[♻️ E Is for E-Waste — Paragraph Questions and Answers
♻️ 1. Why did Saku decide to write the best assignment in the class?
Question: Why was Saku determined to write the best assignment on saving the planet?
Answer:
Mr North asked the students to write an assignment on ways to save the planet. While giving the task, he said that “even” Saku could write it. Saku felt that his teacher considered him a dimwit or foolish boy. Mr North made this comment in front of Tasha, the new girl whom Saku wanted to impress. Therefore, Saku decided to write the best assignment in the class. He wanted to prove Mr North wrong and show Tasha that he was clever.
♻️ 2. Describe Saku’s feelings towards Tasha.
Question: What feelings did Saku have for Tasha, and how did they influence his work?
Answer:
Tasha was a new girl in Saku’s class. She had dimpled cheeks and bushy eyebrows, and Saku could not stop thinking about her. He had tried to speak to her twice, but his words failed him. He simply stared at her with his mouth open. Saku feared that Tasha considered him foolish. Therefore, he wanted to write an excellent assignment and impress her. His wish to gain her respect encouraged him to work seriously on the task.
♻️ 3. What ideas did Saku have about saving the planet?
Question: Explain the different methods of protecting the environment known to Saku.
Answer:
Saku knew several ways to save natural resources. He understood that water used for washing food could be reused for watering plants. Water used for rinsing clothes could be used to wash a car. Leaking pipes should be repaired to prevent the waste of water. Lights should be switched off when they are not needed. People should reuse old shopping bags instead of taking new plastic bags because plastic does not break down naturally. Saku also knew that trees should be protected because they produce the oxygen we breathe.
♻️ 4. Describe the condition of Saku’s family garage.
Question: What objects were stored in the garage, and what did they reveal about the family?
Answer:
The family garage was filled with many old and unwanted objects. It contained boxes, an old refrigerator, an even older freezer and Dad’s old computer. Saku’s broken tricycle lay on a pile of old bicycles near a lawnmower with a faulty motor. The garage was so crowded that Dad could never park his car inside it. The piled-up objects show the family’s habit of storing things without arranging, repairing, recycling or safely disposing of them.
♻️ 5. What were the different attitudes of Saku’s parents towards e-waste?
Question: Compare Ma’s and Dad’s attitudes towards the old electronic equipment.
Answer:
Ma considered the old equipment in the garage useless rubbish. She wanted Dad to remove everything and keep the garage clean. Dad, however, understood that electrical and electronic waste should not be thrown into an ordinary rubbish heap. He knew that some equipment released poisonous substances that polluted the environment. He said that e-waste should be taken to a proper processing and recycling plant. Though Dad knew the correct method, he had not taken any practical action to remove the waste.
♻️ 6. How did the argument between Saku’s parents help his assignment?
Question: Explain how Saku collected ideas from his parents’ argument.
Answer:
While Saku was thinking about his assignment, Ma and Dad began arguing about the old equipment in the garage. Ma said that the objects were rubbish and should be removed. Dad explained that electrical items could contain harmful substances and should not be placed in ordinary waste bins. He introduced the term “e-waste” and spoke about processing and recycling it. Saku listened carefully and wrote down the useful points. The argument thus gave him an original and important topic for his assignment.
♻️ 7. What is e-waste, and how should it be disposed of?
Question: Explain the meaning of e-waste and the correct way to manage it.
Answer:
E-waste means discarded electrical and electronic equipment. Old computers, mobile phones, refrigerators, freezers, televisions and similar devices become e-waste when they are no longer useful. Such waste should not be mixed with ordinary household rubbish. It may contain toxic or poisonous materials that pollute the air, water and soil. E-waste should be collected separately and taken to an authorised processing or recycling centre, where useful materials can be recovered and dangerous substances can be treated safely.
♻️ 8. Describe the humorous incident involving the rat.
Question: What happened when a rat appeared in the garage?
