'What You Do is What You are ' is a nice essay written by Nickie McWhirter, an American columnist and journalist. This essay is now part of 1st year new English book in Punjab, Pakistan. 1st year English notes are being prepared for 2026.
What You Do is What You are questions answers
Unit 7 of the English book for class 11 questions and answers are given below. 1st year English unit 7 important questions answers are given here. You all know that PECTAA has introduced a new syllabus for 1st year for the year 2026. The students will prepare this syllabus for the exams.
Now I am preparing 1st year English notes for new syllabus. You can keep reading along the preparation. I am publishing all units questions answers as they are ready.
1st year English unit 7 questions answers pdf download
Now you can download all the question answers in pdf here. The list of all the questions and answers is given below. You can see another post if you want to download all units questions and answers in a single pdf file.
Here are the important questions answered for 'What You Do is What You are'.
While-Reading Questions answers
Q.1. Why do you think the author finds this way of labelling people "peculiar"?Ans: The author finds this way of labeling people peculiar because people often identify others by their jobs. They do not see their personal traits or talent. They also ignore their current status and job. Moreover, a person's identity, value, or future is not limited to their job.
Q.2. What does the writer suggest about the use of the word "just" before job titles or roles?
Ans: The writer suggests that using the word "just" before job titles or roles makes people seem unimportant. It reduces a person's worth. The writer suggests that every role has a value. Using the word "just' is unfair.
Q.3. What contrast is made between the role of a cowboy and a cattle breeder, or a nurse and a doctor? What point is the author trying to make?
Ans: The contrast shows that some jobs are given more respect and status than others. A cattle breeder is respected more than a cowboy. A doctor is respected more than a nurse. The author is trying to point out that society unfairly ranks people based on their jobs. Some roles are valued more than others, not always because they are better, but because of social attitudes.
Reading and Critical Thinking Questions
Q.1. Why does the author describe the way society defines people by their jobs as peculiar?
Ans: The author describes it as peculiar because of the prevailing social attitude. We recognize others by their jobs, not by their talent, value, and worth. This has become a peculiar social norm.
Q.2. Provide two examples the author uses to show how individuals are judged based on their employment status or past jobs.
Ans: The author gives real-life examples to prove her point of view. She uses examples like 'Sam is a carpenter.' 'Tony is a retired teacher.' to show how individuals are judged based on their employment status or past jobs.
Q.3. What does the phrase "cast in bronze" symbolize in the context of the text?
Ans: The author uses this phrase to criticise the idea that people are labeled based on their past jobs, as if their identities become permanent. In other words, once someone is called a “teacher” or “auto worker,” that label sticks, even if their life has changed.
Q.4. The author mentions certain professions like "just a housewife" or "just a janitor". What is the critique behind these labels, and what point is the author trying to make?
Ans: The author is criticizing the use of the word “just” to diminish and devalue people’s roles. When someone says “just a housewife” or “just a janitor,” it suggests that those roles are unimportant, low-status, or not worthy of respect. The author's point is that this kind of labeling is unfair and misleading.
Q.5. In what way does the author suggest that children should be taught to understand respect and job roles in society?
Ans: The author suggests that children should be taught to understand how society actually assigns respect to different jobs, even if that system is unfair.
Q.6. What is McWhiter's tone? Illustrate with a few words and phrases that establish the tone.Ans: McWhorter’s tone is largely critical and ironic. She uses phrases like "it is peculiar to me", "rationally it is silly", "just any this is the worst", etc., to establish the tone.
Q.6. What is McWhiter's tone? Illustrate with a few words and phrases that establish the tone.
Q.7. Why does the author state that no one is ever described as "just" a vice president? What does this reveal about how society values certain jobs?
Ans: The author points out that no one says “just a vice president” to highlight a double standard in how language reflects social status and respect. This reveals that society values positions with power, income, or prestige.
Q.8. Do you agree with the writer's view that society unfairly defines people by their jobs or employment status? Why or why not?
Ans: I strongly agree with the writer's view. Jobs are an easy shorthand, so society uses them to quickly signal status, income, or importance. But that shortcut ignores everything else about a person. A janitor can be a nice person in himself. He may have more capabilities than a clerk. So defining a person by just his current or past jobs is utterly unfair.
So these were the questions answers of 1st year English Unit 7 What you do is What you are. Now here are some related notes you may find helpful.
No comments:
Post a Comment