CBSE Class 9 English Chapter 4: A Truly Beautiful Mind NCERT Solutions
This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English, Chapter 4, "A Truly Beautiful Mind." It covers extract-based and short answer questions related to Albert Einstein's early life, his personal relationships, his views on education, and his later advocacy for peace. The solutions explain his interactions with his headmaster, his mother's influence on his musical pursuits, his relationship with Mileva Marie, and his concerns about nuclear weapons and world government. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the chapter, understand Einstein's character, and prepare effectively for their CBSE examinations by offering clear, concise, and well-explained answers.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 9 |
| Subject | English |
| Session | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Type | NCERT Solutions |
| Chapter | 4. A Truly Beautiful Mind |
Chapter summary
Chapter 4, "A Truly Beautiful Mind," delves into the early life and humanitarian concerns of Albert Einstein. The NCERT Solutions cover his school experiences, his relationship with Mileva Marie, and his profound thoughts on world peace and governance. The questions focus on interpreting passages, understanding character motivations, and identifying key events and concepts discussed in the chapter, providing students with a solid foundation for exam preparation.
Learning outcomes
- Understand Albert Einstein's early life and educational experiences.
- Analyze Einstein's personal relationships and their significance.
- Explain Einstein's views on education and his conflicts with the school system.
- Identify Einstein's humanitarian concerns and his advocacy for peace.
- Interpret passages to answer specific questions about Einstein's life and work.
- Define vocabulary words in the context of the chapter.
Topics covered
Paper topics
- Albert Einstein's early life
- Einstein's views on education
- Einstein's relationship with Mileva Marie
- Einstein's advocacy for peace
- World government
- Passage interpretation
- Vocabulary in context
- Einstein's personality
- Einstein's musical talent
- Einstein's humanitarianism
Important topics
- Einstein's early struggles with education
- The significance of Mileva Marie in Einstein's life
- Einstein's transition from scientist to peace advocate
- His views on societal and political issues
- Understanding character and motivation
PDF preview
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Questions and Solutions
Question 1
(i) What was the headmaster's opinion about Einstein's future success?
(ii) Why did Einstein learn to play the violin?
(iii) Find a word from the passage that means "having great natural ability".
(i) The headmaster believed that Einstein would not be successful in any career he chose, expressing doubt about his future achievements.
(ii) Einstein learned to play the violin at the age of six primarily to fulfill his mother's wish and desire for him to learn the instrument.
(iii) The word from the passage that means "having great natural ability" is gifted.
Question 2
(i) What did Einstein write and to whom?
(ii) Why did he write a letter to Roosevelt earlier?
(iii) Find the word from the extract that means – "a long and official letter".
(i) Einstein wrote a public missive (a formal letter or message) to the United Nations, proposing the establishment of a world government.
(ii) He had previously written a letter to Roosevelt to warn him about the immense destructive power of a new type of bomb, stating that a single bomb could potentially destroy an entire area and its surroundings.
(iii) The word from the extract that means "a long and official letter" is missive.
Question 3
(i) Name the "pair" referred to in the above lines.
(ii) What happened to their marriage?
(iii) Which word from the extract means "became weak"?
(i) The "pair" referred to in the lines is Albert Einstein and Mileva Marić.
(ii) After a few years of marriage, their relationship began to weaken and eventually faltered, indicating it was not successful.
(iii) The word from the extract that means "became weak" is faltered.
Question 4
(i) Who is referred to as the "clever creature" and "young Serb" in the passage?
(ii) Why did the young Serb come to Switzerland?
(iii) What was the attitude of Einstein towards the young Serb? OR (i) Who felt special interest in Mileva Marie and why?
(ii) Why did Mileva Marie come to Switzerland?
(iii) Which word in the passage means "softness"?
(i) The "clever creature" and "young Serb" referred to in the passage is Mileva Marie, a fellow student of Einstein.
(ii) The young Serb came to Switzerland because the University in Zurich was one of the few universities in Europe that offered degrees to women.
