CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 2 Children at Work NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 8 PDF

CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 2, 'Children at Work', delves into the poignant realities of child labor and survival. This chapter introduces us to Velu, a young boy who flees his home in search of a better life, only to find himself entangled in the harsh world of street work. The NCERT Solutions offer a deep dive into Velu's journey, exploring his initial struggles, his encounters with characters like Jaya, and his gradual adaptation to a challenging environment. We examine the themes of poverty, resilience, and the loss of innocence as Velu navigates his new reality. The solutions provide clear explanations of the text, helping students understand the characters' motivations, the societal issues presented, and the underlying messages of the story. This resource aims to enhance comprehension and equip students with the insights needed to analyze the chapter effectively for their studies.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 8
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 2 Children at Work

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 2, 'Children at Work', offers in-depth answers to comprehension and exercise questions. The solutions focus on Velu's journey from his village to the city, his experiences with poverty, and his entry into the world of ragpicking. Key themes explored include the harsh realities faced by child laborers, the struggle for survival, and the value of discarded materials. The chapter's questions and answers help students analyze character motivations, understand social issues, and interpret the story's underlying messages.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the challenges faced by children in difficult circumstances.
  • Analyze the motivations behind Velu's actions.
  • Identify and explain the themes of poverty and survival in the story.
  • Evaluate the character traits of Velu and Jaya.
  • Interpret the meaning of the statement 'What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others'.
  • Improve reading comprehension skills through detailed question analysis.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Child Labor
  • Poverty and Survival
  • Life in the City vs. Village
  • Character Analysis (Velu, Jaya)
  • Social Issues
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Story Interpretation
  • Ragpicking
  • Abuse and Escape
  • Resourcefulness

Important topics

  • Understanding Velu's motivations for leaving home.
  • Analyzing the challenges faced by children in 'Children at Work'.
  • The theme of survival and resourcefulness.
  • Interpreting the social commentary on poverty.
  • Character development of Velu and Jaya.
  • The significance of the ragpicking profession in the story.

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Questions and Solutions

Comprehension Check (Page 9)

1. Velu stood on the platform but he felt "as if he was still on a moving train." Why?

Solution: Velu felt as if he was still on a moving train because he was extremely tired, hungry, and frightened after his long journey. Being a young boy, he was disoriented and overwhelmed by the new environment, and the sensation of the train's movement lingered, making it hard for him to accept that he had arrived and the journey was over.

2. What made him feel miserable?

Solution: Velu felt miserable because he was all alone in an unfamiliar city, tired from his journey, and desperately hungry. Compounding his distress, he realized he had no money and no ticket, making his situation seem hopeless and bleak.

3. (i) Velu travelled without a ticket. Why?

Solution: Velu travelled without a ticket because he had no money. He had run away from home and was penniless, making it impossible for him to purchase a ticket for the train journey.

4. How did he escape the ticket collector's attention?

Solution: Velu managed to escape the ticket collector's attention because the collector did not visit the unreserved compartment where Velu was hiding. The collector likely focused his checks on other parts of the train, allowing Velu to go unnoticed.

5. Why had Velu run away from home?

Solution: Velu had run away from home to escape the severe mistreatment by his father. His father was an alcoholic who would often snatch all the money earned by Velu and his sister, and he frequently beat the children.

6. Why did he decide to follow the 'strange' girl?

Solution: Velu decided to follow the strange girl because he was extremely hungry and had eaten nothing substantial for two days. The girl promised to get him food, which was a compelling reason for Velu to trust her and go with her, despite her being a stranger.

Comprehension Check (Page 13)

1. Can Velu read Tamil and English? How do you know?

Solution: Velu can read Tamil but not English. We know this because he was unable to read the English signboards, but he could read the Tamil sign on the Central Jail, indicating his literacy in Tamil.

2. "If you are not careful, you will soon be counting bars there," the girl said.

(i) What is she referring to?

Solution: She is referring to the Central Jail. The 'bars' she mentions are the prison bars, implying that if Velu is not careful and gets caught doing something wrong, he will end up imprisoned.

(ii) What does she mean when she says "If you are not careful."? (She says something a little later which means the same. Find that sentence.)

Solution: When she says "If you are not careful," she means that Velu needs to be cautious and avoid getting caught by the authorities. The sentence that means the same thing, which she says later, is: "You don't have to do anything. Just don't get caught, that's all."

3. (i) Where did the girl lead Velu to?

Solution: The girl led Velu to a marriage hall.

(ii) What did they get to eat?

Solution: They got to eat leftover food from a garbage bin near the marriage hall. This was food that had been discarded after the event.

4. What work did she do? (Think of a one-word answer).

Solution: The work she did was ragpicking.

Comprehension Check (Page 15)

1. (i) What material are the 'strange' huts made out of?

Solution: The 'strange' huts are made out of a variety of materials, including tin sheets, bricks, wood, and plastic.

