KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Students can Download English Lesson 9 Consumerist Culture Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes Pdf, Activity, KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English helps you to revise the complete Karnataka State Board Syllabus and to clear all their doubts, score well in final exams.

Karnataka State Syllabus Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Consumerist Culture Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes

Pre Reading Activity:

If you were left with the choice of selecting one of the two options listed below, which would you opt for? And why?
i. Tender coconut water or Pepsi/Coca-cola?
ii. Bhelpuri or burger?
iii. Working in India or in America?
iv. Chapathis with Indian veg dish or pizza?
Answer:
Anyone choosing the second option in each question would be doing so because they think that is what fashionable, young, modern, Westernized, rich people should be eating or doing.

They are overwhelmed by the advertisements promoting these options. They would forget that the first option of eatable/ drink in the questions is not advertised at all, because they have been favorites in India for a long time now. Besides, they have proved to be good for health, and easy on the pocket too.

Besides, if we probe further, we get to learn that the foreign companies which produce those products, do so at the cost of our own resources. Our raw materials are dumped, and if they are used, they get very little money in return. It is cultural imperialism. As the proverb goes, familiarity breeds contempt, and people in a hurry to look Westernized, ignore the former options.

Working in America is expected to fetch more money than working in India. This is true in many cases, but what is forgotten is the price one has to pay for working in America. Leaving one’s relatives, especially old parents, settling in a foreign country and getting used to a lifestyle totally different from one’s own. and more importantly, being treated with contempt and suspicion like a second class citizen, are just a few things ignored. Racism and exploitation are also potential threats.

Besides, when it is time to give back .to the country that has nurtured us, we go to a foreign country and help that country grow. We might send the money earned there back to India but the country deserves much more than mere money in return for its sustenance.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

II. Comprehension Questions

A. Answer the following questions briefly

Question 1.
The writer refers to the catchy phrase, “shop till you drop” in an advertisement.
a. What is the meaning intended by the advertisers?
Answer:
The meaning of this advertisement is that the consumers should shop till they got tired.

b. Why does the writer call this apt and ironic?
Answer:
Because the media drives mania of mindless consumption that characterizes our lines in the modern age.

c. Which word shows that the writer is condemning consumerism?
Answer:
The word ‘posh’ shows that the writer is condemning consumerism.

Question 2.
In the very first paragraph, the writer makes it clear that
a. he supports shopping and shopping malls.
b. he is very critical of them.
Answer:
b) he is very critical of them.

Question 3.
The writer puts Pepsi, Coca Cola and other ‘artificially colored, flavored and sweetened water’ under absolutely unessential to human health and happiness.

a. Do you agree with his view?
Answer:
Yes.

b. List any five such articles/gadgets/ food items which your family has been using at home and which are not absolutely essential for your health and happiness.
Answer:
Tin food, junk food, burger, ice-cream, bakery products which we use at home are not absolutely essential for health and happiness.

Question 4.
What is the success story of Pepsi and Coca-Cola?
Answer:
Pepsi and Coca-cola are sold in the remotest corner of the world.

Question 5.
The second paragraph ends with “a seemingly never-ending list”. What ‘list’ is the writer talking about?
Answer:
In the second paragraph, the writer is talking about the necessary goods.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Question 6.
a. What phrase does the writer use in paragraph 3 to refer to the advertisement?
Answer:
Equally unprecedented in the world’s history is the size of the machinery of persuasion that has been set up in order to generate demand for this profusion.

b. What does an advertisement aim to do?
Answer:
The aim of the advertisement is to make money.

Question 7.
In the writer’s opinion, shopping has become …………. (complete the sentence)
Answer:
more than a need.

Question 8.
What thrills the present-day Indian shoppers?
Answer:
Choice thrills the present-day Indian shoppers.

Question 9.
What was the ‘dream come true’ for the US returned Indian?
Answer:
The US returned Indian dreamt that even we should have more than 83 different flavors of ice-cream to choose from, like in America.

Question 10.
In the sentence, “And they take to it like ducks to water” (paragraph 5)
a. Who do ‘they’ refer to?
Answer:
Upper-middle-class people.

b. What does ‘it’ refer to?
Answer:
‘if refers to the new market.

c. What does ‘like ducks to water’ mean?
Answer:
‘like a duck to water’ means that they have a natural talent of marketing strategies.

