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Prose Section; Lesson 1: The Fun They Had
- Tommy walked away with the ______ book beneath his arm
(a) Torn
(b) Dusty
(c) Imaginary
(d) Both (b) and (c) ✅
- According to Margie, in old time, the schools were
(a) Big
(b) Brown
(c) Funny
(d) Stupid ✅
- Whose father knew as much as a teacher?
(a) Tommy
(b) Margie
(c) Blair ✅
(d) Evelyn
- "Why would anyone write about school?" – Who said this?
(a) Tommy ✅
(b) Margie
(c) Mrs. Jones
(d) Blair
- Margie was disappointed because they
(a) Took away the mechanical teacher
(b) They didn't take away the mechanical teacher ✅
(c) Asked Margie to leave the house
(d) Asked Tommy to go and study
- Margie had to write out her homework
(a) In Russian
(b) In Punch code ✅
(c) In English
(d) None of the above
- After fixing the mechanical teacher, the big screen displayed
(a) Margie's face
(b) All the lessons and questions asked ✅
(c) A real book
(d) None of the above
- The County Inspector had a whole box of
(a) Tools and chocolates
(b) Tools with dials and wires ✅
(c) Pins
(d) Both (a) and (c)
- Why did Margie hate school now more than ever?
(a) Because of her mother
(b) Because of her scores in Geography which gets worse and worse ✅
(c) Because she never gets off
(d) Because she dislikes to sit near the mechanical teacher
- Margie was scornful—
(a) About her Geography scores
(b) Knowing that the real book gives a description about school ✅
(c) About Tommy’s scores
(d) About festivals
- According to Tommy, the real book was
(a) Boring
(b) A waste ✅
(c) Wrong
(d) Fiction
- The kids in the old schooling pattern went home together
(a) In between classes
(b) During afternoon breaks
(c) During festivals
(d) At the end of the day ✅
- While inserting her homework in the proper slot, Margie was thinking about
(a) Desserts
(b) Vacation in Turkey
(c) Old schools ✅
(d) Tommy
- What did the teacher in the real book do?
(a) Teaches through computer
(b) Gives lessons online
(c) Taught and gave questions in person ✅
(d) Mailed them the lesson
- Why did Margie find the old schools interesting?
(a) Because of the fun
(b) Because of human teachers
(c) Because of many friends
(d) All of these ✅
- What was the difference between old schools and modern schools?
(a) Old schools had many friends and modern school had no fellows
(b) Old schools had human teachers and modern schools had robots ✅
(c) Old schools had playgrounds and modern school had only computers
(d) All of these
- How much time was taken to repair Tommy's teacher?
(a) 15 days
(b) 25 days ✅
(c) 20 days
(d) One month
- What did the County Inspector do to help Margie?
(a) He reset the teacher to Margie's level ✅
(b) He changed the module
(c) Changed the teacher
(d) Changed the syllabus
- Why did Margie’s mother call the County Inspector?
(a) To repair a leakage
(b) To talk to Margie
(c) To talk to Tommy
(d) To check the fault in Margie's teacher in the Geography section ✅
- Who was the regular teacher who taught the lessons?
(a) Human teacher
(b) Computer teacher
(c) Who teaches
(d) Mechanical robot teacher who teaches Margie and Tommy ✅
- Where did Tommy and Margie read various books?
(a) In the library
(b) In the school
(c) On a computer screen
(d) None of the above ✅
- Where was Margie’s school?
(a) In a village
(b) In the outskirts of the city
(c) In her own house
(d) In a room in her house where a computer was set up ✅
- Who was teaching the students in the modern era?
(a) A teacher
(b) Parents
(c) Computer
(d) A mechanical robot teacher ✅
- Where did Tommy find the book?
(a) In a public library
(b) In a library
(c) In his house ✅
(d) On the roadside
- How old is Tommy?
(a) 10 years old
(b) 13 years old ✅
(c) 15 years old
(d) 12 years old
- Who is the author of this lesson?
(a) Deborah Cowley
(b) Isaac Asimov ✅
(c) Kenneth Anderson
(d) Srutimala Duara
- How old is Margie?
(a) 10 years old
(b) 11 years old
(c) 12 years old ✅
(d) 13 years old
- The section of which subject was completely deleted from Tommy’s computer?
(a) History
(b) Geography ✅
(c) English
(d) Science
- Did Margie have fixed hours of study?
(a) No
(b) She studied off and on
(c) Yes she had fixed time and hours daily to study except Saturday and Sunday ✅
(d) None of the above
30. With whom is the mechanical teacher contrasted with?
(a) With other teachers
(b) With old teachers
(c) With human teachers ✅
(d) With other robots
31. Who are Margie and Tommy?
(a) Cousins
(b) Brother–sister
(c) Friends ✅
(d) Neighbors
32. Which year has the story been set in?
(a) 2057
(b) 1957
(c) 2157 ✅
(d) 2257
PART - II: Assertion and Reason
1.
