A Concrete Example-NCERT Question Answers | Class 8 English Poorvi

Here are simple, clear answers to the “Concrete Example” poem questions from the NCERT Class 8 English textbook “Poorvi.” These include both in-text and end-of-text question solutions, designed to help students easily understand the poem and prepare well for exams. #SirjiNotesC8 | PoorviC8

Intext Question Answers

Let us do these activities before we read. (Page-17)

I. Read the names of items you usually find in a garden and write their names against each picture given below.
garden hose, sapling, hedge, flower beds, flower pot, pebbles, rockery, fence, vine, wheelbarrow

Answer:

II. Work in groups of four. What kind of garden would you like to have? Mention the features that you can include and the reasons for your choice. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer: Do it yourself

III. Read the title of the poem. What comes to your mind when you read the word ‘concrete’? Does it have more than one meaning ? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer:

When we read the word “concrete”, the first thing that comes to mind is cement or a hard building material used to make roads and buildings.

But “concrete” has more than one meaning:

1. Concrete (as a noun) → A hard material (सीमेंट)
2. Concrete (as an adjective) → Something real, solid, or clearly seen (ठोस / वास्तविक)

In this poem, “concrete” means something real and clearly visible, like the garden with stones and small plants.

In short:
The word “concrete” can mean a material and also something real or definite.

Textbook Solutions: Answers to End-of-the-Text Questions

All end-of-the-text questions from (Page 19 to 16) published in NCERT English Textbook ‘Poorvi‘ for Grade 8.

Let us discuss

I. Complete the following summary with exact words from the poem. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

The poem describes Mrs. Jones, the speaker’s next-door neighbour, who has a unique garden filled with 1. ______ . Her garden includes a peculiar 2. ______, a pond, and a rockery, along with an unusual 3. ______that she finds charming. Mrs. Jones plants tiny, 4. ______ plants between the stones, which the speaker thinks must be so small that they are planted with a 5. ______ . One day, Mrs. Jones invites the speaker to see her garden, and they discuss a 6. ______ that Mrs. Jones treasures. When the speaker asks where the 7. ______ flower is, Mrs. Jones says that the speaker has been 8. on it all along.

Answer:

1. stones
2. crazy path
3. sundial
4. delicate
5. pin
6. flower
7. lovely
8. standing

Completed Passage (for clarity)

The poem describes Mrs. Jones, the speaker’s next-door neighbour, who has a unique garden filled with stones. Her garden includes a peculiar crazy path, a pond, and a rockery, along with an unusual sundial that she finds charming. Mrs. Jones plants tiny, delicate plants between the stones, which the speaker thinks must be so small that they are planted with a pin. One day, Mrs. Jones invites the speaker to see her garden, and they discuss a flower that Mrs. Jones treasures. When the speaker asks where the lovely flower is, Mrs. Jones says that the speaker has been standing on it all along.

II. Select the correct option to fill in the blanks for the following sentences.

1. The tone of the poem is ____.
   (i) mocking
   (ii) humorous
   (iii) mournful
   (iv) amusing
   (v) light-hearted
       A. (i), (ii), and (iii)
       B. (i), (ii), and (v)
       C. (ii), (iii), and (iv)
       D. (ii), (iv), and (v)

Answer: D. (ii), (iv), and (v)

2. The speaker in the poem is ____.
   (i) Mrs. Jones
   (ii) the poet
   (iii) a gardener
   (iv) a child

Answer: (ii) the poet

3. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ____.
   (i) AABBCC
   (ii) ABABCC
   (iii) AABCAC
   (iv) ABBACC

Answer: (i) AABBCC

III. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct answer given in the brackets.

1. The poet uses the word ‘stones’ in all stanzas in order to emphasise her ____. (obsession with a stony garden/pride in gardening skills)
2. The poet uses imagery to describe the features of the garden that help readers ____. (understand Mrs. Jones’ love for plants/visualise the garden’s peculiar nature)

Answer:

1. The poet uses the word ‘stones’ in all stanzas in order to emphasise her obsession with a stony garden.
2. The poet uses imagery to describe the features of the garden that help readers visualise the garden’s peculiar nature.

