CBSE Class 9 English Chapter 1: The Fun They Had NCERT Solutions
This resource provides comprehensive NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 9 English, Chapter 1, 'The Fun They Had'. It covers extract-based questions, requiring students to analyze passages and answer specific queries about characters, settings, and plot points. The solutions also address short answer questions, focusing on key details like the nature of the old book, the differences between past and future schools, and Margie's feelings about her mechanical teacher. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the story's themes of technological advancement versus traditional learning and social interaction. By offering clear, step-by-step explanations and precise answers, these NCERT Solutions aid students in their exam preparation and revision, ensuring a thorough understanding of the chapter's content and literary elements.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 9 |
| Subject | English |
| Session | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Type | NCERT Solutions |
| Chapter | 1. The Fun They Had |
Chapter summary
NCERT Solutions for 'The Fun They Had' (Class 9 English) focuses on understanding the narrative through extract-based and short answer questions. It delves into the contrast between futuristic, technology-driven education and traditional schooling. Key aspects covered include the discovery of a real book, the concept of mechanical teachers, and Margie's longing for a more interactive, social learning environment. These solutions help students analyze the story's themes and characters.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the contrast between traditional and futuristic schools as depicted in the story.
- Analyze character motivations and reactions, particularly Margie's and Tommy's.
- Identify and explain key vocabulary and phrases from the text.
- Answer comprehension questions based on provided extracts.
- Summarize the main plot points and themes of 'The Fun They Had'.
Topics covered
Paper topics
- The Fun They Had
- Margie and Tommy
- Mechanical Teachers
- Futuristic Education
- Traditional Schools
- Extract Based Questions
- Short Answer Questions
- Vocabulary from the text
- Character Analysis
- Themes of the story
Important topics
- Comparison of old and future schools
- Role of mechanical teachers
- Margie's feelings about school
- Understanding extract-based questions
- Key vocabulary and their meanings
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Questions and Solutions
Extract Based Questions (3 marks each)
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Q.1. "Today Tommy found a real book!"
It was a very old book. Margie's grandfather once said that when he was a little boy his grandfather told him that there was a time when all stories were printed on paper.
(i) The old book was found by ......
(ii) Margie was surprised to see the book because .........
(iii) Pick out a word from the following which means 'small':
- old (b) once (c) little (d) very
Solution:
(i) The old book was discovered by Tommy.
(ii) Margie was surprised because she had never seen a real book with printed pages before; her experience was with telebooks on a screen.
(iii) The word that means 'small' is (c) little.
Q.2. It was a very old book.
Margie's grandfather once said that when he was a little boy his grandfather told him that there was a time when all stories were printed on paper. 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.
(i) Why the pages of the book were yellow?
(ii) Did Margie see the book for the first time?
(iii) Trace a word from the passage that means 'with many folds or lines'.
Solution:
(i) The pages of the book were yellow because the book was very old, indicating the passage of significant time since it was printed.
(ii) Yes, it appears Margie was seeing this type of book for the first time, as she found reading words that stood still to be 'awfully funny'.
(iii) The word from the passage that means 'with many folds or lines' is crinkly.
Q.3. Margie went into the schoolroom.
It was right next to her bedroom and the mechanical teacher was on and waiting for her. It was always on at the same time every day except Saturday and Sunday because her mother said little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.
(i) Where was Margie's schoolroom?
(ii) Explain 'mechanical teacher was on'.
(iii) Write the opposite of 'regular'.
Solution:
(i) Margie's schoolroom was located in a room right next to her bedroom.
(ii) The phrase 'mechanical teacher was on' means that the electronic, automated teacher was activated and ready to begin the day's lesson.
(iii) The opposite of 'regular' is irregular.
Q.4. "Because it's not our kind of school, stupid.
This is the old kind of school that they had hundreds and hundreds of years ago." He added loftily.
(i) Who is 'he' in the above lines?
(ii) "Our kind of school." What kind of school do they have?
(iii) Trace the word from the extract that means "in a superior way".
Solution:
(i) 'He' in the above lines refers to Tommy.
(ii) "Our kind of school" refers to their futuristic educational system, which involves learning at home with a mechanical teacher via screens, rather than in a physical school building with human teachers.
(iii) The word from the extract that means "in a superior way" is loftily.
Q.5. Tommy looked at her with very superior eyes.
"Because it's not our kind of school, stupid. This is the old kind of school that they had hundreds and hundreds of years ago." He added loftily.
(i) Why did Tommy call Margie stupid?
(ii) What does 'they' here refer to?
(iii) Find the word which means "in a superior way".
Solution:
(i) Tommy called Margie stupid because she seemed to lack understanding about the historical context of schools and books, specifically her ignorance about the 'old kind of school'.
