The Fun They Had Question Answers CBSE Class 9 English

‘The Fun They Had’ NCERT Solutions given here include questions given at the end of the lesson ‘The Fun They Had’ as in the textbook ‘Beehive’ for CBSE Class 9. All the solutions follow CBSE standards.

The Fun They Had: Textbook Exercises

Thinking About Text (Page – 10)

I.  Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

1. How old are Margie and Tommy?

Ans. Margie is eleven and Tommy is thirteen-year-old.

2. What did Margie write in her diary?

Ans. Margie wrote, “Today Tommy found a real book!”.

3. Had Margie ever seen a book before?

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

4. What things about the book did she find strange?

Ans. She found many strange things about the book. The book had yellow and crinkly pages and the words were standing still unlike moving on a screen. When they turned back to the pages read before, there were the same words on it when they read it the first time. All these things were strange for Margie.

5. What do you think a tele book is?

Ans. A book that can be displayed on a screen is called tele book.

6. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?

Ans. Margie’s school was in her home itself, right next to her bedroom. No, she did not have any classmates.

7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?

Ans. Margie and Tommy learned geography, history and arithmetic.

II. Answer the following with reference to the story.

1. “I wouldn’t throw it away.”
(i) Who says these words?
(ii) What does ‘it’ refer to?
(iii) What is it being compared with by the speaker?

Answer

(i) Tommy said these words.
(ii) ‘It’ refers to the television screen, on which you could read over a million books
(iii) Tommy is comparing the television screen to the real books in earlier times in which words were printed on paper.

2. “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”
(i) Who does ‘they’ refer to?
(ii) What does ‘regular’ mean here?
(iii) What is it contrasted with?

Answer

(i) They refer to the students who studied in the old kind of schools.
(ii) Here, ‘regular’ refers to the mechanical teachers that Tommy and Margie had.
(iii) The mechanical teacher is contrasted with the teacher of the earlier times, who was a human being.

III. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?

Ans. Margie and Tommy were taught by mechanical teachers that were big, black, and unattractive. The lessons and questions were displayed on large black screens. The students had to place their homework and tests in a slot, and write their answers in a punch code. The mechanical teachers would then quickly calculate the marks.

2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?

Ans. Margie was given more and more texts by her mechanical teacher and she was not performing up to the mark in her geography tests. So, her mother was worried. She wanted the County Inspector to check if there was some problem with the child or with the virtual teacher

3. What did he do?

Ans. The County Inspector gave Margie an apple and began fixing her mechanical teacher. He took it apart and examined it. Margie wished that the inspector wouldn’t be able to put it back together, but he did. However, he made some changes to the geography section since it was too fast for a ten-year-old like Margie.

4. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?

Ans. Margie was doing badly in geography as the geography sector became too quick for her to follow. Her mental level was not in tune with it. The County Inspector checked and reset the mechanical teacher’s level equal to Margie’s mental level He also told Mrs. Jones that Margie’s overall progress pattern was satisfactory.

5. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?

Ans. Tommy’s teacher developed some snag and its history section was blanked out. So it was taken away for a month for its repair.

6. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?

Ans. Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school. It is evident from the fact that her mother believed that learning at regular hours helped little girls learn better. Margie’s mechanical teacher followed the same schedule, except on weekends.

7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?

Ans. Tommy described old kind of school as a special building where all kids studied together. There were hundreds of students studying and playing together. They used to shout and laugh together in an open yard.

Another Answer:

Tommy shared with Margie some fascinating information about old schools. He explained that these schools were large buildings with many classrooms, where both boys and girls of the same age were educated together. Unlike Margie’s mechanical teacher, real human teachers taught the kids in these schools. The students had fun, played together, and went home together at the end of the day.

8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers?

Ans. Tommy said that the old kind of teachers was men, who taught the students inside a special building. The teachers taught the children in groups and gave them homework and asked them questions.

Another Answer:

Old kind of teachers were human beings. They did not teach in the house but in a building known as school. Children could interact with their teachers and ask questions.

IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100 –150 words).

1. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?

