Find the Content and Exercises with Solution
Lesson Objectives
The lesson teaches students to read and understand a short narrative dialogue, analyze characters and themes, enhance vocabulary and grammar, and organize information effectively.
B. Read the following dialogue between the English teacher, Mr Ramis, and a student Rubina.
"What?" cried the bat. "Is that all you have to say to our gracious host? Is he not the wisest, bravest and most generous of all animals and birds? Don’t you have praise for his noble character as well as for his goodness to us? I am ashamed of you! You do not deserve such hospitality. You do not deserve this shelter."
"Yes, get lost!" echoed the bat, flapping his leathery wings. The two heartless creatures fell upon the poor little dove and drove her out into the dark and stormy night.
But the owl and the bat did not go unpunished for their act of heartlessness. The bat can never fly in broad daylight. He has to wait for the sun to go down. And do you know what happened to the vain owl? Well, he is blind as long as the sun is up. He cannot hunt or feed himself unless it is dark. So the two vicious creatures with their dark heart live in the dark.
On the other hand, the dove is rewarded for her truthfulness. Her name shall be used by poets as long as the world lasts to rhyme with “LOVE”.
(Adapted from The Curious Book of Birds by Abbie Farwell Brown)
Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
- What moral irony is reflected in the punishment of the owl and the bat?
- Their physical blindness mirrors their moral blindness
- Their punishment is disproportionate to their cruelty
- Their inability to fly by day symbolizes wasted wisdom
- Their darkness represents the dove’s lingering grief
- In the context of poetic justice, how does the dove’s reward contrast with the others’ fate?
- Her forgiveness purifies the sins of the owl and bat
- Her suffering earns her companionship with poets in heaven
- Her humility transforms her into a divine messenger
- Her truthfulness leads to eternal remembrance while deceit leads to eternal obscurity
- What does the line “The two vicious creatures with their dark heart live in the dark” primarily symbolize?
- The inescapable moral darkness born from cruelty
- The physical limitation of nocturnal creatures
- The isolation of predators from social acceptance
- The cyclical nature of guilt and fear
- How does the narrator’s tone toward the owl and bat differ from the tone toward the dove?
- It shifts from condemnation to reverence, revealing moral alignment with truth
- It alternates between pity and irony to soften their guilt
- It presents all three characters with detached objectivity
- It glorifies the owl and bat before exalting the dove’s virtue
- Which literary device is most evident in the transformation of the owl and bat?
- Symbolism — their darkness represents internal corruption
- Hyperbole — their blindness is exaggerated to evoke pity
- Irony — they become what they despised
- Allusion — they mirror mythic figures of envy
- What philosophical idea about virtue does the story convey through the dove’s immortality in poetry?
- Kindness ensures survival in the natural order
- Truth transcends mortality through artistic memory
- Kindness ensures survival in the natural order
- Innocence is the highest form of wisdom
- Virtue is only meaningful when recognized by others
- Why can the owl’s blindness be interpreted as both punishment and revelation?
- Because his physical darkness mirrors a forced awareness of his moral failings
- Because blindness allows him to reflect on his former vanity
- Because it isolates him from the bat’s corrupting influence
- Because it is a symbolic cleansing of his earlier arrogance
- How does the narrative use natural imagery to reinforce moral consequences?
- The cold and wind evoke sympathy for all creatures equally
- The storm and night portray nature’s cruelty toward the innocent
- The sky and sunlight symbolize divine forgiveness
- The contrast between light and darkness embodies moral clarity and corruption
- What deeper implication lies behind the statement that poets shall rhyme the dove’s name with “LOVE”?
- That poetry is the only refuge for pure souls
- That the dove’s story became a literal myth about affection
- That truth and love are inseparable virtues worthy of eternal art
- That poetry is the only refuge for pure souls
- That the word “love” symbolizes the dove’s physical beauty
- In moral terms, what does the fate of all three creatures collectively teach?
- Nature punishes cruelty but ignores honesty
- Falsehood confines, but truth liberates beyond death
- Every virtue must coexist with vanity
- The darkness of sin can be overcome only through regret
Short Questions
- What punishment did the owl and the bat receive for their heartlessness?
- How does the bat’s inability to fly in daylight reflect his moral blindness?
- Why is the owl described as “vain,” and how does this vanity lead to his downfall?