(ii) The word 'they' in this context refers to the children or students who attended schools hundreds and hundreds of years ago.
(iii) The word that means "in a superior way" is loftily.
Q.6. Margie did so with a sigh.
She was thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather's grandfather was a little boy. All the kids from the whole neighbourhoods came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things, so that they could help one another with the home work and talk about it.
(i) Which school is Margie thinking about in the above lines?
(ii) What is the advantage of those old schools?
(iii) Which word in the passage means "breathing out deeply"?
Solution:
(i) Margie is thinking about the traditional schools from centuries ago, specifically the kind of school that existed when her grandfather's grandfather was a young boy.
(ii) The advantage of those old schools was the social interaction and collaborative learning. Children from the neighborhood attended together, played, learned the same things, and could help each other with homework and discuss their studies.
(iii) The word in the passage that means "breathing out deeply" is sigh.
Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks each) (About 30-40 words each)
Q.1. How was the book that Tommy found different from his own books?
The book that Tommy found was an old, real book which belonged to his grandfather's grandfather. It had crinkly, yellow pages whereas, Tommy's books were telebooks by mechanical teachers, computers.
Solution:
The book Tommy found was a physical, old book with yellow, crinkly pages containing printed text. In contrast, Tommy's own 'books' were telebooks, which are digital texts displayed on a screen, accessed through a mechanical teacher or computer.
Q. 2. What kind of book did Tommy show to Margie?
The book that Tommy showed to Margie was an old, real book which belonged to his grandfather's. It had crinkly yellow pages, where all the stories were printed on paper and the words stood still.
Solution:
Tommy showed Margie a very old, physical book. Its pages were yellow and crinkly, and the stories were printed on paper. Unlike modern telebooks, the words on these pages were static and did not move.
Q. 3. Why did Margie hope that the County Inspector would take away her mechanical teacher?
Margie hoped that the County Inspector would take away her mechanical teacher because she had performed poorly in all the geography tests and had developed a strong
Solution:
Margie hoped the County Inspector would take away her mechanical teacher because she was consistently performing poorly on her geography tests. She felt frustrated and disliked the teacher, possibly wishing for a break or a different form of instruction.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the 'old kind of school' with Margie's current school.
- Misinterpreting the function or purpose of the mechanical teacher.
- Failing to identify the correct meaning of vocabulary words within the context of the extract.
- Not fully explaining Margie's feelings or reasons for her hopes.
Revision tips
- Reread the chapter carefully, paying attention to the descriptions of the future school and the old school.
- Practice answering the extract-based questions by identifying relevant sentences in the text.
- Focus on understanding the emotions and thoughts of Margie and Tommy.
- Review the meanings of new words and phrases used in the chapter.
- Discuss the story's themes with classmates to deepen understanding.
Practice MCQs
Q1. What was unusual about the book Tommy found?
Explanation: The book was old, with yellow and crinkly pages where words were printed and remained still, unlike the moving words on a screen.
Q2. Why did Margie's schoolroom have to be at home?
Explanation: Margie's mother believed that girls learned better if they studied at regular hours, which was facilitated by the schoolroom being next to her bedroom.
Q3. What does 'crinkly' mean in the context of the book's pages?
Explanation: The pages were described as yellow and crinkly, indicating they were old and had many folds or lines.
Q4. According to Tommy, why was the old kind of school different?
Explanation: Tommy explained that the old schools had children coming from the whole neighborhood to learn together in a schoolroom, unlike their isolated, screen-based learning.
Q5. What did Margie hope the County Inspector would do?
Explanation: Margie hoped the County Inspector would take her mechanical teacher away because she was performing poorly in geography tests and disliked it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of 'The Fun They Had'?
The main theme is the contrast between traditional, social learning environments and futuristic, isolated, technology-driven education, exploring the potential drawbacks of excessive reliance on technology.
Who are the main characters in 'The Fun They Had'?
The main characters are Margie, a young girl living in the future, and Tommy, her slightly older friend who discovers a real, old book.
How do these NCERT Solutions help Class 9 students?
These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions, helping students understand the chapter's content, analyze its themes, and prepare effectively for their English exams.
What kind of book did Tommy find?
Tommy found a very old book with printed pages that were yellow and crinkly. It contained stories where the words stood still, unlike the moving text on screens.
Why did Margie dislike her mechanical teacher?
Margie disliked her mechanical teacher because it was strict, gave her frequent tests (especially in geography where she performed poorly), and she felt it was not as engaging or interactive as human teachers.
What does Margie's grandfather's story reveal about the past?
It reveals that in the past, stories were printed on paper, and children attended physical schools together, learning the same things and enjoying social interaction.
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