How I Taught My Grandmother to Read is a heartwarming story written by Sudha Murty. The story highlights the importance of education and lifelong learning. It tells how the author’s sixty-two-year-old grandmother, who could not read, became determined to learn the Kannada alphabet. With the help of her granddaughter, she learned to read independently.
How I Taught My Grandmother To Read Class 9 NCERT Solutions
Reflect and Respond
I. Complete the given word web.
Answer:
1. Which language(s) do your grandparents or elderly relatives speak?
Answer: My grandparents speak English and Hindi.
2. How do they spend their time? How do you spend time with them?
Answer: They spend their time reading newspapers, watching TV and praying. I spend my time with them listening to their stories and talking.
3. What is your favourite experience with them?
Answer: My favourite experience is listening to their interesting stories about their childhood.
4. What is something that the elderly in your family cannot do easily but enjoy watching you do?
Answer: They can’t use the mobile phones and computers, but they enjoy watching me use them.
Note: You can also write your own answers based on your family experiences.
III. Read the following passage. Match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box below.
The casting for the (i) protagonist of our school’s annual play was done after a lot of (ii) debate as many good actors had auditioned for the role. We had decided to present an (iii) episode from an inspirational story. It was a life story of a group of children who worked with the (iv) community to spread literacy. Every day, we reached school early to practise with (v) concentration. We waited (vi) eagerly for the final presentation. All of us played our roles in a very (vii) convincing manner as our theatre teacher had (viii) guided us well.
Answer:
| Highlighted Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (i) protagonist | 7. main character |
| (ii) debate | 4. discussion |
| (iii) episode | 5. a part of a story |
| (iv) community | 3. people living in one particular area |
| (v) concentration | 6. focus |
| (vi) eagerly | 1. excitedly |
| (vii) convincing | 2. believable |
| (viii) guided | 8. directed |
Check Your Understanding
I. Complete the cause and effect table given below based on Part I of the story. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1. | (i) The morning papers arrived late in the day and weekly magazines would come one day late. |
| 2. The grandmother, Krishtakka, ever went to school. | (ii) |
| 3. | (iii) She was deeply interested in the story and discussed it with her friends. |
| 4. The narrator went to a wedding for a week. | (iv) |
| 5. | (v) The grandmother never went to school. |
| 6. The grandmother regretted not going to school. | (vi) |
Answer:
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1. The morning papers arrived late in the day and weekly magazines would come one day late. | (i) The morning papers arrived late in the day and weekly magazines would come one day late. |
| 2. The grandmother, Krishtakka, ever went to school. | (ii) She could not read or write. |
| 3. (iii) The grandmother listened to the story “Kashi Yatre” every week. | (iii) She was deeply interested in the story and discussed it with her friends. |
| 4. The narrator went to a wedding for a week. | (iv) The grandmother could not follow the story because nobody was there to read it to her. |
| 5. (v) In her childhood there were no schools in the village and she had to look after her family. | (v) The grandmother never went to school. |
| 6. The grandmother regretted not going to school. | (vi) She decided to learn how to read and write. |
II. Do you think the narrator expected to see her grandmother in tears when she returned to the village? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer: No, the narrator did not expect the tears in Grandmother’s eyes. The narrator was surprised because her grandmother was strong and cheerful. The grandmother was upset because she could not read the storybook when the narrator was not there.
III. How might the narrator help her grandmother to fulfil her desire to learn to read and write?
Answer: The narrator could help Grandmother by teaching the alphabet, reading words and sentences every day, and giving her regular practice. Due to her grandmother’s hard work and patience, she learned to read and write independently.
Check Your Understanding
1. The grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet to gain independence.
Show Answer ⟶2. The grandmother asked someone in the village to read Kashi Yatre to her while the narrator was away.
Show Answer ⟶3. The narrator was the grandmother’s first teacher and taught her how to read Kannada.
Show Answer ⟶4. The grandmother believed that there was no age limit for learning.
Show Answer ⟶5. The grandmother touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect for her as a teacher.
Show Answer ⟶6. The narrator was disappointed with the progress her grandmother made in learning to read.
Show Answer ⟶Critical Reflection
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
I. When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. What had happened? I was worried.
‘Avva, is everything all right? Are you okay?’
I used to call her Avva, which means mother in the Kannada spoken in north Karnataka. She nodded but did not reply. I did not understand and forgot about it. In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house. It was a summer night and there was a full moon. Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.
(i) Complete the following sentence with the appropriate option.
