Animals, Birds, And Dr. Dolittle

Introduction to Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle is a very interesting character who treats people as a doctor but knows so much about animals. He lives in a place called Puddleby and has a special friend – a parrot named Polynesia. The story tells us how this normal human doctor changes his career and becomes an animal doctor after learning to speak animal languages! It’s amazing how he develops this unique ability to talk with animals and help them when they are sick or in trouble.

The Cat’s-food-Man’s Suggestion

One day, a man who had a stomach-ache comes to visit Doctor Dolittle in his kitchen. People call him the Cat’s-food-Man, and he really likes Dolittle’s book about cats. During his visit, he gives Dolittle an interesting suggestion – why not become an animal doctor? He thinks Dolittle understands animals much better than the local vets do. The Cat’s-food-Man believes that Dolittle could be more successful helping animals than treating people.

Polynesia’s Advice

Polynesia, the clever parrot, overhears what the Cat’s-food-Man says and completely agrees with him. She tells Dolittle that he should stop treating people and focus on animals instead. Then she reveals something that totally surprises Dolittle – animals have their own languages! This is news to him. Polynesia explains that parrots can speak both human and bird languages. For example, when she says “Polly wants a cracker” that’s human language, but when she says “Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee” that’s bird language for “Is the porridge hot yet?”

Learning Animal Languages

Dolittle gets very excited about this new knowledge and immediately starts writing down bird words that Polynesia teaches him. She begins by teaching him the Birds’ A.B.C., which is like the basics of bird language. He learns something very interesting – animals don’t just communicate with their mouths, they use many body parts like:

Ears
Feet
Tails
Noses

For example, when a dog twitches its nose, it means “Can’t you see it has stopped raining?” With lots of help from Polynesia, Dolittle eventually masters animal languages and becomes able to talk to all sorts of animals.

Becoming an Animal Doctor

Dolittle decides to give up his job as a people’s doctor and becomes a full-time animal doctor instead. News about his amazing ability spreads quickly, and people start bringing their sick pets to him:

Pugs
Poodles
Cows
Sheep

Farmers travel many miles just to show him their sick animals. But what’s most amazing is that animals themselves start coming to Dolittle because they know he can understand their language!

The Plough Horse’s Case

One day, a plough horse visits Doctor Dolittle with a problem. The horse complains about having poor vision in one eye. He tells Dolittle that the local vet gave him pills without even checking his eyes properly! What the horse really needs is spectacles, not pills, so he can see clearly while ploughing. Dolittle agrees with the horse and promises to make him green spectacles to shield his eyes from the bright sun. When he delivers the spectacles, the horse’s vision improves a lot, and this prevents him from going blind.

Growing Fame

Soon, farm animals wearing glasses become a common sight in Puddleby. Animals tell other animals about Dolittle’s amazing ability to understand and cure them. His garden becomes crowded with all kinds of animals seeking help:

Mice
Badgers
Bats

He even makes special doors for different animals:

Animal Type	Special Access
Horses	Horse door
Cows	Cow door
Sheep	Sheep door
Mice	Tunnel

Birds spread his fame to animals in other countries during their winter migrations. Soon, Doctor Dolittle becomes famous worldwide among animals and loves his new life helping them.

Let us discuss

Q1: Why did the Cat’s-food-Man suggest Doctor Dolittle should become an animal doctor?

The Cat’s-food-Man suggests this because he believes that Dolittle knows more about animals than the local veterinarians. He can see how well Dolittle understands animals from his book about cats.

Q2: How did Doctor Dolittle react to Polynesia’s information about animal languages?

Doctor Dolittle reacted with both excitement and curiosity. He was so excited that he rushed to get a book and pencil to write down the bird words. His curiosity made him want to learn more and more animal words.

Q3: Would Doctor Dolittle be famous as an animal doctor?

Yes, Doctor Dolittle would definitely be famous as an animal doctor because:

He can talk to animals in their own languages, which makes it easy to understand their problems
He correctly diagnoses the plough horse’s need for spectacles, unlike the local vet
His fame spreads quickly as animals tell others about his amazing skills
His garden becomes so crowded with animal patients
He makes special doors for different animals, showing his dedication
Birds spread his fame worldwide during their migrations

Q4: What became a common sight in Puddleby after Doctor Dolittle started treating animals?

