8th Class English Notes – The Farmer and The Well
This is Text-1, and sub-section of chapter #5 “Fiction and Poetry“. It provides students with 8th Class English Notes of Unit-5.1 titled The Farmer and The Well.
In this complete guide and key book, you get solved exercises of the 8th class English textbook (new edition) of Federal Board (FBISE) and all Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) boards of Elementary and Secondary Education.
8th Class English Notes – The Farmer and The Well
Urdu Translation of the the Story “The Farmer and The Well”
کسان اور کنواں
ایک دن (کاذکر ہے کہ)، ایک کسان اپنے کھیت کے لیے پانی کا ذریعہ تلاش کر رہا تھا، جب اس نے اپنے پڑوسی سے ایک کنواں خریدا۔ پڑوسی البتہ چالاک تھا۔ اگلے دن جب کسان اپنے کنویں سے پانی لینے آیا تو پڑوسی نے اسے پانی لے جانے (کی اجازت دینے)سے انکار کردیا۔
جب کسان نے وجہ پوچھی تو پڑوسی نے جواب دیا، “میں نے تمہیں کنواں بیچا تھا، پانی نہیں” اور (وہاں سے) چلا گیا۔ کسان (گھبراہٹ کے عالم میں) پریشان ہو کر شہنشاہ کے پاس انصاف مانگنے(چلا) گیا۔ (وہاں پہنچ کر) اس نے وضاحت کی کہ کیا (ماجراوقوع پزیر) ہوا تھا۔
شہنشاہ اکبر نے بیربل کو بلایا، جو اس (بادشاہ کے) نو عقلمند ترین درباریوں میں سے ایک تھا ۔ بیربل نے آگے بڑھ کر پڑوسی سے سوال کیا، “تم کسان کو کنویں سے پانی کیوں نہیں لینے دیتے؟ تم نے (دراصل) کسان کو کنواں (بھی) بیچ دیا ہے (کیا ایسا نہیں ہے)؟”
پڑوسی نے جواب دیا، “بیربل، میں نے (واقعی) کسان کو کنواں بیچ دیا لیکن اس میں(موجود) پانی نہیں (بیچا)، اسے کنویں سے پانی نکالنے کا کوئی حق نہیں۔”
بیربل نے (نہایے عقلمندی سے کام لیتے ہوئے)کہا، ” دیکھو، جیسا کہ تم نے کنواں (کسان پر) بیچ دیا ہے، تمہیں کسان کے کنویں میں پانی رکھنے کا کوئی حق نہیں ہے۔ یا تو کسان کو کرایہ ادا کرو،یا فوراً (کسان کے کنویں سے اپنا پانی) نکال دو”۔ (حالات کی نزاکت سے) یہ جان کر کہ اس کا منصوبہ ناکام ہو گیا ہے ، پڑوسی نے معذرت کی اور گھر چلا گیا۔
Exercise
Why the farmer has to seek justice from the emperor?
Answer: The reason the farmer has to seek justice from the emperor is because after buying a well from his neighbor, the neighbor refused to allow the farmer to draw water from it.
Despite purchasing the well, the neighbor claimed that the farmer only bought the well itself, not the water within it.
This unjust action by the neighbor left the farmer distraught and in need of intervention from a higher authority to resolve the dispute and ensure he could access the water he rightfully purchased.
Exercise
Find out the meaning of the words in the box using a dictionary. Use the words to complete the given sentences below.
- distraught
- courtiers
- scheme
- emperor
| Words | Meanings |
|---|---|
| Distraught | (Adjective) Extremely worried, nervous, or upset |
| Courtiers | (Noun) A person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen. |
| Scheme | (Noun) A large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect. |
| Emperor | (Noun) A sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire; typically the male supreme ruler of an empire. |
Usage to Complete the Sentences
- a. Distraught, the farmer went to the emperor to ask for justice. He explained what had happened.
- b. A farmer was looking for a water source for his farm when he bought a well from his cunning neighbour.
- c. The emperor called on Birbal, one of his nine, and wisest courtiers.
- d. Realizing that his scheme had failed, the neighbour apologized and went home.
Exercise
A – Answer the Following Questions.
1. What is the main gist of the story?
Answer: This story of a farmer and his cunning neighbour carries a moral lesson. Its gist or central idea is to not try to make negative use of our brain and harm others in any possible way. Ultimately, it only brings us shame, and gives us no benefit.
2. Describe the characters in the story and add your personal observations about each one of the characters.
- a. farmer
- c. emperor
- b. neighbour
- d. Birbal
Answer: Here is a brief description of the characters in this story:
- Farmer: He is hardworking and determined to find a water source for his farm. He seems to be good at heart who trusts others.
- Neighbour: The neighbor is cunning and deceitful. This kind of personality leads him to be selfish and only care about his own benefit. As a result of it, he tries to trick the farmer out of the water in the well.
- Emperor: The emperor is depicted as a fair and just ruler. His court is open to the common public. When someone comes to him with a problem or grieve, he seeks to solve it impartially. He keeps around advisors who are wise and intelligent.
- Birbal: Birbal is portrayed as wise and quick-thinking. He helps the emperor in solving tricky problems and disputes, using his intelligence and wit.
3. What do you think is the reason for the farmer in seeking justice from the emperor?
Answer: The farmer seeks justice from the emperor because his neighbor his put him into a tricky and critical situation. The farmer bought from him a well, but he refused to let him use the water from it. This made him sad and distressed.
