KSEEB Solutions for Class 9 English Prose Chapter 4 Whatever We Do

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Karnataka State Syllabus Class 9 English Prose Chapter 4 Whatever We Do

Whatever We Do Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes

Before you read:

Your teacher will read the following dialogues. Listen to the dialogues.

A: Why are you so dull like a lamb?
B: What’s that to you?
A: Do you lose anything by saying it?
B: Well, I’ve lost my money. Can you get it?
A: Ah! I know you’re always irresponsible.
B: Keep your mouth shut, will you?

A: You’re a bit down, may I know why?
B: Chetan, my purse is stolen.
A: Really sorry. If you don’t mind, I’ll lend you some money.
B: Thanks a lot, but I don’t need it now.
A: All right. Don’t let it bother you too much.
B: You’re right anyway. I feel better with your encouraging words.

Which dialogue do you think is more politely worded? Discuss with your partner.
Answer:
I think part B dialogue is more politely worded.
In ‘A’, dialogue is in a tone of order, dictatorial, arrogant, and quarrelsome. It is very rude and impolite.
In ‘B’, dialogue is polite. It is an accepted way of speaking.

Check Your Comprehension:

I. Share your responses

Question 1.
The author says, “Let us make them better and better.” What does the word ‘them’ stand for here?
Answer:
Them stands for “Our actions and our words.”

Question 2.
Imagine that a parent of your friend says, “Work only for the result.” How would you respond to this statement?
Answer:
“Thank a lot for your suggestion”.

Question 3.
What are the ways in which we usu-ally thank a person for having helped?
Answer:
“I am very grateful” or “You have been a great help” or “I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Question 4.
How do you react if others make you wait?
Answer:
We should not show our dissatisfaction or impatience. We should listen to them first, for any explanation and then we should say “It’s ok, It was a pleasure waiting for you”.

Question 5.
Why does the author lay emphasis on adding words to our actions and also on adding actions to our words?
Answer:
To make our actions or words better, the author lays emphasis on adding words to action and also on adding actions to our word.

Question 6.
What sort of word and what kind of action would make any situation better?
Answer:
A better word and action would make any situation better.

Check Your Comprehension:

II. Share your responses:

Question 1.
How do you think doctors can improve their images with their language?
Answer:
Doctors treating patients can make their jobs much better if they choose to talk nicely to their patients. It is said that a couple of friendly words from the doctor or even a smile can go a long way in making the patients feel better.

Question 2.
What difference do you find in the autorickshaw drivers’ responses? Discuss.
Answer:
In the first instance, the automation did his work sincerely but did not show any courtesy. At least he could have said, “yes sir, please ‘come’ or “get in” to the writer. He did not even look at the writer, but simply downed the meter and drove. In the second instance, the automation was not in ao position to come to Central Market, but he showed courtesy by saying “sorry sir, its time for me to hand over the auto”. He hailed another auto for the writer and helped the writer to go to Central Market. We can make’our work better by adding words.

Question 3.
If we decide to give alms to a beggar, how should we give it?
Answer:
We can give alms to a beggar in a better way. “Here, take this” can be said nicely and with some feeling.

Question 4.
How would public notices need to be changed according to the author?
Answer:
The author says that public notices should not be rough or odd. A notice like “No smoking” can be written in an innovative way like, “Thank you for not smoking”. In a hotel also, instead of writing “Don’t sit here for a long time”, it is better to write “Please make room for waiting for customers”. Like this, public notices need to be changed in a polite way, says the author.

Question 5.
Pick out any public notice. Try to make it read more politely.
Answer:
No admission
– Please take permission to enter.
Don’t sit here for a long time
– Kindly make room for waiting for friends. No smoking
– Thank you for not smoking.
Don’t urinate here
– Please use public toilets and keep our surroundings clean.

Check Your Comprehension:

III. Share your responses

Question 1.
What word usually makes our enquiries more polite? Illustrate with one example.
Answer:
The word ‘Please’, usually makes our enquiries more polite. Normally, most of us ask “ Who’s this? when we receive a phone call. It sounds rough. Instead of that we can say “May I know who is calling please?” It sounds more polite.

Question 2.
Imagine that you are talking to someone on the phone, how would you start the conversation?
Answer:
We start our conversation by saying “May I know who is calling, please. It is my pleasure to talk to you”.

Question 3.
Read paragraph-14 carefully. Do you agree with the comparison made there? Discuss.
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the comparison made in paragraph – 14. If we want to converse with others, it is better to use ‘you’ first, before ‘I’. It is more effective and more polite. But I don’t agree with the comparison made about the use of letters in the words. It sounds so contrived.

Question 4.
Why does the author say that there is no formula for best action or best form of speech?
Answer:
There is no limit to the improvement we can make in our action or speech. Now can we say that a particular action or form of speech is the best. That’s why the author says, there is no formula.

