Lesson-1 The best Christmas present of the world
Summarize:-Story
The story is about a man who buys an old roll-top desk from a junk shop. While repairing it, he finds a hidden drawer with a letter inside. The letter was written by Jim Macpherson, a British soldier, to his wife, Connie, during World War I.
In the letter, Jim describes a special event on Christmas Eve in 1914. British and German soldiers, who were fighting in the war, stopped fighting for a day. They celebrated Christmas together, shared food, and played football. It was a moment of peace and friendship in the middle of war.
The man who found the letter decides to find Jim Macpherson’s wife, Connie. He visits an old-age home and meets an old woman who mistakes him for Jim. She is very happy, thinking her husband has returned. The man gives her the letter and leaves, realizing he has given her the best Christmas present in the world.
हिन्दी में सारांश:
यह कहानी एक आदमी के बारे में है जो एक कबाड़ी की दुकान से एक पुरानी डेस्क खरीदता है। जब वह उसकी मरम्मत करता है, तो उसे एक गुप्त दराज में एक चिट्ठी मिलती है। यह पत्र जिम मैक्फर्सन नामक एक ब्रिटिश सैनिक ने अपनी पत्नी कॉनी को प्रथम विश्व युद्ध के दौरान लिखा था।
पत्र में, जिम 1914 के क्रिसमस ईव की एक खास घटना का वर्णन करता है। ब्रिटिश और जर्मन सैनिक, जो एक-दूसरे से युद्ध कर रहे थे, एक दिन के लिए लड़ाई बंद कर देते हैं। वे एक साथ क्रिसमस मनाते हैं, खाना बांटते हैं और फुटबॉल खेलते हैं। यह युद्ध के बीच शांति और दोस्ती का क्षण था।
जिस आदमी को यह पत्र मिलता है, वह जिम मैक्फर्सन की पत्नी को खोजने का फैसला करता है। वह एक वृद्धाश्रम जाता है और एक बूढ़ी औरत से मिलता है जो उसे जिम समझ लेती है। वह बहुत खुश होती है, यह सोचकर कि उसका पति लौट आया है। आदमी उसे पत्र दे देता है और चला जाता है, यह महसूस करते हुए कि उसने उसे दुनिया का सबसे अच्छा क्रिसमस उपहार दिया है।
Question Answer :-
1. What did the author find in a junk shop?
Answer: The author found an old roll-top desk in a junk shop. It was in bad condition but cheap, so he bought it.
2. What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Answer: He found a letter inside a hidden drawer of the desk. It was most likely kept there by Mr. JimMacpherson.
3. Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?
Answer: The letter was written by Jim Macpherson, a British soldier, to his wife, Connie, on December 26, 1914, during World War I.
4. Why was the letter written—what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Answer: Jim wrote the letter to tell his wife about a special Christmas Eve in 1914 when British and German soldiers stopped fighting. They celebrated Christmas together, shared food, and played football. It was a rare moment of peace in the war.
5. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Answer: Hans Wolf was a cello player in an orchestra, and Jim Macpherson was a school teacher.
6. Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Answer: No, Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He knew about it from reading English books, especially those by Thomas Hardy.
7. Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?
Answer: No, Jim Macpherson likely did not return from the war. The fact that Mrs. Macpherson kept his letter carefully suggests that she never saw him again.
8. Why did the author go to Bridport?
Answer: The author went to Bridport to find Mrs. Macpherson and return the letter to her.
9. How did the author find Mrs. Macpherson?
Answer: The author found Mrs. Macpherson in a nursing home. He was told that she had lost her house in a fire and was now living there.
10. Why did the author think that Mrs. Macpherson was not in good condition?
Answer: The author noticed that Mrs. Macpherson looked weak and had burns on her body because of the fire. She also seemed confused and old.
11. Why did Mrs. Macpherson call the author “Jim”?
Answer: Mrs. Macpherson mistook the author for her husband, Jim Macpherson. She was very happy, thinking that Jim had finally returned home.
12. Why is the title of the story The Best Christmas Present in the World?
Answer: The best Christmas present was not a material gift but the happiness Mrs. Macpherson felt when she thought her husband had returned.
13. What is the main message of the story?
Answer: The story teaches us about love, peace, and humanity. Even in war, people can show kindness and friendship. It also shows how memories and emotions are powerful.
Practice the Question
Questions from the lesson:
• What did the author find in a junk shop?
• What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
• Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?
• Why was the letter written—what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
• What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
• Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
• Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?
• Why did the author go to Bridport?
• How did the author find Mrs. Macpherson?
• Why did the author think that Mrs. Macpherson was not in good condition?
• Why did Mrs. Macpherson call the author “Jim”?
• Why is the title of the story The Best Christmas Present in the World?
• What is the main message of the story?
click here for More Notes for CBSE VIIIth Class- Click