NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 1: The Fun They Had
I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.
- How old are Margie and Tommy?
Ans: Tommy is thirteen years old, and Margie is eleven years old. - What did Margie write in her diary?
Ans: Margie wrote in her diary that Tommy found a real book today. - Had Margie ever seen a book before?
Ans: No, Margie used to study from a telebook and had never seen a real book before. - What things about the book did she find strange?
Ans: Margie found it strange that the words in the book stayed the same and the pages didn’t change like the screens they read from. - What do you think a telebook is?
Ans: A telebook is a digital version of a book that is read on a screen. - Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?
Ans: Margie studied at home, next to her bedroom. No, she didn’t have any classmates. - What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?
Ans: Margie and Tommy studied history, geography, and arithmetic.
II. Answer the following with reference to the story.
- “I wouldn’t throw it away.”
(i) Who says these words?
Ans: Tommy says these words.
(ii) What does ‘it’ refer to?
Ans: ‘It’ refers to the television screen.
(iii) What is it being compared with by the speaker?
Ans: Tommy is comparing the digital class with the real book he found. - “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”
(i) Who does ‘they’ refer to?
Ans: ‘They’ refers to the children who studied in the old times and attended school.
(ii) What does ‘regular’ mean here?
Ans: ‘Regular’ means the mechanical teachers that Tommy and Margie had.
(iii) What is it contrasted with?
Ans: It is contrasted with human teachers of the past.
III. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
- What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?
Ans: Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers who taught digitally through screens in rooms next to their bedrooms. Their lessons were monotonous, and they had to submit homework through slots. - Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?
Ans: Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector because Margie was performing poorly in geography and needed the mechanical teacher checked for adjustments. - What did he do?
Ans: The County Inspector examined the mechanical teacher, adjusted it to suit Margie’s level, and reassured her mother that Margie’s progress was satisfactory. - Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Ans: Margie was doing badly because her mechanical teacher was too fast in geography. The Inspector slowed down the lessons to match an average ten-year-old’s level. - What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
Ans: Tommy’s teacher had once blanked out completely, which caused a disruption in his lessons. - Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
Ans: Yes, Margie had a regular school schedule. Her mother believed that learning at regular intervals was beneficial for children, with classes at the same time each day. - How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?
Ans: Tommy described the old school as a special building where children gathered to study together, with many students attending every day. - How does he describe the old kind of teachers?
Ans: Tommy explained that in the past, children were taught by human teachers in groups, receiving homework and tests that were evaluated by these teachers.
IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).
- What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?
Ans: Margie and Tommy’s schoolrooms are equipped with mechanical teachers that provide lessons digitally. The classroom consists of a large black screen that displays lessons and assessments. Students interact with the teacher by inserting homework and tests through slots. They study subjects like history, arithmetic, and geography, but the routine is rigid and unexciting, leading to boredom. Classes occur at fixed times every day except weekends. This system lacks the interactive and engaging aspects of traditional schooling, making it less enjoyable for the children. - Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
Ans: Margie disliked school because it was monotonous, with her mechanical teacher giving repetitive tests that led to frustration. Her poor performance in geography added to her dissatisfaction, and she wished for a more engaging learning experience. Margie believed the old schools would have been fun, imagining children studying together in a lively environment where they could interact and play. The thought of human teachers being more personable and creating a dynamic classroom atmosphere made her long for that experience. - Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: Yes, I agree with Margie that modern schools are more enjoyable compared to the mechanical schooling depicted in the story. Today’s educational system promotes interaction, teamwork, and creativity, allowing students to engage with peers and teachers in meaningful ways. Activities like group discussions, sports, and projects create a lively atmosphere that enhances learning. Moreover, the emphasis on emotional and social development in contemporary education fosters empathy and collaboration among students. This dynamic environment not only makes learning enjoyable but also prepares children for real-world challenges, contrasting sharply with the dull, isolated experience Margie and Tommy faced.
Thinking about Language
- Find the sentences in the lesson which have the adverbs given in the box below.
- Awfully: “…it was awfully funny to read words that stood still…”
- Sorrowfully: “…her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully…”
- Completely: “…the history sector had blanked out completely.”
- Loftily: “He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully…”
- Carefully: “He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully…”
- Differently: “…each kid has to be taught differently.”
- Quickly: “I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Margie said quickly.
- Nonchalantly: “…he said nonchalantly.”
- Now use these adverbs to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.
(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. - Make adverbs from these adjectives.
(i) angry → Angrily
(ii) happy → Happily
(iii) merry → Merrily
(iv) sleepy → Sleepily
(v) easy → Easily
(vi) noisy → Noisily
(vii) tidy → Tidily
(viii) gloomy → Gloomily
II. Complete the following conditional sentences. Use the correct form of the verb.
- If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, she will be angry.
- If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food, you will miss your evening meal.
- Unless you promise to write back, I will not write to you.
- If she doesn’t play any games, she will become dull and lazy.
- Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat will pounce on it.
Writing: Formal Letter
Your address
A56, South City II,
Sohna Road,
Gurugram, Haryana.
Date
29/08/21
The addressee’s address
Mind Fame Private Limited,
1632 Asaf Ali Road,
New Delhi.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request a copy of the newly revised volume of Isaac Asimov’s short stories. I am an avid reader and greatly admire Asimov’s work.
I would appreciate it if you could send me a set by Value Payable Post (VPP) at the address mentioned above. Please let me know the total cost, including shipping.
Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your prompt response.
Yours sincerely,
Anupama Sharma
Clear Your Doubts with CBSEJanta.com 🔍
Visit CBSEJanta.com to access detailed solutions for every chapter in your Class 9 English textbook! 📚 These solutions not only help you answer questions but also enhance your overall understanding of stories and grammar concepts. 💡
Download Our App for Easy Access 📱
Want to study on the go? 🚀 Download our app for instant access to Class 9 English NCERT solutions, practice questions, and much more! Whether at home or traveling, you can easily prepare for your exams and boost your English skills with CBSEJanta.com. 🌍
Always Thinks for Students ❤️
“Excel in Class 9th English with CBSEJanta.com! 🌟 Get FREE NCERT solutions for beehive and Moments. Visit CBSEJanta.com now or download our app for instant access to solutions and extra practice!” 📲