ICSE Total English Class 9 Solution : Chapter 3

Question 1

(i) Write a short story in which a dog, a baby and a clown play important roles.

Answer :- The Birthday Rescue

The afternoon sun streamed through the garden decorations as the Sharma family prepared for their daughter Aanya’s first birthday celebration. Balloons danced in the breeze above the buffet table where neighbors and relatives milled about, their laughter blending with the carnival music from the hired clown’s portable speaker. Bubbles the Clown, his rainbow wig slightly askew from the summer heat, had just begun twisting his signature balloon animals when he noticed the family’s golden retriever, Max, pacing nervously near the dessert table.

“Relax, boy,” Bubbles whispered as he crafted a wobbly giraffe, unaware that Max’s canine senses had detected danger. The dog’s ears perked up as he watched baby Aanya crawl determinedly across the picnic blanket toward the garden gate that someone had left unlatched. Party guests were too distracted by the cake-cutting preparations to notice the infant’s progress toward the busy residential street just beyond the property.

Max’s bark sounded like a gunshot across the festivities. Before Bubbles could process what was happening, eighty pounds of golden fur streaked past his polka-dotted pants. The clown’s armful of balloons floated skyward as he turned to see Max gently but firmly grip the back of Aanya’s frilly birthday outfit with his teeth, stopping her mere inches from the pavement where a delivery van was backing up.

Chaos erupted as the family realized what had nearly happened. Aanya’s mother collapsed to her knees, gathering both her giggling daughter and the panting dog into a tearful embrace. Bubbles found himself performing impromptu magic tricks to calm the shaken guests, his usual comedy routine forgotten in the adrenaline rush.

When the party resumed, Max received his own place of honor at the head table, a “Hero Dog” sash draped across his shoulders matching Aanya’s “Birthday Girl” ribbon. Bubbles spent the remainder of the afternoon fashioning an elaborate balloon crown for his four-legged co-hero between entertaining the children with noticeably gentler antics.

As sunset painted the sky, Mr. Sharma shook Bubbles’ hand with unusual gravity. “Today I learned clowns and dogs have more in common than bright colors and wet noses,” he said, watching Max gently nudge away a balloon sword from Aanya’s curious hands. “They both watch over children in their own special way.”

The incident became neighborhood legend, with Max receiving regular treats from grateful neighbors and Bubbles adding a new routine to his act – one that always begins with checking that all gates are securely closed.

(ii) We are totally dependent on our phones to navigate our journeys. Sometimes phones do not work and one ends up getting lost. Narrate an incident when you got lost. State what you did to come out of that situation.

Answer :- Lost Without My Phone

It was my first solo trip to Mumbai, and I had complete faith in my phone’s GPS to navigate the local trains. As I boarded at Dadar station, Google Maps clearly showed my destination was just four stops away. But when the train unexpectedly terminated early at Mahim station, my digital lifeline failed me – my phone battery had died.

Panic set in as I stepped onto the unfamiliar platform. The station’s old-fashioned map was in Marathi, and the rushing crowd had no time for a lost teenager. I noticed a newspaper vendor setting up his stall and approached him hesitantly. “Bhaiya, Bandra kaunsi line pe jayegi?” I asked, butchering the Hindi pronunciation.

Instead of laughing, the elderly man drew a detailed route on my notebook with a stubby pencil. “Yellow line pe wapas jao,” he instructed, circling transfer points. His kindness didn’t stop there – he charged my phone for fifteen minutes using his personal power bank while I sipped sugary chai from his thermos.

Those handwritten directions became my treasure map through Mumbai’s urban jungle. When I finally reached my aunt’s apartment three hours late, the relief was overwhelming. That day taught me that while technology is helpful, human connection is the most reliable compass. Now I always carry a paper map and power bank – and more importantly, the courage to ask strangers for help.

(iii) ‘There should be an unemployment allowance for the qualified but unemployed.’ Express your views either for or against this statement.

Answer :- FOR the Statement: “There should be an unemployment allowance for the qualified but unemployed”

Unemployment among qualified individuals is a growing concern in today’s competitive job market. An unemployment allowance for such persons would serve as crucial financial support during their job search period. When educated youth remain unemployed despite their qualifications, it leads to frustration and wasted potential. A temporary allowance would help maintain their dignity while they seek suitable employment matching their skills.

🔒 Get Full Textbook Answers – View 

Critics may argue this would increase government expenditure, but the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. An educated workforce is any nation’s greatest asset. Supporting them during temporary unemployment periods is not just compassionate but economically prudent. This system would create a safety net that encourages higher education and specialization without the fear of complete financial ruin during job searches.

AGAINST the Statement: “There should be an unemployment allowance for the qualified but unemployed”

While the intention behind unemployment allowance for qualified individuals is noble, implementing such a scheme would be impractical and potentially harmful to the economy. First, it would place an enormous financial burden on the government’s resources. In a developing country like India with limited budgets, these funds could be better utilized for job creation schemes or infrastructure development.

🔒 Get Full Textbook Answers – View 

A better solution would be interest-free education loans with flexible repayment schedules that begin only after employment. This maintains accountability while still providing support. Blanket unemployment allowances would create dependency rather than solving the root causes of educated unemployment.