Think About the Text:

I. Working in pairs/groups attempt the following:

C1. The author gives a number of instances of expressions that sound odd or unpleasant. Find all such expressions from the text and rewrite them in polite form.
Answer:
Author gives a number of instances of expressions that sound odd or unpleasant and the polite form of those expressions is as follows.

Thanks – Thanks a lot; I am very grateful to you; You have been of great help; I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Munde hogappa – Maph Karo (Please excuse) sorry, I am not able to give.
No smoking – Thank you for not smoking.
Don’t sit here for a long time – Please make room for waiting customers; Kindly make room for waiting friends.
Who’s this? – May I know who is calling, please?

C2. Recall a situation that still makes you feel happy by the speaker’s words. Why? Discuss.
Answer:
Once the author called an auto and said ‘Central Market’. The auto man said ‘Sorry sir, It’s time for me to hand over the auto”, and saying that he hailed another auto and asked “Guru, Central market?”. That man agreed and the author got in.

This situation still makes us feel happy by the first auto driver’s words. Because this shows that we can say “No” also, in the most pleasant way. Auto man did his work better by adding words to his actions and also adding actions to his words.

C3. How can we react if someone says ‘no’? Why? Discuss.
Answer:
We can react in a polite way if someone says ‘no’, as we are not actually aware of that person’s difficulties. We have to understand their situation. Our reaction must depend on time, conditions, situation and their way of saying ‘No’. If we behave in a polite way, the same person may say ‘yes.’ There is a chance of changing their behaviour immediately.

Vocabulary:

VI. Read the following statements and working in pairs/ groups, try to guess the meanings of the words in bold from the context :

Question 1.
Success is a journey not a destination.
Answer:
Journey – The act of traveling from one place to another (n) to travel a long distance (v).
destination – Journey’s end terminus, final.

Question 2.
Please make room for waiting customers.
Answer:
make room for: leave, vacate.

Question 3.
In posh restaurants, the waiters or stewards do say, “good morning”.
Answer:
Posh – Luxurious.
Steward – one who, takes care of and brings meals etc to passengers on a ship, train or aircraft.

Question 4.
On a certain occasion, I hailed an r autorickshaw.
Answer:
hailed – signal to a taxi or autorickshaw to stop.

Question 5.
Some don’t say anything but try to shun the beggar by their body language.
Answer:
Shun – keep away, avoid.

Question 6.
And finally, when the giving becomes inevitable, they give grudgingly.
Answer:
Inevitable – something that cannot be avoided.
Grudgingly – unwillingly, with a murmer.

Question 7.
In South India, some restaurants are famous for the tasty fare they offer.
Answer:
tasty fare – fine, good food offered at a meal.

V2. (i) Work with your partner and match words under A with their meanings under B.

A	B
1. erstwhile	(a) to be pleased when someone praises you.
2. grateful	(b) avoid, reject
3. flattered	(c) feeling, or showing thanks
4. shun	(d) resent
5. grudge	(e) former, previous

Answer:
1-(e), 2-(c), 3-(a), 4-(b), 5 – (d).

(ii) Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with appropriate words or word forms from column (A) above.

Aditi _________ having to pay so much tax.
Santosh knew Krishna was only ___________ him because he wanted to borrow some money.
Vittal’s __________ friends turned against him.
Students have to be ___________ to all the teachers for their help.
Rukmini has __________ publicity since she retired from theatre.

Answer:

grudges
flattering
erstwhile
grateful
shunned

Read and Respond: Activity:

Speak well:

I. Function: Showing preference and making suggestions.

SI. Look at this conversation between Padma and Pramod.

Padma: Why don’t we go into town and see if that new book is out yet?
Pramod: Yes, we could do that, but I’d rather go next week because I should be able to get some more by then.
Padma: Ok, let’s go next week instead. But what are we going to do today….?

The phrases in bold are making suggestions or showing a preference. Think of more examples of language which could be used. Copy and complete the table below and compare your ideas with a partner or classmate.

Making suggestion Showing a preference
_____________ _____________
Usually, when we show a preference for something, we also give a reason.
Answer:

Making suggestion	Showing preference
1. Why don’t we go	1. I’d rather go
2. Let’s go	2. Would you like to go
3. Can’t we go	3. I’d like to go
4. I think we should go	4. I prefer to go
5. I suggest we go

Listening and Comprehending. Class Activity.

Language in use. Simple Present Tense

G1.(a) Study the table below and record your hobbies in the last row. Add adverbs if necessary. Then compare your sentences with those of your partners.
Example:

Father practices meditation every day.
I usually drink milk at night.