(iii) Einstein felt a special interest in Mileva Marie, viewing her as an ally against the "philistines" (people he disagreed with) in his family and university. He was attracted to her intelligence. OR (i) Albert Einstein felt a special interest in Mileva Marie because he considered her to be a "clever creature" and found her intellectually stimulating.
(ii) Mileva Marie came to Switzerland because the University of Zurich was among the limited institutions in Europe that provided degrees to women.
(iii) The word in the passage that means "softness" is tenderness. (Note: The source text incorrectly states 'tenderness' for 'philistines'. The correct word for 'softness' is not present in the provided text snippet. However, adhering to the source's provided answer, 'tenderness' is listed.)
Question 1
People called Einstein a world citizen because he actively campaigned for peace and democracy. He was also deeply concerned and agitated about the proliferation of arms and the devastating impact of bombs, particularly after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Question 2
Albert Einstein left his school because he was unhappy with the prevailing education system, which he found to be too rigid and stifling. He felt suffocated by the strict regimentation and lack of intellectual freedom, which made him uncomfortable and prompted his departure.
Question 3
Einstein disliked school primarily due to its extreme emphasis on discipline and regimentation. He found the atmosphere suffocating and felt tired by the rigid structure. This often led to clashes with his teachers, as he struggled to conform to the school's strict environment.
Question 4
The world remembers Einstein as a world citizen because of his profound humanitarian concerns. He was deeply affected by the mass destruction caused by the atomic bombings in Japan and subsequently dedicated himself to advocating for peace and democracy, working for the betterment of humanity.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the reasons for Einstein leaving school with general dislike.
- Misinterpreting the significance of his relationship with Mileva Marie.
- Failing to connect his scientific genius with his later humanitarian efforts.
- Not understanding the context of his letter to the UN versus his letter to Roosevelt.
Revision tips
- Reread the chapter carefully, paying attention to details about Einstein's early life.
- Focus on understanding the motivations behind Einstein's actions and beliefs.
- Practice answering extract-based questions by identifying key information in the passage.
- Review the definitions of vocabulary words used in the chapter and their context.
- Connect Einstein's scientific achievements with his role as a 'world citizen'.
Practice MCQs
Q1. What was the headmaster's opinion about Einstein's future success?
Explanation: The headmaster believed Einstein would not succeed in any profession, as stated in the passage.
Q2. Why did Einstein learn to play the violin?
Explanation: Einstein began learning the violin at the age of six because his mother desired him to.
Q3. What did Einstein propose in his public missive to the United Nations?
Explanation: Einstein's public letter to the UN suggested the establishment of a world government.
Q4. Who is referred to as a 'clever creature' and 'young Serb' in the passage?
Explanation: Mileva Marie, a fellow student, is described by Einstein as a 'clever creature' and is identified as a 'young Serb'.
Q5. Why did Mileva Marie come to Switzerland?
Explanation: She came to Switzerland because the University of Zurich was one of the few European institutions that allowed women to pursue degrees.
Q6. What does the word 'faltered' mean in the context of the marriage?
Explanation: In the context of the marriage, 'faltered' means that it began to fail or become unsuccessful.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chapter 4 of the Class 9 English NCERT book about?
Chapter 4, 'A Truly Beautiful Mind,' focuses on the life and personality of Albert Einstein, particularly his early experiences, relationships, and his later role as a humanitarian and advocate for peace.
What kind of questions are covered in these NCERT Solutions?
These solutions provide answers to extract-based questions, requiring students to interpret passages, and short answer questions that delve into Einstein's life, motivations, and contributions.
How do these solutions help in exam preparation?
The solutions offer clear, concise, and well-explained answers to the chapter's questions, helping students understand the key concepts, characters, and themes, thereby aiding in effective revision for their exams.
What does the chapter reveal about Einstein's early education?
The chapter highlights Einstein's dissatisfaction with the rigid and authoritarian system of his school, which led him to leave it, as he felt stifled by its strict discipline.
What was Einstein's role as a 'world citizen'?
Einstein was remembered as a world citizen because he actively campaigned for peace and democracy, and expressed deep concern over the destructive potential of nuclear weapons, especially after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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