ICSE Class 10 Nine Gold Medals Workbook Solutions and Answers

Comprehension Passages

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set -
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Read the lines given above and answer the questions given below.

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are taken from the poem TELEVISION, written by Roald Dahl, a British novelist, short story writer and a poet. It is taken from his collection ‘Revolting Rhymes'. It is a stinging satire on Television. In this poem Roald Dahl expresses concern over what the modern invention the television set has done to children. He points out that watching TV has become a craze in modem time. Children of today spend hours together in front of the ‘idiot box'. Roald Dahl is addressing all British parents and telling them that the most important thing one must learn while raising children is to keep them away from the television set. He also says that it is possible to come to a better solution to the problem by not installing a television set in their homes in the first place.
They are unable to take the eyes off the screen. They are fascinated and intoxicated by the meaningless entertainment that is churned out on TV. They laze around in front of the television and gape at the screen. They lose the capacity to think. It also prevents them from using their imagination in a creative way. They laze around in front of the television and gape at the screen. They lose the capacity to think. It also prevents them from using their imagination in a creative way. They behave like zombies, and have no control over their minds.
The poet bemoans the fact and feels that parents should encourage children to read books instead of watching TV. The poet uses rhyming couplets. The use of verbs like 'Toll', 'pop' and lounge aptly describe the postures adopted by children while watching television. Dahl further speaks as if he has undertaken a long research on the bad effects of watching television by visiting a large number of households in Britain. In most houses, he has found the children lazing about all day and staring at the television screen without doing any productive work at all. Next, he indulges in a bit of exaggeration that is nonetheless amusing when he says that sometimes the children stare so hard that their eyeballs fall off and he has seen a dozen eyeballs rolling about on the floor in one house. Dahl says that children entire attention is captured by the television screen and they cannot concentrate on anything other than what they are watching.
In simple words: This answer provides a detailed contextual explanation of the poem "TELEVISION" by Roald Dahl, highlighting its satirical nature and the poet's concern about the negative impact of television on children, emphasizing its effect on their behavior and imagination.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining context, always name the poem/work, author, and central theme, connecting specific lines to the broader message.

Question 2. What is the most important thing that the poet has learnt?
Answer: The most important thing that the poet has learnt is that children should be kept away from the television set or not to install the television set at all.
In simple words: The poet believes the most crucial lesson is to keep children completely away from television or to avoid installing it entirely.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on identifying the primary message or advice conveyed by the poet, as this often forms the core theme of the passage.

Question 3. How does television keep the children still?
Answer: Children do weird things like climbing a window, jumping over it, etc. they may accidentally hurt themselves. So, it is better to switch on the television and let them watch it to keep them still.
In simple words: Television keeps children quiet and stationary by captivating their attention, thus preventing them from engaging in potentially harmful activities.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze how the given lines of the poem describe the immediate, behavioral effects of television on children, linking it to parental convenience.

Question 4. What should parents do for the entertainment of their children?
Answer: Parent, instead of making their children watch TV so that they would be busy, should provide their kids with story books. When children will develop the habit of reading books, they will not feel like watching TV. They will enjoy reading books as it will help them imagining and entertaining.
In simple words: Parents should offer storybooks to their children, fostering a love for reading that replaces the need for television and encourages imagination.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for solutions or alternatives, extract the poet's suggestions directly and explain their benefits for child development.

Question 5. Name some of the things that the poet has seen in house which have televisions.
Answer: Children always are gaping at the TV screen. They loll, slop and lounge about while watching the television. They sit in front of the TV and stare it continuously.
In simple words: The poet observed children constantly staring at the TV, lounging, and appearing mesmerized by the screen.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the descriptive verbs and adverbs used in the poem to depict the children's actions and postures while watching TV.

Question 6. Describe the effects of television on children's mind.
Answer: Watching television, according to the poet, is not good for younger minds. According to the poet, it kills their imagination; it blocks their minds, and makes them dull.
In simple words: The poet states that television negatively impacts children's minds by stifling imagination, hindering mental development, and making them dull.

🎯 Exam Tip: Summarize the specific cognitive and intellectual drawbacks of television viewing as highlighted by the poet in his critique.