After Doctor Dolittle started treating animals, farm animals wearing glasses became a common sight in Puddleby. This happened after he prescribed green spectacles for the plough horse, and blind horses were no longer seen in the area.

Q5: What challenges might Doctor Dolittle face with more animals coming for help?

Challenges:

Overcrowding: Too many animals in his garden would make it hard to treat everyone
Time management: He might not have enough time to see all animals every day
Different needs: Each animal species has unique problems needing different treatments
Supplies: He could run out of medicines or tools like spectacles for animals

Solutions:

Organize visits: Use the special doors and create schedules for different animals
Hire help: Train assistants to handle basic tasks so he can focus on difficult cases
Learn continuously: Study more animal languages and diseases to help diverse species
Stock supplies: Partner with suppliers to ensure he has enough medicines and tools
Prioritize cases: Treat urgent cases first to make sure critical patients get timely care

Q6: Arrange the events in correct order according to the story:

A man with a stomach-ache visits Doctor Dolittle and suggests he should treat animals instead of people.
Polynesia encourages Doctor Dolittle to become an animal doctor, revealing that animals can talk.
Polynesia teaches Doctor Dolittle animal languages, and he starts understanding and communicating with animals.
Doctor Dolittle decides to stop being a doctor for people and becomes a doctor for animals.
Word spreads, and people start bringing their sick pets and farm animals to Doctor Dolittle.
A plough horse with vision problems visits Doctor Dolittle, who prescribes green spectacles to improve the horse’s eyesight.
Doctor Dolittle’s ability to communicate with animals helps him diagnose and treat their illnesses effectively.
Doctor Dolittle installs special doors for different animals to enter his house for treatment.
Animals from near and far come to Doctor Dolittle for help, crowding his garden.
Doctor Dolittle gains fame among animals worldwide, and they come to him from various places for his help.

Let us think and reflect

Extract 1: “If I say, ‘Polly wants a cracker’, you understand me. But hear this: Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee?”

Q(i): In “Good Gracious!” cried the Doctor, what can replace ‘Good Gracious’?

The expression ‘Good Gracious’ can be replaced by “gosh” because both express surprise or shock.

Q(ii): Why hadn’t Polynesia used bird language with the Doctor earlier?

Polynesia never used bird language with Doctor Dolittle before because he wouldn’t have understood it. She says, “What would have been the good?” meaning there was no point using bird language when he only knew human language. She waited until he was ready to learn animal languages.

Q(iii): Was Polynesia eating while talking to Doctor Dolittle?

Yes, Polynesia was eating. We know this because the text mentions she was dusting cracker crumbs off her wing, which shows she had been munching on a cracker while talking.

Q(iv): How did Doctor Dolittle feel in this extract?

Doctor Dolittle felt surprised. We can see this from his exclamations like “Good Gracious!” and “My! You don’t say so!” which show he is shocked and amazed by what Polynesia reveals.

Extract 2: “I would like a pair like yours,” said the horse…

Q(i): Complete the analogy: digging: flower bed :: ___ : field

The word to complete this analogy is “ploughing.” Just as digging is done in a flower bed, ploughing is done in a field.

Q(ii): What was Doctor Dolittle’s attitude in the extract?

Doctor Dolittle’s attitude was understanding. He listened carefully to the horse’s needs and agreed to provide green spectacles, showing he truly understood the horse’s problem.

Q(iii): Why do doctors take animals for granted?

Based on the extract, doctors take animals for granted because animals don’t complain in a language humans understand. The horse explains that vets assume they can treat animals without really understanding what’s wrong with them, unlike Doctor Dolittle who can communicate with them.

Q(iv): Do you agree that it takes a cleverer person to be a good animal doctor?

Yes, I agree with the horse’s statement that it takes a cleverer person to be a good animal doctor. Animals can’t easily explain their symptoms like humans can, so understanding their language and needs, as Dolittle does, requires more skill. The vet missed the horse’s vision problem, but Dolittle solved it by actually listening to the horse. This shows animal doctors need extra intelligence to diagnose problems without clear complaints.

Q1: How was Polynesia a good trainer of animal language?

Polynesia was a very good trainer of animal language because:

She taught Dolittle animal languages in an effective way
She started with simple bird words like “Ka-ka oi-ee, fee-fee” and went slowly to help him learn better
She explained carefully how animals use different body parts like noses and tails to communicate
Her teaching helped Dolittle master animal languages so well that he could talk to all animals
She was patient and gave clear examples, like explaining what a dog’s nose twitch means

Q2: How did Doctor Dolittle give equal attention to each animal?

