Chapter 6
WHAT IS AMISS WITH US?
A. Answer the following questions-in about 30-40 words each:
1. What was the study undertaken in the schools of Britain for?
Answer: The study undertaken in the schools of Britain was to find out which nation's children excelled in intelligence. The study revealed that Indian children were superior in intelligence compared to those of other nations.
2. Why are we not pacing up with other super powers?
Answer: We are not pacing up with other superpowers despite our intellectual potential due to a variety of reasons, including:
1. Neglect of "small" issues: While India has achieved significant advancements in large-scale projects (like dams and steel plants), smaller, everyday issues such as social behavior, civic sense, and basic human decencies have been neglected. These are critical for progress but have been overlooked.
2. Lack of civic sense: Many people exhibit poor social behavior and disregard for civic responsibilities, such as noise pollution, disorderly travel behavior, and littering, which hampers efficiency and progress.
3. Brain drain: Despite the intellectual potential, many skilled individuals leave India for more affluent nations in search of better opportunities, further slowing national development.
4. Inefficient systems: There are issues like traffic violations, encroachment on public property, and lack of control over such behaviors that affect the quality of life and hinder overall progress.
3. Which are our big achievements?"
Answer: Our big achievements include:
1. Bhakra Nangal Dam - A major irrigation and hydroelectric project that has contributed significantly to India's agricultural productivity.
2. Bhilai, Rourkela, and Durgapur Steel Plants - These plants are part of India's industrial growth, contributing to the nation's steel production and economic development.
3. Tarapur Nuclear Reactor - India's first nuclear power plant, which plays a crucial role in the country’s energy generation.
These achievements reflect India's progress in large-scale infrastructure and industrial development. However, the essay also points out that smaller, everyday issues have often been neglected despite these significant accomplishments.
4. What are the means of noise pollution?
Answer: The means of noise pollution mentioned in the passage include:
5. What is the statutory warning written on the packet of cigarettes?
Answer: The statutory warning written on the packet of cigarettes is:
"Smoking is injurious to health."
Despite this warning, the sale of cigarettes and bidis continues, and many smokers do not consider the harmful effects of their actions on others, particularly in the case of passive smoking, which causes more harm to those around them.
6. Which are the basic norms of driving that we ignore on the road?
Answer: The basic norms of driving that are often ignored on the road include:
7. What does increase the possible risk of accidents?
Answer: The following factors increase the possible risk of accidents:
8. Whom does the writer call uncivilized?
Answer: The writer calls those with muscle power who encroach upon public property as uncivilized. These individuals, in their quest for personal gain, consider public spaces their own and disregard the rights of law-abiding citizens. They engage in activities like occupying footpaths, setting up shops, or constructing structures on public property, often without permission, and do so to serve their own selfish interests.
9. What is the easiest way of our protest?
Answer: The easiest and most non-disruptive way of protest, as suggested by the writer, is to follow the path of Satyagraha or hunger strikes, as demonstrated by Mahatma Gandhi. This form of protest puts only the protestor themselves at inconvenience, without causing harm or inconvenience to others or damaging public property.
The writer also mentions a creative example from Japan, where workers protested by making shoes of different sizes (right foot only), which caused no inconvenience to others and was resolved peacefully.
10. When can we hope for prosperity and pleasure?
Answer: We can hope for prosperity and pleasure when we set things right by addressing small but significant issues such as:
B. Answer the following questions in about 60 words each:
1. Which are the important issues that have hampered our glory?
answer: The important issues that have hampered our glory, according to the passage, are:
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Lack of Social Behaviour and Civic Sense
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Noise pollution
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Disregard for others in public spaces
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Use of loudspeakers, loud horns, and high-pitched sounds
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Lack of Discipline in Public Transport
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Disrespect for queues
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Reluctance to share seats
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Spitting, littering, and spoiling public property
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Smoking in Public Places
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Ignoring the harmful effects of passive smoking
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Poor Traffic Sense
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Rash driving and traffic violations
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Overloaded vehicles and pollution
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Encroachment of Public Property
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Illegally occupying footpaths and roads
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Unauthorized extensions of houses and shops
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2. How does noise pollution affect our life?
answer: Noise pollution affects our lives in several harmful ways:
3. How can you keep public places clean?
answer: We can keep public places clean by following these simple yet important steps:
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Use Dustbins: Always throw waste materials like wrappers, food leftovers, and bottles in dustbins instead of littering.
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Avoid Spitting: Do not spit on roads, walls, or in public transport. It's unhygienic and disrespectful.
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No Littering: Never throw garbage in streets, parks, monuments, or places of worship.
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Carry a Bag for Trash: If there are no dustbins around, carry your waste in a bag and dispose of it properly later.
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Avoid Single-Use Plastics: Reduce plastic usage, as they contribute heavily to pollution.
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Clean Up After Pets: If you have pets, clean up after them in public spaces.
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Raise Awareness: Politely remind others not to litter and spread awareness about cleanliness.
4. Why has the movement on roads become dangerous?
answer: The movement on roads has become dangerous due to several reasons mentioned in the passage:
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Violation of Traffic Rules: Many people do not follow basic traffic norms such as obeying signals, proper overtaking, and lane discipline.