Lines 17-33

Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink -
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK - HE ONLY SEES!
Read the lines given above and answer the questions given below.

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are taken from the poem TELEVISION, written by Roald Dahl, a British novelist, short story writer and a poet. It is taken from his collection ‘Revolting Rhymes'. It is a stinging satire on Television. In this poem Roald Dahl expresses concern over what the modem invention the television set has done to children. Fie points out that watching TV has become a craze in modem time. Children of today spend hours together in front of the ‘idiot box'. Roald Dahl is addressing all British parents and telling them that the most important thing one must learn while raising children is to keep them away from the television set. He also says that it is possible to come to a better solution to the problem by not installing a television set in their homes in the' first place.
Dahl admits that he knows that television can be a convenient way to keep children occupied. While watching television, children never cause trouble or throw tantrums. As a result, their parents can go about doing their household chores without any interruption.
However, parents do not stop to consider what television might do to their children.
Lines 25-33 are written in capitals to emphasize that they carry the main message of the poem. This message is that watching too much television fills up.the minds of children with useless facts while at the same time destroying their ability to create or understand worlds of fantasy in their imagination. It takes away their ability to think and they can only keep staring at the television screen.
In simple words: This answer explains that the poem, a satire by Roald Dahl, highlights the convenience television offers parents in keeping children quiet, but critically warns about the severe mental and imaginative damage it inflicts, especially emphasized through capitalized lines.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing context, link the specific lines to the author's overall message and literary devices used, such as capitalization for emphasis.

Question 2. What technique does Dahl use to convey the main message of the poem?
Answer: To convey the main message of the poem, Dahl writes in capital letters.
In simple words: Dahl uses capital letters in key lines to strongly emphasize the poem's central message about the harmful effects of television.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify and explain explicit stylistic choices made by the poet (like capitalization) and their intended impact on the reader's understanding of the theme.

Question 3. How are televisions helpful to parents?
Answer: Television proves helpful to parents as it keeps the children occupied and as a result; parents can do their household chores.
In simple words: Television helps parents by keeping children quiet and engaged, allowing adults to complete household tasks without interruption.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for the pragmatic, albeit criticized, benefits mentioned in the poem from a parental perspective.

Question 4. The children Describe the effects of television on children's mind.
Answer: Watching television, according to the poet, is not good for younger minds. According to the poet, it kills their imagination; it blocks their minds, and makes them dull.
In simple words: The poet describes television as detrimental to young minds, claiming it destroys imagination, clogs thoughts, and makes children intellectually dull.

🎯 Exam Tip: Reiterate the poet's strong negative vocabulary (e.g., 'kills', 'blocks', 'dull') to describe the adverse mental effects of TV on children.

Lines 34-52

'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
. THEY ... USED ... TO READ! They'd READ and READ,
...
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Read the lines given above and answer the questions given below.

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are taken from the poem TELEVISION, written by Roald Dahl, a British novelist, short story writer and a poet. It is taken from his collection ‘Revolting Rhymes'. It is a stinging satire on Television. In this poem Roald Dahl expresses concern over what the modem invention the television set has done to children. He points out that watching TV has become a craze in modem time. Children of today spend hours together in front of the 'idiot box'. Roald Dahl is addressing all British parents and telling them that the most important thing one must learn while raising children is to keep them away from the television set. He also says that it is possible to come to a better solution to the problem by not installing a television set in their homes in the first place.
In these lines, Dahl anticipates what the parents' next question would be. They might agree to take away the television set from their children but will ask how they are supposed to now keep their children entertained and occupied.
In these lines, Dahl tells parents that they cannot have forgotten how children kept themselves entertained before the recent invention of the television.
In these lines, Dahl says that before the coming of television children would read and it is a shame that now they don't.
In these lines, Dahl creates the alternate landscape that has been mentioned in the section on the poem's setting. In this landscape, children's rooms are filled to the brim with books.
In simple words: This answer contextualizes lines 34-52, explaining how Dahl anticipates parents' concerns about entertaining children without TV and then offers reading as the traditional and superior alternative, painting a picture of a book-filled environment.

