NCERT solutions for English Kaveri Class 9 chapter 1 - How I Taught My Grandmother to Read [Latest edition]

Complete the given word web.

Read the questions given below and share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. Which language(s) do your grandparents or elderly relatives speak?
2. How do they spend their time? How do you spend time with them?
3. What is your favourite experience with them?
4. What is something that the elderly in your family cannot do easily but enjoy watching you do?

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.

Complete the cause and effect table given below based on Part I of the story. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

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?

How might the narrator help her grandmother to fulfil her desire to learn to read and write?

State whether the following sentence is true or false. Share your answer with your classmates and teacher.

The grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet to gain independence.

State whether the following sentence is true or false. Share your answer with your classmates and teacher.

The grandmother asked someone in the village to read Kashi Yatre to her while the narrator was away

State whether the following sentence is true or false. Share your answer with your classmates and teacher.

The narrator was the grandmother’s first teacher and taught her how to read Kannada.

State whether the following sentence is true or false. Share your answer with your classmates and teacher.

The grandmother believed that there was no age limit for learning.

State whether the following sentence is true or false. Share your answer with your classmates and teacher.

The grandmother touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect for her as a teacher.

State whether the following sentence is true or false. Share your answer with your classmates and teacher.

The narrator was disappointed with the progress her grandmother made in learning to read.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

(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 ______.

1. strong-willed
2. understanding
3. considerate
4. 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.

(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.

(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?

(v) Which of the following aspect is NOT emphasised in the given extract?

1. the emotional turmoil of the grandmother.
2. the affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother.
3. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education.
4. the narrator’s concern for her grandmother.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

(i) What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?

1. She wanted to be literate.
2. She desires self-sufficiency.
3. She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
4. 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)

(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 ______.

(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.

(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?

Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?

Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?

What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?

What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?

What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?

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.’

How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?

Match the binomials in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

Now, use any five of the above binomials in sentences of your own.

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.

Identify any five words with prefixes from the story and make sentences using each.

Match the idioms related to ‘learning’ given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

Now, use these idioms in sentences of your own.

Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.

When the delegates ______ (arrive) at the conference, the keynote speaker ______ (already begin) the session.

Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.

After the students ______ (learn) how to identify fake news online, they ______ (start) verifying information before sharing it.

Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.

Before Kiran ______ (start) using digital payment platforms, she ______ (ensure) her understanding of online fraud prevention.

Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.

By the time Varun ______ (recognise) the importance of budgeting, he ______ (exhaust) most of his savings.

Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.

When Raghu ______ (log in) to the cybersecurity webinar, the instructor ______ (already discuss) the importance of strong passwords.

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.

You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy. As you listen, complete the following sentence with one to three exact words that you hear.

Literacy these days includes the ability to use ______.

You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy. As you listen, complete the following sentence with one to three exact words that you hear.

Digital literacy is also about protecting ______.

You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy. As you listen, complete the following sentence with one to three exact words that you hear.

Digital literacy enables the elderly to ______.

You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy. As you listen, complete the following sentence with one to three exact words that you hear.

Digital literacy encourages using the internet safely by helping us recognise ______ and ______.

You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy. As you listen, complete the following sentence with one to three exact words that you hear.

The National Digital Literacy Mission helps people across the country by imparting ______.

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.

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.

India has 22 major languages according to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Each language has its own unique identity. Talk to your classmates and teacher and complete the given table with words from any five Indian languages.

Do you know?

Talk to your grandparents and find out which book or magazine they enjoy reading. Buy a copy of it and present it to them as a gift.