The fun They had Questions Answers F9I5J4 | Class 9 Chapter 1 Questions Answers

The Fun They had Questions and Answers F9I5J4

The Fun They Had Short Summary:

"The Fun They Had" is a short story by Isaac Asimov that explores the theme of education and its evolution. Set in the future, it follows two children, Margie and Tommy, who discover an old book about school from the past. Margie is unhappy with her automated school experience, where she learns through a mechanical teacher and has no human interaction. In contrast, the story depicts a time when children attended school together, enjoyed lessons, and engaged with their teachers. As Margie reflects on the past, she longs for the social aspects of traditional schooling, realizing that learning can be more enjoyable and meaningful when shared with others. The story raises questions about the impact of technology on education and the importance of human connection in the learning process.

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

1. How old are Margie and Tommy?

• Margie is 11 years old, and Tommy is 13.

2. What did Margie write in her diary?

• Margie wrote, "Today Tommy found a real book!"

3. Had Margie ever seen a book before?

• No, Margie had never seen a real printed book before. She had only seen tale books.

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

• Margie found it strange that the words on the pages didn’t change and that the book had to be thrown away after reading, unlike the tale books that could be read again and again on a screen.

5. What do you think a telebook is?

• A telebook is an electronic book that appears on a screen, where the text can be scrolled or changed as needed.

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

• Margie’s school was in her house, in a room next to her bedroom. She did not have classmates, as each child was taught individually by a mechanical teacher.

7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?

• Margie and Tommy learned subjects like 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?

• Tommy says these words.

(ii) What does 'it' refer to?

• 'It' refers to the book Tommy found.

(iii) What is it being compared with by the speaker?

• Tommy is comparing the printed book with a telebook, which doesn't need to be thrown away and can be reused.

2. "Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn't a regular teacher. It was a man."

(i) Who does 'they' refer to?

• 'They' refers to the children from the past who went to schools with human teachers.

(ii) What does 'regular' mean here?

• 'Regular' refers to the mechanical teacher that Margie and Tommy are used to.

(iii) What is it contrasted with?

• It is contrasted with human teachers from the old days.

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

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

• Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers, which were computerized systems designed to teach each child individually. These teachers delivered lessons on different subjects and graded assignments.

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

• Margie's mother sent for the County Inspector because Margie was struggling with geography, and her mechanical teacher seemed to be malfunctioning, making the subject too difficult for her.

3. What did he do?

• The County Inspector adjusted the mechanical teacher’s geography sector, slowing it down to Margie’s level, as it had been set too fast for her to understand.

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

• Margie was doing badly in geography because the machine was giving her lessons that were too advanced. The County Inspector slowed down the lessons to fit Margie’s level of understanding.

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

• Once, Tommy's mechanical teacher had malfunctioned, and it had to be taken away for almost a month to be repaired.

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

• Yes, Margie had regular school hours every day, except on weekends. Her mother believed that learning should be done at the same time every day for discipline and proper routine.

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

• Tommy describes the old kind of school as a large building where all the kids went together, learned the same things, and were taught by human teachers.

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

• Tommy describes the old teachers as humans who taught the students in person, unlike the mechanical teachers they have now. He finds it surprising that people taught in schools.

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?

• The mechanical teachers in the story are computerized systems that teach children individually at their homes. They are programmed with lessons for each subject, which they deliver on a screen, and they assign and grade homework automatically. Each child has a personalized learning experience, with lessons tailored to their individual levels. The mechanical teachers are always on time, never tired, and can be repaired if they malfunction. The schoolroom for Margie is just a room in her house with a desk and the mechanical teacher. There are no classmates, no physical interaction with other students, and no variation in teaching style, as everything is automated and pre-programmed.

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

• Margie hated school because it was lonely, repetitive, and mechanical. Her lessons were delivered by a machine, which lacked any personal connection. When her geography lessons became too difficult, Margie struggled and grew frustrated. She missed the idea of learning in a group with other children, which was absent in her schooling experience. Margie thought the old kind of school, where children learned together in a classroom with a human teacher, must have been fun. She imagined it as a place where students could interact, laugh, and play with one another, making the learning process more enjoyable compared to the solitary, machine-driven education she had.