Persons and their hobbies/routines – sample

(b) Prepare a similar table and write about the routines/ hobbies of your father, mother/ brother/ sister/ friend.

G2. Activity: “Something special”

For example :
He goes fishing on Sundays.
She attends dance classes.

Note: Students can write a paragraph about their favorite activities and present them later in the class.

Sample: I go to the Public library every Saturday evening. I visit a nearby temple every Monday. I read the newspaper every day. I attend dance classes. I go swimming during the holidays. I go on tours once a year with my parents. I collect coins. I listen to music. I go to my native place during the summer holidays and there help my grandparents.

Practice Writing: Group work

Writing a message

1. You have to attend an important family function tomorrow. Therefore, you will not be able to attend classes. Write a note informing your friend/classmate about this and asking him/her to help you with the lessons/class notes.
Answer:
Dear Jai,
I will not be able to attend classes tomorrow as I have to attend an important family function. Please give me your notes tomorrow evening for me to note down.
Kiran
6-5-2017

Whatever We Do Additional Questions and Answers

I. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
Author says that we can say, progress is a Journey and not a _______
(a) place
(b) award
(c) destination
(d) success.
Answer:
(c) destination.

Question 2.
Author says that we should feel satisfied that we are doing fine because:
(a) Progress is a journey
(b) Progress is a destination
(c) Success is a destination
(d) Progress and success are the journeys and not the destination.
Answer:
(d) Progress and success are journeys and not the destination.

Question 3.
“You have been of great help. I thank you from the bottom of my heart”
(a) Gratitude
(b) ungratitude
(c) Opinion
(d) affection.
Answer:
(a) Gratitude.

Question 4.
Wise people say that we should compare ourselves with:
(a) Our own selves
(b) Our elders
(c) Others work
(d) Others success.
Answer:
(a) Our own selves.

Question 5.
Author says that by adding words to our actions and also adding actions to our words to:
(a) Do better
(b) Help others
(c) Suggest others
(d) Overcome the problems.
Answer:
(a) Do better.

Question 6.
“To do better by adding words to our actions and also adding action to our words” to justify this statement author gives the incident of:
(a) His.waiting for lift
(b) His waiting for auto
(c) His being late for an appointment
(d) Public notice.
Answer:
(a) His waiting for lift.

Question 7.
Doctors treating patients can make their jobs much better if they:
(a) Choose to give injection to patients
(b) Choose to give only tablets
(c) Choose to give advice
(d) Choose to talk nicely to their patients.
Answer:
(d) Choose to talk nicely to their patients.

Question 8.
“Maph karo”_______ “Sorry, I am not able to give” It’s a nice way of saying no to beggars in:
(a) Delhi
(b) Kolkatta
(c) Mumbai
(d) Lucknow.
Answer:
(c) Mumbai.

Question 9.
According to the author, the best and innovative public notice against smoking is :
(a) No smoking
(b) Don’t smoke here
(c) Smoking is prohibited
(d) Thank you for not smoking here
Answer:
(d) Thank you for not smoking here.

Question 10.
According to the author, the important word that we can use in our communication/ conversation to express our courtesy is
(a) May I know
(b) wait
(cj Please
(d) sorry
Answer:
(c) Please.

Question 11.
We must constantly be on the lookout __________ better performance. The correct preposition to be filled in the blank is :
(a) to
(b) for
(c) by
(d) on.
Answer:
(b) for.

Question 12.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart” The underlined word is :
(a) Noun
(b) Verb
(c) Adjective
(d) Pronoun
Answer:
(b) Verb.

II. Match the following:

A	B
1. Persist	a. shortness
2. Devoid of	b. give less importance
3. Courtesy	c. to behave firmly
4. Relegate	d. lacking, empty
5. Brevity	e. good manners

Answer:
1. (c), 2. (d), 3. (e), 4. (b), 5. (a).

III. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

1. “You could have thought of lending a helping hand to them”

Question a.
Who said this?
Answer:
One of the trainees said it.

Question b.
To whom it was said?
Answer:
It was said to the author.

Question c.
Who does ‘them’ refer?
Answer:
Them refers to the two fellows who came down in the lift filled with packets.

IV. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Who is the writer of the lesson “whatever we do?
Answer:
Clifford Martis is the writer of the lesson “whatever we do”.

Question 2.
What do the wise people say about the comparison?
Answer:
Wise people say that we should compare ourselves with our own selves. We should compare our performance of last year, and see whether at present we are doing better or not.

Question 3.
What is the nice way of saying to the beggars in Mumbai?
Answer:
In Mumbai, people have a nice of saying, “Maph Karo” It is a nice way of saying, “Sorry, I am not able to give”.

Question 4.
What are the innovative ways of public notices in the hotels?
Answer:
“Please, make room for waiting for customers” and “Kindly make room for waiting friends” are the innovative examples of notices in the hotels.

