Kerala Syllabus Class 8 English: Unit 04 Fabric of Togetherness: Lesson 03 - Thank You Ma'am - Questions and Answers | Teachers Handbook
ഈ ബ്ലോഗ് ഉടമയുടെ രേഖാമൂലമുള്ള അനുമതിയില്ലാതെ ഈ ബ്ലോഗിൽ നൽകിയിരിക്കുന്ന ചോദ്യോത്തരങ്ങൾ, ഇതേരീതിയിലോ പി.ഡി.എഫ് രൂപത്തിലോ, മറ്റേതെങ്കിലും ഡിജിറ്റലോ, പ്രിന്റഡ് ഉൾപ്പെടെയുള്ള ഏതെങ്കിലും രൂപങ്ങളിലേക്കോ മാറ്റി മറ്റൊരു വെബ്സൈറ്റിലോ, ബ്ലോഗിലോ, യുട്യൂബ്, സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയാ ഗ്രൂപ്പുകളിലോ ഉൾപ്പെടെ ഒരിടത്തും പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കാൻ പാടില്ലാത്തതാകുന്നു.
Std 8 English Unit IV Fabric of Togetherness - Lesson 03 Thank You Ma'am - Textual Questions and Answers & Activities
♦ While we read
1. How does the boy try to snatch the purse from the lady?
The boy, Roger, follows the lady from behind and suddenly tries to snatch her purse. He pulls at the strap of the bag to run away with it. However, the strap breaks, and he loses his balance, falling flat on the ground.
2. What did the lady do when the boy fell down?
When the boy fell, the lady turned around, caught him firmly by the front of his shirt, lifted him up, and shook him until his teeth rattled. She then made him pick up her bag and did not let him go.
3. Why didn't the woman turn the boy loose?
The woman didn't turn the boy loose because she wanted to teach him a lesson and guide him to the right path instead of letting him go back to wrongdoing.
4. Pick out the words that suggest the boy was frightened as the lady dragged him to her house.
"began to struggle" and "sweat popped out"
5. Why did Roger snatch the pocketbook?
Roger snatched the pocketbook because he wanted money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes.
6. Why was Roger awestruck by Mrs Jones' words?
Roger was awestruck by Mrs Jones' words because, instead of scolding or punishing him, she spoke to him kindly and with understanding. Her unexpected trust and compassion surprised him.
7. How does Mrs Jones treat Roger at the table?
Mrs Jones treats Roger kindly and with respect at the table. She gives him food to eat, talks to him gently, and makes him feel comfortable, just like a mother would treat her own child.
8. Could Roger express his gratitude in any other way than by saying 'Thank you, ma'am'. Give reasons to support your answer.
Yes, by changing his behaviour and living an honest life. Because what a person actually does is more significant and meaningful than what they say.
Let's rewind
♦ Let’s rewind:
1. What do Mrs Jones's actions reveal about her attitude to the boy?
Mrs Jones's actions show that she is kind, forgiving, and motherly. Instead of punishing Roger, she treats him with care and teaches him a lesson with love.
2. What, according to you, might the boy have learnt from his encounter with Mrs Jones?
The boy might have learned the value of kindness, trust, and honesty. He understood that love and care can change a person more than punishment.
3. Have you ever experienced unexpected kindness? How does it make you feel even now?
Yes, I have experienced unexpected kindness from strangers. It made me feel happy, grateful, and inspired me to be kind to others in return.
4. How does this story challenge conventional ideas of justice and punishment?
The story shows that true justice does not always mean punishment. Sometimes forgiveness, understanding, and kindness can change a person more effectively than strict punishment.
♦ Let's recall and recreate
♦ Activity 1
A. Roger was deeply moved by the lady's compassion and humanity. He writes a letter to her expressing his gratitude. Let's read the letter.
(See textbook page 124)
| A personal or informal letter addresses someone the writer knows well, such as a friend or family member. Such letters can be casual and often share thoughts, feelings, updates, or news. |
|---|
B. Nehru, in his speech, calls all citizens to live and work together on the path to prosperity. Imagine you share this vision with one of your friends through a letter. Write the likely letter.
15, Green Street
North Avenue
Singapore
22 October, 2025
My dear friend
How are you? I hope this letter finds you in good health and happiness.
