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How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answers

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answers – Looking for question and answers from “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” for Class 9 English Literature Reader (Communicative) Chapter 1? You’re in the right place! Our collection of important questions will help you strengthen your subject knowledge. Practicing these Class 9 English questions can greatly boost your exam performance. Our solutions offer a clear idea of how to answer effectively. Explore Chapter 1 now and improve your chances of scoring high marks. The extra questions below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, including extract-based, short answer, and long answer questions with solutions.

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How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answers

Short Answer Type Questions (30 to 40 words)

1. Why did the grandmother never go to school?

What were the obstacles the grandmother faced when she was a young girl specify.

Ans. – The grandmother lost her mother when she was very young. There was nobody to look after and guide her. Her father got married again. In those days people never considered education essential enough for girls, so she never went to school. Moreover, she was married off at an early age.

2. Explain the symbolism of the grandmother touching Sudha Murthy’s feet in the context of their relationship.

Ans. – When the grandmother touched Sudha Murthy’s feet, it symbolized a deep change in their relationship, breaking traditional age roles. Usually seen as the younger one, Sudha Murthy became a figure of wisdom and guidance, leading the grandmother to show her respect through this act. In Indian culture, touching someone’s feet is a strong sign of respect, usually done for elders, teachers, or respected people. Here, it showed the grandmother recognizing Sudha Murthy as a source of knowledge and inspiration.

The act held a deeper meaning, indicating that the sharing of wisdom and experiences had built a special bond between them. Sudha Murthy’s role as a storyteller and the grandmother’s openness to these stories changed their relationship into a beautiful exchange of learning and teaching. It highlighted the idea that learning is universal, where age and social norms no longer matter as much as the mutual respect and appreciation of knowledge.

3. Why did the grandmother think of learning to read and write at the age of sixty two?

Ans. – Grandmother was a visionary lady who had very positive thoughts about learning to read. She knew that education would make her independent. Her positive mindset inspired her to start learning. Feeling helpless and dependent made her realize that education could help her live a more comfortable life. This feeling pushed her to take the step to learn to read on her own.

4. Why did the narrator stayed longer in a neighbouring village and what did she see when she came back to the village?

Ans. – Once the narrator went for a wedding with her cousins to the neighbouring village. In those days wedding used to be a great event. The children rejoiced themselves thoroughly. They would eat and play endlessly. They enjoyed their freedom because all the elders were busy. She Went for a couple of days but ended up staying there for a week. When she came back to the village, she saw her grandmother in tears.

5. Why was the grandmother in tears?

Ans. – Grandma was in tears because she felt very dependent. When her granddaughter returned back from the neighbouring village she told her how she remained uneducated and that made her feel embarrassed. People at the time of grandma never considered the education of girls important. She also described how much helpless and dependent she felt when she opened the magazine to read the next episode of Kashi Yatre. She regretted not going to school so she was in tears.

6. Describe the novel Kashi Yatre by Triveni . Why did the narrator identify herself with the novel?

In the lesson, ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’ more than anybody else grandmother was interested in knowing about the latest episode of Kashi Yatre ? Why was she so much interested in it?

Ans. – Kashi Yatre is the story of an old lady and her ardent desire to go to Kashi and worship Lord Vishweshwara and her struggle to go there. The novel also describes a young orphan girl who falls in love but has no money for the wedding. In the end, the old lady gives away all her savings to the young girl without going to Kashi. The grandmother identified herself with the protagonist as she ‘too’ had never been to Kashi.

7. How had the narrator planned to surprise her grandmother? How was she herself surprised?

Ans. – The narrator had planned to surprise her grandmother by planning to gift her the novel Kashi Yatre by Triveni. The narrator was herself surprised because the grandmother gifted her frock material and bent down and touched her feet. The narrator was surprised and taken aback.

8. What message does the story “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” convey?

Ans. – The story tells us that for learning, there is no age bar. One can learn at any age, provided one has strong willpower and determination. The story also conveys that a teacher, irrespective of age or gender, deserves to be respected. One should always feel grateful to a teacher who leads one from darkness to light.