IV. Pick examples of alliteration from the poem.

Answer:

Examples are:

“sundial with a strange” – (repetition of ‘s’ sound)
“so delicate and small” – (‘s’ sound)
“stands and stones” – (‘s’ sound)

V. A refrain is a repeated line or phrase that appears in each stanza. Identify the refrain from the poem.

Answer:

“My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,”

VI. Irony is a literary device that emphasises the difference between what is expected and what actually happens. It often involves a situation where the outcome is the opposite of what is expected, creating a surprising or a humorous effect. For example, Mrs. Jones’ excitement about her garden contrasts with the speaker’s disappointment on how ordinary it is.
Identify the line(s) from the poem that display(s) situational irony.

Answer:

The lines that show situational irony are:

“Where is this lovely thing?” I cried.
“You’re standing on it,” she replied.

Simple Explanation: The poet is looking for the flower. But the surprising part is that he is already standing on it. This is ironic because he cannot see something that is right under his feet.

VII. Complete the following sentences appropriately.

1. The word ‘concrete’ can refer to ____ in Mrs. Jones’ garden.
2. The title also has a symbolic meaning, as the poem provides a clear or ‘concrete’ example of Mrs. Jones’ ____ gardening habits.

Answer:

1. The word ‘concrete’ can refer to stones in Mrs. Jones’ garden.
2. The title also has a symbolic meaning, as the poem provides a clear or ‘concrete’ example of Mrs. Jones’ peculiar gardening habits.

VIII. The title ‘A Concrete Example’ carries both literal and symbolic (metaphorical) meaning. Such word play is called a pun. A pun is a figure of speech that uses words with multiple meanings or words that sound alike but have different meanings, creating a humorous effect.
• I tried arguing with my pencil but it kept making sharp points. (suggests the idea of an actual sharp pencil point and strong argument points)
• My pencil and I had a disagreement but we finally got to the point. (refers to solving an argument and the pencil’s tip)

Answer:

The title “A Concrete Example” is a pun.

• Literal meaning:
  It refers to the stones (concrete material) in Mrs. Jones’ garden.
• Symbolic meaning:
  It means a clear and real example of Mrs. Jones’ peculiar gardening habits.

---

Let us think and reflect

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

1. My next-door neighbour, Mrs. Jones,
   has got a garden full of stones:
   A crazy path, a lily pond,
   a rockery and, just beyond
   A sundial with a strange device,
   which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice.

(i) What can be inferred about Mrs. Jones’s taste in gardening from the
description of her garden being ‘full of stones’?
Ans. It shows that Mrs. Jones likes unusual and different things in her garden. She prefers stones more than common plants and flowers.

(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The garden serves as a means to reveal more about Mrs. Jones herself.
Ans. True
The garden shows her personality and her unique choices.

(iii) What does the poet mean by ‘crazy path’?
Ans. A “crazy path” means a path that is uneven and not straight.

(iv) What does the sundial with a ‘strange device’ suggest about
Mrs. Jones’ personality?
A. She has a fascination with unusual items.
B. She prefers traditional garden decorations.
C. She is uninterested in her garden’s appearance.
D. She likes modern and expensive items.
Ans. ✔ A. She has a fascination with unusual items.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. How does Mrs. Jones feel about her garden? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
2. Why do you think the speaker describes the plants as being so small that they could be planted with a pin?
3. What do we get to know about Mrs. Jones—based on her gardening style and her interaction with the speaker?
4. The poem portrays Mrs. Jones in a positive light. Support this statement.
5. What does the poem tell us about the way people think differently about the world around them?

Answers:

Three-sets of answers are provided for each question to help students.

1. How does Mrs. Jones feel about her garden? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.

Very Short Answer.
Mrs. Jones feels proud and happy about her garden. She calls it “rather nice” and enjoys showing it, even though others may find it strange.

Short Answer.
Mrs. Jones feels very happy and proud of her garden. She finds it “rather nice” and enjoys showing it to the speaker. Even though her garden is full of stones and small plants, she values it greatly. This shows her love for her garden and her unique taste.

Long Answer.
Mrs. Jones feels very happy and proud of her garden. She calls it “rather nice.” She likes the stones, the path, and the small plants. She invites the speaker to see her garden. She also talks about it with interest. This shows she loves her garden. She does not care if others find it strange. She enjoys it in her own way. Her feelings show that she is confident and happy with her choices.

2. Why do you think the speaker describes the plants as being so small that they could be planted with a pin?

Very Short Answer.
Mrs. Jones feels proud and happy about her garden. She calls it “rather nice” and enjoys showing it, even though others may find it strange.

