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Whatif, , NCERT Solutions Class 6 English – Unit 9 Poem, , Glossary, Whatif – A question which is used to ask about something that could happen in the future, especially, something bad., Prance- To walk in an energetic way and with more movement than necessary., Dumb – Stupid, Beat up- beatings or physical abuse, Flunk – To fail, in a course or an examination, Bolt – flash, Swell – Very good or pleasant, Strike – To occur suddenly, Working with the Poem, Question 1., (i), , Who is the speaker in the poem?, , Answer :The speaker in the poem is the poet, Shel Silverstein., (ii), , With your partner list out the happenings the speaker is worried about., , Answer :The speaker is worried about the following things:, What if he is dumb in the school?, What if the swimming pool is closed?, What if he gets beaten up?, What if there is poison in his cup?, What if bolt of lightning strikes him?, What if he gets sick and dies?, What if he doesn’t grow taller?, What if his parents get divorced?, What if his teeth don’t grow straight?, What if he never learns to dance?, (iii) Why do you think she/he has these worries? Can you think of ways to get rid of such worries?, Answer :Such worries arise because of the fears in our mind. Some of such fears arise when we have, seen something similar happening around us.Such fears and worries can be avoided by sheer will, power and an optimistic mindset

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Question 2, (i), , Answer the following questions., , What was the reason behind the child’s fear in the poem?, , Answer: The child was worried about his future because any mishap can happen anytime in life., There seems to be lack of security in child’s mind., (ii), , When did strange things hit the child’s mind?, , Answer: Strange things hit the child’s mind when she was lying on her bed the last night., (iii), , What do you understand by ‘Whatif ’ poem?, , Answer: The ‘Whatif ’ in the poem means what will happen in case such a change takes place in the, child’s life., (iv), , What happened the next morning when the child wakes up?, , Answer: The child wakes up the next morning and everything was fine. She was afraid of many, things last night, but felt good in the morning, but soon started thinking what will happen if those, terrifying moments appear again in her mind. The child is in habit of worrying unnecessarily.