Looking for a comprehensive guide to The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov? This post covers everything you need to ace Chapter 1 of the Beehive textbook for Class 9 English. From a detailed summary and word meanings to answers for “Thinking about the Text” and “Thinking about Language,” we’ve got you covered. Explore extract-based MCQs, formal letter writing, and important questions to help with exam preparation. Perfect for students seeking clarity and depth on this futuristic story.
Summary of The Fun They Had
Isaac Asimov’s The Fun They Had is a thought-provoking story set in a futuristic world where education is delivered through mechanical teachers and telebooks. The story begins with Margie, an 11-year-old girl, writing in her diary about a curious discovery made by her 13-year-old friend, Tommy: a real printed book. Margie and Tommy find it strange as they are used to reading moving text on screens, and they marvel at the book’s static words and yellowed pages.
The book is about schools from centuries ago, a concept alien to Margie. She detests her own schooling experience, where lessons are taught by a robotic teacher in a room at her home. Her dissatisfaction is amplified when the mechanical teacher gives her repeated geography tests, and her poor performance prompts her mother to call the County Inspector. The Inspector adjusts the teacher to Margie’s level, much to her disappointment as she had hoped the teacher would be taken away for good.
Tommy explains how schools of the past were communal, with children of the same age learning together in a shared building and being taught by human teachers. Margie finds this fascinating and imagines how enjoyable it must have been to laugh and play with other children, unlike her solitary learning.
As the story ends, Margie reluctantly returns to her schoolroom and mechanical teacher but remains captivated by thoughts of the old school system, realizing the joy and camaraderie that children of the past experienced. The story leaves readers questioning the impact of technology on education and human interaction, emphasizing the value of shared experiences and personal connections in learning.
Word meaning of The Fun They Had
| Words/Expressions | Meaning |
|---|---|
| crinkly | With many folds or lines |
| attic | A space just below the roof, used as a storeroom |
| scornful | Contemptuous; showing you think something is worthless |
| slot | A given space, time, or position |
| geared (to) | Adjusted to a particular standard or level |
| loftily | In a superior way |
| regular | Normal; of the usual kind |
| betcha (informal) | (I) bet you (in fast speech): I’m sure |
| dispute | Disagree with |
| nonchalantly | Not showing much interest or enthusiasm; carelessly |
Thinking about the Text(Q&A of The Fun They Had)
I. Very short answer type
- How old are Margie and Tommy?
Margie is 11 years old, and Tommy is 13 years old. - What did Margie write in her diary?
Margie wrote, “Today Tommy found a real book!” in her diary. - Had Margie ever seen a book before?
No, Margie had never seen a real book before. - What things about the book did she find strange?
Margie found it strange that the words on the pages stood still and didn’t move like those on a screen. - What do you think a telebook is?
A telebook is a digital book displayed on a screen, common in Margie and Tommy’s futuristic world. - Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?
Margie’s school was in her house, next to her bedroom, and she didn’t have any classmates. - What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?
Margie and Tommy learned subjects like arithmetic, history, and geography.
II. Short answer type
- “I wouldn’t throw it away.”
- (i) Tommy says these words.
- (ii) ‘It’ refers to the real book.
- (iii) It is being compared to a telebook, which can store many books without being discarded.
- “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”
- (i) ‘They’ refers to people from the past.
- (ii) ‘Regular’ means a mechanical teacher in this context.
- (iii) It is contrasted with human teachers.
III. Long answer type
- What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?
Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers, which were large machines with screens. They taught lessons, gave assignments, and assessed their performance. - Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?
Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector because Margie was performing poorly in geography. - What did he do?
The County Inspector adjusted the mechanical teacher, slowing down its geography sector to suit Margie’s learning level. - Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Margie’s geography sector was set too advanced for her age. The County Inspector recalibrated it to align with a ten-year-old’s learning level. - What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher? (The Fun They Had)
Tommy’s teacher was temporarily removed because its history sector had completely blanked out. - Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why? (The Fun They Had)
Yes, Margie had regular school hours because her mother believed that consistent timing helped children learn better. - How does Tommy describe the old kind of school? (The Fun They Had)
Tommy describes old schools as large buildings where all children from the neighbourhood studied together. - How does he describe the old kind of teachers? (The Fun They Had)
He describes old teachers as humans who taught students, gave homework, and asked questions.
IV. Extended answer type
- What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?
Margie and Tommy’s mechanical teachers were robotic devices with screens that displayed lessons and questions. Students submitted homework and tests via slots, and the machines evaluated their work instantly. Their schoolrooms were private spaces in their homes, devoid of peers. - Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
Margie hated school because the mechanical teacher was strict and monotonous, and she struggled with its assignments. She thought old schools must have been fun as children studied together, could socialize, and had human teachers who seemed more approachable. - 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 than the schools in the story. Present-day schools foster interaction and collaboration among students, allowing them to share ideas and experiences. Human teachers provide personal attention, adapt to emotions, and explain concepts in ways machines cannot. Additionally, school activities like sports, music, and group projects make learning enjoyable, which is absent in the isolated, mechanical learning environment described in Margie’s world.
Thinking about Language
I. Adverbs
1. Find the sentences in the lesson which have the adverbs given in the box below.
| Adverb | Sentence from the story |
|---|---|
| awfully | “It was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to—on a screen.” |
| sorrowfully | “Her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the County Inspector.” |
| completely | “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 | “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 | “Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat will catch it.” (Implied from Margie’s thoughts on efficiency.) |
| nonchalantly | “Maybe,” he said nonchalantly. |
2. 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 nonchalantly, 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 loftily 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.
