Chapter – 01, How Daddy Decided What He Wanted to Be, Class VI, English Literature, Dav Board, The Best Solutions.

Pre-reading Task

1. What is your father’s profession?

Answer – My father is a service man.

2. What profession would you like to choose?

Answer – I would like to become a teacher.

3. What is the reason for your choice?

Answer – I want to become a teacher because I enjoy helping others learn and grow.

Word Meaning

Summary in English

The story tells us how Daddy, when he was little, kept changing his mind about what he wanted to be when he grew up. At first, he wanted to be a nightwatchman, then an ice-cream man, and later a shunter. He even wanted to be a pilot, an actor, a turner, a sailor, and a shepherd. When an officer asked him why he wanted to be a dog, Daddy felt ashamed and realized he was too young to decide. He finally decided that the best thing was to be a good human being, which is more important than any profession. Being good is essential, whether you are a pilot, a shepherd, or an ice-cream man.

हिंदी में सारांश (Summary in Hindi)

यह कहानी बताती है कि जब डैडी (पिताजी) छोटे थे, तब वे बार-बार बदलते रहते थे कि वे बड़े होकर क्या बनना चाहते हैं। पहले वे नाईटवॉचमैन बनना चाहते थे, फिर आइसक्रीम मैन, फिर शंटर। उन्होंने पायलट, अभिनेता, टर्नर, नाविक और गड़ेरिया बनने की भी इच्छा जताई। जब एक अधिकारी ने उनसे पूछा कि वे कुत्ता क्यों बनना चाहते हैं, तो डैडी को शर्मिंदगी महसूस हुई और उन्होंने समझा कि वे अभी बहुत छोटे हैं और उन्हें यह तय नहीं करना चाहिए। अंत में उन्होंने निर्णय लिया कि सबसे अच्छा है एक अच्छा इंसान बनना, जो किसी भी पेशे से ज़्यादा महत्त्वपूर्ण है। अच्छा होना जरूरी है, चाहे आप पायलट हों, गड़ेरिया हों या आइसक्रीम मैन।

Understanding the Story

A. Little Daddy wanted to pursue various professions. Complete the table below citing one reason for his choice of these professions:

Answer –

B. Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Why did Daddy want to be a nightwatchman?

Answer – Daddy wanted to be a nightwatchman because he liked the idea of being awake while everyone else was asleep and making noise during the quiet night.

2. What was Daddy’s plea in favour of being an ice-cream seller? How did his parents react to it?

Answer – Daddy said he would eat a stick of ice-cream for every one he sold and treat children for free. His parents were surprised and found it funny.

3. What efforts did Daddy put in to be a dog?

Answer – Daddy tried very hard to behave like a dog by going outside and sitting next to Rover to learn quickly.

4. Why was Daddy ashamed of himself after meeting the officer?

Answer – The officer made Daddy realize that changing his mind all the time was childish and that he should think seriously about what he wanted to be.

5. What did Daddy finally decide to be when he grew up?

Answer – Daddy finally decided that the best thing to be was a good human being.

C. Little Daddy thought—

✹ if he were a nightwatchman, he would keep awake all night and make a noise.

Answer – Because he liked the idea of being active when everyone else was asleep.

✹ if he were an ice-cream seller, he would eat all the ice-cream he wanted to.

Answer – He thought it would be a tasty and fun way to be grown-up.

✹ if he were a shunter, he would jump on to the platforms and crawl under the cars.

Answer – Because he found the work interesting and exciting.

Think about yourself.

1. If you were an architect, you would

Answer – Design beautiful buildings and create spaces where people can live and work comfortably.

2. If detective,

Answer – Solve mysteries and help people by finding the truth behind crimes.

3. If cricketer,

Answer – Play in matches, practice hard, and try to represent my country.

4. If mariner,

Answer – Navigate ships across oceans and explore new places.

5. If dress designer,

Answer – Create new fashion styles and design clothes for people.

HOTS

Why do little children keep changing their mind every now and then?

Answer – Because they are still learning about themselves and the world, and their interests and understanding keep growing and changing.

Life Skills

1. Discuss with your partner what is the right age to decide what you wish to be when you grow up. What are the advantages of making an early decision?

Answer – The right age varies, but making a decision in late adolescence can be helpful. Early decisions allow one to focus on learning the necessary skills and prepare well for the future career.

1. Is it practically possible (or even desirable) to practise two or three professions simultaneously? Discuss.

Answer – It can be challenging to practice multiple professions at once due to time and focus requirements. However, some related professions can be combined if managed well.

Values

‘First of all, you should be a good human being.’ What according to you should be the  

traits of a good human being?

Answer – A good human being should be honest, kind, responsible, respectful, helpful, and compassionate towards others.

Writing Skills

After meeting the officer, Daddy feels ashamed of himself. He makes a resolution.  

Imagine yourself to be Daddy and write a dairy entry expressing your feelings.

Answer – Diary Entry (As Daddy):

Date – 00.00.0000

Time : 09:30 PM

Today, I felt ashamed after meeting the officer. He made me realize that changing my mind so often was not right. I understood that I need to think carefully about what I want to be and most importantly, to be a good human being. From now on, I will try to be more thoughtful and responsible in my decisions.