Question 11.
Does the writer approve of the attitude of the Indians spoken of in paragraph 5?
Answer:
Yes.

Question 12.
a. What is the ‘deep irony’ referred to in paragraph 6?
Answer:
The deep irony is while pockets of private prosperity are growing, there is an inexorable impoverishment of the resources that belong to the public realm.

b. Substantiate your answer with anyone example from the paragraph.
Answer:
Consumers might have a wide variety of cars to choose from but the roads are in a bad state.

Question 13.
a. What is the trend referred to in paragraph 6
Answer:
The trend is to push even the most essential services into the private realm so that some company or others can make a profit on them

b. Who does the trend benefit?
Answer:
The private realm.

c. What is the impact of the trend on the poor?
Answer:
The poor are being pushed into becoming consumers of increasingly expensive goods and utilities.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Question 14.
a. What are the advertisers and marketing professionals working hard at?
Answer:
Working hard to see that even people live at the subsistence level in remote rural pockets are lured and entranced into becoming passive consumers of everything from cola drinks to shampoos.

b. How will it affect our villagers?
Answer:
All they see is a vast rural market waiting to be opened up for commercial exploitation.

c. What impact will it have on our environment? ‘
Answer:
The increasing presence of plastic garbage in our rural areas is a clear warning signal. 4

Question 15.
a. What kind of vision do the enthusiasts of the free market economy have for India?
Answer:
Enthusiastic of this mission of development are dreaming of a day when all of India will look like the limited states.

b. Do you like India to become another U.S? Why? /Why not?
Answer:
No, because the final confirmation of our reaching the promised land will Come on the day the sheer tonnage of the garbage we throw out-matches the level of the almighty dollar.

c. What negative impact will the free market economy have on our country?
Answer:
The day will come to face the sheer tonnage of the garbage we throw out.

Question 16.
Why does the writer say that the model of development based on consumerism is suicidal?
Answer:
The price paid in ecological terms will make it the most suicidal enterprise the human race has ever embarked upon.

Question 17.
What according to the writer is the only way to restore sanity?
Answer:
The only way to restore sanity is for local communities, co-operatives, civil societies and democratic governments everywhere to take back the autonomy and initiative for their own development which they recently traded away to the giant global business corporation.

Question 18.
As one of the remedies to the mess we have created, the writer suggests a re-awakening. What does he want to reawaken?
Answer:
There is now a great need to re-awaken the numerous enabling spiritualities and wisdom traditions of the various people of the world.

Question 19.
Go back to the advertiser’s catchy phrase, ‘Shop till you drop’ in the first paragraph.
a. What was the intended meaning of the advertisers?
Answer:
Consumers’ tendency is to shop till they get exhausted or tired.

b. How does the writer interpret its meaning in the last paragraph?
Answer:
Consumers have a right to the basic material requirements for a life of dignity. One should turn to the commodities which is very much. required to make their life simple and meaningful.

c. Now explain why the writer calls this apt and ironic.
Answer:
The writer says this never-ending shopping will buy only superfluous things that destroy ones’ soul. .

Question 20.
Do you like this article? Why? Why not?
Answer:
Yes, it gives awareness to the consumers to race the mother earth, restoring the sanity, all human beings have right to the basic material requirements for a life of dignity. It is necessary to say “enough” to the merely material then life to be truly meaningful and sustainable.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Question 21.
Read paragraph 4 carefully and match the statements under A with the examples given under B.

A B
1. Shopping has become more than a need I enjoy shopping
2. It has become an obsessive compulsion over which we have no control I spend my weekend eveningsin the nearby Mall
3. Shopping is an end in itself buying additional pairs of branded shoes because they are on 50% sale.
4. It has become a form of entertainment I was so impressed by this latest version of the smartphone that I bought it using my credit card.