9. The grandmother touched the feet of her granddaughter. How did she justify this gesture of hers?

Ans. – Youngsters always touch the feet of God, elders and teachers as a mark of respect. But the grandmother touched the feet of her granddaughter. She justified this gesture by saying that she is touching the feet of a teacher who taught her so well, with so much affection that now she can read any novel confidently and independently. And a teacher should be respected, irrespective of the gender and age.

10. Avva or the narrator’s grandmother was a wonderful student. Justify with the help of the story.

Ans. – Avva or the narrator’s grandmother was a wonderful student because she herself set up a deadline for the completion of her education. She followed the deadline religiously and achieved her goal. No doubt she was a wonderful student as she used to read, repeat and recite on her own with a great enthusiasm and concentration. She did an amazing amount of homework.

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answers

11.The grandmother in the story “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” was a very determined woman, yet at the same time very emotional. Justify.

Ans. – The grandmother was no doubt very determined to learn to read. She herself set up a a deadline to complete her education. This shows that she was very determined. She worked very hard in order to accomplish her target before the deadline. With a great determination she was successful to accomplish the task and achieved her target.

12. How did the newspapers and magazines reach villages in the days of ‘Kashi Yatre’?

Why did everyone in the village wait eagerly for the bus?

Ans. – At the time of writing the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ the transport system in the narrator’s village was far from being efficient. The villagers got the morning paper in the afternoon only. The weekly magazines used to reach the village by bus one day late. Thus, everyone would eagerly wait for the bus.

13. Why did it become necessary for the little granddaughter to read out the story to her grandmother?

Ans. – The sixty-two year old Krishtakka, like many women of her age, developed such a keen interest in the novel Kashi Yatre’ that was being telecasted a serial in a magazine ‘Karamveera that she would follow the story eagerly. Since she was illiterate, her granddaughter had to read it out to her.

14.Why was Krishtakka interested in ‘Kashi Yatre’ more than anyone else?

The grandmother waited eagerly for each episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’. Why was she so interested in the story?

Ans. – Krishtakka, like the chief protagonist of ‘Kashi Yatre” had never been to Kashi. So, she identified herself with the old lady of the novel very well and was always very keen to know about the characters fate. As soon as the weekly arrived, she set aside all her work and listened to the story with great interest. After hearing it, she would reproduce the entire text word for word.

15. Why was there a great debate among the old ladies of the village?

Ans. – After learning about what happened next in ‘Kashi Yatre’,the old ladies used to discuss at the temple because most of them used to assume that this was their own story. Their interpretation also differed person to person. This difference of thoughts naturally resulted in a great debate.

16. What was the debate about in the temple courtyard and why didn’t the narrator understand the reason behind it?

Ans. – As the story of ‘Kashi Yatre’ developed with each episode, a debate ensued in the temple courtyard among the women of the village. They would discuss the fate of the characters, comment on their actions and discuss social change in a very enthusiastic way. The twelve-year-old narrator was too young to understand the reasons and outcome of the debate, apart from the fact that the women discussed the life and actions of the chief protagonist of a popular novel.

17. What do you know about the narrator’s childhood?

Ans. – The narrator spent a happy childhood in the village with her grandparents. Her affectionate grandmother cooked food for her and fed her lovingly. She was regular at school and would play hide and seek with her friends in the temple courtyard in her free time. She read out Kannada stories from the magazine to her illiterate grandmother and later on also taught her to read and write Kannada.

18. Why did the narrator stay in the village for a week, though she had gone there for two days only?

Ans. – The narrator had gone to a neighbouring village along with her cousins for just a couple of days to attend a wedding. She could very well have returned after the ceremony. However, she stayed back for a week as she was enjoying her freedom there thoroughly. No one stopped her from eating and playing endlessly.

19. In what way was the wedding a great event in the days of Sudha Murty’s childhood?

Ans. – In those days, the weddings used to be a big event. Usually the wedding parties continued for a number of days- approximately 3 to 5 days. All the elders remained busy with the ceremony. The children had a very enjoying time. They ate and played endlessly.

