifyou/ attention/you might/the wrong train/to the announcement/board
If you don’t pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train. Meaning: to be attentive to something
iii. The villager s/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin
The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.
Meaning: to try to implicate falsely
iv. Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor ’s/eat early/that he was
Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor’s orders to eat early.
Meaning: under doctor’s instructions
v. the students/The teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their lessons/raised/they had revised
The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.
Meaning: showed surprise or annoyance
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory Speaking and writing
(Encourage the students to use their creativity and formulate individual answers.)
Question 1.
What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friendfor playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need? Sample answer:
Answer:
I believe that after reading Chunilal’s letter, Bepin Babu must have felt very angry at him for making him go through so much. But after thinking deeply about this, he must have felt very guilty and embarrassed. He must have tried to justify Chunilal’s actions in his head, and would have thought ways of helping his friend out. He would have called Chunilal, and apologized after all this.
Question 2.
Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal’s letter and feel ashamed that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck. Now you want to do something for him. Write a letter to Chunilal promising to help him soon.
Or
A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.