Signature

Additional Questions and Answers – 01

MCQ Questions

1. What was little Daddy’s first choice of profession?
   a) Ice-cream man
   b) Nightwatchman
   c) Shunter
   d) Shepherd
   Answer: b) Nightwatchman
2. Why did Daddy want to be an ice-cream man?
   a) To make money
   b) To eat ice-cream whenever he wanted
   c) To travel the world
   d) To wear a uniform
   Answer: b) To eat ice-cream whenever he wanted
3. Who convinced Daddy to stop changing his mind?
   a) His parents
   b) His teacher
   c) An officer
   d) His brother
   Answer: c) An officer
4. What did Daddy finally decide to be?
   a) A pilot
   b) A shepherd
   c) A good human being
   d) A dog
   Answer: c) A good human being
5. What profession did Daddy find interesting at the railway station?
   a) Driver
   b) Shunter
   c) Ticket collector
   d) Conductor
   Answer: b) Shunter

Short Questions and Answers

1. What did Daddy like about being a nightwatchman?
   Answer – He liked the idea of being awake when everyone else was asleep.
2. Why did Daddy’s parents laugh at his plan to sell ice-cream?
   Answer – Because they found it funny that he wanted to eat all the ice-cream and give some free.
3. How did Daddy plan to combine two professions?
   Answer – He wanted to sell ice-cream in the morning and shunt railway cars in between.
4. What did the officer ask Daddy when he saw him acting like a dog?
   Answer – The officer asked why he wanted to be a dog and if he wanted to remain human.
5. Why was Daddy ashamed after meeting the officer?
   Answer – Because he realized he was changing his mind too often and needed to be serious.

Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion)

1. Assertion: Daddy wanted to be a shunter because he liked moving railway cars.
   Reason: Daddy thought it was the most interesting job he had seen.
   Answer: Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason explains Assertion.
2. Assertion: Daddy was confident about what he wanted to be from the start.
   Reason: He never changed his mind once he chose a profession.
   Answer: Assertion is false, Reason is false.
3. Assertion: Daddy wanted to be a dog to learn more quickly.
   Reason: He believed dogs are smarter than humans.
   Answer: Assertion is true, Reason is false.
4. Assertion: Daddy decided to be a good human being in the end.
   Reason: Being human is the foundation for all other professions.
   Answer: Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason explains Assertion.
5. Assertion: Daddy thought selling ice-cream was easy because he could eat it all.
   Reason: He believed eating ice-cream would make him happy.
   Answer: Assertion is true, Reason is true, but Reason does not explain Assertion fully.

Long Questions and Answers (50-60 words)

1. Why did little Daddy keep changing his mind about his future profession?
   Answer – Little Daddy kept changing his mind because he was exploring different interests and didn’t yet understand what he truly wanted. Each profession seemed exciting or fun at first. However, after meeting the officer, he realized he needed to think seriously and be a good human being first.
2. Explain Daddy’s plan to combine being a shunter and an ice-cream man.
   Answer – Daddy wanted to sell ice-cream in the mornings and afternoons and work as a shunter in between. He planned to park his ice-cream cart near the railway station so he could easily switch between the two jobs without wasting time, showing his enthusiasm for both professions.
3. What lesson did Daddy learn after talking to the officer?
   Answer – Daddy learned that it is not good to keep changing decisions about what to be in the future. The officer made him realize that being thoughtful and serious is important. Ultimately, he understood that being a good human being is the most important goal in life.
4. Describe the different professions Daddy wanted to try and why.
   Answer – Daddy wanted to be a nightwatchman to stay awake at night, an ice-cream man to enjoy ice-cream, a shunter because moving trains looked exciting, a shepherd to spend time outdoors with animals, and even a dog to learn from it. Each choice reflected his curiosity and imagination as a child.
5. What qualities make being a good human being the best choice for a profession?
   Answer – Being a good human being means being kind, honest, responsible, and respectful. These qualities are the foundation for success in any profession. They help build trust, form good relationships, and guide one to do the right thing, making it the best choice to live a meaningful life.

