Summary 1
Margie and her brother Tommy find an old book in the attic of their house. They start to read it because it is very funny for them to read a real book. As they live in the 23rd century they are only used to telebooks which are displayed on a screen. This television screen belongs to the mechanical teacher which every child then has at home.
Tommy reads the book but he doesn't really care about the old kind of school. Margie, however, is very much interested in it since she hates school the way it is in her century. The only thing she likes about school is the geography lessons because she has been doing well in her most recent tests.
The little girl reads about the old days and although she can't really imagine exactly what school must have been like, she assumes that the children at that time must have had a lot more fun together in one school than she has alone in front of her mechanical teacher.
Summary 2
Margie, an 11-year-old girl who lives in the 22nd century, is very excited about the fact that her friend Tommy has found a real book which deals with school in the distant past. The content of the book is especially interesting to her as she doesn't like the school of her own time where children are taught by a computer at home. Moreover, Margie's mechanical teacher has to be fixed by the County
Inspector because it has given her tests in geography that were too demanding. This is one of the reasons why the little girl dislikes school. Another thing she particularly hates about the mechanical teacher is the slot of the machine where she has to insert her tests and homework.
Margie can't really imagine what school must have been like centuries ago with a lot of children in one room and a real human teacher who is not adjusted to one pupil's mind like the mechanical teacher is to hers. Nevertheless she can't stop thinking about the old schools and how much fun it must have been for the pupils to be there.
Summary 3
Margie and Tommy, two 11-year-old friends who live in the 22nd century, read a book about school as it was long ago. This is a very special situation for them because they are not used to reading real books. They usually read telebooks given to them by their teachers who adjust their computers to fit their minds.
Margie is very keen to learn more about school as it was long ago because she doesn't like her kind of school at all. This is partly due to the fact that her computer has given her one test after the other in maths. The County Inspector has had to come by and repair it because every child is taught by a computer at home. The little girl is happy when her computer works properly again and she can go back to studying but she still thinks about how much fun it must have been for the children back in those old days to go to school together.
Page No: 10 Thinking About Text I.
Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.
1. How old are Margie and Tommy?
2. What did Margie write in her diary?
3. Had Margie ever seen a book before?
4. What things about the book did she find strange?
5. What do you think a telebook is?
6. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?
7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?
Answer 1. Margie is eleven and Tommy is thirteen-year-old.
2. Margie wrote, “Today Tommy found a real book!”.
3. No, Margie had never seen a book before.
4. Margie found it strange that the words printed on a book stood still instead of moving the way they did on a screen. She also found it odd that the words on a page always remained the same as the first time they were read. Besides, the idea that someone would write a book about schools was itself strange for Margie.
5. A book that can be displayed on a screen is called telebook.
6. Margie’s school was in her home itself, right next to her bedroom. No, she did not have any classmates.
7. Margie and Tommy learned geography, history and arithmetic.
II. Answer the following with reference to the story.
1. “I wouldn’t throw it away.”
(i) Who says these words?
(ii) What does ‘it’ refer to?
(iii) What is it being compared with by the speaker?
Answer (i) Tommy said these words.
(ii) 'It' refers to the television screen, on which you could read over a million books
(iii) Tommy is comparing the television screen to the real books in earlier times in which words were printed on paper. He thought that after reading such books, one would have to throw them away. However, he would never have to throw away his telebooks.
2. “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”
(i) Who does ‘they’ refer to?
(ii) What does ‘regular’ mean here?
(iii) What is it contrasted with?
Answer (i) They refer to the students who studied in the old kind of schools centuries before the time the story is set in.
(ii) Here, 'regular' refers to the mechanical teachers that Tommy and Margie had.
(iii) The mechanical teacher is contrasted with the teacher of the earlier times, who was a human being.
III. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?
Answer Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. They were large and black and ugly and had large black screens on which all the lessons were shown and questions were asked. These mechanical teachers had a slot in which the students had to put their homework and test papers. They had to write their answers in a punch code and the mechanical teacher calculated the marks immediately.
2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?
Answer: Margie had been given many tests in geography by the mechanical teacher, but there was no improvement in her performance. It only kept getting worse. It is for this reason that Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector to find out why this was happening.