🎯 Exam Tip: For context questions, it's crucial to explain not just the literal meaning but also the implied questions or scenarios the poet sets up, and how they contribute to the poem's argument.

Question 2. According to the poet, what should be done to save children from the hypnotism of television?
Answer: According to the poet, children should be given different story books to read in order to save children from the hypnotism of television.
In simple words: To free children from television's hypnotic hold, the poet suggests providing them with a variety of storybooks to read.

🎯 Exam Tip: Direct questions about the poet's recommendations require a clear and concise statement of the alternative solution proposed, focusing on the core activity.

Question 3. How according to the poet, can children benefit from reading books?
Answer: According to the poet, children should read book. It will help in developing their imagination and creative thinking skills. It will awaken their senses. It will give them enough opportunity to imagine and visualize a scene explained in the story.
In simple words: Reading books, as per the poet, cultivates imagination, creative thinking, and sensory awareness, allowing children to vividly visualize stories.

🎯 Exam Tip: When detailing benefits, list the distinct positive impacts mentioned (e.g., imagination, creative thinking) rather than just a general positive outcome.

Question 4. What should be done to keep the children occupied?
Answer: The children should be encouraged to read and read books.
In simple words: To keep children occupied, they should be strongly encouraged to engage in extensive reading of books.

🎯 Exam Tip: Extract the primary activity the poet advocates for children's engagement, ensuring your answer is direct and aligned with the poem's message.

Lines 53-72

Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and-
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How the Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole-
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
Read the lines given above and answer the questions given below.

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are taken from the poem TELEVISION, written by Roald Dahl, a British novelist, short story writer and a poet. It is taken from his collection ‘Revolting Rhymes'. It is a stinging satire on Television. In this poem Roald Dahl expresses concern over what the modern invention the television set has done to children. He points out that watching TV has become a craze in modem time. Children of today spend hours together in front of the ‘idiot box'. Roald Dahl is addressing all British parents and telling them that the most important thing one must learn while raising children is to keep them away from the television set. He also says that it is possible to come to a better solution to the problem by not installing a television set in their homes in the first place.
In these lines, Dahl talks about the kind of typical fantasy stories that the children would read in his day. These were stories of adventure with many interesting characters.
In these lines, Dahl pays a tribute to another children author like him- Beatrix Potter. Potter's books were known for the use of animals as characters, and the various colorful illustrations.
In simple words: This answer contextualizes the lines by reiterating the poem's anti-television stance and then elaborates on the rich, imaginative world of traditional children's books, including a tribute to Beatrix Potter, that children enjoyed before TV.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight how these lines serve as a nostalgic contrast to the previous sections, showcasing the vibrant literary experiences children once had, and acknowledging literary influences.

Question 2. Why does Dahl call television an idiot box?
Answer: The television according to Dahl makes children lose their imagination and creativity. It dulls their sensibilities and they behave like zombies. Hence they lose their ability to think for themselves. So Dahl calls it an idiot box.
In simple words: Dahl calls television an "idiot box" because he believes it stunts children's imagination and creativity, dulls their senses, makes them act like zombies, and diminishes their capacity for independent thought.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect the term "idiot box" directly to the negative mental and creative impacts television has on children, as described by the poet.

Question 3. To which author does Dahl pay a tribute?
Answer: Dahl pays a tribute to another children author like him- Beatrix Potter. Potter's books were known for the use of animals as characters, and the various colourful illustrations.
In simple words: Dahl honors Beatrix Potter, a fellow children's author renowned for her books featuring animal characters and vibrant illustrations.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify specific cultural or literary references within the poem and explain their significance or the tribute being paid.

Question 4. Which animal characters does Dahl mention?'
Answer: Dahl mentions animal characters from Beatrix Potter's books like the squirrel, toad, mole and camel.
In simple words: Dahl mentions animal characters such as the squirrel, toad, mole, and camel, many of which are associated with Beatrix Potter's stories.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be precise in listing the characters explicitly named in the poem, ensuring accuracy in your recall from the text.

Lines 73-80

So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks-
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something to read.
And once they start - oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.
Read the lines given above and answer the questions given below.

