CBSE Class 8 It So Happened Chapter 8 Jalebis NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by · Updated on

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 8 PDF

This chapter, 'Jalebis' from the CBSE Class 8 'It So Happened' textbook, delves into a relatable childhood dilemma: the temptation of sweets versus responsibility. The NCERT Solutions provide detailed answers to the questions, exploring the narrator's internal conflict as he grapples with the desire for delicious jalebis and the obligation to pay his school fees. The solutions analyze the persuasive 'voices' of the coins, the narrator's justifications for his actions, and the eventual consequences of his impulsive purchase. They also touch upon themes of peer pressure, the digestive capacity of children, and the fear of parental discovery. These solutions are designed to help students understand the narrative's nuances, character motivations, and the underlying moral lessons about honesty and self-control, making them an excellent resource for exam preparation.

Home

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 8
SubjectIt So Happened
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter8. Jalebis

Chapter summary

Chapter 8, 'Jalebis,' of the CBSE Class 8 'It So Happened' textbook focuses on a narrative that explores a young boy's struggle with temptation. The NCERT Solutions for this chapter break down the story's events, character's thoughts, and the consequences of his actions. Key aspects covered include the boy's internal debate with the coins, his decision to buy jalebis instead of saving the money for fees, and his subsequent fear and attempts to hide his indulgence. The solutions help students grasp the story's moral implications regarding honesty, responsibility, and the challenges of resisting immediate gratification.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the narrator's internal conflict between desire and duty.
  • Analyze the personification of coins and their persuasive arguments.
  • Explain the consequences of impulsive decisions.
  • Identify the themes of temptation, honesty, and fear in the story.
  • Evaluate the narrator's justifications for his actions.
  • Discuss the concept of peer influence and self-control.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Childhood temptation
  • Internal conflict
  • Personification of inanimate objects (coins)
  • Consequences of impulsive actions
  • Honesty and responsibility
  • Fear of parental discovery
  • Scholarship and fees
  • Narrative analysis
  • Moral lessons in literature

Important topics

  • The narrator's internal struggle with temptation
  • The role of the coins in influencing the narrator
  • Consequences of succumbing to temptation
  • The theme of honesty vs. deceit
  • Understanding the narrator's fear

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …
Page of
Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Comprehension Check - Q1

Why didn't he pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school?
Solution: He did not pay the school fees on the day he brought the money because his teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, who was responsible for collecting the fees, was on leave that day. Consequently, the fees were to be collected the following day.

Comprehension Check - Q2

(i) What were the coins 'saying' to him? (ii) Do you think they were misguiding him?
Solution:

(i) The coins were personified as tempting the narrator to buy jalebis. They suggested that the fresh, hot jalebis were meant to be enjoyed by those who had money, that money is meant for spending, and that spending it on delicious treats like jalebis was a pleasure.

(ii) Yes, the coins were definitely misguiding him. Although the money was specifically set aside for school fees, the coins urged him to spend it all on jalebis, disregarding his responsibility towards his education.

Comprehension Check - Q3

Why didn't he take the coins' advice? Give two or three reasons.
Solution: He chose not to follow the coins' tempting advice for several reasons. Firstly, he considered himself a good boy who understood the coins were trying to lead him astray. Secondly, he felt he received enough at home and considered even looking at market items a sin. Most importantly, he knew the money was for his school fees. Spending it would mean facing his teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, the next day without the fees, which he dreaded due to the teacher's anger and potential punishment, as well as disappointing his parents and God.

Comprehension Check - Q4

(i) What did the oldest coin tell him? (ii) Did he follow its advice? If not, why not?
Solution:

(i) The oldest coin advised the narrator that it was for his own good. It suggested that he would receive his scholarship money the next day, which he could use to pay his fees, and therefore, he could comfortably buy the jalebis with the money he had at that moment.

(ii) No, he did not follow the oldest coin's advice. Despite his mouth watering at the thought of jalebis, he remembered his status as a promising student who had even won a scholarship. He also came from a well-to-do family and had a reputation for not being beaten. He felt that standing in the middle of the market eating jalebis was not appropriate for someone of his standing and prestige. Therefore, he decided against it and returned home.