3. What did he do?
Answer The County Inspector gave Margie an apple and started working on the mechanical teacher. He took it apart and then checked it. Margie had hoped that the Inspector would not know how to put the mechanical teacher together again, but he managed to reassemble it. He slowed down the geography sector of the teacher because it was geared a little too quick for an average ten-year-old.
4. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Answer Margie was doing badly in geography because the geography sector of the mechanical teacher had been geared a little too quick. The County Inspector rightly told her that she could not be blamed for her poor performance. The County Inspector slowed down the geography sector of the mechanical teacher to an average ten-year level. He also told Mrs. Jones that Margie's overall progress pattern was satisfactory.
5. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
Answer: Once, The history sector of Tommy’s teacher had once blanked out completely.
6. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
Answer Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school. This was because her mother believed that learning at regular hours helped little girls learn better. Her mechanical teacher was also on at the same time everyday except Saturday and Sunday.
7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?
Answer Tommy described old kind of school as a special building where all kids studied together. There were hundreds of students studying and playing together. They used to shout and laugh together in an open yard.
8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers?
Answer Tommy said that the old kind of teachers was men, who taught the students inside a special building. The teachers taught the children in groups and gave them homework and asked them questions.
IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100 –150 words).
1. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?
Answer Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. They had large black screens on which all the lessons were shown and questions were asked. They had a slot in which students had to put their homework and test papers. They had to write their answers in a punch code and the mechanical teacher calculated the marks immediately. Their schools were in their homes itself. They did not have any classmates. They learned geography, history and arithmetic. They had regular days and hours for school. Margie's school was right next to her bedroom. The mechanical teacher always turned on at the same time every day except Saturdays and Sundays because her mother said that little girls learned better when they learned at regular hours.
2. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
Answer: Margie hated school because it was not fun. A mechanical teacher used to teach her everyday at a fixed time. Recently, she had been doing badly in the geography tests that her mechanical teacher had been giving her. Her mother was not happy with the performance and sends for the County Inspector, she hopes that the inspector would take the mechanical teacher away. She is disappointed when the County Inspector manages to assemble all the parts of the mechanical teacher. The part that she hated the most was inserting the homework and test papers in the slot on the mechanical teacher. She did not like the fact that she had to write her answers in a punch code. She thought that the old kind of school must have been fun as she imagined all the kids from the entire neighbourhood coming together, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard. She imagined that they would sit together in the classroom and go home together at the end of the day. They would learn the same things and could help one another with the homework and talk about it. Also, the teachers were people. All these aspects made her believe that the old kind of school must have been fun.
3. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Yes, I agree schools today are more fun than the school in the story. In the story, there is no interaction among students regarding studies. Studying and answering questions seems to be a boring idea. Doing homework without anybody's help and writing them in a punch code would also be draining. Moreover, children develop a better understanding about each other and of their surroundings when they go to a school and interact with each other. It is a healthier way of learning. Listening to teachers explaining lessons is always more interesting than reading the entire lesson on a mechanical computer. Also, if any student faces any problem with the subject or in homework, he can discuss it with the teacher and other kids. It is impossible to discuss problems and situations with a mechanical teacher that is only programmed to teach in a particular manner. The excitement of waiting to know the marks scored in exams is greater when one is sitting in a classroom with other students. It does not have the same effect when the marks are calculated immediately after a test has been taken. Finally, the friends that you make at school are most probably
the best friends that you will ever make in your entire life. The various qualities that you learn in school like obedience, respect, kindness for others, sharing, taking part in school games, sports, and other activities are all a part of school education today. Therefore, schools today are more fun than the school in the story as they are more interactive. They promote a healthy environment for the students to study and learn. f
The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov
· To express one’s opinion on a wide range of issues
· To express and share one’s observations and views in a public forum, for example a magazine or a newspaper
· Language of the letter:
· Formal language must be used
· Repetition of ideas must be avoided
· Sub paragraphs should be used in an organised way
· Personal outlook must be included but biased language should be avoided
|
SAMPLE FORMAL LETTER
Question: You are Saurabh Srivastava, a resident of Defence Colony Bagdogra, Siliguri. Your colony is facing the severe problem of supply of inadequate and poor quality of tap water. You decide to express your views and make the authorities aware of the situation by writing a letter to the Editor of The Siliguri Times, Siliguri. Write your letter in about 150 words.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Defence Colony
Bagdogra
15th April 2016
The Editor
The Siliguri Times
Siliguri
Subject: Inadequate and bad quality of water supply.