Doctor Dolittle gave equal and individual attention to each animal by:

Listening to each animal’s specific complaints in their own language
Understanding the plough horse’s need for spectacles and providing green ones
Making special doors for horses, cows, sheep, and a tunnel for mice, so all animals could access his help
Opening his garden to all creatures, from tiny mice to large horses
Diagnosing and treating each animal’s unique problem with personal care

Q3: How does Dolittle’s openness to the parrot’s advice show importance of different viewpoints?

Dolittle’s readiness to follow Polynesia’s advice shows:

He values new ideas from others, even if they’re different from his usual thinking
He listens to her suggestion about becoming an animal doctor, despite being a people’s doctor
This openness leads him to learn animal languages, which makes him successful and famous
His willingness to consider a parrot’s viewpoint teaches us that diverse perspectives can lead to growth
It shows that listening to others, even those very different from us, can open new paths and opportunities

Q4: Which qualities made Doctor Dolittle famous among animals?

Doctor Dolittle became famous among animals because of these qualities:

Understanding: He learnt animal languages, allowing him to know exactly what problems they had. For example, he understood that the horse needed spectacles.
Caring: He treated all animals, from tiny mice to big horses, with equal attention and respect.
Skillful: His ability to diagnose and cure animals’ problems, like fixing the horse’s vision, made animals trust him.
Dedicated: He gave up his human practice completely to focus on animals, showing total commitment.

These qualities spread his fame worldwide as animals told others about how he helped them.

Q5: What changes would happen if people could suddenly talk to animals like Doctor Dolittle?

If people could suddenly understand and communicate with animals:

People would treat animals much better, understanding their needs and feelings directly
Vets would diagnose animal illnesses more accurately, just like Dolittle did with the horse
Animal cruelty might decrease as people would hear animals’ pain and emotions
Farms and zoos would improve animal care when animals could tell humans what they need
Wildlife conservation would improve as animals could guide humans to protect their habitats
Human-animal bonds, especially with pets, would become stronger through better communication

A Funny Man

Introduction to the Poem

This poem, written by Natalie Joan, is about a really humorous meeting with a strange man. This man does such odd things, like wearing a shoe on his head and putting hats on his feet! He also does funny things like offering a currant bun but calling it a rose. All these actions create a very funny and nonsensical scene that makes us laugh. The poem uses humor to entertain readers and show how joyful playful behavior can be.

The Funny Man’s Appearance

The funny man walks down the street looking very strange – he has a shoe on his head and hats on his feet! This unusual appearance immediately catches the poet’s attention and seems very odd. The way he dresses sets up the whole tone of the poem, showing right away that this man is quirky and amusing.

His Polite but Odd Actions

Even though the man looks so strange, he has good manners. He raises the shoe he’s wearing on his head and smiles politely at the poet. Then he offers a currant bun but calls it a rose, and holds it up to the poet’s nose! The poet is naturally surprised and notices that this “rose” has a very odd smell for something that should be a flower. What makes this even funnier is how the man’s politeness contrasts with his bizarre actions.

His Performance

The funny man then sits down on the ground and sings a song, but it’s not an ordinary song – it makes a really unique sound. The poet describes it as a “funny feeling sound” to emphasize how strange it is. When the poet asks him why he wears hats on his feet, the man doesn’t give an answer. Instead, he just hops all the way home on his head! His actions are very playful and completely opposite to how people normally behave, which makes this encounter so memorable.

Let us discuss

Q1: Identify the true statements about the poem:

True statements:

The poet says she had never heard such an amusing song. This is true because the line “You never heard in all your life / Such a funny feeling sound” shows the song was uniquely humorous.
The funny man wore two hats on his feet. This is true as the poem states, “My friend, why do you wear two hats / Upon your feet?”
The funny man hopped on his head to reach home. This is true as the last line says, “And hopped home on his head.”
The funny man smiled at the poet. This is true as it says he “raised the shoe and smiled at me.”

False statements:

The funny man was quite ill-mannered. This is false because his manners were actually polite – he smiled and made a polite request.
The funny man gave a rose to the poet. This is false because he actually offered a currant bun while calling it a rose.

