NCERT Solutions for class 9th English Chapter 6 My Childhood

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED
THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Activity:

Ans. Do yourself. People
speak Tamil here.

Que I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.

Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Had he earned any money before that? In what way?

Ans.

Abdul Kalam’s house was on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. Abdul Kalam attempts to trace the second world war’s news in the headlines in this newspaper.
Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Sivaprakasan were his school friends. Ramanadha Sastry became the priest of the Rameswaram temple. Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for visiting pilgrims. Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by distributing news papers.
Yes, he earned money before that also. He used to collect the tamarind seeds and sell there to a provision shop on Mosque street. A day’s collection would fetch him the princely sum of one anna.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?

Ans.

(i) The author describes his father as a wise and generous person. He feels happy when he helps others. He did not have much formal education and riches. He was a man of confidence and great wisdom. He avoided inessential comforts and luxuries.
(ii) His mother was a noble and kind-hearted woman. She used to feed a large number of people. She had all the attributes of a typical Indian mother.
(iii) He was one of many children. He was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents. He was born into a middle-class Tamil family.
The author inherited humility and benevolence from his parents. He learnt lessons in honesty and integrity from his parents. He was self-disciplined because of his parent’s exemplary life.

III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.

‘‘On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups,’’ says the author.
(i) Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the way they dressed)?
(ii) Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences? (Think of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s house; of who his friends were; and of what used to take place in the pond near his house.)
(iii) The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?
(iv) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?

Ans.

(i) The author talks about the people who belong to various castes and follow various religious preachings. Yes, these groups were easily identifiable. Their dress, traditions, culture, and rituals were different.
(ii) They did share their personal experiences and friendships. Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher who separated the author and his friend and told him that he should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of innocent children.
(iii) The school teacher encouraged communal differences and Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer discouraged this malpractice.
(iv) The influential people can do both things. A teacher has the ability to bridge communal differences and can play with

Que 2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
(ii) What did his father say to this?
(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

Ans. (i) Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.
(ii) His father said that he knew he had to go away to grow. He gives the example of a seagull and says that a seagull flies across the sun alone and without a nest.
(iii) He spoke these words because he intended to hone his children’s skills. He knew the harsh reality of life that children leave their parents. So he showed his wisdom and intelligence in uttering these words.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

I. Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:

erupt surge trace undistinguished casualty

Look these words up in a dictionary that gives examples of how they are used. Now answer the following questions.

What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?
What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?
Can you find the word undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look up the word distinguished and say what undistinguished must mean.)

Ans. • The sentences in the text where these words occur are the following:

……… a sudden demand for tamarind seeds erupted in the market.
……… I can still feel the surge of pride in earning my own money for the first time.
……… I would later attempt to trace in the deadlines in Dinamani.
……… a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents.
The first casualty came in the form of the suspension of the train half at Rameswaram Station.

• Answer of the above questions:

Que1. An earthquake can erupt. Emotions can erupt. Anger can erupt.
Example: An earthquake erupted in Sicily last night. Surge means a sudden powerful forward or upward movement. A wave surges. A crowd surges. A storm surges.
Example: Birds search for fish when waves surge towards the shore.
Que2 ‘Trace’ means to find out, to copy, to draw an outline, etc. ‘Finding out’ is the closest meaning to ‘trace’ in the text.
Que3. I can’t find the word ‘undistinguished’ in my dictionary because it is not the root word. It is there under the word ‘distinguished’ because ‘undistinguished’ is negative to ‘distinguished’. It means: not specific, not prominent, not distinct, etc.

II. 1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B

Que2, Study the words in italics in the sentences below. They are formed by prefixing un- or in- to their antonyms (words opposite in meaning).

I was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks. (un + distinguished) • My austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts. (in + essential)
The area was completely unaffected by the war. (un + affected)
He should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. (in + equality, in + tolerance)

Now form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un– or in–. The prefix in– can also have the forms il–, ir–, or im– (For example: illiterate—il + literate, impractical—im + practical, irrational—ir + rational). You may consult a dictionary if you wish.

__adequate __acceptable __regular __tolerant __demanding __active __true __permanent __patriotic __disputed __accessible __coherent __logical __legal __responsible __possible

Ans. inadequate unacceptable irregular intolerant undemanding inactive untrue impermanent unpatriotic undisputed inaccessible incoherent illogical illegal irresponsible impossible

III. Passive Voice

Study these sentences:

My parents were regarded as an ideal couple.
I was asked to go and sit on the back bench.
Such problems have to be confronted.
The italicised verbs in these sentences are made up of a form of the verb be and a past participle. (For example: were + regarded, was + asked, be + confronted)
These sentences focus on what happens, rather than who does what. Notice that the doer of the action is not included in the sentences.
If necessary, we can mention the doer of the action in a byphrase. For example:
The tree was struck by lightning.
The flag was unfurled by the Chief Guest.

IV. Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form.

In yesterday’s competition the prizes (give away) by the Principal.
In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers (pay) on time.
On Republic Day, vehicles (not allow) beyond this point.
Second-hand books (buy and sell) on the pavement every Saturday.
Elections to the Lok Sabha (hold) every five years.
Our National Anthem (compose) Rabindranath Tagore.

Ans.