Recently, I was inspired by Nehru's speech in which he called upon all citizens to live and work together for the prosperity of our nation. His words made me realise how important unity and hard work are for building a better future. If we, the youth of today, join hands and dedicate ourselves to education, honesty, and service, we can surely make our country strong and prosperous.
I feel that each of us has a role to play. Even small acts like helping one another, being responsible, and spreading kindness can contribute to the larger dream of national progress. Nehru's vision is not just for leaders, but for every common citizen like us.
Let us promise each other that we will live by these values and inspire others to do the same. Together, we can make our country shine.
With love, Your loving friend Rinu
♦ Let’s play with words:
♦ Activity 1
A. Read the following excerpt from the speech.
Through good fortune and ill alike, she has never lost sight of that quest or forgotten the ideals which gave her strength. We end today a period of misfortunes, and India discovers herself again.
Now, observe the words highlighted in the above passage. What difference do you notice in the two words?
The word ''misfortunes'' has the prefix ''mis-"added to ''fortune'', which changes the meaning to the opposite.
What is the effect of the prefix 'mis-'? Doesn't it create a word with the opposite meaning?
The prefix "mis-" creates a word with the opposite meaning or a negative sense.
| Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning. They can be created using prefixes like ‘mis-‘, ‘dis’, ‘un-‘, ‘im-‘ and ‘in-'. |
|---|
B. Now, try to write the antonyms of the following words using suitable prefixes.
| Word | Antonym |
|---|---|
| equality | inequality |
| appear | disappear |
| possible | impossible |
| kind | unkind |
| understand | misunderstand |
C. Fill in the blanks with suitable words or their antonyms from the table above.
1. We should be kind to our fellow beings rather than unkind
2. Nothing is impossible if you decide to make it possible
3. Inequality can never be justified because equality is the birthright of all human beings.
♦ Let’s analyse:
♦ Activity 1
A. Here's a short review of the story 'Thank You, Ma'am'. I have read the story 'Thank you, Ma’am ' in which the kindness of the woman, Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones, teaches the young boy, Roger, a valuable lesson. When he tried to snatch her pocketbook, she took the boy home, fed him lima beans and ham, and even gave him money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. Her job in the beauty shop paid her enough to help many others like Roger. She always felt that children from poor families needed support.
• List the words highlighted in the review.
story, Ma'am, woman, Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones, Roger, lesson, pocketbook, boy, lima beans, ham, money, pair, shoes, job, beauty shop, families
• What is special about the words listed?
They are nouns
| The listed words are nouns. A noun denotes a person, place, thing, animal or idea. There are different kinds of nouns, such as proper nouns, common nouns, collective nouns and abstract nouns. |
|---|
B. Classify the nouns in the review as proper, common, collective or abstract and fill in the table. One has been done for you.
C. Here is a passage written by a student inspired by Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech. Note the highlighted words.
Nehru’s speech on the momentous occasion of Indian independence was indeed an appeal to the people to stand together for the development of our nation. The moment, being historical, can never be forgotten, since millions sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. All these sacrifices were quite significant in helping us gain freedom. So, as responsible citizens of free India, we are bound to acknowledge the efforts of all freedom fighters and perform our duties, dedicating ourselves to the service of the nation.
Now, observe the following phrases from the above passage given below and do as illustrated.
| an appeal | an | appeal |
| The moment | The | moment |
| their lives | their | lives |
| these sacrifices | these | sacrifices |
What is the function of the words preceding the nouns in the above paragraph?
The words preceding the nouns in the passage function as determiners. Determiners are words that come before nouns to clarify or specify details relating to them.
| Determiners are words that precede nouns to clarify or specify details relating to the nouns. |
|---|
• the momentous occasion
• the nation
• our nation
• all freedom fighters
• the service
D. Now, match the determiners in column A with suitable nouns in column B to make meaningful phrases in column C.
Answer:
| A | B | C |
|---|---|---|
| Determiners | Noun | Phrase |
| A An The This That These These Those My/Her/His Some Many Five Fist | boy orchestra speech duty child boys speeches duties duties children boys children duty | A boy An orchestra The speech This duty That child These boys These speeches Those duties My duties/ Her duties/ His duties Some children Many boys Five children First duty |
E. Fill in the blanks choosing suitable determiners from those in the box below.
| their, a, the, these, many, his, an |
|---|
Answer:
Roger tried to snatch Mrs Jones’s purse, but she stopped him. Strangely, she didn’t punish him but helped him realise his mistake. She gave him an opportunity to correct his mistake because she felt he had taken to stealing only because of his circumstances. Many children like Roger get carried away by their wishes, which they feel they are unable to fulfil. But if elders take the trouble to correct them, it will encourage them to avoid such tendencies. A society that is devoid of moral values is a curse to humanity. In fact, it is the values that make a person human and humane. So, let’s be compassionate to our fellow beings and help each other because sticking together in times of need is one of the most important of human values.
