Here are Extra Question Answers of the chapter The Fun They Had.  This question bank includes everything you need to master The Fun They Had.  This is updated as per 2024- 25 pattern. Go through to gain deep understanding and achieve a great score in exam of Class 9 English.

Here is the introduction for Chapter ‘ The Fun They Had Class 9. (Extra Question)

“The Fun They Had” is a short story written by Isaac Asimov. It is set in a future where children no longer attend traditional schools. Instead, they are taught individually at home by mechanical teachers.

The story focuses on two children, Margie and Tommy. Tommy, 13, discovers a very old book in his attic, which fascinates Margie, who is 11. They are used to telebooks, which are digital texts displayed on screens.

As they read the book, they find it strange that it has words printed on paper and that the pages don’t change like screens do. They learn that the book is about school, which they find boring since their mechanical teachers often give them tests. They discovered that in the past, children used to learn together in shared classrooms with human teachers.

Margie imagines how fun it must have been to study and play with other kids and have a real person as a teacher. The story explores how technology changes education and makes Margie long for the old ways, where learning was more social and joyful.

Introduction to “The Fun They Had” – Point Wise

Here is a point wise answer  to the question “Introduction The Fun They Had ?” This point wise answer will help you to understand the answer deeply and remember easily. 

1. Author – Isaac Asimov wrote this short story.

2. Setting – It is set in the future, where children study at home using mechanical teachers.

3. Characters – Margie (11 years old) and Tommy (13 years old) are the main characters.

4. Discovery – Tommy finds an old printed book in his attic, surprising Margie.

5. Telebooks vs. Printed Books – The children are used to telebooks (digital books), so the printed book is unusual to them.

6. School System – The book reveals that children in the past went to schools with human teachers and studied together.

7. Margie’s Thoughts – Margie imagines how fun it must have been to learn with other kids and have a real teacher.

8. Theme – The story explores how technology affects education and the longing for social, traditional learning.

Main theme  of “The Fun They Had” in Short

“Nostalgia for traditional education in a futuristic, technology-driven world.” 

Theme Justification- Let’s see how this theme is applicable to the chapter “The Fun They Had”-

In the chapter, The Fun They Had, the central character, Margie, found a very old book. After knowing how it was read she got interested in the old ways of studying old types of schools. She started hating her school full of technology and the technical individual lessons by a mechanical teacher. It indicates a theme of missing traditional, humanised ways of education from within a future ruled by isolated, technology-based learning.

List of More Themes – 

1. Technology in Education: The story is set in a future where children like Margie and Tommy learn from mechanical teachers at home, not in traditional schools. This highlights the theme by showing a futuristic approach to education, relying on technology rather than human interaction.

2. Nostalgia for Traditional Learning: Margie found an old book. In her opinion, it was great that one could hold books in their hands and study with school friends. She imagined kids from all over the world playing and laughing while studying. This is so different from her study alone.

3. Individualised Learning: The mechanical teacher is adjusted specifically according to Margie’s learning speed. It indicates a personalised approach to education. This theme is highlighted when Margie’s mother mentions that the teacher must be adjusted to fit each child’s mind.

Characters- of “The Fun They Had” (Extra Questions)

Characters- of “The Fun They Had”

1. Curious – Margie is really interested in the old book and how kids learned in the past.

2. Doubtful- At first, she’s not sure if the old book is as good as her digital stuff for learning.

3. Adaptable – Even though she’s used to her robot teacher, Margie is willing to think about other ways to learn.

Character – 2 Tommy

1. Knowledgeable: Tommy knows a lot about different things. He finds a real book and tells Margie about how schools used to be.

2. Enthusiastic about discoveries: Tommy gets very excited when he finds something new, like the old book in his attic.

3. Technologically Smart: Tommy is very good with the machines and gadgets they use for learning, like the telebooks and the mechanical teacher.

Character – 3 Mechanical Teacher

1. Efficient: It can check homework and give tests very quickly because it’s programmed to do so.

2. Inflexible: The Mechanical Teacher cannot change or adapt the way it teaches; it follows set rules.

3. Unemotional: Since it’s a machine, it cannot feel happy, sad, or angry. It doesn’t care how students feel.

 Short Summary of ” The Fun They Had ” (Extra Questions)

Margie is 11 years old. On May 17, 2157, she wrote in her diary about a real book she found with Tommy, who is 13. They thought it was strange because the words didn’t move like on a screen. When you go back to a page, the words are still the same.

Tommy found the book in his attic. It was about schools, but not like the ones they knew with robot teachers and learning on screens. This book showed a school where real people taught and all the kids learned in one room together.

Margie couldn’t believe that teachers used to be humans and that all kids learned the same things at the same age. She thought that was strange because in her time, a mechanical teacher would adjust to each student’s level.

Margie was having a hard time with her robot teacher, especially in geography class. So, a person called the County Inspector came to make it work better for her. Margie really hoped they would just get rid of the robot teacher because she didn’t like the classes.

After they read the book, Margie and Tommy talked about how old schools were much fun, with all the kids learning and helping each other out. Margie imagined they had a great time, and it made her think about her own school days.

