Do you know anyone who always disagrees with you or your friends, or likes to do the opposite of what everyone thinks they should do? Think of a word to describe such a person. Discuss with your partner some of the things such a person generally does.
Now read the poem.

When everybody has short hair, The rebel lets his hair grow long.
When everybody has long hair, The rebel cuts his hair short.

When everybody talks during the lesson, The rebel doesn’t say a word.
When nobody talks during the lesson, The rebel creates a disturbance.

When everybody wears a uniform, The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes.
When everybody wears fantastic clothes, The rebel dresses soberly.

In the company of dog lovers, The rebel expresses a preference for cats.
In the company of cat lovers, The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.

When everybody is praising the sun, The rebel remarks on the need for rain.
When everybody is greeting the rain, The rebel regrets the absence of sun.

When everybody goes to the meeting, The rebel stays at home and reads a book.
When everybody stays at home and reads a book, The rebel goes to the meeting.

When everybody says, Yes please, The rebel says, No thank you.
When everybody says, No thank you, The rebel says, Yes please.

It is very good that we have rebels.
You may not find it very good to be one.

Working with the Poem

1. Answer the following questions.

(i) If someone doesn’t wear a uniform to school, what do you think the teacher will say?
(ii) When everyone wants a clear sky, what does the rebel want most?
(iii) If the rebel has a dog for a pet, what is everyone else likely to have?
(iv) Why is it good to have rebels?
(v) Why is it not good to be a rebel oneself?
(vi) Would you like to be a rebel? If yes, why? If not, why not?

2. Find in the poem an antonym (a word opposite in meaning) for each of the following words.

(i) long $\quad \quad \quad \quad $ ________________
(ii) grow $\quad \quad \quad \quad $ ________________
(iii) quietness $\quad \quad $ ________________
(iv) sober $\quad \quad \quad$ ________________
(v) lost $\quad \quad \quad\quad$ ________________

3. Find in the poem lines that match the following. Read both one after the other.

(i) The rebel refuses to cut his hair.
(ii) He says cats are better.
(iii) He recommends dogs.
(iv) He is unhappy because there is no sun.
(v) He is noisy on purpose.

Tutor Tooted

A Tutor who tooted a flute
Tried to tutor two tooters to toot.
Said the two to their tutor,
“Is it harder to toot
Or to tutor two tooters to toot?”