3. Make adverbs from these adjectives.
| Adjective | Adverb |
|---|---|
| angry | angrily |
| happy | happily |
| merry | merrily |
| sleepy | sleepily |
| easy | easily |
| noisy | noisily |
| tidy | tidily |
| gloomy | gloomily |
II. If Not and Unless
Complete the following conditional sentences:
- If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, she will be disappointed.
- If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food, we won’t have anything to eat.
- Unless you promise to write back, I won’t send you any more letters.
- If she doesn’t play any games, she will feel bored and restless.
- Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat will catch it.
Writing
[Your Address]
123 Green Lane
Cityville, 567890
25/11/2024
To
Mindfame Private Limited
1632 Asaf Ali Road
New Delhi
Subject: Order for Revised Volume of Isaac Asimov’s Short Stories
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to request a copy of the new revised volume of Isaac Asimov’s short stories. Kindly send one set to the address mentioned above through Value Payable Post (VPP).
Please ensure the package is securely packed and provide a receipt detailing the cost. I look forward to receiving the book at the earliest.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
Extract-based MCQs from The Fun They Had
Extract 1:
“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. 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.”
MCQs:
- What did Tommy find?
a) A real book
b) A telebook
c) A magazine
d) A diary
Answer: a) A real book - How did the pages of the book feel?
a) Smooth
b) Yellow and crinkly
c) Soft
d) Hard
Answer: b) Yellow and crinkly - What did Margie find funny about the book?
a) The pictures in the book
b) The moving text
c) The static words
d) The yellow pages
Answer: c) The static words
Extract 2:
“Margie was scornful. ‘School? What’s there to write about school? I hate school.’ Margie always hated school, but now she hated it more than ever. 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.”
MCQs:
- Why did Margie hate school?
a) She didn’t like her classmates
b) She was tired of learning
c) She struggled with geography tests
d) She wanted to be at home
Answer: c) She struggled with geography tests - Who did Margie’s mother send for?
a) A tutor
b) The County Inspector
c) A friend
d) A doctor
Answer: b) The County Inspector - What was Margie’s mother’s reaction to her performance in geography?
a) She was pleased
b) She was angry
c) She was sorrowful
d) She was indifferent
Answer: c) She was sorrowful
Extract 3:
“The Inspector had smiled after he was finished and patted Margie’s head. He said to her mother, ‘It’s not the little girl‘s fault, Mrs. Jones. I think the geography sector was geared a little too quick. Those things happen sometimes. I’ve slowed it up to an average ten-year level. Actually, the overall pattern of her progress is quite satisfactory.’ “
MCQs:
- What did the Inspector say about Margie’s geography sector?
a) It was too easy
b) It was geared too quick
c) It was perfect
d) It was too slow
Answer: b) It was geared too quick - What did the Inspector do to help Margie?
a) Removed the geography sector
b) Slowed down the geography sector
c) Gave her a break
d) Increased the level of difficulty
Answer: b) Slowed down the geography sector - What did the Inspector say about Margie’s overall progress?
a) It was poor
b) It was satisfactory
c) It was excellent
d) It was disappointing
Answer: b) It was satisfactory
Extract 4:
“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, pronouncing the word carefully, ‘Centuries ago.’ “
MCQs:
- How did Tommy describe the school Margie was reading about?
a) The future kind of school
b) The old kind of school
c) The new kind of school
d) A virtual school
Answer: b) The old kind of school - What does Tommy mean by “centuries ago”?
a) A few decades ago
b) Many years ago
c) A hundred years ago
d) Thousands of years ago
Answer: b) Many years ago - How did Tommy speak when describing the old school?
a) Nonchalantly
b) Loftily
c) Sorrowfully
d) Aggressively
Answer: b) Loftily
Extract 5:
“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.”
MCQs:
- Where was Margie’s schoolroom located?
a) In the garden
b) In the attic
c) Next to her bedroom
d) In the living room
Answer: c) Next to her bedroom - Why did Margie have regular school hours?
a) Because her teacher wanted it
b) Because her mother believed in regular learning
c) Because it was required by law
d) Because Margie liked it
Answer: b) Because her mother believed in regular learning - Which days did Margie not have school?
a) Monday and Tuesday
b) Saturday and Sunday
c) Friday and Saturday
d) Sunday and Monday
Answer: b) Saturday and Sunday
Important Questions from The Fun They Had for Exam Practice
Q 1. How old are Margie and Tommy?
Margie is 11 years old, and Tommy is 13 years old.
Q 2. What did Margie write in her diary?
Margie wrote, “Today Tommy found a real book!” in her diary.
Q 3. Why did Margie hate school?
Margie hated school because her mechanical teacher kept giving her difficult geography tests, and she was not doing well in them.
Q 4. What did Margie find strange about the book Tommy found?
Margie found it strange that the words in the book stayed still on the page, unlike the words on her screen, which moved.
Q 5. What was Margie’s reaction when the County Inspector adjusted her mechanical teacher?
Margie was disappointed when the Inspector adjusted the teacher, as she had hoped the teacher would be removed completely.
Q 6. What does Tommy think about the old kind of schools?
Tommy describes the old schools as places where children from the entire neighbourhood would come together, study in the same classroom, and learn from a human teacher.
Q 7. What kind of teacher did Margie and Tommy have?
Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers, which were large machines that taught lessons and assessed their performance on a screen.
Q 8. Why did Margie’s mother call the County Inspector?
Margie’s mother called the County Inspector because Margie was doing badly in geography and was not learning at the appropriate pace.
Q 9. How does Margie imagine the old schools?
Margie imagines that the old schools were fun, as children learned together, played in the schoolyard, and had human teachers who interacted with them personally.
Q 10. How does the story make you think about the future of schools and learning?
The story makes us reflect on how technology might replace traditional schooling and how it may affect human interaction and the social aspects of learning. It suggests that while technology can make learning more efficient, it might lack the personal connection that human teachers bring to the classroom.
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