The Fun They Had Long Answer Type Question

This page offers The Fun They Had long answer type question for Class 9 from the book Beehive. We’ve put together a bunch of long answer type question based on assumption, creativity, extrapolation and critical thinking. These types of questions are introduced after 2024 in CBSE Board. So, practice to understand The Fun They Had long answer type question

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.

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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.

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6. If the story had a sequel set ten years later, how do you think Margie’s views on education would have evolved? Ref. ‘The Fun They Had’

Answer- In ten years, Margie’s thoughts on learning might change quite a bit. She could start to see the good sides of both her mechanical teacher and the idea of having real, human teachers.

She might think about how robot teachers are great for giving lessons that fit just right for each student, but also remember how the stories of old schools showed her the joy of being around other kids and teachers.

Margie might suggest schools use a mix of both – technology for personalized learning and real-life group activities like discussions and projects. This way, she’d hope kids could learn their lessons well and also get better at talking, sharing, and understanding each other’s feelings. She’d want to make sure that schools don’t just fill kids’ heads with facts but also help their hearts grow kinder and more connected to others.

7. How would the story change if Margie discovered an old video instead of a book, showing children in a traditional classroom?

Answer- Watching a video of an old-time classroom could really catch Margie’s attention more than just reading about it. Seeing the kids and teacher moving and hearing the sounds of the classroom would make it all seem real to her, almost like she could step right into the screen and join them.

The colors, the laughter, and even the way the teacher talks would make her feel like she’s part of that world. This might make her super curious, full of questions she’d want to ask her robot teacher or her parents about how schools used to be.

Margie might start to daydream about being in a classroom with other kids, sharing stories, asking questions, and learning things together. She could really start to wish for the fun and friendship that comes from being in a place where everyone learns together, helping and cheering each other on.

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8. What would happen if Margie’s community decided to start a weekend group learning club based on the traditional school concept she read about?

Answer- If Margie and her friends started learning together on weekends, it would be new and fun for them. They are used to learning alone with robot teachers. Margie and Tommy might plan fun activities, games, and lessons where everyone works together.

They could tell stories, do science experiments, and make art, learning new things as a group. This would be exciting for the kids and show them how fun it is to learn with friends, something Margie has been missing.

After a while, they would become better friends, talk more easily, and enjoy learning together more. If the club does well, parents and teachers might think about adding more group learning to their regular school days.

9. How might Margie’s perspective on education change if she had the opportunity to spend a day in a traditional school from the past?

Answer- If Margie walks into a lively classroom full of chatty kids. The room is colorful with children’s artwork, and a friendly teacher greets her.

Margie gets to discuss interesting topics with the kids, do hands-on science, and take part in a history play. She enjoys a math game with her new buddies and feels happy when the teacher praises her story.

These fun times show her how wonderful it is to learn with others, to feel cared for, and to discover new things together. When the day ends, Margie realizes the joy of sharing learning with friends. This happy and supportive day changes her view of school forever. She’ll always look back at this day as the moment she found out that learning with others is the best.

10. What challenges might Margie face in adapting to a traditional school environment after being habitual of learning with a mechanical teacher, and how could she overcome them?

Answer- When Margie first goes to a regular school, everything feels too much for her. She’s not habitual to so much noise and so many people talking and working together. She misses how her robot teacher used to teach just her, at her own speed. This all makes her pretty nervous.

But after a little while, Margie starts to like chatting with other kids, getting help from kind teachers, and feeling like part of the group. She begins to see how cool it is to hear different ideas and work on things together.

Margie decides to join in more and give this new way a chance. She learns that school is not just about studying; it’s also about making friends and being part of a team.

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11. How might the discovery of the old book influence Tommy’s views on technology and education, leading him to explore careers blending both fields?

Answer- Finding the old book makes Tommy really curious about how education has changed and the role of technology in it. He starts to see how cool technology can be for learning but also remembers how important it is to learn with other people. This makes him want to work in educational technology when he grows up.

Tommy dreams of making new tools that help students learn in their own way but also help them work together and make friends. He thinks about making virtual reality that shows what happened in history, fun apps for learning languages, and websites where students from all over the world can do projects together.

Tommy wants to mix new technology with the best parts of old-school teaching to make learning better and more fun for everyone in the future.

12. Reflecting on her own learning experiences, how might Margie contribute to a debate on the future of education, advocating for a balance between technology and traditional teaching methods?

