Changing Times, My English Reader, Class VIII, DAV Board, The Best Solutions- A

Section – A

A.1. Do you want to know the ‘real you’? Check out what you would do in each of the following situations. Tick (✓) your choice. If you would do something  different, write your response in the space provided.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

(a) If your friends have planned a party your parents don’t approve of, you would—

not attend the party.

lie about it and attend.

keep pestering your parents till they are forced to say ‘yes’.

Answer –  keep pestering your parents till they are forced to say ‘yes’.

Or I would explain why the party is important and try to convince them respectfully.

(b) If you saw a classmate of yours cheating in an exam, you would—

ignore it.

tell the teacher.

talk to the classmate about it after the exam.

Answer – talk to the classmate about it after the exam.

I would try to understand why they did it and suggest not doing it again.

(c) If you saw an old lady standing at the end of a queue while you were right ahead, you would—

ignore the lady’s presence.

exchange places with her.

ask someone to stand in the queue for her.

Answer – exchange places with her.

It’s the polite and kind thing to do.

(d) If your friend gave you a T-shirt that was not of your liking, you would—

say something nice and put it in a closet when he/she has left.

say frankly that you didn’t like it.

say ‘thank you’ and wear it.

Answer – say ‘thank you’ and wear it.

It’s the thought that counts, and I wouldn’t want to hurt their feelings.

A.2. People you meet have different traits, some desirable and others undesirable. Read some of the traits given below and tick (✓) the ones you have heard of. Look up a dictionary to find the meaning of the others.

Traits in People –

Now write the words whose meanings are given below. Also list them as desirable or undesirable.

(a) One who shows politeness or honour to someone or something
 Answer – Respectful (Desirable)

(b) One who has the intelligence to form reasoned judgements
 Answer – Understanding (Desirable)

(c) One who is excessively fond of raising objections
 Answer – Argumentative (Undesirable)

(d) One who is willing to adapt
 Answer – Accommodating (Desirable)

(e) One who deliberately refuses to obey authority
 Answer – Defiant (Undesirable)

(f) One who possesses an exaggerated sense of self-importance
 Answer – Egotistical (Undesirable)

(g) One who is rough, unpleasant and often violent
 Answer – Brutish (Undesirable)

(h) One who shows a bias
 Answer – Biased (Undesirable)

(i) One who is easily upset by things people say or do
 Answer – Sensitive (Can be both Desirable/Undesirable depending on context)

(j) One who complies with an order or law
 Answer – Obedient (Desirable)

Sorted Traits

Desirable Traits

• Respectful
• Understanding
• Accommodating
• Obedient
• Sensitive (in the context of empathy)

Undesirable Traits

• Argumentative
• Defiant
• Egotistical
• Brutish
• Biased
• Sensitive (in the context of being overly reactive)

A.3. Let us now understand the contrasting points of view of the teenagers and of their parents. Read the dialogues between a counsellor and Pranoy and between the counsellor and Pranoy’s mother.

Summary – Give Me A Break

English Summary:

The story is about a troubled teenager, Pranoy, and the growing tension between him and his parents. Pranoy feels suffocated by their constant criticism and control. He seeks help from the school counsellor, expressing his frustration and emotional stress. His parents, especially his father, are strict and have high expectations, while his mother tries to mediate. At the parent-teacher meeting, the mother shares her side of the story, revealing the family’s financial struggles and Pranoy’s resistance to limits. The story highlights generation gaps, miscommunication, and the emotional struggles within families during adolescence.