Answer:
1. – (d)
2. – (c)
3. – (a)
4. – (b)

B. Close Study

Read the following extracts carefully. Discuss in pairs and then write the answers to the questions given below:

Question 1.
It is to actualize this vision that ‘ millions of our youth are rushing to get their MBA degrees.
a) What is the vision referred to here?
Answer:
The vision referred to here is Advanced West.

b) When the vision is actualized what will India be referred to as?
Answer:
When the vision is actualized India be referred to as a developed country.

c) Is the writer critical of or admiring our youth who are rushing to get their MBA degrees?
Answer:
The writer is critical of our youth who are rushing to get their MBA degrees.

Question 2.
It is not a wise thing to hand over to businessmen the task of ruling the world as we have just done today.
a) Why shouldn’t the businessmen be given the task to rule the world?
Answer:
Because businessmen cannot be counted upon to have the wisdom or the will to think of the welfare of
all of humanity leave alone the health of the planet.

b) What are they mainly trained for?
Answer:
They mainly trained to maximize profits for the corporations ‘ that employ them.

c) According to the writer, which is the way to restore sanity?
Answer:
The only way to restore sanity is all types of goods to take back the autonomy and the initiative for their own development which they recently traded with the global ‘ business corporation.

III. Paragraph Writing:

Discuss in pairs/groups of 4 each, the answers to the following questions. Note down the important points for each question and then develop the points into one paragraph answers:

Question 1.
Man today is an unstoppable buying machine. Elucidate with examples.
Answer:

  1. The market has expanded for consumer goods.
  2. Vast amounts of money are spent to advertise these consumer goods.
  3. Shopping has become more than a need.
  4. India had remained unaffected by all this. Now we find malls all over the country, even in the smaller towns.

Paragraph: The writer brings to the readers to notice their own spending habits. He wants the readers to understand why they are shopping and what are they shopping for. Is there shopping meeting their basic requirements or are they indulging in unnecessary purchases? He holds advertisers and big corporations responsible for creating a tempting market where the consumers become unstoppable buying machines. An example of it would be buying flavored drinks with no nutritive value.

Question 2.
Write a short note on the views expressed by the writer on the tragic comedy of ‘development’. Why does he call it a tragic comedy?
Answer:

  1. People are running after something which is totally self-destructive.
  2. They are being lured by aggressive advertising which is persuading them to become buying machines.
  3. They want a wide variety of choice in every consumable.
  4. They want two cars in every garage and tons of garbage like in the West.

Paragraph: Development should mean the overall progress of an economy but with modern consumerism, we see selective development. In a consumer’s personal life, he or she has many options to choose from. But in the public domain, things are still underdeveloped. Roads are bad, public parks are not maintained. These are just a few examples of it.

Question 3.
Do you personally share the concerns raised by the writer here? If ‘yes’, what individual initiative can you take?
Answer:

  1. Yes. I do share the concerns of the writer.
  2. We need not mindlessly ape the West.
  3. choice is not the most wonderful thing about any product.
  4. Other concerns like eco-friendliness, bio-degradability, the personal need should matter.

Paragraph: Yes, I share the concerns raised by the writer here. Consumerism has reached a level which is totally mindless and self-destructive. Consumerism is due to the vast expansion of industries and markets. It is directly a consequence of Western influence. Though we need to benefit from the improvements in science and technology, we need not mindlessly ape the West. A wide variety in consumables is not a desirable thing if it is to only provide more choice to the consumer. Often choice can lead to confusion and unnecessary waste of time, effort and money. The other aspects of a consumable like eco-friendliness, its bio-degradability and personal need for the product are more important.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

IV. Vocabulary

A. Select from the box, two synonyms for the words given below:

display, different, come up, tempt, plentiful, varied, broadcast, attract, excessive, develop, bear, existence, perplexing, unheard of, support, singular, forceful, confusing, pushing, survival.

