How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers English Chapter 1
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answer
Question 1.
What does the poor transport system in the village reveal about the lives of the residents?
Answer:
The transport system was so sluggish that morning papers arrived in the afternoon and weekly magazines came a day late. This reveals a secluded, slow-paced rural life where people relied heavily on the daily bus for news and connection to the outside world.
Question 2.
Why was Triveni considered a popular and wonderful writer?
Answer:
Triveni's style was easy to read, convincing, and deeply interesting. She had a unique talent for portraying complex psychological problems of ordinary people, making her stories highly relatable to the masses.
Question 3.
Why did the grandmother identify so strongly with the protagonist of Kashi Yatre?
Answer:
Both the grandmother and the novel's protagonist shared an "ardent desire" to visit Kashi and worship Lord Vishweshwara. Since the grandmother had never been to Kashi herself, she saw her own spiritual longing mirrored in the character's struggle.
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Short Question Answer
Question 4.
How did the grandmother feel while the narrator was away at a wedding?
Answer:
She felt "dependent and helpless" because the latest episode of her favorite serial had arrived, but she could not understand a word of it. Her inability to read made her feel isolated and frustrated in the narrator's absence.
Question 5.
Why did the grandmother rub her hands over the pages of the magazine?
Answer:
In a moment of desperation, she rubbed her hands over the pages, wishing they could somehow "understand what was written". This physical gesture emphasized her deep regret over her lack of education.
Question 6.
What was the "good cause" mentioned by the grandmother?
Answer:
The "good cause" was her strong desire to learn to read and write so that she could become independent. She did not want to depend on anyone for reading books or magazines. She believed that determination and hard work can help a person overcome any difficulty, no matter their age.
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Class 9 Extra Question Answer
Question 7.
Describe the grandmother's dedication as a student.
Answer:
The grandmother was a wonderful student who did an amazing amount of homework. She spent her time reading, writing, repeating, and reciting with the greatest concentration to meet her deadline.
Question 8.
Why was the narrator surprised by her grandmother's actions on Dassara?
Answer:
The narrator was taken aback because her grandmother, an elder, bent down and touched her feet. This was a complete reversal of tradition, as youngsters are the ones who usually touch the feet of elders as a mark of respect.
Question 9.
How did the grandmother justify her act of touching the narrator's feet?
Answer:
She explained that she was not touching the feet of her granddaughter, but those of a "teacher". She believed that a teacher, who provides the gift of knowledge and independence, deserves respect irrespective of age.
Question 10.
What is the significance of the phrase "passed with flying colours" in the story?
Answer:
It signifies the grandmother's outstanding success in her literacy test. She proved her achievement by confidently reading the title of the novel, the author's name, and the publisher immediately.
Question 11.
Why did the morning newspaper reach the village only in the afternoon?
Answer:
The village transport system was poor, so the morning paper arrived by bus only in the afternoon.
Question 12.
Why did the grandmother feel emotionally connected to the protagonist of Kashi Yatre?
Answer:
The grandmother identified with the protagonist's "ardent desire" to visit Kashi, a place she had never been to herself.
Question 13.
Why did the grandmother not ask anyone else in the village to read the story to her?
Answer:
She felt too embarrassed and did not want to expose her helplessness or "dependency" to the other villagers.
Question 14.
What efforts did the grandmother make to learn reading and writing?
Answer:
She performed an "amazing" amount of homework, including reading, writing, and reciting with total concentration.
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Long Question Answer
Question 1.
"For learning there is no age bar." Discuss this theme using Krishtakka's character as an example.
Answer:
Krishtakka serves as a profound inspiration, proving that the desire to learn is not limited by age. At sixty-two, despite having grey hair, wrinkled hands, and spectacles, she decided to master the Kannada alphabet from scratch. Her motivation stemmed from a deep-seated need for independence after realizing how "helpless" illiteracy made her feel. She displayed a spirit of resilience, working harder than anyone else to meet her Saraswati Puja deadline. Her amazing dedication and ultimate success demonstrate that willpower and a good cause can transcend any physical or social barrier, proving that education is a lifelong journey.
Question 2.
How does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Answer:
The story shows that literacy is the base of human dignity. Although the grandmother was financially secure, she felt dependent and helpless because she had to rely on her granddaughter to read stories for her. When the narrator was away, she realized that money has little value without independence. This made her determined to learn to read. Through hard work, she moved from helplessness to confidence and self-reliance. In the end, she became independent, proving that education is the strongest tool to live with pride and self-respect.
Question 3.
Describe the role reversal between the grandmother and the granddaughter in the story.
Answer:
The narrative presents a unique reversal of traditional roles where the child becomes the guide and the elder becomes the student. Initially, the twelve-year-old narrator is the one who reads to the grandmother, but as the story progresses, she takes on the formal responsibility of being her grandmother's "only teacher". The grandmother, despite her age and status, humbles herself to become a diligent "first student," doing extensive homework and reciting lessons. This reversal culminates on Dassara, when the grandmother touches the narrator's feet, signaling that the status of a "teacher" transcends the traditional hierarchy of age and family position.
