CBSE Class 8 English (Honeydew) Important Questions Chapter 1 Poem - The Ant and The Cricket

1. Who is the main character of the poem "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The main character is a silly young cricket.

2. What season does the cricket complain about in the poem?
Ans. The cricket complains about the winter season.

3. What did the cricket do during summer in the poem?
Ans. The cricket sang throughout the warm summer months.

4. Who did the cricket approach for help in the poem?
Ans. The cricket approached a miserly ant for help.

5. What does the ant say about lending or borrowing in the poem?
Ans. The ant says that ants neither borrow nor lend.

6. Why did the cricket start complaining in winter in the poem "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The cricket complained because he had no food left in his cupboard, and the ground was covered with snow, leaving him helpless.

7. How did the ant respond to the cricket’s request for food and shelter in the poem?
Ans. The ant refused to give food or shelter, reminding the cricket that ants do not borrow or lend, and said the cricket should have prepared during the warm months.

8. What lesson does the ant try to teach the cricket in "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The ant tries to teach the cricket that it’s important to work and save during times of plenty, rather than just enjoying and wasting time.

9. Why does the poet call the cricket ‘silly’ in the poem?
Ans. The poet calls the cricket silly because he didn’t prepare for the tough times ahead and wasted the summer by only singing.

10. What is the moral of the poem "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The moral of the poem is that one should plan for the future and work hard during good times to be ready for difficult times.

11. Describe the character of the cricket in the poem "The Ant and the Cricket." How does his behaviour reflect on his preparedness for winter?
Ans. The cricket is carefree and doesn’t think ahead. He spends the warm summer days singing and enjoying life, without thinking about saving food for the future. When winter comes, he finds himself without food or shelter, showing that he wasn’t prepared. This lack of planning forces him to ask for help, showing the consequences of his actions.

12. Compare and contrast the attitudes of the ant and the cricket in the poem "The Ant and the Cricket."
Ans. The ant is practical, hardworking, and thinks ahead. He prepares during the summer and saves food for winter, knowing it’s necessary to plan for hard times. The cricket, on the other hand, is carefree and irresponsible. He enjoys the moment without considering what’s to come. The ant’s refusal to help the cricket shows the difference between them: one works hard and plans, while the other does not.

13. How does the poem "The Ant and the Cricket" reflect the values of hard work and responsibility?
Ans. The poem shows that the cricket’s failure to work and save during the summer leaves him in trouble during winter. On the other hand, the ant works hard and takes responsibility for the future, so he’s well-prepared when winter comes. The message is clear: those who don’t work or plan will struggle, while those who take responsibility will be ready.

14. Explain how the poem "The Ant and the Cricket" uses animals to convey a message about human behaviour.
Ans. The poem uses the ant and the cricket to show human traits. The cricket represents people who only think about the present and ignore the future, while the ant represents people who work hard and plan ahead. The ant’s actions show that preparation is important, while the cricket’s mistakes show the consequences of not planning.

15. In what way is the poem "The Ant and the Cricket" a fable? Discuss the relevance of the message in today's world.
Ans. "The Ant and the Cricket" is a fable because it uses animals to teach a lesson. Fables often teach valuable life lessons, and this poem does the same. It highlights the need to plan for the future and work hard when things are going well. This lesson is still relevant today, as it reminds us to save and be ready for tough times.

16. What message do you think the poet is trying to convey through the behaviour of the cricket and the ant in "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The poet is showing that it’s important to prepare for the future and not just live for today. The cricket’s carefree behaviour during the summer leads to trouble in the winter, while the ant’s hard work helps him survive. The poem teaches us that it’s wise to think ahead.

17. Why do you think the ant refused to help the cricket despite being his friend?
Ans. The ant likely refused to help because he wanted the cricket to understand the importance of working and planning ahead. The ant thought that by refusing, the cricket would learn a valuable lesson about responsibility.

18. How do you think the cricket felt after the ant turned him away? What lesson did he learn?
Ans. The cricket likely felt regret and despair after the ant turned him away. He realised that he had wasted the summer and now had nothing to survive the winter. The lesson he learned was that without preparation, it’s hard to face difficult times.

19. If you were in the ant’s place, would you have helped the cricket? Why or why not?
Ans. Personal response may vary. Some may feel that helping the cricket would have been the kind thing to do, while others might think the ant was right to refuse in order to teach the cricket a lesson about working hard and preparing for the future.

20. What does the poet mean by the line “Some crickets have four legs, and some have two” in "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. This line suggests that some people, like the cricket, don’t plan for the future and live only for today. It means there are humans who behave like the cricket, enjoying life without thinking about what’s to come and suffering the consequences later.

21. What did the cricket request from the ant in the poem?
Ans. The cricket asked for shelter from the rain and a small amount of food to survive the winter.

22. What kind of response did the ant give to the cricket in "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The ant refused to help, explaining that ants neither borrow nor lend, and suggested that the cricket should dance through the winter if he spent the summer singing.

23. How is the ant’s behaviour an example of self-discipline in "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The ant’s behaviour shows self-discipline because he worked hard during the summer, saved food, and resisted helping the cricket, knowing that it would encourage laziness.

24. Why is the cricket considered a ‘foolish’ character in the poem?
Ans. The cricket is considered foolish because he didn’t plan for the future, spending all his time singing and having fun, and ended up with no food when winter came.

25. What do you think is the significance of the ant being described as ‘miserly’ in the poem "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans. The word ‘miserly’ suggests that the ant was very careful with his resources and didn’t share, even though he could have. It adds a hint of criticism, suggesting that maybe the ant could have shown some kindness.

Benefits of Important Questions Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 1 Poem

• The FREE PDF includes important questions that cover the poem’s main themes, such as hard work and planning for the future, helping students understand valuable life lessons from Aesop’s fable.

• Through questions on themes like the value of preparation and responsibility, this PDF allows students to relate these teachings to real-world scenarios, encouraging them to think about how these values impact their lives.

• Vedantu’s experts ensure all questions meet CBSE standards, focusing on essential aspects that aid students in preparing thoroughly for their exams.

• Available as a FREE download, this PDF allows students to study important questions anytime, providing flexibility to revise at their own pace.

• Regular practice with these questions builds students' confidence and ability to structure clear, well-thought-out answers in exams.

• The questions focus on the cricket and ant’s personalities, encouraging students to explore character traits like responsibility and self-discipline, which help them grasp the poem’s core message.

• Created by experienced teachers, the PDF aligns with the latest CBSE curriculum, ensuring students cover all relevant points in a clear and concise manner.

Conclusion:

Chapter 1, "The Ant and the Cricket" in Class 8 English, teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of working hard and being prepared for tough times. The cricket's carefree attitude leaves him in trouble during winter, while the ant’s planning and hard work keep him safe. This simple story encourages students to think about the future and make wise choices. Vedantu's important questions FREE PDF for this chapter helps students easily study and understand the key points for exams. These questions focus on the main themes and lessons, ensuring students are well-prepared.

Additional Study Material for Class 8 English (Honeydew) Chapter 1 Poem

CBSE Class 8 English (Honeydew) Important Questions for All Chapters

Important Study Materials for Class 8 English