Assertion (A): Margie found the real book strange describing about real school and real teacher as it was from ancient time.
Reason (R): Margie’s grandfather told him that his grandfather told him about printed books when he was a boy.
✅ Correct answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2.
Assertion (A): Television screen contains a million of telebooks which Margie and Tommy enjoy watching and expect more.
Reason (R): They find reading a real book is a total waste. They feel to throw it away.
✅ Correct answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3.
Assertion (A): Margie started hating school more than ever for her mechanical teacher.
Reason (R): The mechanical teacher gave Margie tests after tests in Geography which she had been doing worse. Her mother shook her head sorrowfully and sent her to the County Inspector.
✅ Correct answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
4.
Assertion (A): Margie hated the slot the most where she had to put homework and test papers.
Reason (R): Margie had to write them in a punch code as she was taught when she was six years old.
✅ Correct answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
5.
Assertion (A): The inspector found the overall progress of Margie quite satisfactory and patted her head.
Reason (R): Margie was happy with slowed up Geography sector of an average ten-year level.
✅ Correct answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
6.
Assertion (A): The old kind of school of centuries ago was way different from the present school.
Reason (R): The teacher was a man who taught girls and boys different things, asked questions and gave them homework.
✅ Correct answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
7.
Assertion (A): Tommy screamed with laughter and told Margie that all students had to go to a building where teachers taught them.
Reason (R): Margie appreciated the fact to be taught by a real person in school.
✅ Correct answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
8.
Assertion (A): Tommy told Margie if she did not like the book she did not have to read it.
Reason (R): Margie could not accept that a teacher could teach the same thing. Her mother told her that a teacher had to fit the mind of a boy and girl and teach them differently.
✅ Correct answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
9.
Assertion (A): Margie had to learn at the same time every day in the virtual school room except Saturday and Sunday.
Reason (R): The mechanical teacher waited for her on the screen and gave her homework after lessons.
✅ Correct answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
10.
Assertion (A): Margie started thinking about the kids must have loved learning the same things in classroom and what fun they used to have.
Reason (R): Margie inserted her yesterday’s homework of arithmetic lesson to her mechanical teacher with happiness.
✅ Correct answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Part B – Very Short Type Questions (1 mark each):
1. On what date did Margie make an entry in her diary about the real book?
Answer: 17 May 2157
2. What did Tommy find?
Answer: Tommy found a real book printed on paper.
3. How old was Margie?
Answer: Margie was 11 years old.
4. How old was Tommy?
Answer: Tommy was 13 years old.
5. What was the real book that Tommy found about?
Answer: The real book was about the old kind of schools from centuries ago.
-
What did Margie hate?
Answer: Margie hated school, especially the mechanical teacher. -
What had the mechanical teacher been giving to Margie?
Answer: The mechanical teacher had been giving Margie test after test in Geography. -
Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?
Answer: Because Margie was doing poorly in Geography, and her mother thought the teacher had a problem. -
Why did Margie hate slot most?
Answer: Because she had to insert her homework in it, which was a boring task. -
What was wrong with the Geography sector of Margie’s mechanical teacher?
Answer: It was geared too quick for Margie’s level. -
What do you mean by a regular teacher?
Answer: A regular teacher is a human teacher who teaches in a classroom. -
What is the name of Margie’s mother?
Answer: Mrs. Jones. -
On which two days there came no mechanical teacher on the screen?
Answer: Saturday and Sunday. -
What subject did Tommy learn?
Answer: History. -
Name the writer of the lesson “The Fun They Had.”
Answer: Isaac Asimov. -
What do you think a telebook is?
Answer: A telebook is a book that is read on a television or computer screen. -
Where was Margie’s school?
Answer: In her home, in a room with a screen and mechanical teacher. -
Did Margie have any classmates?
Answer: No, she studied alone.
Quote-based Questions (Q19–20):
- “I wouldn’t throw it away.”
(a) Who says these words?
Answer: Tommy.
(b) What does ‘it’ refer to?
Answer: ‘It’ refers to the real book Tommy found.
(c) What is it being compared with by the speaker?
Answer: It is being compared with telebooks which can be deleted from the screen.
- “Sure, they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”
(a) Who does ‘they’ refer to?
Answer: ‘They’ refers to children of the past.
(b) What does ‘regular’ mean here?
Answer: ‘Regular’ here means a mechanical robot teacher.
(c) What is it contrasted with?
Answer: It is contrasted with human teachers.
21. Choose the correct statements:
(a)
(i) ✅ The story is set in the future, when books and schools will perhaps exist.
(ii) ❌ (Wrong) – The story doesn't suggest books and schools won’t exist.
(iii) ❌ (Wrong) – Computers are essential in this future.
