Vitamin M Class 9 NCERT Solutions provide clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand answers to all the textbook questions from Chapter 4 of the new NCERT English Kaveri textbook. These solutions are designed according to the latest CBSE syllabus and help students understand the chapter’s theme, characters, vocabulary, grammar, and literary elements.
Vitamin M Class 9 NCERT Solutions
I. From your experience with an elderly person at home or in your neighbourhood, complete the following graphic organiser.
Now, discuss the points written in the organiser with your classmates and teacher.
Answer: Elderly people often face problems like weak health, poor eyesight, hearing loss, forgetfulness, loneliness, and accidents. These difficulties arise mainly due to old age, stress, living alone, and lack of proper care.
We should care for the elderly because they looked after us when we were young, they have wisdom and life experience, and they deserve respect and dignity. Caring for them also strengthens family bonds and teaches us values.
We can take care of the elderly by giving medicines on time, speaking politely, spending quality time with them, ensuring their safety, listening to their feelings, and providing emotional support. This makes their lives happier and healthier.
II. Fill in the table given below. You may check your answers with the help of a dictionary.
| Word | Not heard this word before | Have heard this word but don’t know what it means | I know this word. It has something to do with… | Write the meaning of this word |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. frail | ||||
| 2. shuddered | ||||
| 3. poky | ||||
| 4. forbid | ||||
| 5. pottering | ||||
| 6. winced |
Answer:
| Word | Not heard this word before | Have heard this word but don’t know what it means | I know this word. It has something to do with… | Write the meaning of this word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. frail | * | * | Weakness | Weak, not strong | The old man was frail and needed help to walk. |
| 2. shuddered | * | * | Shaking | Trembled or shook suddenly | She shuddered when she heard the scary noise. |
| 3. poky | * | * | Small/slow | Small, cramped, or moving slowly | They lived in a poky little room. |
| 4. forbid | * | * | Not allow | To order someone not to do something | The teacher forbids students from using phones in class. |
| 5. pottering | * | * | Doing slowly | Doing small tasks in a slow, relaxed way | Grandpa spent the afternoon pottering in the garden. |
| 6. winced | * | * | Pain reaction | Made a face showing pain or discomfort | He winced when the doctor gave him an injection. |
III. Think of a tradition, story, or recipe passed down by grandparents or an elderly relative in your family. What does it mean to you? How does it connect you to your growing-up years? Share with your classmates and teacher.
Answer: My grandfather passed down the tradition of telling bedtime stories from his life. These stories mean a lot to me because they remind me of simple living and family bonding. They connect me to my childhood by teaching values like honesty, respect, and hard work. Just like in Vitamin-M, such traditions keep us close to our elders and help us learn from their experiences.
Check Your Understanding
I. Why did Grandpa dislike living in the city with his daughter?
Answer: Grandpa disliked the noisy and crowded city. He missed his quiet brick house with the mango tree where he could even hear a leaf fall.
II. Why did Vidya not want her father to go out alone?
Answer: Vidya feared for his safety because earlier he had taken a double dose of medicine and once got lost while walking.
III. Was Ravi in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child? How can you say so?
Answer: No. Ravi winced when his mother spoke too loudly to Grandpa, showing he felt embarrassed and believed Grandpa deserved respect.
IV. Would Ravi be able to keep up his promise to his mother?
Answer: Ravi tried to keep his promise by secretly following Grandpa to make sure he was safe, even though Grandpa wanted independence.
Check Your Understanding
I. Complete the flow chart by describing Grandpa’s day out.
Answer:
- Grandpa goes out to get Tamil newspaper.
- Ravi follows Grandpa.
- Grandpa first stops at the children’s park.
- Buys a paper‑cone of peanuts and watches the children play.
- Ravi hides behind a banyan tree and watches.
- Grandpa next goes to the tea stall.
- Ravi hides behind a bush to observe.
- Grandpa drinks tea and eats bananas and ice cream.
- Grandpa then crosses the road and enters a barber shop.
- Next Grandpa walks quickly to a bus stop and boards a bus.
- Ravi enters the bus only to discover that he had been fooled.
- Ravi gets scolded by a small child and the child’s mother.
II. Was Grandpa lost as feared by Ravi’s mother?
Answer: No. Grandpa was not lost. He returned home safely and was found sleeping peacefully in his room.
III. How would Ravi feel after seeing Grandpa?
Answer: Ravi felt relieved, happy, and affectionate. He hugged Grandpa and realized his deep love for him.
IV. Do you think Ravi’s mother will get to know about what had happened?
Answer: No. Grandpa cleverly hid the truth by saying Ravi disappeared instead of looking after him, so his mother did not know about the outing.
