CBSE Class 9 Main Course (MCB) Chapter 3: Can You Know People You Haven't Met - NCERT Solutions
This section offers NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 9 Main Course (MCB) Chapter 3, 'Can You Know People You Haven't Met'. The chapter encourages students to hone their observational skills and learn to deduce information about individuals and circumstances from indirect clues, similar to a detective's work. The provided solutions guide students in examining evidence found in an abandoned farmhouse and a shared hostel room to understand the people who used these spaces. Core themes involve making logical inferences from physical details, understanding personality through environmental cues, and applying these skills in practical tasks such as letter writing. These solutions aim to bolster students' analytical thinking and comprehension, which are vital for exam preparation and developing critical thinking.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 9 |
| Subject | Main Course (MCB) |
| Session | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Type | NCERT Solutions |
| Chapter | Chapter 3 |
Chapter summary
Chapter 3 of the CBSE Class 9 Main Course (MCB) explores the theme of inferring information about people and their lives through observation, even without direct interaction. The NCERT Solutions provided cover exercises that prompt students to analyze details from an abandoned farmhouse and a hostel room to deduce characteristics of the inhabitants. Students learn to interpret clues like household items, room conditions, and environmental factors to understand past occupants. This chapter emphasizes critical thinking and analytical skills, preparing students to draw conclusions from limited information.
Learning outcomes
- Understand how to infer information about people from their environment.
- Analyze clues and evidence to draw logical conclusions.
- Apply observational skills to understand past situations.
- Develop critical thinking by interpreting indirect information.
- Practice descriptive writing based on observations.
Topics covered
Paper topics
- Inferring character from environment
- Analyzing textual clues
- Observational skills
- Deductive reasoning
- Interpreting evidence
- Descriptive writing
- Letter writing
- Understanding abandoned places
- Character analysis
- Critical thinking
Important topics
- Inferring character from environment
- Analyzing textual clues
- Observational skills
- Deductive reasoning
- Interpreting evidence
- Letter writing
PDF preview
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Questions and Solutions
Can You Know People YouHaven't Met
Unit-1: Solutions of Questions on Page Number: 16
Q1: Complete the following sentences about the poem.
- In the first stanza, the poet refers to four pieces of evidence: large shoes, a long bed, the Bible, fields cluttered with boulders and a leaky barn. This leads the poet to conclude that 'the man of the house' was _____
- I think that the child was probably about six years old because ______
The poet suggests that a woman lived in the farmhouse because ______
The family probably left the farmhouse because ______
Answer:
This question is to be answered on the basis of your own understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own. However, a sample solution for discussion has been provided for your reference.
- 1.In the first stanza, the poet refers to four pieces of evidence: large shoes, a long bed, the Bible, fields cluttered with boulders and a leaky barn. This leads the poet to conclude that 'the man of the house' was large and tall, a believer of God and that he wasn't a farmer, as the surrounding fields were muddles in a very disorderly manner with boulders and a barn which leaked.
- I think that the child was probably about six years old because of the line 'sandbox made from a tractor tire' which suggests a play thing for a child of around the same age.
- The poet suggests that a woman lived in the farmhouse it could be prominently interpreted by the lilac wallpapers and the organized way in which oilcloth was spread neatly on all the kitchen shelves.
- The family probably left the farmhouse because they won a large fortune and went off to stay in the city and left this house as it was. The other reason can also be that a huge famine or some other natural calamity struck them because of which they had to leave immediately. Another reason can also be that they hadn't repaid someone's debts and were threatened to leave the house on short notice.
Q2: The poet draws conclusions about the family without having met them. He
does this by lines such as:
Something went wrong, says the empty house
in the weed-choked yard...
Make other sentences like this, using ideas from the poem.
Answer:
This question is to be answered on the basis of your own understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own. However, some pointers for discussion have been provided for your reference.
It seems that today all you see in movies is violence.
- Pollution is directly related to the question of our life and death. This suggests the importance of cleanliness of our environment.
The people are outraged this time. So, it is likely that the Bill would be passed in the Parliament soon.
- He didn't fair well in his exams. This suggests that he wouldn't be eligible for entrance tests in DU.
Q3: Imagine that a Social Worker comes to the abandoned farmhouse to find out what may have happened to the family. She makes the following observations in her note-pad
When I reached the farmhouse, I saw that the house was empty, which
__. I wondered where they might have gone. _____ the
owner was not a farmer, because of the boulders in the field and the leaky barn.
the family was poor, because I saw several sealed jars in the cellar.