Ans. Margie and Tommy had teachers who were machines. The machines had big black screens that showed all the lessons and asked questions. There was a place where the students had to put their homework and tests. They had to write their answers in a special code and the machine would calculate their marks right away. They went to school at home and didn’t have any classmates. They learned geography, history, and arithmetic. They had a schedule for when they had to go to school. Margie’s school was very close to her bedroom. The machine teacher always turned on at the same time every day, except for Saturdays and Sundays, because Margie’s mother believed that little girls learned better when they had a regular routine.

2. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?

Ans. Margie didn’t enjoy school because it wasn’t fun. She had a mechanical teacher who taught her at the same time every day. Lately, she had been struggling with geography tests from the mechanical teacher. Margie’s mother was unhappy with her performance and called the County Inspector, hoping that the mechanical teacher would be removed. Unfortunately, the Inspector managed to fix the mechanical teacher instead. Margie disliked putting her homework and tests into the machine and writing her answers in code. She wished that school was like the olden days, where all the kids in the neighbourhood went to the same school, played together, and helped each other with their work. Margie believed that having people as teachers and learning together would be more enjoyable.

Another Answer:

Margie didn’t like school because she had a robot teacher at home. She had to do her homework alone in a room and she didn’t like the slot where she had to put her papers. Margie thought that old schools were more fun because students sat together in a classroom, played together outside, and went home together. They all learned the same things and could help each other with homework. Margie believed that children needed company to learn and grow, and if they were alone, they might feel sad and lonely.

3. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. I agree with Margie and think schools nowadays are more enjoyable than the one in the story. In that school, students didn’t interact much and just did boring things like studying and homework. But now, going to school and talking to other kids helps you understand more about them and the world around you, which is a better way of learning.

It’s more interesting to listen to teachers explain things than to read a lesson on a computer. And if you have trouble with something, you can ask your teacher or classmates for help. You can’t do that with a computer teacher.

It’s also more exciting to wait for your exam results when you’re with your classmates in a classroom. It’s not the same when you get your results right after the test.

In school, you make some of the best friends you’ll ever have, and you learn important things like being respectful, kind, and sharing. You also get to participate in fun activities like sports and games. That’s why schools today are more fun and interactive, and they provide a healthy environment for learning.

Another Answer:

I agree with Margie that schools nowadays are more enjoyable compared to the one in the story. In today’s schools, children of the same age attend classes in their local area, they have fun together and socialize in groups. They have friends with whom they can talk and have a good time. Additionally, if they encounter any difficulties with their studies, they can discuss it with each other and find a solution. In contrast, being taught by a robotic teacher can be very dull, and without classmates or friends, school life can be tedious, just like in the story. As a result, learning becomes a burden, and students often struggle to perform well.

Thinking about Language (Page – 11, 12)

1. Find the sentences in the lesson which have the adverbs given in the box below.
Awfully, sorrowfully, completely, loftily, carefully, differently, quickly, nonchalantly

Answer

1. 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.
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.
They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely.
He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, “Centuries ago.”
“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.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Margie said quickly.
“May be,” he said nonchalantly.

Answer in table form:

2. Now use these adverbs to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.
(i) The report must be read _____________ so that performance can be improved.
(ii) At the interview, Sameer answered our questions _____________, shrugging his shoulders.
(iii) We all behave ________________ when we are tired or hungry.
(iv) The teacher shook her head ____________ when Ravi lied to her.
(v) I __________ forgot about it.
(vi) When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled ___________ and turned away.
(vii) The President of the Company is _____________ busy and will not be able to meet you.
(viii) I finished my work __________________ so that I could go out to play.

Answer:

(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. Make adverbs from these adjectives.
(i) angry ___________
(ii) happy __________
(iii) merry___________
(iv) sleepy __________
(v) easy ____________
(vi) noisy ___________
(vii) tidy ___________
(viii) gloomy ________

Answers:

(i) Angrily
(ii) Happily
(iii) Merrily
(iv) Sleepily
(v) Easily
(vi) Noisily
(vii) Tidily
(viii) Gloomily

II. Complete the following conditional sentences. Use the correct form of the verb.

1. If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, __________
2. If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food, __________
3. Unless you promise to write back, I __________
4. If she doesn’t play any games, ___________
5. Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat ___________

Answers:

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.