Answer- Margie has learned with a robot teacher and also read about old schools in a book. This makes her think differently about how we should learn in the future. She believes we need to use both technology and the personal touch of real teachers. Technology is great for getting lessons that fit just right and finding out lots of things. But it can’t give the kind of warmth and help that a real person can.

Margie remembers feeling alone and wishing she could learn with other kids and have a real teacher to guide her. She thinks it’s important to be kind, work well with others, and understand feelings.

Margie hopes for schools that use tech but also keep the good parts of old-fashioned teaching. She wants kids to be smart and also good at dealing with life’s ups and downs.

13. Think about the job of the County Inspector in the story, who fixes Margie’s robot teacher. How important is this job when schools use lots of tech? What good qualities should this person have to make sure kids learn well?

Answer- In the story, the County Inspector plays an important role by making sure the mechanical teacher works right. This job is really important in a world where kids learn from machines because if something goes wrong with the tech, it could mess up a child’s education.

The County Inspector needs to be really good at fixing and understanding the technology but also needs to care about how well the kids are learning. He should be patient, careful, and listen to the kids and their families to really understand any problems. Also, he should believe in fair and fun learning for every kid.

This means he has to make sure the robot teachers are set at the right level for each child, so no one gets left behind or feels bored. Keeping these values in mind helps make sure every child gets a good chance to learn and grow.

14. The story ends with Margie wondering how fun old-time schools were with real teachers and classmates. Talk about why having fun and making friends is important in school. Compare her school with robot teachers to the old schools.

Answer- Margie’s thoughts about old schools show how much she misses out on fun and being with other kids while learning. In traditional schools, like the ones we have, kids not only learn from books and teachers but also from playing and talking with each other. This makes learning more interesting and helps kids understand how to work together and be friends.

In Margie’s school, where she learns alone from a machine, she doesn’t get these chances. She might miss the laughter, games, and shared moments that make school about more than just lessons. These fun and social times are really important because they help kids feel happier and more connected, which can make them want to learn more.

So, while Margie’s future school is all about technology and getting smart, it might not give her the fun and friendship that make learning special. This story makes us think about how we can keep the good parts of old schools, like fun and friends, even as we use new technologies to learn.

15- If Margie could make her own robot teacher, what cool things would she add to make learning better and more fun? Think about what she doesn’t like about her current robot teacher and what changes she’d want.

Answer- If Margie could design her own mechanical teacher, she’d probably want to make it more friendly and fun, so that no one is afraid of lessons. Margie had a hard time with geography and didn’t like tests or homework much. She might want to make learning feel like playing a game.

This would make her more excited to learn. Margie would also like her robot teacher to be patient and explain things in different ways if she doesn’t get it the first time. She might also want to pick what she learns sometimes to feel like she’s in charge.

Plus, she’d like to talk to other kids who are learning the same stuff, so she doesn’t feel all by herself. This way, learning with her robot teacher would be fun and not just about finishing lessons.

16- Think about the role of parents in the future school system in the story. How is the role of Margie’s mother similar or different from what parents do for school today? Why is the role of parents so important in helping kids learn?

Answer- In the story, Margie’s mother steps in when Margie was having a hard time with her schoolwork, like when she wasn’t doing well in geography. This shows that parents are still really important in helping their kids with school, even when the teaching is done by machines in the future.

It’s a bit like when parents today talk to their kid’s teacher if there’s a problem. No matter how much things change with new technology, having parents involved in school stuff is key.

They make sure their kids are learning right and are happy with how things are going. Parents are like a link between their kids and school, making sure everything is on track. So, having parents help out with school is always a big deal, whether it’s now with regular teachers or later on with robot teachers.

17- The story shows how Margie’s robot teacher changes to match how fast she learns. Talk about the good and bad things about education that is made just for one person. How does this kind of learning impact making friends and working together in school?

Answer- The story tells us about a robot teacher that can change how it teaches to match how fast or slow someone like Margie learns. This is really good because it means everyone can learn in their own best way.

But, it’s not all good. A good thing is that no one feels too slow or gets bored because the lessons are just right for them. But, there are bad things too.

When everyone learns by themselves, they might not make as many friends or learn to work together, which are big parts of going to school. Learning with friends teaches kids how to get along and solve problems as a team, which is super important in school and even outside of school.

So, having lessons that are just right for you is great, but it’s also important to learn with others. This way, kids don’t miss out on learning how to work as a team or making friends like they would in a regular class.

Note- Following are the old stylish questions. These were asked before 2023-24. Actually these questions focus more on memory rather than creative thinking, imagination and extrapolation, but they are still relevant.

