NCERT Solutions for Chapter 14 Magnifying Glass Class 8 English Poorvi

NCERT Solutions for Magnifying Glass Class 8 English is prepared by expert faculty. This is the fourteenth chapter of Class 8 English NCERT Textbook named Poorvi.

Chapter Name: Magnifying Glass
Unit: Science and Curiosity
Textbook Name: Class 8 English Poorvi
Related Stud material: Class 8 Poorvi NCERT Solutions

Chapter 14 Magnifying Glass NCERT Solutions Class 8 English

Page No. 222

Let us do these activities before we read

I. Work in pairs. Answer the questions that follow the pictures given below. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. What is common in all these pictures?

2. Select the pictures you are familiar with.

3. Why do you think the people in the pictures need to use a magnifying glass?

4. What other instruments magnify objects?

Answer

1. All the pictures show people using a magnifying glass to observe small or tiny objects in detail.

2. I am familiar with the third picture. I am very fond of looking for different small species of insects and also ants. I love observing their behaviour.

3. The people use a magnifying glass to see small details more clearly, such as the structure of insects, leaves, or patterns that are not visible to the naked eye.

4. Other instruments that magnify objects include microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, hand-held magnifiers, and magnifying spectacles.

II. If you have a magnifying glass, what would you like to use it for and why? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer

If I had a magnifying glass, I would use it to observe leaves, insects, and tiny patterns on stones or shells. It would help me see things in nature more clearly and understand how beautiful and complex even the smallest things can be.

Page No. 223

Let us discuss

I. Complete the summary of the poem given below with suitable words from the poem.

The poem describes the magic of seeing the world through a 1. ______. It reveals how tiny things like 2. ______ and 3. ______ can appear vast and complex. Even a 4. ______ of water can seem like a hive of 5. ______. The poet is impressed at how the spider spins its 6. ______ from its 7. ______. The poem ends with the idea that, through lenses, the 8. ______ could seem within reach.

Answer

The poem describes the magic of seeing the world through a 1. magnifying glass. It reveals how tiny things like 2. moss and 3. chalk can appear vast and complex. Even a 4. drop of water can seem like a hive of 5. bees. The poet is impressed at how the spider spins its 6. web from its 7. spinnerets. The poem ends with the idea that, through lenses, the 8. moon could seem within reach.

II. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the brackets.

1. The main idea of the poem is the transformative power of _____ (wonders in nature/close observation) through the magnifying glass.

2. The tone of the poem is ______ . (wonder and curiosity/peaceful and emotional)

3. The poem has _____ stanzas with ______ lines in each stanza. Hence, it is a quatrain. (four; six/six; four)

4. The rhyme scheme of the poem is _____. (ABCD; ABCB)

Answer

1. The main idea of the poem is the transformative power of close observation through the magnifying glass.

2. The tone of the poem wonder and curiosity.

3. The poem has six stanzas with four lines in each stanza. Hence, it is a quatrain.

4. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABCB.

III. Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices.

Simile
Alliteration
Metaphor

Answer

1. Simile:

A drop of water/Like hive of bees
Yes, and with lenses like it

2. Alliteration:

Shells show, forest-flowers, wait and watch, woven web-silk, make more marvellous

3. Metaphor:

“Magic talk” (the magnifying glass is not literally talking)

The whole poem is metaphorical in how it compares ordinary things to magical wonders.

IV. The poem is rich in visual imagery, painting vivid pictures of small, everyday things magnified into something grand.

1. In the line, ‘A myriad shells show in a scrap of chalk’, the magnifying glass reveals ________.

2. In the line, ‘A forest—flowers and trees’ the poet uses the imagery of nature to emphasise ________.

Answer

1. In the line, ‘A myriad shells show in a scrap of chalk’, the magnifying glass reveals the hidden patterns or fossil-like structures in something as simple as chalk.

2. In the line, ‘A forest—flowers and trees’ the poet uses the imagery of nature to emphasise how a tiny patch of moss can look like an entire forest under magnification.

V. Complete the following sentences with a reason.

1. The poet uses exclamation marks in lines, ‘The tigerish claws he has!’, ‘With all those eyes!’ and ‘In an afternoon!’ because it _________.

2. In the phrase, ‘Magic talk’ the poet uses personification to describe the magnifying glass because it _________.

3. Each stanza follows a repetitive pattern of introducing a small or ordinary object and then describing the extraordinary details revealed through magnification. This is because it supports the theme of ______ as the speaker reveals ______.

4. In the final stanza the poet shifts from small, everyday objects being magnified to a celestial body like moon because ______.

Answer

1. The poet uses exclamation marks in lines, ‘The tigerish claws he has!’, ‘With all those eyes!’ and ‘In an afternoon!’ because it expresses his sense of amazement and excitement at what he sees through the magnifying glass.