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

• Yes, schools today are more fun compared to the school in the story. Modern schools allow students to interact with their classmates, build friendships, and engage in group activities, which makes learning more enjoyable and social. Unlike Margie’s mechanical teacher, human teachers can understand emotions, adapt their teaching methods, and create a lively atmosphere in the classroom. Schools today also offer extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and clubs, which add to the fun and provide a well-rounded experience. While technology is integrated into modern classrooms, it is used to complement human teaching, rather than replace it entirely, creating a more balanced educational environment.

Thinking about Language - Adverbs

1. Find the sentences in the lesson that have the adverbs given in the box below:

• Awfully: "They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly."

• Sorrowfully: "Margie was thinking about the old schools they had when her mother called her to school. She said sorrowfully, 'I guess not.'"

• Completely: "They had once taken Tommy's teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely."

• Loftily: "He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, 'Centuries ago.'"

• Carefully: "He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, 'Centuries ago.'"

• 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."

• Quickly: "Margie quickly asked, 'What’s it about?'"

• Nonchalantly: "‘Maybe,’ he said nonchalantly."

2. Now use these adverbs to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct adverbs from the box:

(i) Question: The report must be read _______ so that performance can be improved.
Answer: The report must be read carefully so that performance can be improved.

(ii) Question: At the interview, Sameer answered our questions _______ shrugging his shoulders.
Answer: At the interview, Sameer answered our questions nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

(iii) Question: We all behave _______ when we are tired or hungry.
Answer: We all behave differently when we are tired or hungry.

(iv) Question: The teacher shook her head _______ when Ravi lied to her.
Answer: The teacher shook her head sorrowfully when Ravi lied to her.

(v) Question: I _______ forgot about it.
Answer: I completely forgot about it.

(vi) Question: When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled _______ and turned away.
Answer: When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled loftily and turned away.

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

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

Remember: An adverb describes action. You can form adverbs by adding -ly to adjectives. Spelling Note: When an adjective ends in -y, the y changes to i when you add -ly to form an adverb. For example angr-y → angr-i-ly

3. 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. If Not and Unless

Complete the following conditional sentences:

1. If I don't go to Anu's party tonight, I will miss all the fun.

2. If you don't telephone the hotel to order food, you will not have dinner on time.

3. Unless you promise to write back, I won't send you the photos.

4. If she doesn't play any games, she won't stay physically fit.

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

Writing: Letter to the Publisher

Write a letter to the publisher requesting a set of Issac Asimov's short stories to be sent to you by Value Payable Post (VPP):

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State, Postal Code]

[Date]

The Publisher

Mindfame Private Limited

1632 Asaf Ali Road

New Delhi, India

Subject: Request for a set of Isaac Asimov's Short Stories via VPP

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request a set of the newly revised volume of Isaac Asimov’s short stories that have recently been released. I would like to have it sent to my address through Value Payable Post (VPP). Kindly dispatch the set at your earliest convenience.

Here is my shipping address:

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State, Postal Code]

I look forward to receiving the book soon. Please let me know if any additional information is required.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Debate Topic: "The Schools of the Future Will Have No Books and No Teachers!"

Speaking for the Motion:

• In my opinion, the schools of the future will be driven by advanced technology, making traditional books and teachers obsolete. With the rise of digital learning platforms and artificial intelligence, education can be customized for each student.

• I wholeheartedly support the view that mechanical teachers and telebooks will provide efficient and accessible learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace.

• I'd like to raise the issue of how technology has already transformed many aspects of education. With online resources, students can learn from anywhere in the world, accessing a wide range of information without needing physical books.

• On the contrary, traditional teaching methods can sometimes be limiting. Technology offers interactive and engaging ways of learning, making education more effective and personalized.

Speaking against the Motion:

• At the outset let me say that I firmly believe schools need both teachers and books. Human teachers offer guidance, emotional support, and motivation that technology cannot replace.

• I/we fail to understand why anyone would think that technology can fully replace the human touch in education. Teachers inspire creativity, critical thinking, and emotional development, which are essential for students.

• I should like to draw attention to the fact that physical books and human interaction play a crucial role in fostering social skills, discipline, and collaboration in students. Removing them would limit the development of well-rounded individuals.

• I firmly reject the notion that technology alone can provide a complete education. While it is a valuable tool, it cannot replicate the experience of learning from a real teacher or the joy of holding and reading a book.