Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi

Class – VIII Worksheet No. – 2 Date- 07.04.2020

Subject - English Student’s Name- Name of the Class Teacher-

POEM – The ANT and the CRICKET

Q1. Last week you read a poem about a hardworking Ant and a careless Cricket. Now think of someone (family
member/ friend) who has the following qualities. Write his/her name in the blank and your relationship with
him/her in the brackets.
1. Hardworking - ( ) 2. Energetic - ( )
3. Punctual - ( ) 4. Helpful - ( )

Now let’s read the remaining poem. Do you think the Ant helped the Cricket?

STANZA 3 STANZA 5
Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,
Says the ant to the cricket, “I’m your servant and
And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.
friend,
Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true:
But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend.
Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.
But tell me, dear cricket, did you lay nothing by
When the weather was warm?” (adapted from Aesop’s fables)
Quoth the cricket, “Not I !”

STANZA 4
My heart was so light
That I sang day and night,
For all nature looked gay.”
“You sang, Sir, you say?
Go then,” says the ant, “and dance the winter away.”

Q2. Who said the following lines in the poem - Ant or Cricket? Write your answer in the blank below each bubble.

My heart was so light ....did you lay nothing by Go then and dance
That I sang day and When the weather was the winter away.
night. warm?

a) b) c)

Q3. Rearrange the following sentences to form the summary of the poem. Write the correct sequence number in
the box against each sentence. (The first sentence has been sequenced to help you.)
1. The cricket sang during the months of summer and spring. 1.
2. The ant refused to help him and sent him away.
3. In the winter season, he was starving and thus he went to the ant.
4. The cricket replied that he enjoyed the summers and did not store any food.
5. The ant asked the cricket if he had stored food for the winter.
6. He requested the ant to lend him some food and shelter.

Q4. What does the poet mean by the last line? (Choose the correct option)

Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.

a) There are some crickets that have two legs. b) Insects like the cricket have four legs.
c)Some people are like the cricket. They are lazy and do not care about the future.