(b)
(i) ✅ Margie hated school.
(ii) ❌ Margie didn't hate the County Inspector.
(iii) ❌ Margie didn’t hate Tommy.
(c)
(i) ✅ Mrs. Jones is Margie’s mother.
(ii) ❌ She is not a doctor.
(iii) ❌ She is not a poet.
(d)
(i) ✅ Margie sighs when she thinks of the old schools.
(ii) ✅ Margie sighs when she thinks of school building.
(iii) ✅ Margie sighs when she puts her homework in the slot of her mechanical teacher.
✅ Correct option: (d)
True or False (Q22):
- Say whether the following statements are True or False:
(a) Margie was a teacher. – ❌ False
(b) Tommy was a thirteen-year-old boy. – ✅ True
(c) Margie loved school. – ❌ False
(d) County Inspector was a round little man with a red face. – ✅ True
(e) Little children learn better when they learn at regular hours. – ✅ True
(f) Margie wished to attend the school. – ✅ True
Part C – Short Type Questions (Marks: 2/3)
1. What was written by Margie in her diary and when did she write?
Answer:
Margie wrote in her diary on 17 May 2157 that “Today Tommy found a real book.” She was surprised and fascinated by the idea of a printed book.
2. What was the condition of the book that Tommy had found? What was so funny about the book?
Answer:
The book Tommy found was old, dusty, and yellowed, with pages that didn’t move like a screen. What Margie found funny was that the words on the page didn’t change and were still there when she turned back to a previous page.
3. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?
Answer:
Margie and Tommy had mechanical robot teachers. These were computerised screens that gave lessons and tests, and each student studied at home through them.
4. How did Tommy react after seeing the real book?
Answer:
Tommy was excited and amazed to see a real printed book. He thought it was a waste compared to telebooks, but still found it interesting because it was something very rare in their time.
5. Where did Tommy find the book? What led him to call the old book ‘a waste’?
Answer:
Tommy found the book in the attic of his house. He called it ‘a waste’ because once read, it could not be reused or updated, unlike their telebooks which were stored digitally and could be refreshed.
6. Margie had an aversion for school. Cite the reason.
Answer:
Margie disliked school because her mechanical teacher gave her many tests, especially in Geography, and she performed poorly. She found the lessons boring and impersonal.
7. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector? How did he look?
Answer:
Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector because Margie’s Geography scores were worsening. The inspector was a round little man with a red face, who came with a box full of tools and wires.
8. What had gone wrong with Margie’s mechanical teacher?
Answer:
The Geography sector of Margie’s mechanical teacher was set too quickly, making it difficult for Margie to understand and answer properly.
9. Why was Margie doing badly in Geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Answer:
Margie was doing badly because the mechanical teacher's Geography level was set too high. The County Inspector reset it to the level of a ten-year-old, which was more appropriate for Margie.
10. What did the County Inspector tell Margie’s mother about the mechanical teacher?
Answer:
The County Inspector told her that the teacher was not faulty, and that Margie’s performance was satisfactory. He explained that the settings needed adjustment, not replacement.
11. Cite the reason behind Margie’s disappointment.
Answer:
Margie was disappointed because she hoped the mechanical teacher would be taken away for good, but the County Inspector repaired it quickly, and school resumed as usual.
12. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
Answer:
Tommy’s mechanical teacher had once malfunctioned completely, and it took almost a month to repair.
13. What did Tommy tell Margie about the old schools?
Answer:
Tommy told Margie that in olden days, students used to go to a building, sit together, and learn from a human teacher who taught them the same thing.
14. How did Tommy describe the old kind of teachers?
Answer:
Tommy said the teachers were men, not machines. They talked, taught students in person, and gave them homework and tests.
15. What did Margie think of the old schools?
Answer:
Margie thought that old schools were fun, as children went together, laughed, and learned the same lessons. She wished she could study in such schools.
16. Is the title "The Fun They Had appropriate. If so why?
Answer: The title “The Fun They Had” is very appropriate because it reflects Margie’s feelings about the old system of education — the kind of schools that existed hundreds of years ago, where children went to school buildings, studied together, and were taught by human teachers.
In the story, when Margie reads about these old schools in the book Tommy found, she is amazed and fascinated. She starts imagining how exciting and enjoyable it must have been to:
- Learn with friends in a classroom
- Interact with a real teacher
- Play and talk during school breaks
- Ask questions and laugh together
Long or Essay Type Questions (Marks: 4/5)
1. What did Margie write about in her diary? What did she learn about schools from Tommy?
Answer:
On 17 May 2157, Margie wrote in her diary: “Today, Tommy found a real book!” This event fascinated her because in her time, books existed only on screens. Tommy showed her the old, printed book he found in his attic, and it opened up a new world for her.
