My Childhood Question Answer Class 9 English

Today in this post, ‘My Childhood Question Answer Class 9 English’, we’ll study the NCERT solutions of Class 9th English Beehive chapter ‘My Childhood’. We’ll examine each question under the Thinking about the Text, Thinking about Language, Dictation, Speaking, and Writing sections, respectively. Let’s start class 9 English My Childhood question answer ncert solutions with Thinking about the Text.

We’ve already read the summary of My Childhood; you can read that as well for better understainding about text.

My Childhood Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each

Q1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
Ans. Abdul Kalam’s house was on Mosque Street in Rameswaram, a small town in Tamil Nadu.

Q2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Ans. Dinamani is the name of a local newspaper. Abdul Kalam mentions reading the news about World War II in Dinamani, which shows it reported current events.

Q3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
Ans. His school friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan. Later, Ramanadha Sastry became the high priest of the Rameswaram temple, Aravindan started a transport business, and Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for Southern Railways.

Q4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Ans. He earned his first wages by helping his cousin distribute newspapers during the Second World War.

Q5. Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Ans. Yes, earlier he collected tamarind seeds, which were in demand, and sold them to a shopkeeper to earn money.

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

Q1. How does the author describe: (i) his father (ii) his mother (iii) himself
Ans: (i) his father: Abdul Kalam describes his father, Jainulabdeen, as a wise, simple, and honest man who led a life of discipline and spirituality, with deep faith in God.
(ii) his mother: He describes his mother, Ashiamma, as a gentle and kind-hearted woman who provided food to many people, showing generosity and compassion.
(iii) himself: Kalam describes himself as a short boy with ordinary looks, who inherited honesty, self-discipline, and a desire to learn from his parents.

Q2. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
Ans. From his father, he inherited honesty, self-discipline, and faith in goodness. From his mother, he inherited a caring nature and deep kindness. Together, they shaped his character.

III. Answer in two or three paragraphs each

Q1. “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)?
Ans. He mentions Hindus and Muslims as two distinct social groups. They could be identified by their customs, traditions, and sometimes by their dress.

(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.)
Ans. Though these groups were different, they also shared friendships and experiences. For example, Hindu and Muslim families exchanged food, Kalam’s friends were Hindu boys, and stories from the Ramayana were told in his Muslim household. They also bathed together 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?
Ans. People aware of differences included the new school teacher, who objected to Kalam sitting with a Hindu boy. On the other hand, people like his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, tried to bridge these differences by inviting Kalam to his home despite social barriers.

(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. One incident showing differences being created was when the new teacher forced Kalam to sit at the back because he was Muslim. A resolving incident was when Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam to dinner in his home, ignoring caste and religion. People can change their attitudes by respecting equality and valuing humanity above social divisions.

Q2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
Ans. Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to continue his higher education in the district headquarters, as opportunities for advanced studies were not available in his small town.

(ii) What did his father say to this?
Ans. His father supported his decision and encouraged him. He said that Kalam must go ahead to fulfill his destiny, just like a bird leaves its nest to fly.

(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?
Ans. His father’s words mean that children must be allowed to move forward in life and explore their future, even if it means leaving home. He spoke those words because he had faith in Kalam’s abilities and believed that every person has to find their own path in life.

My Childhood Thinking about Language

I. Find the sentences in the text where these words occur: erupt, surge, trace, undistinguished, casualty

• erupt – “When the Second World War broke out, I was only eight years old.” (Here, ‘broke out’ means ‘erupted’.)
• surge – “There was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds in the market. I used to collect the seeds and sell them to a provision shop on Mosque Street. A sudden surge of demand could be felt.”
• trace – “Every child is born, with some inherited characteristics, into a specific socio-economic and emotional environment, and trained in certain ways by figures of authority. I inherited honesty and self-discipline from my father; from my mother, I inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness, so did my three brothers and sister. I can still trace the strong influence of these traits in my life.”
• undistinguished – “I was one of many children — a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents.”
• casualty – “The Second World War created new opportunities. The first casualty came in the form of the suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram.”

Now answer the following questions

Q1. 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?

• Erupt:
  • A volcano can erupt. (Example: The volcano erupted suddenly.)
  • Anger or laughter can erupt. (Example: She erupted in laughter at the joke.)
  • A fight or war can erupt. (Example: Violence erupted in the city.)
• Surge:
  • Waves or the sea can surge. (Example: A surge of waves hit the shore.)
  • Emotions can surge. (Example: A surge of joy filled her heart.)
  • Crowds or people can surge forward. (Example: The crowd surged towards the stage.)

