Class 11 English Unit 6 – You May Scoff | Summary, Exercise Solutions & Notes

Chapter Title: You May Scoff

Class 11 English – Notes, Summary, Questions, Answers

The essay "You May Scoff" discusses the rising threat of obesity, unhealthy living, and the lack of proper health care facilities. It stresses the role of health and physical fitness in the realization of the potential of individuals and the country.

Summary of the Chapter

The main point of this article is that a nation can’t move forward if its citizens aren’t well. Whereas education and skills are necessary but not sufficient, health underpins productivity and national development. The article described modern nutrition, rise in obesity and lack of exercise as culprits.

Key Points

• Health of both the body and soul is necessary for personal and national development.
• Sickness can spread not just to people but to the community and the economy.
• It is increasingly difficult for any country without adequate healthcare systems to have its place in the global rankings.
• A country’s strength is its people, and their care should be a priority.
• The writer argues that it is the role of government and individuals to ensure that good health is preserved. But the governments should be more responsible and establish a functioning healthcare system which serves all people not just those who are wealthy.

Main Themes of the Essay

• Health as a public priority
• Obesity and unhealthy diet burden
• Responsibility of government vs. citizens
• Importance of preventive healthcare
• Association between wealth of a society and health of its people

Exercise Questions & Answers

a. What is the major concern of “You May Scoff”?

The biggest problem is the rising obesity epidemic and that people become increasingly less mindful of their health and fitness.

b. With what relation between health and economic development does the writer agree?

The writer claims that a healthy people are a productive people, and a healthy population leads to great economy and national growth.

c. What is the importance of having access to healthcare for everyone?

Where people don't have access to affordable healthcare, many die needlessly, reducing the productivity of the nation and creating a more unequal society.

d. Who is responsible for a healthy society?

This is a task for both government and the citizenry. But the government should play a major role in protecting public health.

e. What precautions does the essay suggest?

Communicable disease prevention, environmental health hazards elimination, health promoting lifestyles encouragement, and prevention of public health infrastructure deficiencies.

Grammar Focus (In the Grammar Focus section of the text)

This lesson can be followed by additional exercises on modals, connectors and imperatives to give advice on health. Here are some sample sentences you can use for grammar practice:

• To remain healthy, we have to eat good food.
• People should exercise regularly.
• The government must provide clean water.
• Obesity will grow into a bigger crisis if we don’t do more.

Conclusion

“You May Scoff” is a challenging piece that asks of us all, both as individuals and as governments, to make health care a priority. It tells us that without a healthy people, economic growth and nation building are lost causes. It is a strategic national necessity not only a social obligation to invest in health.