Short Answer.
The speaker describes the plants as so small that they could be planted with a pin to create humour. It is an exaggeration. This also shows that the speaker does not think the plants are important, as they are too tiny to notice easily.

Long Answer.
The poet says the plants are planted with a pin to make a joke. It shows the plants are very small and delicate. The speaker feels they are too tiny to notice. This also shows that he does not value them much. The line adds humour to the poem. It also shows the difference between the speaker and Mrs. Jones. She loves the plants, but the speaker does not understand their value.

3. What do we get to know about Mrs. Jones—based on her gardening style and her interaction with the speaker?

Very Short Answer.
Mrs. Jones is creative and unique. She likes unusual things and feels proud of her garden. She enjoys sharing her interests with others.

Short Answer.
Mrs. Jones is shown as a creative and unique person. She likes unusual gardening styles, such as using stones and very small plants. She is also proud of her garden and enjoys talking about it. Her interaction shows that she values her garden deeply.

Long Answer.
From her gardening style and her interaction with the speaker, we learn that Mrs. Jones is a unique and creative person. She enjoys unusual things, such as a garden full of stones and tiny plants. She is proud of her garden and does not feel the need to follow common ideas of beauty. She happily invites the speaker to see her garden and talks about it with interest. This shows her confidence and love for her work. She also finds joy in small details that others may ignore.

4. The poem portrays Mrs. Jones in a positive light. Support this statement.

Very Short Answer.
Mrs. Jones is shown positively as confident and happy. She loves her garden and finds beauty in small things, which makes her character pleasant.

Short Answer.
The poem presents Mrs. Jones in a positive way. She is confident about her choices and happy with her garden. She finds beauty in small and simple things. This shows her positive attitude and her ability to enjoy what she has.

Long Answer.
The poem shows Mrs. Jones in a positive way. She is happy and confident. She loves her garden very much. She finds beauty in small plants and stones. She enjoys showing her garden to others. She does not feel bad if others do not understand her. This shows her strong and positive nature. She teaches us to be happy with our choices.

5. What does the poem tell us about the way people think differently about the world around them?

Very short Answer.
The poem shows that people think differently. What one person finds beautiful, another may not notice. Everyone has their own way of seeing things.

Short Answer.
The poem shows that people think in different ways. Mrs. Jones likes her garden. The speaker does not understand it. This shows that beauty depends on a person’s thinking and viewpoint.

Long Answer.
The poem tells us that people think differently about the world around them. Mrs. Jones sees beauty in her garden full of stones and tiny plants. She values even the smallest flower. However, the speaker cannot see the same beauty and even stands on the flower without noticing it. This shows that people have different viewpoints and ways of understanding things. What seems important to one person may not seem important to another. The poem teaches us to respect different opinions and ways of seeing beauty. It also tells us to notice small things around us.

---

Let us learn

I. Select the appropriate word from the brackets that correctly replaces the underlined word in the sentences from the text.

1. A sundial with a strange device,
   (unusual, peculiar, new, rare, external)
2. … which Mrs. Jones thinks rather nice.
   (pleasant, superior, agreeable, gentle, charming)
3. They are so delicate…
   (delicious, fragile, dainty, graceful, weak)
4. “Where is this lovely thing?” I cried.
   (exclaimed, wept, shouted, announced, whispered)

Answers:

1. strange → peculiar
2. nice → charming
3. delicate → fragile
4. cried → exclaimed

II. Match the type of instruments in Column 1 with their definitions in Column 2. Column 3 shows one example of each type of instrument.
Add more examples in Column 3.

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
1.implement	(i) something that is electrical and is used to do work in the house	spade, knife
2. tool	(ii) something small that is mechanical or electronic	hammer
3.equipment	(iii) something that works on being moved by hand	cricket bat, helmet, batting gloves, etc.
4. appliance	(iv) a set of necessary items for a particular purpose	mixer grinder
5. gadget	(v) something used by hand to make or repair	mobile phone, laptop

Answers:

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3 (Examples)
1.implement	(iii) something that works on being moved by hand	spade, knife, shovel, hoe
2. tool	(v) something used by hand to make or repair	hammer, screwdriver, pliers
3.equipment	(iv) a set of necessary items for a particular purpose	cricket bat, helmet, gloves, football kit
4. appliance	(i) something electrical used to do work in the house	mixer grinder, refrigerator, washing machine
5. gadget	(ii) something small that is mechanical or electronic	mobile phone, laptop, smartwatch, calculator

III. Complete the table by making new words in Column 1 using the hints given in Column 2. Replace the first letter of the given word to create new words. One example has been done for you.

