NCERT Solutions for Class 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Question Answer Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 1

June 18, 2026 by Pooja Batra

Kaveri Book Class 9 Solutions and Class 9 English Book Kaveri

Chapter 1 How I Taught My Grandmother to Read for better understanding

Reflect and Respond (Pages 1-2)

Complete the given word web.

**Read the questions given below and share your answers with your classmates and teacher.**

Question 1. Which language(s) do your grandparents or elderly relatives speak?

Answer: My grandparents and elderly relatives mainly speak Hindi. They also understand and use a few words from the local language spoken in our area.

Question 2. How do they spend their time? How do you spend time with them?

Answer: My grandparents spend their time reading religious books, taking walks, caring for plants, and talking with family members. I enjoy spending time with them by playing simple games, listening to their stories, and helping them with household activities.

Question 3. What is your favourite experience with them?

Answer: My favourite experience is celebrating festivals with my grandparents. They tell me interesting stories about our culture and traditions, which makes the celebrations more enjoyable.

Question 4. What is something that the elderly in your family cannot do easily but enjoy watching you do?

Answer: The elderly members of my family find it difficult to use computers and smartphones. However, they enjoy watching me use these devices and are always curious to learn about new technology.

III. Read the following passage. Match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box below.

The casting for the (i) protagonist of our school’s annual play was done after a lot of (ii) debate as many good actors had auditioned for the role. We had decided to present an (iii) episode from an inspirational story. It was a life story of a group of children who worked with the (iv) community to spread literacy. Every day, we reached school early to practise with (v) concentration. We waited (vi) eagerly for the final presentation. All of us played our roles in a very (vii) convincing manner as our theatre teacher had (viii) guided us well.

Answer:

Words Meanings

1.	(i) protagonist	main character
2.	(ii) debate	discussion
3.	(iii) episode	a part of a story
4.	(iv) community	people living in one particular area
5.	(v) concentration	Focus
6.	(vi) eagerly	excitedly
7.	(vii) convincing	believable
8.	(viii) guided	directed

Check Your Understanding (Pages 6-7)

Complete the cause and effect table given below based on Part I of the story. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answer:

Cause 1. The transport system was very poor.

Effect The morning papers arrived late in the day and weekly magazines would come one day late.

Cause 2. The grandmother, Krishtakka, never went to school.

Effect (ii) She could not read and had to depend on the narrator to read the story to her.

Cause 3. The grandmother listened carefully to the story every week.

Effect (iii) She was deeply interested in the story and discussed it with her friends.

Cause 4. The narrator went to a wedding for a week.

Effect (iv) The grandmother felt helpless and upset because she could not read the new episode by herself.

Cause 5. In those days, people never considered education essential for girls.

Effect (v) The grandmother never went to school.

Cause 6. The grandmother regretted not going to school.

Effect (vi) She ensured that her children and grandchildren studied well.

Do you think the narrator expected to see her grandmother in tears when she returned to the village? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Answer: No, the narrator was surprised to see her grandmother crying. She had always known her grandmother as a strong woman who never showed her emotions, even during difficult times. Therefore, she did not expect to find her in tears.

III. How might the narrator help her grandmother to fulfil her desire to learn to read and write?

Answer: The narrator could help her grandmother by becoming her teacher. She could teach her the Kannada alphabet, help her read simple words and sentences, and encourage her to practise regularly until she became confident in reading and writing on her own.

Check Your Understanding(Pages 9-10)

State whether the following sentences are true or false. Answer:

→True
→False (Reason: She did not ask anyone in the village to read Kashi Yatre to her because she felt too embarrassed)
→True
→True
→True
→False (Reason: The narrator was not disappointed. In fact, she was proud and happy because her grandmother passed “with flying colours”)

Critical Reflection (Pages 10-13)

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. What had happened? I was worried. ‘Avva, is everything all right? Are you okay?’ I used to call her Avva, which means mother in the Kannada spoken in north Karnataka.

She nodded but did not reply. I did not understand and forgot about it. In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house. It was a summer night and there was a full moon. Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.

(i) Complete the following sentence with the appropriate option.

The phrase ‘never seen her cry in the most difficult situations’ tells us that the grandmother was _________ .

strong-willed
understanding
considerate
bold

Answer: A. strong-willed

(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from those given in the brackets.

Grandmother did not reply when the narrator asked if she was alright because she might have been too _________ (emotional/tired) to respond.

Answer: emotional

(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.

Answer: The extract shows a rural setting through the description of the open terrace where the family slept on a summer night under the full moon, reflecting a simple village lifestyle and traditional customs.