Check Your Understanding
I. Describe how Ravi’s emotional reaction upon finding Grandpa safe at home reveals his feelings towards his grandfather.
Answer: When Ravi found Grandpa safe at home, he felt relieved and happy. He hugged Grandpa lovingly, showing his deep affection and care. This reaction reveals that Ravi truly loved and respected his grandfather and was worried about his safety.
II. What might be the significance of Grandpa’s habit of giving gifts to everyone on his birthday rather than receiving them?
Answer: Grandpa’s habit shows his generous and loving nature. He believed that giving gifts brings more joy than receiving them. It also reflects his affection for his family and his desire to make others happy.
III. Why do you think Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book as a gift? What might this suggest about Grandpa’s awareness of Ravi’s actions earlier in the day?
Answer: Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book because he knew Ravi had secretly followed him all day like a detective. This shows that Grandpa was clever and fully aware of Ravi’s actions, but he chose to respond kindly and humorously instead of scolding him.
Critical Reflection
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Grandpa hated the noise and bustle of city life and when they were on their own, he often spoke longingly of his small brick house in town. “Such a wonderful place…! With that big mango tree in the garden! It is so quiet that at dusk you can even hear a leaf fall!” But then Grandpa had slipped and fallen in the garden late one evening while he was pottering around and lain outside all night because there was no one at home to help him up.
(i) Choose the emotion displayed by the Grandfather.
A. regretful
B. apologetic
C. nostalgic
D. wistful
Answer: C. nostalgic
Grandpa fondly remembered his old house and peaceful life, showing nostalgia for the past.
(ii) Complete the following sentence with a reason. Grandpa hated the busy and noisy city life because _.
Answer: Grandpa hated the busy and noisy city life because he loved peace and quiet and missed his calm home with the mango tree.
(iii) Why did Grandpa come to the city despite his dislike for city life?
Answer: Grandpa came to the city because he had fallen in his garden and needed care. His daughter brought him to live with her for his safety.
(iv) Choose an expression similar in meaning to, ‘you can even hear a leaf fall’.
A. end of one’s life
B. arrival of autumn
C. sign of good luck
D. pin drop silence
Answer: D. pin drop silence
(v) State one advantage and one disadvantage of the Grandfather living in the house in town.
Answer:
Advantage
- Peaceful and quiet surroundings
Disadvantage
- No one to help him when he fell and got hurt
2. “I had a quiet morning, but I don’t know about Ravi. He just disappeared instead of staying at home to look after me like you told him to,” answered Grandpa coolly, while Ravi just looked confused and embarrassed. Grandpa had another surprise for Ravi. A gift-wrapped parcel! “But, Papa, Ravi’s birthday was three months ago. Have you forgotten?” exclaimed Ravi’s mother, impatiently.
(i) Choose the option that displays the tone of the Grandfather’s response.
A. apologetic
B. hurtful
C. calm
D. puzzled
Answer: C. calm
Grandpa spoke coolly and without anger, showing a calm tone.
(ii) Why was Ravi confused and embarrassed?
Answer: Ravi was confused and embarrassed because Grandpa cleverly said Ravi had disappeared instead of admitting he had gone out, which made Ravi feel guilty and awkward.
(iii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason. Ravi’s mother was impatient because _____.
Answer: Ravi’s mother was impatient because she thought Grandpa had forgotten Ravi’s birthday, which was three months ago.
(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false. Grandfather forgot that Ravi’s birthday was three months ago.
Answer: False. Grandpa had not forgotten Ravi’s birthday. He gave gifts to everyone on his own birthday as a family tradition.
(v) Why did Grandpa say he didn’t know what kind of morning Ravi might have had?
Answer: Grandpa said this because Ravi had secretly followed him all morning instead of staying at home, so Grandpa pretended not to know what Ravi had been doing.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Grandpa is portrayed as a person with failing memory in the beginning of the story. Give two evidences to disprove the statement.
Answer:
- He remembered famous chess moves by Karpov, Fischer, and Spassky.
- He remembered his family tradition of giving gifts on his own birthday.
2. Give two characteristic traits of each of the following characters.
(i) Grandfather
(ii) Ravi
(iii) Ravi’s mother
Answer:
- Grandfather: Independent, witty.
- Ravi: Caring, loyal.
- Ravi’s mother: Protective, anxious.
3. Why was Ravi worried about what Grandfather had at the tea stall?
Answer: Ravi worried because Grandpa ate sugar, bananas, and ice cream, which were forbidden for his health.
4. Do you think it was easy for Ravi to follow his Grandfather? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer: No. It was difficult because Ravi had to hide behind bushes, trees, and cars, and he was scolded by strangers while following Grandpa.