4. What did the emperor do to solve the problem of the farmer?
Answer: The emperor listened to his problem carefully. Then, he assigned Birbal, a wise courtier, to handle the dispute and solve it fairly.
5. If you were the farmer, how would you resolve this problem?
Answer: If I were the farmer, I would make the deal in writing with all terms and conditions of buying the well clearly mentioned in it. Moreover, I would seek to do it in the presence of some witnesses during the process.
6. Guess who? Find out who said the following statements.
Answers
| Statement | Speaker |
|---|---|
| a. “I sold you the well, not the water.” | The neighbour |
| b. “Why don’t you let the farmer take water from the well?” | Birbal |
| c. “You did sell the well to the farmer?” | Birbal |
| d. “I did sell the well to the farmer but not the water within it.” | The neighbour |
| e. “He has no right to draw water from the well.” | The neighbour |
| f. “Look, since you sold the well, you have no right to keep the water in the farmer’s well.” | Birbal |
| g. “Either you pay rent to the farmer, or take it out immediately.” | Birbal |
Exercise
Pretend the story doesn’t end there, predict what happens next.
What do you think will be the next move of the neighbour? What would be the poor farmer’s reaction to the neighbour’s plan? What would Birbal, the wisest courtier, do?
Continuing the Story
The neighbour has now realized that his scheme has failed and he has to either pay rent or remove the water from the farmer’s well. Cunning by nature, he might come up with another trick to harm the farmer. It is possible that he destroys the well or contaminates the water in it with some harmful stuff.
The poor farmer has faced enough trouble already, so now, he is likely to be vigilant and take precautionary measures against any tricks from the neighbour. He may seek advice from Birbal to protect his well and the water in it from any possible threats.
As Birbal has proved to be the wisest courtier, he would anticipate the neighbour’s next move. He might advise the emperor to warn the neighbour of strict consequences if he harms the farmer anyway.
Exercise
Active Voice and Passive voice
1. Rewrite the following sentences into passive voice.
- a. The farmer asked the neighbour and walked away.
- b. He explained the situation to the emperor.
- c. Birbal proceeded to question the neighbour.
- d. The neighbour sold the well to the farmer.
- e. The farmer took water from the well.
Sentences Changed and Rewritten in the Passive Voice
- a. The neighbour was asked by the farmer and was walked away by him.
- b. The situation was explained to the emperor by him.
- c. The neighbour was questioned by Birbal.
- d. The well was sold to the farmer by the neighbour.
- e. Water was taken from the well by the farmer.
Exercise
2. Decide whether the following sentences are written in the active or passive voice. Then write the doer of the action on the line to the left. If the doer is unknown, write a question mark (?).
Answers
a. The farmer feeds his dog. – Active Voice – (Doer: The farmer)
b. The window was broken. – Passive Voice – (Doer: ?)
c. The letter was written by the Emperor. – Passive Voice – (Doer: The Emperor)
d. The farmer was cheated by the neighbour. – Passive Voice – (Doer: The neighbour)
e. The problem was solved. – Passive Voice – (Doer: ?)
f. The man risked his life. – Active Voice – (Doer: The man)
g. The well was taken by the farmer. – Passive Voice – (Doer: The farmer)
Exercise
3. Read the sentences and cross out the phrase if it does not add important information.
a. English is spoken in Pakistan by Pakistanis.
b. This house was built by my father.
c. Cricket is a game that is played by two teams of 11 players.
d. This car isn’t being used by anyone.
e. This mobile was made in China by Chinese workers.
f. The window was broken by Tony.
g. A new school is being built by builders.
h. Gold is found in Nigeria by people.
i. A lot of oil is used by rich Western countries.
j. Stamps are sold in the post office by workers.
Rewritten Sentences with Extra Phrases Crossed Out
a. English is spoken in Pakistan. (by Pakistanis)
b. This house was built by my father.
c. Cricket is a game that is played by two teams. (of 11 players)
d. This car isn’t being used. (by anyone)
e. This mobile was made in China. (by Chinese workers)
f. The window was broken by Tony.
g. A new school is being built. (by builders)
h. Gold is found in Nigeria. (by people)
i. A lot of oil is used by rich Western countries.
j. Stamps are sold in the post office. (by workers)
Exercise
Task: Create your own story with moral lessons.
- a. Think about the story and complete the table.
- b. Write your interesting story.
Naila’s Mountain Discovery
| main characteris | Naila, villagers, family members, and elders |
| setting | A village in the mountains of Sawat Valley |
| plot | The hunt for treasure |
| beginning | Naila sets off to mountains |
| middle | She faces hardships |
| end | She finds something |
Story
Naila is a curious and brave girl from a village in Sawat. Her village is located near big mountains in Sawat, a beautiful city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
The place is beautiful, with tall mountains, green valleys, and the River Sawat flowing right in the middle of the valley.
One day, she hears stories about a cave hidden in the mountains. People say it has old things and treasures. Naila is excited and wants to find it, even though her family and elders warn her about the dangers of the mountains.
Naila starts her journey into the mountains. She faces tough rocky paths, bad weather, and wild animals. But Naila does not give up. She learns that being brave and not giving up is important. She also learns to listen to the advice of older people.
After some days, Naila finds the hidden cave. But instead of gold, she finds old things that are special to her village.
Naila realizes that these things are important because they tell stories about the past of her village. She is happy to share this discovery with her friends and family.
Moral Lesson
- Naila learns that being brave and not giving up helps you reach your goals.
- She also learns to listen to the advice of her family and elders because they have wisdom.
Conclusion
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