Relationship, My English Reader, Class VII, DAV Board, The Best Solutions – A

Section – A

A.1. Read the following clipping.

Answer –  Read the clipping carefully.

A.2. List four relationships that you value the most and explain why.

(a) Parents – They provide unconditional love, support, and guidance throughout life.

(b) Friends – They offer companionship, share in both joy and sorrow, and help me grow emotionally and socially.

(c) Teachers – They play a vital role in shaping my knowledge, skills, and character.

(d) Siblings – They are lifelong companions who understand me well and stand by me in all situations.

A.3. Summary In English : The Wonder Of Grandparents

The passage highlights the vital role grandparents play in the emotional and social development of children. They provide warmth, encouragement, wisdom, and a sense of belonging. Grandparents help children connect with their family history, heritage, and human identity. In today’s fast-paced life, they offer stability, time, and a calm presence. Modern grandparents are not just caretakers but are active, intelligent, and engaged in diverse activities. Their interaction with children teaches both generations valuable life lessons. The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is one of unconditional love and mutual respect, offering emotional security and joy to both.

In Hindi

यह गद्यांश दादा-दादी और नाना-नानी की बच्चों के जीवन में महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका को दर्शाता है। वे बच्चों को स्नेह, प्रोत्साहन, ज्ञान और अपनापन देते हैं। वे बच्चों को पारिवारिक इतिहास और विरासत से जोड़ते हैं। आज के व्यस्त जीवन में वे स्थिरता और शांति प्रदान करते हैं। आज के दादा-दादी सक्रिय, बुद्धिमान और कई गतिविधियों में लगे होते हैं। बच्चों के साथ उनका मेलजोल दोनों पीढ़ियों को एक-दूसरे को समझने का अवसर देता है। यह रिश्ता निस्वार्थ प्रेम और आपसी सम्मान पर आधारित होता है, जो दोनों को भावनात्मक सुरक्षा और खुशी प्रदान करता है।

Word Meanings Table

MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

1. What kind of bond do grandparents share with their grandchildren?
   a) Business bond
   b) Emotional bond
   c) Professional bond
   d) Formal bond
   Answer: b) Emotional bond
2. How are today’s grandparents different from earlier generations?
   a) They are more dependent
   b) They live alone
   c) They are active and knowledgeable
   d) They avoid technology
   Answer: c) They are active and knowledgeable
3. What do grandparents help children connect with?
   a) Career options
   b) Fashion trends
   c) Family history and heritage
   d) Only entertainment
   Answer: c) Family history and heritage
4. According to the passage, the relationship with grandparents is based on:
   a) Fear and obedience
   b) Respect for authority
   c) Unconditional love
   d) Formal values
   Answer: c) Unconditional love

Short Questions and Answers

1. Q: Why are grandparents considered important in a child’s life?
   A: Grandparents provide warmth, support, wisdom, and a sense of emotional security to children. They are a stable presence and offer unconditional love.
2. Q: What changes have occurred in grandparenting today?
   A: Modern grandparents are more active, involved, knowledgeable, and lead energetic lives compared to the traditional image of elderly caregivers.
3. Q: How does interaction between the young and the old benefit both?
   A: It helps break stereotypes, increases understanding, builds respect, and allows both to learn from each other’s experiences.
4. Q: What role do grandparents play in teaching about heritage?
   A: They share stories, values, and experiences that connect children to their cultural roots and history.

A.4. The author says, ‘Grandparents bring warmth and affection to family life.’ On the basis of your reading of the above passage, list at least six ways in which grandparents bring joy to the family.

1. They are cheerleaders, offering praise and encouragement.
2. They provide wisdom and guidance from their life experiences.
3. They offer emotional support and unconditional love.
4. They give a sense of history and identity, connecting children to their roots.
5. They provide stability in today’s fast-paced family life.
6. They set a positive example of aging gracefully and living actively.

A.5. Complete the Following Statements

(a) The grandparent-grandchild relationship is the second most important emotional relationship, the most important emotional relationship being between parents and children.

(b) List two extracts from the passage that tell that grandparents also provide knowledge to their grandchildren.
(i) “They also have the opportunity to share their wisdom and wealth of experience with their grandchildren.”
(ii) “They can tell of changes in medicine, technology and community.”

(c) Modern children need the companionship of their grandparents more than ever because they offer calm, stability, and attention in a fast-moving world where parents are often too busy.

(d) It is good for the children to observe the elderly people living actively because they learn to age gracefully instead of fearing aging.

(e) Interaction between the elderly people and the youngsters is beneficial for both. While the youngsters understand the elders’ human attributes, the elders get to know the goodness of the young.

A.6. HOTS

(a) A dual income family is the one in which both husband and wife work outside the home to earn, and support the family financially. This trend is fast gaining ground in India. It has its own pros and cons. Enlist a few in the space given below:

(b) How has the role of grandparents become all the more important in the families in which both parents are working?

• Grandparents provide emotional support and care to children.
• They help with child-rearing in the absence of parents.
• They share stories and traditions, preserving family culture.
• They offer a stable and loving environment.
• Their presence reduces the emotional gap caused by busy schedules of working parents.

A.7. Values

‘Grandparents are cheerleaders in life.’ But with emerging socialising trends, the young generation tends to ignore the elderly. They spend most of their time on phones, tabs and laptops.

(a) As a grandchild what are your responsibilities towards your grandparents?

• Spending quality time with them.
• Listening to their stories and learning from them.
• Helping them with daily tasks or errands.
• Respecting and caring for them.
• Showing appreciation and love regularly.

(b) How can I fulfil these responsibilities?

• Visit them regularly or call them often.
• Teach them how to use technology to stay connected.
• Include them in family activities.
• Help with their medicines, doctor visits, or grocery shopping.
• Celebrate occasions like birthdays and anniversaries with them.

A.8. Find the words from the text which mean the same as the ones given in the clues and complete the following puzzle.

Across
4 – To long for → crave
5 – To give, to confer → bestow

Down
1 – Delicate, weak → frail
2 – Frightening → scary
3 – What we get from the past → heritage

A.9. In para 3, the author says, ‘They (grandparents) can tell of changes in medicine, technology and community.’

(a) Work in groups of four and prepare a questionnaire to interview your grandparents about the changes in life and society that they have seen. You may concentrate on the following aspects:

1. How was the food you ate in your childhood different from what we eat now?
2. What kind of clothes did people wear in your time?
3. Were there any special customs or traditions you followed regularly?
4. What professions were considered respectable or popular in your youth?
5. How did people get medical treatment when they were sick?
6. What kind of technology was available when you were young?

(b) After the interview, you should fill in the following table

Comparison Table:

A.10. You are Manu, who reads the following newspaper clipping about nuclear families. Taking hints from the passage ‘The Wonder of Grandparents’ and using your own ideas, write a letter to the Editor of the Voice of Humanity, highlighting the importance of living with grandparents and other relatives in a joint family.

24, Vasant Apartments
New Delhi
January 5, 20XX

The Editor
Voice of Humanity
New Delhi

Subject: Importance of Joint Family System and Role of Grandparents

Sir,
Urban people’s growing inclination towards nuclear families has become a major cause of concern. This shift, inspired by western culture, is leading to the weakening of family bonds and neglect of elderly family members.

Joint families offer emotional support, cultural values, and moral guidance. Grandparents, in particular, provide unconditional love, wisdom, and stability to children. In today’s fast-paced life, their role has become even more crucial. They share real-life experiences, instil values, and offer a calm presence amidst busy schedules.

To ensure well-rounded upbringing and emotional security, we must encourage joint families and active involvement of grandparents in daily life.

Yours truly,
Manu