V. Give the opposites of :

simple × complex
better × worse
success × failure
gratitude × ingratitude
grateful × ungrateful
polite × impolite, rough
polished × unpolished
brevity × elaborateness

Whatever We Do Summary in English

Writer discusses about the politeness in our words and actions and about courtesy. He gives some suggestions of politeness and courtesy in our words and actions. We should always try to do any work better, and speak refined words. Success and progress is a journey and not a destination. So we should not be satisfied with just our work. We should try to improve our work and words constantly.

If we want to thank someone, it is better to say “I am very grateful to you” or “You have been of great help. I thank you from the bottom of my heart”. Instead of saying “thanks”, say “thanks a lot”. This is a simple case of expressing gratitude in a better way.

We can learn to do or say things in a better way by giving some thoughts to our actions or speech. If we are late to our appointment to meet our seniors, we can try to atone by saying “ I am sorry, I made you wait,” In turn the senior should say, “Its ok. It is a pleasure waiting for you”. We should not say, “I know that. I am hearing the same words from you” sarcastically.

We should not compare one or even ourselves with another. It is better to compare our work with ourselves only by saying “This was my performance last year and see whether I am doing better or not, now,” We can do better by adding words to our actions and also adding actions to our words. Narrator gives an example of an incident of his own. He was waiting for the lift. The lift came down and lie found that two fellows started removing packets which were fully occupying the lift. They did not want do delay me.

They finished the job, and narrator went to his training class. He asked the class how this particular situation could have been rendered better? Someone answered that the two gentlemen could have requested, “one minute sir, we will finish in no time”. Another one said that the narrator could have thought of lending a helping hand to them. This was a very refined answer.

Narrator discussed about the behaviour of a shopkeeper or the salesperson. Instead of doing their job without a word, at least they could say the words “Yes sir”. In the same way, waiters or stewards should behave in a polite way. At least, they may say “Good morning”, “yes sir” when taking our orders. But most of the time the waiters or stewards do not speak even a single word through the food and ambiance are quite good.

Doctors treating patients can make their jobs better, if they choose to talk nicely to their pa¬tients. Most of the doctors are always serious or even stern. But, it is said that a couple of friendly words from the doctor or even a smile can go a long way in making the patients feel better.

Narrator discusses the behaviour of an auto driver and narrates his own experience. Many times automen agree to take us to a particular place, only by ‘downing’ the meter, without talking a single word or showing a gesture. They may say at least “yes sir, please come in” or simply “come.” Narrator gives an example for the polite behaviour of an auto man. Once, he hailed an auto and wanted to go to ‘Central Market’. But the auto driver said, “sorry sir, it’s time for me to hand over the auto” and so saying, hailed another auto and asked “Guru, Central market ?” That man agreed and the narrator got in. This shows that one can say ‘No’ also, in the most pleasant way.

We can show some sort of courtesy and sympathy to beggars. “Here, take this,” can be said nicely and with some feeling. But most people refuse to give alms by saying ‘go further”. Some people give alms grudgingly. Narrator quote an example for showing of polite behaviour to beggars. In Mumbai, people have a nice way of saying, “map karo ” (please excuse). It’s a nice way of saying “sorry, I am not able to give”.

‘ Notices giving instructions and orders like “No parking”, “No smoking”, “No admission”, “Visitors “Cars not allowed” may sound rather rough. People are trying to be brief because brevity is a genuine need in such public notices. But, “Thank you for not smoking” is a polite, novel way of giving instructions. We can think of innovative methods to make our orders, instructions and notices sound more I polite, more polished. In a restaurant, narrator saw a board, “Don’t sit here for a long time”, and he feels that it is not very polite. Luckily, he saw in another place, a board, “Please make room for waiting customers”. In yet another place he saw a notice “Kindly make room for waiting friends”. The narrator feels that such notices are more polite. It is our practice to be brief while sending telegrams to cut costs. We neglect politeness and

courtesy while sending telegrams. We can add one polite word “please” in our telegrams. Nowadays telegram has lost its importance because of the advancement of the telephone and the internet. But the courtesy problem has not been solved. People bluntly ask, “Who is this”? Instead, one can ask “May I know who is calling, please”? In this way, the narrator discussed many polite ways of receiving telephone or mobile calls. It is polite and better to say “You are welcome” while responding when someone says “Thank you” to us.

One method of improving our communication with others is to put “You” before ‘I’ as for as, possible. If we wish to thank some for the nice party, we can say “our party was so enjoyable. I thank you”. “Your letter made me very happy” is another example given by the narrator using ‘You’ before ‘I’. It may be noted that there is no limit to the improvements that we can make in our actions or speech. The whole idea is to be aware of the need and importance of doing and saying things better and better.