Section D
Summary In English: Braving The Odds
The narrator, a school teacher, decides to quit her job after ten years due to overwhelming stress and emotional burnout. Though others criticize her decision, she feels she can no longer cope with disruptive students, changing teaching methods, and a lack of discipline. She describes how children have changed over the years — becoming inattentive, disrespectful, and distracted by media and poor diets. Despite her love for teaching and children, the toxic environment and emotional toll become unbearable. Eventually, she concludes that it’s time to step away from a profession she once cherished.
हिंदी में सारांश
लेखिका, जो एक स्कूल टीचर हैं, दस साल तक पढ़ाने के बाद नौकरी छोड़ने का निर्णय लेती हैं। हालाँकि परिवार और दोस्त उनके फैसले की आलोचना करते हैं, लेकिन वह मानसिक तनाव और बच्चों के अनुशासनहीन व्यवहार से थक चुकी हैं। बच्चों में अब वह आदर और सीखने की इच्छा नहीं बची है। बदलते समय, खराब खानपान, वीडियो और टीवी की लत ने उन्हें चंचल और असभ्य बना दिया है। लेखिका मानती हैं कि वह अब पढ़ाने की मूल स्थिति तक नहीं पहुँच पा रही हैं और इसी कारण वह नौकरी छोड़ने का कठिन लेकिन जरूरी फैसला लेती हैं।
Word Meanings Table (English–Hindi)
Word/Phrase | Meaning (English) | अर्थ (हिंदी में) |
Braving the odds | Facing difficult situations | कठिन परिस्थितियों का सामना करना |
Concealed | Hidden | छुपा हुआ |
Tranquilizers | Calming medicines | तनाव को कम करने वाली दवाइयाँ |
Recapitulation | Rest and recovery | विश्राम और स्वास्थ्य लाभ |
Self-critical | Harsh on oneself | आत्म आलोचनात्मक |
Patchy | Inconsistent or uneven | अस्थिर या असंगत |
Over-stimulated | Excessively excited | अधिक उत्तेजित |
Giggle | Laugh in a silly way | धीमे में हँसना |
Remonstrate | Protest or argue | विरोध करना |
Sniggering | Laughing disrespectfully | उपहासपूर्वक हँसना |
Redress | Remedy or solution | समाधान |
Detention | Punishment where students stay after school | स्कूल के बाद रुकने की सजा |
Appalled | Shocked and dismayed | स्तब्ध और विचलित |
Assert | To state or act with confidence | जोर देना या आत्मविश्वास से कहना |
Chaos | Complete disorder | अराजकता |
Yelling | Shouting loudly | चिल्लाना |
Bewildered | Confused | उलझन में |
Burnout | Mental and emotional exhaustion | मानसिक और भावनात्मक थकावट |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Why did the teacher decide to quit her job?
a) She wanted to pursue another career
b) She was bored of teaching
c) She was emotionally and mentally exhausted
d) She didn’t like her subject
Answer: c) She was emotionally and mentally exhausted
- What was a major change the teacher noticed in students over the years?
a) They became smarter
b) They became more respectful
c) They became more disciplined
d) They became inattentive and unruly
Answer: d) They became inattentive and unruly
- What was the only form of punishment mentioned in the text?
a) Suspension
b) Fines
c) Detention
d) Expulsion
Answer: c) Detention
- Which student had a difficult home situation?
a) Jeremy
b) Donna
c) Simon
d) James
Answer: c) Simon
Short Questions and Answers
Q1. Why did the narrator feel she was no longer ‘managing’?
A: The narrator felt she was no longer managing because her classes were noisy, students were uninterested, and she had lost her enthusiasm for teaching.
Q2. How did students behave in her class?
A: Students were disruptive, inattentive, and often disrespectful. Some were more interested in magazines or jokes than in learning.
Q3. What kind of issues did the students face at home?
A: Many students faced problems like broken families, poor diet, lack of sleep, and emotional neglect, which affected their behaviour in school.
Q4. Why did the narrator start taking tranquilizers?
A: She started taking tranquilizers to cope with the stress and anxiety caused by her job.
Q5. What change did the teacher observe over the ten years of her teaching?
A: Over ten years, the teacher observed a decline in students’ behaviour, discipline, and interest in learning.
Q6. Describe the morning feeling of the teacher.
A: She would wake up fearful, with a pounding heart and frozen expression, dreading the day ahead.