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

Solution:

1. The word 'it' refers to the novel titled 'Kashiyatre', which chronicles the experiences of the old lady and her deep wish to visit Kashi.
2. Based on these lines, the old lady is portrayed as someone with a strong and passionate longing (ardent desire) to visit Kashi or Varanasi. This suggests she is a person with spiritual inclinations or a deep-seated wish for a pilgrimage.

Solution:

1. The speaker of these lines is the grandmother (referred to as 'Awa' in some contexts).
2. The speaker regretted not having had the opportunity to attend school during her childhood. This lack of formal education was a source of regret for her.
3. The speaker decided that she would ensure her children and grandchildren received a good education and studied well, making up for her own missed opportunities.

Solution:

1. The speaker of these lines is the grandmother.
2. The speaker felt dependent and helpless when she accompanied her grandmother to a wedding in a nearby village. Upon seeing a magazine, she realized her inability to read its contents, which highlighted her lack of literacy and dependence.
3. By 'independent', the speaker means being literate – the ability to read and write. She understood that financial well-being was insufficient without the personal autonomy that literacy provides.

Solution:

1. In this extract, 'I' refers to the narrator, Sudha Murthy, and 'she' refers to her grandmother.
2. The grandmother wanted to talk with the narrator because she was feeling distressed and overwhelmed by her inability to read. She needed to share her feelings of helplessness and her desire to learn with someone she trusted.
3. The grandmother was unhappy because she felt a profound sense of helplessness and dependence stemming from her illiteracy. She regretted not attending school and realized the limitations this imposed on her life.

Solution:

1. 'She' refers to Avva, the grandmother. The 'homework' being discussed is the rigorous practice she undertook to learn reading and writing, involving repeated reading, writing, and reciting of lessons.
2. She was extremely keen on doing the homework because she had a strong desire to become literate. Her goal was to achieve independence through the ability to read and write, and she was determined to put in the necessary effort.
3. This extract showcases the grandmother's immense willpower, strong determination, and dedication towards her goal of learning to read and write.

Solution:

1. 'I' in the extract is Sudha Murthy. She returned from a neighbouring village where she had attended a wedding.
2. The grandmother was in tears because she had a profound realization of her helplessness and dependence due to her inability to read. This realization deeply affected her, leading to emotional distress.
3. The last line indicates that the grandmother possessed a strong, resilient character. She was determined and faced life's challenges with fortitude, rarely showing distress even in difficult circumstances.

Solution:

1. The granddaughter, who is the narrator, made fun of the old lady (her grandmother).
2. The speaker made fun of the old lady because she found it amusing that her grandmother, at the age of 62, wanted to learn the alphabet. It seemed like a childish endeavor to her at that moment.
3. The old lady smiled because she had immense confidence in her ability to learn and believed that age was not a barrier to education. Her smile reflected her inner strength and determination, undeterred by the narrator's teasing.

Solution:

1. 'I' in these lines refers to the grandmother.
2. She felt dependent because she was illiterate and lacked the basic skills of reading and writing, which made her reliant on others for many tasks.
3. The phrase 'well off' means to be prosperous or financially comfortable; having enough money and resources.