(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?

Answer: The lines that create a tender atmosphere are when Avva sits next to the narrator and her affectionate hands touch the narrator’s forehead, showing the love and warmth between them.

(v) Which of the following aspect is NOT emphasised in the given extract?

the emotional turmoil of the grandmother
the affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother
thegrandmother’s regret over her lack of education
thenarrator’s concern for her grandmother

Answer: C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education.

‘I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards. I will work very hard. I will keep Saraswati Puja day during Dusshera as the deadline. That day I should be able to read a novel on my own. I want to be independent.’

I saw the determination on her face. Yet I laughed at her.

‘Avva, at this age of sixty-two you want to learn the alphabet? All your hair is grey, your hands are wrinkled, you wear spectacles and you work so much in the kitchen…’

Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled.

‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle. I will work harder than anybody but I will do it. For learning there is no age bar.’

(i) What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?

She wanted to be literate.
She desires self-sufficiency.
She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
She feels pressured by society to learn.

Answer:

She desires self-sufficiency

(ii) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from those given in brackets.

The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no _________ . (age limit/gender bias/cultural barriers).

Answer: age limit

(iii) Complete the following with a suitable reason.

The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because _________ .

Answer: she thought it was unusual for an elderly person with grey hair and wrinkled hands to start learning something new with so much responsibilities, specially at this age.

(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.

Answer: Two qualities displayed by the grandmother are determination and perseverance.

(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?

Answer: We can say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother because she laughed and doubted that someone of sixty-two could learn the alphabet, thinking that her age and daily chores would prevent her from succeeding.

Answer the following questions.

Question 1. Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?

Answer: The grandmother felt embarrassed because she did not like depending on others for something as simple as reading a story. She trusted her granddaughter and felt comfortable with her. Being unable to read made her feel helpless and disappointed.

Question 2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?

Answer: The narrator laughed at first because she found it surprising that her grandmother wanted to start learning at such an advanced age. She thought it would be difficult for an elderly person to learn the alphabet and practise reading and writing.

Question 3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the story?

Answer: Kashi Yatre played an important role in the grandmother’s life. She eagerly followed the story every week and felt deeply connected to its characters. Her desire to continue reading the novel inspired her to learn reading and become independent.

Question 4. What does the grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?

Answer: The grandmother’s wish to learn the Kannada alphabet reflects her strong determination and positive attitude. It shows that she valued education and was willing to work hard to achieve her goal despite her age.

Question 5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?

Answer: The grandmother’s action teaches us the importance of respecting teachers and valuing education. It also shows her humility and gratitude towards her granddaughter, who helped her gain a new skill and confidence.

Question 6. What does the following line tell us about the broader theme of the story?

‘For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.’

Answer: This line highlights the main message of the story that determination and sincere effort can help a person overcome difficulties. It teaches us that no goal is impossible when we have confidence, dedication, and a strong desire to succeed.

Question 7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?

Answer: The story clearly shows that education helps people become independent and self-reliant. After learning to read and write, the grandmother no longer had to depend on others. Education gave her confidence, freedom, and a sense of achievement.

Vocabulary and Structures in Context (Pages 13-16)

The expression ‘hide and seek’ is used in the text. This is called a binomial.

Binomials are expressions consisting of two words, usually linked by a conjunction like ‘and’ or ‘or’, that are commonly used together in a fixed order.

For example: odds and ends, right or wrong.

Match the binomials in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

Now, use any five of the above binomials in sentences of your own

Answer:

Column 1 Column 2

sink or swim- (vii) succeed or fail without help
on and off – (v) sometimes, occasionally
mix and match – (i) put different things together to get a range of possibilities
all or nothing – (viii) something to be done completely or not at all
part and parcel -(ii) complete part of or belonging to
pick and choose – (iii) choose only the best (things, people, etc.)
sooner or later – (iv) at some time in the future
leaps and bounds – (vi) increase or develop very quickly

Now, use any five of the above binomials in sentences of your own

Binomials Used in Sentences are as follows:

1.When she started living alone, it was a sink or swim situation for her.

2.He attends his music classes on and off due to his busy schedule.

3.You can mix and match these clothes to create different outfits.

4.Learning from mistakes is part and parcel of growing up.

5.The child’s reading skills improved by leaps and bounds after regular practice.

Read the following words from the text given in the box below.

These words are made by adding suitable prefixes (‘un’, ‘ir’, and ‘in’) to give an opposite or negative meaning to the words.