Answer:

  1. lure: attract, tempt
  2. abundant: plentiful, excessive
  3. sprout: come up, develop
  4. diverse: different, varied
  5. advertise: display, broadcast
  6. bewildering: perplexing, confusing
  7. unprecedented: unheard of, singular
  8. subsistence: existence, survival
  9. aggressive: excessive, forceful
  10. sustain: bear, support

B. Find out from the lesson, one word for the following definitions.

  1. the preoccupation of society with buying goods __________
  2. goods for sale ___________
  3. borderless economic order ____________
  4. foreign’ trading companies which export capital along with their products ____________
  5. anything that is meant for the public ____________

Answers:

  1. Consumerism
  2. Merchandise
  3. Global Economy
  4. International trade
  5. Commodities / Goods.

C. Fill in the blanks with the opposites of the word given in brackets.
Answer:
In a largely uncertain (certain) world, even, with gold prices moving upwards, the craze for the yellow metal remains unabated (abated). A key reason is a disgust (enchantment) with other investments. A large percentage of savings are held in unproductive (productive) gold assets and a lot of banks and non-banking (banking) companies are offering loans against gold. But the supply is sadly inadequate (adequate), in spite of unbridled (bridled) mining. Gold attracts unwanted (wanted) attention and is its major disadvantage (advantage). So, do you feel that gold is non-essential? (essential).

D. Bring out the difference in meaning between the words in pairs, by using each of the following in sentences of your own
present(n) – presence
later – latter
decent – descent
career – carrier
cloth – clothes
alternate – alternative
lonely – alone
advice – advise
Answer:

  1. Present (n) – Presence:
    Rama gave a memorable present in the book releasing function.
    Her presence was very graceful.
  2. Cloth – Clothes:
    He did not have a piece of cloth to put on.
    The clothes were washed and dry cleaned.
  3. Later – Latter:
    Do your homework now. You can go out to play later.
    Both gold and platinum are worth buying, the latter is too expensive.
  4. Alternate – Alternative :
    I go to swimming class on alternate days.
    The boss asked to think on an alternative option to improve the business.
  5. Decent – Descent:
    Man decented from apes.
    He is the most decent boy in our class.
  6. Lonely – Alone:
    When you feel lonely, come over to my house.
    The old mother is living alone since her children are working abroad.
  7. Career – Carrier:
    One should choose his/her career carefully.
    The children were asked to bring their carrier to the school.
  8. Advice – Advice:
    I would need your advice to choose my career.
    The students studied for the exam as per their teacher’s advice.

E. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idioms given in the box.

keep a level head, leave no stone unturned, go around in circles, have the last laugh, full of beans, jump on the Correct bandwagon.
  1. All his relatives made fun of Charles when his grandmother left him only her old wooden box, but he _________ It contained all her savings.
  2. We have been trying all day to find a solution to this problem, but we just keep _____________
  3. Sriram seems to have fully recovered from his illness: When I saw him, he was ____________
  4. He has had a successful career, partly because he always _________ at the correct time.
  5. Even in the middle of the fire he __________ and saved many lives.
  6. The minister said he would __________ in his attempts to improve the standard of education.

F. “These sellers of colored, sweetened water are giant multinational corporations…”

‘multinational’ means foreign manufacturing and trading companies. The prefix “multi” – means many, more than one. With the help of a dictionary, find out the meaning of the following “multi”-words.

  • multimedia, multicultural,
  • multifaceted, multilingual,
  • multifarious, multilateral,
  • multimillionaire.

Answer:

  • multimedia – the use of a variety of artistic or communicative media
  • multicultural – Relating to or containing several cultural or ethnic groups within a society, multifaceted –
  • Having many different aspects Or features.
  • multilingual – Using several languages,
  • multifarious – Many and of various types
  • multilateral – having members or contributors from several groups, especially several different countries,
  • multimillionaire – a person with assets worth several million pounds or dollars.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

V. Language Activities:

Group Discussion:

The class is divided into four groups. Each group chooses one of the following topics for discussion. One from each group notes down the points and presents a summary of the discussion to the class.

1. Here are some opinions of the writer about the 21st century India. Are the following really happening? Do you agree with the writer? Discuss in groups and present your findings to the class.
KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture 1
Answer:
We agree with most of the opinions of the writer. The remarks about ‘choice’ becoming important in India too is correct with regard to consumer durables. However, we are not exercising our choice with regard to embracing Western culture. We are happy with a variety of choice with regard to vegetables, fruits, grains, processed food, clothes, vehicles, goods like mobiles, watches etc. In the rural areas, sheer pushy advertising is making coke easier to get than tender coconut or buttermilk.

