NCERT English Class 9 Chapter 11 Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth Literature Reader

Oh I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth – Class 9 English | Literature Reader Chapter 11 Explanation

Page No 84:

Question 1:

Parents alone are responsible for inculcating a good sense of dental hygiene amongst children. Do you agree/disagree? Discuss with your partner.

Answer:

This question is to be answered on the basis of your own understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own.

Page No 85:

Question 3:

On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following table.

Stages in the life of the poet(a) Youth	Activities eating toffees __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________	Consequences _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________
(b) Adulthood	__________________________________________ _____________________	gazing at the dentist in despair.

Answer:

Stages in the life of the poet(a) Youth	Activities eating toffees chewing sweet sticky food picking and licking lollies and candies, eating large and small sherbet dabs. __________________	Consequences Paving way to cavities, caps and decay. __________________ __________________ __________________
(b) Adulthood	Going to the dentist due to tooth decay, amalgamation, drilling and fillings.	gazing at the dentist in despair.

Page No 86:

Question 4(a):

On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice.
The title ‘Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth’ expresses ____________.
(i) regret
(ii) humour
(iii) longing
(iv) pleasure

Answer:

(i) regret

Question 4(b):

The conscience of the speaker pricks her as she has ______________.
(i) been careless
(ii) been ignorant
(iii) been fun loving
(iv) been rude

Answer:

(i) been careless

Question 4(c):

The speaker says that she has paved the way for cavities and decay by _________.
(i) eating the wrong food and not brushing
(ii) not listening to his mother
(iii) laughing at his mother’s false teeth
(iv) not listening to the dentist

Answer:

(i)eating the wrong food and not brushing

Question 4(d):

The tone of the narrator is one of ____________.
(i) joy
(ii) nostalgia
(iii) regret
(iv) sorrow

Answer:

(iii) regret

Question 5(a):

Answer the following questions.
“…But up–and–down brushin’
And pokin’ and fussin’
Didn’t seem worth the time – I could bite!”
What do these lines convey?

Answer:

The above lines mean that the poet didn’t brush her teeth properly in her childhood, which has now caused problems for her in the form of tooth decay. Trying to remove infection and save her teeth from getting decayed was in vain as it was too late then.

Question 5(b):

Why did the poet go to the dentist? How could she have avoided it?

Answer:

The poet went to the dentist to get treatment for her tooth decay. Her teeth had cavities, caps and decay. If she would have had taken proper care of her teeth since her childhood by not eating too many sweets and brushing her teeth properly, then she could have avoided going to the dentist so early in life.

Question 5(c):

“If you got a tooth, you got a friend.” What do you understand from the line?

Answer:

The line “If you got a tooth, you got a friend” conveys the message that we must always take care of our teeth as they help us in eating and relishing our food. We should never be careless as teeth help us in making in possible to derive pleasure from eating. Also, it will lead to lose of that sweet smile of yours.

Question 5(d):

With reference to the poem, how can you look after your teeth?

Answer:

Pointers have been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.

• Brush your teeth daily for minimum twice a day;
• Wash your mouth every time you eat something sweet;
• Use a dry bristle brush for the first two minutes of cleaning;
• Spend time moving the bristles at and below the gum line, where it is most important to clean;
• Visit your dentist within short intervals.

Question 5(e):

Given an appropriate proverb that conveys the message that this poem carries.

Answer:

Pointers have been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
Proverbs that convey the message of this poem:
(i) A stitch in time saves nine,
(ii) There is no point crying over spilled milk, and
(iii) Prevention is always better than cure.

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