Dear Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the civic authorities to the bad quality and inadequate supply of tap water in our locality.
It is unfortunate that the local civic authorities do not take care to provide the citizens with even the basic amenities such as proper and adequate water supply. In our locality, water is supplied only for three hours in the morning. For the rest of the day the taps remain dry. Also, the quality of supplied water is poor. It is unhygienic and contaminated. There have been cases of water borne diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery. It is highly expected that these diseases may break out in form of epidemic if the problem is not properly addressed.
It is expected that instead of ignoring the issue, the authorities concerned will take immediate steps to ensure supply of adequate and good quality of water in our locality so that we citizens are able to live a disease free and stress free life.
Yours faithfully,
Saurabh Srivastava
Format and Draft of a sample Formal Letter
HOW TO SCORE GOOD MARKS IN EXAMINATION
The percentage you get in board exams largely determines your career. Your entry to professional courses and universities depends on your ability to score well in the exams. Here are eight ways to score above 85% in your board exams.
Forget the Past – Look to the Future
Don’t let the ghosts of your past performance scare you. Believe in yourself and start with a positive frame of mind. You will become a topper through hard work. If you have had a below 40% past, don’t get bogged down because of it. Scoring 85% is more about hard work than intelligence.
Syllabus Books – Don’t leave them and befriend Heavy Duty Reference Books
I have seen many students go all out and buy ‘heavy duty’ reference books. While it is good to seek extra knowledge for your future competitive exams, do not ignore your very own syllabus textbooks. I repeat – “Stick to your textbooks to get a higher percentage”. You will benefit from those huge reference books – in the competitive exams following class 12.
Work on your weaknesses
Do you read the question paper thoroughly? Remove all your test and pre-board answer sheets. Check out all the mistakes – note them down. Make sure you won’t repeat them in future. See the positive side. Convert these mistakes into opportunities for scoring better marks.
Time Management
Time Management is the key to getting good marks. Apply the below techniques to maximise your study time:
- Do not sleep for 8 hours, like in your childhood. Uninterrupted 6-hour sleep is adequate. You gain two extra study hours!
- You can also get an extra half hour by alternatively using your games, extracurricular or lunch periods for learning logic-based subjects like Maths or Accounts.
- It is best to use the last three months for self-study. Do not join any coaching classes at this stage. Study by yourself and note down key points.
- Study for 8 hours on weekdays and 9-10 hours on weekends. Toppers may deny it – but it’s a fact that they study as much, or even more to stay at the top.
Old is Gold – Solve Previous Years’ Question Papers
Don’t spend a fortune to buy reference books. Try solving previous years question papers instead. “Your ability to be a topper in any subject is directly proportional to the number of question papers you have solved successfully”. Now, evaluate your performance and see where you stand. Did you get 85% right away? If so you are just brilliant!
Your English Counts
If you think that English is not a scoring subject, think again! Many students score full marks in core subjects, but get a lower rank because of their English marks. Apart from being a key factor in deciding the rank, good English also helps you express better while answering other subjects. And make sure you also work on your handwriting and drawing skills. A neat and tidy answer sheet with clear diagrams always impresses the examiner.
On the Eve and Morning of your Exams
Let the night before exams serve to calm your nerves. Relax! Stop imagining how terrible the examiner or question paper will be. And don’t try to study anything now. Go to bed early. It will give your brain the much needed ‘reset time’ – to function at its best on exam day!
Sleep for 8 hours. Get up early. Now, quickly revise all the important topics or main points you have jotted down. If something is still unclear, leave it aside. Today is not the day to worry. See the positive side; revise the other topics that are clear to you. Always remain confident!
Here is some important advice - “Leave your books at home”. Pack your things including hall ticket and stationary. Reach the venue at least 45 – 60 minutes in advance. Don’t enter any group discussions or quizzes outside the exam hall. Remain aloof and enter the room with a relaxed state of mind!