In the urban areas, mighty business organizations are getting hold of parks and playgrounds on the pretext of looking after them. Urban areas will surely resemble American suburbs within a short time. If we do not get our priorities right soon, there will be an ecological holocaust. Some aspects of that are being seen in the pollution of the holy Ganga, desertification of vast areas in Karnataka and other states etc. Indian culture had never been ‘use and throw’ culture. Whatever man used and disposed of was fit to be used by animals and plants, and were bio-degradable.

However, with Western concepts being adopted in every aspect of life, this is not so now. Definitely, it is time to turn towards ‘commodities’ of the spirit.

2. “Consumerist Culture” is a very persuasive discourse. The writer demystifies many popular beliefs and economic paradigms through a series of logically presented arguments. What arguments does the writer give to prove that development based on free market is not practical?
Answer:
The writer points out that in the name of the ‘free market’, giant multinational companies are pushing themselves into every developing country and turning its economy and culture upside down with the help of aggressive advertising. He says that global advertising today is the biggest and most sophisticated thought-control project ever undertaken to persuade people, to become buying machines incapable of figuring out how much of all that stuff they really need.

The writer points out that, television, the popular medium of entertainment, is being used to influence people’s minds. Through television, people are encouraged to ‘shop ’till they drop’. The sheer variety of products, besides perplexing the consumers, adds to the ‘burden’ on our limited natural resources and the earth. What people forget in their obsessive-compulsive shopping spree is that they are paying for many things which should have come free to man as his natural right.

Finally, the writer points out that the World Bank is also colluding with the multinational companies to enable the ‘unbridled expansion of the free market economy’. Western multinational corporations, in their greed for profits, aim to replicate the Western lifestyle in eastern countries too, at the cost of their natural resources. The easterners, without understanding the implications of their craze, welcome the western lifestyle with open arms, and thus pave the way for their own destruction.

3. “The earth has enough for every man’s need but not enough for every man’s greed”. Do you agree with this statement?
Answer:
Yes. What Mahatma Gandhi said about pre-independence India and the rest of the world, applies even today perfectly. This has been proved by years of study by major economists like Amartya Sen and others. India has vast resources which can be safely enjoyed by every Indian, but many Indians are deprived of even the basic necessities of life only because of corruption and indifferent administration.

Apathy and inefficiency have deprived millions of what is theirs naturally. Greed of the rich and powerful, cunningness of those at the helm of power, widespread illiteracy, poverty and unemployment have made the poor poorer and the rich richer. An example of wheat that India produces in plenty but allows to rot while millions are starving proves this. Greed of the rich for more homes for themselves, thereby necessitating duplication of everything, thus raising the value of land and making it inaccessible for the deserving poor, is another instance of mindless consumerism.

4. What do you understand by Thoreau’s observation “superfluous wealth can buy only superfluities _______ Money is not required to buy even one necessity of the soul”.
Answer:
Superfluous wealth refers to the extra wealth that remains when the basic necessities of life have been bought. People who understand the true worth of life donate their superfluous wealth among the needy and find satisfaction. Wealth, like happiness, brings more contentment when it is shared. Extra money, hidden with oneself, breeds selfishness, miserliness and insecurity. The person tends to look at everyone he comes across, with suspicion. Satisfaction, friendliness, compassion and openness take a back seat. As the saying goes, ‘the things that are needed for happiness are not things, but people.’

VI. Project: Survey

Work ’ groups of 4 each. (Time: 10 days)

1. Prepare a questionnaire to elicit views on Malls; (It should include : frequency of visits to malls, where, when and their views on the issues raised in the lesson)
2. Get answers from at least 20 of your neighbours.
3. Consolidate the responses and make a presentation in class
Answer:
Questionnaire:
Hello/Good Morning Sir/Madam, I am conducting a survey on the shopping habits of citizens. Please answer a few questions, if you don’t mind.