20. Why did the grandmother depend on her granddaughter to know the story? (Textual)

Ans. – The granddaughter used to read the serialised episodes of the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ to her illiterate grandmother. The lady was keenly interested in the story but had to depend on her granddaughter to follow the story as she couldn’t read herself. Unlike most girls today, she was never sent to school as a child.

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answers

21. How did the granddaughter react to the grandmother’s tears?

How did the narrator tease her grandmother when she expressed her desire to read ?

Ans. – Initially the granddaughter was very upset to see her grandmother in tears because she had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. Her tears worried her. However, being a child she didn’t understand anything and soon forgot about it.

22. What sort of relationship did the grandmother and the granddaughter enjoy?

Ans. – Both the grandmother and the grand-daughter loved each other very much. The old lady loved to cook for and feed the child. The child in her turn read out to the illiterate grandmother episodes of a serialized novel from ‘Karmaveera’, a Kannada weekly. What is more, she even taught the old lady to read and write. Both had a good understanding with each other.

23. Why could Krishtakka never go to school?

Ans. – Krishtakka had lost her mother when she was very young There was no one to look after her or guide her. Her father was so busy that he hardly had any time for her. Moreover, he married again. Instead of providing her education, he had married her off at a young age. Thus Kristakka never got a chance to go to school.

24. Why did Krishtakka make sure that her children and grandchildren studied well?

Ans. – Krishtakka always regretted her illiteracy. Fate had deprived her of a chance of going to school. She thus wanted to make up for this deficiency by educating her children and her grandchildren well.

25. How did Krishtakka feel when she was unable to read ‘Karmaveera’ in her grandchild’s absence?

Ans. – Kristikka, the grandmother felt very helpless and dependent because she could not read on her own. She felt too embarrassed that to ask anybody in the village to read it out to her.

26. “Yes, I need your help.” What help did the grandmother need? Why did she feel that her granddaughter could render that help?

Ans. – Upset over her inability to read on her own, the grandmother resolved to learn Kannada alphabet. At the age of sixty-two, she wanted someone to teach her and she couldn’t find a better teacher than the granddaughter As a grandchild, the girl would understand her predicament and teach her with compassion and enthusiasm. Being taught at home would also save the old lady from Uflflecessaiy embarrassment of learning as an old parrot.

27. Why did the child make fun of the grandmother when she proposed to learn to read Kannada?

Ans. – The child was not used to the idea of an old lady trying to learn to read. She found the idea of a bespectacled, grey haired and wrinkled old lady trying to learn the alphabet too absurd. Hence she unwittingly made fun of the grandmother.

28. How did the grandmother react when the grandchild made fun of her idea of learning the Kannada alphabet at the age of sixty-two?

Ans. – The grandmother dealt with the child patiently. She just smiled at the child’s arguments. Her self-confidence, determination and logic convinced the granddaughter that there was no age bar for learning. The old lady also assured her that she would work harder than anyone and would achieve her mission at any cost.

29. What time limit did the grandmother set for herself to learn Kannada alphabet? How far did she succeed iii achieving her goal?

Ans. – Having resolved to work very hard to learn Kannada alphabet, the grandmother kept Saraswati Pooja day during Dassara as the deadline. She decided that by that particular day, she should be able to read a novel on her own. The determined old lady learnt to read and write independently which left her ‘teacher’ quite impressed with her.

30. What sort of a student did Krishtakka prove to be?

How did the grandmother prove that she was a good student?

Ans. – Krishtakka proved to be a wonderful student. She read, repeated, wrote and recited all her lessons with great enthusiasm and concentration. She did an amazing amount of homework. Hence within the time limit that she had set for herself, she was able to learn to read fluently. In her teacher’s opinion1 she had passed with flying colours.

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answers

31. Describe how Krishtakka celebrated the pooja festival.

Ans. – The pooja festival was celebrated with a great solemnity and enthusiasm. Krishtakka made her teacher sit on a stool and gifted her with a frock material and touched her feet in gratitude. This gesture came as an unexpected surprise to the narrator.