5. ‘Ravi is a good detective’. Give one argument in favour of and against the given statement.
Answer:
- In favour: He followed Grandpa carefully and observed his actions.
- Against: He was easily fooled by a stranger wearing Grandpa’s cap.
6. Was Grandfather aware that Ravi was following him? How do you know?
Answer: Yes. Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book as a gift, showing he knew Ravi had been trailing him.
7. In your opinion, who needs Vitamin-M? And why?
Answer: Ravi’s mother needs Vitamin‑M because she forgot her father’s birthday and became impatient, showing weak memory.
8. Some people believe society shows bias based on age (being young or old). Give an example where you might have experienced or observed such discrimination, when opinions were disregarded because of age.
Answer: In many families, children’s opinions are ignored because they are considered too young, and elderly people’s views are sometimes dismissed as outdated.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I. Classify the words given in the box on the next page into movement words in Column 1 and sound words in Column 2. One example has been done for you.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| pottering | boomed |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| pottering | boomed |
| twirling | shrieked |
| crouching | thudded |
| bustling | whirred |
| crawling | grunted |
| creeping | snoring |
| ducking | clattered |
| zigzagging | rumbled |
| striding | echoed |
| hurrying | murmured |
| sprinting | buzzed |
| jumping | clanged |
| darting | hissed |
| trailing | banged |
Now, fill in the blanks with appropriate words from Column 1 or Column 2.
Detective Shankar, 1. ____ the mysterious suspect through the dimly lit side lanes, away from the 2. _____ of the city, quickened his pace 3. _. The suspect’s heavy footsteps 4. ___ across the street, unaware of the pursuit. Shankar 5. _ his magnifying glass had to 6. __ behind the market stalls, 7. __ through the lanes to avoid being seen. Shankar 8. __ when he hit himself against a pole. This alarmed the suspect and he 9. __ into the night leaving only the distant 10. __ of the sleeping city behind.
Answer:
Detective Shankar, 1. Trailing the mysterious suspect through the dimly lit side lanes, away from the 2. Bustle of the city, quickened his pace 3. briskly. The suspect’s heavy footsteps 4. thudded across the street, unaware of the pursuit. Shankar 5. crouching his magnifying glass had to 6. duck behind the market stalls, 7. creeping through the lanes to avoid being seen. Shankar 8. grunted when he hit himself against a pole. This alarmed the suspect and he 9. sprinted into the night leaving only the distant 10. whirr of the sleeping city behind.
II. Study the highlighted word in the given sentence from the text and fill in the boxes with synonymous words. You may refer to a dictionary. Off he went, twirling his walking stick jauntily, leaving Ravi in a dilemma.
Answer:
- Quandary -> QU_ ND_ _ Y
- Predicament -> PR_ D _ C _ M _ NT
III. Fill in the table given below. Check your answers with the help of a dictionary.
| Word | Meaning | Part of Speech | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. craftily | ||||
| 2. dilemma | ||||
| 3. furious | ||||
| 4. boomed | ||||
| 5. humiliation | ||||
| 6. attire |
Answer:
| Word | Meaning | Part of Speech | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. craftily | cleverly, in a tricky way | Adverb | cunningly, slyly | honestly, openly |
| 2. dilemma | a difficult choice or situation | Noun | quandary, predicament | solution, certainty |
| 3. furious | extremely angry | Adjective | enraged, wrathful | calm, peaceful |
| 4. boomed | made a loud, deep sound | Verb | roared, thundered | whispered, murmured |
| 5. humiliation | feeling of shame or disgrace | Noun | embarrassment, dishonor | pride, respect |
| 6. attire | clothing or dress | Noun | outfit, apparel | undress, nakedness |
IV. Match the emotions/expressions in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. One meaning is extra.
| Column 1 Emotions/Expressions | Column 2 Meanings |
|---|---|
| 1. embarrassed | (i) affected severely by an unpleasant feeling |
| 2. countered | (ii) to be confused |
| 3. flushed | (iii) expression of emotion |
| 4. stricken | (iv) reply to an argument |
| 5. gleam | (v) felt uncomfortable |
| (vi) became red in the face |
Answer:
| Column 1 – Emotions/Expressions | Column 2 – Meanings |
|---|---|
| 1. embarrassed | (v) felt uncomfortable |
| 2. countered | (iv) reply to an argument |
| 3. flushed | (vi) became red in the face |
| 4. stricken | (i) affected severely by an unpleasant feeling |
| 5. gleam | (iii) expression of emotion |
V. Read the highlighted words in the following phrases from the story. Now, revisit the story and underline the prepositions.