  1. Which is the mall you frequently visit?
  2. Do you visit the other malls too in the city?
  3. Why do you visit this mall particularly more often than the others?
  4. How do you find the shops in these malls different from the ones outside?
  5. Do you try out all the varieties of every product in these shops?
  6. Are you aware that most of these products are manufactured by multinational companies and the profits go to them?
  7. Are you sure that the products are made from local raw’ materials? Do you know whether the farmers who sold these raw materials have been given their right price?
  8. How many times do you use the goods bought in these malls?
  9. How many times have you bought something that, after you reached home felt that wasn’t necessary?
  10. What prompted you to buy the product? Was it a television advertisement or a real need at home?

VII. Grammar Revisited

Subordination: Simple to Complex

Note: Main points generally go into main clauses. Any simple sentence can be changed to a subordinate clause but the choice of subordination or main clause must be guided by your purpose.

For example,

  1. Students were protesting.
  2. The lecture was canceled.

If your focus is on the students’ protest, you can say: Students were protesting because the lecture was canceled. If your focus is on the cancellation of the lecture, you can say: The lecture was canceled because the students were protesting.

A. Combine each sequence of sentences below into a complex sentence by using at least one noun clause. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest.

Question 1.

  1. He tells me.
  2. He distrusts his own sons.
  3. It is difficult to understand his reason.

Answer:
He tells me that he distrusts his own sons, which is difficult to understand.

Question 2.

  1. Someone said this.
  2. History is a record of dates and battles.
  3. This ignores most of history’s significance.
  4. This makes history merely a list of selected events.

Answer:
Someone said that history is just a record of dates and battles, which ignores its significance, making history merely a list of selected events.

Question 3.

  1. A restaurant becomes a five-star restaurant.
  2. This means the restaurant has consistently maintained superior standards.
  3. The standards are of quality in food and service.

Answer:
A restaurant becomes a five-star restaurant when its superior standards of quality in food and service are consistently maintained.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Question 4.

  1. The earth’s climate changes.
  2. The earth’s climate even now may be changing rapidly.
  3. This is widely recognized.

Answer:
It is a widely known fact that the earth’s climate is changing rapidly.

Question 5.

  1. He pretended to be one of us.
  2. He took part in all our pranks.
  3. This helped hide his identity.
  4. He was a policeman.

Answer:
The policeman, pretending to be one of us, took part in our plans, which helped him hide his identity.

B. Combine each sequence of sentences below into a complex sentence by using at least one adjective/relative clause. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest.

Question 1.

  1. Walden Pond is now the site of many tourist stands.
  2. Walden Pond was once admired by Thoreau for its natural beauty.
  3. Henry David Thoreau built himself a solitary hut on the shore of Walden.
  4. He lived there for two and a half years.

Answer:
Walden Pond which is now the site of many tourist stands was once admired by Henry David Thoreau who built himself a solitary hut on its shore where he lived for two and a half years.

Question 2.

  1. Alcohol, a drying agent, is frequently used in cosmetics.
  2. The drying agent evaporates rapidly.
  3. The drying agent, therefore, has a cooling effect.

Answer:
Alcohol which is a drying agent is often used in cosmetics as it evaporates rapidly and therefore gives a cooling effect.

Question 3.

  1. The roller coaster is still one of the most exciting rides.
  2. The rides are in an amusement park.
  3. The roller coaster made its appearance in 1884.

Answer:
The roller coaster which made its appearance in 1884 in amusement parks is still one of the most exciting rides.

Question 4.

  1. The man shoved the woman into a car.
  2. The man was fat.
  3. The man had a nasal voice.
  4. The woman was startled.
  5. The man mistakenly thought the woman was about to have a baby.

Answer:
A man. with a nasal voice who mistakenly thought a fat woman was ‘ pregnant, startled her by shoving her into a car.

Question 5.

  1. A cottage and his wife had a hen.
  2. The hen laid an egg every day.
  3. They were lucky.
  4. The egg was golden.

Answer:
A cottage and his wife were lucky as they had a hen which laid a golden egg every day.

C. Combine each sequence of sentences below into a complex sentence by using at least one Adverbial clause. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest.

Question 1

  1. Suppose there isn’t any cake.
  2. Suppose there aren’t any friends around.
  3. A birthday cannot really be fun.
  4. His birthday is on 4 January.

