NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Main Course Book Chapter 18

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.