Q1. What did Margie write in her diary?
Ans: On 17 May 2157, Margie wrote in her diary about discovering a real book that Tommy found. It was an old paper book with yellow and crinkly pages.
Q2. Who are Tommy and Margie? How old are they?
Ans: Tommy and Margie are students living in the year 2157. They are neighbours and enjoy spending time together like typical children. Their ages are:
- Tommy is thirteen years old.
- Margie is eleven years old.
Q3. Where did Tommy find the book and in what condition?
Or
Describe the book that Tommy had found in the attic.
Ans: Tommy found a real book in the attic of his house. The book was:
- At least two hundred years old.
- Pages that had turned yellow and crinkly.
- Covered in dust from lying there for ages.
Q4. Had Margie ever seen a book before?
Ans: No, Margie had never seen a book before she discovered the one Tommy found in his attic. She had only heard about books from her grandfather, who also had never seen one. He learned about printed books from his own grandfather.
Q5. Did Margie like the printed book? Why/Why not?
Ans: Margie was thrilled to learn that Tommy had discovered a real book, which was different from the digital books they usually read. She even noted this exciting find in her diary.
As she flipped through the yellow and crinkly pages with Tommy, she found it amusing to read the words that stayed still, unlike the moving text on a screen. In contrast, Tommy thought it was a waste, but Margie was genuinely fascinated and liked the book.
Q6. What things about the book did Margie find strange?
Ans: Margie found several things about the book strange:
- The printed words in the book were fixed, unlike the moving text on her television screen.
- She thought it was odd that the pages had the same words every time she turned back, rather than changing.
- Margie was used to a world of telebooks, which were stored in a machine, making the physical book feel outdated.
Q7. What do you think a telebook is?
Ans: A telebook is an electronic version of a book. It is:
- Stored on a computer.
- Read by scrolling its pages up, down, or sideways on a screen.
This format allows for easy access and reading without the need for physical paper.
Q8. “What a waste!” What is Tommy referring to as a ‘waste’? Is it really a waste?
Ans: Tommy believes that paper books are a waste. He thinks once a book is read, it becomes useless and should be thrown away since it contains the same content.
However, this view is misguided. Printed books:
- Can be enjoyed by many readers.
- Hold value as they can be read multiple times.
- Should be preserved for future generations.
Q9. How does Tommy find the telebooks of his own time to be better?
Ans: Tommy believes that his telebooks are superior to the ancient printed books for several reasons:
- They can be stored on a television, allowing for easy access.
- Telebooks can be read multiple times without needing to be discarded.
- They take up very little space compared to traditional books.
Q10. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?
Ans: Margie’s school was located in her house, right next to her bedroom. It was a customised setup designed specifically for her needs and level. No, she did not have any classmates.
Q11. Which part of her school did Margie hate the most? Or What did Margie hate the most about her school?
Ans: The part that Margie hated the most about her school was the slot where she had to submit her homework and test papers. She was required to write everything in a punch code that she learned at the age of six. Additionally, her mechanical teacher calculated her marks instantly, leaving Margie no time to relax after completing her assignments.
Q12. What was the County Inspector trained to do?
Ans: The County Inspector served as a technical expert. He was trained to:
- Identify errors in the system of mechanical teachers.
- Rectify any issues affecting their functionality.
His role was crucial in ensuring that the mechanical teachers operated effectively for the students.
Q13. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector? Or Why did Margie’s mother shook her head one day and send for the County Inspector?
Ans: Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector because Margie was struggling in Geography. Her declining performance concerned her mother, prompting her to seek help from a specialist.
- The County Inspector was called to identify the issue with Margie’s learning.
- He examined the mechanical teacher and discovered it was set too quickly for Margie’s level.
- After adjusting the settings, he ensured the lessons would be more suitable for her.
Q14. What views did Margie’s mother have about teachers and learning?
Ans: Margie’s mother had strong views about education:
- She was very particular about Margie’s schooling.
- Ensured Margie attended her tele-school regularly and studied on time.
- Believed that a tele-teacher should adapt to each student’s mind.
- Thought each student needed to be taught in a differentiated way.
- Whenever there was an issue with Margie’s tele-teacher, she promptly called the County Inspector to resolve it.
This was to ensure that Margie did not miss out on her education.
Q15. Will future schools be completely devoid of humans and human values? Give a reasoned answer.
Ans: While education is set to undergo significant changes, it is unlikely that schools will be entirely without humans or human values. Here are some key points:
- Mechanical teachers and digital resources will play a larger role in education.
- Each student may learn at their own pace with the help of technology.
- However, the presence of human teachers will still be essential.
- Education will always incorporate human values and interactions.
Q16. What idea do you form of the County Inspector as a person?
Ans: The County Inspector was a kind-hearted individual. Rather than blaming Margie for her struggles, he offered her an apple and reassured her mother that her difficulties were due to the mechanical teacher, not Margie herself. He adjusted the geography sector to match Margie’s level.
Before departing, he patted Margie on the head, expressing his satisfaction with her progress. This shows his supportive nature and understanding approach towards the challenges Margie faced in her education.
Q17. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Ans: Margie was doing badly in geography because the speed of the geography sector was set too fast for her. The County Inspector adjusted the speed to match that of an average ten-year-old. As Margie was eleven, she found the new pace much more comfortable.
Q18. “Margie was disappointed,” says the author. Why was she disappointed? Or How did the County Inspector disappoint Margie?
