NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 1 - The Fun They Had

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Answer:

Yes, I have read e-texts on the computer screen.

Now-a-days, most of the books can also be read online. It can be foreseen that in the future, online and electronic texts shall replace the printed books.

I think such books are better in some respects because, through them, we can extend our scope of knowledge. These books are durable and environment friendly. They do not damage the forest cover of our planet. However, learning without reading from the printed books can turn it into a mechanical activity.

(A model answer has been provided for students' reference. It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer based on their own experience and understanding.)

Answer:

Directions for activity: The answer is to be calculated by deducting the present date from the date of Margie's diary entry, i.e. 17 May 2157. If the present date is 17 June 2013, the answer will be 143 years and 11 months. Hence, for this particular date, the answer to this question will be as follows:

Margie's diary entry is 143 years and 11 months ahead from now.

1. Margie is eleven while Tommy is thirteen years old.

2. Margie wrote in her diary, “Today Tommy found a real book!”

3. No, Margie had never seen a book before.

4. Margie found it strange that the words printed on a book stood still instead of moving the way they did on a screen. She also found it odd that the words on a page always remained the same as the first time they were read. Besides, the idea that someone would write a book about schools was itself strange for Margie.

5. A telebook is a book that can be read on screen. Words move on the screen for the readers to read.

6. Margie’s school was in her home itself, right next to her bedroom.

No, she did not have any classmates.

7. Margie and Tommy learnt geography, history and arithmetic.

Answer:

1.

(i) Tommy says these words.

(ii) ‘It’ refers to the television screen.

(iii) Tommy is comparing the television screen with printed books of the earlier times.

2.

(i) The word ‘they’ refers to the students who studied in the old kind of schools, centuries before the time the story is set in.

(ii) Here, the term ‘regular’ refers to the mechanical teachers that Tommy and Margie has.

(iii) The mechanical teacher is contrasted with the teacher of the earlier times, who was a man.

Answer:

1. Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers with large black screens that flashed lessons and questions. These teachers had slots where the students had to put their homework and test papers.

2. Margie had been consistently failing to perform well in the geography tests given by her mechanical teacher. In order to find out the reason behind this, her mother sent for the County Inspector.

3. The County Inspector took apart the teacher and after examining it, assembled it again. He slowed up the geography sector of the teacher because it was 'geared up a little too quick' for an average ten-year old.

4. Margie was doing badly in geography because the geography sector of the mechanical teacher had been adjusted at a higher level.

In order to help her, the County Inspector slowed down this sector to an average ten-year level.

5. Once, Tommy’s teacher was taken away for nearly a month because its history sector had blanked out completely.

6. Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school. The mechanical teacher always turned on at the same time every day except Saturdays and Sundays. This was because her mother believed that learning at regular hours helped little girls learn better.

7. Tommy says that the old kind of school existed 'centuries ago'. They had a teacher, who was a man. This teacher taught in a special building, where all the kids assembled and learned the same things according to their respective ages.

8. Tommy says that the teacher of the old kind were men, who taught the students inside a special building. The teachers taught the children in groups and gave them homework and asked them questions.

Answer:

1. Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. These teachers were basically large black screens on which the lessons were shown and questions were asked. These teachers were adjusted according to the age and potential of the student concerned. They had a slot in which the students had to put their homework and test papers. The mechanical teacher immediately calculated the marks for the answers written in punch codes by the students. However, these teachers were prone to technical and mechanical failure and troubles.

Their schools were in their homes itself. In fact, Margie’s school was right next to her bedroom. Students did not have classmates. They had regular days and hours for school. The mechanical teacher always turned on at the same time every day except Saturdays and Sundays.

2. Margie hated school because it was not fun. She hated the large black screen and the way she had to insert the homework and test papers in the slot on the mechanical teacher. She disliked fact that she had to write her answers in a punch code. Besides, her hatred for school was amplified by her failure to fare well in the geography tests given by her mechanical teacher.

Margie imagined the old kind of school with kids from the entire neighbourhood coming together, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard. She imagined that they would sit together in the classroom and go home together at the end of the day. They would learn the same things and could help one another with the homework. Also, the teachers were people, making the learning process more interactive. All these aspects made her believe that the old kind of school must have been fun.

3. Yes, I agree that schools today are more fun than the school in the story. Studying and answering questions seems to be a boring idea without the presence of classmates. Writing homework in punch codes and that too without anybody’s help would be draining. Children develop a better understanding about each other and their surroundings when they go to a school and interact with others.

Human teachers are people are more understanding and accommodating than mechanical ones that are programmed to teach in a specific way. The excitement in waiting for the marks scored in exams is greater when one is sitting in a classroom with fellow students. It does not have the same effect when marks are calculated immediately after a test has been taken. Therefore, schools today are more fun than the school in the story as they are more interactive and promote a healthier way of learning.

Answer:

1. (i) Awfully

They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to − on a screen, you know.

(ii) Sorrowfully

The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the County Inspector.

(iii) Completely

They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely.

(iv) Loftily

He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, “Centuries ago.”

(v) Carefully

He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, “Centuries ago.”

(vi) Differently

“But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently.”

(vii) Quickly

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Margie said quickly.

(viii) Nonchalantly

“May be,” he said nonchalantly.

2. (i) The report must be read carefully so that performance can be improved.

(ii) At the interview, Sameer answered our questions loftily, shrugging his shoulders.

(iii) We all behave differently when we are tired or hungry.

(iv) The teacher shook her head sorrowfully when Ravi lied to her.

(v) I completely forgot about it.

(vi) When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled nonchalantly and turned away.

(vii) The President of the Company is awfully busy and will not be able to meet you.

(viii) I finished my work quickly so that I could go out to play.

3.

(i)	angry	Angrily	(ii)	happy	Happily
(iii)	merry	Merrily	(iv)	sleepy	Sleepily
(v)	easy	Easily	(vi)	noisy	Noisily
(vii)	tidy	Tidily	(viii)	gloomy	Gloomily

Answer:

1. If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, she will be angry.

2. If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food, you will miss your evening meal.

3. Unless you promise to write back, I will not write to you.

4. If she doesn’t play any games, she will become dull and lazy.

5. Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat will pounce on it.

Answer:

House no. 23

Tilak Nagar

Delhi- 95

12 December 2013

The Publisher

Mindfame Private Limited

1632, Asaf Ali Road

New Delhi

Sir,

Subject: Order for one set of Isaac Asimov's revised volume of short stories

This is to place an order for one set of Isaac Asimov's revised volume of short stories that has been recently released. The details of the required book have been given below:

Enclosed is a demand draft of Rupees three hundred and fifty five only, which includes the VPP charges. I shall appreciate your prompt delivery by VPP at the address mentioned above.

Yours sincerely,

Pulkit Rana.

Answer:

(This is a creative exercise meant to be done by the students through discussions in class. However, a few pointers are being given below that may help in framing your arguments.)

For

-with advancement in science and technology, education system would change

- books replaced by electronic texts

- paper-free books help in controlling the loss of forest cover

- electronic books are more durable

- regular timings for schools will make students more disciplined

- no transportation required; schools in homes itself

- mechanical teachers can be adjusted according to the potential of each individual children

Against

- personal interaction with teachers and fellow students will be lost

- this will result in reduction of social activity

- no extracurricular activities

- too much dependent on technology will make the learning process mechanical

- health problems due to extensive use of computers

- aesthetic pleasure associated with books will be lost