CG Board Class 10 English Solutions Lesson 5: Unit 2 Reading B: Excuses, Excuses and Excuses (2026-27)

The poem “Excuses, Excuses and Excuses…” written by Gareth Owen is a humorous dialogue between a teacher and a student named Beinkensopp. Beinkensopp is a habitual latecomer and lazy student who invents absurd excuses to avoid school activities, tests, and physical education (PE) classes.

When Beinkensopp arrives late to class, the teacher asks for his excuse. Beinkensopp claims that his grandmother passed away. However, the teacher points out that this is his fourth grandmother to die this term, and curiously, every death occurs on a PE day. When questioned about his absence the previous day, Beinkensopp blames a dentist visit for a toothache to explain missing his Maths test. Finally, when the teacher orders him to line up for PE, Beinkensopp comes up with another set of excuses: he has no kit because it is at home unironed, he couldn’t iron it himself because of a “bad hand,” and his grandmother couldn’t iron it because she is dead. The poem lightheartedly exposes student excuses through witty, short dialogue.

1. PE (Physical Education) – Physical training or sports in school /
2. Kit – Equipment or uniform needed for sports /
3. Bad hand – Pain or injury in the hand /
4. Iron (n) – A heavy metal device used to press clothes /
5. Iron (v) – To press creases out of clothes /
6. Excuse (n) – A reason given to justify a fault or mistake / ,
7. Excuse (v) – To forgive or pardon / ,
8. Upsetting – Causing distress or unhappiness / ,

• English Note: Gareth Owen was born in 1936 in England. He was a distinguished poet, writer, and playwright who won several awards for his poetry and plays written for both children and adults.

Task: Write against each statement whether it is true or false and give reasons for your opinion.

i. Beinkensopp had four grandmothers, all of them were dead.

• Statement: False
• Reason: A person naturally has only two grandmothers. Beinkensopp was fabricating excuses to escape PE classes.

ii. Beinkensopp’s hand was aching and that is why he did not iron the uniform.

• Statement: False
• Reason: He made up the excuse of a “bad hand” simply because he wanted an excuse for not ironing his kit and avoiding PE.

iii. Beinkensopp was afraid of the Maths test so he made an excuse.

• Statement: True
• Reason: He deliberately missed school on the day of the Maths test under the pretext of visiting the dentist.

iv. Beinkensopp did not like physical education and that is why he was always late.

• Statement: True
• Reason: All four of his grandmother “deaths” and his missing kit occurred specifically on PE days.

v. The teacher believed that Beinkensopp was telling the truth about his grandmother.

• Statement: False
• Reason: The teacher knew he was lying and sarcastically remarked that it made “four grandmothers this term”.

Task: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the brackets.

i. As Beinkensopp walked into class, the teacher said, ‘Late again, Beinkensopp?’ The use of the word ‘again’ shows that the teacher was ___________ (surprised/ annoyed/ disappointed) with Beinkensopp.

• Correct Answer: annoyed

ii. Beinkensopp said that his grandmother was ‘seriously dead’ when his teacher asked him why he was late to school. This means that he wanted the teacher to __________ (punish/ believe/ excuse) him.

• Correct Answer: believe

iii. The teacher remarked, ‘that makes four grandmothers this term’. This means that Beinkensopp _____________________ (had four grandmothers/ had been late four times/ had four excuses).

• Correct Answer: had four excuses

iv. Beinkensopp couldn’t iron his shirt because he had a bad hand. Bad hand means ____________ (he was injured/ he ironed badly/ he had dirty hands).

• Correct Answer: he was injured

v. Beinkensopp’s teacher asked him, ‘What’s your excuse this time?’ This means that he believed that Beinkensopp was ____________ (telling the truth/ fooling him/ diverting attention).

• Correct Answer: fooling him

Task: In the table given below write the excuses that Beinkensopp gives and the work that he wants to avoid.

Task: Find other words with which you can replace the underlined words in the given lines.

1. Not my fault, sir

• Replacement Word: mistake / blame
• : Fault : mistake blame

1. She’s seriously dead alright sir.

• Replacement Words: completely (for seriously), truly (for alright)
• : Seriously = completely; Alright = truly

1. I know, it’s very upsetting sir

• Replacement Word: distressing / sad
• : Upsetting : distressing sad

1. I’d been looking forward to it, sir.

• Replacement Word: eagerly awaiting / expecting
• : Looking forward to : eagerly awaiting

1. Bad hand sir.

• Replacement Word: injured / paining
• : Bad hand : injured hand

Task: ‘Upsetting’ is a word used by Beinkensopp to explain his situation. Give three more words to describe the feelings of Beinkensopp and his teacher.

• Beinkensopp’s Feelings:

1. Careless
2. Unapologetic
3. Crafty / Cunning

• Teacher’s Feelings:

1. Annoyed
2. Suspicious / Skeptical
3. Frustrated

Task: Find out short rhetoric expressions used in the poem where words are omitted.

• Line in poem: “Grandma’s, sir” (used instead of “It is Grandma’s fault, sir”).
• Other short expressions found in the poem:

1. “None sir.” (used instead of “I have no grandmothers left, sir”)
2. “All dead sir” (used instead of “All of my grandmothers are dead, sir”)
3. “Not ironed sir.” (used instead of “My kit is not ironed, sir”)
4. “Can’t sir.” (used instead of “I cannot do it, sir”)
5. “No kit sir.” (used instead of “I have not brought my kit, sir”)
6. “Bad hand sir.” (used instead of “I have an injured hand, sir”)

Poem Text:

“I tried to do my homework / but a show was on TV. / A song was on the radio. / A friend was texting me. / My email chimed, and so, of course, / I had to look at that. / It linked me to a video / of someone’s silly cat. / I watched a dozen videos, / and then I played a game. / I almost didn’t hear her / when my mother called my name. / I looked up at the clock / and it was time to go to bed. / I didn’t get my homework done; / just other stuff instead. / I hope my teacher listens / to the cause of my inaction. / It’s really not my fault the world / is just one big distraction.”

Questions & Answers based on Practice Poem: