Chapter 6: Mystery of the Talking Fan

Working with the Poem

Question 1:

Fans don’t talk, but it is possible to imagine that they do. What is it, then, that sounds like the fan’s chatter?

Answer:

The fan’s chatter is actually electrical. It makes sound when something is stuck in its motor.

Question 2:

Complete the following sentences.

(i) The chatter is electrical because _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________

(ii) It is mysterious because ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer:

(i) The chatter is electrical because fans cannot talk and the sound they produce is because of something stuck in their motors producing some kind of friction, resulting in the noise they make.

(ii) It is mysterious because it seems like the sounds it is producing (chatters) are trying to say something, which the poet cannot figure out.

Question 3:

What do you think the talking fan was demanding?

Answer:

It seems like the talking fan was demanding lubricating oil for its whirling motor so that it could reduce the friction and help it function smoothly.

Question 4:

How does an electric fan manage to throw so much air when it is switched on?

Answer:

When an electric fan is switched on, current starts flowing through it and the motor starts running. This causes the blades of the fan to rotate very fast, hence producing so much air.