Ans: Margie was disappointed because she disliked school and hoped her mechanical teacher would be taken away for repairs, like Tommy’s teacher had been. However, the County Inspector quickly repaired and reset it at her home, which made her unhappy.
Q19. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
Ans: Once, Tommy’s mechanical teacher experienced a fault where its history sector completely blanked out. As a result:
- The teacher was taken away for repairs.
- It took nearly a month to fix the issue.
Q20. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
Ans: Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school.
- She studied from Monday to Friday at the same time each day.
- Her school was a large black television screen in her home.
- Margie had to attend regularly because her mother believed that young girls learn better with a consistent schedule.
Q21. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?
Ans: Tommy describes the old school as a special building where all children studied together. Key features include:
- Students of the same age group learned the same subjects.
- Lessons were taught by human teachers.
This setup allowed for a more interactive learning experience compared to their current mechanical education.
Q22. How did Margie react when Tommy told her that twentieth-century schools had human teachers? Or Why did Margie remark, “How could a man be a teacher”?
Ans: Margie reacted with disbelief when Tommy mentioned that children once had human teachers. She found it hard to accept because:
- She had never seen a human teacher.
- Margie was accustomed to her mechanical tele-teacher.
- She believed a human teacher could not match the intelligence and knowledge of a mechanical one.
Her remark, “How could a man be a teacher?” reflected her confusion and the stark contrast between her experiences and the past.
Q23. Who interrupts Margie and Tommy’s conversation? Why?
Ans: During their conversation about the exciting mystery of the ‘real’ book Tommy found, Margie’s mother interrupted them. She called out, “Margie! School!” and reminded Tommy that it was time for him to attend school as well.
Q24. When Margie went to her school, what did the teacher on the screen teach?
Ans: When Margie attended her school, which was located next to her bedroom, the mechanical teacher conducted an arithmetic lesson. The lesson focused on the addition of proper fractions, specifically teaching her how to add 1/2 and 1/4.
Q25. Why couldn’t Margie concentrate on the Arithmetic lesson?
Ans: Margie struggled to concentrate on her arithmetic lesson because her mind was filled with thoughts about the school Tommy described. She was fascinated by the idea of children learning together and being taught by real teachers in those old schools. Margie imagined how much fun it must have been for those students to study alongside each other.
Q26. Did Margie think that children must have loved to go to school when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy?
Ans: Margie feels that children must have loved going to school when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy. She contrasts her experience with the past:
- Margie attends a tele-school, which is just a machine in her room.
- She studies alone, unlike children in the past who learned together.
- In the old days, schools were large buildings where hundreds of children could gather.
- Learning was more enjoyable with human teachers and printed books.
- Margie finds her current school to be mechanical, boring, and demanding.
- She dislikes the lack of interaction and fun in her studies.
Q27. What was Tommy’s opinion about the ‘real book’?
Ans: Tommy’s opinion about the ‘real book’ was quite negative. He believed it was a waste for several reasons:
- Once read, the book would simply be thrown away.
- He found it uninteresting and not useful.
- The words were fixed and could not be changed or updated.
Q28. How does Tommy describe the old kind of teachers?
Ans: Tommy describes the old kind of teachers as follows:
- They did not live in the house with the students.
- Teachers worked in a special building where all the children attended.
- They assigned homework to students.
- Unlike mechanical teachers, they were human beings who interacted with the kids.
Q29. Who was the County Inspector? What was his work?
Ans: The County Inspector was responsible for maintaining the mechanical teacher. His duties included:
- Repairing the mechanical teacher when it malfunctioned.
- Adjusting the teacher’s settings to match each child’s needs and intelligence.
In Margie’s case, he helped her improve in geography by slowing down the lessons, ensuring they were suitable for her learning pace.
Q30. Why did Tommy pronounce the word ‘centuries ago’ carefully?
Ans: Tommy pronounced the phrase centuries ago carefully to emphasise that the school was very old and quite different from their own.
Q31. What is the ‘slot’? Why does Margie hate it?
Ans: ‘Slot’ refers to a designated space in the mechanical teacher where students submit their homework and test assignments for grading.
Margie dislikes the slot for several reasons:
- She finds it tedious to punch code for her homework.
- It requires her to work hard, which she resents.
- The mechanical teacher quickly calculates her marks, adding to her frustration.
Q32. Evaluate ‘The Fun They Had’ as a futuristic story.
Ans: The Fun They Had is a futuristic story that explores significant changes in education in the 22nd century. Key points include:
- The story is set in the year 2157, where traditional schools and printed books no longer exist.
- Children, like Margie and Tommy, learn in their bedrooms, which serve as virtual classrooms.
- A mechanical teacher replaces human instructors, and computers along with e-books take the place of physical books.
This narrative prompts readers to consider the implications of technology on education and the loss of traditional learning experiences.
Q33. What did Margie’s mother think about the teacher and the school?
Ans: Margie’s mother believed that each child has a unique intelligence and ability to learn. She thought:
- The mechanical teacher should be tailored to suit each child’s mind.
- Every child needs a different approach to learning.
- Children would benefit more from learning at regular hours in a school.
Q34. Describe the characteristics of the old school. How did it influence Margie?
Ans: The old school had several key characteristics:
- Children attended a large building.
- A teacher instructed both boys and girls.
- Homework was assigned, and questions were asked.
- Students sat together, studying the same subjects.
- They enjoyed both studying and playing together.
This was in stark contrast to Margie’s current school experience. Margie was greatly influenced by the old school; she often thought about the fun that children had during that time.
