Chapter 2: The Grumble Family
Samacheer Kalvi solutions for English Class 10th SSLC Tamil Nadu State Board Chapter 2 The Grumble Family Exercise [Pages 47 - 56]
Read the following lines from the poem and answer the question given below.
There's a family nobody likes to meet;
They live, it is said, on Complaining Street
- Where does the family live?
- Why do you think the street is named as ‘Complaining Street’?
SOLUTION
- The family lives in Complaining Street.
- The street is named as Complaining Street because a family which is never satisfied lives there.
Read the following line from the poem and answer the question given below.
They growl at that and they growl at this;
Whatever comes, there is something amiss;
- What does the word ‘growl’ mean here?
- Why do they find everything amiss?
SOLUTION
- The word ‘growl’ means shouting or snarling at everything.
- They find everything amiss or quite wrong because they are never satisfied with anything. They shout and complain about everything.
Read the following line from the poem and answer the question given below.
The worst thing is that if anyone stays
Among them too long, he will learn their ways;
- What is the worst thing that can happen if anyone stays with them?
- What are the ways of the Grumble family?
SOLUTION
- If anyone stays with them for a long time, he or she will learn their ways. This is the worst that can happen to anyone.
- The ways of the grumble family are that they are never satisfied with anything and they are always complaining and finding fault in everything.
Identify the speaker/character.
‘Come in, Zigzag, come in dear!’
SOLUTION
‘Come in, Zigzag, come in dear!’ - Visu, the old cook
Answer the following question in about 80-120 word.
Write a paragraph on ‘The Grumble Family’ and their attitude towards other folks.
SOLUTION
A family lived in the Street of Complaining. Nobody liked them, as they were always complaining. They found fault in everything. They were never satisfied with anything. They growl at everything whether they are in a good position or a low position, they find fault in it and complain about it. When the weather is too hot or cold, they complain about it. They scold alike if it is winter or summer. Everything goes wrong with the people living down on that sad complaining street. It is a fact that their growling never gets completed or stopped. And if everything pleased them, there is no doubt, that they would grumble that there is nothing to grumble about.
Answer the following question in about 80-120 word.
If you were to live in the Complaining Street, how would you deal with the people who grumble?
SOLUTION
If I were to live in the Complaining Street, I would never allow the pessimism of others to keep us from reaching the heights of victory. Many times, we come into contact with people who have nothing good or positive to say. All of their comments are negative and critical. Their focus is only on the bad. So with these people, I would always try my best to be an optimist, who sees the good and not the bad. I would communicate words that bring honour and. glory to God. I would deal with all the matters in a diplomatic way and advise the people who grumble, to be happy with what they are blessed with. They should be smiling and make their life a happy journey.
Answer the following question in about 80-120 word.
From the poem ‘The Grumble Family’ what kind of behavior does the poet want the readers to possess?
SOLUTION
The poet wants the readers to be optimistic. He suggests that it is the wisest to keep away from going into the complaining street. We should never growl for whatever we do. Otherwise, we would be mistaken as grumblers. We should therefore learn to walk our way of life with a smile and a song. We should not bother ourselves, no matter, if things go wrong or if we are in a good or a low position. We should never belong to the family of Grumble. We should never be a complainer. But rather be one who praises God in all things he has blessed us with. We should trust that all things will work together for us if we have faith in God.
Answer the following:
And whether their station be high or humble,…
Pick out the alliteration from the above line.
SOLUTION
high – humble’ are the words in alliteration.
Pick out the other examples for alliteration from the poem.
SOLUTION
They – that
they – this
they – the
thing – that
that – they’d
be – brought
long – learn
walk – with
smile – song
The weather is always too hot or cold; Summer and winter alike they scold. Nothing goes right with the folks you meet Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.
Pick out the rhyming words and identify the rhyme scheme of the above lines.
SOLUTION
The rhyming words are ‘cold – scold; meet – street’;
The rhyming scheme of the above lines is ‘aabb’.
