8th Class English(Jasmine) - Unit -2 Values And Dispositions(A Tale of Valour: Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam) All Question With Answer

| Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

1. Vastly outnumbered and facing devastating fire, Major Somnath Sharma and his men stood resolute. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire and the cries of battle, but Major Somnath Sharma’s voice cut through the chaos, urging his men to fight with tenacity and valour. Despite heavy casualties and his own injuries, Major Somnath Sharma displayed unparalleled bravery. He moved fearlessly through the battlefield, directing fire, filling magazines for his gunners, and encouraging his men to hold their ground.


(1) What do you understand about the conditions from the line: ‘The air was thick with gunfire...’
A.The gunshots had stopped for a while.
B. There was intense fighting on the battlefield.
C.The invaders wereretreating from the fight.
D.The Indian soldiers had achieved victory.
Answer:
B. There was intense fighting on the battlefield.

(ii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.
Despite heavy casualties, Major Somnath Sharma continued to lead his men because __________.
Answer:
he was deeply committed to his duty and wanted to inspire his soldiers to fight with courage and determination.

(iii) Select the correct option for both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) given below:

(A): Major Somnath Sharma moved fearlessly through the battlefield, even though he was injured.
(R): He believed his courage was important to motivate the soldiers.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is . not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Answer:
A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

(iv) Fill in the blank with the correct word from those given in the brackets: Major Somnath Sharma was filling magazines, and encouraging his men to hold their ground despite __________ (injuries/worry)
Answer:
injuries

(i) What can be inferred about Somnath Sharma’s early influences on his career?
A. He was primarily influenced by his father’s achievements in the military.
B. His inspiration came solely from the tales of the Mahabharata.
C. His family and heritage inspired his bravery and sense of duty.
D. He decided to join the military out of necessity rather than passion.
Answer:
C. His family and heritage inspired his bravery and sense of duty.

(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false:
Somnath Sharma belonged to a wealthy family.
Answer:
False.

(iii) What does the phrase ‘served the nation with distinction’ tell us about Major General Amar Nath Sharma? (He performed his duties with exceptional dedication, honour, and excellence./He was highly respected for his contributions to the country.)
Answer:
Major General Amar Nath Sharma performed his duties with exceptional dedication, honour, and excellence.

(iv) Replace the underlined phrase with a word from the extract that has a similar meaning.
My family and I visited a popular hill station and stayed in an old but visually charming house surrounded by trees.
Answer:
picturesque

Question 1.
Why do you think Major Somnath’s leadership was critical during the Battle of Badgam?
Answer:
Major Somnath’s leadership was critical during the Battle or Badgam because he remained calm under pressure, inspired his men to fight bravely despite overwhelming odds, and made strategic decisions such as requesting air strikes. His presence and courage motivated his troops to hold their ground, buying valuable time for reinforcements to arrive and save Srinagar.

Question 2.
What were Major Somnath’s last words? What do they reflect about his sense of duty?
Answer:
Major Somnath’s last words were: “The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.”
These words reflect his unshakeable commitment to his mission and his willingness to sacrifice everything for the defence of his country. They show his deep sense of duty, bravery, and leadership.

Question 3.
What might have been the outcome of the Battle of Badgam if Major Somnath and his company had not held their ground?
Answer:
If Major Somnath and his company had not held their ground, the infiltrators might have captured the Srinagar airport and the surrounding areas. This could have led to the loss of Kashmir to Pakistan in 1947, changing the course of Indian history significantly.

Question 4.
Why do you think Major Somnath’s story continues to inspire soldiers and civilians today?
Answer:
Major Somnath’s story inspires people because it embodies courage, patriotism, and selfless sacrifice. He led from the front despite personal injury and chose to fight against overwhelming odds rather than retreat. Such dedication to the nation sets a powerful example for both soldiers defending the country and civilians striving to uphold values in their daily lives.

Question 5.
How can the values demonstrated by Major Somnath Sharma—courage, duty, and self-sacrifice—be applied in our daily lives?
Answer:
These values can guide us to face challenges bravely, take responsibility for our actions, and put the well-being of others above our own interests. Whether it’s helping someone in need, standing up for what’s right, or staying committed to our goals, we can honour his legacy by living with integrity, responsibility, and compassion.

Ans:

Now, complete the following sentences using the expressions from Column 1.
A. The detective managed to ______________ by fiding the hidden evidence before the culprit could get rid of it.
B. The company’s new advertising campaign was meant to ______________ to their competitors’ sales.
C. The hikers chose to ______________ despite the heavy rain, refusing to turn back on their journey.
D. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the soldiers vowed to defend their homeland and ______________, refusing to surrender to the enemy forces.
Answer:
A. foil the plan
B. deliver a blow
C. hold their ground
D. fight to the last man

A contingent of troops posted to Jammu and Kashmir was air-lifted into Srinagar… There are many such collective nouns used in the context of armed forces.

Answer:

Now, fill in the blanks suitably with words from Column 1 in the table.
A. The commanding officer addressed the entire __________ of soldiers during the morning assembly.
B. The admiral ordered the entire __________ to set sail for battle.
C. The __________ of infantry advanced slowly through the dense forest.
D. A __________ of fighter jets was sent to intercept the enemy planes.
Answer:
A. regiment
B. fleet
C. battalion
D. squadron

Meanings
1. To take and seize control: __________
2. To invade or occupy an area in large numbers: __________
3. To flood or overpower someone or something emotionally: __________
Answer:
1. overthrow
2. overrun
3. overwhelm

Now, create a list of at least five other verbs that begin with ‘over’ and frame sentences of your own.
Answer:
1. Overlook – She overlooked a small detail that caused the entire plan to fail.
2. Overcome- It is not easy to over come this problem.
3. Overreact- Some actors/actresses overreact their roles in plays.
4. Overwork- You overwork yourself, you’ll end up feeling exhausted and burned out.
5. Overslept-Missed the bus because I overslept this morning.

• advice (noun) and advise (verb)
• practice (noun) and practise (verb)
• device (noun) and devise (verb)
• council (noun) and counsel (verb)

1. The bouquet of flowers __________ (is/are) beautiful.
2. Neither the teacher nor the students __________ (was/were) aware of the change in the schedule.
3. Each of the participants __________ (has/have) submitted their projects on time.
4. The data collected by the researchers __________ (shows/show) significant trends.
5. One of the players __________ (was/were) injured during the match.
6. Either the children or their guardian __________ (has/have) to attend the meeting.
7. A pair of shoes __________ (is/are) missing from the rack.
8. Neither of the statements __________ (is/are) true.
9. The members of the jury __________ (has deliver/have delivered) their verdict to the court.
10. Mathematics __________ (is/are) an interesting subject for many students.
Answer:

1. is
2. were
3. has
4. show
5. was
6. has
7. is
8. is
9. have delivered
10. is

A battalion of soldiejs stand at attention as the National flag are raised.
A battalion of soldiers stands at attention as the National flag is raised.

Each soldier salute with pride while the commander and his assistants inspects the parade. The sound of marching feet echo through the air as a group of cadets prepare for their drill. Meanwhile, a convoy of military vehicles pass by, drawing cheers from the gathered crowd.
Answer:
Each soldier salutes with pride while the commander and his assistants inspect the parade. The sound of marching feet echoes through the air as a group of cadets prepares for their drill. Meanwhile, a convoy of military vehicles passes by, drawing cheers from the gathered crowd.