Also ______ a woman lived there. It was obvious she had left in a
hurry. What was most touching was that the toys were scattered in the yard.
Answer:
- Seemed very weird to me.
- I was sure by the condition of the neighboring farmland that
- I assumed from the condition of the house that
- The neat oilcloths on the shelves and the lilac wallpaper suggested that
Q4: Amit from Hyderabad has got admission to a college in Bengaluru. He has to share his room with another boy. When he arrives at the hostel he learns that his room mate has gone home for a few days. Based on his observations of the room, Amit writes a letter to his friend, Sumit, about his new room mate. (You may use some of the expressions suggested in C.3.) As Amit, write the letter.
diam's
Answer:
Hill Top College
Bengaluru
09<sup>™</sup> May'12
Hello Sumit,
I have reached Bengaluru safely. I was just settling things up in my room when I thought of writing to you. I am so dead tired. My room was a mess when I entered. I have been dreading this day for so long and here it is. I am very tensed because of my existing roommate Ritesh. He is presently on vacation at his parents' place in Mumbai. The entire room gave an impression of him as a very untidy person with no fixed time frame to complete his task. His things are thrown all over the place and the floor is sticky because of spilled coke. Ant attacks on leftover pizza have added to my misery. A wet towel is strewn over the only chair in the room. I am clueless about how to survive this chaos. You already know that I have always grown up in a very disciplined, neat and tidy environment. I don't think I will be able to befriend him. Hope the future holds good for us and we become tolerant towards each other.
You take care and do keep in touch. I miss you friends already.
Love,
Amit.
Common mistakes
- Jumping to conclusions without sufficient evidence.
- Misinterpreting subtle clues.
- Failing to connect different pieces of evidence.
- Overlooking details in the environment.
Revision tips
- Focus on identifying specific clues mentioned in the text.
- Practice explaining the reasoning behind each inference.
- Try to visualize the scenes described to better understand the context.
- Relate the chapter's themes to real-life observational skills.
Practice MCQs
Q1. What kind of evidence does the poet use in the first stanza to describe 'the man of the house'?
Explanation: The poet uses evidence like large shoes, a long bed, the Bible, and the state of the fields and barn to infer details about the man's size, faith, and farming approach.
Q2. The presence of a 'sandbox made from a tractor tire' suggests the age of which family member?
Explanation: A sandbox is a typical play item for a young child, and the specific mention of a tractor tire suggests a child of around six years old.
Q3. What details suggest a woman lived in the farmhouse?
Explanation: Lilac wallpapers and the organized arrangement of oilcloth on kitchen shelves are details often associated with a woman's presence and attention to domestic aesthetics.
Q4. Which observation might lead someone to believe the family left due to financial hardship or a natural disaster?
Explanation: A leaky barn and fields cluttered with boulders could indicate neglect due to lack of resources or inability to maintain the property, possibly due to hardship or disaster.
Q5. In Amit's letter, what is the primary reason for his tension regarding his roommate?
Explanation: Amit expresses significant concern about his roommate Ritesh's untidiness, describing the room as a mess with spilled items and a wet towel, which clashes with Amit's disciplined upbringing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of Chapter 3 in the Class 9 MCB textbook?
The main theme of Chapter 3, 'Can You Know People You Haven't Met', is about developing the ability to infer and understand details about people and their lives through careful observation of their surroundings and the clues they leave behind.
How do the NCERT Solutions for this chapter help students?
These solutions help students by providing rewritten, detailed answers that explain the reasoning behind inferences, guiding them on how to analyze evidence and enhance their critical thinking and observational skills.
What kind of evidence is used in the chapter to draw conclusions?
The chapter uses various forms of evidence, such as the condition of a house (e.g., leaky barn, wallpapers), personal belongings (e.g., shoes, Bible, toys), and the state of the surrounding environment (e.g., fields, yard).
Are the answers in the NCERT Solutions for Chapter 3 based on personal opinions?
While the questions encourage personal understanding and experience, the provided solutions offer a structured approach based on logical deductions from the textual evidence presented in the chapter, serving as a reference for discussion.
How can understanding these concepts help in exams?
Developing skills in observation and inference is crucial for comprehension-based questions in literature and language exams. It also aids in analytical writing tasks and understanding character development.
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