CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 2 The Tsunami NCERT Solutions
This resource provides comprehensive NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 8 English, Chapter 2: The Tsunami. It covers detailed answers to all questions related to the chapter's narrative, focusing on the experiences of individuals and animals during the devastating event. The solutions help students understand the sequence of events, the warning signs of a tsunami, and the different ways people and animals reacted. Key characters like Tilly and Ignesious are explored, along with the impact of the tsunami on various locations. These solutions are designed to aid students in grasping the chapter's themes of survival, preparedness, and the power of nature, making them an excellent tool for exam revision and a deeper understanding of the text.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | English |
| Session | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Type | NCERT Solutions |
| Chapter | Chapter 2- The Tsunami |
Chapter summary
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 2, 'The Tsunami,' offers detailed answers to comprehension and textual questions. It delves into the story's events, character reactions, and the natural phenomena observed before and during the tsunami. The solutions cover the experiences of survivors, the effectiveness of warning signs, and the contrasting survival rates of humans and animals, providing a thorough understanding of the chapter's narrative and its underlying messages.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the sequence of events in the story 'The Tsunami'.
- Identify the warning signs of a tsunami as described in the text.
- Analyze the reactions of characters and animals to the tsunami.
- Explain the significance of preparedness and awareness in disaster situations.
- Discuss the impact of the tsunami on different individuals and locations.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of natural warning signs versus human-made warnings.
Topics covered
Paper topics
- The Tsunami narrative
- Character experiences (Ignesious, Sanjeev, Meghna, Tilly, Smith family)
- Tsunami warning signs (natural and observed)
- Animal behavior before disasters
- Survival and loss during a natural disaster
- Geographical locations (Thailand, Phuket, Yala National Park, Galle)
- Preparedness and awareness
- Human vs. Animal casualties
Important topics
- Understanding the Tsunami event and its impact
- Identifying and interpreting natural warning signs
- Analyzing character responses and survival strategies
- The role of prior knowledge and education (Tilly's story)
- Contrasting human and animal survival rates
- The importance of seeking higher ground and safe locations
PDF preview
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Questions and Solutions
Comprehension Check (Page 27)
- Ignesious lost his wife, two children, his father-in-law, and his brother-in-law in the tsunami.
- Sanjeev made it to safety after the tsunami.
- Meghna was saved by a relief helicopter.
- Almas's father realised that a tsunami was going to hit the island.
- Her mother and aunts were washed away with the tree that they were holding on to.
- True. The text confirms that Ignesious lost his wife, two children, father-in-law, and brother-in-law in the devastating tsunami.
- False. Sanjeev did not make it to safety. He was swept away when he bravely jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue the wife of the guesthouse cook.
- False. While Meghna saw relief helicopters flying overhead, they did not spot her. She was ultimately brought to the shore by a wave that carried her.
- True. Almas's father had the foresight to understand the impending danger and realised that a tsunami was about to strike the island.
- True. The strong currents of the tsunami washed away Almas's mother and aunts, even though they were desperately holding onto a tree for safety.
Answer the following in a phrase or sentence (Page 28-29)
- Why did Tilly's family come to Thailand?
- What were the warning signs that both Tilly and her mother saw?
- Do you think Tilly's mother was alarmed by them?
- Where had Tilly seen the sea behaving in the same strange fashion?
- Where did the Smith family and the others on the beach go to escape from the tsunami?
- How do you think her geography teacher felt when he heard about what Tilly had done in Phuket?
- Tilly's family had come to Thailand to celebrate Christmas.
- Tilly's mother observed that the sea water was swelling and the beach area was progressively shrinking. Simultaneously, Tilly noticed that the sea was rising slowly, exhibiting bubbling, and forming a whirlpool.
- Initially, Tilly's mother could not comprehend the situation. She only began to realize the seriousness of the events when Tilly became frightened and mentioned the term 'Tsunami', indicating a significant danger.
- Tilly had previously witnessed the sea behaving in this peculiar manner in a video of a tsunami that her geography teacher had shown in class.
- The Smith family and the other people who were on the beach sought refuge on the third floor of a hotel to protect themselves from the oncoming tsunami.
- Tilly's geography teacher likely felt extremely proud and happy. He would have been pleased to know that his student had not only understood his geography lesson about tsunamis but had also applied that knowledge effectively to save her family and potentially others in Phuket.
