Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

I find something quite confusing in all this. That is, no one ever explains to me, why sometimes I shouldn't repeat somethings I say.

1. Who is the ‘I’ here? What is confusing to her? (Understanding and Analysis)
2. hat is the narrator forbidden to do? Who forbids her? (Analysis)
3. What surprising thing or habit of the elders is referred to here? (Analysis)
4. How, according to the narrator, do the elders behave about the follies or foibles of the youngsters? (Understanding)
5. What does the narrator think about the grown-ups? (Understanding)

Answer 1

1. The ‘I’ is Adjoa, the seven-year-old narrator. She is confused because the adults sometimes tell her not to repeat certain things she says, but they never explain why she should not repeat them.
2. Adjoa is forbidden from repeating certain things she says. The adults, particularly her grandmother Nana and other elders, discourage her from repeating such remarks because they may consider them inappropriate or amusing.
3. The narrator refers to the habit of adults laughing at or making fun of the things children say. They sometimes treat children’s innocent observations as funny instead of explaining things to them seriously.
4. The elders tend to laugh at the mistakes, innocent remarks, or unusual behaviour of youngsters. Instead of patiently explaining things, they sometimes make the child feel embarrassed or discourage them from speaking freely.
5. Adjoa thinks that grown-ups can be confusing and difficult to understand. She feels that they often expect children to follow rules without explaining the reasons behind them.