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are taken from the poem TELEVISION, written by Roald Dahl, a British novelist, short story writer and a poet. It is taken from his collection ‘Revolting Rhymes'. It is a stinging satire on Television. In this poem Roald Dahl expresses concern over what the modern invention the television set has done to children. He points out that watching TV has become a craze in modern time. Children of today spend hours together in front of the ‘idiot box'. Roald Dahl is addressing all British parents and telling them that the most important thing one must leam while raising children is to keep them away from the television set. He also says that it is possible to come to a better solution to the problem by not installing a television set in their homes in the, first place.
In these lines, Dahl makes an earnest appeal to parents to throw away their television set and replace it with a bookshelf, ignoring all the objection of their children.
In these lines, Dahl feels sure that sooner or later the children will turn to reading books to pass the time.
In these lines, Dahl says that the children will not be able to stop reading books once they have started and then will wonder why they had ever liked watching television. In the end the children will thank their parents for introducing them to books.
In simple words: This answer details the context of the poem's concluding lines, where Dahl passionately urges parents to replace televisions with bookshelves, assuring them that despite initial resistance, children will eventually embrace reading, find joy in it, and thank their parents for this decision.

🎯 Exam Tip: For context in the concluding sections, focus on identifying the poet's final appeal, the anticipated challenges, and the promised positive outcomes, showing the full arc of the argument.

Question 2. What does Dahl ask the parents to do?
Answer: Dahl asks the parents to throw away the television sets and replace them with shelves crowded with books of all kinds.
In simple words: Dahl urges parents to remove televisions from their homes and instead fill the space with abundant bookshelves of diverse books.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state the two main actions Dahl requests from parents: removal of TV and installation of bookshelves, specifying the contents of the latter.

Question 3. Will the children appreciate this action of their parents?
Answer: Initially the children will be angry with their parents but when they have nothing else to do they will start reading the books. And then the joy of reading will envelop them and they will wonder why they ever watched television.
In simple words: Initially, children will react with anger, but once they begin reading out of boredom, they will discover joy in books and forget their attachment to television.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe the emotional journey of the children, from initial negative reaction to eventual positive transformation, as predicted by the poet.

Question 4. Will the children thank the parents? Why?
Answer: Yes, once the children discover the pleasure of reading they will thank their parents for introducing them to reading.
In simple words: Yes, children will ultimately thank their parents because they will realize the joy of reading and appreciate being introduced to books.

🎯 Exam Tip: Directly answer with a "yes" or "no" and then provide the reason based on the children's eventual positive experience with reading.

Project

Question 1. Explain and discuss the themes of the poem.
Answer:
Idiot Box:
That the television is called the ‘idiot box' might have something to do with the kinds of effect Dahl imagines it has in children. This phrase is actually a transferred epithet, in the sense that it is not the television set that is idiotic, but that idiocy is produced in the watchers of television. When we watch television, it is a passive process on our parts. We do not actively engage with the material as we do while reading and imagining the words on the page coming to life. This passivity ultimately makes the work of our brain slower and more strained.
Death of imagination:
Amidst all the people of his time, Dahl was perhaps singularly ahead of his time when he predicted that television would spell the death of imagination in children's minds. As a children's author, he must have known more than others how children's faces light up when they read or listen to a story, and how they often lose „ themselves in the details of a book as their imagination constructs entire worlds for them in their minds. However, television hands them ready images. As a result, their imagination suffers and they later become sceptical in thinking that what they cannot see is not real. If all children thought that way, an author like Dahl would actually go out of business.
Reading as a habit to be inculcated:
Even though Dahl was writing primarily for children, the message of this particular poem seems more intended for their parents than for them. Dahl believes that it is a parent's duty to inculcate the habit of reading in his or her children. Children might not know any better than watching television for hours, but parents do. In their hurry to get all their work finished, they ignore their children's long hours of television-watching. However, by putting their own convenience aside, they should introduce their children to the wonderful world of books.
In simple words: The poem explores themes such as the "Idiot Box," where television passively dumbs down viewers; the "Death of Imagination," as TV replaces creative thought with pre-made images; and "Reading as a Habit to be Inculcated," emphasizing parents' responsibility to foster reading over television for children's development.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing themes, clearly define each theme, provide a brief explanation, and link it back to specific ideas or phrases from the poem for stronger analytical support.