2. In the phrase, ‘Magic talk’ the poet uses personification to describe the magnifying glass because it seems to reveal secrets or tell stories that are otherwise hidden from the naked eye.

4. In the final stanza the poet shifts from small, everyday objects being magnified to a celestial body like moon because it shows how far human curiosity and observation can go, even reaching space through lenses like telescopes.

Page No. 224

Let us think and reflect

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

1. With this round glass
I can make Magic talk—
A myriad shells show
In a scrap of chalk;
Of but an inch of moss
A forest—flowers and trees;

(i) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The poet uses his magical powers to make the round glass powerful.

(ii) Select the line from the extract that expresses the presence of intricate patterns in ordinary objects.

(iii) What does the comparison of ‘an inch of moss’ to a ‘forest’ suggest about the speaker’s view of the world through the magnifying glass?

(iv) How does the poet feel about the ability of the magnifying glass to reveal hidden wonders?

A. Satisfied
B. Fascinated
C. Grateful
D. Determined

Answer

(i) False
The poet does not have magical powers; the magnifying glass itself reveals the magic of small objects when observed closely.

(ii) “A myriad shells show / In a scrap of chalk”
This line shows how even a simple piece of chalk can contain complex patterns visible through a magnifying glass.

(iii) It suggests that the speaker sees immense beauty and complexity in even the tiniest parts of nature. Through the magnifying glass, the ordinary becomes grand and magical.

(iv) (B) Fascinated
The poet expresses awe and wonder at how the magnifying glass reveals the unseen marvels of the natural world.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the significance of the spider in the poem?

2. How might the speaker’s view of the natural world change if there was no use of a magnifying glass?

3. Why does the poem end with the idea of the moon being within reach?

4. What is the speaker’s attitude towards nature and the act of observation?

5. Which is your favourite part of the poem? Why?

Answer

1. The spider represents skill, precision, and natural beauty. The poet admires how the spider spins its web using its spinnerets and how even its small, tiger-like claws become visible through magnification. It reflects the hidden intricacies of life that are revealed when observed closely.

2. Without a magnifying glass, the speaker might miss the minute details and hidden beauty of small things. The natural world would seem ordinary rather than extraordinary and magical, and the sense of curiosity and wonder would be diminished.

3. The poem ends with the idea of the moon being within reach to show that scientific instruments like lenses and telescopes can expand our reach and imagination. It suggests that human curiosity and observation can take us beyond the Earth, even to celestial bodies like the moon.

4. The speaker has a deep sense of curiosity, fascination, and admiration for nature. He sees observation as a way to uncover hidden beauty and believes that even the smallest things hold wonder and mystery when seen up close.

5. My favourite part is “A drop of water/ Like hive of bees” because it beautifully compares a simple drop of water to a busy beehive, showing how full of life and activity even the smallest things can be when seen through a magnifying glass. It reminds me to appreciate the hidden wonders all around me.

Page No. 225

Let us learn

I. Fill in the blanks in the sentences with the words given in the box below.

With his 1. ______ description, the author has written the story beautifully 2. ______with fascinating details. When you read the story, you will surely enjoy the 3. ______storytelling technique that attracts all kinds of readers. What makes the story interesting is the superb way of describing the 4. ______emotions and feelings of the characters. The reader will 5. ______upon the unexpected twists and turns that 6. ______ all our understanding and make us wonder at the narrative power of the author.

Answer

With his 1. deft description, the author has written the story beautifully 2. woven with fascinating details. When you read the story, you will surely enjoy the 3. marvellous storytelling technique that attracts all kinds of readers. What makes the story interesting is the superb way of describing the 4. myriad emotions and feelings of the characters. The reader will 5. stumble upon the unexpected twists and turns that 6. surpass all our understanding and make us wonder at the narrative power of the author.

II. The collective noun ‘a hive of bees’, is used in the poem. Match the phrases in Column 1 with suitable words in Column 2 to make collective nouns.

Answer

Column 1	Column 2
1. a swarm of	(iv) locusts
2. a constellation of	(vi) stars
3. a grove of	(v) trees
4. a troupe of	(iii) dancers
5. a battalion of	(ii) soldiers
6. a fleet of	(i) ships

III. The poet uses the expression ‘eyeing the moon’ in the poem. Match the idiomatic expressions with ‘eye’ given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

Answer

Column 1	Column 2
1. apple of one’s eye	(v) a person who is very precious or important
2. in the blink of an eye	(iii) something that happens very quickly
3. keep an eye on something or somebody	(i) watch something or someone closely
4. turn a blind eye	(ii) act as if you do not see or notice
5. see eye to eye	(vi) agree with each other
6. bird’s-eye view	(iv) an overall look at something

IV. The poet uses the adjective form ‘tigerish’ in the poem by adding the suffix -‘ish’ to the noun ‘tiger’. In the same way, we can make adjectives by adding the suffix -‘ish’ to some nouns.

