NCERT Class 9 English , Beehive. Written by Isaac Asimov

I. Short Answer Questions (about 30 words)

1.How old are Margie and Tommy? Margie is eleven years old and Tommy is thirteen years old.

2.What did Margie write in her diary? Margie wrote in her diary on May 17, 2157, "Today Tommy found a real book!"

3.Had Margie ever seen a book before? No, Margie had never seen a real, printed book before. She was accustomed to telebooks displayed on a screen.

4.What things about the book did she find strange? She found it strange that the pages were yellow and crinkly, and the words stood still instead of moving on a screen. Also, when they turned back to a page, the same words were still there.

5.What do you think a telebook is? A telebook is a digital book displayed on a large screen (like a computer or television). Lessons and questions are presented on this screen.

6.Where was Margie's school? Did she have any classmates? Margie's school was in her home itself, right next to her bedroom. No, she did not have any classmates.

7.What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn? Margie and Tommy learned subjects like Geography, History, and Arithmetic.

8.What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have? Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. These were large, black, ugly screens on which all lessons were shown and questions were asked. They had a slot for homework and test papers, which the students had to insert in a punch code.

9.Why did Margie's mother send for the County Inspector? Margie's mother sent for the County Inspector because Margie had been doing very badly in geography tests given by her mechanical teacher, and her performance was getting worse. She wanted to know the reason for this.

10.Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her? Margie was doing badly in geography because the geography sector of her mechanical teacher had been geared a little too quickly. The County Inspector slowed it down to an average ten-year level and assured Mrs. Jones that Margie's overall progress pattern was satisfactory.

11.What had once happened to Tommy's teacher? Once, the history sector of Tommy's mechanical teacher had completely blanked out, and it had to be taken away for nearly a month.

12.Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why? Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school. Her mother believed that little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours. Her mechanical teacher also turned on at the same time every day, except on Saturdays and Sundays.

13.How does Tommy describe the old kind of school? Tommy describes the old kind of school as a special building where all the kids from the entire neighborhood came together to study. They had a human teacher and learned the same things.

14.How does he describe the old kind of teachers? Tommy says the old kind of teachers were human beings, men and women, who taught the children in groups in a special building. They gave homework and asked questions.

II. Long Answer Questions (about 100-150 words)

1.What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?

In the story, Margie and Tommy's education system is highly automated and personalized. Their "schoolrooms" are not traditional buildings but rather rooms in their own homes, specifically a room next to Margie's bedroom. Their teachers are mechanical robots with large, black screens displaying lessons and questions. These teachers are programmed to deliver information on various subjects like history, geography, and arithmetic. Students have to insert their homework and test papers into a slot on the mechanical teacher using a punch code, and the machine evaluates their performance instantly. This system offers convenience, but it lacks the social interaction and dynamic learning environment of traditional schools.

2.Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?

Margie hated her school because it was a solitary and monotonous experience. She had no classmates to interact with, and her mechanical teacher constantly gave her tests, especially in geography, where she was performing poorly. The worst part for her was having to put her homework and test papers into the mechanical teacher's slot in a punch code. She imagined the old kind of school must have been fun because children from different neighborhoods gathered together in a special building, laughed, and shouted in the schoolyard. They had human teachers who taught them the same things, allowing them to help each other with homework. The idea of learning and playing together with other children filled her with a sense of wonder and longing, contrasting sharply with her isolated, mechanical learning.

3.Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.

Yes, I agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story. In "The Fun They Had," schooling is a solitary, mechanical process. Margie studies alone with a robot teacher, confined to her room, and misses out on social interaction. In contrast, schools today offer a vibrant and interactive environment. We have human teachers who can understand and respond to our individual needs, clarify doubts, and engage us in discussions. We learn with classmates, fostering friendships, teamwork, and healthy competition. The collective learning experience, the shared laughter, the games during recess, and the social bonds formed make traditional schools far more enjoyable and holistic than the futuristic, isolated learning depicted in the story.

Main Themes of the Chapter:

Impact of Technology on Education:

The story explores a future where technology has completely taken over education, replacing human teachers and physical schools with mechanical teachers and virtual classrooms.

Nostalgia for the Past:

Margie's fascination with the "real" book and her imaginative longing for the old school system highlight a sense of nostalgia for traditional learning and social interaction.

The Importance of Human Connection:

The story implicitly emphasizes the value of human interaction, social learning, and the joy of collective experiences that are absent in Margie and Tommy's futuristic educational setup.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Learning:

While digital learning offers convenience and personalized instruction, the story suggests it can lead to isolation and a lack of holistic development compared to traditional schooling.