Question 4.
Discuss the significance of the novel Kashi Yatre to the development of the plot.
Answer:
Kashi Yatre is the central catalyst that drives both the grandmother's emotional journey and her educational goals. The grandmother identifies with the protagonist's "ardent desire" to visit Kashi, making the serial a weekly highlight of her life. It is the inability to read this specific story while the narrator is away that finally breaks the grandmother's spirit and leads her to tears. The novel also provides a concrete benchmark for her success; she sets a deadline to be able to read it on her own by Dassara. Finally, the physical novel becomes the narrator's gift to her "first student," marking her triumph over illiteracy.
Question 5.
What social message does Sudha Murty convey through this autobiographical account?
Answer:
Sudha Murty conveys a powerful message about the necessity of literacy and the breaking of social taboos. She sheds light on a past where people never considered education essential for girls, resulting in many talented women like Krishtakka remaining illiterate. The story challenges the stereotype that aging stops the learning process and encourages a culture of mutual respect between generations. Furthermore, it emphasizes that a teacher, regardless of their age or gender, should be honoured for the gift of knowledge. Ultimately, the story serves as a call to action for the youth to help the elderly achieve their unfulfilled educational dreams, fostering a more inclusive and empowered society.
Question 6.
What incident during the narrator's absence became the turning point in the grandmother's life? Explain how it motivated her to become independent.
Answer:
While the narrator was away, the grandmother could not read the latest episode of Kashi Yatre. Staring at the pictures, she realized her illiteracy made her "dependent and helpless" despite her financial well-being. This emotional crisis made her resolve to become independent through education.
Question 7.
Describe the significance of the scene where the grandmother touches her granddaughter's feet. What does this gesture symbolize?
Answer:
This scene is significant because it reverses traditional social hierarchies where elders are always respected by youngsters. By touching her granddaughter's feet, the grandmother honored the teacher who gave her the gift of independence. It symbolizes the triumph of knowledge over age and tradition.
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extract Based Questions and Answers
Extract 1
"I saw the determination on her face. Yet I laughed at her. 'Avva, at this age of sixty-two you want to learn the alphabet? All your hair is grey, your hands are wrinkled, you wear spectacles and you work so much in the kitchen...' Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled."
Question 1.
What does the grandmother's "determination" result in?
Answer:
It results in her setting a strict deadline (Dassara) and eventually becoming literate.
Question 2.
Why did the narrator list her grandmother's physical features?
Answer:
She listed them to mock the idea that someone so aged and busy with domestic chores could start learning the basics of education.
Question 3.
What does the narrator mean by saying she made fun of her "childishly"?
Answer:
She means her mockery was immature and based on common but narrow-minded assumptions about age.
Question 4.
How does the grandmother's reaction to the mockery reflect her character?
Answer:
Her smile shows her maturity, patience, and the inner strength that allowed her to ignore the mockery to focus on her goal.
Question 5.
What does the narrator's reaction in the extract reveal about her character at that moment?
(A) She deeply respects her grandmother's determination.
(B) She underestimates her grandmother due to her age.
(C) She feels inspired to help her immediately.
(D) She is afraid of her grandmother's decision.
Answer:
(B) She underestimates her grandmother due to her age.
Extract 2
"She opened it and read immediately the title Kashi Yatre by Triveni and the publisher's name. I knew then that my student had passed with flying colours."
Question 1.
What was the 'it' that the grandmother opened?
Answer:
The 'it' was a copy of the novel Kashi Yatre which the narrator had bought as a gift.
Question 2.
What did the grandmother prove by reading the title and publisher?
Answer:
She proved that she was no longer illiterate and had achieved her goal of independence.
Question 3.
Who is the "student" referred to in the extract?
Answer:
The student is the narrator's sixty-two-year-old grandmother, Krishtakka.
Question 4.
What does the phrase "passed with flying colours" suggest in the given extract?
(A) The grandmother barely managed to read the title.
(B) The grandmother succeeded confidently in learning to read.
(C) The grandmother memorised the words without understanding them.
(D) The grandmother needed further practice to improve.
Answer:
(B) The grandmother succeeded confidently in learning to read.
True or False:
1. Krishtakka had attended school but forgotten how to read.
Answer:
True
2. The narrator eventually became a Computer Science teacher.
Answer:
False
Vocabulary Focus (Write the meaning):
1. Ardent: ............
Answer:
Ardent: Very keen; showing strong feelings.
2. Immensely: ............
Answer:
Immensely: Extremely or to a great extent.
3. Taken aback: ............
Answer:
Taken aback: Surprised by something unexpected.
Creative Writing: Letter to the Editor:
Task: As a citizen, write a letter to the editor of a newspaper ( 120 words) on the importance of student participation in neighbourhood cleaning campaigns.
Answer:
- Subject: Importance of Student Participation in Adult Literacy Camps
- Format: Follows the CBSE pattern: Sender's Address, Date, Editor's Address, Subject, Salutation, 3-Paragraph Body, and "Yours truly, ABC."
- Key Content: Focus on social responsibility, students spreading the message leading by example.