Kerala Syllabus Class 8 English: Unit 05 Echoes from Afar: Lesson 03 - Village of the Watermills - Questions and Answers | Teaching Manual
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 V Echoes from Afar - Lesson 03 Village of the Watermills - Textual Questions and Answers & Activities
♦ Village of the Watermills
♦ While we read
1. Whom does the young man see near the wooden mills, and what was the person doing?
The young man sees an old man with grey hair sitting near the wooden mills, wearing a hat. He was adjusting the large gears of the watermill.
2. What does the old man think of modern conveniences like electricity? Can we think of living without electricity now?
The old man says they do not need electricity. He believes that people today rely too much on modern comforts and think that "the easier, the better," and because of this, they throw away what is truly good. Yes, we can imagine living without electricity, but it would be very difficult today because most of our daily activities, lighting, cooking, communication, and work depend on it.
3. The villagers use firewood and dung as fuel. What kinds of fuel do we use now?
Today, we commonly use LPG (cooking gas), kerosene, electricity, petrol, diesel, and sometimes biogas as fuel. Many homes also use induction stoves and electric heaters, which depend on electricity instead of firewood or dung.
4. Describe the old man's appearance when he comes out of the wooden house.
When the old man comes out of the wooden house, he is wearing a colourful dress and a hat with a pair of Shinto bells in his hand.
5. How old is the old man? What, according to you, keeps the old man active and healthy even at his age?
The old man is one hundred and three (103) years old. I think the old man stays active and healthy because he lives a simple, natural, and peaceful life. He works regularly, stays close to nature, eats natural food, avoids the stress of modern life, and lives in a happy, supportive community. His positive attitude, physical activity, and calm environment also help him remain energetic even at such an old age.
♦ Let's rewind
1. How is the village described? Would you like to live in a village or in the city? Why?
The village is shown as a peaceful, natural place with flowing water, wooden bridges, and watermills working quietly along the river. The banks are filled with flowers, the air is clean, and the people live a simple and happy life without modern machines or electricity. They work close to nature, use candles for light, cows and horses for farming, and live long, healthy lives.
I would prefer to live in a village like this because it is calm, pollution-free and connected to nature. Life there seems meaningful, healthy and stress free compared to the busy and noisy life in the city.
2. How does the young man's Interaction with the villagers challenge his views on modernity and the modern lifestyle? What does this tell us about the value of cultural exchange?
The young man is surprised to see that the villagers live comfortably without electricity, tractors, or modern conveniences. The old man's words make him realise that people today depend too much on machines and forget the real value of nature. By talking to the old man, he understands that simplicity, clean air, natural surroundings, and a peaceful community can give real happiness. This shows that cultural exchange is valuable because it opens our minds to different ways of living. By interacting with others, we learn new ideas, question our old beliefs, and understand that there are many wise and meaningful lifestyles in the world.
3. What is your opinion of the villagers' notion of death as a cause for celebration rather than mourning?
The villagers celebrate the death of old people because they believe a long, hardworking life is a blessing. When a person dies peacefully at an old age, the villagers honour them with music, dance, flowers and respect. They do not celebrate when a young person dies that brings sadness. In my opinion, their belief is beautiful and meaningful. Instead of sadness, they show gratitude for the person's life. It teaches us to value life, accept death naturally, and appreciate the good a person has done. It also shows that living close to nature helps people accept life and death peacefully.
4. What do the film's visuals and sound effects reveal about the lifestyle of the villagers?
The visuals show quiet rivers, turning watermills, wooden bridges, trees moving in the wind and people working calmly. The sound of flowing water, the turning of the mills, the cuckoo's call, bells and gentle music create a peaceful atmosphere.
These visuals and sounds reveal that the villagers live a slow, natural, harmonious and eco-friendly life. They are closely connected to nature, live without hurry and find joy in simple things. Their surroundings reflect the style of their life, which is calm, clean and full of natural beauty.
♦ DISCOURSES
1. The young man is deeply touched by the simple and natural life of the villagers. That night, he writes a diary entry describing his experience in the 'Village of the Watermills', his meeting with the old man, and the meaningful funeral he witnessed. Write the diary entry.