हिंदी सारांश:

यह कहानी किशोर प्रणॉय और उसके माता-पिता के बीच बढ़ते तनाव की है। प्रणॉय को अपने माता-पिता की लगातार आलोचना और नियंत्रण से घुटन महसूस होती है। वह स्कूल की काउंसलर से मदद माँगता है और अपना दुख जाहिर करता है। उसके माता-पिता, विशेष रूप से पिता, बहुत सख्त हैं और उससे बहुत उम्मीदें रखते हैं, जबकि माँ मध्यस्थता करने की कोशिश करती है। पेरेंट-टीचर मीटिंग में माँ अपनी बात बताती हैं, जिससे परिवार की आर्थिक समस्याओं और प्रणॉय की सीमाएँ न मानने की प्रवृत्ति सामने आती है। यह कहानी पीढ़ी के अंतर, संवादहीनता और किशोरावस्था में पारिवारिक संघर्षों को दर्शाती है।

Word Meanings Table (English & Hindi)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Why did Pranoy visit the school counsellor?

a) He wanted to complain about his teachers.

b) He wanted her to talk to his parents. ✅

c) He was failing in exams.

d) He wanted to change schools.

2. What was Pranoy’s main complaint about his parents?

a) They gave him too much freedom.

b) They ignored him.

c) They constantly criticized and controlled him. ✅

d) They spent too much time with him.

3. How did Pranoy’s mother describe his behaviour?

a) Loving and obedient

b) Respectful and understanding

c) Defiant and disobedient ✅

d) Quiet and reserved

4. What did the counsellor suggest to Pranoy’s mother?

a) To ignore Pranoy’s behaviour

b) To give him more pocket money

c) To assert herself more ✅

d) To punish him strictly

5. What was the counsellor’s advice regarding comparison between siblings?

a) It helps children improve

b) It makes children more respectful

c) It may cause resentment and anger ✅

d) It teaches discipline

Short Questions and Answers

Q1: Who is Pranoy?

A: Pranoy is a student of Class XII who feels burdened and criticized at home.

Q2: What did Pranoy request the counsellor to do?

A: He asked the counsellor to speak to his parents because they were too critical and controlling.

Q3: What restrictions did Pranoy face at home?

A: He was forced to study for long hours, wasn’t allowed to meet friends freely, or use the landline.

Q4: How did Pranoy’s mother describe the situation at home?

A: She said that Pranoy was rebellious, had expensive demands, and behaved rudely with his father.

Q5: What role did the counsellor play in this story?A: The counsellor acted as a mediator to understand both sides and help bridge the communication gap between Pranoy and his parents.

A.4. Complete the following statements on the basis of your reading of the passage.

(a) Pranoy went to the counsellor because
he felt suffocated by his parents’ constant criticism and controlling behaviour and wanted her to talk to them.

(b) The cause of Pranoy’s anger and being upset was
his parents stopping him from doing things he liked and forcing him to do things he disliked.

(c) Pranoy thought his mother was better than his father because
she did not yell at him like his father did.

(d) However, she too added to Pranoy’s stress by
supporting his father’s views and not understanding his perspective.

(e) Pranoy’s friends added to the misery of his parents because
they were rich and Pranoy tried to match their lifestyle, which his family couldn’t afford.

(f) Things were difficult for Pranoy’s mother because she had to face both his
demands and his father’s taunts.

(g) The mother thought Pranoy misused the facilities given to him. This is evident from the fact that
he exhausted his mobile balance quickly and then overused the landline.

(h) ‘My poor girls’ is what Pranoy’s mother felt for her daughters. She felt so because
they made no demands, stayed out of conflict, and bore the consequences of Pranoy’s behaviour.

A.5. Complete the table taking information from the conversation. Produce evidence from the text.

A.6. HOTS

Suppose you come across a child grappling with a situation similar to that of Pranoy and decide to extend the best possible help to them. How would you go about mentoring them in such a scenario?

If I met a child like Pranoy, I would first listen to them without judgment. I’d make them feel safe and heard. I would help them express their emotions in healthy ways and guide them to understand their parents’ perspective too. I would encourage open, respectful conversations at home and maybe suggest joint counselling with parents. I’d mentor them to focus on time management, balanced friendships, and channeling frustration into hobbies or study routines. The goal would be to rebuild trust and communication between the child and parents.

A.7. Life Skills

‘He has also got a set of high-flying friends, who have a lot of money to

spend. My son tries to keep up with the same standard, ……………. .’ laments Pranoy’s mother.

Peer influence or peer pressure is part and parcel of growing up and can be daunting to deal with. Constant comparisons by parents and teachers along with the desire to ‘fit in’ make children imitate the actions, ambitions and lifestyle of certain peers.