Q2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?

• Meanings of trace:
  • A very small amount of something (Example: There was a trace of sadness in his voice.)
  • To follow or discover by investigation (Example: The police traced the missing child.)
  • To find the origin or cause (Example: She traced her family history back to the 18th century.)
• Closest meaning in the text: To find the origin or influence.
  (Kalam says he can still trace the influence of his parents’ qualities in his life.)

Q3. Can you find the word undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look up the word distinguished and say what undistinguished must mean.)

• Distinguished means outstanding, important, or famous.
• Undistinguished, therefore, means ordinary, not special, not standing out.
• In the text, Abdul Kalam describes himself as a boy with ordinary looks — not handsome or remarkable like his parents.

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

Answer:

(i) broke out → (c) began suddenly in a violent way
(ii) in accordance with → (f) according to a particular rule, principle, or system
(iii) a helping hand → (d) assistance
(iv) could not stomach → (b) was not able to tolerate
(v) generosity of spirit → (a) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely
(vi) figures of authority → (e) persons with power to make decisions

II.2 Form opposites by adding prefixes (un-, in-, il-, ir-, im-)

1. adequate → inadequate
2. acceptable → unacceptable
3. regular → irregular
4. tolerant → intolerant
5. demanding → undemanding
6. active → inactive
7. true → untrue
8. permanent → impermanent
9. patriotic → unpatriotic
10. disputed → undisputed
11. accessible → inaccessible
12. coherent → incoherent
13. logical → illogical
14. legal → illegal
15. responsible → irresponsible
16. possible → impossible

III. Rewrite in Passive Voice

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

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

Passive Voice of above sentences:

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

IV. Rewrite the paragraphs using correct verb forms (Passive)

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 bowlers.

Rewritten para:

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 was seriously injured and collapsed. In those days helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull was fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. Contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely used against 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.

Rewritten para:

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

Dictation

Given dictation passage “To Sir, with Love”, it’s in three parts. The idea is that three groups write each part, then put them together in sequence. Below is the complete passage in the correct order (joined smoothly for practice):

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 Siva Subramania 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.

Speaking

Students, I prepared a model speaking response for your class activity. I’ll make two sample speeches, one on each topic. You can choose whichever your teacher gives, and you can also adapt it with others’ opinions.

Topic 1: Career Building Is the Only Goal of Education

My opinion:
I think that education should not be limited to career building alone. In my opinion, the true purpose of education is to develop knowledge, values, and skills that help us lead a meaningful life. It seems to me that focusing only on career makes education narrow. I am of the view that education should help us become responsible citizens as well as successful professionals.

What other people think:
According to some, career building is indeed the only goal of education, because without a good career, life becomes difficult. Quite a few think that getting a good job ensures financial security, which is very important. Some others favour the idea that education should also teach moral values and life skills. Fifty per cent of people strongly feel that education must prepare us for both, life and career.

Asking others:
What do you think about this? Do you agree that education should also teach us how to live, not just how to earn?

Topic 2: Getting a Good Job Is More Important than Being a Good Human Being

My opinion:
If you ask me, being a good human being is more important than simply getting a good job. I think that jobs can be lost and gained, but values and character remain with us throughout life. In my opinion, a good human being can create opportunities, inspire others, and contribute positively to society.

What other people think:
According to some, a good job is the most important thing, because it brings money and respect. Quite a few think that without financial stability, even good values cannot help much. Some others favour a balance, saying that one should have both, a good job and good character. Thirty per cent of the people disagree that job is more important, and strongly feel that humanity must come first.

Asking others:
What do you think of this? Does this make you believe that education should focus more on values than just job skills?

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?).

Below is a model writing answer for your exercise:

Life in Rameswaram in the 1940s

Life in Rameswaram in the 1940s was simple and traditional. Most people were neither rich nor very poor, but they lived modestly. They worked hard to earn their livelihood, whether through small businesses, fishing, or other daily labour. Families valued honesty, discipline, and generosity more than wealth.

Society was divided into different social and religious groups, but there was also a strong sense of harmony and cooperation among neighbours. Hindu and Muslim families exchanged food and shared festivals. Elders were respected, and teachers played an important role in guiding the children.

Although the Second World War brought difficulties, it also created new opportunities. People were hopeful of change through education, but many still held on to traditional ideas. On the whole, Rameswaram was a peaceful town, where simple living and high values shaped the character of its people.

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