Monday, 22 December 2026
Today was one of the most unforgettable days of my life. I visited a place called 'Village of the Watermills', a peaceful village untouched by modern pollution and noise. The sound of flowing water and turning gears filled the air, and everything around me looked fresh, pure and natural. I met an old man who had lived here for more than a hundred years. He spoke with great wisdom. He told me that modern people chase comfort and convenience but lose what is truly valuable. He said they are destroying nature as well as themselves. His words were simple, but they opened my eyes.
I also saw a unique funeral procession. The villagers were singing, dancing and celebrating the life of a woman who lived to be 99. Their happiness came from accepting life and death as part of nature. It felt peaceful, not frightening.
Before leaving, I placed flowers on a rock near the bridge, just like the villagers. Today, I realised how beautiful life can be when people live close to nature.
2. After returning from the 'Village of the Watermills', the young man tells his friend about what he saw and learned there. Prepare a conversation between the young man and his friend.
Friend: You look very fresh today! Where did you go?
Young Man: I visited a village called the 'Village of the Watermills'. It was amazing.
Friend: Really? What was so special about it?
Young man: The people there live a simple, natural life. No electricity, no machines. They use candles, oil lamps, cows and horses.
Friend: That sounds difficult. Don't they miss modern comforts?
Young man: Not at all. The old man I met said that modern comforts make people forget the value of nature.
Friend: Interesting! What else did you see?
Young man: A funeral procession. But it was unlike anything I've seen, full of music, dance and happiness. They were celebrating the long life of a woman who lived to be 99.
Friend: A happy funeral? That's unusual!
Young man: Yes, but it felt meaningful. They respect life and accept death naturally.
Friend: I wish I could visit such a place.
Young man: You should. It teaches us how beautiful life is when you live in harmony with nature.
♦ Let’s play with words:
♦ Activity 1
Read the following sentences from the story ‘A Tale of Two Gifts’.
• Her eyes sparkled, but her face had lost its color.
• Something almost worth the honor of belonging to Jim.
Did you notice the spelling of the highlighted words?
Here, the words are spelt as in U.S./North American English.
In British English, these words are written as 'honour' and 'colour'.
The table below lists some common English words that are spelt differently in British and North American English. Complete it, and add more to the list.
| British English | U.S./N. American English |
|---|---|
| labour | labor |
| travelling | traveling |
| theatre | theater |
| jewellery | jewelry |
| programme | program |
♦ Activity 2
A. Look at the following sentence from ‘A Tale of Two Gifts’.
In the hall below was a letterbox too small to hold a letter.
Can you break the highlighted word into two separate words? What are these words?
Answer: letter and box.
They are two separate words with their own meanings.
What difference did you notice when the words are combined?
When combined, the words form a compound word that has a new and specific meaning different from the two individual words.
The word ‘letterbox’ is formed by joining the words ‘letter’ and ‘box’.
Letterbox is a compound word.
| Compound words are formed when two or more words combine to create a word with a specific meaning. Compound words usually carry the meaning of the separate words. |
|---|
‘Letterbox’, ‘electric bell’ and ‘twenty-two’ are three compound words you would have noticed in the story. What differences do you notice among these compound words?
letter box - closed compound word (no space)
electric bell - open compound word (with a space)
twenty-two - hyphenated compound word (uses a hyphen)
| There are three types of compound words: open compound words with a space between the words (electric bell), closed compound words with no space between them (letterbox) and hyphenated compound words (twenty-two). |
|---|
B. Identify the compound words in the story and complete the table below.
Answer:
| Open compound words | Closed compound words | Hyphenated compound words |
| electric bell | letterbox | twenty-two |
| gold watch | schoolboy | eighty-seven |
| shop window | waterfall | looking-glass |
| watch chain | haircut | cold-eyed |
♦ Let’s analyse:
♦ Activity 1
A. Read the sentences below and note the words underlined.
• He had nothing to cover his cold hands.
• He needed a new coat.
What purpose do these words serve in the sentences?
The underlined words 'cold' and 'new' describe the nouns 'hands' and 'coat'. So, they serve the purpose of describing nouns - they are adjectives.