F. We have learned about nouns, adjectives and determiners. It is possible to turn a noun into a noun phrase by adding determiners and adjectives to the head noun.
Consider the noun, ‘purse’. Let’s turn it into a noun phrase, creating a word pyramid.
Purse (the head noun)
A purse
A brown purse
A beautiful brown purse
Now, expand the following nouns into noun phrases and create word pyramids.
1. shoes
2. children
Shoes
The shoes
The suede shoes
The blue suede shoe
Children
The children
The school children
The happy school children
♦ Activity 2
A. These are Roger's thoughts when he returns home. Read them.
Why did I do it? I shouldn’t have done it. In fact, trying to pick someone’s pocket book is a crime, a serious offence. How embarrassing the experience was! Actually, such a thought should never have entered my mind. But, it did. I think I got carried away by my longing for the blue suede shoes. It was so kind of Mrs Jones to forgive me. Otherwise, I would have ended up at the police station. Someone, please help me. I won’t repeat this ever again. I will always be good to everyone.
B. Now, let’s focus on a few of Roger's thoughts (See textbook Page:129).
• I shouldn’t have done it.
• Why did I do it?
• Please help me.
• How embarrassing the experience was!
C. Now, try to categorise the thoughts by their function. One has been done for you.
Answer:
| Types of Sentences | Function |
|---|---|
| Declarative/Assertive Interrogative Imperative Exclamatory | Statements Questions Request/Order/Advice Expressions of sudden or strong emotion |
D. Match the following sentences with their function.
Answer:
| Sentences | Type |
|---|---|
| Come with me to my house | Imperative |
| Why did Mrs Jones help Roger? | Interrogative |
| Roger was a poor boy | Assertive |
| What a wonderful moment! | Exclamatory |
♦ Activity 3
A. Let’s read an account of the conversation between Mrs Jones and Roger in the picture-story below.
B. Imagine Roger meets a friend and reports this conversation to him. Read the conversation between Roger and his friend.
Roger: Mrs Jones told me that she would get me something to eat.
Friend: Really?
Roger: I told her that it was very kind of her.
Friend: Yes. What a kind lady she is!
Roger: She said that I could wait at the table.
Friend: Oh! She is so considerate.
Roger: True. I told her that I would certainly wait.
C. Let’s note the changes to a dialogue when it is reported. The first is done for you.
Answer:
| Actual conversation | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| Mrs Jones: I will get you something to eat. | Mrs Jones told me that she would get me something to eat. |
| Roger: That is very kind of you. | I told her that it was very kind of her. |
| Mrs Jones: You can wait at the table. | She said that I could wait at the table. |
| Roger: I will certainly wait, ma'am. | I told her that I would certainly wait. |
D. Let's list the changes we note in a reported statement:
Answer:
Roger: I will remember this day forever.
Mrs Jones: I won't forget it either.
Answer:
Roger said that he would remember that day forever.
Mrs Jones said that she wouldn't forget it either.
♦ Let's converse:
♦ Activity
Mrs Jones wants to know why Roger had tried to snatch her pocketbook. She enquires about the reasons and his whereabouts as she serves him food.
Mrs Jones: I’d like to know why you tried to attack me.
Roger: I wished so much to buy a pair of blue suede shoes.
Mrs Jones: Do you know I could hand you over to the police?
Roger: Yes, ma'am.
Mrs Jones: Will you tell me more about your circumstances?
Roger: We are very poor, ma'am. We live in the suburbs.
Note that Mrs Jones uses a few expressions as she speaks to Roger to get information from him.
We may use several other expressions to seek information, such as the following:
• Will you tell me...?
• Do you know...?
• Please share with me...
• I'd like to know...
• Could you tell me more about...?
• May I ask you...?
• Can you tell me more about...?
• Would you mind sharing...?
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