Lets now check out some of the important MCQ questions for Keeping Time with the Skies, Chapter 11 from Class 8 Science NCERT book. The chapter covers phases of the Moon, waxing and waning, moonrise timing, calendars, lunar/solar/luni-solar systems, Indian National Calendar, festivals, and artificial satellites etc. Here are some of the quick points that will help students to revise the chapter quickly –
- Moon has no own light: It shines because it reflects sunlight.
- Moon changes shape: The Moon looks different on different days.
- These are called phases: The changing shapes of the Moon are called phases of the Moon.
- Reason for phases: Phases happen because the Moon moves around Earth and we see different lit parts of it.
- Not because of Earth’s shadow: Moon phases do not happen because of Earth’s shadow.
- One Moon cycle: One full cycle of Moon phases takes about 29.5 days.
- Main Moon phases: Important phases are New Moon, Crescent, Half Moon, Gibbous, and Full Moon.
- Waxing Moon: When the bright part of the Moon grows, it is called waxing.
- Waning Moon: When the bright part of the Moon becomes smaller, it is called waning.
- Moon timing changes: The Moon rises about 50 minutes later each day.
- Day on Earth: Day is based on Earth rotating on its axis.
- Month is based on Moon: A month is based on the Moon going around Earth.
- Year is based on Earth’s journey: A year is based on Earth going around the Sun.
- Calendars use sky cycles: Calendars were made using repeating natural events in the sky.
- Artificial satellites: These are man-made satellites used for communication, weather, maps, and research.
Do check out Class 8 Science MCQ Questions and Answers.
Keeping Time with the Skies Class 8 Science Chapter 11 MCQ Online Test Questions and Answers
Question 1. The Moon appears bright in the sky because it:
a) Produces its own light
b) Reflects sunlight
c) Burns like the Sun
d) Stores light during the day
Answer:
b) Reflects sunlight
Question 2. The changing shapes of the bright portion of the Moon seen from Earth are called:
a) Eclipses
b) Revolutions
c) Phases of the Moon
d) Moon cycles of light
Answer:
c) Phases of the Moon
Question 3. The period during which the bright portion of the Moon decreases is called the:
a) Waxing period
b) Waning period
c) Solar period
d) Rising period
Answer:
b) Waning period
Question 4. In India, the waxing period of the Moon is generally called:
a) Krishna Paksha
b) Dakshinayan
c) Shukla Paksha
d) Uttarayan
Answer:
c) Shukla Paksha
Question 5. The day when the Moon appears as a full bright circle is called:
a) Amavasya
b) Purnima
c) Crescent day
d) Solstice day
Answer:
b) Purnima
Question 6. The day when the Moon is not visible is called:
a) New Moon day or Amavasya
b) Full Moon day or Purnima
c) Equinox day
d) Solstice day
Answer:
a) New Moon day or Amavasya
Question 7. A full cycle from one full Moon to the next takes about:
a) 7 days
b) 15 days
c) 29.5 days
d) 365 days
Answer:
c) 29.5 days
Question 8. A waxing Moon is easiest to spot at:
a) Midnight
b) Sunrise
c) Sunset
d) Noon
Answer:
c) Sunset
Question 9. A waning Moon is easiest to spot at:
a) Sunrise
b) Sunset
c) Noon
d) Midnight only
Answer:
a) Sunrise
Question 10. On a full Moon day, the Moon is nearly:
a) Between Earth and Sun
b) Opposite the Sun in the sky
c) Overhead at noon
d) Invisible from Earth
Answer:
b) Opposite the Sun in the sky
Question 11. On a new Moon day, the Moon appears:
a) Farthest from the Sun in the sky
b) Closest to the Sun in the sky
c) Directly overhead at sunrise
d) Brightest in the night sky
Answer:
b) Closest to the Sun in the sky
Question 12. The Moon rises about how much later each day?
a) 10 minutes
b) 24 minutes
c) 50 minutes
d) 90 minutes
Answer:
c) 50 minutes
Question 13. The Moon appears different on different days mainly because:
a) Its shape changes daily
b) Earth’s shadow falls on it every week
c) We see different portions of its illuminated half
d) Clouds cover parts of it
Answer:
c) We see different portions of its illuminated half
Question 14. The Moon does not show phases because of:
a) Its revolution around Earth
b) Sunlight falling on it
c) Earth’s shadow
d) Relative positions of Sun, Moon, and Earth
Answer:
c) Earth’s shadow
Question 15. The Earth’s shadow on the Moon causes a:
a) Phase of the Moon
b) Lunar eclipse
c) Solar eclipse
d) Sidereal year
Answer:
b) Lunar eclipse
Question 16. Lunar eclipses can happen only on a:
a) Crescent Moon day
b) New Moon day
c) Full Moon day
d) Half Moon day
Answer:
c) Full Moon day
Question 17. Solar eclipses can happen only on a:
a) Full Moon day
b) New Moon day
c) Gibbous Moon day
d) Waning half Moon day
Answer:
b) New Moon day
Question 18. The natural cycle caused by Earth’s rotation that forms the basis of a day is the apparent daily motion of the:
a) Moon
b) Sun
c) Stars
d) Planets
Answer:
b) Sun
Question 19. The average time from the Sun’s highest position in the sky on one day to the next is called the:
a) Lunar day
b) Mean solar day
c) Sidereal day
d) Tropical day
Answer:
b) Mean solar day
Question 20. The shortest shadow of a vertical stick during the day occurs when the Sun is at its:
a) Lowest position
b) Eastern position
c) Highest position
d) Western position
Answer:
c) Highest position
Question 21. A lunar year consisting of 12 lunar months is about:
a) 365 days
b) 360 days
c) 354 days
d) 348 days
Answer:
c) 354 days
Question 22. Lunar calendars do not remain synchronised with seasons because:
a) The Moon does not revolve regularly
b) The lunar year is shorter than the solar year
c) The Sun changes its path randomly