Q2: Identify words from the poem based on meanings:

A small seedless raisin: CURRANT (from “currant bun”)
Moved unsteadily: STAGGERED (from “I staggered back against the wall”)

Q3: Complete these sentences with reasons:

The tone of the poem is humorous because the man’s odd actions, like wearing hats on his feet and hopping on his head, create funny situations that make us laugh.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB, and it gives a playful quality to the poem, making it sound light and rhythmic when read aloud.
The poet has frequently repeated the word ‘funny’ to emphasize the man’s strange and amusing behavior, keeping the whole poem light-hearted and enjoyable.

Q4: Choose correct answers from options:

The poem uses vivid imagery to create a (humorous and nonsensical) scene.
The structure of the poem is in (dialogue) form.
The phrases ‘sounding sight’ and ‘hopped home’ are examples of (alliteration).

Q5: Rewrite this line from the poem in correct order:

Original: “But never had I seen before Such a funny sounding sight.” Correct order: I had never seen such a funny sounding sight before.

Q6: Why has the poet used phrases like ‘funny sounding sight’ and ‘funny feeling sound’?

The poet uses these unusual phrases to highlight how strange and amusing the funny man’s actions are. “Funny sounding sight” describes the odd visual of seeing a man with a shoe on his head and hats on his feet – it’s a sight that almost makes a sound in your mind! “Funny feeling sound” captures the weird sensation of hearing his unique song. These creative phrases help create a vivid, humorous image that makes the man’s behavior even more memorable and entertaining.

Q7: Can you think of real-world situations where people do similar things?

In real life, people do similar things in these situations:

Street performers often dress in quirky costumes and do unusual tricks to entertain crowds.
Clowns at circuses wear odd clothes and act silly to make children laugh.
Actors in comedy shows use exaggerated actions to create humor, similar to the funny man’s hopping.
Performance artists sometimes break normal rules of behavior to create funny or thought-provoking acts.

Let us think and reflect

Extract 1: “He said, ‘Allow me to present Your Highness with a rose.’…”

Q(i): Why does the funny man address the poet as ‘Your Highness’?

The funny man calls the poet “Your Highness” as a playful, extra-polite way to show respect. It adds to the humor by exaggerating the poet’s importance in this silly situation, making the contrast between his formal language and his odd behavior even funnier.

Q(ii): Which phrase shows a polite request?

The phrase “Allow me to present” shows his polite request. It’s a very formal and courteous way of offering the “rose” (which is actually a currant bun).

Q(iii): What is a ‘currant bun’?

A currant bun is a bread roll or sweet bun that has small, seedless raisins (currants) baked into it.

Q(iv): Why does the poet say ‘Well!’ with surprise?

The poet says “Well!” with surprise because the funny man offers her a currant bun but calls it a rose, which is completely unexpected. She is shocked by this odd gesture and by the smell of the bun, which obviously doesn’t smell like a flower should!

Extract 2: “You never heard in all your life…”

Q(i): Which line tells us the sound was unique?

The line “You never heard in all your life / Such a funny feeling sound” tells us the sound was completely unique. It emphasizes that the song had a strange and unforgettable quality unlike anything else.

Q(ii): Why does the poet call the funny man ‘my friend’?

The poet calls the funny man “my friend” in an affectionate way to show friendliness after he smiled at her politely. It reflects her amusement and warmth toward his quirky behavior, even though he’s a stranger.

Q(iii): What does the funny man’s reaction to the question tell us about him?

Instead of answering why he wears hats on his feet, the funny man just hops home on his head. This reaction shows he is playful, unpredictable, and doesn’t follow normal rules. His behavior suggests he enjoys being mysterious and entertaining rather than giving straightforward answers.

Q(iv): The last line makes readers feel:

The last line makes readers feel cheerful. When the funny man hops home on his head, it’s such a light-hearted and silly action that it leaves readers with a smile. The unexpected and playful ending creates a happy, amused feeling.

Q1: Which character trait of the funny man was most appealing?

The funny man’s playfulness is his most appealing trait. He does such unexpected things, like offering a bun as if it’s a rose and hopping on his head instead of walking. These actions show he’s creative and doesn’t care about normal rules. Even though he’s strange, his polite smile and gestures make his quirky actions charming and likable instead of weird or scary.

Q2: How do the funny man’s unusual actions affect the poem’s mood?

