Keeping Time with the Skies — Class 8 MCQs with Answers
Class 8 CBSE Science · Chapter 11
72 practice questions · 24 Easy · 24 Medium · 24 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 8 CBSE Science questions from Chapter 11, "Keeping Time with the Skies". You get 9 timed quizzes made from 72 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 24 Easy, 24 Medium and 24 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE Board exams get right.
To score well in "Keeping Time with the Skies", focus on clear concepts in physics, chemistry and biology basics. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Keeping Time with the Skies, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 8 Science mastery score. 14 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Keeping Time with the Skies — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 8 Science)
14 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation.
- Q1Easy
The Moon shines because it:
A.reflects sunlight✓ CorrectB.produces its own lightC.is on fireD.is a starAnswer: A. reflects sunlight
Explanation: The Moon has no light source of its own; it is visible because its surface reflects sunlight, unlike self-luminous stars such as the Sun.
- Q2Easy
A calendar based on the phases of the Moon is a:
A.solar calendarB.lunar calendar✓ CorrectC.sundialD.clockAnswer: B. lunar calendar
Explanation: A lunar calendar tracks months using the Moon's cycle of phases, unlike a solar calendar, which follows Earth's orbit around the Sun.
- Q3Easy
Day and night are caused by the Earth's:
A.rotation on its axis✓ CorrectB.revolution around the SunC.shapeD.colourAnswer: A. rotation on its axis
Explanation: Earth's rotation on its axis turns each location toward and away from the Sun in turn, producing day and night.
- Q4Easy
A lunar eclipse happens when the ___ falls on the Moon.
A.Earth's shadow✓ CorrectB.Moon's shadowC.Sun's shadowD.a cloudAnswer: A. Earth's shadow
Explanation: A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting its own shadow onto the Moon's surface.
- Q5Easy
The different shapes of the bright Moon we see are called its:
A.phases✓ CorrectB.seasonsC.eclipsesD.starsAnswer: A. phases
Explanation: The changing visible shape of the Moon's lit portion, from crescent to full and back, is called its phases — not to be confused with seasons or eclipses.
- Q6Easy
A calendar based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun is a:
A.lunar calendarB.star mapC.solar calendar✓ CorrectD.compassAnswer: C. solar calendar
Explanation: A solar calendar measures a year by Earth's revolution around the Sun, which keeps months fixed to the seasons.
- Q7Medium
The phase of the Moon depends on the relative positions of the:
A.Sun, Moon and Earth✓ CorrectB.stars onlyC.cloudsD.seasonsAnswer: A. Sun, Moon and Earth
Explanation: The phase we see depends on the changing relative positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth, which determine how much of the lit half faces us.
- Q8Medium
In a lunar calendar, the seasons do NOT stay fixed to the same months because:
A.12 lunar months are shorter than a solar year of 365 days✓ CorrectB.the Moon has no phasesC.seasons never changeD.the Sun does not moveAnswer: A. 12 lunar months are shorter than a solar year of 365 days
Explanation: Twelve lunar months add up to about 354 days, roughly 11 days short of the 365-day solar year, so lunar-calendar dates drift relative to the seasons.
- Q9Medium
As the Earth rotates, the side facing the Sun has ___ and the other side has ___.
A.night; dayB.summer; winterC.noon; noonD.day; night✓ CorrectAnswer: D. day; night
Explanation: As Earth rotates, the hemisphere facing the Sun experiences day while the opposite, shadowed hemisphere experiences night.
- Q10Medium
During a solar eclipse, the ___ comes between the Sun and the Earth.
A.a starB.a cloudC.the Earth's shadowD.Moon✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Moon
Explanation: A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth, blocking sunlight from reaching part of Earth's surface.
- Q11Medium
On a full Moon day, the Moon is nearly ___ the Sun in the sky.
A.next toB.belowC.opposite✓ CorrectD.insideAnswer: C. opposite
Explanation: At full Moon, Earth lies between the Sun and Moon, placing the Moon almost directly opposite the Sun in the sky — it rises as the Sun sets.
- Q12Hard
If tonight is a full Moon, in about two weeks it will be:
A.another full MoonB.new Moon✓ CorrectC.a solar eclipseD.daytimeAnswer: B. new Moon
Explanation: Half of the roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle is about 15 days, so two weeks after a full Moon brings the opposite phase — new Moon.
- Q13Hard
Which correctly pairs a calendar with its basis?
