When Instinct Works — Class 8 English (Samacheer Kalvi)
TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 8 English, Supplementary 5. How an animal's instinct saved human lives.
1. About the lesson
When Instinct Works (an episode from the famous story Black Beauty) shows how the special instinct God has given to animals can save human lives — and why we should care for and respect animals.
2. Summary
One morning late in autumn, John harnessed the horse Black Beauty to a new cart, and the Master, John and Black Beauty set out on a long journey. The weather was very windy with heavy rain. In one low part of the road, the flood water rose halfway up to Black Beauty's knees.
As they reached a wooden bridge, the moment Black Beauty's feet touched it, the horse sensed danger and made a dead stop, refusing to move. A man at the toll-gate flashed a torch and warned that the bridge was broken in the middle. Black Beauty's instinct had saved them — if the horse had not been wiser, all three would have drowned. John remarks that many people do not care for their animals or make friends with them as they should, and that this attitude must change.
3. Theme
The lesson teaches that animals have a God-given instinct that is quicker than human reasoning in sensing danger, and that we should care for, befriend and respect animals.
4. Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| instinct | natural ability to sense or do something |
| harness | to fasten an animal to a cart |
| dead stop | a sudden, complete halt |
| toll-gate | a barrier where a road fee is paid |
| autumn | the season before winter |
5. Book-back questions (Samacheer Kalvi)
A. Read and answer
- From which story is this episode taken? — Black Beauty.
- In which season does the lesson take place? — Autumn.
- How deep was the water in the low part of the road? — Halfway up to Black Beauty's knees.
- What did Black Beauty do at the bridge? — It made a dead stop, sensing danger.
- What was wrong with the bridge? — It was broken in the middle.
B. Think and answer 6. What would have happened if Black Beauty had not stopped? — All three would have drowned. 7. What does John say people should change? — Their careless attitude towards animals; they should care for and befriend them.
6. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Saying the men noticed the danger first. Fix: Black Beauty's instinct sensed the broken bridge before the men.
- Mistake: Getting the season wrong. Fix: The events happen in autumn.
- Mistake: Missing the theme. Fix: The lesson urges us to care for and respect animals.
7. Quick revision
- Supplementary 5 · When Instinct Works (from Black Beauty).
- In autumn, John, the Master and Black Beauty travel in wind and heavy rain; flood water rises to the horse's knees.
- At the wooden bridge Black Beauty makes a dead stop; the toll-gate man warns the bridge is broken in the middle.
- The horse's instinct saves all three from drowning.
- Theme: animals have a God-given instinct; we must care for and respect them.
