NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Main Course Book Chapter 18

Unit-6 : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 128

Q1 : Copy the worksheet in your notebooks and work in pairs to complete the worksheet to know all about yourself. This will enable you to discover your hidden strengths, work on your weakneses, and develop your personality.
Answer :
The question needs to be answered by the student on her/his own.

Q2 : Several youngsters have problems in dealing with their parents. With your partner, discuss the difference in views and complete the table below. Sometimes there may be no contradiction between the two views.

Features	As we see ourselves	As our parents see us
How tidy we are
The types of clothes we wear
How courteous we are
How much we study
How independently are we allowed to express our opinions

Answer :
A sample answer has been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

Features	As we see ourselves	As our parents see us
How tidy we are	Quiet tidy, as we perceive ourselves	We are just not up to the mark! We need to take hygiene classes! And we do not maintain our room with neatness and tidiness.
The types of clothes we wear	Fashionable, latest in trend, what makes us look catchy and flashy	We make ourselves appear fools by following every latest fad. We do not have the true sense of style, which is sober and elegant.
How courteous we are	Oh very much! We know how to behave ourselves and we respect all the much we should. To say precisely, we are courteous enough.	We do not know how to act and behave in front of our elders. We are argumentative and aggressive. We should learn what is mannerism and etiquette.
How much we study	Oh well, ya may be not too much according to what elders say. But we do try the much we can, as per our ability.	We do try but not up to the mark. We need to work more hard and only then we will know what hard work is. Study more and play less to make something out of ourselves.
How independently are we allowed to express our opinions	We are not at all allowed to act independently; elders, especially parents, always tell us what to do and what not to do, as if we are kids. We do possess some radical notions, but then we are young blood!	We do not ask for it, we just take it, and for granted, of course! We do not know what to say when and where. We are blunt and out spoken.

Q3 : In pairs, choose one topic from the table in D.3. Imagine that you and your parents are expressing your views on the topic. Use your notes from the table and write the dialogue that would take place. Make it funny! Share your dialogue with the rest of the class.
Answer :
A sample answer has been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
How independently are we allowed to express our opinions?

As we see ourselves	As our parents see us
Yes, we are young and we speak. However, it is considered aggressive and blunt.	We are inexperienced and act immature and are outspoken.
We perceive and learn from the world around us. The knowledge we reflect is what we incorporate form our surroundings.	We are naive and do not bother about our surroundings and learn little from what goes on around us.
The society has changed and we act accordingly. We possess insistent radical notions that are apt for the today’s environment.	Our experience will always be little as compared to our parents and other elders. So, there is no point in arguing for they have lived 25 – 30 years more than us.
We are the latest and the best natural resource. We have the energy but we do not waste it diligently. We are smart.	We are lazy and do not work hard enough. We look for short cut, which can never be a key to success.
We do not hang on to emotions and relations. Who has time to do so? Life is fast and the world is competent. After all, the fittest one survives.	We have little respect for the emotions and relations. We are in too much hurry to conquer the world with the little knowledge and experience we possess.

Q4 : Ravi has a problem, so he asks his friends for advice. Read the conversation below and underline the expressions that are used for giving advice. (This could be done as role-play)
Ravi : My neighbours play very loud music, which disturbs me when I’m studying.
Mohan: Why don’t you try persuading them to turn down the volume?
Shiela: If that doesn’t work you could think of changing your study time.
Rahim: Why should Ravi have to do that? He really ought to report such antisocial behaviour to the police.
Shiela: Before taking drastic action like that, I would advise you to sort it out amicably with your neighbours.
Rahim: If I were you, I would play my music even louder!
Mohan: That won’t solve his problem. Ravi, I think you should ask your father to take it up with your neighours.
Answer :
Below are listed the expressions that are used for giving advice.
1. Why don’t you try…?
2. …you could think of….
3. …I would advise you to….
4. …I think you should….

Q5 : In groups of four, use the language used in D.5 to give advice in the following situations:

Answer :
A sample answer has been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

My parents don’t give me any pocket money. This
embarrasses me when I’m with my friends.

Kid 1: Why do not you persuade them to fix an amount as
your pocket money?