Answer:
During Ma and Dad’s argument, a large black rat suddenly ran between their feet. All three screamed in fear. Saku jumped onto his chair, but his feet tore through its canvas seat, and he fell. The rat then ran up Dad’s pyjama trousers. Dad caught it above his knee, stamped his feet and quickly removed his trousers. The rat escaped, and Saku and Ma chased it with a book and a broomstick. Finally, it ran into the neighbour’s garden. The incident adds humour to the story.
♻️ 9. How was Saku’s homework book damaged?
Question: What happened to Saku’s book during the confusion caused by the rat?
Answer:
Saku used his homework book while trying to hit the rat. He repeatedly struck at the rat but missed it. During the confusion, the book fell into the muddy ground and became torn and dirty. After the rat escaped, Saku remembered his homework and was shocked to see the condition of the book. However, he did not give up. He rewrote the assignment on a piece of paper and took it to school the next day.
♻️ 10. How did Mr North and the class react to Saku’s assignment?
Question: What impression did Saku’s assignment create in the classroom?
Answer:
Saku titled his assignment E Is for E-Waste. He wrote about recycling, reusing materials, reducing pollution, protecting natural resources and properly disposing of e-waste. When he finished reading, the whole class applauded, including Tasha. Mr North also smiled and praised Saku for discussing a subject that had not been taught in class. Saku proved that he was capable of independent thinking and that he was not a dimwit.
♻️ 11. What is the importance of Tasha at the end of the story?
Question: Assess Tasha’s role in conveying the main idea of the story.
Answer:
Tasha motivates Saku to take his assignment seriously because he wants to impress her. At the end, a student asks what the letter “E” in e-waste stands for. Saku does not know the answer. Tasha answers that it stands for “electronic waste.” Her answer clearly explains the key term of the story to both Saku and the readers. Thus, Tasha first inspires Saku’s effort and finally completes his understanding of the topic.
♻️ 12. How does the family atmosphere affect Saku while he is doing his homework?
Question: Do the conflicts between Saku’s parents create mental pressure on him?
Answer:
Saku tries to complete his homework while his parents argue loudly about the missing documents and the objects stored in the garage. Their disagreement distracts him and makes it difficult for him to concentrate. He also becomes involved in searching the garage and listening to their argument. However, he cleverly collects useful ideas from their conversation. The story shows that frequent family conflicts can create stress and disturb a child’s studies, even though Saku manages to turn the situation into a learning experience.
♻️ 13. How does the story expose society’s careless attitude towards e-waste?
Question: Explain how Saku’s family represents society’s approach to electronic waste.
Answer:
Saku’s family keeps broken and unused equipment in the garage for many years. Ma wants everything thrown away with ordinary rubbish, while Dad knows that e-waste needs special treatment but does nothing about it. Their behaviour reflects two common social attitudes: lack of awareness and lack of action. Many people either throw electronic waste carelessly or keep it stored indefinitely. The story stresses the need for proper collection, recycling and public awareness.
♻️ 14. What are the environmental dangers caused by e-waste?
Question: Explain the harmful effects of improper e-waste disposal.
Answer:
Electronic waste may contain poisonous substances called toxins. If old devices are burnt or dumped in open spaces, these substances can pollute the air, water and soil. They may harm plants, animals and human beings. Unsafe handling of e-waste can also cause serious health problems. Proper recycling reduces pollution and allows valuable materials to be recovered. Therefore, safe e-waste management is necessary for protecting both people and the environment.
♻️ 15. What is the central message of E Is for E-Waste?
Question: What lessons does the story teach about learning and environmental responsibility?
Answer:
The story teaches that e-waste should be handled responsibly and taken to authorised recycling centres. Awareness alone is not enough; people must also take practical action. The story also shows that students can learn important lessons from everyday experiences. Saku turns a family argument and a humorous accident into an excellent assignment. His success proves that encouragement, curiosity and effort can help a student grow. Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility of children, adults and society.]