NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Poem Chapter 3 Macavity: The Mystery Cat are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Poem Chapter 3 Macavity: The Mystery Cat.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew (Poem) Macavity: The Mystery Cat
verses for understanding
I. Macavity is a mysterious cat: he is said to be hidden
paw-
Because he is the main criminal who can disobey the law.
He’s trouble for Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad
Disappointment :
When they reach the crime scene – Macavity
Not there! (page 50)
Hindi translation – Macavity is a cat full of mystery. Its other name ‘Chhipa Panja’ (the reason for its mysteriousness) is also mixed. He is a very skilled criminal who breaks the law without any doctor. Their job is to intimidate the Scottish police. The Flying Squad has attempted to make it onto the ship as an alternative. By the time they reach the crime scene, Macavity has disappeared.
Explanation. Macavity is a mysterious cat. Their mystery has also earned them another name – ‘Hidden Paw’. He is an expert criminal who can violate the law with impunity. His actions remain a mystery to the Scotland Yard police. The flying squad tried in vain to pursue him. By the time they reach the crime scene, Macavity has disappeared.
multiple choice questions
1. Macavity is a mysterious cat because
(A) He has hidden powers
(b) no one understands his ways
(c) Scotland Yard is astonished by him
(d) He has a hidden claw.
2. Macavity is never punished because
(A) He disappears into the air
(B) He has a hidden claw
(c) He was never found at the crime scene
(d) Scotland Yard doesn’t understand him.
3. Macavity breaks down
(a) utensils
(b) wall
(c) respect for a fakir
(d) Human law.
4. The word mystery is an adjective
(A) mysterious
(b) mystic
(c) to mystify
(d) Mysticism.
answer
1. (b) no one understands his ways
2. (c) He was never found at the crime scene
3. (d) human law
4. (A) mysterious
Second. Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like it
Macavity,
He has broken every human law, he breaks
the law of gravity.
His powers of levitation would make a beggar
To stare out,
And when you reach the crime scene
-Macavity isn’t there! (page 50)
Hindi translation-Macavity, Macavity; Macavity is like no other. They have broken all human laws. He breaks the law of gravity. Fakirs have mystical powers. His power to fly through the air without warning would astonish even a mystic, and when you arrive at the scene of the crime, Macavity is not there.
Explanation. There’s no one like Macavity. He has broken all man-made laws. He has also broken the law of gravity. Fakirs have mystical powers. His floating in the air without support would surprise even a fakir. To top it all off, when you arrive at the crime scene, Macavity is nowhere to be seen.
questions
1. Who is Macavity?
2. What does Macavity do?
3. Do people like Macavity?
4. What is meant by the term ‘leverage’?
answer
1. Macavity is a cat.
2. Macavity does not follow any human laws. He is a criminal.
3. No, people don’t like Macavity.
4. The word ‘levitation’ means “floating in the air”.
Third. You can find him in the basement, you
can see in the air
But I tell you once again,
Macavity isn’t there!
Macavity is a ginger cat, he is very long and
Thin ;
If you saw him you would know him, because
His eyes are sunken in. (page 50)
Hindi translation -You will try to find Macavity in the hard rock or in the air. Thus, the one who searches for Him does not find Him anywhere – neither under the earth, nor above. Macavity is a ginger colored cat. he is tall and slim. If you meet him you will easily recognize him by his sunken eyes.
briefly explain, You can try to find Macavity in the basement or in the air but in vain. Thus, whoever seeks Him does not find Him anywhere – under or above the earth. Macavity is a ginger colored cat. he is tall and slim. If you meet him, you will easily recognize him because of his deep eyes.
multiple choice questions
1. The great difficulty is that Macavity
(A) easily found
(b) very difficult to meet
(c) is a ginger cat
(d) is tall and thin.
2. The passage contains ginger
(a) one thing that Macavity likes
(b) something that looks like macavity
(c) Macavity’s color
(d) Macavity’s breed.
3. The name of the poet is
(A) RN Tagore
(B) Zulfikar Ghosh
(c) William Blake
(d) TS Eliot.
4. The meaning of the word ‘sunken’ in the passage is
(a) deep set
(b) drowned
(c) swimming
(d) attractive.
answer
1. (b) very difficult to meet
2. (c) Macavity’s color
3. (d) TS Eliot
4. (a) deep set
IV. Deep lines of thought are marked on his brow
The head is highly domed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his mustache is uncombed.