She learned that schools in the past were very different. They were in special buildings, not in homes. Children went to school together, learned the same lessons, and were taught by human teachers, not mechanical ones. This idea of physical interaction and shared learning excited Margie and made her curious.
2. What problems did Margie face? Why did she hate the mechanical teacher? How did her mother help her to solve the problem?
Answer:
Margie hated her mechanical teacher because it was impersonal and strict. It gave her difficult Geography lessons that she couldn’t understand, and it also assigned many tests. Her performance was getting worse, and she began to feel discouraged.
Her mother noticed this and called the County Inspector. He checked the machine and found that the Geography sector was too fast. He slowed it down to match Margie’s level and reassured her that she was not to blame. Though the teacher was fixed, Margie remained unhappy and missed the idea of fun in learning.
3. Write briefly the appearance of the County Inspector. What did he say to Margie’s mother?
Answer:
The County Inspector was a round little man with a red face. He carried a big box of tools and wires. He came to inspect Margie’s mechanical teacher.
After examining it, he told Margie’s mother that the teacher was not malfunctioning, but the Geography sector was set too advanced for Margie’s age. He reset the level to suit Margie and explained that her overall progress was satisfactory. He tried to comfort Margie by smiling at her and helping her feel more confident.
4. How do Margie and Tommy react to the real book when they find it?
Answer:
When Tommy finds the real book, he is excited and amazed. He finds it strange that the words don’t move and remain printed on pages. He also thinks it’s a waste because it can’t be reused like a telebook.
Margie, on the other hand, is curious and fascinated. She finds it funny that the text stays in one place. For her, the idea of a real book is new and magical, and it sparks her imagination about the old days when children learned from such books in real schools.
5. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think that the old kind of schools must have been fun?
Answer:
Margie hated school because it was boring and mechanical. Her teacher was a robot, and she had to sit alone in a room to study. It lacked interaction and fun. She especially disliked the many tests and the difficult Geography lessons.
After learning from Tommy about the old schools, she thought they must have been fun because children studied together, had human teachers, and played and talked. She imagined learning to be more joyful and social, unlike her isolated experience. This made her wish she had lived in those times.
6. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give proper arguments in favour of your answer.
Answer:
Yes, I agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the one described in the story.
In the story, Margie had a mechanical teacher who taught her alone at home. There was no interaction with friends or classmates. Learning was dull, and she had to sit in front of a screen every day. There was no fun, play, or emotional connection in her learning process.
In contrast, today’s schools offer:
- Human teachers who understand students’ feelings and explain lessons in different ways.
- Classmates and friends, making learning interactive and enjoyable.
- Games, activities, and celebrations, which make school life lively.
- Opportunities to ask questions, discuss ideas, and share opinions.
Thus, schools today provide both education and emotional development, which make them much more fun and effective than Margie’s robotic learning environment.
7. Give a critical analysis of the story.
Answer:
“The Fun They Had” by Isaac Asimov is a science fiction story that reflects on the future of education and the loss of human connection in learning.
Set in the year 2157, it presents a world where children are taught by mechanical teachers at home. The story explores the life of Margie, a girl who finds the idea of old schools (with human teachers and classmates) fascinating after reading a real book discovered by her friend Tommy.
The story raises important themes:
- Impact of technology on education
- Loss of social interaction in future learning
- Children’s emotional needs in education
It serves as a warning that while technology can aid learning, human touch, emotional bonding, and shared experiences are equally important. The story ends with Margie wondering about the “fun they had” in old schools, making readers appreciate traditional classrooms.
8. Explain with reference to the context:
(a) “Our television screen must have had a million books on it and it’s good for plenty more. I wouldn’t throw it away.”
Answer:
This line is spoken by Tommy when he finds a real book. He compares it to his telebooks, which are stored on a television screen. He proudly says that the screen can hold millions of books, and it can store even more. He finds it more useful and efficient than a printed book and says he would never throw it away. This reflects the futuristic way of thinking in their world.
(b) “Margie was disappointed. She had been hoping they would take the teacher away altogether.”
Answer:
This sentence shows Margie’s dislike for her mechanical teacher. When her teacher malfunctions, she hopes it will be taken away forever. But when the County Inspector fixes it, she feels sad and disappointed. It shows how frustrated and unhappy she is with her current method of learning.
(c) “This is the old kind of school that they had hundreds and hundreds of years ago.”
Answer:
Tommy says this when he tells Margie about the book he found. The book talks about the schools from the past, where children went to buildings, were taught by human teachers, and learned together. Tommy is surprised at how different education was, showing the contrast between the past and future systems of schooling.
(d) “…because her mother said little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.”
Answer:
Margie’s mother believed that children, especially little girls, needed discipline and a fixed routine to learn properly. So, she made sure Margie attended school at the same time every day, just like in traditional schools. It reflects how even in a high-tech future, parental beliefs and habits play a role in children's education.
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