Word Meanings of ” The Fun They Had -(Extra Questions)

Hard Words : The Fun They Had Page- 5

MARGIE = Girl’s name (मार्जी – किसी लड़की का नाम). Diary = Journal, logbook (डायरी – व्यक्तिगत खाता). Headed = Titled, labeled (शीर्षक – नामांकन). Real = Genuine, authentic (असली – सच्चा). Book = Volume, tome (किताब – संग्रह). Very old = Ancient, aged (बहुत पुराना – प्राचीन).

Grandfather = Grandparent, elder (दादा – परदादा). Exist = to be in being (अस्तित्व में होना). Virtual = real (वास्तविक). Imagine = suppose/think (कल्पना करना).

Extract Based Questions of ” The Fun They Had -(Extra Questions)

A Letter to God Extract- 1

They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to — on a screen, you know. And then when they turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had had when they read it the first time.

Question 1: “How did the experience of reading words on crinkly, yellow pages differ from reading on a screen for the characters, and why did they find it amusing?”

Answer: The characters found reading on paper amusing because the words stayed still, unlike on screens. They were surprised that the words didn’t change when they went back to the page, unlike what happens on digital devices.

Question 2: State True or False: None of the following terms can be applied to the following sentence

“it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving ”

(a) A novelty – a new or unfamiliar experience  

(b) A preference – a greater liking for one alternative over another or others  

(c) A tradition – a long-established custom or belief that has been passed on  

(d) A misconception – a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding  

Answer: False

Justification- “A novelty ” can be applied

Question 3: Fill in the blank: The characters’ fascination with the crinkly, yellow pages suggests they are unfamiliar with the concept of  _____.

Answer: printed book

Question 4 : Why did the characters find static words on paper amusing?

Answer: They were unaware of non-digital, unchanging text.

Extract from A Letter to God- 2

“Gee,” said Tommy, “what a waste. When you’re through with the book, you just throw it away, I guess. Our television screen must have had a million  books on it and it’s good for plenty more. I wouldn’t throw it away.”

Question- 1 : How might Tommy’s view of books reshape future libraries?

Answer: Tommy’s perspective could transform libraries into digital hubs, prioritising virtual content over physical books, thereby making information more accessible and interactive while conserving space and resources.

Question- 2 : None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — “Our television screen must have had a million books on it and it’s good for plenty more.”

(a) Redundancy – the state of being not or no longer needed or useful  

(b) Impracticality – not adapted for use or action; not sensible or realistic  

(c) Scarcity – the state of being scarce or in short supply; shortage  

(d) Fragility – the quality of being easily broken or damaged  

Answer: True.
None of the terms (a) Redundancy, (b) Impracticality, (c) Scarcity, or (d) Fragility accurately apply to the statement, as it highlights the efficiency and abundance of digital storage for books, not their redundancy, impracticality, scarcity, or fragility.

Question- 3 : The extract implies that Tommy views physical books as potentially _____ items.

Answer:  wasteful/ useless/ futile or any similar.

Question 4 : Why does Tommy consider physical books a waste?

Answer: According to him They’re single-use and less efficient than digital screens.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)- of  ” The Fun They Had”

1. If Tommy and Margie went back in time, what about old schools would surprise them the most?

A) The use of real books
B) The presence of human teachers
C) Students studying different subjects
D) The absence of mechanical teachers

Answer: B) The presence of human teachers
Reason: The concept of human teachers was alien and intriguing to them, as highlighted by their conversation.

2. How would the Mechanical Teacher likely react if introduced to a traditional classroom?

A) It would adapt and learn to teach traditionally
B) It would malfunction due to the unfamiliar setting
C) It would try to digitise all the books
D) None of the above

Answer: B) It would malfunction due to the unfamiliar setting
Reason: The Mechanical Teacher is programmed for specific teaching methods and might not handle the drastic change.

3. If Margie had the chance to redesign her mechanical teacher, what feature might she add?

A) The ability to express emotions
B) More rigorous tests
C) A larger screen
D) Faster homework checking

Answer: A) The ability to express emotions
Reason: Margie’s dissatisfaction with her mechanical teacher’s impersonal nature suggests she might crave more emotional interaction.

4. How might the story change if Margie’s mother was a former school teacher?

A) Margie would dislike school even more
B) Margie might have a deeper appreciation for traditional schools
C) The Mechanical Teacher would be replaced
D) Tommy would visit Margie less often

Answer: B) Margie might have a deeper appreciation for traditional schools
Reason: Insights from a parent with teaching experience could influence Margie’s perspective on education.

5. If the County Inspector wrote a report about his visit, what would be the main suggestion?

A) More frequent inspections
B) Replacement of the Mechanical Teacher
C) Customisation  of teaching methods
D) Introduction of more mechanical teachers

Answer: C) Customisation of teaching methods
Reason: His adjustment of the geography sector indicates a belief in customised teaching approaches.

Short Answer Type Important Questions

The Fun They Had Short Answer Type Question

1. Why do you think Margie was fascinated by the old book Tommy found?

Answers : Margie was fascinated because she had never seen a real book before. The old book’s physical pages and printed words were a novelty to her, unlike the telebooks she was used to.