Writing (Page 12, 13)

A new revised volume of Issac Asimov’s short stories has just been released. Order one set. Write a letter to the publisher, Mindfame Private Limited, 1632 Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi, requesting that a set be sent to you by Value Payable Post (VPP), and giving your address. Your letter will have the following parts.

Answer:

Here the format is given and students can used it by filling in details as they wish fit according to their preferences.

Address:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Country]
Date: [DD/MM/YY]

M/s, Mindfame Private Limited
1632 Asaf Ali Road
New Delhi, India

Subject: request to send us a set of the new volume by Value Payable Post (VPP)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request a set of the newly revised volume of Isaac Asimov’s short stories that has been recently released. I would like to order one set to be sent to me by Value Payable Post (VPP).

I have heard great things about the work of Isaac Asimov and I am excited to read his short stories. I am looking forward to receiving my copy soon.

Please find my address below for the delivery of the set:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Country]

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your assistance in getting the book to me.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Name]

Speaking

In groups of four discuss the following topic.

‘The Schools of the Future Will Have No Books and No Teachers!’

Your group can decide to speak for or against the motion. After this, each group will select a speaker to present its views to the entire class.

You may find the following phrases useful to present your argument in the debate.

• In my opinion . . .
• I/we fail to understand why . . .
• I wholeheartedly support/oppose the view that . . .
• At the outset let me say . . .
• I’d/we’d like to raise the issue of/argue against . . .
• I should like to draw attention to . . .
• My/our worthy opponent has submitted that . . .
• On the contrary . . .
• I firmly reject . . .

Answer:

Here, views of two opposing groups are given as possible discussions that may arise between two groups.

Group 1: Against the motion

In my opinion, the idea that schools of the future will have no books and no teachers is a flawed one. While technology has revolutionized education and made learning more accessible, it cannot replace the role of books and teachers in the learning process.

I fail to understand why we should discard books and teachers altogether. Books provide a wealth of knowledge that can be accessed at any time, and they allow for deep, reflective learning that cannot be achieved through digital platforms alone. Similarly, teachers provide guidance, mentorship, and individualized support to students that is crucial to their academic and personal growth.

I wholeheartedly oppose the view that schools of the future should have no books and no teachers. At the outset, let me say that while technology can be a valuable tool in the classroom, it should not replace the fundamental elements of education.

I’d like to raise the issue of equity and accessibility. Not all students have access to digital devices or high-speed internet, which means that a digital-only education would leave many students behind. Furthermore, some students thrive in traditional learning environments, and taking away books and teachers could hinder their academic progress.

I should like to draw attention to the fact that the skills students need in the 21st century, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, are best developed through a combination of traditional and digital learning methods. Books and teachers provide a foundation of knowledge and human interaction that cannot be replicated by technology alone.

My worthy opponent has submitted that technology is the future of education, but on the contrary, I believe that technology should be used to enhance, not replace, traditional teaching methods. I firmly reject the idea that books and teachers should be discarded in favour of a digital-only education.

Group 2: For the motion

In my opinion, schools of the future should have no books and no teachers. While books and teachers have been a cornerstone of education for centuries, they are no longer the most effective or efficient means of learning in the digital age.

I wholeheartedly support the view that schools of the future should embrace technology and move away from traditional teaching methods. At the outset, let me say that digital learning has many advantages, including increased access to information, personalized learning, and the ability to learn at one’s own pace.

I’d like to raise the issue of the outdated nature of books and the limitations of teachers. Books are static and cannot be updated in real-time, which means that they may contain outdated or incorrect information. Teachers, on the other hand, are limited by their own knowledge and biases, which can hinder a student’s ability to learn and think critically.

I should like to draw attention to the fact that digital learning platforms, such as online courses and educational apps, can provide a more engaging and interactive learning experience. These platforms can also use data analytics to track a student’s progress and provide personalized feedback and support.

My worthy opponent has submitted that books and teachers are crucial to the learning process, but on the contrary, I believe that they are outdated and inefficient in the digital age. Technology can provide a more efficient and effective means of learning, and it is the future of education.

In conclusion, I firmly support the view that schools of the future should have no books and no teachers. By embracing technology and digital learning, we can provide a more engaging, personalized, and effective education for all students.