How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Class 9 NCERT Solutions | Question Answers, Vocabulary & Writing Task

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Class 9 English NCERT Solutions

Welcome to our Class 9 English study guide. In this post, you will find easy-to-understand solutions and revision notes for How I Taught My Grandmother to Read. The material covers comprehension, critical reflection, vocabulary, idioms, grammar and a sample letter on adult literacy.

Chapter Overview

The story highlights the importance of education, determination and independence. The grandmother regrets that she never received formal schooling. When she becomes emotionally connected to a story she cannot read herself, she decides to learn Kannada. With the help of her granddaughter, she works hard and eventually becomes able to read independently.

1. Check Your Understanding – Cause and Effect

Match each cause with its corresponding effect.

1. Poor transportation facilities in northern Karnataka.
2. The grandmother had never attended school.
3. The grandmother identified herself with the protagonist of a novel.
4. The narrator went away for a week.
5. Girls' education was not considered essential in the grandmother's childhood.
6. The grandmother regretted missing the opportunity to study.

Answers:

• A – Newspapers and magazines often arrived late.
• B – She depended on her granddaughter to read stories to her.
• C – She became deeply interested in the story and discussed it with friends.
• D – She could not read the next instalment and felt helpless.
• E – She missed the opportunity to receive a formal education.
• F – She encouraged the younger generations of her family to study well.

2. Short Answer Question

Question: Was the narrator surprised to find her grandmother crying when she returned home?

Answer: Yes, the narrator was surprised because she had never seen her grandmother cry, even during difficult times. She later understood that her grandmother had felt helpless because she could not read the next part of her favourite story while the narrator was away.

3. True or False with Explanations

1. True: The grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet so that she could read independently.
2. False: Although she wanted to read the story herself, she did not ask someone else to read it during the narrator's absence.
3. True: The narrator became her grandmother's first teacher and helped her learn to read.
4. True: The grandmother believed that learning could begin at any age.
5. True: She showed respect for her teacher by touching her feet.
6. False: The narrator appreciated her grandmother's efforts and was pleased with her progress.

4. Critical Reflection – Important Answers

I. Understanding the Characters

(A) Character trait: The grandmother can be described as strong-willed because she remains determined to learn despite her age.

(B) Emotion: The grandmother experiences deep regret over the education she missed during childhood.

(C) Evidence from the story: The characters sleep on the open terrace of their house, establishing the setting of the narrative.

(D) Understanding affection: The grandmother sits beside the narrator and gently touches her forehead, showing warmth and affection.

(E) Main idea: The grandmother's regret about not receiving an education motivates her to become literate.

II. Interpretation and Inference

(A) Why does the grandmother want to learn? She wants to become self-reliant and read her favourite novel without depending on others.

(B) What does the expression “no age limit” suggest? It suggests that people can learn new skills at any stage of life.

(C) Why does the narrator initially find the decision surprising? She associates formal learning mainly with young people and initially underestimates her grandmother's determination.

(D) Which qualities does the grandmother demonstrate? She demonstrates determination, patience and perseverance throughout the learning process.

(E) What assumption does the narrator initially make? She initially judges the situation through her grandmother's age and everyday routine rather than recognising her ability to learn.

III. Deeper Understanding

(A) Why might the grandmother hesitate to ask for help? She feels uncomfortable about being unable to read and worries that her dependence on others may affect her dignity.

(B) Why does the narrator laugh initially? The narrator finds it unexpected that an elderly person would begin learning to read. She does not immediately realise how important independence is to her grandmother.

(C) What role does the novel play in the story? The story within the novel helps the grandmother recognise her own feelings and inspires her to become literate.

(D) What does the grandmother's decision reveal? Her decision reflects courage, self-awareness and a willingness to challenge social expectations.

(E) What is the significance of touching the teacher's feet? This gesture expresses respect, gratitude and the cultural importance of a teacher's guidance.

(F) What does her successful learning journey demonstrate? It shows that sustained effort and determination can help people overcome obstacles.

(G) How does the story highlight the importance of education? Education gives people greater independence, confidence and control over their everyday lives.