d) Months in lunar calendars are too long
Answer:
b) The lunar year is shorter than the solar year
Question 23. The widely used Gregorian calendar is a:
a) Lunar calendar
b) Luni-solar calendar
c) Solar calendar
d) Sidereal calendar only
Answer:
c) Solar calendar
Question 24. In the Gregorian calendar, a leap year is used to adjust for the extra:
a) Half day in a year
b) Quarter day in a year
c) Week in a year
d) Month in a year
Answer:
b) Quarter day in a year
Question 25. In the Gregorian calendar, a year divisible by 4 generally has:
a) An extra month
b) A leap day added to February
c) A shorter February
d) No seasonal correction
Answer:
b) A leap day added to February
Question 26. The time between successive spring equinoxes is called the:
a) Sidereal year
b) Tropical year
c) Lunar year
d) Mean solar year
Answer:
b) Tropical year
Question 27. A luni-solar calendar mainly uses the Moon’s phases but also makes adjustments to stay in step with the:
a) Tides
b) Stars
c) Seasons
d) Eclipses
Answer:
c) Seasons
Question 28. In some Indian calendars, an extra month added every few years is called:
a) Leap Maasa
b) Adhika Maasa
c) Solar Maasa
d) Shukla Maasa
Answer:
b) Adhika Maasa
Question 29. The Indian National Calendar is a:
a) Lunar calendar
b) Solar calendar
c) Sidereal-only calendar
d) Pure luni-solar calendar
Answer:
b) Solar calendar
Question 30. In a regular year, the Indian National Calendar begins on:
a) 1 January
b) 21 March
c) 22 March
d) 1 April
Answer:
c) 22 March
Question 31. Many Indian festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and Buddha Purnima fall on different Gregorian dates each year mainly because they are linked to the:
a) Earth’s rotation only
b) Phases of the Moon
c) Position of stars only
d) Length of shadows
Answer:
b) Phases of the Moon
Question 32. Most artificial satellites orbit about 800 km above Earth’s surface and take roughly how long to complete one orbit?
a) 24 hours
b) 12 hours
c) 100 minutes
d) 365 minutes
Answer:
c) 100 minutes
Question 33. Which of the following is not mentioned as a use of artificial satellites in the chapter?
a) Communication
b) Navigation
c) Weather monitoring
d) Photosynthesis
Answer:
d) Photosynthesis
Question 34 – Match the Following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Purnima | A. Bright part of Moon increases |
| 2. Amavasya | B. Full Moon day |
| 3. Waxing period | C. New Moon day |
| 4. Waning period | D. Bright part of Moon decreases |
| 5. Moonrise timing | E. About 50 minutes later each day |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Purnima | B. Full Moon day |
| 2. Amavasya | C. New Moon day |
| 3. Waxing period | A. Bright part of Moon increases |
| 4. Waning period | D. Bright part of Moon decreases |
| 5. Moonrise timing | E. About 50 minutes later each day |
Question 35 – Match the Following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Lunar calendar | A. Widely used calendar today |
| 2. Gregorian calendar | B. Based on Moon’s phases |
| 3. Luni-solar calendar | C. Uses Moon’s phases and stays in sync with seasons |
| 4. Indian National Calendar | D. Solar calendar used for official purposes in India |
| 5. Artificial satellites | E. Help in communication, navigation, and weather monitoring |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Lunar calendar | B. Based on Moon’s phases |
| 2. Gregorian calendar | A. Widely used calendar today |
| 3. Luni-solar calendar | C. Uses Moon’s phases and stays in sync with seasons |
| 4. Indian National Calendar | D. Solar calendar used for official purposes in India |
| 5. Artificial satellites | E. Help in communication, navigation, and weather monitoring |
True or False type Questions for Class 8 Science Chapter 11 “Keeping Time with the Skies”
7 true or false questions based on Chapter 11, “Keeping Time with the Skies,” of the NCERT Science book for Class 8:
1. The phases of the Moon occur because Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon every few days.
Answer:
False
2. During the waning period, the bright portion of the Moon seen from Earth keeps decreasing.
Answer:
True
3. A waxing Moon is generally easier to spot at sunrise than at sunset.
Answer:
False
4. The Moon rises at exactly the same time every day.
Answer:
False
5. Lunar calendars remain perfectly synchronised with the seasons in every year.
Answer:
False
6. In the Gregorian calendar, an extra day is added in leap years to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.
Answer:
True
7. Artificial satellites are used for purposes such as communication, navigation, weather monitoring, and scientific research.
Answer:
True
Fill in the Blanks Questions for Class 8 Science Chapter 11 “Keeping Time with the Skies”
7 fill-in-the-blank questions based on Chapter 11, “Keeping Time with the Skies,” of the NCERT Science book for Class 8 –
1. The day when the Moon appears as a full bright circle is called the ______ Moon day.
Answer:
full
2. The period during which the illuminated part of the Moon increases is called the ______ period.
Answer:
waxing
3. The Moon takes about ______ minutes longer each day to return to nearly the same position in the sky.
Answer:
50
4. One complete cycle of the Moon’s phases takes about ______ days.
Answer:
29.5
5. A calendar that mainly follows the Moon’s phases but also adjusts to remain in step with the seasons is called a ______-solar calendar.
Answer:
luni
6. In some Indian calendars, the extra month added every few years is called ______ Maasa.
Answer:
Adhika
7. The calm, predictable cycles of the sky helped human beings create systems for measuring ______.
Answer:
time
