Reading B
Excuses, Excuses and Excuses
Comprehension
1) Write against each statement whether it is true or false and give reasons for your opinion.
i) Beinkensopp had four grandmothers, all of them were dead.
False
ii) Beinkensopp’s hand was aching and that is why he did not iron the uniform.
True
iii. Beinkensopp was afraid of the Maths test so he made an excuse.
True
iii) Beinkensopp did not like physical education and that is why he was always late.
True
iv) The teacher believed that Beinkensopp was telling the truth about his grandmother.
False
2) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the brackets.
i) As Beinkensopp walked into class, the teacher said, ‘Late again, Beinkensopp?’ The use of the word ‘again’ shows that the teacher was annoyed(surprised/annoyed/ disappointed) with Beinkensopp.
ii) Beinkensopp said that his grandmother was ‘seriously dead’ when his teacher asked him why he was late to school. This means that he wanted the teacher to believe (punish/ believe/ excuse) him.
iii. The teacher remarked, ‘that makes four grandmothers this term’. This means that Beinkensopp had been late four times (had four grandmothers/ had been late four times/ had four excuses)
iv) Beinkensopp couldn’t iron his shirt because he had a bad hand. Bad hand means he ironed badly (he was injured/ he ironed badly/ he had dirty hands)
v) Beinkensopp’s teacher asked him, ‘What’s your excuse this time?’ This means that he believed that Beinkensopp was fooling him (telling the truth/ fooling him/ diverting attention).
3) In the table given below write the excuses that Beinkensopp gives and the work that he wants to avoid. Also think why he could be avoiding the work.
| Excuses given by Beinkensopp | Why is he giving excuses? |
| Death of his grandmother | To avoid PE |
| Dentist’s visit | To avoid maths test |
| Forgot the kit | To avoid PE |
| Bad hand | To avoid ironing the kit |
Vocabulary –
1) ‘Upsetting’ is a word used by Beinkensopp to explain his situation. Give three more words to describe the feelings of Beinkensopp and his teacher.
Answer: Missed, Bad hand, seriously
2) Read the following lines of the poem
Whose fault is it then?
Grandma’s, sir
Grandma’s? What did she do?
She died sir.
Died?
The responses in the conversation are rhetoric. for Eg.: The word ‘Grandma’s’ is used
instead of ‘It is Grandma’s fault, sir’.
Find out such other expressions used in the poem.
No kit sir.
Where is it?
Home sir.
What is it doing at home?
Not ironed sir.
Couldn’t you iron it?
Can’t sir.
Why not?
Bad hand sir.
Who usually does it?
Grandma, sir
Why couldn’t she do it?
Dead sir.