- I’ll just walk across to the corner shop…
- … he felt a shadow fall over him…
- …the vendors sitting under the tree…
- Ravi took position behind a big banyan…
Answer:
- I’ll just walk across to the corner shop…
- …he felt a shadow fall over him…
- …the vendors sitting under the tree…
- Ravi took position behind a big banyan…
Now, fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.
I walked (i) _ (through, between, against) the village, crossed a bridge (ii) _ (over, under, beside) a brook, and found a quiet garden (iii) _ (among, near, across) a cottage. Sitting on a bench (iv) _ (on, at, in) the garden, I enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. Later, I strolled (v) _ (beside, through, along) a riverbank, exploring the forest and heading (vi) _____ (into, towards, beyond) the unknown.
Answer:
I walked (i) through (through, between, against) the village, crossed a bridge (ii) over (over, under, beside) a brook, and found a quiet garden (iii) near (among, near, across) a cottage. Sitting on a bench (iv) in (on, at, in) the garden, I enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. Later, I strolled (v) along (beside, through, along) a riverbank, exploring the forest and heading (vi) into (into, towards, beyond) the unknown.
VI. Read the following dialogues from the story.
- “Shall we play chess or watch the cricket match on TV, Grandpa?” asked Ravi.
- “Who are you?” said the little boy’s mother.
- “What did you both do today?” asked Ravi’s mother.
- “Have you forgotten?” countered Grandpa.
- A small child came up to him and asked, “Are you playing hide and seek?”
Now, choose the correct answer.
A. The words in the quotes are (i) _ (exclamatory/interrogative) sentences.
Answer: The words in quotes are interrogative sentences because each one asks a question.
B. Sentences 1, 4, and 5 are (ii) _ (Wh-/Yes, No type) interrogative sentences.
Answer:
Sentences 1, 4, and 5 are Yes/No type interrogatives.
(They can be answered with “yes” or “no”: Shall we play…?, Have you forgotten?, Are you playing…?)
Sentences 2 and 3 are Wh‑type interrogatives.
(Who are you?, What did you both do today?)
C. Sentences 2 and 3 are (iii) __ (Wh-/Yes, No type) interrogative sentences.
So, there are (iv) _ (two/three) types of interrogative sentences.
Answer:
So, there are two types of interrogative sentences in the passage: Yes/No type and Wh‑type.
D. Let us have a quick glance at a few guidelines to remind you of the changes while transforming from direct form of speech to indirect. You can ask your teacher for more inputs.
Answer:
- Ravi asked Grandpa if they should play chess or watch the cricket match on TV.
- The little boy’s mother asked Ravi who he was.
- Ravi’s mother asked them what they had done that day.
- Grandpa asked if she had forgotten.
- A small child asked whether he was playing hide and seek.
VII. Read the following conversation.
Arvind: Do you help in taking care of your grandparents at home?
Priya: Yes, I do. We take turns making sure they’re alright. Do you have grandparents living with you?
Arvind: No. My parents and I visit my grandpa every weekend. How do you manage your grandparents’ medical needs?
Priya: We have a schedule for giving medications and visits to the doctor.
Now, complete the following sentences in reported speech.
Arvind asked Priya if she 1. __________________________________ for which Priya replied in the affirmative and said that they 2. _. Priya further asked Arvind 3. _______________________________. Arvind replied in the negative and said that 4. ________________ every weekend. He further enquired 5. ____________________________. Priya responded by saying that they 6. _______________________.
Answer:
Arvind asked Priya if she 1. helped in taking care of her grandparents at home, for which Priya replied in the affirmative and said that they 2. took turns making sure they were alright. Priya further asked Arvind 3. whether he had grandparents living with him. Arvind replied in the negative and said that 4. he and his parents visited his grandpa every weekend. He further enquired 5. how she managed her grandparents’ medical needs. Priya responded by saying that they 6. had a schedule for giving medications and visits to the doctor.
Listen and Respond
I. You will listen to a podcast on meditation. As you listen, complete the sentences with not more than three exact words that you hear. (Transcript for teacher on page 266)
- Meditation is a form of yoga that usually refreshes the mind and helps with _______.
- Meditation leads to a better health condition both ____.
- Meditation also aids in lessening undesirable feelings and improving ______.
- It is advised that we meditate every day so that it becomes a ___.
- Meditating on a daily basis is beneficial in comfortably tackling ____.
Answer:
- Meditation is a form of yoga that usually refreshes the mind and helps with concentration.
- Meditation leads to a better health condition both physically and mentally.
- Meditation also aids in lessening undesirable feelings and improving emotional balance.
- It is advised that we meditate every day so that it becomes a habit.
- Meditating on a daily basis is beneficial in comfortably tackling stress.
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