📖 Class 9 English – How I Taught My Grandmother to Read Original Visual Revision Notes
Aligned with the Class 9 English syllabus. Independently created study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NCERT.
Figure 2 – The girl reads the magazine to her grandmother.
Figure 3 – Grandmother is sad because she cannot read alone.
Figure 4 – The girl teaches grandmother step by step.
Figure 5 – Grandmother honours her teacher on Saraswati Puja day.
✏️ Section 3 — Worked Examples
Practice questions with answers shown step by step.
🔶 Example 1 – Comprehension
Question: Why did grandmother feel sad?
1 The girl went to a wedding.
2 No one was there to read aloud.
3 Grandmother could not read herself.
Answer: Grandmother felt sad because she could not read. The girl was away. No one could read the story.
🔶 Example 2 – Vocabulary
Question: What does "determined" mean in the story?
1 Find the word in the story.
2 Grandmother wanted to learn very much.
3 She would not stop until she learned.
Answer: "Determined" means having a strong wish to do something. Grandmother was determined to learn to read.
🔶 Example 3 – Theme Question
Question: What lesson do we learn from this story?
1 Think about what grandmother did.
2 She was old but she still learned.
3 She worked hard and never gave up.
Answer: We learn that it is never too late. You can learn at any age. Hard work always brings success.
📋 Section 4 — Cheat Sheet
Important words from the story made simple.
Word
Simple Meaning
Serial
A story told in many parts.
Magazine
A thin book with stories and pictures.
Determined
Having a strong wish to do something.
Helpless
Not able to do anything by yourself.
Guru
A teacher who gives knowledge.
Saraswati
Hindu goddess of learning and books.
Puja
A prayer or worship done for God.
Kannada
The language spoken in Karnataka state.
Granddaughter
A daughter's or son's girl child.
Respect
Showing someone that you value them.
Courage
Being brave even when things are hard.
Bond
A strong feeling of love between people.
Educate
To teach someone new things.
Inspire
To make someone want to do good.
📄 Section 5 — Take-Home Handout
Practice at home to remember better.
🌱 Part A – Fill in the Blanks
1. The story is written by ________.
2. The girl lives in a village in ________.
3. Grandmother loves a ________ serial.
4. The girl goes away to a ________.
5. Grandmother decides to learn to ________.
🌱 Part B – True or False
1. Grandmother could read from the start. ( )
2. The story happens in Karnataka. ( )
3. The girl teaches her grandmother. ( )
4. Grandmother gives up learning. ( )
5. The success day is Saraswati Puja. ( )
🌱 Part C – Match the Columns
Column A
Column B
1. Sudha Murty
a. Goddess of learning
2. Kannada
b. Author of the story
3. Saraswati
c. Strong wish to do something
4. Guru
d. Language of Karnataka
5. Determined
e. Teacher
🌱 Part D – Short Answers
1. Why did grandmother feel helpless?
2. Who became grandmother's teacher?
3. What did grandmother do on Saraswati Puja?
🌱 Part E – Think and Write
1. What would you teach your grandparent?
2. Why is learning important at any age?
✅ Detailed Answers — Take-Home Handout
Part A — Fill in the Blanks:
1. Sudha Murty 2. Karnataka 3. Kannada 4. wedding 5. read
Part B — True or False:
1. False (Grandmother could not read at all — that is the whole problem in the story.) 2. True 3. True 4. False (Grandmother never gives up; she works very hard and succeeds.) 5. True
Part C — Match the Columns:
1 → b 2 → d 3 → a 4 → e 5 → c
Part D — Short Answers:
1. Grandmother felt helpless because she could not read the Kannada magazine serial by herself. She had always depended on her granddaughter, and when the girl left for the wedding, no one could read to her. This made her feel weak and dependent.
2. Her own twelve-year-old granddaughter became grandmother’s teacher (guru). The roles were reversed in a touching way — the child became the teacher and the elder became the student.
3. On Saraswati Puja day — the festival of the goddess of learning — grandmother demonstrated that she could now read the serial all by herself. She then touched the girl’s feet in a gesture of deep respect, honouring her granddaughter as her guru, which is the highest honour a student gives a teacher.
Part E — Think and Write (Model Answers):
1. I would teach my grandparent how to use a smartphone so they could video-call family members, send messages, and stay connected even when we are far away. This would help them feel less lonely and more independent.
2. Learning is important at any age because it keeps the mind active and sharp, builds confidence, and helps a person feel independent and valued. Grandmother’s story shows that age is never a barrier — only the will to learn matters.