In yesterday’s competition the prizes were given away by the Principal.
In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
On Republic Day, vehicles were not allowed beyond this point.
Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
Our National Anthem has been composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

V. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets.

1. How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket

Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor (seriously injure and collapse). In those days helmets (not wear). Contractor (hit) on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull (fracture). The entire team (deeply concern). The West Indies players (worry). Contractor (rush) to hospital. He (accompany) by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood (donate) by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor (save). Nowadays helmets (routinely use) against fast bowlers.

2. Oil From Seeds

Vegetable oils (make) from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil (produce) from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil (use) for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives (shake) from the trees and (gather) up, usually by hand. The olives (ground) to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats (layer) up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.

DICTATION

Let the class divide itself into three groups. Let each group take down one passage that the teacher dictates. Then put the passages together in the right order

To Sir, with Love

1. From Rameswaram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it’s been a long journey. Talking to Nona Walia on the eve of Teacher’s Day, President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam talks about life’s toughest lessons learnt and his mission—being a teacher to the Indian Youth. ‘‘A proper education would help nurture a sense of dignity and self-respect among our youth’’, says President Kalam. There’s still a child in him though, and he’s still curious about learning new things. Life’s a mission for President Kalam.

2. Nonetheless, he remembers his first lesson in life and how it changed his destiny. ‘‘I was studying in Standard V, and must have been all of 10. My teacher, Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was telling us how birds fly. He drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard, depicting the wings, tail and the body with the head and then explained how birds soar to the sky. At the end of the class, I said I didn’t understand. Then he asked the other students if they had understood, but nobody had understood how birds fly,’’ he recalls.

3. ‘‘That evening, the entire class was taken to Rameswaram shore’’ the President continues. ‘‘My teacher showed us sea birds. We saw marvellous formations of them flying and how their wings flapped. Then my teacher asked us, ‘Where is the birds’ engine and how is it powered?’ I knew then that birds are powered by their own life and motivation. I understood all about birds’ dynamics. This was real teaching—a theoretical lesson coupled with a live practical example. Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was a great teacher.’’ That day, my future was decided. My destiny was changed. I knew my future had to be about flight and flight systems.

Ans. For attempt at class level. Paragraphs are put together as given below:

To Sir, with Love

From Rameswaram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It has been a long journey. Talking to Nona Walia on the eve of Teacher’s Day, President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam talks about life’s toughest lessons learnt, and his mission—being a teacher to the Indian Youth. ‘‘A proper education would help nurture a sense of dignity and self-respect among our youth’’, says President Kalam. There’s still a child in him though, he’s still curious about learning new things. Life’s a mission for President Kalam.

Nonetheless, he remembers his first lesson in life and how it changed his destiny. ‘‘I was studying in standard V, and must have been all of 10. My teacher, Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was telling us how birds fly. He drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard, depicting the wings, tail and the body with the head and then explained how birds soar to the sky. At the end of the class, I said I did not understand. Then he asked the other students if they had understood, but nobody had understood how birds fly’’, he recalls.

“That evening, the entire class was taken to Rameswaram shore”, the President continues. ‘‘My teacher showed us sea birds. We saw marvellous formations of them flying and how their wings flapped. Then my teacher asked us, ‘‘Where is the bird’s engine and how is it powered?’’ I knew then that birds are powered by their own life and motivation. I understood all about birds’ dynamics. This was real teaching—a theoretical lesson coupled with a live practical example. Sri Sivasubramania Iyer was a great teacher. That day, my future was decided. My estiny was changed. I knew my future had to be about flight and flight systems. Life is actually a mission for President Kalam. It has been a long trek from Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan. There’s still a child in him though, and he is still curious about learning new things.

SPEAKING

Here is a topic for you to
1.think about;
2.give your opinion on.

Find out what other people think about it. Ask your friends/seniors/parents to give you their opinion.

‘Career Building Is the Only Goal of Education.’

‘Getting a Good Job Is More Important than Being

a Good Human Being.’

You can use the following phrases.

(i) while giving your opinion:

I think that…
In my opinion…
It seems to me that…
I am of the view that…
As far as I know…
If you ask me…

(ii) saying what other people think:

According to some…
Quite a few think…
Some others favour…
Thirty per cent of the people disagree…
Fifty per cent of them strongly feel…

Ans. Career Building is the Only Goal of Education

The eminent educationists aver that education does not make a child a bookworm. It sharpens the pupils’ intellect and inspire them to build their career by getting themselves enrolled in professional courses. In my opinion, the fundamental goal of education is to help a learner in opting for a perfect stream and assist him in earning his livelihood.

WRITING

Think and write a short account of what life in Rameswaram in the 1940s must have been like. (Were people rich or poor? Hard working or lazy? Hopeful of change, or resistant to it?).

Ans. The people in Rameswaram in 1940s were orthodox and tolerant. It is mentioned in the story that every child is born into a specific socio-economic and emotional environment and trained in certain ways by figures of authority. The people of Rameswaram were not ready to allow anybody to instigate their children on the basis of communal intolerance. They were all religious people and did not like to enjoy the luxuries of life. They had pucca houses made of limestone and brick. They used to avoid all inessential comforts and were emotionally attached to the members of their family.

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