How I Taught My Grandmother to Read / Class 9 Word Meaning Question Answer

 Class-9, English  Literature Reader (Communicative) Chapter 1 – 

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read 

by Sudha Murthy

Word Meaning :

complex: complicated, difficult to understand
psychological: related to the emotional and mental state of the human mind
appreciate: praise
karmaveera:  a Kannada weekly family interest magazine
ardent: very enthusiastic or passionate
punya: hindi word for ‘holy deed

identify: associate someone or something closely with; regard as having strong links with
protagonist: the main character or hero of the story
insist: request repeatedly

courtyard: an unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by walls or buildings
gather: come together

thoroughly: to a great extent
endlessly: in a manner that had no end
savouring: enjoying the taste or feel of something

terrace: a flat and open area situated near the building or at the top of a building

regret: feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over something that one has done or failed to do
considered: paid attention to

flying colours: achieve a great amount of success in something

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Question and Answers

1.       Now that you have enjoyed reading the story, answer the following questions

by choosing the correct option
(a) The grandmother could relate to the central character of the story ‘Kashi Yatre’ as

___________

(i) both were old and uneducated.

(ii) both had granddaughters who read to them.

(iii) both had a strong desire to visit Kashi.

(iv) both were determined to learn how to read.

Ans. (iii) both had a strong desire to visit Kashi.

 

(b) Why did the women at the temple discuss the latest episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’?

(i) to pass their time.

(ii) the writer, Triveni was very popular

(iii) they could relate with the protagonist of ‘Kashi Yatre’.

(iv) women have a habit of discussing stories.

Ans. (iii) they could relate with the protagonist of ‘Kashi Yatre’.

 

(c) The granddaughter found her grandmother in tears on her return as ______

(i) the grandmother had been unable to read the story ‘Kashi Yatre’ on her own.

(ii) the grandmother had felt lonely.

(iii) the grandmother wanted to accompany her granddaughter.

(iv) she was sad she could not visit Kashi.

Ans. (i) the grandmother had been unable to read the story ‘Kashi Yatre’ on her own.

(d) Why did the grandmother touch her granddaughter’s feet?

(i) She did it as a mark of respect for her teacher.

(ii) It was a custom in their family.

(iii) Girls should be respected.

(iv) She had read the story of ‘Kashi Yatre’ to her.

Ans. (i) She did it as a mark of respect for her teacher.

(e). “Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled.” The smile of the grandmother explains that she understood that her granddaughter

(i) was determined to teach her.

(ii) might be too immature to understand her pain.

(iii) would ridicule her later.

(iv) could be contemplating.

Ans. (ii) might be too immature to understand her pain.

(f). “Those days, the transport system was not very good, so we used to get the morning papers only in the afternoon.” What can you infer from this?

(i) The transport system, especially the bus service, was running at loss.

(ii) The transport system, especially the bus service, was not fully functional in

rural areas.

(iii) The transport system, had stopped services in villages.

(iv) The transport system failed to introduce the bus service in rural areas.

Ans. (ii) The transport system, especially the bus service, was not fully functional in rural areas.

2.       Answer the questions based on the extracts by selecting the correct options.

I. Many times, I rubbed my hands over the pages wishing to understand what was written. But I knew it was not possible. If only I was educated enough …. I waited eagerly for you to return. I felt you would come early and read for me. I could have asked somebody in this village but I was too embarrassed to do so. I felt so very dependent and helpless. We are well-off, but what use is money when I cannot be independent?

i. What made the grandmother feel inadequate?

a. She was unable to read the story.

b. She was unable to stay attentive.

c. She was unable to buy the magazine.

d. She was unable to understand the story.

Ans. a. She was unable to read the story.

ii. Select the relevant option that best supports the context of the given extract:

1.       Grandmother was elated to get the magazine

2.       Grandmother was embarrassed to ask for help

3.       Grandmother eagerly waited for her granddaughter’s arrival

4.       Grandmother loved gazing at the pictures from the story

a. only 1 and 2 

b. only 2 and 3 

c. only 3 and 4 

d. only 1 and 4

Ans. b. only 2 and 3

 

iii. Select the option that tracks the progression of emotions experienced by the grandmother in the given extract.

1.       reassured – inquisitive – thankful – uncertain

2.       surprised – grateful – perplexed – excited

3.       yearning – uncertain – dejected – helpless

4.       perplexed – uncertain – panic-stricken – appreciative

Ans. c. yearning – uncertain – dejected – helpless

II. She said, “I am touching the feet of a teacher, not my granddaughter; a teacher who taught me so well, with so much of affection that I can read any novel confidently in such a short period. Now I am independent. It is my duty to respect a teacher. Is it not written in our scriptures that a teacher should be respected, irrespective of the gender and age”? I did return namaskara to her by touching her feet and gave my gift to my first student. She opened it and read the title Kashi Yatre by Triveni and the publisher’s name immediately. I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours.

 

i. Choose the option that lists the most likely response to “…. I am touching the feet of a teacher”.

a. feel shy

b. get anxious

c. feel overwhelmed

d. get upset

Ans. a. feel shy

 

ii. “A teacher should be respected irrespective of gender and age.” Select the quote that suggests a reason for this sentiment.

a. Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education.

b. A teacher aims to give equal attention to all the students.

c. A teacher elevates the mind and gives energy to the character.

d. Teaching is a profession that teaches all other professions.

Ans. d. Teaching is a profession that teaches all other professions.

 

iii. Select the sentence that best brings out the meaning of ‘confidently’ as used in the extract.

a. Some of the information was confidently misleading.

b. The report asserts confidently that the world economy will boost from the market collapse.

c. The present memoir is confidently a tribute to his ability and character.

d. The pandemic has confidently brought down the market.

Ans. b. The report asserts confidently that the world economy will boost from the market collapse.

 

iv. Which of the given option stands closest in meaning to “flying colours”?

a. risky

b. courageous

c. profitable

d. successful

Ans. d. successful

 

3.       Answer the following questions briefly :

(a) Why did the grandmother depend on her granddaughter to know the story?

Ans. The grandmother had not gone to school and had not received her education. Therefore, she was illiterate and did not know how to read the Kannada alphabets. The granddaughter on the other hand, was a school-going girl who knew how to read the Kannada alphabets very well. So, the grandmother would ask her granddaughter to read out the story to her and therefore, she was dependent on her.

(b) Pick out two sentences showing that the grandmother was desperate to know what happened next in the story.

Ans. The two sentences showing that the grandmother was desperate to know what happened next in the story are as follows – 

1.       Many times, I rubbed my hands over the pages wishing to understand what was written.

2.       I even thought of going to the village and asking you to read for me. I could have asked somebody in this village but I was too embarrassed to do so.

 

(c) Could the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read? How?

Ans. Yes, the grandmother succeeded in accomplishing her desire to read. She was a wonderful student, who worked hard to learn the Kannada alphabet. She would do an enormous amount of homework. She would read, repeat, write and recite, which was why she could learn the alphabets by heart. 

 

(d) Which of the following traits are relevant to the character of the narrator’s grandmother?

(i) determined (ii) selfish

(iii) emotional (iv) mean

 

Ans. (i) determined