- What symbolic meaning does darkness carry in the fates of the owl and the bat?
- How does the story contrast the dove’s light with the owl and bat’s darkness?
- Why is the dove rewarded even though she suffered at the hands of the others?
- What moral balance is restored through the punishments and rewards at the end?
- How does the writer use natural imagery to emphasize justice and truth?
- Why might poets continue to associate the dove with the word “love”?
- What universal message about truth and falsehood does the story convey?
Fill in the Blanks
The owl and the bat were punished for their __________ and __________ hearts. The bat was never again able to fly in __________, while the owl became __________ as long as the sun was up. Both creatures were forced to live in __________, symbolizing their moral blindness. In contrast, the dove was __________ for her honesty and truthfulness.
Suffix and Prefix Exercise
The owl’s __________ (vain) nature caused his downfall. His __________ (blind) during the day became a symbol of his foolish pride. The bat’s __________ (grateful) attitude revealed his true character. However, the dove’s __________ (truth) and __________ (pure) heart brought her lasting reward, as her name rhymed with “love” in poetry.
Complete the Table
Fill in the blanks in the Event/Action and What/Why columns using information from the ending of the story.
| Subject | Event/Action | What/Why |
|---|---|---|
| Owl and Bat | (i) ____________________ | because they showed cruelty and arrogance |
| Bat | (ii) ____________________ | since he could no longer bear sunlight |
| Owl | Became blind in daylight | (iii) ____________________ |
| Dove | (iv) ____________________ | for her truthfulness and gentle spirit |
| Poets | (v) ____________________ | to honor the dove’s name as a symbol of love |
| Darkness | (vi) ____________________ | as a punishment for deceit and pride |
| Light | (vii) ____________________ | to represent truth, virtue, and eternal remembrance |
| Story’s Ending | (viii) ____________________ | to show the victory of honesty over hypocrisy |
Answers
Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
- What moral irony is reflected in the punishment of the owl and the bat?
- Their physical blindness mirrors their moral blindness ✅
- Their punishment is disproportionate to their cruelty
- Their inability to fly by day symbolizes wasted wisdom
- Their darkness represents the dove’s lingering grief
- In the context of poetic justice, how does the dove’s reward contrast with the others’ fate?
- Her forgiveness purifies the sins of the owl and bat
- Her suffering earns her companionship with poets in heaven
- Her humility transforms her into a divine messenger
- Her truthfulness leads to eternal remembrance while deceit leads to eternal obscurity ✅
- What does the line “The two vicious creatures with their dark heart live in the dark” primarily symbolize?
- The inescapable moral darkness born from cruelty ✅
- The physical limitation of nocturnal creatures
- The isolation of predators from social acceptance
- The cyclical nature of guilt and fear
- How does the narrator’s tone toward the owl and bat differ from the tone toward the dove?
- It shifts from condemnation to reverence, revealing moral alignment with truth ✅
- It alternates between pity and irony to soften their guilt
- It presents all three characters with detached objectivity
- It glorifies the owl and bat before exalting the dove’s virtue
- Which literary device is most evident in the transformation of the owl and bat?
- Symbolism — their darkness represents internal corruption ✅
- Hyperbole — their blindness is exaggerated to evoke pity
- Irony — they become what they despised
- Allusion — they mirror mythic figures of envy
- What philosophical idea about virtue does the story convey through the dove’s immortality in poetry?
- Kindness ensures survival in the natural order
- Truth transcends mortality through artistic memory ✅
- Kindness ensures survival in the natural order
- Innocence is the highest form of wisdom
- Virtue is only meaningful when recognized by others
- Why can the owl’s blindness be interpreted as both punishment and revelation?
- Because his physical darkness mirrors a forced awareness of his moral failings ✅
- Because blindness allows him to reflect on his former vanity
- Because it isolates him from the bat’s corrupting influence
- Because it is a symbolic cleansing of his earlier arrogance
- How does the narrative use natural imagery to reinforce moral consequences?
- The cold and wind evoke sympathy for all creatures equally
- The storm and night portray nature’s cruelty toward the innocent
- The sky and sunlight symbolize divine forgiveness
- The contrast between light and darkness embodies moral clarity and corruption ✅
- What deeper implication lies behind the statement that poets shall rhyme the dove’s name with “LOVE”?