Answer – Peer pressure can be positive or negative. To handle it:

• Build self-confidence so children don’t feel inferior.
• Teach them values and priorities early on.
• Encourage open communication so they can talk about what they face.
• Teach critical thinking – that not everything others do is right or necessary.
• Set realistic expectations and avoid comparing them with others.
• Emphasize that self-worth isn’t based on money or status, but on character and values.

A.8. Values – Pranoy’s mother had a hard time keeping up with the incessant and unreasonable demands of her teenaged son. She could no longer cope with his ‘defiant’ and ‘disrespectful’ disposition.

Do you also think that Pranoy is defiant and disrespectful? How would you have behaved had you been in Pranoy’s position?

Answer – Yes, Pranoy may appear defiant and disrespectful, but it is a reaction to being misunderstood and over-controlled. If I were in Pranoy’s position, I would try to express my concerns calmly, maybe through a letter or quiet conversation. I would also try to understand my parents’ worries and strike a balance between freedom and responsibility. Respectful dialogue, not rebellion, is the better path.

A.9. The following extracts from ‘Give Me a Break’ have some words that are probably unfamiliar to you. Do not look up these words in a dictionary. Instead, ‘puzzle out’ the meanings with the help of clues/other words or phrases in the extract. One has been done for you as an example. Consult a dictionary later to check whether you are right or wrong.

(a) He has also got a set of high-flying friends, who have a lot of money to spend. My son tries to keep up the same standard, which is not possible because we are not that affluent.

Possible meaning               : rich

Clue(s)                                : have a lot of money to spend

What the dictionary says  : rich

(b) They are so critical about everything that living at home is like hell. They are impossible. According to them, I don’t do anything right. For God’s sake, give me a break.

Possible meaning          : constantly fault-finding
Clue(s)                           : “They are so critical about everything”
What the dictionary says: expressing adverse or disapproving comments

(c) Possible meaning     : luxuries or unnecessary expenses
Clue(s)                           : “cut down… undue expenditure”
What the dictionary says: excessive or unnecessary spending

(d) Possible meaning    : not affected by or doesn’t care
Clue(s)                           : “He is immune to things beyond himself”
What the dictionary says: not affected or influenced by

(e) Possible meaning    : preferential treatment
Clue(s)                           : “real or imagined partiality”
What the dictionary says: unfair favouritism

A.10. Given below are some phrases from the text. Use them in sentences of your own.

(a) To be a buffer between: My elder sister tries to be a buffer between my parents when they argue.
(b) To be immune to things: She is immune to criticism and keeps doing her best.
(c) To make some headway: After months of therapy, he finally made some headway in managing his anger.
(d) To be at the end of one’s tether: After working 12 hours a day without results, I was at the end of my tether.

A.11. Imagine that you are the counsellor. Charu, a student of Class-VIII, is undergoing a lot of stress because at home she is being constantly compared with her brother. Write a letter to Charu’s father to be more sensitive towards Charu’s feelings. Use some of the points that emerge from the discussion in A.7.

Letter from the Counsellor to Charu’s Father

DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, BOLANI
Date: 00.00.0000

To,
Mr. Avinash Ranjan Gupta
Vastu Vihar, Barbil

Subject: Regarding Emotional Well-being of Charu

Dear Mr. Gupta,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to draw your kind attention towards the emotional well-being of your daughter, Charu, a student of Class VIII.

Charu has recently shown signs of emotional distress due to constant comparison with her elder brother. While we understand that parents often do this to motivate children, such comparisons can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and a feeling of being unvalued.

We request you to consider the following:

• Appreciate Charu’s individual strengths and efforts, rather than comparing her.
• Encourage her by recognizing her unique qualities.
• Spend time understanding her feelings and support her in her areas of interest.
• Avoid comparisons, as they often create resentment and pressure.

Charu is a bright and capable student. With a little emotional support at home, she can truly blossom. We are always here to partner with you in ensuring her overall development.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Warm regards,
Sunidhi Kar
School Counsellor