Question 2. How does Dahl compare the leisure activities of children in the past and their activities now.
Answer: The poem TELEVISION is, written by Roald Dahl, a British novelist, short story writer and a poet. It is taken from his collection ‘Revolting Rhymes' It is a stinging satire on Television. In this poem Roald Dahl points out how TV crushes the creativity and spontaneity of children. He laments that children do not read books any more. He reflects with nostalgia on olden days when children eagerly immersed themselves in books.
In the past reading was the main activity and hobby of children books would lie scattered in every nook and corner of the house. Children read books with enthusiasm and keen interest. They would be transported at once to a land of fantasy. Their imagination would be stimulated and their mind would be active.
With the advent of TV, however, a marked change can be seen in children. The child of today spends hours together in front of the ‘idiot box'. He does nothing else all day. He is fascinated by the meaningless entertainment that is churned out on TV. He loses the capacity to think. He behaves like a zombie, as though he Dahl believed that young people need to experience life to really grow and thrive. He was concerned that watching too-much television worked against actualizing a child's potential. .
In simple words: Dahl contrasts past children who were avid readers, engaging their imaginations in fantasy worlds, with present-day children who are passive TV watchers, losing their ability to think creatively and behaving like zombies.

🎯 Exam Tip: For comparative analysis, clearly delineate "past" and "present" activities, highlighting the benefits of the former and the drawbacks of the latter as presented by the poet.

Question 3. Dahl is annoyed that people - including children - watch too much television. Do you agree, or disagree? Why, or why not?
Answer: Yes I agree. Television dulls the senses and one behaves like a zombie. I share Roald Dahl's judgement about the television set & its morbid shows that are turning our young generation into zombies where thinking is concerned. Values, morals and ethics are thrown into the dustbin & bizarre information provided by the media is being constantly chewed & digested by children these days...and also by adults at times...if not all the time.
A person who watches television all day loses the capacity to think. Dahl believed that young people need to experience life to really grow and thrive. He was concerned that watching too-much television worked against actualizing a child's potential. Dahl believed that young people need to experience life to really grow and thrive. He was concerned that watching too-much television worked against actualizing a child's potential. Television hands them ready images. As a result, their imagination suffers and they later become sceptical in thinking that what they cannot see is not real.
In simple words: Yes, I agree with Dahl's annoyance, as excessive television dulls senses, inhibits critical thinking, and replaces active imagination with passive consumption of often-morbid or bizarre content, affecting both children and adults.

🎯 Exam Tip: When expressing agreement or disagreement, clearly state your stance and support it with multiple, distinct reasons drawn from the poem's arguments and your own related observations.

Question 4. Do you think Dahl is being extreme when he recommends that television sets should be tossed-out of our homes? Is there a balance which could be struck between watching television and reading books? What would that balance be?
Answer: Roald Dahl in this poem describes the way an adult can initiate the reading habit in children by throwing the television away! I would not go to that extreme but, I would certainly delimit television watching among children. According to Roald Dahl, by the installation of a book shelf with a lot of books, children in a few days time would definitely take the hint and start to read. I use the same method of suggestion by setting up a lot of books in the house which indirectly will influence their minds. Television has its uses. We can see the cultures and traditions of far away countries without visiting them. We learn about their habits, climate, traditions etc. But like all things watching television should be within limits. Other forms of entertainment like reading should also be encouraged. Reading helps to sharpen our sensibilities and improve our language skills and vocabulary. It enhances our creativity. So there should be a balance between watching television and reading.
In simple words: While Dahl's suggestion to discard TVs is extreme, a balance can be achieved by limiting TV time and promoting reading. TV offers educational benefits, but reading is crucial for imagination and language skills; therefore, both should be consumed in moderation.

🎯 Exam Tip: For multi-part questions, address each component directly. Acknowledge the extremity, propose a balanced solution, and justify both TV's limited utility and reading's essential benefits.