The funny man’s unusual actions create a humorous and light-hearted mood throughout the poem. His strange clothing choices (shoe on head, hats on feet) and odd behaviors (singing while sitting on the ground) make the poem feel playful and silly. The poet’s surprised reactions, like staggering back when he offers the bun as a rose, add to the fun atmosphere. These weird actions keep the tone cheerful and make readers smile.

Q3: What alternative title would you suggest for the poem?

A good alternative title could be “The Quirky Stranger.” This title captures the man’s strange but amusing behavior, like his unusual way of dressing and his habit of hopping on his head. The word “quirky” perfectly reflects his unique, funny actions, while “stranger” highlights that he’s a mysterious person the poet just happened to meet. This title gives readers a hint about the odd character they’ll meet in the poem.

Q4: Why did the poet include dialogues in the poem?

The poet included dialogues to make the poem lively and interactive. The conversations between the poet and the funny man show his personality better than just description could. His polite request, “Allow me to present Your Highness with a rose,” and the poet’s question about his hats create a real conversation that pulls readers into the scene. The dialogues also add humor, especially when the poet questions why he wears hats on his feet, making readers more engaged and entertained.

Q5: What does the poet want to show through the funny man’s unusual behavior?

The poet wants to show us that unusual behavior can bring joy and entertainment to life. The man’s odd actions, like hopping on his head instead of walking normally, demonstrate creativity and freedom from boring rules. By creating this character who does such unexpected things but remains polite and cheerful, the poet encourages readers to embrace playfulness and find humor in things that surprise us. The poem celebrates the joy of being different and not taking life too seriously.

Say the Right Thing

Introduction to the Play

This play written by G.C. Thornley tells a funny story about a young girl named Mary Shaw. Mary’s mother, Mrs. Shaw, tries to teach her how to talk politely when guests visit their home. When Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee come to visit, Mary makes lots of funny mistakes in her conversation. Her blunders embarrass her mother and the guests, and the play shows us why it’s important to know how to talk politely.

Scene I: Mrs. Shaw’s Instructions

In the first scene, Mrs. Shaw is busy preparing the house for her guests, Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee. Mary complains about always being told to tidy up, and she insists that she’s not a child anymore. Mrs. Shaw explains that Mrs. Harding is the wife of a wealthy man, and Mrs. Lee is her sister. Mary wants to stay and talk with the guests because she believes she can speak well. Mrs. Shaw is cautious about this and warns Mary to be careful about what she says. She gives Mary some imp advice:

Say kind things
Avoid upsetting the guests
Try to make them laugh
Keep conversations going
Ask them to stay longer when they’re about to leave

Mary confidently promises to follow all this advice and show off her talking skills.

Scene II: Mary’s Blunders

In the second scene, the guests arrive and Mary tries to be polite but keeps making mistakes:

When Mrs. Harding says she likes Lanfield but it’s different from London, Mary tries to compliment Mrs. Harding’s children. But this causes awkwardness because Mrs. Harding doesn’t have any children!
Mary makes fun of Mr. Best’s habit of commuting by train and reading newspapers. She doesn’t realize that Mrs. Lee’s brother is a banker who does exactly the same thing.
She laughs at Mrs. Best’s blue dress and red coat, not knowing that Mrs. Harding is wearing the same outfit.
Mary criticizes Mrs. Cotter for staying in bed late and seeing the doctor often. This offends both Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee, who do similar things themselves.
She calls a dog outside “dirty” and says she doesn’t like dogs – but it turns out to be Mrs. Harding’s pet dog, Towzer!
Mary insults Mr. Pomeroy’s love for horses, not knowing that Mrs. Lee’s brother also rides and shoots.
When the guests decide to leave, Mary makes her biggest mistake. Instead of asking them to stay longer as her mother advised, she says, “Oh, must you stay? Can’t you go?” meaning the opposite of what she intended!

All these mistakes create uncomfortable silences and embarrass her mother terribly.

Let us discuss

Q1: Complete this table based on Scene I:

Speaker	Words of the Speaker	Reason
Mrs. Shaw	The room looks cleaner now. Put that coat away in your bedroom.	To instruct Mary to keep the room tidy before guests arrive.
Mary	You’re always telling me to put things away.	To express her frustration at being constantly asked to tidy up.
Mary	I’m not a child!	To assert that she is mature enough to handle responsibilities.
Mrs. Shaw	You’ll always be right if you’re kind to people.	To highlight the importance of being kind so Mary says appropriate things when guests arrive.