Comprehension Check - Q5

He reached home with the coins in his pocket. What happened then?
Solution: Upon reaching home with the coins still in his pocket, the narrator found that the temptation had not subsided; the coins began to 'speak' again, and when he went inside for lunch, they seemed to 'shriek'. Feeling overwhelmed and unable to resist any longer, he rushed out of the house barefoot and ran towards the market. Despite his fear, he quickly asked the halwai (sweet seller) for a whole rupee worth of jalebis, which were then piled onto a newspaper for him.

Comprehension Check - Q6

(i) Why didn't he eat all the jalebis he had bought? (ii) What did he do with the remaining jalebis?
Solution:

(i) He did not eat all the jalebis he had bought because he had consumed such an enormous quantity that he felt as if any slight pressure on his stomach would cause the jalebis to come out of his ears and nostrils. He was completely stuffed.

(ii) He distributed the remaining jalebis to the other children who had gathered in the lane where he was eating.

Comprehension Check - Q7

"The fear was killing me." What was the fear?
Solution: The fear that was 'killing' him was the intense anxiety of being discovered by his parents for having spent the money meant for his school fees on eating a large quantity of jalebis. He was also physically uncomfortable and fearful due to the sheer volume of jalebis he had eaten, experiencing constant burps that threatened to reveal his indulgence.

Comprehension Check - Q8

"Children's stomachs are like digestion machines." What do you understand by that? Do you agree?
Solution: This statement implies that children possess a remarkably efficient digestive system, capable of processing large amounts of food with ease. They can often eat much more than adults without experiencing significant discomfort. While children generally have robust digestive systems, agreeing with the statement entirely might be an oversimplification, as individual capacities vary, and overeating can still cause problems for anyone.

Comprehension Check - Q9

How did he plan to pay the fees the next day?
Solution: His plan to pay the fees the next day was to use the scholarship money he had received the previous month. He intended to use this scholarship amount to cover his school fees, as he had already spent the money he had brought with him on jalebis.

Comprehension Check - Q10

When it is time to pay the fees, what does he do? How is he disobeying the elders by doing so?
Solution: When it was time to pay the fees, instead of going to the teacher to pay, he tucked his school bag under his arm and left the school premises. He continued walking, hoping for a miracle to save him from the situation. He ended up at the Kamalapur railway station. By leaving school without paying the fees and wandering off, he was disobeying the elders (his parents and teachers) who had instructed him to pay the fees and attend school responsibly.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the narrator's initial intentions with his final actions.
  • Underestimating the persuasive power of temptation.
  • Not fully grasping the narrator's fear of consequences.
  • Interpreting the coins' advice literally without considering the context.

Revision tips

  • Reread the story focusing on the narrator's thoughts and feelings at each stage.
  • Pay close attention to the dialogue between the narrator and the coins.
  • Summarize the key events in your own words to check comprehension.
  • Discuss the moral of the story with classmates or teachers.
  • Identify the moments where the narrator shows self-control and where he succumbs to temptation.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why did the narrator not pay his school fees on the day he brought the money?

Q2. What did the coins tempt the narrator to do?

Q3. What was the narrator's initial plan to pay his fees the next day?

Q4. Why did the narrator not eat all the jalebis he bought?

Q5. What was the narrator's greatest fear after buying and eating the jalebis?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the 'Jalebis' chapter in Class 8 It So Happened?

The main theme of the 'Jalebis' chapter is the internal conflict between temptation and responsibility, exploring a child's struggle to resist immediate gratification (buying jalebis) when faced with an obligation (paying school fees).

Who are the main characters in the story 'Jalebis'?

The main characters are the narrator (a young schoolboy) and, in a way, the personified coins that tempt him. Other mentioned characters include Master Ghulam Mohammed (the teacher) and the narrator's parents.

How do the NCERT Solutions for 'Jalebis' help students?

These solutions provide clear, detailed answers to the chapter's questions, helping students understand the plot, character motivations, the story's moral, and key literary devices like personification, aiding in comprehension and exam preparation.

What does the narrator mean when he says the coins were 'saying' things to him?

This is an example of personification. The narrator is describing his own strong desire for jalebis as if the coins themselves are speaking to him, urging him to spend the money on the sweets.

What lesson can students learn from the story 'Jalebis'?

Students can learn the importance of honesty, self-control, and responsibility. The story highlights the consequences of giving in to temptation and the fear that often follows such actions.

Why is the narrator afraid after eating the jalebis?

He is afraid that his parents will find out that he spent the money meant for his school fees on jalebis, leading to punishment or disappointment.

Important links

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.