A.lunar calendar → Moon's phases; solar calendar → Earth's orbit✓ CorrectB.lunar → Sun; solar → MoonC.both based on starsD.both based on tidesAnswer: A. lunar calendar → Moon's phases; solar calendar → Earth's orbit
Explanation: Lunar calendars are built on the Moon's cycle of phases, while solar calendars are built on Earth's orbit around the Sun.
- Q14Hard
A day is based on the Earth's rotation, and a year is based on its:
A.phaseB.tilt onlyC.shadowD.revolution around the Sun✓ CorrectAnswer: D. revolution around the Sun
Explanation: A day corresponds to one rotation of Earth on its axis, while a year corresponds to one full revolution of Earth around the Sun.
Key concepts: Keeping Time with the Skies (Class 8 Science)
This chapter shows how people learned to keep time by watching the sky. The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight, and as it orbits the Earth we see its phases — from the invisible new Moon, through the growing waxing period (Shukla Paksha), to the full Moon, and back through the waning period (Krishna Paksha) — a cycle of about 29.5 days, a lunar month. From these cycles came lunar calendars, while the Earth's roughly 365-day revolution around the Sun gave the solar (Gregorian) calendar with its leap years. The Earth's rotation makes day and night, its revolution makes the year and seasons, and the alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon causes eclipses.
- The Moon reflects sunlight
- The Moon makes no light of its own; we see the half of it that is lit by the Sun.
- Phases of the Moon
- The changing shapes of the bright Moon: the invisible new Moon, the full bright disc of the full Moon, and the shapes in between.
- Waxing and waning
- In the waxing period (Shukla Paksha) the lit part grows towards full Moon; in the waning period (Krishna Paksha) it shrinks towards new Moon.
- Cause of the phases
- The phase we see depends on the relative positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth as the Moon orbits, so different amounts of its lit half face us.
- Lunar month
- The cycle from one full Moon to the next takes about 29.5 days, which is one lunar month; twelve of them make a lunar year of about 354 days.
- Lunar calendar
- A calendar based on the Moon's phases; because a lunar year is about 11 days shorter than a solar year, its dates drift across the seasons.
- Solar calendar
- A calendar based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun; the Gregorian calendar is solar, with months adjusted to total 365 days so the seasons stay fixed.
- Leap year
- The Earth takes about an extra quarter day beyond 365 days each year, so a leap day (February 29) is added every four years to keep the calendar in step.
- Day and night
- The Earth's rotation on its axis, taking about 24 hours, turns each side towards and away from the Sun, giving day and night.
- Year and seasons
- One revolution of the Earth around the Sun, about 365 days, is a year; the Earth's tilt together with this revolution gives the changing seasons.
- Eclipses
- A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon (only at full Moon); a solar eclipse happens when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth (only at new Moon). Both are rare.
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Start this chapter free →Keeping Time with the Skies — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 8 Science Keeping Time with the Skies?+
This chapter shows how people learned to keep time by watching the sky. The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight, and as it orbits the Earth we see its phases — from the invisible new Moon, through the growing waxing period (Shukla Paksha), to the full Moon, and back through the waning period (Krishna Paksha) — a cycle of about 29.5 days, a lunar month. From these cycles came lunar calendars, while the Earth's roughly 365-day revolution around the Sun gave the solar (Gregorian) calendar with its leap years. The Earth's rotation makes day and night, its revolution makes the year and seasons, and the alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon causes eclipses. Key ideas include The Moon reflects sunlight, Phases of the Moon, Waxing and waning, Cause of the phases, Lunar month, Lunar calendar.
What does Class 8 Science Chapter 11 (Keeping Time with the Skies) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 72 NCERT-based MCQs on "Keeping Time with the Skies": 24 Easy, 24 Medium and 24 Hard. Together they make 9 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "Keeping Time with the Skies" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Keeping Time with the Skies" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 8 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 9 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Keeping Time with the Skies" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 9 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Keeping Time with the Skies" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 14 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Keeping Time with the Skies" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Keeping Time with the Skies (Class 8 Science)?+
The questions that matter most test The Moon reflects sunlight, Phases of the Moon, Waxing and waning, Cause of the phases, Lunar month, Lunar calendar. This page shows 14 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 72 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Is there an online quiz for Keeping Time with the Skies?+
Yes — Class 8 Science Keeping Time with the Skies has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.