Q2: Will Mary follow her mother’s advice successfully?

No, Mary will probably not follow her mother’s advice successfully when the guests visit. There are several reasons for this:

She is overconfident about her talking abilities, claiming she can “talk very well” even though she lacks experience in polite conversation
She insists on staying despite her mother’s doubts, showing she might not take the advice seriously
Mrs. Shaw notes that Mary tends to talk too much, which suggests she might say inappropriate things without thinking
Later in the play, her many blunders prove she fails to be kind and thoughtful in her conversation

Q3: Rectify these false statements from Scene II:

False: Mrs. Harding states that they do not like London as it is not the same as Lanfield. Correct: Mrs. Harding states that they like Lanfield very much even though it is not the same as London.
False: Mrs. Harding was pleased to know that Mary was familiar with her children. Correct: Mrs. Harding was not pleased because she has no children, and Mary’s comment caused awkwardness.
False: Mrs. Shaw shared that she liked Mrs. Best as she read a lot of newspapers. Correct: Mrs. Shaw said she liked Mrs. Best, calling her a nice woman, but did not mention newspapers.
False: Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Shaw agree that wearing a blue dress with a red coat is unfashionable. Correct: Mrs. Shaw says she likes blue dresses and red coats, defending Mrs. Harding’s style after Mary criticizes it.
False: Mary shares that she finds the dog outside the window cute. Correct: Mary calls the dog dirty and says she doesn’t like dogs, not knowing it’s Mrs. Harding’s pet, Towzer.

Let us think and reflect

Extract 1: “MARY: What are you going to talk about?…”

Q(i): What does Mrs. Shaw mean when she says “One day you’ll have to go to some of these houses yourself and talk to the people there”?

Mrs. Shaw wants Mary to develop social skills for the future. She is trying to prepare Mary for future social visits by teaching her how to talk politely with people. She knows that Mary will need these skills as she grows up and has to make her own social connections.

Q(ii): Mrs. Shaw and Mary are discussing how to have a polite conversation.

They are discussing how to have a polite conversation. Mrs. Shaw is giving Mary advice about saying kind words and keeping guests engaged, focusing on polite talk rather than just getting to know people better.

Q(iii): Why did Mary insist on staying when the guests arrived?

Mary insisted on staying because she believed she could talk well and wanted to prove it to her mother. She felt very confident, saying “I can talk very well when I like,” and wanted to show off her skills. She thought it would be easy to say simple polite things like “Good afternoon” and “How are you?”

Q(iv): Match character traits to the characters:

Eager – Mary: She is very keen to stay and talk to the guests, showing enthusiasm.
Inexperienced – Mary: Her overconfidence and lack of social awareness show her inexperience.
Cautious – Mrs. Shaw: She warns Mary to be careful and doubts her ability to say the right things.

Extract 2: “MARY: I saw Mrs. Cotter this afternoon…”

Q(i): How could Mary spot Mrs. Cotter in the street?

Mary could spot Mrs. Cotter because she was out in the afternoon. Mrs. Cotter usually stays in bed during mornings, so Mary was able to see her while walking in the afternoon when Mrs. Cotter finally comes out.

Q(ii): What does Mary’s comment about Mrs. Cotter suggest about her understanding?

Mary’s comment shows she is unable to understand why people need medical help. She doesn’t grasp why someone would need to stay in bed or see a doctor regularly, showing her lack of empathy and understanding about health issues.

Q(iii): How do we know Mary enjoyed good health?

We know Mary enjoyed good health because she proudly states, “I’ve never been to a doctor in my life.” This suggests she has never faced any serious illnesses that required medical attention.

Q(iv): Did Mary unintentionally offend Mrs. Harding?

Yes, this statement is true. Mary’s comment about staying in bed and seeing doctors offends Mrs. Harding, who does the same thing herself. This causes an uncomfortable silence in the room, showing that Mrs. Harding was indeed offended.

Q1: What does Mary’s comment about Mr. Best reveal about her view of bankers?

Mary’s comment about Mr. Best shows that she looks down on bankers and their lifestyle. She makes fun of Mr. Best’s daily routine of taking the train to work and reading newspapers, calling it a “poor way to live.” She also says bankers “can’t think,” suggesting she believes their work is boring and unimportant. Her remarks show she’s ignorant about different professions and tends to judge people without understanding their lives and work.

Q2: What can we learn about Mary’s understanding of polite conversation?

