Class 8 – Lesson: The Comet- II [NOTES]

Q1. “For a moment, James wondered if he had done his sums right.” Why was James doubtful about
his sums and calculations?
Ans: At the end of his meeting with Sir. John, James got dropped at his hotel past midnight. At that hour,
everything was calm around. James looked up from his window at the star studded night sky. He knew that
somewhere among those stars, was comet Dutta, heading for a collision with the Earth. At that hour everything
was calm around ----both on the street and in the sky. It was hard for him to believe that in the midst of such
calmness, an unprecedented calamity was waiting to happen.
Hence James was doubtful about his sums and calculations and wondered if he had done his sums right.
Q2. What did the scientists at the conference say about James’s ‘sums’?
Ans : The experts and scientists at the conference, checked James Forsyth’s calculations with regard to his
observations of Comet Dutta multiple times. They found both his observations and his inference of the
imminent collision of the comet with the Earth to be precise. However they agreed that there was a small
chance that it would just graze the atmosphere of the earth and not collide with it. In such an event, the
outcome would not be too disastrous. But this slight respite, hardly seemed reassuring enough to them.
Q3. Immediate action was needed, the scientists decided. Give one example of each of the ‘defensive’
and ‘offensive’ actions mentioned in the text.
Ans : Immediate action was the dire need of the hour to avert the collision of comet Dutta with the Earth.
The scientists at the secret conference, had two options – a defensive one and an offensive one. The former
one was for all of humanity to go underground and live in bunkers to escape the collision, just to stay alive.
This did not seem to be practical.
The offensive action was to marginally deflect the comet from its path. They hoped to achieve this by placing a
nuclear payload in a space ship and sending it to intercept the approaching comet. They planned to detonate it
by using a remote control.
Q4. “I am not buying any Christmas presents till December 15.” What did Sir John mean by that?
Ans : Sir John meant that he was not too sure about the successful outcome of the defensive approach that
was planned. December 15th was the day the comet was expected to hit the earth. If the offensive action failed,
the comet would then collide and perhaps spell doom for the very survival of humans.
Hence Sir John thought, it would be unwise and futile to plan for Christmas until the 15 th of December.
Q5. What is Duttada expected to do on his return from London?
Ans: Upon his return from London, Duttada was expected to perform a shanti yagna to pacify the evil spirit
behind the comet. This yagna was arranged by his wife, Indrani Debi, who was superstitious and thought that a
yagna could help to minimise the evil effects of spotting a comet. She had called the priests to perform the
yagna to bless her husband and save them from the outcome of the comet.
Q6. What is his reaction to the proposal?
Ans: Duttada reacted very angrily to the proposal of sitting to perform a yagna meant to fight the ill effects of a
comet. He simply remarked that it was a blind and mindless superstition and refused to perform the yagna. He
ridiculed her belief system and thought that her education was of no avail in instilling wise thoughts and good
sense in her.
Q7. (i) What does ‘Project Light Brigade’ refer to?
(ii) What does Sir John say about the Project in his letter to Duttada in October?
Ans:
1. When the scientists in the secret conference felt certain and concluded that Comet Dutta was likely to
collide with Earth soon, they decided to join hands together to save the planet from it. ‘Project Light
Brigade’ refers to the plan to deflect the comet’s path by causing a nuclear explosion near it. They
decided on placing a nuclear payload in a space ship and sending it to intercept the approaching
comet. They planned to detonate it by using a remote control.
2. In his letter to Duttada in October, Sir John mentioned that the ‘Project Light Brigade’ had begun its
charge, and they were hoping for the best. This meant that the spaceship with the nuclear payload was
launched on time. It was programmed in such a manner that it would intercept the approaching comet
just as it closed in on the surface of the Earth.

Q8. Did Sir John buy Christmas presents on December 15? How did Duttada get to know about it?
Ans: Yes, Sir John had bought Christmas presents on December 15. Duttada came to know about it from the
urgent telex message sent to him by Sir John Macpherson on November 18. The letter mentioned that he was
confident about buying his Christmas presents on December 15. This meant that ‘Project Light Brigade’ had
been a successful operation that helped in intercepting Comet Dutta., averting its collision on Earth. Thereby
averting the near annihilation of life on this planet.
Q9. Why, according to Indrani Debi, had the comet not been disastrous? Do you agree with her?
Ans: According to Indrani Debi, the comet had not proved to be disastrous because she felt the shanti yagna
performed in her house had helped in appeasing the Gods and that helped in averting the comet’s path from
colliding with Earth.
No, I don’t agree with her because her opinion was completely based on superstitions. As a matter of fact, it
was the joint efforts and the smart thinking minds of the scientists. At the secret conference they had chalked
out a plan- the ‘Project Light Brigade’, to deflect the comet’s path by causing a nuclear explosion near it. This
experiment proved fruitful and helped in saving the Earth and all the people of the planet from massive
destruction and near annihilation.
Q10. Is Duttada’s general outlook
(i) rational?
(ii) moral?
(iii) traditional?
Choose the right word. Say why you think it is right.
Ans: Duttada was an amateur astronomer with a rational and scientific outlook. As he observed stars and their
movements, he was aware of what comets are composed of. He was fully aware that there is no connecting
link between scientific reason, such as the appearance of comets and traditions or customs, which define the
misfortunes of the Earth.
Hence, he proved his point when he did not participate in the yagna. The scientist in him did not believe in the
superstitious that grips many in our society.
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