- That poetry is the only refuge for pure souls
- That the dove’s story became a literal myth about affection
- That truth and love are inseparable virtues worthy of eternal art ✅
- That poetry is the only refuge for pure souls
- That the word “love” symbolizes the dove’s physical beauty
- In moral terms, what does the fate of all three creatures collectively teach?
- Nature punishes cruelty but ignores honesty
- Falsehood confines, but truth liberates beyond death ✅
- Every virtue must coexist with vanity
- The darkness of sin can be overcome only through regret
Short Questions with Answers
-
What punishment did the owl and the bat receive for their heartlessness?
The bat was condemned to fly only at night, and the owl became blind during the day; both were forced to live in darkness as punishment for their cruelty. -
How does the bat’s inability to fly in daylight reflect his moral blindness?
His physical limitation symbolizes the inner blindness of his deceitful and ungrateful nature. -
Why is the owl described as “vain,” and how does this vanity lead to his downfall?
The owl’s vanity made him crave admiration and flattery, which ultimately led to his punishment of blindness in daylight. -
What symbolic meaning does darkness carry in the fates of the owl and the bat?
Darkness symbolizes ignorance, selfishness, and the moral emptiness of their actions. -
How does the story contrast the dove’s light with the owl and bat’s darkness?
The dove’s purity and truthfulness are associated with light and love, while the owl and bat’s deceit and pride are linked with darkness and isolation. -
Why is the dove rewarded even though she suffered at the hands of the others?
The dove is rewarded because her honesty and truthfulness remain unshaken despite cruelty and rejection. -
What moral balance is restored through the punishments and rewards at the end?
The story restores moral justice by ensuring that the wicked live in darkness while the truthful are remembered with honor and love. -
How does the writer use natural imagery to emphasize justice and truth?
By connecting light with goodness and darkness with evil, the writer uses nature to reflect the moral order of the story. -
Why might poets continue to associate the dove with the word “love”?
Poets link the dove with love because it symbolizes purity, faithfulness, and the eternal beauty of truth. -
What universal message about truth and falsehood does the story convey?
The story teaches that truth and sincerity are always rewarded, while deceit and arrogance bring lasting punishment.
Fill in the Blanks – Answer Key
The owl and the bat were punished for their cruel and selfish hearts. The bat was never again able to fly in daylight, while the owl became blind as long as the sun was up. Both creatures were forced to live in darkness, symbolizing their moral blindness. In contrast, the dove was rewarded for her honesty and truthfulness.
Suffix and Prefix Exercise – Answer Key
The owl’s vanity (vain) nature caused his downfall. His blindness (blind) during the day became a symbol of his foolish pride. The bat’s ingratitude (grateful) revealed his true character. However, the dove’s truthfulness (truth) and purity (pure) heart brought her lasting reward, as her name rhymed with “love” in poetry.
Complete the Table – Answer Key
| Subject | Event/Action | What/Why |
|---|---|---|
| Owl and Bat | Were punished after showing cruelty | because they drove the dove out on a stormy night |
| Bat | Lost the ability to fly in daylight | since he was condemned to live in darkness |
| Owl | Became blind during the day | as a symbol of his vanity and moral blindness |
| Dove | Was rewarded for her truthfulness | because she remained sincere and grateful |
| Poets | Used the dove’s name to rhyme with “love” | to honor her as a symbol of purity and faithfulness |
| Darkness | Became the home of the owl and bat | as a punishment for deceit and pride |
| Light | Was linked with the dove’s virtue | to represent truth, goodness, and divine justice |
| Story’s Ending | Showed moral justice through contrast | to emphasize that honesty triumphs over hypocrisy |
📖 Key Features
- 📌 Format: Reading Text with High Quality Graphics
- 📌Content: Class VIII – Unit Ten, Lesson 3: The Truthful Dove (3) (Page 133)
- 📌Content: class VIII Microsoft Word Vocabulary File, Vocabulary PDF downloadable File, Vocabulary Flashcards for Interactive Learning
- 📌 Exercise: Multiple Choice Questions, Short Questions, Fill-in-the-Blanks, suffix and prefix, information transfer
- 📌 Ideal for: IT-Assisted Classrooms
- 📌 Perfect for: Presentation Purposes and Personal Learning too
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