1.

Column 1	Column 2
nice
(i) dice	cut into small pieces
(ii) rice	grain that we cook
(iii) mice	plural of mouse
(iv) vice	bad habit

Answer:

Column 1	Column 2
nice
(i) dice	cut into small pieces
(ii) rice	grain that we cook
(iii) mice	plural of mouse
(iv) vice	bad habit

2.

Column 1	Column 2
soil
(i)	heat something
(ii)	work very hard
(iii)	length of wire in a circle
(iv)	sheets to wrap food items

Answer:

Column 1	Column 2
soil
(i) boil	heat something
(ii) toil	work very hard
(iii) coil	length of wire in a circle
(iv) foil	sheets to wrap food items

Let us listen

I. You will listen to a presentation about the wonderful Rock Garden of Chandigarh. As you listen, answer the following questions using one to three exact words from the presentation. (Transcript for teacher on page 47 of the book)

1. Where was Nek Chand’s Rock Garden featured?
   Ans. Indian postage stamp
2. What kind of sculptures does the Rock Garden have?
   Ans. colourful sculptures
3. How is the Rock Garden divided?
   Ans. three phases
4. Name any one thing that has been transformed into a piece of art in the Rock Garden.
   Ans. terracotta pots (or: light fixtures / toilet pots)
5. Approximately, how many statues border the Rock Garden?
   Ans. 5,000 statues

---

Let us speak

I. The speaker of the poem might have felt sorry for stepping on Mrs. Jones’ flower. When we make a mistake, we must express regret and apologise for our actions.

1. When we apologise to a friend or a family member, we use informal language. Take turns to apologise for the following situations and respond to the apology.

(i) You have eaten your brother’s share of sweets.
(ii) You have broken your sister’s flower craft.
(iii) You accidentally spilled ink on your mother’s important documents.
(iv) You forgot to bring your friend’s notebook to the school after borrowing it.

Answers: Sample Answers are given:

(i) You have eaten your brother’s share of sweets.

Apology:
I’m really sorry. I ate your sweets.
Response:
It’s okay. No problem.

(ii) You have broken your sister’s flower craft.

Apology:
Sorry, I didn’t mean to break your flower craft.
Response:
That’s alright. These things happen.

(iii) You accidentally spilled ink on your mother’s important documents.

Apology:
I’m really sorry. I spilled ink on your papers. Please forgive me.
Response:
It’s no big deal. Be careful next time.

(iv) You forgot to bring your friend’s notebook to the school after borrowing it.

Apology:
I’m sorry. I forgot your notebook at home.
Response:
No problem. Bring it tomorrow.

2. When we apologise to someone in authority like a Principal or a teacher in a formal setting, we use formal language. Work in pairs and take turns to apologise for the following situations and respond to the apology.

(i) You did not bring an assignment that was due for submission.
(ii) You were late to school for the past three days and had to meet the Principal.
(iii) You did not submit your project work and were asked to explain.

Answers: Sample Answers are given:

(i) Did not bring assignment

(ii) Late to school for three days

(iii) Did not submit project work

Let us write

You are a member of the Nature Club of your school. Draft a notice informing the students of Grades 6–8 about the inauguration of the Herb Garden.

Points to remember:

• Mention the purpose of writing, date, time, venue, and any other relevant
  information—whom to contact, when, and where.
• Use formal language in the third person form.
• Write the notice in a box.

Answer (Sample):

A Sample Notice is given here. You can customise to suit your needs.

---

Let us explore

III. Read and enjoy the poem.

A Sea of Foliage
A sea of foliage girds our garden round,
But not a sea of dull unvaried green,
Sharp contrasts of all colours here are seen;
The light-green graceful tamarinds abound
Amid the mango clumps of green profound,
And palms arise, like pillars gray, between;
And o’er the quiet pools the seemuls lean,
Red—red, and startling like a trumpet’s sound.
But nothing can be lovelier than the ranges
Of bamboos to the eastward, when the moon
Looks through their gaps, and the white lotus changes
Into a cup of silver. One might swoon
Drunken with beauty then, or gaze and gaze
On a primeval Eden, in amaze.

– Toru Dutt

Click Link to See the Explanation-Video of the Poem

◼◼◼