Answer using a phrase or a sentence (Page 30)
- In the tsunami, 150,000 people died. How many animals died?
- How many people and animals died in Yala National Park?
- What do people say about the elephants of Yala National Park?
- What did the dogs in Galle do?
- The story does not provide an exact number for the animals that died. However, it explicitly states that the number of dead animals was significantly less compared to the human casualties.
- At the Yala National Park, sixty visitors lost their lives, while only two water buffaloes are reported to have died.
- People who were present at Yala National Park reported seeing three elephants running away from the Patanangala beach approximately an hour before the tsunami struck the area.
- The dogs in Galle exhibited unusual behavior; they refused to go for their customary daily run along the beach, suggesting they sensed the impending danger.
Working with Text (Page 30)
- When he felt the earthquake, do you think Ignesious immediately worried about a tsunami? Give reasons for your answer. Which sentence in the text tells you that the Ignesious family did not have any time to discuss and plan their course of action after the tsunami struck?
It is unlikely that Ignesious immediately worried about a tsunami when he felt the earthquake. The text implies that people were initially caught off guard by the earthquake's intensity. The sentence that clearly indicates the Ignesious family had no time to plan their actions is: "His wife ran to get their son. ... They saw the massive wave coming towards them." This shows that the tsunami struck so quickly after the earthquake that they were immediately engulfed without any opportunity to discuss or plan their escape.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the sequence of events in the tsunami's impact.
- Misinterpreting the reactions of animals to the natural disaster.
- Overlooking the importance of Tilly's prior knowledge from her geography class.
- Failing to distinguish between different characters' experiences and survival.
- Not understanding the difference between natural warning signs and their interpretation.
Revision tips
- Reread the chapter carefully, paying attention to the timeline of events.
- Summarize the experiences of each main character mentioned in the solutions.
- List the natural warning signs of a tsunami and how they were perceived.
- Compare and contrast the survival of humans and animals as detailed in the answers.
- Discuss the role of education and awareness in disaster preparedness, as highlighted in the solutions.
Practice MCQs
Q1. What was the primary reason Tilly's family visited Thailand?
Explanation: Tilly's family was in Thailand to celebrate Christmas, as stated in the solutions.
Q2. Which of these was NOT a warning sign of the tsunami observed by Tilly and her mother?
Explanation: The text mentions the sea swelling, the beach shrinking, and bubbling/whirlpools as warning signs, but not increased fish activity.
Q3. How was Meghna saved after being swept away by the wave?
Explanation: Meghna was brought to the shore by a wave, not rescued by a helicopter or by her own efforts.
Q4. What unusual behavior did the dogs in Galle exhibit before the tsunami?
Explanation: The dogs in Galle refused to go for their daily run on the beach, indicating they sensed danger.
Q5. According to the text, how did the number of dead animals compare to human casualties in the tsunami?
Explanation: The story states that the number of dead animals was far less compared to human casualties.
Q6. Where did the Smith family seek refuge from the tsunami?
Explanation: The Smith family and others on the beach went to the third floor of a hotel to escape the tsunami.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chapter 2 of CBSE Class 8 English about?
Chapter 2, 'The Tsunami,' is about the devastating impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, focusing on the stories of survival and loss experienced by people and animals.
Who are the main characters in 'The Tsunami' chapter?
Key characters include Ignesious, Sanjeev, Meghna, and Tilly Smith, whose experiences highlight different aspects of the disaster and survival.
What natural warning signs of a tsunami are mentioned in the chapter?
The chapter mentions the sea swelling, the beach getting smaller, the sea bubbling, and forming whirlpools as natural warning signs.
How do the NCERT Solutions for this chapter help students?
These solutions provide clear, detailed answers to all questions, helping students understand the narrative, analyze characters' actions, and grasp the chapter's themes for better comprehension and exam preparation.
What is the significance of Tilly Smith's story in the chapter?
Tilly's story highlights the importance of education and awareness, as her knowledge of tsunamis from a geography lesson enabled her family to escape the disaster.
How does the chapter portray the survival of animals during the tsunami?
The chapter suggests that animals often exhibit unusual behavior before a natural disaster and that their survival rate was significantly higher than that of humans.
Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy
NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.