Answer:
If there is no cake and if there are no friends, his birthday on 4 January cannot really be fun.

Question 2.

  1. The experiences were sung about in poems.
  2. The poems were written by pupils.
  3. The pupils were between the ages of 70 and 90.
  4. The pupils were residents in a nursing home.

Answer:
The experiences were sung about in poems written by pupils between the ages of 70 and 90 residing in a nursing home.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Question 3.

  1. Poet Kenneth Koch would teach folk poetry.
  2. He hoped to free them from bonds.
  3. The bonds were cruel.
  4. The bonds were of growing old.
  5. He hoped to free them for moments, at least.

Answer:
Kenneth Koch would teach folk poetry and hope to free them from the cruel bonds of growing old for a moment at least.

Question 4.

  1. “Good evening. I am CountDracula”
  2. Bela Lugosi’s voice chilled theatergoers.
  3. His voice is now famous.
  4. Then it ushered in the modem Dracula era.
  5. He did this 70 years ago.

Answer:
Bela Lugosi’s famous voice, “Good evening, I am Count Dracula,” chilled theatergoers 70 years ago when it ushered in the modern Dracula era.

Question 5.

  1. The train arrived at the station.
  2. A man sprang out of one of the carriages on to the platform.
  3. His clothes were torn.
  4. They were stained with blood.
  5. The policeman saw this.

Answer:
When the train arrived at the station, the policeman saw a man spring out of one of the carriages onto the platform wearing clothes that were torn and stained with blood.

Coordination:

Simple to Compound

Note: We use coordination to suggest that the two clauses are logically related but neither has more weight than the other. Combine each sequence of sentences below into a compound sentence using at least two main clauses. The first one is done for you. Your teacher will help you with the rest.

Question 1.

  1. Some species of whales are nearing extinction
  2. Many countries refuse to accept even a partial ban on whale hunting.

Answer:
Some species of whales are nearing extinction and yet many countries refuse to accept even a partial ban on whale hunting;

Question 2.

  1. In private life he was kind.
  2. In private life, he was even generous.
  3. In public life he was severe. ENGLISH (First Language)
  4. In public life, he administered strict justice.

Answer:
In his private life, he was kind and generous but in his public life, he was severe and administered strict justice.

Question 3.

  1. He does not study.
  2. He does not allow his friends to study.
  3. That’s why many of his friends avoid him.

Answer:
Many of his friends avoid him because not only does he not study but he doesn’t allow his friends to study too.

Question 4.

  1. You may not care for wealth.
  2. You may not care for fame.
  3. You shall have to care for the truth.
  4. Life without truth is a degraded life.

Answer:
You may care neither for wealth nor for fame but you shall have to care for truth because life without truth is a degraded life.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Question 5.

  1. I shall not oppose your plan of action.
  2. I cannot approve of it.

Answer:
I shall not oppose your plan of action but I cannot approve of it.

VIII. Fun With Language:

Punctuation Puzzles
What intonation is to speech is punctuation to writing. Any slight variation in intonation or punctuation will completely change the meaning of an utterance or a sentence.

Look closely at the following pairs of sentences. Same words, same syntax, yet the meaning is so different! All because of a change in the punctuation.

Question 1.
a) I left him convinced he was a fool.
b) I left him, convinced he was a fool.
Which sentence shows extraordinary powers of persuasion?
Answer:
(a) I left him convinced he was a fool.

Question 2.
a) Shall I stick the stamps on myself?
b) Shall I stick the stamps on, myself?
Which of the two will require a lot of postage?
Answer:
(a) Shall I stick the stamps on myself?

Question 3.
a) A clever dog knows its master,
b) A clever dog knows it’s master.
In which case has the dog the upper hand.
Answer:
(b) A clever dog knows it’s master.

Question 4.
a) He ate a half fried chicken,
b) He ate a half- fried chicken.
Which would be followed by stomach disorder?
Answer:
(a) He ate a half fried chicken.

Question 5.
a) Go slow – children,
b) Go slow, children.
Which is a warning to drivers?
Answer:
(a) Go slow – children.