Words that describe or qualify nouns are adjectives.
| Adjectives provide information about nouns. They describe or qualify nouns and pronouns, giving details regarding the quality, quantity or state of the nouns. |
|---|
B. Now, adorn the tree with adjectives from the story “A Tale of Two Gifts”.
Answer:
(smart, peaceful, majestic, vast, beloved)
Answer:
In the park at the heart of the city, there stood an old banyan tree. Its branches stretched wide, covering a vast expanse. The majestic tree stood proudly, providing cool shade to everyone who visited the park. Small birds built nests on its big branches. Naja, a smart young girl, used to visit the park every day with her beloved grandfather, carrying some grain to feed the birds. Thanks to her grandpa’s influence, Naja has become a true nature lover. The peaceful surroundings of the park fill her with a sense of calm and remind her of the human responsibility to preserve nature.
♦ Activity 2
A. Read the following sentences.
1. Della’s beautiful hair fell about her, shining, like a falling stream of brown water.
2. Della knew her hair was more beautiful than any queen’s gold or gems.
3. Della's hair was the most beautiful possession she had always been proud of.
• What differences do you observe in the highlighted adjectives?
Three different forms of adjectives are used here.
| Adjectives have three forms or degrees of comparison. These are the positive, the comparative and the superlative. The positive degree is the simplest form of an adjective. We use the comparative degree of the adjective to compare two objects or entities. We use the superlative degree to express the highest degree of quality. |
|---|
B. Now, complete the table below adding the comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives given. You may add more examples to the table.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| brave | braver | bravest |
| easy | easier | easiest |
| much/many | more | most |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| intelligent | more intelligent | most intelligent |
| good | better | best |
| clean | cleaner | cleanest |
| young | younger | youngest |
C. Read the following passage about the heroes who helped the people of Kerala during the floods of 2018. Complete it, choosing the most appropriate form of the words given in brackets.
Answer:
United We Stand
During the devastating floods of 2018, the people of Kerala united to carry out one of the bravest (brave / braver / bravest) rescue and relief operations in the history of the state. The Indian Armed Forces, the Kerala Police, the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and other forces worked around the clock, and their efforts proved most effective (effective / more effective / most effective). The fishermen of Kerala were among the most dedicated (dedicated / more dedicated / most dedicated) rescuers. Their boats were more useful (useful / more useful / the most useful) than many other rescue vehicles, as these could move easily through the floodwaters. Urgent medical services were provided by doctors and medical teams. Volunteers of the media and technology teams helped spread awareness and ensured public safety by providing timely updates. Moreover, local volunteers and youth organizations played a significant (significant / more significant / most significant) role in coordinating the relief efforts. The flood was one of the worst (bad / worse / worst) disasters Kerala has ever witnessed, but the combined efforts of these brave heroes proved stronger (strong / stronger / strongest) than the raging waters.
♦ Activity 3
A. Look at the following sentence.
He looked strangely at Della.
What is the purpose of the highlighted word?
It describes how he 'looked' at Della.
What does it modify?
It modifies the verb 'looked'
Here, ‘strangely’ modifies the verb ‘looked’. A word that describes or modifies a verb is an adverb.
Now, look at the highlighted words in the sentences below.
1. There was a letterbox too small to hold a letter.
2. She began to think more reasonably.
What do these words modify?
In sentence 1, 'too' modifies the adjective 'small'
In sentence 2, 'more' modifies the adverb 'reasonably'
| An adverb describes a verb and provides more information about it, or about an adjective or another adverb. |
|---|
B. Examine the sentences below and underline the adverbs:
Answer:
1. The flowers were artistically arranged.
2. It was an extremely delightful function.
3. He spoke quite eloquently.
4. She selflessly gave up her dreams for the well-being of her family.
5. Her explanation was exceptionally clear.
C. Now, complete the table below, placing the adverbs in each sentence in column 1, the word each adverb modifies in column 2 and note the category of the word modified (verb/adjective/adverb) in column 3.
Answer:
| Adverb | The word modified | Category of the word modified |
| artistically | arranged | verb |
| extremely | delightful | adjective |
| eloquently | spoke | verb |
| selflessly | gave up | verb |
| exceptionally | clear | adjective |
D. Now collect as many adverbs as you can find in the story A Tale of Two Gifts and fill the board below:
Answer:
slowly, many, simply, reasonably, little, thin, nervously, quietly, wonderfully, quickly, strangely, softly, very, fast, most
♦ Activity 4
♦ Read the following sentences:
1. I have come here to get the work done.
2. I came here yesterday to get the work done.
A. Now, try to find the differences between the sentences and note how the time and the action are expressed in each.
Sentence 1: The action is connected to the present; no specific time is mentioned.