Question 5. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer: Roald Dahl follows the same simple rhyme scheme throughout this poem - AABB and so on in a series of rhyming couplets. Only on one occasion does he diverge from this when the end words of the lines rhyme in lines 31, 32 & 33.
In simple words: The poem primarily uses a simple AABB rhyme scheme, meaning consecutive lines rhyme, with only one brief deviation in lines 31, 32, and 33.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state the primary rhyme scheme and any exceptions, specifying the line numbers where the pattern changes for a precise answer.

Question 6. Explain the use of the rhetorical device like the apostrophe by the poet.
Answer: This rhetorical device is used when a poet addresses his or her poem to an absent audience. Dahl uses the device of apostrophe when he addresses his poem to English parents and advises them on doing away with their television sets.
In simple words: Dahl employs apostrophe, a rhetorical device, by directly addressing English parents in his poem, advising them to remove television sets from their homes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define the rhetorical device accurately and then provide a specific example from the poem to illustrate its application and purpose.

Question 7. How has Dahl used personification in his poem?
Answer: Dahl uses the device of personification in two cases - first, when he gives television the human ability to kill something, and second, when he gives ‘Imagination' the human ability to die at its hands.
In simple words: Dahl uses personification by attributing human actions to inanimate objects or abstract concepts: television is described as "killing" and imagination is depicted as "dying" at television's "hands."

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide clear, distinct examples from the text for each instance of personification identified, explaining how human qualities are assigned.

Question 8. Explain and analyse the use of hyperbole in the poem.
Answer: If we look at the expression rots, kills, dead, clogs, clutters, dull ad blind, as soft cheese, rust and freeze, they are full of negative connotation and exaggeration. They are there to emphasises the threat brought by television to the child's growth. It is not a matter of fact that the voice is talking about but the impacts of television are seen as negative as that expression. The word choices support the tone of anger, anxiety, even sarcastic of the voice. Consequently, they reveal the negative attitude of the voice towards television.
In simple words: Dahl uses hyperbole with exaggerated terms like "rots," "kills," and "clogs" to dramatically emphasize the severe, destructive threat television poses to children's minds, creating a tone of anger and sarcasm.

🎯 Exam Tip: List specific examples of hyperbolic language from the poem and explain how each exaggeration serves to intensify the poet's message and tone.

Question 9. How does the hyphen and font help to advance the theme?
Answer: The pause made by the hyphen gives a sense of hanging. It means to invite the readers to read and think at a certain pace. As a result, voice is able to make the up and down to the emotional effect and in the same time infiltrate the readers with a continuous meaning transfer.
Any type of font does not change the meaning of the words. But the font changing in the middle of a written will change the focus and the emphasis. Here, the poet uses capitalized word for all words in the line 25-33 in a row.
In simple words: Hyphens create pauses, encouraging readers to slow down and absorb the poem's emotional impact, while the use of capitalized words (specifically in lines 25-33) draws attention and adds strong emphasis to the poet's core message.

🎯 Exam Tip: Separate your analysis for each literary device. Explain the function of the hyphen (pause, emotional effect) and then the function of font changes (emphasis, focus) clearly.

Extra Questions

Question 1. Who is the we referred to in the first line?
Answer: The 'we' refers to the adults and the parents of the children who watch television continuously.
In simple words: The "we" in the first line refers to the adults and parents responsible for children who regularly watch television.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying pronouns, always provide the specific group or individuals they represent within the context of the poem.

Question 2. What is the advice of the poet? Is there any relevance of this advice to our present day?
Answer: The poet advices parents not to install the television or if installed to throw it away. Yes, it is relevant today as children have started watching television and given up reading.
In simple words: The poet advises parents to either avoid installing televisions or remove existing ones, an advice still relevant today due to children's increased screen time and decreased reading.

🎯 Exam Tip: Answer both parts of the question directly: first state the advice, then assess its contemporary relevance with a clear justification.

Question 3. When do eyes pop out?
Answer: Eyes pop out when the children stare continuously at the television and stare unblinkingly at it.
In simple words: The poet uses the hyperbolic phrase "eyes pop out" to describe children staring intensely and unblinkingly at the television for extended periods.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the figurative language (hyperbole) and link it to the literal action described in the poem, i.e., continuous, unblinking staring.

