ANSWERS;

Practice 1

A young child

(a) No, they are not human

(b) Wind is not blowing to make the leaves sway or move.

Practice 2

pollution, stress, traffic jams

destruction of forests, streams and

hills

The title of the poem “Heir Conditioning” suggests about the conditioning of the minds of the younger generation who are so dependent on modern inventions in their daily life. Their minds are so tuned/conditioned to having modern inventions to manage their daily life that to them it may seem impossible to live without these inventions.

Practice 3

Why the grass is green/ why the wind is never seen/who taught the birds to build a nest/

We must always be resourceful and independent in enriching our world of knowledge. As for example, by being inquisitive and asking people around us and taking the initiative to read to broaden our horizon!

Practice 4

The poet expresses his concern that though there is progress with modern inventions, man is regressing. If modern amenities and development are there to give us comfort, easy access and a better lifestyle, how come we have to deal with calamities and problems like stress and traffic jams?

The poet is trying to impart the message that modernization should be a gradual process and that mankind should not be overly dependent or taken up with new inventions that could lead to the destruction of the environment.

Practice 5

Flash

(a) curious child who seeks for answers to questions about the wonders of life and nature.

(b) Towards the end of the poem, she is annoyed as her father fails to answer her questions.

Practice 6

The grandparent explains that he/she lived a longer life(before your age)

The grandchild’s questions seem naive, childlike and amusing when the grandchild asks grandparents how they could actually live without modern inventions such as air conditioners, fans, and fax machines. It is as though without these inventions, the older generations seemed to have suffered living.

Practice 7

The persona himself/herself

(a) incomplete puzzle

(b) In this poem, the persona is a child who is enthusiastic in exploring the nature. The inspiring curiosity within the child himself leads him to learn more about the miracles of nature. He seems to appreciate every detail of the world and he wants to know how such things happen

Practice 8

The poem is light yet punctuated with irony and scarsm.

(a) The grandfather

(b) Here, he is speaking very strongly from a personal point of view. He uses “we” to show that the older generation lived a rich and peaceful life. They were spared from living in a polluted world as they were not dependent on modern gadget.

Practice 9

the trees to take a rest

(a) the tone of the poem is informal, easy and relaxed.

(b) The poem shows that our beautiful world is so big and mysterious and that there are so many unanswered questions. But we always try and look for ways to find out the answers to all of our questions.

Practice 10

Electric fan, telephone.

(a) air conditioning(b) The poet is deeply conscious of the fact that the new generation are ‘heirs’ to a future world doomed by the conditioning need for development and modern gadgets.