Question 6.
a) The officers ate chicken, their wives, vegetables.
b) The officers ate chicken; their wives, vegetables.
Which would suggest cannibalism?
Answer:
(a) The officers ate chicken, their wives, vegetables.

Question 7.
a) Students’ protest gains,
b) Students protest gains.
Which of the two suggests that the student force is becoming strong?
Answer:
(b) Students protest gains.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Question 8.
a) The dictator, who was recently ousted by the citizens and his wife arrived in Hawaii yesterday, b) The dictator, who was recently ousted by the citizens, and his wife arrived in Hawaii yesterday. In which of the two cases is the dictator feeling worse?
Answer:
(b) The dictator, who was recently ousted by the citizens, and his wife arrived in Hawaii yesterday.

Question 9.
a) The film ended, happily,
b) The film ended happily.
In which case was the audience apparently bored?
Answer:
(a) The film ended, happily.

Question 10.
a) My wife, who lives in Hong Kong is arriving tomorrow,
b) My wife who lives in Hong Kong is arriving tomorrow.
Which of the two suggests that the speaker is a polygamist?
Answer:
(b) My wife who lives in Hong Kong is arriving tomorrow.

Points to Remember:

1. An advertisement at a shopping mall ‘Shop Till You Drop’ makes the writer wonder at the media-driven mania of mindless consumption.

2. The writer feels that people, more than ever before, are consuming a bewildering variety of goods, the need for most of them created artificially by corporate giants. He calls their advertising ‘ a thought-control project’, and reveals that the money they spend on advertising is sometimes more than the GNP of some countries.

3. Through aggressive advertising, people are being made ‘buying machines’. Especially in the US, the people spend half of their time watching TV where goods are advertised, and the other half buying those goods.

4. Indians were unaffected by this consumption mania, but of late, malls have sprung up, offering a wide variety of choice with respect to all kinds of consumables. It is ironic that though pockets of private prosperity are growing even in India, the public spaces are reducing. Poor people are being forced to buy products which either should have come to them free, or they do not need at all.

5. The World Bank talks about spreading the market economy’ to every corner of the world, but developing countries, especially, have to pay a great price for this development. Every village, town and city is becoming a replica of the Western one, with mind-boggling garbage which can never be disposed of.

6. The craze of our entrepreneurial youth to make our country similar in all aspects to the western ones is a dangerous one, because it is not practical and unsustainable. In the name of profit, they are ruining all that would have contributed to the welfare of our people.

7. It is time now to turn towards our spiritualities and wisdom traditions, and take back the autonomy from the global business corporations which will, any day, reward themselves and no one else.

8. All human beings should learn to say ‘enough’ to the merely material, and look towards enriching the soul through the arts, culture and community life, in order to make life more meaningful and sustainable.

Consumerist Culture by Cheriyan Alexander About the Author:

Cheriyan Alexander (born in 1958) is an Associate Professor of English at St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru. He has written widely on issues and themes relating to literature, culture and ecology

Consumerist Culture Summary in English

Here the author laments the modern trend of Indians to adopt the western concept of ‘shop till you drop’ and living in the present, consuming more and more without any thought for the future. He gives wonderful facts and figures to show how’ the craze for shopping and consumerism has been artificially and cunningly created by MNCs whose only goal is maximization of profit to the detriment of everything else.

This concept of consumerism originated in the United States where the individual has been made a slave of materialism, and what is worse, is takings pride in being so. He points out that this kind of consumerism is just widening the gap between the rich and poor, with the poor losing many resources which should naturally belong to them. Global organizations speak of a ‘free market economy7 which is everything but free.

It is just a clever manipulation of the economy to suit their own needs of profit and expansion, by creating artificial needs. Hence, he cautions, we people in the ‘developing’ nations should be very wise about whom we allow to run our economy He urges us to reawaken the-numerous enabling spiritualities anti wisdom traditions we have had in our country.

He stresses that everyone should learn to say ‘enough’ after getting the basic material requirements, and turn towards the ‘commodities’ of the spirit, i.e., the arts, culture, community life, to make life more meaningful and sustainable.

KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture

Consumerist Culture Summary in Kannada

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KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English Prose Chapter 9 Consumerist Culture