Choose the nouns to which you can add the suffix -‘ish’ to make adjectives.

Answer

girl → girlish
boy → boyish
silk → silkish
moon → moonish
book → bookish

Page No. 227

Let us listen

I. You will listen to a conversation between a father and daughter about lesser-known Indian inventions. As you listen, mark the four true statements from (1)–(6) given below. (Transcript for teacher on page 250)

Answer

1. The father is surprised by the fact that India was involved in the invention of radio broadcasting and fibre optics.	True
2. The daughter appears indifferent when learning the origins of the USB port.	False
3. The father shows little interest in the information about the origin of snakes and ladders.	True
4. The father was simply confirming all the facts shared by the daughter.	False
5. The daughter expresses pride and admiration for India’s role in global inventions.	True
6. The daughter is excited as she shares new discoveries about India’s contributions with her father.	True

Page No. 228

Let us speak

I. When pronouncing /v/ and /f/, the lower lip lightly touches the edge of the upper teeth. Air flows through the small gap, creating a soft friction sound.

Note the difference between /v/ and /f/. When we pronounce words with /v/ sound, there is a vibration, whereas /f/ sound has no vibration. Both the sounds can occur in the beginning, middle, or at the end of words.

Read these words aloud with the help of your teacher.

Answer

Students need to do this by themselves.

II. If you could travel to space, which planet would you like to visit? Why? What preparations would you like to make? Speak about any five things that you would like to take along.

Answer

If I could travel to space, I would like to visit Mars because it is known as the Red Planet and scientists believe that it may have had water and life in the past. I would love to see its rocky surface and experience low gravity.

Preparations I would make:

Train in a space program
Learn how to live in zero gravity
Understand how to use a space suit
Carry necessary equipment

Five things I would take along:

Oxygen supply
Space food
A camera to record my journey
A communication device
A journal to write about my experiences

III. If you could invent something, what would you like to invent and how? Give reasons for the choice of your invention. Speak about your wonder invention.

Answer

If I could invent something, I would invent a Pollution Cleaner Drone. It would fly around cities and absorb harmful gases and dust particles from the air to keep the environment clean. I would invent it because pollution is a big problem today, and clean air is necessary for a healthy life. This drone would help people breathe better and reduce diseases.

It would use sensors to detect polluted areas and special filters to clean the air.
It would be solar-powered to make it environment-friendly.

This invention would truly be a gift to the Earth!

Page No. 229

Let us write

I. In a conversation, we communicate through dialogues. While writing a conversation, we need to ensure that the dialogues are engaging and serve a purpose.

Points to remember:

Mention where, when, and with whom the conversation is taking place.
Identify the word choice and tone—formal or informal.
Include key information, points of agreement and disagreement, etc.
Use words in brackets to express emotions or actions, such as (joyfully) (sits down).
You may use filler words like Uff, Er… , Ugh, etc.

Deepa and Asma, members of the Science Club have a conversation to take a decision about making a model for an upcoming Science Fair. Create this conversation between Deepa and Asma.

You may begin the conversation like this.

DEEPA: Hi Asma! Our Science teacher mentioned that you have a wonderful idea for the Science Fair project.

ASMA: (hesitatingly) Yes, I do. But I’m not sure if it is good enough.

DEEPA: (encouragingly) Don’t worry…

Answer

Deepa: Hi Asma! Our Science teacher mentioned that you have a wonderful idea for the Science Fair project.

Asma : (hesitatingly) Yes, I do. But I’m not sure if it is good enough.

Deepa : (encouragingly) Don’t worry, Asma!
I’d love to hear it. Every idea has potential. Just tell me what you’re thinking.

Asma : Well… I am thinking we can make a working model of a water purification system using natural materials like sand, charcoal, and gravel. It can show how clean water can be produced using simple, eco-friendly methods. Deepa : That sounds amazing! It’s a practical idea and also spreads an important message about clean water and sustainability.

Asma : You really think so? I was worried it might be too simple compared to some of the high-tech models others might present.

Deepa : Simple doesn’t mean boring. If we present it well and explain the science clearly, it can actually
stand out. It’s something everyone can relate to.

Asma: That makes sense. Maybe we can also show water samples before and after filtration to highlight the difference.

Deepa: Great idea! And we can add labels and posters explaining each layer’s function in the filtration process.

Asma: Yes! Maybe even a small interactive section where visitors can try pouring in some ‘dirty’ water and see it come out clean.

Deepa: Perfect! Let’s start planning the materials well need and divide the work. I’m excited already.