32. How did the narrator come to know that her student had passed with flying colours?

Ans. – On the Dussehra festival, when the grandmother gifted her ‘teacher’ (actually her grandchild) with a frock material, the latter also gave the grandmother a copy of ‘Kashi Yatre’ which by that time had been published in the form of a novel. When the grandmother read the novel’s title, ‘Kashi Yatre’ and the author’s name, Triveni as well as the publisher’s name; the granddaughter knew that her student had passed with flying colours.

33. Krishtakka was illiterate, but she was very intelligent. Comment.

Ans. – Though illiterate, Krishtakka was so intelligent that after listening to an episode of ‘Kashi Yatre’, she could reproduce the entire text of the story. She could discuss the story and debate about it. Not only that, she learnt to read and write Kannada at the ripe age of 62.

34. How do we know that her grandparents’ village was very remote?

Ans. – The morning paper was received in the afternoon, the wee friy magazine came a day late, and the transport system was not good

Q35. What made Triveni a popular writer? (Textual)

‘Triveni was a very popular writer in the Kannada language’. What had made her so popular?

Who was Triveni and what was the reason for her immense popularity among the people?

Ans. – Triveni, a prolific writer of Kannada language, who died rather young, was indeed a very popular novelist. She owed her popularity to her easy to understand style, which had a lot of conviction and convincing power. She would usually take up complex psychological problems of the lives of ordinary common people such that they readily identified themselves with her characters. This further added to her popularity as a writer amongst the masses.

36. Why was the grandmother so upset when her granddaughter went away to attend a wedding?

Ans. – The grandmother felt very upset because she could not read the next episode on her own. Actually the grandmother wanted to know the next episode of Kashi Yatre. Her Granddaughter was the only one who used to read to her.

37. Explain the statement “student had passed with ﬂying colours”.

Ans. – When the grandmother read the title of the book effortlessly, it proved that she had succeeded in. her quest to learn to read and write thus proving she had passed with ﬂying colours.

38. How does Krishtaka justify the touching of her granddaughter’s feet ?

Ans. – Krishtaka justifies the touching of her granddaughter’s feet as a gesture to show respect and gratitude to the later, who though her granddaughter, was her teacher in the first place. To validate her action, she even makes a mention of the scriptures where it is written that a teacher should be respected irrespective of the gender and age.

39. Describe the role of the author in educating her grandmother.

Ans. – Sudha Murty is the only teacher of her grandmother. She plays an important role in educating her grandmother. The narrator was an active teacher who did her best to teach her student in all the ways possible.

40. Write a note on the moral of the story.

Ans. – The story conveys the message that there is no age for learning and a teacher, irrespective of age of sex deserves to be respected. One should always feel grateful to a teacher who leads one from darkness to light.

41. How did the grandmother actualize her dream of being literate?

Ans. – The grandmother expressed a desire to read before her granddaughter to teach her the Kannada language. She started her tuition. She used to read write and recite the lessons. She was a diligent and sincere student and worked hard to learn the language and to actualize her dream.

42. How does the grandmother fulfill her desire to read ?

Ans. – With her strong will power and determination The grandmother was able to fulfill her desire to read and write. She was determined to learn the alphabet of Kannada language. She considered that the age is no bar to learn and start taking tuitions from anyone ever from her granddaughter.

43. Why was ‘Kashi Yatre’ grandmother’s favourite novel ? Give two reasons to support your answer.

Give two reasons to show why ‘Kashi Yatre’ was grandmother’s favourite novel.

Ans. – ‘Kashi Yatre’ was grandmother’s favourite novel as she identified herself with the novel’s protagonist, who never went to school and her ardent desire was to go to Kashi which was believed to be the ultimate punya. Grandmother also wanted to go to Kashi like the lady In the absence of her granddaughter she rubbed her hand on the pages of the magazine and she always used to listen to it and forgot all the worldly things while it was being explained.

44. Why did the narrator call her ‘Avva’, a wonderful student ?

Ans. – Avva was a wonderful student because she was a diligent and sincere student. She did her home work regularly and showed determination in learning the alphabet and achieved her task very timely.