Sentence 2: The action happened in the past, and a specific time (yesterday) is mentioned.
| We use the simple past tense to describe actions completed in the past. Often, a specific time in the past is mentioned. We use the present perfect tense when the action mentioned has been completed, but the effect of the action is still relevant to the present. |
|---|
B. Some words of time reference are given in brackets. Identify which of them match the present perfect tense and which ones match the simple past tense. Place them in the appropriate columns in the table below.
[yesterday, already, a month ago, ever, never, last week, so far, now, since, for, when I was young, recently, just, in (specific year)]
| Words usually used with verbs in the Present Perfect Tense | already, just, never, never, ever, so far, now, since, for, recently |
| Words usually used with verbs in the Simple Past Tense | yesterday, last week, a month ago, when I was young, in (specific year) |
| Words such as 'just' or 'already' are used with verbs in the present perfect tense because they imply relevance to the present. Words like 'yesterday' or 'last week' are used with verbs in the simple past, as they refer to a specific time in the past. These words are tense indicators. |
|---|
C. Now, read the passage carefully. Identify the verbs/verb phrases, their tense, and the expressions relating to time. Two have been done for you.
Inspired by a thrilling music concert, Dani decided to learn the guitar. Two
years ago, he bought a guitar and started attending music classes. He practised every day and soon achieved his goal of playing a number of songs. He has already mastered several chords and melodies. He has even performed with a famous music band. His dedication and hard work have brought him great success.
Answer:
| Verb/Verb phrase | Tense used | Time reference |
| bought | simple past | last year |
| has mastered | present perfect | already |
| decided | simple past | no specific time given |
| started attending | simple past | two years ago |
| practised | simple past | every day |
| achieved | simple past | soon |
| have brought | present perfect | no specific time given |
| has performed | present perfect | no specific time given |
♦ Let's converse:
♦ Activity 1
Imagine a friend of yours needs help in making tea. How will you help them? The passage given below consists of instructions on how to make a cup of tea. Complete the instructions, using appropriate expressions for giving instructions.
A few expressions for instructions:
• You should...
• It is advisable to...
• You may choose...
• You are free to...
• Don't forget to...
• Be careful...
• Make sure to ....
• It is better .....
• Ensure that you....
Answer:
You would first need to collect the necessary ingredients. You should take a cup of water in a pan and heat it until it boils. Then, add a teaspoon of tea leaves to the boiling water. You may choose to add sugar according to your taste. It is advisable to let the tea boil for a few minutes. Don't forget to add milk if you prefer milk tea. Be careful while pouring the hot tea into the cup. Be careful to turn off the stove when the tea is ready. Enjoy the tea!
♦ Activity 2
A. The young man in 'Village of the Watermills' reaches the village and meets the children. Feeling a little confused about the route, he asks for directions to the first watermill. If you were one of the children, how would you assist him in finding the watermill? (The first two instructions are given.)
Answer:
• Turn left after the first bridge.
• Continue straight on until you come to the first watermill.
• Walk past the row of small houses on your right.
• Proceed to the end of the road.
• Keep going until you find the first watermill beside the river.
Some expressions for providing directions are given below (Textbook Page: 163):
• Turn right when you reach...
• Proceed to the end of...
• Walk past...
• Keep going until you find...
• Take the first left/right...
• Cross the road and continue...
• It's located next to/opposite...
B. The young man wanted to visit the old man’s house. Here is a route map to the old man’s house. Now, can you guide the young man to it?
Walk straight ahead.
• Turn right and walk past the large white house at your right
• Continue walking straight at the next junction.
• Walk past a hut on your right
• Turn left at the next junction and then turn right
• The old man's house is the small hut in front of you.
♦ Let's listen:
♦ Shall we listen to a song now? Let’s listen to the song 'Everything at Once' by Lenka. Write the lyrics in your notebook. The first two lines are given below.
• As sly as a fox, as strong as an ox
• As fast as a hare, as brave as a bear
• As free as a bird, as neat as a word
• As quiet as a mouse, as big as a house
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