1. The sad story of Percy, the TV Addict
By JG Goodacre

2. Young Percy’s parents could not get
Their son to leave the TV set.
In fact, it was a common sight,
From five o’clock till late at night,
To see young Percival McQueen
Before the television screen

3. He watched the sport, the plays, the news
The Westerns and the interviews.
The programmes might be good or bad,
They might be comical or sad;
He watched them all the evening through

4. At half past five the little chap
Would eat his supper in his lap;
But what he ate, he did not know –
His eyes were on the children’s show!
All table manners he forgot.
It didn’t worry him a jot.

5. And then one night, I’m sad to tell
Young Percival was heard to yell:
‘I cannot watch it anymore,
My eyes are feeling strange and sore!’
And when he got up from his chair,
His eyes were green and red … and square!

6. Poor Percy had to pay the price
Of ignoring good advice.
For fear that you might share his fate,
Your must learn to discriminate.
Don’t be like Percival McQueen –
An addict of the TV screen.

7. Young Percy’s parents could not get
Their son to leave the TV set.
In fact, it was a common sight,
From five o’clock till late at night,
To see young Percival McQueen
Before the television screen
Questions:
Why is the word Percy’s spelled with an apostrophe?
Why is the word “o’clock” spelled with an apostrophe?
What is the meaning of the word “jot”?
What does the poem mean with the words “you must learn to discriminate”?

8. KENNETH (who was too fond of bubble-gum and met an untimely end) by Wendy Cope
The chief defect of Kenneth Plumb
Was chewing too much bubble-gum.
He chewed away with all his might, Morning, evening, noon and night,
Even (oh, it makes you weep)
Blowing bubbles in his sleep.
He simply couldn’t get enough!
His face was covered with the stuff.

9. As for his teeth — oh, what a sight!
It was a wonder he could bite.
His loving mother and his dad
Both remonstrated with the lad.
Ken repaid them for the trouble
By blowing yet another bubble.
Twas no joke. It isn’t funny
Spending all your pocket money

10. On the day’s supply of gum –
Sometimes Kenny felt quite glum.
As he grew, so did his need –
There seemed no limit to his greed:
At ten he often put away
Ninety seven packs a day.
Then at last he went too far
Sitting in his father’s car,

11. Stuffing gum without a pause,
Found that he had jammed his jaws.
He nudged his dad and pointed to
The mouthful that he couldn’t chew.
‘Well, spit it out if you can’t chew it!’
Ken shook his head. He couldn’t do it.
Before long he began to groan –
The gum was solid as a stone.

12. Dad took him to a builder’s yard;
They couldn’t help. It was too hard. They called a doctor and he said,
‘This silly boy will soon be dead.
His mouth’s so full of bubble-gum
No nourishment can reach his tum.
Remember Ken and please do not
Go buying too much you-know-what.

13. 1. What is the meaning of "defect"?
2. Write down one word for "morning, evening, noon and night"
3. What is the meaning of "remonstrated"?
4. Write down the correct form of the word "Twas"
5. What is the meaning of “glum”?
6. Why did Kenneth feel glum?
7. Why did his dad take him to a builder’s yard?
8. What is nourishment?
9. What do the words “you-know-what” refer to?