1. Write a summary
The text “Automatic Upgrade” from 2011 is a short story by Maggie Robb. In “Automatic Upgrade” we are introduced to Ramesh, a 26-year-old Indian boy, who is travelling by plane to Surrey with his grandmother. On the plane, Ramesh tells his grandmother that he is going to quit his career as a doctor to work in the mobile phone business. The grandmother doesn’t take this news very well and she is not satisfied buy his decision. She thinks he is crazy for doing such a thing. Later Ramesh falls asleep on the plane and then wakes up to find his grandmother cold without any pulse and completely lifeless in her seat. The aircrew on the plane shows professionalism and they handle the situation very well, and without a chaos. Ramesh and his grandmother are then automatically upgraded to first class, since this is the normal procedure in a situation like this.
2. Characterize Ramesh
Ramesh is a 24 year-old guy from India. He is a doctor but this is not what he wants to be for his living as this is not is passion. Instead he wants to get into the mobile phone business. However he is afraid to tell this to his grandmother as she is very proud that her grandson is a qualified doctor. The fact that he is afraid to tell his grandmother about his plans shows that Ramesh has respect for his grandmother and he does not want to hurt or disappoint her in any way. At last Ramesh pulls himself together and tells his grandmother about the mobile phone business: “But Nani, I will make much more money in the mobile phone business.” The fact that he mentions the thing about the money shows that he probably would support the family financially. And even though wants to do mobile phone business instead of being a doctor he still wants his grandmother and his family to be proud of him and his life. Ramesh seems to be a caring person, who is responsible, and polite. He also wants to make a good impression on his family, and especially on his Nani.