The phrase ‘never seen her cry in the most difficult situations’ tells us that the grandmother was ____________.
A. strong-willed
B. understanding
C. considerate
D. bold
(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
Grandmother did not reply when the narrator asked if she was alright because she might have been too ____________ (emotional/tired) to respond.
Show Answer ⟶(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
Show Answer ⟶(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?
Show Answer ⟶(v) Which of the following aspect is NOT emphasised in the given extract?
A. the emotional turmoil of the grandmother
B. the affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother
C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
D. the narrator’s concern for her grandmother
II. ‘I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards. I will work very hard. I will keep Saraswati Puja day during Dassara as the deadline. That day I should be able to read a novel on my own. I want to be independent.’
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.
‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle. I will work harder than anybody but I will do it. For learning there is no age bar.’
(i) What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?
A. She wanted to be literate.
B. She desires self-sufficiency.
C. She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
D. She feels pressured by society to learn.
(ii) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from those given in brackets.
The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no _______. (age limit/gender bias/cultural barriers)
Show Answer ⟶(iii) Complete the following with a suitable reason.
The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because _______.
Show Answer ⟶(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
Show Answer ⟶(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
Show Answer ⟶II Answer the following questions.
1. Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?
Answer: The grandmother felt embarrassed because she could not read by herself. She had to depend on others to know what happened in the story. This made the grandmother feel helpless.
2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
Answer: The narrator laughed because her grandmother was 62 years old. She did not expect her grandmother to study at this age.
3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?
Answer: The story of “Kashi Yatre” inspired the grandmother to learn reading. She wants to read books without depending on others. It became the reason for her education.
4. What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
Answer: The grandmother shows that she was determined, hard-working, and eager to learn. She believed that age is not a barrier to education.
5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?
Answer: It teaches us to give respect to knowledge and teachers. The grandmother was grateful to her granddaughter for teaching, and she showed her respect in this way.
6. What does the following line tell us about the broader theme of the story? ‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.’
Answer: This line shows that strong determination can help a person to achieve any goal. We can overcome any obstacle with hard work and dedication.
7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Answer: The story clearly shows that education helps the people to become independent. When the grandmother learns how to read, then she is no longer dependent on others. She gained confidence and freedom through education.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I. The expression ‘hide and seek’ is used in the text. This is called a binomial.
Binomials are expressions consisting of two words, usually linked by a conjunction like ‘and’ or ‘or’, that are commonly used together in a fixed order. For example: odds and ends, right or wrong.
Match the binomials in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. sink or swim | (i) put different things together to get a range of possibilities |
| 2. on and of | (ii) complete part of or belong to |
| 3. mix and match | (iii) choose only the best (things, people, etc.) |
| 4. all or nothing | (iv) at sometime in the future |
| 5. part and parcel | (v) sometimes, occasionally |
| 6. pick and choose | (vi) increase or develop very quickly |
| 7. sooner or later | (vii) succeed or fail without help |
| 8. leaps and bounds | (viii) something to be done completely or not at all |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. sink or swim | (vii) succeed or fail without help |
| 2. on and of | (v) sometimes, occasionally |
| 3. mix and match | (i) put different things together to get a range of possibilities |
| 4. all or nothing | (viii) something to be done completely or not at all |
| 5. part and parcel | (ii) complete part of or belong to |
| 6. pick and choose | (iii) choose only the best (things, people, etc.) |
| 7. sooner or later | (iv) at sometime in the future |
| 8. leaps and bounds | (vi) increase or develop very quickly |
Q. Now, use any five of the above binomials in sentences of your own
Answer: The five binomials in the sentence are –
- We must sink or swim in this competition.
- The internet connection works on and off during storms.
- She likes to mix and match her clothes.
- Honesty is part and parcel of a good character.
- The company is growing by leaps and bounds.
II Read the following words from the text given in the box below.
These words are made by adding suitable prefixes (‘un’, ‘ir’, and ‘in’) to give an opposite or negative meaning to the words.
Now, make words by adding the suitable prefixes given in the box to the words from the text in Column 1. Write the prefixed words in Column 2. One example has been done for you.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. popular | (i) unpopular |
| 2. belief | (ii) |
| 3. important | (iii) |
| 4. respect | (iv) |
| 5. correct | (v) |
| 6. continue | (vi) |
| 7. understand | (vii) |
| 8. ordinary | (viii) |
| 9. interesting | (ix) |
| 10. possible | (x) |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. popular | (i) unpopular |
| 2. belief | (ii) disbelief |
| 3. important | (iii) unimportant |
| 4. respect | (iv) disrespect |
| 5. correct | (v) incorrect |
| 6. continue | (vi) discontinue |
| 7. understand | (vii) misunderstand |
| 8. ordinary | (viii) extraordinary |
| 9. interesting | (ix) uninteresting |
| 10. possible | (x) impossible |
III Identify any five words with prefixes from the story and make sentences using each.