Now, make words by adding the suitable prefixes given in the box to the words from the text in Column 1. Write the prefixed words in Column 2. One example has been done for you.

Answer:

Column 1 Column 2

popular (i)unpopular
belief (ii)disbelief
important (iii)unimportant
respect (iv)disrespect
correct. (v)incorrect
continue. (vi)discontinue
understand (vii) misunderstand
ordinary (viii)extraordinary
interesting (ix)uninteresting
possible (x)impossible
III. Identify any five words with prefixes from the story and make sentences using each.

Answer:

Unhappy-She felt unhappy when she realised she could not complete the task on her own.

Unusual-It is unusual to see such kindness in a competitive world.

Unfortunately-Unfortunately, the plan had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

Independent-Becoming independent helped her make confident decisions.

Irrespective-Everyone deserves equal respect irrespective of their status in society.

Inthe sentence, “I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours”, the phrase “passed with flying colours” is an idiom. It means outstanding performance.

Now, match the idioms related to ‘learning’ given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

Now, use these idioms in sentences of your own.

Answer:

Column 1 Column 2

to hit the books – (iii) to study seriously
to draw a blank – (v) to be

unable to remember
to learn the ropes – (vi) to understand how to do an activity
to rack one’s brain – (ii) to think very hard
to learn by heart – (i) to memorise something
burn the midnight oil -(iv) to study or work late into the night

Idioms used in Sentences are as follows:

I need to hit the books before my exams begin.

I drew a blank when the teacher asked me the answer.

It took me a week to learn the ropes at my new job.

I racked my brain to solve the difficult maths problem.

She learnt the poem by heart for the competition.

He burnt the midnight oil to complete his project.

Read the following sentences from the text and underline the verbs. Secretly,I bought Kashi Yatre which had been published as a novel by that time.
I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours.

In sentence 1, verb ‘bought’ is in simple past tense.

In sentence 2, verb ‘had passed’ is in past perfect tense.

We use past perfect tense to indicate two completed actions-one occurring earlier (later past) and the other more recently (recent past). The more recent action is expressed in the simple past, while the earlier action takes the past perfect tense.

Examples

1.By the time I reached the party, everyone had finished eating.

When she returned home, her brother had finished the project.

(i) Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.

When the delegates _________ (arrive) at the conference, the keynote speaker _________ (already begin) the session.
After the students _________ (learn) how to identify fake news online, they _________ (start) verifying information before sharing it.
Before kiran _________ (start) using digital payment platforms, she _________ (ensure) her understanding of online fraud prevention.
By the time Varun _________ (recognise) the importance of budgeting, he _________ (exhaust) most of his savings.
When Raghu _________ (log in) to the cybersecurity webinar, the instructor _________ (already discuss) the importance of strong passwords.

Answer:

arrived,had already begun
had learnt, started
started,had ensured
recognised,had exhausted
logged in, had already discussed

(ii) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in brackets.

Last year my parents and I A. _________ (take) a financial planning course. When we B. _________ (review) our expenses, we realised we C. _________ (spend) too much on unnecessary purchases. After my parents D. _________ (discuss) ways to save, I E. _________ (open) a savings account. By the time we F. _________ (set) our budget, the course G. _________ (already introduce) investment strategies. We H. _________ (hurry) to take notes, but many participants I. _________ (complete) their financial Despite that, we J. _________ (enjoy) learning how to manage money wisely.

Answer:

took
reviewed
had spent
had discussed
opened
set
had already introduced
hurried
had completed
enjoyed

Listen and Respond (Page 17)

You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy.

As you listen, complete the following sentences with one to three exact words that you hear. (Transcript for teacher on page 259)

Literacy these days includes the ability to use _________ .

Answer: digital tools

Digital literacy is also about protecting _________ .

Answer: personal data

Digital literacy enables the elderly to _________ .

Answer: stay connected

Digital literacy encourages using the internet safely by helping us recognise _________ and _________ .

Answer: misinformation, scams and cyber threats.

The National Digital Literacy Mission helps people across the country by imparting _________ .

Answer: IT training

Speaking Activity (Pages 17-18)

Turncoat is a type of solo debate where the speaker argues for and against a topic, switching sides after a certain period of time.

Choose your topic and speak ‘for’ and ‘against’ for not more than one minute each.

Topic 1: It is important to learn a new language apart from your mother tongue.

Topic 2: Learning can happen only when you are young.

Use the guidelines given below.

Begin with speaking ‘for’ the topic for one minute.