45. How does the narrator explain her grandmother as a student ?

Ans. – The narrator says that her grandmother was her first student. She was a wonderful student. She did a great amount of homework that was amazing. She would read, repeat, write and recite. She was sincere enough to learn everything.

46. How did the grandmother prove her goodness as a student ?

Ans. – The grandmother learnt each and every lesson with full dedication and worked hard. She was committed to her work and had all the qualities which a student is expected to show like sincerity, punctuality, hard work and ultimately keeping of the deadline.

47. How does Sudha react on hearing her Grandmother’s desire to become literate ?

Ans. – Sudha is a young girl she reacts very innocently. She thought it to be funny and started laughing. But very soon she realized that it was really good idea and she got ready to teach her.

48. How did the grandmother treat her granddaughter as her worthy teacher?

Ans. – The grandmother treated her granddaughter as her worthy teacher. She respected her, made her sit on a stool, gave her a gift of frock material and touched her feet as per the cultural traditions of our society.

49. Why was Triveni a popular writer ?

Ans. – There were several reasons for Triveni’s popularity.

Her style was easy to read because it was convincing.
Her stories were about ordinary people and their everyday lives.
She dealt with the complex psychological problems and her stories were very interesting.
She was a wonderful writer.

50. Why did the grandmother insist on the narrator’s reading the serial ?

Ans. – The grandmother was interested in knowing the story ‘Kashi Yatre’ as she was illiterate. Moreover, she identified herself with the protagonist of the story, an old lady, who too never went to Kashi like her. So she insisted on the narrator’s reading the serial.

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Extra Question Answers

51. What is described in the novel, ‘Kashi Yatre’?

What is the theme of the novel Kashi Yatre ?

Ans. – ‘Kashi Yatre’ is the story of an old woman who had an ardent desire to go to Kashi and worship Lord Vishweshwara. She is a devout lady who wished to perform pooja to gain the ultimate Punya. But, she chooses to help an orphan girl by giving all her savings to the girl and believes it is more important than going to Kashi.

52. What made the grandmother identify herself with the novel’s protagonist?

Ans. – The protagonist of the novel ‘Kashi Yatre’ and the grandmother shared the same ardent desire-that of visiting Kashi or Varanasi and worshipping Lord Vishweshwara to seek the ultimate Punya.

53. What major Hindu belief did Triveni revolve her story around ?

Ans. – Most Hindus believe that going to Kashi and worshipping Lord Vishweshwara is the ultimate Punya. Triveni’s story ‘Kashi Yatre’ talked about an old woman’s desire to visit Kashi. It strikes a chord with common people whose lives are led by their religious desires. They identify with the protagonist and share her desire to achieve the ultimate Punya.

54. Grandmother gave a gift to her granddaughter. What was that and why did she give it?

What did the grandmother do to express her gratitude ?

Ans. – Grandmother gave a frock material to the granddaughter. It was a mark of affection, love and respect. Her granddaughter had taken on the role of a teacher and had patiently taught her to read. Grandmother wanted to show her gratitude and also wanted to please the little girl who was now her teacher.

55. What do you know about the old lady of the novel Kashi Yatre? Mention two points.

Ans. – The old lady of the novel, Kashi Yatre has an ardent desire to go to Kashi and and worship Lord Vishveshwara. She however, gave up her desire and helped the young orphan girl giving away all her savings. The orphan girl was in need of money for the wedding.

56. “But I know it was not possible. If only I was educated enough….” Describe the circumstances that made the grandmother realise the importance of education.

Ans. – The grandmother was fond of knowing the weekly episode of the story ‘Kashi Yatre’. Once when the weekly magazine came, her granddaughter was out of the village. So, no one was there to read it out to her. Being an illiterate, she could not read it herself and was too embarrassed to ask somebody to do so. At this moment, she felt dependent and helpless. This made her realize the worth of being educated.

57. What unusual thing did the grandmother do on the day of Dussehra to show her gratitude towards her granddaughter ?

Ans. – On Dussehra, Grandma touched her granddaughter’s feet to show respect. Grandma followed the tradition of ‘guru-shishya’. This gesture, though uncommon, was right because she respected her teacher. She honored her granddaughter and thanked her.