Asma: Me too, Deepa. Thanks for encouraging me. I’m glad we’re doing this together.

Deepa: Anytime! Let’s make this Science Fair project awesome!

Page No. 229

Let us explore

I. Children with low vision may benefit from different types of visual aids, such as magnifying spectacles, stand magnifiers, hand-held magnifiers, and telescopes. Magnifying spectacles are used for reading, threading a needle or doing other close-up tasks. Stand magnifiers rest above the object and are hands-free and help to keep the magnifying lens at a proper distance. Hand-held magnifiers with and without built-in lights, are usually smaller and lighter to move over printed material. They can be moved more easily. Telescopes are used to see objects or signs far away. Some telescopes can even be attached to eyeglasses.

Answer

Students need to do this by themselves.

II. Did you know that telescopes also use lenses?

The largest telescope in India for studying celestial objects is located in the district of Nainital, Uttarakhand. Commissioned in 2016, it is maintained and operated by ARIES (Āryabhaṭa Research Institute of Observational Sciences).
The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) is a high-altitude astronomy station located in Hanle, Ladakh, India. It is situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters (14,764 ft), and supports optical, infrared, and gamma-ray telescopes.
The largest, most powerful, and most complex telescope ever launched into space is the James Webb Space Telescope. NASA launched it on, 25 December 2021. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. To learn more, visit the link below.
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/
The Mauna Kea Observatory, astronomical observatory in Hawaii, US, that has become one of the most important in the world because of its outstanding observational conditions. The Mauna Kea Observatory is operated by the University of Hawaii and lies at an elevation of 4,205 metres (13,796 feet) atop the peak of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on north-central Hawaii island. The summit hosts a world renowned collection of astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories, including the Keck Observatory and Subaru Telescope, for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy.
The observatories are set up here because of Mauna Kea’s high elevation, dry environment, and stable airflow that make it a prime location for astronomical observation. The focus is scientific research across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Public Access: The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy provides visitor information and exhibits about the mountain and its observatories, and offers guided tours of the summit.

Find out more about them from the internet and discuss with your science teacher and classmates.

Answer

The largest telescope in India for studying celestial objects is located in the district of Nainital, Uttarakhand. Commissioned in 2016, it is maintained and operated by ARIES (Āryabhaṭa Research Institute of Observational Sciences).
The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) is a high-altitude astronomy station located in Hanle, Ladakh, India. It is situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters (14,764 ft), and supports optical, infrared, and gamma-ray telescopes.
The largest, most powerful, and most complex telescope ever launched into space is the James Webb Space Telescope. NASA launched it on, 25 December 2021. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. To learn more, visit the link below. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/
The Mauna Kea Observatory, astronomical observatory in Hawaii, US, that has become one of the most important in the world because of its outstanding observational conditions. The Mauna Kea Observatory is operated by the University of Hawaii and lies at an elevation of 4,205 metres (13,796 feet) atop the peak of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on north-central Hawaii island. The summit hosts a worldrenowned collection of astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories, including the Keck Observatory and Subaru Telescope, for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy.

The observatories are set up here because of Mauna Kea’s high elevation, dry environment, and stable airflow that make it a prime location for astronomical observation. The focus is scientific research across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Public Access: The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy provides visitor information and exhibits about the mountain and its observatories, and offers guided tours of the summit.

Find out more about them from the internet and discuss with your science teacher and classmates.

III. Read about ancient Indian scholars.

1. One of the eminent astronomers of the ancient India was Āryabhaṭa. His work Āryabhaṭiyam, laid the groundwork for various astronomers to develop in subsequent centuries and continues to be an important work even today. Āryabhaṭa proposed a heliocentric model of the solar system centuries before Copernicus. He also gave a scientific explanation of lunar and solar eclipses.

2. Varāmihira, the sixth-century CE astronomer, philosopher, and mathematician wrote the astronomical treatise Pañchasiddhāntika (Fine Treatises), a compendium of Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and Indian astronomy.

3. The tenth-century CE mathematician-astronomer Bhāskarachārya II contributed significantly to the advancement of astronomical concepts. His works Siddhāntaśiromaṇi and Karaṇakutūhala, include compiled data on planetary positions, conjunctions, and eclipses.
https://indianculture.gov.in/timeless-trends/unveiling-cosmos-journey-throughhistory-astronomy-india

IV. Jantar Mantar in New Delhi is an astronomical observatory. It has large-scale astronomical instruments designed for precise calculations and measurements of celestial movements. It was built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The observatory is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five such observatories were built by Jai Singh II, the other four are located in Ujjain, Mathura, Varanasi, and Jaipur.

NCERT Solutions for Chapter 14 Magnifying Glass Class 8 English Poorvi