Your teacher will signal that it is time to switch sides.

Then speak ‘against’ the topic for one minute.

You may use the following sentence prompts.

Answer:

Topic 1: It Is Important to Learn a Language Other Than Your Mother Tongue

For the Topic: 1

I would like to begin by supporting the topic. Learning an additional language helps us connect with people from different regions and backgrounds. It opens doors to new cultures and experiences. Another important advantage is that it improves employment opportunities, as many professions require communication with people from various parts of the world. Learning a new language also develops thinking skills, concentration, and memory. It encourages greater cultural understanding and broadens our outlook. Therefore, acquiring another language can be a valuable asset in both personal and professional life.

Against the Topic:

Now, I would like to present the other side of the argument. Learning a new language often requires a great deal of time, effort, and regular practice. Many people may not have enough time because of their studies, jobs, or other responsibilities. In several situations, having a strong command of one’s mother tongue may be sufficient. Moreover, not everyone finds language learning easy. Therefore, while learning another language can be useful, it should remain a personal choice rather than a necessity.

Topic 2: Learning Can Happen Only When You Are Young

For the Topic:

I support the statement that learning is easier at a young age. Children generally grasp new ideas, languages, and skills more quickly because their minds are highly adaptable. They have more opportunities to practise, make mistakes, and improve over time. The habits and knowledge gained during childhood often stay with them throughout life. As a result, learning during the early years provides a strong base for future success.

Against the Topic:

However, I do not completely agree with this view. Learning is a lifelong process and does not stop with age. Adults regularly acquire new skills, pursue higher education, and even change careers. Experience, determination, and self-discipline often help older learners achieve their goals. Many inspiring examples show that people can learn and excel at any stage of life. Therefore, age should not be considered a limitation to gaining knowledge.

Letter to the Editor (Original Version)

Writing Task (Pages 19-20)

Asa socially responsible citizen, you strongly believe that students can contribute significantly in promoting adult literacy. Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper emphasising the importance of student participation in adult literacy camps conducted by various organisations. Discuss the benefits of such initiatives for both students and society. Suggest effective ways to spread awareness and encourage more students to volunteer for this noble cause.

A letter to the editor is a formal letter in which the writer gives suggestions and creates awareness on an issue of public interest or an issue already raised in an article/write-up/published letter.

Points to Remember:

Format:

Name, designation, address

Date

Subject: 4-5 words in title case

Salutation: Sir/Madam

Body of the letter: In at least three paragraphs

Paragraph 1: Statement of problem: Raise the issue by citing some latest news items, survey report or personal experience, etc.

This is with reference to the article about _______ dated _________ in your newspaper.

As a concerned citizen I would like to draw your attention towards…

Paragraph 2: Analyse the issue in terms of its causes and consequences.

The issue at hand affects a large section of society and…

It is imperative that…

It would be beneficial if…

Such initiatives nurture a sense of…

By engaging in these programmes students…

Paragraph 3: Offer suggestions/solutions. Request the relevant authorities to take the action and request the editor to publish your views.

A possible solution to this issue could be…

One effective way to address this might be…

Authorities could consider implementing…

I trust this matter will be considered seriously for the benefit of all.

I am hopeful that necessary steps will be taken to…

I hope this letter gets published in the columns of your esteemed daily.

Complimentary close: Yours truly,

Language

Formal, clear, and specific

Short and to the point sentences

Purpose stated clearly and concisely

Relevant details to be given

Answer:

From

Riya Sharma

B-24, Lajpat Nagar-II

New Delhi – 110024

17 June 2026

Subject: Importance of Adult Literacy Camps

Sir/Madam,

I wish to draw the attention of the public towards the importance of student participation in adult literacy camps. Although our country has made significant progress in education, many adults still lack basic reading and writing skills. Several organisations conduct literacy programmes, but they need active support from young volunteers to reach more people.

Adult literacy plays a vital role in the development of society. Students can contribute by teaching adults basic literacy skills and helping them become more confident and independent. Such activities also help students develop leadership qualities, social responsibility, and empathy towards others. These programmes create a positive impact on both learners and volunteers.

Schools and colleges should encourage students to participate in literacy campaigns. Awareness programmes, community meetings, and social media campaigns can help spread information about the importance of adult education. Providing certificates and recognition to volunteers can further motivate students to join this noble cause.

I hope the concerned authorities and educational institutions will take necessary steps to promote student involvement in adult literacy camps. Kindly publish my views in your esteemed newspaper so that more people become aware of this important issue.

Yours truly,

Riya Sharma