Mary clearly lacks understanding of polite conversation, despite being so confident. She makes very rude comments about people’s habits, like staying in bed or reading newspapers, without realizing these might apply to the guests themselves. She doesn’t notice when her remarks are hurting the guests’ feelings, which shows poor social awareness. Her repeated apologies like “Oh, I’m sorry” show she doesn’t know how to avoid saying hurtful things in the first place. She completely fails to follow her mother’s advice about being kind and making guests comfortable.

Q3: What does the repeated stage direction ‘no one speaks’ tell us about the room’s atmosphere?

The repeated stage direction “no one speaks” shows an awkward and tense atmosphere in the room. Every time Mary says something inappropriate, her words shock the guests and create uncomfortable silences. These quiet moments indicate that the guests are offended or simply don’t know how to respond to her blunders. The silence highlights how badly Mary’s attempts at polite conversation are failing and increases the embarrassment her mother feels.

Q4: How does Mary’s attitude towards the guests change during the play?

Mary’s attitude changes quite a bit throughout the play:

At first, she is very confident and eager to talk to the guests, believing she can impress them with her conversation skills
As she makes one mistake after another, she becomes apologetic, saying “Oh, I’m sorry” again and again
Her confidence starts to fade as she realizes her comments are offending people, but she still doesn’t learn to stop and think before speaking
By the end, she is completely flustered, making her worst mistake when she accidentally asks the guests to leave instead of stay
Her attitude shifts from bold and confident to embarrassed and confused, but she never quite understands proper etiquette

Q5: What do the guests’ responses to Mary’s blunders tell us about their characters?

Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee respond to Mary’s blunders in ways that reveal a lot about their characters:

Mrs. Harding is polite but sensitive. When Mary mentions children, she calmly corrects her by saying she doesn’t have any. She mentions her own habits (staying in bed, owning Towzer the dog) without getting angry, showing she has self-control and restraint.

Mrs. Lee is protective and slightly defensive. When Mary insults certain behaviors, Mrs. Lee points out that her brother does similar things (like banking and horse riding), showing her loyalty to her family.

Both guests are quite patient, as they don’t yell at Mary despite her rudeness, and they leave politely. Their responses show maturity and a desire to maintain their dignity even when feeling uncomfortable.

Q6: How does the play show the importance of polite conversation?

The play shows that polite conversation is really important for building good relationships. Mrs. Shaw’s advice to be kind and engaging is meant to make guests feel welcome and comfortable. But when Mary makes all her blunders, she offends the guests, creates awkward silences ..and completely spoils the visit. The guests’ discomfort and Mary’s embarrassment clearly show that thoughtless words can damage social bonds. Through Mary’s mistakes, the play teaches us that polite conversation requires being sensitive to others’ feelings and showing respect for them. It’s not just about talking; it’s about understanding what might hurt or offend others and avoiding those topics.

The play demonstrates that knowing how to speak politely is a skill that needs to be learned and practiced, not something that comes naturally to everyone. Mary thinks she can “talk very well,” but she hasn’t learned the rules of social conversation yet. Her mother’s attempt to teach her these skills shows that polite conversation is an important part of growing up and becoming socially successful.

Imp Points from the Notes:

Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle begins as a people’s doctor but becomes an animal doctor after learning animal languages
Polynesia the parrot teaches him the Birds’ A.B.C. and explains that animals communicate using different body parts
The plough horse case shows how Dolittle’s understanding of animal language helps him provide better treatment (spectacles) than the local vet
Animals from all over come to see him, and he creates special doors for each type
His fame spreads worldwide thanks to birds during their migrations

A Funny Man

The funny man wears a shoe on his head and hats on his feet
He offers a currant bun but calls it a rose
He sings a unique song while sitting on the ground
When asked about his strange clothing, he hops home on his head
The poem uses rhyme scheme AABB and creates a light-hearted, humorous mood
The poet uses phrases like “funny sounding sight” and “funny feeling sound” to emphasize strangeness

Say the Right Thing

Mary wants to show she can talk well to guests but makes many social blunders
Her mistakes include:
- Mentioning children to Mrs. Harding who has none
- Mocking habits that the guests or their relatives have
- Criticizing a dog that belongs to Mrs. Harding
- Accidentally asking guests to leave instead of stay
Each mistake creates uncomfortable silences
The play teaches the importance of polite conversation and thinking before speaking

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