CBSE Important Questions for Class 8 English Children at Work - 2025-26
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 8 English Children at Work - 2025-26
1. What are some of the most frequently asked short-answer (2-mark) questions from the chapter 'Children at Work' for the CBSE Class 8 English exam?
For the 2025-26 exams, students should prepare for the following expected short-answer questions:
Why did Velu run away from his home in the village?
What was Velu's first impression of Chennai Central Station, and why did he feel miserable?
Describe the character of Jaya and her occupation as a rag-picker.
What was Velu’s initial reaction to eating the crushed banana and vada from the garbage bin?
2. How can I structure an answer for a 5-mark question comparing Velu’s life in the village to his life in Chennai?
To score full marks on this important question, structure your answer by contrasting these points:
Work and Freedom: In the village, Velu worked on a farm but faced abuse from his father. In Chennai, he has freedom from his father but must work as a rag-picker for his own survival.
Environment: His village was quiet and familiar, with known paths and fields. Chennai is a noisy, crowded, and overwhelming city with endless traffic and pollution.
Food and Shelter: In the village, food was likely simple but available. In Chennai, he experiences extreme hunger and has to eat discarded food. He sleeps on a platform instead of in a home.
Relationships: He ran away from a dysfunctional family relationship. In Chennai, he forms a new, practical bond with Jaya, who becomes his guide.
Conclude by stating that while he escaped one form of hardship, he entered another, more challenging world of urban poverty.
3. What key character traits of Jaya should be highlighted for a 3-mark character sketch in the exam?
For a high-scoring character sketch of Jaya, focus on these essential traits:
Resourceful and Street-smart: She knows how to navigate the city, find food, and earn a living by collecting and selling junk. She is a true survivor.
Pragmatic and Realistic: Jaya doesn't show pity but offers practical help. She tells Velu he won't get food by just sitting around.
Mature for Her Age: Despite being a child, she takes on the role of a provider and guide, showing a maturity forced upon her by her circumstances.
Kind-hearted: Although she appears tough, her decision to help Velu by sharing her knowledge and food source shows her underlying kindness.
4. What is a Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) question that can be expected from 'Children at Work'?
A likely HOTS question is: "Jaya, though a child herself, acts as a guide and protector for Velu. Comment on this role reversal and what it reveals about their circumstances." To answer this, you should explain that the story depicts a world where children are forced to grow up too soon. The normal dynamic of adults protecting children is reversed. This highlights the harsh reality of urban poverty where survival depends on wit and experience, not age. Jaya's role underscores the failure of society to protect its most vulnerable members.
5. Why is the title 'Children at Work' significant? What deeper meaning should an answer explore beyond the literal one?
The title is highly significant and an important aspect for exam questions. Beyond its literal meaning, it signifies a critique of society. The phrase 'Children at Work' is ironic because childhood should be a time for play and education, not labour. The title highlights the harsh reality where children like Velu and Jaya are denied their childhood and are forced into labour for survival. It represents the grave issue of child labour and the loss of innocence due to poverty and social neglect.
6. How does the story 'Children at Work' challenge common stereotypes about children living on the streets?
This is a crucial value-based question. The story challenges stereotypes by showing that these children are not lazy or helpless. Instead, characters like Jaya are portrayed as:
Incredibly hardworking and entrepreneurial: She has a system for collecting and selling scraps to survive.
Resilient and proud: Jaya doesn't beg; she works. She possesses immense dignity in her struggle.
Intelligent and resourceful: She understands the city's ecosystem and navigates it skilfully.
The story encourages readers to look beyond prejudice and see the strength, intelligence, and resilience of children forced into such circumstances.
7. Could Velu have survived in Chennai without Jaya's help? Justify your answer with evidence from the text for a 4-mark question.
This is an important analytical question. It is highly unlikely that Velu would have survived for long without Jaya. Your justification should include these points from the story:
Immediate Helplessness: When Velu arrived, he was overwhelmed, hungry, and lost at the station. He had no money, food, or knowledge of the city.
Source of Food: Jaya was the one who led him to a source of food, even if it was from a garbage bin. Without her, his hunger would have become severe.
Means of Livelihood: Jaya introduced him to the only work he could find: rag-picking. She gave him a sack and taught him the basics of survival, essentially giving him a path to earning.
Therefore, Jaya was not just a friend but his lifeline in an alien and hostile environment.