2. What might be the advantages of learning from a mechanical teacher compared to a human teacher? Ref. “The Fun They Had”

Answers : A mechanical teacher can match how fast or slow you learn and give you lessons just for you. It’s ready to help anytime and can teach lots of different things.

3. How do you think Margie felt about her mechanical teacher before and after reading the old book?

Answers : Before reading the book, Margie might have accepted the mechanical teacher as normal, but after reading the book, she likely felt a sense of loss for the interactive learning experiences of the past.

4. Why do you think the story “The Fun They Had” is set in the future?

Answers : The story is set in the future so that the writer can show us how using too much technology in schools might make us miss out on learning from real people. It helps to understand how human teachers are important.

5. What could be the disadvantages of the education system shown in Margie’s world?

Answers : In Margie’s world, learning alone without friends, not talking to real people, and everyone learning the same things might make it hard to make friends, think in new ways, and work well with others.

6. What would a normal school day from old time school look like compared to Margie’s school day?

Answers : In an old-time school, kids would learn together in a group, talk and work directly with teachers and classmates, and do lots of different and fun activities. Margie’s day is mostly just her alone, learning from a screen.

7. What do you think Margie and Tommy learned about human teachers and schools from the old book?

Answers : They found out that old schools were about learning together, having real teachers to help them learn, and making friends, which they don’t get much of now.

8. How do you think technology has changed the way children like Margie and Tommy view education?

Answers : Technology has made learning more personal and quick, but it has also made us forget how important it is to learn together and talk to each other in regular schools.

9. Why do you think the author chose children as the main characters to explore the theme of education? Ref. “The Fun They Had”

Answers : Kids are naturally curious and like to ask “why” many times. This habit of children makes them great for showing us how technology in schools can be good and bad. They help us think more about these changes.

10. If you could design a mechanical teacher, what features would you include to improve upon the one in the story? Ref. “The Fun They Had”

Answers : I would include features that allow for more interaction, such as virtual group discussions, feedback sessions, and gamified learning modules to make education more engaging and social.

Long Answer Type Important Questions

1. If Margie and Tommy could travel back in time to visit a school from our era, what differences would they notice and how would they react?

Answer- Margie and Tommy would be really surprised to see real teachers and kids together in a school. They would think it’s fun to touch and look at real books with pages. They would find it new and exciting to see kids doing projects together and helping each other.

They might wonder about all the kids learning the same things, which is different from their own lessons. But they would really like how kind and friendly the real teachers are. It would be special for them to have a teacher who can laugh and care about them. If they had experienced our type of schooling they would certainly like to adopt our type of system. 

2. Imagine the mechanical teacher starts malfunctioning and teaches incorrect information. How would Margie and her family handle the situation?

Answer- If Margie’s robot teacher began giving out wrong information, her family would most likely get in touch with the County Inspector again to sort out the problem. Margie could end up feeling really upset and confused because of the incorrect lessons, and she might start disliking the robot teacher even more than before.

Her parents would be concerned about how these mistakes could mess up her learning and might start thinking about different ways for her to learn until the robot teacher is fixed properly.

This whole situation would really show how much they depend on technology for Margie’s schooling and how important it is to have real people checking on things to make sure everything’s working right.

3. Describe a day in Margie’s life if she were to attend a traditional school with other children.

Answer- If Margie went to a regular school, she would be excited every morning to see her friends. She would pack her bag with books and lunch. At school, she would have different teachers for each subject and do fun group stuff. Playtime would be her chance to run around with friends.

She’d learn how to work with others in a team and talk about her ideas in class. Hearing what teachers and classmates think about her work would make her feel good and help her get better at her lessons.

When she got home, she’d tell her family all about her day, like the cool things she learned and the funny stuff that happened with her friends.

4- If Margie’s robot teacher used games and stories to teach, she’d probably find learning a lot more fun. This could make her more excited about school and help her understand things better. Give your own opinion

Answer- If Margie’s robot teacher began using games and stories to teach, Margie could find herself looking forward to her lessons. Turning geography into a game might help her grasp tricky concepts more easily, turning frustration into fun. Stories about the past could spark her imagination, making history lessons something to get excited about.

This shift in how she learns could really change how Margie feels about her mechanical teacher. She might start to see the benefits of learning with technology, enjoying the interactive and engaging approach.

Yet, she’d still hold onto the idea of traditional schools she read about, appreciating the best of both worlds. This blend of new and old ways of learning could make her education experience richer and more enjoyable.

5. Imagine Margie writes a letter to a student from the past, describing her education system. What would she say, and what questions might she ask about the traditional school system?

Answer- In her letter, Margie would talk about her school days with her robot teacher. She’d say that every lesson is made just for her. She’d be amazed by the idea of real teachers and learning with other kids in the same room.

Margie might wonder how kids learn when everyone gets the same lesson, not just special ones for them. She’d ask what it’s like to have a real person as a teacher, not a robot.

She’d also want to know what it’s like to hold a real book and how kids keep up with their work without computers to help them. Her questions would show she’s really interested but also a bit confused about a school that’s so different from hers.