What to do inside the Examination Hall
Read the question paper thoroughly – allot yourself 10-15 minutes. Get to the roots of each question and mentally prepare yourself to answer it. Don’t worry about using up these 15 minutes. Answering the previous years’ question papers will have given you a lot of confidence, besides prepping up your time management skills! You will have sufficient time on your hands – when you plan strategically.
Start with 5 or 10 marks questions first. Make sure you assign adequate time to answer the bigger questions. Keep the final hour or half, for answering the one mark questions.
Carry extra pens, pencils, erasers along with a scale. Draw diagrams where necessary. Once done, revise the answer sheet thoroughly. Scan it for errors and fix it.
The above eight-point strategy will easily help you to get 85 percent and more in your board exams in short span of time. So follow these eight steps and watch your academic career take off!
10 Useful Examination Tips for Students
As we get ready to welcome 2018, we also become aware of the exams lurking on the other side. But there is still time and no need for panic - when you choose to do things the right way. Here are ten examination tips for students, to help significantly boost grades in the New Year.
1) Read a small fraction of the entire syllabus: You don’t have to read everything at one stretch. Read a few chapters. It will help you remember. If you rush through them by the dozen – it will be difficult to recall.
2) Don’t stretch the sessions beyond two hours: Do not study from dawn to dusk – for 10 or 12 hours. You need to follow the below process.
- Let your study time be composed of 2-hour slots.
- Divide these 2 hours further into x 4 half hours.
- It goes like this à25-minute study + 5-minute break = 30 minutes
- Repeat the above 30-minute cycle x 4 times for two hours.
- After this two hour study period, take a 20-minute break.
- Get ready for the next 2-hour study session (you may switch to a different subject).
3) Take a quality break: Now that you have “served your time” for 2 hours (pun intended), make sure you celebrate with a ‘quality’ break. Do not use your off time thinking, calling, or messaging friends with study-related matter.
Give your mind a release. Whether you choose outdoor games, watching YouTube, listening to your favourite iTunes or mp3, or munching your favourite cookie – it’s entirely your choice.
4) Focus on the main points: The syllabus is made up of Core Material and Explanations. Core material consists of formulae, diagrams, charts and graphs. Explanations consist of examples and quotations. Study the Core Material since 75% of the questions arise from here. Make sure you read the previous years’ question papers. You may thus skim out the creamy stuff, i.e., the important points.
5) Switch subjects: Before you start, divide your subjects into categories.
I. Geography, Biology and History are memory intensive.
II. Physics, Chemistry and Maths are logic based.
III. English and Languages are interpretation based.
It is good to switch between these subject categories while studying for exams. But don’t keep switching every time. Do it after a 2-hour long study of one particular subject.
6) Write it down: Read the chapter, and underline the important points. Read these aloud while jotting them in your notepad. It helps retention when you hear it aloud and write.
7) Use proper note-taking strategies: This is how you do it.
- Breeze through the textbook and underline the important points. It should not take you more than 10 minutes.
- Convert every heading and sub-heading into potential questions – to be asked in the exam.
- Read the text again. Now write down the underlined points in your own words. Read aloud these bulleted points for better understanding.
- Ask yourself the questions you noted down (by converting sub-headings). See if you can answer them.
- Repeat these steps till you completely understand the lesson.
8) Use Visuals: Get yourself another miniature notepad or sticky notes. Now check the points you have previously underlined in the text or notepad. Convert these points into visual cues for better comprehension. E.g. you can have a sticky-note containing all the formulae in Physics. If you are studying Chemistry, you can have periodic table elements depicted in a sequence as per their appearance in the reaction. Post these stick-notes containing visual cues on your walls, cupboards or anywhere in the bed or bathrooms.
9) Revise Daily: Brush up whatever you study, every 24 hours. According to science, 75% of what you just learnt will vanish from memory – if you don’t revise. So, make sure you revise and engrave the information in your mind.
10) A good night’s sleep enhances memory: Getting at least 7 – 8 hours sleep is a must. A good night’s sleep helps convert short-term into long-term memory. Get yourself the sleep you deserve – after all the effort you have put in.
The above tips will help you comprehend your lessons better and study faster. So leave aside your anxiety and get down to the actual work. All the best for your exams!