He moves his head here and there with movements
Like a snake;
And just when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always awake. (page 50-51)
Macavity’s forehead is full of Scotch. It seems that his ideas are sinking all the time. His head is as high as a dome on top of a building. His body is not taken care of properly. Basically he has black stubble and a messy moustache. Like Sai he keeps shaking his head here and there. She is always there. Even when she appears sleepy to you, she is completely detached.
briefly explain, Macavity’s forehead is wrinkled. Due to this, he seems lost in deep thought all the time. His head rests high on his body like the dome of a building. Their body is not taken proper care of. That’s why the skin is dusty and the mustache is uncombed. He moves his head here and there like a snake. He is always alert. Just when you think he is sleeping, he is awake.
questions
1. What is the passage about?
2. What’s he doing with his deeply lined brows?
3. What is the meaning of the word ‘coat’ in the passage?
4. Find the opposite word to ‘heed’ in the passage.
answer
1. This passage is about a cat named ‘Macavity’.
2. He is thinking about his new criminal act.
3. The word ‘coat’ refers to skin.
4. ignore.
V. There’s no one like Macavity, Macavity, Macavity,
Because he is a cat-like demon, a demon of evil.
You can meet him in some street, you can see him
Crossroad
But when a crime is discovered, Macavity isn’t there! (page 51)
Explanation. Macavity is special. He has no equal. He is the devil in a cat’s body. He is as morally corrupt as a demon! Generally, you can find him anywhere on your path. He may be there on some street or intersection. However, when his crime is discovered and people search for him, he is nowhere to be found.
multiple choice questions
1. There is a cat-shaped monster
(A) Macavity
(b) a dog
(c) a human being
(d) poet.
2. When Macavity is hard to find
(A) He lives in the square
(b) He lives in a street
(c) He is a monster
(d) He commits a crime.
3. Macavity is compared
(A Man
(b) a dog
(c) a cat
(d) a devil.
4. Meaning of the word corruption
(A) deep thought
(B) moral corruption
(c) bad deeds
(d) Secret.
answer
1. (A) Macavity
2. (d) he commits a crime
3. (d) a devil
4. (B) moral corruption
text question
Working with Poetry (page 51)
Question. 1.
Read the first stanza and think.
(i) Is Macavity really a cat?
(ii) If not, who might be Macavity?
Answer:
(i) Macavity is a cat.
(ii) If not, Macavity may be a thief.
Question. 2.
complete the following sentences.
(i) A master criminal is one who ___
(ii) Scotland Yard is surprised because ___
(iii) ____ because Macavity runs much faster than them.
Answer:
(i) The main criminal is the one who is never caught.
(ii) Scotland Yard is astonished because despite all his might, he is unable to get his hands on Macavity.
(iii) Flying Squad is not able to get Macavity because Macavity moves much faster than Flying Squad.
Question . 3.
“I’m sure a cat can walk through a cloud without passing through it”. (Jules Verne)
What law is Macavity breaking in light of the above comment?
Answer:
Law of gravity.
Question. 4.
Read stanza 3, and then, describe Macavity in two or three sentences of your own.
Answer:
The Macavity is a ginger-coloured, very long and thin cat with sunken eyes and a high head. He has a wrinkled forehead, a dusty coat and an uncombed moustache. He is always alert and keeps moving his head here and there like a snake.
Question . 5.
Say ‘False’ or ‘True’ for each of the following statements.
(i) Macavity is no ordinary cat.
(ii) Macavity cannot do what a fakir can do easily.
(In) Macavity has supernatural powers.
(iv) Macavity is well dressed, smart and bright.
(v) Macavity is a spy, trickster and criminal, all in one.
Answer:
(i) true
(ii) False
(iii) wrong
(iv) False
(v) Truth.
Question. 6.
After reading the poem, try to guess whether the poet is fond of cats. If so, why does he call Macavity a vampire and a monster?
Answer:
The poet is fond of cats. That’s why he describes a big cat in such detail. However, to rats the cat is definitely a vampire and monster. Therefore the poet also gives him those adjectives.
Question. 7.
Has the poet used hyperbole for special effect? Find some examples of this and read those lines out loud.
Answer:
Yes. The following lines show that:
“He’s causing trouble for Scotland Yard
Disappointment of the Flying Squad.”
“His powers of levitation will create a
Staring fakir.”
“Because he’s a vampire shaped like a cat, a monster
Of wickedness.”
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