Q1.How did a chance discovery of a paper book leave Margie and Tommy awestruck?

Ans. Margie (9) and Tommy (13) are neighborhood friends in the year 2157. It is an age of total automation, mechanization, digitalization, and computerization. Children do not go to a school building and they are not taught by a human teacher.

Instead, their teacher is a tele-teacher, a computer-like machine that has millions of books. It can be customized according to the age and learning needs and abilities of individual students.

Reading is done on a screen that displays movable text. So, one day when Tommy finds an old, dusty paper book in the attic of his house, he shares the exciting news with his friend Margie and together they are awestruck, for they had hitherto never seen or heard about a book that had no screen but only fixed text on pages that had to be flipped with fingers. As the duo kept reading the book further and further, their excitement kept growing.

They were awestruck to discover that ancient schools were huge buildings where hundreds of children studied together the same syllabus, and the same subjects, and carried out the same activities and tasks.

They were taught by real human teachers with the help of real books. Margie believes that students in those days must have had a lot of fun studying together.

Q2. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story? (Textual)

Ans. Tommy and Margie are young school-going children in the year 2157. Schools and teachers have an entirely different form from the ones in the twentieth century. Margie and Tommy’s school is not in a separate special building but in a room in their respective houses where the television or the mechanical teacher is placed. Each student has to sit and study alone with the help of the mechanical teacher.

The ‘teacher’ assigns tests to the students and assesses their progress. The speed of the different subject sectors is fixed according to the age level of each student. There is a special slot in the teleteacher where students have to insert their homework. If the mechanical teacher develops any fault, there are engineers to repair it.

Sometimes the fault may be a major one and it takes longer to repair it, as was the case when Tommy’s history teacher developed a snag.

Thus, the mechanical teachers and schoolrooms of Tommy and Margie are fully computerized and are completely different from the present-day schools.

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Q3. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun? (Textual)

Ans. Margie hated school because it did not have any fun. Her schedule was too regimented and she had to study at a fixed time on all days of the week except Saturdays and Sundays.

She did not have any classmates to study with or seek help from. Her mechanical teacher sometimes developed a snag and assigned tests that were quite difficult for her. Constant failure to perform well in such tests was disappointing for her.

There were times when she wanted a break, but the technical advancement of 2157 did not give her a chance. The County Inspector took just a little while to set right the Geography sector of her teacher.

She thought that the old kind of school must have been fun because, unlike her school, the ancient schools were in special buildings where the students from the whole neighborhood came laughing and playing. Students of the same level would be in the same room and were taught by human teachers.

The students would sit together in the schoolroom, go home together, learn the same things, help one another with the homework and talk about it. Hence, schools in the olden days did not restrain their students but gave them a chance to grow up together.

Q4. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer. (Textual)

Ans. Margie’s school, as described in the story, seems to be a boring place where learning is a mere task. In comparison, schools today are more fun. Students get a chance to come out of their homes and travel to reach school.

On their way, they laugh, play, and have so much fun. The schoolyard too is a great open place where the students get a chance to interact informally with each other.
They get an opportunity to share their experiences and help each other. Their learning schedule is also flexible and gives them enough time to have fun.

They have so many extra-curricular activities which teach a lot of skills in a fun-filled way. Their teacher is a real person who makes them sit together and teaches them the same topic.

In this way, they learn to adjust and adapt which helps them develop the values of tolerance and cooperation. Hence, Margie’s view that schools today are more fun than her school is justified.

Q5. Suppose you are Margie. Write a diary entry dated 17th May 2157 about Tommy’s real book that he found in his attic.

Ans. Tuesday,
17th May 2157 10.00 p.m.
Dear Diary
It has been a wonderful day for me as I have seen a real, hard-bound printed paper book. Tommy found the book in the attic of his house when he was cleaning the cupboard of his grandfather.

It consists of about 200 pages which have become yellow and crinkly with time. It is a strange experience to read the words fixed on its papers unlike the ones in my telebooks that keep moving as I scroll.

When I turn the page, I find the same words again. The book is about a school from olden times, about two centuries ago. Can you believe that in those times a school was not a room in one’s own house but a special building dedicated to the purpose of teaching and learning? The students of the same level studied the same things sitting together in the same classroom.

It is wonderful to think that the teachers were men and not machines. I believe that it must have been great fun for children to go to such schools together, laughing, joking, playing, and teasing each other.

How wonderful it must have been that the students helped each other with lessons as well! I wish I could travel back in time and study in one of those schools.
Margie

Q6. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?