Additional Questions and Answers – 02

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What did little Daddy like about the nightwatchman’s job?
   a) Earning a high salary
   b) Making noise while others slept
   c) Working during the day
   d) Guarding treasures
   Answer: b) Making noise while others slept
2. What colour was the ice-cream man’s cart that attracted little Daddy?
   a) Red
   b) Blue
   c) Green
   d) Yellow
   Answer: c) Green
3. What did little Daddy plan to do for children as an ice-cream man?
   a) Teach them games
   b) Give them free ice-cream
   c) Sell them toys
   d) Tell them stories
   Answer: b) Give them free ice-cream
4. What profession did little Daddy consider after visiting a factory with Grandpa?
   a) Sailor
   b) Turner
   c) Pilot
   d) Shepherd
   Answer: b) Turner
5. What activity did little Daddy associate with being a shepherd?
   a) Sailing ships
   b) Cracking a whip
   c) Flying planes
   d) Selling ice-cream
   Answer: b) Cracking a whip
6. What inspired little Daddy to want to be a dog?
   a) A dog’s loyalty
   b) Rover scratching behind his ear
   c) A dog’s strength
   d) Playing with other dogs
   Answer: b) Rover scratching behind his ear
7. How did little Daddy react when people laughed at his dual career plan?
   a) He gave up his dreams
   b) He added nightwatchman to his plans
   c) He cried
   d) He ignored them
   Answer: b) He added nightwatchman to his plans
8. What did the officer imply about being human?
   a) It requires specific skills
   b) It is less important than being a dog
   c) It is the foundation of all roles
   d) It is easy to achieve
   Answer: c) It is the foundation of all roles
9. Why did little Daddy feel ashamed after the officer’s question?
   a) He was mocked publicly
   b) He realized his ambitions were childish
   c) He couldn’t answer the question
   d) He failed to imitate Rover
   Answer: b) He realized his ambitions were childish
10. What made little Daddy’s final answer meaningful?
    a) It was unique
    b) It applied to all professions
    c) It was humorous
    d) It impressed his parents
    Answer: b) It applied to all professions

Short Questions and Answers

1. Q: What was little Daddy’s first career choice?
   A: Nightwatchman.
2. Q: What did little Daddy like about the ice-cream cart?
   A: Its bright green color.
3. Q: What did little Daddy see the shunter doing?
   A: Shunting railway cars and locomotives.
4. Q: Why did people laugh at little Daddy’s plans?
   A: He wanted to combine being a shunter and ice-cream man.
5. Q: What job did little Daddy consider after wanting to be a pilot?
   A: Actor.
6. Q: What animal inspired little Daddy to want to be a dog?
   A: Rover.
7. Q: What did little Daddy try to learn from Rover?
   A: To scratch behind his ear with his foot.
8. Q: Who made little Daddy reflect on being human?
   A: An officer.
9. Q: What was little Daddy’s final career aspiration?
   A: To be a human being.
10. Q: Why didn’t people laugh at little Daddy’s final answer?
    A: It was meaningful and universal.

Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion)

1. Assertion (A): Little Daddy’s desire to be a nightwatchman showed his love for authority.
   Reasoning (R): He was attracted to making noise while others slept, indicating a sense of control.
   Answer: A is false, R is true. His desire was about the unique role of being active at night, not authority.
2. Assertion (A): The officer’s question was pivotal in shaping little Daddy’s final aspiration.
   Reasoning (R): It prompted him to reflect and realize the importance of being a good human being.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R explains A. The question led to his mature realization.
3. Assertion (A): Little Daddy’s plan to combine careers was impractical.
   Reasoning (R): Alternating between shunting trains and selling ice-cream was logistically challenging.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R explains A. The plan was imaginative but unrealistic.
4. Assertion (A): Little Daddy’s attempt to be a dog was a serious ambition.
   Reasoning (R): It was a childish whim inspired by observing Rover’s behaviour.
   Answer: A is false, R is true. His attempt was a fleeting, playful idea, not a serious goal.
5. Assertion (A): Little Daddy’s final answer reflected his maturity.
   Reasoning (R): He understood that being a good human being was foundational to any profession.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R explains A. His answer showed growth in understanding.

Long Questions and Answers

1. Q: How did little Daddy’s fascination with the ice-cream man reflect his childhood perspective?
   A: Little Daddy’s fascination with the ice-cream man, driven by the bright green cart and the prospect of eating free ice-cream, reflected his childhood innocence and focus on immediate pleasures. His plan to treat children to free ice-cream showed a generous, albeit naive, perspective, prioritizing enjoyment and kindness over practical considerations, typical of a young child’s imagination. (58 words)
2. Q: Why did little Daddy’s plan to combine being a shunter and ice-cream man amuse others?
   A: Little Daddy’s plan to alternate between shunting trains and selling ice-cream, with his cart parked near the station, amused others due to its impracticality and childlike logic. The ambitious yet unrealistic idea of juggling two demanding jobs highlighted his naive enthusiasm, leading to laughter from those who saw the logistical challenges he overlooked. (57 words)
3. Q: How did the officer’s interaction influence little Daddy’s understanding of his aspirations?
   A: The officer’s serious question about remaining human prompted little Daddy to feel ashamed of his whimsical desire to be a dog. It sparked deep reflection, leading him to realize he was too young to fixate on specific careers. This interaction helped him prioritize being a good human being as the foundation for all roles. (56 words)
4. Q: Why did little Daddy’s frequent changes in career aspirations reflect his youth?
   A: Little Daddy’s shifting aspirations—from nightwatchman to ice-cream man, shunter, pilot, and more—reflected his youthful curiosity and impressionability. Each new experience, like seeing a shunter or Rover, sparked a new dream. His inability to settle on one career showed his lack of maturity, which he later overcame by choosing to be a good human. (59 words)
5. Q: What significance did little Daddy’s final answer of being a human being hold?
   A: Little Daddy’s final answer, to be a human being, signified his realization that core human qualities like kindness and integrity are essential for any profession. Prompted by the officer’s question, this mature response showed his understanding that being a good human is more important than specific roles, earning respect from others. (55 words)