Kid 2: You can try staying at home more or move out more
with your parents rather.

Kid 1: I would advise you to be with those friends that
accept you the way you are. Moreover, you are not that
grown up now that you will spend so much money hanging
out with such frivolous kids.

Kid 2: I think you should discuss it with your parents
and let them decide.

I stole some money from my mother’s purse. I feel very
guilty, and I don’t know what to do.

Kid 1: Why do not you confess it to you mother? She will
definitely understand and will forgive you.

Kid 2: You can try giving a sorry card to your mother and
promise to her to never to repeat it.

Kid 1: I would advise you to never ever repeat what you
did and for now you must talk to your parents about it
and make a clean breast of it.

Kid 2: I think you should tell your father. Maybe he will
make your mother understand and also fix an amount as
your pocket money.

I lied to my friend. This has spoilt our friendship. I
would like to make amends, but I don’t know how.

Kid 1: Why do not you try to speak to him/her and
apologise for what happened?

Kid 2: You can try explaining her/him for why you lied,
maybe he/she will forgive you.

Kid 1: I would advise you to never back stab a friend and
take a lesson from this.

Kid 2: I think you should make an honest confession to
her/him and win her/him back her/his trust by doing
something special.

Q6 : You are on the editorial board for the column ‘Your Problems’ in The Teenager magazine. You have received these two letters asking for your advice. (They appear to have come from the same family.)

Dear Helpful Avanti

My fifteen year old son is crazy about film music. He
seems to be wasting all his pocket money on these
meaningless CDs. He cannot even study without this noise.
Though he is good at studies, I remain disturbed about
this new obsession. There are all kinds of
strange-looking posters on the walls of his study and he
always wears those gaudy T-shirts and faded patched
jeans. Also, he is very fond of Junk-food. I fear
he is breaking all links with our culture.

What shall I do?

A bewildered father

junk-food = eatables like burgers, chaat papri, etc!

Dear Helpful Avanti

I love film music and I have bought a lot of CDs from my
pocket-money allowance. But whenever I switch on my
CD-player, my father frowns and orders me to switch off
the ‘jarring noise’. He calls it ‘cheap’ and
‘uncivilised’ stuff. It is not that I do not like
classical music, but when I am with my friends, we listen
to film music.

I like Indian clothes and food too. But I also like to
wear western clothes sometimes and to eat western food
occasionally. I do not like to disobey my parents, but I
do not want to give up my music etc.

What shall I do?

A Hurt Son

In pairs, decide what advice to give to
Answer :
A sample answer has been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
Reply to the father

Dear Sir,

I understand your concern for your son. Why do not you
try to discuss it with him and see what
he’s got
to say? As you told me, he is young and studies hard; I
suppose, he is just trying to take his mind off from the
heaviness by following these fads. These are the latest
trends that kids follow these days. I do not see any harm
unless he crosses the limit. I think you should let your
son know that you do trust him and want him to live his
life the way he wishes. All you need to do is make him
understand that he must remember his roots, his culture
as well, where he comes from. I think you have a very
sensible son and I am sure that he respects his culture
and tradition as well.

Sir, it is you and you alone who can make him feel
responsible. Once you bestow your faith in him, he will
realise and never breach it; only that he will respect
and love you more for trusting him. I am not promising
you that your son will retire from these trends entirely;
however, he will never cross his limits and will always
stay grounded to his tradition.

Avanti

Reply to the son

Dear,

It is nice that you are keeping up to date with all the
latest trends and fads. However, your father seems really
worried about you. Why do not you try to see what
actually is worrying him so much? I suppose your father
is apprehensive about you going so much western. I
understand that after all the pressure of studies, you
need some time to take your mind off. However, I would
advise you to respect your
father’s
sentiments as well. You could think of ways of spending
some time with your father and other family members as
well. You must reassure your father that you have not
forgotten your roots and are grounded to your culture and
tradition. I think you need to win your
father’s
confidence and trust. Once your father is certain that
you are not abandoning your culture entirely, he will
never stop you. However, you need to keep his trust and
faith that he bequeaths on you.

Avanti.