Answer:
- Unpopular – The unpopular decision upset many students.
- Incorrect – Your answer is incorrect.
- Impossible – It is impossible to finish the work in one minute.
- Misunderstand – Do not misunderstand my words.
- Disrespect – We should never disrespect the teachers.
IV In the sentence, “I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours”, the phrase “passed with flying colours” is an idiom. It means outstanding performance.
Now, match the idioms related to ‘learning’ given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. to hit the books | (i) to memorise something |
| 2. to draw a blank | (ii) to think very hard |
| 3. to learn the ropes | (iii) to study seriously |
| 4. to rack one’s brain | (iv) to study or work late into the night |
| 5. to learn by heart | (v) to be unable to remember |
| 6. burn the midnight oil | (vi) to understand how to do an activity |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. to hit the books | (iii) to study seriously |
| 2. to draw a blank | (v) to be unable to remember |
| 3. to learn the ropes | (vi) to understand how to do an activity |
| 4. to rack one’s brain | (ii) to think very hard |
| 5. to learn by heart | (i) to memorise something |
| 6. burn the midnight oil | (iv) to study or work late into the night |
Q. Now, use these idioms in sentences of your own.
Answer:
- I need to hit the books before the exam.
- I drew a blank when the teacher asked the question.
- It took me a week to learn the ropes at my new job.
- She racked her brain to solve the puzzle.
- We had to learn by heart the poem.
- He burned the midnight oil to complete his project.
V Read the following sentences from the text and underline the verbs.
- Secretly, I bought Kashi Yatre which had been published as a novel by that time.
- I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours.
In sentence 1, verb ‘bought’ is in simple past tense.
In sentence 2, verb ‘had passed’ is in past perfect tense.
Answer:
- Secretly, I bought Kashi Yatre which had been published as a novel by that time.
- I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours.
(i) Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.
A. When the delegates _________ (arrive) at the conference, the keynote speaker ________ (already begin) the session.
Answer: arrived, had already begun
B. After the students ________ (learn) how to identify fake news online, they ________ (start) verifying information before sharing it.
Answer: learned, started
C. Before Kiran ________ (start) using digital payment platforms, she ________ (ensure) her understanding of online fraud prevention.
Answer: started, had ensured
D. By the time Varun ________ (recognise) the importance of budgeting, he __________ (exhaust) most of his savings.
Answer: recognised, had exhausted
E. When Raghu _________ (log in) to the cybersecurity webinar, the instructor ________ (already discuss) the importance of strong passwords.
Answer: logged, had already
(ii) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in brackets.
Last year, my parents and I A. __________ (take) a financial planning course. When we B. ____________ (review) our expenses, we realised we C. _________ (spend) too much on unnecessary purchases. After my parents D. __________ (discuss) ways to save, I E. _________ (open) a savings account. By the time we F. _________ (set) our budget, the course G. _________ (already introduce) investment strategies. We H. _________ (hurry) to take notes, but many participants I. _____________ (complete) their financial plans. Despite that, we J. __________(enjoy) learning how to manage money wisely.
Answer:
Last year, my parents and I A. took (take) a financial planning course. When we B. reviewed (review) our expenses, we realised we C. had spent (spend) too much on unnecessary purchases. After my parents D. discussed (discuss) ways to save, I E. opened (open) a savings account. By the time we F. set (set) our budget, the course G. had already introduced (already introduce) investment strategies. We H. hurried (hurry) to take notes, but many participants I. had completed (complete) their financial plans. Despite that, we J. enjoyed (enjoy) learning how to manage money wisely.
Listen and Respond
I You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy. As you listen, complete the following sentences with one to three exact words that you hear. (Transcript for teacher on page 259)
1. Literacy these days includes the ability to use _____________.
Answer: Answer: digital technology
2. Digital literacy is also about protecting _____________.
Answer: personal information
3. Digital literacy enables the elderly to _____________.
Answer: stay connected
4. Digital literacy encourages using the internet safely by helping us recognise _____________ and _____________.
Answer: fake website and online scams
5. The National Digital Literacy Mission helps people across the country by imparting _____________.
Answer: digital skills
Speaking Activity
Turncoat is a type of solo debate where the speaker argues for and against a topic, switching sides after a certain period of time.