Ans. Margie hated school because she had a mechanical teacher. It was at her house. She was supposed to sit in that room alone to complete her home task or assignments.

The part Margie hated the most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers. She thought that the old schools must have been fun because the students used to sit together in the classroom.

They enjoyed, laughed, and shouted in the schoolyard, going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things so that they could help one another with homework and talk about it.

All the teachers were people. Children needed a company to enhance their skills. If they are isolated, they get depressed and dejected.

Q7. The old schools are considered fun by the modern generation. Explain.

Ans. The ancient schools consisted of Gurukuls in which the students stayed in the building with the guru. Then with the change of time, Gurukuls changed into schools. Hence the teacher and the student have a formal relationship.

In these schools, teachers are human beings and books are real ones made of paper. Now with times, the modern generation’s schools replaced by e-text and computers.
The future generation would envy when they come to know about the old system of education in which all the kids went to school together.

They studied together and played together. They could have better innovative minds as they got a chance to discuss things with each other.

The old system of education in which ‘man’ as a teacher could influence his students by the charisma of his personality. Future generations would utter what fun the schools were long ago.

Q8. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. There is no doubt that today’s schools have more fun than the school discussed in the story. This school has nothing but a mechanical teacher with no emotions and sentiments.

It cannot understand the psychology of a child. Moreover, it guides a pupil according to its adjusted modes. But today’s schools work for the overall development of a child.
They are given training in leadership, sports, politics, and science.

They learn how to adapt themselves to new surroundings and cope with strangers. The students sit and learn together forgetting their caste, color, and creed. These activities don’t give vent to feelings of depression, alienation, and segregation.

Q9. Will the existing schools and teachers become irrelevant in future ‘schools’? Give a reasoned answer.

Ans. Naturally, schools that existed centuries ago will not be the same in the coming centuries. The system of education will be highly computerized and mechanical. The ‘school’ will have no separate building. Nor will they be taught the same thing together.

The mechanical teacher will be a big TV screen, good for a million books. The mechanical teacher will be adjusted according to the age and capacity of the student.

But it will be an exaggeration to say that everything about the old schools will disappear. Even future schools can’t be completely devoid of the human angle. Perhaps the institution of the old schools and teachers will remain. Human involvement can’t disappear altogether.

Q10. Describe the characteristics of old schools. How did they arouse so much interest in Margie and Tommy?

Ans. The good old students reflected the charm and romance of their times. Every school had its buildings. Students from different parts of the town went there for studies. All the students in a class were taught the same things.

They received the same kinds of homework. Hence, students could help one another. The teachers were real human beings. The books were printed on paper.

There was an air of romance about the old schools. Margie’s interest was around them. She got the relevant information about them from Tommy. In comparison to her mechanical teacher and her ‘school’, the old schools charmed Margie.

She was fascinated by the way children went to their schools. They studied together. They were taught the same things. It was easier for them to help one another. Margie was rather envious of the fun the children had in old schools.

Q11. Can you imagine a school without teachers and books? Give your opinion based on the lesson ‘The Fun They Had’.

Ans. No one can deny the role of modern technologies in our lives and our studies. Nowadays education is changing but schools without teachers and books are beyond imagination.

Without teachers, teaching would not be good because no one would be there to explain and teach as well. No student would like the environment, it would be like an office. Teachers are very important for education.

Teachers not only teach us different subjects but they also teach us to live in discipline and to live together. Teachers resolve the student’s problems and doubts and if they aren’t in school the students don’t study enough. As in the lesson, Margie does not like her school, she finds it tedious as she does not have the opportunity to be with other students and to do every work together.

Modern technologies can be taken as an aid to improve the standard of studies but schools without books and teachers will never be preferred.

Q12. What is the role of a teacher in the life of a student? How is a human teacher better than a mechanical teacher?

Ans. Teachers play a very important role in the life of a student. They not only provide bookish knowledge but also inspire their student to live meaningful and successful life. They burn themselves like a candle throughout their lives to remove the darkness and ignorance from their student’s life.

This can be done by a human teacher only. A mechanical teacher can provide ample knowledge on various subjects but he/she can not boost up their student to do something distinguished. A single mechanical teacher is having various sectors geared up according to the level of the child. There is no companion, no playground, and no fun at all.

The teaching is mechanical and monotonous. Thus human teachers are better than mechanical teachers in many ways. They know the individual intellect of their students which helps them to guide them individually according to the mental level of students.

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