5. Vocabulary and Structures in Context

I. Idioms and Their Meanings

Idiom	Meaning
Sink or swim	To succeed or fail through one's own efforts.
On and off	Occasionally or at irregular intervals.
Mix and match	To combine different things in various ways.
All or nothing	An approach in which complete success is the goal.
Part and parcel	An essential or inseparable part of something.
Pick and choose	To select from several available options.
Sooner or later	At some point in the future.
Leaps and bounds	Very rapidly or by a large amount.

Examples of Idioms in Sentences

1. Sink or swim: The trainee had to manage the task independently.
2. On and off: It rained on and off throughout the day.
3. Mix and match: You can mix and match colours to create an attractive design.
4. All or nothing: The team approached the final competition with an all-or-nothing attitude.
5. Part and parcel: Mistakes are part and parcel of the learning process.
6. Pick and choose: The students could pick and choose books from the library.
7. Sooner or later: With regular practice, you will improve sooner or later.
8. Leaps and bounds: Her reading skills improved by leaps and bounds.

II. Antonyms

Word	Antonym
Popular	Unpopular
Belief	Disbelief
Important	Unimportant
Respect	Disrespect
Correct	Incorrect
Continue	Discontinue
Understand	Misunderstand
Ordinary	Extraordinary
Interesting	Uninteresting
Possible	Impossible

III. Complete the Sentences

(A) Unfortunately: Unfortunately, the student missed the final round of the competition because of illness.

(B) Unhappy: She was unhappy when her examination result did not reflect her hard work.

(C) Independent: After practising for several months, the student became independent enough to complete the project alone.

(D) Unusual: It was unusual to see the library so crowded during the summer holidays.

(E) Irrespective: Irrespective of their class, all students were permitted to participate in the competition.

IV. Phrasal Expressions and Their Meanings

Expression	Meaning
Hit the books	To study seriously.
Draw a blank	To be unable to remember something.
Learn the ropes	To understand how to do an activity or job.
Rack one's brain	To think very hard about something.
Learn by heart	To memorise something.
Burn the midnight oil	To study or work late at night.

Examples

• I need to hit the books because my examination is tomorrow.
• I tried to recall the answer, but I drew a blank.
• The new employee took a few days to learn the ropes.
• She racked her brain to solve the difficult puzzle.
• The students learnt the poem by heart.
• He burnt the midnight oil to complete his assignment.

6. Grammar – Verb Forms and Tenses

Use the past perfect tense for an action completed before another past action. The simple past tense generally describes the later action in such a sequence.

Revision answers for the visible exercise:

1. arrived; had already begun
2. had learnt; started
3. started; had ensured
4. recognised; had exhausted
5. logged in; had already discussed

Note: Check these sequences against the original grammar questions before publishing, as the full sentence prompts are not visible in the supplied photographs.

7. Writing Task – Letter on Adult Literacy

Sample formal letter

12 Rose Villa
Sector 5
Shimla

27 May 20XX

The Editor
The Shimla Times
Shimla

Subject: Encouraging Student Participation in Adult Literacy Programmes

Sir/Madam,

I am writing to highlight the important role students can play in promoting adult literacy in our society.

Education is essential for personal growth and independence. However, many adults still lack the reading and writing skills needed to manage everyday tasks confidently. Students can help address this problem by volunteering to teach adults in their neighbourhoods.

Schools could organise literacy camps where students help adults develop basic reading and writing skills. Such programmes would benefit learners while teaching students empathy, patience and social responsibility.

Awareness campaigns, school workshops and community partnerships could encourage more young people to volunteer. Schools and local authorities could also recognise their contributions through certificates or appreciation programmes.

I hope your newspaper will publish this letter to spread awareness about adult literacy and inspire more people to participate in this meaningful initiative.

Yours faithfully,
Sunita Sharma

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main theme of How I Taught My Grandmother to Read?

The story explores education, independence, determination and lifelong learning.

Why does the grandmother decide to learn reading?

She wants to read her favourite story independently instead of depending on someone else.

What lesson does the story teach students?

It teaches that learning has no age limit and that determination can help people achieve their goals.

Why is the narrator important in the grandmother's journey?

The narrator becomes her teacher and supports her as she learns the Kannada alphabet and develops reading skills.

Conclusion

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read reminds readers that education is valuable at every stage of life. The grandmother's journey demonstrates the importance of patience, self-respect and perseverance. Students can use these revision notes to strengthen their understanding of the story and prepare for classroom assessments.

Keep learning and keep practising!