I Choose your topic and speak ‘for’ and ‘against’ for not more than one minute each.
- Topic 1: It is important to learn a new language apart from your mother tongue.
- Topic 2: Learning can happen only when you are young.
Use the guidelines given below.
- Begin with speaking ‘for’ the topic for one minute.
- Your teacher will signal that it is time to switch sides.
- Then speak ‘against’ the topic for one minute.
You may use the following sentence prompts.
| ‘For’ | ‘Against’ |
|---|---|
| To begin with, I would like to speak ‘for’ the topic… | On the contrary/On the other hand… |
| My first argument in favour of… | There are two sides to this topic… |
| Most importantly I want to mention that… | There’s no doubt that … |
| In addition to that…/ Moreover, I feel… | If I could make a point here… |
| I strongly feel… | I am pretty sure that… |
| I have a reason to believe… | Well, I am not sure whether you can really… |
| There’s no doubt that… | So, to put it in a few words… |
Answer:
Topic 1: It is important to learn a new language apart from your mother tongue.
For the Topic
To begin with, I would like to speak on the topic. Learning a new language is very important in day-to-day life. My first argument in favour of this topic is that it helps to communicate with more people. Most importantly, I want to mention that learning another language helps to improve our knowledge, and we can understand the cultures. Moreover, I feel that if I know more languages, then it will help in my jobs and also when we want to visit other states. In addition to that, it helps to improve our memory and thinking skills. I strongly feel that knowing more than just one language will be a helpful skill in today’s world. So, to put it in a few words, learning a new language is beneficial for personal and professional growth.
Against the Topic
On the other hand, there are two sides. I can live successfully if I know only my mother tongue. There’s no doubt that learning a new language is important, but it takes time and effort. If I could make a point here, many people do not need another language in their daily lives. Well, I don’t know whether everyone has the opportunity to learn a new language. Some people may be focused on any other important skill instead of a second language. Therefore, learning a new language may not be necessary for everyone.
Topic 2: Learning can happen only when you are young. For the Topic
For the Topic
To begin with, I would like to speak on the topic. Children learn faster because their minds are sharper. My first argument in favour of this topic is that young people can learn and remember new information easily. Moreover, the children have more time to learn and practise new skills. There’s no doubt that schools provide good opportunities for learning. I have a reason to believe that learning at a young age helps build a strong foundation for the future. Therefore, learning is often easier when people are young.
Against the Topic
On the contrary, I do not agree that learning is only possible when you are young. Learning is a lifelong process. Most importantly, I want to mention that people can learn new skills at any age. There’s no doubt that adults learn through experience and practice. For example, many people learn computers, languages, or hobbies later in life. I strongly feel that if you have determination and interest, then you can learn at any age. The story of the grandmother who learnt to read at the age of sixty-two proves that learning new things can happen at any age. So, to put it in a few words, learning can happen at any stage of life.
Writing Task
I As a socially responsible citizen, you strongly believe that students can contribute significantly in promoting adult literacy. Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper emphasising the importance of student participation in adult literacy camps conducted by various organisations. Discuss the benefits of such initiatives for both students and society. Suggest effective ways to spread awareness and encourage more students to volunteer for this noble cause.
A letter to the editor is a formal letter in which the writer gives suggestions and creates awareness on an issue of public interest or an issue already raised in an article/write-up/published letter.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
Answer:
ABC Colony
Mumbai
Date: __
Subject: Student Participation in Adult Literacy Camps
Sir/Madam,
As a concerned citizen, I would like to draw your attention towards the importance of adult literacy. Many adults in our country are unable to read and write. Adult literacy camps organised by various organisations help such people to understand the basic education and improve their lives.
The issue affects a large section of society. By engaging in these programmes, students can help adults to learn reading, writing, and simple calculations. Such initiatives can help the students to become responsible among the students. These camps also help the adults to become more confident, independent, and aware of their rights and duties.
One effective way to address this issue is if any awareness-related campaigns in schools and communities will be more helpful. Authorities could encourage students to volunteer in literacy camps through workshops and social media campaigns. I am hopeful that necessary steps will be taken to promote this noble cause. I hope this letter gets published in the columns of your esteemed daily.
Yours truly,
Students’ Names
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