Problem Solving (By George Ansell)

About the poem

A.  Read to understand

1.   Match the lines from the poem with their meanings.

2.   Answer these questions.

      a.   How many attempts did Jack make to solve the sum?

      Ans. Jack attempted twice to solve the sum.

      b.   Why had Jack nothing to show to the teacher?

      Ans. Jack had nothing to show to the teacher because he did the calculation in his mind.

      c.   How did the teacher ask Jack to solve the sum?

      Ans. The teacher asked Jack to solve the sum using abacus.

      d.   What was the easy way that Jack found to solve the sum?

      Ans. He went to Miss Clark and copied the answer.

B.  Discuss

1.   Why do you think Jack would not use the abacus? Circle the words that you would use to describe him. Also, give reasons for your choice of words.

Ans. Jack did not use the abacus because he did not want to take the pain of solving the sum.

    The words that describe him are:

    Confident – He was confident that he can solve the sum mentally.

    Cunning – He was not using the abacus and repeatedly solving the sum incorrectly so that the teacher solves it for him.

    Lazy – He was solving the sum mentally.

2.   Jack’s parents knew that he had a problem solving a sum. Why do you think they did not solve the sum for him?

Ans. Jack’s parents knew that he had a problem solving a sum but they did not solve the sum for him because they wanted him to be an independent child.

3.   Jack repeatedly did the sum incorrectly so that the teacher worked it out for him. Do you think getting others to solve your problems is right? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. No, I don’t think getting others to solve our problems is right because assignments or problem sums are given in class for our practice and it helps teachers determine how well the lessons and material are being understood by their students.

C.  Read to appreciate

Read aloud the last words in the first stanza of the poem.

You can see that the words forty-one and done end with the same sound. Such words are called rhyming words. Poets use rhyming words to provide a musical effect to their poems.

Pick out words from the poem that rhyme with these words. Also, add two more words of your own for each.

Now, write a stanza of your own using rhyming words.

Once upon a time

I caught a little rhyme

I set it on the floor

But it ran right out the door.