2. Why does Velu find them strange?

Solution: Velu finds these huts strange because they are constructed from materials like tin, plastic, and wood, which are very different from the traditional huts in his village, which are made of mud and palm leaves.

3. What sort of things did Jaya and children like her collect and what did they do with those things?

Solution: Jaya and other children like her collected discarded items such as paper, plastic, and glass. They then sold all these collected materials to a kabadiwala, or a junk-dealer, to earn money.

4. Is Velu happy or unhappy to find work? Give a reason for your answer.

Solution: Velu is unhappy to find work as a ragpicker. The reason is that he considers it a very dirty and menial job, unlike anything he was accustomed to or willing to do in his village.

Exercise (Page 16)

Discuss the following questions in small groups. Write their answers afterwards.

Ql. Is Velu a smart boy? Which instances in the text show that he is or isn't?

Solution: Velu is not portrayed as a particularly smart boy in terms of conventional wisdom or decision-making. Instances showing he isn't smart include running away from home impulsively due to his father's beatings, feeling miserable and lost on the Chennai platform, and accepting ragpicking as his only option because he felt unfit for any other job. However, his ability to adapt and survive in a harsh environment could be seen as a form of street smartness, though the text emphasizes his initial vulnerability and lack of foresight.

Q2. Do you think Jaya is a brave and sensitive child with a sense of humour? Find instances of her courage, kind nature and humour in the text.

Solution: Yes, Jaya appears to be a brave, sensitive child with a sense of humour. Her kind nature is evident when she takes pity on the hungry Velu and gets him food. Her bravery is shown in how she bravely earns her own livelihood by collecting and selling discarded materials. Her sense of humour is demonstrated when she makes a light-hearted, yet pointed, remark about the "dirty trickle of water" being the Buckingham Canal, showing a witty way of observing her surroundings.

Q3. What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others. Do you find this sentence meaningful in the context of this story? How?

Solution: Yes, the sentence "What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others" is highly meaningful in the context of this story. It directly relates to the lives of the ragpickers like Jaya and Velu. Items that people discard as useless—such as plastic, paper, glass, and rusty metal sheets—become valuable commodities for these children. They collect these 'waste' materials and sell them to junk dealers, which forms their primary means of survival and earning a livelihood.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. How old was Velu when he left his home? Why did he leave his home?

Solution: Velu was eleven years old when he ran away from home. He took this drastic step because he could no longer tolerate the abuse and beatings from his father, who was a drunkard and would often steal the money earned by Velu and his sister.

Q2. What problems did Velu face when he stood on Chennai platform?

Solution: When Velu stood on the Chennai platform, he faced numerous problems. He was completely alone, tired from his journey, and extremely hungry, having eaten only some peanuts for two days. He was also penniless and homeless, making his situation dire and miserable.

Common mistakes

  • Misinterpreting Velu's initial actions as purely foolish rather than driven by desperation.
  • Underestimating the resilience and resourcefulness of characters like Jaya.
  • Failing to connect the story's events to broader social issues of child labor and poverty.
  • Not fully grasping the symbolic meaning of 'waste' in the context of the story.

Revision tips

  • Reread the chapter, paying close attention to Velu's feelings and decisions.
  • Discuss the characters' motivations and actions with classmates.
  • Focus on understanding the social commentary embedded in the story.
  • Practice answering the exercise questions by referring to the text and the provided solutions.
  • Summarize the main events and themes in your own words.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why did Velu feel like he was still on a moving train when he stood on the platform?

Q2. What was the primary reason Velu travelled without a ticket?

Q3. Why had Velu run away from his home?

Q4. What did Jaya promise Velu that made him follow her?

Q5. What did the sentence 'If you are not careful, you will soon be counting bars there' refer to?

Q6. What kind of work did Jaya and children like her do?

Q7. How did Velu feel about the work of ragpicking initially?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 2 of CBSE Class 8 English NCERT about?

Chapter 2, 'Children at Work', tells the story of Velu, an eleven-year-old boy who runs away from home to escape his abusive father and finds himself in Chennai, where he gets involved in ragpicking.

Who are the main characters in 'Children at Work'?

The main characters are Velu, a young boy who leaves his village, and Jaya, a girl who works as a ragpicker and helps Velu.

What are the key themes in this chapter?

The key themes include child labor, poverty, survival, the stark contrast between rural and urban life, and the resilience of children facing difficult circumstances.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, detailed answers to all questions in the chapter, helping students understand the plot, characters, themes, and underlying social issues, which aids in exam preparation.

Why is the sentence 'What one throws away as waste may be valuable to others' important in this chapter?

This sentence is central to the story as it highlights how discarded items like plastic, paper, and metal, considered waste by some, are the source of livelihood for ragpickers like Jaya and Velu.

What does Velu learn from his experience in Chennai?

Velu learns about the harsh realities of poverty and survival in the city. He learns to adapt to a new, difficult life, finding work as a ragpicker and learning to survive by collecting and selling waste materials.

Important links

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