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Rash Driving: Especially among the youth, driving at high speeds is seen as a matter of pride, which puts everyone’s life at risk.
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Overloaded Vehicles: Vehicles are often overloaded with goods or people, increasing the chances of accidents.
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Smoke Emission: Many vehicles emit thick smoke, polluting the air and making it harmful for people and the environment.
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Incessant Honking: Drivers blow horns loudly and unnecessarily, adding to noise pollution and creating panic.
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No Control or Monitoring: There is a lack of proper regulation and enforcement, allowing unsafe practices to continue unchecked.
5. What measures can we take to make clean our surroundings?
answer: To keep our surroundings clean and healthy, we can take the following measures:
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Proper Waste Disposal:
Always use dustbins to dispose of garbage. Segregate waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories. -
Avoid Littering:
Do not throw garbage on roads, public places, or in water bodies. Encourage others to follow the same. -
Clean as You Go:
Whether at home, school, workplace, or outdoors, clean up the space after use. -
Organize Cleanliness Drives:
Participate in or organize community cleanliness campaigns to clean parks, streets, and public places. -
Spread Awareness:
Educate others, especially children, about the importance of cleanliness through posters, discussions, or social media. -
Avoid Plastic Bags:
Use cloth or jute bags instead of plastic. Plastic pollution is one of the major threats to cleanliness. -
Plant Trees and Maintain Greenery:
Green surroundings not only look clean but also improve air quality and reduce pollution. -
Control of Stray Animals:
Authorities should take steps to manage stray animals that litter and cause obstructions on roads.
6. According to the writer how can we express our protest without causing any difficulties to others?
answer: According to the writer, we should find peaceful and non-disruptive ways to express our protest that do not cause inconvenience or harm to others. He suggests two alternatives:
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Creative and Non-Harmful Protest:
The writer gives the example of Japanese workers in a shoe factory who, to express their protest, made shoes of only the right foot. Once their demands were met, they made left-foot shoes to complete the pairs. This method did not harm anyone or disrupt public life, yet effectively conveyed their protest. -
Satyagraha or Hunger Strike:
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, the writer recommends Satyagraha or hunger strikes. These methods involve self-sacrifice and personal inconvenience for a cause, without disturbing the peace or rights of others.
7. Which is superior between the muscle power and the brain power and Why?
answer: According to the writer, brain power is superior to muscle power. This is reflected in the well-known saying, “Pen is mightier than the sword.”
However, the writer points out with concern that in reality, especially in our society, muscle power often dominates over brain power. People who misuse their physical strength tend to encroach upon public property, disregard rules, and act selfishly, while law-abiding and intelligent citizens suffer silently.
Despite this, the writer clearly believes that true progress and a civilized society depend on brain power — that is, the thoughtful, intelligent, and disciplined actions of people, not brute force. Brain power leads to innovation, justice, and long-term solutions, while muscle power without wisdom leads to chaos and injustice.
8. How do the workers of a shoe factory in Japan demonstrate their protest?
answer: The workers of a shoe factory in Japan demonstrated their protest in a creative and peaceful way. Instead of causing inconvenience to others, they:
9. How do we lack in our social behaviour and cultivation of civic sense?
answer: According to the writer, we lack in our social behaviour and civic sense in several ways, which reflect ignorance of basic human decency and consideration for others. Some key areas include:
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Noise Pollution:
People play loud music, shout in public, and use loudspeakers and vehicle horns carelessly, disturbing others — especially students, the sick, or those seeking peace. -
Travel in Public Transport:
There is a lack of discipline and courtesy. People do not follow queues, hesitate to share seats, and often litter or spit in public transport, showing no respect for public property. -
Traffic Sense:
Many people violate traffic rules, drive recklessly, and overload vehicles. They often ignore traffic signals and safety norms, endangering not only their own lives but also others'. -
Encroachment:
Some individuals illegally occupy public spaces like footpaths or roads for personal use, showing disregard for others’ rights and contributing to urban chaos. -
Cleanliness:
People throw garbage on roads, in public places, and even in places of worship. They don’t care about hygiene, and stray animals are allowed to roam freely, worsening the situation. -
Protests and Bandhs:
Instead of peaceful demonstrations, many protests involve blocking roads (Rail Roko, Bandhs), causing inconvenience, damage to public property, and harm to daily life.
B. Correct the errors in the following sentences:
1. He asked where she lives
Answer:. He asked where she lived.
2 .The instructor warned not drive too fast.
Answer:. The instructor warned not to drive too fast.
3. He asked there is anyone.
Answer:. He asked if there was anyone.
4. They said that they have done their work.
Answer:. They said that they had done their work.
5. The taxi driver asked where I want to go.
Answer:. The taxi driver asked where I wanted to go.
6. Vasu assures that they will win the match.
Answer:. Vasu assured that they would win the match.
7. She reqested him bring a glass of water.
Answer:. She requested him to bring a glass of water.
8. He exclaimed with joy that how beautiful is the rainbow.
Answer:. He exclaimed with joy that the rainbow was very beautiful.
9. I asked him what is his name.
Answer:. I asked him what his name was.
10. They told him attend the classes regularly.
Answer:. They told him to attend the classes regularly.