Question 4. Which figure of speech is used in the lines:
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
Answer: The poet has used hyperbole to exaggerate.
In simple words: The figure of speech used is hyperbole, which is an exaggeration for emphasis, implying an extreme effect of TV watching.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying a figure of speech, state its name and briefly explain how it applies to the given lines, noting its purpose (e.g., exaggeration).

Question 5. What are the advantages of reading mentioned by Dahl?
Answer: He states in his poem in a very unique fashion that before the television had come to pass, children used to spend their time reading quality books which he states in an indirect manner:
- Develops their imagination
- Sharpens their senses
- Transports them to the most wonderful places
- Allows them to spend their leisure time qualitatively.
In simple words: Dahl highlights that reading fosters imagination, sharpens senses, transports children to wondrous places, and ensures quality use of their leisure time.

🎯 Exam Tip: Present bulleted advantages clearly, using concise phrases that directly reflect the benefits described in the poem.

Question 6. Explain the phrase, that 'shocking ghastly junk'.
Answer: This phrase refers to all the useless, mind numbing visuals that the children watch on the television.
In simple words: The phrase "shocking ghastly junk" describes the worthless, mind-numbing content that children consume on television.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly define the phrase by explaining its components ('shocking', 'ghastly', 'junk') and relating them to the negative qualities of TV content.

Question 7. What is the activity referred to later in the poem, that sharpens their brains?
Answer: The activity of reading books sharpens the brains of the children.
In simple words: The poem refers to reading books as the activity that enhances children's cognitive abilities and sharpens their minds.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the specific activity mentioned by the poet as a cognitive enhancer and state it directly.

Question 8. Why has the poet used the expressions, ‘ Great Scott' and 'Gadzooks'?
Answer: Great Scott is an expression used to express shock and disbelief and Gadzooks means god's hooks or the nails on the cross and is a kind of oath. The poet wants to emphasize the importance of reading and the uselessness of watching television.
In simple words: The poet uses exclamations like 'Great Scott' and 'Gadzooks' to convey shock and emphasize the profound importance of reading versus the perceived uselessness of television.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the meaning of each expression and then combine them to show their collective purpose in highlighting the poet's message.

Question 9. What kinds of stories captivated the young minds in the past?
Answer: In the past children's minds were captivated by fairy tales, adventure stories, stories about magic and wonder and about voyages etc.
In simple words: Historically, children were captivated by stories encompassing fairy tales, adventures, magic, wonder, and voyages.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the genres of stories explicitly or implicitly mentioned in the poem that engaged children's minds in earlier times.

Question 10. Who was Beatrix Potter?
Answer: Beatrix Potter was a children-books author like Dahl. Potter's books were known for the use of animals as characters, and the various colourful illustrations.
In simple words: Beatrix Potter was a renowned children's author, similar to Dahl, celebrated for her books featuring animal characters and vibrant illustrations.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide a concise description of the individual, highlighting their key contributions or characteristics relevant to the poem's context.

Question 11. Whose dirty looks are referred to?
Answer: The poet refers to the angry looks of the children to their parents when they throw away the television sets.
In simple words: The "dirty looks" refer to the angry expressions children will give their parents for removing their television sets.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the characters involved (children, parents) and the emotional context of the "dirty looks" as described in the poem.

Question 12. What impression do you get of the children after reading the poem?
Answer: The impression one gets of the children is that they are spoil and rude and have no energy and zest left in them. They appear dull and stupid.
In simple words: After reading the poem, children are depicted as spoiled, rude, lacking energy and zest, and appearing dull and unintelligent due to television's influence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Summarize the negative traits and behaviors attributed to children by the poet, reflecting the impact of excessive TV viewing.

Question 13. Why is the poet so much against watching television? Give two reasons.
Answer: The poet is against watching television because it makes children devoid of creativity and imagination. And secondly, they start believing that only what they see in television is the reality.
In simple words: The poet opposes television because it stifles children's creativity and imagination, and makes them believe that only what they see on screen constitutes reality.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide two distinct and clear reasons, directly linking the poet's objections to specific negative impacts of television on children's development and perception.