Question Bank — A Tale of Valour

QUESTION BANK

NCERT Poorvi – Unit 2: Values and Dispositions
(Hepr102 – Class VIII English)

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

1. Major Somnath Sharma insisted on joining his company despite his injured hand because he ____.
   A. wanted a promotion
   B. knew his men better than anyone else
   C. feared losing his command
   D. had been ordered by the Brigade

2. The Battle of Badgam took place on ____.
   A. 22 October 1947
   B. 26 October 1947
   C. 3 November 1947
   D. 31 October 1947

3. Assertion (A): Major Somnath Sharma refused to withdraw even when ammunition was low.
   Reason (R): He believed that pulling back would allow the enemy to capture the Srinagar airfield.
   A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
   B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
   C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
   D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

4. In the poem “Somebody’s Mother”, the boy helped the old woman because ____.
   A. he was forced by his friends
   B. he remembered his own mother
   C. the teacher had instructed him
   D. the woman asked him for money

5. The phrase “somebody’s mother” is repeated in the poem to highlight ____.
   A. the woman’s poverty
   B. the universal bond of motherhood and empathy
   C. the boy’s fear of punishment
   D. the cold weather conditions

6. Assertion (A): Dr. Verghese Kurien chose to work in Anand, Gujarat instead of pursuing a career abroad.
   Reason (R): He believed he could make a more meaningful contribution to the nation by serving its farmers.
   A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
   B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
   C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
   D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

7. The Param Vir Chakra was awarded to Major Somnath Sharma ____.
   A. during his lifetime
   B. posthumously
   C. only after 26 January 1950
   D. by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir

8. Which collective noun from the unit refers to a permanent army unit commanded by a lieutenant colonel?
   A. Squadron
   B. Fleet
   C. Battalion
   D. Regiment

9. In the letter to his grandson, Dr. Kurien emphasises that integrity means ____.
   A. being honest to others only
   B. being honest to oneself first
   C. achieving fame and wealth
   D. following orders without question

10. The old woman in the poem prayed for the boy because ____.
    A. he gave her money
    B. he showed kindness and respect
    C. he was her relative
    D. the other boys had mocked her

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.”

(i) Who is the speaker and in what situation is he speaking?
(ii) What does the line reveal about the speaker’s character?
(iii) Identify the literary device used in the repetition of “last”.
(iv) What does the phrase “last round” mean in this context?

Extract 2

“She’s somebody’s mother, boys, you know, / For all she’s aged and poor and slow.”

(i) Who is speaking these lines and to whom?
(ii) Why does the boy say these words to his friends?
(iii) Name the poetic device used in the line.
(iv) What value does the boy’s statement reflect?

Extract 3

“Writing—even if it is a letter—not only conveys our present concerns… but it becomes a possession that can be treasured and re-read over the years, with great, abiding pleasure.”

(i) Who has written these lines and to whom?
(ii) Why does the writer prefer letters over telephone calls?
(iii) Identify the literary device in “abiding pleasure”.
(iv) What does the writer hope his grandson will understand later?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

1. Why did Major Somnath Sharma refuse to return to the airfield even after being asked to pull back?
2. How did the boy in the poem show empathy towards the old woman?
3. What message does Dr. Kurien convey about failure in his letter?
4. How did the actions of D Company help save Srinagar?
5. Why does the poet repeat the phrase “somebody’s mother”?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

1. “Major Somnath Sharma’s leadership and sacrifice saved Srinagar for India.” Justify the statement with examples from the text. (100–120 words)
2. “True bravery lies not only in fighting the enemy but also in showing kindness to the weak.” How do the stories of Major Somnath Sharma and the boy in the poem illustrate this idea? (100–120 words)

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

1. Vocabulary/Grammar Task
   Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words given in brackets (Subject-Verb Agreement):
   (a) A battalion of soldiers _ (stand/stands) at attention.
   (b) Neither the teacher nor the students _ (was/were) aware of the change.
   (c) Each of the participants ____ (has/have) submitted the project.

2. Writing Task
   Write a short diary entry (80–100 words) about a day you helped an elderly person, inspired by the values shown by the boy in the poem “Somebody’s Mother”.