CLASS VIII CHAPTER 7 A VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE

 Q1: (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why? (ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why? 

Answer: (i) The writer was nervous at the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking because he was a very renowned and brilliant astrophysicist despite being paralysed and differently abled. He had authored one of the biggest best-sellers ever - A Brief History of Time. Besides, he was a worthy successor to Sir Isaac Newton and succeeded to his Chair at the Cambridge University. 

(ii) Yes, the author – Firdaus Kanga was super excited to meet Stephen Hawking because he wasn’t expecting that he would be getting an opportunity to have a face-to-face conversation with such a great personality. He wondered that although Hawking was paralysed and differently abled, he had achieved greater heights and was considered a worthy successor to Sir Isaac Newton and succeeded to his Chair at the Cambridge University. This made Firdaus aware of the numerous possibilities before him and he could reach out further than he ever thought he could. 

Q2: Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer. 

Ans: The first question that the writer might have asked the scientist was if he felt relieved and brave for accomplishing such great achievements in life despite being disabled.

Question 3: Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it? 

Ans: Although Stephen Hawking stated that he had no choice, but to remain confined to the wheelchair. The writer felt that living creatively with the reality of his disintegrating body was a choice for him. Firdaus strongly felt that Hawking could have easily sulked and surrendered to life, rather he chose to accomplish new heights despite being disabled. 

Q4: “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish? 

Ans: Stephen Hawking was such a brilliant scientist who brought to light various laws of science. His mind was always receptive to new ideas and he always wanted to express the different thoughts in his mind. He was dependent on a voice synthesizer for expressing his thoughts, without any emotions. The writer could understand Hawking’s anguish for his helplessness and felt that there were numerous things which he wanted to express, but was unable to do so. His entire existence was dependent on a computer for expressing his thoughts and emotions. He must have been full of anguish for this reason. 

Q5: What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world? 

Ans: The writer asked Stephen Hawking if he found it annoying for causing disturbance in his work. Without any second thought, Hawking quickly with a yes. But he suddenly gave a one-way smile and this endeared the scientist to the writer. The writer instantly felt that he was indeed looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world, who although is disabled physically, but has a beautiful soul, not a body, which is nothing but just an accessory. 

Q6: Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description? 

Ans: The most beautiful sentence in the description of ‘the beautiful’ man is – “Before you, like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man.” The above sentence describes Hawking’s personality as his inner beauty or glow that’s so beautiful and vibrant which renders his physical inability nothing but just an accessory.

Q8: What is the scientist’s message for the disabled? 

Ans: Stephen Hawking emphasised on the fact that every person irrespective of his capacity or disability should try to focus on enhancing or working towards on what they are good at. He further added that disabled should not make unnecessary foolish efforts to imitate normal people. They should make the best utilisation of the available resources and be thankful to God for granting them the ability to achieve or accomplish any impossible task. 

Q9: Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support? 

Ans: When Stephen Hawking mentioned to the author that Olympics for the disabled was a complete waste of time, this reminded the author about the years that he spent trying to play the Spanish guitar which was considerable larger than him. One night, he loosened the guitar strings without any regrets. The author could understand Hawking’s message for disabled which mentions that one should try to concentrate on what they are good at, rather than trying to compare themselves or imitate the normal people. 

Q10: The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for? 

Ans: Stephen Hawking inspired the author to an extent that he was grateful to the scientist. He saw how Hawking was brave enough to achieve such big things in life despite his disability. The scientist was indeed an embodiment of his courageous self. This optimistic aspect of Hawking inspired the author so much that he felt a deep sense of gratitude for the scientist and showed him a new way of leading life without complaining of the disability all the time.