CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 16: The Duck and The Kangaroo NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 8 PDF

This section provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew, Chapter 16, the poem 'The Duck and The Kangaroo'. It focuses on understanding the poem's nuances, including identifying rhyming words, completing dialogues based on the poem's context, and analyzing specific word spellings and their poetic significance. The solutions break down the poem's structure and language, helping students grasp the creative choices made by the poet. These solutions are designed to aid students in their comprehension and analysis of the poem, making it an excellent resource for exam preparation and revision.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 8
SubjectEnglish Honeydew
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 16

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew, Chapter 16, 'The Duck and The Kangaroo', offers a deep dive into the poem. It covers exercises on identifying rhyming pairs, completing a dialogue between the characters, and analyzing the unique spelling and capitalization of the word 'rheumatism' as used in the poem. These solutions aim to enhance students' understanding of poetic devices and language use within the context of the poem.

Learning outcomes

  • Identify rhyming words in a poem.
  • Complete dialogues based on textual context.
  • Analyze poetic license in word spelling and capitalization.
  • Understand the relationship between the Duck and the Kangaroo.
  • Interpret the meaning of specific words within a poetic structure.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Rhyming words
  • Poem analysis
  • Dialogue completion
  • Poetic devices
  • Word spelling in poetry
  • Capitalization in poetry
  • The Duck and The Kangaroo poem

Important topics

  • Identifying rhyming pairs
  • Analyzing poetic spelling variations
  • Completing character dialogues
  • Understanding poetic structure

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Taking words that come at the end of lines, write five pairs of rhyming words. Read each pair aloud. For example, pond - beyond
Solution:

Here are five pairs of rhyming words taken from the ends of lines in the poem:

  1. Hop – stop
  2. Back – Quack
  3. Duck – luck
  4. Reflection – objection
  5. Bold – cold

These pairs create a musical effect and help in the rhythm of the poem.

Question 2

Complete the dialogue.

Duck: Dear Kangaroo! Why don't you _____

Kangaroo: With pleasure, my dear Duck, though ____

Duck: That won't be a problem. I will _____

Solution:

Here is the completed dialogue, filling in the blanks based on the poem's context:

Duck: Dear Kangaroo! Why don't you give me a ride on your back, so that I can also hop around with you and see the beautiful world, away from this nasty pond?

Kangaroo: With pleasure, my dear Duck, though your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold and I might catch rheumatism.

Duck: That won't be a problem. I will wear worsted socks and cloak and smoke a cigar every day to keep out the cold.

Question 3

The Kangaroo does not want to catch 'rheumatism'. Spot this word in stanza 3 and say why it is spelt differently. Why is it in two parts? Why does the second part begin with a capital letter?
Solution:

The word 'rheumatism' is presented as 'Roo-matiz' in the poem. Here's why:

  • Spelt differently and in two parts: The word is split and altered to 'Roo-matiz' specifically to rhyme with the word 'kangaroo' in the preceding line. This is a creative choice by the poet to maintain the poem's rhyme scheme and musicality.
  • Second part begins with a capital letter: The second part, 'Matiz', begins with a capital letter because it starts a new line in the poem. It is a convention in poetry that each new line begins with a capital letter, even if it is a continuation of the previous sentence or phrase. This also adds to the visual structure of the poem.

These changes are examples of poetic license, where the poet modifies language for artistic effect.

Common mistakes

  • Incorrectly identifying rhyming pairs.
  • Failing to understand the reason for altered spelling in poetry.
  • Not completing the dialogue logically based on the poem's narrative.
  • Overlooking the significance of capitalization in poetic lines.

Revision tips

  • Practice identifying rhyming words from other poems.
  • Read the dialogue aloud to better understand the characters' interactions.
  • Focus on why poets sometimes alter spellings for effect.
  • Summarize the poem's main idea in your own words after reviewing the solutions.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following is NOT a rhyming pair from the poem?

Q2. Why does the Kangaroo express concern about the Duck's feet?

Q3. What does the Duck suggest to avoid catching a cold?

Q4. Why is the word 'rheumatism' spelt differently and split in the poem?

Q5. Why does the second part of the split word ('Matiz') begin with a capital letter?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main focus of the NCERT Solutions for Chapter 16, 'The Duck and The Kangaroo'?

These solutions focus on analyzing the poem by identifying rhyming words, completing a dialogue between the characters, and explaining the specific poetic reasons behind the altered spelling and capitalization of certain words.

How do these solutions help in understanding the poem?

They break down the poem's language and structure, explaining complex aspects like poetic license in spelling and capitalization, and helping students grasp the interaction and concerns of the characters.

Are the questions in the solutions the same as in the NCERT textbook?

Yes, the questions are kept exactly the same as in the NCERT textbook, ensuring that students are practicing with the original problems.

What is the significance of the word 'rheumatism' being split and altered in the poem?

The word is altered to 'Roo-matiz' to create a rhyme with 'kangaroo' in the preceding line. This is a common poetic technique to achieve a desired sound or rhythm.

How can I use these solutions for revision?

You can use these solutions to check your answers, understand the reasoning behind them, and practice identifying poetic devices and literary techniques used in the poem.

Important links

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