Class 9 NCERT Solutions English Chapter 1 - The Fun They Had
The Fun They Had Exercise 10
Solution I-7
Solution II-2
(i) They refers to the students who studied in the old kind of schools centuries before the time the story is set in.
(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.
Solution IV-3
Yes, schools today are more fun than the school in the story. In the story, there is no interaction among students regarding studies. Studying and answering questions seems to be a boring idea. Doing homework without anybody's help and writing them in a punch code would also be draining. Moreover, children develop a better understanding about each other and of their surroundings when they go to a school and interact with each other. It is a healthier way of learning.
Listening to teachers explaining lessons is always more interesting than reading the entire lesson on a mechanical computer. Also, if any student faces any problem with the subject or in homework, he can discuss it with the teacher and other kids. It is impossible to discuss problems and situations with a mechanical teacher that is only programmed to teach in a particular manner.
The excitement of waiting to know the marks scored in exams is greater when one is sitting in a classroom with other students. It does not have the same effect when the marks are calculated immediately after a test has been taken.
Finally, the friends that you make at school are most probably the best friends that you will ever make in your entire life. The various qualities that you learn in school like obedience, respect, kindness for others, sharing , taking part in school games, sports and other activities are all a part of school education today. Therefore, schools today are more fun than the school in the story as they are more interactive. They promote a healthy environment for the students to study and learn.
Solution III-1
Solution III-2
Solution III-3
Solution III-4
Margie was doing badly in geography because the geography sector of the mechanical teacher had been adjusted at a higher level. The County Inspector rightly told her that she could not be blamed for her poor performance. The County Inspector slowed down the geography sector of the mechanical teacher to an average ten-year level. He also told Mrs. Jones that Margie's overall progress pattern was satisfactory.
Solution III-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.
Margie had regular days and hours for school because her mother said that little girls learned better when they learned at regular hours.
Solution III-5
Solution III-7
Solution III-8
He says that the teacher in old times was a man, who taught the students inside a special building. He gave them homework and asked them questions. When Margie said that a man was not smart enough to be a teacher, he contradicted her by saying that his father knew as much as his mechanical teacher.
Solution IV-1
Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. They had large black screens on which all the lessons were shown and questions were asked. They had a slot in which students had to put their homework and test papers. They had to write their answers in a punch code and the mechanical teacher calculated the marks immediately. Their schools were in their homes itself. They did not have any classmates. They learnt geography, history and arithmetic. They had regular days and hours for school. Margie's school was right next to her bedroom. The mechanical teacher always turned on at the same time every day except Saturdays and Sundays because her mother said that little girls learned better when they learned at regular hours.
Solution IV-2
Margie hated school because it was not fun. She had been doing badly in the geography tests that her mechanical teacher had been giving her. When her mother sends for the County Inspector, she hopes that the inspector would take the mechanical teacher away. She is disappointed when the County Inspector manages to assemble all the parts of the mechanical teacher. The part that she hated the most was inserting the homework and test papers in the slot on the mechanical teacher. She did not like the fact that she had to write her answers in a punch code. She thought that the old kind of school must have been fun as she imagined all the 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 and talk about it. Also, the teachers were people. All these aspects made her believe that the old kind of school must have been fun.
Solution I-6
Margie's school was in her home itself. In fact, it was next to her bedroom. There was a mechanical teacher that was large and black and ugly and on whose screen lessons and questions appeared. She had to put her homework and test papers in a particular slot and write the answers in a punch code. The mechanical teacher took no time to calculate her marks.
She did not have any classmates.Solution I-3
Solution I-4
Solution I-5
Solution I-1
Solution II-1
(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. He thought that after reading such books, one would have to throw them away. However, he would never have to throw away his telebooks.
Solution I-2
The Fun They Had Exercise 11
Solution I - 2
- 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.”
- 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.
(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.The Fun They Had Exercise 12
Solution I-3
(iii) merry Merrily (iv) sleepy Sleepily
(v) easy Easily (vi) noisy Noisily
(vii) tidy Tidily (viii) gloomy Gloomily