CBSE Class 8 · English · It So Happened
Children at Work
Chapter summary, hard words and model exam answers for Class 8 English.
Free online summary and notes (Class 8 English). Read it here, no PDF download needed.
About the author
Gita Wolf adapted this story from Tamil writer J. Anaimuthu. It follows Velu, a runaway boy, into Chennai's harsh street life.
Summary
Velu left his village after his father beat him and drank away money.
Velu left his village after his father beat him and drank away money.
He arrived hungry and confused at the big city railway station.
He arrived hungry and confused at the big city railway station.
Jaya, a ragpicker girl, offered him food and shelter in exchange for help.
Jaya, a ragpicker girl, offered him food and shelter in exchange for help.
She showed him how to collect plastic and paper from garbage.
She showed him how to collect plastic and paper from garbage.
Police, hunger and illness threaten street children daily.
Police, hunger and illness threaten street children daily.
Velu had never studied; city life becomes his harsh classroom.
Velu had never studied; city life becomes his harsh classroom.
Jaya's toughness and kindness give Velu a chance to survive.
Jaya's toughness and kindness give Velu a chance to survive.
Hard words & meanings
| ragpicker | one who collects waste to sell |
| protagonist | main character |
| narrator | person telling the story |
| conflict | struggle or problem |
| climax | most exciting point |
| theme | main message |
| village | see chapter context |
| arrived | see chapter context |
Model exam answers, grammar & audio
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