Page 112 - Grammar- 9

Words/ Expressions used in the poem.

innocent : knowing very little about the world
nook : aspect, point of view
sharpness : the fact of having fine edge or point
trout : a fresh water fish
venture : activity that involves danger
longing : strong desire for something
hapless : unfortunate, not lucky
plight : difficult and sad situation

Ann Taylor and Jane Taylor were sisters and collaborator. They were poets and critics.
Their verse Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of the most popular verses among
children. Through the poem “The Foolish Fish” the Taylor sisters want to teach their
readers how awful it can be if the youngsters (people with poor judgments and less
experience of the world) do not listen to what their elders say. The young fish insists
to his mother to allow him go and have a bite at the worm hanging with the fishhook.
Mother fish tells him that a sharp hook was hiding underneath the worm and once he
tried to catch it , he would be hooked up and taken. To convince the young fish, she tells
him the story of the young trout who did not listen to its mother. The young trout went
trying the worm and lost its life in an unfortunate situation.
A. From the poem, find the words that have opposite meaning to the following
words.
a. wise b. disclose c. bluntness d. false e. fortunate

B. Write 'True' for the true statements and 'False' for the false ones:
a. The little fish wanted his mother to get the worm for him.
b. It didn’t know the danger hiding behind it.
c. Mother fish allowed it to go and try all by itself.
d. The young trout was obedient to its elders.
e. We should not be obedient to our parents.

C. Answer the following questions:
a. Why do you think the little fish is called foolish?
b. Why doesn’t the mother fish get the worm for the young fish?
c. What would happen to the young fish if he tried to get the worm itself?
d. Why was the young trout foolish?
e. What lesson does the poem teach us?

Sanjiwani English Grammar & Composition Book 9 112